How far behind is the Philippines compared to Thailand ?

[Harsh Jones]

For those who've been to both. Having this cornered away in the Philippines section wouldn't be useful.

 

I am just in Subic bay now for the first time. I'd say it is a good 18 years behind a comparable beach side city like Pattaya. But there are slow steps of progress in the right direction. Provided they don't scare away all of the Chinese investment. Just some of it 

 

I was in Marinduque in 2014 and the progress there has been substantial. White Beach Torrijos today felt like a good island destination in Thailand in say 2012. Crystal clear beach ,some shops with anything you need. Good wifi and beach infrastructure. 

 

There are 2 top end resorts under construction. One rumoured to be owned by Derterte's daughter. The other is already done and they are almost ready to open. 

 

But as far as Subic goes , it's lean over here. I'm not picky when it comes to beach frontage but this is too dirty and unkept. They should be able to do better than this. The water itself isn't terribly dirty. It's the garbage and the unkept shoreline. 

 

There's a nice hotel. Then dead abandoned space on either side. Maybe Subic is too far gone and it will never get developed into anything more than this. Who knows. 

 

 

[Trippy]

Go to Texas Joe's in Subic for a great steak, you'll feel better.

[pgrahmm]

Having had many Filipino visitors in TH; the most concise statement one made regarding this was..... The Philippines could be like Thailand in 20 years with foresight, planning, & the will to complete what they start....She believed that the people just didn't have drive to complete projects....

The PI is full of projects left only partially completed and abandoned....

[BritManToo]

I've always found the beach (Barretto next to Subic) cleaner than Thailand, and no sandflies!

[Korat Kiwi]

I have done some good dive trips around Bohol and found the nearby beaches on Panglao to be very clean and family friendly. 

 

Infrastructure leaves a bit to be desired but it's manageable. I didn't mind it and the immigration side is a bit easier than Thailand. 

 

Like has been said,  they come up with great ideas but frequently fail to finish them.  It's like they just lose enthusiasm or change government's. 

 

I prefer Thai food hands down.  Not fussed at all with most of the Philippines food.... Including Jolibee! 

 

Didn't mind their San Miguel or Beer na Beer and they do a nice drop of dark Rum. (Old Captain is better than Tanduay). 

 

But at the moment I'm happy in Thailand.  Should things change dramatically then the Phils could be an option. 

[Harsh Jones]

1 hour ago, pgrahmm said:

Having had many Filipino visitors in TH; the most concise statement one made regarding this was..... The Philippines could be like Thailand in 20 years with foresight, planning, & the will to complete what they start....She believed that the people just didn't have drive to complete projects....

The PI is full of projects left only partially completed and abandoned....

 

Its just the reality of their relative economic position. Being a random scattering of islands in the middle of the ocean is a big economic disadvantage compared to Thailand. 

 

Thailand is also doing a better job of balancing itself between the US and China. And probably has done so for many of years 

[Harsh Jones]

1 hour ago, Trippy said:

Go to Texas Joe's in Subic for a great steak, you'll feel better.

When did i say i wasn't enjoying myself? I am just taking stock of a new country i find myself in. 

 

Do you ever think about where you travel and how it compares to other places 

[Harsh Jones]

Subic is part of the main island of the Phills and it's a similar distance to Manila and Pattaya is to BKK. 

 

It should have similar potential to Pattaya. It does have an SM Mall that is a bit bigger than Central Mall in Pattaya. There's a few nice hotels but they are scattered around too much. There's probably some unsavoury politics in the region that is holding it back. And bureaucratic nonsense. 

[Harsh Jones]

I was a little surprised at the type of farang that i see around here. i expected the early 2000's type of dross that used to drift around Pattaya in those days. They were everywhere. 

 

But the farangs here look and dress fairly normal. There isn't very many either. i expected there would be lots when i arrived 

 

 

[pgrahmm]

1 hour ago, Harsh Jones said:

I was a little surprised at the type of farang that i see around here. i expected the early 2000's type of dross that used to drift around Pattaya in those days. They were everywhere. 

 

But the farangs here look and dress fairly normal. There isn't very many either. i expected there would be lots when i arrived 

 

 

I found the same years ago before I found, & settled in Thailand.....

If you want to see a few foreigners (with an "oh-sh*t how did this happen") look, go to the next Catholic church christening ceremony where they literally crank christenings out by the 100's.....

