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Econo Tech
03-30-15, 14:48
Article from the Inquirer made for a good read but not sure what is more alarming. The number od confirmed cases each day, the government's inaction and / or some of the comments which could be deemed Neanderthal by many.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/83707/life-and-death-issue-2Unfortunately, with same-sex union among men being rampant, and officially not existent (including the president himself being hinted as a closet homo). Not going to stop it.
In fact, about 7 out of 10 Filipino hot hunks I bumped into, through my Filipino friends, were openly or tacitly gays!
And the male members of Filipino bands playing in Singapore are very hooked on online dating of other men, so much so, one guy had a 'friend' fly over all the way from Japan, just to have a date and spend time with the male singer.
Pip Jaeger
03-30-15, 23:41
Found this interesting:
http://www.mb.com.ph/mandatory-sim-card-registration-bill-nears-passage/
Have to wait and see if it gets implemented (lot of resistance by the telco's) and if activation by the retailer is also required or just registration. Easy enough to get around it though, just have one of my GF's use one of her false eye dees's to get new SIM's.
I just had a heads-up from a friend in Oz who visited here a few weeks ago. He is a staff member in a Dept of Chemistry at an Aust. University.
I took him for a look-see at Burgos St in Makati and we were pestered by the usual touts wanting us to buy V and Cialis etc.
I told him that the pills were "knock-off" and their country of origin was uncertain (maybe India; maybe local).
His academic instincts kicked in and he bought a box and said he would run a few simple tests on them to see what turned up.
He contacted me today. Each pill in his sample tested positively for traces of cyanide (which is quite common in nature); he also found traces of the break-down products of ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and traces of warfarin (commonly used in rat poison).
He said that he could not tell how much of each foreign compound was present other than the fact that they showed a trace of being present, but he was concerned that there didn't appear to be any quality control since each pill seemed to show different response levels. Note that his test was a simple "present or not" test and not a rigorously controlled clinical analysis.
His conclusion was that a few pills here and there may not do much damage but over a longer time the concentration might build up, particularly cyanide (remember all those murder mysteries you read about spouses being steadily poisoned).
So be careful guys if you're one of those who regularly ingests pills off the street. Personally I have NEVER bought them so I have never taken them.
There is now generic sildenifil available from Mercury Drug or Watsons in Manila (I don't know about AC).
The brand is Rite Med. One box of 5 x 100 mgm tabs is 770 php. For most guys that means 10 doses of 50 mgm at 77 php per half pill (and they have a convenient groove in the middle so you can easily break them). No prescription needed. Just ask for a box of generic sildenifil.
Econo Tech
03-31-15, 15:02
Found this interesting:
http://www.mb.com.ph/mandatory-sim-card-registration-bill-nears-passage/
Have to wait and see if it gets implemented (lot of resistance by the telco's) and if activation by the retailer is also required or just registration. Easy enough to get around it though, just have one of my GF's use one of her false eye dees's to get new SIM's.99.9% it won't happen, as the two dominant telcos are owned by the two biggest families, who in turn, fund politicians and all.
Firstly, they need to implement a National ID, which won't happen, lest the crooks get caught.
Forget about SIM Cards.
P.S., in Singapore, where SIM card registration is compulsory, there are still some dubious characters who re-sell registered SIMs, I. E. Registered to foreigners who left, not a small premium. You think the Smart Filipinos won't find a large loophole?
Pip Jaeger
03-31-15, 22:46
His academic instincts kicked in and he bought a box and said he would run a few simple tests on them to see what turned up.
He contacted me today. Each pill in his sample tested positively for traces of cyanide (which is quite common in nature); he also found traces of the break-down products of ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and traces of warfarin (commonly used in rat poison).Interesting RK, thanks to your friend, but what you neglected to mention (your Alzhiemer's kicking in again? lol) was if he told you whether there was actually any Sildenafil (or Tadalafil if he also tested vitamin C) in the pills.
Likely to be another of the 9 or so cyclones that hit PI every year. It is currently a 'Super Typhoon' category storm. and will be named Chedeng by the PI once it reaches their territory.
Let's hope that it does not make landfall, and that it weakens even more than predicted.
Forewarned is forearmed!
Ikks
Interesting RK, thanks to your friend, but what you neglected to mention (your Alzhiemer's kicking in again? lol) was if he told you whether there was actually any Sildenafil (or Tadalafil if he also tested vitamin C) in the pills.Yes PJ I was more worried about the uncontrolled level of impurities in the pills rather than to remember to report on the active ingredients.
There were also indications of Tadalafil in the 4 pills he tested.
GoodEnough
04-01-15, 04:48
Yes PJ I was more worried about the uncontrolled level of impurities in the pills rather than to remember to report on the active ingredients.
There were also indications of Tadalafil in the 4 pills he tested.Thanks RK. You've done us all a service. I think the number of the viagra / cialis hawkers has increased recently so maybe this reflects an expanding market. I admit that I've tried the stuff, but not for a long while and I'll never buy it on the street again.
GE.
PirateMorgan
04-02-15, 01:32
I am moving to the Philippines and need a place in Cebu (Choice #2 Manila). I need a place shorter term, without massive deposits and with wired Internet, until I can find a more permanent place once I get there. I have covered Airbnb and other sites but really haven't found anything. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks.
WestCoast1
04-02-15, 01:58
I am moving to the Philippines and need a place in Cebu (Choice #2 Manila). I need a place shorter term, without massive deposits and with wired Internet, until I can find a more permanent place once I get there. I have covered Airbnb and other sites but really haven't found anything. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks.PM: This is a (small) chastisement. About September of last year, you go into a bit of a snit with Amavida:
AV: I stand by my advice, come here & get the lay of the land if you are considering a move here.
Cheers mate, AV..
PM: Then it's a good thing I am rich. Your comments are idiotic. I now give up on the quest. Just wanted simple info. Not opinions..
That last boldfaced bit is what separates the phils threads from the rest: its a no-no.
Your contributions to the central America threads over the last several years are good. But just like before, you don't have much in the way of any quality informative Field Reports from phils. It appears you have traveled there before, therefore: Where are your reports? You are taking from the Board without giving. Please file a descriptive FR from your time here in the past before asking questions.
I will PM you with some Internet info.
Econo Tech
04-04-15, 08:25
Likely to be another of the 9 or so cyclones that hit PI every year. It is currently a 'Super Typhoon' category storm. and will be named Chedeng by the PI once it reaches their territory.
Let's hope that it does not make landfall, and that it weakens even more than predicted.
Forewarned is forearmed!
IkksChedeng (as is what Mercedes Benz is known in Phil.) is weak, but still expected to cause some damage across Luzon.
Be safe, avoid needless travel to far away places.
I am moving to the Philippines and need a place in Cebu (Choice #2 Manila). I need a place shorter term, without massive deposits and with wired Internet, until I can find a more permanent place once I get there. I have covered Airbnb and other sites but really haven't found anything. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks.I'm amazed you can't find find anything for Metro Manila in Airbnb. There are several hundred places fitting all budgets. What are the unnamed "other sites"? http://www.olx.ph (former sulit) is good.
Other than internet you can't / won't detail your requirements (desired location(s) in each city, number of BR, amenities, definitions of "massive deposit" and "shorter term", or even budget), so you've left it to the community to guess wildly. And that I'll do.
This place in Metro Manila looks passible, only just, https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4505130?checkin=04%2F25%2F2015&checkout=05%2F25%2F2015&s=GN8k, and it has internet. I must say the AC looks a tad underpowered for the living room.
If you don't need more than 1 BR then this condo may be acceptable, https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4226538?checkin=04%2F25%2F2015&checkout=05%2F25%2F2015&s=GN8k.
PirateMorgan
04-04-15, 11:41
Nope. Never have been to the Philippines. I have lived in Costa Rica, Mexico and Medellin. In some countries when a landlord advertises that Internet is available it actually means 'the Internet'. In the Philippines there are many 'cautions' published about the Internet and few if any raves about it. Therefore my question to those of you who have experience in the Philippines.
Since I paid my $19.95 I think I m entitled to my quest without the smirks of someone who by pm Has be identified as a trouble maker.
Pip Jaeger
04-04-15, 22:27
I am moving to the Philippines and need a place in Cebu (Choice #2 Manila). I need a place shorter term, without massive deposits and with wired Internet, until I can find a more permanent place once I get there. I have covered Airbnb and other sites but really haven't found anything. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks.
In some countries when a landlord advertises that Internet is available it actually means 'the Internet'. In the Philippines there are many 'cautions' published about the Internet and few if any raves about it. Therefore my question to those of you who have experience in the Philippines.Forget searching the internet for Cebu, at least for longer term rentals. The majority of them, and I mean about 95%, are overpriced, already gone, are "bait and switch" (for sale not really for rent; old pics, etc). Don't waste your time looking now, wait till you arrive and then look around.
You don't mention a budget and I presume for short term you want fully furnished? Hard, but not impossible to find. In Mabolo: most will run you about 30 k per month plus utilities; Strawberry Residences, Santoni's (ad's say long term, but they accept month to month), Tancor 1, 2 and 3 (they require a month advance plus security dep). In Banilad, close to Country Mall, you can try Apartelle de Arcenas (about 20 k++). Around IT Park there's a few, but they tend to be very small overpriced studios (about 20 sqm at 25-35 k) and they tend to cater to Korean students and foreigners (read again as K-poppers) working in call centers. Near Ayala there's the Wellcome Hotel (not a typo, it's spelled with 2 "L's") at about 35 k per month.
Can't help with cockroach infested fan room type low budget places as that's not how I roll.
You can also inquire at some of the hotels, although not advertised, many offer monthly rates. This is not a recommendation, but as an example the Diplomat's executive room can be rented monthly for about 30 k (not sure if there's still an extra fee for electricity).
As has been reported here and in other forums, the internet service in Cebu is sub par. Depending on where you live you can get broadband service from PLDT, Globe or Sky Cable (there's a couple of other players, but the aforementioned 3 are the larger ones). All cost about the same, 1 - 1,500 k per month and require at least a one year contract (some rentals may already include service; all of the short term ones usually do include Wi-Fi, but quality will vary; Tancor 3's sucks). As a backup I suggest you get a 4 G / LTE pocket Wi-Fi device (about 4-5 k) with a Smart LTE SIM card (1 k per month for unli service); 4 G service here is pretty good and Smart covers most of the city (it will default to 3 G if 4 G not available).
GoodEnough
04-05-15, 00:56
I realized, when glancing at my license plate a couple of days ago, that it's time to renew my car registration. Given that I've not got the patience, the time or the willingness to deal directly with the LTO bureaucracy in Mindanao, I contacted the same fixer I've been using for years. She explained to me--and I later verified--that the country is switching to new plates, so this year there's an "extra" charge to cover the cost of the new plates. Unfortunately, the new plates are not available, but the charge applies nonetheless. In prior years, updated stickers for the plate weren't available. I think the last time I got one was in 2012, but now it's the plates themselves.
How can anyone take this country seriously?
GE.
Chedeng (as is what Mercedes Benz is known in Phil.) is weak, but still expected to cause some damage across Luzon.
Be safe, avoid needless travel to far away places.On April 1 this year, the TV program Topgear published an article that Mercedes Benz was suing the PI government for naming typhoons Chedeng. Haha!
Girls nicknamed Mercedes are also sometimes called Chedeng.
Ikksman
Since I paid my $19.95 I think I m entitled to my quest without the smirks of someone who by pm Has be identified as a trouble maker.Of course you are. But $19.95, or any price for that matter, doesn't give you carte blanche. Even on carteblanche.com. Have you ever been a member of a country club? You don't get to make a mess of the locker room or disregard propriety because you paid a membership fee. Calling others idiots, as you did to Amavida, won't endear you with the community; this is especially true when you're asking that community for help. With the membership rights also come responsibilities. Vague questions don't get you answers. They do clutter the board.
A quick recap.
1) For reasons that you can't / won't mention you've ruled out the hundred and hundreds of places on airbnb.
2) For reasons you can't / won't mention you've ruled out other unnamed sites.
