Stuck in the middle of traffic, inching your way like a tortoise every few minutes while staring at the sea of red tail lights at a standstill on the massive virtual parking lot that’s before you as far as the eye could see, you slam the driver’s wheel asking yourself “Why am I even putting up with all this shit?!??!”
Every day, Filipinos are getting more and more pissed off with the situation. It is not difficult to come to the conclusion that a burgeoning growing population of 100M with roads, public transport systems, and infrastructure that cannot keep pace with it will leave you with crammed urban areas just bursting at the seams.
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Filipinos must ask themselves some very fundamental questions:
- Do I value my short life this lowly to be wasting 2-3 hours on what should be a 30-minute commute?
- What crime did I commit to deserve jail time in all this traffic and congestion in the Philippines?
- Is this the Filipino dream that I had worked so hard in school for all these years?
- Is it worth enduring all this inconvenience when there are greener pastures waiting out there for me?
I know of parents who practically have to wake up about 4 A.M. and travel in the wee hours of dawn just to avoid the morning rush to bring their child to school. Then there is an engineer who takes 3 hours to get to work + another 3 hours to get back home. Man, that’s already almost a full day’s work, and that doesn’t even count the 1-hour lunch break!
It’s just a matter of time till we come to the end of our fuse and say we’ve had it. Next time you’re stuck in traffic or trying to shove your ass into a jam-packed LRT coach, you may find yourself blowing up inside to finally accept the fact that: The best thing you can do for your country is to Get Out!
By leaving the Philippines, you not only do your country a favor, you also do so for yourself because you deserve better. But how is that so?
The Big School Model
To help you on your journey to getting out of the mind trap many Filipinos fail to see, you will need to take a radical paradigm shift in how you view your country. As in the sci-fi movie The Matrix where the main character Neo realizes that the world he had been living in was all just a big virtual hoax, we all have to see things with a bigger telescope or from the vantage point of a hiker on a mountain top.
The key is to think of the Philippines as merely a big giant school. The primary institution in the Philippines is the school, with every other component of the economy and society just there to support it. Transport, working parents, food, energy, housing, and public services are all in place to provide support to educational institutions that will turn little toddlers into fully profitable college graduates, ready to take on real jobs out in the global arena. This new working class of young men and women constitute the primary product of the Philippines – the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).
Now, government officials, the elite oligarchy and mind-conditioning media (as well as many perverted religious institutions) have made the entire system in the Philippines such a rotten hell-hole that our national product (the graduates, potential OFWs) end up just throwing up their hands in despair and scrambling to get out of the country. They want people to multiply like rabbits and eventually leave – it is the goal, by design. By your leaving this country, these sharks are up to feast on all the benefits that go with it. But more importantly, it is you (the OFW) who stands to gain even more.
- Less traffic/congestion – Your getting out of the country will mean one less car on the road and one less ass standing in line on an ATM or jeepney queue. The sharks need not spend so much on additional infrastructure – saving them on development cost (and you know what they like to do with “savings”).
- Remittances – The sharks are well aware of the overseas Pinoy’s longing and yearning for relatives and friends back home, so you are bound to send back money to them, which will fuel the local consumption-driven economy – cash that will be feasted upon by the sharks and big mall and fast food owners.
- Advanced skills – Learning the advanced real-world techniques and tools of the trade in the host foreign country makes up for the substandard education, facilities, and training in Philippine schools. No better way to beef up your resume, eh?
- First-world values/mindset – By immersion and assimilation into a new foreign culture, you are transformed in your mindset to adopt the advanced work ethics and values of the host country, eventually correcting the “stupidity” that you got infected with while growing up and studying in the Philippines.
- Local jobs – By leaving the Philippines as a skilled worker, you contribute to easing out the local unemployment rate by opening up your vacated position for a person who may have the misfortune of not getting qualified to work abroad.
In addition, more travelers in and out of the country will mean bigger business for the airlines (also more people for the sharks to victimize with scams in the airports).
Missing old friends? All is not lost when you work outside the Philippines. If you choose a country like Singapore, Taiwan, or Hong Kong, you can actually go home very frequently (via budget airlines) owing to its proximity and common time zone. And there is always the Skype app running on lighting fast broadband connections abroad which you can cheaply enjoy to stay connected with relatives/friends at home.
Note: Besides, why worry about past friendships so much? We need to learn to let go of friends in the same way we let go of high school batch mates to enter college, welcoming new sets of friends. Don’t get stuck in the past. It will only keep you from reaching greater heights.
Finally, outside the Philippines, you can enjoy the amenities and perks that come with a fully functioning society that is able to provide reliable undisrupted world-class public services, and not have to endure all the dysfunction in the Philippines that can drive anyone mad.
P.I. – A Hostile Land
In addition, you need to realize that the Philippine archipelago is not really a land ideally meant for human habitation.
Just consider the extremely harsh climate and environment: roughly 10 typhoons a year, searing heat almost all year round, sticky sweaty humidity, active volcanoes & earthquake fault lines (Pacific ring of fire), unpredictable El Niño, and flood-inducing torrential monsoon rains. This natural-disaster-prone un-conducive working environment called the Philippines is an accursed land – most likely due to some karmic debt of its corrupt and self-centered people.
This leads us to consider the dysfunctional zombies who populate it. From the lowliest pedicab driver to the bozo clown sitting on the highest post of the land, everyone is “crazy”, lacking in the basics of common sense and logic. No wonder you’ll get the “worst airport of the world” title, high-death-toll sea disasters that can only happen under the watch of the grossly negligent/incompetent, mind-dumbing programs/shows that zap brain cells, and cities/towns that look like an open stinking dump site littered not just with garbage but lethargic self-entitled squatter-mentality half-dressed criminal-looking tambays. Corruption, crime, mishaps, rebellions, and failure upon embarrassing failure fill the daily news.
Greener Pastures Await You
In contrast, a whole new world awaits you on the other side of the fence – a safe, convenient and orderly world where you can enjoy four seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn) in crisp cool “air-conditioned” outdoor weather most of the year, along with the fruits and cuisine that change with the seasonal cycle, opportunities to see world-famous sites with new-found friends, and the fulfillment of working on a job that pays handsomely while enjoying the latest tools of the trade with world-class professionals.
Life doesn’t have to suck. It’s a free country. You may not have had the freedom to choose your parents or the land of your birth, but you do have a choice on how you face bifurcations along this short road of life. Don’t let the patriotic guilt trip haunt you on your need to stay (with chants of “your country needs you”), ‘coz the Philippines actually stands more to gain with you OUT of the country than you being on its soil in the body to forcibly cram yourself in with all the other swarming chaotic zombies.
Get a life. Get out of this doubly accursed land. And when you think it’s finally retirement time after working, saving a lot, and enjoying a long fruitful life abroad – then maybe you can start playing Gary V’s old familiar nostalgic song “Babalik ka rin.” But one thing’s for sure, you will be coming home with a superior first-world mindset that this logic- and values-deficient country is in dire need of. So why endure a loser situation today, when a win-win option is right before you?
Go for it – Get Out of the Philippines!
Zealous revolutionary advocate of bringing back common sense for the common good in a land of dysfunctional and delusional zombies.
You can avoid Manila traffic by not living in Manila. There are literally greener pastures in the countryside, and even the other cities are less insane. (Still the Philippines though, so not a clean bill of mental health).
Yes. Fuck yes I will. I want my parents to retire in a place where no one will harm them and I want my future family to grow up in a first world society where going to school and paying for it is not a pain in the ass. Hope is pretty much outside the Philippines.
Juan Reyes,
I used to think that way about retiring safely and peacefully in the Philippines, but it has become a dangerous place in the last 2 or 3 decades, because everybody is coveting for what little–if any–opportunities left. If the people around you see you as having more than what they have, then you’re a target.
Aeta
Wow, Great Article
Success does not judge one man for being worthy above another. Success doesn’t choose you because of your family name or existing wealth.
Success is taken by the man, who has made himself ready for its arrival. And although I am not there yet, I have to leave this place, called the FAILIPPINES, to become such a man.
