The Philippines: a world traveler’s musings and ramblings – WTF (Where’s The Fun?)

[Monseratto]

Get ready to be blasted by the so-called keyboard nationalist...

May 21, 2014by Libertas

During my time/career, I have visited, lived, and worked in more than 80 countries on both business and pleasure, and I have just spent the past 3 years touring Asia, which had many highlights interspersed with a few low ones, but the Philippines, where I was based for 18 months, ranks in a league of its own, and merits a few comments and observations, whilst fresh in my mind, and as I reflect upon my recently concluded Asian sojourn.
.
Sometimes travelling is about seeing beyond the obvious, to try and understand the psyche of a country, even in a comparatively short time, to slowly peel away the layers, to relate to its people and its problems, and to paint a realistic picture, rather than just collect picture postcards, and to give honest opinions, unwelcome as they may sometimes be. This is one such time, and in the spirit that the Philippines professes to want more tourists, wants to improve, and welcomes expert opinion, then a few observations seem warranted, although usually any detractors or critics are regarded as persona non grata – how much of an island mentality does that suggest, and in the Philippines’ case you need to multiply that attitude by 7,107!

It would take a book to describe the sheer political hypocricy, social dysfunction, and business inefficiency in the Philippines, which must rank as one of the world’s worst-managed and most corrupt countries – excluding failed African states – and also to do justice to the resilience and spirit of the 100 million people, the vast majority of whom (75+%) struggle to survive on a daily basis, (27% unemployment, and 35% living below the poverty line), who live in cockroach-infested homemade shacks where malaria and dengue are rife, but who cannot afford hospital care and medication, who experience regular natural calamities without the benefit of government readiness or meaningful assistance (e.g typhoon Yolanda), and who ultimately must fend for themselves, or rely on the many overseas charities/NGO’s ( non government organisations) – which admirably do what the government miserably fail at.

And Filipinos, incredibly, suffer all such indignities and hardships mainly in silence under the rule of an incompetent and self-serving dynastic elite, which likes to masquerade as a democracy to the outside world, but which in reality has more in common with an imperial dictatorship, or feudal england in the 1500′s. What a sham, – which is also how the United Nations categorises democracy in the Philippines ( every election is replete with cheating, vote-buying, and numerous murders), and all without one ounce of shame by the political clans, as one hand promises hope, whilst the other robs the already poor of their tax money, and even worse, their dignity; and whilst one face smiles at election time, and their other face laughs in contempt at the poor the rest of the time.

Throw this in too for good measure: the Philippines is the centre of drug trafficking in Asia, has 1 million *** workers – many under 14 and working in cyber*** dens – and has a thriving industry in human and child *** trafficking, 14 million child labourers, 26 million who have no toilet and commune with nature (i.e defecate outside), the lowest IQ in asia – 86 – and one of the lowest in the world, and not surprisingly, it is also the 6th worst country in the world for crony capitalism. Not a pretty picture.
And to add insult to injury, even essential commodities – electricity, water – which regularly suffer supply problems, and up to 8 hour daily brownouts (blackouts) in the summer, are the most expensive in Asia by far, as is the slow and antiquated Internet service. No surprise foreign companies base themselves elsewhere, and that the Philippines is bottom of the ASEAN league when it comes to FDI (foreign direct investment).

Infrastructure is a shambles, with no major projects or groundbreaking solutions to well known and long lasting problems – symptomatic of the scrooge attitude towards investment, and the Filipino business model of monopoly pricing and excessive profits.

The real obscenity however, is that the country is clearly not poor, as evidenced by the many new cars (even Rolls-Royce are opening a showroom this year) the western designer brands, botoxed mistresses dripping in jewellry, the endless lavish parties hosted by politicians, the palatial houses hidden behind high walls. But these cannot hide the fact that the country suffers from an income inequality that ranks amongst the highest in the world, and consequently which only likes to showcase to the outside world the contented 5%, but ignores the other 95% as inconvenient truths, even publishing propaganda polls to say how happy and hopeful everyone is!

