So there is no justice for expats in the philippines?

While all these things can be irritating to say the least, it is much easier to deal with if you know the ultimate score keeper.

 

All is not well in Paradise.
Well guess what the Filipinos here in UK find lots to complain about!
No place is going to offer you perfection there is good points and bad wherever you choose to live.
I have been retired 5yrs now with the intention of moving to Philippines, it aint happened yet.
The more I read, the more I become unsure, there is less reasons to leave the UK.
Dont get me wrong I love my visit's to the Philippines and try to see different places each time, but as yet I have not found somewhere to rest my hat. As said, there are other choices in Asia, as Philippines becomes more risky and expensive to live.

 

I know exactly what you are talking about. I still own a house on Newfound Lake in Bristol New Hampshire and get called Flatlander all the time. The odd thing is my regular home is in Calif and surrounded by much larger mountains than NH.
Years ago I lived in Stow Mass. and was told that I would always be an outsider, maybe my children would be considered residents. In the Philippines when they call me a foreigner I refute it by saying, "According to the Philippine Government I am Balikbayan." This seems to confuse them. Keeping all of the locals confused seems to work or at least make me happy.

 

Bohol itself is very beautiful. lots of beautiful places to see and much to do. the roads are good and the people in the towns are very friendly. Many beautiful dive spots and snorkeling. This city of tagbilaran itself is a different story. horrible hole filled roads, no sense to the way traffic is routed around downtown. Now as elections approach checkpoints are all over as the politicians try to line thier pockets with money. The town is ugly in major need of repair, painting, many slummy areas. Lots of beggars, taxi drivers wont take you anywhere unless the fare will be 100 peso's or more. The trike drivers charge an extra 10 peso's if your a westerner. There are way to many trikes that clog up traffic. most of them are in poor shape, breaking down alot and cant make it up hills. It is not like the much better trikes and traffiic system in dumaguette. There are lots of brownouts, problems with water lines breaking and in need of repair. The women working in the various kinds of bars are not very gwapa, have poor skin and hygiene and will try to take advantage and lie about anythng. If you live outside the city or on panglo island its a little better. But if you need good internet, then living outside the city or on panglo island wont work for you.

 

Syrkyn,

I am always shocked by how nasty Tagbilaran has become. Once you leave the city in any direction (especially Panglao) everything is beautiful. There is certainly enough tourist money (both Filipino and Foreigner) to improve Tagbilaran.

 

Thanks for that, sounds like a nice place to visit, but not to live

 

You don't have to live in Tagbiliran. The city area is very small. The rest of Bohol is nice. But in Dumaguete you get a nice city and nice surroundings.

 

Actually, I find the people near Dumag very honest and it is a very small number who have shortchanged me, usually for a peso or less. Where I find alot of dishonesty is with people who use the internet, particularily online landlords/agents who falsely advertise their junk properties at inflated prices and try to hide all the problems with their properties. Like the poster I am replying to, I often find foreigners more unlikeable than Filipinos (but maybe I have not been here long enough?) I also find the internet to be a swampland filled with pond scum (not necessarily you the reader,ha) and I remember when the internet was mostly composed of educated, fair and honest people but that was about 20 years ago when you actually had to know something about computers to use the net. Yes, it's true Filipinos look at you for money, but can you blame them really. In a Country where it is so difficult to make money, I'd do the same in their situation. Also you can always say no.

 

it's just not true....

I pay same grocery prices as Filipinos. I pay same PUJ fares. I found a good deal on a fully furn. 2bedroom house, compared to others on the market (the only way it would be cheaper is if I went native, dirty kitchen,etc). The only place I am being ripped off is by the Filipino gov. visa fees and yes, that is overpaying, but all the other foreigners pay the same and I knew about the cost up front. Sorry I don't share your discompassionate view of the poor, especially the poor who are unlucky enough to be born into poverty in this Country. It is amazing to me how most of them do not just give up given their hard life and the poor prospect for bettering it. The only "bribes" I've paid were tips for good service, given of my own free will. I want to help them as much as I am able.