I see. I have just discovered that Imelda Marcos was from Leyte. Presumably no coincidence there?Originally Posted by sweetnote143
so true....the best effort made by Marcos while he was still in power......the San Juanico bridge has been there as far as I remember, I cant imagine Leyte and Samar without San Juanico Bridge
Last edited by lastlid; 25th November 2011 at 16:56. Reason: Correction
"Imelda. Steel Butterfly of the Philippines". Is that the one Graham?Next time you're in the library, see if they have a copy of the book 'Imelda'....about the life of Imelda Marcos.
A really interesting read, though some of her input has to be taken with a pinch of salt.
I think it's just called Imelda, but could be that one...long time since I read it. Sort of autobiography.
Not forgetting the utility companies...Oops sorry, company...ripping off there impoverished citizens charging uk rates...disgusting
Exactly! I wonder what would have happened if the Philippines had remained under the US and become like Hawaii. Think it would have been one of the wealthiest economies in South East Asia.
From a purely selfish point, I'd probably wouldn't have my wonderful wife, wonderful son and future babies.
We got to thank past present and future administrations for continuing to keep The Philippines in the dark ages for there own personal gain.
That is true.
While lovely Filipinas are looking outside the country for a better future, even ugly old blokes like me are in with a chance.
no coincidence there, lastlid. during Marcos regime, Leyte especially Tacloban was very progressive in terms of trade. If the second Malacañang is in Cebu during GMA's term, Marcos' was in Tacloban. The Romualdez', that's Imelda's clan, even up to the present still holds power in Leyte, at least in Tacloban.
love makes life worth living
I'm not so sure about that Ricky. Look at the other former colonies in the region and which ones have good economies. It's only really Singapore and Hong Kong that you can say benefitted from colonialisation. India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia have only just started to progress economically.
Singapore and HK could grow economically very quickly as they are small places, approx 200sq km and have relatively low populations, 1-3M people. Therefore getting a good infrastructure in place would have been much simpler and cheaper. the other countries in SEA are all much larger land masses and have larger populations spread out all over the place. The reason why these countries took longer to take off economically was that the colonialists didn't want to invest in the infrstructure to join a few farms hundreds of KM apart together. The Phil's is even more of a logistical nightmare due to the fact it is lots of Islands. The US would never have had enough money to invest properly and turn it into another Asian Tiger economy. If you look behind the scenes, you may even find that the US knew that it was going to take far more than they could afford to turn Manila into another Asian economic hub (especially after the cost of WW2) which is why they decided to give it up - and the same reasons why Britain gave up most of it's colonies in the mid 1900's.
Guam is also a US colony, it has a good strategic location on the Pacific. The only investment the US have made there is Naval and Air Force bases. Personally I think the only reason the US was ever interested in the Phils was to turn it into another base so it could wage war in the region. After unsucessful campaigns in Korea and Vietnam they gave up interest and eventually abandoned Subic...etc.
Now that China is a major threat in the region, the US is looking to South Korea and Australia for homes for its Navy and Air Force. Why? The Philippines is better located, but again it can't afford the investment in infrastructure, so it's much easier to go to Korea and Australia as they are fully industrialised developed nations which already have good infrastructures in place.
Me and my dad have this conversation before. He mentioned about Philippines being under US then the country would have been more progressive. This is a totally different view.
>>--DonahMichael-->>
Philippines will not be Philippines if its colonized by the US....we will just end up to be a fighting ground for any other nations and end up cleaning their trashes...i agree with gparry (post#88) it is nice not to commercialise our country make it simple and beautiful as it is, besides what can tourism do to develop our country?? make it more congested ?? more money to put inside the politicians pocket??
''Don't be serious..Be Sincere''
................ besides what can tourism do to develop our country?? make it more congested ?? more money to put inside the politicians pocket??
What could it do? IF tourism were to be developed then it could take a lot of Phils people out of poverty.
No ''if's and but's''....am very much sure that ''tourism'' cannot save the filipino from poverty lastlid...
''Don't be serious..Be Sincere''
One of the biggest problems (apart from the corruption) is the massive population.
Some re-education and self-discipline is required.....and of course some proper 21st century guidance from the Catholic church...not that I for one moment expect them to give a damn.
I would take your word for it but for the following:No ''if's and but's''....am very much sure that ''tourism'' cannot save the filipino from poverty lastlid...
My wifes family (and there are a lot of them) are employed by someone that owns a large holiday resort and theme park. Whats more the the resort and theme park is quite an eco friendly one, to say the least aswell as providing employment to local people and holiday and leisure to both filipinos and foreigners alike. As my wife explains it, once upon a time her immediate family could not afford rice and had to grow sweet potato instead. But not any more and her an both of her sisters enjoyed a university education.
I wouldnt suggest for one minute that tourism is a magic wand that would solve the Phils problems but I would suggest it would help. Providing of course that the government of the day allow it to happen.
I can see the point about the current political climate being a hindrance but nothing is forever and look what's happening with regime change in the middle east right now.
As tourism is seasonal in the Phil's I don't think it would make a huge difference to the economy. Who would want to travel to Bicol and the east coast during the typhoon season....apart from me that is
Other parts of SE Asia don't get battered by typhoons and have relatively stable weather all year, therefore they have a much longer tourist season and can benefit from the income for longer each year.
