New British Consul Appointed for Philippines

[ginapeterb]

New British Consul General Appointed for Manila Philippines

Someone mentioned it in an earlier post, but there is a new consul general in post at the British Embassy, her name is Ms Joanne Finnamore-Crorkin, and she seems nice in e mails.

I received an e mail last week from her which was personalized, not a spam mail, asking if I would be available to meet with other British residents of Bacolod City, as she has plans to visit the province of Negros Occidental some time later this year.

All of those who are registered with the British Embassy, or have done so, in the past, may have received something, I got mine because I contacted Robert Harland, whose name was given to me, by another Brit who lives in Negros Occidental, and they are part of the Foreigners group in Negros Occidental.

I heard she was visiting Davao City, but the e mail for this came through last week, I was also contacted by British expat Robert Harland, who lives in the province, he is co-ordinating arrangements for the Consul's visit, It looks like she is doing the rounds visiting BRITISH CITIZENS to explain what the Consulate can do for ex pats.

This will take the form of arriving at a hotel location and having chats and a general presentation of what the consul can do in various situations, apparently each province has a British Community Support Warden, which can spring into action if one falls foul of the Filipino authorities whilst in country.

Robert Harland is the warden for Negros Occidental, but I understand there are others, who have been sort of given an honorary title for long service in their respective provinces.

In the 3 emails I have had from the consul, she seems quite nice, but does reserve judgement until you finally meet.

[PeterB]

Well, I hope that you will be as impressed with her as I was.

You talk about a 'new consul' but, in fact, she has already been in post for a year, on (IIRC) a two year contract. She is, indeed, attempting to meet as many British nationals as she can, so trying to visit the major cities where Brits are living.

Oh - you mention 'wardens'. The rule of thumb is that there should be one warden for every twelve Brits living in a particular area. However, the embassy can only work on currently registered persons and it seems that many have decided not to register on 'LOCATE'. On this basis, the Davao area should qualify for two wardens, but has been without any warden for some considerable time.

[ginapeterb]

PeterB, I don't think there was a need for you to correct me in the way that you have, it only seeks to cause me some embarrassment even if that was not the motive of your post, the effect however seeks to make me look incompetent in my information post, if I have got it wrong, and the consul is not new, but in post for a year already, then the polite thing to do would be to give me the update on personal message, I would then be able by a further post to correct my mistake, I was led to believe that she has only recently been appointed, the information was passed to me by a.n. other resident in the Philippines, I shall take up the matter with that person on the accuracy, but I am concerned about the tone of your reply, I do not like giving out false information or inaccurate information.

With regard to the wardens, I was unaware of the arrangements for this but find 1 warden for 12 Brits a little bit over the top, perhaps some of the Brits don't feel the need to be registered, I can think of a few who are not.

[Ady]

Many thanks for the info both - she sounds impressive. Has anyone asked her about the FCO rating of Mindanao and Davao - maybe her role doesn't cover this.

[PeterB]

PeterB, I don't think there is any need for you to embarass me

Peter, I never had any intention of embarrassing you. You made it clear in your posting that you were quoting another person - I was merely making a correction of fact. I realise that you put a lot of time and effort into this forum and your own website, for which we are all very grateful, but please don't be so sensitive.

However, for the fact that I have made you feel embarrassed, I apologise, openly and publicly.

[PeterB]

Many thanks for the info both - she sounds impressive. Has anyone asked her about the FCO rating of Mindanao and Davao - maybe her role doesn't cover this.

Yes, Ady, this was raised in our meeting. She says that the embassy does make attempts to convince the FCO that not all of Mindanao is dangerous, but that this appears, so far, to have fallen on deaf ears. There was much discussion about medical/travel insurance, and she acknowledges that current FCO advice makes it difficult to find suitable cover.

[PeterB]

With regard to the wardens, I was unaware of the arrangements for this but find 1 warden for 12 Brits a little bit over the top...

