Be Careful What You Wish For

A reasonable assumption is that one moves to the Philippines because he can afford it and lives on a modest pension. His new spouse isn't employed. Does that person really want to recreate the suburb he left in a western country? Every time goods and services are added to an economy the benefit includes a cost that directly affects that retiree. After five years of an increase in costs that retiree's purchasing power has diminished. For every western convenience there comes a price be it a frequent ferry service, nicer roads, fancy houses, communications, malls, etc. you get the idea. The Philippines is basically an unregulated economy (to be kind) so expecting those who provide these same goods and services to clean up their diesel emissions or offer the same air quality the retiree found in his western suburb is as unrealistic as thinking that the road recently built will be free of cracks and potholes within a year. The cliche that you get what you pay for applies so if you want the transformation to a western suburb accept the price increase. It would be interesting to hear the comments of those retirees who have resided in the Philippines for over 5 years regarding their views about the affordability of their current situation vs. what they experienced upon their arrival.

 

Just the way I see it myself, for me it actually got better over time and now after 12 years I quite like this low level Lifestyle without this constant urge to consume and spend money for entertainment and exotic food or fancy clothes...

 

SM, you've been here almost as long as me..

I was just thinking of a "Be careful what you wish for" thread because over the years there have been many foreigners approach the authorities with various ideas that in the end would only bring Western rules and regulations to this small town.

Now with the advent of helmet and rear view mirror law enforcement, it'd seem that the wishes are coming true to a degree

 

These things exist because the masses really don't want to work harder for more.

 

Where is your Paradise

There is a story along the lines of: A world citizen finds a native on living on the Island beach. Going out daily and fishing for his food, and basking in the sun in the afternoon and enjoying his family. The world citizen sees how efficient the native is and suggest he adds more boats, hire more workers to help and save is his money so he can move to paradise. The natives ask why, claiming he is already in his paradise. (this is the story from my old memory, but I am sure others have a better rendition of this story).

Having moved away from some people's paradise (southern California) I have had to adapt to a new form of paradise. Sometimes it hard to resist to bring my "modern" baggage with me, but when I look around and see how the natives lives, I realize that sometime I just have to enjoy the new paradise I have found.

Some aspects of modernization have already arrived at Dumaguete, which is why we have smog downtown. But go out of downtown and the the air is still fresh....somewhat.

 

You probably heard that in the provinces somewhere. They are lots stories there about the supposed benefits of being poor vs "rich" that they will tell and retell given the opportunity.

"Rich" meaning having any money at all vs having none.


This isn't Disneyland; the poor are not actors in costume.


The misery of poverty really is not anyone's paradise.


The state of the country's populace is the cumulative result of the efforts of the individual

 

I think a foreigners idea of keeping ones head intact after an accident which will happen eventually is a good idea, even if one was to be side swiped by a trickle roof a helmet would save his or her life, then the bread maker can go home to multiply. Unless this is the Philippines idea of population control? And rear view mirror what a good idea one could do their make up or squeeze pimples as he or she is driving oopss steering their bike.