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[TigsyTikkles]

PattayaParent, on 2012-01-22 08:59:39, said:

^I know more people in Manila that have been robbed at knife point and gun point than in Thailand, and also know someone who has been car jacked.

Manila is also famous for kidknappings.

I'd say Manila is much worse than Pattaya, although I never had any problems myself in 4 years there.

Yes kidnapping true is more common in Manila than Pattaya. But I wouldn't say it's a daily occurence, far from it.

Check out PattayaOne dot net (Which I think is the most honest newspaper in Pattaya. The other publications usually aim to print just the good side of Pattaya to attract more tourists and/or not offfend the police)-  the daily news of Pattaya read like a grisly crime novel almost everyday. Decapitated heads, random violence, mob beat up...

In Manila, you'll hear about daily pickpocketing but not violent crimes. This agian is just comparing daily news because I do know Manila has violent crimes too...they're just not as common as Pattaya's. Petty crime is though.

Also, Manila is massive and an older city compared to Pattaya. Imagine, if things don't change, what Pattaya would be like in the future with more people in a denser area.

That being said, I find most of Manila disgusting, it's so dirty. Pattaya is cleaner but has more psychos because of the pool of expats (not all are respectable after all) and local addicts, mafia etc. It's funny though, after living in Manila and Pattaya, the one place in the world I would least dare to walk in alone at night is Downtown Los Angeles! All the crackheads and psychos out there.

[TigsyTikkles]

PattayaParent, on 2012-01-23 10:52:41, said:

I haven't been back to visit Phiippines in 12 years (2000) but after being there 4 years I moved to Thailand in 1994 and found Thailand to be more expensive than Philippines but everything to be of better quality, except the beer. San Miguel Super Dry is better than any of the Thai beers and (was) cheaper.

I'm curious, where did you live in the Philippines? I lived on Negros island. Very cheap and clean...a city called Bacolod there was declared cleanest city in all of the Philippines more than once. It's much cleaner than Chiang Mai and other Thai cities outside BKK and Pattaya.

[TigsyTikkles]

To add to places I like in the Philippines: (I cannot stand Manila at all. I didn't grow up there - went to college in the old part of Manila City) I love Bacolod and Sagada. I actually haven't traveled much around the Philippines even though I grew up there. When I return this year I plan to see more of my country.

I heard great things about Bohol. I want to see the chocolate hills, the tarsier and the beaches.

I also heard really amazing things about Davao, it's a big city in Mindanao. A mayor called Duterte used to run it and now his son is the vice mayor and the Dutertes apparently rule with an iron fist. Criminals take fewer risks in Davao. My brother-in-law told me it is the one big city in the Philippines where he knows his cell phone won't be snatched. I heard it's also really clean with a great agriculture industry. The fruits there are delicious and so are the local delicacies like candy made from Davao fruits. My best friend is from Davao and brings me goodies from his city all the time.

Palawan of course is a prime destination too.

Most of all, I love the city of Bacolod. I grew up there. Whereas some people don't miss their hometown, people who grew up in Bacolod always return to this city no matter if they lived for decades in America or Europe.  It's not touristy but if I imagine myself to be a Western expat looking to retire in the Philippines, Bacolod will be top of my list. It's cheap and clean. There are taxi cabs to take you places - even two family-owned cab companies you can call 24/7 to pick you up and take you anywhere with no extra cost. The local delicacy is Chicken Inasal, grilled chicken..a far cry from the oily taste associated with most Filipino dishes. Tinola is also served there - chicken stew mixed with local vegetables. Again, not oily and very healthy. A lot of the local cuisines are boiled or grilled with plenty of vegetables.

As soon as your plane lands in Bacolod you'll see it's a far cry from landing in Manila...we're talking a whole other universe. Land in NAIA, Manila and you'll be greeted with traffic jams, pollution, beggars, etc. Land in Negros island (where Bacolod is, it shares the same island with Dumaguete but they’re at opposite ends of this sock-shaped island) and you'll see lush green fields as far as your eyes can see and mountains.

