How are you today my name is John and am a New Zealand citizen and have been a resident in Australia for 45 years over the last few years I have been residing in the Philippines.
I would like to say a few words about the Philippines. and Thailand
These involve the website smarttraveller,Australian Embassy in Manila Philippines and about terrorism and safety in the Philippines, and a warning and advise on travel to Pattaya Thailand.
Smarttraveller information .
I have read this for Thailand and and Philippines and have noticed a few things I would like to point out.
Philippines
I have been living and travelled around the Philippines by myself and with Philippino's extensively.
I have travelled by road own car,van , bus, air, ferry, trike, jeepney ,tricylce, motorbike and bicycle.
I have been in the regions of Mindinao, Leyte, Biliran,Samar, Luzon and the following cities and towns Manila,Cebu,Davao,Batangas,Angeles City,Puerto Galera,Moaboal,Ormoc,Butuan Cagendero,Suragia, Catbalogan,Tacloban, Naval,Biliran. I have driven by myself from Davao in Mindanao to Angeles in Luzon.a feat in any ones estimation. I have travelled on the Superferry from Mnaila to Davao twice. Travelled extensively by air around the country.
Terrorism
The high level of terrorism alert for Philippines is not correct and should be downgraded to a ciivil war that has been going that is of Muslim origins and primarily based in the Southern part of Mindano namely Zamboanga province. I can't talk about General Santos as I haven't been there but my friend Clem has family and a house there he can tell you what goes on there.
The only problems I have had in the Philippines are having my wallet stolen from my apartment in Puerto Galera,being tricked by a con man in Angeles city in a card game.
Some of your reports and warnings are not accurate and the incidence of them is not that many. Do you but a warning to travellers going to Australia about road safety with the high level of deaths on the road. No.
Davao Mindanao, there is a low level of terrorism, crime and drugs because they have a huge police presence and is very safe. There is a swat/response unit that is like the secret police consisting of all the different members of the various ethnic groups and know everything. I know because I have meet them and drank with them and been out on the town and become quite friendly with them. The Mayor of Davao has a hit squad that eliminates drug traffickers and people doing the wrong thing.
The rest of the towns I visited the Police and Army presence was low except for check points which they never stopped you. There is a problem with Police in Manila they are called Crocodiles they pull you over for commiting a driving error and extort money from you. I was in a taxi twice in Mnaila on differnet occassions where we were pulled over and fined the driver for going through a red arrow light, the evidence they said was that the crossing sign was blinking red and I argued with them about this they were incorrect to use this as the basis for fining the driver, they still issued the fine and took my name down.
The Jeepney,,Bus, trikes,vans, ferry air,and driving around by yourself is safe generally.
Travel by sea is generally safe and Superferry is the safest and best provider.(check out there website)
Travel by air is safe and the best is Cebu Pacific and have a website for bookings and issuing tickets and have brand new aircraft.
Travel by road is safe but need to be careful because the Philippino bus's and vans drive very fast and are erratic and you drive on the other side of the road. On the island of Samar the road is very dangerous from Allen to Tacloban is a national disgrace and a normal 100ks trip can take 4 hrs with not many service stations. Driving in Manila is very difficult and it is easy to get lost you need a driver.
Sex industry in the Philippines
Is primarily based in Angeles city exists in other places but not as big and is safe well controlled and has a low level of disease as the girls in the bars get checked once a week, it is primarily heterosexual based with hardly any homosexual acitvity. There is no soliciting on the streets only in clubs where you meet the girls. They are registered and go to a health clinic once a week and the mama San controls and looks after them. There is a low Police Presence here only the tourist police. There is some minor crimes here such as con men and some shootings but these seem to be caused by ruthless bad mannered foreigners who own business's and foreigners who do stupid things and upset the locals.
Australian Embassy Philippines
I have the miss fortune of having to deal with this office over 3 situations. Twice for a tourist visas and an ongoing one for a permanent spouse visa.which has been going on now for 9 months.
The embassy is unfriendly, hard to contact, uses the internet for everything, poor customer service, difficult to get to see face to face unless you scream and shout,not full declaration of what is required when you apply for a visa, and lack of trust of the Philippinos in general.
