und noch ein Artikel, aber brandneu - das Korea - topic betreffend..
ueber die koreanische kulturelle Invasion
the Philippines hosts the largest percentage of Korean immigrants in Southeast Asia
In Baguio City alone, they number to about 10,000.
Barangay Poblacion in Makati City - is a little Korea in the midst of the business capital.
.. schmeissen auch mal Farmer aus/von deren Anlagen..
[
Also, Philippinenfreunde, es wird noch multikultureller werden, auch auf den Philippinen!!!
Reismehl[/quote]
Zur Zeit sehe ich in Cebu mehr Russen als Deutsche. 
QuoteOriginal von carldld
Hast Du schon mal gesehen wie manche Deutsche sich auf den Philippinen benehmen??
Ja habe ich. Genauso wie manche Österreicher oder Schweizer oder Engländer. Die Koreaner waren aber mehr wie manche und auch ärger.:denken:denken?(
Aber zum Glück hat man immer die Möglichkeit, solchen Leuten aus dem weg zu gehen.
Diba??
Ich habe in den letzten Jahren weder hier auf den Philippinien oder in anderen Ländern Unterschiede zwischen alkoholisierten Deutschen oder anderen volltrunkenen Touristen gesehen. Besoffen ist besoffen. Einer so widerlich wie der Andere. Egal ob weiss, braun oder schwarz.
QuoteOriginally posted by Kraus
Ich habe in den letzten Jahren weder hier auf den Philippinien oder in anderen Ländern Unterschiede zwischen alkoholisierten Deutschen oder anderen volltrunkenen Touristen gesehen. Besoffen ist besoffen. Einer so widerlich wie der Andere. Egal ob weiss, braun oder schwarz.
Also da kann ich Dir nur voll zustimmen!!!
Reismehl
Ich habe meine ID von WOWPhilippines auf WOWAsia geändert!
Rang 86 ist genau passend für die Philippinen, sie müssen froh sein (noch) nicht hinter Vietnam (Rang 87) gefallen zu sein.
Das Negative fängt schon beim lächerlichen 21-Tage-Visum an! Ein Ärgernis sind die massiv überteuerten Übernachtungspreise, will man die gleiche Qualität wie z.B. in Thailand zahlt man in den PH's das Dreifache!!!
Ein BESSERES Zimmer wie das Maribago Bluewater in Cebu kostet auf Phuket 850 B. in der low season, das Maribago 100 $, US $, ein Witz!
Und das sogenannte "Essen", jede Wiskas Katzendose schmeckt wohl besser als das PH-Standardessen in Carenderias, will man gutes Essen, wird es sehr teuer in der Regel, in Thailand gibt es allerbestes Essen ab 30 B. was ca. 42 Pesos sind, frisch gekocht, nicht stundenlang warmgehalten.
Umweltschutz ist weder zu Lande noch zu Wasser vorhanden, Abholzung der Wälder und Regenwälder, von Wiederaufforstung noch nie was gehört, Überfischung der Meere, Dynamitfischen!
Bevor sie einen Baum pflanzen wird lieber zuerst ein Antennenmast für den Mobilfunk errrichtet.
Das Beste an den Philippinen sind dort noch die weiblichen Einheimischen Bewohner, danach kommt lange nicht konkurrenzfähiges...
Philippinen wurden im Bericht nicht erwähnt, hier die anderen Länder:
Asia and Oceania
Within Asia, Hong Kong is the economy with the
strongest T&T competitiveness (ranked 6th overall), followed
closely by Singapore (8th).These economies have
excellent infrastructures: both their ground transport
infrastructures are assessed as among the top three in the
world, and their air transport infrastructures get high
marks as well.They also have top-notch human resources,
with healthy and well-educated people to work in the
sector.With regard to the policy environment, they hold
the top two places out of all economies, with regulatory
environments that are extremely conducive to the
development of the T&T industry (policies facilitating
foreign ownership and foreign direct investment, wellprotected
property rights, and few visa restrictions).
Further, they are among the safest countries of all
assessed in terms of crime and security issues. Hong
Kong is unsurpassed in the quality of health and
hygiene, and Singapore is ranked second in the overall
prioritization of Travel & Tourism.
