current conditions in the Philippines ?

Its too bad...for 3yrs staying here you.really never feel warm and welcome here?

Thats right,come over and be careful..
Dont be deceived by beautiful Filipina women.
Just come here and enjoy.

Reality is a big issue, and personal reality follows you about, colouring the way people think about you and how they react to you.

In a country where the average wage is a fraction of what most western expats earn there's very likely to be a feeling western expats are rich, that being because most are when compared to locals.
My origin is also a first world country, but I don't care as it is of no matter to my life abroad and I no longer bother sticking my pinky out when I sip a cup of tea.
How people accept you in their country depends a lot on how much you accept their country and culture in your life. Those who dislike the country they chose to live in and are vocal about it tend to be rejected and ill thought off by the locals, but those who accept norms tend to be accepted.

Pope Francis, Mother Theresa and Jesus all rolled into one big love-in of cultural understanding

This is quite unlikely as I'm Muslim, but you never know how the cookie crumbles. Understanding local culture and history are extremely important for any expat in a country so different from his own, but some never bother to try, those often being seen as arrogant and unpleasant by the people of  the host country.

It's a lot like going to a friend's house and telling him his wife is ugly and his carpet looks as if it came out of a trash truck.
You don't expect to be very welcome there once you've said it.

What nothing special?
Have you experience of loving a Filipina woman?

To digital image
Go to provinces with such beautiful beaches.

Iglot wrote:

What nothing special?
Have you experience of loving a Filipina woman?

Not many.

Fred, you are a very mysterious guy as very little is given.  And, forgive me, perhaps an odd duck, you offered your status as a Muslim from a first-world.country.  Also your naivete indicates some inexperience possibly youthful.  My advice, unsolicited, is be true to yourself.  Never try to become something you are not.  You can never become a Philippino or adopt fully any culture in which you are not raised.  It is impossible to shed the skin or shake off the attitudes to which you are born.   That lesson sinks in deeper the longer you stay here.  One other small point I always wear a smile in public here, speak Tagalog as often as I can and try to keep a matamis (sweet) tongue in my mouth.   I am very vigilent to my outward persona because these wonderful people will never stop staring at you.  Its a bit creepy and considered impolite where I come from.

Thats right.. he was really a bit annoying.

TheDigitalMage wrote:

I One heading I would like to have seen is CUSTOMS.  Do they try to get 100% import duty on whatever you bring in?  I have only a stereo, a set of tools and a motorcycle that I would pay to ship there.  What can I expect?

Importing your motorcycle may get may get a little expensive, I'll leave that up to you to decide. Here is a link to another post with regard to importing a vehicle, motorcycle or otherwise.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 20#3390890

For small items you can use Balikbayan shipping.  The link below explains the how, why and where clearly. We shipped items to the Phil for about $100 per box for four boxes with no weight limit. The boxes you can buy from a Filipino store or through a Filipino in your area (not knowing where you are), can provide you with the boxes which are MUCH stronger than anything you'll get from U-haul, Wal-Mart, etc.
We lined our boxes with contractor size trash bags to keep out moisture, then packed with bubble wrap and filled with Styrofoam peanuts and sealed the boxes with string embedded packing tape.

Be reminded that what you ship here cheaply will not be shipped back as cheaply. An acquaintance shipped four boxes here for about $100 each and then had to return to the states after three months for health reasons.  He paid a total of $1450 to ship them back including customs fees. 

http://www.thefilipino.com/balikbayan-b … ilippines/

TheDigitalMage wrote:

I COMPANIONSHIP:  I am all but certain you can not relate to how those words hit home...
All the talk has been of living there.  What of finding a Lady and bringing her back to the states?  Does that happen?

I bet I can relate, most of us have stories of heartbreak and loss. I have mine also.

To address your question with regard to bringing a woman to the states, yes it happened with me. The process for doing so is tedious and once again patience and commitment are needed to accomplish the goal. My wife came to the states with a fiancee visa. The process is involved and time consuming. We made use of a group called visa journeys and their help was spot on, detailed and caring. Though if you have the funds, there are also businesses that will do it for you such as RapidVisa  who advertise a price of $375 for a K1 visa.

The whole process for us took about 10 months.

