Living in the Philippines

Muslim rebels take another expatriate

2012-01-02T19:42:00.001-08:00

An Australian expatriate married to a Filipino is the latest person to have been held for ransom by Muslim rebels in the southern Philippine state of Mindanao. Read our interpretation of this state of affairs - you might be surprised by our thoughts on the incident.

Andrew Sheldon NZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

The legacy injustice in the Philippines

2011-11-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a very interesting video describing corruption in the Philippines with the large oligopolies based on the split commercial-political interests of the major families - well in fact - one family, the family of the current president. A great deal of this is common knowledge, and yet:

1. The foreign media and governments do nothing

2. The poor Filipinos are uneducated and don't know. Their leaders are assassinated

3. The US government does nothing - because the 'oligopolies' control the Philippines government

4. The media in the Philippines is controlled by like-minded persons

We are all familiar with how the US government were apologists for the South American dictators in the 1960s to 1980s; the same has been occurring in the Philippines. Now that the Cold War is over; might it be time for the US government to be raising the bar. Maybe its time for the American people to start expecting more from their government. It is apparent that Western governments have no interest in preserving freedom; protecting rights. Their actions abroad are directed only towards their commercial interests.

We can argue that there is nothing wrong with preserving or pursuing one's interests; but what interest does the West have in allowing the Philippines oligopoly to preserve their tyranny over the Philippines people; not to mention foreign companies which invest there. Yes...Western companies which invest in the Philippines are subjected to a litany of tyranny by commercial interests. Any foreign enterprise that gets too big is subject to extortion. So what could or should foreign governments do to prevent this tyranny from existing in perpetuity? They can do several things:

1. They can stop sanctioning the illegitimate practices of the oligopoly-controlled government by publicly castigating the Philippines for undermining the sovereign interests of the landless Filipinos.

2. They can educate the Philippines people about the injustices perpetrated against the people.

This video just highlights the actions of the family of the current administration. If one takes a look at the injustices perpetrated against the Muslims of Mindanao, largely again because of the acquiesce of the US government, who administered the Philippines for a good period of time, then you can see that this is a huge problem for the Philippines, and why Filipinos have to largely leave the country for any prosperity. Which is why expatriated incomes are the life-blood of poor families in the Philippines, whilst the wealthy families life off their legacy of extortion extending back to Spanish administration.

What is important for people to realise is that this is not capitalism. This behaviour is not based on the mutual consent of people's in relationships of trade. These actions were perpetrated through the sanctioning of government. This is why principles of capitalism need to be respected, and not used as a smoke-screen to give legitimacy to despotic and unjust business and political interests.

Watch this YouTube video - and there are more at the end of it. Lobby your congressman or local parliamentary MP to encourage your government to do more. Perhaps the best chance that the Philippines has of restoring justice is for there to be a 'Thai-style' coup in the Philippines, however there is always the risk that such an action could replace one tyrant with another military dictator. Remember Ferdinand Marcos. Those were different times.

Andrew Sheldon NZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Filipinos cause environmental damage in NZ

2011-10-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

Filipinos are receiving a great deal of bad press at the moment. The answer is to understand them and to treat them appropriately. If they want to engage in international business they need to engage at international standards of care and preparedness. This is like the perfect storm because Greek society is just as indulgent and care-free as the Filipinos. Was this not destined to happen?

My thoughts about this episode.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Stability in the Philippines

2011-07-17T18:26:00.001-07:00

A Colonel in the Philippines Armed Forces stands accused, or is being investigated for attempting to incite a military coup to overthrow the Aquino government. The story is covered here.

The Aquino administration argues that the man is a front man for the Arroyo administration, who stands accused of a great deal of corruption during her administration. The problem is that there is a great deal of scandal surrounding her and her husband....so she would have a great deal to gain from any efforts to overthrow the government.

The reality is that Aquino has invested a great deal of resources in investigations against corruption. This is of course a very positive development. The fact that it has been to the detriment of broader economic and social policy is understandable. This is a big issue, and the economy has a surprising capacity to look after itself...if government would leave it alone. After all the right of government to extort 'unconditionally' is ultimately the cause of corruption; and democracy is the ultimate tool for extortion.

I frankly place no trust in democracy; and the extortionary demands of colonels are a product of that illegitimacy. Consider the justification for his repudiation:

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said:

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) considers Mariano’s action an isolated case in the organization.....It’s apparent that he is alone. No one came after him. We can see if a person’s action is isolated".

I think this is true as well. My PMA sources suggest there is no support for this action.

Valte: "We are confident that the soldiers know that they are here to uphold the Constitution, to secure the county and not to engage in partisan politics.”

That might be what the Constitution says but they don't have much of a shelf life in the Philippines. Was it 1987 that this one came into being? We are actually due for a new one. The reality is that ethical principles are the basis for issues of justice; not some arbitrary, 'dated', dogma drawn up by a group of people who purport to represent the 'majority'; whatever that means.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

The prospects for a cure for diabetes for Filipinos

2011-06-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Philippines is home to a great many 'fatties', i.e. Overweight people living on poor diets with type 1 (genetic) or type 2 (lifestyle) diabetes. In the Philippines it is hard to indulge in recreational or even family eating without being served up a plate load of festive sugary, fat lard, which manifests in obesity and related illnesses like diabetes. This is a Western lifestyle problem, all the worse in the Philippines because of the high rates of unemployment, the indulgence we might associate with Spanish and third world countries, as well as the humidity which tends to discourage the exercise that raises their metabolic rate.

Fortunately, whilst it will take some time, and the spectre of diabetes or cardiovascular disease to teach Filipinos to eat well, and to change their lifestyle habits, there is hope for current sufferers. There is research which offers hope of a cure for both forms of diabetes. Read more here.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Prostitution the tip of the 'big banana'

2011-05-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

Prostitution is illegal in the Philippines and yet no police officer lifts a hand to prevent the practice...except for this token raid, which unreasonably detained foreigners. How is a foreigner supposed to know prostitution is illegal when the country so openly allows the operation of brothels in the country. This is indeed a joke. The police cannot even afford police vehicles, and yet here are these targets that have no chance to get away. Police officers need only walk in off the street....and yet nothing is done. There is something suspicious about this case. Only a club with foreigners was targeted? What? You could not find a club with Filipinos in your own country, or did you have a joke before you let the Filipinos free.

Perhaps the nation ought to start arresting police officers who fail to do their job...and fine them more than the brothel owners are paying them in kickbacks to not take action.

Better still acknowledge that your country's silly laws preclude girls (and guys) from getting 'honest' self-respecting jobs, forcing them into prostitution. The unemployment rate in the Philippines, the high corruption, the high import tariffs, the low productivity....you have some work to do...stop making foreigners scapegoats for all your problems.

The other reason I dare say prostitutes enter the trade is because they were abused by some Catholic hypocrite or because the country is one of the most materialistic nations in the world; more brand-conscious than the Japanese....who have the greater capacity to afford such treats. The reality is that the Philippines suffers from a culture of indulgence and poor institutional management or organisation. These are the places to start; not some token gesture which destroys the livelihood of Filipinos. Better paid call girls than living off the streets. They make the choices. Given the choices of your political leaders....they are at least not hurting others...at least not at face value. Just they offend your sensitivities.

The other important point is that Western countries have no 'culture of prostitution' so rife in Asia. The prostitution districts in the West would fit in a single street, but in Asia, there is an entire district in many parts of each city. Some Westerners go to Asia for a 'fling' of sorts, but prostitution in Asia is grandiose in scale because of your hypocritical cultural values, your culture of perpetrator & victim, and still more concerning, your disparity in wealth.....not to mention your frivolous, materialistic cultural values, culminating in your demand for brand names.

This is the basis for the popular acceptance, the widespread occurrence, the prospects for recruitment, the basis for indifference, the basis for kickbacks, and the basis for media hypocrisy. Your track record is not so impressive that you can afford the luxury of national pride.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Small government in the Philippines

2011-05-25T04:36:00.001-07:00

For those of you who are advocates of small government in the Philippines, you might want to join or support this group in Metro Manila.

There are several websites - www.minimalgovernment.net and Facebook.

There is also a group of Ayn Rand supporters in the Philippines; which provides a philosophical base for capitalism, as opposed to the pragmatic or divine arguments which are more typically used as a justification for capitalism....to bad effect. The problem of course is that a bad defense is a weak argument used by critics to erect straw arguments to defeat good arguments. Not very honest of them; but entirely practical from their short-range perspective. i.e Extorting wealth is a little more practical than creating it if you do not consider the long range implications of that compromise of principle. So join this group in the Philippines.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Critical thinking in the Philippines

2011-02-18T15:42:00.000-08:00

The Philippines is for the most part a country of uneducated persons whom are exposed to a limited range of beliefs. Religion is well-entrenched, so there is little questioning of religion. That is not to say you cannot have a discussion based on reason; its just not very often that you get that far. A great many pastors have a knowledge of philosophy, but its generally only enough to rationalise their existing beliefs. Seldom does rational discussion reach a level where a person is willing to repudiate god. The reason is that most atheists think that Christians, indeed most theists, are open to a logical refutation of their values. They are seldom able to do this because their beliefs are not founded on reason, but rather intrinsicism. That is not to say they give no credence to rationality; the problem is that they give greater value to intrinsicism.

If you are interested in atheism and critical thinking, you can view the contents of my website, or you can purchase one of my books when they become available, or you can join this Philippine based group which are advancing critical thinking and atheism. I have no knowledge of this group, so I am always interested to know how you get on. The reality is that the Philippines is a mix of Asian and Western values, so the respect for logic can be a little superficial, as I found with one admirer or Ayn Rand in the Philippines. Values are deep-seated. There is a great deal of depth underpinning your values, which even philosophers struggle to grasp. This is why philosophers have failed to have much impact on people over the years. They have failed to develop a values system which has resonated with people. This is what I intend to deliver in coming years. In the meantime, if you are in the Philippines, visit this group of critical thinkers. Sadly, you will hardly learn to think critically from your parents or your educational institution, nor from the media, whom I routinely refute. If you are yet to be convinced that there is no God, I would encourage you to visit my blog on religion. In due course I will release books on such topics which will describe my values in a more coherent and comprehensive fashion. You can visit my shopping cart when the time comes.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Deforestation in the Philippines

2011-02-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

The Philippines government has halted logging in 6 provinces according to the following ABS News article. Of course given President Nonoy's track record, one does have to wonder whether these logging restrictions are less about deforestation in the Philippines, and more about extortion of money from loggers. There is a long history of such political extortion in the Philippines. There is a legitimate need though. The opportunity to 'appear' to do something about over-logging, and the fact that the President 'appears' to have acted 'decisively' might be more important important than the reality in a country where facts are inaccurate, and ignorance is ubiquitous. i.e. commonplace.