Australia is ranked 13th overall, just ahead of New
Zealand (14th). Both countries are characterized by
excellent natural and cultural resources, with much
nationally protected land area and, in the case of
Australia, many World Heritage sites as well (there are
16 such sites in Australia, placing the country 12th).
And, given the importance of the natural environment
for much of their leisure tourism, it is notable that they
also have comparatively stringent environmental regulations,
which are aimed at ensuring that this remains a
sustainable strength (both countries governments get
good marks for making efforts to ensure that the T&T
industry is developed sustainably). Given their distance
from other continents, particularly Australia, and the
importance of domestic air travel to overcome the large
distances between major sites, their competitiveness is
also buttressed by excellent air transport infrastructure
(especially Australia, ranked 5th), as well as good ground
transport and general tourism infrastructure. Further,
both countries are characterized by a relatively strong
prioritization of the T&T sector and by effective
destination-marketing campaigns.
Japan is ranked 25th, quite a bit lower than its
overall economic competitiveness ranking (Japan is
ranked 7th in the World Economic Forums Global
Competitiveness Index), inferring that the countrys
many strengths are not fully translating into an attractive
environment for the development of Travel & Tourism.
Although Japan gets quite good marks for its cultural
resources (ranked 15th for its 14 World Heritage sites),
it does very poorly on the national tourism perception
pillar (116th), because, for example, of a negative attitude
toward foreign travelers in the country. Further, the sector
is not perceived to be a priority for the government
(ranked 98th).
Taiwan is ranked 30th, just ahead of Malaysia,
which is ranked 31st.Taiwans strengths lie in the quality
of its human resources (ranked 15th), good ground
transport and ICT infrastructure (both ranked 14th), a
policy environment that is conducive to developing the
sector (8th), and strong price competitiveness (ranked
15th), indicating that much of the underlying structure
and environment exists for developing the sector. But its
overall T&T competitiveness is held back by a relatively
underdeveloped tourism infrastructure (ranked a low
74th) and the lack of prioritization of the sector by the
government (ranked 78th).
Malaysia (ranked 31) also has good ground transport infrastructure
and excellent price competitivenessit is ranked
2nd overall on this indicator, with very low ticket taxes
and airport charges, low comparative fuel prices, and a
favorable tax regime.The country is perceived as quite
safe (24th), although health and hygiene indicators lag
behind those of many other countries in the region, with
in particular a low physician density (placing the country
86th).The countrys policy environment is measured as
relatively conducive to the development of the sector
(ranked 26th), and the government is prioritizing Travel
& Tourism, with one of the highest T&T fair attendances
in the world (ranked 2nd) and an excellent evaluation
for its destination-marketing campaigns (ranked 6th).
Thailand is ranked 43rd in the TTCI, just behind
Korea (ranked 42nd).Thailand does reasonably well in
national tourism perception, where it is ranked 35th,
because of a very friendly attitude toward tourists
(ranked 6th) and general openness toward tourism in
the country. And the sector is indeed prioritized by the
government (ranked 14th) with (as in Malaysia) excellent
destination-marketing campaigns and an effort to
ensure national presence at major T&T fairs internationally.
However, important weaknesses remain, particularly
in the quality of transport and tourism infrastructure,
both of which remain underdeveloped. And despite its
prioritization by the government, some aspects of the
regulatory environmentsuch as stringent foreign
ownership restrictions and rules governing foreign
direct investmentare not particularly conducive to
developing the sector (ranked 55th).
Indonesia is ranked quite a bit lower, at 60th overall.
The country does have a great number of nationally
protected areas and World Heritage sites, making it an
attractive place to visit for a number of reasons. Further,
Indonesia is ranked first overall in price competitiveness
in the T&T industry because of low ticket taxes and
airport charges, favorable fuel prices, and overall relatively
low prices in the country. However, these strengths
are held back by weaknesses such as underdeveloped
infrastructure in the country, including air transport (64th),
ground transport (89th), and tourism infrastructure
(87th).There are also some concerns related to safety
and security, particularly the reliability of police services
to protect from crime.
