get the ball rolling Finally a nonFilipino who has the balls to spit out the awful truth. And to those who're screaming and kicking, no one has the right not to be offended specially when it's the dang freaking truth that's being lobbed at you.
Filipinos will take this negatively. They just can't take criticism, hence no improvement. They would rather justify the flaws rather than improving on it. They also have a leadership that doesn't care and simply chases the skirts.
I so much agree.. I like what you have written...as a Filipino, I was hurt..but I have to admit all the things you mentioned are true. There are many things to be proud of as a Filipino, unfortunately for our capital city, which I believe should have been showing something attractive to lure tourists is such a "total mess". I had once traveled to an Asian country, Thailand, and I felt like I wanna live there. I liked the people and the places. It shows how their country is progressing which every country should do unless they are not..then when I get back to the Philippines...I was still in the plane..and I was like asking myself..."This country is a shame..Why did God even make me a Filipino" Sad to say and what a shame on my part, but that really what I felt and what ran in my head...the airport itself is such a shame... I don't know which particularly to blame...but I can't help but to hold disgust to people in the government... and I think corruption has something to do with it...as usual..it's like a domino effect...
Just now, in the news..there is this international travel guide website that crowned the Philippines as having the "worst airport" and I can't agree more. I believe it deserves it. Now, I just hope that those people involved or have responsibilities should do something to lift up our country at least by improving our airport which it should have done earlier considering we are now in the 21st century...
I sort of have to agree with you, sir. Because any kind of beauty, for it to stay beautiful and rich, needs to maintained. The Philippines is very beautiful and all it really needs is for someone to actually care for it.
Awfully Disappointing I\'m Filipino and I can\'t say I disagree with most of the things you\'ve said. Perhaps the only thing more disappointing than the state our capital city is in is the fact that people like you don\'t do anything but criticize, demoralize and over-exaggerate about what you think you know just because you\'re well traveled and have visited the country countless times. It is so easy for you to pass judgment on the people and our lack of initiative when you have no idea what it\'s like to actually live here. Instead of telling us what to do, why don\'t you focus on what you can do for your own country instead? And maybe stay there while you\'re at it. Vacationers who have had worse experiences than you still have good things to say about Manila, and to say that there aren\'t any good places to photograph is rich for someone who only mentioned a couple of places in the city. Please don\'t blame us for lashing out on you, you deserve it.
Philippines - Manila - Awfully Disappointing Agree with you 100%. Manila is disappointing, decaying and disappearing. You're right, the smart ones are moving out. Give it another generation and only the dregs will be left.
i agree i am a Filipino and i totally agree with all your observations/comments. I am not hurt nor offended. those who wrote down nasty things are obviously blind- we are from a third world country but it doesn't mean we can't ask for good service. Manila is really awful and so backwards compared to other cities.it's really disappointing. let's not take this blog out of context. this is not "writer vs Philippines" kinda thing, this is an honest opinion and we should respect it.
ADB/IMF Collaborators against the Filipinos since Marcos Probably true, but...US supported/collaborated with Marcos'' anti-people projects like the Bataan Nuclear Pant where Westinghouse and Marcos made tons of money; after US discovered some conscience after People Power in 1986, the Germans corrupted Ramos and Erap officials to foist the NAIA 3 fiasco on the Filipino people, that's why Manila doesn't have a decent airport; in GLoria's time a Belgian project in Lagujna Lake and a Roro project by the French were cancelled by President Aquino because of taint of corruption. By the way, the Brits were the one responsible for taking North Borneo away from the Sultan of Sulu. Manila should never have established diplomatic relations with the UK. That's why when our Manny Pacquiao knocked the Ricky Hatton like he smelled the Queen's royal fart, all Filipinos rejoiced. The Queen is a royal fart!
ENRIQUE ANGELES please stand up for applause Ha ha, Mr Angeles, I appreciate the first sentence which is quite witty. Manny Pacquiao is a fine boxer, something I doubt you really appreciate unless you are one yourself (check out my Facebook to see why I qualify to judge).
