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I have slowed down my trips because of the reported dangers. I am not going to stop moving around in Dumaguete but i am a little wary of straying much farther away. Call me chicken if you want but better to be a safe chicken than a dead one.

 

A huge component in the freedom you feel is a lack of enforcement. There are lots of laws, but little enforcement. The U.S. feels less free because the U.S. has the resources to enforce laws. The U.S. even has the resources to hound people overseas for not filing tax returns and to hit foreign banks with fees for not reporting accounts for U.S. residents.

I'm thinking what happens in Manila largely stays in Manila. For example, last I checked, poker was regulated by the state owned PAGCOR, which has a monopoly on gambling in the Philippines. In Dumaguete, none of the poker games have licenses with PAGCOR as far as I know. The games that do exist are allowed to run at the whim of the big wigs here. If you are messing with someone else's cheese, then you will get a phone call. PAGCOR enforces these regulations in Manila. Outside of Manila, it's anything goes unless you are doing something big enough to attract attention.

This is a cycle you can't get away from. Politicians create laws. Resources enable the politicians to enforce these laws. As long as the Philippines is resource starved, then these laws won't get enforced.

Of course, the above issue is also on Duterte's agenda. I believe part of the reason he wants to get rid of congress is so that he can setup a system which will give more power to regions outside Manila. As it stands, Manila is the ivory tower collecting rent from the rest of the nation. He wants to end corruption, which is part of the problem for lack of resources.

If you don't live in Manila, you won't be bothered by these laws.

 

I sometimes feel like all foreigners stick together and actually believe that other foreigners can do no wrong.

For me, I have seen a lot of foreigners who are horrible drivers. I have no trouble believing that a foreigner could be involved in a hit and run. None whatsoever.

Not saying it happened that way, but I'd sure keep an open mind to the possibility.

 

Here is Mike's web site with room rates. We go there for a getaway often. What is expensive for one staying on the beach may be considered affordable to others.
Rates & Packages - Mikes Beach Resort

 

The best thing you can do is publicize this information. Let people realize that many people here see tourist a wallets to be emptied, legally or illegally. Maybe even the Dumageute tourist bureau will realize the negative impact it has on the City of Dumaguete's tourist image. Why the Philippines spends so much money to promote the tourist business and then lets so many individual and groups scam people and create a poor image for the Philippines is beyond my thinking. Maybe they do not understand the power of the internet which they use to promote Dumaguete is also used by people to point out the problems to potential tourist.. Fixing the problems would be the best promotional effort the Philippines could make, but that is just my tourist type thinking here.

 

I want to stand up for General Marquez, I have been friends with him since he was the provential commander here. He is the one high level police officer that I personally know that stands up to help both filipino and foreigners to the full extent of his position equally. I have seen him come to the aid of several foreigners in need of police assistance without hesitation.

The way I read the article, he is doing something in attempt to address a very well known problem.

I for one will always give credit where credit is due, and hope the snipers don't have me in their sites for say'n so....

 

Hi Shawn,

Found this on facebook - pretty much tells the full story how to greet the new family member ,,,,