I provided you two listing of condos in the Fort, a location where you will be most likely to get the highest speed internet service - just take a look at all the foreign offices there. Your posts back in September were quite clear for your need of this. And these places fall within your budget because you PM'd Amavida and told him you are rich. Unless you are willing to buy an ISP and invest to upgrade the QOS you will have to endure what is available locally. Like the rest of us. Sorry to break that to you.
These are your remaining lodging options. Hotel. Couch surfing. Camping. Squatting. The quality of internet service for the last two is quite poor. Perhaps non-existent.
If very reliable, high-speed, always-on internet service is a must for the country you choose to reside you ought to look at, according to 2014 global rankings done by Akamai Technologies, 3) Japan, 2) Hong Kong and 1) S. Korea. The Philippines ranked 49th. I'm amazed it ranked so highly.
WestCoast1
04-05-15, 22:25
Nope. Never have been to the Philippines. I have lived in Costa Rica, Mexico and Medellin. Well then, you have stepped up a notch coming to the phils threads.
Since I paid my $19.95 I think I m entitled to my quest without the smirks of someone who by pm Has be identified as a trouble maker.Not at all true. Paying the $19.95 gets phils-newbs to PM status. Hit myself or any other senior board member in PM with questions. Hitting the boards with questions before filing a FR is littering. Asking questions and then disappearing without filing FR's is taking-without-giving. While doing those stinky things is fine on the CR / DR / Columbia threads, its not here.
Regarding Internet speeds / availabilities, I sent you a 7-paragraph PM a five days ago. Hope you got it.
Pip Jaeger
04-05-15, 23:49
Girls nicknamed Mercedes are also sometimes called Chedeng.One of my girls, who's name really is Mercedes, goes by the nick name "Chedeng". But I misunderstood her pronunciation of it and so I call her "bling bling" instead.
Econo Tech
04-06-15, 05:03
On April 1 this year, the TV program Topgear published an article that Mercedes Benz was suing the PI government for naming typhoons Chedeng. Haha!
Girls nicknamed Mercedes are also sometimes called Chedeng.
IkksmanYes, saw the Top Gear PH facebook post. And it was even more comical to see the loads of Filipino who truly believed that story and demanded that MB be fined heavily for insulting Filipino pride!
Will arrive in Cebu City and planning to stay in Royal Crown Hotel & Towers.
Is that a good choice considering Girl Friendly? Or ID-check? (I'm not into [CodeWord902] (http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord902) but all girls don't have ID).
Will arrive around May 24, if you are in town and want to join send a PM or just answer here.
Thanks
Will arrive in Cebu City and planning to stay in Royal Crown Hotel & Towers.
Is that a good choice considering Girl Friendly? Or ID-check?Better to pose your question in the Cebu Hotels thread and you will find my response there:
http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?3160-Cebu-Hotels
I am searching fruitlessly for a place to rent / live in Olongapo.
Does anybody have name (s), number (s) for reputable real estate agents / brokers who can help me?
Are there any board members who live in Olongapo?
Thanks in anticipation.
Gangles.
Shining Wit
04-09-15, 13:19
I am searching fruitlessly for a place to rent / live in Olongapo.
Does anybody have name (s), number (s) for reputable real estate agents / brokers who can help me?
Are there any board members who live in Olongapo?
Thanks in anticipation.
GanglesI am planning on moving to Barretto when I can finally get my ass into gear.
On other expat forums, it seems most properties are advertised by a sign hung on the wall, stuck in the window or naile to a telephone pole. Usual advice is to pound the streets, or.
Rent a scooter if you need to cover a larger area. Networking in western run bars might well produce contacts, as well as giving you an idea on market rates. One site suggested.
Almost asking random people in the street!
Most opinion is agents not only charge you the skin tax, but make a healthy profit between what they charge you and what they pass to the landlord.
Anyways, would be glad to read of your experiences.
Happy hunting.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/89480-us-troops-liberty-policy-philippines
US military must be in their rooms by 10 pm.
Allows a bloke to call out "Next!" more frequently. http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/89320-japan-man-paid-sex-12000-women-philippines-arrested.
Allows a bloke to call out "Next!" more frequently. http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/89320-japan-man-paid-sex-12000-women-philippines-arrested.This guy's a monster.
He should be despatched from the news headlines as soon as possible. Some of the respondents to the item in some Aussie newspapers were not as kind as me.
This guy's a monster.
He should be despatched from the news headlines as soon as possible. Some of the respondents to the item in some Aussie newspapers were not as kind as me.Indeed a monster. Stories such as these don't vanish from the dailies quickly, but perhaps more stickiness overseas. The comments on rappler, which I take to be from Filipinos largely, seem far from angered. And very few of them. Stories about corruption and Chinese building military outposts on shoals get the crowd wound up.
TwoTimeTed
04-10-15, 15:27
Have you racked up 12,000 Women? Japanese Man Arrested.
But he did some bad things along the way.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/09/asia/japan-philippines-school-principal-[CodeWord902] (http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord902)-sex/index.html
Didn't you read the 3 posts before your post TTT?
Now you know why regular ISG readers get "annoyed" when guys come on here with questions and comments before they have read anything at all on the board but hey! It's the weekend so relax and have fun.
Have you racked up 12,000 Women? Japanese Man Arrested.
But he did some bad things along the way.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/09/asia/japan-philippines-school-principal-[CodeWord902] (http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord902)-sex/index.html
Wicked Roger
04-12-15, 02:31
This article in the Philstar made me laugh. Am sure the survey is rigged in a way as I have flown many of the airlines noted but would not rank anywhere near a top 50 place. PAL, Saudia are just two I could mention. And proud of a 53% on time arrival! Maybe that explains comments that other posters have said about the country.
Have a chuckle.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/04/12/1442805/pal-among-most-dependable-airlines
Econo Tech
04-12-15, 06:11
Shockingly AC is not in the list.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/89412-hiv-6-philippine-cities-uncontrollable-rates
Member #4387
04-12-15, 08:44
Allows a bloke to call out "Next!" more frequently. http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/89320-japan-man-paid-sex-12000-women-philippines-arrested.How much does a great granny runs for these days I e 70 yo? This is a horny bloke. Cudos to the man for beeing horny but no cudos given due to play with minors and if that is the case he may rotten in jail.
Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.
When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.
What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?
TIA Gus.
Econo Tech
04-12-15, 12:29
Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.
When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.
What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?
TIA Gus.Typhoon prediction is limited to 2 weeks to 3 weeks ahead.
Example, last month there was a massive typhoon predicted to cross Philippines, and devastate Luzon. AC, and the likes. And nearing Philippines it just fizzled out!
Generally September to Feb sees more typhoons, but as said, it is unpredictable.
Though most typhoons like the southern islands, few like AC and the northern islands!
Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.
When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.
What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?
TIA Gus.Not only its fair share of typhoons, also earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and severe flooding. Large bugs, too.
Generally you'll see most typhoons and tropical storms from July to the beginning of December. Looking at the most severe, deadliest, and most destructive typhoons in Philippine history Sept - Dec are the bad months. The end of Dec - Feb tends to be the coolest months and low storm activity, yet when the Pope was here mid-January he had to cut short his visit to Tacloban due to a storm. Typhoons tend to strike southern Luzon and islands further south such as Samar, Leyte, and Cebu; southern Mindanao gets the fewest. The most recent typhoon Chedeng hit northern Luzon.
Most things you'd want to know about Philippine climate can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_Philippines. AC and Subic are in the climate type I region.
K,
I googled for this and didn't get much info, so I'll post here. Just how bad are the bugs in PH? How common is dengue? Giant spiders / centipedes? Cockroaches? If I rent a nice place (50 k+/ month) in a cool city like Tagaytay, will that help? Or is all that stuff in the. Provinces only?
So, I was just thinking, shouldn't the members here have a secret handshake or secret greeting / nod? Remember the movie "The Sting" w / Redford and Newman? I may go to Angeles my next trip, just for a few nights, and would like to know if the guy next to me in the bar is a member of this forum. A handshake, a certain nod of the head, a wave of the hand, would tell me that he is. Too juvenile?
So, I was just thinking, shouldn't the members here have a secret handshake or secret greeting / nod? Remember the movie "The Sting" w / Redford and Newman? I may go to Angeles my next trip, just for a few nights, and would like to know if the guy next to me in the bar is a member of this forum. A handshake, a certain nod of the head, a wave of the hand, would tell me that he is. Too juvenile?I think a baseball cap with ISG member's current theme "don't f-up the market" would do it. Or for the most senior members "it's not like the good ole days".
K,
I googled for this and didn't get much info, so I'll post here. Just how bad are the bugs in PH? How common is dengue? Giant spiders / centipedes? Cockroaches? If I rent a nice place (50 k+/ month) in a cool city like Tagaytay, will that help? Or is all that stuff in the. Provinces only?All the above are present in PH. Most insects are large enough to provide the average family a high protein meal. At 9k a month you can hire a full-time housemaid to catch all the insects for you or buy a can of insecticide for <400php.
I don't know about Tagaytay.
Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.
When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.
What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?
TIA Gus.Most mongers have enough notice of a pending typhoon and money to get out of town before she hits land. It is of no concern if you are thinking with the little head. BTW you can always shelter up with your poontang for a few days if you are close to one.
Generally September to Feb sees more typhoons, but as said, it is unpredictable.
The majority of typhoons pass through the Phils between late June and mid-to late December. Typhoons in Jan / Feb are very unusual.
Shockingly AC is not in the list.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/89412-hiv-6-philippine-cities-uncontrollable-ratesAC is in the list as 'other high prevalance city' (see the table further down in the article).
The top 6 only lists the cities that are exceeding the national HIV prevalence rate of 3. 5% among males who have sex with males.
It's not clear to me (based on this article) if Angeles is a high prevalance city as well with regard to males who have sex with females. It seems to me the article is only about males who have sex with males.
It seems to me the article is only about males who have sex with males.I think that's a wrong interpretation Mogs (with all due respect).
The article is very careful to point out that the rather large INCREASE in the incidence of HIV identified in the Philippines has come predominantly from male-to-male contact but there are also residual data that refers to an increase in women with HIV too. The data is not only about male-to-male transmission.
My major concern about HIV is the huge number of Filipino seamen who work as OFWs and who visit ports in PNG and West Africa (to mention just 2) and then return home to dispense unwanted pasalubong to their wives, girlfriends, mistresses and assorted bar girls and masseuses.
The preference for unprotected sex with girls about whom one does not have a detailed history is fraught with risk. I suspect that many women in the population have no idea they are infected with any STD, especially those for whom there are no symptoms as yet.
The preparedness to go bareback is reinforced by the weird attitude held by girls who consider that only prostitutes carry and use condoms and they don't wish to be categorized as such. Anyway, why use them if they are simply having sex with guys met in dating sites? Illogical for sure.
But then again I have just had a discussion with a group of 3 girls who collectively did not realize that a virgin could get pregnant in her first sexual experience. One of them learned the hard way. Another tick for the wonderful sex education programs provided here.
Soapy Smith
04-13-15, 11:01
The article is very careful to point out that the rather large INCREASE in the incidence of HIV identified in the Philippines has come predominantly from male-to-male contact but there are also residual data that refers to an increase in women with HIV too. The data is not only about male-to-male transmission.
Many men who have sex with other men also have sex with women, and their social networks often include women who engage in commercial sex.
K,
I googled for this and didn't get much info, so I'll post here. Just how bad are the bugs in PH? How common is dengue? Giant spiders / centipedes? Cockroaches? If I rent a nice place (50 k+/ month) in a cool city like Tagaytay, will that help? Or is all that stuff in the. Provinces only?You know Godzilla, right? Like that but not fire breathing, which is a relief.
Condos spray common areas every month. A problem area is the rubbish chutes. Monster cockroaches climb their way up from the dumpsters and seize small pets and infants.
The good news is dengue is down, http://outbreaknewstoday.com/dengue-down-60-in-the-philippines-this-year-84443/. Keep in mind TB is not uncommon and many are carriers. ISIS isn't here... yet.