Link to Visa Journeys.
http://www.visajourney.com/

TheDigitalMage wrote:

IFinally I would ask again - what about people being killed with no trials over drugs?  Has anyone seen this happening?  It sounds insane!  Won't somebody address this for me?

Many expat blogs have a lot of speculation as to the extrajudicial killings as they have been labeled. The current president has vowed to rid the county of it's drug dealers and taking them out is his solution, no more no less. How that is accomplished and by whom and also the individual motivations of each and every person pulling the trigger could fill volumes. I believe that like most nations, he has seen that so called enforcement of drug laws are rife with corruption and payoffs and the fear of death is the last resort to rid the country of the scum that have made the Phil their home and grown rich through distributing their poison.
I have not seen nor heard of any killings in my area or in nearby towns if that is any help. I have seen increased police activity at malls and other heavily trafficked commercial areas, but to a lesser degree the armed guards are always present.
I neither publicly condone or condemn the actions as I am aware that I am a "guest" in this country and it has been made clear that foreign intervention in this and other Philippine policies and politics is not welcome, why bring attention to yourself? Maybe others can provide better insight or share personal experience,

The nerve of you so ask for more  help.....    Anytime.  Hope this answers your questions.

Regards,

TeeJay

I led a pretty bad life in the UK, much as a greasy biker with a very bad attitude to the 10 commandments and an even worse one regarding ladies, seeing them as super delux will warmers with cooking and cleaning functions. Later years saw me start a business, but much of that was based around music in one way or another, and that kept me in contact with ladies from many places, so explaining the ladies from the Philippines who had gone to Barnsley to work as nurses.
However, my later travels to foreign climes gave me a glimpse of a different way to live, and one I liked.
I didn't go to Asia for sex, and most definitely not for prostitutes, but ladies seem to trust me so naughty things happened in several countries.
Most people assume I became Muslim for marriage, but that is an error as I converted about a year before I married. About the same time I completely stopped with the booze.
I stopped drinking after an epic fail to stop a girl being raped by her father as I was too drunk to do the right thing, thinking more about my kebab going cold than what I'd just found out about. I swore never to get drunk again after that, then realised there was no point going out drinking if I had to watch myself all the time.
I still had the odd drink, but didn't enjoy it in the same way.
Islam came because of the stupidity of the UK's press. I'd started to meet a lot of people from a wide variety of cultures because of my work, so quickly realised stereotypes were a load of old shit, but then I went to Malaysia for a month so seeing the real side of Islam and what Muslims were really like. That was sort of an accident as well as some Chinese girls I knew turned out to be Malaysians of Chinese descended families, them suggesting I take a trip out there - that turned out to be a pretty spectacular idea.
Of course, as in any race, creed, religion, sexual orientation or whatever, there are bad people, but it was easy to see the vast majority are just people like anyone else, the vast majority being far more interested in paying the electricity bill and getting their kids through school than hurting anyone.
Whilst I'd always believed in the one, Christianity just didn't rock my boat, but Islam managed to spark a little something.
I'm not much when it comes to religion, probably being destined for an eternity of torment, but I've stopped doing all the bad stuff that was so common in my younger days.
I suppose that'll have to do.
I have two kids now, so staying in my bit of Asia is even more important as I would prefer they grow up in a society where drunks and druggies are rare, and preferably one where they'll grow up respecting things around them, something that's very much lost in UK society.
I'm not anti much, but I seriously dislike some things, especially stupid politicians, illegal drugs and extremists of any and every type.
I do hold one very strong opinion - If you're going to do something, you do it properly.
That applies to everything in life from work, being nice to people and being an expat.

The latter point of one of importance as far as this site is concerned, as it makes the difference between having a good time and being accepted in your country of choice and having a terrible time and being hated, and spreading that hate to cover the whole of your nationality, even when the vast majority don't deserve the reputation painted on them by a few; just like the ideas those girls in that Phuket hotel had about ALL westerners.

EJK-so common now, it has its own shorthand descriptor.  There have been five EJKs within my smallish town.  Personally, I am very concerned for several reasons.  These reasons are mostly obvious and even a Filipino could figure them out.  Further since I am married to a Pinoy lady and I live here, I think I am more than a guest.  So I have voiced my feelings in varous venues but mostly anonymous ones.  Why? with so many bullets flying around it is not difficult to imagine one coming your way.  But I believe a person should speak out as best they can because if you do not they could be coming for you next.

