Pete's Letter from Philippines

[walesrob]

Originally posted by ginapeterb@Jun 19 2005, 08:42 PM
I dont mind giving 5 pesos to a street kid, who comes up to me, I dont mind doing that, or an extra P20 to a taxi driver who is nice to me in the taxi,

Quoted post

The one thing I learned to do in Philippines, is NEVER give pesos to streetkids - why? Simple - it will encourage more and more to do the same. One time Elsa and I had just eaten at Shakeys in Manila and as we left the building, about 10 of them came from nowhere asking "peso mister" (in fact 2 of them started pushing and it got quite nasty at one point). Now if I gave one of them 5 peso, the rest want 5 peso too. Another time after eating breakfast at McDo, Elsa had a spare burger she took with her, and would you know, some kiddie says peso mister, but he wouldn't take the burger - he wanted the money I know its heartbreaking seeing these poor kids with no food or shoes on their feet, but IT AINT MY PROBLEM and giving them money only encourages the problem.
As for taxi drivers - I'm with you on that Pete, but the majority of taxi drivers in Manila are evil .......s who see all foreigners as potential rip-off targets. Elsa and I experienced this so many times, and I reckon the ratio of good taxi drivers to bad is 10/90

[ginapeterb]

The one thing I learned to do in Philippines, is NEVER give pesos to streetkids - why? Simple - it will encourage more and more to do the same.

Its a fair point Rob, I rarely do it, my point is simple, in that I dont mind personaly giving out the odd 5p peiece here and there, only if I feel like it, as you quite rightly say, you can be deluged by them.

Boy its so hot tonight over here in Essex, I actually sat outside the house on my garden bench, as its so hot, and let the cool breeze get to me, geeeeeze its like the barangays tonight.

[walesrob]

Originally posted by ginapeterb@Jun 19 2005, 11:00 PM
Its a fair point Rob, I rarely do it, my point is simple, in that I dont mind personaly giving out the odd 5p peiece here and there, only if I feel like it, as you quite rightly say, you can be deluged by them.

Boy its so hot tonight over here in Essex, I actually sat outside the house on my garden bench, as its so hot, and let the cool breeze get to me, geeeeeze its like the barangays tonight.

Quoted post

Also here in sheepland, but I'm suffering the hayfever so I gotta stay indoors and pray for the rain :lol:

[peterdavid]

Originally posted by walesrob@Jun 19 2005, 09:58 PM
As for taxi drivers - I'm with you on that Pete, but the majority of taxi drivers in Manila are evil .......s who see all foreigners as potential rip-off targets. Elsa and I experienced this so many times, and I reckon the ratio of good taxi drivers to bad is 10/90

Quoted post

Our last visit there, we got in the taxi and the meter didn't go on. We stay in the Peninsula when we go back, and we were only going there from Greenbelt - a 60 peso journey tops. But I was in a bad mood, it was hot, and this little sh1t just annoyed me by not turning it on.

My wife told him to turn it on. He said no. She told him again. He said no and said the fare is P150. I said turn the meter on. He said no.

I raised my voice, and said "Turn the meter on now or I will report you". Simple as that. Didn't say who I would report him to, didn't say who I was, but he simply didn't want to take the chance, you could see the fear in his eyes as he tried to judge the situation in his rear view mirror, and decided it was better not to risk it, and so he turned it on.

He lost his tip too, but he didn't dare complain.

Put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. Sometimes its good to remind these ......s who's boss.

[Gingwa]

Originally posted by walesrob@Jun 19 2005, 09:58 PM
The one thing I learned to do in Philippines, is NEVER give pesos to streetkids - why? Simple - it will encourage more and more to do the same. One time Elsa and I had just eaten at Shakeys in Manila and as we left the building, about 10 of them came from nowhere asking "peso mister" (in fact 2 of them started pushing and it got quite nasty at one point). Now if I gave one of them 5 peso, the rest want 5 peso too. Another time after eating breakfast at McDo, Elsa had a spare burger she took with her, and would you know, some kiddie says peso mister, but he wouldn't take the burger - he wanted the money I know its heartbreaking seeing these poor kids with no food or shoes on their feet, but IT AINT MY PROBLEM and giving them money only encourages the problem.
As for taxi drivers - I'm with you on that Pete, but the majority of taxi drivers in Manila are evil .......s who see all foreigners as potential rip-off targets. Elsa and I experienced this so many times, and I reckon the ratio of good taxi drivers to bad is 10/90

Quoted post

Totally agree, that is something I have learned too. Its just that they probably wont get the enjoyment of spending it themselves. Its usually given straight to some gang leader.