... or buy a can of insecticide for <400php.When you're in hunter-killer mode spray is okay. The most effective insecticide I've used is the baited roach traps, the one in which roaches ingest the poison and take it back to their demonic dens. A few in the kitchen (beside fridge and under sink), one in the bathroom, and you'll be pretty clean for a couple of months. If you have filthy neighbours put one near your front door as a welcome mat to take care of those migrating.
You know Godzilla, right? Like that but not fire breathingI'm sorry to clog up this thread with questions about insects. But I've read about Huntsman spiders with 10" legspans and 7" centipedes. I plan on renting a villa and staying in PH for a long time. Will these kinds of insects wander into the house? Are they found in cities? How about a colder area like Baguio or Tagaytay? I can't find much info about this online, but I seriously don't want to wake up with a giant centipede in my bed. And what about cockroaches? Screen every window and caulk every door, they'll still get in, huh? I must sound like a pansy but I really hate bugs LOL. Also I'll contribute more later on, again, sorry for so many noob questions.
FreebieFan
04-14-15, 01:45
I'm sorry to clog up this thread with questions about insects. But I've read about Huntsman spiders with 10" legspans and 7" centipedes. I plan on renting a villa and staying in PH for a long time. Will these kinds of insects wander into the house? Are they found in cities? How about a colder area like Baguio or Tagaytay? I can't find much info about this online, but I seriously don't want to wake up with a giant centipede in my bed. And what about cockroaches? Screen every window and caulk every door, they'll still get in, huh? I must sound like a pansy but I really hate bugs LOL. Also I'll contribute more later on, again, sorry for so many noob questions.Its a tropical country with a normal range of insects that you would find in any tropical country. Dengue generally comes from mosquitoes that gather around stagnant water (and only one type of mosquito carries dengue) so don't leave water lying around ie in plant pots.
There are geckos that happily eat many of the smaller insects. Geckos interestingly eat other geckos.
There are cockroaches of course, but you can add to global warming by using lots of Baygon etc.
And then there are fire ants. And you really don't want to get any near those little guys. A few of those on your leg and you would know about it very quickly. !
Its a normal tropical country with the normal array of flora and fauna. Of course there are bloodsuckers too but we all know where to find those. LOL.
Years ago I witnessed the world's smartest gecko in the Carmenville subdivsion of Angeles City. This giant gecko camped out underneath one of those electronic bug zappers and would eat the french fried mosquitoes and other bugs that fell from it. It was a big fat gecko that I never forgot.
There are geckos that happily eat many of the smaller insects. Geckos interestingly eat other geckos.
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I think that's a wrong interpretation Mogs (with all due respect).
The article is very careful to point out that the rather large INCREASE in the incidence of HIV identified in the Philippines has come predominantly from male-to-male contact but there are also residual data that refers to an increase in women with HIV too. The data is not only about male-to-male transmission.I've read the article again and I think you are right. Thanks for the clarification RK.
GoodEnough
04-14-15, 10:00
Its a tropical country with a normal range of insects that you would find in any tropical country. Dengue generally comes from mosquitoes that gather around stagnant water (and only one type of mosquito carries dengue) so don't leave water lying around ie in plant pots.
There are geckos that happily eat many of the smaller insects. Geckos interestingly eat other geckos.
There are cockroaches of course, but you can add to global warming by using lots of Baygon etc.
And then there are fire ants. And you really don't want to get any near those little guys. A few of those on your leg and you would know about it very quickly. !
Its a normal tropical country with the normal array of flora and fauna. Of course there are bloodsuckers too but we all know where to find those. LOL.It is indeed a typical tropical country, and the range of fauna in particular is huge. One particular flaura exemplar, the gecko, resides all over our house, or I should say several of them do, happily keeping the internal mosquito population in check. I tend to see theM, placidly sitting high on the walls, and I've even run into a couple of babies in he shower. They're welcome in our house, cause no damage and pose no threat save to the flying insect population. Even my enormous dog lets he, live in peace.
GE.
Thanks for the info guys, I may give Subic and Angeles a try in late January, Qatar fly LHR to CRK via Doha, reasonable times and fares good at the moment but I won't be booking this early.
Roll Aides
04-14-15, 18:53
I think that's a wrong interpretation Mogs (with all due respect).
My major concern about HIV is the huge number of Filipino seamen who work as OFWs and who visit ports in PNG and West Africa (to mention just 2) and then return home to dispense unwanted pasalubong to their wives, girlfriends, mistresses and assorted bar girls and masseuses.
The preference for unprotected sex with girls about whom one does not have a detailed history is fraught with risk. I suspect that many women in the population have no idea they are infected with any STD, especially those for whom there are no symptoms as yet.
I would add that call center workers are another transmission vector / high risk group. There were some studies done recently that got on the news here, if you read up on them (the studies, not the bullshit scare articles,) it's apparent that there is a lot of promiscuity and a lot of men that have sex with men within that demographic.
Pip Jaeger
04-15-15, 00:30
There are cockroaches of course, but you can add to global warming by using lots of Baygon etc.
And then there are fire ants. And you really don't want to get any near those little guys. A few of those on your leg and you would know about it very quickly. !
Also those tiny sugar ants are very very common here. Products like Baygon only provide a temporary solution. Terro Liquid Ant Killer (basically Borax and sugar water) is the best to use; available at True Value for p200. Like the roach baits, ants take the Borax back to their colony and it wipes out the entire colony. I place a few baits with a drop or two of the solution on them around my condo and refresh it monthly. No issues with ants for last 5 months I've been here.
As a preventative measure I also use an insect repellant whenever I'm out for a jaunt in the provinces. From the USA I brought along a few small spay bottle's of "Coleman Max 100"; the active ingredient is 98% DEET. As long I remember to use it before going out I've haven't had any issues with insect bites. Can't help where to find it here, but have seen other products like "OFF" on the shelves. Suggest picking the one with the highest concentration of DEET possible.
As to the weather for the time of the year the OP plans to visit, my forecast is: Crowdy with a strong chance of vaginal downpours and monthly blood slides; daily orgasmic eruptions are also likely.
Thanks everyone who has replied re: insects. I'll contribute later. So, no one's seen any 10" spiders or 7" centipedes?
How common are robberies? I'm guessing I should dress down? Buy a crappy phone? Fake wallet? Or is that going overboard? I mean, I've been in some real seedy areas in China and HK and never had an issue, but reading reports here.
Lastly, anyone here own a car in PH? Was thinking about picking up a used one for about 300 k or so. Lived in China for 5 years without a car and am itching to drive again. Am I going to have to worry about it getting stolen / stripped?
Holy crap that's a lot of questions. Please don't ban this noob.
Thanks everyone who has replied re: insects. I'll contribute later. So, no one's seen any 10" spiders or 7" centipedes?
How common are robberies? I'm guessing I should dress down? Buy a crappy phone? Fake wallet? Or is that going overboard? I mean, I've been in some real seedy areas in China and HK and never had an issue, but reading reports here.
Lastly, anyone here own a car in PH? Was thinking about picking up a used one for about 300 k or so. Lived in China for 5 years without a car and am itching to drive again. Am I going to have to worry about it getting stolen / stripped?
Holy crap that's a lot of questions. Please don't ban this noob.Yes dress up and buy a flashy car, get a gold iPhone 6+ along with a fat wallet full of us $100 bills. You will fit in right away without any problems. Drench yourself with Old Spice cologne and the bugs and spiders will leave you alone.
P.S. Forgot to tell you to wear the thick gold chain necklace. The thicker the better so you don't lose it. Have a gold medallion on the chain with "ImAGuy" for easy identification, in case it is lost.
Keep your wallet in your front pants pocket or buttoned in somewhere. I use a money belt and only carry the amount I want to spend in that outing. Dress down but respectable: jeans, Tshirt or hawaiin shirt, sneakers ok. I wear shorts when its hot but some ISG members despise them maybe they have ugly legs I dunno. I use a cheap phone and be prepared to do a lot of texting because the Pinays have trouble maintaining sufficient call load. I had a car when I lived in AC but you don't really need one unless you live there. Lots of guys have motorbikes but I wouldn't ride one in Manila.
Thanks everyone who has replied re: insects. I'll contribute later. So, no one's seen any 10" spiders or 7" centipedes?
How common are robberies? I'm guessing I should dress down? Buy a crappy phone? Fake wallet? Or is that going overboard? I mean, I've been in some real seedy areas in China and HK and never had an issue, but reading reports here.
Lastly, anyone here own a car in PH? Was thinking about picking up a used one for about 300 k or so. Lived in China for 5 years without a car and am itching to drive again. Am I going to have to worry about it getting stolen / stripped?
Holy crap that's a lot of questions. Please don't ban this noob..
Soapy Smith
04-15-15, 06:47
How common are robberies? I'm guessing I should dress down? Buy a crappy phone? Fake wallet? Or is that going overboard? I mean, I've been in some real seedy areas in China and HK and never had an issue, but reading reports here.
Lastly, anyone here own a car in PH? Was thinking about picking up a used one for about 300 k or so. Lived in China for 5 years without a car and am itching to drive again. Am I going to have to worry about it getting stolen / stripped?
Holy crap that's a lot of questions. Please don't ban this noob.Dg has correctly characterized your questions as analysis paralysis. You are worrying yourself to death over trivial things that can't be controlled and aren't major issues if you behave sensibly. His guidance is mostly ironic reference to things not to do. Basic guidelines: don't flaunt your Western possessions, get a cheap local phone (even a used one) after you arrive, and follow DC's suggestions for safeguarding money.
I personally wear Hawaiian shirts and chino pants, with real shoes rather than tennies. I might wear a t-shirt to a 7-11, but never out to a bar. I don't wear shorts because I have ugly legs, and because various expats have advised trying to look a little more upscale than the average Filipino. It is HOT in the Philippines, and because I sweat profusely I wear undershirts to soak up the sweat. I shower and change undershirts and underwear frequently. I always use underarm deodorant but never cologne. You may have trouble finding anything but spray deodorant, so bring your own if you use stick. Filipinas are extremely hygiene conscious; they shower multiple times daily, even when they have only cold water. They will think you are dirty if you attempt to conceal body odor with cologne. Visitors from some parts of the world have not yet figured this out, and many Filipinas avoid them as a result. Laundry shops are plentiful and cheap, turnaround is usually less than 24 hours, and using them helps the local economy. There is no reason to hold off changing clothes.
After you have been there a few days, if you want to look like you fit in, go to a department store, even SM, and ask the sales personnel to show you some "office barongs. " Dress barongs are gauzy shirts with long sleeves and fancy embroidery on the front, but they are for weddings, funerals, and special celebrations. Office barongs have slightly less elaborate embroidery on the front and short sleeves. They are usually in dark blues, tans, or grays. You will see the managers in restaurants and other businesses wearing them. I own several of them and would not hesitate to wear them out to a bar. As a Westerner you will stand out if you wear them and other mongers are wearing T-shirts. Expect to pay maybe 1500 to 2000 pesos for an office barong. That's a lot to pay for a first time visitor to the Phils, but once you figure out how GFE these women can be--and what wonderful sex partners they are, you will want to return, and then an office barong or two pays dividends.
Answers to most of your questions can be found by reading the forum. Dg is right; you really are getting yourself too anxious about this stuff. If you give off that you are this anxious on the streets or in the bars in the Phils, you will mark yourself as a newbie and a target for exploitation. Relax, read the f...ing forum, present yourself as confidently as you can in the Phils, and exercise common sense.
One last piece of advice: if you are so anxious that you post a series of questions about insects, then invest the $19.95 for a membership so people can send you personal messages that they might not want to air like public laundry.
Ship / D cups / DG/ others, thanks. I've just had a few Chinese friends warn me against going (they acted like PH is a war zone) and wanted to hear some other opinions. Will possibly live there for a few years.
Thanks everyone who has replied re: insects. I'll contribute later. So, no one's seen any 10" spiders or 7" centipedes?No, haven't seen 7" centipedes. The ones that invade my place are about fourteen inches long. You ought to see the mandibles on 'them. But no worries. The giant rats eat them before they have a chance to bite off a finger while I'm sleeping.