There are similar efforts by provincial and national bureaucrats to extort wealth from miners. The problem in the Philippines is that everyone has the opportunity to extort some kickback in this country. Just look at how many mining projects are behind target. Generally miners are able to commission a project ahead of schedule, particularly given the softening in global economic activity.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Online corruption in the Philippines by pro-Aquino lobbyists

2010-09-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

In recent times, the new President of the Philippines has come under attack for his poor handling of the hostage crisis. There is also suggestions of corruption, like the setting up of very generous discretionary funds. The Filipino people are among the most prolific social networkers, so it is understandable that these issues would raise some controversy online. It is also little wonder that such opposition would not go unchallenged by Aquino, or his supporters.

Consider one Facebook group 'Step Down Aquino'. The developers of this website tell me that Aquino and/or his supporters have been able to infiltrate their Facebook account and engage in all manner of identity fraud, including:

1. Posting of pornography

2. Deleting 50% of the content

3. Thinly veiled threats to delete by showing their ability to corrupt

4. Setting up similar Facebook accounts under the identity of the person, but placing 'jibbish' content to discredit any opposition to their cause.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

The Philippines under seige

2010-08-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

The last two weeks has been a very interesting period in Philippine politics.

Noy Aquino is of course a so-called 'liberal progressive', who was elected to power on the basis of sentimentalism relating to his mother's recent death. His mother - Cory Aquino - was of course a lame-duck president who presided over a spate of failed military coups. She was supposed by the poor. She was eventually replaced by a former military leader Fidel Ramos, who orchestrated the BOT Law, and thus restored power to the Philippines. He was effective in timely implementation, though there is little wonder given the unfavourable terms he negotiated with foreign power companies. National Power Corp was left with onerous debts and electricity consumers were left paying expensive power...the most expensive in the world.

So there you have it, Philippine politics is divided between:

1. Liberal politicians supported by the media and the poor.

2. Conservatives, whether supported by landowners, military, who dominate power among corrupt officials.

The problem for both camps is that both sides are unthinking collectivists who are going to have little support for their policy initiatives. Noy Aquino is already off to a bad start. He is being condemned already for the following:

1. He was a lame duck senator - in 12 years he initiated 12 failed bills. He came to power on the basis that he would turn back corruption, and that he would free the poor from poverty.

2. He has struggled to establish his leadership credentials, as he has been dealing poorly with a series of 'brush fires' like the killing of 8 Chinese nationals in Manila. It was not the incident which resulted in his criticism, but the succession of follies after the incident.

The reality is that Noy Noy Aquino is not going to finish his 6-year presidential term. There are several reasons for believing this:

1. Who would want a lame duck president for 6 years - having just been elected

2. He is not popular among the military

3. He is not popular among the Conservatives, who will support the military because too many of them are corrupt to want Aquino investigating their misdeeds

4. The Thai military takeover highlights the 'practicality' of military takeovers. There was no foreign intervention. i.e. No sanctions, etc.

5. The top generals in the military are corrupt, and the same goes for the police. Expect them to be under scrutiny for the way they are appointed, i.e. Kickbacks for promotions, which was highlighted by the incompetency which resulted in this failed stand-off with the police in Manila recently.

The other alternative is of course an assasination of Noy Noy Aquino, but I think that is less likely. I would expect a takeover within a year. The implication is that we are going to see a collapse in the Philippines currency. For this reason I have some property advice - don't buy property there until the currency collapses. More details on our Property blog.

What will be the implication of a military takeover? Well the economy has been performing rather well of late for structural reasons, and increased tax receipts. I think poor 'military' administration will result in another Conservative Party supported leader, and I am guessing it will be Manny Villar. He is a very wealthy Filipino, with at least some 'roots' in poverty. I believe a good marketing campaign will see him depicted as the pin-up boy for the poor. A bit of promotion of his Eton City development might help as people drive along the Southern Tollway.

For those who want to support the resignation of Noy Noy Aquino - you will have to wish for a military takeover, his good judgement, or his assasination. Personally I prefer the military takeover because the country needs a shake-up, and as an investor, I appreciate the volatility. One day people will come to realise that democracy is nothing more than a system for legitimatising fascism. i.e. Tyranny of the minority or majority, its still tyranny. So good luck with that! Be sure to make lots of money, accumulate lots of guilt, then spend it on the poor to recoup your 'good grace'. :)

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Taxation in the Philippines

2010-04-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

Have you thought about residence in the Philippines. Consider the tax benefits.

CHAPTER II - GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Section 23. General Principles of Income Taxation in the Philippines. - Except when otherwise provided in this Code:

(A) A citizen of the Philippines residing therein is taxable on all income derived from sources within and without the Philippines;

(B) A nonresident citizen is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines;

(C) An individual citizen of the Philippines who is working and deriving income from abroad as an overseas contract worker is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines: Provided, That a seaman who is a citizen of the Philippines and who receives compensation for services rendered abroad as a member of the complement of a vessel engaged exclusively in international trade shall be treated as an overseas contract worker;

(D) An alien individual, whether a resident or not of the Philippines, is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines;

(E) A domestic corporation is taxable on all income derived from sources within and without the Philippines; and

(F) A foreign corporation, whether engaged or not in trade or business in the Philippines, is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines.

Source.

Andrew SheldonNZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate Guide Foreclosed Japan Guide Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Education - a barrier to Philippines development

2010-03-12T17:36:00.000-08:00

Education is a big problem and opportunity in the Philippines. The standards of education are really quite poor. There are numerous facets to this problem, and the biggest perhaps does not start with teachers but with parents. The problem for many parents is creating an environment for learning in the home. The Filipino family is so indulgent and unstructured from my experience. Parents really take no steps to extend the knowledge of their children beyond their own shortcomings. Kids simply run around the yard chaotically. There is no sense of purpose, no plan and no structure. There is also no peace in which to engage in study for those who are able to establish a sense of purpose.
The social context in which kids participate is no better. If kids talk about serious conceptual issues with their children, then they will carry these ideas into the playground. If that education is lacking from amongst the majority of kids, then they will either be alienated for such talk, or they will drift into groups whom they can more comfortably relate. If there is no such group, they are unlikely to develop those skills, unless they are lucky enough to find the company of adults who support them.
From the perspective of formal education, the big problem is the nation's teachers are not particularly well-trained, and the students lack structure and general knowledge. This is going to slow the pace of learning. More particularly it is going to kinder more conceptual development. Abstract and critical thinking skills which play a big part in developing Western education are largely absence. They are not too prevalent in Western cultures either, but in Asia, they are essentially absent.
This is precisely the reason why Asia needs to introduce Western educational standards, and yet in the Philippines the constitution prevents Western interests from participating in education; at least from an equity standpoint. This fact poses a great opportunity cost to Filipinos in several respects:
1. The best and brightest in the Philippines are being denied the opportunity to fully develop their minds. In addition they are made to feel inadequate when they achieve degrees in engineering in the Philippines, then realise their general knowledge is below some technician from a Western nation. They suffer the indignity of having to ask the technician how to do their job, even though they might be getting paid more. They get these jobs in the West only because they are very cheap labour, because there is a skills shortage, or no one will live in the conditions they are willing to tolerate.
2. There are a great many students in Asia (i.e. Not just the Philippines) who go to Western countries looking for a better quality of education. If they take these opportunities, they are less likely to go back to the Philippines.

The implication is that the Philippines is denied better educational standards which would otherwise give their people a better opportunity to earn more money and achieve higher levels of productivity. They are also being negatively impacted in terms of personal or cognitive development, such that when they step out of their 'deprived nation' they are made to feel inadequate or unprepared for their shame of not being given the best chance for success. This is an unnecessary state of affairs, and it is just one of the reasons why the Philippines Constitution needs to be repealed, and a more appropriate framework for personal development established.

Another silly provision in the constitution prevents foreigners from investing in land in the Philippines. As a result, Filipino pastures go under-utilised, development opportunities are overlooked and Filipinos who remain under-employed or unemployed grow impatient waiting for their opportunity. The Philippines as a result has high levels of alcoholism and simply low productivity since many are not raised in a culture where they have had to work.

Andrew Sheldon
NZ Property Guide
Philippine Real Estate Guide
Foreclosed Japan Guide
Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

The job opportunities in the Philippines

2010-02-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

The appeal of the Philippines is that it is like no other country. Consider its unique features:
1. The people is English speaking - only the poorest cannot understand much. They have good fluency and they even have the American accent. There is of course a learning curve for Filipinos to take on more value-added roles, but expect in a number of years for Filipinos to be performing a number of your business outsourcing roles, e.g. accounting, sales, telephone technical support, etc.
2. The people are amicable - they have a positive and friendly personality; and more generally they have values not too far removed from the Western world; at least compared to the rest of Asia. This makes them particularly well suited to sales tele support roles. I recall a Telstra call promoting their telco services in Australia. My father answered the call, and was having a pushy Indian trying to cajole him to buy some service.
3. They are lifestyle orientated - which means you can expect good staff retention because they want to retain relationships more than climb the corporate ladder. India, the Philippines main competitor in this area suffers from poor retention rates. Indians are far more likely to aspire for more, so for business service providers its difficult to perform it.

There are obstacles as well. The Philippine work ethic more closely resembles the Spanish culture from which is drew its greatest influence. That said, the university population is more aspirational than the general perception one might draw driving around a slump or some provincial images which might permeate our minds walking the streets.

The outlook for the Philippines is rather good. The country is starting to develop some of its mineral resources, and remittances remain a strong & important contributor to the economy.
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Andrew Sheldon
Investment eBooks
NZ Property Guide
Philippine Real Estate Guide
Foreclosed Japan Guide
Mining Stocks Guide
Applied Critical Thinking, Strategy, Integrity Investments SheldonThinks

Yields on Philippine rental apartments

2010-02-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

The Philippine property market is looking very strong. According to Global Property Guide the yield on an aprtment in Manila is around 9% per annum, making it the 6th best yields in the world. The best yields are on property in Jakarta (Indonesia) and Lima (Peru), which are offering 12% yields. I would suggest however that some regional cities in the Philippines offer far better investment returns. Lipa City near the commercial port of Batangas and the Subic Economic Zone are areas which will benefit from satellite developments to the Metro Manila area. Further afield, you can expect places like Lucena City (Quezon), Naga City (Bohol) and Lauag City (Ilocos Norte), Davao City among others to perform very well as well. Improving infrastructure in the Philippines will see call centres placed in these areas in future, and expect these developments to result in a rapid rise in relatively high paid jobs, as well as new entertainment precincts. The most attractive areas are those with recognised universities like La Salle Lipa City. Foreigners will appreciate the improved facilities in these places as well. Lipa City already has 3 shopping malls, new tollway connections to Batangas and Manila. It also has the advantage of higher elevation, so its an attractive place to live. Part of its appeal is that its not as high as Tagaytay, so its not covered in rain clouds, making it an attractive place to live. Its perched on the edge of the Taal Volcano, though not so close that you have to worry, and being to the south, the city is likely avoid any unlikely prospect of a volcaniclastic eruption. Lipa is close to Batangas, Manila, as well as those tourist areas like Nusugbu, Tagatyay and Puerto Gallera. The improvement to the tollway to Manila means it can take just 1 hour and 15mins to get to Manila. Ten years ago the same trip would have taken you 4 hours; 2 years ago it would haven taken 2 hours. This should be important information to prospective investors looking for places to invest. Lucena City is currently isolated from Manila. In another 10 years the freeway might well stretch to Lucena City, which will also place that city in far closer proximity to Manila, but also Lipa, which is also likely to benefit from any development by Manny Villar in the Eton City - Calamba City area.
You can learn more about buying in the Philippines from our Philippines Property report 2008. Buyers of this report will receive the 2010 (2nd edition) free when it is complete. The Philippines is confronting a presidential election in May 2010, so that will be something to watch. There should be no big surprises on the downside, though I suspect better leadership could see the Philippines attract a RE-RATING in future years.

