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[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/backpacking-in-the-philippines/

Backpacking in the Philippines

Backpacking

Hotels and comfort are what most people think when taking a vacation abroad. To be treated like a King or a Queen adds to the feeling of being pampered and relaxed. However, isn’t one hotel mostly just like another? Maybe you are missing out on something too?

The vacation can also be a step into an adventure. Take out the idea of pre booked hotels and sitting around the swimming pool being served drinks until you just want to sleep. How about packing a few things into a rucksack and explore the Islands of the Philippines on foot and bus. Learn to mix with people of all ages that are backpackers. Learn to enjoy nature and learn to enjoy that feeling of being young again.

  Here is an article about backpacking from http://www.goatsontheroad.com/http://www.goatsontheroad.com/

Rice Terrace & Other Entrance Fees: (Average $5/person)

There aren’t too many fees in the Philippines. Many temples can be entered for free, as well as beautiful parks and memorial monuments. There is no entrance fee to most rice terraces but guides can be surprisingly expensive as can the tricycle rides to the famous viewpoints.

They definitely have the tourist price running at these types of sites but just remember that it’s worth the extra few bucks. Check out our Banaue Page for more about the terraces.

Alcohol: ($0.75 Beer, $3 Cocktails)

San Miguel Beer

The Philippines is one of the cheapest countries to get drunk in. Beers are amazingly cheap, especially in Manila where you can easily find a bucket of 6 beers for less than 5 dollars in a bar.

Outside of Manila the prices go up a bit but it’s always an excellent value. The main beer of choice is San Miguel which is delicious and rarely comes in at over a buck for a small beer. They don’t really do “big beers” in the Philippines but you can sometimes find them at 7-11.

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Highlights & Must-Do’s:

Highlights & Must Do’s

The Philippines is famous for its stunning islands and beautiful beaches, but there is much more to this archipelago than lying on the white sand and soaking in the sun.

Under the surface of the sea is an incredible wonderland of aquatic life, while above the surface, away from the beaches, you can find some intriguing landscapes both man-made and natural.

There are some nice city parks, old towns, and monuments that can be explored for free, as well as some interesting museums.

Palawan:

We may not have seen many of the 7,101 islands, but this one is our favorite. Palawan sits at the far southwestern reaches of the country where it enjoys some of the most diverse landscapes as well as some of the best aquatic life in the country.

It boasts a Natural Wonder Of The World known as The Underground Cave-System and it also has some of the nicest beaches you’ll find anywhere. With beautiful beach towns like Port Barton and El Nido, this island is perfect and it’s not on the beaten path!

El Nido

The Rice Terraces Of Banaue:

This place will blow you away! A staggering 10,369 square kilometers of rice terraces etched out of the mountainside with such amazing ingenuity you’ll wonder how a man could accomplish such a feat.

The true wonder lies in the fact that they are more than 2000 years old, so this entire landscape was created long before the invention of the crane and bulldozer.

The Banaue Rice Terraces

Bohol:

This Island has quite a few amazing sites to see. From the Super Mario-esque chocolate hills to the spectacular diving. Which is routinely listed as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. You can also try your luck at spotting a Tarsier, the cute little bug-eyed creature endemic to this region.

The Chocolate Hills Of Bohol

Camp Out On An Island By Yourself:

This is an essential Philippines experience for any backpacker with an adventurous spirit. Hire a captain to take you out to one of the thousands of isolated, uninhabited islands and just set up camp.

We camped on an island just north of El Nido on Palawan island. It was surprisingly easy to arrange and extremely cheap! You can even try to borrow a mosquito net from your guesthouse and sleep under the stars!

  Continue reading 

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/the-taste-of-dog/

The Taste of Dog

After being trussed, muzzled with rusty cans and slaughtered, they end up in restaurants which flout the law to satisfy the growing taste for dog meat.

Customers dine on dog’s head, considered a delicacy, for the equivalent of £2.50.

A dish of dog liver costs about £1.80 while a particular favourite, deep fried paws, are just 85p. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

Bars serve dog meat snacks known as “pulutan” with drinks just as British pub-goers might enjoy a bag of crisps. The grisly trade flourishes in the north where there is a long tradition of eating dog meat despite warnings from the authorities about the dangers to health and the introduction of jail terms for dog meat traders.

Simon Powell, of British-based non-profit organisation Network For Animals, which is leading the campaign against the practice, took these photographs in a ­restaurant in Baguio City.

He said: “These restaurants sell dog meat only and generally by lunchtime they are packed.

Serves as a “pulutan”.

“Particularly popular is pulutan, a dog meat bar snack. Another very popular dish is deep fried dog paws, known as ‘spare parts’.

“I went into the kitchen and there on a stainless steel platter was a pile of dog meat and on top of it the boiled head of a dog.

“It was bizarre and surreal to see what we regard as man’s best friend and a pet regarded as legitimate food.”

Network For Animals is lobbying the Philippines government to enforce its anti-dog meat legislation. It is also intercepting dog snatchers, who transport the ­animals to slaughterhouses in appalling conditions, and is ­campaigning to change public opinion about the practice.

After we highlighted the plight of the animals last week, the ­Kennel Club announced it was joining the campaign against “the horrific dog meat trade”.The club’s communications director Caroline Kisko said: “While the Kennel Club recognises that in certain cultures the consumption of dog meat may be deemed to be traditional or ­associated with particular health benefits, we do not believe that these arguments can justify ­animal cruelty.”

A Network for Animals spokesman said: “Together we are ­calling for Jeremy Browne, ­Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to take urgent action. The dogs are subjected to immense cruelty in the time leading up to their death. Dehydration and asphyxiation are common deaths on the way to the slaughterhouse.”