The Cons of Bacolod: (1) There are power outages for a few hours weekly. If you can afford a generator then you’re ok. (2) If a very vibrant night life is what you want, Bacolod isn't for you. There are clubs but they're more like bars. People do enjoy barhopping every weekend but the bars are more cozy than pumping like Walking Street, Pattaya (not a bad thing for some, boring for party animals). It makes for a more quiet and laidback drinking atmosphere. But then again, most retirees would love this. I'm far from retiring but I prefer quiet cities over big cities with a bustling nightlife anytime. (3) There aren’t a lot of expats yet. Koreans come to study English in Bacolod, a lot of them preferring it over Manila since it’s much safer and cheaper. But the expat community will take some time to grow. Maybe not also a bad thing in some respects since locals keep the prices down.
~~~~~~~
I asked a German recently who lived in Bacolod for a whole year if he liked it. He said yes because it not a big city but it’s not a small town either. There are several hospitals. A family member went through a major operation, an organ transplant, in Bacolod last year and it went very well. Medical care by SE Asian standards is very good. The best doctors train in America regularly. There are some very wealthy families who live in this city and invest in it.

Last, a big pro for beer-lovers and those with sweet tooth, the island Bacolod is on has a lot of sugarcane plantations. Expect delicious sweet delicacies found only in this part of the world. Beer tastes very fresh because the San Miguel plantation right in Bacolod is made with the local sugar and delivered to the bars straight from the factory.
October is the best time to go as a tourist because of the festive Maskara festival. A beer garden is put up on major street, which is blocked off for days.

I highly suggest going to Wikipedia's site and searching "Bacolod Philippines". The city's standard of living is ranked higher than that of any other mid-sized city in the Philippines including Baguio. It was also called "Best place to live in the Philippines" by a financial magazine.Etc...

Edited by TigsyTikkles, 2012-01-23 13:07:57.

[SPIKECM]

TigsyTikkles, on 2012-01-23 12:58:48, said:

I heard great things about Bohol. I want to see the chocolate hills, the tarsier and the beaches.

The Chocolate Hills as far as I remember isn’t something to get too excited about. It was a 3 hour drive from where we were and at the end of the journey we were attacked by kids selling all the usual tourist rubbish. We saw some nicely strange round hills above their heads, then it was time to go back home.  This must have been about 17 years ago, but I doubt if anything has changed! Even the kids won’t have gotten any older. Just their faces will have changed.
Incidentally I seem to remember diving in either Moalboal in Cebu or in Bohol. I can’t remember which. There was an older guy there with the ironic name of Mr Goodman. Everyone there laughed at his name. He was an old Vietnam Vet married to some young girl and he had a young kid to her. Just by looking at him, you could tell he had quite obviously seen some horrible stuff in his life and I suspect from his face, had done something awful too. He lived in Thailand previously but was proud to say that he was banned from that country. It would be interesting if anyone knows what happened to him. I guess he will be dead and there’s some 18 year old Mr Goodman in his place. He will be spared the draft this time round and his face won't have a terrible story to tell. I thought the diving centre was in Moalboal, but as the Chocolate Hills are in Bohol and I thought we did a trip to the Chocolate Hills from the diving place, this doesn’t work.
Anyway, we had a great time there in these islands, but the Chocolate Hills was a big disappointment.

[TigsyTikkles]

SPIKECM, on 2012-01-24 06:50:59, said:

TigsyTikkles, on 2012-01-23 12:58:48, said:

I heard great things about Bohol. I want to see the chocolate hills, the tarsier and the beaches.

The Chocolate Hills as far as I remember isn’t something to get too excited about. It was a 3 hour drive from where we were and at the end of the journey we were attacked by kids selling all the usual tourist rubbish. We saw some nicely strange round hills above their heads, then it was time to go back home.  This must have been about 17 years ago, but I doubt if anything has changed! Even the kids won’t have gotten any older. Just their faces will have changed.
Incidentally I seem to remember diving in either Moalboal in Cebu or in Bohol. I can’t remember which. There was an older guy there with the ironic name of Mr Goodman. Everyone there laughed at his name. He was an old Vietnam Vet married to some young girl and he had a young kid to her. Just by looking at him, you could tell he had quite obviously seen some horrible stuff in his life and I suspect from his face, had done something awful too. He lived in Thailand previously but was proud to say that he was banned from that country. It would be interesting if anyone knows what happened to him. I guess he will be dead and there’s some 18 year old Mr Goodman in his place. He will be spared the draft this time round and his face won't have a terrible story to tell. I thought the diving centre was in Moalboal, but as the Chocolate Hills are in Bohol and I thought we did a trip to the Chocolate Hills from the diving place, this doesn’t work.
