RSS Feeds: Being an American in the Philippines has its Disadvantages
Yes, being an American in the Philippines has its disadvantages. In a twist on the word, the disadvantages are that Filipinos try, and sometimes do, take advantage of Americans.
My wife is in the US or I wouldn't have to worry about it. Being a Filipina herself, and the fact that she dresses just like the other Filipinas, she doesn't get taken advantage of. She's been gone two weeks and Filipinos are already taking advantage of me. If I attempt to buy something from a local store, without having a Filipino relative with me, the sales person attempts to charge me more than a Filipino would be charged. This has happened more than once and the only reason I didn't have to pay what they wanted was because I know how to speak the language and can cuss them as well as any Filipino. They change their tune when I throw the lingo at them.
Today, after I spent quite some time waiting to get my money at the bank, I headed over to the Royal Subic store on SBMA to go shopping. This was only my second time ever driving on SBMA. I had always let my wife drive there in the past because she's a pain to listen to as a back seat driver. After I finished shopping, I was looking for another store to get things that Royal Subic doesn't carry when I went down a road I wasn't familiar with and failed to stop at a stop line. You see, every stop line has either a stop light or a stop sign next to it. This one didn't have either one. I got pulled over immediately.
The police officer told me why he pulled me over, and after I explained that I didn't see a stop sign, he said it was in the middle (there wasn't one in the median because I looked). I had my brother-in-law with me (June) and he asked the officer for a warning because I wasn't familiar with the road there. The officer wouldn't entertain the idea. June knew they could give warnings if they wanted to because he had seen it happen before. I got a ticket and it wasn't very much (200 pesos or a little over four dollars) but it's the principle of it that ticks me off. If I had been a Filipino, I would have received a warning, but because I'm an American (and Americans always have money because they're rich) I couldn't receive a warning.
I paid the ticket at the treasury office near the exit gate and drove home. I didn't feel like looking for any other stores on SBMA after the incident, even though there are some supplies I need that I can't find out here in the city. I was pretty pissed off. I watched Filipinos speeding past me and driving recklessly not more than 5 minutes before I got pulled over and my vehicle wasn't the only one that failed to stop, but I was the only one to get pulled over. I shouldn't complain. I was guilty of breaking a traffic law, even if I was singled out.
Outside of SBMA, no one obeys the traffic laws and you never see anyone getting pulled over for anything. In fact, I hate driving in the city because of how congested it is, the fact that people stop in the middle of the road just to talk to someone on the side of the road, the people that like to walk in the road and won't move off to the side for vehicles approaching, double-parked vehicles, and many other obstructions. The roads are barely big enough for two-way traffic when they're clear. Imagine how they are when they're not clear.
I wonder if these people would try to take advantage of me if they knew me personally. What if they knew that more than a fifth of my monthly pension goes out for support of other people?
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I love being linked to when I don't ask for it. Whether it's in response to my own outbound links or some other innocuous reason, it shows that I'm doing something right and I appreciate it tremendously. Looking at my most recent inbound links at Technorati, I saw that Goldcoaster added my blog to his part of "The MyBlogLog Community Exchange", 40s Singleness-Making Money Online linked to my article about the BlogCatalog Bloggers for Good Fundraising Challenge (and I have never even been to that blog before), and Jonathan at SmartWealthyRich "shouted out" for the same thing (and actually inspired the previously mentioned linker to write about it). I have only one thing left to say about it: Thank you. My thanks also extend to anyone I have ever failed to mention in the past. I'm not perfect and I'm sure I've missed at least one person at one time or another.