Buying property in the Philippines

2010-02-03T20:00:00.001-08:00

According to a survey by Global Property Guide the Philippines ranks in 3rd place with the best yields on property - with Jakarta and Lima (Peru) in 1st and 2nd places. The average yield for a property in Manila is 10.99%. I much prefer the Philippines for lifestyle reasons and because of a number of other reasons:
1. Greater regulation means restrictions on where you build - so prospect of restricted property development looking forward
2. Strong population growth - this country is growing at 2% per annum, that's almost 2mil people a year
3. Job creation - The Philippines is the preferred business outsourcing base because Filipinos are the best diplomats. Laxed work ethic aside, they have potential for more of this 'structural' shifting of jobs from the west.
4. Remittance - A great deal of money is flowing from expats abroad to the home country, as well as BFs sending GFs money.
5. Reform - The Philippines government on balance is getting its act together. Infrastructure is being built. The country could do with some ports reform, but is otherwise on a positive path. I note that they are increasingly building infrastructure for tourism around the country.
6. China proximity - The Philippines is close to some of the biggest and fastest growing countries in the world, so some of the benefits can be expected to rub off in terms of trade and tourism. There is a new airport flight from Lauag (Ilocos Norte) to China, and expect more of these links to draw tourists. Not just China, but Korea and Japan.
7. Tourist friendly - The Philippines is without a doubt the most tourist friendly country in the world. They are very diplomatic and engaging. Great sense of life, very personable. Gradually you can expect them to get their service culture in place, and a worth ethic. Better still - you can stay in the country on a tourist visa for 18 months without even leaving. Try doing that in Indonesia.

My advice is to check out some of the rural cities - as opposed to focusing on the Manila. My picks are Naga City, Vigan City, Lucena City and Davao City. If you need more info on buying property in the Philippines, I have written a 2 volume eBook "Buying Phililppines Property" on the topic. See my bookstore for more information. Currently updating the late 2008 edition - so I'm forwarding the 2010 edition to those who purchase the 2008 edition.

Taxation for Non-Residents of the Philippines

2009-11-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

If you are considering retiring or living in the Philippines you will want to familiarise yourself with the taxation laws. The Philippines actually has very favourable laws for taxation. This I guess is in support of all those expats who are so keen to remit funds.
Most foreigners in the Philippines live there on tourist visas, so they are effectively non-residents.
Here is an extract from the Philippines Law website:

Section 23. General Principles of Income Taxation in the Philippines.
Except when otherwise provided in this Code:

(A) A citizen of the Philippines residing therein is taxable on all income derived from sources within and without the Philippines;
(B) A nonresident citizen is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines;
(C) An individual citizen of the Philippines who is working and deriving income from abroad as an overseas contract worker is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines: Provided, That a seaman who is a citizen of the Philippines and who receives compensation for services rendered abroad as a member of the complement of a vessel engaged exclusively in international trade shall be treated as an overseas contract worker;
(D) An alien individual, whether a resident or not of the Philippines, is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines;
(E) A domestic corporation is taxable on all income derived from sources within and without the Philippines; and
(F) A foreign corporation, whether engaged or not in trade or business in the Philippines, is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines.

Antipolo, Pasig, Cainta, Marikina

2009-09-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Typhoon Ketsana's devastation is the worst in the last 40 years in Metro Manila. My partner and I almost bought a 2 br condo unit in Pasig, Riverfront Residences. We're lucky we didn't.

Pasig was one of the most badly hit areas where flood waters reached up to 4ft in 6 hours on September 25, 2009. Antipolo, Cainta and Marikina are the other cities that were drastically damaged and submerged. If you were to buy property in the Philippines, do not buy in these areas. On top of sewage and drainage problems, these places are near rivers and dams. They are overly populated as well. It's quite disheartening that many new real estate developments were concentrated in these areas and many people bought new houses just recently.

The current death toll in Metro Manila is 246. Many people died in their own homes as they weren't able to escape in time. Nobody expected the surge of water. Local officials had to let water out of the dams, fearing they would burst. One person died inside his car as the waters buried the streets. Many countries have provided overwhelming donations to aid the Philippine government in their relief operations:

Australia - AUD $1 Million
USA - USD $10,000
Japan - USD $220,000 worth of goods
Vietnam - USD $208,000 worth of rice
Korea - USD $330,000

For more information about the flooding in Manila, click here.

Healthy job creation in the Philippines

2009-09-22T02:05:00.000-07:00

I have long believed that the Philippines will weather the current recession better than most countries. By any standard the Philippines is well-placed. The most important factors are:
1. Strong remittances - the recession has not greatly decreased remittances from abroad
2. Mining - Mineral prices have collapsed but they still offer attractive returns
3. Tourism - The Philippines is at the cheaper end of the market, so it is unlikely to suffer
4. Structural shift in employment - There is a structural shift in jobs from foreign call centres to the Philippines.
5. Population growth of 2% per annum in the Philippines
6. Healthy economy - the government is in pretty good shape. There is no huge overhang of public or private sector debt like the bad old days. For this reason I suggest the Philippines will be looking at a property boom like Thailand in a few years.

In recent times I've seen continued moves by western firms to shift some of their call centre activities to the Philippines. The latest is Vodafone Australia and about two months ago Telecom NZ were doing the same thing. Expect more of this type of behaviour, and it will increasingly involve smaller companies outsourcing call centre activities.

Rebuilding the Philippines - start with the maids

2009-07-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

In the Philippines its common to have maids. Some households treat maids better than others. Relationships can range from 'almost close family members' to 'peasants held in contempt. Those that treat maids well tend to have respectful and real relationships with them. Often the households will even support the maid towards further education.
The flip side is that there are Filipino households which treat their maids with contempt. This is apparent in how they treat them and judge them. For those who would treat maids with contempt I would offer the following advice:
1. They are often poor in character, stucture, goals and lacking education through no fault of their own.
2. The way they treat you is a testimony to how you treat them.
3. The household is in the position of power, and thus in the best position to renegotiate the relationship.
4. Maid's are cheap not because their labour is worth so little, but because the marginal value of cash earnings is disproportionately high, and because of the disparity of income as a result of corruption and missed opportunities.

I have empathy for one maid I am aware of. She grew up in a family of 5. They were poor because their parents had too many children. They cannot afford birth control, and having a subjectivist philosophy it was easy for the parents to dismiss the consequences of their actions. They cannot afford abortion, and it would attract criticism/judgement from the family and community, so instead they have excess children living in poverty. They were homeless at one point until the father became a jeepney driver.
This particular maid was only offered a basic education because the parents could only afford to send two children to college. When one of those children fell pregnant, there was a fight resulting in the two oldest children leaving and not finishing their study. The other kids were thus denied a great opportunity, for support from their oldest siblings.
The 3rd daughter (in focus) lived and continued her schooling with her grandma until she fell ill. She had to drop schooling and find a job. Eventually she ended up as a maid with the host family. The maid is actually quite smart, with a positive outlook. The household tended to have many maids, and some had stolen money and possessions, but otherwise not conveyed much responsibility. I would however argue that these maids are often treated as a 'collective' with contempt. I would challenge households to:
1. Recognise that maid's are individuals, they have aspirations, needs and a social context. You cannot barr them from seeing guys (because you are worried they will bring the guys home, or that they will fall pregnant). You can only help them to make better decisions.
2. Recognise that maid's provide a higher level of relationship than their pet dog. I for one don't understand the appeal of pets when you can have a higher level of relationship with a human being (maids). People spend silly amounts of money on dogs when there are maids from broken homes who need nuturing. This is a great opportunity for people, particularly wives whose children have left home
3. Maids cheat, lie and manipulate generally because that behaviour has been modelled by their parents, or because they feel vulnerable or open to attack. Many housewives make the mistake of not considering the reasons for the maid's actions.

For example with the maid in focus. The household had gone to their child's wedding. They returned from the wedding to find that the maid had not come home. They were knocking for 20 minutes, finally awakening the grandmother to open the gate. Certainly they were inconvenienced by the maid leaving the house. But in such instances, what is forgotten is the context. The housewife did not call the maid to tell her that they were coming home, so she could be there to open the gate. Instead the housewife assumed the power to demand that the maid must be home, and give them notice that she was going out. The maid did not do that.
Looking at the context, you can understand her rebellious or inconsiderate act. She was discouraged from seeing guys. Her parents had not called her on her birthday, though other maids in the neighbourhood invited her out to drink. They drank to excess, so the owner of the house encouraged her to stay the night. It was a reasonable 'indiscretion' given the controls the owner had put in place. She did not invite strangers into the home. She locked up the home. More importantly, because the housewife on this occasion did not ridicule her, but asked why she was not home, she hear her explanation, and saw some 'reasonable' consideration in it.

The unfortunate part in this negotiation is that the housewife failed to take responsibility. The maid is entitled to have a personal life, and every opportunity should be maid to offer flexible free time. You cannot impose your standards on the maid. You have to negotiate the standards. A good standard might be established through discussions with other maids. Maybe the households could jointly organise a maid's night off, or a maid's union in the village. If these actions were taken, many people fear the maid's would demand more. Well maybe they are entitled to that power. Afterall in a sense they have the power to disceive, to abuse something more precious to the household - sacred possessions like jewellery, privacy, money, reputation. These things are more likely to stay in tact if the housewife does not abuse the maid because of their 'market power'. Their power is even greater than some housewifes realise. Some are cute enough and innocent enough to court the favour of the wife's husband. In the Philippines I often hear of maid's getting pregnant because they have had an affair with the wife's husband. Its not necessarily a vindictive act. Its just as probable that he was more fair minded than his wife. This occurs because the husband has learned not to criticise the wife because she considers household matters her responsibility, and is perhaps not open to interference.
There is a history of modelled behaviour on both sides of the relationship. The wife needs to be validated for any improvement she makes, but so does the maid. Particularly the maid given the historical legacy of contempt they have been held in. Housewifes are reluctant to redefine the relationship by apologising. Since they are educated, they should actually expect more of themselves. If they want to not just look 'classy' for the outside world in terms of managing their 'appearances', they are forgetting that the greater 'class' is conveyed in private when people are not looking. All sorts of infidelity and indiscretions are going on in houses around the Philippines. This culture has too much class-distinction. There is an entrenched culture of subjugation which creates victims and perpetrators. The implication is that higher levels of organisation are not possible. How can you trust workers who hold you in contempt. You can't.
I argue however that the Philippines ethic is ripe for companies to profit from the redefinition of the household-maid, employer-employee, tax spender-tax payer relationship. Until those relationships are based on respect, then the producitive capacity of this country will be constrained. I applaud Filipino values because I have never encountered a culture so willing to change than others. I find it very easy to work with Filipinos. If you try to save time by cutting corners, you will end up losing. You need to redefine the culture, and that takes time. The Chinese have been here over a hundred years, and they still use the perpetrator-victim model which lacks intellectual vigour and empathy. I have little regard for Chinese management. Just look at the lack of training in SM and Robinson's malls. Wrong culture, wrong values. Power highly centralised.

