Rediscovering the American Spirit in the Philippines

Dignitas News Service ^ | May 11, 2015 | Paul M Winters

[dignitasnews]

My first week back to Cebu caused me to ponder that while America charts a path of lowered expectations and the suicidal divisiveness of self-righteous political correctness, the Philippines has challenged itself and it's people to embrace the opportunities of the global marketplace.

[JimSEA]

The non Muslim people of Southeast Asia don’t hate themselves. Actually they don’t seem to hate anyone.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Ping.

[lulu16]

You and my husband are big fans of the PI> I will send to him and have him comment.

[atc23]

I cant wait to get out of the States - permanently. This place went to hell - My sights are set on Alicante, Spain but I do miss the PI

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

The Philippines is still a poverty-stricken 3rd world country, and the “opportunities of the global marketplace” will keep it that way, while dragging us down to the same level as them and every other 3rd world dump that can churn crap for cheaper than Americans are willing to work for.

[berdie]

Hmmm...isn’t Spain in about the same boat as Greece?

But it is pretty.

[ThankYouFreeRepublic]

Thank you for writing a very thought provoking article. Please put me on your list to ping.

When I was in the Philippines last year, I visited a relatively poor fishing village, where I got into a discussion with the locals about the differences between the Philippines and the US. The locals were under the impression that I was wealthy (and by their standards, I was), and therefore, they were surprised to hear that I worked as many hours as I did. “In the Philippines,” they said, “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.” I explained to them that, in the US, it was the wealthier people who worked the most hours, while it was the “poor” people who didn’t work at all because they were entitled to handouts. That confused them quite a bit.

It confused me, too, as I thought about it.

A system such as I described in the US is quite unlikely in the long run to generate wealth... or happiness... for anybody.

On a related note and consistent with the title of your post, the company I worked for just published a survey which included why people move overseas to retire. It turns out that quite a few people move overseas in order to capture the America that they had when they great up, as opposed to living in the America that is now. Quite ironic that, in order to live in “America”, Americans are moving overseas.

[berdie]

Sorry, but I don’t think retiring overseas has anything to do with “living in America.”

IMHO, it may have to do with it being cheaper. But call it what it is.

[American Constitutionalist]

Mabuhey !

Maganda gabie !

My favorite Philippine food is Chicken adobu.

Their McDonalds there is Jolly Bee.

Been to Manila once.

Wish I had gone to Cebu the diamond of the Philippines.

Filipinas are the most beautiful women in the world.

[WVKayaker]

The Philippines is still a poverty-stricken 3rd world country, ...

The United States is fast becoming "a poverty-stricken 3rd world country", thanks to the recent administrations. What GW Bush started, Zero has continued. Bush2 was the highest spending Admin and Zero has doubled (nay, quadrupled) down.

I moved to the Philippines in February, 2013. First in Leyte, then moved to Davao City in October, 2013, where I live now. Lat night, I had a retired USArmy friend and his wife here, and we were talking about "back home". Both of us agreed (as do our other American friends) that this is a much more desirable place to live.

This "third world country" allows it's children to play outside, without fear of some pedophile taking them away. The present government here is advancing the education possibilities, and bringing real change and hope to the citizenry. As to the future, it look considerably brighter here than in Amerika. Is it "poverty stricken"?

Yes, there are poor people here, but I see plenty of signs that not everybody has been struck. There are gas stations under construction everywhere, to respond to the additional cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. There are construction projects everywhere, and many of those home owners are enlarging and modernizing their homes and businesses.

It's easy to sit in front of your computer and fling feces at the wall, when you don't know feces about the subject, isn't it?

Good luck with that "hope and change" thing back in America. I doubt I will ever live there again. Most of my American friends here agree with that sentiment.

I have a good dentist, a couple of good doctors, and plenty of business friends here.

I came here for three reasons.
1. exchange rate. (45 PhPesos to $1US, presently)
2. English speakers (I can even converse with most of the children here!
3. Christian nation (though mainly Roman Catholic, Christians are advancing the Gospel here, and Roman Catholicism is being seen as the cult it is!)

But, since being here, I have found lots more reasons, not the least of which is a sweet Filipina to share my life...

Three Americans, Three Filipinas! USAF retied, UsArmy retired, me USN (66-68 VN Vet)

[Boowhoknew]

I spoke with a young lady who was a telephone agent for a LARGE based in America company. I suspected when I heard here flient english and polite nature that she was a filapina, and she confirmed my thoughts.
She said she wanted to move to the USA someday. I replied that I hoped we were still around...
I didnt say she would get here quicker if she appeared at our southern border, speaking only spanish,and only if the coyotes that she woud have to pay to get to the border didnt decide to sell her to a brothel instead.

[sushiman]

Greets from an ex-pat 30 years in Japan . If I were single , I’d be with you all in the Philippines . ^_^ Cheers and thanks for a great post .

[octex]

Very good posting! If I was younger and not a Native Texan, I would definitely consider a move to the Philippines. The island nation really seems to be moving forward in the way the US did following WWII. ....Too bad that the US is now regressing to pre-WWII times.

[Mark17]

LOL, eat your heart out. There are many good Protestant churches too.

[Mark17]

Filipinas are the most beautiful women in the world.

You are correct sir. I know this from personal experience, because I have one. 😎

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Anyone heard from AlexW lately?

He’s in Daluguete on Cebu and I haven’t seen him post in a while.

I was going to retire in the RP, but have chosen Thailand instead (Chiang Mai) and will hopefully be leaving around the spring of 2017

[elcid1970]

“3. Christian nation (though mainly Roman Catholic, Christians are advancing the Gospel here, and Roman Catholicism is being seen as the cult it is!)”

Uh...OK, Jack Chick!

;^)

[KC_Lion]

F.Y.I Ping!

[wjcsux]

My cousin does business there, tells me the people are wonderful.