Anyway, we had a great time there in these islands, but the Chocolate Hills was a big disappointment.

Sorry to hear you didn't like the Chocolate Hills. But that was 17 years go.
My European friend just got back from the Chocolate Hills last month and she absolutely loved it. She was not just saying she liked it after I asked her, but raved about it.
People have varying taste so I always make sure to see places myself   17 years ago is way too long ago to say a place isn't worth seeing.

[PattayaParent]

TigsyTikkles, on 2012-01-23 11:42:06, said:

PattayaParent, on 2012-01-23 10:52:41, said:

I haven't been back to visit Phiippines in 12 years (2000) but after being there 4 years I moved to Thailand in 1994 and found Thailand to be more expensive than Philippines but everything to be of better quality, except the beer. San Miguel Super Dry is better than any of the Thai beers and (was) cheaper.

I'm curious, where did you live in the Philippines? I lived on Negros island. Very cheap and clean...a city called Bacolod there was declared cleanest city in all of the Philippines more than once. It's much cleaner than Chiang Mai and other Thai cities outside BKK and Pattaya.

Roxas Boulevard, Harrison, Manila

[58130]

SPIKECM, on 2012-01-20 09:00:23, said:

The poverty here is quite unbelievable. The place is totally dependent on overseas work remittances.....but I reckon if they would give me power for 10 years I could sort the whole place out. I would make a simple start by lining all the police up against a wall and shooting them. That would get rid of most of the criminals. Next I would line up the taxi touts at the airport (who help stop a lucrative tourist industry right when they come off the plane). Eventually you can see my plan would help check the population problem. But you would be left with lots of good people. I would get the movie "religulous" translated into all the languages here, make it compulsory viewing for all and then there would surely be complete understanding when I converted all the churches and mosques to badminton courts or day care centres for kids, whilst their parents started working in the new economy which would have been kick started by shooting all of the old Spanish elite here who control all the commerce. Also as you can see there would be a bright future of employment in a burgeoning arms industry. If you own a chicken factory here, you get more money if you sell abroad, but if a chicken farmer in Thailand wants to export his cheaper produce to the hungry Filipinos, the old elite will find some way to throw a spanner into their container cooler system. I would let Tesco in with open arms. Incredibly no Tesco or the likes here as again the old elite don't want that. You get old dusty Chinese department stores which have check out lines saying "Senior Citizens, Disabled and Pregnant Women Only". Maybe I could introduce a law where every new Tesco supermarket has to have a line for "Religious People", but strictly no more than one line. A pregnant disabled dwarf with a seriously bad attitude (that probably would go without saying) could staff it. All the other lines could say "Infadels Only".
In telecommunications, there's only pseudo competition. Any start up gets swallowed up by the giants to keep prices high. Nowadays the way to get absurdly rich is to control the mobile companies. Every extra one piso a minute makes billions. Look at that Mexican, Carlos Slim. What is he? The richest man in the world? There must be the equivalent here. This is a country of the absurdly rich and the absurdly poor. It is what happens when you deny a country a free market. Nothing much will change though. A free press and a democratic system have made no difference. Once that old cancer, corruption, gets a hold there's not a lot of hope to change anything.

Great ideas you have here.    Most of the old Spanish elite are already inactive except maybe for one or 2 families.  The Chinese Filipinos now control most of the big industries.  I wouldn't be surprised if in 20 or so years time, a few Koreans would also join the mix.

Re your thoughts about a small hotel - they have been my thoughts exactly for the past few years.  Say in Manila, there isn't a single hotel or bnb or guesthouse that anybody ever raves about unlike say Bali or Chiang Mai or even Bangkok where there are at least 20 such establishments getting rather iconic reviews.  Same for Cebu and possibly Angeles.  No one knows how to run such an establishment and they only get business bec all other options are crap too.

[bangkokburning]