USAMichael wrote:

EJK-so common now, it has its own shorthand descriptor.  There have been five EJKs within my smallish town.  Personally, I am very concerned for several reasons.  These reasons are mostly obvious and even a Filipino could figure them out.  Further since I am married to a Pinoy lady and I live here, I think I am more than a guest.  So I have voiced my feelings in varous venues but mostly anonymous ones.  Why? with so many bullets flying around it is not difficult to imagine one coming your way.  But I believe a person should speak out as best they can because if you do not they could be coming for you next.

So five killings in your small town, please do share with the rest of us what that small town is so the uniformed can avoid it.

"Even a Filipino could figure them out", how nice and endearing a comment, no wonder you are loved by all. It must be hard to be the only intuitive intellectual in such a sea of stupidity which leads me and others who have discussed your comments at my home to wonder why you are here?  You seem to think very little of the people in your host country and with all the bullets flying around maybe you should get out of dodge before their aim gets better.

Speak out?  I believe we have all spoken out with fact and not fantasy and as I stated my area has not seen any EJK's as  you call them and neither have my family members in their areas which covers a lot of real estate.

Feel as you like, you are no more than a guest, unless you have become a citizen of the Philippines and I think most likely the answer is, you have not, so that makes you a guest in the Philippines.

I also found that Fred's comment about taking a shower was made in jest and maybe you are the humorless one and a little thin skinned. Maybe the scent of your deodorant and the talc is found to be strong by some?  Who knows, it sure isn't worth getting your butt in the air.

Later

USAMichael wrote:

These reasons are mostly obvious and even a Filipino could figure them out.

I suspect the locals don't especially hate Americans, just you.
As disgusting, pathetic comments go, that's especially crap.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-u- … 02221.html

"The relationship between the United States and the Philippines, a long-time ally, has been complicated lately by President Rodrigo Duterte's angry reaction to criticism from Washington of his violent battle to rid the country of illegal drugs.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in police operations or by suspected vigilantes in connection with the anti-narcotics campaign since Duterte took office on June 30."

This, my friends, is the BREAKDOWN of civilization.  THIS is what "they" want to happen - i.e. to place "us" into a position wherein we are obliged to show our true colors...  Congratulations, Mr. Duarte - you have admitted defeat by allowing "them" to make you exactly what they are -  which is a gang lord and a mass murderer. 

Only a complete and utter fool would go to the Philippines now.  I am not one of those.

Unfortunately, media has been fooling only fools who are rush to believe without further research nor extra mile of efforts to check the facts themselves. The results justify the deeds. It is always the goal that is more of importance and not of the ways or plans on achieving thy goals.

Personally, most locals trust the current government due to the stringent application of laws. It doesn't violate any rights or whatsoever. One of the things Sun Tzu noted in order to win a war, is moral influence. Perhaps that is why many Filipinos are much happier now than before. In terms of business, a business person doesn't have to be too sensitive on things that is being told. It's always the goal or intention that should be look at.

Overall, only negative thoughts will not provide positive results. We cannot be the change we wish to see the world if the world doesn't want to change.

khryzthinne wrote:

Unfortunately, media has been fooling only fools who are rush to believe without further research nor extra mile of efforts to check the facts themselves. The results justify the deeds. It is always the goal that is more of importance and not of the ways or plans on achieving thy goals.

Personally, most locals trust the current government due to the stringent application of laws. It doesn't violate any rights or whatsoever. One of the things Sun Tzu noted in order to win a war, is moral influence. Perhaps that is why many Filipinos are much happier now than before. In terms of business, a business person doesn't have to be too sensitive on things that is being told. It's always the goal or intention that should be look at.

Overall, only negative thoughts will not provide positive results. We cannot be the change we wish to see the world if the world doesn't want to change.

And how might one check these "facts?"

If ONE person was executed without a trial....  well, that's enough for me.

