BBC 3's Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

[burdock]

Six young British consumers swap their luxury lives for the simple mud huts and shanty towns of Africa and Asia to work alongside the people who mine, manufacture, process and recycle luxury goods.

Just watched the one in the philippines and not very proud to be British atm.

God knows what the filipino supervisor thought of us.

These guys could not do the work for just a few hours or at least try and be respectful.

[South-east boy]

When was it on? Would like to see the Philippines one. Do you know if it will be repeated?

[darren-b]

It's been on a few times, though only one showing left.

Tue 18 May 2010 21:00 BBC Three
Tue 18 May 2010 23:45 BBC Three
Thu 20 May 2010 20:00 BBC Three
Fri 21 May 2010 01:15 BBC Three
Fri 21 May 2010 22:30 BBC Three
Sat 22 May 2010 02:10 BBC Three
Mon 24 May 2010 04:10 BBC Three

Otherwise it's on iplayer.

[RickyR]

Unfortunately, television producers are very good at choosing people who will be excellent entertainment to watch on TV, rather then actually sending someone who would probably relish the opportunity to be out there.
Now a Brit to be proud of is Jane Walker, who has setup the Philippine Community Fund:

http://www.p-c-f.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjBjWqrTg2Q
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/angel-of-the-dump-making-a-difference-in-manila-1743369.html

We were out with the project last year, and have to say it is an unbelievable setup. The kind of charity I like where it's not about giving something to people, it's about helping people to help themselves.

Wonder how much money the following put into helping the Philippines?

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/26/philippines-richest-tycoons-philippines-billionaires-09-southeast-asia_intro.html?partner=whiteglove_google

[Arthur Little]

Six young British consumers swap their luxury lives for the simple mud huts and shanty towns of Africa and Asia to work alongside the people who mine, manufacture, process and recycle luxury goods.

My wife and I watched the programme ... after being alerted to it by my 92-year-old aunt. I'd intended starting a thread next day ... inviting comments from other members who had happened to tune-in ... but didn't get round to it - because we'd both forgotten the title of the series! :doh

[Arthur Little]

When was it on?

9 o'clock last Tuesday night on BBC3, Tim ... :Erm: ...



Would like to see the Philippines

... Not THOSE parts you wouldn't!! :omg: Much of this particular episode was filmed inside an electronics factory - while the remainder was shot in squalid and deprived areas of Manila Province - so you most definitely would NOT have been impressed with the "scenery"! :NoNo:

[Arthur Little]

Just watched the one in the philippines and not very proud to be British atm.

:gp: ... the Filipino factory employees - and more particularly, the poor, hardworking folk in the squalid, deprived provincial areas - certainly put the Brits to shame ... and the latter [hopefully] had a profound and lasting effect on the spoilt brats' luxurious lifestyles!!



God knows what the filipino supervisor thought of us.

:blacklistlazy:?? ... 'nuff said!

[stevewool]

seen it too , we dont realize how lucky we are with what we have , but i am still hoping to retire there before i am 60, not manila though, any other suggestions where to go

[Jamesey]

I agree with RickyR. A couple of the English people featured in the program were idiots, but they make entertaining TV.

Overall, I thought it was a very interesting and informative program. A couple of the girls seemed to be genuinely moved by the situation of the factory worker supporting her family in Mindoro.

[Englishman2010]

Just watched it on the i-player too. Agree with everyone elses comments. Also makes me realise how lucky I am to have a good job and lifestyle in the UK.

[Arthur Little]

seen it too , we dont realize how lucky we are with what we have


Just watched it on the i-player too. Agree with everyone elses comments. Also makes me realise how lucky I am to have a good job and lifestyle in the UK.

Yes, gents ... :iagree: ... we're fortunate indeed to live here in the UK!

[Arthur Little]

but i am still hoping to retire there before i am 60, not manila though, any other suggestions where to go

Well, Steve :rolleyes: ... I'm kinda at a loss to suggest anywhere specific. But Myrna belongs to the southeastern corner of Mindanao - the second largest of the Philippine islands - which is graced with many attractive locations. Likewise, the popular tourist resorts of Boracay & Bohol in the Visayas ... both famous for their splendid white sands and spectacular panoramic views.

