The Korean Impact on Baguio
by Anna Lisa C. Araneta
Baguio has never been a stranger to foreign nationals visiting and living here. In fact, it was “Little America,” a mining and recreation town built by the Americans in the early 20th century. It was only after the 1990 earthquake and US Bases turnover in 1991 that Baguio has turned very Filipino. And not native Cordillera — it has turned more Ilocano, not only in dialect but more in terms of attitude.
In its heyday in the 1980s, Baguio would see busloads of American, Japanese and Chinese tourists, all armed with the latest cameras, taking package tours that included playing at the Hyatt Terraces Casino, horseback riding at Wright Park, shopping at Mines View Park, and golf at Camp John Hay.
After Baguio was devasted, foreign tourists stopped coming and the lowlanders migrated to Baguio in droves to study in our “naturally airconditioned” schools, most of which do not require an entrance exam to enter, just tuition money.
Now Baguio sees more foreign nationals than ever before and they come mostly from one country — South Korea.
According to Dominique Cannon-Lee, a Baguio-born Filipino-American who is married to a Korean national, Eric, Baguio is being marketed in Korea as the place where, “for just $2,000/month, you can live like a king.” Of course there are many other places in the Philippines where that amount will go very far but they love Baguio because of the weather and the availability of fluent English speakers.
Why are they here?
1. To learn English in order to pass the highly competitive entrance exams for the University of Seoul, that almost guarantees a good job in a big company like Samsung after graduation.
2. To learn English to be able to get around better in Canada where they plan to migrate after their parents retire. And forced retirement in their country seems to be at the very young age of 40 or 45. Their parents cannot afford to quit their jobs just to learn the language, so the kids are sent here instead.
3. To get a degree in, what else, A.B. English from a local university. You will hardly find a Korean taking up a course in medicine or engineering.
4. To invest their retirement money. Because they receive more or less the equivalent of Php25,000,000.00, they use this money to set up businesses and to buy property in the Philippines. They hope that this investment will earn big, and quite a lot of them hope to be able to resell the same business to another Korean (who has just arrived) at a very hefty profit.
5. To buy property because real estate in the Philippines is considered one of the lowest in Asia. And by property, I don’t mean condominium units, which they are allowed to buy. They want to buy land, and huge tracts of it. Now, there are laws in the Philippines that limit the ownership of land by foreign nationals to just 40%, but both the Koreans and their crooked Filipino cohorts are exercising every ploy to circumvent this.
6. To “Christianize” the Philippines. Armed with heavy funding from their born-again churches back home and enviable missionary zeal, many come to the Philippines as missionaries and trainees. The influence of pastors is strong in their culture and many families prefer to send their children to church-run English academies.
7. To get rehabilitated. Many of the young students sent here are problem children who do drugs and join gangs in their country. Although Korea has many government-funded rehabilitation centers, parents prefer to send them to the Philippines instead “because of the shame.”
8. For fun and recreation as tourists, and hopefully to chance upon some good investment. According to Adrian Lee (no relation to Eric), a businessman who has lived in the Philippines for the past 6 years, Korean visitors like three things: golf, ktv and casino.
What businesses do they usually get into?
1. Financing. They have a lot of capital, plus the interest rates they charge will always be higher than what they will receive in their country. They fund projects, grant gambling loans, and just about anything that will earn them some cash profit.
2. Education. They like setting up English Academies. All their schools have to contain the word “Academy” because that’s what their countrymen recognize. This is a lucrative business that we Filipinos keep trying to get into ourselves, but what we have to realize is that the key to the institution’s success is the ability to recruit students — and no Filipino recruiter will succeed in Korea. It seems that the recruiter gets a 20% cut up front as the fee for his placements. Websites are essential tools for recruitment, too, and due to language differences have to be designed by Koreans at a fee of about S2,000.00
3. Restaurants, Retail Stores and Spas. They hardly eat anything other than their own food. So many local groceries now contain imported ingredients and food items that do not have any English translations on them and they’re usually spicy. And little old Baguio now has at least six Korean restaurants that are doing very well. They love their own products and put up their specialty stores for groceries, cosmetics, and health care. They also like spa therapy and have imported specialized equipment from their country to replicate what they have back home.
4. KTV Lounges with GROs and the inevitable VIP Lounge. If you see a wholesome Sing-along Lounge in the Philippines, it is probably not owned by a Korean. They like to drink Soju, a gin-based drink that they import from home . They love to drink and lament the fact that Filipino bars do not offer fresh fruit as “pulutan” (bar chow).
5. “Homestay.” This is what they call private homes that are rented as dormitories, for which they charge their countrymen exhorbitant prices, until the latter wise up and find out that they can rent a hotel room or a whole house for the price they pay.
6. Golf. They like to rent whole golf courses or market golfing vacation packages.
7. Computer-based English learning. They hire language coaches to teach those who cannot come to the Philippines via the internet and charge the students by the hour.
8. Consultancies for Immigration, TESDA and DTI. These are government agencies that they have to deal with all the time should they wish to stay, study or do business in the country.
What kind of impact have the Koreans made on Baguio?
1. They have driven real estate prices up. The big beautiful summer houses than one could rent for about Php40,000 are now for rent at Php120,000, a small condo unit at Php7,000 is now at Php15,000. This is not necssarily because the Filipinos are taking advantage of them, but because they are very “rough” on the houses and the owners will usually need to undertake massive repairs after the lease contract.
2. They are now renting all the small inns for their Academies. Since most large houses have been taken, they have resorted to the small hotels. Since these lodging houses here make very little money as Baguio visitors are seasonal, many business owners are willing to close down and just lease their properties out.
3. Bored middle-aged housewives now fancy themselves realtors and go around trying to broker properties without being equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to do so. Catch phrase: “I have a Korean … ” They want one month’s rent as commission just for the introduction and will not see the contract though till the end. Many rentals end up in lawsuits becaus the Koreans either sign a contract (in English) that they do not understand or think that their local rental laws and customs apply in the Philippines. Basically, this means “I will pay you one year’s rent up front and wreck your house.” Please note that they do not mean to destroy. They just think that that comes with the rent they pay and that replacement and repair costs are cheap, which is so not true anymore.
4. Baguio residents now enjoy a good income teaching English. They get paid Php50-150/hour, depending on how “American-like” they sound. Koreans think Americans can teach English better than Filipinos so each Academy must have a “native-speaker” on payroll, whose photo appears in their website to attract more students and give them “legitimacy.” This means Americans and Filipino Americans get a really good shot at earning Php300/hour in the Philippines. The rule is: the blonder the better. And guess what? Baguio has very few Americans left. So if you are a jobless “Amboy” in Manila, there’s a job waiting here for you — but you must not look like a Filipino. No teaching degree required.
5. They’re marrying our women. Whether for love or money, many Filipinas are just so willing to “get out of here.” To marry a foreigner is frowned upon in their culture but that has not really deterred them. What many Filipinos do not realize is this: marriage is one of the easiest ways for foreign nationals to acquire 100% ownership of Philippine property.
6. Many are doing business here without the necessary permits, and many are overstaying without notifying the immigration authorities. Either intentionally or through ignorance they come here, bring Korea with them and just proceed to do business as if it is their right. Then they bewail the fact that they have to pay extra whenever they have to “fix” their problems, and think that the Filipinos are taking advantage of them.
7. The Baguio residents both love them and hate them. Those who benefit from their presence love them, and those who do not benefit from their presence hate them. Some resent the fact that we are teaching them English and believe they will take jobs away from us. And a lot of the oldies still recount horror stories of abusive Koreans during World War II.
8. They are beefing up the Baguio economy big time! While there are no statistics or records on how many there are living here, or on how many businesses they have actually put up, a rough estimate is that they now number more than 10,000. And each person does spend at least $1,500 to live here. That’s Php735,000,000 in expenditures monthly! What we have to do is make sure that a big chunk of that stays in the Philippines.
9. The quality of kimchi in Baguio has improved vastly. This means also that the Baguio vegetable dealers have seen a rise in the demand for chinese cabbage and radish and other vegetables that are a staple in their diet. Even local restaurants are now offering Korean dishes.
10. Through willing Filipino “dummies” they are buying up whatever land they can get their hands on. Since Filipinos really do not plan for the future generations (judging from all the tree-cutting going on in the whole country) and live for the “now” (always just using the excuse that they need to make a living), they do not understand or care about the adverse effects of their actions. Filipino property ownership must remain with the Filipinos — once the land is gone it is gone forever. We are not nor ever will be (they way our country is being sold to the dogs) equipped to buy it back.
Conclusion:
While I do not resent their presence in Baguio at all, as I actually prefer students who spend $1,500/month to the hordes who spend just $3,000/year (with $1,000 of that going to just tuition, and the rest to living expenses). I believe that we should “wise up” and extract all the benefits possible from their presence here and protect ourselves against a foreign “takeover.”
1. We make sure their presence is temporary, not permanent. This means we lease them the land and not sell it to them, we should marry for love and not to escape.
2. Their businesses must be regularly monitored to ensure compliance with all our national and local laws. They are easy to find as they have Korean characters on all their signages, and if they don’t, just check who goes in and out. They are very easy to spot.
The problem with Baguio is that it seems the local government prefers to tax the locals for renting out their properties to taxing the Koreans for doing business here.
