You know, one thing that I noticed since the first time that I visited the Philippines back in 1990, and all through the years is that when you enter the house of most Filipinos, it is very clean! Even the most poor of people who have not much more than a shack display the utmost of cleanliness. It always made me feel good to see this in Filipino households.
If you accept my statement that Filipino households are kept very clean and sanitary, I wonder how we can reconcile that with my next statement… Did you ever notice that if you go to the beach here, or some other “nature spot” there is trash everywhere? Certainly, this is not true at every tourist spot, but it is true at many, maybe even most. You go to the beach and there are wrappers from potato chips, coke cans and that kind of stuff littering the scenery. What was once a beautiful natural spot is suddenly a garbage dump! Why? Is there no pride, or sense of urgency to keep the environment clean? It appears not.
It is so unfortunate to see this. Another thing you will often see is that the water itself is filthy dirty. Here in Davao, I have been told that raw sewage is dumped directly into the Gulf, and because of that the water in Davao Gulf is not suitable for swimming. You pretty much have to go over to Samal Island to find clean water that is good enough for a swim. Sometimes, if you are in a particularly bad spot, the water in the sea is visibly littered, and even smells bad.
If a kid has a bag of chips, or some candy, is it hard to put the wrapper in a garbage can? If the kid is careless, why can’t the parent tell their kids to clean up their mess? Honestly, I find it quite disgusting, and disheartening when I see kids throwing their trash on the beach, in the water or on the streets. I often want to say something, but it’s not my place to tell other people’s kids to clean up their mess. Or the adults, for that matter.
One of the sad things is that the country is constantly begging for more tourists to visit. I have contact with a lot of tourists who visit Davao, and I hear from them often about litter, dirty beaches and such. Wouldn’t it be easy to just clean up after yourself and keep things pristine? To me, that should be the goal. How many people are unemployed, hungry for food, can’t find a job? Put them to work cleaning up the environment of the Philippines! Why not?
Take some pride in your country, Pinoy! Clean things up! Keep it that way! I love the Philippines, but they really need to address this issue!
It’s a shame when nature’s beauty is spoiled by laziness.
Morning Bob,
Contrast Davao to Singapore where you are at risk of being machinegunned for dropping a cigarrette butt! Never ceases to amaze me too, and something you would never get used to, no matter how long you live there. People obviously have mental boundaries between their own property and that just over the fence so that they can cope with it. I imagine also a lack of infrastructure historically ie local government garbage collections and sufficient trash cans are a major factor in all this.
Hi AussieLee- Here in Davao, about 4 or 5 years ago, the City made a huge investment in Garbage Cans that are spread throughout the city. There are thousands, maybe tens of thousands of them. There are public trash cans on every street, some streets have more than a dozen such cans on a single block. Indeed it has helped keep the city clean. But, when you go out of the cities, into the provinces, in places like beaches and such, the lesson seems not to have taken hold. Still litter on the beaches, etc.
By the way, our city trash cans here in Davao are even very modern. In any location where there are cans, you have at least two cans – one for biodegradable items, and one for non-biodegradable. There are also modern garbage trucks that make the rounds nightly around the City to empty the cans. We have home garbage pickup, and it's free. There has been talk over the years about charging households and businesses for trash collection, but so far there have been no charges. This is one area where Davao is a leader.
Bob , I cannot count how many times I have heard, seen and read online the number one complaint about the philippines is the 'dirtyness' of it. read virtually any blog on the RP and somewhere you will see " who would want to go there? its filthy !" I have been to many 'middle class' subdivisions that have nice homes …located on what looks like a landfill with all the trash around.
I went to Kawasan Falls in cubu 2 yrs ago…stunningly beutiful ..if you disregard the trash along the paths and picnic areas!!!!!!!!. I saddens me when i take a guest with me on a trip and thats the firrst thing they noticethe trash..the second the guy urinating next to the road in broad daylight for every1 to see!!!) The RP is fantastically beutiful, why the common pinoy has such little respect for thier OWN living conditons and enviroment is beyond me. This mindset can be changed IF the RP govt. made it a nation mandate. Teach the kids in school respect for their surroundings, promote it on public radio and TV …its a behavior issue that can be changed with positive role models and example.
ps: I was in Japan 2 yrs sgo for a few days,. was staying in the "old" part of Tokyo..woke up at 5 am ..looked out the window was impressed to see all up and down the commercial street, all the shopkeepers were out there sweeping thier portion of the sidewalk and street in front of thier store. Talk about national pride! I recall that day walking all around the city marvelling at how clean it was…not a scap of paper anywhere to be seen!
Hi again Bob,
Maybe I have a project for you. Some years ago a guy in Australia started a "Clean up Australia Day" the website is: http://www.cleanup.com.au/ Maybe you could start one in Davao! People take responsibility for public areas and clean them up. This event has since gone worldwide I believe. You may have even heard of it over there. Had to laugh re Brian's post: I remember a few guys taking a leak on the side of busy roads too!
The trash can indeed be a problem here. My wife always wants to go to Coco beach in Sasa because it's cheaper there, but I refuse to go because the last time I was swimming there a piece of human excrement floated not more than meter away from me. A turd God help me! I went home and used 1 bar of soap showering that day!
Hi BrSpiritus, I have to laugh at your comment. You should come to Samal for a swim. Kidding aside, because resorts line up the shores here, the establishments clean up their shores all the time. There are 33 rivers that empty into the Davao Gulf. During extreme high tides (around Full moon and new moon), the debris from rivers gets washed off into the gulf. I see them all the time and I must say, they are natural debris – i.e. banana, bamboo, coconut wood debris. I see some plastics and styrofoams, but not a mountain load (a floating island almost) as what was described to me by our friends cruising in or near Cebu waters. Also, squatters lining up the shores here in Samal are slowly being removed.