You are a walking target in Philippines. Any Pinoy can make a charge against you and you end up in jail for which the greasy local cops can ajudicate this for the Pinoy. can range from swearing at someone for being so stupid (and they are stupid) to fake rape of a girl who has never even been inside your hotel let alone your room. John in 512 - yup, he raped me.

I had seen on some TV documentary 10% of the nation is on Ya-Ice.

They are the laziest, unclever, slow, cautious (as in not chance takers) people I have ever met.

The women can be charming until they wear on you, then the accent /cadance is beyond annoying.

Food is a disaster. I would rather eat foetus. Many Phillipinos might as well.

Poverty is crushing and only getting worse. A throughly broken nation.


Philippinos are not really East Asians, they are Pacific Islanders and the mentality really follows.


It is expensive and a poor value. Only people living there anymore are Koreans, dodgy Austrailans, a few very sketchy English and a tiny pack of old US servicemen. They are all alcoholics. That in addition to the odd and creepy old German/Dutch guy, the old eccentric European woman and a handful of divers that hang on touting an experience long since dead and gone - beautiful reef and loads of fish.

Edited by bangkokburning, 2012-01-25 07:33:12.

[monty1412]

Food is absolute crap in PI..  think about it .. how many Filipino  restaurants do you see around.

[bangkokburning]

The Chinese control EVERYTHING and that whole spanish-mixing thing is by and large a myth perpetuated by guys that don't know anything. The only mixing that well to do Europeans two centuries ago would do would be with the whores and the very elite. Maybe you ought to have a look at colonial history of Europe. My hunch is that at best 3% could claim any sort of European linkage that honetly dates back 100s of years so the claim is really quite tenous in any regard.

Philippinos - always wishing they were anywhere but and anyone but a Philippino.

I made a joke when I was there...

Q: What do you call a smart Philippino?
A: An expatriate.

[bangkokburning]

I've been to Bacolad and for Phils, its OK. The other place one might check is Dumaguete - but they are both not worth living in. They are just places. Nothing special about them.

[bangkokburning]

My hunch is the job is up in Angeles City on base in the economic zone. Equally bad as Manila in many ways.

[bangkokburning]

I used to laugh that even Cambodia had higher arrival numbers than Philippines. That is passe, I bet now even Lao PDR has higher numbers.

It's dirty, dangerous, unpleasant for all but the punter in search of cheap beer and cheaper women. Despite all the islands, nowhere has really lovely beaches and what exist they have ruined thru overbuilding and or scams. Then there is the dyanmite and cyanide fishing...

http://www.businessm...ing-the-paradox

[PattayaParent]

monty1412, on 2012-01-25 07:13:33, said:

Food is absolute crap in PI..  think about it .. how many Filipino  restaurants do you see around.

In PI? Loads.

One time working in Saudi a Filipino colleague told me about a new restaurant opened up serving Filipino food. I quite like adobo and Bicol express so asked excitedly what food they serve.

He replied, hot dog, hamburgers, fried chicken, pizzas.

[TigsyTikkles]

bangkokburning, on 2012-01-25 07:17:26, said:

The Chinese control EVERYTHING and that whole spanish-mixing thing is by and large a myth perpetuated by guys that don't know anything. The only mixing that well to do Europeans two centuries ago would do would be with the whores and the very elite. Maybe you ought to have a look at colonial history of Europe. My hunch is that at best 3% could claim any sort of European linkage that honetly dates back 100s of years so the claim is really quite tenous in any regard.

Philippinos - always wishing they were anywhere but and anyone but a Philippino.

I made a joke when I was there...

Q: What do you call a smart Philippino?
A: An expatriate.

I dont know about the Filipinos you have met (it's ok to criticize the Philippines. I'm not sensitive about it, there are many problems there for sure. But at least spell "Filipino" correctly LOL) but I know a lot of Filipinos who are happy to be Filipinos. I myself am due to apply for a US citizenship but I'm opting out. I'm very comfortable in the Philippines and I refuse to pay American taxes. The people I know who are traveling a lot right now are Filipinos. Sure, we need to apply for visas to go to Europe etc but with money in the bank a visa is no problem. Why travel to Europe, Japan, US etc anyway if you can't afford it?

My Filipino friends range from middle class to the wealthy. I have Filipino-American friends who moved out of the US and are happy being back home.

Citing a joke claiming "Philippinos" are stupid while writing with the English skills of a retard - now that is funnier than the joke itself