During my second visit, we'd to fly to Manila on two separate occasions: firstly to exchange my CNI ... and later, to deposit Myrna's spousal visa application. However, all WE saw were the prosperous areas closest to the THEN VFS building in the business district of Makati - and none of the outlying "shanty towns". :NoNo:

[somebody]

They had one recently where they were in Thailand and a few other countries I think with young people. Some of them did very well from memory.
A better example would have been backpack traveller where these young people had to travel across Indonesia and although some of them struggled in the end they got down to it and did very well from what i saw..

I doubt many Brits or now wealthy Phill's on this site would find it easy to find the motivation to literally turn into a robot.
Did i struggle with the very different conditions in Phill? Yes I did and im sure many on here have been in not as luxurious conditions as the Wifes family in phil:NoNo:

Plus as people on here have already mentioned the producers run hundreds of tests and cast loads of applicants looking for those who make good tv.

Just as big brother does not represent the UK and its people from what I have encountered...

For me what would be intresting as well as seeing brits of all backgrounds in the same situation would be 2nd gen and 3rd gen youngsters experiencing what there forebears did. To see how living in the Uk has affected them if at all.

Only four generations ago members of my family were farmers and cooks in household I doubt I could do that.

[Arthur Little]

A couple of the English people featured in the program were idiots, but they make entertaining TV.

Maybe so ... but the programme WASN'T designed to entertain. :NoNo: It's purpose was to highlight the contrasting lifestyles of spendthrifts accustomed to living in the 'lap of luxury' - with those in poorer countries *working their guts out to supply goods which the average consumer in the western world takes for granted. And *this they did for a pittance of a wage - equivalent to about £2 a day in British monetary terms. Shocking! :angry:

[Arthur Little]

Overall, I thought it was a very interesting and informative program.

:yikes: Did you really?

Well ... good for YOU! :Rasp: I take it you're English ... and not a member of one of the Mindoro families doing such a diabolical job in order to eek out a meagre existence.

What I'D like to see is someone making a DECENT documentary - illustrating the myriad of beauty that is to be found in these islands - instead of filming all the crap portayed in the likes of this one ... and the Charlie Boorman effort shown several months ago!! Or is that too much to expect? :doh

[Arthur Little]

A couple of the girls seemed to be genuinely moved by the situation of the factory worker supporting her family in Mindoro.

:ARsurrender: ... that's very true. And THEY are to be commended for their compassion. But the guys ... or, at least, ONE in particular ... :nono-1-1:

[fred]

Maybe so ... but the programme WASN'T designed to entertain. :NoNo: It's purpose was to highlight the contrasting lifestyles of spendthrifts accustomed to living in the 'lap of luxury' - with those in poorer countries *working their guts out to supply goods which the average consumer in the western world takes for granted. And *this they did for a pittance of a wage - equivalent to about £2 a day in British monetary terms. Shocking! :angry:Arthur.. The minimum wage in Manila is around 350.00PHP per day which these days is closer to a fiver. Now if these workers are permanent then this does not include SS and sometimes Philhealth benefits plus overtime so that 2 pound figure the programme told you should really be around 8 quid..(8 Quid here goes 2/3 times further than a 8 Quid in the UK)
Not trying to say thats a good wage by any means but its still not as bad as 2 Quid..
The problem that local manufactures have here is the competition from the big boys in China and India.. There are still places there where people will work for a couple of bowls of rice..How can anyone compete with that?
BTW..A fish vendor in Manila averages around 15 Quid a day which is more than many Eastern European cash in hand construction workers get in the UK ..( after cost of living is taken into consideration)..
Thats also shocking!

[Arthur Little]

Just as big brother does not represent the UK and its people from what I have encountered...

:rolleyes: ... thank God for that!


Only four generations ago members of my family were farmers and cooks in household I doubt I could do that.

