PUVs told: No consolidation, no permit

[Clermont]

As a foreigner, I came to the Philippines to enjoy the way it is, if I don’t like the part that I don’t agree with, I find an alternative. Remember it’s not our county or constitution and we have no say in what is rite or wrong, just enjoy what’s here.

[Freebie]

3 hours ago, Clermont said:

As a foreigner, I came to the Philippines to enjoy the way it is, if I don’t like the part that I don’t agree with, I find an alternative. Remember it’s not our county or constitution and we have no say in what is rite or wrong, just enjoy what’s here.

But we have a right to an opinion.. and the longer we live here, perhaps we have the benefit of experience of seeing some things change and some not.. hence the expressing of an opinion on boards such as these.

If we should never say anything about the country in which we choose to live that would make us all unthinking empty shells. WE have no ability to create change but that doesnt mean we dont see, think, analyse.....I have no problem whatsoever stating the things both positive and not so positive that I see here...

Been in and around the traps here over 30 years now.

[Clermont]

Yeah 30 years, try 50 odd years was my first visit to the PI's and in that time, I have seen a lot of change more so in the last 10 years. Some of the call for change makes a bit of sense but what do people want, a country like the one we shifted from, not me. I came here because of the laid-back ways, the jeepies, trykes and keeping on the ball when dealing with storekeepers and the people. It's not our country and change comes from overseas workers coming home with their life experiences not westerners trying to push change on the PI with opinions. If you take your time, you'll see the western way creeping into their lifestyle. I'd prefer to keep my opinion to myself when dealing with the people who are native to the country, anyone else their opinion doesn't register.

[Freebie]

16 hours ago, Clermont said:

I'd prefer to keep my opinion to myself when dealing with the people who are native to the country, anyone else their opinion doesn't register.

And yet here you are on a board where we non natives are expressing thoughts and opinions...kinda funny.

[hk blues]

I think both Freebie and Clermont are perfectly correct.

When I visit a friends home (regardless of where) I would never comment on things I don't like but in the comfort of my own home I definitely reserve the right to bitch about their place!

[scott h]

16 hours ago, Clermont said:

I have seen a lot of change more so in the last 10 years.

I agree, in the last 11 years living here and 30 years of visiting, I also have seen lots of change. The malls, the expressways, the new LRT opening in 2014, the new hotels and casinos, the thing is they are all being accomplished by private industry, big conglomerations. The other change I have seen is also is the Philippines now cannot feed itself, educate itself, police itself or protect itself, those areas that are government run.

21 hours ago, Clermont said:

Remember it’s not our county

I always get a bit of a chuckle when this point is brought up, I can only speak for myself, and I dont know what its like in OZ or the UK, but I am a Permanente legal resident, I can work, I pay taxes, I can own and drive a car, i contribute to the economy on a daily basis, I can do anything that a Filipino citizen can do except vote. Just like the legal migrants in the USA. So in a sense its my country also.

Now I an not going to rent a soapbox and shout in the barangay plaza what I see as this nations problems, but if asked, I do not hesitate to express my polite opinion.  

[Mike J]

19 hours ago, scott h said:

I can do anything that a Filipino citizen can do except vote.

Or own guns, property, hold elected public office, take part in demonstrations against government.  The biggest complaint I hear from expats is the inability to own property other than a condo.

Edited December 22, 2023 by Mike J

[scott h]

46 minutes ago, Mike J said:

Or own guns, property, hold elected public office, take part in demonstrations against government.  The biggest complaint I hear from expats is the inability to own property other than a condo.

All good points Mike, I should have said "I can do anything I WANT to do, except vote" 

I have never owned a gun (did my shooting while getting paid for it ), wife owns the house (I pay the taxes ) and am to honest for politics (thank goo ).

Foreign property ownership is one of the things holding this country back IMHO

[Clermont]

57 minutes ago, Mike J said:

The biggest complaint I here from expats is the inability to own property other than a condo.

Don’t knock that, Australia went down that path of selling off the country and now their trying to regulate sales, investment houses, vacant houses for investment without much success. No don’t wish that on the country, the balance they have of 60/40 in industry including PUV,s is a good balance. Imagine paying 40 million pesos for a home just outside of Manila, that’s what you’d be looking at if it was changed. Yes you would have an influx of investment, but would the average PI be able to keep pace with the added expenses trying to survive. That is only one part of the problem. We all know and so do they what the problem is, in the end it doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, we’re equal in the end. Opinions don’t matter and like Scott H has said , he can do most things here, so let’s just do what we came here for, enjoy and all have a merry Christmas.