Midnight:  Loud banging on door.  Stagger out of bed.  "Joe Blow says you're a dope dealer."  BAM!

noooooo thankee

Hello DigitalMage, I found your last post interesting reading. When you state "Only a complete and utter fool would go to the Philippines now"is a bit offensive to me. I dont consider myself a fool at all. After spending the better part  of the past 3 years living here i am enjoying my visit. You seem to be in a panic that the country is imploding on it self. Have you ever got on a plane and come for a visit here? You might be surprised and enjoy yourself once you meet some of the real people here and experience the fact they are just like all human beings trying to get by every day. You seem fixated on an article written by a liberal yahoo web site. Just because one  liberal US Senator decides to flex his muscle   and  does not want the sale of guns to go through to be used by the PNP only adds to the tit for tat currently going on between the two countries. The Phil. government could replace those 20,000  + guns in short order with China or Russia who would be happy to fill there order  in a heart beat. By the way, here are the statistics just for the city of Chicago USA  for 2016 through the end of October 2016. Does that mean i should think shallow , panic and not go to Chicago for some good deep dish pizza they make there? I have been to Chicago many time and had a great time. ...................     2016 Year to Date Chicago Illinois USA
Shot & Killed: 584
Shot & Wounded: 3111
Total Shot: 3695
Total Homicides: 653

TheDigitalMage wrote:

If ONE person was executed without a trial....  well, that's enough for me.

Midnight:  Loud banging on door.  Stagger out of bed.  "Joe Blow says you're a dope dealer."  BAM!

noooooo thankee

Quick - Get out of the states

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ser … e-killings

Nice script

https://www.facebook.com/nativeamerican … 596395921/

TheDigitalMage wrote:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-u-stopped-philippines-rifle-sale-senator-opposed-094002221.html

"The relationship between the United States and the Philippines, a long-time ally, has been complicated lately by President Rodrigo Duterte's angry reaction to criticism from Washington of his violent battle to rid the country of illegal drugs.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in police operations or by suspected vigilantes in connection with the anti-narcotics campaign since Duterte took office on June 30."

This, my friends, is the BREAKDOWN of civilization.  THIS is what "they" want to happen - i.e. to place "us" into a position wherein we are obliged to show our true colors...  Congratulations, Mr. Duarte - you have admitted defeat by allowing "them" to make you exactly what they are -  which is a gang lord and a mass murderer. 

Only a complete and utter fool would go to the Philippines now.  I am not one of those.

TheDigitalImage

Apparently you have made up your mind. Good for you, don't come, that decision matters only to you and painting those who choose to make the Phil their home as fools reflects badly on you not them.

I grew up in Detroit and traveled the U.S. as a communications contractor for years. I lived in a lot of urban areas whose daily violence I have not seen the like of in the Philippines. By the time I was 16 I had been attacked by gangs and held and shot in the abdomen. My homes have been broken into in what would be considered "better communities" and I have had two vehicles stolen also from "better communites" meaning very low crime, family areas with children peacefully playing in the street while backyard bar b ques are in the process.  I watched Detroit burn to the ground and while working for Detroit Edison, i was picked up and driven to work with national guardsmen carrying automatic weapons and driven home after doing my 48 hour stint at the Edison facilities.  I have seen rivers in East Chicago so polluted that the water is rainbow colored and the stench is horrid. I have sat in an apartment and listened to gunshots on the streets on weekend nights and seen a plethora of vehicles sitting on the side of the road on blocks after being stripped. I lived in Phoenix and was escorted to jobs by police at night while performing and troubleshooting equipment outages and was warned not to flash my lights at the vehicles with their lights off as they were gang members and it would be seen as a threat.  I carried a gun everywhere I went from New York to Seattle and while I did not have to use mine, many others did. My partner in Phoenix was shot at while repairing equipment at the back of a south side business at night and while in an underground equipment vault I had some lowlife attempt to drop a concrete block on my head in just one more failed attempt at robbery. The crime statistics in Chicago alone eclipse those in the Phil and combined statistics dwarf the Philippines for crimes. We have people openly killing, beating and threatening police and one particular ethnic group in the States and the government not only supports the groups that are in part responsible, but invites their leaders to the White House for a nice pat on the back and a job well done in creating hatred, fear and racial strife accross the nation and pitting the citizenry against one another. We have also a political group proven to have paid people to disrupt opposing  candidates to the point of chasing them down in the streets, beating them and vandalizing their personal property and NOTHING has been done about it.  Need more?