How common are robberies? I'm guessing I should dress down? Buy a crappy phone? Fake wallet? Or is that going overboard? I mean, I've been in some real seedy areas in China and HK and never had an issue, but reading reports here.They happen. The Yank boyfriend of one of my girl's was murdered outside a convenience store on Ocampo St in Manila about 3 years ago. One of my mates was pick pocketed near Amazonia; his wallet was in his leg's cargo pocket. I've had one mobile stolen from me in a resto bar and another taken out of my hands as I snoozed in front of my condo whilst waiting for a girl to turn up. Both of these thefts were my fault. When using the LRT / MRT and walking around dodgy areas like Binondo I move my wallet to my front pocket. I use an iPhone and a Samsung that I purchased second hand; I don't use them when using public transport. I don't dress down. Typically I wear what might be called "office casual", such as chinos, a long-sleeved linen shirt, and nice, polished shoes. I tell the girls who visit that I have to "go to work," when I need them to leave. And it certainly appears that way.
Lastly, anyone here own a car in PH? Was thinking about picking up a used one for about 300 k or so. Lived in China for 5 years without a car and am itching to drive again. Am I going to have to worry about it getting stolen / stripped?Nope. If you live in a city it seems to me it's more hassle. Taxis are usually easy to find and jeeps are great for short trips. Parking isn't abundant. If you drink there's the risk of getting in an accident. Then you have the girl(s) wanting you to drive them around or pick them up. If you live in a condo you'll likely have to pay an additional monthly fee to park if it isn't included in your rent.
Forgot to tell you to wear the thick gold chain necklace. The thicker the better so you don't lose it. Have a gold medallion on the chain with "ImAGuy" for easy identification, in case it is lost.Hahahaha.
I always use underarm deodorant but never cologne. You may have trouble finding anything but spray deodorant, so bring your own if you use stick. All the men's deodorants are terribly scented. What smell is "sport"? A locker room is less malodorous. I use Dove's Whitening Unscented stick that can be purchased locally; the "whitening" bit will tell you it's for the birds, so look in that section. It's no revelation Pinays have a huge complex about dark underarms and labias, which they shave to better show off what they have a complex about.
Filipinas are extremely hygiene conscious; they shower multiple times daily, even when they have only cold water. They will think you are dirty if you attempt to conceal body odor with cologne. Visitors from some parts of the world have not yet figured this out, and many Filipinas avoid them as a result.I think he's talking about Arabs and Indians. I wear a scent. I don't bathe in one. My reason for using it is to mask a girl's perfume on my shirts and pillow cases.
Laundry shops are plentiful and cheap, turnaround is usually less than 24 hours, and using them helps the local economy. There is no reason to hold off changing clothes.Your places are better than mine; a one-day return is double the 3-day cost. I favour having a washing machine in my place because I can easily launder the towels, pillow cases and bed sheets, which I do every two days typically. The laundry shops are good but they tend to forget to pre-treat stains like lipstick. I usually pre-treat and launder my clothes and then send washed shirts and trousers out to be ironed. No savings whatsoever but eliminating the aggravation of ironing is well worth it.
Member #4351
04-15-15, 15:27
Since it seems as if ImAGuy doesn't even have the $19.95 needed to join (and support) the forum, he probably won't have anything much worth robbing. I personally think that giving a lot of help and information to parasitic individuals just isn't right.
Soapy Smith
04-15-15, 15:36
Since it seems as if ImAGuy doesn't even have the $19.95 needed to join (and support) the forum, he probably won't have anything much worth robbing. I personally think that giving a lot of help and information to parasitic individuals just isn't right.I think you are missing the entertainment value from elaborate posts that some folks put together on what was otherwise a slow news day. ImAGuy was perhaps not the intended beneficiary for some of these posts.
Christian G
04-15-15, 16:55
Thanks for the info guys, I may give Subic and Angeles a try in late January, Qatar fly LHR to CRK via Doha, reasonable times and fares good at the moment but I won't be booking this early.I have a similar idea for next trip too in a same period, but I don't will book anything untill Sept. / Oct.
I think Qatar is a good option with a fly to CLR if I want try AC and avoid Manila.
I think you are missing the entertainment value from elaborate posts that some folks put together on what was otherwise a slow news day. ImAGuy was perhaps not the intended beneficiary for some of these posts.David and Skip, perhaps you are correct but some of us are giving the guy the benefit of doubt. He does ask a lot of Qs that are already somewhere in this thread and yes, he would be wise to cough up the $20 for a subscription. BTW thanks to the respondents who aren't wearing shorts because they have ugly legs. Man, I hate to see ugly legs and crusty toes. Me, I have beautiful legs haha.
Since it seems as if ImAGuy doesn't even have the $19.95 needed to join (and support) the forum, he probably won't have anything much worth robbing. I personally think that giving a lot of help and information to parasitic individuals just isn't right.I mostly agree, but his entomophobia and "analysis paralysis" endears him to me.
I've just had a few Chinese friends warn me against going (they acted like PH is a war zone) and wanted to hear some other opinions.
Imaguy, a reason your Chinese pals may down on the Philippines is because over the past many years there have been several high-profile incidents such as kidnappings (Mainlanders, Taiwanese, and Chinoys) and a botched rescue of HK tourists that were covered far and wide in the Chinese press. I reckon the diplomatic spats over the West Philippine Sea and the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman poaching in Philippine waters has done little to improve sentiment and enhance goodwill.
Ship / D cups / DG/ others, thanks. I've just had a few Chinese friends warn me against going (they acted like PH is a war zone) and wanted to hear some other opinions. Will possibly live there for a few years.Even though you are not a paid member you have become entertainment value to the paid members. No doubt your Chinese friends have these educated opinions taught to them and no experiences of what they are talking about. I believe the Chinese have historically been taught China is far superior to the rest of the barbaric world. Hence other people and other countries. I will leave it at that.
Best advice to you is to always filter the advice you get. I am sure your friends have good intentions but they only know what they have been taught and don't know what they don't know.
If you really have a phobia about bugs then my apology for the remarks here. Then you should get some professional help for it.
War zone? You will get many answers for this question. There are some real war vets that have been in real war zones living here. I suppose to them Phils is pretty safe. There are low-life foreigners living here that I imagine feel safe. I suppose an Ivy league graduate might not feel safe unless they are tucked away in a Hi-so enclave where you would not even know what country you are in. Personally, I had a rude awakening on my first trip here, seeing the old run down buildings along with the financial poverty. For better or worse I was able to begin to understand the people and the culture and have made many trips here. Not sure if I would live here yet.
As for if Philippines is a war zone, I can only answer that I have not seen nor experienced any combatants here!
I was intrigued that she complained because he smelled of cigarettes. I would have thought body odor would have been much more offensive to a woman.
http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/indonesia/90044-indonesian-man-admits-murdering-woman-over-body-odor?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral
Ship / D cups / DG/ others, thanks. I've just had a few Chinese friends warn me against going (they acted like PH is a war zone) and wanted to hear some other opinions. Will possibly live there for a few years.Not to be a jerk, but it seems like either (a) you don't have much common sense (b) too impatient to do your own research (c) aren't very respectful and / or listen well. OR all or some combination of the three.
Look, spend the $20 on the subscription for the forum and it will allow you to PM people and shows the forum that you are somewhat serious and can read the hints people are telling you.
Awesome answer to an ignorant individual.
Even though you are not a paid member you have become entertainment value to the paid members. No doubt your Chinese friends have these educated opinions taught to them and no experiences of what they are talking about. I believe the Chinese have historically been taught China is far superior to the rest of the barbaric world. Hence other people and other countries. I will leave it at that.
If very reliable, high-speed, always-on internet service is a must for the country you choose to reside you ought to look at, according to 2014 global rankings done by Akamai Technologies, 3) Japan, 2) Hong Kong and 1) S. Korea. The Philippines ranked 49th. I'm amazed it ranked so highly.Hutsori,
I've been frequenting various coffee shops and using my laptop tethered to my mobile phone. I was shocked when I ran Ookla speedtest and the download speeds hit 20 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps (Bo's coffee at Glorietta 5). I think it was in the later evening. So less people were around as well.
The Seattle Coffee in Salcedo Village is much slower at around 6 Mbps, but still pretty good.
Ignorant? Damn. I am kinda ignorant. Thanks for the reminder.
And thanks to anyone who responded in detail.
Hutsori,
I've been frequenting various coffee shops and using my laptop tethered to my mobile phone. I was shocked when I ran Ookla speedtest and the download speeds hit 20 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps (Bo's coffee at Glorietta 5). I think it was in the later evening. So less people were around as well.
The Seattle Coffee in Salcedo Village is much slower at around 6 Mbps, but still pretty good.Many things will affect data throughput. In my previous Makati condo, a building that was almost fully occupied, severe latency came at night when people were at home from work. For instance, from 7 pm to midnight it was impossible to watch a video on youtube uninterrupted. My current place is much better; it's also much less occupied and a very recent build. The OP was quite concerned about Internet QOS because he earns his livelihood using skype or other video chat apps. In Sept 2014 Akamai Technologies' State of the Internet Report assessed the Philippines' average speed at 2.5 mbps; the world average then was 3.9 mbps. If you look over the conversation (beginning in Aug or Sept 2014) you'll see that pretty much everyone was telling the guy that he'd have to come to the Philippines to determine whether or not Internet speed was sufficiently fast and reliable enough for him to conduct business.
GoodEnough
04-17-15, 04:23
Hutsori,
I've been frequenting various coffee shops and using my laptop tethered to my mobile phone. I was shocked when I ran Ookla speedtest and the download speeds hit 20 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps (Bo's coffee at Glorietta 5). I think it was in the later evening. So less people were around as well.
The Seattle Coffee in Salcedo Village is much slower at around 6 Mbps, but still pretty good.A month or so ago, in the middle of the day, I clocked a download speed of more than 30 at the Fairmont. Later in the day it was less than 10. I get similar, though less dramatic fluctuations in speed whether at home in Davao, or in my office in Ortigas. I get the same thing with 4 g speeds or even 4 g access. My guess is that there's not enough of a paid subscription base here to warrant the investment necessary for Smart or Globe to achieve greater consistency.
GE.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/461490/scitech/technology/phl-internet-still-among-slowest-in-apac-despite-speed-increase
GoodEnough
04-19-15, 23:28
I've now been in country for about a year without leaving, and knew that I would have to get an "Exit Clearance" prior to going to Thailand in two weeks. Since I'd never had to go through this process before, I was somewhat curious how long it would take, but the whole thing was surprisingly efficient and I was in and out of the Immigration office in Davao within an hour, with clearance in hand, thumb prints and photo firmly affixed thereto.
I noticed, while there, that the country now offers six. Month Tourist Visas that are evidently there for the asking. I had thought that the longest possible renewal was three months, so whether this is something new or whether it has been available for sometime, I don't know. It's also clear that under current rules, anyone staying without leaving for more than six months is subject to the Exit Clearance requirement.
GE.
I rarely have used my credit card in the Philippines. I might have used it 2-3 times other than paying for hotels in my past visits.
Since I'll be staying here a while, I decide to use my card when I got something to eat. I glanced at my receipt and notice that they print the card number on the receipt with the expiration date! Luckily, this is a burner card for me with a low limit, but I guess I'll need to check daily.
Anyone ever had fraudulent credit card charges when using their card in PI?
It's also clear that under current rules, anyone staying without leaving for more than six months is subject to the Exit Clearance requirement. Unless you have an SRRV or a Spouse Visa (13 (a)).
These are exempted from the ECC.
It's also clear that under current rules, anyone staying without leaving for more than six months is subject to the Exit Clearance requirement. Unless you have an SRRV or a Spouse Visa (13 (a)).
These are exempted from the ECC.
WestCoast1
04-20-15, 05:16
I rarely have used my credit card in the Philippines. I might have used it 2-3 times other than paying for hotels in my past visits.
