Chili at VFW Post 9892, Bauang, La Union Philippines

has written 205 comments

I see why your going to be donating a large portion or that cinnamon bun bonaza to the local talent. Actually looks pretty dam good. 50 cents for the whole lot ????

you must mean 50 pesos for a couple of them ?

hoz from has written 62 comments

Big difference between you and me Andy. When I'm in the Philippines I avoid Americans and other "whites" like the plague. I want to visit other islands, mingle with the locals. Check out Dumaluan Beach on Panglao Island (Bohol). It's the "local" beach. You can camp there or rent a Bahay Kubo. Very inexpensive.

Gadget from has written 831 comments

There is little empathy for other people on the planet. The saying,
"Walk a mile in another persons shoes."

This is the ideal, however just is noise, people do not even try.

Comments on this Travel Journal are incredibly revealing of how people empathize with the world.

Andy

Gadget from has written 831 comments

Hoz, I think you are a Filipino American. This means you are NOT a White person, your ability to enjoy the Philippines is 80 percent different than mine. Generally I believe you want to avoid looking or admitting the true essence of your culture.

I understand the desire to say you are American, but this is politically correct, my family has been in the USA for 250 years, I do not relate to any other culture than the USA one. You relate, understand and know the Philippines culture, you are half Filipino and this is good, not bad.

You come here to see the good right of the top.

I do this too, but have a huge problem know how to avoid the crap.

When you read about some annoyance, I was not able to avoid it.

It is highly possible I have been to more places in the Philippine than you, I just do not list them all our.
Palawan, Cebu, Mindanao, Pagudpud, Subic, Vigan. Quezon, San Fernando, La Union and many cities around all these location.

I am positive I have been to more places than the other whites I know or meet. They do not have any desire to visit the country as does the majority of the tourist on the planet. If a person made a list of five places they wanted to visit on planet earth, only 1 in a 1000 would write down the Philippines. This is quite obvious, there are almost zero tourist in this country.

Funny part, it should be on their list, but truly the tourist industry here in the Philippines is one of the stupidest on the planet.

Andy

hoz from has written 62 comments

Yes Andy, I am Fil/Am. But I don't look Filipino,and I don't speak the language. I was born and raised in the US. I'm from Indiana, I spreaken mit a Hoosier accent.

The first time I visited the Philippines I thought I could "pass" if I kept my mouth shut. No go, I'm a Joe to the locals. I'm too light, too well fed. (Though I have noticed Filipinos are getting bigger since my first visit in 1985.

After constantly traveling the past 11 years one would think you would be immune to the idiosyncrasies of different countries and be able to roll with them. But all I read is how people are stupid, this or that is crap, or the country is Fxxked up.

Just like most "American Tourists" when they are in the Philippines.

Gadget from has written 831 comments

Hoz, please try to empathize with three main writing themes, this is a BUSINESS, I am in the Business of Travel Internet pages

1. TOP BACKPACKER
I have to admit I am one of the top travelers on the planet, I am one of the voices of the Backpacker, not the tourist. What I say sometime is taking literal and can get people in trouble.

2. HOBO THEME
I have a Hobo theme, this is a ragged, devil be cared, do not care person.

3. TRAVEL WRITER
I am a writer.

I would be negligent to deny I am classified as these things, whether true or untrue in the political correct mindless view of readers, I am defined as this.

4. AMERICAN

You keep trying to promote the good part of the Philippines.

I am also trying to do this, but I am telling the audience, you will have to walk through some crap to get there, and it is worth it.

99 percent of Backpacker avoid the Philippines and I advise them to do so, this place is triple the price of normal BACKPACK countries. I am more a Backpacker than a Tourist, I go for years, you Hoz come and visit, you are not going to pay 1000's of fat earned dollars for a normal trip, you are want the best piece of pie.

ROLLING with the PUNCHES

Funny shit, truly hilarious, if there is one thing I have proven more than any human on planet earth, I can handle the crap that other cultures deal out. I have been moving perpetually for over 11 years, almost 12 and have no desire to stop. I do not station in one country, I move at least every 2 months to another city, I am one of the only people on the planet that has not given up.

I have people tell me to give up, I think this is too stupid for words, this is who I am, I cannot give up, this is me.

