Perceptions or tips given to foreigners if they choose to live in the Philippines

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this is a post coming from an expat now living in cebu and somehow i find him very interested in the philippines and in fact hes very happy being in the philippines. but seeing most of the filipino people disgruntled with our government and their lifestyle, he somehow managed to give out pointers in case he wants the the filipinos and the philippines to progress...

read on. lingaw2 lang basa. dont take it too serious lang. hehehe

After having wasted more hours than I care to admit playing Tropico 3 on Xbox, in the role of a banana republic dictator where you attempt to grow the island’s economy while balancing poverty, military, religious factions and rebels, I have managed to come up with 10 simple solutions to the majority of the Philippines’ problems.

Clearly Filipinos are not evolved enough to take advantage of a democratic form of government as evidenced by the rampant corruption and citizens selling their votes for a handful of Pesos. So if you are serious about make any changes for the better, you would have to take over as dictator - at least until such time the Philippines becomes a world-class country. As a benevolent dictator you should take the following 10 Steps:

1st Step – ELIMINATE CORRUPTION. Elected officials found guilty of corruption at any level should suffer life in prison. Total freedom of speech and press without fear of repercussions from those in power would help expose corrupt politicians and officials. The Filipino people need to be able to trust their elected officials.

2nd Step – IMPROVE SECURITY. An investment in a highly-trained police force would be needed to decrease kidnappings and petty crime. The country’s reputation as the “Kidnapping Capital of the World” has got to change. Solicitation of military aid to increase military presence and the welcoming of U.S Special Forces would help eradicate the NPA, Abu Sayaf, MNLF, MILF or any private army once and for all.

3rd Step – FREELY AVAILABLE BIRTH CONTOL. With the highest birthrate in Asian, the Philippines will soon have a population of over 100 million people. The country can’t even produce enough rice now to feed its own people. It is time to free the country from the strangle-hold of the Catholic Church with their antiquated, self-serving superstitions. Cost-free government-provided birth control methods would significantly help to lower the population growth rate. Maybe even pay women to come to the family planning clinics for free Depo Provera shots and IUD inserts.

4th Step – ESTABLISH ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGAUGE. Tagalog should no longer be the official language of the Philippines. It was a valiant effort, but a citizen from one island still cannot always communicate effectively with someone from another island. English should be the only language taught and spoken in schools and public facilities. High-level English proficiency should be a high school graduation and college admission requirement. This action would result in an English-proficient work force – a major attraction to foreign investors. A propaganda campaign should be implemented to attach a stigma to speaking in local dialects. In addition, new superstitions should be spread implying it would be bad luck and witches would visit their homes if they are heard speaking in local dialects. Hey, if they believe it’s bad luck to sweep the floor at night or that going to bed with wet hair will make you blind, they’ll believe anything.

5th Step – TENEMENTS FOR THE POOR. If government housing was provided at low cost, it would eliminate the number of squatter shacks that litter the landscape and increase the overall standard of living. Squatter shacks should be torn down and replaced with beautiful green parks.

6th Step – CLEAN UP THE STREETS. Trash cans secured to ground should be placed in all downtown areas. Government workers should be hired to sweep the streets and empty the trash. Littering prohibition should be strictly enforced with violations resulting in community clean-up service. The Philippines would soon shed its reputation as a trashy, smelly, dump - may even one day be as spotlessly clean as Japan.

7th Step – INCREASE THE TOURIST INDUSTRY. Once tourists view the Philippines as a safe place to visit, the tourist industry should thrive with the help of media promotions in 1st world countries emphasizing the islands’ natural beauty and climate. The word “paradise” should be used a lot with photos of hospitable people with big welcoming smiles. Allowing foreign ownership of land, property and businesses would attract investments in quality hotels and resorts. Development of eco-tours like jungle hikes to waterfalls and caves, sea kayak trips, scuba diving, sailing, motorcycle touring, swimming with the dolphins, etc. would attract the younger, more adventurous tourists and their dollars. In addition, the construction of more ports and ship terminals in Manila and Cebu would entice more Asian cruise ships to visit.

8th Step – PROMOTE THE COUNTRY AS A RETIREMENT HAVEN. In order to attract retired foreigners and their dollars, media advertisements in countries like the UK, Germany, USA, Australia, Korea and Japan should be implemented to promote the low cost of retirement living, pretty, young women, beautiful beaches and cheap San Miguel beer. Foreign ownership of land, property, businesses and guns should be allowed and visa restrictions should be eased. A reputation as a country with state-of-the-art hospitals and well-trained physicians would attract even more senior citizens.

9th Step – BUILD THE INDUSTRY BASE. Encourage the Philippines’ reputation as a "Call Center Mecca". Offer incentives to foreign investors to move their Call Center operations from countries like India to the Philippines, emphasizing the country’s English-speaking population. Increase exports of semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits.

10th Step – RESIGN AS DICTATOR. Once these Steps have been implements and the standard of living, unemployment rate and GDP improved, you should step down as dictator and open up free elections. Free, happy citizens with a decent standard of living and a reasonable amount of liberty don’t become rebels.

Of course these actions and edicts are based upon a stupid video game and are only one man's opinion, but what the hell, give them a try. The country couldn’t be much worse off than it is now.

these are some of the reactions from other expats. others agree and others dont too. some may give their own opinions for the philippines to improve. read on...

