Best Posts in Thread: High Level of intollerance in Dumaguete and Lee Plaza

From knowledge of students here and in the UK, the level here for a 16 year old is about that of a 10 year old in the UK. As you correctly say, the priority seems to be producing kids who can dance (even if the dance is the same one every time). Students are not given an awareness of the outside world, the ability to think, creativity, academic rigour etc., etc., etc. The whole education system needs a major overhaul, starting with putting teachers in the classroom all of their working hours - too much time is wasted by teachers wandering around, leaving the schools to go shopping and attending pointless seminars. Homework needs to test more than the ability to glue together bits of paper and card. I have met adults here who have been educated at the 'most prestigious' local private school and they have no ability to grasp simple concepts - they just think they must be smart because they went to that college. I would really like to see the country progress but I feel it is held back by lack of an educated population and, unfortunately, parents just seem to accept the situation (probably because the culture is non-confrontational and challenging teachers is something parents will not do).

 

A lot of issues on this thread. I have not lived here that long, but already have some observations. I came here, like many, for the warm weather, low cost of living and a people who almost always are friendly, nice and understand English (even if they don't speak it.) I was also hoping to be a help, or sorts, to the Philippines. I have been able to sponsor several young people in their quest to get a college education. Tuition is very low compared to the US, so through church and other charities I stepped up. I will continue that committment, but now wonder (based on many criteria, including personal observation) if a Filipino education is worth my investment. The young people certainly are worth any investment I can make. All people are "worth it" if the bottom line be told, but I am not Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg. What I have I have earned from my own labor; I have never had employees.

But there have been several comments here about the far sub-standard (on a global basis) education that is offered in the Philippines. My first hint came many years ago when a good friend with a B.S. in Electronic Engineering from a prominent private university in Manila was unable to understand a basic D.C. circuit. I let it slide.

Then years later a person with a bachelor degree in nursing from Silliman was unable (twice) to pass a certification test to work in the US as a nurse after taking a rather expensive preparation course tailored just for that test.

Right now, I have a young man (28 years old) who returned to university to study business administration and is in his second year. I was stunned when he told me many of his classes at NORSU Dumaguete are rarely attended BY THE TEACHERS! Most days classes are cancelled. And in late November it was Founders' "Day" celebration for a week when nothing got done. They actually scheduled 5 full days of movies during what should have been classroom time in addition to dozens of other events which, I understand, were mandatory. He want to work overseas in his major area of study. It sounds like NORSU is totally letting him down as far as preparation is concerned. Tuition there for his second year was free, but I support all the nonsense projects that his teachers dream up as well as keep him clothed and fed since his family is unable to provide anything but a roof. (There are actually some "uniform requirements" at the college level in the Philippines.) So 1950s!

I have an expat friend who teaches part-time at one of the private universities in Dumaguete. He just shakes his head when I ask him about the experience. The students are not accustomed to be in a learning mode. Their elementary school and high school classroom experiences are (evidently as commented here) more about what would be extra-curricular and after-school activities in any other country, so when confronted with a Westerner teacher they can't cope with being asked to learn and study the course material.

Don't really know how I will proceed. I will see my current students through to graduation, but I don't feel there is any point in paying toward higher education here until a bachelor degree represents at least approximately the knowledge base for that degree throughout the world.

 

It has been a long time since I wanted to join Dumagueteinfo Forum and have my voice heard. I always postponed it, thinking, why do I need to post my complaints here and maybe spread negative vibes.

But finally I realized that it's important to tell and share my opinions with others so we can all learn new things and grow and improve together.

I live in the Philippines almost 19 yrs. and I have travelled all over the country and finally chosen Dumaguete 10 yrs. ago.

But now I am not satisfied about this city anymore for many reasons, one of them is the high level intolerance that I experience almost every day.

This is one of the many stories I want to tell.

Yesterday I was shopping at Lee Plaza and was going out. At the main entrance there was a Filipino couple in their 50's with a lot of boxes and bags (shopping items from Lee Plaza). The wife was sitting beside the boxes on the stairs and there was plenty of space for other people to access the entrance. The mall was not crowded at all at this time.

The guard approached the woman in a rather unfriendly manner and told the woman that she was not allowed to sit there. Looking at the woman she looked tired from the shopping and obviously with all those boxes she was just waiting for somebody to pick her up. For sure she was not planning to spend the whole day on the stairs.

But the guard insisted that the woman was not allowed to sit there.

I find this instance very annoying to a customer who has done extensive shopping, (maybe feeling tired) in the supermarket and just waiting to be picked up.

You might think, is this important, yes because there are many more episodes of intolerance at Lee Plaza and around the city, I will tell more stories in my future posts.

Note: By far the most customer unfriendly mall I have seen in 30 yrs. of travelling around the world!

 

For anyone here who, like me, has been spoiled by Amazon, Lazada is just one big joke. I've used it and continue to do so because there is little choice. But Lazada, I think, will not have a chance to "take off." Aside from the fact that their service model is so inferior, Amazon is interviewing for their new offices in Manila. If Amazon comes to the Philippines, there will be no "take off" possible for Lazada.

 

Good points. There definitely needs to be a balance. A well-rounded education is best, and that includes a chance to develop social skills. The Philippines is off the deep end on social skills and needs to move (quickly) toward the hard work of classroom learning. (How many sales clerks in the Philippines could make change if the power went out and the batteries in their calculators died? My wager is close to zero because they have never learned even the basics of arithmetic. Memorize multiplication tables? Does anyone do that anymore? At 67, I still fall back to that frustrating exercise often and thank those nuns for pounding it into my head.) But too much homework can slice away at the social aspect and go off the deep end in the other direction.

 

I can't vouch for any particulars or exclusions. You can visit the PhilHealth office near the PhilPost office at Robinson Place upstairs food court. I have paid P2400 for a year's coverage. I believe I get P100,000 lifetime maximum payout for in-hospital medical. You must be admitted, but in the Philippines it seems everything that happens ends up on one bill at the end, so you don't end up with separate lab fees, doctor bills, etc. One precaution, if you leave the hospital before you are convinced you are cured, and need to return for the same thing, you are not covered for subsequent stays.

That's funny: "A little more expensive." I understand that Pacific Cross is top notch, but hugely more expensive than PhilHealth.

 

It is always good to see kind words exchanged on the forum.