Sorry, that was a typo ... the figure should be 1 for 20.

[ginapeterb]

PeterB thanks for the apology, no problems matter ended.

[Ady]

Yes, Ady, this was raised in our meeting. She says that the embassy does make attempts to convince the FCO that not all of Mindanao is dangerous, but that this appears, so far, to have fallen on deaf ears. There was much discussion about medical/travel insurance, and she acknowledges that current FCO advice makes it difficult to find suitable cover.

Thanks for that Pete, interesting... Another question, did they mention how many Brits are living in Mindanao - particularly in Davao?

[ginapeterb]

To be honest, I am not sure how many Brits there are living in Davao City, I have a close friend who has moved to Davao from UK about a year ago, from what he tells me, he doesn't tend to have a lot of contact with other British guys, which seems to me to be the norm.

As PeterB as said, he seems to know a fair bit about the Consul and her movements, and plans etc, maybe he can come in on this, I do know there is John Grant living there, who features on MindanaoBob's online magazine, www.liveinthephilippines.com he might know which Brits are in Davao, I have never been to Davao City myself, although I have an invite to go this year, and am going to see my friend and stay with him, he is taking me to Samal Island, and a drive around the area.

Again he tells me, not many BRITS he has seen around Davao City, in Negros Occidental where I have my house, I have bumped into one or two Brits but again, not many, I think at best i have chatted to 3 in all the time I have been there, it seems to me, foreigners generally don't get together, but Robert Harland tells me that there is a good sized British group in Pampanga ?

I am told there is a group meeting near Bacolod City, for golf once a month, and a couple of times a month for a chat and a few beers, there is some talk of having a British style bar in town, but i have not seen anything to resemble that.

If anyone has any information to offer on this subject I would be interested to hear your stories.

[Ady]

I would be interested to hear stories too PeterB.

In Shei's cafe there was a British guy who used to use the computer there - I forgot his name now, but he wrote for the local paper.

I saw that they want 1 warden for 20 British citizens, so am interested to know if they gave a guesstimate on the number of Brits living in the Philippines generally, or Davao specifically.

Thanks for the info guys - an interesting thread.

Just remembered the guy's name - Gary Covington (or something similar).

Some of his work... http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/11/04/oped/gary.covington.looking.in.html (if I may post it here)

[stretch33]

For info, Gary Covington is still thundering round Davao.....often see him on his bike riding through Buhangin. Think he normally puts a story in the paper acouple of times a week nowadays......One of the bains of his life is drivers !!!! Well cant be blamed for that.
Phil

[stretch33]

There are a number of brits who congregate informally at the Red Knight Gardens hotel in Guadalupe Village, infact owned by a guy called Ray who's been there 15 years or so. Folks just turn up and are always welcome, Dont have any connection just a mate.
Phil

[PeterB]

The consul sent her email to just over 40 contacts in and around the Davao area but, she told us, some were bounced back. The guestimate of the Embassy is that only 10% of British ex-pats have actually registered on the LOCATE system. This would suggest that there are two or three hundred altogether in the area - say GenSan through to Nabuntaran. I know of at least six others here in Tagum, and I'm sure there are more.

Like Peter's friend, I don't go out of my way to form friendships with other Brits. Of those I have met, many are not the sort of people I would be great buddies with if in the UK ... the only connection we have is that we've moved to Tagum - not necessarily a good basis for forming a friendship.

There is an ex-pat association in Davao (all nationalities), and a smaller off-shoot here in Tagum (with an Internet mailing list) but, predictably, the majority of the members are Americans. The Davao group meets in Coco's bar/restaurant once a month, and the Tagum group meets in the Golden Palace Hotel once a month - I have not attended any of the meetings.

[ginapeterb]

Its interesting what PeterB has said, it follows the pattern of advices I am given about BRITISH guys meeting up and maintaining contact with one another, it appears we don't actually want to meet other Brits.