In last week’s Sunday Express phone poll more than 3,000 ­people demanded an end to the cruel practice.

Network For Animals’ online petition can be signed at ­networkforanimals.org

It is also asking people to contact the Philippines Embassy. You can write to the embassy at 6-8 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG; call: 020 7451 1800 or email [email protected]

[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/excuses-filipinos/

Excuses Filipinos Use to Justify Philippines Society’s Failure

Excuses Filipinos Use to Justify Failure

When closely examining the issue of why the Philippines has turned out to become Asia’s Basketcase of Wasted Democrazy, a Tagalog expression actually seems to perfectly capture the essence of our society’s collective failure to progress, improve ourselves, and fix the very problems that turned us into a Basketcase:

“Kung talagang gusto, maraming paraan;

Kung talagang ayaw, maraming dahilan…”

(“If you really want it, there are many ways;

If you don’t really want it, there are many excuses.”)

The unfortunate Truth about the general collective failure of Filipinos as a society and the dismal performance of the Philippines on the world stage reveals that Filipinos simply don’t really seem to want to be successful to begin with.

It’s already the year 2016 and here we are still sticking to a lot of old, outdated, and discarded paradigms that have impoverished other countries – many of whom have since decided to get their acts together by adopting new ways of thinking that are making them move forward. Worse, our problems just continue to get worse. Instead of simply working in the most menial jobs abroad, we increasingly have more and more of our people going into risky criminal “contract jobs” such as acting as drug mules or even getting into prostitution just to make ends meet for their families back home.

And yet, the problem is just right there staring at Filipinos in the face: Poverty and the lack of economic opportunities.

For some reason, many Filipinos still just don’t get it. The slogan “It’s the Economy, Stupid” isn’t strong enough to jolt many of us into lobbying for the right policies to be adopted. Until today, we still often come across outdated dinosaur types who would much rather emphasize romantic, but idealistically-naïve rhetoric over and above the much needed practical realities of Filipinos needing jobs and food on the table.

To this day, there still exist a number of so-called “Nationalistic” Filipinos who would rather have Filipinos suffering at home from hunger or forced to work abroad in demeaning, dangerous, or even illegal types of work due to chronic unemployment back home as long as the so-called Philippine Patrimony is maintained and the so-called “avaricious” and exploitative “imperialist” foreign investors are kept away.

Most of them come from Left-leaning Marxist or Maoist ideological backgrounds who simply refused to be in sync with the rest of the world as even Leftists and Socialists from Europe, and Latin America have shifted over to embrace economic liberalization, globalization, and foreign direct investment as allies in the fight against poverty. Case in point: During one Ibero-American summit, Spanish Prime Minister José Luís Zapatero y Rodríguez, an avowed leftist Socialist with a thoroughly leftist pedigree (one ancestor was a Communist who fought against the Right-wing Franco-led Phalangists during the Spanish Civil War) told fellow leftist, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez that in order to solve unemployment, one fast and effective way was to invite foreign investors in.

Not too long ago, even leftist/Socialist former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet herself oversaw the pouring in of foreign direct investments into Chile in her administration’s drive to improve Chile’s economy and create more employment opportunities. The same thing went on with Brazil’s leftist ex-President Fernando Lula da Silva, an ex-lathe operator & machinist: Foreign investors were welcomed in as a means to create greater employment opportunities in order to better serve the masses.

Quite unfortunately, the Philippines continues to have quite a large number of so-called “intellectuals” still subscribing to all the wrong ideas.

Worse, whenever a clamor for reforms is made by well-meaning citizens, some of these so-called “intellectuals” come out in full force to make excuses on why such reforms wouldn’t work. It’s almost as if these people insist that the Philippines is doomed to failure. They complain that the Philippines is poor because of wrong policies adopted by government, but when corrective policies are advocated in order to get rid of those wrong policies, they oppose those policy suggestions, saying “it’s not going to work” without even offering any realistic insight as to what exactly will work.

Very often, it’s really just a simple exercise in common sense. Other countries in the region have done certain things that worked and thus the Philippines should take concrete steps to try to emulate the successful policies adopted by those countries in order to emulate their successes. But still, we continue to have naysayers coming out the woodwork trying to dismiss any suggestion that the Philippines should learn from the experiences of other countries.

[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/excuses-filipinos/

Excuses Filipinos Use to Justify Philippines Society’s Failure

Excuses Filipinos Use to Justify Failure

When closely examining the issue of why the Philippines has turned out to become Asia’s Basketcase of Wasted Democrazy, a Tagalog expression actually seems to perfectly capture the essence of our society’s collective failure to progress, improve ourselves, and fix the very problems that turned us into a Basketcase:

“Kung talagang gusto, maraming paraan;

Kung talagang ayaw, maraming dahilan…”

(“If you really want it, there are many ways;

If you don’t really want it, there are many excuses.”)

The unfortunate Truth about the general collective failure of Filipinos as a society and the dismal performance of the Philippines on the world stage reveals that Filipinos simply don’t really seem to want to be successful to begin with.

It’s already the year 2016 and here we are still sticking to a lot of old, outdated, and discarded paradigms that have impoverished other countries – many of whom have since decided to get their acts together by adopting new ways of thinking that are making them move forward. Worse, our problems just continue to get worse. Instead of simply working in the most menial jobs abroad, we increasingly have more and more of our people going into risky criminal “contract jobs” such as acting as drug mules or even getting into prostitution just to make ends meet for their families back home.

And yet, the problem is just right there staring at Filipinos in the face: Poverty and the lack of economic opportunities.

For some reason, many Filipinos still just don’t get it. The slogan “It’s the Economy, Stupid” isn’t strong enough to jolt many of us into lobbying for the right policies to be adopted. Until today, we still often come across outdated dinosaur types who would much rather emphasize romantic, but idealistically-naïve rhetoric over and above the much needed practical realities of Filipinos needing jobs and food on the table.