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You are not alone. every American living in the Philippines has the same complaint about how unfairly they are being treated. Most filipinos see americans as an ATM machine on two feet and will try to suck you dry if they can. One day I wanted to treat my wife to Shangrila Hotel in Makati for a weekend getaway, when I asked the clerk how much is the room? she told me 7500.00 peso per night, then, I asked my wife who was standing next to me to ask her, she told her the rate was 3500.00 peso. When I confronted the clerk about the disparity in the rate, her answer was: "well, u are a foreigner, you can afford it." Taxi drivers are another bunch you don't want to deal with – They never have change. NEVER try dealing with government officials here in the Philippines at any level unless u are willing to dish out some serious dough. The whole country is corrupt from top to bottom and sadly enough, they have no shame about it. The whole world opens up their arms and receive filipinos to work, live and enjoy the same laws and privileges afforded to their own citizens. But, when you come to the philippines, you find the laws here to be zynophobic, in that, a foreingner can't buy land, can't buy a car can't, can't can't do jack unless he puts everything in the wife's name. I would like to see a filipino go overseas and put all his cash into someone else's name. that's why my friends have left and others including myself plan to follow suit. Let them swim in their stupid mentality and find their own way out of poverty. This place is hopeless.
I think certain areas are worse than others. Lately, I've been doing everything myself here in Olongapo City and haven't run into any problems. I learned to drive like they do or I can't get anywhere very fast at all.
Foreigners can own land and property now, even though I choose not to. Putting everything in my wife's name isn't an issue since we've been married over 23 years. It might be if it was a relatively short time.
Granted, there's a whole lot of corruption going on. I've had good experiences with a lot of places though, even the local bureau of immigration.
I like the ATM analogy because when the beggars on the street see us, their eyes light up just like they got paid.
After reading this i can say this. WTF are u complaning about! people look at you like a ATM? what about the people here? Can't but land? well dua i why buy land in the US for about a mil if u can get it for a fraction of it. Look I've lived in the gutters of the US when i was growing up. I have to say I can't complain if they take advantage of some people who look like suckers. most people would. even in the US. So when i see people saying that your not getting treated fairly because your from the US, as a guy who mix with a lot of races and get told by every one that your worthless. hell a person who might use me to improve there life eh. i've seen it done but I know how to look for it. I won't help them I'll just point them to um….. you!
i went to cebu last august because i was really fed up with america particularly california where i live.i met a girl while there and had a pretty good time although i got sick for most of my stay.i went there because i got this bright idea to move there and live there.well once i returned home me and nonita continued to correspond almost every night.i have grown very close to her and think the world of her.the problem im having is with the philippines.the more i surf the internet researching the phlippines the more i read about these little horror stories of americans being taken advantage of over there.im planning on returning there in may 09 and i want to go to where my girlfriend lives in cabadbaran but i will be there alone with her and her entire family.she has lived there her entire life.i will be in a strange town 7,400 miles away from home and frankly im scared,and i dont scare easy hahahha.oh well i guess ill chance it.my girlfriend is very nice but will she be this nice in her own home town or will she and her family see me as easy prey.also im becoming more and more unsure of my dicision to move there because i have 2 children that are 12 and 13.i just want to live there part time.but will i be able to handle the guilt of being apart from my kids??.i dont know.livinginthe philippines is turning out to be much more difficult than i expected
Ken,
If you have two minor children in the US, I'd suggest that you only take short vacations to the Philippines.
There are some true and honest Filipina woman in the PI, but many are looking for a way out of here and a permanant trip to the US.
I'm not saying your friend is not honest. Just be very careful and don't make a commitment to live here permantly here until you are sure. I feel that I have been very blessed and lucky with the great lady I met, and am living with here in Olongapo City.
i was in alongapo in 1974 while serving a 3 year stint in the navy.what a time i had.anyway im the guy who wrote the above statements some months ago about moving to p.i. and i have 2 minor children.i find myself sometimes changing my mind about wanting to live in the philippines.the entire idea is much more complicated than i originally thought it would be.also my gf has been talking more and more about wanting to come to the usa.she talks about this a lot.she has managed to get me to put her up in an apartment that i pay for every month (4,000 pesos)and now since i was just there and spent 50 days there she is now talking to me about making a payment on a lot where we can build a house.the problem is i dont intend to live there full time for another 3-4 years.she is really trying to lock me in
and you have no children.am i the only man with younger children.there are thousands of american men over 50 years old living in the philippines.am i to believe that none of them have any children and if so why are they so willing to abandon thier children.of cours this is a question of doing the right thing and we all know that most men dont do the rigt thing.