3. If you are willing to have your house leased by a Korean, compute repair costs and build it into your rental rate. And for smooth and mutually beneficial transactions, deal only through licensed brokers and lawyers. Please read Tips on Buying or Renting Baguio Real Estate
4. Professionalize the teaching of English. Those who teach do not always declare their earnings, do not organize themselves and are thus left at the mercy of those hiring them. What prevails now is the whole attitude of “underselling” each other. Just a few years ago, local English tutors would receive Php200/hour and now they are paid as little as Php50/hour. Can you imagine if they all united and insisted on the rates they want — or they don’t teach? Then the Koreans would have no choice but to pay top rates. After all, their academies charge their students at least $1,000/month for board, lodging and English lessons.
5. The Philippines keeps trying to attract foreign investors and prefers those who set up industries, offering Filipinos up as cheap manual labor. If there is anything we can be good at, it is service. Instead of exporting our female work force as “supermaids,” we should seriously consider positioning the country as the English Academy of the World. We capitalize on the one thing we have over our Asian neighbors, our fluency in the English language. We bring in the dollars and we will have jobs for our people for generations to come, and the Filipinos will not have to flee this country anymore.
This is a pretty good article that gives some insight into the Koreans in Baguio. It helps that it’s written by someone who is actually there. Thanks for dropping by my blog!
Nikki Cannon was my schoolmate (”ading”)! Say hi to her from me, it’s been a long long while..small world, eh?
My youngest sister’s first job was as English teacher for Koreans. Th teachers are definitely underpaid, so she left the job soon after.
It’s a well written and detailed account on South Korean invasion(North Koreans aren’t going anywhere) of Baguio City. It’s ironic that Spaniards had a difficult time trying to colonize Baguio, it was the last stronghold of the Japanese army during the WWII but now Koreans are taking over as we welcome them with open arms. It’s not only happening in Baguio but in different beautiful places around the Philippines. They have learned the ins and outs of the Filipino government system and learned how to use it to their advantage. Their numbers are very alarming to tell you the truth.
I don’t mind them here in the US, I even go shopping in a Korean store for produce but it’s because there are plenty of land out here and laws are followed.
omg! baguio is being koreanized. oh well, not only baguio, but they are everywhere here in manila, too. baguio must be their best choice, given the climate that is closest (this part of the phils) to theirs.
you have given a very good discourse of why koreans stay in baguio–a study of human interest and behaviour.
Hi everyone! And thanks for dropping by to comment on this post. Long story on why I am able to respond only now. Baguio landlines lines were down (no dial up), laptop could not wifi (forgot about the little switch), smart bro connected in less than 24 hours but not enough signal strength. Solution? 5-hour bus ride to manila (where it’s not so 3rd world). Hahaha.
Hi, Sir Martin! When I wrote this article and blog hopped to see who else was writing about Koreans and Baguio, I found your blog! Thanks for dropping by, too.
Hello, Chateau. Yup, Baguio is so small I’m sure everyone was “manang” and “ading” to each other. Nikki is doing very well and has helped me understand the Koreans better. Maybe I should organize the Union of Baguio English Tutors so they can lobby for better pay, but somehow the acronym will not sound good. Hahaha
And hello, KK. What’s so alarming also is that we have really idi_tic legislators who have been trying to open up ownership of Philippine soil to foreign nationals without limits! Good thing they have so far been thwarted. I don’t care if first world countries allow aliens to buy up their land, especially if it’s as big as America. But our country is too small and too poor, and land is the only asset we have left to hold on to.
And welcome, Sexy Mom! I did see a whole lot of them when I went to Dumaguete last January, too. And when I picked up my sister at NAIA last week, 100% of those seated around me at the Figaro booth were Koreans waiting for even more compatriots to arrive. We simply have to make sure we convert their being here into an opportunity for OUR economic growth.
Thanks so much for dropping by, guys!
I think to say that Baguio is Koreanized is an overstatement. It’s like saying that the Philippines is Koreanized.
I disagree that Baguio has become Ilocano. There are cultural Ilocano influences in the city but it has not become Ilocano. Baguio became its own cultre. Even the longtime residents of Baguio who are of Ilocano decent are REALLY different from the llocanos from the Ilocos coast, la Union or even the Cagayan Valley
hi! great post. i googled baguio blogs and found your great site! i love this post on koreans. my dad and i have been griping that there are simply too many koreans in baguio. one afternoon, i went to sm and found, to my great horror, a korean rock show in progress in the atrium. first, it was their food, then their movies, then their soaps…now it’s their music. they’re going to conquer us with their pop culture. eep…
well i disagree with your conclusion number 3 big time..
i’ve lived my past 12 years in the philippines which is more than
half of my life and although i agree that presence of koreans
have increased radically in the past few years, you just
shouldn’t generalize people like that.. i mean.. we’re each different
individuals and not all koreans go around destroying houses or something..
just because some police tried to rip off money from me or just because some fraud guys who happens to be filipinos runs away with my money doesnt mean that i can generalize filipinos as rip offs or frauds..
so, to charge them possible repair cost in the rent which might not even be incurred because the tenant is a korean is jsut absurd.. maybe they can have it in the contract to pay for repairs when u incur it instead..
and another big reason why koreans come to philippines for retirement is that the philiipine governemnt do promote philippines in korea as a place where u can spend your retirement life so nicely and in luxury with small cost and etc.. Just look at how easy it has become to get retirement visa in the philippines now..
BetelNut, I agree with you — I don’t think Baguio is Koreanized at all, as Sexy Mom fears. Maybe the Koreans are even being Filipinized! I have quite a few friends and they’re starting to like our stews and soups and barbecue. But the Ilocano part I stand by. I am not saying the real natives are turning Ilocano, it’s just that the Ilocano speakers have overrun Baguio! From Northern Tarlaquenos, to Pangasinenses to those from the Ilocos region. I hardly see almond-shaped eyes, pink faces with prominent cheekbones, and hear fluent English these days except in Trinidad (that’s why I love it there - many are so sweet and honorable).
Kubiyat, in Baguio there’s too much of everything! Students, street hawkers, ugly satellite markets, little kids joining gangs, graffiti, lousy journalism, early pregnancies, unemployed folks — name it! Now as for Korean soaps blame that on our local tv stations for being too lazy to come up with original programming. Did we complain when the Mexican soap Marimar was such a hit? And the SM atrium does have a whole lot of idiotic (pardon my French) shows. Basically, anyone who is willing to pay their fee can put on a show there. You know how we embrace everything imported. But no one can conquer us if we don’t allow it. As for Korean food — I LOVE IT! How I wish we could attract more Thais and Vietnamese, too (if just to get authentic cooking up here). Hahaha.
Korean gentleman, I did not mean to offend. In fact, I don’t know if you noticed how the post was not at all “anti-Korean.” But I have had experience with Korean tenants, neighbors and friends to know whereof I speak. And it was a Korean from Seoul in fact who explained to me about the rentals (because he has property for rent there) and the Koreans practice of paying one year in advance (in the Philippines it has always been one month in advance and two months as deposit per year), about repairs, and about destruction. I asked him how my house could be ruined and he shook the banister of the stairs, and pointed to the expensive wooden floor.
And in fact, my Korean tenant is super clean (she wipes the floor the old-fashioned way and does not use a broom) but the first thing she said when she met me was, “Sorry about other Koreans. I am not like them. I am very, very careless!” (and I knew she meant “careful” because she introduced her niece as her nephew). Hahaha! So you see, it is the Koreans who tell us about their countrymen, not just Filipinos drawing baseless conclusions.
Koreans in Baguio love to rent the beautiful old houses and these almost always need RESTORATION afterwards, not just repairs. You will notice that I specifically stated that “it is not their intention to destroy,” and tried not to give specifics but since I am accused of generalizing, here they are: Maybe your pipes are bigger in Korea but we NEVER flush kiddie diapers down our toilets like my Korean neighbors kept doing at Burnhamview Condominium, or add rooms and whole concrete wings without consulting a decorator or the landlord (like at L_z_r_s Compound), or clog all the pipes and let all the excrement overflow between floors and ceilings like in S_f_ri Lodge 2 years ago. And we hardly get complaints like these if the tenants were of any other nationality.
And there of course are the horror stories of Koreans - those who do business here without permits and just suddenly leave the country, leaving obligations behind (or locking their maids inside the house and leaving them without food for a week until they are rescued), or by Koreans who enter on tourist or missionary visa who overstay and have to resort to bribing corrupt immigration people to obtain an exit clearance.
So if I tell my countrymen to protect themselves, I think I have more than enough reason to do so. In any business, we calculate the risks and build it into our costs. Maybe we could include rebates if the house is preserved as an incentive. In fact, while I am at it, all lease contracts should include photos taken prior to the occupation of a tenant, whether Korean or not, so that it can be restored to its old state because not all improvements increase the value of a property, or are done in good taste.
Now if any Filipinos try to rip you off or extort money, sir, please know that it will be hard to do this if you are entering into a legitimate transaction where you are protected legally. So if you are a foreign national trying to do business in this country, find out first if you are allowed to do that. Get a lawyer. Otherwise, you will leave yourself open to bad elements. And you will have no one to complain to.
What everyone should realize is this. THIS IS MY COUNTRY. And when you’re in my country I will treat you as an honored guest. But I also expect you to behave and conform to our laws and customs — not insist on your ways here or abuse our hospitality. Our warmth should never be misinterpreted as an invitation to step all over us.