It is true – it is a mindset very difficult to change. This is the reason why some resorts require visitors to buy plastic bags for the trash – mandatory purchase.
Hi Bob
Your story reminds me of a joke about the Philippines. President Reagan was visiting President Marcos. On his way to the Malacanang Palace, Reagan saw a Filipino peeing on the street. He brought that to the attention to Marcos and Marcos said that happens all the time here. Reagan said that does not happen in Washington D.C. When Marcos later visited D.C., in the motorcade to the White House, Marcos sees a guy peeing on the street. He brings this to the attention to Reagan and says that it also happens here. Reagan stops the motorcade and orders the Secret Service to arrest the guy. The guy happened to be a Filipino.
I remember going to Mindoro and on one beach the sewage runoff was the beach and bay. Pasig river in many areas is a dumbsite. On my last visit to Makati met a Filipino and talked with him. He lived in L.A. for many years and he was burning his garbage in front of his house. It is illegal to do that here but because people do it in the Philippines he goes along with it. I think if you allow people to dump stuff into public areas other people will follow and dump their stuff as well there. There is a place where i walk its in a nice area with some small areas of woods and people are always dumping garbage there.
If someone actually took the initiative and showed the people that junk can be cleaned out of their waters, we would see the people make more of an effort that it stays clean. The Philippines is beautiful, but when I see junk in the water my mind wanders trying not to look at it!
Bob,
I know what you mean. Next to where I used to work, there was a place selling corn. Some days you would see the cobs all over the parking lot and dirt lot next to the building.
One thing I wonder, with all the trash, you never see people throwing empty cigarette packs or papers from cars.
As you might remember, even in the States many years ago, there was all the Anti-litter campains.
It has to be something kids and adults become retrained to think about.
Wow another good one, Bob. You know especially in times of turmoil .. hwta will happen to the economy, etc., etc. it's easy to lose sight of the fact that everyhting in this world doesn't revolve around money.
There are many things in the Philippines that are bad … hungry people, schools health care, energy independence, on and on. Most of these issues _do_ need money to solve effectively, no matter how optimistically we look at them.
But there is just so much that could be done right now, today _without_ a foreign investor, a loan from the World Bank or changes in taxes … three of the 'great hopes' of the Philippines … "if only".
It does not take _one_ centavo of investment _not_ to throw trash on the street. It does not ake any schooling or textbooks. It doesn't require the passage of a law or the blessing of the Roman catholic Church, or any other 'thing' that anyone seems to be waiting for.
It doesn't even require the effort of bending over if you don't throw it on the street to begin with. But everyday I can go out in front of my house and pick up dozens of pieces of discarded paper, plastic straws and wrappers, dog poop and goodness knows what else that have been dumped in the past 24 hours. Why?
As you mentioned, it's so common to hear someone prattling on about "Filipino Pride". And good for my Filipino brethren, you have much to be proud of indeed … but to put up with the continual people-caused filth just amazes me.
Pride is much more than cheering at Manny's last victory or organizing a world-wide phone-in extravaganza to help the next Filipina on "American idol" stay on the show because she's Filipina rather than because she can sing.
Pride begins in treating your otherwise beautiful country the way you would treat you own sala. It's an investment _real_ Filipino Pride that would pay big dividends.
By the way, I offer free lessons in the use of a walese and a dustpan. Even a clumsy "kano" can master that task.
Hi brian- It's true. I have had a number of times when I've taken guests from overseas to local tourist spots, and when they notice how dirty it is with trash laying all around, it is quite embarrassing. I hope it can be changed someday.
Hi brian- Yes, I have heard that Japan is very clean! I've been to Japan…. but only in the airport! 😆
Hi BrSpiritus- Nothing like a piece of sh… floating by to ruin a good swim! YUCK!
Hi Ellen- Samal is very clean, IMHO. I didn't know about some resorts requiring plastic bag purchases, but it's not a bad idea!
Hi neil- Ha ha… that's a good story about Reagan/Marcos! I enjoyed it. I agree with you, something like cleaning up this kind of problem starts with examples set by one person at a time!
Hi Jason- I don't think that anybody has to show people that junk can be cleaned up – they must know that. Setting examples is good, though!
Hi Dan Mihaliak- Absolutely!
Hi Bruce- I often buy corn from that stand in Buhangin, I think that is one that you are talking about. Yes, I agree, I see a lot of waste around there.
Hi Dave- I wish I knew that you were such an expert with a silhig (Bisaya term). When you visited here, I would have had you clean up the back yard! 😆
Hi AussieLee- They do have events like this in Davao from time to time, but after such a clean up, it seems that a new attitude never takes hold. It's a shame!
Bob: out in the province, they bury or burn rubbish that can't be eaten by animals… No garbage collection exists. (That I know of)
In Manila, it always perplexed me why this attitude of littering exists. As you wrote… Filipinos are about the cleanest people I've ever met in their homes or with their bodies. But look outside the home? It just doesn't make sense. I do know that in parts of Manila, people looking through garbage for recyclables and items to turn into cash are a big part of the problem. Whenever I see people doing that, there is nearly always a big pile of rubbish scattered around and just left there.
Hi John Miele- It is strange, isn't it? (funny note… I could have made this same reply to your comment that you left on John's post about Durian!) 😆
Bob, I'm surprised this point hasn't been mentioned: I wonder if poverty has a lot to do with this issue (at least in the provinces). I can understand how people that wake up each day with the single goal of just trying to feed themselves that day, would not place much importance on litter and garbage.