India is ranked 65th overall.The country has some
clear strengths, which are mainly linked to cultural
endowments. It ranked a very high 7th overall with
regard to the number of World Heritage sites in the
country, and it also benefits from a relatively welcoming
attitude toward foreign travelers.The country also benefits
from excellent price competitivenessit is ranked
6th overall, with very low ticket taxes and airport
charges (ranked 7th) and low prices in the economy as
a whole (ranked 11th). And with regard to the policy
environment, property rights are indeed well protected
and foreign ownership is authorized, although the
stringency of visa requirements places India a very low
106th overall. India also has quite a good air transport
network (ranked 33rd), particularly given the countrys
stage of development. But the tourism infrastructure
remains underdeveloped (ranked a very low 96th),
with very few hotel rooms available by international
comparison (ranked 113th) and low ATM penetration.
Further, despite government and industry efforts to
promote the country abroad (India is ranked 4th with
regard to tourism fair attendance) and the exposure
given to recent promotional campaigns, the assessment
of marketing and branding to attract tourists remains
somewhat mediocre (ranked 59th).
China is ranked 71st in the TTCI. Although China
is ranked 3rd in terms of World Heritage sites and 11th
in terms of price competitiveness, there are many weaknesses
pulling the countrys ranking down. China has a
policy environment that is not at all conducive for T&T
development (ranked a low 97th, just ahead of Pakistan),
with property rights that are not sufficiently protected,
strong foreign ownership restrictions, and stringent
visa requirements. Environmental regulation also gets
low marks (88th), with the government not seen to be
prioritizing the development of the sector in a sustainable
way. China has a relatively good air transport infrastructure
(ranked 36th), and ground infrastructure that is ranked
45th overall. However, tourism infrastructure remains
highly underdeveloped (ranked 113th), with very few
major international car rental companies operating in
the country, few hotel rooms given the size of the
country, and few ATMs.There are also some safety and
security concerns (83rd), as well as issues related to
health and hygiene (84th), with a low physician density
and access to improved sanitation and drinking water
that is low by international standards. However, on a
positive note, China does seem to be prioritizing the
sector to a certain extent (33rd), with active participation
in most international tourism fairs.
19
1.1: The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index
wowasia,
Du solltest - wenn Preise vergleichsweise angebend - die auch in handelsueblicher/verstaendliche Weise umrechnen, nicht jeder hat thailaendische Dirham im Kopf
Gut , das mit den Hotelpreisen (fuer manche hoeherpreisige Anllagen) mag stimmen, es gibrt aber auch genuegend billige oder guenstige Unterkuenfte, bzw
fuer eine bessere Gestaltung des Preises wie des Angebots duerfte die mehrfach angefuehrte mangelnde 'Konkurrenz' vor allem unter besseren Hotels und Herbergen, anzufuehren sein, damit auch verbunden der noch mangelhfte Wille der touristischen Gestaltung auf den Philippinen.
Auch kommt hinzu dass die Phils - eben noch zur 3. Welt gehoeren, nicht wie Thailand bereits zur 2. gezaehlt werden kann/und in Anlehnung an amerikanisches eben uebergrossen Profit aus allem schlagen will, die Leistungsbereitschaft kommt da mit dem Anspruch oft nicht mit. Wie ich sehe duerfte das Managment des
Marigbao aus Einheimischen bestehen.
Das mit dem Essen.. kenn ich auch irgendwoher.. ich habe auch des oefteren das 'beste' Essen aus/in ganz gewoehnlichem Familienschank' erhalten, eben fuer - sag ma mal - 40/50 ps
Eine 'Pizza' in einem 'besseren' Restaurant ("italienischem Restaurant") hingegen war auch gegen europaeisches Geld - nicht zu essen. (leicht uebertrieben..)
QuoteUmweltschutz ist weder zu Lande noch zu Wasser vorhanden, Abholzung der Wälder und Regenwälder, von Wiederaufforstung noch nie was gehört, Überfischung der Meere, Dynamitfischen!
Mittlerweile bist aber bei allgemeinen Stereotypen gelandet..
Dies - und das - ist unter anderen PhP Forenthreads ausgiebig behandelt worden, auch die offensichtliche Frustriertheit, deren Aeusserungen nicht mehr zu verkennen ist ..
Die Weltrekordaktion mit so und so viel gepflanzten Baeumen entlang iregendeiner "road" ist Dir so wohl entgangen, die Armut die Umweltschutz nicht kennt fand kein Verstaendnis in Dir, 'die Ueberfischung der Meere ist leider nicht auf die Phils zurueckzufuehren,und bzgl. "Dynamitfischen' kannst Du Dich mit Wohlgemut an den Herrn 'Perschke' wenden, der einem php Buergermeister ein Video widmete, der seine ganze Kraft gegen das Dyn.fischen einsetzte.
