r/inthephilippines

Boracay remains one of the most beautiful islands in the world, but beauty alone isn't enough to keep people coming back.
If Boracay is struggling, maybe it's time for some honest reflection.

This island has everything needed to be a truly world-class tourist destination, yet too often the focus seems to be on enforcing minor rules while ignoring the issues that actually shape visitors' experiences.

Instead of policing sandcastles or whether someone has taken a chair onto the beach, why aren't we concentrating on the basics?

• Filipino men, public urination in streets and public spaces, in full view of families, children, and tourists.

• Poor food handling and hygiene standards at some establishments.

• Reports from visitors that some establishments may be substituting premium spirits with cheaper alcohol while serving them from premium-brand bottles and charging full price. If true, this is outright fraud that destroys trust and damages the reputation of Boracay's hospitality industry.

• Sick, injured, and starving dogs and cats left to wander the island with little visible intervention.

• The disgraceful amount of rubbish scattered across roadsides, vacant lots, and private properties despite Boracay's reputation as a world-famous destination.

• Aggressive harassment from some tour sellers, agents, and commission-based vendors who repeatedly approach visitors after they've already said "no."

• Reports from many female tourists of being followed, stared at, or secretly photographed on the beach, with allegations that some of these images are later uploaded online without consent. If true, this should be treated as a serious matter by the authorities.

• Persistent complaints across travel forums and social media about harassment, stalking, and aggressive selling, with some visitors saying they would never return because they felt uncomfortable rather than relaxed.

• Crumbling, abandoned, and visibly unsafe structures left to deteriorate instead of being repaired, secured, or demolished. They are not only an eyesore but also a potential safety hazard for residents and visitors alike, sending the message that basic maintenance and public safety are no longer priorities.

• Constant power outages. How can a destination that markets itself as a world-class tourist paradise in 2026 still struggle to provide a reliable electricity supply? Visitors paying premium prices shouldn't have to deal with repeated blackouts, and local businesses shouldn't have to absorb the cost and disruption of an unreliable power grid.

These aren't minor inconveniences. They're the things visitors remember long after they leave, and they're the stories they tell friends, family, and thousands of others online. Every negative experience damage Boracay's reputation a little more.

What is most frustrating is that so much effort appears to go into enforcing relatively trivial regulations, such as preventing sandcastles or beach chairs while the issues that genuinely affect tourism, safety, hygiene, and the island's reputation continue to be overlooked.

So, it's time to ask some difficult questions.

Is it time for the people responsible for guiding Boracay's future to be held accountable? If these problems have persisted for years despite repeated complaints from tourists and locals alike, should new leadership be brought in with the competence, vision, and determination to restore Boracay's reputation?

Should businesses that repeatedly scam customers face the loss of their licences? Should companies whose representatives harass visitors, ignore complaints, or engage in intimidating behaviour face tougher penalties?

Should operators found to be stalking or harassing tourists be permanently banned from operating on the island?
There's another question that deserves public scrutiny.
Every visitor contributes through environmental fees and terminal fees, with the understanding that this money helps protect and maintain Boracay. But many tourists and residents are left wondering: where is that money actually going?

If these funds are being collected to preserve the island, why do we still see rubbish accumulating, poor sanitation, neglected public spaces, inadequate public facilities, and so many of the same long-standing problems year after year?

Greater transparency is needed. The public should be able to see exactly how these fees are being spent, what projects they are funding, and what measurable improvements have been delivered. Accountability shouldn't be optional when millions of pesos are collected each year in the name of protecting one of the Philippines' most iconic destinations.

Boracay is one of the Philippines' greatest treasures. It deserves leadership that tackles the problems that actually matter. The people who live here deserve sustainable tourism. Honest businesses deserve a level playing field. And the millions of Filipinos and international visitors who spend their hard-earned money to visit deserve an island that lives up to its world-class reputation.