Hi Brian C- Personally, I don't see a connection there, but it's possible. From what I have seen, people in the Provinces care about keeping their houses clean, so why not their yard, or the area around where they live? It's hard to say, but maybe it has something to do with poverty.
Hi Bob I have the same problem in my resort we do supply trash cans and do they get used only by my staff when they have to go and spend about 2 hours in the morning cleaning everyone elses rubbish that they left the night before, my staff even make sure that all our cottages are cleaned when people leave and more people arrive, unfortunatley I dont think that when the filipinos go out for the day and eat and drink that they have the mearest thought about taking their rubbish home with them, and as for urinating well the times I have told people that we do have cr's in the resort well they look at me as if I come from mars caught one guy trying to urinate in the showers we provide here he wasn't to happy when one of my staff balled him out in front of his friends especially as they were just about to use the showers.
Hi andyp- I can't say I'm surprised!
"Lets Keep Our Barangay Clean and Green" . . .
Too bad the campaign didn't really catch on in a meaningful way.
I applaud municipal governments that make it easy for people to find and use trash cans. Making cans available combined with regular emptying is much appreciated by people who want to use them and couldn't generally find them in the past. It seems changing mindsets is the tough part when it comes to actually curbing litter entirely.
One thing I have noticed about the municipal basurahan is that they are a magnet for trash pickers looking for bottles/cans to sell. They usually pick through the garbage and then leave it next to the trashcan. I really try to avoid the ones marked Nabulok (biodegradable), I have never seen maggots so large as the ones that feast on the kitchen scraps in those cans. Around our neighborhood we have kids who go around several times a day collecting lamau (kitchen scraps) to feed to the family pig. Morning, noon and night you hear the call "Ayoo! Naa moy lamau?" (Hello, do you have scraps).
Hi Bob,
If there would be one thing that irritated (and some infuriated) me the most during my stays on the Philippines, it would be the littering. In Siquijor the littering is not that bad, simlple because there are not that many Filipino's. But especially around the towns you can find garbage dumps, even very close to the houses. If you want to enjoy the pristine nature, you have to get away from the villages. Even our two children aleady picked up the habbit of just throwing their candy wrappers on the ground, but I immediately told them not to do that. One could argue, what does it matter, one wrapper more or less, but you got to start somewhere. If only they would teach the young kids in school to respect the environment, gradually year by year things would only improve. I also think, it has nothing to do with rich or poor, it's just a matter of discipline.
Hi Bob, Littering….. my pet hate in life !!! But the truth is that it is just as bad here in the UK. I never understand why people litter when there bins everywhere and if not… just take it home with you !!
I used to always speak to people that drop litter but have now given up, they look at you as if you are a looney for mentioning it !! 1 evening 4 young men in a car outside KFC ate their meal and then simply threw the remnants out of the window, there was a bin right next to their car… I mentioned it to them in a reasonably manner… 2 of them got out with knives.. so I decided that it may be best to forget about their litter 🙂
As to the Phils, as has been said, they are so very clean in most other ways. I guess that it has just become the normal way for them to deal with their litter, it needs a mindset change so that they realise how bad it is.
I must admit it was never that bad in Makati, I found it worse in the provinces and in some other towns. To be fair though I guess lots don't have a garbage truck pick up each week, burning maybe their only answer.
Hi Martin- I am very appreciative of the actions of Davao City in placing garbage cans and such. Is Butuan pursuing something similar?
Hi BrSpiritus- We also have people like that in our neighborhood who come around and collect scraps.
Hi Ronny Dehens- I get on my kids too if I see them throw wrappers and such on the ground. I fully agree that you have to start somewhere! In fact, if I give candy or something to kids in the neighborhood, I always tell them that if I see them throw their trash on the ground, I won't give them anymore! It seems to work.
Hi gerry- Nice to hear from you! It's been a while since I saw you making a comment! 😆
I can see what you mean about having to keep a little more quiet – those guys with knives can do that!
so thats how u get ur pic
hmmm does it work?
Hi brian – not sure what you are talking about?? Are you talking about the Gravatar picture? If you went and signed up, and uploaded a photo on Gravatar, it should show up in 15 or 20 minutes.
Hey Brian – We got your pic now!
cool…works !! 🙂
Hi brian- My only problem with my gravatar is that it doesn't make me any more good looking! 😆
Bob,
A superb article, and an insight into the environmental problems faced by countries such as the Philippines.
After spending so many weeks visiting and living in the Philippines, I seem to have many discussions with Filipino's about environmental matters and actually Bob, its a subject very dear to my heart.
The Philippines is such a beautiful country, that we all agree on, and yet the pride in the environment is severely lacking as you have pointed out, I allude to your editorial very much on my own website about the concerns of foreign visitors, especially in Manila, about the mountains of trash, polluted rivers, stagnant swimming area's and the potability of fresh water rivers.
You have spoken about the Davao City area, which of course you are most familiar with, about 3 years ago, I remember reading an article in a tourist agents magazine about the European Union travel Commission being shown around the Davao City area, and some of the beaches you mention.
Their report stated that the area was not up to standard to send European tourists on package holidays, even though some of the resorts available were among the most beautiful areas of the world.
They reported on faeces, and raw sewerage, being pumped directly into the coastal tributaries or esteros, and this you have pointed out in your article, they concluded that for the foreseeable future, the Philippines was not to be used as a package tourist destination, notwithstanding the extremely poor infrastructure to get tourists to Davao City, one reason cited was the failure of the Philippine authorities to have a direct destination Hub to Davao City, the reliance on Manila as a transit city was also a turn off.
