Well I Hope the president reads this, might make him think about things.

[JJReyes]

13 hours ago, Mark Berkowitz said:

Yes, in most cases this is true, except during the Holocaust of WWII, when the Philippines saved the lives of 1,200 Jews from Nazi exterminations. 

I am adding this as a historical note for Mark Berkowitz, not political commentary.

My boyhood recollection is there was a Jewish Synagogue on Taft Avenue.  I looked for it several years ago while driving around, but no luck.  One member of the congregation was a classmate at La Salle whose name was Mark Rottenberg.  He told us, during a visit to the property, that several of the older members were refugees from Germany.  While most of the 1,200 Jews with Philippine visas eventually left for Israel and the United States (they were not welcomed before WWII), a few apparently stayed behind.  Either Mark's father or uncle was the Rabbi.  The family lived within the compound.

Another large refugee group were the Vietnamese boat people.  No one wanted them.  The Philippines volunteered establishing a refugee camp provided the United States government paid for everything and promised to eventually relocate them.  One of my son's classmates at Denver University spent several years as a child at this camp before the family was relocated to Colorado. 

[Mark Berkowitz]

5 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

I am adding this as a historical note for Mark Berkowitz, not political commentary.

My boyhood recollection is there was a Jewish Synagogue on Taft Avenue.  I looked for it several years ago while driving around, but no luck.  One member of the congregation was a classmate at La Salle whose name was Mark Rottenberg.  He told us, during a visit to the property, that several of the older members were refugees from Germany.  While most of the 1,200 Jews with Philippine visas eventually left for Israel and the United States (they were not welcomed before WWII), a few apparently stayed behind.  Either Mark's father or uncle was the Rabbi.  The family lived within the compound.

Another large refugee group were the Vietnamese boat people.  No one wanted them.  The Philippines volunteered establishing a refugee camp provided the United States government paid for everything and promised to eventually relocate them.  One of my son's classmates at Denver University spent several years as a child at this camp before the family was relocated to Colorado. 

Thank you!  I appreciate this post, since it proves that the Philippines really does have a humanistic approach towards helping foreigners in need of assylum.  As far as Vietnamese boat people, I've met a few in the States, and they spoke well of their treatment in the Philippines.

[JJReyes]

48 minutes ago, Mark Berkowitz said:

Thank you!  I appreciate this post, since it proves that the Philippines really does have a humanistic approach towards helping foreigners in need of assylum.  As far as Vietnamese boat people, I've met a few in the States, and they spoke well of their treatment in the Philippines.

You are welcome.  When the partitioning of Palestine came up before the United Nations for a vote, the Philippines lobbied for the creation of the State of Israel.  No one could predict the outcome.  Ambassador Romulo's "Yes." gave the vote to those who favored a Jewish homeland.  

Israel has maintained an excellent relationship with the Philippines.  You don't need a visa for a visit with a Philippine passport.  (Maybe this has changed.)  90% of 10,000 annual visas for caregiver services is issued in the Philippines.  The estimate is 30,000 TNTs or illegal overstaying caregivers.  The security forces don't seem to care.  "Why are you worried?  They are here to provide homecare for our parents and/or grandparents."  

[JJReyes]

The moderators may want to move this discussion on refugees in the Philippines to a separate topic.

I decided to do additional research. Apparently, there was once a White Russian community numbering more than 6,000. They were supporters of the monarchy who had fled to China through Siberia during the Russian Revolution. They had settled around Shanghai. The policy of the advancing Red Army in 1948 was to send them back to the border where they were shot by the Russian Communists as traitors. The Shanghai community asked for help from the International Refugee Organization who encountered difficulties finding a host country. The only one who said, "Yes." was the Philippines under then President Quirino. Years later they were repatriated to the United States, Australia, Paraguay, France, etc.

Edited May 18, 2019 by JJReyes

[Mark Berkowitz]

JJ, thank you so much for your research into the positive side of the Philippines,  an aspect that is all too often overlooked.  Most expats are (or were) unaware of the humanitarian efforts taken by the Philippines to offer hope to the hopeless--i.e., the Philippines helped so many people who no one else ever wanted to help. 

With all of the talk of the negative things, it really helps to see the positive side of things!

[Snowy79]

If the President was to give the green light to foreigners getting the vote and entering politics there will still be a long way to go before they are accepted.

In my area one candidate spent over 200 million peso on the recent elections.  Her reward would have been a wage of less than 30k but the ability to control who is awarded multi million peso contracts. 

Would this person roll over if a foreigner was to get elected? Tricky one. 

[hk blues]

In my subdivision, foreigners are not even allowed to be board members of the HOA!

They really do want to keep us pesky foreigners from upsetting too many apple carts, even at the lowest level of politics. 

[JJReyes]

There was a case of a refugee who was granted citizenship after residing in the Philippines for many years. The precedent setting case involved an Iranian who fled after the revolution. He eventually married, had children and opened a small shop selling Middle East food. The petition went all the way to the Philippine Supreme Court. The petition was approved, and as part of the process, established the criteria for citizenship because Philippine Supreme Court decisions are considered new law by the lower courts. I can't remember all the requirements. The important one was economic independence. Having an established a business providing employment for himself, family and others meant the petitioner was unlikely to become a ward of the state. With the new guidelines, the lower courts could then approve other petitions. Most seem to be from Muslim countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh.

[Old55]

JJ or Mark go ahead an make a new topic for this if you want to I think it's interesting.

[Mark Berkowitz]

2 hours ago, Old55 said:

JJ or Mark go ahead an make a new topic for this if you want to I think it's interesting.

I gave it a try... but without editing abilities, it didn't turn out too well. 

Sorry JJ for losing your name in this thread.

Edited May 20, 2019 by Mark Berkowitz
added