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One of the many things I love about the Philippine Islands (P.I. in the old US Navy vernacular)or Pinas as they call it themselves, is that it is not very PC, or politically correct. You still have politicians and government officials slapping criminals and scolding them on TV and nobody cries about their human rights. These are criminals after all! The fact they are yet to be found guilty doesn’t matter, they are accused and so are guilty enough to be made an example of. Don’t like that? Don’t put yourself in a situation where you might be a suspect or arrested.

They don’t let foreigners do things here and for good reason. Mostly it is to protect the monopoly held by one of the ruling families but also it means that locals will always win over foreigners. Even in court and even if the foreigner is in the right. I have listened as a judge explains that although he has to find the case in favour of the foreigner, the defendant is a poor Pinoy who has been manipulated by the rich Kano (he borrowed money off the foreigner, promised to pay back or give him his farm, then never paid and won’t give the deeds to the farm to the Kano’s Filipina wife). He says it would hurt the farmer too much and besides the foreigner has lots of money and he can always go back to America and so on. Not fair or just but you have to accept he has an argument there.

In the Pinas you can still do pretty much what you want to, especially on your own property. People will rarely complain for fear of you having more clout than they do. If they feel they have more clout then they might complain and they might win but if you play by their rules, this is rare. First of all, don’t flaunt your wealth like the better off locals do. Be nice, acknowledge you are not in your own country. Never criticise no matter how messed up and incompetent they might be and never call a Filipino ‘stupid’, even if he or she is.

In return you can drive pretty much how you like, just as they do. Make sure you mirror tint your windscreen and windows and never make eye contact and use the horn incessantly. Treat your helper as a servant, not a member of the family and now and then get mad at them to keep them keen. Too nice and they will rip you off because they know you won’t do anything about it. Know your place in society and maintain it. You are higher than others but not all. Trying to be nice and friendly to everyone only embarrasses those below you and creates contempt among those above you and shame for those at your level. If you don’t understand what I mean, ask your Asawa. But don’t expect a straight answer, it is not their way.

Making a difference, one at a time

Following is information on a project several of us are working on.  This is an appeal for funds to provide daily vitamins with minerals to a specific group of children living in poverty.  A way you can make a real difference in the lives of each of them.

This is a one year Pilot program to determine the beneficial effects daily vitamins with minerals will have on the lives of these children.  Anticipated outcomes include reduced illness, better ability to concentrate in school and at home, better physical condition and more.

A monthly donation or a onetime gift will help begin this program.  Please give us your support.  I am available to answer any questions you have concerning this program. Thank you.

Jim Baumbach,
Bacoor Cavite, 4102 Philippines
(MagicJack  717-435-5284 free call in Lancaster, PA area)
09278274512 (cellphone)

MALNUTRITION

I am not a doctor but I see the effects the lack of proper nutrition has on children.  Without proper nutrition children are unable to develop physically and mentally.  Where I live in the Philippines children suffer from this condition in dramatic numbers.

In the Philippines 30% of the population, based on Philippine statistics, live on less than a dollar a day.  Rice is the main food of the poor.  While rice provides calories and some nutrients, it is generally processed into white polished rice with few health benefits.  The children will eat whatever they can to satisfy their hunger.   This includes white bread, cheap candy and fortunately seasonal fruits.

Can you help the 4 – 5 million Filipino children suffering from malnutrition?  NO YOU CAN’T!  It is too overwhelming.  What you can do is help a group of the children in a squatter area “Slum” that I have come to know.  They range in age from 0 to 16, both boys and girls.  There is a total of 42 and here is what we can do together to help them.

VITAMINS FOR THE CHILDREN

Daily multivitamins and minerals for these children will provide missing nutrition in their diets.

A simple multi-vitamin with minerals each day will give the child these expected benefits: increased ability to concentrate in and out of school, stronger immune system leading to fewer illnesses, general improvement in bodily function and more.

Here is how it will work:  The total daily cost for a multi-vitamin for the 42 children is $3.15, for a monthly total of $133.  Please make checks payable to:  Bonnie Gantz, and send to, 24 Plank Ave, Willow Street, PA 17584 will receive the donations, deposit the funds in a PNC bank account of Jim Baubmach who can access them, for free, in the Philippines. In the Philippines please contact me directly, by text or call and we can make arrangements. The vitamins will be purchased locally and distributed by the local Health Department or government agency, again, without cost.  A full monthly accounting will be provided to Bonnie by Jim.  If more than the $133 is collected it will only be spent for approved purposes such as the addition of fluoride or protein supplements for the children.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

You may have knowledge of the people involved in this project.  There are no administration fees deducted and there is accountability on a monthly base.  The height, weight and progress of each child will be maintained by the local Health Department or government agency.  Group photos will also be provided as well as individual photos on request.