It would seem that most of the fools are in the US and other countries who for the sake of political correctness and a kumbaya approach to governing are willing to give up their identities as nations, jeopardize the safety of their citizens and ignore violence and hatred in the streets. These people are the fools.

Whatever your decision with regard to moving to the Philippines, it is a personal one and attacking others who do not share you opinion is simply a show of ignorance. Keep it to yourself.

TeeJay

TheDigitalMage wrote:

If ONE person was executed without a trial....  well, that's enough for me.

Midnight:  Loud banging on door.  Stagger out of bed.  "Joe Blow says you're a dope dealer."  BAM!

noooooo thankee

Posts like this are the result of poor education and propaganda.

No one in the states wants to know the true history of that country and what their politicians have done to so many people, starting with the native Americans, massive terrorist attacks by American armed forces on civilian populations of countries that they were not at war with, right up to today's mass murder of black people by the various police forces in that country.


That isn't anti American, but perhaps it is anti the pathetic education system, anti politicians who make cash out of killing, and anti the situation that allows these things to continue.
As for the Philippines being allied with the US, a bit of history about the US invasion and occupation of that country is in order. Okay, they might well not have been keen on their Spanish colonial masters, but I'll bet they weren't all that keen on them being replaced by a new lot.

CASUALTIES, February 4, 1899 - July 4, 1902:
Filipinos    :     20,000 soldiers killed in action; 200,000 civilians died
Americans :      4,390 dead (1,053 killed in action; 3,337 other deaths)

http://www.worldfuturefund.org/wffmaste … ppines.htm

As we read in the link above, politics is just a cash cow, and sadly the politicians generally decide what goes in the history books, even when lies by omission to cover up 200,000 murders.

So much for one murder without trial, but it does show what a total lack of knowledge does for a post.

TeeJay4103 wrote:

Whatever your decision with regard to moving to the Philippines, it is a personal one and attacking others who do not share you opinion is simply a show of ignorance. Keep it to yourself.

TeeJay

Nice comment.

Hello Teejay, Enjoyed reading your note here. Sounds like your career was for sure not boring! You should write a book and call it "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". Glad you made it out of the jungle alive and able to relate your many experiences . Enjoy your retirement.

scott1953 wrote:

Hello Teejay, Enjoyed reading your note here. Sounds like your career was for sure not boring! You should write a book and call it "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". Glad you made it out of the jungle alive and able to relate your many experiences . Enjoy your retirement.

Thanks Scott, glad you enjoyed.  It could have been much worse and for most around this world it is. I count my blessings everyday.  We all have our trials don't we.

I am loving my retirement, the contentment, the love of my wonderful wife and the peace I have found in my home in the Philippines.  I hope the same for you.

TeeJay

Hello Fred, I read your post a few times and just wanted to clarify a few of your one sided remarks about my country. I disagree with your remarks that "no one in the states wants to know the true history of that country" " poor education" , " mass murder of blacks".  Being a proud, educated American raised and educated in  the oldest democracy on earth we do have our faults. What i  dont see in your remarks or statistics  and President Duterte's rhetoric are other relevant facts  or anything positive about my country. Did you know that  over 16,000 brave, dead  young American soldiers rest in the American Military  Cemetery in Manila? Another 55,000 young American troops went back to the states with terrible life time wounds.That was the result of the USA fighting next to Filipino troops to remove the  brutal Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines in WWll. I visit the cemetery each and every time i am in Manila to pay my respects to my fellow country men. Did you know the Japanese  soldiers murdered between 1/2  and 1 million Filipino citizens? So when you quote the statistics of the  brutality American troops did 100 years ago, include a few of mine to keep the scale a bit more even. I agree what our troops did 100 years ago was wrong. I wont even start about the fact that American troop losses in the European Theater in WWll were appr. 16 million dead another 1 million wounded and missing. Just to remove Hitler and his Third Reich. I find nothing more disgusting that the suffering and losses of unnecessary wars at the hands of  politicians and  the military industrial complex profiteering off the dead and wounded. I hope this clarifies a few facts about my country. I dont know what country your from Fred? Have you ever visited America? I will sign off now as one very proud American.