Again, it's ok to criticize but you can't even spell Filipino right let alone have a good grasp about how we think. Don't assume all of us want to be someone else. There are lots of FIlipinos sure who want to leave the country. But a lot doesn't equate to all.

[hermespan]

Based on only two visits to Philippines (Manila, Angeles, Luzon, Cebu City) and many years sojourning in Thailand - plus having travelled and worked in 17 other Asian countries...

Philippines

Pros

- service staff are very polite, not exectly sweet, but much more polite than in Thailand. They call you 'Sir'
- better educated, although a minority of the population, the upper class has been to university and has real job skills too
- Much better English. I have never been to a nation as developed as Thailand where English skills are so poor.
- Keep their religion to themselves. Whether they are Catholic or Eglisia Cristos, they don't wear it on their sleeves as in Siam. I find them less superficial in keeping their religion. If they are secular or irreligious they don't make a show of it to impress others.
- Much easier to get a regular girlfriend and wife
- Beer significantly cheaper (I am a non-drinker and could care less, but for some this is a draw).
- Good value academic education in English. Want to finish your university studies?
- Much easier language to learn than tonal Thai
- It is possible to make local male friends?
- some religious variety - Catholics, Protestants, Muslims
- P4P is better value (short time' means 2 hours, and the service girls are more accomodating)
- they can read and do
- filipinas/os have artistic talents
- Filipinas/os are more broad-minded, even uneducated people can see the perspectives of people of other beliefs. Thais are too close-minded and provincial.
- Filipinas/os are less superstitious, more practical
- you can have a conversation with a Filipina/o, and not just because of language - you are not from Mars.
- there is less homosexuality and *much* less transvestitism

Cons

- food the worst in Asia. I am a 'foodie' and loathe going to the restaurants there. It is bad American fast food plus mediocre local food.
- Thais know how to use some spices
- you can eat on the street in Thailand and you are not likely to end up in the hospital
- medical care is worse value than in Thailand
- unhealthy food - Thailand is a million miles more advanced regarding sugar-free and natural foods.
- more crime. A friend there has had 16 friends and aquaintances murdered in a year and a half in Angeles. I was robbed by stealth twice in Manila and Ageles during 2 months on my first trip. I have *never* been robbed in Thailand and I have been coming here since 1989.
- cops are much more corrupt and will happily set you up with an of-age girl claiming she is 17 unless you pay up $10,000
- worse poverty
- worse infrastructure such as power and transportation
- women aren't as good looking as Thais
- overseas postage is extortionate
- more exxpensive to get to. Manila is not much of an international gateway
- harder to get long term visas for most?
- fewer sophisicated expats
- for a vegetarian, Philippines is a real problem, even getting fish is not easy
- poorer hygiene
- hotels are more expensive (one month rentals - they might be closer)
- groceries, such as fruits and vegetables, are more costly than in Thailand. it's as if it is one big plantation for mega-industrials like Dole.
- more of the working girls are lesbian
- Manila is not an international capital the way Bangkok is
- women get pregnant a lot more often and younger
- the government and law enforcment is much less humane (demanding unrealistic moral standards)
- budget accommodation in provincial capitals is rare?


A more realistic comparison is between PI and Indonesia. Economic development is more meaningful than religion.

Personally, I wouldn't retire or try to run a business in Philippines or Thailand.

I will not spend any significant time in Philippines unless it is upcountry. I loathe Manila almost as much as Jakarta.

Edited by hermespan, 2012-01-25 15:03:06.

[bestofbothworlds27]

I'm  half Filipina Half Spanish but been living in Thailand longer than in the Philippines. I can say Thailand is my second home already. It's not bad comparing both of these countries as they have their own pros and cons. It's the stupid and super corrupt government in the Philippines that made it so bad!!! The Thai politicians are corrupt too but they know how to downplay it and they still give 40% out of the 100% (if u know what i mean;P). Unlike in PI, people will be lucky to get 10%

It's safer in Thailand and more opportunities. My family settled here for good. Thais may not be the smartest people but they are fun and crazy!! and I love crazy!! (in a good way^_^). I went to visit PI last year and my heart broke seeing all those poor kids, I'm not used to it I basically grew up in Thailand. When the right time comes and I have enough source and money, I will open a charity house in PI and help as much as I can.

I LOVE PHILIPPINES AND THAILAND!! ..DON'T LET THE NEGATIVITY OF BOTH COUNTRIES AFFECT THE POSITIVE ONES...'CAUSE THERE ARE MORE TO IT THAN JUST WHORES AND BAD FOOD.