And I say this to everyone, not just to the Koreans, but to the Americans, the Chinese and all other foreign nationals who insist on living and doing business here. When you’re in my country, behave!
Hi, Lisa!
Thanks for the good points of view!
But, hey, what have you got against Ilocanos?
And here’s an interesting tidbit about Koreans in Baguio. A Korean friend of mine “acted as a maid” for 2 DAYS to a fellow Korean last month and got paid P6,000 for 8 hours/day work. She complained about the pay. It boggles the mind that Filipinos work for less than that for almost 16 hours/day, 30 days (lucky if you’re let off on Saturday or Sundays). And then think about the P30/hour Filipino teacher teaching a Korean how to speak English and once the Korean learns, becomes the teacher to fellow Koreans in Baguio.
Binabarat natin ang kapwa Pinoy natin.
And I agree with you that foreigners who visit our country, please BEHAVE. We do when we go to yours.
Hey, I was madly in love with an Ilocano once! His name is …
I just remember a time when Baguio had a lot of natives, all speaking fluent English. I remember a time when Baguio was a lot more generous. Although Ilocanos are really, really hard-working, they do not like to spend (operative word here: free), so money does not go around, and the economy suffers.
Plus the only way business folks here know to compete is to undersell each other (because they mistakenly believe that the tourists prefer cheap to value), instead of striving for class and excellence. A tourist destination suffers this way. Plus competition gets underhanded. They keep putting each other down, and it’s Baguio that gets a bad rap. Don’t they realize that a destination succeeds when everyone unites? I always say TOGETHER WE COMPETE AGAINST CEBU, BORACAY, TAGAYTAY …
I was just talking to some English tutors last night and it seems they do not realize they can organize themselves industry-wide and standardize their rates. So what happens again is they undersell each other. Next thing you know they will start paying their students for the privilege of teaching them. Hahaha. Php30/hour is next to nothing these days, with no benefits or security of tenure. They might as well work in a fast food joint.
KILALA KO YANG ILOCANO NA YAN!!!!!
Hey, Lisa! On the fast-food joint vein, you could also write about how many of our students are getting into it (versus the graduates) and compare it to the pregnancy rate of the teens in the city (albeit farfetched?) Thanks!
On Ilocano thriftiness, A GOOD WORD is worth a thousand marketing gimmicks. So perhaps, striving TOGETHER, we should be aware who among us has the supply for the demand - and instead of underselling each other, cooperate with each other in terms of marketing…
Of course, for that to happen, we need an advocacy. Any ideas?
uhmmm., whoever who needs English tutor for koreans, just contact me hehe
Wow! That was a mouthful. All I can say is AMEN…
Need a fixer in the B.I.D.? I can help, hehehe.
To all you Filipino guys… This is talking with experience… Korean girls like pinoys ‘coz we are sooooo romantic, ever. Don’t mess with korean guys though ‘coz they all know tae kwon do. It is required training for all koreans. I once saw 1 korean beat up a bunch of crips or bloods or whatever in carantes street. Those gang wannabes, when they get beat up they run to the police and whine.
I just have to comment on this… my family has been in baguio FOREVER, and i mean FOREVER, but having married a “lowlander” I have moved to Manila, I recently went home to baguio and went out for drinks with a few friends, we went to a place I will always know as Jade, there is now a bar there. What struck me was, and this is true, our table was the ONLY table with filipinos, the place was PACKED with Koreans. Yes, well the world has gotten small, but what irked me was the rowdiness of these foreigners. They would engage in beer drinking contests and one particular korean could not swallow so the beer sprayed all over their table! ugh. In the washroom, one of them was blocking my way and demanded, in his broken english, my name! I had to call one of my goon looking friends to get him out of the way. Hellear, is that how they behave in Korea? no. Ive been to Korea and the Koreans there are, well for lack of a better word, behaved.
Hi Igorota,
I know the bar you’re referring to… it’s never been known to be sedate. Hahaha! It seems the Korean students study for like 16 hours a day and are cooped up for 6 days a week so they party hard that one day and night they are allowed to go out.
And some Koreans have told me that “first class Koreans” who want to study English go to America. What “class” of Koreans does the Philippines attract then?
Honestly, folks here must realize that a good bar is not made up of just the music they play and the drinks they serve. Full control is with the owner who regulates the experience also through ambience, pricing and security policies the quality of clientele his bar will attract.
The same goes for the whole city and the country, DIscipline must be enforced by the host, I suppose. That’s why Filipinos and Koreans behave in Korea. That’s why some Koreans - and Filipinos - misbehave here.
I’m sorry you had a bad experience in that bar when you came up. But I’m sure you will never love Baguio any less
hi! liza… can i cite you as my source for my research paper? i would be glad to know your whole name so i can cite you properly.. thank you so much!:) this article has helped me a lot..:)
Hi Jamie, you are allowed to cite a blog article as one of your references nowadays?! Times have indeed changed! Let me email you my full name. Hahaha.
hi, one of the reasons koreans love baguio other than its cool weather is that most teachers there are really fluent in english and they really can sound like americans, i am proud to be an igorot and most of the good teachers there are natives, if not natives then somehow have acquired the way of how natives speak there, i have been to some academies here in manila and the quality of teachers here as compared to the teachers in baguio is way way low, i remember my student back in baguio, he had been studying in manila for one year prior to moving to baguio and he said, “i should have studied here in baguio in the first place because my teachers in manila have Filipino slur..” My point is we should also give some credits to the original people of baguio-the natives who work their asses out just to keep koreans coming back…
The Korean invasion of the Cordilleras has reached the bowels of the earth — they are also into mining now, in Itogon to be exact. They have a 200-ft deep mine down there with many “osoks” and the corresponding hundreds of local laborers.
A good, old machinist made the Korean very happy by improvising a sucking machine for only P350,000, making the Korean save up millions from a cancelled out Korean version.
But of course, the Korean has a dummy — a certain Mang A.
Great article and good comments too. I do miss the Baguio of old. I was in Sagada in the 80s and everyone spoke English. Now its mostly Tagalog or Ilocano (or Kankanae). I hope THAT place doesn’t get too “colonized” by any culture or nationality but their own.
Baguio has changed a lot too, not just the new “invasion” but also of the way it has been allowed to develop. So haphazardly it seems. I wish the officials had followed a strategic plan of some sort. I guess in this sense, its not just Baguio but many cities in the country. But with Baguio being rather small, the changes look so radical. Another noticeable feature is the proliferation of FX (AUVs) as taxis. Just too many and all congregating in one area - Session Road.
I still love the Cordilleras and Baguio ranks high on the list.
Ms. KATHLEEN T. OKUBO writes:
(http://www.nordis.net/blog/?p=1235)
Baguio, simply because it is up in the mountain and simply because what is up will come down, is an area where disasters are just waiting to happen.
My parents’ property is located between two natural “seasonal springs” that flow for some five to eight months of the year. The stream is a natural boundary respected by those who delineate property boundaries. A natural stream or river has banks and a so-called green area of something like a meter from the edge of its banks. This boundary is inherent and must be respected.
Almost eight months ago we – by purchase – gained a new Korean neighbor who included these natural non-alienable spaces in his property and plugged one of the stream’s natural path with a four story building. This Korean ordered cut several large pine trees without permits or ECC?) along the cliff above the stream’s path that were planted by a grand uncle of mine who lived and farmed there long before the 2nd world war and two of his sons are believed buried there.
The cut trees fell on plots of planted anthuriums and broke down several other smaller trees on it fall-path. What was done was greedy and thoughtless of his new neighbors, the neighborhood as a whole. A case of damage to property was filed with the barangay whose hearings he has ignored.
Even if the damaged property would be paid for it does not do
anything to mitigate or prevent the subsidence of loose soil and the path that this rainy- season-stream will make. It may even bring down the building he built over it … and (though some 25 meters away) we live below. The DENR? They just came to inspect. The barangay? They just hear and decide on the case. Who should be doing something to prevent an impending disaster like this?