The Philippines - The Killing Fields

2009-05-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

Gaving lived in the Philippines and travelled there several times, both as a single guy, and in a relationship, I can say that the Philippines is a dangerous place for foreigners. The Philippines is a collectivist country like the rest of Asia, however its even more dangerous because of its Western influence. A great many Filipino men resent the Western influence, because it is historically linked with their psychological repression and economic marginalisation.

When you consider the location of assaults and murders, they tend to occur in the 'Western districts', or areas which attract a lot of money. This makes the following places particularly dangerous:
1. Metro Manila
2. Angeles City
3. Boracay Beach Resorts
4. Subic
5. Cebu
6. Puerto Galera
7. Batangas

Performing a search on Google of Australians killed in the Philippines alone reveals a long list. I'm sure there are many more Germans, Swiss, Dutch, Brits, etc. The nature of the killings tend to be for a variety of reasons:
1. Robbery and aggravated assault
2. Assassination - unprovoked gun shot
3. Hate crime or revenge, sometimes in response to business success
4. Drug related

It is common for Filipinos to conspire with others, whether friends or family to kill foreign partners. The issues are sometimes divorce, property settlement, revenge for adultery, or just resentment. The Philippines is a poor and desperate place, and because of the Catholicism, there is a high incidence of rationalisation and delusion. Don't expect reason to prevail. Passions and blood are thicker than water and logic. It is a very self-indulgent culture. The brutality and the spontaneity of the crime is remarkable. The envy of some Filipinos for Western cash is well understood. Filipinos are perhaps the most brand-conscious people on Earth, more so than the Japanese. It does not help matters that foreigners seem to prey on the uneducated class, looking for some trophy GF. This is a solid basis for a relationship of disrespect. If this is your choice, then you might want to rethink living in the Philippines. Of course that decision depends on your confidence and personal context. Support from the partner's family is critical.

It is very easy to annoy poor Filipinos, and earn their resentment, particularly if you are living in communities where you are mixing closely with them. Apartment complexes offer some element of anonymity, but all it takes is a sarcastic gesture to a taxi driver with gambling debts or drug/alcohol problem to find yourself in danger. Support from a Filipino family is key. If you need to throw money around to appease people, you are not being treated with respect, nor helping them. They will resent you for it.

Filipinos are superficially very easy-going people like Australians. But for some of them, the depth of their resentment and delusion is remarkable. There is often a large number of them who simply see foreigners as a source of money, and more concerning is that this attutude is not discouraged, in fact it's lauded as 'economic necessity'. I've had Filipino brothers introducing their sisters to me many times, in the hope of deriving some benefit from me. There would be more cases if they had more confidence in their English.

Having said that, you play a large role in bringing problems upon yourself. Staying in Manila on one occasion I was returning back to my hotel after a night at a club. I had not drunk a lot, but getting into a taxi I saw the taxi driver signal to another guy, whom I suspect was to follow. This suspicion was proven when I noticed that he was taken me the wrong way. I took over direction to avoid him going down a dark alley. This was at 2AM in the morning. I don't go clubbing anymore, but it does highlight the risk of getting into cabs late at night. I knew the streets in this area.

Just yesterday an Australian was killed in Aklan, which if I remember correctly is on Panay Island in the Visayan Island Group of the central Philippines. The Filipino simply got up and shot this Australian sitting at another table. It's fair to say that some foreigners behave terribly in their host country. I've seen an Australian bar owner in Subic encouraging his staff to take their shirts off to give his patrons some tittilating pleasure. They girls might joke about it, but clearly this guy has a conflict of interest because he doesn't pay them well to perform such actions, in an instance where there is considerable social pressure and the threat of job loss. This was a pub, not a girlie bar. The reality is that this guy was likely paying kickbacks to a local official.

Anyway, it's worth assessing the risks of living in the Philippines before living there, or buying property. If you are part of a supportive family with decent values makes all the difference. Since meeting my partner it's rare that I am alone, so there is far less risk. I feel like I have joined a new family. The extended family are less hospitable, seeing me as a cash cow, howover the immediate family is impressive. For cases of killings of foreigners, refer to the following websites:
1. Australian in custody dispute
2. Australian's home invaded
3. Australian in custody dispute
4. Australian car ambushed (this was an NPA communist guerilla attack)

On reflection however these people have probably been living in the Philippines for 10-12 years. Perhaps the greatest concern is threat of being targeted. Clearly having local support makes a difference. I tend to travel around the Philippines with a Filipino family, and the father is a policeman so I feel pretty safe. I'm more worried about his driving :)

In fairness to the Philippines, the prospects for living are far better if you stay in safer districts, associate with good people, avoid going out to bars late at night, avoid aggravating people. I might add that such incidents are common in other countries, e.g. My friend was assaulted getting out of a taxi in Vietnam, high crimes are common in Thailand. My only experience with crime was being king-hit by a Pacific Islander in Sydney, my home town, trying to defend a friend who said something (which I was not aware of). But otherwise I've not had a problem in Australia, though I lived in safe North Shore area.

Interestingly in Googling for this post I came across 2 Filipinos killed in Australian bushfires, so I would suggest perhaps the greater threat in Australia is natural disasters because a great many people die from them not knowing the risk, and the risk is likely greater for foreigners not aware of the dangers. The other natural danger is Australia beaches, where many Asians are not aware of the strong rips (under-currents) capable of pulling them out to sea. Oh, and then there is the box jellyfish and sea snakes. Not as poisonous, but far more common is the Brown Snake, and a range of other snakes. I'd stay in the Philippines. It's way safer there.

Need an online digital map of the Philippines

2009-02-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

Google, Yahoo et al struggle to to role out services globally. For this reason it sometimes comes down to people power to complete such tasks. There is a dedicated group of people and supporters in the Philippines doing just that at www.openstreetmap.org.ph. If you are interested in contributing I recommend buying a Garmin Etrex Cx global positioning device, and downloading the free map rendering software from EasyGPS. Even if you need a street map to find your friend's place, you can zoom to the right size, find the PrintScreen (PrtSc) button on your computer and past into MS PAINT software, so you can print off your own map after any editing you want to do. If you want to render your own trails/tracks and waypoints on your map, there are products like OZExplorer which allow you to do that. Just to start you off, here is a map of Manila.

View the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.openstreetmap.org.ph/map/all+of+philipppines"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Map of All of Philipppines&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; or visit &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.openstreetmap.org.ph/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Philippines Open Street Map&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Would I recommend living in the Philippines?

2009-01-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

There are a great many Westerners considering a relationship with a woman in the Philippines. There is a charming aspect to Filipinos I must concern. There are a great many who have a sense of entitlement, who are ambitiously intent on accessing you cash flow, but still others who are productive, hard working people of good intent. Whether you have an educated partner, or have met a factory-worker prepared to work 3 jobs, the challenge is finding a suitable and respecting partner in shark-infested waters.
The next challenge is deciding whether to live there. If you are intent on having a relationship with a Filipino, I firmly recommend living there for a period in order to grasp their context, to understand their culture, and if you have the time, to learn their language. Aside from understanding her culture, I find this a desirable opportunity to have a life experience abroad, as well as an opportunity to develop a business if opportunities are available to you.
The questions you should be asking are: Do you have the capital? Are you leaving a better life for a lesser one? Are you turning your back on more opportunities than you are creating? Are you more valuable after this experience or less? Do you have a contingency plan?
Most people that move to the Philippines seem intent on retirement. That strikes me as an empty existence, since I cannot imagine not working. The goal to me is to work with reasonable people under reasonable rules. The appeal of the Philippines is that unreasonable rules are more easily avoided, and there are fewer rules besides. That is both a risk and a benefit. You don’t get fines for speeding, but there is little protection if your neighbour sets up a piggery next door. There is a security risk in the sense that life means less in the Philippines, but there is a benefit in as much as you mean more to them alive rather than dead. But only to a point. Like in business you have to have a strategy to preserve your value. You weaken your prospects if you teach them what you know, unless you first teach them a new model for self-respect. They are a more collectivist country than yours, so you need to embrace a ‘growth’ strategy which allows them to respect you for the difference you have made to their life. At the same time you need to break down the myth of social cohesion in the Philippines.
Many Westerners like the idea of employing locals in some small business. There are several challenges that you need to consider. Educated Filipinos want Western opportunities, so they want to travel abroad, so by employing them you are likely to experience high staff turnover. Employing poor, unskilled Filipinos and you will need to engage in a higher level of education than you might have considered. You will first have to teach them food and personal hygiene, ethical conduct, long range, conceptual thinking so they don’t burn their bridges by cheating on you in the first instance. I don’t know many Westerners who are ready for that. Most Westerners are more intent on just preserving the password on their bank account. That works to some extent, and you can surely tolerate a little pilfering. The question is – Did you not want relationships based on respect? Were you not investing in progress and prosperity? At least this is my ‘growth’ strategy. Some of you might be satisfied to spend your life surrounded by pretty girls. I however could never close my mind to the lack of respect often lacking from such relationships. So on reflection managing Filipinos might be too hard. It need not be, but if you don’t have a capable, trusted Filipino partner, with a similarly supportive Filipino family, I think you are destined for failure.
You might also be interested in establishing a business such as internet cafes, resort, etc. A great many years ago many Westerners came to establish resorts, and few made money from them. The primary problem was the poor economy in a political unstable context. So where might you put your money? I would probably avoid the local stock market unless you approach it as a pure trader or refrain from investing in anything less than the top 20 stocks. The best opportunities for foreigners are of course providing services to foreigners abroad. You cannot compete with the locals in small businesses like food, internet services, unless you look at serving foreign markets. You will just not make enough money to match your higher expectancies. If you can manage Filipinos then you might excel by managing a range of businesses or franchises. You will however need to understand the local business culture. That takes years.
Some people might actually prefer to live in several countries as I tend to do. I spread my time between Japan, the Philippines, Australia and NZ. Your personal context will differ from mine. If you are French, then you might like Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines; if you have lived in Japan as I have, then Japan appeals a great deal, and being an Australian, NZ makes a lot of sense. Visa rules differ but for Westerners the Philippines is the best (18mths, with unlimited re-entry), followed by Japan, Australia and NZ (3mths).
I don’t think you have to rush to buy anywhere at the moment, though I think Australia and NZ present excellent opportunities to convert foreign currency, as these currencies are too cheap, particularly the AUD. Australian property is still too pricey, unless you are looking at rural areas. You can rent cheaply in the Philippines, usually on 12 month leases, but I would be inclined to use the market weakness as an excuse to negotiate a 6-month agreement, and I would be travelling around, trying to determine which area was the best location. Cebu, Manila, Vigan, Davao and Lipa City are probably good choices to at least sample.