I have to say, I am guilty as charged in that regard, less I not be a hypocrite, I cannot really say anything since when I saw a Brit walking past my house, and it was pointed out he was a Brit, I simply sloped off into my house, and waited until he passed.

Now what does that tell you, I think its a matter of this, the last Brit who I could not avoid in Shoe Mart insisted I came to his house for a visit, and in the end, I did not want to go for various reasons, one of them is over familiarity.

PeterB is right in that their are some foreigners of our own kind, who you simply would not make friends with if in UK, so why make friends out of them in another land, just because they hail from the same country.

I saw one Brit, only by chance, who tapped me on the shoulder when I was in Bob's cafe, having a cake and coffee, it really annoyed me, as he publicly identified me at the top of his voice, at the time I was with Filipino family and my wife, to be tapped on the shoulder and someone shout, "Hiya mate, your Pete arn't you Pal" or something like that, was intimidating to say the least.

A polite nice to see you mate, but secretly thinking "Why don't you just ....off"

Was the order of the day, and goes to prove to me, that really deep down, I am not much interested in meeting other foreigners, and since I have no desire for that, I probably would have even less desire to link up with Americans either, from what I have heard, many of them don't want to meet up with their own kind at various meetings.

The other point to mention, is when you meet people on internet, or in forums, it does not follow suit, that when you meet in person, as I have done here at this forum in the past, that amazingly, you become great buddies, I have met people on flights, other Brits who have wanted to attach themselves to me for nothing more than a chat and to pass a long flight, and then wanted to keep in touch in the UK.

It never amounts to much, and probably the association is one of a common interest, i.e. Filipina's and visa's but once that passes, the friendship, which is bound together in loose threads, breaks at some point, and you drift off into oblivion.

I don't know if some of you will agree with me, but generally, I find even at my place of work, I have colleagues who you think are friends, when it comes down to it, they are not really friends.

I find that in reality, your wife is always really your best friend, after your together all the time, and when you close the doors at night, its just the two of you, and any children of course.

In the Philippines, I think we go there, for a break and a holiday, we have so much we want to do, those of us who don't live there permanently, because we have so many things to do, we don't want to spend that time associating with what are really strangers.

For those that live there permanently, well you will have your own take on this, as I am not one of those as yet, I have yet to really form an opinion about how it is, that is yet to come, but from my own friend who lives there, he is quite content no to associate with other British, he says, its for the best, and a protection.

I would be interested to hear the stories of those that are settled there, and how they find it.

[Alan]

Its interesting what PeterB has said, it follows the pattern of advices I am given about BRITISH guys meeting up and maintaining contact with one another, it appears we don't actually want to meet other Brits.

I have to say, I am guilty as charged in that regard, less I not be a hypocrite, I cannot really say anything since when I saw a Brit walking past my house, and it was pointed out he was a Brit, I simply sloped off into my house, and waited until he passed.

Now what does that tell you, I think its a matter of this, the last Brit who I could not avoid in Shoe Mart insisted I came to his house for a visit, and in the end, I did not want to go for various reasons, one of them is over familiarity.

PeterB is right in that their are some foreigners of our own kind, who you simply would not make friends with if in UK, so why make friends out of them in another land, just because they hail from the same country.

I saw one Brit, only by chance, who tapped me on the shoulder when I was in Bob's cafe, having a cake and coffee, it really annoyed me, as he publicly identified me at the top of his voice, at the time I was with Filipino family and my wife, to be tapped on the shoulder and someone shout, "Hiya mate, your Pete arn't you Pal" or something like that, was intimidating to say the least.

A polite nice to see you mate, but secretly thinking "Why don't you just ....off"

Was the order of the day, and goes to prove to me, that really deep down, I am not much interested in meeting other foreigners, and since I have no desire for that, I probably would have even less desire to link up with Americans either, from what I have heard, many of them don't want to meet up with their own kind at various meetings.

