"I was shocked at the level of poverty for vast numbers of people, and the manner in which they lived in the grassy areas BETWEEN the highway or along side the highways approaching Manila."
Yeah, they really were a lot better off under Marcos.
How many countries have you visited? Have you ever been to Detroit? this kind of corruption is the norm anywhere outside the USA and Western Europe.
It appears that one of the greatest contributers to their GNP is the trade in and export of their young women.
Unsaid by you: they are doing legal jobs like nursing, teaching, being a nanny, etc. The usual term is OCW or OFW, for Overseas Contract or Overseas Filipino Workers. Without a visa and the appropriate paperwork, they can't get on the plane.
Their failure to annihilate the Islamist or Communist "terrorists" in their Island nation - is telling.
WTF do you know about it? They are moving Catholics into Mindanao in such numbers that Muslims are or will soon be a minority in many areas, to dilute their strength. The NPA (Communists) are not taken seriously by anyone.
The fine hotel I used in downtown Manila, had a bomb and weapon inspection station in the LOBBY, checking the parcels and baggage of ALL incoming guests and visitors. It didn't work.....the Hotel was bombed - a couple of weeks after I checked out.
Name the hotel and give me a link. I have stayed at the Makati Shangri-La and other places... yes, they have security everywhere... just like in most places where rich foreigners are, everywhere over the globe.