Manila Times, Philippines - Nov 2, 2005
”Watch out for the tigers!” This was how my friend counseled me when he found out I was traveling to Bangkok. Surprised, I said I will just stay in the city and will not venture out to the jungle. Turns out that “tigers” meant “Thai girls” as the taxi drivers pronounce it: welcome to the City of Angels and its notorious Pat Pong. Not surprisingly, the first Thai I met was on the plane was a transsexual/transvestite. Striking up a friendly conversation with a seemingly female seatmate, she answered in a baritone.
I got out of Don Muang Airport in 20 minutes, baggage included, thanks to prior arrangements. Traffic was negligible on the Thais’ equivalent of the Skyway. During the rest of the stay, it was otherwise. I can say with all honesty and objectivity that the traffic in Manila is actually better. (bollocks, m'dear)
Thailand recently inaugurated its first subway to complement its version of the LRT. Still, downtown Bangkok was choking, with construction going on under the slogan of “Bangkok is getting better.”
There is a fight now between the governor of Bangkok who is elected by the estimated 12 million city residents and their Prime Minister Thaksin. The governor (think of our MMDA chair) belongs to the opposition party. His projects are being blocked. Sounds familiar to us except the quarrel there is between the city mayors and BF.
Going back to sexual identity, a visit to the local bookstore, Bookazine, reveals a slew of literature on young Thai girl adventures and gay calendars featuring nude Caucasian teenagers. Why this obsession? Perhaps it is because Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country where the concept of sin does not hang overhead as in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
(Section discussing His Majesty The King removed)
Thailand and the Philippines both suffer from high drug crimes although they have more mafias or criminal syndicates due to their extensive land borders. In a sense, our country is relatively safe owing to our relative geographical isolation encircled by seas. About royalty, maybe we need to amend the Constitution and establish a monarchy if only to take the entertainment out of our politics.
What brought me here was a fellowship on international law organized and sponsored by UNITAR—United Nations Institute for Training and Research. It is a small UN entity not as well known as its cousins—the UNDP, Unicef and OHCHR, among others. I must say that it is doing a very good job. The materials provided are extensive and intensive. The 25 participants from all over Asia are made to work Mondays to Fridays eight hours a day under excellent lecturers. The discussions are lively, insightful and at times, combative. And we have to do all these under the tempting city lights and the distracting night markets. I wonder what is taking us so long to display our world-class products at Third World prices. The tourists are simply flocking here. We also have to invent a hand or body greeting that goes with shouting “Mabuhay!” Part of the allure is that the Thais speak very little English anywhere. It becomes a mysterious dance when one has to gesture to convey what one means. Making foreigners (like me) feel superior is a surefire way of luring them. The Thais know better and are richer for it.
The city is generally working although you see street people much like it is in Manila. The taxi drivers are exactly the same. They refuse to use meters during rush hour and you have to hop from one cab to another until you get a decent driver. Is taxi culture universal?
Thailand is much more diverse in terms of ethnicity. You have the Thais who are a mixed race, a large percentage of ethnic Chinese at about 25 percent of the total population of 64 million, Thai Muslims who occupy the southernmost parts of the country and a host of other minorities. Trouble in southern Thailand has erupted again in the past two years and more violent this time around. In the Philippines, it is the Christian-Muslim war while in Thailand it is between the Buddhists and the Muslims. What is common is the rich and poor divide.
The diversity is reflected in the number of international conferences that are held here frequently. This of course adds to flavor and color to the city as well as tourism. Though our two countries share many things in common—primate capital cities in Bangkok and Manila, peace and order situation, and human trafficking, my overall impressions are: it’s an amazing city, indeed, amazing Thailand.
Geronimo L. Sy.
Edited by: Dr Anne Thrope at: 5/11/05 10:09 am
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