Other than the slow apathetic service and huge amount of different forms, paperwork and lack of trust there are 2 things I can't understand the need for a criminal check in New Zealand and a medical examination for me.
I am a New Zealand citizen and left NZ when I was 7 years old and have been working and residing and have been of good character for 45 years and served on sporting boards voluntarilly for a period of 5 years in one case.,
The other one is why do I a New Zealand citizen have to get a medical examination when I can come and go as I wish and am treated the same as an Australian citizen.
I am beyond caring about whether my wife and I go to Australia and know this is not the type of service and help that Australian Government employees should be giving. I have spoken to the embassy in Hong Kong and they were easy to contact and provided good guidance.
On a another note I can't understand why you are giving aid to the Muslims in Zamboanga, when this is putting your staff in a terrorist zone, and without using some of the money for the other needy people Catholics in the Philppines, and not using it for leverage for peace.
Why do you support terrorists(Muslims extremists) and there families. When you and your government are supposed to be fighting the war on terrorism. The government or previous government is a total contradiction on what you say.
Pattaya Thailand(85kms south of Bangkok)
A friend of mine who was Australian citizen committed suicide in Pattaya.
This is a pretty graphic website be warned.
http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asia-news/13577-pattaya-australian-man-dead-after-falling.html#post732543
I have done a lot of research on the net on this place, been there and researched suicides,aids in Thailand and researched your website smartraveller.
This place is the sex, crime and suicide capital of Asia.
There are some very serious problems there. Sex is uncontrolled you get solicited on the street, when riding a motorbike and in bars and while going for a walk. Most of them are unlicenced workers and the licensed ones only go for a checkup once every 3 months. There is high level of suicide by long term foreigners, one a week,52 a year. There is also a lot of paedophila going on there my friend told me he slept with 500 boys over a 5 year period I can only assume they were over 16. Your chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease is high and foreigners should take precautions. Aids is a problem and there are conflicting reports on this matter but the testing in Thailand by international standards is inferior and you can get a wrong reading.
Your warnings on smartraveller regarding Pattaya is nil, your mention of sex industry is nil, your mention of sexually transmitted diseases is limited to be aware of HIV/ Aids
There are 6 million people travelling to Thailand and high percentage are males from all over the world.
I don't know how many Australian's go there. Every male not married is going for sex whether male or female and they need to warned wear protection, only sleep with girls from licensed bars and the Thai govt should be pressured to get the girls,male workers to get weekly medical check for girlsboys ,men in bars that are registered, the police should be vigilant against solicitation on the street by prostitutes do reduce sexually transmitted diseases,.and paedophila should be looked at in Pattaya. Etc
There is a high rate of suicide in Pattaya amongst the long time foriegner.
One suicide a week this equals 52 a year not as bad as the road toll in Australia but it, needs to be looked at they mainly are jumpers the preferred method in Pattaya very strange. There needs to be a warning as a start on smart traveller on suicide and depression for long term residents in Pattaya and where to seek help, and try and find what is causing the high level of suicides in Pattaya and get some form of prevention.
That is a few of the problems in Pattaya and I haven't even looked at the crime issues there.
Showing posts with label smarttraveller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smarttraveller. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Philippines the sub topics are Aid,Corruption,Business in the Philippines, Corrupt leaders in prominent positions., and a historical perspective on th
My subject for discussion is the Philippines the sub topics are Aid,Corruption,Business in the Philippines, Corrupt leaders in prominent positions., and a historical perspective on the Philippines, OFW's(Overseas foreign workers) and Schools and hospitals, and sport .
1) Philippines and Corruption
Historically the Philippines was of Spanish origins with the Catholic Church taking over the religious beliefs of the country. If we look at most of the countries were the Spanish and the Catholic Church have been we see corruption, civil wars and poverty e.g. Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, etc.. If we look at the countries where the British were we see robust economies, a low level of corrutpion, good infrastructure and good socialist sturcture. So you tell me what is the problem historicallly and how to rectify it.