[georgegeorgia]

The Philippines is like thousands of countries together meaning just because you don't like Manila doesn't mean another part of the Philippines is the same <deleted>ehole

 

Boracay is nice ,Davao City is safe , 

Duamagette of course is the upcoming farang area 

 

[DonniePeverley]

Is Phili dangerous or what ?

[spidermike007]

Much more so than Thailand, there's a lot more poverty, there's more desperation, and the average guy in the street has far more talent as a street fighter than the average Thai. They're trained with sticks knives and with some of them their hands are deadly weapons. So you do have to keep your eyes open.

 

I don't worry about that in Thailand. 

 

I like the PI, I like the people but I find the whole place reminds me of one huge Tijuana. And I find their food to some of the worst on the planet unless you step up and spend a lot more money on international food. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

12 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

Maybe Subic is too far gone and it will never get developed into anything more than this. Who knows. 

 

I used go to Subic Bay occasionally for training, mostly staying at the Courtyard Hotel, not too far from the casino. 

I like Subic but wouldn't like to live there, very different to where I live (Pattaya).

 

I reckon living in Subic would become quite boring at times. 

It's nice to live by the water, I've lived not far away from the sea all my life, I'm even closer when I go to work (offshore rig). Sadly, Subic doesn't have much in the way of places to visit, entertainment and the roads are not well kept.

Those gogo bars have beautiful girls but they seems to be very different from Thailand's gogo's. 

 

Subic is a small region, have you seen Travis videos, Aussie guy having fun in the Philippines. Try travelling. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/travisfeinphilippines?mibextid=ZbWKwL

 

 

[DonniePeverley]

19 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Much more so than Thailand, there's a lot more poverty, there's more desperation, and the average guy in the street has far more talent as a street fighter than the average Thai. They're trained with sticks knives and with some of them their hands are deadly weapons. So you do have to keep your eyes open.

 

I don't worry about that in Thailand. 

 

I like the PI, I like the people but I find the whole place reminds me of one huge Tijuana. And I find their food to some of the worst on the planet unless you step up and spend a lot more money on international food. 

 

Hmmmm ... crimes against tourists too, in tourist zones ?

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

Hmmmm ... crimes against tourists too, in tourist zones ?

From what I've been told. I have a number of friends who live there and they're always telling me to watch my back, avoid certain areas at night, and be very careful. 

[Kim Jones]

Get away from the Manila area, and the Philippines becomes much nicer.

[thesetat]

12 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I've always found the beach (Barretto next to Subic) cleaner than Thailand, and no sandflies!

I would have to agree. Most of the beaches in the Philippines are much better than Thailand. The OP does not seek to compare Thailand to Philippines except in development. But who really wants to go to a beach where people are walking around annoying you to buy the food they have in hand and having been carrying it for many hours trying to pawn it off on you. The beach is supposed to be a natural quiet place pristine and without eyesores. You are supposed to actually hear and smell the sea and surf. There are not many places like that left in Thailand but there are many in the Philippines. The water is cleaner there also. No sand flies that I can recall. Locals not trying to get the last baht out of you. Also the prices in the Philippines is cheaper. 

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

Hmmmm ... crimes against tourists too, in tourist zones ?

Been all over the bad places in Manila, used to walk from the airport through the Barrio to the bus station (Victory Line) late at night/early morning.

Lots of old folk sitting outside their shacks all night, everyone very friendly, beyond your wildest Thai dreams.

'Good morning sir, enjoy your visit', they would say as I walked by.

I've never had any problems from the locals, one immigration lady suggested I stayed longer after viewing my many 10 day visits in my passport (I got the idea she would be happy to show me around).

 

I you want to live somewhere you can actually make local friends (male and female), then PI is the place to go. They speak English, listen to our music and movies, and generally share our culture. If I hadn't already settled in CM, I'd probably be living there (or Siam Reap).

 

Mike has a big down on PI, don't know why as he's never been.

 

Back on topic,

Internet was a lot slower than Thailand, plus frequent, almost daily, power cuts.

[Expat68]

My friend was there 4 months ago, he said Philippines has gone backwards since last he was there. Probably not recovered from Covid as yet

[Harsh Jones]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Much more so than Thailand, there's a lot more poverty, there's more desperation, and the average guy in the street has far more talent as a street fighter than the average Thai. They're trained with sticks knives and with some of them their hands are deadly weapons. So you do have to keep your eyes open.