You have to hand it to the Pinoy when it comes to recycling and making something out of virtually nothing. In squatter areas where the interiors of the shacks they live in are dark nearly all day, they simply can’t afford to have the light on. Even though many steal electricity by dangerously hooking up to live mains, those who have it legitimately can’t afford Asia’s highest electricity costs. So how do they light up their homes? Watch the video clip from the BBC and see how they use recycled P.E.T. soft drink bottles and a little ingenuity to solve a major problem. It is eco friendly, virtually free (if you made your own from scavenged materials) and very sustainable.

Thanks to Peter from PhilippineDreams1 for the link to this report.

It was reported in the SunStar Cebu newspaper on the 23rd July that the President will grant another holiday, or in Pinoy speak, a ‘non-working day’. This time it will be for Eid ul-Fitr, the end of the Islamic observance called Ramadan. Tuesday, August 30 is the chosen day, which will come right on the heels of National Heroe’s Day on Monday the 29th. With the weekend this makes for a four day break except, of course, if you are a government employee required to work on the Saturday. So what is the real agenda here? Muslims make up about 5% of the population at best. Is this part of the Islamification of the world, or just a grab for some votes in Mindanao?

The token lip service shown the other week in arresting owners, patrons and staff of only Foreigner Owned bars in Angeles city has brought about talk of increasing the age limit for licensed staff working in these bars from 18 to 21 . That would be a very positive move and lessen the chances a 16 year old (or younger) could bribe her local officials into issuing a city ID claiming she was 18. At the very least it would make it easier for owners to insist on more proof for the really young looking applicants. Will this make much difference overall? We doubt it.

In the Filipino owned bars that cater mainly to the local trade it will make no difference whatsoever if the owner chooses to hire 14 year olds. He will rely on his barkarda, his connections and his local clout as always. It is all so obvious to those who understand the psyche of the Filipino, especially when it comes to getting one over on the foreigner. One can’t really blame them, given how they were messed around for so long by the Spanish in the name of the church, then the Americans just took over even after the Filipinos had beaten the Spanish in a fair fight called the Kapitunan Revolution of 1896-98. They have to put up with a culture that idolises anything from overseas as being superior to the Pinoy version, has half the population doing whatever they can to have lighter skin tones (whitening cream is the No1 selling item in drug stores everywhere) and of course people throwing in English phrases amidst their Tagalog just to show they are upscale enough to speak Taglish.

All of which is fair enough. It is their country and if one moves there and operates a business then one must expect the playing field to be less than level. Regardless of how it might be level for them back home should they come to your country and set up shop, this isn’t your country, it is theirs. This is how it is, get used to it. The thing is, you can play the game their way, too. You will never be as good at it or as well connected but you can use the same two faced set of ‘rules’ to your advantage. Always pick your battles carefully and make sure you have more money and connections than the other guy. Don’t hesitate to treat people like dirt and use them to your own advantage and never, ever feel remorse or pity for anyone less fortunate than you. That’s their lot in life and not your fault so ignore them if you can and use them if you can’t. Remember, this is a catholic country so you will be forgiven your sins and the lot of the less fortunate will be much better when they go to heaven so why worry? See, they’ve got it covered.

Either follow those simple rules or don’t compete with locals for the peso. Go back to your own country and run your business there or enjoy living in the Philippines and make your money online, offshore or somewhere other than the Republic of the Philippines. Walay problema, di ba!

Good question. The thing is the tourists are staying away. Angeles is the deadest it has been since Pinatubo, according to some long term local expats. Who can blame the tourist when he can get his low cost sex and alcohol in Thailand, Cambodia, Mexico and Ecuador or Guatemala. Food’s better and the hassles are much less, plus the infrastructure works better. Plenty of long term expats are selling up and leaving, but just as many seem to be turning up, too.

The thing is, once you find your Filipina and get away from the bar scene the country has a lot to offer. It is a great family oriented environment for bringing up kids. While the education standard is low unless you can afford a top notch private school, it is adequate. Many expats home school their kids. Those without children enjoy the low costs for most things, although living a western standard of life as far as food is concerned means you spend pretty much the same you would back home. Eating native on the other hand can be very inexpensive, if you can hack it. Liquor, cigarettes and other pleasures are cheap and you can get pretty much anything you want and definitely everything you need somewhere in the country.

Corruption and incompetence are everywhere but if you expect this and just make allowances then it doesn’t seem to bother most. You get used to it. You lower your expectations regarding service and comprehension and if you want to be fair, despite the official claims as to how much they speak English, you learn the local dialect and become fluent in it. Most expats never learn more than a few words, which is sad. The other thing you need to do is to socialize with people in a similar income bracket and education level. Most Filipinos have not had the benefits of your education and while the poor can be honest and trustworthy you have to allow for some leeway. The very wealthy don’t need to know you and unless you join the local golf club or Rotary you probably won’t meet too many upper middle class Filipinos, either.

