Philippine Airforce - One of the weakest in the world

[james_chaw]

Why do think wages are low, you have 48/hr working weeks, the poor are uneducated and most pinoys can never get a decent home for themselves. You think the ones in control will pro-actively allow things to change for the better to make everything more even and fair?? Hell no! Time to open your eyes, see the big picture! This is the social order in the country.

So why in God's name would this government, which is controlled by these wealthy and corrupt families, want to spend money on trying to modernize the Air Force?? They would rather put the funds into their own pockets. If worse comes to worst they can take the next first class flight out of here if we get into a war with one of our neighboring countries. They will watch from afar as YOUR families are slaughtered and just wait for the U.S. to finally come to our defense and reestablish peace. Then they return to start the same money making cycle all over again.

48-Hour work week here in the Philippines is already a blessing. Do you know that in other countries, they have only 35 to 40-hour work weeks? France will soon(or probably have) implemented a 35-hour work week for all employees. In the US of A, Majority have a 40-hour work week, does not work on the "weekends", which starts on Saturday for them, and overtime pay is horrendously expensive which is why bulhot na sila tanan mang-gawas inig 5pm. plus PAID ila LUNCH HOUR. aha ka ana! I'm sorry but given the circumstances, what you get for minimum wage at the very least is good enough for one person. and for a basic Filipino Family of 4 can live on a take home income of 18T, provided they know how to spend but most importantly save. What is probably not mentioned here is the fact that sometimes, we Filipinos tend to forget our priorities and just jump to the "luxuries" whenever we get cash. I know this because I've done this. and just so you know, I did undergo a life of little to no luxuries, much like what most proletarians in this country have. A television set is a luxury, just so you all know.=D No matter how advanced luxurious items have become, a TV set will still be luxurious. Why do you think some people, nay, lots still sell "traditional" TV sets to the buying market? it's because they can still sell like hot cakes because people "want" it so badly they would go into debt just to get one. Bahala nag 22" CRT type nga model basta mu-andar and maka receive ug signal, ok na na.

I'm sorry but it is the government's fault that the system is so corrupt. Ever since Spanish times, corrupt spanish officials have paved the way for graft and corruption to seep into the political system. The Prayles or Friars were the first to start this. I don't need to reiterate or prove nothin' because it is elementary. The so-called "rich" have merely taken advantage of the situation and mind you, EVERYONE is entitled to that chance of profiting from the government. it's all a matter of words. and I know for certain that we filipinos do not have a lack of those.

[yeah111]

james_chaw,

Regarding this "government" you are trying to lay blame on, have you even asked yourself who comprises it? Do you think its poor people? Maybe the lower or upper middle class? Or most probably the ones who are from the wealthy families, noh? Identify the root of the problem.

48/hr working week a "blessing"?? On the wages being paid here in the Philippines? I beg to disagree. Workers in France who will have a 35/hr working week probably will make 10 times more during that week than one doing a 48/hr week here. Is this your idea of a "blessing"? Is this your idea of fairness?

Ofcourse Filipinos will think of nice TV's as a luxury. On their type of salaries, I don't blame them.

Stop thinking like you have no right for better compensation and work hours. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop generalizing the blame and be exact. Stop and face the truth for crying out loud!

Peace.

[omad]

uhhhhhmmmm...

before we all get carried away with all these rants...

let's get back to the meat of the topic...

[james_chaw]

to yeah111
Stop thinking like you have no right for better compensation and work hours. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop generalizing the blame and be exact. Stop and face the truth for crying out loud!

Peace.

My comments are based on the side of management. We all think that all employers are only out to make profit; after all that is the main reason to go into business. However, Management is also not so stupid as to not properly compensate their employees. believe me, if they give their employees 3 times the standard, all business would have to close shop and lay off their employees. Right to better compensation? Why don't you try and take look around the current economic atmosphere. Companies are pinching pennies in order to survive great competitive forces that surround them. and not to mention, the other countries who doors will soon be wide open when the Philippines will be forced to fully implement the conditions set by the World Trade Organization. zero tariffs mean practically no taxes and that means cheaper importation of goods. so cheap that the businesses who are engaged in the 1st to 3rd tier areas before the retailer will definitely have a bad outlook of their sales.

Also, you wanna talk root of the problem? It's our colonial thinking. that has to be eliminated through whatever means possible. Propaganda ala Communist countries? why not. It certainly worked for China. First you eliminate the problem, then you accommodate needed adaptions within the acceptable limits of your organization. That is the formula used by China, and that is how we Filipinos should all be thinking. Good of the Many(the COUNTRY), and not the good of the few or the one.

And going back to the topic, our Air Force is poorly equipped but they certainly have skills no other air force can do, still have a fighter with Filipino ingenuity. flight tactics and stratagem that even the most advanced Air Corps was shocked to see. REmember the last Air Force military exercises with the Americans?

[yeah111]

Companies are pinching pennies in order to survive?? My God man, you must think we are dumb. Have you seen your bosses taking a jeep or walking? Or maybe eat somewhere cheap instead of going to expensive restaurants? Let me guess, all of them are still driving their SUV's to work huh?? You sound like the CEO's of GM and Ford (who by the way just failed to get their "pork barrel" bailout from the US congress).

Trying to conjure an image of catastrophe while making all the money behind everyones back. What a laugh, the trick has been done and exposed. People won't believe it anymore.

