Best Posts in Thread: U.S special forces need to leave mindano

Tourists spend their money on hotels and restaurants, which are places the rich park their money for diversification (but low returns in a commodity services market). Regular Joe's don't have the savvy to offer premium services to tourists, so they get the same crap rates which is expected from this economy and provides a poverty lifestyle. There's little trickle-down here.

The Philippines just needs to open this place up to foreign ownership to invite as much investment as the country can entice. It's an international competition and the Philippines doesn't even have the door open. If nothing else, this would at least create some chaos into the system which could provide an opening to outsiders (locals which aren't in the ruling dynasties).

Emerging economies are already facing a world of hurt because the agricultural -> manufacturing -> services paths to prosperity (the same path the US took) are going to be closing off as automation increasingly eats jobs.

Though right now the economy is growing at a decent rate and we can see this with the transformation of Dumaguete and increased traffic. Still, there is a long way to go and I don't know how much of this is reaching the bottom. The increased number of SUV's on the road looks impressive, but it doesn't take many of those things to create a traffic problem. Maybe they aren't as many as there appears to be.

Duterte is trying to fight corruption, maybe another way to do this is to make the dynasties face foreign competition. There's nothing like huge business losses from competitive @ss kicking to drain the coffers of the elites.

 

I read today that foreign investors have over the past 4 months been pulling money out of the Philippine markets because they are concerned about the rhetoric of the president.

 

I will try to better explain myself. I am not a Marcos supporter, I just happened to be here during his ouster. Filipinos who had previously been friendly to foreigners suddenly turned angry and violent towards foreigners. Why? Partly because the USA flew the Marcos's out of the country and partly because of underlying issues with foreigners that had to be suppressed up to that point when the people and the country was set free to lash out. The people were encouraged to vent their anger by the new ruling class of politicians.
Duterte has the ability to say very inflammatory things. He says very regularly that the Philippines is not the Imperialist Colony of the USA nor are they it's puppet. With 8 years total experience in living in the Philippines I have witnessed how quickly Pinoys can get violent.
I truly hope that my worries are absolutely wrong and Foreigners are not demonized by the new government. I am just suggesting that from my experience it is a possibility and if it happens it will happen very quickly from crass remarks and small harassment to violence.

 

I am starting to get a bad feeling about what is being said by the new administration when it comes to foreigners. I was stationed at Subic from 83 - 86 when the anti American riots took place after Marcos was ousted we were all targets. Living in Olongapo City at the time with no personal protection, hiding in my house until I could be smuggled onto the base is a scenario I do not want to relive. Pay close attention to your situation and the public rhetoric. Things can change very rapidly in this country.

 

Frankly, the SF have needed to leave for a long time because if they have not passed on the knowledge that the army needs by now, they are never going to learn. If the enemy will not surrender you must pursue them until they are destroyed. Dispersing them is worse than anything else and that is what is happening now.

 

The effectiveness of the U.S. military in the region only goes as far as the will of the leadership in the Philippines. U.S. military resources is an extension of the Philippines capabilities, not a driver. We can't expect the U.S. special forces to fix the problems in Mindinao.

As for how foreigners will be affected by this administration, all that needs to happen is to change the visa laws. I can all but guarantee these laws will eventually worsen for us, because they're probably already among the most foreigner friendly in the world. Where else can you stay so long without having to do a visa run? People will leave in droves if they have to fly out of the country once a month to do a visa run. Even adjusting the visa laws to be closer to a norm among ASEAN nations will probably accomplish this. I may be talking out of my @ss here, but I can't see the good times lasting much longer for foreigners on tourist visas. Maybe those who are married will be okay.

This is a key point and I believe to be the driver behind his statement. Duterte means well, he just seems to botch his delivery.

The separatists in Mindanao have some legit reasons for fighting the government. The Philippines is Manila, the rest of the country is just paying rent. It's good that Duterte is willing to talk with the separatists to try to reach common ground. If the U.S. military is an obstacle to this, then they should go.

This is missing the mark on his end and probably something that he'll moderate on over time. As Obama mentioned, human rights is an international norm. Much of what appears as "imperialist" is global systems which exact a high cost for not playing the game. That's not to say that Duterte or anyone else shouldn't question these systems, but much of what he wants for the nation requires being diplomatic in doing so.

 

I can't see anywhere stevehigg says he support Marcos, and pretty sure filippino see no difference, if you are american, german or french, all white western are same in their eyes. I have had a good life here, wish I don't need move, but make my resarch, where to move,
if situation change in bad direction, wanna live in country with friendly people, like last 6 years here in Philippines