Nor could I, Andy :NoNo: ... I'm quite prepared to admit it! But then, I'M already an :olddude:

[Jamesey]

What I'D like to see is someone making a DECENT documentary - illustrating the myriad of beauty that is to be found in these islands - instead of filming all the crap portayed in the likes of this one ... and the Charlie Boorman effort shown several months ago!! Or is that too much to expect? :doh

Cheer up, Arthur!:cheeky-smiley-024:

You can't expect every program on the Philippines to be something that the Philippine tourist board might produce. But there have been several documentaries about the Philippines that have highlighted the beauty and positive aspects of the islands. For example the Lonely Planet episode, Michael Palin's "Full Circle", Fantastic Festivals of the World, Planet Food in Manila, the documentary about whale shark watching in Donsol, etc. I also think that Charlie Boorman's program was a positive one.

[Dedworth]

Obviously from the same bunch of overpaid BBC clowns that gave us "Blood, Sweat and Takeaways"

Get a group of 20 something,pretentious Grade B assholes, give them some boring or unpleasant work to do on the other side of the world and film the reactions. The BBC would be better off saving the travel budget and sending them to a sewage farm up north.

The distasteful prize wa*nker on this one is a cretin called Oscar

All in all a disgraceful waste of licence payers money

[Arthur Little]

The distasteful prize wa*nker on this one is a cretin called Oscar

*Oscar was it? ... well HE'S ONE that won't be winning any of the *aforesaid anytime soon! :NoNo:

[Arthur Little]

All in all a disgraceful waste of licence payers money

:iagree: ... and I'm glad SOMEONE concurs with my verdict on inane programmes like these!

[Arthur Little]

Cheer up, Arthur!:cheeky-smiley-024:

You can't expect every program on the Philippines to be something that the Philippine tourist board might produce. But there have been several documentaries about the Philippines that have highlighted the beauty and positive aspects of the islands. For example the Lonely Planet episode, Michael Palin's "Full Circle", Fantastic Festivals of the World, Planet Food in Manila, the documentary about whale shark watching in Donsol, etc. I also think that Charlie Boorman's program was a positive one.

Jamesey ... perhaps it's a "generational" thing! :rolleyes: And whilst I respect your views as a much younger person than either Dedworth or myself, I feel it's programmes like the one under discussion] that give people who've never been to the Phils [nor are ever likely to WANT to go there if they saw it!] the wrong impression about what ARE (for the most part) beautiful tropical islands with soooo much to offer visitors. I mean, do you honestly believe that anyone wishing to produce a film extolling the picturesque scenery of say, Scotland (for the sake of argument) would, in his or her right mind, set up cameras amidst the high-rise flats in the "slum" areas of Glasgow (the city of MY birth, incidentally!). No, they most certainly would NOT!!

Point taken about the documentaries made by Michael Palin and the others you mention. Unfortunately, I didn't see any of those :NoNo: ... though I'd have really liked to - now that I've been there twice, myself (and on the second occasion, stayed for 3 months). And yes, it's important that viewers are made aware of the impoverished, as well as the desirable aspects of a country. But the fact remains, that MOST folk - and Filipinos are no exception - much prefer to have their homeland portrayed to the 'outside world' in the best possible light, rather than as some kind of massive "dumping ground". It's called 'pride' ... one of the seven deadly sins, admittedly - but a very human one - and one that is to be found almost everywhere on the planet.

[Pete/London]

If you look on You Tube Arthur you might find Charlie Boormans and the other programs mentioned.
Its unusual for anything positive to be shown about
the Philippines but I have always enjoyed my many visits there, even through some horrendous times when my boys were babies and they always got taken ill when we visited. In those days our holiday always consisted of 3 to 7 days camped out in hospital with even more horror stories of bad treatment,wrong medication doses, you name it we suffered it, And most of them was at Makati General or Angeles University hospitals. Thank God we can laugh about it now. :rolleyes:

[somebody]

Arthur Sir i think we all know Phill has a lot of problems with poverty and I have raised the point on here why is it indonesina and Thailand even Vietnam not have every program made about them turn in to a programe about poverty:Erm:

Is it because of how the TV companies are treated in Phill ie left up to get on as they please? Do other governments either dictate or have more successful pr/tourism departments?

One thing i do know is loads of people (certainly media types) have been to these two countries but very very few to Phill.

Thailand has the supposed "mail order bride issue" and sex trade issues yet not all programmes there focus on it.

While Phill people are friendly somehow many people without vested interests don't feel welcome there and tourism is not really cultivated it seems..

Most people on the plane in to mnl seem to be ofws or spouses and possibly families. Foreign spouses to be.