To this day, there still exist a number of so-called “Nationalistic” Filipinos who would rather have Filipinos suffering at home from hunger or forced to work abroad in demeaning, dangerous, or even illegal types of work due to chronic unemployment back home as long as the so-called Philippine Patrimony is maintained and the so-called “avaricious” and exploitative “imperialist” foreign investors are kept away.

Most of them come from Left-leaning Marxist or Maoist ideological backgrounds who simply refused to be in sync with the rest of the world as even Leftists and Socialists from Europe, and Latin America have shifted over to embrace economic liberalization, globalization, and foreign direct investment as allies in the fight against poverty. Case in point: During one Ibero-American summit, Spanish Prime Minister José Luís Zapatero y Rodríguez, an avowed leftist Socialist with a thoroughly leftist pedigree (one ancestor was a Communist who fought against the Right-wing Franco-led Phalangists during the Spanish Civil War) told fellow leftist, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez that in order to solve unemployment, one fast and effective way was to invite foreign investors in.

Not too long ago, even leftist/Socialist former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet herself oversaw the pouring in of foreign direct investments into Chile in her administration’s drive to improve Chile’s economy and create more employment opportunities. The same thing went on with Brazil’s leftist ex-President Fernando Lula da Silva, an ex-lathe operator & machinist: Foreign investors were welcomed in as a means to create greater employment opportunities in order to better serve the masses.

Quite unfortunately, the Philippines continues to have quite a large number of so-called “intellectuals” still subscribing to all the wrong ideas.

Worse, whenever a clamor for reforms is made by well-meaning citizens, some of these so-called “intellectuals” come out in full force to make excuses on why such reforms wouldn’t work. It’s almost as if these people insist that the Philippines is doomed to failure. They complain that the Philippines is poor because of wrong policies adopted by government, but when corrective policies are advocated in order to get rid of those wrong policies, they oppose those policy suggestions, saying “it’s not going to work” without even offering any realistic insight as to what exactly will work.

Very often, it’s really just a simple exercise in common sense. Other countries in the region have done certain things that worked and thus the Philippines should take concrete steps to try to emulate the successful policies adopted by those countries in order to emulate their successes. But still, we continue to have naysayers coming out the woodwork trying to dismiss any suggestion that the Philippines should learn from the experiences of other countries.

[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/aussies-may-miss-when-away-from-home/

What Aussies May Miss When Away From Home

What do Australian missed the most when they are away?

Here are just some of the things

1. Those perfect, white crests, salty, deep, blue ocean and soft, golden sand that squeaks under your feet. Our beaches are DESIGNER

2.Weather that permits you to wear shorts all year round. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

3. The FULL METAL RACKET that is the Aussie bush (and the fact that it’s usually just a short walk away.)

4. Living amongst the most stylish birds on the planet.

5. Water so clean and clear you can drink straight from the tap. Shouldn’t be a luxury, but it is.

6. Living in a multiracial society where patriotism is voluntary, not compulsory.*

7. Funnily enough, great Aussie food is missed when living overseas.

 8. Great Aussie Restaurants.

9.Great Aussie pubs.

 10. Vegemite.

11. Visiting relos and friends from home should remember to pack a couple of these.

12. Booze. For some reason it tastes better in Australia.

 13. Friendly interactions with strangers, Aussie humor and the frequent and casual use of four letter words.

14. Clean streets and public areas, and the absence of weird smells.

15. Hitting 120km/hr on those long, country roads …

16. … to reach those lonesome, wide, open spaces that leave you feeling deeply grateful you get all of this, to yourself.

 17. The dramatic arrival of summer thunderstorms and the sound of heavy rain pelting rooftops.

18. Outdoor sports and/or perving on the effortlessly, bronzed bodies that are playing them.

19. Blindingly blue skies.

(Particularly for the Aussies living in Los Angeles, London and Beijing.)

20. The sunlight.

There’s something so pure, white and cleansing about it.

21. So although the sun rises and sets wherever we are in the world, it’s never quite the same.

Those who didn’t grow up with Christmas in the middle of summer find it difficult to comprehend. But when we’re in the middle of a white Christmas, Australians are dreaming of subbies in the back yard around the bbq, sucking prawn guts off our fingers and playing street cricket in the sunshine.

Sure, you can get fish’n’chips pretty much anywhere, but can you get it all greasy and rolled up in paper with Chico rolls and dim sims (fried and steamed) and potato cakes? No my friend, you cannot.

Beef sausages are an iconic part of the traditional Aussie BBQ.

We don’t always put shrimp on the barbie, contrary to Paul Hogan’s oft-remembered tourism pitch. However, barbequed beef sausages are relatively common, especially as food fare for children. Suprisingly, beef sausages are non-existent in many countries, with pork or turkey sausages as the normal option available. These just don’t have the same appeal. Perhaps with time, we’ll aclimatize but whenever we get the chance to indulge in this traditional food back home, we now grab the chance!

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/why-do-people-think-aussies-are-rude/

Why do People Think Aussies are Rude?

Why do so many countries assume Aussies are rude? Here are some shameful comments from people who just do not understand the Aussie ways and the great Aussie humour.

Australian are very rude and have very little culture. They are blunt and arrogant because they have no concept of decorum. You will never be apart of their group if you don’t swear, drink, fart, go for a football team, have an view about any other race. Australians seem to think they are the be all and end all of human existence, yet their history is completely based on criminal back grounds.