Edited by metisdead, 2012-01-25 19:11:51.
Font reset, use default forum font when posting.

[bangkokburning]

TigsyTikkles


You seem to take issue with the way in which I spell
Filipino


I do it poorly, it does not make me a retard. It is = to my lack of respect for the nation and its people perhaps.


And here we go best of both worlds, claiming half Spanish ancestory (as they all do). Lives abroad as they all do. but never ever compare the Thai peoples culture and heritage to yours -and thinking it is the Thai that comes up short. ROTGLMFAO! Let me get this straight - your nation is a basket case, your ENTIRE family has moved to Thailand. But it is the Thai's that are a bunch of idiots. Now THAT is Filippino thinking sure.

Edited by bangkokburning, 2012-01-26 07:10:42.

[bangkokburning]

This is all rubbish hermes....


Based on only two visits to Philippines (Manila, Angeles, Luzon, Cebu City) and many years sojourning in Thailand - plus having travelled and worked in 17 other Asian countries...

Philippines

Pros

- service staff are very polite, not exectly sweet, but much more polite than in Thailand. They call you 'Sir'

It is not done out of politeness, it is simply cultural. Filippinos are overly polite becasue the alternative is killing one another.

- better educated, although a minority of the population, the upper class has been to university and has real job skills too

Education is not better, not by a long shot and the % of children passed through K-6 I would wager is far lower than Thailand as well. Universites are not that great, many doctors can't pass boards and end up as nurses abroad. Many (most) nurses end up as caregivers. Filippinos in the street are very thick. They are great at conniving and scheming. That is about it.

- Much better English. I have never been to a nation as developed as Thailand where English skills are so poor.

OK, so Thai's are lazy about English but most Filippinos do not speak English well if at all. That is a huge misconception.

- Keep their religion to themselves. Whether they are Catholic or Eglisia Cristos, they don't wear it on their sleeves as in Siam. I find them less superficial in keeping their religion. If they are secular or irreligious they don't make a show of it to impress others.

HOLY JEEBUS! You are joking right? Filippinos are Catholic to the core and wear it on their sleeves.

- Much easier to get a regular girlfriend and wife

Yes, I poor woman from desparate circumstances who happens at the moment not to have been shunted into the prosti business. At night they go online and show their titties and lie and swindle punters in every free dating site that exists.

So, the Thai's make you work for it, is that what you are saying?

- Beer significantly cheaper (I am a non-drinker and could care less, but for some this is a draw).
True, all alcohol and I am a drinker - but this is hardly a reason to move to a country?! Besides, its shit beer.

- Good value academic education in English. Want to finish your university studies?
HAH what a laugh.

- Much easier language to learn than tonal Thai
That is also untrue. Phils is mixed with many dialects and subdialects, the grammar is insanely stupid.

- It is possible to make local male friends?
In Thailand but as many punters here have acknowledged, in Phils in downright dangerous and I totally agree.

- some religious variety - Catholics, Protestants, Muslims
Thailand is 4% Muslim and has Catholics. Less Christians better as far as I am concerned.

- P4P is better value (short time' means 2 hours, and the service girls are more accomodating)
- they can read and do
No its not at all. Its more expensive, more HASSLES and full of scams.

- filipinas/os have artistic talents
Becasue Thai's don't?! WTF!!

- Filipinas/os are more broad-minded, even uneducated people can see the perspectives of people of other beliefs. Thais are too close-minded and provincial.
Yes, they are open for you to come in and marry their _____ and spend your money. SOme of the most backward, conservative people I have encountered.

- Filipinas/os are less superstitious, more practical
Another epic fail.

- you can have a conversation with a Filipina/o, and not just because of language - you are not from Mars.

So learn Thai if it bothers you - or go there!

- there is less homosexuality and *much* less transvestitism

Its just hidden, Philippines is VERY VERY GAY. A Peace Corp worker some years ago even remarked to me his wife forbid the children from watching all sorts of TV shows becasue so gays were to present. So there you go.


CLUELESS

[bangkokburning]

TigsyTikkles

Freedom of Speech and Religion. We can talk crap about our government all day as long as we’re not being libelous. Our Internet is not restricted at all.

Well you can becasue the government knows you being Filipino won't do anything about it and they being the Filipino government will kill you if you did try something,

