Sorry if this is harsh. I have great admiration and respect for traditional Filipinas, although they are apparently an endangered species… increasingly hard to find.

As a retired member of the US Air Force, I was always infuriated at the accusation that the Americans were to blame for the prostitution in Pampanga. We have been gone since 1991, yet Angeles City’s sex tourism industry is thriving at a high! There are more bars there now than when the US Air Force was there. Worse, there are many more obvious and open all-Pilipino bars and kareoke joints lining the national highway… complete with bargirls dancing in the streets and alleys to attract PINOY customers.

The rate of single Filipina mothers who were abandoned by Pinoy fathers is also at an astonishing all-time high, as is rape and incest at the hands of Filipino men. Are these atrocities somehow worse when committed by foreigners?

Filipina sex chat, webcam, pornography, and especially romance scams are notorious worldwide, and at epidemic proportions. And this despite a growing economy, better overall standard of living, and more accessible educational system today.

Clean up your own backyard instead of blaming the rest of the world. The Filipino people are not victims. Much of the world is worse off than the Philippines, yet these problems are not as severe, especially in other ASIAN countries.

Wake up. The charm of the Philippines is fading fast, and the world view of Filipinos is continuing to decline.

I apprecialte the blogger’s outrage and the insightful comments. I respect and agree with all of your thoughts because each of you represent an important viewpoint, along with many other viewpoints unrepresented. Most governments of the world practice capitalism. Capitalism is defined as an economic system characterized by freedom of the market with increasing concentration of private and corporate ownership of production and distribution means, proportionate to increasing accumulation and reinvestment of profits. With such being the case the majority of the world’s people will be controlled by the rule of law instituted by the corporations who now control almost all, if not technically all of the governments of the world. It seems to me that most capatalist don’t value people whether their rich, middle class or poor. They seem to only value the power that comes with their increasing control of governments which brings control of that government’s people and natural resources. I really don’t think their will be any taking back of governments, morality, decency or anything else. Pandora’s box has been opened and it can’t be closed by any human means. Pandora’s box represent that which is evil , untruthful and illusionary. Once it was opened and its contents released into the world, its effect is the creation of evil people victimizing whomever. Unfortunately there will always be evil, selfish people, on earth, who without hesitation, will destroy the lives of the majority of the world’s people, along with its numerous other creatures and liveforms for their moment of pleasure, power, glory or self satisfaction. In order for a victim to be able to help his/her self, someone has to care enough to try an teach that person, that their is a positive way of changing their life. It starts with a belief in education. and an understanding of their own self worth and how that self worth can be empowered through the struggle of obtaining an education. However, education usually becomes, ” Following a program of study instituted by capitalist’s, that ultimately makes a person a slave or servant of the capitalistic system “, which keeps the process of victimization, healthy and growing !!!

I think its important and necessary that every person look at how closely their alligned with the capitalist system. If you agree with the status quo, your beliefs and values will support it. If a person doesn’t agree with the status quo then one should make the necessay changes in their beliefs and values to not support its victimization of the world’s people, its numerous creatures and lifeforms, which are all to be valued, respected, and protected !!!

A person’s choice will alway cost them, one way or another !!

The response of the government and many Filipinos in general is to blame someone else. Look outside your borders and blame the rest of the world for your own predicament. The failure of your leaders, and the failure of Filipino people to hold their government accountable, is the root of the problem.

Filipinas end up as bar girls in Korea and Japan, (or in their own country for that matter), because Filipinos do not hold their government accountable. Filipinas end up as house servants (slaves) in the Middle East because Filipinos do not hold their government accountable. Filipinas marry men abroad because they see no hope for a decent life at home, so they roll the dice. Sometimes they end up better off, sometimes they do not. All of this is directly related to the total and absolute corruption found in the Philippines.

Just look at the slums. What would be considered intolerable living conditions for dogs and cats in the West, are still better conditions than many Filipino children find themselves in. As many times as I have been to the Philippines I still cannot believe what I see in Manila. How to the rich and powerful sleep at night with this right outside their door? Children hungry, dirty, homeless, infected with TB, sniffing paint, wondering around like wild animals, with no one to protect them. It is horrible.

Filipinos need to get angry for once. I have been around enough Filipinos to know most of them are too passive. Sure, you have the activists, but most of them are focused on finding excuses outside their borders. Sensational stories about a few bad foreigners bring them out in droves, burning American flags, wanting American soldiers brought to justice. Lots of distractions from the real and underlying problems.

Instead of Filipino society as a whole saying enough is enough, many just find ways to distract themsleves. Instead of fighting to stop the corruption, they give up their pride and dignity to get by. Many Filipinas resort to demeaning and demoralizing ways to make a living because they have decided to accept the unacceptable.

Just do an image search on google for the word “filipina” with the safe search turned off and what do you see? Enough said.

The problem is birth control. A family can’t gain wealth if they’re having 8 children to a mother.

I think a social program that just pays people 2500 pesos to get ‘fixed’ would do the trick.

2.5Billion USD later half the population of the philippines will be fixed and the population growth rate will drop sharply. After 40-80 years the wealth will go back to a few hands and a lot of families will be able to afford to educate the 1 or 2 children they do have into a better life.

I don’t know about anyone else. But I’m american and had to work 2 jobs just to put myself through college. Then you have these people with 8 children who think everything should be given to them on a gold platter because they’re “poor”. Well, I got a few words for you… go fuck yourself.. At least that won’t produce anymore babies.

