Manila: A video by an American vistor highlighting the negative aspects of the country drew mixed responses from Filipinos, with reactions ranging from light hearted to the declaration of the tourist as "personan non-grata" in Cebu.
The clip, uploaded by a Jimmy Sieczka, an American film instructor at International Academy of Film and Television in Cebu City, showed "20 Reasons for Disliking the Philippines."
The video was available initially over the YouTube sharing site, but for some reason it was taken off. It can be accessed though Channelfix and through a linked blog at the spot.ph.
In the video clip, Sieczka ranted about what he does not like about the country. Among the 20 things he mentioned are the holes in the street, poor food sanitation and lack of refrigeration in the wet markets, traffic and filth and pollution, the penchant of Filipinos in violating traffic rules, inadequate and dirty toilets and the custom of some males to urinate just about everywhere.
Sieczka's observations were liberally laced with unquotable four letter words.
"Nobody here follows traffic laws…Bathrooms are called comfort rooms but there is "nothing comfortable about the comfort room, They are not comfortable," he mentioned.
Likewise, he also observed that the Filipinos have an obsession with getting fair skin by using "skin whitening lotions."
He also noted the ranted about the presence of so many ladyboys (transvestites or male homosexuals) as well as the abundance of Koreans in the country.
He also told prospective tourists the Philippines is a beautiful country with 7,107 islands, but they must be prepared for the worst.
Sieczka mainly talked about his experience and observations as a visitor in Cebu, Central Philippines.
Stung by the American's criticism, Cebu City councillors said they are planning to declare Sieczka "persona non-grata," which in effect will ban him from the urban centre.
Councilor Sisinio ‘Bebs' Andales was quited by the Bombo Radyo station as saying that the American's criticism was unfair. He said Cebu has more to offer including historic sites put up during the Spanish colonial period.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, for his part, said that instead of being disheartened by the American's criticisms, Cebu residents should view Sieczka's criticism as a wake up call.
On Saturday, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said that while Sieczka's observations hurt, what is important is to keep an optimistic attitude while doing something to address perceived shortcomings.
"There are good and bad things about the Philippines. We do not take it against the maker of the video. The important thing is to continue promoting the Philippines. We must remain gung-ho and optimistic" he said on government-run run dzRB radio.
According to reports, Sieczka had been living in the Philippines for the past three years.
