*cue pinched, spinsterish moue here*
For ten months I worked for an online dating company when I was living in Australia. Among twenty-eight different websites catering literally to all four corners of the globe, I was always assigned the Filipina website. Aside from speaking a second foreign language, I suspect I was hired because I also spoke Filipino and was familiar with Philippine cultural norms. I knew for example that we have no such thing as a ‘dowry,’ or a ‘bride-price’ which would entail Filipina-hunting grooms to literally pay for their would-be wives.
The first few weeks were nothing short of horrifying. First, our beloved country, along with well-known online scamming hubs such as Ghana and Nigeria, was in our manual listed among high-risk countries to watch for. To compound my chagrin, we weren’t even ‘big-time’ scammers. Instead of relieving rich country netizens of thousands of dollars, pounds or euros, our scammers are content with cellphone load, tuition or for the extra ambitious, three months rent! Leave big-time scamming to Africans, also the most determined hackers, who, day in and day out put our programmers through the wringer. Even in criminal activities, the ordinary Filipino doesn’t dare dream big. Leave the visionary, breath-taking criminal activities to the crème de la crème of société!
My tasks were simple enough. When a client signs up, his or her profile will be put on queue and should be approved within twenty-four hours. So I literally scanned hundreds of profiles in a shift, in two different languages. I also cropped and approved hundreds of photos, and in between answer email queries. Occasionally I would answer phone calls and monitor the chatroom. Yes folks, if you’re on an online dating website somewhere, we can see EVERYTHING.
As my employers were decent folk, my job pretty much entailed policing our sites to keep the riffraff out. And by riffraff I mean scammers, as well as cam girls, many Filipinas who poached our male clients from true, virginal Dalagang Pilipinas.
What adults do in the privacy of their homes I could care less about. However there are days when I come across photos of under-aged girls and my skin crawled. I would wonder whether they were ‘real’ or whether they were simply photos being used by those intent on luring dirty old men. We are also able to read all messages in our sites’ emailing system and once in a while I would read disturbing exchanges about meet-ups, prices, availabilities of so and so ‘young and virginal’ girls. Of course I would delete these people for violating terms of use. But this doesn’t mean they could not just create a new account right after. As we can see IP addresses, most of these dodgy accounts are in the provinces – mainly Cebu. One only need go to our Queen City of the South to see many Caucasian men parading with local girls, boys and everything else in between. We can argue about the slippery-slope that is prostitution, but we can probably all agree that only those of consenting age should engage in such a profession. And parents pimping their children is just. plain. wrong.
When some say women’s groups and other quarters are being onion-skinned about these matters, this may well be true. Also true are tales of abuse. For each of my anecdotes, I’m sure you can name more. There was this case in Germany where a warehouse was set-up, the wares young women, and men would come in to pick and choose a prospective wife. They were free to ‘sample’ the merchandise for three days, after which they may return them if unsatisfied.
If lucky to have been married before moving, the migrant-bride is often totally dependent on her foreign groom once she arrives in her new home. For example in Europe, for three years, the bride has no protection in cases of abuse and the dissolution of the marriage. There is currently no policy addressing this phenomenon according to Babaylan Philippine Women’s Network.
It may well be true that the ‘good life’ for many migrant-brides, especially among those who have grown up with very little, constitute no more than a stable source of food thrice a day, airconditioning and television. And for this ‘good life’ a few slaps here and there would seem a small price to pay. We can also argue that individuals are not victims if they are willing participants. But what choices do our people have these days?
I don’t know about you, but I am loathe to laugh about this phenomenon, even harmlessly said in jest by an otherwise socially-aware Hollywood actor.
Popularity: 2% [?]
This is a mistaken belief of our countrymen. That, if you go abroad.
Your life will be good, prosperous, nice, etc…nothing can be further from the truth.
I am a U.S. immigrant. I know that you have to struggle hard, work hard, study hard and must be strong to accomplish your goals in being an immigrant.
Problems like: race discrimination, being a minority, unique accent,
slang words being used, which you have to figure out; ways of life,
different cultures and surroundings; are the issues you have to face.
It is good I speak English, and have a good education and work
experiences.