Colonial thinking...hmmmm. What does that have to do with this? Ohhh, wait! Isn't it managements perogative and right to make up the compensation and benefits scheme of their employees? So I wonder how much blame you can cast on the working class for having "colonial mentality" when its actually MANAGEMENT which makes up ALL THE RULES. I think you answered your own question.

When it comes to wages the best examples for comparison are American owned companies who are here and companies owned by chinese/spanish families. Go ask any sales clerk working in Gaisano how much she makes in a month, then look at the cars the owners (includes all relatives) drive around town everyday.

"Companies are pinching pennies in order to survive", my ass.

Anyway, back to the real topic. Your attitude reflects why the PAF will never be modernized. As long as excuses upon excuses are being thrown by the government then nothing will get done. Ever.

We need real patriotic leadership. We need someone like Marcos to get things done.

Amen.

[dubioz]

Second the motion. Those guys discussing the inequity of capitalism can start their own thread.

I have yet to hear comments on my choice of the Super Tucano and the Spectre for the PAF.

uhhhhhmmmm...

before we all get carried away with all these rants...

let's get back to the meat of the topic...

[flanker]

THESE are what we need:


EMBRAER SUPER TUCANO


AC-130H SPECTRE

No more Mindanao problems.

Super Tucano? maguwang raman na gamay sa Bronco...

[flanker]

I have read a lot of your posts and this is my 2 cents on the matter as to why our Air force is in the state it is in. It really just boils down to economics and social order. So here it goes:

The Philippines is still a third world country "trying" to provide jobs, basic services and education to its people. Economically we lag behind our neighbors. If you are in the middle class, which I assume most posters here are, then most of the time you are around your fellow middle class who have jobs and those who are in college finishing their courses. What you DON'T realize and aren't exposed to are the many poor people out there trying to make ends meet. The disparity between students who have a college education and are in school compared to those who are poor and can't afford to go to college is gigantic, to say the least.

Our population is made up of more than 2/3 poverty-stricken people. Living in the city has made us blind to this, I believe, because we just CAN'T SEE IT with our own eyes. We only see those who are working in call centers and working other "good paying" jobs, which is only a tiny fraction compared to most who live on a salary of less than 6K a month. Many of these underpayed people live outside the city and in the provinces. Talk about being poor and uneducated. Where can our economy go with this?

The social structure here in the Philippines is also different from other countries. When you cite an example of a poor African country having high-end helicopters in their Air Force you have to understand these countries are most probably being ruled by a military junta. Their tyranical leaders need advanced weapons in order to rule with an iron fist. In the Philippines we have a social structure based not on tyranny but on feudalism or something very similar to it.

The old rich families, who are mostly chinese and spanish, govern the country almost like feudal lords by controlling virtually all businesses. These businesses are passed on from one generation to another so in turn the wealth is kept within their families. The few prosper while the many will languish and suffer...forever. They do not need an Air Force with advanced fighters if they can economically suppress the people by usurping all the wealth. This structure has worked for the rich and continues to do so.

Aside from this there is the graft and corruption within the government. Coincidentally, the government is comprised of individuals who come from these rich families I have just mentioned. The country is just one big money making machine for them.

Why do think wages are low, you have 48/hr working weeks, the poor are uneducated and most pinoys can never get a decent home for themselves. You think the ones in control will pro-actively allow things to change for the better to make everything more even and fair?? Hell no! Time to open your eyes, see the big picture! This is the social order in the country.

So why in God's name would this government, which is controlled by these wealthy and corrupt families, want to spend money on trying to modernize the Air Force?? They would rather put the funds into their own pockets. If worse comes to worst they can take the next first class flight out of here if we get into a war with one of our neighboring countries. They will watch from afar as YOUR families are slaughtered and just wait for the U.S. to finally come to our defense and reestablish peace. Then they return to start the same money making cycle all over again.

Sorry, the Philippine Air Force will never be modernized as long as the same economic and social order exists.

I would like to mention more things but I think this will do. My 2 cents on the matter.

Good post here...

but you're talking about war with our neighbor.. lets be realistic here... the war we are facing is in Minadanao.

[salbahis]

naa pu diay taga timawa dinhi! good day bai!

maski asa raman ko hehehehehe... mayta magka meet ang tanan timawa diri sa cebu noh?

@dubioz

super tucano is a good plane... very good for COIN AC-130 is good but we need it more as transport... so unahon nalang sa to....

then again we are not in war with our neighbors, so no need to buy expensive jet.... not yet... remember gents... COIN war ang atong problema.... fast moving jet's are very in-accurate on ground targets... compare to slow turbo prop aircraft that's why the Bronco are very sucessfull during the vietnam war they can provide better fire support and fac....

[7DMM]

maski asa raman ko hehehehehe... mayta magka meet ang tanan timawa diri sa cebu noh?

@dubioz

super tucano is a good plane... very good for COIN AC-130 is good but we need it more as transport... so unahon nalang sa to....

then again we are not in war with our neighbors, so no need to buy expensive jet.... not yet... remember gents... COIN war ang atong problema.... fast moving jet's are very in-accurate on ground targets... compare to slow turbo prop aircraft that's why the Bronco are very sucessfull during the vietnam war they can provide better fire support and fac....

ot: no prob bai!organize lang ug eyeball hehehhe