Yesterday’s hostage crisis in Manila, where a ex police chief kidnapped a bus of Chinese tourists, made the headlines.
Several were killed, and we expect lots of fingers being pointed at the rescuers for a botched hostage rescue. But no one is going to say that the motives were due to religion, or try to explain that it was a protest against Chinese exploitation of Filipinos. Nah, just a cop fired for taking kickbacks who went amuk and wanted to pressure the government into giving his family his pension.
All of this is bad news for the Philippines, whose tourist industry attracts many Koreans and Asian tourists. Making things worse is the murder of a Korean pastor in a kidnapping in Pasig, and the recent murders of several foreigners living in the Manila area.
Despite all these attacks in the news, however, things tend to be safe in the Philippines for tourists and foreigners living here.
Crime is crime, and usually high profile poor criminals are caught.
Of course, no one expects white collar crimes like the “fertilizer scam” (P728 million) or prosecution of those who take bribes, divert funds, or ask for kickbacks. That is why the perpetrator of the hijacking was so angry: in a culture of corruption, why was he made an example of?
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6 users commented in " Attacks on Foreigners in the Philippines "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThe Philippines is a wild place full of contradictions. Next to the Makati Business district are miles of slums. The people are very friendly – if they think the person is rich and there might be something in it for them. There are private schools on every street corner yet most graduate from school barely able to pass a kindergarten test paper. I love the place, but I can never think of a good reason why
I like it in the Philippines, however, to travel from Paranaque to Mandaluyong should only take 15-20 minutes, but during the rush hour and probably most of the time apart from weekends, the journey takes 2 hours, 3 hours on a Friday.
There are too many people in manila and surrounding areas, too many people means too many cars, buses, jeepneys etc, The church here supports big families and looks down on contraception and abortion, at the rate the population is growing, I hate to think what the traffic will be like in 10 years.
This is a government problem, years ago it should have offered cash incentives for big companies to base their HQs outside manila in the provinces where rents are cheaper, cheaper rents mean better salaries !!
Everyday, I spend at least 5 hours of my day stuck in traffic jams, how many man hours and productivity are lost because people are late for work or deliveries are delayed due to traffic.
Apart from this, I find the Filipinos a delight to know, friendly and helpful, As a foreigner here I have already made a number of friends male and female, although i am wary of a few who only seem interested in what they might be able to get out of me !!
all in all, yes, the Philippines has its problems with too much traffic, poverty, too many people, but take a look round the country, its a haven for beautiful countryside and its made better by the nature and hospitality of the locals.
there is good and bad in every country you visit, if you live here as a foreigner, adjust your life to the way the locals live, otherwise its best to stop complaining ( as I have just done about traffic) and leave.
my fiancee is Filipina and in the middle of an annulment. i’m ready to move there to be with her buyt she says there are rules for foreigners wanting to move and live there. Any ideas what rules she is referring to? thank, Glenn
glen, Hi. what rules does she mean ?
all i know is that you can not own a house, it has to be 51% her name 49% your name, also a business is the same, you can own a condo as no land is with it, you cant own land. i have been here 3 months in the phils, I already have a permanant visa and can work here.
maybe your fiance does not want to move here really, maybe i am wrong.
The only rule that i know so that you can stay here legally is to have a permanent visa. Once you got married to your Filipina fiancee, you can applu for a permanent visa.
Once you are granted a permanent visa, you can put up business here save to those kind of business save by the Gov’t exclusively for Filipinos.
I sold everything at home to retire in the Phils. I am a holder of a Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV) issued by the Phil. Retirement Authority.
I regret that I am here in this country for the following reasons:
1) most Filipinos look at white men with dollars popping on their eyes. They often think of ways to rip you off. They think that because you have white skin, you have zillions and zillions stashed in the bank. Beggars and sidewalk vendors always make sure they can get something from me. Taxi drivers also want to get some more from me other than the usual fare.
2) lack of effective law enforcement in the Phils. In the rural areas, they just allow people to go on doing illegal activities because they are poor and do not have money to pay for court procedures. But, take note, that when it is a foreigner doing something wrong, the police will swoop down on you at once because you have the MONEY. There is one law for those with brown skin and another for those with white skin
3)Corruption is prevalent even in the remotest barangays in this country. Beware of places ruled by political dynasties. You will not get anywhere. The poor people who can easily bebought for VOTES will always be sided by the officials. The mayors in this country have the final say, they control everything!
4) You see in the newspapers, TV and radio that there are trainings, programs, conferences on the government’s drive to protect the environment or whatever program. But, even these government workers see for themselves clear violations, they won’t do anything. Preservation of the environment takes a BACKSEAT because of poverty and political ambitions. It is ALL TALK, NO ACTION!
As soon as all my wealth can be pulled out of this place, I will go and never come back!
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