Hi all

[jake]

Come on Louis...let's be nice. .I would imagine the westerners that are partial to the place is because they have the option that when the novelty wears thin, they can revert to normality on a whim.I remember us staying in our dream paradise in a remote part of Bicol..we were there 3 weeks. .it was sure good to get to a kfc in Manila.

What do you mean?
Have spent 14 years living in the Philippines and the 'novelty' has never worn thin! Maybe you should spend some more time learning about yours wife's culture, instead of seeing everything as negative.

[gWaPito]

What do you mean?
Have spent 14 years living in the Philippines and the 'novelty' has never worn thin! Maybe you should spend some more time learning about yours wife's culture, instead of seeing everything as negative.

Steady on cowboy. .as I've just said, I was being jovial trying to stop this thread descending into a slanging match. .I suggest you wind it in a tad.

[gWaPito]

What do you mean?
Have spent 14 years living in the Philippines and the 'novelty' has never worn thin! Maybe you should spend some more time learning about yours wife's culture, instead of seeing everything as negative.

Apologies for my late response. .I had work to do.

My marital difficulties, as you implied, has nothing to do with cultural differences.

Talking about my wife, these are the issues we actually agree on 100%..it was she who laid into Philippine airport staff over the 2 lbs over etc etc. .it was she who said to them that no wonder her own country folk are leaving in droves blah blah

You say the good in the country outweighs the bad, maybe for the westerner...not for the poor folks on the ground it isn't. Folks who can't get jobs. who can't feed there families who can't get medical treatment because of having no money. .you ask the folks fleeing the country whether they think the good outweighs the bad.

For your information, I still have neighbours that talk ..we still have neighbours that help out like taking in mail etc. .summertime in the garden, time permitted, we pass the time of day talking over the fence.

You called me negative. ..you ain't got a clue about me.

The Philippines is a great country if you have money, lots of it. ...These are not my words but the words of my wife and her family. ...either way, I'm not at all bothered at this moment in time.

Cheers
Mark

Btw. ...it's my understanding it's the government wish to keep it a third world. ..With its mostly untapped mineral wealth alone could put it on par with its rich neighbours. ..you can only blame the electorate. .for it was they who put these people in charge. ..you were only talking about the new mayor of Manila yesterday. .not to mention the election a week or so back.
I will stand corrected if I'm wrong in any of that.

Yes, the Philippine people are a wonderful people. .I thank mother in law everyday what she does for us.

[jake]

My marital difficulties, as you implied, has nothing to do with cultural differences.

Mark, i never said anything about your marital difficulties. Sorry if you saw it that way.
What i said was you should learn more about your wife's culture. Same goes for anybody else who is married to or has a girlfriend from the Philippines.
Did i call you negative? No i said your views on the Philippines are all negative.

Cheers