Hold it right there Englishman, your personal point of view, if I may correct it from a filipina like me who knows better what happened to my country.
Phils in the 30's until 50's is the only progressive SEA country economically. Can you imagine the exchange rate back then. 1Php=1$. The US did not pull out. There was a civil protest when the Phils. was under commonwealth govt. with the US, the senators does not want Phils to be part of the US.
And they did not abandon Subic.. we filipinos actually kicked them out. That is the real story
In short, many filipinos back home does not want our country to be exploited by foreigners. That is also the reason why many small minded people back in my country refuse to market the country for tourism in fears of having "puti" pedophiles exploiting young girls.
Look at Thailand... they have the most number of cases in HIV and other SEA except Philippines.
Life as we make it
well said purple
A place for everything, everything in its place.
Thats ok, if the foreigners exploited it, the politicians would be upset because they like exploiting the country themselves.
Very true Ricky.
The few controlling families are quite happy the way things are thankyou very much, and there's always the US to rely on for defence and a steady aid package.
I was living there when the Phils govt. 'kicked out' the Americans from their bases (though actually they...Phils govt were just asking for too much rent), and when the Mount Pinatubo eruption accelerated the process.
Of course the govt. shot itself in the foot, as the Yanks would have footed the bill for the big clean-up in the aftermath, and kept in work the estimated 500,000 who had either direct or indirect employment provided by the various bases.
Yes national pride is a great thing, and Britain has it in spades, but we also have US bases on our soil because we realise the very real benefits.
I would not liked to have seen the Philippines retained as an American colony however, as looking around the world at the few places that they do actually occupy, the natives do not seem to have fared well at all.
Combine that with previous Spanish Catholic occupation and as usual, you see a poverty-stricken country hide-bound by the medieval views of the Roman Catholic church.
What about China? The country has a huge landmass and is extremely wealthy as we all know. { I do accept that you are talking about former colonies though.}
From my understanding taken from numerous trips, the power seems to be with the few elite rich and why should they bother changing their comfortable status quo?
For such a warm hearted people as the Filipinos undoubtedly are i find that the ability of the richer ones to ignore others suffering somewhat disturbing.
Another familiar trait is to only think of "today" grab what they can now with no thought to future growth, its almost too simplistic in our culture to know that business and growth take time and sustained effort and nurturing.
I think if you said to most Filipinos that you would give them a choice of $50 today or $20 a day each day over the week they would grab the $50 and run not having the patience and trust that $120 could and would come their way..........
All in all some excellent postings on here, very informative.
Interestingly there is a strong environmental lobby in Phils. One that has had some effect although it is still a work in progress. One that recognises the Phils as a country of ecological and environmental importance, both at home and abroad. The development of tourism in Phils can be managed in a way that is both sympathetic with the environment and in keeping with the aspirations of some who have posted on this thread. It isn't a lost cause or a futile exercise. Tourism in any country can be exactly what that country wants it to be and can be governed and regulated by laws. Some browsing on the internet will lead one to see some of the positive moves that there are in place amongst the Phils people themselves and indeed some of the legal routes to achieving those goals.....they just need to gather a bit more momentum.
I like your positive attitude, and I agree there are lots of good concerned Filipinos who are trying to make a difference....particularly concerning environmental issues, a subject close to my heart.
More power to their elbow. Every little helps.
Yep. The Philippines can boast a world boxing champion, a miss world runner up and a world environmental "champion". Probably more that I dont know of.
There has been quite a battle waged over the environment, on a range of environmental issues, in Phils in the not so distant past.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/06...ph-coral-reefs
I am reasonably certain that this kind of thing has a bearing on Phils as a holiday destination, of the kind that at least some aspire to....
Yes, thankfully they seem to have brought most of the dynamiting under control.
I had an Aquatics shop for 5 years here in England, but no way would I sell Marines.
Yes and i think it is fair to say that there are Phils politicians that have a "green" outlook.I like your positive attitude, and I agree there are lots of good concerned Filipinos who are trying to make a difference....particularly concerning environmental issues, a subject close to my heart.
More power to their elbow. Every little helps.
Where I live these marine fish and invertebrates are safer in an aquarium!!I had an Aquatics shop for 5 years here in England, but no way would I sell Marines.
May I ask which governor and / or which province?
I enjoyed thatHold it right there Englishman, your personal point of view, if I may correct it from a filipina like me who knows better what happened to my country.
Phils in the 30's until 50's is the only progressive SEA country economically. Can you imagine the exchange rate back then. 1Php=1$. The US did not pull out. There was a civil protest when the Phils. was under commonwealth govt. with the US, the senators does not want Phils to be part of the US.
And they did not abandon Subic.. we filipinos actually kicked them out. That is the real story
In short, many filipinos back home does not want our country to be exploited by foreigners. That is also the reason why many small minded people back in my country refuse to market the country for tourism in fears of having "puti" pedophiles exploiting young girls.
Look at Thailand... they have the most number of cases in HIV and other SEA except Philippines.
A well deserved reputation on it's way.
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