Foreign destinations are not Paved with Gold. It can turn into Nightmares, sometimes. So, watch out…
My only problem is that I’m too slim. Never mind that I’m short (5’8″), I’m a real slim guy, though my tool is quite the average pink hog, nothing to be ashamed of and certainly a thing to be proud of for a Pinoy. Kho’s a bubwit compared to yours truly.
BrianBraggart,
Hmmm. Please link up your s** video to substantiate your claim that you’re better built than Kho and ako? :)
http://www.inquirer.net/vdo/player.php?vid=2595
I keep telling you people it’s not the Church that’s keeping us from having a comprehensive population control program, it’s the pols.
Too bad.
You’ll face the same “… Oh, my god, being an immigrant isn’t that easy!!!” experience when you go join your sister, Primer.
I’m not sure I got you UP n?
“For example in Europe, for three years, the bride has no protection in cases of abuse and the dissolution of the marriage.’-Sparks
For some women I know, three years’s worth the trouble if a permanent residency is acquired by virtue of the marriage, in any original European country that is.
“This is a mistaken belief of our countrymen. That, if you go abroad.
Your life will be good, prosperous, nice, etc…nothing can be further from the truth.”
At leats the opportunities there will save you from being consumed by boredom and the Sysiphian misery common to all Filipinos who do not steal or con people.
to caffeine_sparks: agreed. Pinas has societal junky dirty baggage with horny Arabs, China-guys and white dudes coming to Cebu and Pasay for the dalaginding-girls and perverts for the girls — real girls — and boys, too, emboldened by some Pinas parents pimping their young ‘uns.
It is too sad that some western men cannot find women within their home country. Of course, there are many reasons why these men would marry women this way. IT is even more sad WHEN SOME WHITE MEN HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO BE AROUND THEM. THAT RELATIONSHIPS CANNOT BE REAL. Maybe worst, the only reason western males look for brides from impoverished nations is because these are the only women who are desperate enough to pretend to care about them?
Is it not both countries are suffering from being both a loser? What a sad and a desperate world !
Going to sparks blog… I am mortified to know that these sites originate from the provinces and Cebu. If I have to apply the rule of law , the legality and legislative measures that has been done by our policy makers, there’s really none. I may have to believe that these TREND is encouraged like an employment opportunity.
If many of our women are financially independent, or have any options in the home country, they would not even give these men the time of day.
Well, Leytenian,
you are getting better here, in your last line, saying that the solution is economic, and within control of the WOMEN’S country.
There are people of all races who pay for women, not just whites, although in the Philippines it is a special rub because (too many) whites come here to find paradise. Most of them do find a bit of paradise, for the distance their money travels, for the girls, for the beautiful and fun place that is the Philippines. It HAS to be frustrating (or more) to men here to see that. They work hard for their too-few-peso salary, and the rich dudes just slip in and take the prizes.
This is clearly a WOMEN’S issue if ever there was one. As I said in another blog, births in the Philippines outpace the country’s ability to provide WHOLESOME jobs. Therein lies the problem.
It falls to women to correct this, and there are far too few voices being raised. All I read about are the tiresome complaints of an outdated morality whenever women try to take charge of their own reproductive rights. I also see women out on Roxas protesting the VFA as anti-woman, which shows how far away from the real solution they are.
Responsibility. Responsibility. Responsibility.
Take it. Take it by the BALLS!!!
Don’t blame the white dudes or other cultures. Fix the problem.
Joe
to JoeAmerica: white (and technicolor) dudes who come to Pinas to prey on underaged children ARE AT FAULT FOR THEIR ACTIONS and there will be no sympathy if any of these pedophiles get accidentally shot while on their sex tours.
UP:
Who needs white dudes to exploit kids and women – homegrown Pinoys are already doing the job excellently – naglilipanang mga pokpok, GRO, at japayuki – gotta be kidding.
UP n Grad
You follow the argumentative logic of many Phil Congressmen (and US Congressmen). When someone makes a point that hurts, you divert attention by slamming at some other point. The issue is not perverts (who abound), the issue is the Philippines taking responsibility for too many births and not enough jobs, thus tempting those of little means to seek income in professions that are not savory (becoming brides, prostitutes, thieves, rebels, drug runners).
If you want to talk about perverts, that is okay. I’m not interested. But I am highly interested in knowing how you would propose to get the Philippines more responsible for its own well-being regarding the imbalance between births and jobs. Your argumentative method is exactly the problem. Diverting attention elsewhere, blaming someone else, and ignoring the hard work of fixing things.