QuoteDisplay MoreOriginal von hallo1
wowasia,
Du solltest - wenn Preise vergleichsweise angebend - die auch in handelsueblicher/verstaendliche Weise umrechnen, nicht jeder hat thailaendische Dirham im Kopf
Gut , das mit den Hotelpreisen (fuer manche hoeherpreisige Anllagen) mag stimmen, es gibrt aber auch genuegend billige oder guenstige Unterkuenfte, bzw
fuer eine bessere Gestaltung des Preises wie des Angebots duerfte die mehrfach angefuehrte mangelnde 'Konkurrenz' vor allem unter besseren Hotels und Herbergen, anzufuehren sein, damit auch verbunden der noch mangelhfte Wille der touristischen Gestaltung auf den Philippinen.
Auch kommt hinzu dass die Phils - eben noch zur 3. Welt gehoeren, nicht wie Thailand bereits zur 2. gezaehlt werden kann/und in Anlehnung an amerikanisches eben uebergrossen Profit aus allem schlagen will, die Leistungsbereitschaft kommt da mit dem Anspruch oft nicht mit. Wie ich sehe duerfte das Managment des
Marigbao aus Einheimischen bestehen.
Das mit dem Essen.. kenn ich auch irgendwoher.. ich habe auch des oefteren das 'beste' Essen aus/in ganz gewoehnlichem Familienschank' erhalten, eben fuer - sag ma mal - 40/50 ps
Eine 'Pizza' in einem 'besseren' Restaurant ("italienischem Restaurant") hingegen war auch gegen europaeisches Geld - nicht zu essen. (leicht uebertrieben..)
Mittlerweile bist aber bei allgemeinen Stereotypen gelandet..
Dies - und das - ist unter anderen PhP Forenthreads ausgiebig behandelt worden, auch die offensichtliche Frustriertheit, deren Aeusserungen nicht mehr zu verkennen ist ..
Die Weltrekordaktion mit so und so viel gepflanzten Baeumen entlang iregendeiner "road" ist Dir so wohl entgangen, die Armut die Umweltschutz nicht kennt fand kein Verstaendnis in Dir, 'die Ueberfischung der Meere ist leider nicht auf die Phils zurueckzufuehren,und bzgl. "Dynamitfischen' kannst Du Dich mit Wohlgemut an den Herrn 'Perschke' wenden, der einem php Buergermeister ein Video widmete, der seine ganze Kraft gegen das Dyn.fischen einsetzte.
Einen thailändischen Dirham hab auch ich nicht im Kopf. Ansonsten ist dieser Beitrag verwirrend geschrieben, was soll ich damit anfangen? Er beinhaltet für mich nichts neues mit Ausnahme einer grösseren Anzahl gepflanzter Bäume an einer road. Werden damit 75 % der Regenwälder wieder angesiedelt? Ich denke es handelt sich dabei eher um einen Public Relation Gag.
Wer eine Naturkatastrophe sehen will, was passiert, wenn man Regenwald abholzt, soll sich zu den "Iron Mountains" begeben, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur.
QuoteEinen thailändischen Dirham hab auch ich nicht im Kopf. Ansonsten ist dieser Beitrag verwirrend geschrieben, was soll ich damit anfangen? Er beinhaltet für mich nichts neues mit Ausnahme einer grösseren Anzahl gepflanzter Bäume an einer road. Werden damit 75 % der Regenwälder wieder angesiedelt? Ich denke es handelt sich dabei eher um einen Public Relation Gag.
Dirham war ein Witz, war der Beitrag verwirrend?
Tut mir leid, wo kann man Missverstaendnis aufklaeren?
Ich kann hingegen ein Kompliment zurueckgeben, ihr Artikel las sich umso leichter,.
Schade, dass wowphilippines die philippines als gag ansieht, vielleicht versucht er dem spirit dort ein wenig mehr reales einzufloessen, 75 % der Regenwaelder wurden abgeholzt, gestern? Vorgestern - oder ueber die letzten 45 Jahre? Oder erwartet er eine Besserung bis zu seinem naechsten Besuch, im naechsten Jahr?