I would agree you with most emphatically, that Filipino's in the household environment are immaculate, in fact I spend quite alot of my time visiting clients in the UK in their households, and trust me, there are some filthy dirty people here also, but I rarely see this in the Philippines.
There is a a high standard of personal pride among Filipino wives and husbands who run households, yes there houses are immaculate, and rarely in a state of untidyness.
But when it comes to the macro environment around them, they simply appear to be blind, thats why I enjoyed your article so much, because it needs saying, I personally do no not think pride ever comes into it with the Filipino, they seem to have insurmountable environmental problems, even my wife was telling someone in a barangay, please do not throw your faeces or excrement into the rivers, the rivers run straight into water treatment facilities, it kills the fish, and destroys the eco-structure, ultimately getting into the natural food chain.
They just do not seem to get it ? its well known that Filipino's go into the tributaries and urinate or defacate, they simply have nowhere else to go, they continue on to do this in plastic bags, and then throw it in some one else's backyard, it might seem disgusting to you and I and other readers of this magazine, however the evidence is clear for all to see.
Surely all city governments such as Davao City, has environmental policies for the treatment of raw sewerage, the disposal of household refuse, and policies regarding the natural environment, such as beaches, resorts.
And yet there is little evidence that anyone has responsibility for this, this year when I was parked up in my car near a jollibee waiting for our order, I witnessed taxi drivers in steady succession, coming down the side of my car, to urinate down the side of a telegraph pole.
When I told my wife that they were urinating in public, she simply told me, that is where the taxi drivers stop, everyone knows that ?
I was shocked, so they urinate in public, in the same place every day, and she said "yes, its a place they go, I asked her how she felt about this, she told me, there is nothing you can do, ignore it, it does not concern us, whether you complain or not, they will still go there, we are used to it."
Is that not the point of all of this, the Filipino kababayan is so used to seeing these clear instances of environmental damage, that they become immune to it, or for want of a better word, conditioned to it.
It also appears to me that there is little local legislation to prevent fly tipping, urinating in public and sewerage disposal in fresh water rivers, with all the other problems the Philippines faces such as extreme population poverty, there is no doubt in my mind that the environment is of a low priority to those taking the lead in Filipino governance.
Its a great article Bob, but pride for the environment ? you live there Bob, I suppose you get to see it more than most, they say when you visit the Philippines it only shocks you the first time, I have been 12 times and I still get shocked by it every year.
Thanks for the great article.
On my first visit here to Davao I was surprised by one fact. My girlfriend's aunt owns a store down in San Antonio, when the people would come up to buy something sweet etc. they would open the small pack and just drop the trash on the ground??? I could not figure this out, but I will say this. I've tried and tried and tried many times to stop people (even many that I see every day, including my girlfriend's own son who is 6) to stop this or motion for them to put it in a trash can. It doesn't matter what you do, they just drop it and keep walking like it's nothing………….the odd part of that is that fact that Irene's aunt does the very same thing, they are out front talking to you and eating something and "poof" there it goes. To add insult to injury, her husband sweeps out front every morning and many times during the day………………I suppose a little simplicity of teaching would go a long way in that manner and for that fact it would go a long way in the water issue too as that's a really big eyesore as well.
Hi Pete Bennett- Nice to hear from you – it's been quite a while! Thanks for sharing your experiences, I appreciate it.
Hi Tim Walker- Good to hear from you too, Tim… we need to get together again soon! It's been too long.
Yeah, I have experienced very similar experiences to what you describe. The only conclusion that I can come to is that in this case and a number of others that I am aware of, Filipinos and Foreigners like us think in totally different ways. I can find no other way to account for it!
Good thinking I suppose……….. You know it's funny giving more thought into that, I have only my bedroom here with aircon in it. Irene's mother likes to close everything up around here including the windows etc……………………… I always tell them both (though her mother understands only a little English), that i wouldn't expect them to live in my world (where last night I saw it was 32 degrees) so try not to expect me to live in your's like this!!!!!! I suppose it's the way you say it, it just sound harsh but it's only meant as a comparison and Irene has come to understand that somehow…………………. I suppose if you put the garbage situation in the pile, you can sum it up to that. I've always been very thoughtful of things in nature etc. and tried to clean up after myself, (it's even hard to go to a place to eat like McDonald's and not have to clean up your mess there too, though I will say I put everything in order before I leave). I try to break Keanu (Irene's son) from the habit here but it's just not getting through to him, he does it all the time, hence he has done it all his 6 years of life here…………………………. I really wasn't sure if I should text you as I didn't want to interfer with what has happened in your and Feyma's world there. I did get my license at the LTO though and I have a somewhat funny story to tell about that one. Well I'm off for now……………………hope to hear from you again soon and I still owe you 'one' for all your help you have given to me and Irene………………..many thanks for that as well…………….TIM
Just checking to see if my new Gravatar photo is working!!!! sssooorrrryyyyy
Excellent post, Bob! I have the same problem here in our beach house frontage area. Every week, I have to hire somebody to pick garbage, plastic, bottles etc.. on my beach front. I made an official complaint to the barangay captain, and she promised she will discuss my concern in their next meeting. After their meeting, I notice there was less garbage on the beach. A few weeks later, it was back to the same old habit of just throwing candy wrappers, plastics etc…I volunteer to put an empty gasoline barrel for garbage. The next day it was stolen, so I give up! I just made it a point to pick up the scattered garbage in my beach front almost every week.. If i think about this, I feel like my blood pressure go haywire, so I learned to just ignore the problem!
Filipinos are pigs when it comes to their surroundings (not all but majority of us).
