Stupid Shit in the Philippines

[Expat American]

Its always been this way. When I first started coming to Mindanao more than a decade ago, it was in the p300-p500 range from politicians. You often have to go sit thru a multi-hour lecture from the politicians campaign staff (explaining what he / she will do if elected), with hundreds of others in order to get the cash (hence, they run home to their province). The current range in our province is p1000+, and can be different for different positions (governor, mayor, brgy officials, etc). A typical conversation from my girls the week prior to election:

Your cousin cancelled for Thursday. Can you come Thursday? "Not. Going with family to the Jinky". To the Jinky? What's a Jinky? "Candidate running for Xxxxxx (office). He is give 500". OK, then can you come Friday? "Not. Going for RJ". I see, and RJ would be another candidate? "Yes its give 700. But I will not go in Jun-Jun". Why not Jun-Jun? Who is Jun-Jun? "The other guy. He giving 150 only. Not going of that". I see. Well, speaking of Jinky, can you come after Jinky's presentation? "Not. Starts 10 am". Well, you can come at noon, or 1 pm? "Hahaha. Obvious your not pinoy. It will be many hours. Like a rally. Everyone will stay until the last is finished. To get the money"..

So basically province girls are smarter than 70 million American MAGA voters. Trumpers vote for Trump and then have to pay thousands extra for their walmart trips. And still sing his praises.

[PhilJoy]

Another girl, another election, having a similar conversation after the ditty one day, she said this: "You think your country don't have a corrupt politician? "

Another girl: "Also my parents. They getting this money since before I'm born. My grandparents. All voters can get". A straight-up confession: Its what we dooooooooooooo.

These conversations can be so telling into the cultural mindset of the people. ME makes a great point about the open-ness (in your face!) differences between countries. Probably it exists everywhere.

Great points Westie and others.

We're very quick to judge the corrupt and often indifferent workings of The Phils and other political systems, but we sometimes have to look at our own and others around the world.

Think China, Russia and the clown that's running the USA, who the rest of the world thinks of, as a complete joke.

Like any organization, the rot starts from the top and feeds down.

Democracies generally deal with things in a fairer way.

Good to hear your Pinas are taking the money and then voting for the one who thinks may be the best option for the province or country.

_Phil.

[Aml3740]

My wife and her oldest daughter, who is just eligible to vote, got about 5. 5 k each from the different candidates in their area. It was kind of curious how it happened, too. They had someone come give them a little slip of paper with their name and location to go last week Friday, I think. It was a house back away from the main road (so to be out of sight of Comelec in case they came through, as campaigning was supposed to cease already. Workers for a slate of candidates were there, and had stations to go to and get information about the candidate and an envelope with money. One candidate for congress gave 3 k, mayor, vice mayor, and governor gave 500 each. Then councilors and board members gave 100-200 each. Then, the next day, envelopes were on the porch with candidate names and small money (50-100 pesos). Funny story is that the other candidate for congress had appropriated 2 k for each voter, but the one handling it for the area took 1 k from each of the envelopes before giving them out. Corrupting corruption corrupts completely.

My partner in Mindanao said she received 1 k from the mayoral candidate there. The opponent came out and directly said that he would not improve the roads in that sitio because the sitio leader was for the opponent. At least the corruption is plain to see. . .

[Old And Ugly]

Election fraud? What is better, politicians in the west that keep promising things for folks to vote for them and not delivering shit while getting rich, or somebody being paid to vote for a person? Joe Biden said he was going to build back better in the States. What the fuck did he build back? Air traffic control system is from the 1950's, roads and bridges are fucked up. Seems the folks in the west are really the fools.

Yes in the west the politicians are robbing us at a much elevated scale, via backchannels, I been in the PH during election times before, but I never knew of this vote buying, money giveaway fest.

I already have pics from the GF with her poor neighbors celebrating with not one, but two pigs on the rotisserie pit, and cases of beer. I'm pretty sure they don't know the meaning of saving some for later.

[Goferring]

Its always been this way. When I first started coming to Mindanao more than a decade ago, it was in the p300-p500 range from politicians.

Advice from Corp Girl is that the payment here is 1000-1500 and all candidates have some form of payment. She did mention something a little different when I asked who gets it and how does the candidate know if the payee actually votes for them. Apparently there is no traceability so the voter can do what he wants after receiving the money. For that reason candidates only spend in areas that Iocks in likely voters. It's not used in areas that have marginal or undecided voters.

