Cannot get php display_errors enabled

Hey i know there are a few posts regarding this topic and i have scoured them all!

I cannot not enable the display_errors setting in php no matter what i do!!!

Im using virtual box with php 5.3 installed with apache2 running. i have tried everything i can think of to get display errors working but nothing seems to work.

I have set php_flag display_errors on in my .htaccess file i have even enabled it directly in the php.ini file

display_errors = 1

and also tried

display_errors = On

I am using the defaults for apache sites-enabled is there something i need to do here to get this to work?? i have never had this problem running php on my mac using mamp.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated this is driving me nuts!