a foreign guy who dislike Philippines

The mayor of cebu wants to declare Jimmy persona non grata from Cebu city. Here is a response from Jimmy.

The following is my official statement regarding the “20 Reasons” video that I hosted:

I, James Sieczka have considered the Philippines as my second country and Cebu as my second home. The subject video that was aired was made in good faith and as a legitimate and reasonable execise of my right, “freedom of expression”.

There was no intention to scrutinize the city nor the people that governs the same. It’s an honest observation and opinion that I myself think needs to be worked on not just specifically in Cebu. These are little things that we see around us as normal people and from the eyes of an ordinary man like me. But from all that’s happening and me just trying to exercise my freedom of speech, I am very open and amenable for an apology, on the manner and means that I exercise my right, if the need presents itself.

As a sign of my compliance with the duly authorized authority and rule of law, I am not ashamed to apologize to people that I offended in the process with the hope that you would reconsider in declaring me” persona non grata”‘

Sincerely, James Sieczka

 

I got news for you councilor, open your eyes and you'll see who really embarrasses the country.

 

Who ever put that link on this forum got me a good treat.i took the link and posted on my facebook page and got more likes and no dislikes..I personally got used to all the things he criticized but he failed to mention the one and only thing that got me out of the philippines..Constant rspiratory problems for locals and foriegners alike..And it may be related to issues of pollution and crowding around poor sanitation...When the after math of sendong hit,i read that more children and elderly died from acute respiratory problems related to the flood waters and churned up filth after the storm and flood subsided..That death toll on philipine nationals is not neccessary and they want to silence voice of reason for better humanity? is he getting death threats so his story can flicker out and the locals continue to die? philippines may try to shut out foriegner critics for national sovreignty and their own right to themselves,but its a human issue regardless and we all answer to humanity regardless of nationality....Maybe it was the big portrait of the middle finger on his shirt that got the mayor mad?

 

The first video has caused a lot of mixed feelings among filipinos and even politcal issues in Cebu city hall. The Mayor is under pressure and wants to use his little political powers to make Jimmy pay by declaring him persona non grata. All this attention given by the Mayor’s office to get rid of young American guy that pointed out the truth. You would think instead of the Cebu Mayor spending all his time and resources trying to get rid of Jimmy that he would use the time to make an ordinance of cleaning up all public restrooms, that would be time well spent. The Cebu Mayor should be embarrassed because what Jimmy has said which was very true in his video. If I was Jimmy I would tell the press that the Mayor’s actions against him is political and pure racism against foreignors and that he can’t even clean up the dirty comfort rooms in his own city. I personally would have never made such a video like Jimmy had made, but the damage is already done and he has to live with it. I think Jimmy’s biggest mistake was making an apology and he should have sticked to his guns on the matter.

 

He's obviously never been to China - exactly the same here, except the toilets are the "squatty potties" meaning a ceramic hole in the floor - you don't sit, you squat.

 

Jimmy IS RIGHT!!!

Unfortunately, what Jimmy brings up and the response is the exact problem with the Philippines. While we are at it lets add the Church as a major contributor to problems here. The bottom line is the Philippines has been the whipping boy for two major powers the Spanish and Americans and they have been told what to do and how to do it for 500 years. This colonial mentality is ingrained in their heads and this reflects in a lack of initiative, incentive, bringing with it complacency and just about any other adjective to reflect a people that can't get from point A to point B without permission or a need to see dick and jane instructions in order to do it. I'm sorry but in coming here for 30 years I don't see much difference between then and now. Even today most all the positive changes are being brought about by returning More Sophisticated OFW's and foreigners moving here and bringing with them their skill sets and business saavy. Otherwise, this country would still be plugging along like the middle ages putting their energy into an extremely and greedy stupid religion. Jimmy hit it right on and had the guts to say it and now he has to cow tow and apologize. How sad.

 

I've seen the videos even before it got viral. (i mean, THAT widespread).
The points he stated are true, but he should have not "GENERALIZED" it as "Philippines" because he was just in Cebu. And i would agree to all the things he said there because you can really find them in Cebu. (i never liked Cebu btw, esp. Manila, oh no.)
But not all the things he said are true, like potholes covered with a drum or something? You cannot find that in my hometown. I haven't seen one also in Dumaguete. And i have never even saw one BUT Cebu!
He got points actually, and i do "enjoyed" his video and made me think and love more (and pity most) my beloved country.
Of course, we're Filipinos, and our country is basically being "attacked" so normally the immediate feeling is to feel "hurt" or "humiliated" or "insulted", and you know why? It's because of how how he delivered his message and how he acted on the videos.
I respect his opinions BUT saying them in an insulting way? Sorry, i'm gonna bark and bite 'till you bleed.
It would have been VERY okay if he says it in a sympathetic way, and that would have drawn him positive feedbacks from majority of the Filipinos and would be even supporting him, but he did it in an insulting way anyway, causing a lot of hate and angst amongst my countrymen.
I salute him for being brave btw, and being so blunt, that takes a lot of courage but i just didn't like his intonations and the way he projected the issues, gosh, he's acting like a prince? Sorry, we have to kick you out then.

And about foreigners being second class citizens? Well of course, that's true. It's true everywhere! When i went to Washington last June, i was of course just a second class citizen and i felt it sooooooo badly and obviously. And i would say i've got a lot to say negative about America (and positive). lol But nah, not part of our culture to be complaining in other places, rather, our culture speaks more of gratitude.

 

WELL SAID.

Paul.

 

Has the EX-pat community every organized a solution for any of the issues brought up in the video? I am someone new here, and this is not a sarcastic question but a question as do others think we do have an ability to make change. The typhoon help organized on here and with the expat community illustrated our commitment to a better Philippines. Has the Expat every stepped out as a political group to illustrate and solve some of the issues we have here in Dumaguete? For myself I would be willing to participate is such an endeavor, if it did not include me being assassinated.

I recent read where the vice-mayor did not like the helmet law because it mandated action/change on the free will of the local people. It seems that is why government is in place to create order and safety in the world. I am not trying to start a political discussion as along with many of you I feel that world governments have gone way beyond that role for the benefit of individual leaders.

Is there currently any effort on the expat community to help solve these problems highlighted in the video or am I just naive about the political structure here and what we could accomplish? (be kind with your responses, please)

 

quite frank, it is the latter. you (we) are here to bring money and that's it. Fullstop