Since I'll be staying here a while, I decide to use my card when I got something to eat. I glanced at my receipt and notice that they print the card number on the receipt with the expiration date! Luckily, this is a burner card for me with a low limit, but I guess I'll need to check daily.
Anyone ever had fraudulent credit card charges when using their card in PI?All of my CC transactions recently in both Manila and the province (about 11-2 transactions) showed 'XXXX' in place of the number. I don't recall the expiration date on the receipt. There were hotels, restaurants, stores in malls.
Others?
Regarding money exchange, I exchanged 7 times and got a low of 44.2 (Padre Faura), and a high of 44.45 (province), on the USD.
Member #4351
04-28-15, 16:36
Here is a question for the experts on the frum. The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Studies hard and will begin in San Jose Recoleta in Cebu this June. However she is completely ignorant regarding what course to study. She wanted to study HRM but when she went to register some teachers (probably from the Psych department) told her she should study Psychology so she changed majors. I told her that maybe she should talk to someone who knows about career possibilities and which major would be most worthwhile for her. She has absolutely no idea, and it seems there is no such thing as career counselors available to her. So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?
Screaming Beaver
04-28-15, 21:42
So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?Forget about any future in the Philippines. I would recommend a class in Spousal Visa 101. Best way to further her financial goals at the expense of a nave elderly foreigner. Good luck.
GoodEnough
04-29-15, 00:11
Here is a question for the experts on the frum. The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Studies hard and will begin in San Jose Recoleta in Cebu this June. However she is completely ignorant regarding what course to study. She wanted to study HRM but when she went to register some teachers (probably from the Psych department) told her she should study Psychology so she changed majors. I told her that maybe she should talk to someone who knows about career possibilities and which major would be most worthwhile for her. She has absolutely no idea, and it seems there is no such thing as career counselors available to her. So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?David, you indicate she's already graduated from college but I assume you meant high school since she's looking for a major subject.
HRM is the Major du Jour here, and seems to have supplanted Nursing as the most popular course. According to a former acquaintance who was the GM of one of the larger hotels in Davao, it's a fairLy useless major during which kids spend an inordinate amount of time learning to make beds, and insufficient time learning anything about actual management. Regardless of whether or not this is hyperbole, I think that HRM grads are, or soon will be a glut on the market. Having said that however, it's tough to spot any hot employment trends since this economy creates so few professional jobs relative to the number of young people entering the labor force each year.
Call center operations continue to generate thousands of some of the better paying jobs, but reasonable capabilities in spoken English appears to be the sole qualification needed, and even so, more than 90% of initial applicants for such work fail the proficiency exams. With the expansion of education here by another 2 years, Education may now be a viable career option, and I think that the salary levels of teachers has been raised recently, though Red Kilt would know far more about this than I. Civil and Software Engineering also seem like areas with some reasonable hopes of placement for graduates but this is an inference based on impressions rather than hard data.
GE.
FreebieFan
04-29-15, 01:51
Forget about any future in the Philippines. I would recommend a class in Spousal Visa 101. Best way to further her financial goals at the expense of a nave elderly foreigner. Good luck.The normal SB reply lacking in information, knowledge, or use. As in useless. We salute you SB. You seem to have cornered the market in this type of reply.
Screaming Beaver
04-29-15, 02:24
We salute you SB. You're welcome Freebie. It's been a while since you posted about banging six girls in one day. I hope your penile implant is still functional.
Here is a question for the experts on the frum. The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Studies hard and will begin in San Jose Recoleta in Cebu this June. However she is completely ignorant regarding what course to study. She wanted to study HRM but when she went to register some teachers (probably from the Psych department) told her she should study Psychology so she changed majors. I told her that maybe she should talk to someone who knows about career possibilities and which major would be most worthwhile for her. She has absolutely no idea, and it seems there is no such thing as career counselors available to her. So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?Girls I know having in-demand careers locally with higher-than-call-centre salaries are those with STEM degrees (except nursing) such as programmers and accountants.
Here is a question for the experts on the frum. The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Studies hard and will begin in San Jose Recoleta in Cebu this June. However she is completely ignorant regarding what course to study. She wanted to study HRM but when she went to register some teachers (probably from the Psych department) told her she should study Psychology so she changed majors. I told her that maybe she should talk to someone who knows about career possibilities and which major would be most worthwhile for her. She has absolutely no idea, and it seems there is no such thing as career counselors available to her. So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?Further to GE's response:
I am concerned that she "wanted to study HRM" since this is the cop-out area for most students who follow the crowd and / or don't have much of a track record of high achievement.
As GE said, there are literally thousands of HRM grads currently flooding the market with virtually useless pieces of paper.
I have no idea of her aptitude in certain subject areas but, as Huts says, if she has any inclination towards the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) areas then she should go down that route. San Jose Recoleta in Cebu is one of the better Schools in the Visayas in those subject areas.
Alternatively, Education will be a viable option for her as there is and will continue to be a shortage of teachers over the next decade.
Just as an alternative (and for others who might have similar questions to David's): I would suggest looking closely at the Tech-Vocational area as a focus, since the country desperately needs "technical" people in all areas. Students just have to get over the stigma attached in the past to studying at TVET level. It was seen previously as the area you study when you are too dumb to go to College / Univ. People who went into this area in the past 5 or so years are laughing all the way to the bank, as many have good jobs that will give them career progression, and they didn't need a lot of cash or 3 or 4 years to gain qualifications.
GE suggested there are few professional jobs available in the Philippines. This is not quite accurate, as there are plenty of jobs for new hirees.
Check out http://www.jobstreet.com.ph/ and see how many jobs are available in the Philippines for a variety of careers. Various Philippines Business Clubs are despairing at not being able to find people to fill these jobs. You can look at all the other job-seeking sites and see the same sort of statistics.
Here is a question for the experts on the frum. The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Studies hard and will begin in San Jose Recoleta in Cebu this June. However she is completely ignorant regarding what course to study. She wanted to study HRM but when she went to register some teachers (probably from the Psych department) told her she should study Psychology so she changed majors. I told her that maybe she should talk to someone who knows about career possibilities and which major would be most worthwhile for her. She has absolutely no idea, and it seems there is no such thing as career counselors available to her. So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?With all due respect to your question and concern for her education. I have a much harsher view and responses.
1. If she is undecided and let's someone sway her, then I doubt if she has the desire and will power let alone motivation to make it. Maybe she is not ready for higher education! Possibly a 2 year stint at a low paying job might give her some goals before going on to college.
2. It seems like a degree is necessary to open some doors but she needs to know what doors she wants to open.
3. IMO whether in Phil or US it is almost total waste of money for higher education unless the student has some goals in mind. That is not saying the higher Ed is worth the money either.
4. If she wants to know where the future higher paying jobs are, she just needs to look around to see who has it and ask them how they made it.
If she just wants to follow the flow and see where ever life takes her then please disregard 1-4.
GoodEnough
04-29-15, 05:05
With all due respect to your question and concern for her education. I have a much harsher view and responses.
1. If she is undecided and let's someone sway her, then I doubt if she has the desire and will power let alone motivation to make it. Maybe she is not ready for higher education! Possibly a 2 year stint at a low paying job might give her some goals before going on to college.
2. It seems like a degree is necessary to open some doors but she needs to know what doors she wants to open.
3. IMO whether in Phil or US it is almost total waste of money for higher education unless the student has some goals in mind. That is not saying the higher Ed is worth the money either.
4. If she wants to know where the future higher paying jobs are, she just needs to look around to see who has it and ask them how they made it.
If she just wants to follow the flow and see where ever life takes her then please disregard 1-4.I disagree with the above within the context of the Philippines. Most decent jobs here, including short-term sales work in the major malls require some sort of tertiary degree. It's virtually impossible here to secure adequate employment if credentials are limited to a high school diploma. RK's suggestion regarding pursuing some sort of TVET certification is much more astute and accurate. This place has a dire shortage of skilled technical workers, and pursuit of technician-level qualifications is an excellent suggestion, and one that's likely to result in viable employment.
As to being "swayed" by the opinion of others, I think her desire to seek knowledge from those who are more experienced, and presumably more knowledgeable than she are to her credit. Career counseling here is virtually on-existent in any formal sense, and often life-long career decisions are made on the basis of the college curriculum that the parents can afford. Historically, children graduate from high school at age 16 or so; an age at which they cannot be expected to possess any extensive knowledge of career options.
GE.
1. If she is undecided and let's someone sway her, then I doubt if she has the desire and will power let alone motivation to make it. Maybe she is not ready for higher education! Possibly a 2 year stint at a low paying job might give her some goals before going on to college.
Keep in mind this girl is the valedictorian, an honour indicative of her smarts, willfulness, and diligence. I think a lot teens will seek and heed the "expert advice" of educated elders, and young Filipinas tend to be quite deferential. Some may benefit from a gap year to work, but I think she needn't look far to see a lot of people working menial jobs and the lives they live. There are life-time earnings consequences of a 2-year finding-myself-and-my-goals delay. Plus, she may be surrounded by knuckleheads working such a job.
For a woman, who will eventually marry and have kids, having a career that provides a good income and provides family flexibility is desirable. Assuming one owns her own business being a dentist or a pharmacist allows a woman to maximise both.
Econo Tech
04-29-15, 07:08
The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Such valedictorian titles etc have not much meaning, outside Philippines.
So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?Did you use Decent Future and Philippines in the same sentence?
As of now, and near future, I see no hope for any job prospects, including doctors and lawyers and engineers.
As long as the country is t the control of the powers-be, who have crafted laws that only favour their own kind, and allow employment ads that specify height, weight, marital status, maximum age (yes, for doctors too they have started to state such stuff) there is not much hope in the country.
As for HRM, every other girl studies HRM, and then finds the jobs that are available are as waitress and tea maker in Singapore, Malaysia or even Middle-east.
As for nursing, those who study nursing, with the arm twisting of the politicians who have vested interest in hospitals, have been banned from taking in trainees- so nurses graduate, don't get training, and minus a minimum of 3 year training, most countries will not employ them as nurses. And the few who manage to pull strings end up working.
They end up as care givers in old folks home and such. Or the brave end up taking jobs in Libya, Africa and all, where, even there they are not paid more than 900 US $ or so.
Doctors? Well, that's an area that may work, if she can afford the 12 plus years of studies, graduation, finding a suitable hospital to do housemanship and then do the diploma etc, etc, and in Philippine system, set aside at least that amount of years, and it may be past 35+ before she can open a clinic, and hope she is not subject to any harassment. In Philippines, the robbers and thieves target doctors and such because they think the doctors and such are rich, and are not so untouchable.
And doctors, again, are not 'mobile' internationally. Only few of the Universities in Philippines are recognised and recognition doesn't mean a surgeon will get to work as a surgeon in Singapore, Malaysia or Brunei or elsewhere. They will start one level or more lower, and may stay for a few years there, before possibly getting recognised.
Call centers? It is a mini boom, that is slowly getting eroded, as the talented ones are moving overseas and the latest recruits have more than serious issues with English and comprehension.
IT engineers? Filipinos have been earning the ire of many country folks in South Asia and Middle east, accepting lower pay, than be jobless back home. But a few Filipinos manage to shine, and come up, though again, not in Philippines. It is always out of the country.
That's the scary part.
As to what career advice I would give?
Do what she likes, and be ready to switch / adopt, on what future demand brings. If she plans to stay in Philippines, go the general path. Nursing or HRM and then see what the future bring.
Or hope to find a job outside the country, based on what is in demand, and hopefully, with the right referrals, anchor herself firmly.
Geneva Guy
04-29-15, 08:37
As a veteran visitor to SE Asia but have never been in PHIL (but have fucked many Filipinas in Singapore), wanted to make some naive observer comments, veterans, don't laugh too hard:
-Security: I had never seen a real sawed-off shotgun before but there were all over Bacolod city and Manila (airport area and mall of Asia). I wonder if those guys know how to use those guns or maybe the shells are blanks. My taxi driver said "in PHIL we have lots of security but no security" hahaha. I need to get one of those sticks they use to look in your bag. The only perk. Having the lady security pat me down (I always tried to head over to the girls). "is that a cucumber in your pocket or are you happy to see me honey?" I asked for a full search. No luck.
