⌛ My Experience in Dumaguete City

I didn't take the Rev's post in a negative way at all.
The best way to give examples of life in the Philippines to an American that has never been there would be to point out items that are different than what they are used to. It's not being negative, just an attempt to give someone understanding. Well traveled people will not be surprised by life in the RP. If you've been to India or Mexico you will see many of the same things. People in poorer countries do the things that make sense for their circumstances.
I've seen posts on other forums where foreigners do nothing but complain about all the problems in the Philippines. To them I say; if you don't like it stay in the States. I don't see the Rev's post in that light.

As for corruption, this is not different in the Philippines than many other countries and if you look at the history of the Philippines it's not difficult to understand why it's so pervasive. Many Filipinos would prefer there be less of it but at the same time, you have to live your life and get by in the society you are presented with. As in all countries, the problems lie less with the common people than they do with the government.
The books say the Philippines is a representitive democratic republic but in reality it's an oligarchy and has been for a long, long time.

 

Go on, try it.

I agree there is corruption everywhere. But us is "just as" corrupt as phils? O rily? Y dont u try handing a u.s. cop a $20bill to let you off the traffic ticket? go on try it.

 

Crime:
Yes, it exists but try to keep it in perspective. In a rich country like the U.S. there is much less incentive to be a thief. The standard of living is much higher and to engage in petty thievery makes no sense since you already have food, shelter, clothing, and a television. If you going to be a crook in the U.S., chances are you're going to go for the big bucks. Indentity theft, car theft, extortion, fraud, or bank robbery for example.
In a poor country like the Philippines, if you have no work, no home, little food and ragged clothes you are likely to get creative in your methods to survive.
At a higher level, graft and corruption has been a part of Filipino life for many, many years and is reenforced by those in power. Try to imagine life under one occupying imperialist power after another and what it would do to your understanding of survival and the structure of your society as a whole.
Don't forget, this is Asia, not Iowa City.
The U.S. has never been occupied by a foreign power in it's 231 years of existence.

 

The goal of those in power is to maintain or expand their power and has been that way in every country thoroughout history.

 

Criticism--definition

To those who say "love it or leave it":
You need to understand the exact meaning of the word criticism. A movie "critic" is not someone who sits around all day making negative comments about the movie; they criticize it for good as well as bad. Criticism is not NEGATIVE or POSITIVE. Its BOTH.
When people, including me, post comments on this forum making NEGATIVE criticism, it does not mean that I dont have any POSITIVE criticism about phil. There are many things i like about phil, or else i woudnt b here!
Just like a movie critic allows potential moviegoers to make an informed decisions on what movies to watch, people who make negative criticisms on this board serve their purpose by doing exact same for those who are considering to live in phil.
Its NOT good to label all those making negative criticism as whiners and telling them to go back where they came from.
I say let people make negative comments freely (as long as its not racist or something moronically subjective). What's your reason for trying to shut them up with "love it or leave it" comments?

 

It's absolutely necessary for complaints to be voiced. If something is wrong but everyone keeps silent it will never change. On the other hand, there are some whose every comment is just negative (not so much on this forum which is why I'm here) which gets tiring after a while. For those that seem unable to find anything positive to say I ask "why live in the Philippines?".
I would like to emphasize that the Dumaguete Info Forum is one of the best I've found on the Internet. The posts are almost always well balanced.
I recall recent posts about water treatment, garbage, pollution, etc., that were negative comments but positive in that they were seeking solutions to problems that affect everyone.

 

It was poked at
jnk8665, if you read his post,he said hand 1,000 peso over to the "doctor" for his
cell phone number ,then 200 peso every time he seems him.
Then my point is ..... he is cheating the queue, poor pinoy's can't afford to do that. Maybe thats cool for you, but in my books it stinks. ah

 

Happens all over the world - even back in Denmark, its called private hospitals, where the people with more money than the average Joe can walk in and get better / faster care than you would in the tax-paid hospital.

Richer people just hire private doctors back home or in US or whereever.

I know that if I had a couple of dollars in my pocket and the choice of skipping the queue, I would grab it... who would not?

 

Do not come to my country then.... you might be the only decent person ever to live there!@!!?