General Info

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1718927]Sitting here sweltering through yet another "rotational brownout," which is a euphemism for: "we haven't invested anything in any infrastructure in 20 years and have no plans to do so. Ever. " Many Filipinos in Mindanao think inadequate supplies of electricity are normal everywhere and some appear genuinely surprised to here that it's not normal even in many other SE Asian countries. I love the people here, but the place is utterly hopeless.

GE.[/QUOTE]During the Maywether / Pacquiao fight, there were warnings to temporarily disconnect fridges and aircons to avoid a brownout during the fight.

You still see several diesel generators around during a brown-out. I am a little suprised that Solar hasn't taken off there yet.

[QUOTE=Switched;1719030]During the Maywether / Pacquiao fight, there were warnings to temporarily disconnect fridges and aircons to avoid a brownout during the fight.

You still see several diesel generators around during a brown-out. I am a little suprised that Solar hasn't taken off there yet.[/QUOTE]To introduce solar here would have two economically undesirable effects from the standpoint of those who own the country. First, it would weaken the virtual monopoly on the supply of electric power that some of the families enjoy. Two, it might reduce the cost of electricity, now the highest or second highest in Asia, further diminishing profits for connected families.

GE.

GE, you are getting crankier these days.

In retrospect, should poor nations have invested in telephone poles as the cell phone technology was taking off?

Should countries invest billions in coal, gas, or nuclear power plants in order to power pachinko parlors and heated toilet seats (Tokyo), or gambling casinos and gaudy neon lights (Las Vegas), or. ?

The lack of power is a problem in an extremely uncomfortable climate like philippines. I'm not so fond of AC, but I like to have an electric powered fan on days / nights of heat and humidity.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1718927]Sitting here sweltering through yet another "rotational brownout," which is a euphemism for: "we haven't invested anything in any infrastructure in 20 years and have no plans to do so. Ever. " Many Filipinos in Mindanao think inadequate supplies of electricity are normal everywhere and some appear genuinely surprised to here that it's not normal even in many other SE Asian countries. I love the people here, but the place is utterly hopeless.

GE.[/QUOTE]

Yesterday was Friday, which meant for me that it was time to take my weekly flight from Manila back to the relative sanity of Davao. Though the airport has not and likely never will improve, it's gotten slightly easier for me to manage since I've reconciled myself to senior citizen status, and decided to take full advantage of the priority services offered to those flying under the aegis of that flag. The major advantage is that I don't wait in line for anything. Rather, I just head to the front, say the magic words "senior citizen and am whisked promptly through with no obvious resentment from others waiting patiently in the queue. If you've got to get old, maybe the Philippines is the place to do it.

I wound up with about an hour to kill prior to boarding, and as I hadn't eaten breakfast, decided to hit one of the snack places to get some coffee or have a Coke Zero. I shared a table with another American; a man slightly younger than I, who has spent the last 15 years or so in Bangkok. He told me he's relocating to Siargao, which he thinks is beautiful and extremely well managed. I was struck my his perceptions that, despite the government corruption, lack of infrastructure, and general incompetence associated with public services, the Philippines was desirable simply because its people are more gracious and much more accepting of foreigners than are Thais. He said that regardless of the amount of time spent in country, and regardless of one's fluency in the language, at the end of the day, we are, and will forever remain "fareng. " Both of us agreed that this is not the case here in many instances and rarely to that extent.

I found it interesting that despite Thailand's obvious advantages in infrastructure, food and general efficiency, he still prefers to live here.

GE.

I was browsing on Internet and came across details of six brothels in Berlin that for US $ 140 (100 Euro, or about Peso 6000) offer all inclusive accommodation, drinks and.

As many rounds as you like with a number of girls from 4 PM till dawn.

With bar fines rapidly rising in Philippines, add in airfares and accommodation and drinks, looks like it is slowly pricing itself out of the market?