The island's beauty is not enough on its own. Reputation is built on cleanliness, honesty, safety, professionalism, respect for visitors, and accountability.

Boracay can be one of the best beach destinations on Earth, but only if we're willing to confront the issues that are driving people away instead of pretending they don't exist.

What do you think? Are these the issues that should be prioritised, or are there other problems that need to be addressed first?  

I don't understand some Filipinos for only blaming BBM especially DDS (not a supporter of BBM) I hated him too ofc but why blame this whole corruption on him? He reveals the flood control issue during his SONA last 2025 his also a corrupt politician but flood control began during DUTERTE administration we actually have proof that even Pacquiao questioned DU30 about the huge corruption during his administration. Even COA pointed out about the flood control ghost projects in 2018 and Andaya (R.I.P) has been vocal to this flood control corruption since 2018-2019. Even the Discaya admitted that they started in DPWH in 2016, then why blame everything on him?

Let's also talk about the corruption during pandemic

"Kaya dumami utang ng Pilipinas dahil pandemic, mag pasalamat ka dahil kung si BBM ang pangulo noon patay na tayo" (favorite line ng mga DDS) okay let's begin to debunk that

During pandemic the government spent only ₱690.26 Billion in respond how does it cost us trillions of debt?????

And also how can you explain that a ₱47.6 Billion DOH fund that can be used for COVID 19 supplies got transferred in PS-DBM for what purpose? Buying bulk of paper, ink, and office equipment is much more important than covid supplements?

The EU offered help for aid that can also be used for the muslim community €250 Million (₱14 Billion) but Duterte declined but instead chose China's offer Loan (₱17.4 Billion ) with 3% interest, how can he be called smart President?

he chooses a loan over a grant? And why is the President so eager to relay to China.

I’m from India, and this was my first time taking a bus in the Philippines with my Pinay girlfriend. It happened on a bus going to Cagayan de Oro when this old, super-racist American guy got on. The moment he stepped onto the bus, the next 20 minutes of the ride became nothing but a nightmare for everyone on board.
He sat next to an underage girl even though he was already with a Pinay woman. He started talking to the girl, showing her pictures of hotel rooms and saying that the two of them could go there together, along with other disgusting things. She was scared as hell.
After a while, he randomly started making racist remarks about Filipinos in general, especially the girls sitting near him. He called them every horrible name you could imagine, which I won’t repeat here.
The guy in the brown T-shirt is the girl’s brother. The girl pushing the American away is his sister. Their mother and father were also on the bus. The American was trying to attack their parents because they were standing up for their daughter and trying to stop his behavior. That’s when the guy in the brown T-shirt stepped in and punched the American four or five times, really hard.
In the end, justice was served when he was thrown off the bus butt naked.

Excerpt from the news article:

"Speaking during an Iglesia ni Cristo rally in Manila, Padilla questioned whether the government would also surrender Putin to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if he visits the Philippines."

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/329623/padilla-to-marcos-if-putin-comes-to-ph-will-you-hand-him-to-icc-too

Ayon banned na nga kahit nag comment lang ako lol.

Wag na kayo dumagdag pa.

Excerpt from the news article:

Half of Filipino workers said they experienced stress “a lot of the day” in 2025, giving the Philippines the highest level of workplace stress in Southeast Asia despite a broader regional decline, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2026 Report.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/328827/ph-tops-southeast-asia-in-workplace-stress-gallup

Baka pwedeng mag ambag ambag nalang para sa docket fee

The tragic shooting in Tacloban involving minors has reopened the debate on the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

Former Congressman Atty. Nat Oducado recently called for a comprehensive review of the law—not necessarily to make it harsher, but to assess whether it's still effective given today's realities. He argues that the conversation shouldn't be limited to punishment alone, but should also look at why more young people are getting involved in violent crimes and whether there are gaps in prevention, rehabilitation, and community support.

Personally, I think it's a discussion worth having. Laws should evolve when circumstances change, but any reforms should be based on evidence rather than public outrage.