Well said, done and already immigrated to Canada with my family 2 years ago…Starting a life again but worth it and so so much better…
You’re lucky man. Hoping to follow in your footsteps soon.
What’s with the change of tone? I thought you wanted to improve this shithole? Now you’re encouraging the people to get out? BAD IDEA! Hahaha!
You really think once these people get first-class education they will return to their homeland to give back? HA! Not a chance in hell! That’s too naïve of you, zaxx.
Reading this article, I think you’re finally started to believe me. This republic is BEYOND saving.
Well don’t underestimate the power of Gary V’s tribute to the OFW. I sent a youtube link of the song to an OFW who had been out for 2 decades, and now he’s back teaching at a local university.
Advise / warning: don’t play that song if you want to fully enjoy your stint abroad. You might just end up depressed and cutting short your stay in the first world prematurely. It’s good to play it when your retirement home is complete and you already have enough savings stashed to start a business in PH.
Homesickness is hardly an issue anymore for Pinoys. We are everywhere across the globe. remember – the sun never sets on the brown skin of emerging superpower Pinoys. We are conquering the world now – and it doesn’t even take a single bullet (except at the airport).
Cheers
Played that song when I was living abroad for quite awhile. It had no effect on me.
It’s actually the peoples fault. Filipinos endure, endure and endure. Like a flock of sheep. They complain to each other, but fail to make their voices heard where it matters.
Writing how upset you are on Facebook wont change things.
In any other country government buildings would be on fire already. Not here.
As long as there is no massive push from the people, Government will do nothing. NOTHING!
So shut up and continue to endure and suffer…
…or stand up and shout as loud as you can, I WONT TAKE THIS SHIT ANY LONGER!
It really is the people’s (Filipinos’) fault on why the Philippines is the way it is—from the president on down. The dysfunctional self-serving and aristocratic mentalities of the people are the real culprits on why Filipinos continue to fock their country and each other up.
In all major cities around the world, ‘people-movement’ within the city is limited to government-operated mass transit systems. From New York City, Paris and Barcelona to Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong, and others… whose populations vary from 5 millions to 18 millions…city-owned/operated buses, trains, trams and sub-ways, are the only ways to move people to their destinations, safely and efficiently. To these cities’ governments, the movement of their citizens is much too important to just leave to private business whose sole motive is profit. Manila, however.. like Karachi and Dacca.. among other ‘backward-looking’ mega-cities.. seems to be an exception. So.. it now deals with the daily ‘arterial blockage’ that causes paralysis in the streets, and the intermittent and costly interruptions to trade, commerce and to wage-earners’ commutes that the country can ill afford. As an ‘aside’ to this commentary, it must be said that the DOTC and ‘MMDA-run’ LRT/MRT, are indeed examples.. but.. on ‘how-not–to-run-a-circus’.
There are many ways that congestion, which is brought about by growth, might be handled. Singapore, early in the 1980’s limited the vehicles that could enter the city’s core, to emergency vehicles, government utility transport, delivery vans and passenger buses. Cars.. to be allowed in.. had to pay for access. Passes were sold in booklets of 10, 20 and 50 single-use-tickets; one of which would have to be surrendered each time the car enters. As well, parking anywhere in the city was limited to designated lots and multi-storey parking buildings. Street parking was banned. The program changed the city-core’s feel and appearance at once; and, the residents in and around the city center seemed not to mind the walk along clean and safe ‘de-congested’ streets. Perhaps this might be considered as one of the many programs needed to alleviate Manila’s traffic nightmare.
Manila did have a chance to grow in a rational manner. As early as the 1980s, the city governments, were told to devolve new businesses to other towns and provinces. This advise, was not heeded.. so, now we see a mall in every ten or twenty blocks, as well as warehouses, bus stations and all other sorts of vehicle and pedestrian centers guaranteed to cause traffic ‘glue’. Today, this advise must be revisited. A sensible move has already taken place when the Pandacan oil terminals were decommissioned. We could complement this development by having ‘inter-island shipping’ operate separate cargo and passenger ships. All cargo ships must dock, load, and off-load in Cavite, thereby leaving the North and South Harbors to purely passenger traffic.. thereby, ridding the streets of most container trucks. There are other sensible solutions, of course, but whatever these measures may be, a city-run mass transport system must be its companion-remedy, or,better yet.. its ‘backbone’ .
Nice bit of info here. Unfortunately, such strategy will not work in Metro Manila, at least not anymore. Reasons being are 1) infrastructure is a design nightmare. As you have stated, there are malls rammed beside every main highway. Urban planning is a mess. The only way you can improve thoroughfares in MM is by starting from scratch. 2) Too many vehicles out on the road. If a pass/no-pass scheme is implemented those vehicles will just be jammed on some other roads. 3) The populace complain too much. Good luck on making people in MM follow strategies like the one used in SG before and you need more luck to clean illegal settlers to free up space for any decongestion plans for MM.
To RBR:
Just a thought really. With the dismantling of the Pandacan Oil Installations, perhaps, uprooting other such structures as impedes movement might be considered for the greater good. “Brazohan na ba.”
“Go for it – Get Out of the Philippines!”
And that’s not what I want, I want to be a good & better Filipino citizen by making a better Philippines in an ethical, systematic, vigilant & prosperous way, and I know we can do this if we could work together and we could love our country rather than ourselves and don’t be too selfish. In order to to this, then watch this short satirical but meaningful video called LAGLAGAN NA courtesy of Juana Change.
P.S.:
Very coincidental about that title, “LAGLAGAN” and yes, we should get rid of bad systems in our country alright! WE NEED CHANGE FOR OUR COUNTRY!!!
https://youtu.be/AlH9IOD-PV4
Then what’s the point of having GRP?
Don’t get me wrong – I have not lost hope in the Phil, and the Phil is not beyond repair – though many here will disagree.
We all come here to GRP for many reasons. One purpose is to awaken those still trapped in the dungeon – actually more of a “mental dungeon” the symptoms of which are all around you in the Phil. The dungeon’s doors are actually wide open – people just need to realize it.
Going out to experience a first world country is one way to cure our dysfunctional mentality. it’s not the only way, but it’s one of the most effective.
zaxx,
Unfortunately, most of our people who experience First World countries, do not come back. I cannot blame. Our cultural values and way of life are too fucked up to be saved.
Aeta
I for one think this country is beyond any hope. And I get prove of it every day.
Roxas Blvd. had been cleaned for APEC and was closed off. ONE FUCKING DAY LATER I pass by and some ASSHOLES already poured mountains of Garbage and shit on the sidewalk.
It’s just unreal. People like that should be shot in public.
our family chose to come here so my son could finish his education in a values rich Catholic environment, and so he could learn the language.
in almost 7 and a half years here, we’ve rarely met anyone brazenly dishonest, although there have been a few folks who’ve ‘borrowed’ and forgot to return the item, but that’s life. or maybe we’ve simply not been mixing in the right circles.
it’s an attitude thing, maybe: you may say ‘bahala na’ is a real pejorative downer, but someone else may see such an attitude as akin to stoicism.
I may criticize the culture for lacking any sense of urgency or attention to detail, but someone else may say, “Is it really that important anyway?”
But fewer people seem to commit suicide here, as compared to say, South Korea – so competitive – or Australia – so alienated – so perhaps a lot more people see life as worth living here, despite the humidity, crime, corruption, and horrible gridlock.
And speaking of gridlock, it always tends to remind me of that classic REM hit, “Everybody Hurts Sometime.” Maybe that was inspired by just such an inconvenient event, but it certainly turned it into a wonderful piece of art.
Many contributors in these pages have suggested some measures this administration can take, (could have taken), to solve some of our problems. I have no doubt that the administration had read and considered them; but that implementation must have proved to be difficult.. (or am I dreaming?). Perhaps we should learn from a foreigner like you, as to which side is best to view the problems from. But.. if you are simply blessed with ‘resilience’ ‘patience’ and ‘hope’.. virtues that Filipinos have had plenty of, once, but are running out of presently, just wait a while longer, you could be singing a different tune one day soon.