Was will er uns mit seinem Beitrag sagen? Dass es 5 vor 12 ist? Dass die philippinische Uhr schneller schlaegt als die thailaendische? Dass er thailaendische Verhaeltnisse besser zu beurteilen vermag als philippinische..?
Er hat ganz einfach ein bisschen viel an negativem gebracht und auf einmal aufgezaehlt, willkurlich, ohne Analyse - sieht man von dem ueberragenden Vergleich mit Thailand als Axiom ab,
vielmehr hebt er das weibliche Phaenomen als Ausgleich fuer eine etwas lastig geratene Analyse an..
Terror in suedthailand (Menschenrechtsverletzungen durch die Sicherheitskräfte)
08.03.07 - Luftverschmutzung gefährdet die Gesundheit
Das Pollution Control Department hat die Bürger Chiang Mais aufgerufen, im Freien von körperlichen Anstrengungen abzusehen. Kinder und Senioren sowie unter Atemwegserkrankungen leidende Menschen sollten tunlichst Zuhause bleiben. Den Appell begründet das Department mit der zunehmenden Luftverschmutzung, die nach Einschätzung von Fachleuten ein für die Gesundheit der Bürger gefährliches Ausmass erreicht hat. Neben Chiang Mai nennt das Amt weiter die Provinzen Chonburi und Samut Prakan mit einer zu hohen Luftverschmutzung. Ursache sind Waldbrände in den Nachbarländern Burma, Vietman, Laos und Kambodscha. thai news
Zahlreiche NGO's versuchen sich der vielen Probleme im Bereich des Umweltschutzes anzunehmen. Luft- und Wasserverschmutzung, Müllbeseitigung und Pestizidbelastung von Lebensmitteln gehören zu den Themen, die im Großraum Bangkok im Vordergrund stehen. Aber auch die Probleme von Erosion im Norden Thailands und die Bedrohung der Mangrovenwälder u.a. durch shrimp- farming im Süden des Landes werden zunehmend in den Medien angesprochen und kritisch durchleuchtet. Information Thailand
" Thailand Nachdem die einst reichen Wälder des Landes über Jahrzehnte rücksichtslos abgeholzt wurden, so daß es zu einer immer stärkeren Bodenkorrosion und zu katastrophalen Erdrutschen kam.." -> wurde jeder wurde jeglicher Holzeinschlag verboten!/ mit Erfolg, ( - .. daß nun einige Konzessionäre, die - gegen entsprechende Schmiergelder natürlich - weiterhin Wälder abholzen dürfen, und sich ebenso natürlich dabei an keinerlei Auflagen halten dabei ein Vermögen verdienen. Bauholz, früher der Grundbaustoff auf dem Lande, ist inzwischen unerschwinglich teuer geworden. PSST)
Er scheint ganz unter Eindruck einer, seiner ersten Reise zu den Philippinen zu stehen.
Mein Beitrag will sagen, dass die PH's zurecht auf Platz 86 liegen!
Meine erster PH-trip war vor ca. 11 Jahren, somit nun 10 mehr trips als Du.
Wir kennen die PH's wahrscheinlich besser als Du, mein best buddy war gerade 4 Monate AM STÜCK in den PH's, wir haben auch Thailand, Bali, Cambodia bereist.
Suche nach dem handle "WOWPhilippines", das war meine bisherige ID hier.
Nach Luftbelastung in Manila oder Cebu oder Terror in Südwestmindanao zu suchen habe ich keine Lust.
QuoteMein Beitrag will sagen, dass die PH's zurecht auf Platz 86 liegen!
Ja, gaebe es da nicht den Anknuepfungspunkt der 'Frauen',
die fuer die meisten der GRUND fuer die Reise auf die Philippinen zu sein scheint;
Ein interessanter Brief eines Bekenners
Trashing tourism
TAKIN CARE OF BUSINESS By Babe Romualdez
The Philippine Star 03/01/2007
When one invites visitors to his home, one of the first things a guest notices is how the house is kept if it is clean, tidy or orderly a reflection of ones character. Certainly, when we invite tourists to this country, we would like to put our best foot forward. But how can we invite them and our Balikbayan friends and relatives to come home after being away for so many years, if the first thing they see coming from the airport is this polluted estero filled with human waste and all kinds of stinking garbage floating on black murky water along Tramo street in Pasay City?