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1719080]To introduce solar here would have two economically undesirable effects from the standpoint of those who own the country. First, it would weaken the virtual monopoly on the supply of electric power that some of the families enjoy. Two, it might reduce the cost of electricity, now the highest or second highest in Asia, further diminishing profits for connected families.

GE.[/QUOTE]You are right, the old Spanish dynasties that run the country will never allow new entries into the market. Unless, of course, they can collect their toll.

Foreign names are rare in the Philippines unless they are franchises or pay tolls to the dynasties. Power, retail, transport, politics are all under their tight control.

Example on retail pricing cartel:

Prices of a standard set basket of electrical appliances cost US $ 5630 in Manila, US $ 4190 in London (inclusive of 20% VAT), US $ 3960 in New York, US $ 4300 in KL according to a UBS bank survey.

[QUOTE=Fastpiston;1721386]

Foreign names are rare in the Philippines unless they are franchises or pay tolls to the dynasties.

[/QUOTE]Foreign names like Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei? And the list goes on and on. Heck, Pres. Aquino's maternal grandfather is a Cojuangco.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1721930]Foreign names like Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei? And the list goes on and on. Heck, Pres. Aquino's maternal grandfather is a Cojuangco.[/QUOTE]Spanish and Chinese DYNASTIES!

[QUOTE=Fastpiston;1721376]I was browsing on Internet and came across details of six brothels in Berlin that for US $ 140 (100 Euro, or about Peso 6000) offer all inclusive accommodation, drinks and.

As many rounds as you like with a number of girls from 4 PM till dawn.

With bar fines rapidly rising in Philippines, add in airfares and accommodation and drinks, looks like it is slowly pricing itself out of the market?[/QUOTE]There are several different kind of legal shops in Germany. The kind you described may sound a good deal, but in general the "girls" will be rather long in the tooth and certainly not SYTs. More like hausfraus trying to make a living. This type of establishment will have a limited number of girls. Too get PI-type quality SYTs, you would need to go to an FKK. , where in the best there will be a wide selection of girls, types, nationalities, etc. There, admission would run 50€-75€ ($57-$86 USD), and 30 minute sessions would run 50€-60€ ($57-$69 USD) plus 25€-100€ ($29-$114 USD) for extras such as CIM, Swallowing, or Greek. Bar is typically non-alcoholic. Sometimes but not always you can buy booze. A simple buffet is included. Accommodations are not available.

You just can't really replicate the pinay GFE experience with anything but a pinay.

[QUOTE=Fastpiston;1722146]Spanish and Chinese DYNASTIES![/QUOTE]Yep, and only those who are firmly anchored in the Country, and very few ever made it up to the top, During Marcos times or after.

Almost all the rich oligarchs, who are the real movers and shakers, and the biggest landlords, only become more powerful in Ph, after Edsa.

Cory, instead of removing them, danced to their tunes and made the country even poor, by letting the oligarchs get away with anything.

Example, why the heck is Manila congested and beyond hope, but, the current president loves the idea of another airport, in Manila, instead of upgrading Clark (actually there is a good runway already in Clark, all it needs is a terminal and good transit to Manila) . Because, the biggest landlords of Manila want everything in Manila, and they always force their hands, so instead of addressing the issue of runways, President Aquino is close to approving another terminal for NAIA.

And only in Philippines, the landlords are so powerful, even Highways have to detour.

I am sure, Hutsori, you know why there is no straight road? And why there are so many private gated areas and the traffic has to divert? And why instead of resolving the traffic and transport, it only gets worse?

Heck, nobody, I mean, nobody goes against the movers and shakers.

How else can the country become poor and poor, while there are more and more malls being built? Malls which use extremely unfair labor practices specifying height, weight, age etc, for a cashier job.

And if anybody protest against one of the 'families' it is one of the opponents puppets.

In fact, "activists" are all paid by one family or other, to keep the heat on somebody else.

