Our exclusive report continues with his travels after Hong Kong:
Dispatch begins:
Returned to Philippines from Hong Kong on Saturday and for 3 days stayed with a relative of Jxxx's one hour south of Manila. She is degreed and works for an international noodle maker as a flavor specialist, he is a sergeant (E-5) in the Philippine Marine Corps (900 strong) or the equivalent of one reinforced U.S. battalion. He trained on a regular with US Marines. He is very pro US as is most of the people of the P.I.
He has been in for 10 years and spent 8 of those years in Mindanao (southern P.I.) fighting the Abu Sayaf terrorist group. One of about 4 operating in the Islands. He said that it was very scary and his living and working conditions were very poor. For this combat duty he received an extra 240 pesos per month ($4.75). Six of his comrades have been killed in Mindanao since 2000. Since 1990, over 2,000 P.I. military have been killed INSIDE the P.I. fighting terrorists. They almost sent him as a UN peacekeeper in Haiti buy now he is doing ceremonial duties in Manila for 5 years.
They live in a tiny house with no running hot water, no toilet seat, no house phone (both have cells), no screens on windows and no aircon and no car. Bought house for about $6,000 with 20% down and 17% per anum interest. Jing and I battled the mosquitoes all night for our 3 nights there.
Came into Manila 2 days ago in a rented taxi with driver and went to the Malacanang Palace ( Philippine White House) office complex to have coffee and crumpets with an Aunt of Jxxx's, Josephine Dominguez who is Under Secretary for Political Affairs. As we waited to get into the complex, which is surrounded by heavily armed military guards, a large motorcade passed us with many police on cycles, fortified war wagons, limo's and a trailing ambulance. Probably President Arroyo but not sure.
As we drove into Manila, the contrast between luxury condo living, new cars, expensive shopping malls and utter poverty and human deprivation could not be more evident. Along our toll road between the road and a set of railroad tracks were shacks ( a compliment in this case) of plywood and tin with all kinds of objects such as old tires, chairs and chunks of broken cement thrown on the roofs to keep the roof down in high winds. No water, electricity or sanitation to be had. As we passed under overpasses only a kilometer from the palace there were dozens of people to include infants living in small cardboard boxes under the bridges.
Had over-priced dinner overlooking Manila Bay. Nice view of lighted ships passing in the darkness and as an added benefit the stench from the Bay was not bad. Manila, a sprawling city of 12 million, has no sewage treatment plant. All of the cities waste finds it's way via the Pasig River into the bay where it is basically trapped there by the protective topography of the harbor. Such is the never ending contradictions of this place. Beautiful islands, very friendly people and 70% poverty (90% by our standards).
Yesterday, went to the US Military Cemetery in Manila where 17,000 US and Filipino Scouts who died fighting the Japanese invaders of WWII. Beautiful grounds and facility with cement colonnades on which all the names, ranks and home states for each person is listed as well as identification in gold for the numerous Medal of Honor recipients. Also, within the structure is a beautiful detailed history of the entire war in the Pacific done in huge, colored mini-stoned murals.
DISPATCH ENDS.
No comments:
Post a Comment