Hi! Miss Lisa. Thank you for this. It made clearer what I have to write on our paper.. can i cite you, too, as my source?…:)…thank you!!!:) God Bless!…
i read your article and i just couldn’t agree to all your arguments. i can see that you have your personal biases. of course i could not blame you for i believe you are only basing your commments on your experience. but here is my side of the story and i assure you it is legitimate.
i am not a korean but i do know a lot of them. while there are unbehaved koreans here, there are also those law-abiding, compassionate ones, and you are doing a great injustice to them.
you are pointing your fingers directly on them, accusing them of underpaying english teachers. why not look at our own government schools first? do you think our very own teachers receive the salary and the benefits they deserve? how can we then complain to this koreans when we know pretty well that we do the same to our fellowmen?
also about the sky-rising rental fees, it is the filipino estate owners who are ridiculously raising the fees. we once rented an apartment in loakan in 2005 for Php 7000 a month. after one year the rent was raised up to Php 15,000-were there repairs?improvement of the facilities?NONE? why then the raise?
now, how about our attitude toward them? Is it not rude also on our part, to suck money from their pockets by asking extra service charge just because they are foreigners? if only we can hold strongly on our values and principles instead of accepting bribes. how about also those policemen and other government officials who extract money from them instead of helping them clarify the laws (which are most of the time-rather than guiding the people, just confuse them) whenver they get into trouble about our laws.
i have been to korea several times and they do treat our fellowmen there with compassion. there are unbehaved filipinos also in korea, there are even a lot of them who are making a living illegally, without the proper immigration papers, but these people are not fined or imprisoned (unlike in other countries) and even sent back home with the Korean government shouldering the expenses.
it is easy to blame others for the difficulties we face but let’s not also forget that we are partly responsible for them. these problems do not occur in the first place if we have the strong values and principles.
before finding faults in others, why not examine ourselves first.
great article!! i’m a born and bred baguio gal but i’ve been living here in the states for awhile…i must say that baguio people are known for their perfect command of english…so i’m not surprised at all if koreans chose to go where they’d get their money’s worth…i’ve yet to see how baguio has evolved with the koreans around…i’ve heard they sort of have these superiority complex among them…but seeing how baguio is being marketed to them, that’s how they tend to perceive it… i do have korean friends and they almost have the same morals and values that filipinos have, i’ve even grown to love their korean dramas and food…so i wonder why the koreans there in baguio would have a different attitude?…wouldn’t that leave a certain stigma to them?
but in general…i just think baguio’s overcrowded…the city should come up with a plan to stop the migration of people from just about everywhere…baguio’s loosing its charm…
To all you pinoys or pinays:
Filipinos are known to complain about foreigners. Before the Korans we complained about the Chinese. I believe, it is because of jealousy. They succeed while we do not. I certainly admire the Koreans for going to the Philippines. Most if not all Filipinos if given the chance would leave the Philippines. I left Baguio a very long time ago and I have no regrets. Like my fellow ex-pats here in Canada; the Philippines is one pathetic country. The rest of the world doesn’t give a damn about the Philippines. That is why we are labeled as ” The Sick Man of Asia”. The Philippines is very lucky indeed that South Korea has pumped billions of dollars into the country. I think the South Koreans are more confident about the Philippines than most Filipinos especially those who have left the country, so please wake up and stop your complaining and as the adage says:”do not bite the hand that feed you”.
Hi everyone, I plan to keep comments open on this very popular post for as long as the article remains relevant.
Lordmanilastone, you’re right! The ‘natives,’ after all, were taught by their parents who were taught by the Americans. When I was a teenager visiting Baguio, no one spoke Ilocano or Tagalog even — everything was in English!
Chi, I love the way you’re so in the know! Yup they’re digging — like the largest academy that relocated on land he bought (hey, how can a Korean own Philippine soil?! hmmm) but this time for water, which in Baguio is — gold!
Kingtut, yes, we worry about Baguio and Sagada because tourism is a double-edged sword really. In Baguio’s case, tourism is not the problem (overpopulation brought on by perceived economic opportunities from the overpopulation - hahaha!). But we Filipinos are pretty apathetic and just like to complain and move on! There’s no just thing as conservation or preservation!
Ka-ye, of course this response comes too late — but can folks cite personal blogs as references nowadays?
Good points, Mercy. But I believe that because we do not regulate things properly in Baguio (oh come on, Baguio is DEVOID OF ANY PLANNING OR VISION!), folks react to each other in such a cramped space as our small city every which way! Granting for the sake of argument that EVERYONE IS AT FAULT, how do we remedy this situation and organize things? I believe that we should not allow anyone to exploit us, foreign or domestic.
Shaz, you’re right! I have a lot of Korean friends who are God-fearing, old-fashioned, and so respectful of their parents. But they still have poor taste in buildings — hahaha! Baguio will be lost if we do not act decisively now!
Oh Flip in Canada, stay there! And shame on you for not loving your country anymore. It’s easy for you to be bitching and judging from afar while the rest of us struggle to make this country a better place. I do so appreciate comments like yours though, if just to get a feel of what some of those who have abandoned the country really think.
I am a Baguio Born and have seen how my city was during the 60’s compared today. Your Article on Impact of Koreans in Baguio is well-written yet biased. I feel your sentiments , I have left Baguio 17 years ago and felt like a stranger in my own backyard when I visit home. Learning English from us is great, contributing foreign funds to our economy, even greater, but lets not allow this foreigners buy our land using Filipino dummies.In the long run, we won’t have any land, we could call it our own…If you been to Hawaii….it’s the Japanese controlling the Tourist Business not the Hawaiin’s nor the Americans. Think about it………..
I think the presence of the Korean nationals who wants to study English changed the economy and industry of Baguio. It used to be a tourist spot only, now we can be proud that Baguio has been chosen to be a safe place to study not only amongst the locals but as well as other nations. I am glad they are here because they boost our economy and Baguio can be a proud city.
Welcome Jerimiah, and thanks for your comment. I will always be biased IN FAVOR OF BAGUIO, you see. If they spend more money here than the students, they’re welcome. If they buy up the land using selfish Filipino dummies, they’re not. As I’ve said elsewhere, Baguio is vulnerable because the folks living here now do not give to Baguio even a small percentage of what they’re taking. Hmmmph!
Welcome, Marietta, and I too am glad they’re here. It’s really our fault if we allow them to take advantage of us.
To everybody, it seems this post, written in March 2007, is still popular (or is it controversial?). So I will keep comments open for all.
Lisa,
Keep this post for a while , keep it controversial - and let your readers think how we all can make a difference to preserve the values and unique characteristics of Baguio. Treat the Koreans as customers and visitors, not allowing them to be CEO’s and Landowners. I won’t be surprised in the future when they are in control of the businesses in the city. Are the Korean’s here to learn English and leave ?or are they here to “stay” ? Readers -We can make a difference…..
I stayed in Baguio for one school year in 1970 - 1971. I was one of only three male teachers in an all-girl high school with an all-female (except the three of us) faculty. (The girls even made the three of us honorary Girl Scout Advisers!) At that time, Baguio was not so crowded (except during Holy Week). I first stayed in Auroral Hill, then transferred to Patria then transferred again to Leonard Wood. John Hay was still an American Air Base and to be able to access it, you must be a guest of a card-carrying member or must have one of those passes that John Hay gives away. To eat in Halfway House (and their steaks and burgers were, what do we call them?, of “American” size and quality), you need to pay in US dollars, if my memory serves me right. Baguio Country Club was very famous (is it still now?) for their raisin bread, and the Pink Sisters (although I am not sure now but it was a house of Catholic nuns) for their cream puffs (which they don’t sell, you have to be invited to be able to partake of them). The PMA boys were the favorite dates of the girls but I didn’t mind the competition.
Luckily for us, there was enough space for everybody (except as I said during the Holy Week and water is difficult during the Holy Week too). The Americans (note no Koreans yet) were everywhere. My laundry woman talked to me in perfect English. I am Ilokano and I could get by either in Ilokano or English. Tagalog or Filipino was a third language one can use to get by.
In all the three places I stayed in, there was no heated water and to take a bath in the morning was a real challenge. One of our favorite games is go out and walk in Session Road from Leonard Wood in our sando in the evenings and the first one who wants to go back to Leonard Wood is the loser.
There were two cinemas on Session Road then, the Pines Theater and the Session Theater. After the movies, our favorite stop is the corner bakeshop that sells pan de sal and Dari Creme. By the time we get to Leonard Wood, we would have eaten everything.
During the Christmas season, our favorite place to carol in was Quezon Hill. There the money was plentiful and the residents were very generous. Of course, that was partly because most of the members of the caroling group were known to the residents as the daughters of friends.
I have a lot of good memories from that one-year stay in Baguio and if I have a chance to live life all over again, I would make that 1-year stay 5 times longer at least. But alas I had to move on and could only go back to Baguio once in a while.
That’s the Baguio I remember and am very disappointed that it is no more.
Lisa, your decision to stay in Baguio and help in its recovery after that earthquake was very noble of you. Keep it up and help restore Baguio to its original title as the Summer Capital of the Philippines.
BAGUIO CITY – Remember that primetime ‘Koreanovela’ “Jumong?” (Koreanovela is a Filipino-coined term for Korean TV soap productions.)
Now imagine watching hundreds or maybe thousands of ‘em Jumongs ‘live’ in schools; buying their whitening soap in their Korean-labeled groceries; or simply bump shoulders with ‘em in a watering hole – right in your own city.
Alarmed by arcane “Korean invasion” of Baguio, the City Council during their September 17 session vowed “to come up with regulatory measures” to protect the interests of Baguio locals in commerce, education, and employment.
This, in the heels of the snow-balling complaints of small Filipino businessmen facing stiff competition from similar-sized but better-financed Korean businesses; labor standards violations in English tutorial schools; discrimination in Korean establishments; and preference of Korean employees over equally-capable pinoys.
During the council inquiry, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – Cordillera chief Ana Dione revealed only 37 of 55 English Specialty Language (ESL) schools in the city have Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) accreditation.
TESDA certification is a prerequisite for schools offering short-courses outside the regular Commission on Higher Education (CHED) or Department of Education (DepEd) curricula.
“Of the 55 ESL’s,” CHED-Cordillera division chief Virginia Akiate added, “31 carried mayor’s permits for their operations,” hinting that some ESL’s may have been operating on city permits even without proper authority from TESDA.
On top of this, seven ESL’s were found in violation of labor standard laws, discounting proper wage rates prescribed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) and such standard benefits prescribed by Presidential Decree No. 442 (The Labor Code of the Philippines).