Several months ago after coming from a long trip abroad, one of the first things I saw was this disgusting Tramo street estero. I was so disgusted I told my driver to stop, got off my car and took a photo of this horrific sight with my digital camera. I then sent the photo to our STAR editor-in-chief Isaac Belmonte, who was kind enough to print it on the front page of The Philippine STAR.
The very next day, our friend Environment Secretary Angie Reyes took note of it and immediately resolved the problem. The other day, the same estero was there again drowning in filth. I called Angie Reyes who frankly told me that while it is the DENR that sets policies regarding the environment, the implementation in cleaning UP esteros and similar areas is left to the local government.
We can go ahead and suspend Peewee Trinidad and put in Allan Panaligan or whoever as mayor. Its bad enough we have to breathe shitty air but come on lets make sure somebody does his job and keeps the place clean. Pasay is a premier city where the airport is located, yet the first thing that tourists see is this dirty estero. Maybe its time for Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando to be given more powers especially in tourist-belt areas, so tourists are not left with the impression that we are a filthy country with polluted esteros and garbage-filled creeks.
Poor Ace Durano. The coming election has distracted him from his work as tourism secretary, being the administration tickets spokesman. He can sing to high heavens about how "wow" the Philippines is. But with this polluted estero, I can assure you nobody will want to visit this country. Like Hong Kong, people are visiting it less and less because it has now become one of the most polluted cities in the world.
Almost 26 percent of expats have been steadily leaving Hong Kong since 2001 because they could not stand the dirty air. A year ago, a number of participants in a marathon ended UP in the hospital because of respiratory problems. Even China is suffering the consequences of pollution, with one of their rivers getting declared as toxic and cancerous. Even with the Beijing Olympics slated in 2008, a big problem for the organizers is to reduce pollution, and theyre trying drastic measures like banning cars and building more public transport systems in a BID to reduce smoke emissions.
We better clean UP our act if we want to invite visitors to this country. Otherwise, were just fooling ourselves with all the "wow" promos about the Philippines. In the end, we will just be trashing tourism.
------------------------------------------------------
aber auch andere Stimmen:
QuoteRenowned British botanist David Bellamy said the Philippines could be a model to other countries in balancing the conservation of coral reefs while promoting ecotourism.
In a recent interview with The STAR, Bellamy, who also hosts a popular nature television show in the United Kingdom, said he was amazed by the way Filipinos have exerted efforts to rehabilitate coral reefs as well as restoring the forests.
Bellamy, who is also president of the British-based organization Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), arrived in the country on Monday for a 10-day visit to witness the progress being done by communities, non-government organizations, local and national government toward the protection and sustainable use of the countrys rich biological resources.
Quote"I have never seen such cooperation," he said. "It is not happening anywhere in the world," adding the Philippines has "amazing communities."
Oh ja,
und da ist noch ein essay
___Between poverty and paradise
By Paolo P. Mangahas
Inquirer
Last updated 12:49pm (Mla time) 02/06/2007
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA- Last night, I had dinner with my German friend to talk about her planned trip to the Philippines. She had just completed an internship program in one of the law firms here in Malaysia and wanted to take a short holiday in a nearby country before heading off to Australia to finish her studies. She wanted to know more about the Philippines and asked me for tips on making the most of the two-and-a-half weeks that she had allotted for this vacation.
We planned her trip between bites, armed only with a faded map of the Philippines that we downloaded from the Internet. My goal was to identify all the must-see places (her criteria: beaches and volcanoes), plot them according to distance and flight routes then cram them all in 17 days.
A tall order indeed, especially for someone like me whos never had a sense of direction even in my own neighborhood. For the life of me, I could not spot where Boracay was on her map. So I took the easy way out and told her to go to Palawan instead.
I carried on with the task like a diligent student trying to remember my geography, starting from the rice terraces in Banaue UP north, moving down south to the Mayon Volcano in Bicol and the Chocolate Hills in Bohol. It was an embarrassing ordeal nonetheless as she could see that I was struggling to find all the other attractive destinations on the map, which in turn made me realize how little I truly knew about my own country.
She was very excited about the trip, eager to learn more about the country and its people. She imagined the Philippines to be an eternal fiesta of Spanish and Chinese Third-World flair, filled with warm and accommodating people who all speak with a clear American accent, where all men have the handsome earthy appeal of Jericho Rosales and women the heavenly mestiza charms of Kristine Hermosa (thanks to Filipino soap operas that have become so popular here in Malaysia).