The other point to mention, is when you meet people on internet, or in forums, it does not follow suit, that when you meet in person, as I have done here at this forum in the past, that amazingly, you become great buddies, I have met people on flights, other Brits who have wanted to attach themselves to me for nothing more than a chat and to pass a long flight, and then wanted to keep in touch in the UK.

It never amounts to much, and probably the association is one of a common interest, i.e. Filipina's and visa's but once that passes, the friendship, which is bound together in loose threads, breaks at some point, and you drift off into oblivion.

I don't know if some of you will agree with me, but generally, I find even at my place of work, I have colleagues who you think are friends, when it comes down to it, they are not really friends.

I find that in reality, your wife is always really your best friend, after your together all the time, and when you close the doors at night, its just the two of you, and any children of course.

In the Philippines, I think we go there, for a break and a holiday, we have so much we want to do, those of us who don't live there permanently, because we have so many things to do, we don't want to spend that time associating with what are really strangers.

For those that live there permanently, well you will have your own take on this, as I am not one of those as yet, I have yet to really form an opinion about how it is, that is yet to come, but from my own friend who lives there, he is quite content no to associate with other British, he says, its for the best, and a protection.

I would be interested to hear the stories of those that are settled there, and how they find it.

Pete,

I read your post and almost totally agree with it. (I say ALMOST because some of your experiences I have not yet experienced!)

As for moi, having been here for 14 months now, I tend to stay away from foreigners, especially in my local community. I love to buy a bottle of Tanduay and share it with the locals. The friendliness of them is overwhelming and their conversation is infinitely more interesting than the weather or girls with big t**s!!!

Also, by 'laying low' and just being friendly, I do not draw unnecessary attention to myself and, whenever I arrive home from work I receive genuine waves of affection from them.

I am blessed because I have Filipino (and Filipina) friends.

Al.:)

[fred]

Occasionally I go to a bar run by an Aussie about 15 mins away which is full of all nationalities..We always have a good laugh, a few games of pool etc etc and I am glad to have met some really nice people there..There are a couple of guys there that are a little arrogant and rude but as I ignore them its not really an issue.
I usually drink at home but most Filipino`s in our Barrio do not speak English very well (if at all) and I find it gets a little boring after the first bottle of Tanduay..
I dont get too precious about the pro`s and cons of meeting other foreigners..
If the company is good then why should I?
When I lived here in the early 80`s I lived and worked in areas frequented by other expats.. I made some very good friends back then that (expat and Filipino)I am in contact with to this day..
All in all..No regrets!

[jonnijon]

On my last trip over to Phills,there was a crowd of Brits on the plane bound for Cebu.I was so glad when I got off the plane in Davao.
They had been shopping in Singapore,and to hear them talk you would think they owned Cebu,made me cringe :NoNo:

[ginapeterb]

Thanks guys for some of your very honest and fair replies, I know this thread originally was about the British Consul coming down to the provinces, it seems at first sight the information given to me was a bum steer as we call it.

Thats sorted out now, but one thing I am dreading, is that if I do meet the consul and there is lots of Brits around, they will want to know where I live, now i don't know how some of you feel about this, (And please be honest) I don't want other Brits to know where I live, to be fair, I would be happy to invite any forum member here at this forum to my place, if we live close enough, its good to associate, but I don't want to invite other British to my house, lets be fair, they are strangers.

You would not invite them here in UK, and why should you do it there, I have like some of you a Filipino family, and I know what would happen, my Filipino relatives would dissapear as fast as you could say, Abu Sayyaf.

In fact, when I am in the house, some of my Filipino relatives seem to stay away, and don't come, but the minute I am back in UK, they seem to flock to see Gina, which is fine, but I think my Gina tells them, Pete is here to rest, don't bother us, when he is relaxing, which is fine by me.

But thanks for your replies, its an interesting subject.