What do you think? Should the Juvenile Justice Law be amended, or is the bigger issue how it's being implemented?

“SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS” in Condominiums: A Legitimate Financial Mechanism or the Private-Sector Equivalent of “Flood Control” Projects?

Special assessments are often described as a normal practice in condominium communities. However, when they become recurring, poorly justified, or lack transparency, they raise a fundamental question:
Are they genuinely necessary for the benefit of unit owners, or have they become a convenient mechanism to shift costs, compensate for deficiencies, or fund projects without sufficient accountability?
A practice may be common, but commonality does not automatically establish legitimacy, fairness, or compliance with good governance.
Homeowners deserve more than assurances. They deserve full disclosure, audited financial records, meaningful consultation, and a clear demonstration that every peso collected is necessary, justified, and in the best interest of the community.
The real question is not whether special assessments are common—it is whether they are imposed with transparency, accountability, and respect for the rights of unit owners.

Main Arguments Against the Proposed Special Assessment

1. Quality of Units and Justification for the Project

Towers 3 and 4 are relatively new and were expected to have been turned over in good condition. Given their age, it is reasonable to question why extensive resealing and repainting works are already being proposed.
This raises legitimate concerns as to whether the units and common areas were originally delivered with defects or substandard quality. Unit owners have the right to ask whether this special assessment is being used to address issues that should have been covered by the developer or contractor, rather than passed on to residents through additional charges.

2. Financial Transparency and Accountability

Monthly association dues are collected to cover operational expenses, including personnel costs, utilities, repairs, and maintenance. Before imposing a special assessment, management should provide a complete and transparent accounting of the condominium’s financial position.
Unit owners should be presented with:
Detailed financial reports;
Audited financial statements;
Total collections from association dues;
Existing reserve funds;
Current liabilities and obligations; and
A clear explanation of why available funds are insufficient to cover the project.
It is difficult to accept a request for additional contributions without first seeing a comprehensive disclosure of the condominium’s financial status. If management is able to regularly communicate matters such as pest control services and other ancillary programs, it should exercise the same level of transparency with respect to financial reporting.

3. Compliance with Due Process and Governance Requirements

Questions also remain regarding whether the proper procedures were followed prior to the announcement of this project.
Unit owners are entitled to know:
When and how consultations were conducted;
Whether the required approvals were obtained;
Where the audited financial documents can be reviewed;
What legal and technical basis supports the imposition of the special assessment; and
Whether the project was properly presented to and discussed with the owners before implementation.
The current approach of announcement → implementation → collection raises serious questions regarding transparency, governance, and compliance with applicable condominium rules and regulations.

Final Point

Some argue that special assessments are common in condominiums. However, the fact that a practice is common does not automatically make it compliant, fair, reasonable, or beyond question. Unit owners have every right to demand transparency, review the supporting documentation, and challenge decisions that may have a significant financial impact on them.

***

We are calling on Rappler, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) to look into these matters and, where they deem appropriate, conduct an independent investigation into the alleged malpractices and abuses of large private corporations.
This issue goes beyond a single condominium or development. It concerns transparency, accountability, and the protection of homeowners and the middle class from practices that may be unfair or lack adequate disclosure.
We believe the public deserves a thorough examination of the facts, including the decision-making process, the financial justification for the special assessment, and whether applicable laws, regulations, and governance standards have been observed. We urge the media to help ensure that these concerns receive the public scrutiny they warrant.

Basta Viral na trending issue sabay aappear siya.

Especially kung may Patay.

Using the dead as part of her political agenda.

Bakit? Kasi trending so sabay kapit parang Tuko.

Mukha naman marami na din nakakapansin na necropolitics na ginagawa niya.

PS. I wouldn’t be surprised if her PR team is wishing her dad gets sick for them to use it as PR points.

Necro-politics is alive and well sa family nila.

Puruhan mga hayop na yan para di pamarisan!