-Rules: Staying at the new Hyatt city of dreams I figured, a US based hotel. Should be great. The rooms are nice, the staff are nice but too many freaking rules. Took my GFs kids to the pool, first was told they had to have cotton bathing suits, went to the mall, got them, came back, nope they need spandex suits. So which is it. If the guy I was taking to wasn't built like the hulk, I would have argued with him (they did finally get to swim).
-No soap: Public bathrooms often had no soap. I shook about 2000 hands in Bacolod and got to Manila and kaboom. Travelers diarrhea. I ate what everyone else ate (but maybe I ate someone no one else ate haha).
-Wechat very useful in places like Bacolod city. Prices are cheaper and no limits. I was able to get daytime and nigh time house calls for fun times. And the visitors didn't even ask for $, no mention of it. But of course, I offered the right thing to do. (1000 P).
-Airport: Yep, the WiFi station in T2 is crappy. No WiFi. But I learned the trick. You listen for a flight that is boarding and put THAT flight number into the username (a Filipino taught me that while sitting there). I think it was slower than dial-up (I was waiting for that annoying modem noise).
-Mall of Asia: Yum yum. If GF hadn't been with me would have been a buffet for me, sales girls, shoppers, giving that long look and smile. Oh well, I had the runs anyway. But the Sunday crowd was WOW. All the ladies coming from church in their Sunday best.
-L'Fisher hotel Bacolod city: Best hotel in town. 2 stars at best, WiFi 5 mbs, was told they would give me a "special" login, boosted up to 10 mbs. Wow.
-Manny pacquio signs everywhere. I was told he has many GFs. You think honey?
Anyway, this forum has been a big help to me guys so thanks.
GG
Guys, I don't mean to be argumentative at all. I respect all of your views. I think first of all I / we need to know what or how much is a decent income she is looking for to provide herself a decent future to give you an appropriate responses. And does she have any areas of interest, knowledge or talent(s)? Is she shy or more outgoing? Can she lead?
Guys, I don't mean to be argumentative at all. I respect all of your views. I think first of all I / we need to know what or how much is a decent income she is looking for to provide herself a decent future to give you an appropriate responses. And does she have any areas of interest, knowledge or talent(s)? Is she shy or more outgoing? Can she lead?With all due respect Dg, I think we have given David enough food for thought for his ex-gfs valedictorian little sister.
It's up to her now.
I wouldn't attempt to advise her on a specific future course; we have provided enough ideas for them to take this issue further.
As GE says, she is probably too young to know what she wants to do anyway, and, as we all know with today's global graduates, they rarely end up doing the job that they trained for anyway.
Member #4351
04-29-15, 15:12
Thanks for all the excellent advice and comments. I have passed it all on to her (removing names of course). My feeling is that she obtained the valedictorian title by working hard and doing a lot of memorizing. I'm afraid that any sort of analytic problem solving is most likely absent in the High School curriculum. I hope that she will be able to make a better decision thanks to the information you have provided.
Great Muta
04-29-15, 15:12
Most people have no idea what they want to do in life. I'm 26 and have a degree but still have no idea, aside from fucking women everyday. Most people just end up settling with a job that pays the bills.
Going to school for something you aren't into, aren't sure of and can't make money in is just a waste of cash.
Manny Pacquiao made lots of pesos tonight for doing very little so he loss in the ring but won with his wallet. He'll be back home soon to pay his taxes (maybe) and continue on with his job as a politician. Man is far removed from the time he whack out Ricky Hatton, he's now a shell of his former self.
Manny Pacquiao made lots of pesos tonight for doing very little so he loss in the ring but won with his wallet. He'll be back home soon to pay his taxes (maybe) and continue on with his job as a politician. Man is far removed from the time he whack out Ricky Hatton, he's now a shell of his former self.Run Mann, are you Floyd?
Econo Tech
05-03-15, 08:42
Manny Pacquiao made lots of pesos tonight for doing very little so he loss in the ring but won with his wallet. He'll be back home soon to pay his taxes (maybe) and continue on with his job as a politician. Man is far removed from the time he whack out Ricky Hatton, he's now a shell of his former self.Filipinos insist if Floyd didn't keep running away or hugging, Manny would have won.
Alas, the statistics on the number of punches landed and connected show Floyd is the true winner.
GoodEnough
05-03-15, 11:45
I've been with my Filipina partner in Bangkok for the past several days. It's her first time here, and though we've been together to Hong Kong and Singapore, she looked on both of these as "rich," so the discrepancies between the living standards and infrastructure of those cities and the Philippines impressed her, but didn't shock her very much. Her Thailand experience has been different though, and she's been consistently astounded at the huge differences she's seen between Bangkok and Manila, particularly since she understands that most of the major infrastructure: the elevated highways, the SkyTrain the subway to name but three, have all been constructed within the last 15-20 years as has the airport.
The immediate basis of comparison for her was the airport. I think we had to walk about 1. 5 km in Manila Terminal 3 to get to our "gate" so we could walk down some steel stairs and across the tarmac to our plane. There were two 20 meter or so people movers, but of course they were not working. The distance from the gate to Immigration in Bangkok was longer, but covered by literally hundreds of meters of people movers. The insights began then.
It's been interesting, if somewhat depressing to watch my Filipina confirm for herself how totally behind is the country that she loves. She's an intelligent woman who has witnessed now first hand what's possible with a competent government committed at least in part to economic development. It's been interesting as well to watch her interact with Thais who have continuously asked her to compare the two countries.
GE.
I hope you don't find too good of a French restaurant GE, we may loose you. The big thing I noticed last time I was in BKK, or didn't notice I should say, was the smell of diesel smoke and all the trucks. Apparently the trucks run at night and most of the taxis run on LNG.
Econo Tech
05-03-15, 13:14
It's been interesting, if somewhat depressing to watch my Filipina confirm for herself how totally behind is the country that she loves. She's an intelligent woman who has witnessed now first hand what's possible with a competent government committed at least in part to economic development. It's been interesting as well to watch her interact with Thais who have continuously asked her to compare the two countries.
GE.A lot of Delusional Filipinos believe Marcos was the best president ever, as most of the infrastructure in PH is during his time.
Of course, they forget the billions he spent on useless stuff, like the Nuclear Power Plant and Imelda's obsessions. Coconut palace et. al.
My two cents worth.
I put two women through short technical training courses.
One was a secretarial course, and one was computer course.
On completion, both immediately got permanent jobs, and as far as I know, they still have, almost 10 years later.
I sponsored one woman through a degree in HRM, ignorant of the potential outcome. She studied hard, got good grades. I spent more money helping her through job interviews. She still does not have a job, 5 years later. It is a useless bit of paper.
Maybe with some tech training, or post grad, she could find a job.
Just keep in mind that until very recently, the Philippines school system was 10 years. This means that their ordinary degree program is about equivalent to a trades course in Australia, certificate level 3. There are exceptions. UP, Feati, Ateneo, maybe Sto Tomas.
G
Here is a question for the experts on the frum. The little Sis of an Ex GF has just graduated from college and was the valedictorian. Studies hard and will begin in San Jose Recoleta in Cebu this June. However she is completely ignorant regarding what course to study. She wanted to study HRM but when she went to register some teachers (probably from the Psych department) told her she should study Psychology so she changed majors. I told her that maybe she should talk to someone who knows about career possibilities and which major would be most worthwhile for her. She has absolutely no idea, and it seems there is no such thing as career counselors available to her. So what majors would you guys recommend in order for possibly having a decent future in the Philippines?
Run Mann, are you Floyd?Are you Manny?
GoodEnough
05-03-15, 16:57
I hope you don't find too good of a French restaurant GE, we may loose you. The big thing I noticed last time I was in BKK, or didn't notice I should say, was the smell of diesel smoke and all the trucks. Apparently the trucks run at night and most of the taxis run on LNG.No worries Sam, I have too many solid ties to and obligations in the Philiipines. That said, if I could choose any country in SE Asian in which to live, it would be here IN Thailand.
GE.
Filipinos insist if Floyd didn't keep running away or hugging, Manny would have won.
Alas, the statistics on the number of punches landed and connected show Floyd is the true winner.That's what Floyd does in every fight so why would they expect him to be different this time? Manny knew this and was supposed to overwhelm Floyd with his speed and power but he couldn't get it done. All in all, Manny seem very content even after the loss, might have something to do with that big pay day he made.
Wicked Roger
05-03-15, 22:28
It's been interesting, if somewhat depressing to watch my Filipina confirm for herself how totally behind is the country that she loves. She's an intelligent woman who has witnessed now first hand what's possible with a competent government committed at least in part to economic development. It's been interesting as well to watch her interact with Thais who have continuously asked her to compare the two countries.
GE.Was watching a programme about the Vietnam war the other night with my pinay. She watched it intensely as it covered the war, the destruction of the country and its rebirth to the current day. She commented on how her country has stood still and Vietnam despite all the madness looks to be thriving and vibrant compared with where she comes from.
Same experience as you GE when I take the pinays to BKK as well as the richer ASEAN nations. The tour guide spoke about free schooling until 18 ears old. This amazed her when she heard it and asked the guide if it was true.
In some ways it is depressing to see the lights turns on and they realize what has not been happening in their country for so long and how much opportunity has been missed (or as she said " why should Manny pay taxes as the politicians will take it and won't be used for my parents benefit".
That's what Floyd does in every fight so why would they expect him to be different this time? Manny knew this and was supposed to overwhelm Floyd with his speed and power but he couldn't get it done. All in all, Manny seem very content even after the loss, might have something to do with that big pay day he made.My girl sent me a note. I wish my man would hug me like Mayweather when we fight.
In some ways it is depressing to see the lights turns on and they realize what has not been happening in their country for so long and how much opportunity has been missed (or as she said " why should Manny pay taxes as the politicians will take it and won't be used for my parents benefit".If the lights turn on and the Philippines kicks out the Americans once and for all, undoes a few centuries worth of Spanish religionism, and rediscovers and embraces their inner Asian. Then witness what's possible.
FreebieFan
05-04-15, 03:55
Filipinos insist if Floyd didn't keep running away or hugging, Manny would have won.
Alas, the statistics on the number of punches landed and connected show Floyd is the true winner.Filpinos in general have challenges in accepting that a person, other than the one they chose could win.
My Filipina wechat friends in China have been messaging up a storm saying "how could a cheat win like that. ".
I suggested that their guy didn't win, the other guy won, and its not like Filipino election where upon announcing the winner, the opposition cries that it must have been bought, due to "black propaganda, "squid tactics " and that a TRO would be sought forthwith to reverse the result.
A few sane (nearly sane) Filipinas agreed that in general Filipinos have a hard time accepting a result that didn't go their way.
. . . I put two women through short technical training courses.
One was a secretarial course, and one was computer course.
On completion, both immediately got permanent jobs, and as far as I know, they still have, almost 10 years later.
<SNIP > That's what I said in Post 9105 Gangles.
I am glad you reinforced my view.
Wicked Roger
05-04-15, 11:36
Filpinos in general have challenges in accepting that a person, other than the one they chose could win.
My Filipina wechat friends in China have been messaging up a storm saying "how could a cheat win like that. ".
I suggested that their guy didn't win, the other guy won, and its not like Filipino election where upon announcing the winner, the opposition cries that it must have been bought, due to "black propaganda, "squid tactics " and that a TRO would be sought forthwith to reverse the result.
A few sane (nearly sane) Filipinas agreed that in general Filipinos have a hard time accepting a result that didn't go their way.There is also some pictures of the judges scorecards doing the rounds on Facebook (where all pinays get there news!) showing ("proving") that Pacman was cheated and he really won.
One day pinays will wake from their dream land and realize the world has passed them country by. Sad really as they are nice people but so naive at times. This happen mainly when you take one or more overseas so they can see the real world (as I have done a few times).