Ah, for that matter, remember the Princess of Stars sank, and took a thousand souls (don't forget the world's biggest peace time maritime tragedy. Dona Paz) the owners of the shipping company, who sent Dona Paz to a fiery grave and also another ship, were never even penalised, and got away with offering 25,000 peso compensation, which they haven't paid till date, because the courts found no liability, for the Dona paz, as it was the other tanker's fault, per paid judges, and the owners refused to admit liability, and the court agreed.

And when there was pressure to shut down the owners, GMA herself wanted to, but was advised otherwise, lest the economy of the country will suffer, as the owners of Sulpicio lines are very important to trade in Philippines or whatever.

And anybody who went against one of the rich families. See what happened to GMA herself, when she wanted to remove the 60/40 ownership.

The 60/40 ownership was put in place by Marcos, supposedly to protect Filipino businesses. But actually to protect his friends, and then Cory onward. Pretending to protect the local businesses, only made the law firm.

Do you recall Fedex being kicked out, and the few thousand jobs lost, apparently to protect the Filipino businesses? That's Philippines.

The few thousand jobs don't matter, what matters is the Filipino pride is upheld.

And likewise, the Zamabales Congressman threatened to commit suicide, if the Americans came back, as he fiercely said Americans are evil, but in reality, he feared the Americans will want to take back some of the infrastructure they left behind, infrastructure that has been distributed within the rich and powerful, or partnered with some foreign company with the foreigner putting most money, and one of the rich having majority share (60/40).

And that's why new businesses or small industries can never come up.

If you get successful, one of the congressman, or senator will want a share, and if you are a foreigner, they will find a way to take over your business.

If you are a local, they will find a way to shut your business down, quoting some spurious violation, while the likes of the Ken Tex with zero fire exists, thrive. As they have the right people in their pocket.

In essence, Philippines will continue to export more and more, malls will be built to suck the money, and. The rich will get even richer, the poor will get even poorer (ah, OFWs? Do you know what they teach returning OFWs? They are taught stuff like how to run a sari-sari shop, coffee business, food cart, and likes, never a helping hand to let them setup something that will grow. No. Not possible.).

And for the masses, they are happy hearing about Kris Aquino being scolded by foreigners, and how Ding Dong Dante's wife is pregnant, and which woman President is romancing, and about another actor, who is reminiscing his past loves. Or his past sex partners. By media controlled by one of the families, while the news of the 72 killed in the fire becomes second page news.

And for the output of the universities, influenced by the tele-dramas and such, all showing rags-to-riches stories, and letting the young fantasize that it is real life (can't blame 'them because of the poverty.).

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYjfT7uIRIQ[/URL]

Sorry for the rant.

Fastpiston: the quality of the electrical items you find in Philippines is not even 1/10th of the quality of what you see in KL or BKK, and they cost premium prices.

Shopping in SM? 90% of the clothes have horrible stitches, but are promoted and the masses living on the remittance economy love SM. (SM is opening it's 53rd mall think. Soon).

[QUOTE=Ebauche;1722153]
You just can't really replicate the pinay GFE experience with anything but a pinay.[/QUOTE]It's often forgotten that a pinay is often "all-in". They are there for hours, not 30 minutes inc shower time.

I visited the Swiss version of FKK and had a wonderful night but did spend A500 about P18,000 for the evening.

Can certainly make P18,000 go a longer way in AC.

[QUOTE=Fastpiston;1722146]Spanish and Chinese DYNASTIES![/QUOTE]You realise that Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Andrew Tan and many others were born outside the Philippines and started their businesses after WWII, in some cases decades after independence. Their histories are far different from that of the dynastic Zobel de Ayala's. Looking at Asia it's rare to find an Occidental surname running a business empire in Japan, Korea, China, etc. It's pretty much the Fujian Chinese and a few Indians who have found success in Asia beyond their homelands. In Asia it seems it's the Philippines (Zobel de Ayala, Aboitiz) and Hong Kong (Keswicks) where some European surnames still exist as prominent, dynastic business leaders.