Joe
mr. joe america, what right have you to pontificate on the philippines and its people? do you have any local connection like being married to a pinay or are you an old-timer war veteran who chose to stay?
you talk about “responsibility” of the filipinos. how about addressing that to most of obama’s supporters who rely on government to put them in equal footing with their self-reliant countrymen?
Bencard,
Reasonable questions, for sure.
I don’t know if aliens have the legal right to free speech in the Philippines. I presume the right because I was raised that way. I could easily be wrong, but hope I am right — that Filipinos are not threatened by freedom of ideas, and believe that the best comes from being open minded rather than closed.
It is my goal to live the rest of my life in the Philippines, with occasional visits back to the US. I am married to a Filipina and have a young son, born in the Philippines. America welcomed him as a citizen freely; the Philippines does not welcome him. The constitution says “dual allegiance is inimitable to national interests” and the Phil government is making me jump through hoops to register him. I want my son to be a Philippine citizen so he can vote or run for office should he so decide.
I served in the US army in Viet Nam and got my appreciation and enjoyment of foreign cultures from that rather unfortunate period. I reached the Philippines by the hands of fate, which directed me to turn right instead of left, as I was on my way to China. I remain in the Philippines because it has cultural style, is physically the most gorgeous place in the universe, my wife would be lonely in the US, and I get rich every day by climbing out of my secure American lifestyle and into the unknown and unexpected. There are other reasons, too, but I’ll reserve them.
I am intensely interested in the well-being of my chosen home country. I also like to write. Thus, I enjoy Filipino Voices immensely, and learn a lot here. (I need to explore what Primer is about; others I kinda understand where they are coming from, even if I don’t agree with them.)
I’ve been on the Islands four years now, and Filipinos who know me know that I am occasionally rude, for my American arrogance and behavior (I don’t receive “drop-in” visitors), but generous and kind of heart. If I offend you or anyone else by having opinions or viewpoints that differ from yours, I am sincerely sorry. I strive to be considerate of the fact that it is your country by right, and mine only by adoption, but perhaps I occasionally fail.
With regard to President Obama. There are those in the US who lack power, too, by virtue of poverty or lack of good lobbyists. Mr. Obama represents all of the people, not just the empowered. He is truly a good man and my guess is that history will record that he was one of the greatest of US presidents. (The world community will also see him that way.)
I don’t like UP n’s obnoxious presumptions, as racism cuts two ways, and especially don’t like the threats of violence.
What is your background? I see you as intelligent but sometimes off on the wrong set of railroad tracks.
Joe
joe america, i didn’t question your “legal right” to free speech whether or not you’re an alien. i was just curious about what appears to be your passionate interest in lecturing filipinos on what is wrong with them and what they have to do to improve themselves. now that you have explained your “connection” – by affinity – i can see why you are in this blog. not to be picayune but i don’t believe it is politically correct to call the philippines “the islands” because it connotes america’s chauvinistic regard for the territory during the colonial times.
as for president obama, i respect your faith in the man but i don’t believe you are a good judge of character. and please, speak for yourself alone, not for the whole world, on whether he would be america’s “greatest” president. have you been bitten by the bug of pinoy “presumptuousness” or you always have it to begin with?
and oh, btw, joe, since you have given me your background and have asked for mine, i owe it to you. i am a full-blooded, natural-born filipino who has become a naturalized american. i earned a law degree in the philippines after finishing a degree in journalism, and became a member of the bar following my graduation. i started practicing law in bicol and metro-manila but the warning signals of marcos’ dictatorship, and the ominous future awaiting freedom-loving lawyers (as well as other filipinos) under a totalitarian rule were a compelling force for me to leave. in america, i joined the corporate world, in a position that requires legal background.
eventually, the love of law beckoned at me once again and inspired me to go back to law school and earned another law degree, passed the bar and set up my own practice, doubling as special public defender for indigent criminal defendants, and handling cases in various fields of the law, except patent. i’m admitted to practice law in all state courts and federal courts of two states, including the 2nd circuit of the u.s. court of appeals. i had been a a part-time journalist, an editor-in-chief of one new york filipino paper, and a contributor of another. i am now a semi-retired partner in my son’s law firm in manhattan, and looking forward to spending more time in my new condo at the fort.