Amen Teejay to all of our life trials. Lets just hope we continue to stay healthy and content as we move through the retirement years in peace.

I believe the thread is all about the current conditions in the Philippines. I am sorry but may I ask if we could stick to what exactly the title of this thread all about? I certainly believe that we all have the freedom to express ourselves and how proud we are, how poor we are, how nice and so on and so forth. Two things constant in this world are change and death. The rest, all in temporary state including that freedom. So maybe there are times that we maximize every opportunity we get.

Anyway, the current situation depends on every cities, every places. In our area near Manila Port, the police or authorities have been very visible and active on doing their job. Making rounds especially at night, reminding children/ minors to be back home before 10pm through megaphones they have (even though our city is one of those cities that removed curfew) and more. In my friend's area somewhere in Quezon City, she and her family find it safer now than before. Many of us have been talking about this in social media and for us, Filipinos, who have been tired of all the hypocrisy and slavery (the fact that our very own fellow Filipinos do this to us), the current situation is far better than before. Different services are getting better and faster, transactions whether through government or private seems to become even more transparent and more. I believe that many Filipinos cooperate with our current leader's objective, to cleanse our country as much because we cannot build our nation over the bones of criminals.

We are hoping that our dear president will continue to be strong and sincere in achieving the goals for our beloved country's development. We cannot determine the future right now but we can do something on achieving that effective results.

Overall, the current situation in the Philippines is far better than before. Only being pulled down by some who don't like us to progress and to only have all the benefits and riches for themselves.

scott1953 wrote:

Hello DigitalMage, I found your last post interesting reading. When you state "Only a complete and utter fool would go to the Philippines now"is a bit offensive to me. I dont consider myself a fool at all. After spending the better part  of the past 3 years living here i am enjoying my visit. You seem to be in a panic that the country is imploding on it self. Have you ever got on a plane and come for a visit here? You might be surprised and enjoy yourself once you meet some of the real people here and experience the fact they are just like all human beings trying to get by every day. You seem fixated on an article written by a liberal yahoo web site. Just because one  liberal US Senator decides to flex his muscle   and  does not want the sale of guns to go through to be used by the PNP only adds to the tit for tat currently going on between the two countries. The Phil. government could replace those 20,000  + guns in short order with China or Russia who would be happy to fill there order  in a heart beat. By the way, here are the statistics just for the city of Chicago USA  for 2016 through the end of October 2016. Does that mean i should think shallow , panic and not go to Chicago for some good deep dish pizza they make there? I have been to Chicago many time and had a great time. ...................     2016 Year to Date Chicago Illinois USA
Shot & Killed: 584
Shot & Wounded: 3111
Total Shot: 3695
Total Homicides: 653

I am stunned by this, Scott.  I could choose to be insulted, as well... but I won't, this time.

I am trying to get out of the states, Scott.  I hate this oligarchy, masquerading as a democracy, with all I have.  Every time I see a cop car I see a Nazi Storm Trooper, hot and ready to murder some more college kids at Kent State.  And, while I'm there, I say the fact Kent State even still exists, let alone is full up, is quite telling.  I would attend college in HELL before I...

In fact I hate everything ABOUT "America" (every time I hear this sorry, stinking police state called America it makes my blood boil...)  except the roads.  The vast majority of the people here are SCUM.  Plain and simple.  Gangster rap and south park have come home, to roost.

It's really getting bad here and if Trump somehow wins... well, maybe WE will have people getting murdered by cops.  I think Trump and Kin Jong Un have at least one thing in common - it's best not to say anything they don't like...

And now to your insults:

   a)  Your play is intended for the simple-minded, to say the least.  You begin by trying to make me sorry I injured you...  C'mon, dude.

   b)  YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT you should never go to Chicago, unless your life depends on it. 

         Am I so simple that I am unable to discern the difference between blacks killing blacks from other gangs (and whoever gets caught in the crossfire)  and a GOVERNMENT sanctioning, and even organizing and committing MASS MURDER?  You obviously think so!

You should analyze some of the ways in which you communicate.  When someone sees through them ( and it's not hard! ) you don't come off very well...

