Philippines - Manila Well, I wanted to put my real name, but scared being too often intimidated or hassled by the immigration and or the customs so called officers since 1987, since 10 years their attentions have been oriented to those poor OFW, so sometimes I am spared but very much sad and angry, yes that long, have been in this blessed country for so many times. All started when this country was very reasonably \'low costs of living\'; then get sucked into what is now, the most expensive capital in SE Asia or even any other developed or developing country in everything when one evaluates with the \'quality and money spent\' equation....
I agreed with you the Brit Bastin, even though I do not really admire any of you hahah, I am a French national as to explain this ..and still have to borrow your phrase: this is ONLY MY OPINION or RANT... and the following is not from you but from the Bible... FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EYES, CAN SEE..... not this one though AS A MERE FACT, NOT THE TRUTH..? AMEN.
The reason I take the time to do this is because of those moronic Filipinos ( many are not, thank God,!) asking always the same question( actually they are not asking, so needless to answer, they are just too narrow minded and uncivilized-ly arrogant and unconsciously dump to be sincere to ask a proper question, they just try to be smart and ironic, or just try to act like a fake prosecutor who used to be enslaved for hundred of years ( I can also make barbaric statement too) \"IF Manila is so bad, so expensive so dirty so etc., why you foreigners keep on coming back?\" the following answer is only for those who are not moron: one can fall in love with a blessed RICH land like the Philippines, one can love this land more than a native just because one has passion or compassion of life, one can pray for AND to stay and try to help the Filipino nation to improve their life as to be worthy to live in such a blessed land, one can bear all the stupidity of many just because of a few good intentions of a few, one can fall in love with a Filipino and desire to have children and stay for the sake of their beloved ones, one can be invited to do business here or being hired as an employee, I can continue longer, however, I find myself so stupid already to have written all the above since all these are so elementary.
One more thing for those who think or believe that other provinces or places either than Metro Manila is far better in organization, infrastructure, cleanliness, features, or quality in living; unfortunately, they are still wrong, SM or Ayala Mall or Robinson or other malls do not replace a decent airport or seaport equipped with functional toilets; English spoken ( arguable, AS MY ENGLISH IS SO BAD ) with smiling faces cannot replace proper/disciplined bus or jeepney or tricycle or taxi stations and those Malls\' elevators do not replace traffic management nor proper safe public transportation: sea, sun and sex do not replace well or simply prepared meals or rather hygienic measures in food transportation or storage in most public eateries including no star to so called 5 star hotels or restaurants.... and fortunately there are still some people who eat only from their own back yard or farm production. One Chinese diction says something like this, if a child has been raised forcibly only within a dirty environment, how can one be surprised that the child will die if being put into a cleaner place ?....this may explain many issues happening in this country,
A proper education may be an answer for the next generation if ever we can start right now, or else the denial symptom will still be installed and enjoyed by the devil for a long time.
*sigh* I can only hope sharp criticism can awaken this country to its flaws, it's been a sore disappointment for the most part, and I've lived here most of my life. The things you've found that are disappointing to yourself as a traveler are magnified and repeated ad nauseum in the life of a person that has to live here. There are far too many underlying faults that led to the horrors that you've found, too many to discuss in one comment. It's only the dirty surface that you've encountered, bigger problems are rotting the rest of this country at its core. I'm fairly certain without having to check the rest of the comments that most pinoys will respond negatively to your post, and it's a damned shame. When you look in a mirror and don't like what you see, you shouldn't blame the mirror.
Confused I don't understand whenever you say "Manila." Do you mean Manila City or Metro Manila? You obviously have been to Pasig City where Discovery Suites is located and Paranaque City where NAIA is located. Sir, I suggest you try to sample establishments in Makati or in "The Fort" (Taguig City).
Everything you said here is true. Filipinos are consumed by greed and I think that's the reason why the country could not progress. Also, Filipinos now have became really selfish and would not think twice to step on their countrymen for their own convenience. They wouldn't even want to sacrifice a little to make their country better. Just look at their government officials, that should prove my point.
I was so down after i read your blog coz all written in your blog is true. It will never change unless our goverment will unite, will stop corruption and will love the country. Until then, many filipinos specifically in manila will keep on suffering. :(
Asians as more racist. I absolutely agree with you on this note. I have been living in Sydney for more than a decade and happy to be a citizen here now. In all of my ten years here, I have not once had any case of racial discrimination by a "white" person. I believe that people treat you with respect if you present yourself in such a manner worthy of respect.