Ah, thanks for the bio brief, Bencard. I shall give your views the respect your long and rich past deserve. I shall also stop referring to the Philippines as “the Islands”, as I can understand Filipino sensitivity to American colonial arrogance, which carries on in my brain through no small smattering of ignorance.
I think that the value of FV is that we can identify such misunderstandings and clear them up. Then move to the next such issue. In a way, FV is “East meets West” . . . Question is, can it be done thoughtfully without personal slanders ruining the dialogue . . .
As for my “lecturing” on the Philippines, I fear that I shall blunder on, attempting to rationalize the irrational. My views are fully and readily ignorable by those who wish to relieve themselves of the strains of reading my self-admitted blather.
Best to you. NY is great, but nice to escape from. I hope your condo has a fast internet connection and you keep on rippin’ . . .
Joe
Leytenian,
On gut feel, some might be even more mortified to know that such sites have been under the overseer of one of our colleagues – if that drift be quite correct? Something in the backyard stinks.
primer, i’m not surprise but he may not be able to find another career?
You and leytenian are talking about Nick, right?
Eh, alam niyo naman ang mga Pinoy.
“Anywhere but here”
The rule of LAW:
So folks…. what is the role of our policymakers in this regard? Statistics on Violence are well documented. The solution are quiet obvious.
Of course Joe, the BALLS are sensitive…but I will grab you by your ears. :) kidding…
correction: The solution are QUITE obvious. LOL…
L.
I appreciate the thoughtful consideration! Thanks!
Joe
Waaaaa! Waaaaa! America’s National Scripps Spelling Bee are all Indianeses who are denegrated by Flips becaue their englischtzes cannot be understood
And Flips? I guess there’s one. WOWOWIEEEE!!!!!! Can we give this Flip a big back slap!!!!!?
NO WAY!!!! flips rather want a kindergarten-dropout Manny Pacquiao!!!!
WAAAAA! wAAAAA!!!!!!
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=7687177&page=1
Just like renato. You two must be very ill. Your comments do not make any sense and the nerve. You sound like you live on welfare fund, damn it.
he’s Renato!
It’s a free market folks. It seems that our inability to deal with the masses’ taste for politicians extends to the masses’ tastes for employment opportunities.
It comes down, yet again, to imagination.
In the same way that Pinoy voters collectively cannot imagine a breed of politicians or even an entire form of politics beyond and alternative to the moronic one we seem addicted to, there seems to be an inability to imagine an approach to commerce beyond and altenative to labour-added-value.
So we are left with a reliance on the search for employment opportunities rather than the creation of employment opportunities.
And just as in a free and open political system such as democracy where the quality of the outcomes reflect the quality of the constituents, in a free and open market, the quality (such as its sustainability and its relative return) of the added value reflects the quality of the economic input (labour and capital employed).
It’s simple, really™ :D
In a third world country such as the Philippines, democracy has yet to exist. When activists are killed and placed to jail, that’s not Free and open Political Market. In a free and open market, full disclosure of guarantee and merchantibility exist. People are made aware of the products snd services offered. Therefore, Benigno may not have truly understood the Philippine market and how it connects at a disadvanteg to the world market :)
When women marry another man away from her home country, she has to abide the rules within his roof to wait for her greencard. While waiting she may not be allowed to work under a fiancee visa or temporary. Her access to freedom is very limited and it is mostly controlled by her consumer-husbands.
In a free market, the rule of law prevails. The employer and employment contract (husband and wife) in the MOB industry is a FOREIGN AFFAIR. Who is responsible and accountable to the people? DEPT of Foreign Affair.
The Philippine is a democracy in form.
However, people behave like feudal SERFS :lol:
and benigno,
what made you think that the Philippines enjoys an open and free political market? is this the reason why you cannot fully disclose your identity. Your “in hiding” is understandable but it can also be interpreted that you have not enjoying FREEDOM from Fear. Welcome back to Philippines… :) that’s your reality.
Bong,
It’s an emerging country. it has yet to emerge. Let’s put more pressure to the public personalities. Let them be accountable and be responsible to the daily affairs of this country. The rule of law: employment and emploeey contract between Philippine and public official is binding and “that is to protect the interest of the people”
OMG.. i am going to be late again. Keep blogging I am off next week… yehey. :)
Folks are beginning to fall again into the illogic of “either-or”. The current version is
Pinas has a democratic form of government.