It was certainly one of the most honest cultural impressions Ive ever heard, and quite amusingly, one shared by many. In my German friends opinion, the Philippines is one of the most open-minded countries in Southeast Asia. I found this view rather interesting, especially since it came from a European whos never stepped foot in the Philippines and whose only direct exposure to the country was me.
The funny thing about cultural impressions is that they often come from a place of both acute perception and blatant ignorance, split in the middle by what is painfully true. But they are what they areimpressions.
Quite naturally, my friend and I have come to build our own impressions about Malaysia in the several months weve been here. Malaysia is a beautiful country that seems to be in a hurry to develop economically, but is hampered by a palpable trace of social reluctance. It seems grounded on an age-old culture that simply does not mix well with progress, or at least the kind dictated and exemplified by the Western world. I find this true for most developing Asian countries, including the Philippines.
My friend pointed out that shes never seen a beggar in the streets of Kuala Lumpur since she moved here and asked me if its the same in the Philippines. As a matter of fact, she admitted that shes never seen a beggar UP close in her whole life and asked me to explain how it is to live in a poor country. She wanted to know more about poverty.
Her question struck a chord in me because I realized that apart from Jericho Rosales, this woman had absolutely no idea about the country she was going to and how it was out there. Here was someone who came to me wanting to know more about my country and the best I could offer was a geographical representation of scenic destinations, which I hardly even knew myself.
By this time I had put down the pen I was holding, set aside the map, and got ready to explain details about my country. I didnt know where to begin. How does one explain poverty to someone whos never experienced it before?
To make things more relevant to her, I started by comparing the Philippines to Malaysia. I told her that blue-collar workers in the Philippines did not have the same opportunities as the ones in Malaysia, who can afford to eat in the same restaurants as executives or even shop in stores where their bosses shop. I told her that unlike the ones I have met in Malaysia, secretaries and administrative clerks in the Philippines eat in posh restaurants only on very special occasions and can barely afford to travel to other countries.
I then told her about the beggars, young and old, who parade in the streets of Manila, the children who knock on car windows selling sampaguita, the mothers who have to forage for food in garbage landfills, and the unemployed fathers who waste their lives on drugs and alcohol. I told her about the shanties that bedeck highways and railroads, the unproductive traffic jams, the garbage-infested streets and sewers, and the regular typhoons that flood the country and exacerbate already poor living conditions.
I told her that poverty in the Philippines hits you in the face unapologetically the very moment you step in. Its an open wound waiting to be healed.
My friend looked shaken, as if experiencing for the first time a world she has seen only on TV. That was when my tears started to fall. I could not help it. I have never cried in front of a semi-stranger before but for some reason, I cried this time because she was still not immune to these things. Her unawareness taught me to see poverty as if for the first time myself - bringing a lot of pain. Ive become so used to the pain that Ive forgotten how it felt until I painted the sad face of poverty for her.
I then found myself having to explain to her that despite all these, the Philippines is still a beautiful country and this you also feel the very moment you get there. Its a beauty characterized by the indomitable human spirit of a people who have seen better days and yet still have the capacity to find a piece of heaven in their lives. Its beauty defined by the untiring faith of a people who have learned to acknowledge their plight with reverence and yet have never lost the courage to dream big dreams. Its a beauty characterized by the painful history of a people who have been abused and pillaged through years, yet still have so much of themselves to give.
Now her tears were falling, smearing the map I had earlier vandalized with circles and arrows. I knew it did not matter this point. I realized that my friend had learned all she needed to know about my country and my people. She thanked me profusely, saying that she came to me wanting to know more about how poor the Philippines is but in the end, she learned how abundantly blessed Filipinos truly are.
A beach is a beach and a volcano is a volcano anywhere in the world, but its the people who make the difference. I learned in that moment that I may not know the geographical features of my country all too well, but I sure know its heart and its soul because its who I am.
The real poverty lies in not knowing this.
Paolo P. Mangahas, 32, is currently working in Kuala Lumpur as Head of Communications for WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia). He won Honorable Mention in the 2003 Doreen Fernandez Food Writing Award for his piece Adobo, Im Home and has published several essays on food, lifestyle, fashion, and social and environmental development.