But why spoil what you say? I suppose this is your level. Below most others; the one thing I've learned from this experience is that most Filipinos have replied very politely and sensibly. I'm impressed. I quote you here because you deserve the opprobrium that will attach to your remarks:
"........That's why when our Manny Pacquiao knocked the Ricky Hatton like he smelled the Queen's royal fart, all Filipinos rejoiced. The Queen is a royal fart! enrieangeles@yahoo.com"
Expat here I stayed at the discovery a few years ago, it had the same on going construction. I remember they told me to 'take a seat" with no seats to sit in! The staff seemed a bit like zombies, but that aside I didnt think it was so bad of a place but just not worth the cost for sure.
Manila takes a lot of getting used to, the airport is terrible but to most people in the philippines its just normal everyday life. They are used to the bucket of water and lathe. They are poor and see tourist as easy targets to make a little a extra. Generally its not mean spirited but just looking for a way to pull in extra cash. I dont like it either, but thats just life here .
For some reason, in the philippines they dont seem to realize pollution and trash is a problem. They dont have public trash cans on the streets , they throw trash bags in the street which the trash truck will pick up, but most are tore open and trash cloging up the drainage. The president should fix it, but like i said they dont see it as a problem for some reason
For all of manilas flaws, it does have some good things. It takes a lot of time here to get used it.
Thanks for the blog :) Thanks for the blog!!!! Don't mind the other comments, most of them are immature and is just blind to the truth
This has gone viral now even in the news, forums and on social media network. I hope this would become a wakeup call now for the Goverment and with my fellow Filipinos. Most of the comments here are true and see it everyday. I have already been out of the country for most of the time and can see the difference in the place and even in the discipline of the people.
It is just a pity that the once nice and mighty Manila to fall down this low.
Please allow me to clarify I agree with many of your observations: Traffic is terrible. There are a lot of filthy and impoverished areas. NAIA Terminal 1 is a mess. Many intelligent and competent people have left this country. However, there are a few points that I would like to raise:
1. While a substantial portion of Manila is the equivalent of hell on earth, that\'s not all there is to it. There are areas that are pleasant and interesting. There are also many things worth photographing. You just need to take time to find them.
2. You use your experience in Manila to talk about the rest of the Philippines and Filipinos, sounding suspiciously like a generalization. Then, towards the end of the blog entry, you say something nice about the countryside and the islands. While I appreciate this last statement, it seems more like an afterthought and appears misplaced.
3. Not all the \"smart ones\" have left. I must say that many of my relatives and friends are well-educated (in local and foreign schools) and have chosen to stay in the Philippines. It\'s true that a lot of Filipinos have chosen to move/work in other countries, and I respect their reasons for doing so. However, not everyone with a brain, a degree and/or skills wants to leave.
4. Discovery Suites? That was a poor choice. I agree with one of the comments recommending Oakwood. It\'s similarly priced,and has much better service. In fact, you\'re also welcome to try other hotels within the same category, such as Somerset and Ascott.
5. Whenever I can, I avoid NAIA Terminal 1. I would much rather go through Terminals 2 and 3. Unfortunately, almost all international carriers fly through Terminal 1. \"Horrible\" is the only way to describe it. Maybe next time you come back, you can come in through one of the other terminals.
Third time's a charm It amazes me how so many of my countrymen would take offense from a foreigner who merely documents what he sees. Patriotism? If this means upholding pride over something that has sunk to near subterranean levels and not facing the truth of our city\'s true decrepit nature, then to hell with patriotism. But the thing is true patriotism is sacrificial love to one\'s country, even to the point of humility to accept the sad but honest truth. And the truth is the Philippines as a whole is substandard. Yes, we still have many good points to be proud about, but weighing them against the bad sadly neutralizes their effect. Worse, insisting to throw our good points at anyone who level criticism at us keeps us from facing our real problems. \"We can\'t be all bad, so we\'re still okay, right?\" NO, WE\'RE NOT OKAY. Corrupt government officials (that is to say, almost all government officials) are mainly responsible for sucking the life out of our country like vampires that subsist on greed, but many of us ordinary folks are far from being blame-free. You look at our roads and highways and see nigh-hopeless traffic situations. I do the same and see more - the general predilection of pinoys for selfishness on the road that reflect the same selfishness we live our lives in general. Crying out for a lynch mob every time a foreigner says our city sucks is a glaring manifestation of this selfishness: \"YOU CAN\'T SAY THAT TO US, WE\'RE A PROUD PEOPLE. WE DON\'T DESERVE INSULTS. LOOK AT OTHER COUNTRIES FIRST.\" Really? Try to be SELFLESS for a while, forgetting your foolish pride and being humble enough to see our faults on a personal level. We\'ve come to the point when nothing less than a strong slap on the face can wake us up from our slumber (and for our government officials, a muzzle in between the eyes) - if that\'s not pathetic then I don\'t know what is. Filipinos have good points, yes, but we should stop resting on whatever meager laurel we get from said good points and start looking at ourselves in a bigger picture.