However, the form of government is distinct from political culture – defined as:
“A shorthand expression to denote the set of values within which the political system operates”.
“the sum of the fundamental values, sentiments and knowledge that give form and substance to political process”.”
***
Accodring to Robert Dahl in his book “Democracy and its Critics”, no modern country meets the ideal of democracy, which is as a theoretical utopia. To reach the ideal requires meeting 5 criteria:
1 – Effective Participation
2 – Voting Equality at the Decisive Stage
3 – Enlightened Understanding
4 – Control of the Agenda
5 – Inclusiveness
By these standards, The Philippines is still a long way off from being a democracy, despite having a democratic form of government.
The open source reference points out
However, Dahl’s view is now superseded by the 4 networks theory proposed by Michael Mann. According to sociologist Michael Mann’s theory – the power structures within Western civilization, and probably other civilizations, too, are best understood by determining the intertwinings and relative importance at any given time of the organizations based in four “overlapping and intersecting sociospatial networks of power” (Mann, 1986, p. 1). These networks are ideological, economic, military, and political — “The IEMP model” for short.
Which will be the topic of another blog ;)
leytenian:
I came across this in Randy David’s opinion column on Ma href=”http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090509-203994/Primal-ethics”>Primal Ethics –
i don’t know what randy david says here about the prohibition is re premature campaigning.
Gabbyd:
The recent activities of the presumed candidates like Bayani Fernando, Mar Roxas, De Castro, Teodoro, Villar, etc are for all intents and purposes posturing and campaigning activities.
However, since they have not officially declared their candidacy, they be cannot be accused of preliminary campaigning because they are not official candidates.
The purpose of the law against premature campaigning is of course, to level the playing field. But this campaign-like actions of potential candidates are loopholes which are being exploited right before our very eyes.
Which shows, that while the intent of the legislation against premature campaigning is for the purpose of fairness – the activity of these candidates defeat/break/violate the intent of the law.
Which shows, fairness can’t be legislated in the PI homeland – talagang hahanap ng butas upang makalusot at manggulang ang mga pinoy.
“The recent activities of the presumed candidates like Bayani Fernando, Mar Roxas, De Castro, Teodoro, Villar, etc are for all intents and purposes posturing and campaigning activities.”
this is what i don’t get.
what are these activites? talking about the country’s problems? going on TV? advocating for change ‘X’?
politicians go on TV all the time, and talk about issues all the time in other countries.
Seems to me the law against pre-campaigning is like the Right to Reply bill, undemocratic moves by the entrenched to silence voices that might “un-trench” them.
What is campaigning? It is being visible, with an agenda. What law can stop that, or define when it is allowed to start???
Do these laws reflect that the entrenched are squirming a bit? What is next? Shutting down free expression on the internet?
Oh my oh my oh my . . .
The futility of silencing people . . . Better to work on their behalf.
Joe
this is what i don’t get.
what are these activites? talking about the country’s problems? going on TV? advocating for change ‘X’?
politicians go on TV all the time, and talk about issues all the time in other countries.
Yup. but it seems the issue this time is more specific to issues involving the presidency.
Benign0, I disagree. The problem is not imagination. I imagine the Philippine government as a place where an ambitious college grad can enter as a low-level manager, then rise on his ability to set goals, marshal resources, measure results, and achieve. He doesn’t need bribes because he knows it will destroy his career opportunities.
The problem is the failure of schools to teach management effectively (I think they have never heard of Peter Drucker), and the failure of government to see employment as a stream of opportunities that motivates people to get the people’s work done honestly. The government doesn’t create the opportunities because that means the well-entrenched who can’t perform would have to be moved out in favor of the competent. Entrenched is the operative word.
If there is a lack of imagination, it is in how to get the entrenched out . . .
Oops. So I guess I have circled back to agree with you . . .
Joe
A bigger problem in public office is that personnel and officials do not know the application of management. they don’t know how to manage the lazy, the ones who lack imagination, the poor, the dirty streets, crimes, and even allocating budget to the city and how money should be spent wisely.
Even understanding the basic demand and supply has not been understood. They knew for a fact that there are more people who need jobs than there are jobs and yet its governace style remain to be untalented and nonskilled. They have no Vision.