Australian gunned down in Angeles City

2008-10-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

I see that an Australian has been gunned down in Angeles City in the Philippines. The story reported in the Sun Herald reports that the guy had a successful business there. At the end of the day doesn't it just become about money. Maybe he wasn't prepared to pay kickbacks to the local authorities. Anyway, it is far better for all concerned to avoid Angeles City, since its mostly prostitution and drugs. I don't think it need to reflect on the rest of the country.

The Philippines is under ‘undeclared martial law'

2008-09-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

According to Topix.net the Philippines is under an 'undeclared martial law'. How true is that? What we do know about Philippines politics is that there is a culture of power lusters and corruption, and collusion between the major parties. Consider for instance that President Arroyo pardoned deposed former president Joseph Estrada. Why would you do that unless you wanted the same treatment in opposition, that is to be unaccountable for your crimes. This is consistent with the perception that corruption has increased under Arroyo. I've only lived in the Philippines 2 years but I've seen a lot of corruption. The US government even expressed dismay at the high number of opposition leaders being murdered or disappearing, and the high level of political killings. A significant number of journalists have also been killed for expressing opinions against certain political interests.
Certainly there is no martial law in the Philippines, but the threat should be considered serious because Gloria Arroyo is currently prevented from running for a 2nd term. She is not without her options, and among them are:
1. Attempting to change the constitution. She has supported Federalism as a means of giving the Moros their lands in Muslim Mindanao. It would seem reasonable if the government had not spent the last 100 years trying to marginalise them through population resettlement and kill them. But fine, all is forgiven.
2. Declaring martial law. One of the problems with allowing a president to declare martial law is the chance of the law being misused. It would be easy enough for the president's supporters in the military to conspire to fabricate a 'civil emergency' that would justify martial law, whether its the killing of people, or more likely a series of bomb attacks around the Philippines.
3. Getting one of her children or supporters elected: If you can't get re-elected, why not get one of your supporters elected. Arroyo has family in politics. Maybe they will ascend as a proxy. No signs of that yet, but no election until 2010, so time to groom them for the presidency.

Reading the Topix story there seems to be confusion over terminology. Martial law is a period of enhanced presidental power. There is the concern that after 30 days, when martial law is due to expire (after the end of her term), that she could pay off a number of politicians to achieve an indefinite extension. More likely however would be a move to rewrite the Constitution. The Philippines has replaced its constitutions every 30 years on average. It needs to be conceded however that Arroyo has done a good job reforming the economy in many respects, so she is no slouch there. Of course they said the same about President Marcos, who failed to execute. Arroyo by contrast has just been slow. The trend however is positive. Could it be that she is just impatient with democracy. Aside from the political-related killings, it might be comparable with President Roosevelt's total disregard for the Constitution. eg. The IRS Code and abolition of the gold standard.

If one looks around the world it is a given that we are in a period of fascism, where corporate government alliance has far more power than that of the much maligned unions, consumer (given the weak regulation). Fascism today is far less confrontational than the pre-WWII days. It reads to be understood that there are blunter tools than guns to get what you want. Its easier to misappropriate funds and pay off your detractors. You will find some journalists are paid off to shut up, and they are the one's who don't respond to the threat of murdered journalists.

The Philippines language

2008-07-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

I was just having a conversation with my GF about the Tagalog (Philippine) language. She was explaining the reasons why she didn't like the language. I think its very easy for a person to discard their culture, language or values, as some collective trash, but really there is often some value in it. She was saying:
1. Tagalog was very repetitive: Upon discussion or critical appraisal of the language it was apparent that it was really quiet logical in its structure. She said it was an integration of Bahasa (Indonesian), Spanish and Chinese, and maybe local native dialects, but her example was not true.
2. Tagalog was emotive: I tend to agree with her point: I notice that she will talk in English with people, but when she wants to be emotional, she will switch to Tagalog. There is a pleading in the Philippine language. I don't however think this is a problem restricted to Tagalog. Having had Japanese and Korean girlfriends, and friends in Europe as well, I can say that a great many Asian and mainland European languages are pleading or tragic. People are like this way for a reason. They are seeking alms or concessions. Its a tool. Understandable that people use it to get what they want, but sadly the counterparty is unable or unwilling to counter it with reason. Herein lies a failure of Asian and mainland European thinking that manifests itself in language.
3. Tagalog is tiresome: Her argument was that it is much harder to explain things in Tagalog compared to English. This is not surprising, though clearly my GF could not appreciate the difference because she didn't appreciate the history of these cultures. English techical words like at the core of most languages because the Western world popularised their use though the Industrial revolution. Today English is the level of science and other technical subjects such as philosophy despite the illogical structure of English. The illogical structure of English however is incidental rather than core. Its incidental in the sense that the language borrowed from others. It borrowed frm others because science and commerce resulted in it engaging with the world, spreading its achievements, such that it morphed with other cultures, but its core remained strong because it learned from other cultures.

It did not self-righteously place up barriers like the Japanese, which were subsequently broken down by Admiral Perry, it was mostly open to other countries. I think that is the legacy of English. Its a stuffed language, declines in structure with every culture it influences, but its culture always retains the right attitude. Always? Well, no. I would suggest its concept of self interest (as defined by its bureaucrats) is too narrow and commercial in its political expression, but such is the influence of bad politics. If Asia wants to impress it really needs to adopt a better philosophical system. But personally I think you will read about such a system on these pages before you read about it from some Asian bureaucrat. Watch these pages...

My GF did appreciate that whilst she had these strong objections about the Philippines, she really needed to live overseas so that she could see their cultural failings. I would however caution against nit-picking over cultural differences and understanding why. Cultures are different for reasons. You can't expect a cutlture to be different from what it is because it did not depend on any one person, it is a summation of ideas. Neither should one define oneself as the product of a collectivist identity. We are all individuals, slaves to a government that purports to represent only enough of the swine that would have it elected, having colluded with the competition (other party) on the rules of engagement.
Anyway we as good swine do...go to Australia to teach my GF how bad the world is, to make so much money that we can escape its vile odour... the raucous smell of a government that cares not to identify its contradictions. Well I love the physiology of my country, never mind the boring decadence of it. But I also like to explore... to seek out new experiences.

Superstition in the Philippines

2008-07-08T23:04:00.001-07:00

Its interesting how seriously Filipinos treat spiritual matters. I guess I have surrounded myself with a lot of cultures over the years, but I suggest that Filipinos are the most superstitious. On the note I am comparing them with Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, with Eastern Europeans the runner-ups, followed by the Japanese. The examples that come to mind are the following:

1. Work colleagues who ask their boss for a day off because it has been foretold that there will be an earthquake in Manila and a lot of people are going to die. It made me laugh. I would hate to die because I took precautions. Offices are designed to withstand earthquakes - many Filipino house owners might remember that. :) The strength of houses depends on the design too of course.

2. Property buyers who dont want to buy a property because its 500m away from a graveyard. My personal opinion is that dead people make the best neighbours because they are very quiet. I dont know the statue of limitations on haughting. I dont know how far they can roam in a night. Maybe best to live next to a cell tower so you can call for help, and the electromagnetic radiation might repel them.

3. Not talking ill of other people because it just might happen. Being critical, I do this a lot, and I'm always impressed by my capacity to have people touching wood.

4. There is also a belief in gnomes, fairies and 'centals', though I care less what they are.

The Japanese are pretty uptight people too. Salt crystals near the window sill in the house to ward off evil spirits. This one makes me laugh because it caused the cement and paint to crumble after a few years. But its true - there was no evil spirits over that time.

Religion in the Philippines

2008-07-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

You can't breathe in the Philippines without seeing a statue or ediface of Jesus or Mary. For people who are 'truly blessed' you might wonder why they are so poor. Well they seem happy besides, except when they run out of money. Then there is the requirement to run to OFWs abroad to ask for a loan, which seldom gets repaid. 'Sorry bro, its been a bad week. Too much gambling and drinking. Thanks for the proceeds. All had a good time'. Quite often its the wife working abroad and the husband drinking, gambling and playing around. Not everyone mind you. Just wondering who owns these caricatures of Christ. Will the owner please put up his hand! Would the all knowing, all powerful Jesus please extend these people a loan. Sorry, but even the church can't seem to get enough. Churches around the world pay no tax, yet they still can't seem to get enough. The Saviour is short on change.

We might wonder whether we are expected to take responsibility for living. Ok. But should that not extend to ethics as well. Should we not develop our own philosophy without being extorted by Jesus. Anyway, I just wanted to celebrate the burning down of a church in Bohol some years ago. It made me wonder what their grievance was. I can't help thinking it was justified. Maybe I am remiss and it was 'natural causes'. God truly does work in mysterious ways. More paradoxical than mysterious because I see a great many churches burnt to the ground as I travel around the country. Wouldn't it be more suitable for the myth if that church near San Fernando was spared the ravages of the volcanic eruption of Mt Pinotubo about 20 years ago. I of course have a great deal to say on the ethics of religion. See my blog Religidiculous. Both hard concepts to swallow. :)

Jeepney, bus and taxi drivers hard up

2008-07-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

The Philippines is a poor country, so understandably there is a political incentive to regulate transport fares. Another self-evident fact is that most people would prefer to buy a tricycle or jeepney because apart from functioning as a personal transport vehicle, you can use them to generate income. More interesting perhaps is the lack of interest in riding bicycles in the Philippines. In Japan bicycles are greatly appreciated as a mode of transport, and have been for decades since the country was poor. More interestingly, given the poor quality of roads, is the fact that bicycles can ride faster over rough roads than bicycles, because I can attest to the fact that I am routinely overtaking them. Of course once you get to the open road jeepneys are the most economic transport mode. You might wonder whether hot climate is the reason why people dont like bicycles. That is a possibility. I think for Japanese they go from a walking to a bicycle to a motorbike or car, but given the excellent rail transport, they might not even buy a car.
In the Philippines there is no savings culture. They dont generally have surplus money. They spend everything they get. If they sell a property, they will buy a cheaper house near the highway to free up cash to spend rather than upscaling like people would do in the West. How is this sustainable you might ask? Well, unlike in the West, they have family abroad, and sometimes family in the country, who are willing to support them.
You might think they are happy with this existence. I'm sure some are, but after loading my bike on an SUV yesterday after a mountain bike ride, 'one' Filipino commented 'what a dickhead, riding a bike when he has an SUV'. Well it wasn't my SUV, but anyway. How dare I engage in recreation when people are less comfortable. I might respond 'How dare he think like that when I just bought his cousins property, and might well be buying his next'. How sustainable is his existence? The funny thing was, I was so against this family buying an SUV, and now they regret it. Why buy a vehicle equal to 1/4 the value of your house? And also I knew where fuel prices were going. Its an expense, not an asset.

