by: Megs S. Lunn
It is embarrassing to know and read the article in the largest Swiss French speaking daily newspaper in Switzerland authored by a prominent journalist who lives in the Philippines, and wrote about “WHEN TROPICAL PARADISE TURNS TO A NIGHTMARE.”
“Anton V. decided to start a new life under the tropics. At 59, this rich swiss business man took a one way ticket for the Philippines, and settled in the island of Mindoro. There he found a Filipina female partner, bought a land and built a house in his new paradise. This was in 2002. A few months later, he separated from this woman who then tried to extort large amounts of money from him, by a widely spread and dangerous method for foreigners in the Philippines: lodging claims with the Immigration Office. This lasted about nine years, of heavy proceedings which could have led to his imprisonment or his banishment out of the country. The ex-female partner asked for 4 million pesos (87000 Swiss Francs) against the cancelation of her complaint. The complainant doesn’t need any proof to denounce a foreigner to the Immigration, who will then immediately be placed on a watch list or even put into jail. Alfred Lehnert, the legal advisor who blanched last December the Swiss of all accusations explains: It is possible to buy a fabricated affidavit for about 2000 pesos (43 Swiss Francs) and district attorneys are often accomplices. In this particular case, the latter has allegedly have pocketed one quarter of the amount extorted, to cancel the complaint.”
This story shows the legal vulnerability of the rich foreigners in countries like the Philippines, where the juridical system is inefficient, and leaves a large spectrum to generalized extortions. It is a very know fact that Filipinos are generally very friendly, but reality bites that our judicial system has a bad reputation.
On the other hand, some foreigners are vulnerable of not knowing the immigration laws that put them in danger of extortion, etc. For other Filipinas, marrying a foreigner is a “lucrative business” for them and their family, too. It’s a pity that in general, other people from other countries look at us this way, yet I can’t blame them, too.
When I received this note from a Swiss friend who recently was a victim by the ex-wife of extortion and false accusations and who said he will no longer come back to the Philippines, I have to tell him straight that one shouldn’t generalize and judge Filipinos this way. But it is indeed a fact that the mentalities of some individuals or public entities are detrimental to the country. The story of Anton and some others who were victims of ex-wives and business partners in the Philippines was in a wide daily newspaper circulating around Switzerland.
The Philippines, like any other country in the world, need foreigners, retired or active to boost the economy, bring in some fresh capital and help to reduce unemployment and even bring people to save, etc. But this will never work in a meaningful way unless foreigners are protected either from individual or official entities.
The only consolation I can tell him which the truth is that, these things can happen to anyone, anywhere in the world. Wherever you are in this universe and whoever you are with, there will always be good and bad intentions by the people or by the government. It’s just a pity it has to happen to him and to some others who maybe, allowed themselves to be a victim, too.
Likewise, anybody can be a victim. A Filipina can be victim of emotional torture, public defamation, and physical abuse and scammed by a foreigner husband, too. I can also tell you some friends who are victims of such without being defensive and bias here.
The main point of this column is that, good or bad things is bound to happen to you wherever you are and in whatever circumstances you are in now. It’s just a matter of being smarter and wiser in all your dealings and to not allow yourself to be a victim, whether you are a Filipino or a foreigner for that matter. We are not telling you to embrace the system in the Philippines. I myself denounce “bad intentions” to your fellowmen, but rather, to believe that life is good and that good things are bound to happen to you in the years ahead. You just have to create it yourself. When you learn your lessons, learn hard from it and you will know what to do next time. But be discouraged to come to the Philippines? Well, it will be your lost and not mine.
Like in any other country, there are far more good people around here than what you read in the paper or heard over the radio/television. I hope my fellow Filipino is reading this column so you will know how pathetic I can be towards you and our beloved country. Please be aware not to do any scam to your fellowmen and our friends from abroad. Do not bring embarrassment to us Filipino and the whole country./TE
Dear Megs
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Megs for your excellent, and courageous paper. Thank you also to Hamish for his mail which further confirms what the Swiss journalist wrote.
For his own information, I attach a full copy of the translation of the article, published in " Le Temps " in February 2011.
The story of Hamish's friend is right there ! I might add that our Embassies Legal Offices, both the Swiss and the French, are full packed with similar cases.
Now, Megs, you are quite right in saying that one should not generalise, that the Philippines is a beautiful Country, where life "should" be wonderful, with very friendly people, but ...
Megs, you are also very right in saying that Filipinas can also sometime become victims of foreigners, for instance violence under influence.
I must admit that a vast majority of the Expats I have seen, for instance in Malls, in Bacolod, are not the ones I would want to see migrate in the Philippines !!! They very often are quite old, mainly interested in cheap alcohol, cheap labour and readily available female company, sometimes, cheap drugs.
Most of them have no education, no culture and no manners. They indeed give a poor image of us, Caucasians
It reminds me, for instance, of Australia, way back in the 18th., and 19th. centuries, when the Brits deported their "black sheep" to this new Continent, or the French sending theirs to the African Colonies.
The Philippines need more high quality Immigrants who will bring added value to the Country, but
security and protection are what they are looking for.
Without this, they will keep choosing other Countries to settle down and to invest.
Megs, take care and be careful, remember that the Judiciary, will always protect their fellow members, all the way up to the Supreme Court, and that the Administration, including the Justice Secretary, has no say there.
Have a pleasant week end.
Bernard
Dear Melrose,
ReplyDeleteYour article "Reality Bites" provides a timely reminder for all of us of the potential pitfalls of cross-cultural marriages. It should also serve as a warning for all foreigners who are about to embark on marriages to Filipinos and vice versa to be very careful.
I have lived in the Philippines for ten years since I married my Filipino wife, and I can honestly say that, on balance, I made the right decision. In my view, the most important thing is to have at least one year of courtship to get to know each other properly, before you take the plunge. One cannot hope to iron out all the cultural differences, but at least you have time to discover whether there are hidden motives on either side, and also to judge whether your partner is genuine or not.
One does not have to travel far to witness other examples of exploitation; I have a friend who has lived here for thirty years, whose situation is now really desperate. He has been abandoned by his Filipino wife who is having an affair with another younger foreigner, and is left to fend for himself in poverty, reliant on the generosity of his friends for one square meal a day. The elder sister did much the same thing; Married a foreigner, established a thriving business in Boracay, and left him for someone else, taking the business in the process and pocketing the proceeds. Now the whole family is trying to get rid of my friend by declaring him an "undesirable alien" with fabricated charges. They are after his land and house. Fortunately, in this case, the Immigration Officer already knows the reputation of this family and their motives, so things may not turn out quite as they intended.
Best wishes
Hamish