The first couple are pigs…senators are pigs..congressmen are pigs….governors are pigs…mayors are pigs….law enforcers are pigs..so what do you think will Juan dela cruz do if the people leading him are pigs?…they will pig it out and its not going to change in the foreseeable future….
Bob, do you know why Filipinos lacks pride?
I think that this is all part of the culture that says take care of your own – family ,house, car etc at the expense of the greater community.
When I first came to the Philippines in 1986 I was impressed with the idea of the family unit which exists – something we westerners have lost to a great extent.Over the years I have come to the conclusion that in fact this is the cause of much of the problems of the country as the concept of community good does not really exist. In government, business and employment, nepotism is the rule leading to the corruption which permeates society.Look at the number of second and third generation politicians that regard the position that they have as a right, not a privilege granted by the voters.
Bryan G.
Hi Bob, I like this article a lot.. Kudos to you for bringing this very relevant issue. I guess the most effective way to address the issue is by educating Filipinos kids to be conscious with their environment. It can be done in school and thru the mainstream media.
To Atong Estrada – are there pigs in Texas too? I think so. Don't lose faith in your/our culture. I agree that it has alot of problems (and pigs) but it has a lot of good things to offer too. Bob and alot of expats knows it and are enjoying what our country has to offer. Mabuhay!
Hi Bob,
Its unfortunate but some of my friends refer to the Philippines as the RP. Not the Republic of the Phiippines but the "Rubbish Pile".
I won't swim at a beach there because I don't want to encounter another human turd – uughhhh!
Tourism will NEVER take off while it remains the RP.
I don't just mean the rubbish but also the unthinking exploitation and trashing of every natural resource. For example we enabled my wife's young sister to migrate to Aus – one of her first reactions was its so clean etc but sadly "you have so many birds in your garden". It was then I noticed that I couldn't recall seeing a bird on my trips there.
Hi Tim Walker- Interesting thoughts about litter, and other aspects of life too. Don't worry, you don't owe me… If I have offered any help to you it is only an act of friendship.
Hi Tim Walker- It works! Nice to see your picture!
Hi David B Katague- I think that it's pretty typical in the Philippines that a problem will be addressed, things will improve, and a few weeks later all is forgotten and the problem is back just like it was in the first place. I've seen it so many times. 🙁
Hi Atong Estrada- Well, hopefully I am not that negative. Keep your chin up – it's not that bad! 😆
Hi Atong Estrada- Can't say I do… fill me in.
Hi bcgallacher- I agree that nepotism is a huge problem here.
Hi Gerry- Thank you for your comment. I agree that schools should teach kids to keep their environment clean! I also agree with what you said to Atong Estrada – don't give up on the Philippines or the Filipino.
Excellent article Bob. I made my first trip to the Philippines in 2003 and shortly after we left the Manila airport, we came upon a river. I was anxious to see the river and I was stunned to see that you could literally walk across the water because there was so much garbage.
In 2006, I took my future wife Jennifer to Hong Kong for her birthday. After we got settled into our hotel, we walked down to the harbor by the clock tower. We were standing there and I asked her, "Take a look around and tell me what you don't see?" and she looked and after a bit, she remarked, "There's no garbage." Than I asked her "Take a look around and tell me what you do see?" and she looked around a bit and said, "I see lots of garbage cans." She then asked me why there were no garbage cans in the Philippines and I told her I just didn't know.
Also in 2006, we went on my first trip to Samar to see her family. We stayed in a hotel in Calbayog and one day, we got some ice cream bars at Manson Drug, walked down to the park by the river and ate our ice cream and watched the kids playing. Once we were done, we went looking for a place to dispose of our garbage ( because she knew how much I hated littering ) and there was no garbage can in the park so I had the bright idea of disposing of our garbage in the cans outside of Jollibees because I know that places like McDonalds, Burger KIng, etc. in the US all have garbage cans outside. Alas, Jollibees had no outside garbage cans either. Ultimately, we had to take the garbage back to our hotel room.
Back in March, we were staying at the Samar Sea Beach Resort in San Joaquin Samar and I was chatting with the owner who is an American. He told me that he got so tired of having to clean up the garbage on the beach outside of his place every morning that he put a 50 gallon garbage can on the beach with a sign in English, Waray and Tagalog asking people to dispose of their garbage in the can and two days later, the garbage can was gone…stolen!
I remember watching the news on channel 2 back in July or August and they were talking about the floods that had occurred in some of the provinces after the hurricane in late June. I don't recall exactly where the video was taken but they said that one of the reasons why there was so much flooding was that there was so much garbage in the rivers and streets that the drainage systems had been clogged. The city had cleaned it all up and put up signs about not using the river as a garbage can and while the camera crew was doing the filming, here comes some guy who throws his garbage into the river near one of the signs. Amazing.
I agree that the schools need to be teaching kids about keeping their enviroment clean and certainly the tv networks can do their part also. I know that my wife's family is very consious about it now as I preach it to them whenever I visit.
Hi Gary- Interesting stories, thank you for sharing. Like I said in a previous comment, Davao has garbage cans around town now. I would say that there are more garbage cans here than I've seen at any city in the States, so they did a good job on it. Nobody steals the cans either, because they Mayor will step in, and it wouldn't be healthy to the thief! 😆
I still see garbage on the beaches and in the water, but the city streets are fairly clean now. Much better than before, anyway.
Thank you Bob for remembering me, please excuse me for not having more involvement in writing on your magazine, these difficult economic times where money goes nowhere are taking its toll.
But after hearing of Gary's experience, at his hotel, with the garbage can made out of the oil drum, I related the experience to my wife, however, I did not tell her the end result, before I could finish the story of what happened at Gary's hotel, she interrupted me and said "Dont tell me, they stole the garbage can".