Internet is restricted, pornography and strip-cams (which filippino girls love to do becaue it is: zero effort, men hold them as objects of desire and its basically free money). I believe many actiions such as online meeting/marriages and other similar issues are illegal as well despite being all over the place.



Beaches are not the best. Post a photo of yor favorite beach in Philippines and i can match it with one in Thailand.

[jaideeguy]

Having lived both in the Phil [7yrs] and LOS [for the last 12yrs], I find myself torn between both.  Both have their pros and cons which have been listed on this thread....most are generalizations that some I agree with, but bottom line, both can be fun and I'm considering maintaining a residence in both places and in Baguio in the Phil and Chiang Mai in Thailand, which i feel are the best of both countries.
When in Thai I miss certain things about the Phil and when In Phil, I miss certain things about Thai and they both have their iritations/agrivations along with their advantages and why suffer iritations when airfares are less now than they were 10 yrs ago and now you can avoid MNL by landing in Clark Pampanga, which is a lot less stressful.

That's my plan for now.....

[grumpyoldman]

bangkokburning, on 2012-01-26 07:27:46, said:

This is all rubbish hermes....

CLUELESS

Thanks BKKburning, I also had a good laugh at that post.

[TheKeeNok]

yabs, on 2007-02-22 17:14:45, said:

I've recently moved from thailand to the Phils but for one main reason
the phils still hgas some good snorkelling and diving due to the fact it has fewer tourists
and what tourism there is is based around diving as opposed to thailands tourism model which is based around maximum commercialistaion with no regard for the environment.
If thailand looked after its beache and marine environment better and turned it back to the tropical paradise it once was then i would remain in thailand. This is all the Phils has thats better
so unless you are crazxy about swimming or diving on coral seas then give it a miss.
Main drawback is security
crime is a way of life in the big cities and the fact that even guards outside of 7/11's have pump action shotguns doesn't put you at ease. there must be a need for this. Terrorism is much more of an issue as well and kidnappings have frequently taken place
other issues are
firstly
Girls seem more crazy, true they speak english better but they seem even more of a head case than farang girls if thats possible. Plue due to their diet they are generally fatter than thais and have darker skin. I think Thai women are better looking
secondly
The food is just sh*te. Local diet seems to consist of fried fat and sloppy rice
no veg or good cuts of meat
whereas eating at a roadside eatery in thailand is a culinary delight eating at one in The Phils
is just plain torture.
thirdly
culture
are we in Asia or South America or even America?
due to spanish and american colonisation the culture really is messed up
instead of noodle soup sold at street corners we have hamburgers
instead of temples we have delapidated churches
fourthly
infrastructure
improving slightly but still abysmal
dirt roads in many places meaning dust is everywhere and power cuts are a way of life
fifthly
conveniences and ability to buy goods
shopping is way better in thailand which is starnge as the Phils has more malls than anywhere i've ever been but they hardly ever stock evrything i need or

want
two examples
Shower gel is virtually unheard of
I also have a problem with my eyes whereby I need to wash them out with an eye bath
every day. lost mine nad wanted to buy another. The Filipinos have never heard of such a thing.
again very odd
all this makes me wonder why i moved but the answer is as i said in the diving and swimming
all in all the quality of life In thailand is far better

Iam sure the countless filipinos inLOS agree with I .  I sure do!  I  once heard the philippines being refered to as 'the sick man of asia".  If anyone has been there, you can see why,

[TheKeeNok]

bangkokburning, on 2012-01-26 07:27:46, said:

This is all rubbish hermes....


Based on only two visits to Philippines (Manila, Angeles, Luzon, Cebu City) and many years sojourning in Thailand - plus having travelled and worked in 17 other Asian countries...

Philippines

Pros

- service staff are very polite, not exectly sweet, but much more polite than in Thailand. They call you 'Sir'

It is not done out of politeness, it is simply cultural. Filippinos are overly polite becasue the alternative is killing one another.

- better educated, although a minority of the population, the upper class has been to university and has real job skills too

Education is not better, not by a long shot and the % of children passed through K-6 I would wager is far lower than Thailand as well. Universites are not that great, many doctors can't pass boards and end up as nurses abroad. Many (most) nurses end up as caregivers. Filippinos in the street are very thick. They are great at conniving and scheming. That is about it.

- Much better English. I have never been to a nation as developed as Thailand where English skills are so poor.