Yet on a kuwait airlines plane i went on once which literally stopped in Thailand for passagners to board and get off loads of tourists got on and off after that it was the same old same old types.

Very strange yet in London I always see lots of wow Philippines adverts and now and then a mention in the travel pages but nothing like the mentions both in the media and the people i interact have for its neighbours:Erm:

[5olidsnake]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s6103

[Pete/London]

Yet on a kuwait airlines plane i went on once which literally stopped in Thailand for passagners to board and get off loads of tourists got on and off after that it was the same old same old types.

Very strange yet in London I always see lots of wow Philippines adverts and now and then a mention in the travel pages but nothing like the mentions both in the media and the people i interact have for its neighbours:Erm:

Yes but the Philippines has something that Thailand and Vietnam does not, muslim independance fighters and the commies in the north. The commies in Vietnam are docile and need the money from tourism, but I think Bangkok has lost most of its tourism for a while.
You also have the long nose tax to put up with:yikes:

I do`nt think the government is that worried about tourism as it biggest export ,people, keeps the country afloat with the money they send home.

[somebody]

Yes but the Philippines has something that Thailand and Vietnam does not, muslim independance fighters and the commies in the north. The commies in Vietnam are docile and need the money from tourism, but I think Bangkok has lost most of its tourism for a while.
You also have the long nose tax to put up with:yikes:

I do`nt think the government is that worried about tourism as it biggest export ,people, keeps the country afloat with the money they send home.

Very true but lets be honest people came to the UK when we had bombs going of here there and everywhere.
From what I read Thailand for the last 5 years or so has had troubles. Plus had the southern thailand insurgency http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_South_Thailand_bombings From what I read and see Indonesia has plenty of issues in some areas but doesn't stop many from what i see.

Plus when I speak to typical Brits who have travelled widely about Phill they rarely if ever mention the "troubles" some might mention ferries sinking, poverty and possibly floods possibly Imelda and her shoes is all they know. If i be honest i knew more about just about every other Asian country than Phill before I met the Wife as well:Erm:

So why does Phill have wow philippines and often when a new terminal or airport is set up much talk of tourism? If they had more employment locally from the tourist trade and gained more tax i think any government would be happy. There's plenty of Phills who would be happy to work in the tourism trade as many in other asian countries have found and the UK will find as the pound weakens

I think if you asked the phill government if they would love rich no trouble family tourists coming to Phill as many Korean and Japanese do. Ask most young people what are they studying and HRM will be the response if its not nursing. Quite a few of the ones i know have either studied and transferred or even completed a degree in what would normally be termed a more useful degree ie Business or IT already.

Having people working abroad maybe very useful for balance of trade, supporting families and money into the local economy but as well as all the currency coming in to develop surely some of the Brains of the nation need to stay locally and possibly develop businesses in the long run remember all those tourist business need an infrastructure including Nurses,Doctors, lawyers and IT workers.

India have found this they are now trying to encourage more of the talent to stay in the country to help actually grow the nations economy. They will still have more NRI's than there are Brits sending money home and im sure plenty of phills will still work abroad.

[Pete/London]

To develop tourism you need a forward thinking government to put the infrastructure in place.Sadly, its the same old political elite or film stars that get elected to plunder the finances leaving the country to stagnate. Every one of my in laws would leave if they could for one reason only, to earn money, but they all love their country.
They really do deserve better politicians.

What a pity we did`nt get round to colonising the P.I. as almost every country we did has been left with the infrastructure in place to succeed.Could you imagine the P.I. with a railway system, it would be great.

We might be going the same way now with our own corruption as it seems British politics is full of thieves and sexual deviants :doh standards have gone down the pan :Brick:

[darren-b]

Could you imagine the P.I. with a railway system, it would be great.

I'm just trying to imagine how you are going to link up all the islands with railway bridges :Erm:

[RickyR]

The Philippines is one of the wealthiest countries in South East Asia, with a pretty extensive rich list when compared to other countries. It's Call Centre outsourcing industry is growing by the day, primarily to the US but also the likes of HSBC in the UK and Virgin Mobile. The country just needs some good leadership to take it forward, the previous president has held the country back.