It never ceases to amaze me, on how I can relate a portion of a story regarding the Philippines, and my wife can pre-empt me with a ready made answer, thus showing that "Be proud Pinoy" has a long way to go, I suspect Bob, that poverty and hopelessness exists in a sub culture below the normal daily life of most Filipino's that whatever is important to you Gary and I and other readers on this magazine, is not important to them.
May I also relate to you another story that was put to me, hopefully Bob, for your amusement, and hoping this causes a few chuckles among your readers.
A PAL Boeing 737, was on route to Butuan City, on entering its final approach, the Captain asked the tower control to illuminate the landing lights for final approach.
The tower responded by saying that in fact the runway lights were operational, however the Captain then retorted, that he begged to differ.
On further investigation, the tower dispatched the airport security group to check on the installation of the runway lighting.
Surprise Surprise, there were no lights !
They had simply been stolen, in broad daylight, no doubt to be sold on the open market.
This resulted in a missed landing approach and wave off for the Captain of the Boeing 737, the pilots were heard to be chuckling over the air to the control tower, and saying as they lamented on the obvious fact of the matter "Only in the Philippines".
I think that just about sums up the thrust of Gary's experience, my wife did however make one final important piece of advice to the hotel owner, she said "He should have chained the bin to a fence".
Hi Pete Bennett- Of course I remember you! No worries there. Certainly, the finances worldwide are a major concern these days.
Your story about the approach to land in Butuan is not a major surprise. It certainly does make a person shake his head, though. I often hear that people steal wiring, tv cable and such to sell the copper for recycling. How can a country continue to operate like that?
Please give my best to Gina.
hee hee hee! Boy Bob this is a good one …i never seen so many blue bags hanging around like i did in the Philippines ." I think " if the government would buy the garbage, so many pesos a kilo, it would get cleaned up quicker …?? besides that behind my house is Gingoog bay about 50 meters thru the mangroves and they are all covered in garbage too ,bottles an blue bags everywhere ..In our area we have a garbage pick up where my house is located in talasay…..and one time my wife and I were walking down a road and she unwrapped a piece of candy and thru the wrapper on the ground ..I looked at her and I said " Honey why did you drop the wrapper on the ground " she said " Why not everybody else does it ………….nobody cares ." ….. go figure ?? have a happy day Bob Phil R. P.S. keep ur fingers out of the cookie jar, u looking good Bob
Hi Phil R.- You know, that is not a bad idea, to pay people or the trash, by the kilo. It would get the place cleaned up in a hurry! Of course, they would probably throw trash on the ground even more, just to have something to pick up!
Thank you for the PS Phil… I appreciate that.
Gerry, Texas produced the slimiest pig of them all! Yeah, he lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
When I mentioned all the pigs running the Philippine government, it doesn't mean that I'm losing faith in our culture or giving up on the Philippines. Hell No! I love my country and will die for her. I'm just expressing my frustrations.
What good things? Its all relative…
"Its unfortunate but some of my friends refer to the Philippines as the RP. Not the Republic of the Phiippines but the “Rubbish Pile”.
Michael, that's a good one…how old r ur firends? 12, 10, 9?
Hi Bob,
This link will fill you in, I cannot explain it much better…I think its enough explanation of the present Filipino identity…this is a good read for expats….
http://macapili-filipino.blogspot.com/2007/04/why…
Cheers!
Hi Bob,
Good read why Filipinos lacks pride…explains pretty much the present Filipino identity….good read for expats…a little slice of Philippine history…
http://macapili-filipino.blogspot.com/2007/04/why…
Cheers!
Bob,
I love all your posts, this one especially. I believe the attitude of PINOY PRIDE is not really for the country, but for oneself, like proud of "what I have become as a FIlipino" and not pride of the country itself. I see it mostly when one Filipino rises to "stardom" globally.
The "space" (or the country so to speak) is just relative. Philippines is beautiful and I am saddened by the fact that trash is still an issue in this day and age where communication is very easy especially with the texting craze in the Philippines. Everyone (or almost everyone) has a celphone, why not send a message to everyone about NO LITTERING… or something.
But I think it all boils down to the attitude towards cleaning up… I remember visiting McDonalds there one time and as soon as I was done I stood up with my tray and tossed my trash and I literally saw EYES looking at me like: "what is he doing?"
I am sure with a little help from foreigners who love this little jewel the proud Filipinos can make the big leap towards change.
Hi Atong Estrada- I have been clear on this site that US Politics is off topic, and not for discussion. Perhaps you didn't see when I said that. Please…. no discussion of US politics, there are plenty of other sites for that discussion.
Hi Oliver- Thank you, I am happy that you enjoy my site and my articles.
Hi Atong Estrada- Thanks for sharing that link, I'll check it out.
I'll be down to clean up the yard next week Bob, if you wish … we just have to agree on an hourly rate … and you have to supply the broom, dustpan and Feyma's onion rings for merienda 😉
Hi Dave- I'll send somebody up to the LiP Marilao branch to start the negotiations. It could be a tough session, though. We could supply the broom, dustpan and onion rings, but an hourly rate on top of that! You're playing hardball, Dave! 😆
My favourite place on earth is my family's home town, a fishing village on Biliran. It is remote and beautiful but also poor. It is so small and remote that i believe only 2 foreigners (including me) have been there in a generation.
To get there means a long trip by bus and motorbike or tatay's jeepney if you are lucky. And all along the route you can see rubbish dumped alongside the road. From Manila to Tacloban to Biliran I saw the same thing. Tourists must be influenced by this.
The problem is simply that the country lacks the infrastructure required to deal with rubbish. By that I mean collection, treatment, disposal and education systems. With political will and a little money it would not be hard to turn it around, but for now I dream of a clean country.