OK, so Thai's are lazy about English but most Filippinos do not speak English well if at all. That is a huge misconception.

- Keep their religion to themselves. Whether they are Catholic or Eglisia Cristos, they don't wear it on their sleeves as in Siam. I find them less superficial in keeping their religion. If they are secular or irreligious they don't make a show of it to impress others.

HOLY JEEBUS! You are joking right? Filippinos are Catholic to the core and wear it on their sleeves.

- Much easier to get a regular girlfriend and wife

Yes, I poor woman from desparate circumstances who happens at the moment not to have been shunted into the prosti business. At night they go online and show their titties and lie and swindle punters in every free dating site that exists.

So, the Thai's make you work for it, is that what you are saying?

- Beer significantly cheaper (I am a non-drinker and could care less, but for some this is a draw).
True, all alcohol and I am a drinker - but this is hardly a reason to move to a country?! Besides, its shit beer.

- Good value academic education in English. Want to finish your university studies?
HAH what a laugh.

- Much easier language to learn than tonal Thai
That is also untrue. Phils is mixed with many dialects and subdialects, the grammar is insanely stupid.

- It is possible to make local male friends?
In Thailand but as many punters here have acknowledged, in Phils in downright dangerous and I totally agree.

- some religious variety - Catholics, Protestants, Muslims
Thailand is 4% Muslim and has Catholics. Less Christians better as far as I am concerned.

- P4P is better value (short time' means 2 hours, and the service girls are more accomodating)
- they can read and do
No its not at all. Its more expensive, more HASSLES and full of scams.

- filipinas/os have artistic talents
Becasue Thai's don't?! WTF!!

- Filipinas/os are more broad-minded, even uneducated people can see the perspectives of people of other beliefs. Thais are too close-minded and provincial.
Yes, they are open for you to come in and marry their _____ and spend your money. SOme of the most backward, conservative people I have encountered.

- Filipinas/os are less superstitious, more practical
Another epic fail.

- you can have a conversation with a Filipina/o, and not just because of language - you are not from Mars.

So learn Thai if it bothers you - or go there!

- there is less homosexuality and *much* less transvestitism

Its just hidden, Philippines is VERY VERY GAY. A Peace Corp worker some years ago even remarked to me his wife forbid the children from watching all sorts of TV shows becasue so gays were to present. So there you go.


CLUELESS

Having been to the phils 6 times and with the city from which I hail from being infested with 120 000+ filipinos, I totally agree.  Filipinos speak english, are familiar with western culture, yet close to 40% of them in the west fail to graduate from high school.  Getting through hs is not all that difficult.  Filipinos are well educated?  The phlippines has a good educational system?  LMFAO!  We still need engish speakers working at McDs  

Edited by TheKeeNok, 2012-01-29 11:25:54.

[TheKeeNok]

bestofbothworlds27, on 2012-01-25 16:13:44, said:

I'm  half Filipina Half Spanish but been living in Thailand longer than in the Philippines. I can say Thailand is my second home already. It's not bad comparing both of these countries as they have their own pros and cons. It's the stupid and super corrupt government in the Philippines that made it so bad!!! The Thai politicians are corrupt too but they know how to downplay it and they still give 40% out of the 100% (if u know what i mean;P). Unlike in PI, people will be lucky to get 10%

It's safer in Thailand and more opportunities. My family settled here for good. Thais may not be the smartest people but they are fun and crazy!! and I love crazy!! (in a good way^_^). I went to visit PI last year and my heart broke seeing all those poor kids, I'm not used to it I basically grew up in Thailand. When the right time comes and I have enough source and money, I will open a charity house in PI and help as much as I can.

I LOVE PHILIPPINES AND THAILAND!! ..DON'T LET THE NEGATIVITY OF BOTH COUNTRIES AFFECT THE POSITIVE ONES...'CAUSE THERE ARE MORE TO IT THAN JUST WHORES AND BAD FOOD.

Why does every other Filipino say that they are HALF SPANISH?  I have to brush up on my history,but didnt the Spanish leave over a 100 years ago?  So ur sayin that  both ur mother and father are half spanosh so u urself are hald spanish?  OR perhaps ur father or mother is a full blooded spanard(which I Hfind HIGHLY unlikely).

At best you have SOME Spanish blood and IF that is the case is it something to be proud of?  It is likely that the spanish blood would have come from the male side, which leads one to wonder what the female side was up to!  Some dangerous waters ur entering by sayingur part spanish.  Id deny it altogether!   LOL