I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY - AND I AM FILIPINO I definitely agree with your post..I myself am Filipino but i find no reason to be proud of my country. call it lack of patriotism, whatever, it doesn't matter. the Philippines is a country that has tremendous natural beauty, but when it comes right down to it, that's all it has. manila is a disgrace, and cannot hold a candle to other asian countries which have at least progressed. going out of the comfort zones of makati and greenbelt and MOA, one would immediately see the real state of the city. even on the road going to NAIA (from sucat) everyone would be greeted with shantytowns right by the river.
the philippines is a place full of corruption and downright IGNORANCE. it's a wonder to me how filipinos can be so 'insulted' when someone tells the truth. could it be that we are in denial? filipinos have this quality of only seeing what they want to see. so they (we) see boxers as potential presidents, adulterous action stars as senators, complete morons as heroes (think Willie Revillame - if you don't know him, he's the host of an idiotic TV show that 'gives' away money to poor people, who, in turn, idolize him to the point of worship). filipinos have a reason to be proud of the beauty of the country..but even this beauty is shielded from the eyes of prospective tourists because of the downright corruption and greed in philippine officials - from big-time politicians to local townsmen.
add to this the situation of the poor in the country. the philippines prides itself in being the country with the biggest catholic population in asia, and as such, has a strong church that always interferes with the state. hence, most of the masses dont believe in contraception, and end up producing countless children who are left running around and begging on the streets. the church is absolutely against contraception, and since it is very influential, the state follows it. i don't know about your religious views, but one doesn't have to be religious not to see the logic in promoting contraception for a country that has more and more mouths to feed and no one to feed them.
I can understand how people would react negatively to your post..i am also in a long-term relationship with someone from belgium who has been living in the philippines for more than 5 years, and who has seen the extreme contrast between rich and poor. i'm used to him criticizing the country and the policies that govern this country, and sometimes i am also offended. but he is merely telling the truth. if people don't see beyond it and try to accept it, woe to them.
in my opinion, there is no hope for the philippines. it has sunk lower and lower and continues to be the embarrassment of asia. whereas other countries in asia have progressed, the philippines stays mired in its own filth. my friends would definitely not like what i am saying now, but so be it. manila and the rest of the country has no hope for the future. (or very little of it)
Nonetheless Dear Sir, it is a Dog eat puppy situation over there... b4 Martial Law... it was only Seven/U$ dollar, due to Environmental Influence, behavior by adaptation is inevitable... I am from CEBU originally born & raised... I admire such courage and GOD Bless your Heart... ! only God knows what it takes to save my Country ...
yep! SPOT on sir, SPOT on. Couldn't agree for more. Sad to say, my beloved country had gone down the drain. Philippines is no longer a developing country (for there's NO ONE would like to develop it) and it will just be a mere Third World country. I really don't know what else could be used as a WAKE up call for Filipinos.
Blunt, but nevertheless reflects what Manila has become. I commend your point about exploring the Philippine countryside. It has more refreshing sights to offer as compared to our capital, although unpaved roads and lack of technology may greet you many times in your trip.
Fair comments - part fact, part fiction Dear Geoffrey,
Generally fair comments. I agree with what you said about NAIA and the low/no investments in basic infrastructure such as airports, transport system, road network, etc.
A big part of the problem is the present set up of government - 1-term, 6 year tenure which mitigates any possibility to think long term. In addition, the multi-party system does not help either because programs are never sustained. Short-term, narrow vision. Truth is, our leaders have no vision. Period.
You seem to think that only those who left are the smart ones. Not all, although some real smart ones did. In like manner, a lot of equally smart, if not smarter ones, have consciously decided to stay. I guess this is that part of your RANTS that\'s \"part fiction\". Or simply exaggeration.
By the way, how come your job brings you overseas? Does that qualify you as among the smart ones too?
We love this place, warts and all. I guess you\'ll say the same of London, despite the riots and the high unemployment.