Sadly for the Philippines there are few industrialists on its list of billionaires; most have made their fortunes in retail, real estate, and food & beverage.

Louis Paul Heussaff and Rajan Sadhwani are less notable, i.e. non-billionaire, foreign business leaders who have thrived in the Philippines. The community of prosperous Sindhis in the Philippines tells me that foreigners can and do flourish.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1722745]Louis Paul Heussaff and Rajan Sadhwani are less notable, i.e. non-billionaire, foreign business leaders who have thrived in the Philippines. The community of prosperous Sindhis in the Philippines tells me that foreigners can and do flourish.[/QUOTE]My 2 cents is, anybody who is not a Ayala, Zobel, Tan, or Sy, to Gokongwei, or. Such uber big, can only go to a certain level.

If and when they threaten the dominance of the oligarchs, a way will be found to trim the tails of the intruder.

If nothing, then evidence can be manufactured about wrong doings, and it can be convincing enough to warrant your bank accounts to be seized and business frozen.

Happens a lot, but not much hits the news stands.

Latest. License of Sea Air (the reincarnated Sea Air. Owned and run by Airline professionals) and Sky Jet, as they were challenging the dominance of PAL and Cebu Pacific.

Well, even Chinese / Chinoys are not immune to the constant threat of shut down. By fellow Chinoys.

[QUOTE=EconoTech;1722758]My 2 cents is, anybody who is not a Ayala, Zobel, Tan, or Sy, to Gokongwei, or. Such uber big, can only go to a certain level.

[/QUOTE]If the Philippines is as static as some believe then it would be only the long-established dynastic families such as the Tuason family running the show - it is the only family elevated to noble status by Spanish royal decree, quite a feat by a Chinese immigrant. At the start of the 20th century the Tuasons were at the pinnacle. Today, the Tuasons are certainly a prosperous and powerful family, yet they have been overtaken by 1st generation upstarts such as the Tans and Sys. If things are so locked up how could this happen?

Today where are the Gorrichos and the Pardo de Taveras? Do you know what happened to the tycoon Vicente Madrigal's estate? Where is Ynchausti y Compania? We all know of the Zobel de Alayas, yet who knows of the McMickings? The dilution of oligarch power and wealth was in large measure due to feuding amongst heirs; in such cases it's the lawyers and judges who benefit. For example, Vicente Madrigal died in 1972, and his 7 children battled 23 years to sort out an imperfect settlement. In 2012 disputes over some estate holdings were still unresolved, and at that time 6 of 7 original heirs were already dead. The disputes persist for generations. The heirs' attention is on each other and not on business, and the marketplace's gaps and seams are found and won by others. Henry Sy did nothing revolutionary; he merely bought some shoes from the US, built on his success expanding to stores and then malls, yada yada. As the founders of the Sy and Tan empires pass it'll be interesting to see what transpires. Will this hold true: the first generation makes it, the second generation spends it, and the third generation blows it. That the Zobel de Ayalas and the Cojuangcos have thrived through the generations is remarkable.

Let's not think the Philippines is controlled by Insulares, Chinoys and Mestizos exclusively. Don Antonio Floirendo, the "Banana King" from Davao, started as a kutsero (horse-drawn carriage driver) and later founded his agricultural business in 1950. Manny Villar, real estate mogul and politician, came from a lowly family living in Tondo. And there are many more.

The subject of speeds has been discussed before but another survey on Asia ranks the Philippines above Afghanistan and states it is the most expensive (which I believe) There are was to improve speed as some have said (Pip J for one) but the speeds and costs combination makes it a poor deal.

Friend who come to Manila a lots was in Seoul the other week and the comparison was so different and shocking.

[URL]http://kickerdaily.com/philippines-ranks-second-slowest-in-asia-for-internet-download-speed/[/URL]