Yes, Scott, I *WILL* leave here.  This place is going down. Inflation is spiraling out of control, right now.  That's the first thing to happen when a country goes broke...  Then only the uber-rich can live in a manner that is satisfactory.  Then, revolution, of one kind or another.

Right now I'm making my best effort not to move from the frying pan, into the fire.  I sure as HE77 am not going someplace where they shoot you, for smoking a joint!

I see people trying to defend the Philippines.  To them, I have this to say:

Once there was an unbelievably beautiful place.  The people there had it made (politically).  Their votes directed their country...

Then, the brainwashing began.  Our children are forced to pledge allegiance (YEARS before they understand what allegiance is) each day, in school.  We are so sorry that we PROGRAM our children, like little cheap, throw-away computers...

The result of the brainwashing was, of course, a generation of mindless automatons (politically) that were ****UNABLE**** to think clearly, because of their programming.

To those poor, pathetic STUPID people (and they are the vast majority, here) this nation could do no wrong.  So, they stopped looking for wrong, done by the government.

You know what happened, next.  Now "America" is a monster, so vile and evil as to render it impossible, to describe!  And the poor, poor people that live here don't even know they have been betrayed!

You were warned.

God bless you, Sir.

Again, the title is crystal clear. About the current conditions of the Philippines. There's no need to promote hatred or wage war or any related. If there are conditions which are negative, please feel free to express it properly and politely.

So far, we are very much aware of negative things around us including the biased media, the daily gossips, insecurities, crab mentalities and more. It's not okay but we should be fine. Because we are experiencing the truth right before our very eyes. All five senses are all witnesses to it so 95% are happier in our area. The other 5% are still thinking long and hard about the current situation.

Thank you.

khryzthinne wrote:

Again, the title is crystal clear. About the current conditions of the Philippines. There's no need to promote hatred or wage war or any related. If there are conditions which are negative, please feel free to express it properly and politely.

So far, we are very much aware of negative things around us including the biased media, the daily gossips, insecurities, crab mentalities and more. It's not okay but we should be fine. Because we are experiencing the truth right before our very eyes. All five senses are all witnesses to it so 95% are happier in our area. The other 5% are still thinking long and hard about the current situation.

Thank you.

If your premise is that 95% of the people are not bothered by the fact the government is murdering people, as long as their name is not called, sad, but true.

scott1953 wrote:

Hello Fred, I read your post a few times and just wanted to clarify a few of your one sided remarks about my country. I disagree with your remarks that "no one in the states wants to know the true history of that country" " poor education" , " mass murder of blacks".  .

I am aware of the outline of the history between the two countries, and would mention again, my comments weren't anti America, just anti uneducated Americans who spout on about how wonderful their country is without the slightest clue about the massive harm America (Read - American politicians) has done in so many places.
Frankly, your politicians since WWII disgust me, as do politicians from many countries including my own, but that is in no way anti American, just any greedy politicians that happen to be American (along with greedy politicians of every other country who kill for cash).
My comments were aimed at one given poster who seems to think the sun shines out of the US of A's butt but had no clue about the mass murders committed by his own country.
That in no way suggests Americans are bad people, nor does it mean Americans don't do a lot of good as well, but it does convey disdain for greedy murdering politicians and those who carry out atrocities for them.
It, just to make the point clear, doesn't mean only America is guilty of such things as many countries/religious groups/rebels (maybe freedom fighters depending on how much you like their version of the truth) are equally bad.
However, Americans tend to get blamed a lot more because American politicians are easily to worst biggest portion of the world's mass murder for cash pie chart.

khryzthinne wrote:

Again, the title is crystal clear. About the current conditions of the Philippines. There's no need to promote hatred or wage war or any related. If there are conditions which are negative, please feel free to express it properly and politely.

So far, we are very much aware of negative things around us including the biased media, the daily gossips, insecurities, crab mentalities and more. It's not okay but we should be fine. Because we are experiencing the truth right before our very eyes. All five senses are all witnesses to it so 95% are happier in our area. The other 5% are still thinking long and hard about the current situation.

Thank you.

I found myself thinking about this post.

In a country where somebody (anybody?) goes to the Gestapo (Nazi Police) and says Khryzthinne is a drug dealer and then she is MURDERED (and execution without trial is MURDER, plain and simple) you can be "happier?"  I ask you to think about this.