I agree with most of what you say, but I disagree that you say the Filipino people are not evolved enough for democracy. I agree that their lack of interests in politics vs. celebrity news is shocking and sad. But, it does not make them less evolved for it. They should take an active interest in their country I totally agree. Again you have many good points that would help the country long term.

If that's what you want I think you should move to Singapore, they have most of your bases covered there!

I like the Philippines just the way it is!!!

Well, Marcos got the initial groundwork laid down but never got to step 1. I think if your start with total absolute freedom of the press, the rest would work itself out. As far as the ability of the Philippine people, from what I have seen first hand they could be the most powerful nation EVER. But they don't want it bad enough. Or maybe, after seeing all that happens to the "developed" countries they know enough NOT to want that.

I want to know why people move here and then try to make it exactly like the country they came here to get away from?

Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". I think he was a smart fella. So don't try to do all those things in the Philippines. Go back to your own country and change the world from there.

If you move here, MOVE HERE.

When in Rome, do as what the Romans do.

Obviously, there's needs to be alot done here in the Philippines in order to pull this country out of the condition it's in right now.

I think the most important thing that needs to be done first, is to increase the quality of basic education. I am not talking about the expensive private schools, but the Public School System. The whole eduction system here in the Philippines needs a complete overhaul and some serious money needs to be put into it by the government.

The very first thing that needs to be done in the school system is to add 2 more years of education in order to graduate from high school. In the PI, they do it now in only 10 years, whereas it takes 12 years in pretty much of the rest of the world.

Education to the 8th grade level should be mandatory. Today, your not even required by law to send your kids to school at all. Every child that has a desire to finish high school should be provided the chance by the government even if the family is poor.

The BIG PROBLEM with this country, as I see it, is that the 150 or so rich families that run this country (and are in the pockets of the politicians that make the laws) don't really want an educated society. They like it just the way it is. Educated people ask too many questions when things are not going well ... Bottom line ... Keep the general society uneducated out in the provence and avoid conflict.

Again, nothing will ever change here untill education actually become a sincere priority of the government ... And then you can figure it will take at least 2 generations for a change in the overall attitude of the people to take place.

Bottom line ... You ain't going to see any change from what you see right now ... at least not in your lifetime!

Speak on Kenny!

Look, this is a foreign country and culture. Its not home country. There are similar things here and there but its not home country. Many of the things that were stated in the op that would help the RP is right on, clean up the place, make it safer, etc. All true and valid that would help the country long term. But even after helping the RP out, its still the RP, not anywhere else. So learn to adapt and like the things that it has going for it and work on helping rid of the bad things.

the best answer so far ive read and definitely TRUE!!! it all starts in the family..

I disagree completely. It is the parents that need to take educating their children seriously. Government run education is a failure here in the USA. When families had control of their children's education and got together to setup their own small "private" schools students learned more. What we have now is many parents that shuffle their kids of to state run schools and forget about what is happening. The most educated children in America today are those whose parents stayed in the loop with their child's education and made sure the stuff got done.

I have been to the Philippines several times for extended periods of time. I see plenty of internet cafes and the internet and a few print outs from the computer can go a long way in the hands of parents that are determined to make sure their children really learn. It doesnt actually take serious money to educate someone, it takes people interested in being educated and taking that process seriously.

So you're saying you live in a shack, have no ac, and eat mainly dried fish and rice (especially rice that's been sitting out all day or overnight and is not fresh prepared)?? You never buy anything you liked from the 'old country'?

If a filipino eats at a burger joint, are they not living as 'in rome'? i take issue with the 'you're here so you can't eat hersheys/sour cream otherwise you don't like it here and want to change the culture'. Just because you still appreciate some things at home doesn't mean you can't largely assimilate into the culture. To expect someone who has lived the majority of their life in one country to give up ALL culture from another country is not realistic. It's certainly not what any other culture does when they move to the US or another country. Different cultures gives a spice to life. If you think everything should be culturally RP unique here, you shouldn't have moved here at all as you're not filipino It's a mulicultural world and the RP is part of that as they (somewhat) encourage people from other culturals to come here. It goes along with the territory.

Tex;

I for one am not saying to forsake your culture or your likes and dislikes. But I am saying don't come here and try to make the RP into the mini States, mini Japan, etc. And to Ron's point about the quality of education, he is right on. I say this because several in-laws have told me that that many of their school officials were only concerned that they were paid and not so much if the students learned anything. And if the RP wants long term growth, then they have to have an educated populace. Also, with the bribes under the table business model in place here thats has to change or else there will not be any serious investment. And without investment to help bring and keep jobs, it will stay a vicious circle and no growth and improvement for the RP.

I think there are two reasons that some foreigners would like to see changes in the Philippines.

The first is that they want things "like they are back home" (wherever that may be).

The second is that it is easy to see a country with so much potential, and yet so much poverty and so many with a a poor lifestyle.
In fact, the Philippines could be one of the most prosperous countries in the region, if....

Seeing the gap between "what is" and "what could be" often appears to be a shame, and even wrong, to those bought up elsewhere, and with a different culture and background.
(Many Filipinos say exactly the same, so foreigners arent the only ones with these views.)

these are just some of the discussions. well... definitely an eye opener. di lang pud ko katuo nga there are foreigners who are also interested and want to see the philippines progress. nindot pud.

[peewee_toot]

the truth hurts.