1) How to reduce corruption
a) Promote whistleblowing as in the case of Jun Luzada and the ZTE deal.
b) have a board of selectors to hire staff instead of one person who hires friends and family relatives in goernment jobs.
c) The Philippines is ranked 117 out of 159 on the Corruption scale worldwide which will severally reduce the aid to the Philippines in the future unless real steps are taken to get it under control and make reforms. Need to create a level of trust so countries will provide aid again and lower the ranking.
d) If aid is given it should be given under tight constraints such as controlled by the Embassy concerned, an embassy official controls the purse strings and controls and checks what is going on, the contracts for goods and services go to the country suppling the aid which will hire local staff where required.
e) Promote ethical behaviour through church using local leaders the church has to take some responsibility. I have seen a church goer commit fraud.
f) Promote ethical behaviour by bringing overseas specialist into various departments such as Hospitals,Police,Local Government, and Provincial and Main government. For guidance and to be able identify inherint problems.
g)brain drain a highly skilled work force leaving each year estimated at 1,000,000 million to use them before they leave to prevent corruption and identify it.
h) If the people find out about corruption it should then be investigated using overseas investigators and prosecuted where possible.
i) Promote on television, radio and newspapers investigative journalism to show the problems and find ways to fix them.
j) a lot of solicitors are corrupt caused by sellers who want to reduce the capital gains tax they pay. They get nothing for doing this so why do it.Wipe out capital gains tax on properties and all the associated paperwork and give solicitors the job of transferring the property from seller to buyer. Look at the Australian system and duplicate it here in the Philippines.
k) A government that doesn't seem to understand its priorties. For example the building of roads double or triple roads on the island of Luzon and is neglested every where else an example of this is on the island of Samar the road from Allen to Tacloban is an absolute disgrace and needs urgent attention. I have driven a lot in Australia, New Zealand, Austria Italy Czech republic,Thailand and never seen or felt so exhausted in my whole life if you want to test yourself then go there a typical 100kms in Australia takes 1.2Hrs this road takes 4hrs there is no maintenance and the only thing I can ever think when I go to Samar is I can't wait to get off this god forsaken island.
2) Sport, this country has little or no sport development programs. If we take a look at the Olympics zero medals what are the governments plans to overcome this appalling situation they need help from overseas such as Australia to set up clubs, provide facilities promote sport in school and get it televised and promoted on television. We only get sometimes some college sport here.
3)Business in the Philippines.
Why aern't business's corrupt and going out of business here because they don't promote nepitism,and keep controls on what is going on and promote and hire the right person for the job.
Some of the companies that are prospering in the Philippines are SM Malls has one of the largest malls in Asia Pacific as is currently expanding into China and owns Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific has got brand new aircraft A319/A320 and is expanding into international ports. San Miguel Breweries largest beer company in the Philippines and owns James Boag Brewery in Tasmania. Mcdonalds, HSBC Bank, China Bank, Citibank, Jollibee a company similar to McDonalds has branche in a few overseas locations.
Staff are loyal and don't get paid very much and work hard on average they work 6 days a week not sure if they get holiday pay as government workers do.
Promoting telethons in the Philippines to get aid for the poor, the hospitals as in Australia, getting industry to give aid and overseas to match the aid given by industry in the Philippines.
4)Police schools and hospitals.
All 3 urgently need computers and Photocopiers they are still using typewriters can't remember the last time I used one of these. In Biliran hospital I had the unfortunately had to stay there twice when my wife was pregnant, the hospital is to small we had to wait in the reception for 2 days each time before and after my wife gave birth. We had to get medicines from the local pharmacy, and get our doctor to do the deilvery who we paid direct. I wouldn't want to tell you what it is like if you get mentally ill in this country what happens.
The Police are lazy and lack direction they sit all day on guard posts and don't stop traffic what a waste of resources and there is some corruption in Manila by Police on patrol they call them crocidiles.
Hospitals lack urgent equipment and to kept some of the trained people going overseas.
Schools, don't do sport, lack photocopiers and computers have no social worker or guidance councillor, students can not speak English at all even though learnt at school. No school buses so parents that can;t afford the transport the student stays at home.
