I think that is correct title of the program last night about Philippines.
I didn't expect to watch the dark side
I was expecting they will promote Philippines, but then it's real and true.
Poverty, Imelda's wealth, squatters etc.
I think that is correct title of the program last night about Philippines.
I didn't expect to watch the dark side
I was expecting they will promote Philippines, but then it's real and true.
Poverty, Imelda's wealth, squatters etc.
yah,im a bit dissapointed as well.its not fair
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I also watched the program last night, I think if you want to be objective, it was pretty well balanced, yes you could say, they focused on the poor of Manila, Mrs Marco's dubious ill begotten wealth, and of course the Muslim struggle in Mindanao.
The program quite rightly starts in the North of the Philippines, at the Banaue Rice terraces, more of an Ecological look at what's happening to what is considered to be the 8th wonder of the world, I thought listening it was a fair and unbiased look at this area.
Then the move to the Capital city Manila was also in my view a pretty fair take on what's happening there, my wife and I were quite bemused to see people living in the cemetery and their innovative way of etching out a living.
I thought it quite Filipino through and through, that you get the casket space for 5 years, and if you do not pay, your bones are taken out, quite novel and very innovative Filipino business practice.
I also thought to myself, when I saw the millions and millions walking around Qiapo, and central Manila, that it does not take long to come home, and forget about the place you call your second home.
I mean, for instance, you spend a few weeks there, and get back into the Filipino way of life, but how long does it take before you return home, and forget really what the Philippines is like.
Even last year, when I landed in Manila, and walked out NAIA 3 I've always known what to expect, but even the heat, just hit me like a blast furnace, sometimes I would say, "Geeeeze I forgot what the heat is like"
The second thing of course, is when I jump in my car and start driving down town, I would say to my wife "Geeeze I forgot just what driving here is like" "Guzzling old jeepneys, that stop straight in front of you to pick up passengers, without any signal or any incling that something is going to happen"
On top of that, one does forget just what the poverty is really like, lets be honest, we think we understand, but we do not really understand what it's like, seeing the young lady April, with her 10 siblings living in a small Nippa Hut built out of Cardboard and waste wood, and there she was as a student, nice and clean, going to the church to be lectured about the evils of birth control and abortion, brings it home to me once again, that we are really dealing with the most diverse and unusual country in the world.
The mother, who has been told by her eldest daughter to refrain from having any more children, cries and laments on the fact that the babies just keep coming, every time she gets pregnant, its a strain on the economy of this large family.
They are told to cut back on what they eat, because remember, your brothers and sisters who also have to eat, we would ask ourselves the question, if you cannot feed your family, why have so many children, sadly, these choices are not available to these people.
The program moves to Bohol and the de forestation of that island, pushing the Tarsier, out of its natural habitat, and then to Mindanao, to the Muslim insurgency, where it appeared to me, the Muslim teacher in the program was clearly radicalising her own school children, by clearly stating that the region was not part of the Philippines, as they were never conquered by the spanish.
I was not surprised to hear her talk about the children's fathers, being Mujahadeen, or holy warriors, thus showing that different parts of this 7000 plus islands were very difficult to control.
I think as BBC documentary, the program was pretty well presented and appeared to be very fair in its outlook on the Philippines, they were not judgemental in any way, although I thought that Mrs Marco's desire to show the presenter her wealth of some 80 million dollars in a Belgian financial institution and then snatching it back refusing for the bond to be shown on the camera, was pretty sad, considering, she protested that her husband's wealth was from Gold dealing when he was a lawyer.
It did just go to show me, that this country we all have a relationship with, never changes, if you contrast her surroundings in a plus area of Fort Bonifacio, against the area's lived in by the poor, nothing really changes, it always looks the same.
Lest we not forget, that on seeing the documentary last night, my wife remarked, that we are the lucky ones, the ones who have something better in life, let us be all thankful for that.
Pete_Forum Moderator
Philippines marriage, Courtships, UK Entry Clearance
It's Gina here.....I quite enjoyed watching BBC last night as opposed to some. BBC was not there to promote tourism for the Philippine government, that's not the reason why the documentary was filmed.
I knew about people living at the Manila North Cemetery, it may come as a surprise to the Western world but then it is reality and they are actually making a home right there, raising their family and creating a community of their own. It's sad but then, they seem like they would better be there rather than the dangerous side-streets of Manila.
I love the bit about Palawan and thought of taking Pete there on our holiday. But even beautiful Palawan has its poverty areas which is but fair. But that doesn't stop people visiting Palawan. So no harm done.
What they said about our Catholic Church was true I can't argue with that. And the stampede during the Black the Nazarene procession is happening each year though I'm not one to do that.
Bohol is amazing and the tarsiers too. We love that place but what little protection and preservation they had done to the forest is but a common problem anywhere in the country. So can we blame BBC seeing how poorly we protect our forest????