Jeepney drivers just secured a P0.50 far increase from P8 to P8.50 for the first 4kms. Jeepneys are a great form of transport. Its amazing where you can go with them. Some go down dirt trails. I asked a driver about costs. He was telling me that he makes P500 per day, he pays P1500 per day on fuel, and he uses another driver (likely friend or family), he pays him P400, so he makes just P100 per day for leasing his vehicle. A new jeepney I believe costs around P400,000, so if they are making P100 per day, thats P36,000 per year. At 10% interest, you can't even cover interest and maintenance. So I would suggest they need that fare increase if the supply of jeepneys is going to be sustained. The problem is - these decisions become political.

Lawless and irregularities in the Wild West

2008-06-12T04:50:00.000-07:00

Well you might have thought I was talking about the Mid West United States in the 1700s, when gunslingers ruled the West and the nearest sheriff was 6 days ride from town. If the bad guys didn't get you, the Indians would pick you off trying to get help. Well for Americans things have indeed improved. For Filipinos sadly little has improved after 20 years of strong economic growth. Corruption is on the increase and power failures still doggedly appear.

In recent weeks I have seen a lot of science-based scams being perpetrated by Filipinos in the country. These scams include selling soaps that apparently contain a substance with magnetic properties that are supposed to have healing effects. There was another such product being sold outside of my apartment in Manila. Its noteworthy that these people advertise this way because they are less likely to be tracked down, though I'm sure there are too few with a critical mind that might question the science.

I dont want to suggest that such scammery is limited to Filipinos. It goes with the territory. Filipinos will dominate because its their country, and I dare say the schemes come from another unregulated market - China or India. Afterall the products are manufactured somewhere. You can also observe that Western companies are rejoicing in the opportunity to engage in unregulated markets. Sunlife of Canada comes to mind. I can't accuse them of doing anything wrong from a legal standpoint, but actually the way they sell insurance is actually contrary to the interests of their investors in the Philippines. They require large upfront payments into their managed insurance fund scheme. They require those to payoff the agents who are not well-versed in the products they sell. The idea is to employ middle-aged housewives with a lot of friends and teach them how to flog off their product for a large upfront fee. The problem is - when there is a significant market correction, investors have lost 20% on what was a significant amount of money. More important to them was their lost friends. I am sure Sunlife has all the disclaimers and warnings about how treacherous markets can be. But I think its contrary to the interests of their customers how they package the service with an upfront fee. A better scheme would take a smaller payment from investors so they dont suffer as much loss in their is any short term fall. Friendships are being lost because of the way this company structures its scheme - all because it wants to grab the market lead before the market is regulated as it is in the West.

Politicians in developing countries are often just as culpable. In some instances they forgo business (ethics) standards for the sake of financial gain, whether national income or personal kickbacks. There was BHP's operation of Porgera in PNG which pumped tailings into the nearest river, which destroyed the livelihood of villages downstream. There are incidences of lax departmental processes that result in poorly engineered projects receiving approval. In many cases these approvals were bought. I understand in takes 2 years to get BFAD approval for a manufactured product in the Philippines, but if you pay a $US10,000 kickback you can get the product in several months.

How to stay alive in the Philippines

2008-05-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

Here are two horrific stories involving the murder of Australian and English men by their respective partners in 2 separate incidents. As sad as these murders are, I don't believe they were totally unexpected. People don't suddenly reveal themselves as murderers, or accessories to a murder. The areas and girls where these guys lived are famous for being drug and prostitution districts of the Philippines. One of the men even married a bar girl. What do they say 'You can take the girl out of the bar, but you can't take the bar out of the girl'. 'Good girls' dont even drink in this country, so best to stay away from those girls.
I dont think a person really knows themself at 25yo, so to marry a person from a different culture at that age, and from a poor country as well, you are just looking for trouble. not easy to understand women at that age. A PhD in psychology probably wouldn't help. A lot of life experience needs to pass under the bridge before you marry a foreign girl from a poor country.
Here are some tips:
1. Dont get involved with a girl with educational qualifications less than you. Why? Where is the basis for respect. A Filipino qualification will mean less than a foreign one (sadly), so they are already at a disadvantage.
2. Dont get involved with a girl more than 15 years younger than you. Age does matter. I think age differences over 15yo are likely to breed differences over time.
3. Dont get involved with a girl with relatives in prison or doing drugs. I wouldn't even do it in Australia. Knew an Australian girl once whose father was in prison for murder. Dropped her as soon as she said. It didn't even matter that she told me upfront. Don't want him tracking me down if we ever broke up.
4. Avoid girls with a sense of entitlement
5. Avoid girls without a good job
6. Avoid girls with family who dont have good jobs
7. Avoid girls if you dont get along with the family
8. Avoid girls with dependents, you are likely to feel the pressure to finance their education
9. Avoid girls that show any hint of delusion, unreasonableness
10. Avoid religious girls. Their hypocrisy will manifest in delusion. Avoid dogma. This is particularly important if they are ambitious.
11. Avoid frivilous, social climbers overly concerned with appearances

Of course these are general rules, and if you have a PhD you might think better of such guidelines. Of course these tragic murders might be taken as evidence of the Filipino character. I personally have met some pretty pathetic Filipinos on previous trips, but I was more impacted by the fine people I met. I met a few really sincere, real people on a few trips, and having surrounded myself with good Filipino people, I actually seldom meet the bad. There are little things, but not the murderous-types.

Comments on the Filipino identity

2008-05-24T01:50:00.000-07:00

Interacting with any culture is interesting. The things people say, the things they do are very telling. For instance Filipinos often attempt to catch you out in a lie, particularly when you have a relationship with a Filipino. In fact they are trying to catch her out. A common friend of ours will question each of us about our living arrangements, relationship, even why are we late. She asks me why, and I explain. At the back of my mind I know that she already knows, and sure enough when I speak to my GF, she confirms that she already told her why she was late. You might think that she probably forgot. Nope. Its the culture here. Its like a personal game. Trying to find flaws in people. Trying to catch people out.
I get the same questions in my personal life. The same questions are asked of my GF, so people can perform some reconciliation. Are we living together, are we sleeping together, are we getting married. They are very intrusive that way. Of course you don't want to satisfy their curiosity. Apart from being surprised that they are asking, you want to confirm they are really asking what they are asking, because its all smoke n mirrors in this country (body language/face gestures). Sure enough, you get a more direct question. Not to me mind you. They will only be so direct to Filipinos. Don't know why. I guess I'm an unknown. Its no pressure on me of course, I could care less what people think about my life. I'll happily tell everyone everything except my bank account. But of course this is pressure for my GF.
So why do people want to know? In a God-fearing country, you would hope they have no desire to pronounce judgement. :) Well I think that is exactly it. Everyone wants to pass a judgement. Well I actually think that is healthy. It doesn't impact on me. I dont agree with their standards or values. For the most part they are probably hypocrites anyway. Yes, I am an atheist. Ok, I get a negative judgement for that. Why are people so quick to pass judgements in this country. Is it a sense of caution. I don't get that. I think they want to prove you are a bad person so they can feel entitled to take something from you. At least sometimes. On the positive side this shows a deep moral consciousness. Maybe some Filipinos are really as God-fearing as they claim to be. They certainly have the statues of Jesus to prove it. But being so 'God-bearing', I think the consequences of that is that they have such a distorted sense of reality. They will rationalise all sorts of things. Fortunately I have a solid and trusting relationship with my GF and her family, but if I didn't I think I would feel like a stranded sailor in shark-infested waters. The sharks are out there. Fortunately my GFs family is not so close to us. Any hint that I'm leaving and I'm sure they will be aggressively breaking down the nets.
This thinking is a concern to me living in the Philippines. Filipinos are very affable. Would love to get to know them better. But I would feel a great need to be very careful to live in a community among them, unless I had a 3m high fence. The reason is that I would be the only foreigner. Which means I would need to have a personal relationship with each of them, and they would be trying to establish that. The problem is you can't. They might have plenty of time to hang around with mates, drink beer, gamble, etc, but actually like working and have plenty to do. So I dont want to get into a situation where I might be perceived as snubbing them. So the pressure of over-investing in explanations. Sorry I can't drink at 10AM in the morning, I have a lot of work to do. Sorry you can't come over tonight my GF doesn't allow visitors. Actually I don't. If I invited a friend, suddenly there would be 20, with no asset register something would be bound to disappear. Of course the chances would be worse if you had 3-4 maids, but there is a strong sense of entitlement, and if I've told one person I'm an atheist, I'm sure they all know. Miraculous how fast information travels. People actually know me from neighbouring sub-divisions. So (i) I worry when just one Filipino doesn't like me, (ii) I'm an atheist, (iii) I'm a foreigner ($$$). Its easy enough to join the dots. I'm not saying this is an attitude just of foreigners. Same for wealthy Filipinos, its just they dont look wealthy (foreign looking). But being a foreigner is just one more dot.

A Filipino Sense of Entitlement

2008-05-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend (GF) and I separated a few days ago. We are back together now with a new understanding, but it’s interesting how some 'religious' relatives of my GF perceived the events. My GF has a really good memory, and she gave me the following account on the dialogue. Their identities are concealed for the same of privacy. This is religion – Filipino style. My thoughts are coloured yellow.

“I told my religious relatives – a couple (lets call them Peter & Pam) - about our breakup. Pam said it’s good that it didn’t work out. She said she can’t believe I fell for a non-believer. That strikes me as very judgemental. I thought only God was supposed to judge, all men should be humble. Actually by my standards, one should judge & be prepared to be judged. But one would hope that reason or reality is the standard of value, not some allegiance to dogma.

Pam: I mean... uhm, what i mean to say is, good thing you didn't get married...
GF: Why ?
Pam: Well you know, it's hard if you have a joint property...
GF: No, we don't have that...
Pam: I mean to say ... but do you think you could have gotten something (gesturing $ through hands) from andrew?
GF: What do you mean (surprised... but pretending to be innocent)
Pam: Well I mean, how much could you have received from him... his overall income... i mean if he's really rich or so...
GF: Andrew doesn't hide from me the amount of money he has. I know it...
Pam: Is it true that Andrew paid for the SUV?
GF: (I was surprise)... oh no, it's being paid by my mom and my brother...
Pam: Ahh I see.... so you mean Andrew did not help you? I mean how about your land lots?
GF: Andrew gave me money for downpayment for the lots I have... It's under my name.
Pam: Does he want his money back...
GF: No.. not really. We just broke up yesterday.

This conversation highlights the sense of entitlement in Philippine culture. Living in each other’s pockets. What is yours is mine. First she needs to establish the facts. How much money they have. In a separate move she will be applying guilt. Asking for money or implying hardship.

GF: I hope I can marry a man like Andrew. I only need a good man.
Pam: I can't believe you want to marry an atheist. I can't believe how you can fall in love with such a man... I mean not to be dogmatic.. I mean.. I don’t want to be dogmatic here but... God is the supreme being. You have been brought up with God. It's in you. You were raised with god.

On that note, I was brought up with God too, just I extricated myself.