5)Terrorism
Terrorism is not a problem in the Philippines except for the Civil War that has been going on in Zamboanga for the last 30 years. The Philippines should be downgrade from a terrorist country to a country with a Civil War in a remote place.
6) Australian Embassy
The Australian Embassy in Manila is very unfriendly and hard to contact and not customer service orientated and it is very hard to get to see a customer service representative to get your visa processed without documenscreaming and shouting and the over use of the Internet for the getting of its, and staff who can't read basic documents when it says third party they send to me instead recognising it is they who are the third party, staff who are Phillipino's who are jealous I believe and I can't understand why you would have them processing our paperwork. Not full declalration of thewhat is required when you apply for a visa this goes for Tourist and SPouse sponsored visas. Lack of trust by the Embassy to Applicants and having to prove your are marries and get photos and write a story of where and when you meet. I am a New Zealand citizen living in Australia for the lst 45 years and I had to get a medical examination,get a criminal record check from NZ even though I left there when I was 7 years old and have a good character and worked for over 40 years in Australia,
Why am I wrting this and sending it to you to highlight a few of the problems here and also the good side, most of the Philipinos are friendly people and the woman in general make good wives and the standard of living if you are live here is reasonably well off, you would have a servant or maid or driver at very little cost, and live in a housing estate and shop in an excellent shopping centre better than in Australia.
The Philipines needs urgently to get help in many areas or it will slip into a very underdeveloped country, I would be glad to hear from you, if you think I am crazy then okay but someone needs to look at the problems and provide help not just see the problems and put your head in the sand.
There are many Philipinos overseas providing some help in supporting families back home but it is only money. You need to provide help for your people by telling people about the Philipines and getting help and voicing your concerns politically.
The Philipines is great place to invest and is cheap to stay and get around.
That's all for today I AM A bit tired from writing this so have a good day
1) Philippines and Corruption
Historically the Philippines was of Spanish origins with the Catholic Church taking over the religious beliefs of the country. If we look at most of the countries were the Spanish and the Catholic Church have been we see corruption, civil wars and poverty e.g. Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, etc.. If we look at the countries where the British were we see robust economies, a low level of corrutpion, good infrastructure and good socialist sturcture. So you tell me what is the problem historicallly and how to rectify it.
1) How to reduce corruption
a) Promote whistleblowing as in the case of Jun Luzada and the ZTE deal.
b) have a board of selectors to hire staff instead of one person who hires friends and family relatives in goernment jobs.
c) The Philippines is ranked 117 out of 159 on the Corruption scale worldwide which will severally reduce the aid to the Philippines in the future unless real steps are taken to get it under control and make reforms. Need to create a level of trust so countries will provide aid again and lower the ranking.
d) If aid is given it should be given under tight constraints such as controlled by the Embassy concerned, an embassy official controls the purse strings and controls and checks what is going on, the contracts for goods and services go to the country suppling the aid which will hire local staff where required.
e) Promote ethical behaviour through church using local leaders the church has to take some responsibility. I have seen a church goer commit fraud.
f) Promote ethical behaviour by bringing overseas specialist into various departments such as Hospitals,Police,Local Government, and Provincial and Main government. For guidance and to be able identify inherint problems.
g)brain drain a highly skilled work force leaving each year estimated at 1,000,000 million to use them before they leave to prevent corruption and identify it.
h) If the people find out about corruption it should then be investigated using overseas investigators and prosecuted where possible.
i) Promote on television, radio and newspapers investigative journalism to show the problems and find ways to fix them.
j) a lot of solicitors are corrupt caused by sellers who want to reduce the capital gains tax they pay. They get nothing for doing this so why do it.Wipe out capital gains tax on properties and all the associated paperwork and give solicitors the job of transferring the property from seller to buyer. Look at the Australian system and duplicate it here in the Philippines.
k) A government that doesn't seem to understand its priorties. For example the building of roads double or triple roads on the island of Luzon and is neglested every where else an example of this is on the island of Samar the road from Allen to Tacloban is an absolute disgrace and needs urgent attention. I have driven a lot in Australia, New Zealand, Austria Italy Czech republic,Thailand and never seen or felt so exhausted in my whole life if you want to test yourself then go there a typical 100kms in Australia takes 1.2Hrs this road takes 4hrs there is no maintenance and the only thing I can ever think when I go to Samar is I can't wait to get off this god forsaken island.