[WestCoast1]

My GF is in the province right now, and she showed me 2 envelopes with money, one with 1500, and the other with 1800, from the 2 main candidates in the upcoming elections.

Every person in the neighborhood got the same, not the household, but the individuals, that's a lot of money being thrown around to buy votes, probably high interests at stake there behind the scenes.

That's election fraud in your face, with no attempt to hide it, and she says it's always been like that, and of course nobody thinks that's something illegal. I wonder where the hundreds of millions of peso are coming from.

Wow!

Its always been this way. When I first started coming to Mindanao more than a decade ago, it was in the p300-p500 range from politicians. You often have to go sit thru a multi-hour lecture from the politicians campaign staff (explaining what he / she will do if elected), with hundreds of others in order to get the cash (hence, they run home to their province). The current range in our province is p1000+, and can be different for different positions (governor, mayor, brgy officials, etc). A typical conversation from my girls the week prior to election:

Your cousin cancelled for Thursday. Can you come Thursday? "Not. Going with family to the Jinky". To the Jinky? What's a Jinky? "Candidate running for Xxxxxx (office). He is give 500". OK, then can you come Friday? "Not. Going for RJ". I see, and RJ would be another candidate? "Yes its give 700. But I will not go in Jun-Jun". Why not Jun-Jun? Who is Jun-Jun? "The other guy. He giving 150 only. Not going of that". I see. Well, speaking of Jinky, can you come after Jinky's presentation? "Not. Starts 10 am". Well, you can come at noon, or 1 pm? "Hahaha. Obvious your not pinoy. It will be many hours. Like a rally. Everyone will stay until the last is finished. To get the money". And will you vote for the one who gives the most? "Not so. I hate that Jinky. I like RJ or Jun-Jun". You would not bother going to collect Jun's small p150, but you might vote for him? "Yes because he is the brother of my cousin-in-law". Your cousin-in-law? "Yes. You remember him. Henry. You played basketball with Henry". I did? "Yes on the basketball court. You don't remember?" No. "Jun is the brother of Henry". Not sure what a cousin-in-law is, but doesn't that make Jun your cousin-in-law also? "Maybe".

Wait. You will take the money of Jinky and RJ and then not vote for them? "They will give. I will take". So most folk have already made up their mind prior to accepting the bribe? "Yes. The politicians know it". And where do the candidates get this money to give away? "They have a sponsors". And the sponsors are aware of the corruption, yes? "Of course". So the entire system if corrupt, as the sponsors are hoping to get legislation the will favor or like? "Yes as the politician will want to re-elect".

Another girl, another election, having a similar conversation after the ditty one day, she said this: "You think your country don't have a corrupt politician? What about that Xxx Xxxxxxxx guy last week? Convicted of taking money from some other country's government? In court? Its on the Internet news?" SLAP DOWN TIME!

Another girl: "Also my parents. They getting this money since before I'm born. My grandparents. All voters can get". A straight-up confession: Its what we dooooooooooooo.

These conversations can be so telling into the cultural mindset of the people. ME makes a great point about the open-ness (in your face!) differences between countries. Probably it exists everywhere.

[Mr Enternational]

My GF is in the province right now, and she showed me 2 envelopes with money, one with 1500, and the other with 1800, from the 2 main candidates in the upcoming elections.

That's election fraud in your face, with no attempt to hide it, and she says it's always been like that, and of course nobody thinks that's something illegal.

Election fraud? What is better, politicians in the west that keep promising things for folks to vote for them and not delivering shit while getting rich, or somebody being paid to vote for a person? Joe Biden said he was going to build back better in the States. What the fuck did he build back? Air traffic control system is from the 1950's, roads and bridges are fucked up. Seems the folks in the west are really the fools.

[Old And Ugly]

My GF is in the province right now, and she showed me 2 envelopes with money, one with 1500, and the other with 1800, from the 2 main candidates in the upcoming elections.

Every person in the neighborhood got the same, not the household, but the individuals, that's a lot of money being thrown around to buy votes, probably high interests at stake there behind the scenes.

That's election fraud in your face, with no attempt to hide it, and she says it's always been like that, and of course nobody thinks that's something illegal. I wonder where the hundreds of millions of peso are coming from.

Wow!

[Old And Ugly]

Well, I don't know about others in this forum, but I've never been murdered in the Philippines, not even once.