 

I don't worry about that in Thailand. 

 

I like the PI, I like the people but I find the whole place reminds me of one huge Tijuana. And I find their food to some of the worst on the planet unless you step up and spend a lot more money on international food. 

Yep. It reminds me of Mexico. The Default farang mode is American. In Thailand it's British/Europe which is better. 

 

All the 50's diner aesthetic is boring for a Canadian. We see it call in Canada and Mexico 

[bkk6060]

They speak English but it is 3rd world in many ways and definitely behind Thailand.   Expats there mostly have little money and can only dream about living in Thailand. 

[Harsh Jones]

13 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

They speak English but it is 3rd world in many ways and definitely behind Thailand.   Expats there mostly have little money and can only dream about living in Thailand. 

Even the English is overstated. At White Beach Marinduque , i was having issues communicating with service staff of all types.

 

 

[Srikcir]

13 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

Thailand is also doing a better job of balancing itself between the US and China.

The so-called balance is deceptive and somewhat propoganda.

China doesn't claim sovereignty over Thai waters as it does with The Philippines regarding the South China Sea. Also, Thailand doesn't oppose China's illegal claim over the entire South China Sea wherein The Hague tribunal overwhelmingly backed the Philippines.

China's political and economic infiltration of Thailand has been much more successful than in The Philippines. Having communist and authoritarian countries surrounding Thailand is an advantage to China's authoritarian influence over Thailand.

The Philippines history has been connected with Europe, Spanish and the US trade and occupation, war with Japan in WW2 versus Thailand's history has been more connected with its own colonization, aggression and "partnership" with Japan in WW2. 

Regarding Thailand's "balance" with the US, it's largely one-sided by Thailand and mostly directed by trade.

[Srikcir]

16 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

But as far as Subic goes

Any comments on Cebu and its beaches? Seems the most desirable area for expat life.

[Harveyboy]

You mean there is actually a country even more behind than Thailand..not possible surely..ha 😂

[wavodavo]

18 hours ago, pgrahmm said:

Having had many Filipino visitors in TH; the most concise statement one made regarding this was..... The Philippines could be like Thailand in 20 years with foresight, planning, & the will to complete what they start....She believed that the people just didn't have drive to complete projects....

The PI is full of projects left only partially completed and abandoned....

Too much corruption in P.I...Yes there is corruption in Thailand.. but they are ameteurs compared to Philipines.

[IndomitableSpirit]

I'm in the Philippines right now, let's just say I'm 1/4 Filipino and a mix of others(Halo Halo). You should come here in Rizal, just outskirts of Manila. I'm currently staying in this area. Antipolo has a lot of beautiful places to visit as well activities to do. Hinulugang TakTak with waterfalls is so refreshing and beautiful!

 

I'm in the quest to get to know Philippines more as my family and I hardly visit here. It's not as bad as I thought it would be haha. But yes the government is 🗑️🤣 When I miss BKK, I walk around Makati and BGC.😁 However, I can't wait to go back to Thailand in a few months. There are still many parts depressing because of poverty. Many poor people approaching asking for food and money. They aren't as helpful to animals as Thais are either. My heart breaks for street dogs and cats here. Also, mentality wise Thais are still more open-minded. That's a disadvantage for the Filipinos in moving forward on many aspects.

 

It's so damn hot here right now.😭

[Korat Kiwi]

It's 32 in Rizal... 

currently 37 in Korat.  Feels like 40 but we have a slight breeze

[Scouse123]

I have never been and always been curious.

 

Friends of mine put me off when describing the levels of poverty and they said particularly in Manila, they always felt on edge, and unable to relax.

 

I have met many Filipinos on cruise ships, working in Thailand and the UK, as well as Cambodia. I even have a Filipina tenant in one of our houses, but I just don't fancy going there.

 

Stories of machine guns at shopping malls, and guys who have been there 20 years suddenly cross the wrong Filipino mafia at some random beach resort.

 

My tenant says she feels the stories are exaggerated, but she agrees Manila is a dump and she prefers living in Thailand herself.

 

The Philippines is way too big to judge on its capital.

 

I have heard the women can be downright vicious, and things can turn very ugly, very quickly once they get a hold of you over there, there is none of the ' Mai pen Rai ' attitude there.

 

I like my breaks in Vietnam and Cambodia, with a bit of Koh Chang thrown in.