Westerners complaining about Filipino issues that also affect them.

[RBM]

21 hours ago, hk blues said:

My local community has an HOA.  The HOA rules specifically exclude foreigners from being part of the HOA board.  That's as clear a message as you could get about the attitude towards foreigners input into domestic matters.  On the flip side, foreigners are required to pay the HOA fees like locals!  

In our condo complex foreigners are not excluded how ever not encouraged.

Recently there was a HOA meeting, not a single foreigner was advised in spite of making up around 30% ownership. This appears to be the norm, it poses no problem to myself as I try to stay under the radar as much as possible.

[hk blues]

14 hours ago, Shady said:

In some ways, yes. But in other ways the Japanese are as far from Filipinos as you can get, hyper-competitive and obsessed with success to the point of nearly leading the world in suicide.

Whilst I agree that the Japanese and the Filipino are quite different, I absolutely do not see the Japanese as being at all competitive or obsessed with success.  I think they are driven by the need to conform and be a team player and this contributes to their overworked society and the high suicide rate.  

[Shady]

3 minutes ago, hk blues said:

I absolutely do not see the Japanese as being at all competitive or obsessed with success.  I think they are driven by the need to conform and be a team player

I don't agree, in fact that's what defines their culture most throughout history; the high suicide rate now, the 'kamikaze' bombers of WW2, all the way back to the Samurai code of harakiri. Success or death: it's literally why they had to be atom-bombed into submission.

Meanwhile the Philippines takes the noon-lunch-break to new levels, but that's the laid-back attitude that makes it comfortable for tourists (unless you need something done at noon).

 

 

[GeoffH]

3 hours ago, RBM said:

In our condo complex foreigners are not excluded how ever not encouraged.

Recently there was a HOA meeting, not a single foreigner was advised in spite of making up around 30% ownership.

I'm curious... what, if anything, do you know anything about wives of foreigners attending HOA meetings?

Are they 'discouraged' also?

 

[Jollygoodfellow]

12 hours ago, RBM said:

In our condo complex foreigners are not excluded how ever not encouraged.

Recently there was a HOA meeting, not a single foreigner was advised in spite of making up around 30% ownership. This appears to be the norm, it poses no problem to myself as I try to stay under the radar as much as possible.

Must be a badly run condo complex. Where I live Email come almost daily from admin and notices always on a notice board as well as in the elevator. Even notices for all displayed on a TV screen in the lobby.

[RBM]

18 hours ago, GeoffH said:

I'm curious... what, if anything, do you know anything about wives of foreigners attending HOA meetings?

Are they 'discouraged' also?

 

I think Geoff this would depend on whose name the condo is in. Where we are all the admin staff are friendly and polite but when it comes to decision making foreigners are totally exempt. For a joint owned unit I suspect no foreigner involvement.

I stayed some years in a complex in Cebu and foreigners were discouraged from meetings but not openly as is the situation here.

[hk blues]

For our , foreigners are actively encouraged to participate in events and welcome to meetings. In fact, a couple of them have led sub-groups on various issues. And, the current HOA President is married to a German. But, the election rules specifically state Citizens only, no foreigners - both are stated to avoid and doubt. 

Edited May 9, 2020 by hk blues

[Dave Hounddriver]

2 hours ago, kuripot said:

If you stay in a country long enough, you stop being a visitor.

Hey, I'll vote for ya!  Oops.  Can't.  No matter how long you stay you can never run for office as you are always a visitor.

[RBM]

9 hours ago, kuripot said:

If you stay in a country long enough, you stop being a visitor. The ridiculous assumption that anyone who wants to complain or suggest changes should just leave is ignorant and in fact holding back said countries. Throughout history many countries have benefited from outsider influence to improve. If something is broken, no local knows to fix it and you know the fix but will not mention it -- you're part of the problem.

In the Philippines it may very well be one stops being a visitor how ever so long as your a foreigner thats where the buck ends. You can voice what ever you like how ever highly unlikely your opinions will ever be recognized except in a negative way.

Not suggesting the logic in your post is not sensible however when was logic ever listened to here.

[Tommy T.]

10 hours ago, kuripot said:

If you stay in a country long enough, you stop being a visitor. The ridiculous assumption that anyone who wants to complain or suggest changes should just leave is ignorant and in fact holding back said countries. Throughout history many countries have benefited from outsider influence to improve. If something is broken, no local knows to fix it and you know the fix but will not mention it -- you're part of the problem.

I will respectfully disagree with part of your post, kuripot...

I don't really think it is a "ridiculous assumption"...  'that someone should just leave is ignorant". There really are those who cannot tolerate the lifestyle and customs in a foreign country who should leave. Some of them truly are ignorant and will remain so. Take, for example, the Spanish national who attacked police who were trying to enforce a mask-wearing mandate. He was expelled from the country and was lucky to not go to prison here. I agree that it should not apply to "anyone," but may apply to a few or even many.

I have been here for five years now - not a very long time, really. I have found that many, many customs and procedures are truly imbedded in the culture here and will not change in the foreseeable future. If someone cannot handle that... then they really should consider finding a new venue...

I have made a few attempts already to "fix" some things I see to be "wrong." I am currently enduring some of that while building a home here... But my efforts largely result in, "Yes, Sir Tom..." and nothing changes. I have learned to just accept that.

And, after these many years, I still feel like a visitor, even though I have a long term visa. My take on the Philippine society is that only native born or born from native Filipinos can and will be citizens. It is just the way it is here. So I just deal with it, live with it and, now I don't try to change anything... But I and my wonderful partner, L, try to just make little adjustments or improvements, if possible... Things will change here, but there is a lot of inertia to keep everything "status quo." So changes that, us Westerners would prefer to see and enact, may take a few more generations.