GoodEnough
05-04-15, 15:49
If the lights turn on and the Philippines kicks out the Americans once and for all, undoes a few centuries worth of Spanish religionism, and rediscovers and embraces their inner Asian. Then witness what's possible.Not sure that you can ascribe the massive corruption, dynastic politics, incompetence and indifference of the government to the Americans. The fact is, this place has simply never created mechanisms for effective governance.
GE.
Traveler1234
05-04-15, 16:17
It's been interesting, if somewhat depressing to watch my Filipina confirm for herself how totally behind is the country that she loves. She's an intelligent woman who has witnessed now first hand what's possible with a competent government committed at least in part to economic development. It's been interesting as well to watch her interact with Thais who have continuously asked her to compare the two countries.
GE.There was a period from the late 70's to 2005 when I'd visit at least once a year, often more. It was disconcerting to arrive at the airport and see the same luggage trolleys over and over again for X peso fee. It got progressively worse as you leave the airport and drive into town. Everyone has seen the changes throughout the rest of Asia. I frankly don't know why but it is very very sad.
Wicked Roger
05-04-15, 23:08
If the lights turn on and the Philippines kicks out the Americans once and for all, undoes a few centuries worth of Spanish religionism, and rediscovers and embraces their inner Asian. Then witness what's possible.I agree with GE that you can't blame the Americans for the woes of this country as the overt corruption etc in is bred from birth.
As to your comment Golfinho. Pigs will fly first, bacon will be served in all cafes in Saudi Arabia first, man will land on Mars first. Basically that will never happen in a lifetime of Sundays as he families that effectively run the country won't let it. The irony is that the government prides itself on good governance and has conferences on the subject, blow its trumpets about how great they are in this area and no one believes them except their cronies.
The Philippines needs USA investment and protecting from China as it can't defend itself. So the Americans are not going home any time soon.
FreebieFan
05-05-15, 02:14
There was a period from the late 70's to 2005 when I'd visit at least once a year, often more. It was disconcerting to arrive at the airport and see the same luggage trolleys over and over again for X peso fee. It got progressively worse as you leave the airport and drive into town. Everyone has seen the changes throughout the rest of Asia. I frankly don't know why but it is very very sad.And those airport trolley charges. The right to charge was given to an ex General of the Philippines Army who said he was going to donate a certain percentage of the fee to charity. Well, you can imagine which charity that went to.
Pinaypounder
05-07-15, 01:27
If the lights turn on and the Philippines kicks out the Americans once and for all, undoes a few centuries worth of Spanish religionism, and rediscovers and embraces their inner Asian. Then witness what's possible.Really? Have you been here? The Filipinos could not organize a [CodeWord140] (http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140) in a forest! The worst part is that they don't think they should.
They have decades or generations of abhorrent culture leading to almost complete abject failure and they sit there and accept their fate, few even try to get ahead, they complain about the government but not to loudly and they do nothing to improve themselves and you blame the Americans? I am a Canadian that important to know but the Pinoys have no one to blame but themselves. They are who they are because they chose and allowed it.
My Great Grandsons will be fucking pinays for the same relative rates only what I have noticed in the last 8 years is they are getting fatter and fatter.
I have staff there and they can not follow clear simple written instructions, they are truly a stupid people because they are so lazy, so completely lazy, that they have literally forgotten what it takes to succeed, I am not sure they ever did. No Culture I have ever encountered can play stupid like a pinoy!
It takes forever to create a successful mindset IF you can even find a mind worth investing in. And I only deal with university grads and my teenager is both more capable and more mature.
I thought I found a keeper GF here but she is either a huge liar or stupid, I really can't decide the worst part is she treats me like I am one of her stupid friends because she is surrounded by stupidity but of course she is not aware because stupid is there norm and I am tired of thinking about it, I thought this one was different HA HA HA!
There are of course exceptions to the rule and typically they are unattractive women, and I employ a couple of GREAT people there.
Come here fuck them be honest for your own self worth and leave your sperm and cash and go home, don't even think about helping or changing them, it simply drains your life force.
PP.
Pinaypounder
05-07-15, 01:42
My two cents worth.
I put two women through short technical training courses.
One was a secretarial course, and one was computer course.
On completion, both immediately got permanent jobs, and as far as I know, they still have, almost 10 years later.
GYou know this is an interesting viewpoint. Technical schools are more to the point and typically prepare you for the role. I mostly deal with university educated and now tha tI think about it, they simply are not smart enough for worldly thoughts but the few with technical training are much more valid and down to earth.
They should abolish unis but then such a large useless for profit business would die.
I will keep this observation in my head on my next trip!
PP.
GoodEnough
05-07-15, 05:20
"There are of course exceptions to the rule and typically they are unattractive women, and I employ a couple of GREAT people there. ".
PP, I wasn't going to respond to your post but it bothered me enough that I'll react briefly. I have two major problems with the major assumptions on which the thinly veiled racism reflected in your diatribe is based:
First, you confuse "stupid" with a lack of opportunity for intellectual development which is, sadly, so characteristic of the culture. Multiple posts have been written about the utter failure of the educational system to nurture critical thinking skills. I won't belabor the point other than to restate that the public education system here lacks quality learning materials, computers, science labs and well trained teachers: virtually all of the educational accoutrements that most of us take for granted. This country spends, on average, about $220 a year per capita on public education. In the developed world we spend approximately $10,000-$12,000. Other countries in ASEAN, aside from Singapore spend in the range of $1,500-$2,500. So, public education in this place is hardly fertile ground for intellectual development. This dearth of opportunity however is not synonymous with "stupid. ".
In the field of logic, there are no exceptions to a rule, but I think the point you're making is that you've met a few "intelligent" Filipinos. I've been here now for more than eleven years and have worked with dozens of local professionals who are at least as good as anyone with whom I've ever worked in the developed world, and perhaps in some cases better. Some have earned their Ph. The. S or Masters Degrees abroad, but the majority have done their graduate work at UP Diliman or Ateneo. It's unfortunate that obviously your experience doesn't include the pleasure of working with this echelon of professional Filipinos, but I assure you it exists.
For me, your post was inaccurate and lacking in factual substance.
GE.
"There are of course exceptions to the rule and typically they are unattractive women, and I employ a couple of GREAT people there. ".
PP, I wasn't going to respond to your post but it bothered me enough that I'll react briefly. I have two major problems with the major assumptions on which the thinly veiled racism reflected in your diatribe is based:
First, you confuse "stupid" with a lack of opportunity for intellectual development which is, sadly, so characteristic of the culture. Multiple posts have been written about the utter failure of the educational system to nurture critical thinking skills. I won't belabor the point other than to restate that the public education system here lacks quality learning materials, computers, science labs and well trained teachers: virtually all of the educational accoutrements that most of us take for granted. This country spends, on average, about $220 a year per capita on public education. In the developed world we spend approximately $10,000-$12,000. Other countries in ASEAN, aside from Singapore spend in the range of $1,500-$2,500. So, public education in this place is hardly fertile ground for intellectual development. This dearth of opportunity however is not synonymous with "stupid. ".
In the field of logic, there are no exceptions to a rule, but I think the point you're making is that you've met a few "intelligent" Filipinos. I've been here now for more than eleven years and have worked with dozens of local professionals who are at least as good as anyone with whom I've ever worked in the developed world, and perhaps in some cases better. Some have earned their Ph. The. S or Masters Degrees abroad, but the majority have done their graduate work at UP Diliman or Ateneo. It's unfortunate that obviously your experience doesn't include the pleasure of working with this echelon of professional Filipinos, but I assure you it exists.
For me, your post was inaccurate and lacking in factual substance.
GE.Give PP a break. He is Canadian. Canada only produces hookers and hockey players. Don't waste your time trying to educate either.
My two cents worth.
I put two women through short technical training courses.
Gangles. Your mail-box is full so you cannot receive the PM you requested of me.
GE,
I could not agree more.
My experience has been similar to yours, working with, and employing, very well educated and very intelligent Filipinos.
And they earned their money. I typically paid about 50,000 to 60,000 per month, and it was always good value for money.
G
"There are of course exceptions to the rule and typically they are unattractive women, and I employ a couple of GREAT people there. ".
PP, I wasn't going to respond to your post but it bothered me enough that I'll react briefly. I have two major problems with the major assumptions on which the thinly veiled racism reflected in your diatribe is based:
First, you confuse "stupid" with a lack of opportunity for intellectual development which is, sadly, so characteristic of the culture. Multiple posts have been written about the utter failure of the educational system to nurture critical thinking skills. I won't belabor the point other than to restate that the public education system here lacks quality learning materials, computers, science labs and well trained teachers: virtually all of the educational accoutrements that most of us take for granted. This country spends, on average, about $220 a year per capita on public education. In the developed world we spend approximately $10,000-$12,000. Other countries in ASEAN, aside from Singapore spend in the range of $1,500-$2,500. So, public education in this place is hardly fertile ground for intellectual development. This dearth of opportunity however is not synonymous with "stupid. "..
I was interested in your lady's observations.
I had a similar experience, but a bit different.
I recently took my lady to Malaysia, Borneo.
Her first remarkable observation was. No guns.
Second, no cars parked on sidewalks.
Interesting and interested.
G
I've been with my Filipina partner in Bangkok for the past several days. It's her first time here, and though we've been together to Hong Kong and Singapore, she looked on both of these as "rich," so the discrepancies between the living standards and infrastructure of those cities and the Philippines impressed her, but didn't shock her very much. Her Thailand experience has been different though, and she's been consistently astounded at the huge differences she's seen between Bangkok and Manila, particularly since she understands that most of the major infrastructure: the elevated highways, the SkyTrain the subway to name but three, have all been constructed within the last 15-20 years as has the airport.
The immediate basis of comparison for her was the airport. I think we had to walk about 1. 5 km in Manila Terminal 3 to get to our "gate" so we could walk down some steel stairs and across the tarmac to our plane. There were two 20 meter or so people movers, but of course they were not working. The distance from the gate to Immigration in Bangkok was longer, but covered by literally hundreds of meters of people movers. The insights began then.
It's been interesting, if somewhat depressing to watch my Filipina confirm for herself how totally behind is the country that she loves. She's an intelligent woman who has witnessed now first hand what's possible with a competent government committed at least in part to economic development. It's been interesting as well to watch her interact with Thais who have continuously asked her to compare the two countries.
GE.
Pinaypounder
05-10-15, 00:29
I have spent allot of time there in the past 8 years likely 350 + days interacting with primarily Degree and up, the educational system has a little impact on whether one is stupid or not. You are born and raised smart or not.
Education and a university only allow you an opportunity to LEARN new things and do not impact upon your cognitive capability. Their culture and ideals are what make them stupid.
In a country of 93 million I know there are exceptions and at those wages you are dealing with the CREAM OF THE CROP boys, the TOP 1 - 2 percent.
And the Cream of the CROP aint the normal peson on the street.
With regard to my being racist I have OBSERVED these facts it is not racist to report them.
I am there in May and I would LOVE to meet those professionals superior to a Canadian Professional.
As I have written in the past there is one exceptional lady in Manila that is indeed superior to most of her ilk here. 1 in 10's of thousands!
PP.
Pinaypounder
05-10-15, 00:30
Give PP a break. He is Canadian. Canada only produces hookers and hockey players. Don't waste your time trying to educate either.WE should meet at the rink in MOA! Hopefully you skate!
PP.
WE should meet at the rink in MOA! Hopefully you skate!
PP.Sorry but your superior educated guess is wrong. I am not Canadian. I am an American, which makes us far more superior than Canadians. I could take your rant and substitute Canadians for Filipinos but I won't.
Please help me understand why (bakit) do you stay or have business here if you have so many issuses here?
GoodEnough
05-10-15, 10:44
Sorry but your superior educated guess is wrong. I am not Canadian. I am an American, which makes us far more superior than Canadians. I could take your rant and substitute Canadians for Filipinos but I won't.