GF: Right now, I am a bit disillusioned because I have seen a lot of people who claim they are believers but they are the ones doing a lot of wrong. It's hypocrisy.
Pam: Well yeah that's true. But nobody is perfect... Everyone makes mistakes, even I make mistakes. Man has a lot of sins. That's a given. Man is a sinner... I mean I am a person who is not 2 faced... If I do not like a person, I will not be nice to him in his face and talk ill of him at his back. If someone did something I did not like, I will not speak with that person...
Pam: But you see Leah, Pam is a bit easily angered but at night, she forgives... it's as if nothing happened.
GF:
This recount was proved in 3 parts, so a little repetitive here.
I said Andrew is a good man. I’m very sad. I told Pam, Andrew is a man who doesn’t need fear of god to do what is right. I told her he and I never argued about God’s existence. She asked if I still believe. I said I want to but I have no proof. I said many believers I know are hypocrites. She said nobody is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and even I am not perfect. I thought, that is an empty statement. There is no honesty and courage in what Pam said. If she had courage, she would specify what bad things she did. People say they are not perfect...but of course. She could have said, I cheated on my husband too or I stole money. Those admissions would have made her more real and honest and would show she has moved on from that. If she said she isn’t perfect, she will never be. Nobody can be perfect. As Andrew said, she’s just enabling herself to do more wrong. In fact it’s a contradiction to suggest humans are evil/sinful by nature, since morality can only pertain to humans because they have a choice. I said "if I meet another man, I hope he will be like Andrew. But I know if I want a man like Andrew to marry me, I have to be a great person, more than what I am now and keep getting better till I die". She said, what else can Andrew ask for. She asked if we have a joint property and if Andrew wants his share back.

She asked if I got anything from Andrew. I said Andrew gave me a lot of advice that I earned from. I said I made P160k because Andrew traded my money. I said we broke up because Andrew found a smart girl and wants to meet with her, but I won’t allow. Andrew said he is after intellectual conversation with a girl and he is open to the potential of developing a relationship with her.

Andrew has since realised the error of his thinking. J I recognised that I had not credited my GF with the qualities which I was actually seeing in this other girl because that experience was a long time ago, and just the way the girl introduced herself was like when I was young. Her ‘passion for ideas’ reminded me of what I was like when I was younger.

I told Peter & Pam that I am very sad, but if I am not the girl that Andrew needs, Andrew will never be happy in our relationship. I told them I do not hate Andrew for feeling that. There is no regret just sadness, and I will miss him. I said I was looking to go overseas and move on with my life. I told them that I need more time to be better. And I have to undergo a process of self-reflection. I want to be at peace with my real self and ideal self. Because it is true that I might be willing to grow but I have to put myself into test of actually growing. I said I want to try to push myself if I am this driven person like what others see or if I am also going to just let myself be indulgent (as I know it is firmly embedded in our culture). I told them that Andrew never stops working hard, regardless of results. He is relentless. I said he would complain if my parent driver around for no reason. He would always want a purpose for doing things.

I said Andrew demands growth, discipline, success and critical thinking. I said I am also questioning my ability and my will to be all I can be. So I said it was a right decision for me to let go of Andrew and not fight for him to come back to me or choose me instead. I also resolved, I will not cry again. I actually don’t discourage crying – as if that were my role. However, I told myself, if I want a man like Andrew to marry me someday, I have to be an equal.

Pam said, Andrew should be credited for his honesty as at least he did not hide information. I said that's true... and I cannot stop what he feels. Pam gave me one bible verse from the Romans. (I forgot what chapter). However, it meant something like:
Whatever happens is God's will and it's all for the better.

Pam supported that statement by saying that sometimes there are things in life that happens that we do not understand in the moment but it's actually there to prepare us for something to come. Maybe this is ‘a sign’ that Pam wants my GF to see, raising some personal hardship. Pam’s siblings are all over in the USA, and I sense that she gets very little money from them, so she is pursing family members for money. Is this the story of a victim or someone setting up a guilt trip. Very subtle mind you. But I’m wondering whose consoling whom? GF just lost her boyfriend and Pam is asking what assets does he have, did you get any, and then a story of her personal hardship. Does anyone else see a pattern? To her credit Pam didn’t just bury her cancer-ridden child in the backyard and move on with life, she accepted responsibility years ago, but seemingly not at this point.

Peter & Pam told me about their son who died. His named was Jason and he died of leukaemia. Peter and Pam were supposed to buy a property in BF homes long time ago. But they were not able to process the purchase quickly. A few days after their decision to buy, they learned that Jason had leukemia. Jason had to go to hospital every 2 weeks for blood transfusion. After transfusion, he'd be very happy and giddy but after a few weeks, he will be come pale again. He got transfusions more and more up to the point that his blood vessels eventually burst because of the transfusions and he died. Peter said it was a good thing they did not buy the property so they had the money to support Jason's life.

This made me think that Peter and Pam really valued Jason. As they knew leukemia was cancer and there was no chance for survival yet they chose him over a lucrative property.>

So because of this, they said, sometimes we do not understand things that are happening but eventually, we will realize that all events are all part of a big plan -- the big plan of the SUPREME being = GOD. Well that is fate. This must have been a difficult time for them. As a result of their focus on Jason, their other son seemed neglected because their focus was Jason. He became unruly, and required discipline.

I thought there has some bearing to this while talking to Peter & Pam. I do believe that all things happen for some good reason. This was why I met Andrew... so I was more confident I can stand up again on my own without Andrew and yes perhaps our break up had to happen for something in store for me in the future.

I told Peter & Pam that I only need that my husband is a good person. Andrew is a certified good person, though impatient, he has the ability to view everyone objectively. He was never dishonest and he is realistic. He treated me like an adult and forced me to be one, I said.

Pam said I should just look for one guy to marry from church. And I said "maybe" and told them my fear is to meet a guy who is self-righteous. Who would always quote god or the bible but would do otherwise.

I said Andrew doesn't need the fear of god to make him do what is right. Pam said Andrew's philosophy is based on moral code but no code of god. Peter said ‘moral’ came from the word 'morse' which means 'tradition, culture' so the philosophy is based on the belief in the harmony of men... like a civil code.

They asked if Andrew's family is Christian. I said yes. But over the years, Andrew questioned Christianity as he began asking questions. I said Andrew may have not been exposed in the environment wherein people can answer him with logical arguments about the existence of god. Andrew didn’t get feedback but had a strong science background. If people would talk about god with Andrew, it's always baseless, no empirical or even logical proof. Peter said... "there are things that exist that we do not sense (feel, see, hear, taste). He said "look at air, can you see air?" I said no but I can provide proof it exists like put a fragrance or put colour in the gas... He shut up after that. I guess he didn't have another example...

I am sure people are going to tell me that all Christians are not like that. True enough. My point is that Christianity enables such thinking. I would suggest some Christians are relatively good despite their beliefs. Mind you, I think being good is not just about not being bad. Its about living your life as a positive, not renouncing values.

Removing out of my apartment

2008-04-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

Moved out of my apartment last weekend. We were trying to buy a place but were unable to reach terms on price for one place, and the builder DMCI was hopeless at revising its contract on another place. So I ended up paying Y1000 for a tradesman to move our stuff out.
Having done that I ran into the mother of the landlord in the street. I am friendly with her cousin. She was saying. I was wondering if you wanted your computer. Maybe you have another. I mentioned that I have another. And she was asking maybe she can have it. Hmmm.... well it was a pushy approach. Not accustomed to that. I dont like dealing with her. She doesn't respond to messages. She tells me I have to move out when I reached an agreement with her cousin to move out later. I actually was moving out only because her son plays music all the time. I'm trying to work and he's playing the same boring music all the time. On the other side of the house this family has erected a pig feed factory in a residential house. That attracts alot of birds, and bird shit. But the worst of it was the 10-odd roosters they put their. These things are crowing at all times of the day, and they were right outside my window.
Anyway as a tenant I had no rights. As a landlord I could complain to the president of the village home owners association. This village has no rules preventing cocks, so if you are planning to move into a new home, I would ensure they are limited in what they can do. Cocks are the worst! Dont think you are safe because there are none around you. People move and alot of people have these things. Stupid sport! Where is the skill in cockfighting, or gambling for that matter.
Damned if she is getting my computer - I'd prefer to give it to a school.

Cool places to live in the Philippines

2008-03-29T02:24:00.000-07:00

The Philippines is tropical. Some people accommodate for the heat by drinking all day or using air conditioning, in what is one of the highest cost countries in the world for power. Lipa City is one of the few cities in the Philippines where you can live in a mild climate by virtue of its higher elevation. The city has an elevation of 400m, which is enough to make it cooler, but not high enough to be enshrouded in mist all the time like Baguio City or Tagaytay. Baguio City is another popular community for foreigners, but its isolated from Metro Manila (6+ hours south) whilst Tagaytay has alot of restaurants, but no significant shopping mall. The good news is that Tagaytay is just an hour away from Lipa City, as is Batangas Pier, which is a transhipment point for Puerto Gallera. For more information and photos of a house for sale in Lipa City - follow the hyperlink.

The Philippines character

2008-02-17T07:15:00.001-08:00

The Philippines would have to have one of the defeatist cultures in the world. The fundamental cause of this I suggest is:
1. Maternalism: A ubiquitous sense of entitlement
2. Lack of purpose: A fundamental self-indulgence
3. Lack of responsibility: A desire to perceive themselves as victims
4. Lack of organisation: A lack of institutional support
5. A strong pride: A pride that extends to the point of self-righteous delusion

Rarely do we see this combination of character traits spread throughout a culture such that they become a cultural paradigm. Their unshakable presence I suggest comes from a succession of imperialists that have sought to control the spirit of the Filipino, starting with:
1. Spanish colonisation: Rarely has a cultural occupation been as long as the Spanish occupation of the Philippines
2. American protectorate: The United States promises independence after expelling the Spanish, but reneged, delaying independence for years.
3. Japanese occupation: The Japanese occupation during WWII was even more brutal than the Spanish, but far shorter. Though its impact might have been regarded as something worse as a result of being one of a succession.
4. Chinese imperialism: The Chinese I believe mark another stage of cultural imperialism in the sense that even under 'independence' the country was still dominated by certain fascist leaders in business, the military and the Church. Previously it was Spanish families, but increasingly it would be Chinese business interests.

Living conditions in Philippine Condos

2008-02-11T01:51:00.000-08:00

Living in condos tends to be alot more pleasant than elsewhere for a number of reasons:
1. Insulation: Condos are better insulated, and windows are sometimes not even designed to open.
2. Quieter: People are generally quieter in condos and strata rules are more strictly enforced.
3. Politics: Condos are located in the city, so there are no favourites. You are more likely to get equal treatment since rules are enforced impersonally.
4. Civilised: People are more civil and considerate in the city.
5. Buffer: Condo living offers 2 styles of living - high rise in which case you are often way above the noise and pollution or low-rise, in which case there is usually landscaped gardens and concrete wall giving you a buffer from the hectic, chaotic world outside.
6. Lifestyle: People in the cities tend to be more productive and active. They are not spending their time at home, but are rather out working to pay off their new condo.