Hi bill from oz- I am sorry, but I disagree strongly with you on this one. I don't think the problem has anything to do with money or infrastructure. We've heard plenty of stories here of places where trash cans were a few steps away, yet wrappers went on the ground. I've seen that happen time after time. Certainly, even poor people can walk a dozen steps, but would prefer to just throw their garbage on the ground.
Well we strongly disagree Bob! My idea of infrastructure includes more than bins, as it must include people. Proper waste management can be seen as environmental protection, or as a business opportunity. In the west there is money in rubbish, and that is the diference.
Good day sir Robert. Theculture of the beast are my thoughts. Singapore is one of the cleanest places in the world Singapore aiso employs thousands of filipinas as domestic helper . I am sure the homes are as spotless as the rest of Singapore. Sunday is maids day off.So the filipina maids gather by the thousands at Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road Guess what on a Sunday the whole area around this plaza is like a rubbish dump with tons of litter thrown ever where.It is areal eyesore and is the untidest area in Singapore THe next day when all the filipinas are back at work . The place is spotless again. As i mentioned before the culture of the beast. In Phil itself i think the national flower should be a plastic bag. they are everywhere.
Hi bill from oz- To me it's simple. If there is a garbage can 10 feet away, and a person throws their trash on the ground, that is simply somebody who is lazy. It has nothing to do with infrastructure. We'll have to just agree to disagree this time. 😀
Hi frank fealey- That would sort of confirm that even with great infrastructure available, it's more of a cultural thing. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you are doing OK, Frank. Please let me know if you make it back to Davao!
Hi Sir Robert . Its been a tough year only nowhealth wise am i getting back to normal.
Hi frank fealey- I am happy to hear that things are getting better for you! I hope the trend continues! I wouldn't want to lose out on an occasional free cup of coffee! 😆
Hi Bob i start my globe trotting again next week. Sinagpore Malaysia i was trying to get to Davao but regret cannot manage it this time . Plus since my last vist my favorite watering hole O Flanagans has closed down.I believe my disposable income is what kept them alive Oh well maybe i just have to find another place. Maybe early 2009 i can visit fingers crossed.
Hi frank fealey- Yes, O'Flanagans died an early death. I was in there 6 or 7 months ago, and I could see that they were really on their last legs. Yes, they needed some more of those Fealey Rands to keep their head above water! 😆
There is defiantly raw sewage in the the ocean, not to mention the streets. The first city I lived in was Talisay. Nice small city. The sewage was going into the freaking ditch. It was not usual for it to stink. There was a creek about a mile from the house that I found during my walks around the area. Oh man did it stink. That creek went straight for the ocean. Once went caught in a monsoon, I was trying to learn to say good day in Tagalog and repeating it over and over again. Jessie looked over at me and told me to stop saying that as it was not a good day. LOL Man there was black stuff running out of the ditches into the streets. It had not rained in a while so it was really bad.
Someone mentioned poverty. Okay so start with new construction, at least for the places that get electrical connections. They do inspections before electrical connections. Require new buildings to have a septic tank at least.
Bob, in the 60's in the US, we just threw stuff down. There were government and non-government agencies that started educating us. That is starting to happen, at least here in the Visayas. Long long way to go. There have been many times I just shake my head but when people are struggling to feed their children, hard to get them to spend much time learning to throw stuff away properly.
They've been using dynamite to fish and still do, lost of coral has been lost forever. At least the Philippines is starting to become aware of the problems.
Yea even here in Bogo City what is going into the bay is not something I want to swim around in. The water is still clear but there's lots of trash. That picture in your article is really sad!
Well I will say this, Your act of friendship goes far beyond many and I thank you for that. I would have never come this far so quickly without your input and the help of others here in Davao as well. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I did want to add one thing though about the garbage etc. Today I experienced Old Souls Day for the first time. The litter and Garbage that was thrown throughout the Cemetery…………..we'll it was pretty staggering in itself. What a great experience though and something I will tell many others in photos and words. Keep up the good work and text me anytime, even if it's just for coffee and an hour meet up or something simple!!!!
Pete Bennett
Your wife made the comment that “He should have chained the bin to a fence”.
I asked the same question and the owner laughed and said they probably would have stolen the chain too. Of course, that probably would not have happened but he is a nice guy who just wanted to do something to help keep the beach clean and got burned in the process.
Bob, this is not the area for this question and you may have already addressed it elsewhere but I am going to ask it anyways. I was reading in another forum about smoking in the Philippines and someone wrote your mayor enforces the law against smoking in public places in Davao. Is that true and is there really an existing law against smoking in public places in the Philippines? I hate having to put up with smoking in malls and restaurants.
Hi Rusty- Maayong adlaw. Good day – but in Bisaya instead of Tagalog. 😆
I also am familiar with drainage canals where sewage flows freely, and indeed it does stink! 😯
Hi Tim Walker- I have never gone to a cemetery during the All Souls/All Saints holidays. For some reason, it's not something that Feyma's family does. I guess it is probably because we live far from where any of her relatives are buried, so that is one (important) part of Filipino culture that I know very little about.
Hi Gary- Davao actually originated anti-smoking laws in the Philippines. The first anti-smoking laws were here, then the country enacted a law that covered the whole country. The national law is not as tough as the Davao law, though.
And, it is strictly enforced. In Davao, smoking in public is a jailable offense. Seriously.