They did not achieve much in the way of history, there was construction of great monuments, no invention that could be said to change the course of the human race or any kind of achievement that shaped the world as we know it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push(); It is very clear that most of the achievements that Australia has was done by immigrants and even they are poisoned by the Aussie mentality. As help from one of them to assist someone from a non English background to better them selves. Ask them to show you how to fit in or learn the work they do. All you will receive is criticism, put downs or comments like “Its not my responsibility to teach you how to do it”. Or what were you taught in your country. . Never are you praised for good work that’s up to you to do. They are short fused poorly cultured people who have no idea or care about other cultures. . We are seeing a new era where there are more ethnic backgrounds then white Australians who are absorbing their mentality. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

And more

I used to have this romantic notion that Australians were fun, laid back and interesting, but after meeting a lot of them over the years I have come to a very different conclusion. They are incredibly irreverent, obnoxious, viciously anti-american and annoyingly self-absorbed with their country. I’ve wondered if it was just bad luck (over and over again). My British pals have told me that it’s sort of common knowledge that Australians are, sorry to say, annoying xenophobes.

Their anti-Americanism goes way before Bush came around. When they get started talking about the US they are so sneering, smirking and cocky. It’s almost visceral. They also like to throw around that the US is a racist country– an interesting accusation from a country that is 90% white and has an immigration policy to keep it that way. Nice little eugenics experiment down there.

They claim that they dislike Americans because they are so stupid, which is why most of the top 10 universities in the world are in the US. The last time I looked, merely one university in Australia made it into the top 30 list. Harvard isn’t in Australia, nor is Yale, or Princeton, U Michigan, U Penn, UVA, Williams, MIT, U Chicago, Northwestern, etc.

Needless to say, when I found out that sneering Julian Assange was Australian, I wasn’t surprised at all.

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/taxi-philippines/

Taxi Thefts in the Philippines

taxi thefts

Ask anyone about the taxi drivers in the Philippines and we can all tell stories of being taken to the wrong places, meters not switched on and even worse with one of my friends being kidnapped and forced to go to an ATM or he would be pushed over a bridge.

Lucky he had the peace of mind to convince them that his ATM would not work in the Philippines and they were so angry they left him stranded at the side of the road.

My friend David Stephens recently put up another warning on facebook and with his permission I put the story here as we both believe this is important and taxi safety is a major issue in Manila. Also I would never want to be a taxi driver in the Philippines. These drivers have to work so many hours and break all the rules of the land to be in the taxi sometimes for a whole day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

This is David’s story.

David Bennett 6 hrs · I have to hand it to the Filipinos. They are very clever. Let me tell you what happened to me Sunday when I went to Manila. My wife and I took a taxi Philippines. We tell the driver we want to go to the Manila cathedral. The driver acts like he doesn’t know where it is exactly – I knew he was an asshole then. That is like being a cab driver in Washington, DC and you tell your fare that you don’t know where the White House is! Anyway that is normal – they want to drive you all around looking for a place so they can run the meter up. When I say “they” it is at least one out of every 3 cabs. Well here is one scam that is a stroke of genius – We get tired of the driver just going around everywhere and taking us to the wrong cathedral so we just got out and decided to walk, because we knew we were near the place we were trying to find. So I get out of the cab and as I am walking away check my pocket for my wallet. IT IS GONE! My heart sunk I got in panic mode – I said – it must have dropped out of my pocket – we then saw the cab driver coming back the other way we had just been in. We stopped him and said I lost my wallet – opened the back door and looked and didn’t see it. He said he didn’t see it – this was less than a minute after I got out of the cab. He drove off and I am thinking – well maybe I left it at home. On this street there are guards at the local historical building dressed in the old style uniforms from days of yore. My wife said to them please help us my husband lost his wallet as we went on down the street. Suddenly I hear someone yelling about my wallet – there is one of those guards waving a wallet in the air. I ran back to him and sure enough it was my wallet. How did he get it – well they had a security cam and saw the license plate of the cab that had dropped us off and stopped him. They asked him for it and he had it. I guess the uniforms scared him. The bastard lied to me. The whole time I am thinking – How in the heck did my wallet come out of my pocket? My pants are tight and I keep it close, never happened before. So my wife and I are watching the news this morning and this is what she heard. Some taxis are running a scam where there is someone in the compartment behind the back seat! They can reach in through a trap door or something like that and take your wallet out! That is what happened to me I am sure. A Taxi now will rob you at gunpoint – there have been 12 cases of Rape by “taxi“ drivers – it is just getting ridiculous. I didn’t have any money in my wallet, but my ATM cards were in it. Everything was still there. God bless those Guards. So there is asshole Filipinos and there are good ones also – had to say that. Welcome to the Philippines!

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/sending-money-from-australia-to-philippines/

Best Way of Sending Money from Australia to Philippines

Sending money from Australia to Philippines has always been for some a monthly basis to support families back home.

Whatever the status in life here in Australia, whether you are a student, a permanent resident, a citizen or a migrant its a fact that sending money remittance is part of our budget. Other people still used to the traditional ways of sending money by going to a remittance agent or post office to send money. That would cost you time, petrol and fees too. Not for long, because there are now remittance agents that allows customer to send money using internet or making transactions online. How? Easy, you just need to sign up and prepare identity documents for verification purposes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

The following are just examples of the websites and remittance agents where you can transact using the internet. Hassle free and could save you a lot of time.

Forexworld – it is easy to register with their website, all you need to do is to sign up and upload online  identification cards for verification such as driver’s license, passport and medicare card. Remittance fixed fee of AUD 8.00 only for sending any amount to their accredited banks which includes BDO ( BDO transfers usually takes 3 hours only and the money you send will be picked up bu beneficiaries in the Philippines), BPI and many more. They also offer balikbayan box pick up and send. Check their website for more. ( I used this most of the time because they offer higher exchange rate than others).