Having said all that, I hope that whoever is the host of this ‘Blogging Service’ invites you to contribute more. Insights like yours are refreshing and optimistic. These are commodities of which we have scant supply.
“But fewer people seem to commit suicide here”
Yeah, because stupid people are always happy. Ever watched TV after some disaster here. There are always some Pinoys laughing into the camera as if they just won the lottery. From those people up to President Coconut, all a bunch of morons. Most good, decent, educated Filipinos have left already and what’s left is human garbage.
So don’t wonder if Bozo the clown will be the next President here. Stupid people elect stupid politicians.
“Ignorance is bliss” couldn’t be any truer and just defines the masses of the Philippines. Ever wonder why they don’t like to talk about politics or other “heavy” topics like philosophy or the sciences? They give excuses like, “it’s too hard to understand” “depressing to be reminded of” or my favorite “We just want to live simple.” Yeah, because intellectualism is still associated with upper class, hoity toity elitism in PH.
Nietzsche and Voltaire would’ve ripped their hair out living in day one in today’s Philippines.
How were you making a living during that time?
I have done that, a few years ago. I have migrated and continued my education in the U.S.A. I will not come back, anymore.
The Philippines is cursed land with: stupid people, that don’t want for change and improvement.
The Filipino political leaders, who are mostly the Oligarchs, want stupid Filipinos, to populate the country. So that, they can continue to rule; and exploit its natural resources, for themselves, their cahoots and their families.
The Filipino leaders, don’t have to do anything, during their terms of office, to improve things. Look at how Aquino is doing…he is sitting on his hands, and watching the Philippines, go down into the drain, doing nothing.
If you have the opportunity to get out…do yourself a favor…get out quick…
Great comment. I will never EVER come back too. I can’t wait to live elsewhere.
I would agree that leaving is not necessarily a solution. It’s just that some have the choice to do it, and can do it. As for me, though, I can’t get out easily, so here I stay, making my stand and trying to do something here before things really force me to go. But for some, at least they get jobs with better salaries abroad, and if only they could finance efforts to improve things at home. Too bad that usually goes to family survival.
I will never go back here, maybe just to visit sometimes, but very rarely, or maybe even never. I would just take my parents over with me, I don’t want them to retire in this shit hole.
I just can’t wait to permanently live elsewhere. Canada is probably my first choice. Enough is enough, and time to finally have a better life and better opportunities elsewhere.
And I will retire in the first world. Why come back here when you already live aa better life in the first world? Why start a whole new shitty life again? Just stay in the first world in never come back, like me. Also, I will have a spouse from there, so yeah.
And I will retire in the first world. Why come back here when you already live a better life in the first world? Why start a whole new shitty life again by coming back here? Just stay in the first world, live a much better life in better surroundings and people, and never come back, like me. Also, I will have a spouse from there, so yeah.
Fixed a few errors, and added a couple of things. Anyway, I can’t wait to FINALLY get out of here! It’s my biggest dream to finally leave and move to either Canada, Australia, Europe, USA, or New Zealand! Just the first world in general. A better life awaits, and I cannot wait to just end all the pain and suffering that this horrible country brings. Most of my main problems in life would get absolutely eliminated just by getting the hell out of here. I’d rather commit suicide than stay here, and I ABSOLUTELY MEAN IT. I can’t reiterate this ENOUGH! So yeah, I just cannot wait to leave!!
“Suicide” is a bit too extreme, my friend.
Your corpse would end up being buried HERE in this messed-up country.
2 more months to go and I-AM-OUTTA-HERE!!!
I’ll still return from time to time as I am helping out the local Animal Welfare Groups but THAT’S IT!
Pinoys, sadly, are a very UNTRUSTWORTHY lot and for over 30+ years I’ve wasted my life here, I’ve only come to call 15 Pinoys are good and true friends.
The rest…SCUM!!!
Jay,
I am a Filipino and I couldn’t agree with you more. It’s time ALL of us Filipinos humbly admit our cultural values–the way we think and live our lives–are fucked up. It’s the only way to address our major issues—primarily ourselves.
Aeta
Typo – “I’ve only come to call 15 Pinoys AS good and true friends.”
Apologies.
I’m not expecting everyone to get out simultaneously. Judging from the picture of traffic congestion above, I estimate 50% of the population should go out and do their tour of duty.
Well it depends on the person if he/she should come back. What if there’s nothing to go back to? – friends and relatives already abroad or dead, or no property waiting to enjoy for one’s retirement.
If you do come back, consider being in a position of influence like teaching / politics so you can rub off your acquired first-world mentality to the local zombies.
It’s a battle on 2 fronts – we also need an iron-fisted leader to instill discipline from the top on those who remain inside the country. Someday we might wake up to a different “first world” Philippines if everything goes as “planned”.
Fuck all these Chinese and Korean-owned businesses that keep selling privately-owned vehicles to stupid Filipinos, adding to the already over-bearing traffic on the roadway, just to put more money in their pockets and to keep the masses feeling like they are a part of the aristocratic class.
Hear! Hear!
Aeta
Why blame the Chinese/Koreans whose only fault is taking advantage of business opportunities? It’s like blaming a merchant for selling a highly demanded product because common sense dictates it.
I think we should blame the customers themselves, not the suppliers.
Presidente Emilio,
I can’t believe you even asked that question, as if you’re oblivious to how the Chinese–and now the Koreans–have bribed their way into our politician’s pockets for political favors, to monopolize the economy and put our local businesses out of business; and how these foreigners have increased the gap between the rich and poor and made life harder for the average Filipinos, bought out our land, and polluted our environment.
Aeta
And who, I might add, led this to happen? Certainly not those “dirty foreigners” but the native people. Your expressing the typical Pinoy blame game towards a group who had no hand in creating this economic climate, but rather exploited it for the shamble that it is.
“and how these foreigners have increased the gap between the rich and poor and made life harder for the average Filipinos, bought out our land, and polluted our environment.”
Really hilarious since the PH needs foreign investment and businesses if it’s to wean off its unsustainable OFW dependence. You think native businesses will suddenly practice ethical business? Do you even into economics, bro?
Serge,
Yes, I did study economic and was involved in it in the Philippines for over 20 years, Bro, with my own business. So don’t start lecturing me on the ins and outs of it. I’ve been around the block a lot longer than you have and fully understand the business climate in the Philippines—and how fucked up it is.
Aeta
Serge,
“And who, I might add, led this to happen? Certainly not those “dirty foreigners” but the native people. Your expressing the typical Pinoy blame game towards a group who had no hand in creating this economic climate, but rather exploited it for the shamble that it is.”
Is yours one of those questions that ask, ‘who is guilty? The drug pushers or the addicts, the prostitutes or the Johns?’ We both know our people are fucked up, but why are you making it sound like as if the Chinese and Koreans are not part of that equation?
Aeta
For all the praise chinoys get for their entrepreneurial spirit in theis country, they still lack imagination and vision. All of the big chinese families, the Sys, Tans, Gokongweis, what do they do? – Retail. Yes, thats right folks, all they know to do is to run glorified Sari-sari stores.
I”ve yet to hear them go into researxh, manufacturing, tech, cars, software, genetics and what not. Stuff that can actually create value and garner international recognition.
In the end, they are glorified storekeepers, fueling consumerism, creating nothing of value.
probably i would just leave NCR and look for a cleaner place. Davao City! 😀
Davao is going to get fucked up, too—sooner or later.
They say if you’re looking for the perfect church and finally find it, don’t join it or it won’t be perfect anymore.
i.e. Wherever “better place” you’re going, don’t bring your dysfunction with you.
Do your country a favor? Thats a laugh,HOW ‘BOUT…..
DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE HELL-HOLE COUNTRY….
….and do not go back until a citizen of another country !
Xenophobia at its finest. Good luck with that PEENOY.
The conditions in our country are indeed tough for many, but I would never abandon the place and peoples that borned me.
So many GRiPers, their comment here show they do not have the backbone to survive and thrive in a complicated environment.
Indeed, better to quit and flee, and denounce your country from afar, like a true GRP supporter.