Sadly, you are trying to induce me to be a typical Travel Writer who paints a load of crap and cliches on a canvas, says the world is nice, poor people are good people who did not get a chance and all the other assine noise. I cannot stand to read Travel Writers or Bloggers, they have a genetic propensity to lie.

The Philippines is a rare and beautiful flower wrapped in a bulletproof covering of pig crap. Sadly the only tourist friendly place in this country is Angeles City.

If you accept this country is encased in corruption, babies, crap, Filipino people who act incredibly stupid and say incredibly stupid things, this is an. Then you are ready to come and enjoy the place.

They have killed 100 Journalist here, this is a statement of how you think Hoz, the Philippines people are good, but they also want to hide behind excuses.

I love the happy girls here, the cleaning lady said hello sir. I do not get this in most countries, I just get ignored.

The Prime Directive of travel is to enjoy ourselves, there is no righteous path by enjoying the culture or tourist destinations, this is following another persons dream.

Andy

hoz from has written 62 comments

Thx 4 ur comments Andy always good to hear from you. Your PD and mine differ. I would rather immerse myself with locals (nothing about tourist destinations there) than hang out with white, fat, bombastic expats and mongers whose only reason to be in country is to avail themselves of the cheap living, drink, food and young girls. You often find them in the bars, discos and VFW's complaining about all four. Those guys are vexations to the spirit. Why they stay when they seem so miserable is amazing.

No excuses, just fact:

The Philippines is a poor 3rd world country. They have corrupt politicians whose families have been in power for generations. The country had been raped and pillaged by the Spanish, the Japanese, America, and the Oligarchy for centuries. Yet the people persevere. They still smile and have a "Good Morning Sir" ready when they greet you. Why there has been no mass revolt is surprising.

Why have all the countries of the Pacific Rim prospered, yet the gross national product of the Philippines fallen? Why was there a directive after WWII stating that the Philippines were to be used as an agricultural and "resource nation" and the other nations built up as manufacturing countries? The Philippines was an ally of America, yet America rebuilt Japan's factories, and relegated the Philippines to third world status.

I don't see the Philippines through rose colored glasses Andy, I know the place is a pit, corruption, overpopulation, pollution, filth, the scams, but the hope is in the people. They are waking up. More are getting an education and though many still leave the country for greener pastures, some stay and others return to try and make a difference. They open businesses, food programs, orphanages, run for office and try to better the country.

Gadget from has written 831 comments

Culturally the Philippines is similar to Africa, they are all waiting for another country to come and fix them. The world no longer goes to other countries and try to take over, they allow countries to do as they wish.

All is rather hopeless until the Philippines people stop having babies, even africa has a handle on this and are living in better conditions than the Philippines.

They are happy, and this is great.

In a primitive culture, when a hotel is not making money, they raise the cost of a room. They do not become more competitive. The Philippine continues to want to be the same as the USA, and it is truly a poor Asian country with a lot of enclaves of Rich Filipinos and Trailer Trash Rich Americans and Aussies.

Agriculture is one of the few things they do good.

The goal of the people is not to improve, the goal is to leave.

Much respect to your opinions. I guess Hoz and you Andy perfectly pictured out what Philippines really is, the worst and the good side. Well, I am a Filipino, yes we are people living in a third world country as perceived by those great nations. I do not argue if they will insist that crimes here in the Philippines are high because it is a fact that it rooted from different factors.

We are not waiting for any help from other nations. We are trying to improve our country starting from ourselves.

Lucky you guys that you live in those places, enjoy the luxurious lifestyles. Since i was born, there is already hope inside me that someday that our sons and daughters will not struggle the way we struggle right now. We see those other nations as models of progress. We respect their own cultures but above all we also love our own culture.

To you Andy we are not all about girls/lust and vices. There is still this pride and honor that we are keeping after being "abused" form our past history. I hope someday you will be enlightened and be able to learn our better side someday.

Gadget from has written 831 comments

You are not waiting, you are leaving, and I should not need to be enlightend to find this better side.
There is the Sin of False Pride rampant.

Hi Andy,
I just wanted to point out that VFW Post 9892 is actually in Bauang AND Paringao. Bauang is the town, Paringao is the Barangay. I think of barangays like neighborhoods in the towns. There are 39 barangays in the town of Bauang.

Cheers,
Jennifer