And, one more thing (borrowing from Steve Jobs\' default closing). You\'ll find many places to take beautiful photos in Manila. If only you looked. I think you\'ve stopped looking. Next time you get your hands on a Bible, look up Matthew 18:3. Then maybe, just maybe, you\'ll see the world with innocent eyes.
From 5th worst to worst! oopps, had to edit my comment above, it should read "living" not leaving. Anyway, this is to back up my view of the NAIA
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/10/18/11/5th-worst-naia-1-now-world%E2%80%99s-worst-airport
about Manila, this place is really overcrowded, and it smells sometimes like urine, when i was passing by EDSA. I think many people agree, that the most Hotels are overpriced compared to the service you get.
Manila seems to me like a big building lot, but not to be the past \"Paris of the Asia\". You see often Malls there,they are a picture of decay. The best example is a Mall like Costal Mall. This mall gives you an idea of what Manila is now. They do not reinvest, that is also true. They should start to save the last rainforests there,instead of cutting everything down without being sustainable.It isnĀ“t the Oriental Pearl anymore,and the leadres, they are not that much intelligent. God bless you, my friend. Keep on writing questioning
high horse Dear Mr. Intellectual Flaneur:
(roll eyeballs here)
If you ask a Filipino about your own country of origin (the U.K.) they\'d say that it\'s perpetually winter, grey, cold, with bad food in overpriced restaurants, royals that look like horses (save the commoner princess). Heathrow Airport has the highest rate of stolen / lost luggage in the world. The locals are like roast beef (they turn red instead of tan under the sun). Don\'t get me started on the teeth.
It remains a mystery though, why a jet setter like you would choose to stay in the same hotel for 15 years. I hope there\'s variety in the other aspects of your life.
Anyway: As the saying goes, your life is what you make of it, no matter where you live.
I am a Filipino who lives in France. Each time I visit Manila on holiday, I see people smiling and laughing no matter how depressing their situation is.
Whereas in France, one of the world\'s wealthiest nations, the suicide rate is very high and the locals don\'t smile ... they scowl or complain day in and day out. France is also over crowded with English people like you, who can no longer afford to live in the overpriced U.K. and who are running away from the horrid weather and bad food.
I\'ve physically deserted my country, but many of my loved ones are there, so it\'s still my home and you\'ve insulted it ... thus I have to react.
Angelique Villaraza stand up. You know what, YOU ARE RIGHT about the UK - shocking place and ghastly people, LoL..... And that's the difference. I couldn' t care less about what you say about the UK (or me) so long as it's justified. Unfortunately in this case you have written some gratuitous insults, whereas my post was actually reflecting my experience at a given time. But YOU are offended, on principle.... nothing to do with whether what I said is correct or not.
Dear Lady, lighten up, grab a sense of humour. Can't you see when someone pokes fun at themselves - I guess not. Being a "flaneur" is nothing to aspire to... it carries the implication of lightweight:) LoL
Pity..... If you actually read my posts you'll see (a) a huge amount of tongue in cheek, and (b) a great willingness to NOT take myself too seriously.
Sigh..............
The painful truth Having done a little traveling myself, I appreciate Geoffrey's tell-it-like-it-is comment. Thank God he stays in the "better" places in Manila. If he should visit what the ordinary Filipino gets to see and go to, we'd have a really hard time living down our notoriety.
We "natives" should thank honest and frank comments. Geoffrey has taken the time and trouble to write what others would otherwise just dismiss as something hopeless. It's not as if he's the first and only one to discover the painful truth about what's been happening to Manila--and the whole country for that matter, which Geoffrey does not say--that it's been moving backwards into the future.
If we don't wake up to what's staring us in the face, we'd be left behind by everyone else around us.
I could be described as a flaneur - Dictionary definition: "an intellectual and physical wanderer, observer of life".
I travel extensively in Asia, the Middle East and East Africa.
My tales, stories and rants here are part fact/part fiction but, I hope, always stimulating and sometimes irritating. PLEASE don't take them too seriously - they are meant to inform but also to amuse and to get under your skin. I hope there's a bit of an "edge" in what I write sometimes.
For those that take themselves over-seriously: it's a BLOG! Not "the Truth"... just my weird personal take on... full info
flintstone
non-member comment
get the ball rolling
Finally a nonFilipino who has the balls to spit out the awful truth. And to those who're screaming and kicking, no one has the right not to be offended specially when it's the dang freaking truth that's being lobbed at you.