Here’s a idea, if you had supported your kababayan and Sir Aquinos, perhaps you would of been rewarded for your patriotism and service?
No.. because that would require real work and real relationships with the community, something I do not expect from the no hopers whining here.
Good riddance I say!
Try not to let the door hit you on the way out or trip over the tail between your legs running.
Our spirit is waterproof!
God bless the PH and those true to her!
I hope that you will continue to “fight the good fight” for this country.
Let’s see how far it’ll get you.
Jay,
I bet that if a US Senator were to offer him a Green Card, he won’t hesitate to grab it and forget what he just typed out.
lol @ “sir aquinos”. troll harder next time
Sir Aquino? Are you actually wearing a yellow shirt while you are typing this?
Yes, sure….if you are not one of the politicians family? You are fucked!
The only way to prosper in the hell-hole country is to be a corrupt politician,GOCC Board Member or some other Gov’t. appointee. If you are not that? You are fucked ! You have no chance at a better life for you or your family, and you are going to castigate someone for realizing that? and then doing something about it? Good riddance? …PFFFF….more like ‘SEE YA’, ‘GOOD LUCK WITH THAT !’,’BON VOYAGE’…..lol !
Take a look at the faces on the people at holiday season at NAIA, waiting for family to return with money so the rest of the family can eat, or clothe themselves, it is pure desperation/misery. You can stay, its too bad the country makes it so difficult to leave. Hundreds of thousands would leave tomorrow…if they only could.
@Pinoy Patriot…El Agila, that you man? Changed your moniker, eh?
Here’s an idea: why don’t you STOP being a FAGGOT and a TROLL and set your priorities for once.
Nobody loves the Yellowtard. They’re all liars and frauds. Like you, for example. 🙂
Pinoy Patriot,
Delusion and Denial really are in abundant supplies among our people. God may have blessed the Philippines once, but He has long given up on the self-serving and arrogant nature of the Filipino people. You are right. The Filipinos’ spirits are “waterproof.” It doesn’t matter how many gallons of ice, cold water you splash on their faces, they still refuse to wake up from their delusions and face the truth that they, and they alone, are the ones fucking up their own country and each other.
Aeta
NO WAY, the average citizen has NO SAY in what is going on in the country. The elections are all rigged one way or another and there is not a single thing any average citizen can do about it. Sure littering and other disgusting Pinoy habits can be changed, but as far as the general direction of the countries bearing, HA ! What you state is a laugh.
It’s so sad that you get better treatment in other countries as a second class citizen than living in your own country.
“It’s so sad that you get better treatment in other countries as a second class citizen than living in your own country.”
That’s because Filipinos don’t give a shit about their own country and each other. Every Filipino has this “every man [and woman] for himself” attitude, and it shows in the way they live their lives in the Philippines and abroad.
Implement US style democracy and values to an immature group of people and you get a bunch of hellraisers who think they’re entitled to do whatever they want because “muh freedoms and human rights.”
Serge,
You cannot “implement U.S. style democracy and values to an immature group of people” who are inherently tribal/feudal (will readily destroy each other at a drop of hat) and arrogant (through centuries of Spanish aristocratic influence). Filipinos have been trying to implement U.S. style democracy for the past century and keep failing it at. Why? It’s because our people have no sense of original cultural identity, and a dysfunctional moral values, that make us a bunch of fucked up people.
Aeta
Bakit sabi mo yung pagiging “inherently tribal” yung problema kaya hindi gumagana yung US-style democracy, tapos biglang “because our people have no sense of original cultural identity”? Ano ba talaga?
Curious lang ako kung bakit parang siguradong-sigurado kang kung ano yung kultura ng bansa noong pre-colonial Spain bound to fail at magpapatayan lang ang mga tao rito. Hindi mo rin ba naiisip na dahil sa pagsawsaw ng mga forein country ay lalong gumulo rito? Hindi ako nakikipag-away ha? Gusto kong malaman kung gaano kalalim yung alam mo sa lahat ng sinasabi mong tribal culture sa Pilipinas na syang para mong sinasabing pinag-ugatan ng halos lahat ng dinaranas natin ngayon. Hindi ko rin sinasabing alam ko lahat ha.
erratum:
*ay bound to fail
*foreign
(Sana maglagay sila ng EDIT function dito.)
sammie,
Exactly what I said: “inherently tribal” and “no sense of cultural identity.” Instead of acknowledging and working our way through anomalies of our self-serving (kanya-kanya) tribal trait, as the main culprit of why we Filipinos cannot ‘get our shits’ together to re-build our country, we readily adopt other cultural identities because we deem them as being more sophisticate and and regal than our own indigenous culture. Think about it. Everything we are proud of in our Filipino culture has been adopted from either the Spanish or the Americans, instead of revering and improving our own. And we use these adopted cultural values, and our indigenously tribal traits, against each other.
Aeta
sammie,
Exactly what I said: “inherently tribal” and “no sense of cultural identity.”
Instead of acknowledging and working our way through the anomalies of our self-serving (kanya-kanya) tribal trait, as the main culprit of why we Filipinos cannot ‘get our shits’ together to re-build our country, we readily adopt other cultural identities because we deem them as being more sophisticated and and regal than our own indigenous culture.
Think about it. Everything we are proud of in our Filipino culture has been adopted from either the Spanish or the Americans, instead of revering and improving on our own; and we use these adopted cultural values, and our indigenously tribal traits, against each other.
Aeta
Palagay ko hindi tamang itulad ang “self-serving” sa “kanya-kanya” at hindi rin ganyan ang mga original na mga katutubo. Totoong confused na yung mga kaugalian ngayon ng mga Pilipino, pero yung ipakahulugan mong yung orihinal na kultura ng mga tribo ay masama mula’t mula, hindi yata tama yun.
Tinanong kita kung ano’ng alam mo sa original na kultura ng pre-colonial Philippines kasi parang pinag-isa mo na yung opinyon mo ukol sa lahat. Diversified ang MGA kultura ng MGA tribo, kaya parang namamangha lang akong kaya mong tukuyin ang lahat ng mga kulturang yon bilang iisa, bilang masama at hindi magpapaunlad sa bansa.
Ngayong nahaluan na nga ng pagtangkilik sa mga banyagang kaugalian ang mga ugali ng mga katutubong Pilipino, bakit hindi yata ikinokonsidera ng mga komento nyo rito yung katotohanang dahil sa tagal ng mga nanakop rito sa bansa ay naging mas lalong watak-watak ang mga Pilipino? Hindi ba’t mga Espanyol ang nagpalaganap ng rehiyunalismo para hindi mag-alsa ang mga Pilipino?
Alam kong sasabihin nyong lumang tugtugin na ito at hindi na dapat gawing pagdadahilan, pero ang totoo, dahilan nga ito. Ugat ito ng pagiging ganito ng mga Pilipino ngayon.
Ang ibig ko lang sabihin, oo, tama ngang palpak na ang karamihan ng mga pag-uugali ng karamihan sa mga Pilipino ngayon, pero hindi tamang ipagpasawalang-bahala nyo yung kakulangan ng kaalaman natin mismong mga Pilipino sa kultura at pagkatao natin bago dumating ang mga Kastila kaya nahihirapan tayong alamin kung alin ba ang sinasabi mong “inherent” sa hindi.
Ibinabase ko lang ang sinasabi ko dahil hindi naman makasarili o hambog ang pag-uugaling nalaman ko sa mga Ivatan o Ifugao noong nakasalamuha ako ng ilan sa kanila. At dalawang tribo lang yan. Paano pa yung iba?
@Aeta
Did I just read a Nazi propaganda?
Actually, Korea and China are doing us a favor by bothering to invest in our fucked-up economy. Despite the very unreasonable economic restrictions imposed by the Yellow Constitution they still consider us a decent trade partner.
It’s not their fault if our government is INCAPABLE of supporting our local industries to level the playing field.
So please, at least tone down your racist rhetorics.
Presidente Emilio,
You just don’t get it, do you? You keep believing the propagandized headlines of our government that will tell you everything you want to hear, to delude your perception of reality about the Philippines and its people.