You know who are racists here? I will be very blunt - fellow Asians - Chinese in particular who discriminate against white people and any other race who do not speak their language.
Thailand is famous in world about for culture and beaches, warm weather, vibrant culture, tolerance and Buddhist calmness, but for its SHEER STUPIDITY!
A few facts to throw on the fire...... Philippines ranks 85 out of 139 countries as measured by the metrics of the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Report 2010-11. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2010-11.pdf
This means that it comes in below Namibia, Rwanda and even GREECE!
Key indicators do worse: 125 for the quality of its institutions and 104 for infrastructure. Main obstacles to doing business are reported by the WEF as corruption, bureaucracy and again poor infrastructure. Were it not for remittances from the "deserters" as one comment describes them (I called them smart), the country would struggle to survive.
So no, I'm not prejudiced against the Philippines. I'm sad that the once "Paris of Asia" is now more like a post Apocalyptic vision (at least on a Friday night trying to reach somewhere along EDSA in the rain).
I'd really love to see the Philippines rising in the competitiveness rankings, because the Pinoy's I meet are usually very nice. Equally places like Mindanao have massive potential for agricultural growth.
But you won't do it by denying the truth (or shooting the messenger) - but indeed I see that most comments have actually been willing to admit poor situation, which is very encouraging.
If anyone cares to comment AND sign their own name, I'm happy to continue this debate in more detail by email.
The awful truth I'm Filipino, lived in Bangkok for almost a year. But, upon coming back, having been to Singapore's Changi Airport and Bangkok's Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi, I felt wretched seeing NAIA 3 (the new one).
The problem with the Philippines is most people settle for mediocrity. So, it's a relatively newer airport, but the facilities? They remain the same as the old ones. Maybe the gov't should have just renovated the old airports instead of churning out the old, low-class feel in the "new" one.
I have lived in Manila all of my adult life. While I do miss it when I am gone to other countries for a long while, the first day I get back here, I find myself cussing under my breath. And I live here! I can just imagine what tourists have to say when they experience the inconveniences I've encountered.
Filipinos who comment that you are speaking falsehoods or just being "racist" do not have the experience that you have, not even what I have. Everyone is confined in their comfort zone, their little world called Manila... living a life that they think is what they deserve. But really, Filipinos can do better! Look at Thailand, Malaysia!
Manila, when will you stop being mediocre?
For us commenters, (lalo na mga galit na pinoy) I've been reading through the comments and I must point out that here lies our fault as a people. If we Filipinos can't see the problem, or rather, fail to recognize it, then how are we to address it, let alone find a solution? If you can't handle criticism, don't criticize. If you don't know how to listen, you don't deserve to talk. And if we can't even see our own ugliness in the mirror while someone's holding it and dictating each and every flaw we have for us to hear, then I'm sorry, but that means we're just too arrogant to understand. It doesn't even matter if the author's right or wrong (even though there really aren't any right or wrong opinions.) At least he gave us a new point of view. And i think that's the most vital aspect needed for improvement: perspective. So thank the man and move along now, or you'll just be humiliating yourselves by acting too pompous and ignorant and end up as memes on 9gag or something. Kudos, Mr. James.
Thumbs up! I am a Filipino, and I have to praise you for this very comprehensive review of Manila. We are all entitled to our opinions anyway, good or bad. You hit me bulls-eye in saying Asians are in fact racist. That's is true. Filipinos easily get offended when foreigners throw in negative comments about our country and race. But most of the Filipinos themselves are indeed racist. Ask a Filipino about Indians (Bombays) and they would say "5-6, pautang" (loans) or "smells of onion." Ask a Filipino about Japanese or Chinese, and they can say a few racist remark , too. The thing is that Filipinos tend to be so egoistic, that's why a little word of negativity pertaining to our culture or country can hurt us easily.