The country incessantly likes to talk about a rosy future, but never plans, implements, or achieves, just promises jam tomorrow as it lurches from crisis to crisis. The bottom line of all conferences/trade visits etc is – “give us money” – the subtext being “let foreigners take the risk, and we keep control”. As if! The real message should be “we are incapable of managing ourselves!”

The Philippines: a world traveler?s musings and ramblings ? WTF (Where?s The Fun?) « Get Real Post

[Monseratto]

Emotions – Filipinos are very sensitive, emotional souls, and the slightest criticism will result in either tears, or anger, but perversely they do not mind being used and abused by their own politicians, and presumably having gone from past colonial dominance to the current feudal system subservience is now part of their dna. Schizophrenic masochists with borderline personality disorder (females)/ narcissistic personality disorder (males), and with the vast number of ladyboys most probably being a psychologists dream patient. Best advice – everything with a big pinch of salt.

The people – Increasingly I found that the focus gravitated to the 1% corrupt at the top, and the 1% criminal at the bottom, and they determine the agenda for the other 98%, who are simple but welcoming, and as i have mentioned are too tolerant for their own good. The women are beautiful – but rice 3 times a day takes its toll come 30. The obsession with becoming white (creams, lotions, potions) is crazy, but driven by the media (and cheap pharma companies), who are very racist and elitist. And if you do not speak English then your career options and social aspirations are immediately limited. Maybe a companion for a fat American becomes the career choice.

Some Filipinos and Filipinas see foreigners as walking ATM machines, and it doesn’t take long for the inevitable sob story to be unloaded – relative in hospital/died, school fees. Some of their relatives seem to die every other week – often the same relative!

Shopping – a major pastime as the US-style malls provide aircon and free events, but as a one-time retail consultant, the system soon became apparent. The Philippines is in essence a clearing house for rejects, over production, last year’s model/fashion, bought very cheap but sold at high prices, and no returns/money back. Add to which fakes and counterfeits are everywhere. Once money is in a Filipinos’ hands you would need a crowbar to get it back. Even the stalwart of service and value – Marks and Spencer – is a disappointment under its franchise, Rustans. Bad move. Best advice – caveat empor.

Crime – personally I never suffered, but one visiting friend had a phone stolen from inside her zipped over the shoulder bag. Modus operandi – a sharp knife had sliced an opening in the back. Best advice – vigilance in crowded areas/markets and common sense. Even luxury hotel rooms are not safe as one visiting British member of parliament recently discovered. Use a hotel or room safe. Guns and security personnel are everywhere and Piers Morgan would have a field day — another aspect of adverse American influence, and big business for the US arms/defense companies, and lucrative big contract bribes for Filipino politicians. Human rights take a back seat, and journalism, especially in the provinces has a high bullet-laden turnover rate.

Religion – the Philippines is a Catholic country and Filipinos love going to church – ? to escape the heat – and profess to be god-fearing, but that hardly stops the murders, rapes, child trafficking, corruption, scams, and the lying that has become a national art form. Thank God I am an atheist. The Church itself loves to get involved in politics, and prescribes to their flock who to vote for, as the priest takes delivery of a new SUV! As with everything else in the Philippines, hypocricy rules, even to the extent that marriages get annulled (i.e. declared as never happened) owing to a lack of a divorce law. Even the president’s sister – Kris Aquino – keeps getting her marriages annulled – a perpetual virgin! Best advice – if religious, pray for the Philippines!

Personalities – the centre of life in the Philippines is the tacky lives of ‘personalities’ and politicians. Usually one and the same, and even brain dead boxer Manny Pacquaio is a congressman – with the highest absentee rating of all congressmen and the least effective, and is now being touted as a future senator and president. Knock me down with a feather. His provincial wife is now a vice governor, and his sister- and brother-in-law local politicians. A new dynasty arises. Pacquaio as a womaniser and tax evader (owes 4.5 billion pesos), has no interest in politics (he is about to become a basketball player/coach) is therefore the perfect politician for the Philippines. No need to ask why the Philippines is an international joke politically. And his colleagues in congress/senate for the mould (rapists/murderers/cheats/money launderers etc). Not a decent role-model anywhere.

