Mabuhay! (Filipino for "Long Live!")

How many of you have gone to the Philippines, and where? What is your impression of our country and our people?

If you have not visited here, what is your impression of the Filipinos working in your country?

I am asking these questions because we are now in a crisis and I want to know the opinions of my foreign counterparts.

-sally-

I've never been to the Philippines but I know a fellow who goes there for major medical care, yearly checkups, etc, and he really loves the place. I don't know any Filipinos here but I'm sure they're like people all over the world. I've never been anywhere that I didn't like the people. I was in Bangkok a couple of months ao and really liked it - Other than Bangkok being a BIG city (I do like where I live right now - not quite the 'country' but close for being this close to Cincinnati which is a fair sized city of about 300000 people).

Unfortuneately my opinion stems from the US Navy. I remember getting off the bus in Great Lakes IL for bootcamp in Aug 1985 and I thought I had crossed the border. Phillipinos everywhere screaming at me and I couldn't understand a word they said.

Also, the food on my aircraft carrier left alot to be desired. Beef Yakasobo? "Beef Yack It's So Bad"!

But I will say I hold out real opinions until I visit someplace. (Just try France!)

Jerry
(Probably getting french people angry) :truce:

Lived on Clark AFB for a bit as a kid and I visited Subic Bay a couple of times. I loved the Phillipines and the Phillipino people. Never had a bad time and never met a bad person. I sponsored quite a few native Phillipinos for US citizenship.

Also, nothing better on an empty stomach than a baloot and some cold San Miguel. :lol:

I don't know anyone from the Philippines, but my Grandfather (I miss him) was there as a Seebee (Navy engineer) in WWII. He had some great stories about how brave and hard working the local people were.

I wouldn't mind visiting someday.

Celestica, you mentioned a crisis. Would you elaborate?

My father was also there during WWII with McArthur, and in Manila too. He had good things to say about his stay there. I would like to visit too someday

Mabuhay! celistica.

I haven't had the opportunity (yet) to visit the Philippines, but I have been fortunate enough to have trained with several Filipino's (escrima), and found them to be as warm-hearted and generous as anyone could ask for.

There has been a lot of bad press about the Philippines due to the recent waves of unrest there, however as usual, it is the actions of a few which end up reflecting on all.

When you say 'we are now in a crisis', are you talking about the Philippines in general, or your company in particular?

Our country is made up of 7,100 islands, and every island has a different culture, but we all agree on the balot (a boiled duck egg with chick of 14 to 17 days old) and San Miguel beer. But you cannot find balot in the restaurants. It is sold at only night 'til dawn in the streets (so that one cannot see the chick). Many visitors here know it but cannot eat it. Though it is tasty but I cannot eat the chick :) It is regarded also as an exotic food.

About the crisis, it is mainly political, and it has affected our economy again. Just last week, the US dollar became strong again. This is the result of the destabilization plot, the president impeachment talk, the gambling lords, the large shabu laboratories. There is the increase in the daily minimum wage which entails layoffs of many daily workers. There is the impending additional tax that will be implemented on July 1. Due to these news aired everyday, my friends in the US and other parts of the world said that the Philippines has a very bad image that their children don't want to come here. Their only consolation is that the "bad things" happened in Manila, the capital city. And they tell their children that their native town is in Cebu, which an island one hour away by plane from Manila, which is a quiet city.

My apologies for those who had a bad experience here. People who are struggling to meet both ends everyday see the visitors as migthy because US$1 can buy two kilos of rice.

Maayo gabii Celestica! I am a filipino too and I'm still proud of it. The balot was featured in fear factor last time. They placed balots in a blender and the couples have to eat it. Well, anyway, aside from the destabilization plots, the mud slinging, traitors, dirty politicians, Charter Change, Abu Sayaff, mobs, paid rallyist, peso downfall, etc.. I'm still hoping that we will be okay.

Btw, I think, the crisis are mostly in Manila, so it is still okay to visit the Philippines. Though I heard that there are travel advisory in U.S.A. that it is bad to go here. :(

cheers!

Hi All,

I spent a little while at NAS Cubi point when I was in the Australian Airforce and a little at Clark and Subic Bay when I was in the Australian Navy. NO I was never in the Aussie Army.

We were a little worried with the Phillipines as we had a lot of hassle even cashing our 'American Express' travellers cheques. There was a lot of stealing going on and we had to even have our trash assigned so it would not go missing and end up on the black market. A marine officer was killed on the Cubi Golf course in our final week so we were all confined to base. All in All it was not a great time as I never saw much of the country. My friend is married to a filipino and often travels back there.