And it's true that the government has a lot to learn and do for this country. Thanks for making me laugh in the last part of your post. I hope the government and many Filipinos will read this post of yours. :)
Your blog hurts but its the raw awful truth. The truth most of the the time is a bitter pill to swallow. All your points are true and correct. I have lived in Manila for 15 years, and the other 15 years years I lived in Los Angeles. They are completely worlds apart in lifestyle, systems, processes, and mentality. I consider myself Filipino American, but most of the time my mentality has remained western. The longer and the older I have gotten in the Philippines, I have realized that nothing in this country has changed except for infrastructure of shopping malls. My boyfriend works in ADB and he has traveled to over 30 ++ countries and we as a couple love traveling too. As soon as you are able to see more of the world and experience the different lifestyles, cultures, and systems abroad, then you have every right to compare and realize that Manila is good only on certain aspects. Unfortunately, those aspects are superficial ( cheap beer and cheap fun). I always tell my partner and friends that the reason I love Manila is due to the wonderful people and friends I have met. Filipino's are generally welcoming of foreigners and embrace other races. Philippines has a long long long long long way to go. It is sad to admit that once upon a time we were the "best next thing" in Asia--now we are at the end of the line and have become stagnant. And just like what Geoffrey James wrote about the "smart ones leaving" -- it is the absolute truth. The ones who want to leave are pushed hard to migrate because they know in their hearts that it will take another hundred years (or more) before this madness in Manila stops. So my fellow Filipinos, lets not react hostile towards frequent visitors or tourists that have experienced our city. Believe me, the more you see the world outside,the less you become judgmental of life and opinions. The change that happens is the desire to find the city or country that actually has imperfections, but they are so minor because everything else about the place makes you wake up feeling healthy, positive and proud that you have finally found a second home.
thank you for not being PC about this Man, this post is spot-on. Filipinos are racists and PROUD. The amount of insults they hurl at Indians, Chinese, and dear lord - Africans are astounding. But when people start criticizing Filipinos (whether it be country or their worst traits)" you get this. 500 comments. 2000 comments. They'll call you a faggot, racist pig and every combination in between. You can clearly see Filipinos have a lot of hate and insecurity in their cold, so-called 'Catholic heart. Thank you for speaking your mind to these ignorant masses!
Uhh.. I almost agreed on you about the Manila thing. But why do you need to generalize it and discourage travelers going to the Philippines if they ever plan to go to Asia? People traveling to our country actually helps our economy so that we could 'hopefully' grow to a better country. (urgh. Corruption. Oh well. It's in every country, not only in the Phil.. Just that it's worse.)
It's very rude of you to sum up the country just based on ONE dirty city. Every country has a 'dump' city realistically speaking.
rubbish as a commuter in dusty Manila, i couldn't agree more!!! i pray everyday that God would be so kind to provide me a car, haha because my lungs are already tired of inhaling pollution even in the wee hours of the day! even for the domestic airport, we have food like which has been there for 2 weeks already and served in styro! poor us :( we love manila, but then again, reality bites.
i couchsurfed in Manila ! i loved that city and I don't know really why !
I have to admit, there is nothing special to see, like thai temples for example.
But, at first, i am coming from Paris, I do love capitals ! and Manila is a huge one. the city never sleep and i like that !
I felt really safe there, even the "bad" areas or maybe i was just lucky ;)
in fact, i couchsurfed there (do you know couchsurfing?) and I met awesome people, all very welcoming and warm :)
I think you cannot really enjoy the best place if you don't have a good company, actually you can but the good company makes the difference !
but you know, i went to India and i had the same bad feeling (and also, after travelling in India, Philippines looks clean and quiet :D )
blablabla, good next trips !
50% correct, 50% incorrect Geoffrey, I admire your courage in posting this blog. I grew up in Manila for 24 years and now live here in California. What you said is correct about Manila; however, do not generalize it for the whole Philippines. Philippines is not only about Manila. Have you been to Boracay? Cebu? Baguio? Laoag? Legazpi? Davao? Palawan? Bohol? These are beautiful places that I have been to.
If you don\'t like Manila, then don\'t go there. There are too many pessimistic people in the Philippines and the country does not need another one. Peace!
Thank you for being honest but sorry you missed the real beauty of the Philippines I live in Mindanao and I\'ve only been to Manila once and stayed there for a little more than a week. I have to agree with you that in terms of development, Manila is awfully disappointing (not the whole Metro Manila w/c includes cities like Makati, a first-world city). Such a beautiful country like the Philippines is misrepresented by it\'s capital city Manila. I feel sorry that you have to suffer our poor airport and hospitality industry. Government officials and those in the tourism sector need to hear your honest comments so that they can do their jobs better.