2) Sport, this country has little or no sport development programs. If we take a look at the Olympics zero medals what are the governments plans to overcome this appalling situation they need help from overseas such as Australia to set up clubs, provide facilities promote sport in school and get it televised and promoted on television. We only get sometimes some college sport here.
3)Business in the Philippines.
Why aern't business's corrupt and going out of business here because they don't promote nepitism,and keep controls on what is going on and promote and hire the right person for the job.
Some of the companies that are prospering in the Philippines are SM Malls has one of the largest malls in Asia Pacific as is currently expanding into China and owns Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific has got brand new aircraft A319/A320 and is expanding into international ports. San Miguel Breweries largest beer company in the Philippines and owns James Boag Brewery in Tasmania. Mcdonalds, HSBC Bank, China Bank, Citibank, Jollibee a company similar to McDonalds has branche in a few overseas locations.
Staff are loyal and don't get paid very much and work hard on average they work 6 days a week not sure if they get holiday pay as government workers do.
Promoting telethons in the Philippines to get aid for the poor, the hospitals as in Australia, getting industry to give aid and overseas to match the aid given by industry in the Philippines.
4)Police schools and hospitals.
All 3 urgently need computers and Photocopiers they are still using typewriters can't remember the last time I used one of these. In Biliran hospital I had the unfortunately had to stay there twice when my wife was pregnant, the hospital is to small we had to wait in the reception for 2 days each time before and after my wife gave birth. We had to get medicines from the local pharmacy, and get our doctor to do the deilvery who we paid direct. I wouldn't want to tell you what it is like if you get mentally ill in this country what happens.
The Police are lazy and lack direction they sit all day on guard posts and don't stop traffic what a waste of resources and there is some corruption in Manila by Police on patrol they call them crocidiles.
Hospitals lack urgent equipment and to kept some of the trained people going overseas.
Schools, don't do sport, lack photocopiers and computers have no social worker or guidance councillor, students can not speak English at all even though learnt at school. No school buses so parents that can;t afford the transport the student stays at home.
5)Terrorism
Terrorism is not a problem in the Philippines except for the Civil War that has been going on in Zamboanga for the last 30 years. The Philippines should be downgrade from a terrorist country to a country with a Civil War in a remote place.
6) Australian Embassy
The Australian Embassy in Manila is very unfriendly and hard to contact and not customer service orientated and it is very hard to get to see a customer service representative to get your visa processed without documenscreaming and shouting and the over use of the Internet for the getting of its, and staff who can't read basic documents when it says third party they send to me instead recognising it is they who are the third party, staff who are Phillipino's who are jealous I believe and I can't understand why you would have them processing our paperwork. Not full declalration of thewhat is required when you apply for a visa this goes for Tourist and SPouse sponsored visas. Lack of trust by the Embassy to Applicants and having to prove your are marries and get photos and write a story of where and when you meet. I am a New Zealand citizen living in Australia for the lst 45 years and I had to get a medical examination,get a criminal record check from NZ even though I left there when I was 7 years old and have a good character and worked for over 40 years in Australia,
Why am I wrting this and sending it to you to highlight a few of the problems here and also the good side, most of the Philipinos are friendly people and the woman in general make good wives and the standard of living if you are live here is reasonably well off, you would have a servant or maid or driver at very little cost, and live in a housing estate and shop in an excellent shopping centre better than in Australia.
The Philipines needs urgently to get help in many areas or it will slip into a very underdeveloped country, I would be glad to hear from you, if you think I am crazy then okay but someone needs to look at the problems and provide help not just see the problems and put your head in the sand.
There are many Philipinos overseas providing some help in supporting families back home but it is only money. You need to provide help for your people by telling people about the Philipines and getting help and voicing your concerns politically.
The Philipines is great place to invest and is cheap to stay and get around.
That's all for today I AM A bit tired from writing this so have a good day
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