Go ahead, and keep convincing yourself of what a great job the Chinese and Koreans are doing for our economy, while you scratch your head in confusion on why millions of our people are itching to leave the Philippines as OFWs and expats, and the rest driven further into poverty.
Yes, our governmet is “incapable” and fucked up, but so are the rest of our people who keep deluding themselves into believing that everything will be all right—with their hopeless optimism.
Aeta
Aeta
And you’re just a whining brat who always argue that it’s their fault when it’s obvious that the real fault are within ourselves.
Now, let’s get back to your rhetoric. Foreigners are bribing the gov’t and are exploiting our resources. I ask you, who’s fault is it, these foreigners who’s capable of jumping into opportunities, or us who let those foreigners in without knowing that we can dictate the terms if we’re smart enough. “Walang manloloko kung walang nagpapaloko” the saying goes. Sadly we let ourselves become ignorant that the foreigners manage to take advantage of us, like you claim.
You may be a good economist, but you don’t know anything about politics.
Presidente Emilio,
Wow! That is the first I’ve heard of telling the truth as “whining.” How many times, or what shape and form, can I explain to you that our “fucked up” people are not exempt from what is wrong with the Philippines? That our people are primarily the ones to blame because of their primitive way of thinking and contrasting, aristocratic way of life.
My declaration about the Chinese and Koreans ‘fucking up’ our country and way of life is to bring them into the picture of what is wrong with our society to balance the equation, not to blame one and absolve the other. As I had said before, who is guilty? The prostitute or the “Johns”? The drug pusher or the addicts?
So it’s not a question about what came first. The chicken or the eggs? I say it’s both to avoid the triviality. Don’t lecture me about politics. I know enough to realize that politics and economics go hand-in-hand; and no dirtier politics and economics complement each other in the Philippines more than the Chinese/Koreans and our ‘fucked up’ people at all levels.
Aeta
Why don’t you blame US too for jumping ship out of the basketcase of a country why don’t ya? Or is your racism only reserved for the “yellow devils?”
Oh, and how the Yanks treated Flips during their first years of occupation after Spain sold the Philippines. Actually, why don’t you raise your indignation to Carlos who’s vacationing from Madrid because his ancestors ripped the country inside out.
Serge,
The U.S. bailed out of the Philippines because it finally realized that the Filipino people are too ‘fucked up’ to fall in one line to fight for their own survival against the Chinese. Why do you think the U.S. gave the Philippines its independence in 1946 and refused to grant us territorial soverignty or statehood? Our land are too spread out and our people are too unwieldy to follow one leadership. The U.S. and Marcos knew, and the Chinese are using it to their advantage by taking over us one piece of real estate and political/economic sector at a time.
Aeta
Wow, big words there, Aeta. Care to elaborate on your accusations?
Because if I remember, the root cause of why foreigners managed to steal our resources and control our economy is because THE PHILIPPINES’ LEADERS AND POLICYMAKERS SUCK AT GEOPOLITICS.
Gagong Lipunan,
Which day(s) do you want me to elaborate on my accusations? Day 1 or Day 365? This decade or the last 3 or 4? This century or the last?
Like what I have been telling Presidente Emilio and Serge, over and over again, which they cannot seem to understand, I already know our people are fucked up; and they allow more fucked up people like the Chinese and Koreans (with their cheap-ass ways of doing business of taking more than what they give back) to monopolize our economy, buy up our land, and pollute our environment—as well as fuck up the mind of our already fucked up politicians. It’s not whining; it’s the truth.
Aeta
Aeta
Even if that’s the truth, can you do anything about it?
Fucked-up people? I would even give these Koreans/Chinese a standing ovation for being excellent students of Machiavelli’s School of Politics and Sun Tzu’s School of Strategies. You see, one solid truth about this world is that the strong ALWAYS exploit the weak. China and Korea are strong, the Philippines is weak. Thus, nature took its due course. These people can do anything with the government because the latter allowed them to do so by showing their weaknesses.
Cheap-ass way of doing business? I call it taking advantage of the opportunity. If I were I businessman, why would I reject the possibilty of earning more and spending less? That’s plain common sense, seriously.
So, instead of repeatedly saying that ‘screw the foreigners for exploiting us unfairly’, whether it’s true or not, it is better to ask your own leaders, WHY DID THEY LET THAT HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Gagong Lipunan,
Yes, there is absolutely something you and I can do about the ‘fucked up’ way we Filipinos think and live our lives: bring the truth out in the open so we can dispel this proverbial, and equally useless, “Pinoy Pride” that prevents all of us from facing the truth and admitting to our shortcomings; that we are not that great of a people who we say we are, that we don’t love our country and each other as much as we say we do, and that we are a sellout to special interest groups for the right price.
Granted, the Chinese have a long history and understanding of “The Art of War” and the Machiavellian style of leadership that they effectively use against our primitive, yet aristocratic, people, I am not sure if I would regale on that knowledge by applauding these foreigners while they continue to rape the very fabric of our very existence.
If anything, I would use the same strategy these foreigners have been using on us, by turning it around and using it against them–just like what the Chinese did to the Japanese Imperial Army to drive them out of China, by taking to the hills and having Chiang Kai-shek’s army do the dirty fighting for them–during World War 2; but, that will take a cohesive effort from our “fucked up” people to set aside their self-interests and differences to liberate themselves from their oppressors, which I don’t see happening in our lifetime, because it takes honesty, humility, selflessness, and the sincerest desire to do so.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I will continue to admire, and defend, these Chinese and Koreans for taking advantage of our weakness and try to use it against us.
You may not be able to change the self-destructive nature of our people, but you can certainly expose the truth–to them and the rest of the world–that their self-serving and arrogant nature, their lack of love for their country and one another, is the real reason why the Philippines is ‘fucked up.’
Everything I’ve said above is what I will tell our impotent leaders, myself, you, and every ‘fucked up’ Filipinos that I come across.
Aeta
So in your head, one of the ways for the Philippines to achieve greatness is to subjugate other people as “pay back?” Well, aren’t you a budding fascist. Might wanna lay off the Mein Kamfp for awhile to realize how stupid you sound.
Oh, and by the way, did the Philippines provide anything to them besides warm bodies? Let me know when some Flip businessman sets up shop in Xinjiang or near the DMZ between SK and NK and hire the poor locals there. I’ll be waiting.
The writer is a sarcastic realist. I like it. That is why I live in Dubai now. Almost everything is better here than Metro Manila.
Aeta
You misunderstood me, my friend. I’m not defending the Chinese/Koreans.
What I want to say is that if this country wants to be strong, they must look up to those who are strong already, and LEARN FROM THEM. If you don’t want to admire/acknowledge what these foreigners achieved, how can you even strive to be like them?
It’s a step-by-step process: If you acknowledge something exceptional, you’ll desire to be like that. If you desire to be like that, you will try to learn how to be like that. After learning to be like that, you will attempt to apply all you learned into practice.
Ask yourself this, how did China become so strong to the point they are already capable of standing up to the US? Why China can’t bully Vietnam and some other ASEAN countries in the way they do to the Philippines?
Would you still not acknowledge/admire those Chinese/Koreans knowing they know the keys to be a strong nation capable of standing on their own?
Gagong Lipunan,
What is there to be exceptionally admired about Chinese, whose sole purpose is to rake in as much profit as possible while compromising their environment and the quality of life for their own people? This greediness and cheapness go beyond frugality and thrives on gluttony.
The Chinese’s proxies in the Philippines are doing the same thing by exploiting our resources and starving our people out in every way conceivable, to force the latter further into poverty or out of the country.
Not to advocate Ferdinand Marcos’ leadership style, but he had the foresight to see what will happen if the Chinese-Filipino businesses were given free rein in the country; and, hindsight being true to its words, his (Marcos) biggest fear about the Chinese’s economic takeover of the Philippines has come to fruition almost 30 years after he was ousted from power.
If you expect me to share your admiration about what the Chinese (and Koreans) have achieved in their respective countries, in the Philippines, and the rest of the world, I am afraid I will have to disappoint you.