Overall – Best advice is to go to Singapore for shopping, culture, and cuisine, and raffles – go to Phuket/Koh Samui for beaches – go to Sabah for scuba diving – go to Borneo for nature – go to Macau for gambling – go to Bangkok for temples or Pattaya for ladyboys (if thats your scene) – go to Vietnam for the old orient – go to Korea if you want to be insulted – go to Taiwan for electronics – go to Japan for the spas – go to Philippines just for the hell of it, and you will at least understand why author Dan Brown called Manila “the gates of hell” with the Devil’s disciples all residing in Malacanang, the Senate, and the House.

Filipinos are inherently good simple people ruled by bad corrupt politicians resulting in a nation that most Filipinos want to escape from, (70% according to the last poll), and many do (10 million filipinos work overseas particularly as housemaids, on cruise ships, and in hotels, sending money home to their families, and which accounts for 12% of GDP). Add to that, the brightest and the best have created a brain drain, and with the average national I.Q being only 86 to start with, then don’t expect much intelligent discussion, critical analysis, innovative thought, or creative arts.

The current president in typical dynastic fashion was elected after his mother’s death (the late ex-president Cory Aquino) on a wave of sympathy. (Cory Aquino who also had never worked/achieved anything was also elected in her 50′s on another wave of sympathy after her husband was assassinated (according to the BBC by a member of the family – politics is thicker than blood in the Philippines, and more profitable), with filipinos learning slowly and always repeating the same mistakes (until you shout at them, then after the inevitable tears they get the message).

The problem is that the 50+ year old bachelor had never achieved anything in life, and leopards do not change their spots, so not surprisingly President Benigno Aquino has been voted the world’s worst leader – the Philippines ends up top of many of the ‘worlds worst lists…’! The Aquino family were also guilty of a massacre of their farm workers on the land the Aquinos illegally keep hanging on to – Hacienda Luisita, and Aquino senior was guilty of treason — a traitor after helping the Japanese occupation in World War II. A criminal clan! The borgias of the east. The first family of the Philippines! WTF!!

The Tourism Department have the slogan ‘more fun in the Philippines’. I have some advice for the Philippines – stop the delusional and meaningless slogans, understand the needs of customers and travellers, clean up your act, (and the streets), and get real – root canal performed by a trainee dentist would be more fun!

Oh, and the Philippines should stop stealing aid money raised by decent concerned people in the west for Yolanda victims, and throwing away donated food which ends up rotten due to government incompetence, who are still waiting for any government help 6 months on. I don’t believe that the circa 10,000 who died, or the 800,000 affected, and still homeless, think it is much fun in the Philippines either. Maybe the tourism slogan should read ‘more funerals in the Philippines’ or, ‘the Philippines only puts the fun in funerals’

The Philippines truly merits its real slogan – ‘the basket-case of asia’ – 7,107 islands and the same number of problems, and corrupt politicians. What fun!

The Philippines: a world traveler?s musings and ramblings ? WTF (Where?s The Fun?) « Get Real Post

[valskie01]

Posted via Tsikot Mobile App

[foresterx]

well i agree with 90% of what he said. sorry na lang sa magagalit pero di kasi ako nag bubulagbulagan kaya alam ko totoo sinasabi niya. magalit na magagalit, ika nga nila truth hurts.

[Bin Diesel]

It really is high time we Filipinos wake up and make a difference. Tama yung bagong CEO namin na foreigner e it's not correct that you gain everything the community you are in must benefit as well.

[Ry_Tower]

What's new. Dami nang post na ganyan dito, dapat hindi na new thread.

[_Qwerty_]

it has to start somewhere.. kaso mukhang walang pag asa.. parating na 2016.. and look who's ahead of the surveys.. hayy sana man lang pag si VPNog ang naging presidente maisip nyang gumawa nang maganda para sa Pilipinas..

[garfield_08]

Very long post... but very much worth reading.

Most of them are true, especially the political aspect.

[chua_riwap]

hayyyy......may bago pa ba?
yung pnays daw are pretty but takes its toll *30 bec. of rice 3X a day.......ha-hah!
.


Posted via Tsikot Mobile App

[jodski]

Sakit man isipin but 98% of it is true