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On the tribulations of an expatriate in Europe
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Joy at the Presence of the Lord
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
An Exchange of Gifts
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Monday, May 29, 2023
Your Heavenly Mother
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Sunday, May 28, 2023
The Age of the Holy Spirit
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Saturday, May 27, 2023
Is Manila really as bad as Filipinos say?
Stephen Fletcher 
I have been visiting the Philippines every few months for the last 10 years, so feel I can give an objective unbiased answer.
Manila like every city in the world has its problems, it is overcrowded, with many living in poverty, has a woefully inadequate public transportation and road network . But is Manila really as bad as people say? No. Manila is a vibrant cosmopolitan city which welcomes visitors with open arms and a smile. The people are some of the friendliest and most welcoming in the world. Who will often go out of their way to help or assist. I have never felt threatened or in danger when walking the streets at any hour of the day or night.
Yes the road system is terrible, with such gems like the Malate one way system, which rather than improving traffic flow, funnels traffic down the narrower and narrower roads, which are already full of jeepneys! Till they are forced to stop at an intersection because no one will give way, at which time it becomes a contest to see who has the loudest horn! The road system has for it’s crowning glory EDSA. Which for most of the day, has vehicles reaching the dizzying speeds of 5–10kmh, and are shrouded in a strange blue grey haze of exhaust fumes. ( black if you are next to a provincial bus).
The MRT and LRT is an alternative and does provide an incredibly cheap way to get around the city, if you don’t have any luggage, and don’t mind being squeezed aboard like a sardine in a tin. But it's a great way to meet people, and a great way to get around the city to visit the malls or markets. But just remember to make your return journey before 9pm, for it is at this hour just as the malls are closing and staff and customers are forced to depart, that they find that the MRT and LRT has also closed! Forcing the travelling public to play the exclusive Manila game of hunt the taxi. During the day you can't walk more than 20m without a taxi pulling alongside trying to tempt you in. At 9pm finding an empty taxi is like big game hunting, you know they exist somewhere, but are so incredibly elusive, probably all stuck on EDSA.
If you can't find a taxi, you could find yourself lured into one of Manilas many bars , restaurants, and karaoke establishments. Here if you are lucky will find live entertainment being provided by one of Manila’s finest bands. Enjoy an evening of great music, a few beers and a meal for around 1500php (which is significantly less than the price of a couple of beers in London.)
Yes Manila has its problems, but it is these problems and the way that the people cope with them, which makes Manila the city that people love, and return to time after time.
Manila - 20 Million and Rising.
Are Jeepneys and private franchise taxis, buses, and tricycles the roots of congestion’s in the Philippines?
Stephen Fletcher
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They are a significant part of the problem with congestion in the Philippines. It is not the jeepney, taxi or bus themselves which are the problem. It is a total lack of discipline and poor driving by the drivers of these and other vehicles, which are the problem.
In cities and areas where there are designated bus and jeepney lanes, these are ignored by the drivers who will drive in any lane, and stop anywhere in any lane to pick up and drop off passengers in any lane or junction and by doing so force all other traffic to squeeze past in the remaining lane or space.
A number of towns and Cities have introduced one way systems which rather than easing the flow of traffic and reducing congestion, actually makes the situation worse, by funnelling traffic down roads and into junctions which cannot cope with the number of vehicles.
In rural towns the congestion can be a result of tricylcles which seem to have no concept of driving rules at all and are often seen heading into the flow of traffic the wrong way, ignoring one way signs, and completing turns and maneuvers which make normal drivers slam on their brakes to avoid a collision. Congestion in rural towns is made worse by the constant stream of overloaded trucks which are crawling along at little more than walking pace, with a resultant queue of impatient drivers behind them.
In the big cities there is no viable alternative to the jeepney, vhire and taxi, as there is no affordable alternative form or public transport for the masses. Even in Manila where there is a minimal railway network, along with the LRT and MRT. These services are totally inadequate for the numbers of passengers wishing to travel be it for leisure or just to commute across the city for employment. The limited hours that these services operate only adds to road congestion, often the service has ended before the malls have closed, resulting in workers having to use alternative road transport to get home.
In many other countries metro systems operate late into the night or in some countries 24 hours a day. Operating the LRT or MRT in this manner would go some way to reducing congestion.
