[etsys]

LLSC: Pagpag shows the extreme of poverty ..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagpag

< see from 45:00 onwards ..

Well, the reality of the country is the super rich get super rich, (even the pag pag business is controlled by businessmen.. ) and the poor get super poor resigned to their fate ..

And again, while I believe that it is better to teach a person to fish than give him fish, well, with filipinos, those educated will always go one up and get better, but the majority of the illiterate and church-influenced types will still say "we are thankful to God and believe generous people will help us live .. and we do our duty - i..e make more children and make the church happy .. "

Sad life. .. but, well, I am not gonna fix it ..

I don't mind doing an occasional donation, but donation in cash ? no .. I always saw that even there, there are politicians and businessmen who suck out the donation ..

Well, a story: years ago, we put together a deal to send some rubber boats for rescue, and the only thing we wanted from the Filipino counterparts was they find local sponsor to equip the engine, and handle clearence in customs.

Our estimate came to 20,000 $ for 6 boats.

Guess what the natives did ? They got a few local businessmen involved, who happily flew to Singapore, and met us, and asked that we should be a bit more generous and fund the clearence and all, and also sponsor the visit of the next group of people who will fly over to 'accept' the gift, and also another 10,000 $ for a ceremony to do the official handover .. etc. etc.. as the senators are very impressed and would like to use the occasion to help 'fiesta' to make it more memorable ..

After a while, I slowly unplugged myself from this project - my rationale ? Those idiots who flew here could have easily handled the Philippines part of the project, and also if need to have a ceremony the rich senators and the businessmen -they could have easily pulled the money out of their own pocket out the

who, in my conversation, I found out that they spend every summer in US, and take annual vacations to Europe - so rich enough to have fun but quick enough ask us to dig in deeper .. and even to Singapore, they were flying Business class, putting up in Hilton and Marriot .. but, wait, no money to give to fellow countrymen, especially when there are sucker foreigners to pay ..

It is screwed up.

I now limit myself to helping out only in cases where I know what happens with the donation, and more often, where locals do help out share the cost / logistics .. like the clothes I sent to Tugegarao, the locals there did the shipping .. if they had even hinted that I need to pay for that as well, I would have dropped it.

I am doing some collection for a school library in Abatan, Buguias, Benquet, a place where even LBC refuses to deliver ... where I know the people appreciate my help and will not go "oh, can add on this and that and our local councillers would like a share of the pie .. "

Charity in Philippines - you got to do where it works and only when you know that people do really benefit ..

There are cases abound of charity projects, where the donor / sponsor became an ATM machine and was edged out and the local mafia took over the projects ..

I love it in Philippines, never is there a boring day ..