Bottom line you make it what it is. The Philippines is what it is, whether you are there or not. It is up to you to adapt, to accept to adjust, not them. This doesn’t mean you can’t find fault, of course you can. If they were to go to the USA or wherever they would find fault and make comparisons and they should be allowed to do so. We make scathing criticisms here on a regular basis but this site is not aimed at the Filipino, but the foreigner. Forewarned is Forearmed. What we don’t want is someone going there wearing rose tinted glasses, expecting every Filipina to be honest, loyal, loving and beautiful and that they will be welcomed and treated like a knight in shining armor come to make everything right. As Quezon said, “I would rather see the Philippines run badly by Filipinos than run like clockwork by foreigners’. He got his wish but nobody put a gun to your head and made you come here, did they?

It is no secret that a lot of men find happiness and a new life in the arms of a Filipina. Often she is two or more decades younger than he is and this alone causes tongues to wag, heads to turn and so on. If one were totally, brutally honest it would be easy to confess that the attraction is an exchange of youth and sex on the one hand and security and a better life on the other.

Most of the women men will meet via these penpal sites, although by far not all, will not be int he upper socio-economic echelons of Filipino society. It is rare to see a 20 year old girl from a wealthy family walking arm in arm with a man 40 years her senior, yet that is commonplace with Filipinas from the province and much poorer families. Who is anyone to comment or judge on the sincerity of their relationship? Even if he is after sex and someone to take care of him and she is after someone who can take her to a better life abroad and help her care for her family… so what?

Realistically, such a marriage has a better chance of producing happiness than one based purely on some adolescent romantic fantasy ideal. All through history marriages have been made for reasons of wealth, security, land gain, advancement and so on with ‘love’ rarely getting a look in. Who’s to say that genuine affection and love doesn’t blossom over time, let alone that your concept of love is any more valid or honourable than mine or the next person’s.

Of course there are scammers on both sides. There are the desperate, should know better middle aged and older American or European who treats these women’s feelings like a doormat and their bodies like a rag to wipe themselves on when they have had their fun. There are also the professional penpals who know how to milk the men who are genuinely looking for someone in their lives they can love, cherish and provide for.

On the 6th Anniversary of ‘Filipina 101 -How To Meet And Marry The Filipina Of Your Dreams‘ I am looking at the state of the Fil-Am penpal scene in 2011 with a view to updating the text for 2012. The first step in that review is to look at some of the penpals, both male and female, working the web today. So far it has been an eye opener, even for jaded old me.  Click on the link and come and read the report and keep checking back as new information comes to hand. You might even learn how to detect a scammer, or whether she is really a he!

It is official, at around US$0.18Kwh, Filipinos in Manila pay more for their electricity than the Japanese (US$0.179Kwh). They pay all costs, taxes and there is no subsidy for industry. And they wonder why foreign investment avoids building their next factory there? Of course one might ask who owns the private supplier, Meralco? That link takes you to a Wikipedia entry that is partly written by apologists for the Lopez family who owned the company completely at one time, as well as a true view of the extent to which Marcos went to control his country and enrich himself.

Of course, Meralco are doing that now, according to some inquiries being held as to why Manileno’s pay so much for their power. While people in Sydney pay the same for their electricity as those in Manila do, the outages aren’t as often. Of course, the corruption of the New South Wales government recently ousted in a state wide landslide election win for the opposition was as blatant as any Filipino politicians’, they just had the good grace to deny it and be embarrassed when caught out. Not that anything changed and, like the good citizens of Manila, Sydney-siders too carry the costs. Surely this proves that it matters not where you live, either you are doing the screwing or you are one of the screwed.

Can you imagine being held in a rat infested, roach covered hole in the wall for two years and, thinking your freedom is nigh, have it snatched from you and postponed for another month? It happened to our intrepid Brit and his Filipina wife. Their second last case was postponed over a month because of a flood or failure to pay the electricity bill at the court (not sure which) and then the last case has been postponed another month because of the usual load of BS and face saving lies. That is one view. Another is that due process of the law must take place and sometimes there are delays beyond the control of those in charge. You choose your reason of choice. Bottom line, they look like being banged up until early July, past the 2 year mark. Be grateful it is not you.

After nearly seven years online and over three right here, we figured it was time to revamp the site and have it reflect the original purpose: – the Expat’s streetwise guide to ‘paradise’, without the rose tinted glasses. The simple truth is the Philippines has a lot to offer but by no means is it a paradise on earth. There is no such Zip Code! Some of us prefer some places to others but everywhere has the good and the bad. We like to offer a glimpse of both here. Make no mistake you can retire here and live well on a lot less than back home BUT… there are pitfalls and traps for the unwary just as there are anywhere you choose to call home.