There are, however, a number of things you wrote that I have to disagree. First of all, the country\'s economy does not run only on overseas remittances, they constitute only ~13.5% of our GDP. I don\'t like political correctness too but hey, you\'re an ADB guy! I hope you are aware that saying \"the smart ones\" have left the country implies that those who opted to stay are dumb, that\'s ~80 million Filipinos, don\'t you find that offensive? Lastly, I am very sad that you missed a lot of beautiful spots here in the Philippines. If only you\'ve been to Siargao, Palawan, Bohol, Bislig, Camiguin, Cebu, Iligan, Gensan, CamSur, Batanes, etc, etc, perhaps you won\'t be writing all these negative things in your blog, heck, you won\'t even remember that filthy bathroom in Manila. The next time you visit the Philippines, visit these places I\'ve mentioned. :)
P.S. There is hope for the Philippines. We are already considered as a newly-developed nation and are on our way to being a highly-developed country within the next decade. The first to emerge in Southeast Asia since Singapore. I\'m surprised you do not know this considering you\'re in ADB.
mixed reaction hi Mr. James! there are points in your blog that I would have to agree however it hurts. But I was also confused because you were pointing out Manila in particular, and have mentioned some other cities that could be better like Baguio, Cebu... but in your final note, it seems that you were taking it all out on the Philippines as a whole, which could be unfair because I have seen cities in the country that has been making an effort to be really better in terms of cleanliness, security (maybe not that much YET on commercial progress) like Davao and Puerto Princesa. I know that it\'s hard to just single out Manila and not represent it as The Phlippines since it\'s the capital city, but it\'s just so sad that your image of the Philippines has already been blurred by your horrible experience/s in Manila. I know how hard it is to have to come back to a place where you don\'t want to be anymore, so I think I would have to wish you that you may avoid Manila or The Philippines for the rest of your life. Good luck!
Hey, does this blog already made it on our local news? I\'ll be so thrilled, especially on what our national leaders would have to say. i wonder what excuse they could come up this time, just like when that ambassador made a statement that most foreigners come to the country for s*x. Too bad he made an apology. But I\'m sure you\'re not one them, right? Anyway, thank\'s for doing your business in our country. This won\'t be the first & the last time i\'ll be reading your blog.
A Sad Truth I applaud your criticism, sir. If this blog would ever find its way to those who could actually do something about it, then I would be forever in your debt. I hope someday, a change would be a possibility in the Phils. Its just so sad that many have given an outrageous speech about it in several previous elections, but no one had surpassed what Mr. Marcos did in the country before. Everyone is so caught up by the spirit of democracy that they hid behind this very reason when being criticized for bad government. Filipinos have sadly taken the easier route of slacking off when need be. And every time things get off hand, and foreigners started to notice how ruined Manila is, I just wanted to hide in the dark of cold past where my country is still known for its beautiful island that the most outrageous patriotic rebels still think it is. Oh how I wish I can be ignorant from the truth. But its true. Its hard to be deaf and ignorant from the reality that unfolds before you. Manila is, sadly, a dump. A place not worth looking back, for Filipinos living abroad. And a place not looking forward to going, for foreigners whose dreaming of Manila 30 years ago.
Bad English For a Briton who's written several blogs, your grammar is the pits.
Asian or not, Filipino even, I agree that the Philippines has regressed rather than progressed as its other Asian neighbors have. Unfortunately, the "smart" people you describe are the deserters, the quitters, and the racists, not of other races but of their own kin and kind. They are the ones who, after stepping into the US or UK, look down on us "locals" and pretend they can no longer speak the native tongue.
Several times, I have tried to do the same thing (abandon ship) as I was one of the "lucky" ones who had a green card. And always, I came back. WTF for, I still can't put a finger on it. But since you've never really lived as a local, you will never know. It doesn't matter how many out-of-the-way places you've been to (most of us have done the same thing) but I doubt you've actually immersed yourself with the real Philippines. The Philippines is not about the country, the infrastructure or the beautiful beaches. It's about the people.
Our way of life has always been a constant uphill battle. And, even with such dismaying circumstances, the country still manages to grind out the most intelligent and highly educated graduates every year. It is just unfortunate that there are no jobs available for their specialized fields, hence, they fly the coop. As much as the ordinary Filipino would like to give back to the country, to the community, or to charity, we can only do so after our belly is full.
