I saw a story recently about out of country workers having less money to send home. It was about Mexican's living in US but it applies as well to the huge ex-pat Filipino workers who send money home from working at sea or abroad. I am wondering if your local contacts and friends in the community are feeling the pinch from the global financial/ recession 2008/2009 ? With less foreign currency coming into PI how is the government coping. Have you see fee or tax increases lately ? Do you see fewer travelers there this year ? Are hotels and resturaunts having fewer customers this year ? I am planning my first visit to PI , Oct, Nov and Dec this year. Currently I am based in North America on the beautiful Pacific West Coast. I aim to do some diving and explore 3 or 4 of the popular tourist destinations. In next 3 years I make a choice for retirement. Top of my list to date is Thailand and Costa Rica. However after the planned 3 months in PI I may add a third choice. Thanks for you comments. Sorry I can't find the spell checker.
Indeed, dharmabum, the country has felt the recession very badly...the economy was low and their were companies that closed down...however, since the filipinos are pliant, we smile off the recession and then moved on with life... there were foreigners who still came to the country...but i has declined a little...