Hi Bob, thanks a lot for this great post. If I really would speak my mind about this topic, would it hurts some. So only this: it hurts me to see how the environment has been "raped" at so many places…
Hi Tim Walker, you are so very, very right…
Hi Klaus- Yes, Klaus… even some of the treatment of the environment goes beyond rape! 😯
hi bob,
it all boils down to corruption again!. in every cities and baranggay, there's an allocated budget for garbage disposal utilities every year, i.e. (trash can, truck compactors,street sweeper, incinerators etc..etc..) and of course, this kind of budget is unknown to many common pinoys and the people who receive this budget just simply put it in their pockets as no one knows about it!
Hi dans- I am anti-corruption. However, I disagree strongly. When a 3 year old kid eats his candy bar and throws the trash on the ground, that has nothing to do with corruption. My kids are trained to put the wrapper in the trash can. No trash can? Put it in your pocket until you get home.
Hi dans- I just wanted to add something to my previous reply to your comment. Not trying to pick on you here, dans, you are my friend, but I just thought of something that fits in with what you said.
One thing that I really get tired of in the Philippines is that everybody thinks that it is the government's job to do everything! How about some personal responsibility? If you have some garbage, throw it away yourself instead of expecting the government to send somebody to clean up after you?
Just my 2 centavos…
Hi Bob as you are aware i travel the globe extensively . i am abig supporter of the Phil and visit regular . But when you have got to call aspade aspade then call it a spade . The phii is the worlds largest rubbish dump Untill people take pride in their country and change their habits things will never change.
Hi frank fealey- You certainly did call the spade the spade on this one, Frank! 😆
hi bob,
I understand your frustration when it comes to garbage, i agree with what you said about a 3 year old who eats candy bars and throw the trash on the street, however, i am referring to the garbage that you see on the street and on the river, eliminating the garbage completely is hard to do if there is no support from the government, even if you train your child to keep his trash until he gets home it will eventually end up on the road because of lack of garbage facility or garbage collections,
take the Marikina City as an example, it is the most cleanest and greenest city in metro manila, the then mayor "Bayani Fernando" spent a lot of money to clean the city and plant trees and build a beautiful public parks, the river along the marikina is very clean too!. as a matter of fact, in marikina city they segregate the garbage for recycling, the people of marikina was not trained to do it but because they liked what they see in their own city, they just kept it clean and nobody tells them to do it, all i am saying is, if the environment is clean the people would be embarrassed to litter, and that is exactly what happened in marikina, everyone is embarrassed to throw their garbage on the streets, you lived long enough in the philippines and you should probably know by now that the pinoy attitude is something like "if the government doesn't care, why would we?" basically, when the people sees their environment dirty and full of trash it is easy for them to add some more.
The mayor of marikina spend his budget properly and as a result his city is the most cleanest city in metro manila, they collect garbage everyday one in the morning and one in the evening, whereas in other city, it only happens once or twice a week if you are lucky, i lived once in bulacan province and to tell you this, nobody collects the garbage as there is none at all, i have to dig a big hole in my backyard and burn my own trash (which of course is not environment friendly) but there is no any other way to dispose your own trash but just burn it.
as i said, the lack of garbage facility and disposal is because of the corruption, even if you train your child not to throw their garbage on the street and keep it until he gets home it will eventually end up on the streets if there is no one who will collect it. how many times they collect garbage in your area? and where do they dispose it? if only the mayor of every municipality will use the fund properly, they could build an efficient garbage facility and collections, they could build a beautiful public parks, people would love what they see.
that is just my opinion.
hi bob,
just an additional, in case you are not familiar of marikina city, here's a wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marikina_City
just an additional bob, the marikenos shows their pride, they are the most disciplined people in the philippines, I am aware that you've been living in the philippines for more than 8 years, and i assumed that you've visited places and other provinces in your area (the mindanao), however, mindanao does not reflect the entirety of the philippines, i know you've seen the problems in your area and some of those problems may not exist in some cities, problems like garbage, undisciplined people, inefficient government offices etc..etc.., there are more beautiful and clean cities and places in the philippines, a lot of foreigners would think that manila is not the safe place to be or it is full of rubbish, there are many cities in manila that are clean it is only a matter of visiting them, as the saying goes, if you visited one place in the philippines then you have not seen the real philippines.
Hi dans- I'm sorry, I just don't see this as a corruption problem, as I said earlier. We all have the right to our own opinions, of course, and I respect your right to that.
Hi dans- Indeed, I have traveled a great deal of the Philippines. I find Mindanao to be much cleaner than many other areas. Like you say, if you only visit one place, you haven't seen the real Philippines. I couldn't agree more.
While visiting a waterfall/spring near our house in Iligan I first thought the lake at the bottom of falls was filled with some sort of colorful jewels! As I got closer, I could see the bottom was completely covered with colorful wrappers. Millions of them! Our uncle commented how sad that was and how it was trying to be a tourist site, but that would never happen unless it was cleaned up and kept clean.
I thought all this trash was thrown there by the very houses that lined the beautiful site. The house were attractive and clean but not the waters. They water was crystal clear, so the trash showed easily.
Later, at our house I was talking with our uncle on the street, He opened up a wrapper of some type and threw the wrapper along side the creek. He said when the water rose the trash gets washed away. Where does it go? Down stream and over the falls, adding to the trash he lamented earlier on in the day. This is the usual trash collection system used by our neighbors.
Out of site, out of mind.
The good news is that there are now trash collections in some Iligan baragays, taken to recycling center recently built. Not ours yet, but hopefully soon.
Hi Rovineye- Your story about your uncle said a lot, Rovineye. It didn't take too many words to get a huge story across either. You can see that when your uncle visited the falls, there was a bit of conditioning that made him realize that the trash was harmful to the area, yet when it wasn't in his view, he contributed to it. Amazing, and also sad.