Worldremit – with this one a registration on their website is also needed and so as the documents needed for verification but it is really quick and easy. Just sign up and upload documents online and send money in minutes. Quicker way of sending money to any bank accounts or pick up agents in the Philippines such as Mlhuiller and etc. Remittance fee minimum of AUD 3.99 if you send AUD50.00 and increasing fee brackets if you send more. Sometimes they offer discounts like 50% off charge fee.

Western Union – Sending through western union can be done online too. Registration is needed and documents need to be uploaded online too.

IRemit – The same thing with the other remittance online, documents needed as well.

Orbit Remit – it is international money transfer so you can send anywhere, still the same with the rest you can transact online. With a starting fee of AUD8.00

MFF Remit Australia –  another remittance website using transactions online to beneficiaries in the Philippines.

In sending money to the Philippines we always look for higher exchange rates and lower fees so the internet offers us a lot of choices just need time to look for the ones where we can save money.

[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/philippines-family/

Having a Philippines Family

Married and ready for life in the Philippines?

Well, maybe you are not as ready as you think you are. The Philippines has a very high value on family and clan. Like it or not you are expected to rejoice in this and get submerged in it. Can you do it? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

Filipinos highly value the presence of their families more than anything. Regardless of the liberal influence they have gotten from the west, the family remained the basic unit of the society. This trait clearly shows among Filipinos abroad who suffer homesickness and tough work just to support their families back home in the Philippines.

The Filipino family system.

In a traditional Filipino family, the father is considered the head and the provider of the family while the mother takes responsibility of the domestic needs and in charge of the emotional growth and values formation of the children. They both perform different tasks and being remarked separately by the children. Children see their mothers soft and calm, while they regard their fathers as strong and the most eminent figure in the family.

Because of this remarkable closeness, parents sometimes have difficulties letting go of their children and thus results to having them stay for as long as they want. For this somehow explains why grandparents are commonly seen living with their children in the Philippines. Unlike the way people grow old in the west where they are provided with outside homes and care giving, Filipino elderly enjoy their remaining lives inside their houses with their children and grandchildren looking after them.

Another trait Filipinos made themselves exceptional from others is their strong respect for elders. Children are taught from birth how to say “po” and “opo” to teach them as early as possible how to properly respect their elders. These words are used to show respect to people of older level. Even adults will be criticized for not using these words when speaking with their parents or people older than them. Inside the family, the parents are expected to receive the highest respect from the children along with the eldersiblings; as they are given more responsibilities to look after younger siblings when parents are not around.

Children fighting back or addressing parents or elder siblings with arrogant tone are not at all tolerated. They are also not allowed to leave the house without their parents’ permission. Upon arriving home, conservative families expect children to practice the kissing of hands or placing their parents or elder family members’ hand to theirforeheads with the words “mano po” as a sort of greeting.

Even after finishing school, Filipino children are not obliged to get out of their homes unless they want to. In fact, most of them keep their close relationship to their parents by staying at least before they get married. Leaving them happens only when they really have to, but usually, at least one child, depending on his willingness and financial capabilities, stay even after marriage to support and look after their aging parents.

More over, Filipinos keep close connection with other relatives. They recognize them from 2nd degree to the last they can identify. As Filipinos say, “not being able to know a relative is like turning their backs from where they come from.”

It is a very important and high stakes value that political dynasties exist and thrive in this country. Having a huge clan is also an advantage in winning an election or having an upper hand in employing vendettas in a violent clan war against another.

At a very young age, Filipino children are trained to be loyal to their parents and elders by blindly obeying their authority and the conditions they impose within the family. They are taught that family and kinship is the foundation of their existence and purpose in life.

The hackneyed adage “blood is thicker than water” is a familiar mantra—a spell that resonates throughout your life in making moral decisions that often tear you apart between your personal interest and happiness against the collective; between your own decision and your family’s decision; between your morality and THEIR morality. The INDIVIDUAL belongs to the COLLECTIVE—a virtual slave, a conformist, an investment, a chattel.

[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/philippines-family/

Having a Philippines Family

Married and ready for life in the Philippines?

Well, maybe you are not as ready as you think you are. The Philippines has a very high value on family and clan. Like it or not you are expected to rejoice in this and get submerged in it. Can you do it? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

Filipinos highly value the presence of their families more than anything. Regardless of the liberal influence they have gotten from the west, the family remained the basic unit of the society. This trait clearly shows among Filipinos abroad who suffer homesickness and tough work just to support their families back home in the Philippines.

The Filipino family system.

In a traditional Filipino family, the father is considered the head and the provider of the family while the mother takes responsibility of the domestic needs and in charge of the emotional growth and values formation of the children. They both perform different tasks and being remarked separately by the children. Children see their mothers soft and calm, while they regard their fathers as strong and the most eminent figure in the family.

Because of this remarkable closeness, parents sometimes have difficulties letting go of their children and thus results to having them stay for as long as they want. For this somehow explains why grandparents are commonly seen living with their children in the Philippines. Unlike the way people grow old in the west where they are provided with outside homes and care giving, Filipino elderly enjoy their remaining lives inside their houses with their children and grandchildren looking after them.

Another trait Filipinos made themselves exceptional from others is their strong respect for elders. Children are taught from birth how to say “po” and “opo” to teach them as early as possible how to properly respect their elders. These words are used to show respect to people of older level. Even adults will be criticized for not using these words when speaking with their parents or people older than them. Inside the family, the parents are expected to receive the highest respect from the children along with the eldersiblings; as they are given more responsibilities to look after younger siblings when parents are not around.

Children fighting back or addressing parents or elder siblings with arrogant tone are not at all tolerated. They are also not allowed to leave the house without their parents’ permission. Upon arriving home, conservative families expect children to practice the kissing of hands or placing their parents or elder family members’ hand to theirforeheads with the words “mano po” as a sort of greeting.