Last night, we went for dinner with my very close friends from Cebu. They are here for the Annual ASCO convention. After revisiting the fun memories from UP high and Velez College, the conversation took us to Philippine economy. I was surprised initially that both said, “its the culture of pinoy that drags the country”. There’s more to that story though but I only said one thing to them ” your payment of taxes should help take care some of the problems of the poor” then the conversation went to corruption, lacking employment , hayden kho and among our other friends.. I’m sure we will revisit it tonite when more friends in the US are coming to see them. I am hoping that I can take them to paint the town RED, instead. will see.
I am hoping that I can take them to paint the town RED, instead. will see.
take them to Universal City Walk – or House of Blues in Downtown Disney – and talk some more over bottomless draft beer :lol:
oh bong, right you are from jacksonville?
will see, i would like to take them downtown orlando to church street. been there?
these are friends that are successful in their career, too righteous and willing to extend help .
the sad part is they doubled their efforts to the community and yet their representatives are only sitting pretty at the big public office , spending the taxes they have paid. i think i made them wake up last nite so I am hoping that we can have fun instead. I am pretty sure they will not blame the culture anymore but will probably help and make their representatives to get directly involved with their projects. It is a process of teamwork. That’s how it needs to be done- a collective effort to educate the “common tao”.
yes, i’ve been to church street – it’s similar to ybor city in tampa. and yup from jax.
check out http://www.universalorlando.com/citywalk.html
you have more choices if you don’t find a spot to your liking.
you have secure parking too.
Primer (and probably blackshama and DingG and others) has a lot of angst in the way that criticism seems to be only about Pinas. What they can do seems straightforward.
Some Pinoys in Pinas should pick an issue about life in USA (or the culture of the USA) and point these out in their most unflattering light to Pinoys-in-USA (just to get some hurling of viewpoints going the other way).
Abe Margallo, surely, can write on his anti-USA views.
There is a treasure trove of anti-US materials. But at the end of the day, Pinoys are voting with their feet – and lining up at the US embassy
but BongV: I posed a trick issue. I want DingG or blackshama to forget for a moment about being defensive against criticisms of features of life in Pinas. For them to just relax, then for them to really criticize FilAm’s lives in USA or benign0′s life in whereever he is.
It is a trick-question because my expectation is that
What’s the worst?
– Discrimination? BrianB has written consistently about discrimination in Pinas.
– working two jobs to afford a car or a 50″-plasma TV? Like this is a problem.
– A militaristic government? hmmmm… Pinas would wish it had a strong military.
– A government and a society without purpose and vision?
Oh, yeah — there is the legitimate criticism against USA’s USA electoral college system. WhoopeeDoo!!!!
—————
In the exercise, I hope some folks grow up and realize how nonsensical to put effort in “creatively”-imagining if BAKLA or PALAKA, the Partido Lakas-KAMPI is going to be to their “today’s contribution” to moving forward politics in Pinas.
UP N:
As Ashton Kutcher says “I’m PUNK’d” :lol:
Understood your point. Exactly.
Bong pls make it short. It’s too long. :)
can’t please everyone. just grin and bear it.
By the way (to DingG and any other who wonders), below is a good description of one of the distinguishing features of a conservative American:
UP n,
You lay the supposition that be it in America or in RP, there will be those who will vent their anti-order sentiments – angst, hate, and all.
If I follow your drift, you seem to want to hear FilAms themselves complain about a specific part of the American system that could be deemed dysfunctional, to use one of benigno’s favorite Marxist verses.
But what about it?
Here maybe the difficulty. If our peso represents us, then, in any given relationship with Americans (FilAms included), no one can tilt the balance on our side.
In other words, given this grossly imbalanced foreign currency rate, one finds it always superior to be on the other side of the globe. How indeed can one complain of having so much for giving so little?
But here in Pinas, now matter how you try.
Interesting discussion.
Filipinos hate the US and they love the US. They hate the arrogance of power; they love the freedoms, wealth and opportunity.
The US is not Hollywood. It is not Smith or white perverts. It is not an army, not a war mongerer, not an imperialist. It is not Del Monte or McDonalds or Alec Baldwin or the Los Angeles Lakers.
