'Business as usual' for Filipinos in Thailand

by Fidea Encarnacion, ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 05/26/2014 2:07 PM | Updated as of 05/26/2014 2:07 PM


MANILA - Despite the declaration of martial law in Thailand, Filipinos living in the country continue to follow their regular routines, an overseas Filipino worker said on Monday.
In a phone interview on ANC's "Dateline Philippines," Rodney Lantiza said that in order to cope with the growing number of coups, Filipinos in Bangkok, Thailand simply avoid going to crowded places.
"Well basically for us, it's business as usual, so we still go to work, 8 to 5. We just try to actually avoid the crowded places where presence of military is evident," he said.
"We have to adapt with some adjustments because we have to be at home by 10:00 pm because of the curfew... but basically we just try to avoid crowded places just to be safe, you know."
Having lived in Bangkok since 2004, Lantiza said that this is the second time he has encountered a coup.
He works as an operations and finance manager of a local company.
According to Lantiza, Filipinos are experiencing only minor adjustments, with no high impact of the unrest on their part as of yet.
"These are just minor adjustments. Actually this is my second coup already, been here in Bangkok for the last 10 years so I think it's necessary for the military to come in and step in in order to normalize the situation," he said.
Lantiza said that the situation right now is similar to the coup held back in 2006. "Actually it's quite similar from the last coup in 2006... they cannot pacify both parties so it's just necessary for the military to come step in," he said.
For those who have booked a trip to Bangkok, or even other parts of Thailand, Lantiza said that it's better to postpone the trip to another time.
He said it would be better for tourists to wait for the situation to normalize due to safety reasons and mandatory curfew.
"If you are around Bangkok, there are some areas where there are a lot of military presence. Of course you have to consider the curfew where you can't stay late at night, so I think you will not really enjoy....it's not only in Bangkok, actualy," he said.

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