"Killed by Pussy".




(inspired by Lenny's - Killed by Death)

[BaddHabbit]

I think it's becoming obvious that Koreans are targeted in the Phips. I feel sympathy for our fellow hobbyists from the land of Joseon. As I always say, best to just go to Thailand. You don't get murdered or kidnapped there.

Well, I don't know about others in this forum, but I've never been murdered in the Philippines, not even once.

[Newton York]

I think it's becoming obvious that Koreans are targeted in the Phips. I feel sympathy for our fellow hobbyists from the land of Joseon. As I always say, best to just go to Thailand. You don't get murdered or kidnapped there.

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com...dition/2300165

Although, you do get the terrible tourists from a particular middle east country that I shall not name, where she claims 'her money built Thailand'. IYKYK. Weirdly, anytime anyone brings her up on any social media like facebook or instagram, etc. That feed gets deleted. Why is everyone trying to protect her, instead of Thailand? Nuff said.

I don't know, I've seen hotter chicks. She's just kinda meh:

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/10-photos-...-cohen-1733568

Are we saying that the 'quality' tourists have gone to the Phips and Thailand gets garbage people instead? Well, that's sad. *sigh*.

[PhilJoy]

Where would Koreans go though if they're being specifically targeted in the Phips? It's got to be Thailand then. Can't waste the precious trip on Manila or Angeles City, when Bangkok beckons.

Mate, if that's the case and you're happy with Thailand, if it's so much better, then why are you on this forum bagging The Phils?

Some of us love our Pinas and are happy with what we get, despite the negative Korean influence you infer.

Never had a problem and don't have anything to worry about in The Phils.

I'm wondering the last time you were here, because you seem to be posting on forums around the world quite frequently.

_ Phil.

[Mr Enternational]

Rather wild claim. According to Phils Immigration stats, about 1. 57 million Korean tourists entered Phils in 2024 (see pic #3). Koreans represent the largest group entering, with the US in second place with almost 1 million.

The person already admitted they are not planning to visit any of these places they post in. They only post on ISG everyday for the sake of fantasy. You are to see many more wild claims in the future since they admittedly see everything they come post about on youtube.

[WestCoast1]

Tens of millions of Koreans visit Thailand every year,

Can you provide a link or some evidence of that? See my last pic. Thai Immigration reports about 35 million tourists last year. Tens of millions of Koreans in that mix would make them the majority of tourists, which would be difficult to believe.

While 1 out of every 3 Korean gets killed in the Phips, those are pretty bad numbers if you ask me.

Rather wild claim. According to Phils Immigration stats, about 1. 57 million Korean tourists entered Phils in 2024 (see pic #3). Koreans represent the largest group entering, with the US in second place with almost 1 million.

Accordingly, killing 1 out of every 3 would mean half a million murdered Koreans inside of Phils last year. NY can you tell us where you got that statistic? "Pretty bad numbers" would be an understatement.

And something else, regarding spending. See pic #4. While Koreans make up the largest block of tourists, they are the third-largest spending group in overall expenditures. The US is first in spending (and second in numbers of tourists). Possible explanation is that Koreans are in-country for shorter periods of time in large numbers in AC, Manila, and Cebu, while Aussies, Americans, and Brits are expats living here all over the country.

http://tourism.gov.ph/files/2025/tou...03/JAN-DEC.pdf

http://tourism.gov.ph/files/2024/tou...d/December.pdf

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...rist-arrivals/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...rist-arrivals/

[Aml3740]

Most crime in the Philippines is opportunistic. If you take the most basic of precautions, then you will be fine. It isn't the "poor" people you have to watch out for. For the most part, they have morals and, while they may want money, they are honest and would rather help you and hope for a handout than take something from you. That being said, scams do abound. Just be smart and don't fall for them.

Be smart about where you are. Don't go with someone you don't know just because they ask you to. It is usually a scam, but could be worse. If you are alone, guards are your best friends for good information. But, better to be with someone you trust if you're going to unfamiliar territory, whether it is city or province. Keep your nose out of politics or other peoples' business. This will keep you safe 99.9% of the time. I've seen people lying dead in a ditch for not doing that. But I've also had rebels carrying kalishnikovs joking with me and telling me how to get somewhere because my partner had given his sick aunt some rice a couple of years back. It's all relative. Just be smart!