Condos however can pose risks to your environment as well.
1. Edge of peace: You want to make sure you dont rent near the edge of the development because you might be next to a noisy slum area. You dont want to be next to a basketball court or swimming pool or you might be disturbed by a lot of noise.
2. Construction: You want to avoid buying or renting near a new construction site because you will find these workers are paid to work all through the night sometimes. So avoid new project sites, as the project might take a year to complete.
3. Busy roads: Avoid being close to busy roads.
4. Mixed land use: Avoid being next to slums or piggeries that might taint the air you breath.
5. Rules: You want to make sure you dont get disturbed by inconsiderate people. Find out what rules are present to protect you. I was surprised that most Filipinos care so little about their surroundings.
6. Other owners: Its worth knowing the makeup of the other owners. If the owners are OFWs they are likely buying the condo for the benefit of hundreds of relatives in the provinces. Expect them to descend on your condo pool every so often for a family party. That would be fine if there was just a few occasions. But if everyone does it, you dont want to be living next to the pool.

Conditions of living in the Philippines - houses

2008-02-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

Living in the Philippines is actually not an easy thing. There are alot of challenges. I have lived in a condominium as well as 2 houses in different subdivisions. The problems I faced were:
1. Noise: The noise was shocking. All over the Philippines there are cocks (roosters) that 'crow' from the earliest hours of the morning. I was in a townhouse with 5 of them outside my window. Moved there because the owners brother could no longer keep them on military grounds. The owner did not want them on his property.
2. Dogs: Yep, you guessed it, more noise. Each Filipino I dare say has 3 dogs each, and they often have mad dog fights at all hours, and if not fighting, they will bark at traffic or pedestrians.
3. Planes: I was below an airforce training facility so I was experiencing flight manouvres in the morning through to night.
4. Music: My neighbour, who was a relative of the owner, was playing music at all times of day. It wasnt just because it was loud, it was often bad, and even if it was good, the same song could be repeated 10 times.
5. Kids: There are alot of young kids in the Philippines, and there is little discipline, so the run around your house, screaming, even banging on your windows for attention. At Xmas, kids from poorer areas come around singing for money, of course you are really paying them off to get rid of them. Except there are hundreds of them and they keep coming back for more.
6. Factories: My living circumstances were pretty peaceful, but with the cocks, they also established a factory in the house next to mine. This was a residential house being used to produce pig feed. So I was hearing the scrubbing of aluminium trays through the day into the early evening.
7. Motor cycles: The guy next door had a motor bike and he liked to rev it as well.
8. Horns: Filipinos are as lazy and inconsiderate. They will arrive at 2AM in the morning to pick up someone, and they will be beeping their horn. Not once but 10-15 times. Totally oblivious to what they are doing. Is that lack of critical thinking, or just lacking everything.
9. Tricycles: These are a big polluter and can be very noisy if you are around the main road. Miraculously this was not a problem. Jeepneys and trucks are other big polluters and noisy as well.

Its fair to say that my circumstances were bad, and I might mention they were good before they got bad. But these problems occur because:
1. Tenants have no rights - the contract given to me, which I didnt even sign, offered no protections
2. Landowners have few rights - they can take grievances to a homeowners association in each village. In my case I was surrounded by relatives. On balance that was probably a good thing, as I was friendly with some. Your best chance is to complain, but you have few rights. There are no laws preventing people from doing as they please. Its kind of understandable that poeple work from home, I do. Its just its a pain for me because my job requires thinking.
3. Lot sizes are very small (120-300m2) - so noise is worse
4. Houses are often packed with many family members, a number of whom are likely to be hanging around bored
5. Filipinos are accustomed to noise - which is why they dont hear well, and probably why they tend not to be great thinkers. I dare say they never had a choice.

Employing maids in the Philippines

2008-02-11T01:06:00.000-08:00

There is a great deal of appeal to the idea of living in the Philippines. Its true that you can get a live-in maid for P2500-3000/mth, thats $US50-60/mth, but consider the following:
1. You have to feed her - hopefully not what you are eating otherwise it could get expensive
2. You will have to train her - they really have no idea, so it will be a hands-on job. How to clean, how to cook food in the western style, how to pee straight, because they sanitary standards might not meet yours.
3. You will have to replace her - they tend to take off when they want, whether they go back to the provinces or off to see friends
4. You will have to trust her - they have a nasty habit of stealing things, taking off when you are not in the home. You dare not give them a set of your keys, but they will take off leaving your house unlocked.
5. You should avoid any personal relationships because you might end up facing extortion.

It might be better to just employ a contractor - but hide everything.

What are the bad aspects of living in the Philippines

2008-02-11T00:58:00.000-08:00

I have already addressed this issue on my Expats blog.
There is not much to add except maybe the slow pace or low productivity here.

The attractions of living in the Philippines

2008-02-11T00:40:00.000-08:00

Living in the Philippines is not such an attractive proposition for most people. When I look at the demographics its apparent to me that most of the foreigners whom come to the Philippines do so for the following reasons:
1. Business: Most westerners are stationed here with a foreign company
2. Diplomat: Another group of foreigners are here as diplomats, or as a bureaucrat paid by their government under the administration of the Asian Development Bank, or other aid programs.
3. Retirees: There are alot of old men here that want to enjoy the companionship of young girls. Can't say I blame them, they are gorgeous, and they aren't all poor, uneducated factory girls.

So basically when you look at the demographics its only the seniors that come here. Young people tend to come here for a week or two and thats it. So what is the attraction for the older guys. Well if you focus on where they are living, its readily apparent.
1. Girls: Most retirees live around the girl and beach districts like Angeles City, Subic, Boracay as well as Metro Manila apartments near Makati and Ermita I guess. Whether you are into prostitutes, or just girls to offer you a nursing hand to an 'old soldier', they have the girls to keep you fighting.
2. Cheap cost of living: Yes the Philippines is cheap, but not extraordinarily so when you consider the costs. Much depends on where you live, and how modestly. Its easy enough to buy a $US60,000 apartment in Manila or a house outside the city limits, but utilities are not cheap. If you want a western diet it does not even make sense to eat outside because the shopping malls are owned by just 2 billionaires. Plus add the $US40/mth cost of a visa renewal and you realise that you dont have much left over for those $1 beers. It does not help that everything costs more because you are a foreigner. Of course it helps if you have support from local family.
3. Entertainment: I think the Philippines has among the best live music performers in the world and at little cost. I am not talking about Britney Spears, though she was here, but the local pirated act.
4. Treatment: There is a great deal of respect for foreigners in the Philippines. Well at some level you are a sucker whom might as well feed their families, but I do think there is a genuine respect for 'American values'. I dont know if thats a repudiation of Chinese values, or reflects their appreciation for the US military effort in WWII, but certainly the attitude is strongest among military personnel.

OK, this must have been a bad day because I found some other positives for living in the Philippines. See http://life4expats.blogspot.com/2007/12/living-in-philippines.html.

Where to Live?

2008-01-31T16:42:00.000-08:00

The first priority is deciding where to live. Thart decision depends entirely on what type of life you intend to live, and what you intend to do. I met my partner when I was in Australia, and I've had alot of support from her family. eg. meals, transport, washing, visa assistance, holidays away. Some of these things I have done myself, but actually I've never used a local laundry, but I am guessing no problem. Just make sure you get back what you give.

The most important issue is getting access to the services you need:
1. Trustworth food and a variety of menus - no food poisoning and food that doesnt look at you. eg. Metro Manila, large malls, tourist areas like Subic, Boracay.
2. Places to go out drinking - nice, air conditioned places with cold beer. These can be found in any large city, or where foreign & local tourists go.
3. Shopping malls - preferably a large one because the smaller ones are boring since they have the same old franchise choice all around the country, eg. SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Manila & Galleria.

There are other criteria as well:
4. Cool climate - Manila and surrounding lowlands are a little hot. I prefer Lipa City (Batangas), Tagaytay (Cavite) and Baguio. I also like Nueva Eclija, but there is a lack of services here. No big city, but give it another 10 years and it will be good.
5. Clean Air - Manila is really polluted so many foreigners prefer places like Alabang, as its upmarket but close to Manila. I'm at Lipa City, which is 40km from there, but cooler.
6. Nice ambience - Probably the hardest aspect in the Philippines is finding a comfortable ambience because of the pollution, noise and poor infrastructure maintenance. For this reason it makes alot of sense to stay in or buy a resort-style residential condo. More on this issue later.
7. Things to do - I am keen on the outdoors so I want a place where I can get outdoors. This part is proving elusive.
8. Good Beaches - The best beaches I have seen are likely to be on the Pacific Coast because they will be cleaner. Alot of rubbish washes up on the west coast (from Philippines & China), and no one cleans it up. There are good beaches in Zambales & Pangasinan. Boracay is regarded as the best beach, but my favourite was near Sagnay in Albay, but this is a very poor, isolated area, so dangerous for tourists I'm guessing.

I think the big question is - rural or city? I think the answer depends on your local support and your lifestyle. Ideally I'd probably live in Naga City, but I would not live there alone. For people will no support I would live in the city until I found a support base, and travel out from there. I have visited many places by bus. Just get buses to major cities and travel our from there. Once you are in the countryside its easy to get a sense of where jeepneys go.

Getting established

2008-01-31T16:19:00.000-08:00

I have been living in the Philippines for over a year now. This is my 6th trip here I think. The first 2 trips were for business, but were just 'visa stops' out of Japan when I was living there. I decided to come here to meet a girl I met on the internet, and I have not been disappointed in that respect.

Arriving Philippines Airport
There is a levy on taxis picking up from the airport so I think the cost of a taxi is around P400 now. There is a taxi rental agency there - on the left side as you exit the building. If you need money the best place is in the Philippines because its the poorer country. You can get cash at the airport, but you will get a better rate in the city at 'Money Changers'. There are alot around Ermita, which is where tourists tend to stay.

Where to Stay
When you first arrive in the Philippines you have a choice of several places for accommodation. Since you are likely here for a time, you will want cheap accommodation until you find more permanent accommodation. Most accommodation in the Philippines is good for 2. I have several favourite places:
1. New Horizon Hotel: Located near the corner Boni Ave & EDSA Blvd in Mandaluyong City, its fairly close to Robinsons Galleria and SM Megamall, and near Boni Ave Station on MRT Line. They often offer P990/night accommodation but this rate is for Filipinos, so get your Filipino partner to pay if you have one. Foreigners always pay higher. They have a coffee shop with wifi, free breakfast. I think the foreigner rate is P1400/night.
2. Ermita: Ermita is located on Manila Bay. Its a great place to stay because there are many hotels of various standards, anf its close to Makati, Mall of Asia, the bay (which has been improved). A few years ago, after a storm rubbish in the bay used to wash up onto the broadwalk. Lovely! The bay is like a toilet, so it doesnt make a good 'tourist moment'. Maybe it still happens, just they clean it up. There are good bars around Ermita too, though the more upmarket bars are in The Fort and Makati. I usually stay at SlouchHat Restaurant, but actually there are a multitude of places along Del Pilar and Mabini Streets.

If you are giving a taxi directions, ask them to take you to corner of UN Avenue and Del Pilar Street, then from there just walk back towards the airport, and you will find several basic hotels. The Corona Hotel is the more pricey, SlouchHat the most comfortable and friendly. Large rooms, great meeting place, run by an Australian.