Cotabato.... even I wouldn't dare go there... I love my life too much.
All in all Philippines is struggling for years and years except of course for the 10% of the rich distributed all over the country. We have to accept that it is poverty stricken and almost if not all Filipinos who are abroad have to send remittances back home.
There are areas in the Philippines that are awesome and worth your money and time visiting, but I'm not ashamed to admit there are a lot lot more unsightly places than the good ones. But that doesn't stop me loving the Philippines though!
So my credit goes to BBC for delivering it as it was! Well done!
Pete_Forum Moderator
Philippines marriage, Courtships, UK Entry Clearance
Pete & Gina tell it as it is in the real world
Keith - Administrator
I also enjoyed watching the program last night, for me they really provided balance outlook of the Filipino lives..
They also showed some of the tourist attractions of our country, i.e. chocolate hills, rice terraces and oh the endangered tarsier.
For me they do a good job when they explore the PHILIPPINES.
I wonder whether I will ever get there ... Ruby's father's family are mostly in Cotabato.Originally Posted by ginapeterb
No matter what they say, I am very proud about my country The Philippines...There are even worst cases or scenarios in other part of the world, I was amaze abt people living in the cemetery, I myself didn't have any idea abt that..And yes it's true sometimes I don't understand why some or most of the Filipinos in the coutryside giving up their beautiful life just to be in Manila even they ended up living under the bridge or in the cemetery but that is their choice and they are happy...Abt the program? yeah it is true, what they did is fair, we don't always expect the good one...
I enjoyed watching the program last night together with my husband. I felt li'l bit sad about it but then my husband said it really fair observation. What we've seen is very true and we have to accept it "reality really hurts".
No matter how filthy some areas of the Philippines are... no matter how poverty stricken the country is even until now......one of the many things that still comes out of it though is ....... Philippines' gorgeous Filipinas!!!
Black hair.....beautiful olive skin.... sexy charisma....no wonder our husbands are drawn to us.. don't you agree??
Guys..... no mutterings hahahahahahahha because it's very true!
-Gina-
Pete_Forum Moderator
Philippines marriage, Courtships, UK Entry Clearance
I have never really thought of this country as "poverty stricken"..
All the malls are packed with customers and quite often I cant get a seat in Macdonald's.
People in the provinces rarely go hungry like they do in real poverty stricken countries and people seem generally happy..(unlike those in Somalia or in the Congo)
Lots of extremely fertile land land here is left fallow by the locals which does not suggests a lack of food to me..
The poverty stricken in Manila really should go back to their home towns and help grow bannana`s,and sweet potatoes.
Depends on which definition of 'poverty' you use, remember, 10% of people in the UK live in poverty
Keith - Administrator
I'm also a bit touched by the documentary last night, it would have been nice if they also featured more of the nice places in Philippines. But fair enough, they just showed the truth and reality of Philippines, it feels sad but it's true...
But inspite of that fact... I think that made us FILIPINOS, A STRONG INDIVIDUAL AND A SURVIVOR wherever on the world we go.
with a heart full of love, you will express your highest potential while also fulfilling your soul's deepest purpose:
TO LOVE AND BE LOVED!
That's very true
Not an expert, I only try to help.
Happy,happy people. Filipinos second happiest in the world.
the program just showed what it likes there and it didnt even make being poor look that bad,it never really showed the bad side of life.
whenever i go there i keep the poverty at arms length anyway,i say with my wifes family,we go to the safe areas and go to the malls and only drive past the squatters and even joke with my wife where our new home will be?
then after a few weeks im back home,so i often think its never that bad.
I thought that the part of the program about Mindanao was completely unbalanced. There is a lot more to Mindanao than just the war with the muslims in the south of the country, which is something that most well advised visitors would never come across.
Iain.
I thought that Peter and Gina's comments summarised the documentary very well.
I agree that it was well balanced and given that they had less that 1 hour I cannot see how they could have got more in. They covered a lot of wide ranging issues and the interviews were heavily edited as it was.
It showed both positive and negative sides without being particularly judgemental. They could have been a LOT more negative had they wished.
Just one point Peter; the bond that Imelda Marcos had was for 987 billion dollars(not 80 million). (So that's how the Philippines went from one of the richest to one of the poorest countries in Asia.)
Also I couldn't help but notice how, when the Muslim teacher asked the question "How do we solve the problem?" she passed over the first child's answer "Stop the war." and chose to dwell on the answer of fighting for independance. As long as kids are being taught in this manner there is no point looking for a peaceful settlement. She says that she doesn't recommend fighting or war. She just plants the seeds of violence in the minds of the kids and watches them grow.
She even admitted at the end that she would choose independance over peace. You have to agree with her though when she says that she cannot trust the people in power.
The final words of the documentary were that the Philippines is one of the most beautiful regions in the world so I really do think that it was a well balanced programme.
Andy
Hear Hear.I thought that Peter and Gina's comments summarised the documentary very well.