As the 14th Dalai Lama of the Buddhist people once said in his message to the world. “Everything we are and do in this world is relative. When we take more than what we need to survive, we cause others to be deprived of the resources they need to survive, put unnecessary strain on the environment, and cause this world to suffer further.”
Aeta
I have Chinese ancestry and I have friends and family from China. Are you gonna belittle and tell me to GTFO of PH just because you’re so butthurt?
Serge,
Your ass is hurting, too, from what your Chinese side is doing. You just won’t say anything out of pride. So, just tell your Chinese side to stop being so greedy and share.
Aeta
Share what? My hard earned money? Sorry, last time I heard the Philippines is a capitalist society. I am not obligated to help out leeches who are to be of no use to me. Maybe stop shoving your head up your arse and realize Chinese are HELPING the natives more than they are putting them down. That’s what your full blooded Pinoy brothers are doing.
By the way, not every Chinese Filipino is a moustache twirling Mr.Scrooge as you make them out to be, but coming from a bigot, this’ll fall into deaf ears.
Serge,
“Share what? My hard earned money? Sorry, last time I heard the Philippines is a capitalist society.”
You’re taking what I said about “share” out of context, just like the rest of what I had previously said about the monopoloy of the Chinese and Koreans of the country’s industries. What I meant with ‘share’ is the country’s resources, and not hoard the damn things for themselves (the Chinese).
How do the Chinese help the Filipino people beside throwing them leftover and crumbs? Can you explain that one for me?
Aeta
Huh? You do realize most of the “resources” you’re talking about are owned by Flips right, be they have roots from the mainland or not.
What the Chinese-Filipino community has done is a simple rags-to-riches story based on a combination of savviness and hard work. Apparently, you see these qualities as “sneaky” and “vile,” but tell me. How else are they going to prosper in this screwed up place without cracking a few eggs along the way? No…this is a reality everywhere you are in the world. Me nor anyone else owes it to someone else what we achieved in the PH, certainly not to the “masa” who spend their days pissing it off through beer and karaoke. The Chinese here actually give them a start as laborers, clerks etc. If those seem like “leftovers” and “crumbs” to you then you are an entitled brat who thinks everyone who’s successful needs to prop up those who aren’t. Perhaps in a socialist state, yeah but the Philippines is by and large no such thing.
tl;dr We’re not the problem. The government, its indigenous people and its culture are. Get over it.
“Not to advocate Ferdinand Marcos’ leadership style, but he had the foresight to see what will happen if the Chinese-Filipino businesses were given free rein in the country; and, hindsight being true to its words, his (Marcos) biggest fear about the Chinese’s economic takeover of the Philippines has come to fruition almost 30 years after he was ousted from power”
– Except the likes of Lucio Tan and Ramon Ang were his closest cronies.
Sese,
“Except the likes of Lucio Tan and Ramon Ang were his closest cronies.”
Two Chinese cronies (Tan and Ang) compared to how many Chinese businesses we have now that is monopolizing the Philippine economy, closing down Filipino-owned businesses, and forcing the Filipino people deeper into despair?
Give me a fucking break.
Aeta
They’re still Chinoys who curried favor with Marcos you ignoramus. Don’t try to pull any of this “exceptions to the rule” bullshit. It’s not helping your position.
Serge,
Bitch, the only position I’m trying to pull is to make the point that since 1986, the Chinese-Filipino (Chinoys) monopoly and bribing of our corrupt politicians has gotten waaaaay out of fucking hand—and the whole country is suffering as a results. Your fucking, stupid “Pinoy Pride” is what keeps you from seeing the truth, even when it’s already slapping you in the face.
Aeta
Pinoy Pride? I’m just as much angry about this country’s state of affairs as you. Quit putting words in my mouth. Whatever grievances you have to an entire group of people don’t make it into an excuse as to why the PH is failing. You’re just being a bigot. Plain and simple.
For the scum that they are, at least the politicians still have a modicum of sense to not target a demographic that has only lived in peace.
Serge,
If you are angry about this country’s state of affairs as I am then make it known to the world that it’s not just our fucked up politicians that are fucking up the country, it’s also the greedy and cheap Chinese-Filipino communities, and us Filipinos with our self-serving and arrogant way of life.
Yes, I’m bigot, just like every fucked up and aristocratic Filipinos out there. Just ask Filipino actresses like Elizabeth Ramsey and Whitney Tyson, and every dark-skinned celebrities in the country, who has to take the backseats to light-skinned mestizo/mestiza television personalities, on how bigoted we Filipinos are.
These scum Filipino politicians whom you speak of are way too practical to “bite the hands that feed them,” because I am certain that they are on the Chinese and Korean businesses’ payroll for political and economic favor. Stop trying to cover up for your Chinese lineage, will you? It’s not helping the plight of the country to lift itself out of poverty and corruption.
Aeta
Aeta,
You mentioned in one of your earlier posts that you run a business. I can’t help but think that the only reason you’re maligning a whole minority is because some chinese-filipino businessman can offer what you can offer, either lower in price or better in quality. Really, your racist rhetoric isn’t helping your nation nor your credibility and reputation. I’d have to side with Serge on this one.
to decongest metro manila you have to have a mass transit system that works. then you have to make owning and parking a car very expensive. thats why in new york and tokyo even rich people take cabs or mass transport. imagine if a car is 2million and registration is 100t a year and parking is 2t pesos a day, pero pwede lang gawin yan kung maayos na ang transport system.
Aeta
Sorry to rein in on your idealism, but you need to accept the reality.
Equal sharing exists only between those of equal standing. As much as you hate the Chinese for being greedy, that’s just the way it is, for they are strong. Because only the strong has the right to call the shots. China respects only those who she deemed as an equal. She doesn’t see this pathetic republic as her equal, so don’t expect her show some respect.
You want China to share? The answer is simple, really. Make this shithole of a country worthy of respect not just from China but the entire international community.
BTW, a Korean friend of mine just read your comments here recently, and he’s laughing his ass of. He wants me to send his message. And he says: “It’s not our fault that your leaders are idiots. So stop bitching and learn to play the game.”
Gagong Lipunan,
I half-expected your kind of answer, especially when you have to recruit the opinion of your Korean counterpart to support your argument. Are you even a Filipino? Sounds to me you’re not, and just in the Philippines to take part in the fleecing of the country and its people.
Aeta
And you are a fool who’s afflicted with diseases called fanatical Nationalism and ethnocentrism. You’d be right at home along the likes of Kim and the Ayatollah.
Serge,
Where the fuck do you come up with all these labels: fanatical Nationalism, ethnocentrism, Kim, and Ayatollah to prove a point? You’re just dragging out the dialogue between us with non-essential labels that you cannot justify. Just get to the point about what it is you don’t agree with and support it.
Aeta
Just calling a spade a spade. What I’m trying to convince you yet you completely ignore constantly is that the Chinese and Korean Diaspora are not the perpetrators of the Filipino condition. Just an FYI, the oligarchs are mostly composed of European stock (mestizos). What the Spanish brought here, they kept it running to this day. The East Asians in the Philippines just run the businesses. Actually, most just study to learn English then go back home. Not everyone is a Henry Sy. That’s actually something of a dim light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone can do business in the PH (as for the matter of actually wanting to set up shop here with protectionist policies like 60-40 is another thing entirely). If you’re gonna insist on your racist angle, may as well go full isolationist route and block off foreign investment and trade. Let’s see how long that lasts. Fact is, they help the economy in a way that is more sustainable than your average Juan who goes off overseas, works his butt off then goes back again to blow it all away. Rinse and repeat.
By the way, you haven’t answered my earlier question regarding if there have been any cases of overseas Filipinos establishing businesses in China and Korea to help out the poor people there. Care to rise up to the challenge?
Serge,
Let me give you a more accurate breakdown of how the Chinese and Spanish (including Americans) affected our primitive way of life. The Chinese came to this land before the Spanish did and introduced our people to the mercantile system of trade. And that was fine because those pre-colonial Chinese came here, settled down, and married into our society—but somehow preserved their way of life as much as possible by sticking to it even to this day.