Even after finishing school, Filipino children are not obliged to get out of their homes unless they want to. In fact, most of them keep their close relationship to their parents by staying at least before they get married. Leaving them happens only when they really have to, but usually, at least one child, depending on his willingness and financial capabilities, stay even after marriage to support and look after their aging parents.

More over, Filipinos keep close connection with other relatives. They recognize them from 2nd degree to the last they can identify. As Filipinos say, “not being able to know a relative is like turning their backs from where they come from.”

It is a very important and high stakes value that political dynasties exist and thrive in this country. Having a huge clan is also an advantage in winning an election or having an upper hand in employing vendettas in a violent clan war against another.

At a very young age, Filipino children are trained to be loyal to their parents and elders by blindly obeying their authority and the conditions they impose within the family. They are taught that family and kinship is the foundation of their existence and purpose in life.

The hackneyed adage “blood is thicker than water” is a familiar mantra—a spell that resonates throughout your life in making moral decisions that often tear you apart between your personal interest and happiness against the collective; between your own decision and your family’s decision; between your morality and THEIR morality. The INDIVIDUAL belongs to the COLLECTIVE—a virtual slave, a conformist, an investment, a chattel.

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/scams-in-the-philippines/

Scams in the Philippines

Some of the scams or fraud are no more than the Filipinos wanting to believe something that is not really true

Scam alert in the Philippines.

We all get involved in allowing a scam sometimes. We all know that street DVD of the latest cinema film going on sale for p200 is not real. We may buy it and we have just scammed the film company out of revenue. The fake watches and brands are everywhere in the Philippines despite the politicians saying they will not allow it. Mostly these are just words on a Bill or a great soundbite. The truth is that the Philippines like many parts of Asia is awash with fake products and services and scams. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

Some of the scams or fraud are no more than the Filipinos wanting to believe something that is not really true. For examples there is T-Bone steaks available for a few pesos or caviar on a plate for a handful of pesos. No matter how I try and tell my friends that these cannot be real they refuse to accept it and tell me that it is real.

Here are some warnings that come  from The New Zealand  Foreign Affair and Trades Website for the Philippines.

Taxi scams

Taxis are the recommended form of public transportation in the Philippines, but you need to take some precautions:

Don’t enter a taxi if there is anyone other than the driver in it.

Before getting in a taxi check that the doors can be locked from the inside, otherwise you’re vulnerable when stopped in traffic.

Check the back seat to make sure that no-one is hiding on the floor.

Ensure the doors can be opened from the inside.

Request that the meter is used (sometimes a taxi driver might request a cash payment instead of using the meter).

Take a mental note of the licence plate number.

Once in the taxi conspicuously text the number of the taxi to someone, or at least pretend to do so. Remember to text the contact when you have arrived safely.

When driving in the city, make sure that the doors are locked and the windows rolled up.

If the driver is unwilling to comply with your requests, it is best to wait for another cab.

Credit card fraud

You should be vigilant when using credit cards. One common form of credit card fraud uses an electronic device to retrieve and record information, including the PIN, from the card’s magnetic strip. The information is then used to make unauthorised purchases. To limit your exposure to this scam, never let you card out of your sight.

When using cards in ATMs choose a machine that is attended by guards or in a busy place. Look to see that the ATM has not been tampered with. Cover your hand when entering your PIN.

Other scams and frauds

Inheritance scam letters and pyramid game scams are also frequently received via email.

New themes and variations for conducting scams are constantly appearing. Visitors and residents should be alert to being targeted by even the friendliest of people, whether locals or foreign nationals.

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/marry-a-beautiful-filipina/

Would you Marry a Beautiful Filipina

The questions seem strange as the answer is of course you would.

Many Aussies have come to the Philippines and have fallen in love with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Not only are they perfect in body and smile, but they are much more understanding than the Aussie girls. Is that really true? Or, are you just seeing this beautiful girl through beer stained glasses? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

Here are some comments across the internet that you should take into consideration

my boyfriend is american and i posted this blog on his facebook wall. he does make fun of my accent and i always say ” i don’t sound like that!” of course i get mad all the time but it’s hard to find a walis tambo and hit him with it so yes pinching works too. note to self: bring a walis tambo from the philippines! in our culture we don’t eat meals w/o our husband or family because meals are always taken together so i wait for him but he gets home by 9:30 pm and he wonders why i haven’t eaten so i explained the culture thing. he says “oh honey please eat when your hungry and don’t wait for me.” i really just can’t do that… no matter how hungry i will always wait to have our meals together. i mean, how can you eat knowing your hubby has not?

Married to my Pinay for almost two years now and while I partially agree with the writer about reasons to marry ….

Food would certainly not be a reason. I know Americans that won’t touch Filipino foods (I happen to like it) but it’s certainly not a reason. If I told my wife she had an accent she would beat me with the walis tambo — LOL! I have never been asked to support her family in any way. I think that’s a Mindanao Pinay issue.

THe “support the family” back home is just depends on the pinay you married or you’re with. And also, if they asked you to support her family, GOOD LUCK to you. Just be smart because believe it or not, there are many greedy pinays out there. No offense with other pinays but I know pinays that does this. I am not bragging or anything, it’s just unfortunate that there’s pinays that are only after $$$. I am not married to a Filipino and sure as hell didn’t come to USA because of my husband, but hearing stories about pinays that are after money, is ridiculous and giving bad reputation to pinays that are not.