I agree that it was well balanced and given that they had less that 1 hour I cannot see how they could have got more in. They covered a lot of wide ranging issues and the interviews were heavily edited as it was.
It showed both positive and negative sides without being particularly judgemental. They could have been a LOT more negative had they wished.
Just one point Peter; the bond that Imelda Marcos had was for 987 billion dollars
Also I couldn't help but notice how, when the Muslim teacher asked the question "How do we solve the problem?" she passed over the first child's answer "Stop the war." and chose to dwell on the answer of fighting for independance. As long as kids are being taught in this manner there is no point looking for a peaceful settlement. She says that she doesn't recommend fighting or war. She just plants the seeds of violence in the minds of the kids and watches them grow.
She even admitted at the end that she would choose independance over peace. You have to agree with her though when she says that she cannot trust the people in power.
The final words of the documentary were that the Philippines is one of the most beautiful regions in the world so I really do think that it was a well balanced programme.
Andy
I watched some documentary about Indonesia, vietnam, and Malaysia and it was lovely. That's why I have same expectations
There is a better view of Palawan like the cave and Dos Palmas etc. They focused about how Badjao lives in dirty environment.
There's better view of Banaue where you can see the entire beauty of Rice Terraces not the giant worms
I have never been to North Cemetery and I felt shocked when I have seen my fellows living with the dead
I reminisced the past when I have seen Imelda's collection of ArtsWhen she mentioned about how her hubby loves gold, I remember year 70's when they were busy digging undergrounds for treasures left by the Japs and Spaniards
Bohol is nice, perfect view really, but I feel sad when they mentioned that Tarsiers are almost gone because people hunted them in the wild
Partly, it's involved our dirty politics. POWER
I watched "Explore" and I thought it was very well balanced and well presented. They presented the issues clearly and in as much depth as can be expected in a 1 hour program.
I was fascinated by some of the stuff, like the people living in the cemetary and history of the rice terraces. It really was amazing! Other items saddened me, such as the Catholics' attitude to contraception and seeing what the Muslim children are taught in school.
But overall, it's great to get the Philippines "on the map". Every country has its problems but a lot of the narrative was very complimentary. Hopefully it will encourage more tourists. Everyone I have ever taken to the Philippines has loved it!
Pete & Gina
Do you see the respect you guys have on the forum? As soon as you give your honest thoughts on the program people seem to think differently about what they watched and that maybe it was not as negative a Documentary as was first thought......
Is there anywhere i can watch it like bbc iplayer??
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...a_to_Mindanao/
Hello kimmi! where is the tourist attraction that u mean about last night s program? are you happy that we filipinos is in a laughing situation like what they showed? Yes its one of our tourist attractions in phil. but they dont show it in a proper way, they even damaged what good and nice attractions that we have in phil. Yeah some are reality, but it should be fair that they show also the good sides...Seems the more westerners will look down on us filipinos, when they saw that program.Especially those who hvnt gone in phil yet. Its one of the reason too why we dont go up, coz loads of other countries preventing tourist to go to our country by showing like that kind of program last night..I also enjoyed watching the program last night, for me they really provided balance outlook of the Filipino lives..
They also showed some of the tourist attractions of our country, i.e. chocolate hills, rice terraces and oh the endangered tarsier.
For me they do a good job when they explore the PHILIPPINES.
Well we didn't enjoy the programme. If we didn't know the Philippines it would have put us off ever going there.
Yes, we know there's poverty, slums, war etc etc but surely at least part of the programme could have shown some positive aspects of the country.
It repeatedly made the point about the Philippines being 7000 islands but showed very little of the best of them. As has been mentioned, what about the stunning natural features of Palawan, the underground river, the fantastic diving, Tubbataha reef- also listed as one of the greatest wonders of the world? What about the colourful Sinulog festival? The beaches? The spirit if the Filipino people?
What's on next week? a guide to the drug dens, ganglands and sewers of Britain?
Very well said Gavanddal, it will really put you off visiting that country because mostly of the negative aspects were shown on that documentary film.I know there are beautiful sites that needs to be known by people who has never been in the Phils.
" The people who mean something to your life are not rated "the best" don't have the most money, haven't won the greatest prizes....
They are the ones who care about you, take care of you, those who, no matter what, stay close by... "
I think you are missing the point of the series - the shows are not meant to be tourism adverts for the countries they 'explore'.
"Explore, a new travel-based journalism series, provides an insight into exotic parts of the world, revealing stories about the environment, globalisation, and politics."
So yes if they did one on Britain they may well cover that sort of subject.
I have to agree that this was never meant to be a Documentary about Tourism in the Philippines.
Although it did show some bizarre practises that do happen it did show some of the natural wonders that is in the Philippines...
The guy doing the show finished with saying a nice thing about the Philippines and anyone who knows anything about the Country accepts how wonderful a place it is
Very well said there friend ,
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