The Spanish came afterward and forced their religion down our throat, impregnated our women, and indoctrinated us into their aristocratic way of life—which predominantly makeup our arrogant and condescending attitude today towards our own countrymen who do not possess Spanish blood.
When the Americans came and defeated the Spanish, we assumed their form of government, inter-bred with them, and, after World War 2, immigrated to the United States in great numbers for a better chance at life.
It does not matter if it was the Chinese, Spanish, or the Americans, our people’s primitive and tribal nature kept them in fierce competition with one another. This was our people’s historical nature and it cannot be undone and re-written.
You skipped a few critical periods of Chinese influence in the Philippines when you said a few of them (Chinese) were just here to study English and went back to China. You and I know that is not entirely true, unless you’re talking about Koreans who have been doing those very same thing in the last couple of decades.
Since the end of World War 2, the Chinese have been smuggling contrabands (merchandise, drugs, weapons, and people) in and out of this country, through the northern region by way of South China Sea, and to spread Communism throughout the Philippines.
Communism was the early catalyst of the earlier Hukbalahap (Huk) movement that eventually became the New People’s Army (NPA), that Ferdinand Marcos tried desperately to control, while suppressing the spread of Islam from the south. With Vietnam War at its peak, Marcos had the full support of the United States that gave him free rein on how he rand the country. At the end of the Vietnam War and towards the mid-1980s, in the midst of a waning American support for Marcos and rising revolt from political parties for a change in power, Marcos eventually lost his presidency in 1986.
From 1986, there has been a radical change in the political climate, with the Chinese communities being an active part of them—not necessarily in front of the camera like their Filipino counterparts—but behind it with their money. Chinese-supported candidates and parties won numerous political elections and, once seated, gradually change the business climates in the country over the last 3 decades. Today, almost all of the industries are led by Chinese-Filipino cartels as Filipino-owned businesses have shrunk in size or taken over.
Koreans—I’m not quite sure on who is behind this picture—started migrating into the country in growing numbers by invitation.
To answer your question why Filipinos have not started business in China or Korean to help out the poor people there. It’s simple. Aside from these two countries (China and Korea) for having a higher standard of living for their “poor” than the Philippines, China has not allowed foreign companies to do business inside their communist border for a decades; and, has only lifted the ban to a few “First World” countries like the United States as a show of political and economic reciprocity.
Korea has traditionally kept foreign business out because of their limited land areas, like Japan, and prefer its own citizens to venture out to do business globally.
Exactly how many rich and corrupt Filipino oligarchs do you think would take their chances in other countries and abide by their laws, when they can easily exploit their own country and people, with the help of foreign money and influence?
Use your common sense, man. This is the reason why I think you’re lopsided in your beliefs and adamantly try to protect your Chinese lineage for reason only known to you. You only want others to see what you want them to see, instead of taking a global approach to the brutal reality of life in the Philippines, by revealing the truth behind the vast and complicated network of who really controls the political and economic infrastructures in this country.
Aeta
Aeta,
Wow, so many curse words! I’m not the least bit offended, don’t worry. I asked my questions simply to understand your point of view. I don’t believe my questions are stupid. However, your answers are, to be frank.
You said you know about economics. Yet based from your response, it really seems like you do not. Why do you think wages are low in the Philippines? Why do you think prices go up?
Let me answer for you: Law of supply and demand.
Your premise is that the Chinese are intentionally paying low wages and increasing their prices, to rob your countrymen of economic opportunities and to promote “consumerism”. That is plain false. Any company, whether Filipino, Chinese, Korean, etc. who pays lower than average salaries and charge higher than average prices will definitely not survive. As a business person, you should know this, but apparently, you do not. Low wages will not attract the necessary talent, and high prices will definitely turn off your customers.
I’ve worked for a Filipino large real estate developer in my early 20s. Guess how much my salary was? Minimal wage, contractual with no benefits. My wage was like that simply because (1) this is how much the market dictates, (2) what the company can afford to pay without sacrificing growth and (3) with so many people who can do what I can do, in the eyes of the company, I am dispensable. That is reality. Did it have to do with the fact that my boss was Filipino or Chinese? No. My boss was pure “Filipino”, if by that you mean of Malay descent.
As for prices, why do prices go up over time? Simple: Inflation. As an economy grows, so does the CPI. How do you cope, but raise prices? Is there a limit to how much you can raise prices? Of course. That’s why you get economic bubbles.
Isip-isip din pag may time. Good bye, I shall no longer waste a minute talking to someone like you.
Sese
Sese,
I curse because I’m tired of repeating what I said to idiots who have one eye and ear open and have the others closed. You and Serge definitely fit that bill of insisting the Chinese are innocent do-gooders who are looking out for the country’s best interests and are very fair in how they conduct their business affairs.
If that isn’t the biggest “crock-of-shit” I’ve ever heard from someone who is ‘Pro-Chinese’–for whatever reasons–I don’t know what is. I’m glad you’re tired of talking to a racist, moronic asshole like me, because I’m equally tired of talking to people who blatantly lie to protect their own interests, even at the cost of their own country and people. Good Day!
Aeta
Serge,
There you have it. Aeta just called himself a “racist, moronic asshole”. I now fully understand why he can’t comprehend how fallacious his arguments are and clearly can’t understand our side. He failed to understand simple classical economics, and instead chooses to blame an entire minority for society’s dysfunction. LOL. Some people talaga, ang tanga. Yung mga taong ganyan katanga is what keeping this country backwards.
Sese
the chinese own many corporations in the philippines because they were the ones who started first. they didn’t go work for someone else they built their own business because growing up thats what they saw their parents doing. they got rich because of their hard work. they didn’t steal it like the filipino politicians who do nothing and contribute nothing yet are richer than they are. there are many none chinese who have adopted this style, thought of a business and succeeded. kaya mas mahirap na ngayong magnegosyo. tapos lamang pa ang mga politikong negosyante dahil may kapit na sila meron pa silang pera. di nila kailangang magbayad ng buwis at lisensya dahil walang sisita sa kanila. ang kawawa ay ang mga tao dahil maididikta nila ang mga presyo. there are many provinces in which business cannot be conducted because of politicians. kung sa kanila ang nagiisang grocery dun papayag ba naman silang tabihan ng iba?the politicians are the evil that prevents citizens from achieving a better life. the citizens should elect better officials and watch them closely lest they stray from the path of good.
monsiegnor,
Given those facts about the Chinese, my questions remain. If we already know we have dirty politicians, shouldn’t the Chinese also be partly to blame, because they are the ones who are continuing to bribe these government officials–for political and economic favors–at the expense of the livelihoods of theFilipino people? We wouldn’t have these ongoing corruptions if the rest of the bribe money is also not coming from other sources, aside from the politicians dipping their hands into the country’s funds. Someone else is paying our corrupt politicians for the continuous monopolization of our economy.
Aeta
Aeta,
You’re funny. There’s no corruption without corrupt officials. You should blame the system, and your corrupt “true Filipino” officials. When you look at the massive red tape in Government bureaucracy, any sane person, whether Chinese or not, would take the most efficient option if given the choice. I will confess to you, I’m Filipino of Chinese descent, and my family is engaged in business. The red tape in Government is massive, and in order for you to get anywhere, grease money will have to be paid. It’s dirty, and unethical but do we have a choice? Customs palang eh, ang dami ng kailangang bayaran underneath the table. You “true Filipinos” do not really love your own country. You make noise and complain but come election time, you keep on voting the same idiots in office. Only here in the Philippines can a convicted plunderer be re-elected into office as Mayor, not just any city but the Capital City no less. If it were in another country, that politician and his clan will never ever get into politics again. Please, stop blaming us for your dysfunction.
Sese
He’s a close minded moron who wants to use a group of people as scapegoats as to why the Philippines is shit, not unlike how a certain organization used a similar tactic to Jews in the 1930’s.
Serge,
I may be a close-minded moron, but you are definitely a self-serving and arrogant asshole who try to defend your Chinese lineage, even if it means these Chinese-Filipino businesses literally taking all the economic opportunities from your own people, by forcing them out of the country as expats and OFWs, and deeper into poverty and despair–compelling them to fight and bicker with one another for leftover crumbs. I’m willing to bet you’re very excited about the looming Chinese threat in South China Sea, and itching for a complete Chinese takevoer of the Philippines.