Asked by councilor Fred Bagbagen as to the nature of ownership of the ESL’s and regular international schools, Akiate distantly retorted, “They are managed by Filipino Administrators.”
To this the alderman answered, “Maybe [these schools] are being financed by Koreans and managed by Filipinos… In other words, [special corporations indulging in these undertakings] are using dummies.”
Meanwhile, Antonio Prieto, Alien Control Officer of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) confirmed, “The administration and actual teaching in ESL’s are done by Filipinos while the Koreans market the same.”
Section 10, Article XII of the Philippine Constitution, as reiterated in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68 (Corporation Code) provides for the reservation of 60-percent of the outstanding capital stock (not the number of people in the corporation) to Filipinos; or to corporations or associations, at least 60-percent of whose capital is owned by such citizens.
Section 12 of Article XII likewise provides, “The State shall promote the preferential use of Filipino labor, domestic materials and locally produced goods, and adopt measures that help make them competitive.”
Prieto said BID has mandate to arrest aliens in violation of visa provisions. Dione on the other hand admitted DOLE’s role goes as far as compliance with labor standards is concerned.
As CHED and DepEd were silent on the “authority to close erring schools,” councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda concluded the city should order closure by canceling issued business permits.
During the regular “Ugnayan” press conference meanwhile, councilor Antonio Tabora revealed that some Koreans have been employed in jobs that can be undertaken by qualified Filipinos.
This, despite provisions in the Labor Code providing that non-resident aliens may only be employed after an employment permit is issued them by DOLE.
Article 40 of the Labor Code further provides, “The employment permit may only be issued… after a determination of the non-availability of a person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing at the time of application to perform the services for which the alien is desired.”
“For an enterprise registered in preferred areas of investments, said employment permit may be issued upon recommendation of the government agency charged with the supervision of said registered enterprise,” it added.
Some 11 million Koreans tourists leave their country every year. From 2006 to June 2007, a total of 640,000 Koreans have entered the country, BID data reveals.
Despite talks of Filipinos allowing themselves to be used as dummies for some Korean nationals, DOLE, TESDA, BID, and CHED vowed to put said aliens and their activities in tight watch.**ISL
You must have heard about that additional P6-B capital infusion into the CJH projects. A friend of ours who was fired alleged that capital came out from who else….
i tried my hand at teaching korean children last year until may of this year. it was my first job as an educator being a career shifter at midlife. very stressful the experience turned out to be, half the time i was dealing with behavioral problems rather than teaching esl. as someone who has been exposed to the rather unnerving ways of young korean learners, and the unscruplous ways of some of their guardians, i totally agree with your views regarding the ESL aspect of the korean invasion of the philippines. a friend of mine is trying to get some sensible legislation put in place regarding ESL wages on the local government level, but as she laments, as long as there are people willing to be paid P100/hour, the exploitation will go on. thank you for writing such an insightful and passionate article about the continuing saga of the self-inflicted exploitation of our nation.
While it is not proper to generalise, it does seem quite likely that if we are not careful, we might end up losing our precious resources to Koreans, Malaysians and the rest of the exploiting foreigners.
While they do put in some income, most of what these foreigners make is brought in to their country. Even our scrap iron is exported to Malaysia.
Our English teaching prowess is only an advantage in the short term. Think about it.
Koreans in our schools are usually bullies and they seem to be like gods to some school owners, teachers and principals. They simply get away with what they do best… being bullies to our very own countrymen.
Wise up!
Come on… what we see here is the short term. While their presence now may seem like a novelty to most of us, it our children who will suffer the long-term effects. Soon we will be like foreigners in our own land
The foreigners treat us badly mainly because of our own countrymen who teach them to do so. Believe it or not, some of our countrymen actually teach the Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Israelis, etc. that the common Filipino is one who tries to take advantage of his neighbor all the time. Hence, we get treated this way. Sometimes, these so called kakabayans of ours demonstrate how to bully or belittle or even discriminate upon Filipinos.
Take a look and observe yourself.
Has this article been published yet in the local and national newspapers? Very alarming but so true.
I am a Baguio native and it is so sad to go home to Baguio now. A lot of people may think SM and the Korean presence have revitalized tourism back there but little do they realize the impact of their presence.
What you said was true about Pinoys thinking only of today and not for tomorrow. Corruption, red tape,crab mentality, colonial mentality go a long way back home. So sad.
The government should smarten up and the people too. My sister used to teach at one of the Korean academies and she got paid 150/hr. According to her, a lot of the Korean students show contempt and disrespect to their Filipino tutors. Afraid of being fired, these Filipino tutors would just stomach it and pretend it didnt happen. My sister actually fired by reprimanding a student! Such is the quality of our labor laws back home!
Anyway, I really hope that something will be done about this. It is not too late.
Reading at your article makes me remind my college days, I am from Nepal and I studied my BS degree at University of Baguio until 2002. The Baguio city is one of the best city of the world in my expeiences. The people are nice and sweet and its a safest place comparing to other city in philippines.
Many people from our country used to come there for its quality education at affordable prices. People of Baguio are very kind and genereous to foreigner. I beleive that while baguio is hosting us the quality education we all foreigner must obey and respect the law and regulations of the country.
Nevertheless I miss baguio so much now.
shaan, New York
Hello. Very nice article!!!
Haay!!! WE OWN THOSE JOBS!!! Kalokohang binigay yan sa mga Americano!!! WE’RE BEING DISCRIMINATED IN OUR HOMETOWN!! Ok lang sana kung amerikanong laking baguio (Baguio-boy like).
I hope the koreans and the ilocanos will not swallow the native people of Baguio .
Hi, Lisa. Very good insight on the Korean situation. I myself used to teach Koreans here in QC. And I agree, some of them treat Filipinos very badly. I was just wondering, since you didn’t expound on the matter much, how powerful are the “guardians” of the ESL students. Are they the one’s who make all the decisions about where the student’s should study? Do they get any percentage from the school they choose to send the students to?
Jerimiah, I so agree with you
Ydna, memories similar to yours would be the fuel that keeps me going (or should I say ’staying’). thanks for sharing them.
Bantay-Baguio, if the Koreans are abusing their stay it, it is because the Philippines and Filipinos allow them to.
Chi, they say Camp John Hay will soon be renamed Kim Jong Hei
Elise, the penchant of Baguio folks to UNDERSELL is what cheapens the city: food, drink and even ESL tutelage. I keep kidding the ESL tutors that pretty soon, they will be paying the Koreans for the privilege of teaching them English PLUS good manners (at times).
Hexogen, your observations are correct. Maybe you should go around educating the educators, too.
Michelle, the Filipino attitude of being so ‘hungry’ allows folks to abuse us. I believe there should be a UNION OF ESL TEACHERS IN BAGUIO, demanding good wages. Why should we teach the Korean students virtually for free?
Shaan, glad you enjoyed yourself in Baguio. come visit us again soon.
Francis, they think native speakers (that’s what they call Amboys) are superior. They want the American accent, thinking Americans invented English. Hahaha!
Marg, the Koreans and Ilocanos and Pangasinenses HAVE swallowed the people of Baguio (if you’re referring to the Cordillera natives)
Misyel, here the way it goes is — a Korean tourist with a Filipino dummy set up the school under TESDA, the Filipino manages it, the Korean recruits. The guardians own the schools, so they do not make decisions to send them to real CHED regulated schools. Those who go to the universities for a degree (usually AB English) are sent there by their parents and they are granted diplomas by these mills without really being able to speak English very well.
TO ALL, thanks for your comments. The Korean Impact on Baguio remains ones of the most popular posts in Baguio Insider, eliciting responses months after its publication.
MS LISA
GO BAGUIO
I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENT ABOUT
VISITING OR STAYING FOREIGNERS IN THE
PHILIPPINES… BEHAVE
FOR THE KOREANS, RECIPROCITY
IF FILIPINOS IN THE PHILIPPINES WATCH KOREAN TELENOVELAS WHICH I DON’T
KOREANS IN SOUTH KOREA OR NORTH KOREA
SHOULD ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO FILIPINO
TV PROGRAMS
FILIPINOS SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN THE SERIOUS
JOBS WHICH EARN SERIOUS MONEY IN THE
TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY ( INBOUND )
WHERE THE KOREANS ARE HEAVILY INVESTING
IN THE PHILIPPINES
IF KOREAN STUDENTS CAN TOURGUIDE HERE
IN THE PHILIPPINES WITHOUT A LICENSE
CAN A FILIPINO TOURGUIDE IN SEOUL OR ANYWHERE
IN SOUTH KOREA WITHOUTA LICENSE? RECIPROCITY
GIVE THE SERIOUS JOBS TO THE FILIPINOS…
SOONER OR LATER THE KOREANS WILL DO THIS IN BAGUIO
GO BAGUIO!
GOD BLESS PHILIPPINES
VILLARETE INITIATIVE PHILIPPINES
Wow, you ARE so proud that baguio natives speak good English (better than Manilenos? Well a lot of people from the provinces come to Manila but speaking accented English is no joke since Americans have different accents as well) and insist on your own culture being in your own country etc etc etc. If you remember FILIPINO is the national language (not American English)and truly, not everyone can speak fluent english and we do need industies so that more/ most Filipinos will be economically better off. Not just the few elite you seem to be. (Poor people from the lowlands? Oh god). I perceive a lot of Baguio people as myopic and caught up in their own little world, parang na-time warp and no real sense of what’s going on in other parts of the country (Mindanao, hello). It’s like blood freezes here.