The US is not dysfunctional in most arenas as it sincerely tries to rationalize differing views on what is good or bad. The dialogue is heated, but not murderous (as it is in the Philippines). The US is socially welcoming of all races and almost all ideas. It strives to give equal opportunity to whites, blacks, browns, olds, youngs, women, men, gays, straights, and the handicapped. However, the US is a mad-dog economic giant. The US is the chief contributor to global warming, yet is a laggard in protecting other countries – countries such as the Philippines, which will see coastal cities begin to submerge in 25 to 50 years.
If I were a Filipino, I would not be raising hell about Smith and the VFA. I would be raising hell that the US is not taking the global lead to stop the ice from melting. The US is lagging . . . because to lead would hurt US commercial interests. Meanwhile, it is the Philippines that will pay the price in the not-too-distant future. In Obama, you have a leader who will listen and try to do the right thing; Bush was deaf in many areas.
As for the dollar/peso imbalance, there are two ways to look at it. One is to condemn the Philippines for falling so far behind, economically. The other is to say, wow, we can create a zillion jobs here if we would simply welcome investors instead of chasing them away (with upside-down laws, irrational taxes and cumbersome paperwork processes).
Joe
I was a Filipino living in Louisiana and I was raising hell why the the Federal system screwed up in response to Katrina and why driving on top of a levee I noticed that the WHITE neighborhood on the left got rebuilt and the BLACK neighborhood on the right still lay in ruins!
Hey Joe! Don’t put much hope in the Obamamessiah. He is just one other politician with a temp job in the White House. He is a politician first before everything else. Voters can be disposable if that would get him the votes!
Lousiana was an issue that haunted Dubya. That contributed to the support for BHO.
Blackshama
He has to be a politician because it is the way business is conducted. But I’ll hold onto my confidence that he is a principled one.
Joe
Joe America makes more sense than Nick and Primer …
THAT’S TRUE JOE AMERICA …
That is why I don’t celebrate Philippine independece day on June 12. I celebrate July 4th the day we got independence from America in a silver platter with 1 on 1 currency parity …
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
And those Flips in America without their knowing, OBVILUSLY BECAUSE THEY ARE OBLIVIOUS, dance tinikling before the crowd in city center of Los Angeles, San FRancisco, Chicago, Jacksonville and Las Vegas to celebrate June 12.
June 12 WAS A SLAP AGAINST THE AMERICANS and to add inuury to insult THESE OBLIVIOUS FLIPS CELEBRATE IT IN AMERICA!!!!
HOW WEIRD … I BET YOU PRIMEER CELEBRATE JUNE 12 IN AMERICA TOOO WITH HIS PERPEKT ENGLISCHTZES!!!!! at the same time castigating the very Americans who gave him comfort and “success” …
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
hey yO FLIPS IN AMEICA YOU SHOULDN’T BE CELEBRATIN JJNE 12 …. BECAUSE ONCE AMERICA KNOWS ABOUT JUNE 12 THEY’LL HAVE YOU ALL ICED …
HA!HA1HA!HA!HA!
Blackshama, if the economy goes well you better thank Obama … :)
“As for the dollar/peso imbalance, there are two ways to look at it. One is to condemn the Philippines for falling so far behind, economically. The other is to say, wow, we can create a zillion jobs here if we would simply welcome investors instead of chasing them away (with upside-down laws, irrational taxes and cumbersome paperwork processes)” —
Joe america, THAT IS WHY I JUST DON’T GET PEOPLE HERE IN THIS BLOG why they nitpick on our law when our law is tupsy-turvy, upside down, irrational, cumbersome and illogical ……
.
Joe America:
my confidence that he is a principled one
Must admire your statement above, though I am more inclined to believe it springs not from your confidence, but more from your affinity with his idealogy.
Please prove me wrong, by citing actions he has done as a president that jibe with his principled stands during the campaign.
We can set aside the Gitmo rhetoric in the meantime,, since now we know his strong declaration about closing it appears hollow.
BTW, welcome to the old homeland, but please keep posted with events, especially political, in your old homeland. And please do try to diversify your sources of information.
Amadeo
You are correct regarding Mr. Obama’s ideology, so no need to prove you wrong. I also like him at the core personal level because he is intelligent, confident, listens, gets his priorities straight, and has high principles. That gives me confidence.