There was a kid in india that saw a PICTURE, not a diagram, or technical specification, a PICTURE of a windmill and then made one out of spare parts. He’s now using this to power his home in india. The philippines is one of the most resource rich countries per area than any other country i’ve seen before in my life. If these people can’t make it with what they’ve got and their own smarts then darwin would suggest that they don’t have what it takes. The sari-sari stores and restraunts are a good example. Everyone just copies everyone else. Every house has a sari-sari store, none of them make much if any money. Maybe 20 pesos a day. The restraunts on the street are the same, they all sell the same stuff. There’s no ingenuity, or creativity to be found.

Then theres this sign near my house someone put up “God please save us”. I’m thinking “why the fuck would he save you? God helps those that help themselves, get up off your ass and go do something”. Meanwhile, san miguel laughs all the way to the bank as a whole family sits at the corner store drinking away the 40 pesos they were able to make for the day.

You have a brain, use it!

I had a choice to be a doctor or a lawyer and to study abroad but I chose to be a missionary instead. I wanted to find myself, to serve other people in different countries and also to see how the Filipinos are in the Philippines and outside the Philippines. Sadly, I was not treated well in other countries because of my passport. And as I traveled, I met Filipinas who work as “entertainers” as they call themselves. . . . who had children.. withmen of different nationalities..

It breaks my heart how these people try to do everything just to find a more comfortable life…I try to think and contemplate and try to organize in my mind who is to blame….

It also sickens me that other people encourage mail order brides. On line dating exclusively for filipinas and others.. I am now in the US and I met a lot of men telling me that they know someone who were left by their filipina wives just after they got their green cards..
(Yes, I am in the US but I still love my country and I try to do as much as I can to help).

It’s easy to blame poverty , but I guess that is the reality. Most filipinas who marry someone from another country are like you said “dirt-poor”.

I feel like i want to do something but I am powerless…I want to get angry with the government..especially the officials, how calloused their hearts are! They spend livelihood project money in their own liking. Vacations abroad, flashy cars, mansions.. How dare they! how dare they! Especially in Manila, Cebu, Davao and Pampanga where the contrast of rich and poor are very evident. Even though I am a Christian, I admit that I also “blame” God. Maybe not actually blaming him but asking him, questioning him – why is he allowing these things? until when will the Filipinos suffer until when will he will save us? I also blame the Filipinos. I may sound like self-righteous but honestly, out of billions of Filipinos out there, only a handful really love our country and I am sure that I am one of them. When will the Filipinos realize that how we live our lives day by day affects how we are and definitely affects our country.

I am working and praying and hoping that the people will change so that the system will change. I am just beginning to do something small. I can always try, I might fail but that is part of life.

I love you Philippines and I am always… crying.. and praying … and try to make a difference…for you…

I would like to say thank you so much for the articles that you have posted. I am a Filipina who traveled in different lands and I can say that I am blessed because I grew up in Baguio City where poverty is not that common and I am born into a middle class family. My parents are both highly educated but not snobs. They instilled in me that though I have to be thankful of the things I have, I should also make one of my aims to help my nation.

I had a choice to be a doctor or a lawyer and to study abroad but I chose to be a missionary instead. I wanted to find myself, to serve other people in different countries and also to see how the Filipinos are in the Philippines and outside the Philippines. Sadly, I was not treated well in other countries because of my passport. And as I traveled, I met Filipinas who work as “entertainers” as they call themselves. . . . who had children with different nationalities..

It breaks my heart how these people try to do everything just to find a more comfortable life…I try to think and contemplate and try to organize in my mind who is to blame….

It also sickens me that other people encourage mail order brides. On line dating exclusively for filipinas and others.. I am now in the US and I met a lot of men telling me that they know someone who were left by their filipina wives just after they got their green cards..
(Yes, I am in the US but I still love my country and I try to do as much as I can to help).

It’s easy to blame poverty , but I guess that is the reality. Most filipinas who marry someone from another country are like you said “dirt-poor”.

I feel like i want to do something but I am powerless…I want to get angry with the government..especially the officials, how calloused their hearts are! They spend livelihood project money in their own liking. Vacations abroad, flashy cars, mansions.. How dare they! how dare they! Especially in Manila, Cebu, Davao and Pampanga where the contrast or rich and poor are very evident. Even though I am a Christian, I admit that I also “blame” God. Maybe not actually blaming him but asking, questioning him why is he allowing these things? until when will the Filipinos suffer until he will save us? I also blame the Filipinos. I may sound like self-righteous but honestly, out of billions of Filipinos out there, only a handful really love our country and I am sure that I am one of them. When will the Filipinos realize that how we live our lives day by day affects how we are and definitely affects our country.

I am working and praying and hoping that the people will change so that the system will change. I am just beginning to do something small but I can always try, I might fail but that is part of life.

I love you Philippines and I am always… crying.. and praying … and try to make a difference…for you…

Please tell the world the real problems in the Philippines.
The poor girls (Samar, Leyte) are the ones the frequently become bargirls, as they have little hope in the province. They will never find a guy outside of their social class. They know they are destined to be just like their mother if they stay in the province. There is no way to break the cycle of poverty in these very poor regions. The girls coming to the bar usually are the ones that had a filipino boyfriend that abandoned them after getting them pregnant, or ones that were promised marriage to get them to have sex.
The girls learn quite early that even the worse foreigner may be better than the best filipino they can get in the province.
The problem lies in the social structure of the Philippines. It is usually the poor girls that are looking for a foreigner, as they have little hope for anything that can get them out of their situation in life.
You rarely see the upper class girls with foreigners, or even desiring foreigners, as they have the advantage of being able to find a successful filipino in their social class.
Poverty and the social class system of the Philippines is the true cause of foreigners coming to the Philippines to prey upon the girls. What other option is there for a poor girl from Samar? She can either stay in the province, get pregnant from a local poor guy, and live in poverty the rest of her life, or go out and try to find a foreigner that may give her a better life. It is a gamble they are willing to take.