Tell me, how much do you get paid for an honest day's work? That's at least three times more than an average Filipino earns in a whole month.
If there is any way to save the country, what is needed is intervention. Being connected with the ADB, you, of all people, should know we need this badly. Our government is run by the worst drumbeaters whose battlecry is, "It's our turn now" (to steal, to get rich, to abuse power). Political clout is bought, not earned, and stealing from the public coffers is the duly elected official's way to get back the money spent for buying votes. The country needs help desperately to get out of this downward spiral. I trust you and your influential friends may have a few suggestions.
Love my Country, but hate the government!!! Again thank you for the honesty, as what i have mentioned, I love the Philippines but not the corrupt officials running it. But I still do believe all is not lost, I still believe in the Filipino people and what it can do to make this country proud and stand up again. Mabuhay ang Pinoy Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.... Cheers lad/mate....
Resounding Amen Don't worry about the negative feedback from native Filipinos. The butthurt reaction from them is typical especially when you insult the thing they love most: their country. As a Filipino living abroad, I too have experienced the hostility after criticizing an aspect of the country such as NAIA. They say: "Just because you've lived abroad, you think you're better" and all that other BS. They really need to face reality. Thank you for rubbing their epic failure in their face and showing them how terribly ignorant much of the country's population is. I mean, come on, why the h*ll would you risk re-voting for a president who was globally ranked 10th most corrupt leader in history? Are they crazy? Anyway, let's hope this is a wake up call. But I honestly doubt it.
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
hon
non-member comment
Philippines - Manila
Well, I wanted to put my real name, but scared being too often intimidated or hassled by the immigration and or the customs so called officers since 1987, since 10 years their attentions have been oriented to those poor OFW, so sometimes I am spared but very much sad and angry, yes that long, have been in this blessed country for so many times. All started when this country was very reasonably \'low costs of living\'; then get sucked into what is now, the most expensive capital in SE Asia or even any other developed or developing country in everything when one evaluates with the \'quality and money spent\' equation.... I agreed with you the Brit Bastin, even though I do not really admire any of you hahah, I am a French national as to explain this ..and still have to borrow your phrase: this is ONLY MY OPINION or RANT... and the following is not from you but from the Bible... FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EYES, CAN SEE..... not this one though AS A MERE FACT, NOT THE TRUTH..? AMEN. The reason I take the time to do this is because of those moronic Filipinos ( many are not, thank God,!) asking always the same question( actually they are not asking, so needless to answer, they are just too narrow minded and uncivilized-ly arrogant and unconsciously dump to be sincere to ask a proper question, they just try to be smart and ironic, or just try to act like a fake prosecutor who used to be enslaved for hundred of years ( I can also make barbaric statement too) \"IF Manila is so bad, so expensive so dirty so etc., why you foreigners keep on coming back?\" the following answer is only for those who are not moron: one can fall in love with a blessed RICH land like the Philippines, one can love this land more than a native just because one has passion or compassion of life, one can pray for AND to stay and try to help the Filipino nation to improve their life as to be worthy to live in such a blessed land, one can bear all the stupidity of many just because of a few good intentions of a few, one can fall in love with a Filipino and desire to have children and stay for the sake of their beloved ones, one can be invited to do business here or being hired as an employee, I can continue longer, however, I find myself so stupid already to have written all the above since all these are so elementary. One more thing for those who think or believe that other provinces or places either than Metro Manila is far better in organization, infrastructure, cleanliness, features, or quality in living; unfortunately, they are still wrong, SM or Ayala Mall or Robinson or other malls do not replace a decent airport or seaport equipped with functional toilets; English spoken ( arguable, AS MY ENGLISH IS SO BAD ) with smiling faces cannot replace proper/disciplined bus or jeepney or tricycle or taxi stations and those Malls\' elevators do not replace traffic management nor proper safe public transportation: sea, sun and sex do not replace well or simply prepared meals or rather hygienic measures in food transportation or storage in most public eateries including no star to so called 5 star hotels or restaurants.... and fortunately there are still some people who eat only from their own back yard or farm production. One Chinese diction says something like this, if a child has been raised forcibly only within a dirty environment, how can one be surprised that the child will die if being put into a cleaner place ?....this may explain many issues happening in this country, A proper education may be an answer for the next generation if ever we can start right now, or else the denial symptom will still be installed and enjoyed by the devil for a long time.