[tubignaaso]

I lived in the Philippines for a number of years. Traveled extensively in the country, too, visiting several provinces and tourist traps.

Many of your criticisms are accurate. But I don’t know if I’d agree about the country having “too much freedom”.

There is a very real government force in play. It’s just incredibly corrupt. A small number of families essentially control the country with their wealth, and the government has to do what those families want. Or else.

Shortly before I left, a local news outlet called Rappler was pushing hard against the new president at the time, Duterte. He didn’t like that, so he essentially threw the majority of the journalists in jail on trumped up charges. This of course scared off any other would be journalists from reporting on much of anything meaningful. That’s not freedom, that’s tyranny.