I wouldn’t say his pronouncements on Gitmo are hollow, but “reshaped” due to coming face-on to the legal ramifications and practicalities of what closing the prison means. Har Campaigning is an intense time of “ideating” without being real. So everyone goes through the same reality check once they sit at the desk where the buck doth stop.
Your question on his actions is a good one. I think he has taken the edge off international relations a bit. With Europe, Cuba, South America, and the Middle East. With that comes an improved ability to find common ground. His stance vs. Israel is harder and clearer, as he does not answer to lobbying groups. The economic package has had short-term value of stabilizing the collapse; the long term impacts are risky – inflation, overwhelming debt, underwater social security, etc. Having a China policy built on pragmatism rather than ideology. New nuclear arms treaty in the works. Stopping road-building in national parks. More assertive on climate change. Rethinking the classification of documents. Much more . . . he has been a buzz saw . . . internationally and domestically . . .
I keep close to both homelands. They are in my blood. I’m sure you understand.
Feel free to “diversify” me any time you wish. I do read a lot but welcome hearing from adversaries who don’t want just to “get personal”.
Joe
Is there no one here to ask about the scope of work of the author of this blog so far as the nature of the business, if we may call it that, appears to border in something inconsistent with our ‘moral instincts’ or existing laws (perhaps?)?
Primer, who are you directing your questions to? And if you are insinuating something about or want some clarification from sparks, aksaya ng panahon ang paligoy-ligoy. Ask her directly.
“…inconsistent with our “moral instincts”? HA!HA!HA!HA!
Lookit, dude, we’re 96,000,000 and breeding like rabbits exponentiantlly annd you are talking about “moral insticnts”
Me Satan …And you are here deeply analyzing legalities and politics?
Hey, ya folks, i’d take Primer posts with a grain of salt with soy sauce for my ears …
Everytime you have a hard-on (before and after bed) THAT IS MORALITY GONE OUT OF THE WINDOW …..
bUT YOUR church redefined it …. MORALITY STOPS AT THE BEDROOM DOOR!!!!!!!!! hA1ha!ha!ha!ha!ha!
In Philippinas, MORALITY STOPS WHEN THEY GET A EXIT VISA!!!!!
how oblivious can you get Primer of course with RESPECT
ha!ha!ha!ha!ha!ha!
There’s a broader definition of this issue. As I have previously said
Trafficking that includes domestic workers, mail-order brides, prostitutes and other Filipino women who were/are encouraged/forced to immigrate can be part of Globalization or Capitalism. It must then be viewed in a global and historical context. The current trend of trafficking of Filipino women does not merely reflect the relationship between domestic worker and employer, or
between mail-order bride and husband, or between prostitute and john, and between trafficked woman and trafficker but
So do you think Bayani and other candidates can connect all this bullshit or they will just blame everything to the white monkeys? and sit in Big Public office, doing nothing and sitting pretty. Probably will blame the people and the culture? sounds like almost all of them can be like benigno. :)
Mike,
The ball is in her (the author of blog) court. Let her respond, if she wishes.
Renato,
I have no pretention that Joe America makes an aweful lot of sense and sure felt utterly disgusted that bencard failed to stand his ground – you know this guy operates on a ‘hit-and-run’ for his manifestly poor skill to argue his case. But there are those who never stop throwing stones on your glass windows, so be it.
UP n,
You have been noticed by Joe America. It’s no shame to take heed.
failed to stand my ground? how moronic. do you you realize, with your puny brain, that i live on the other side of the globe from where joe says he is? you “utterly disgusted”? who the hell do you think you are? hit and run? i don’t do this for a living, nor have i the luxury of blogging away my precious time 24 hours a day. i have a life, too. why don’t you get one, punk?
besides, i only “stand my ground” against worthy adversaries, if and when i want to. but i don’t take offensive remarks about me lying down, no matter how mentally-challenged the attacker happens to be.
First things first. React to Joe on his 5 to 6 paragraph(ful) of response to your unkind comment.
I chose to waive my response to what you just concocted as a total waste of time.
Let us hear what your brains will say.
What crap are these – moronic? puny brain? punk? mentally challenged attacker?
Wordsmiths that reflect their own very nature. Kaput.
Is this what senile old men do for fun now that they can’t get it up?
have you heard of viagra? are my writings the product of “senile” old man? go troll somewhere, punk. this is not your place.