I do dislike having so many foreign “invaders” around. I have been around, here in baguio, manila, tagaytay, other places in luzon and they’re everywhere. They’re inconsiderate for the most part — i’ve been around them for a long time so i know. Your horror stories are true. I’ve seen them treat Filipinos as second-rate despite being in our country.
But if you remember they’re not so different from the SPANIARDS, the AMERICANS and all the other “colonizers” who came here and try to take advantage of the country economically. And cheap labor and economic oppression is still economic oppression even when your master are foreigners or the local ruling class. Everything’s tied up and i’ve met few people from baguio who actually see that, being stuck in what they call paradise.
I used to be in love with baguio but i found out it’s just another tourist whore pretending to preserve its “own” culture.
That said, you have a well-written article. Oh, and the teaching rates here are so dismal, you’re right. People can only move up if they work together and not simply by profession or by region.
Thanks.
Hi Liza,
Only today i got interested in Koreans and my interest is to write an equivalent in Korean of a breakthrough in teaching English which I am promoting nationwide. This approach is called the First Language Component-Bridging Program. I wrote a shell book in Iloko of this approach in six series and in Filipino, which are meant for Grade I children for the whole year round including a teachers’ manual on how to teach these books written in di-glot. ANd that is why this approach is called a bridging approach because it uses two languages in one book.
It is an effective methodology for fastracking the acquisition of English linguistic skills for Grade I.
When I read your article, “The Korean Impact on baguio” I thought i would like to meet with you. You are smart and sensible! and a good writer to boot! I have a mind to do FLC-BP in Korean and would like to meet someone who know more about them than the regular guy in the street.
I am an Igorota but live in Region 2. Im coming up to the city to attend the International Conference on Cordilleran Cultural Studies on Feb. 7-9, 2008.
Could I make an appointment with you? Say, I could be your fan?
Hi Andrew,
We Filipinos are such a friendly (and sometimes ‘hungry’) bunch that we allow others to take advantage of that. Reciprocity is ok. Following the laws of supply and demand is good, too. If the demand for our services is high, then we should charge a commensurate high price (and not undersell each other).
Hello Kankan,
The older Baguio natives speak better English than the current residents of Baguio, although with a heavy roll of the tongue (Ilocano influence?). The ranking of Korean influs is: Manila, No.1, Cebu No.2, and Baguio No.3. I don’t know if it’s due to land area, skill or climate.
About Baguio being a tourist whore … hmmm … lemme think about that a bit.
Gloria,
I will be in an intensive seminar on 9 & 10. You’re invited for coffee upon arrival on the 7th, or breakfast on the 8th. Will email you.
Lisa,
Thank you for your note and the time you’re willing to spend with me. I look forward to meeting you and await email.
Hi Lisa,
I’ve read several interesting comments regarding this article on Baguio-Korean-Impact. It is with mixed feelings that I see a variety of opinions concerning the presence of foreigners in Baguio, the acquisition of land property by foreigners, and the manner how these “English” academies are being handled by foreigners.
I lived in Baguio for 24 years. I am a proud alumni of one of the universities in Baguio. Baguio in the 50’s and 60’s were the height of the beauty and grandeur of the so-called “Little America”. The city streets were clean and Sunday’s were spent on quality time with families in Burnham Park. The city markets were “off-limits” and closed on Sunday afternoons.
I came back to visit Baguio for a few days last month and I got hit in the face with an impression of “what happened to this place?” I took time to walk around the city market along Kayang St. and I felt so depressed everytime I remember it. The beauty of Baguio has gone to a decline. But my good friends still live in Baguio. This is what I cherish the most.
I spent the remainder of my holidays in the Visayas, namely, Bohol, Leyte, and Cebu. Then I visited Bulacan, Tagaytay, the Ilocos region and back to Manila. Yes, I noticed several foreigners in all these places. In fact some of the places we visited had their price list posted in US dollars. Simply put, they (some owned by Koreans)cater to foreigners. Majority of these foreigners were Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, and a few westerners.
Why are there several foreigners in the Philippines? The bottomline is that it is one of the most affordable places to live in Asia. This is very true. I have lived in Europe, Middle East, Turkey, and the USA and I can vouch that one can live well in the Philippines -if one is frugal enough to live comfortably. Frugal aka (nasalimetmet [ilocano] saan nga kuripot) wise spender.
-ZigZag
hi ms. lisa!
can you also e-mail me you full name??
i really like it.
i want to cite you as my source.
please!
thank you very much! =)
Hi Dunah,
My full name is Anna Lisa C. Araneta. Seems there’s no hiding it. Hahaha. There have been a few requests for this article to be cited as a source, so let me put an attribution in the title once and for all.
good job,well said and well organized.
this wanna make me visit Baguio
<- from Urdaneta
This is an interesting topic about Koreans living in Baguio and how my beloved hometown have been.
I was born and raised in Baguio, lived in this beautiful city for 26 years but migrated to US after. Now serving in the US Army where I was stationed twice in South Korea. People, you do not know how bad they treat the Filipino OFW and Filipina bar girls in Korea. Our kababayans are like slaves to their employers. One example, the employers confiscates their passports which leave them with no freedom to go around. Our Kababayans endure the hardship under these Korean employers just to have money to send to their love ones in the Philippines.
I hope our government and local officials will enforce our laws and not blinded by the money that these garlic-breathe mo fos give them. I hope someone will spearhead a movement to restore the good old beauty of the city of pines and if it happens I’ll be there to support it 200%. Please do not let the foreigners take our native land.
And for FLIP of Canada, I would like to whoop your doggone so called “canadian” ass for calling the Philippines “pathetic”, isa kang malansang isda. You are not even a natural born Canadian and you call yourself flip, hey you dumb ass ex-pat, flip means Pinoy, which you are not worthy. ey.
, . thank y0u soo0 much ms. lisa!!
,. .i 0we y0u f0r this!!
I am from Baguio, a Filipino (Igorot), and married to a Korean national.
How long did you do your research for this blog entry?
Know your facts before you post a blog as biased as this.
Meet real people. Live with them. Know them.
Your responsibility as a writer does not end with just simply getting statistics and figures and doing some interviews.
It is really saddening to see how clueless you are about the issue and how reckless you were in writing this blog.
Jam,
These facts are not based on mere interviews, but a long experience of living in Baguio, and with Koreans, too!
Can you tell me what it is you disagree with in this article or in this blog?
I have been living in Baguio all my life. I was an ESL teacher for 5 years. I have tried living with Koreanas for 2 years. I have many Korean friends and through them met my husband.
We have two kids now.
Since I am a busy woman, I am not interested in pointing out your biases.
However, I am interested in knowing how old you are and what your personal experiences with Koreans are so that at least I know where you are coming from.
I am an ilocano married to an igorota and we are very happy.got three kids together .
Would like to set things straight about ilocanos in Baguio. Ilocano is the lingua franca of the city. many people particularly Igorots would rather speak it than Pilipino.
But it does not mean Ilocanos are the majority in the city. I doubt it. The other other writer is right - Baguio is its own culture , Ilocano is just the language that most people understand.
But I feel hurt all the time when other Filipinos talk about ilocanos. I was born in Baguio , my mentality is that of baguioan , I earn well and spend well.
But whatever i do , I am always an ilocano to most.
I pity the people who are just living within their means ,being practical . but if you’re an ilocano , you are a culprit.
What should I do to please people ? What is my crime ? the chinese and canadians are known to be spendthrifts , but nobody condemns them endless.
What is the Ilocanos crime ? They are as different from each other like anybody else. They spend as much as anyone depending on their income and places they live. But since they are ilocanos , they are always under the microscope.
i once have a friend from Batangas who is supercheap , but he can never see around his own hypocrisy by calling ilocanos cheap while I buy him drinks most of the time.
In this day and age ,when things are harder to get and money scarce , why is the ilocano wherever he is ,as different as he is in his own group, still looked down upon ? Tell me what is my crime ?
Hahaha, Jam.
It seems I have lived with Koreans longer than you! Been to Korea twice, too. Some are nice, some are not. Just like Filipinos. Not everyone is perfect. I have helped set up one ESL school and happen to know many Koreans as well ESL teachers, landlords to Koreans, brokers, hotel owners… I have also entered into business transactions with two of them.
And I’m no spring chicken, if you must know — 43 years old with A LOT of experience, including the rescue of Filipina house helpers who were locked in the Baguio house being rented by a Korean who had left the country to go on vacation in the year 2000.
Too bad you won’t tell the readers what it is you disagree with. Sometimes the truth hurts, doesn’t it?
Hi James,
Whoever said being an Ilocano is a crime? Who looks down upon Ilocanos here? Read the article and the comments again, if you please.
The qustion really is for everyone , not necessarily with your forum contributors , although I read your own and I quote “Although Ilocanos are really, really hard-working, they do not like to spend (operative word here: free),”
I think that is an insult.Most of us work so hard,
for what ? just to go out there and look for giveaways ? I really don’t know where you are coming from .