One thing that should have happened is that Terminal 3 should have become the major terminal in Manila, and the LRT 1 line should have been extended straight into it. It would make an unbelievable difference.

[somebody]

To develop tourism you need a forward thinking government to put the infrastructure in place.Sadly, its the same old political elite or film stars that get elected to plunder the finances leaving the country to stagnate. Every one of my in laws would leave if they could for one reason only, to earn money, but they all love their country.
They really do deserve better politicians.

What a pity we did`nt get round to colonising the P.I. as almost every country we did has been left with the infrastructure in place to succeed.Could you imagine the P.I. with a railway system, it would be great.

We might be going the same way now with our own corruption as it seems British politics is full of thieves and sexual deviants :doh standards have gone down the pan :Brick:

Well the Brits were in mnail for three years but before we have invented trains:D

In the Wifes town is a railway track I have no idea where it goes but does seem odd neither the spainish or yanks at least in the areas around manila and elsewhere didn't have train lines or did they?

[somebody]

The Philippines is one of the wealthiest countries in South East Asia, with a pretty extensive rich list when compared to other countries. It's Call Centre outsourcing industry is growing by the day, primarily to the US but also the likes of HSBC in the UK and Virgin Mobile. The country just needs some good leadership to take it forward, the previous president has held the country back.

One thing that should have happened is that Terminal 3 should have become the major terminal in Manila, and the LRT 1 line should have been extended straight into it. It would make an unbelievable difference.

True it does have many wealthy businesses and people. but like so many countries much of the wealth is with the top so many percent and most of the rest are far behind. It seems most countries truly see a difference when they have a middle class like the Uk and Europe developed in the 20th century.

I think they in a catch 22 in phill if they let the ecomony develop now which it is from what i see in and around manila many of the Wifes friends have good jobs and supporting their families still living in Phil to a decent level. They are all what we would recogonise as middle class house owners. While many of these could working in the UK make more money in a lesser job in the Uk for now. As the exchange rate changes and Asia powers forward it may not be benifical to do in the long term.
But then thers a problem as the UK and the west found many factories had to close as labour to expensive will phill find the same for call centres? THe pace of change is so much faster it wont take decades it will be counted in years maybe less depending on worldwide events..
If the phil encomony takes off and peoples wages rise to high they will lose out to China and other nations with low labour costs. Many of the young people i recognise that and worry a lot about it. Already many factories are feeling the pinch i understand competing with both asian and african companies

Many feel very frustrated by it

Im amazed how many chinese speak perfect english of course many i have met are the elite who travel to the Uk but from what I have been told they have so many studying english they could match the UK and Phill in a few years and not long after that possibly the US.
Then what will happen to the Call centre trade if the west's demand for outsourcing drops off the edge? i know its the international language but so many nations have growing numbers of English speakers it may not be the advantage Phill and India had in the past. Why would countries not much richer than phill want to outsource to them?
Lets be honest for many western countries it may be far cheaper to pay people in the country with the way cost of living and exchange rates is going..

Tourism is not the answer but at least gives phill another string to its bow

[Pete/London]

In the Wifes town is a railway track I have no idea where it goes but does seem odd neither the spainish or yanks at least in the areas around manila and elsewhere didn't have train lines or did they?

Where my wife lived in A.C. there is also a disused rail line at the end of the road that`s been built over by squatter shacks. I think there was a line that ran from La Union to Bicol years ago so I think a system could work that would cover Luzon down to Matnog for Samar and then onward from there.
I suppose it could happen,unlikely but you never know if oil prices go higher and higher.

[bornatbirth]

I'm just trying to imagine how you are going to link up all the islands with railway bridges :Erm:

heard of the euro tunnel?

[darren-b]

heard of the euro tunnel?

Yup, the one that cost a massive amount of money to build...

Train tunnels under water are probably more complex and costly to build. My point really was that a country with so many islands spread out over a large area isn't the idea place for a national railway system.

[johncar54]

Quote : Somebody , "Im amazed how many chinese speak perfect english"

I read somewhere that within a few years there will me more Chinese speaking English than the rest of the world combined !

(this is of course no reflection on the influence of England but that it is the international language of business)

I am always surprised that so many nations have failed to accept this reality and still insist that their nationals must speak minority languages.