For your first trip overseas, the Philippines isn't a bad place to visit and settle in before moving around other parts of Asia. Transiting through Shanghai might be a bit of culture shock, but as long as your connection time is generous, you will find your way fine.
Good thing about the Phils is that it is well connected by low cost carriers (such as Cebu Pacific), so you can easily visit other places fairly cheaply.
Start researching airfares now so you have an idea on costs, routings and flight times. Note that LCCs aren't always visible on OTAs, so you need to visit the sites directly. Having said that, you should always check airfares using google flights since LCCs aren't always cheaper than full service carriers.