In the towns and cities there are often insufficient provision made for parking of vehicles and as a result vehicles are parked in roads or in positions which restrict the flow of traffic. resulting in further congestion.
At the end of the day it is the sheer size of the population, combined with a poorly organized and managed public transport system which when coupled with poor driving standards and in many cases a total disregard for traffic regulations, result in appalling congestion across the Philippines roads.
Why are so many French people all worked up about increasing the retirement age?
Tristan Ng
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People around 50 to 60 barely find jobs, and are often replaced with younger folks. So not only are they forced to work longer, but because they cannot work they won’t be able to have a better retirement pension, if not worse. And people who had difficult jobs can barely keep up to 62. Currently, most of them are jobless and waiting for the maximum age for retirement (which is 67, if I recall correctly), living off social minima and in precarious situations.
I’m currently working in a museum that specializes in welcoming people who have difficulty accessing to cultural places due to their social, professional or personal background such as jobless people, disabled people, immigrants, people living in difficult neighbourhoods, people with limited income, etc by providing free entries to them. You’d be shocked how many elderly people come in and justifying their free entry by showing they live through social minima.
Many people (especially men) who work in difficult conditions (physical/manual work) barely live long enough to see retirement, considering those people also don’t have the best quality of life either in order to take care of their bodies as well as they should despite all the health care we can get.
It also handicaps women who often don’t get full careers due to childbirth, parenting, etc and are also discriminated against when applying for jobs.
As for younger people, if you start working young, you still have to work for an absurd amount of time (43 years) full time uninterrupted to be able to retire with a full pension.
With the current system, not only do they want to make you work two more years, but the motion requires you to have a full career, which is incredibly difficult for the majority of the population, in order to receive that full pension.
The only exceptions that manage to get a full career early on are the people from high social class, who get into a good company and manage to keep their position. Which, again, is not accessible to everyone and disadvantage women. Of course, some people from middle class can manage to get higher positions, but it is *unlikely*. Not impossible, but unlikely.
This motion will not only widen the economic gap between lower/middle class and higher class, but also widen the poverty threshold altogether, while profiting companies.
TLDR ; The age itself isn’t “that dramatic” but all of the small policies make it catastrophic for the working class, especially for people who already struggles which constitute the majority of the french population.
What are some fun things to do in Manila?
Stephen Fletcher
I spend around 6 months each year in the Philippines, much of that in Manila. Here are a few of my favourite things to do in this vibrant city.
- Visit Ocean Park, situated on the bay front close to Rizal park and Ermita. Here there are a number of aquatic exhibits and shows daily. Numerous stores and restaurants/ cafés so many make this a whole day experience. Numerous packages are available making this an affordable attraction. https://www.manilaoceanpark.com.
2. Go for a Segway tour around Intramuros, these short and again affordable tours are great fun, a novel way to see the old city. White Knight Tours
3. Spend an evening watching a live band at one of the many bar/ restaurants scattered throughout the city. I generally watch my favourite band Side A, but when they are not performing there is always a live show somewhere. The most affordable for those on a budget are Padi’s Point where a few beers, snacks and live band can be less that 500php. Padi's Point Bar & Restaurant, But I am generally found in Historia Bar in Quezon City, Historia Boutique Bar and Restaurant, 12 Monkeys bar in Ortigas 12 Monkeys Music Hall & Pub (@12monkeysph) • Instagram photos and videos, or 19 East in Sucat, 19 East. Generally an evening of good music, good food and a few beers can be had for around 1000php.
4. Take a day visit to Corregidor Island, this Island is now a monument to the loses on all sides during WW2. Boat departs from Manila bay, just behind the Mall Of Asia early morning and return late afternoon, tour includes round trip ferry to the islands, tour of the island and lunch. There are additional charges for tour of the tunnels. https://corregidorphilippines.com
5. Go shopping, Manila has multiple large air-conditioned malls, where there are cinema, bowling, shopping and restaurants. Often the malls have sales which makes your money go further.
6. Go to a street market, head to Baclaren and walk through a street market which open every evening,
There are many many more activities and events being held throughout Manila, but the City is hot, Sweltering, Noisy And sometimes Claustrophobic. So consider day trips to the beach at Batangas, or Puerto Galera only a couple of hours from Manila. Or visit Taal volcano again only a couple of hours from Manila.
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