Remember not all Ilocano speaking people are Ilocanos .
hi lisa,
i really enjoyed reading and it really interest me.i learned more things from you.Thanks and more power
hi,am tandy from manila but i have a place in green valley, like any other foreigners, KOREANS are always welcome to our country but like any other person native or otherwise, they should behave wherever they are and not act like they own the City. Otherwise. lets just change the name of Baguio City,Benguet to Baguio City, KOREA.
I agree, Tandy!
And if anyone misbehaves or abuses us, it because we ALLOW them to. So we ourselves have to behave and require it of everybody else.
Hi Lisa,
Great article about Koreans and Baguio City.
It’s been 5 years since I went back to Baguio, and was surprised to learn that Koreans (foreigners) are invading Baguio. Soo sad…,
Teachers should organise themselves and set a standard fee for their services.
Emily
Hi Emily!
The article is meant to be funny yet true — or is it true yet sad? It is alarming, though, how some of them go virtually unregulated as far as engaging in business in our country is concerned.
Maybe Baguio folk should check out their visas before transacting with them. And yes, the teachers should organize, for their own benefit and protection.
hello!
i was an ESL/EFL teacher in baguio before, and yeah it’s true, the salary is not high or what we call under pay. in order for us before to take home “much bread” we had to teach from 7:45 a.m ’til 7p.m sometimes ’til 9p.m.
Mostly for the bread winners, they had no enough time for their families.and they have to sacrifice for that just to have something on their table.(i’m not saying that it’s not the only job)
We kept on asking our employer to raise our salary and yeah they increased our salary into 5.50-7.50 peso per day, i think it’s not an increase but it was an insult….
then A good oppurtunity came and i took the job abroad as an ESL teacher. Now relating to korea, we went to the korean embassy to get a tourist visa for us to visit south korea with my french friends and an american just for few days. I want to see the lifestyle of south koreans and why they flocked themselves there in philippines mostly in baguio.The embassy allowed the french and american to enter the country but i wasn’t, when they saw my GREEN passport(phil.passport)they looked at me and asked “filipina?” then they asked me a lot of questions and show big amount of cash even when my friends told them that we are going together just for a visit.
i got really mad inside me coz they can go in and out our country but for us to go in their country “dadaan pa sa butas ng karayom”.Another thing was mostly europe and american citizens it’s very easy, no questions ask’…discrimination?…
anyway, i miss baguio it’s been years since i haven’t visited and im happy to go back this year. i hope i can still smell the fresh air and can still see some cowboys and cowgirls highlanders with rosy cheeks with strong image of igorot in trinidad and wright park.
……..
Hi Fly High!
I am still hoping the majority of ESL teachers will wake up to the inequity and ORGANIZE for there is strength in numbers.
What Filipinos must realize is that we should assert our sovereignty in our own land and not be beggars to foreigners even here.
I have been to Korea twice and let me tell you that the Filipina wives and employees I have met there are suffering under the ‘care’ of their husbands and bosses.
You hear Koreans in Baguio talking about ‘first class Koreans’ and ’second class Koreans.’ What makes us think they will treat us better than the lowest class Korean?
Visit Baguio soon!
Hi Lisa,
I was golfing with my good Philippino friend, Tony the other days and was surprised when he mentioned South Koreans living in Philippine numbered 4% of the population. As a Korean-American, I was absolutely floored and could not believe what I have just heard. The 4% figure has to be a gross exaggeration.
Anyway, let me give you my take on the notion of Baguio (btw, never been to Philippine but would love to one of these days and Tony offered to have me stay at his property in Philippines) being overrun by Koreans in the near future. First of all, population demographic is such that the South Korea is very concerned with decreasing number of young Koreans and increase in elderly population primarily due to better medical care and prosperity. Korean couples are having fewer babies mainly due to high cost of rasing and educating kids. This high cost of education is one of the primary reason of many Koreans showing up in Philippines. My sister-in-law in Seoul spends approximately $2500 US dollars per month on extra-curricular programs after school on music, math and of course english lessons. She is far from being rich, but her desire to give her kids better tools to succeed is unrelenting.
Back to why Baguio won’t be overrun with Koreans anytime soon or ever. I believe there are simply not enough Koreans now (less so in the future) to make “koreanize” in any significant way, shape or form nor the desire to do so by the Koreans in my opinion. What’s happening in Philippines is simply a function of globalization. Everything finds equilibrium. Majority of manufacturing jobs here in America have left to Mexico, China and elsewhere because of the availability cheap labor cost and skilled workers. Korean companies are relocating to your country for the very same reason. They are also visiting or vacationing your country because of beauty, quality of people, low cost and close proximity to Korea.
As I read some of the contentious comments on that subject on this blog and elsewhere, I am convinced that equilibrium is close.
With respect to buying property in Philippines, look at it as flow of capital and investment. Sometime it works out for them and sometime not. Case in point, the Japanese real estate speculators have come in during 80’s and invested very heavily in California during boom economic times in Japan. California real estate eventually went bust and the Japanse investors lost billions. I am not conceding that’s current situation, but the real estate investment does have limits and the buying binge does not go unimpeded. Look at the current subprime mortgage mess in America. If real estate investment in Philippines goes out of hand and puts its citizens in precarious situation, I am sure your government will curtail it via various legislation as a sovereign nation. I hear a lot of money is coming into currently depressed California commercial real estate market due to subprime mess from Middle East, China, Japan, Europe and yes Korea. But there’s no resentment or discontent over foreigners buying US properties here in US. As the most capitalistic society in the world, generally people in the US welcome it.
It appears some brat boys (born to rich parents with poor parenting) have come and caused havoc in your country. To any of you that have been a subject of their rude unappetizing behavier, I sympathize with you and offer my apology. I must confess the bad apples should be far between. Here in the US, Koreans and other asians have higher per capita income than that of other races including caucasians, higher post-secondary education rates and commit much less crimes, especially violent crimes. Generally, Koreans are law abiding people, considerate, compassionate, respect elders and others. Some are loud as to give perception of being “rude”. I don’t think we’re as loud as Vietnamese or Chinese. No offense to them. But just consider it cultural difference.
Lastly, let me tell you what I believe Philippine must do to resurrect itself to become a strong economy and afford better living standard for its citizens. Late South Korean president Park, Chung-hee once cried in front of South Korean guest workers in Germany (then West Germany) during his presidential visit “for letting them suffer great hardship and thousands of miles away from home to work in mines, hospitals and construction sites because of lack of opportunity at home to take care of their family because the country was so poor”. And those guest workers cried with him as was told. Then he promised he would build the country from agriculture, textile and exporting labor to one that of industrialization. Of course, the rise of South Korea is certainly more than one man, but he was instrumental. Back than Huyndai was no more than a tiny automobile service station. But with the vision of late Chung (the founder of Hyundai conglomerate) and the financial support of Park’s government, Huyndai and eventually the auto industry was born. Another example is during the early eighties the academia and the government concluded that in order to move up the food chain and compete with Japanese, Europeans and the Americans for higher margin products was to build a semiconductor industry, “the brain of every electronic and machinery goods”. With the government support and financing, a strong semiconductor industry was born and now it boasts world class chip makers such as Samsung, LG, Hynix and other. Similar story with shipbuilding industry with the likes of Hyundai, Hanjin and Dawoo. Now, Korea is the top shipbuilders in the world. Korea also boasts one of the biggest construction industry in the world as they build roads, dams, buildings, bridges, refineries, pipeline and industrial plants all over the world. South Korea has mag-lev trains (bullet train) that runs from Seoul to Busan. The contract for building of these trains several years ago went to a French company (Alstom) over Japanese and German company. As a condition of getting lucrative contract (several billion dollars), was the transfer of key technology. Now, Korea can build these high speed trains alone and started a new high tech industry. On a similar note Korea also builds and sells fighter jets with technology learned from US. All these industry did not simply happen from the hardwork of companies. They are direct result of partnership reaching for prosperity for the company and ultimately the country and its citizens.
In order for Philippines to move away from the current economy to one of high tech and industrial base, the government must aid and assist these companies so they can compete and succeed. Why do you think Hanjin is building ships in Philippines? Because of lower labor cost and good ports. But there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t have a shipbuilding industry of your own, providing good jobs for your citizens. You must simply be not content to just work at Hanjin Shipbuilding. Learn their technology and know how to start your own industry. With proper assistance from your government they can succeed. Have you heard about Tata Motors of India buying Jaguar brand? Majority of folks in American have no idea that Tata Motors is an automobile manufacture and is an Indian company. Most wouldn’t believe that an Indian auto company bought the legendary Jaguar.
Of course, you can’t transform your economy without skilled and educated people. Education has to be a number one priority. As a matter of fact, South Korea has highest number of its students enrolled in US universities. As you may have guessed, computer programming and engineering programs are most popular. If you have not set a foot in college or university, you must do everything in your power to ensure your kids go to college. Otherwise, generations will be mired in continous vicious cycle of poverty or hardship. One generation’s sacrifice paves way for the prosperity for the next generation.
With strong self-determination and proper government intervention, Philippines can become a economic power house providing high living standards too.
Thank you Steve, for your comment and all the information contained therein.
“With respect to buying property in Philippines, look at it as flow of capital and investment.” We simply cannot allow this.
The Philippines is as large as California, not as big a 50 American States put together, you see, with 87.7 poor million people to share the land who will never be able to buy it back from foreigners the way things are going.
I insist on holding on to the only asset we can call exclusively ours.