Gee, Kenneth, don't be so depressing. I have two children, both grown. One is half-Filipino and lives with me here in the Philippines.
yea your right.im making a very big deal out of all of this.i went through a divorce less than one year ago and already ive been to the philippines twice and am engaged to a filipina.im happy most of the time but really things are moving a bit to fast.now my fiance has me buying a lot on a sub-division in her town.hahahhaha.but really its so cheap and thats why im not complaining to much.i just feel that all this is happening years ahead of me actually coming there for any lenghth of time.or maybe now is the time.i dont know
Ken,
Interesting post! Recommend short visits but understand that if you are involved with a filipina lady you are going to be responsible for the family. The family will be very protective of you. On the other side of the coin, her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews will treat you like an ATM machine. About once per week I receive the "I love you Uncle and please can I have a load" text message. To be fair, avoid talking about politics and don't cross an elder in the family. My father in law taught me about the "filipino Haircut" so watch out. Be kind with this lady or you could receive a "filipino haircut" which is from one ear to the other ear without touching the hair on your head.
hahahha yea thats pretty good.ive heard of the haircut before.this is exactly why im unsure of our relationship sometimes.not because i find much fault with her but because im an american and i can be a realy big jerk sometimes.i dont trust myself.anyway since i posted the above statements some months ago my relationship has advanced.i went to the philippines again and stayed where my gf lives for 50 days.we got along pretty well except for those incedental little occassions when i couldnt keep my sassy big mouth shut.but really no major problems.but now she has managed to get me to assume the loan on a lot in a subdidvion there.im going along with it because it will only cost me $250.00 usd from now until i return there in april.really though im not comfortable with the land purchase.i think i would really rather just rent.while i was there her family never asked me for 1 centavo.surely though if i live there more full time that would probably change.i excercise the right to say no though dont i.im not wealthy and i wont let anyone drag me down financially
Well, Come to San Diego and run a stop sign or red light!
Your picture is taken by a camera and the ticket mailed to ya.
That will be $450.00 Sir, No if,s and,s or but,s.
OH and by the way your isurance is jacked for the next two years.
You do not have a thing to complain about, so suck it up!
Man you don’t know the half of it. I got a jay walking ticket in downtown LA on a Sunday! Ok yes it was by bad but u know there was no cars miles around and it was in a bad part of town (a lot of homeless) and I got it. And if I don’t pay the fine about $200 they can put a warrant out for my arrest. Now do they do that in the Philippines? Um for u wanting to know what a jay walking ticket is. It’s a ticket that issue when u cross the street when your not spouse to. Yes for crossing the street I now am now threaten to be thrown in jail if I don’t pay my ticket. Will I pay it? Hells no! I’ll just move out of LA County. Maybe get one of those cute girls over there to take up a artist :)
i think i will retire to the philippines in 4 years from now.i will be 58 years old.even then i will likely only spend 6 months of the year there.the other 6 months ill return here to the usa.by then my children will be nearly adult age and anyway there is a such thing as yahoo messenger and thats the next best thing to being there that is my plan at present.in the meantime i go there once a year for 50 days and spend that time with my filipina gf.we have a small inexpensive apartment that i pay for each month ($90.00 usd).of course we also talk on messenger 3 days a week for 2-3 hours each time.my biggest problem is going to be whether or not to bring her to the u.s.a.i told her i would not put myself through that as i have been through to much in my lifetime and do not want to deal with anymore nonesense like that.she said she would be fine to live in her country.but if thats true then why does she keep talking to me about the idea of coming to america.(hahahahahaha).