Is your "nationalism" coloring your thinking?

I am going to say something, here.  It has EVERYTHING to do with the title of this thread... if indirectly.  You can throw me out of your chat room, if you like.  It won't be the first and, in all likelihood, not the last

In my version of "right and wrong" there is no allowance made for the identity of the transgressor.  If it is wrong, it is wrong, no matter who did it, or even why it was done.  Until you get to that point you are the worst kind of liar - the kind that lies to him/her self first, then to others - and a coward, as well.

I'm the kind of AMERICAN that was - not the kind that is, now.  I stand up straight, look you in the eye, say what I mean and mean what I say.  A lot of people don't like that.  That's OK by me, 'cause I don't like them.

I am very well aware that some of you are afraid (one person has as much as said so) and that I have an advantage, in not being there and, therefore, subject to reprisals.  I do not expect you, or anyone else, to make statements that place you at risk - in fact I urge you not to do so.

Fred wrote:

scott1953 wrote:

Hello Fred, I read your post a few times and just wanted to clarify a few of your one sided remarks about my country. I disagree with your remarks that "no one in the states wants to know the true history of that country" " poor education" , " mass murder of blacks".  .

I am aware of the outline of the history between the two countries, and would mention again, my comments weren't anti America, just anti uneducated Americans who spout on about how wonderful their country is without the slightest clue about the massive harm America (Read - American politicians) has done in so many places.
Frankly, your politicians since WWII disgust me, as do politicians from many countries including my own, but that is in no way anti American, just any greedy politicians that happen to be American (along with greedy politicians of every other country who kill for cash).
My comments were aimed at one given poster who seems to think the sun shines out of the US of A's butt but had no clue about the mass murders committed by his own country.
That in no way suggests Americans are bad people, nor does it mean Americans don't do a lot of good as well, but it does convey disdain for greedy murdering politicians and those who carry out atrocities for them.
It, just to make the point clear, doesn't mean only America is guilty of such things as many countries/religious groups/rebels (maybe freedom fighters depending on how much you like their version of the truth) are equally bad.
However, Americans tend to get blamed a lot more because American politicians are easily to worst biggest portion of the world's mass murder for cash pie chart.

I have but one question:  Do the atrocities committed by this, or any other country make the unthinkable HORROR that is taking place there OK?

TheDigitalMage wrote:

I have but one question:  Do the atrocities committed by this, or any other country make the unthinkable HORROR that is taking place there OK?

Not at all, but a set of politicians whose country has murdered by the million have little moral authority to condemn a country that is murdering by the thousand. That's the point Duterte is making, and he's right and far as that goes.

Some would argue the killings are justified because the drug dealers kill by the million, so losing mass murderers by culling them is not that big a deal. I suppose that is down you your personal version of morals.

This is really not much as far as expats are concerned unless they're dealing or using, or anti American (Maybe western) feeling spreads past politicians in the Philippines.
The latter is looking more likely as the US alienates Duterte and China embraces him. Hopefully this won't go far beyond a shift in business and regional politics, but politicians have a nasty habit of trying to spread hate for all when they feel it's of political advantage.
Asia is seeing a massive political shift away from the west towards BRICS, and that applies to most countries in the region, including Malaysia and Indonesia who have both announced new links in various forms.
We can only hope the politicians don't manage to naff up all out lives in pursuit of their power and money games, but they often manage to turn friends into enemies in their quest to stuff their pockets full of cash.

International political interference has been centred around the Strait of Malacca as that is a natural choke point for shipping, but the political shift in the Philippines is changing the need to control that, and Malaysia and Indonesia's slowly increasing friendships with China and Malaysia is likely to raise a few eyebrows in some 5 sided buildings.

Have a hint - watch Diego Garcia for the next year or so.

Current condition in the Philippines. Thanks to those who are giving their insights. A reflection of what you know. Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies. Sometimes the question is more important than the answer, for it stir the mind to believing what is not right and what is not out there.

After all we're all different so if that's how you understand it, that is just fine with the rest. No need to elaborate things. Here's what I only believe, if you know there's something wrong, do something and help rather than pointing out things that will only waste time. Time is far more important than talking without communication. We don't hate America, some of you only made us do so.