I agree that this is a good legislation which will certainly saved most Filipino women from exploitation. However, wouldn’t it be also good ifthis applies to all Filipino men? I have heard and learned number ofstories here or back home from women who were abused, lied on andabandoned by their fellowmen partners where in most cases children areinvolved. These Filipino men easily got away from their responsibilitybecause no one/no legislator bother to strengthen the law in takingaction against these types of Filipino men. If legislator emphasizes therestriction of this law upon foreigners, it’ll be fair & bestif you do the same to all Filipino men. Ensha allah!

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/disasters-in-the-philippines/

Natural Disasters in the Philippines

Living in the Philippines is a pleasure most of the time.

OK, there are many issues that make you get angry, but the  weather and the beaches and the smiles are something special. It will never be a magnet like Thailand or its surrounding Asian tourist hotspots, mainly because of the corruption and bad infrastructure.

But, is there something else holding back the tourists?

What about all those natural disasters that seem to occur every few weeks? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

The country is no stranger to natural disasters, as it is surrounded by bodies of water, and is located along the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire.” From typhoons to tsunamis to volcanic eruptions to earthquakes – name it, the Philippines has experienced it.

As this year’s Disaster Consciousness Month ends, let’s look back at the worst natural disasters that have hit the country.

Rappler divided this into 3 categories – number of casualties, amount of damage and number of people affected – based on the EM-DAT International Disaster Database as of Friday, August 1.

Notice that Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013 and Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) in 2012 appear in all 3 categories, making these recent weather disturbances top the worst in the country’s history so far.

Worst disasters in PH in terms of casualties:

Disaster Date Number of People Killed Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) 8-Nov-2013 6,300 1976 Mindanao earthquake 17-Aug-1976 6,000 Typhoon Uring (Thelma) 5-Nov-1991 5,956 1990 Luzon earthquake 16-Jul-1990 2,412 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) 4-Dec-2012 1,901 Tropical Depression Winnie 29-Nov-2004 1,619 Typhoon Titang (Kate) 13-Oct-1970 1,551 Typhoon Sendong (Washi) 15-Dec-2011 1,439 Typhoon Nitang (Ike) 1-Sep-1984 1,422 Typhoon Reming (Durian) 30-Nov-2006 1,399

Worst disasters in PH in terms of number of people affected:

Disaster Date Number of Affected People Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) 8-Nov-2013 16,106,807 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) 4-Dec-2012 6,246,664 Typhoon Ruping (Mike) 12-Nov-1990 6,159,569 Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) 26-Sep-2009 4,901,763 Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) 21-Jun-2008 4,785,460 Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) 29-Sep-2009 4,478,491 2012 Habagat (Southwest Monsoon) 6-Aug-2012 4,451,725 Typhoon Loleng (Babs) 21-Oct-1998 3,902,424 Typhoon Milenyo (Xangsane) 27-Sep-2006 3,842,406 Typhoon Openg (Vera) 20-Nov-1973 3,400,024

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/drinking-in-philippines/

Holding Your Drink

expat drinking

A vacation that includes a great beach and cheap alcohol is something most men will totally dream of.

Add in beautiful women and a culture of smiles it can be great sitting all day drinking and drinking watching the world go by. If, you are on vacation then maybe, just maybe you can enjoy it and take it for what it is, a few days away from the real world.

But, many expats who live a long time in the Philippines fall into the hole of nothingness. What do you do if there is nothing to do? Retired? Have a wife or girlfriend that does everything for you?

There are only so many times you can go to a mall or walk along a road and watch the world go by. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

It is so easy to go and sit in an expat bar and find someone who is in the same position as you and drink. A single drink turns into all day and into the night. The pleasure of drinking with other expats is a relief, as we can all share our stories of woe. But doing this everyday leads to a pattern of behaviour that will lead to a road of despair.

Filipinas do not really understand the obsession of drinking, and even more they really can’t understand why you cannot have a few drinks at home. You, sitting out most evenings getting louder and louder and perhaps even a few descriptive words will embarrass most of them.

I have seen guys at the same bar night after night totally drunk and abusive to anyone that walks past. They become even lonelier and turn even more to the booze. The problems they may have had before being a big drinker are now even worse.

I see violence and guys behaving shamefully.

I doubt these guys would be the same in their own country, but they feel they can be abusive to other expats and even the local community.

Be warned. If a Filipina reports you for abuse whilst you are drinking you can find yourself in a lot of trouble with the police. Being a foreigner does not give us the right to behave like drunken dogs.

I suppose the relatively cheap price of alcohol is one cause of the problem. Compared to most home countries the beer and even spirits are very cheap. The bars are great places to be happy in.

Remember a drunk is a fool, but he is also prey to bad people.

[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/drinking-in-philippines/

Holding Your Drink

expat drinking

A vacation that includes a great beach and cheap alcohol is something most men will totally dream of.

Add in beautiful women and a culture of smiles it can be great sitting all day drinking and drinking watching the world go by. If, you are on vacation then maybe, just maybe you can enjoy it and take it for what it is, a few days away from the real world.

But, many expats who live a long time in the Philippines fall into the hole of nothingness. What do you do if there is nothing to do? Retired? Have a wife or girlfriend that does everything for you?

There are only so many times you can go to a mall or walk along a road and watch the world go by. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

It is so easy to go and sit in an expat bar and find someone who is in the same position as you and drink. A single drink turns into all day and into the night. The pleasure of drinking with other expats is a relief, as we can all share our stories of woe. But doing this everyday leads to a pattern of behaviour that will lead to a road of despair.

Filipinas do not really understand the obsession of drinking, and even more they really can’t understand why you cannot have a few drinks at home. You, sitting out most evenings getting louder and louder and perhaps even a few descriptive words will embarrass most of them.

I have seen guys at the same bar night after night totally drunk and abusive to anyone that walks past. They become even lonelier and turn even more to the booze. The problems they may have had before being a big drinker are now even worse.

I see violence and guys behaving shamefully.