Aeta
And guess what? All your assumptions are wrong. Just because I descended from them I share their mentality. You’re pretty much a broken record at this point, what with screaming bloody hell over “muh businesses and profits” because of the Chinese bogeyman. No point in entertaining you any further.
Aeta,
Just a few questions.
1. How can Chinese-Filipino businesses cause poverty when business, by nature, produces jobs?
2. How do Chinese-Filipino businesses prevent others from starting their own companies?
If your answer to number two is because of competition, well then, welcome to free market capitalism.
Sese
Sese,
Are you fucking blind and/or protecting the Chinese like Serge? Look around you in the Philippines on how the Chinese-Filipino businesses are causing poverty—even if your clichéd and stupid remark says that “business, by nature, produced jobs.”
Yes, these Chinoy-owned businesses produce jobs, but they are so ‘low paying’ that their workers cannot offset the rising cost of living, as they (Chinoys) continue to raise the price on their products and services, and entice our aristocratically, self-serving, fucked up countrymen to develop a “consumer mentality” for a cosmopolitan lifestyle through the media.
To answer your other stupid question, your Chinese-Filipino buddies form cartels and refuse to do business with non-Chinese businesses, which eventually put their rivals out of business. You speak of “competition” and “free market capitalism, but you deliberately left ‘fair, legal, moral, and ethical free market capitalism/competition’ out of the picture in your dumb comment. Hell, even the global business communities will condemn these ‘illegal,’ and ‘immoral,’ and ‘unethical’ ways of how the Chinese-Filipinos do business, and monopolize, the Philippine economy if they knew what was really going on.
Aeta
Free market
Bribes
Pick one
Are you suggesting that we simply OBEY & ACCEPT? Ganun na lang ba palagi?
Our government intentionally makes things worst (our lives), in-order for us to voluntarily leave our own country, migrate and seek employment overseas.
Eventually many us will do or have done that and sacrificed being away from theur family, friends & loveones. Either they end up being discriminated, exploited, raped, abused, jailed, killed, executed, and permanently separated or abandoned their family.
OFW=Modern Day Hero or a form of slavery
I spent 3yrs in Malaysia and 5yrs in Japan (every 6 month 1week home visit). But I still choose to stay because:
1. I can’t bring all my family – parents, friends, places, foods, drinks and people I like.
2. Discrimination and 2nd/3rd class or Gaijin (bad word refering to outsiders) status you gain in other countries.
3. “It stands to reason that where there’s sacrifice, there’s someone collecting sacrificial offerings. Where there’s service, there’s someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and master, and intends to be the master” – Ayn Randolph
“I’d rather have bad times with you, than good times with someone else
I’d rather be beside you in a storm, than safe and warm by myself
I’d rather have hard times together, than to have it easy apart
I’d rather have the one who holds my heart” LUTHER VANDROSS
That’s your prerogative, but a lot of people would kill to live a seemingly better life in other lands.
Why did you choose to go back home? Did you not adjust to the culture and customs, especially in Japan’s case. They are big in hierarchy, punctuality, loyalty and courtesy, concepts that are either alien or perverted in ordinary Filipino society. Food over there is much healthier on average as well. If you’re expecting Western style leniency and forgiveness there then I guess it’s obvious why you did not choose to stay.
The fault of the Pinoys who live in other Asian countries is that they expect them to behave like the anomaly that is the Philippines. This is one of the reasons why OFW’s fail to assimilate. Yes, they will follow the rules of the land, but only begrudgingly so. I know they’d disregard all this if they can get away with it just like good ol’ Pinas.
Lel, Filipinos are the least endogamous Asians currently and historically.
Just can’t help myself to comment on this rather ‘dated’ entry but the woe of an Overseas Filipino Worker is just… Timeless! I would like to offer my insights fast forward to the current year:
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“Are you suggesting that we simply OBEY & ACCEPT? Ganun na lang ba palagi?
Our government intentionally makes things worst (our lives), in-order for us to voluntarily leave our own country, migrate and seek employment overseas.”
Unfortunately, yes. As powerless as we are, and like how ideas typically work on paper only, our fate as Filipinos is simply tied up. Sabihin ko sayo, maganda yung naging premise ng government post-WW2 but somewhere down the Cold War era we sort of fucked up? Now I ain’t going to give a lecture on history here but you get the point: We were once heralded as pioneers in some ways in SEA or Asia- We just fucked up along the way.
Pretty much ‘modern slaves’ do not have much choice but to struggle; that is the unspoken rule of poverty. UNLESS, unless, you start upskilling yourself and adding more value. No shortcut to success ika nga.
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“Eventually many us will do or have done that and sacrificed being away from theur family, friends & loveones. Either they end up being discriminated, exploited, raped, abused, jailed, killed, executed, and permanently separated or abandoned their family.”
Which will also be my case in the near future. What I like best about Filipino culture is close-knit ties to family. The problem starts when things get too far. Lahat ng sobra masama diba?
I have dealt with numerous OFWs due to my nature of work, and they all say the same narrative. The problem is what do they do for themselves? You don’t put all eggs in one basket, that is, if your mission order abroad is to give back to family alone. If you don’t start to invest in yourself right away, you will be left behind as majority of Filipinos do.
You got something right: OFW is just government euphemism for modern slavery. Nowadays the government is scrambling efforts to entice foreign businesses to set up shop here, which always end up in failure. Clue? Protectionist policies. No wonder we still end up with a bunch of service jobs, retail but no solid foundation in industrialization (we literally skipped this period).
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And this is where I disagree with your abroad experience. For context, my nature of work requires me to frequent travel to Malaysia for training. Diversity is a norm in Southeast Asia so it’s pretty easy to fit in (just learn local language and you’d feel right at home!)
I also toured Japan for a week and faced no discrimination / gaijin or any sort. When I dealt with some Japanese, they couldn’t even tell apart Southeast Asians from their own! It doesn’t come as a surprise owing to the fact the nation gets a lot of tourists internationally and workers across Asia.
My point is the premise you have is wrong. Obviously going abroad is not for the faint hearted, especially for someone who still has attachments to family. I say let go of these attachments, acknowledge the failure of this nation for what it turned Filipinos into: A nation of exporting cheap laborers.
Why don’t you try living or working abroad? for 1-2 yrs or more, make sacrifices just like our OFW or immigrants, and do real work.
Dale Jose Gozar,
Who is your question for?
Aeta
Here’s what Francis Chan had to say about Philippine traffic when he visited Manila.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQYJXBXRpZQ
He mentioned Daly city (California) where he lived was 80% Filipino. Is there any reason why Pinoys need to feel homesick abroad?
Go out guys and conquer the world. It’s all yours –> “the meek shall inherit the earth.”
Zaxx
@>$26billion annual remitance, Philippines main Export commodity are OFW – modern day hero or a form of slavery? Philippines rank 103 in the 2014 Global Slavery Index
http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/download/
In fact, real population control measure (RH bill) will never be implemented to maintain a continuous supply of cheap & quality labor or organ/stem cell donor to the world.
Our money (Philippine Peso) is backed by the U.S $ or other Foreign Currency from:
a. Remitances our OFW bring/send
b. Generated by our BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) or IPO (Industrial Process Outsourcing.
Without these Foreign Currency – our Peso is basically worthless and trading will be difficult or impossible.
I’m totally not against overseas employment, but the part I hate is we Export our Best People (OFW w/c are hard-working, productive, highly skilled & intellectual) to which result to “Brain Drain”. And forever relied on their dollar remittances to fuel our economy. Those left behind (lazy & AMPAW) who are tasked or voted to lead our nation and others are appointed to vital positions in the government.
Ah, but the ladies are the best in the PH. In all those other countries, the women suck ( I don’t mean literally).
I, for one, welcome to volunteer in the massive Brain Draining of the hostile Failippine Islands by prepping myself to move out by next year; hoping not to work alongside fellow Penises outside the country. 😀