While your solutions are great, it presumes a country with leadership that wants the best for its people, and a populace that is not kept ignorant, hopeless and helpless systematically by the state, whose leaders are more concerned about personal enrichment.
I have alway wondered why, being an archipelago, we were never ship builders.
The country’s situation is unique with as many world views as there are countries in the world for our main export is human resources. Ours is a complex society that needs first to find its spirit and then move forward.
We are working on that. We are working to wake folks up to the artificiality of the poverty that is being imposed upon the populace. We are working to empower each individual with what is right and what is true, without resorting to violent means to get what is rightfully ours as human beings.
Tourists from other countries allowed to do business here by corrupt immigration officials and desperate businessmen makes the situation even more complex.
Come to our country. See for yourself. See how ‘education’ is big business that merely seeks to produce unquestioning robots out of our people to be exported, abused while being touted as ‘heroes.’ Creativity is being suppressed in the Philippines and that is why many feel hopeless.
Read about the systematic, state-sponsored, shameless ‘moronization’ of the Filipino. Find out how this rich, fertile land with good people is being abused by Filipinos in power, together with foreign powers.
Come here and find out how buying a coke a pizza leads to keeping them in power, so that they can, in turn, keep the people poor while they rape the country.
Then judge.
These observations are accurate, whether you agree with them or not, and I stand solidly behind these words. And what I want is to stop the abuse, by both our countrymen and foreign nationals. In our country we should get paid what we deserve and not be beholden to folks who come here and try lord it over us (with our help of course). I will not sell my countrymen too cheaply either just because we happen to be nice and hospitable and many of us desperate for money.
It is important for those whose eyes are wide open to open the eyes of those who have them wide shut.
Lisa,
Quite the contrary to your assertion of “judging”, I was merely offering my presumptuous perspective (44 years old happily married with two teenage daughters).
You said “will not sell my countrymen too cheaply”. I couldn’t agree more. A sovereign nation must not let uncontrolled movement of capital from foreign nations to destroy its sovereignty. Otherwise, that nation runs into risk of being slaves or subjects of foreign companies or nations.
Don’t have any idea what the size of ownership of lands in Philippines is by foreign nationals. But, obviously the non-Philippino ownership of land and property is significant enough to strike the nerves of many. If that’s the case, citizens must proactively press for changes to local and federal government to set specific conditions relating to foreign ownership of real estate.
Korean companies and nationals are in Philippines in heightened numbers because your government is seeking their investments and provided friendly business climate for doing so I presume. Concessions such as tax breaks or offering cheap lands to lure their investment over other nations in the area are nothing new capitalism. Even in US, the state of Alabama have given Huyndai millions in tax breaks and land concessions to build a $2 billion dollar automobile plant. Also, similar situation with Kia motors plant in the state of Georgia. In return for those concessions, they get thousands of good paying jobs, average auto assembly workers make $60-70k dollars. It’s a compelling investment and a win-win situation for both companies and the states.
Don’t worry about foreigners buying up your country on the cheap. That just won’t happen in capitalistic society and more importantly your countrymen will never let that happen. Already, it seems home prices and rental market have gone up markedly. As real estate property value goes up due to inflow of capital from other nations, at some point, the value proposition of investing in your country becomes less than attractive and the flow of capital trickles to dry or even turn to outflow. This equilibrium occurs long before foreign ownership puts any significant dent in overall ownership.
Certainly, money discriminates. It treats most well for those that give best returns. Likewise vacationers go where their hard earned dollar(in this case Won) goes farthest. No more or less.
I believe you care about your country and fellow citizens deeply, and other people should share your sentiment. It seems corruption and grafts are pervasive still in Philippines. That was the same way in Korea and still is to some extent. But citizens collectively can make the difference by pressing for progressive positive changes. If you and other like minded Philippinos share the common vision for your country and never waver, then I believe your country is in good hands.
Best wishes,
I Hate Koreans they smell bad and have big buck teeth.
Lisa,
I agree with your sentiments. However there is one asoect you forgot to mention among male korean students here in the philippines. aside from studying, Korean men make our country as their sex playgoround!!! so insulting, but true!!!
These korean students come here to:
(1) learn English at a cheap rate(they can save a lot of money by studying here)
(2) have fun and sex with our filipina sisters here (they say they can get it cheap here), Our country is where they unload their sexual libido.
Sure, they bring in money to our country and help our economy. But its only for short-term and its too mundane, dont u think..
They are helping all right in monetary reasons but wwhat good is that when at the same time we are selling our women here to these bastards and WE ARE PROSTITUING OUR COUNTRY WITHIN OUR OWN SOIL!!!
Look at the floursihing of girly bars around the country and the NO#1 customers are the Koreans. I have been to korean quite extensively and Ive discovered their hidden sentiments towards the Philippines and filipinos and other South east asian countries. They have a collective opinion, in general, about the Filipinos and how they look down on us being dark skinned and unclean. of course they are not vocal, but deep within their hearts, they think about us in that way.
I say. NO ONE IS BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE IRREGARDLESS OS COUNTRY< SKIN COLOR AND BACKGROUND.
I rest my case, May God bless us as a country and May the Blessed Virgin Mary guide us to lead simple yet holy lives
Hi Jker,
I published this comment only to be able to put it on record that, while you are entitled to what you’re feeling, I think that is not nice of you to dislike them for how they look or smell. How would you like it if they said the same things about Filipinos? Respect begets respect, love begets love.
Hi Chinchin,
We, too, must stop prostituting ourselves that way. Poverty is not an excuse for immoral or even criminal behavior.
Honestly, we have control over how foreigners behave in our country. We simply choose not to exercise it.
I understand your frustration and hope that you will help our country by educating and empowering our countrymen so that we will not allow ourselves to be abused. And of course prayers help a lot, more than others realize. Let’s remind them!
Good luck
it’s good that koreans are coming to our country to learn english, it’s good for them and i see no problem with that….the only thing that bothers me is the continuous rise of korean population and investments here in the country….while it is useful to our economy, i can’t help but be saddened that most filipinos are working for these koreans for just a small fraction of what is called a “salary”…..and sadly we are letting this happen within our own country….tsk.tsk.tsk….even in own country we are still treated as not equal, not even by our countrymen but by foreigners……talk about subtle colonialism…… -this is just an observation, no generalization intended-
Hi Jane,
Isn’t it weird that Koreans used to think Php250/hour was cheap? Now we have decided, that instead of keeping those rates, to sell ourselves short!
I do not understand this — a greater demand from droves of Koreans coming to the Philippines, the cheaper the supply. This should make them think we are not very bright, huh?
well baguio nowadays is really overcrowded but what can we do, popullation boom (that would be because the R.C. is againts all the artificial Family Planning methods introduced by the church, R. C. ako) and lack of goverment concerning proper city planning.
Baguio is really a great place for learning,not just for the torogis and ilocanos but also for the different ethnic groups throughout the country who come here to study.
No wonder it attracted Koreans. Cordillerans are really good english speakers, old people speak better english here than the national language(that includes my grandma). Well it is Generally acceptable if Koreans come here to learn i mean really learn, educationaly. Education is free for all anyway but that always has a question mark on it. I would really like baguio to become an educational hub… This would really help the baguio econ.
Back to the koreans. I am not genralizing my statements here padli. Concerning the fee they pay their English teachers, its not their fault its the teachers fault for prostituting himself, giving away his pride for money. The filipino hospitality should also take the blame for this atrocities ( pls. check my spelling),they think we are weaklings and easy to manipulate. We accomodate them even to the point of degrading ourselves, what for because of the money. Since they are the ones who are the alliens they should adapt to our system not us adjusting for beneffit. That would be tottaly ridiculous, this is our city in the first place. We must show them who is the boss, Ba’t tayo manliliit sa kanila. So what if our country is poor, we were once richer than they did,( tanga kasi tayong mga pinoy eh) but did we prejudice them? Remember during the “Korean War” the Philippines sent forces to South Korea to battle the commies from the north. We did help in preserving their R.O.K. hehe. Look at North Korea its a wasted country, R.O.K. would be like that if not for the U.N. intervention.To sum it up, in able to live in mutual existence beffiting both nationalities they should treat as with respect, as an equall not a lower class people who they can toy with. That is for us to accept and be more amiable to them and not to treat them with contempt and fear.
Hey pls don’t think of me as an anti-Korean(I like wathcing Korean movies, watch “brotherhood of war” its a good movie) I can be againts anyone depending on the topic.
Hi Bok!
And thanks for your comments.
As for overcrowding, we also have a lot of lowland migrants — just look at the illegal vendors in Burnham, the ones now selling sampaguita (sindicato na yan! andito na!), the Badjao beggars with infants in tow, the lowlanders offering haircut and manicure in Burnham Park, the satellite market vendors who live in their stalls.
We also have tens of thousands of students, without their mommies, getting pregnant while studying here. It is not the R.C.’s fault. We are not robots who follow blindly. So let’s stop using them as scapegoats for our population problem. It’s our fault, really.
I was told that Asians make children to help the parents (free labor baga), judging from the hordes taking nursing at the behest of their parents so they make money for the family, I would tend to agree.
Thanks for reminding us all about the Korean War. The Koreans I’ve talked to do not even know about the help we gave.
So here we are, Philippines, giving too much and asking for too little in return. Because we always see ourselves as beggars. And for a lot of us, money becomes God.