I doubt these guys would be the same in their own country, but they feel they can be abusive to other expats and even the local community.

Be warned. If a Filipina reports you for abuse whilst you are drinking you can find yourself in a lot of trouble with the police. Being a foreigner does not give us the right to behave like drunken dogs.

I suppose the relatively cheap price of alcohol is one cause of the problem. Compared to most home countries the beer and even spirits are very cheap. The bars are great places to be happy in.

Remember a drunk is a fool, but he is also prey to bad people.

[philippines-getaway]

New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/scuba-in-the-philippines/

Super Scuba in the Philippines

The Philippines attracts thousands of divers every year and the Philippines has the longest combined stretch of coastline of any nation in the world, and as such is home to an immense amount of coral reefs.One area blessed with a wealth of world class dive sites  coral reefs on Apo Island, to the whalesharks of Oslob and of course the diving off the coast of Dauin,  renowned for the enigmatic mimic octopus, seahorses and frogfish. If you are considering visiting the Philippines as scuba diver or snorkeler, please have a quick glance at these three top tips for responsible water activities, so you can help preserve the beauty of the marine parks, as well as the livelihood of the local people by making informed choices about how you dive and snorkel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

Feeding the fish is not allowed

In the Philippines, the corals are a sensitive ecosystem, where there’s a mechanism that keeps working in order. There’s encroaching sponges and algae that kill off coral, but in turn provide sustenance for the fish that eats the algae. The fish use the reef to seek shelter, find food and the reef fish in turn become food for larger pelagic fish, some of which we eat. When  tourists  feed cheap foods to the fish, they stop grazing the reefs. The algae then kills off the reef as it’s not being held in check, and in turn stops being a breeding ground for new fish generations, which means that the larger pelagic fish suffers as well.

The shells look pretty and exotic on the beach, but will look tacky and tasteless in your living room.

Even empty shells on the beach play their part. Take nothing and please don’t collect anything while diving or snorkeling. (Ever heard about cone shells by the way? – their poisonous stingers are primed to teach shell collectors not to make that mistake twice.

Vendors selling shells on the beaches earn a meagre living  – but by buying their products you are encouraging them not only to collect the shells on the beach, but in the sea as well – your demand will drive them to do it – and in the sea the molluscs are still alive.

Although corals are tiny organisms, they construct some of the largest and most ecologically important structures in the world. Members of a diverse group that includes jellyfish and anemones, most corals live in extensive colonies, and many types form compartments around themselves made of rock-like calcium carbonate that protect them from predators. These tiny exoskeletons, replicated by countless coral polyps, serve as the building blocks for massive coral reefs that fringe coastlines around the world.

Unfortunately, the survival of approximately 75 percent of the world’s tropical coral reefs is currently under threat and 25 percent of Earth’s reefs have already been lost. Global warming and ocean acidification are two of the most important factors, but not the only threats. To better understand how to conserve and protect these fragile habitats, Academy scientists have begun cultivating coral donated from partnering aquariums and regional governments, as well as from clippings sustainably and legally harvested during expeditions. Some of the results of this work can be seen here in this unique 212,000-gallon exhibit.

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New Post has been published on Philippines Getaway

New Post has been published on http://philippinesgetaway.com.au/re-invent-yourself-in-the-pinas/

Re-invent Yourself In The Pinas!

Moving to Philippines

I remember the day I decided to pack up, sell off and move myself to the Philippines, to live. For good. Forever. Well, for as long as I wanted to stay there. It was one of those light bulb moments. My wife had been trying to contact the Aussie embassy to get the ball rolling to apply for a visa to come to Australia. We hadn’t seen each other for a month or so since we were married and I have to say I was missing my honeyko. (Not that I would ever call her that, she’d ‘bunal’ me good!) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

My wife couldn’t even get through to the embassy in those days. You had a 2 hour window each day and the line was always engaged from morning till night. So if the wife can’t come to Australia, the hubby will go there. And I did and it was great and I have no regrets, even if a few years later we moved back to Sydney for the sake of the two kids. Now there’s five of them and I know it was the right decision. But as soon as they are all grown and gone…

You see you can reinvent yourself when you make a major move like that. I know people who have been motivated by the mega change in scenery to try doing something they have only ever dreamed of doing; like farming, or writing, painting, whatever. I wrote and published my first book within a year of landing in Luzon. I had written books before but never had anything other than magazine articles published. This time I did it myself because technology had moved on and eBooks were now happening. It really changed my life and I will never regret taking that time to write. I had pretty much my first year’s living expenses put aside to do whatever I wanted to do before I would have to think hard about working for a living again.

 It was probably the best year of my life. My year.

When the time came to find a job, I found one. Yes, you can find paying work in the Philippines, I did on several occasions. I even wrote a book about it. I wouldn’t advise anyone to go there and hope to get a job or start a business without at least a Filipina spouse to help with the visa arrangements. It can be done but it needs some planning and a bit of cash behind you. Of course, if it comes to a toss up, then just toss the coin and do it anyway. You have nothing to lose but your regrets and you will regret not doing it far more than giving it a go.

There is another kind of re-invented expat you find in the Pinas; the Walter Mitty type. Google that if you don’t know what it means. As an example, I met a lot of Vietnam War veterans in bars over there. Nearly every one of them had been in special forces or on black ops, secret, hush-hush stuff. They could tell me, but then they’d have to kill me and all that. I never met a single cook, clerk, storeman, driver or mechanic; just gnarled combat veterans staring off into the distance before regaling you with tales of their daring do. I did meet a few real veterans and they never spoke about combat, they just played down their role and changed the topic. Do be wary of re-invented personalities; especially the ones that want to jump into business with you after the first San Miguel, but if you’re thinking of a little re-invention, just do it.