Please help me understand why (bakit) do you stay or have business here if you have so many issuses here?I wondered the same thing, I suppose the answer is that, cultural and ethnic contempt notwithstanding, it's just easier to get laid here with pretty young women. Apparently his contempt for the people and the culture has been subordinated to the sex drive.
I also found it amusing to be lectured about the difference between "education" and "intelligence," as if his conclusions were some sort of novel revelation. My point, which I guess PP didn't quite grasp, was merely that the system of public education here is so inadequate that it fails utterly to develop the intellectual potential of its enrollees; with some exceptions, the same is true of tertiary institutions. That there's so little return here for the investments in public education is primarily attributable to the fact that there's so little investment in education.
As to the ludicrous notion that Filipino professionals could not possibly perform at the same or perhaps a higher level than Canadians of comparable levels of education, experience and training, I just giggled. I am, by training and education a social science researcher, and I've worked with statisticians at Ateneo who were, by any measure, better than my major professors in graduate school. I've collaborated with some Social Science profs at UP Diliman whose grasp of theory and its application within the context of the culture of the Philippines was far superior to that of the USA --and yes, Canadian--professionals with whom I've worked here. Are these folks anomalies? Yes they are, but only because highly intelligent, abnormally competent people are anomalies everywhere.
The bottom line for me is that if your perceptions are filtered through a screen of blatant ethnocentrism your perceptions will invariably be incorrect. It must be difficult walking around day by day so full of contempt.
GE.
PP is a PP, but I didn't see the post where he suggested DG8787 was Canadian. He suggested meeting at the skate rink. I'm also American, but can't skate unless I have a big stick, a big black puck, and some angry looking dude who bearing down on me. Hopefully, he isn't Canadian. LOL.
This is getting a bit silly, but please go on gentlemen. X.
Sorry but your superior educated guess is wrong. I am not Canadian. I am an American, which makes us far more superior than Canadians. I could take your rant and substitute Canadians for Filipinos but I won't.
Please help me understand why (bakit) do you stay or have business here if you have so many issuses here?
GoodEnough
05-10-15, 10:57
This is getting a bit silly, but please go on gentlemen. X.I agree X, it's time to move on and I'll have nothing more to say on the subject. Maybe see you eventually in Davao?
GE.
. . . . I've worked with statisticians at Ateneo who were, by any measure, better than my major professors in graduate school. I've collaborated with some Social Science profs at UP Diliman whose grasp of theory and its application within the context of the culture of the Philippines was far superior to that of the USA --and yes, Canadian--professionals with whom I've worked here. Are these folks anomalies? Yes they are, but only because highly intelligent, abnormally competent people are anomalies everywhere.I think you and PP are in agreement GE.
He actually said that "In a country of 93 million I know there are exceptions and at those wages you are dealing with the CREAM OF THE CROP boys, the TOP 1 - 2 percent. And the Cream of the CROP ain't the normal person on the street".
This 1 - 2% constitute GE's anomalies.
From my experience working here I suggest that we are all on the same page. The outstanding filipino individuals (PP's cream of the crop), whether working in academia or just plain civil servants, are as good as people we would find anywhere else in the world. I think 1 - 2% might be too high a number though for these "anomalies" in a population close to 100 Million souls but I am only guessing.
GoodEnough
05-11-15, 03:47
Sitting here sweltering through yet another "rotational brownout," which is a euphemism for: "we haven't invested anything in any infrastructure in 20 years and have no plans to do so. Ever. " Many Filipinos in Mindanao think inadequate supplies of electricity are normal everywhere and some appear genuinely surprised to here that it's not normal even in many other SE Asian countries. I love the people here, but the place is utterly hopeless.
GE.
Sitting here sweltering through yet another "rotational brownout," which is a euphemism for: "we haven't invested anything in any infrastructure in 20 years and have no plans to do so. Ever. " Many Filipinos in Mindanao think inadequate supplies of electricity are normal everywhere and some appear genuinely surprised to here that it's not normal even in many other SE Asian countries. I love the people here, but the place is utterly hopeless.
GE.During the Maywether / Pacquiao fight, there were warnings to temporarily disconnect fridges and aircons to avoid a brownout during the fight.
You still see several diesel generators around during a brown-out. I am a little suprised that Solar hasn't taken off there yet.
GoodEnough
05-11-15, 10:36
During the Maywether / Pacquiao fight, there were warnings to temporarily disconnect fridges and aircons to avoid a brownout during the fight.
You still see several diesel generators around during a brown-out. I am a little suprised that Solar hasn't taken off there yet.To introduce solar here would have two economically undesirable effects from the standpoint of those who own the country. First, it would weaken the virtual monopoly on the supply of electric power that some of the families enjoy. Two, it might reduce the cost of electricity, now the highest or second highest in Asia, further diminishing profits for connected families.
GE.
GE, you are getting crankier these days.
In retrospect, should poor nations have invested in telephone poles as the cell phone technology was taking off?
Should countries invest billions in coal, gas, or nuclear power plants in order to power pachinko parlors and heated toilet seats (Tokyo), or gambling casinos and gaudy neon lights (Las Vegas), or. ?
The lack of power is a problem in an extremely uncomfortable climate like philippines. I'm not so fond of AC, but I like to have an electric powered fan on days / nights of heat and humidity.
Sitting here sweltering through yet another "rotational brownout," which is a euphemism for: "we haven't invested anything in any infrastructure in 20 years and have no plans to do so. Ever. " Many Filipinos in Mindanao think inadequate supplies of electricity are normal everywhere and some appear genuinely surprised to here that it's not normal even in many other SE Asian countries. I love the people here, but the place is utterly hopeless.
GE.
GoodEnough
05-16-15, 06:20
Yesterday was Friday, which meant for me that it was time to take my weekly flight from Manila back to the relative sanity of Davao. Though the airport has not and likely never will improve, it's gotten slightly easier for me to manage since I've reconciled myself to senior citizen status, and decided to take full advantage of the priority services offered to those flying under the aegis of that flag. The major advantage is that I don't wait in line for anything. Rather, I just head to the front, say the magic words "senior citizen and am whisked promptly through with no obvious resentment from others waiting patiently in the queue. If you've got to get old, maybe the Philippines is the place to do it.
I wound up with about an hour to kill prior to boarding, and as I hadn't eaten breakfast, decided to hit one of the snack places to get some coffee or have a Coke Zero. I shared a table with another American; a man slightly younger than I, who has spent the last 15 years or so in Bangkok. He told me he's relocating to Siargao, which he thinks is beautiful and extremely well managed. I was struck my his perceptions that, despite the government corruption, lack of infrastructure, and general incompetence associated with public services, the Philippines was desirable simply because its people are more gracious and much more accepting of foreigners than are Thais. He said that regardless of the amount of time spent in country, and regardless of one's fluency in the language, at the end of the day, we are, and will forever remain "fareng. " Both of us agreed that this is not the case here in many instances and rarely to that extent.
I found it interesting that despite Thailand's obvious advantages in infrastructure, food and general efficiency, he still prefers to live here.
GE.
Fastpiston
05-16-15, 07:25
I was browsing on Internet and came across details of six brothels in Berlin that for US $ 140 (100 Euro, or about Peso 6000) offer all inclusive accommodation, drinks and.
As many rounds as you like with a number of girls from 4 PM till dawn.
With bar fines rapidly rising in Philippines, add in airfares and accommodation and drinks, looks like it is slowly pricing itself out of the market?
Fastpiston
05-16-15, 07:43
To introduce solar here would have two economically undesirable effects from the standpoint of those who own the country. First, it would weaken the virtual monopoly on the supply of electric power that some of the families enjoy. Two, it might reduce the cost of electricity, now the highest or second highest in Asia, further diminishing profits for connected families.
GE.You are right, the old Spanish dynasties that run the country will never allow new entries into the market. Unless, of course, they can collect their toll.
Foreign names are rare in the Philippines unless they are franchises or pay tolls to the dynasties. Power, retail, transport, politics are all under their tight control.
Example on retail pricing cartel:
Prices of a standard set basket of electrical appliances cost US $ 5630 in Manila, US $ 4190 in London (inclusive of 20% VAT), US $ 3960 in New York, US $ 4300 in KL according to a UBS bank survey.
Foreign names are rare in the Philippines unless they are franchises or pay tolls to the dynasties.
Foreign names like Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei? And the list goes on and on. Heck, Pres. Aquino's maternal grandfather is a Cojuangco.
Fastpiston
05-18-15, 01:09
Foreign names like Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei? And the list goes on and on. Heck, Pres. Aquino's maternal grandfather is a Cojuangco.Spanish and Chinese DYNASTIES!
I was browsing on Internet and came across details of six brothels in Berlin that for US $ 140 (100 Euro, or about Peso 6000) offer all inclusive accommodation, drinks and.
As many rounds as you like with a number of girls from 4 PM till dawn.
With bar fines rapidly rising in Philippines, add in airfares and accommodation and drinks, looks like it is slowly pricing itself out of the market?There are several different kind of legal shops in Germany. The kind you described may sound a good deal, but in general the "girls" will be rather long in the tooth and certainly not SYTs. More like hausfraus trying to make a living. This type of establishment will have a limited number of girls. Too get PI-type quality SYTs, you would need to go to an FKK. , where in the best there will be a wide selection of girls, types, nationalities, etc. There, admission would run 50€-75€ ($57-$86 USD), and 30 minute sessions would run 50€-60€ ($57-$69 USD) plus 25€-100€ ($29-$114 USD) for extras such as CIM, Swallowing, or Greek. Bar is typically non-alcoholic. Sometimes but not always you can buy booze. A simple buffet is included. Accommodations are not available.
You just can't really replicate the pinay GFE experience with anything but a pinay.
Econo Tech
05-18-15, 03:42
Spanish and Chinese DYNASTIES!Yep, and only those who are firmly anchored in the Country, and very few ever made it up to the top, During Marcos times or after.
Almost all the rich oligarchs, who are the real movers and shakers, and the biggest landlords, only become more powerful in Ph, after Edsa.
Cory, instead of removing them, danced to their tunes and made the country even poor, by letting the oligarchs get away with anything.
Example, why the heck is Manila congested and beyond hope, but, the current president loves the idea of another airport, in Manila, instead of upgrading Clark (actually there is a good runway already in Clark, all it needs is a terminal and good transit to Manila) . Because, the biggest landlords of Manila want everything in Manila, and they always force their hands, so instead of addressing the issue of runways, President Aquino is close to approving another terminal for NAIA.
And only in Philippines, the landlords are so powerful, even Highways have to detour.
I am sure, Hutsori, you know why there is no straight road? And why there are so many private gated areas and the traffic has to divert? And why instead of resolving the traffic and transport, it only gets worse?
Heck, nobody, I mean, nobody goes against the movers and shakers.
How else can the country become poor and poor, while there are more and more malls being built? Malls which use extremely unfair labor practices specifying height, weight, age etc, for a cashier job.
And if anybody protest against one of the 'families' it is one of the opponents puppets.
In fact, "activists" are all paid by one family or other, to keep the heat on somebody else.
Ah, for that matter, remember the Princess of Stars sank, and took a thousand souls (don't forget the world's biggest peace time maritime tragedy. Dona Paz) the owners of the shipping company, who sent Dona Paz to a fiery grave and also another ship, were never even penalised, and got away with offering 25,000 peso compensation, which they haven't paid till date, because the courts found no liability, for the Dona paz, as it was the other tanker's fault, per paid judges, and the owners refused to admit liability, and the court agreed.
And when there was pressure to shut down the owners, GMA herself wanted to, but was advised otherwise, lest the economy of the country will suffer, as the owners of Sulpicio lines are very important to trade in Philippines or whatever.
And anybody who went against one of the rich families. See what happened to GMA herself, when she wanted to remove the 60/40 ownership.
The 60/40 ownership was put in place by Marcos, supposedly to protect Filipino businesses. But actually to protect his friends, and then Cory onward. Pretending to protect the local businesses, only made the law firm.
Do you recall Fedex being kicked out, and the few thousand jobs lost, apparently to protect the Filipino businesses? That's Philippines.
The few thousand jobs don't matter, what matters is the Filipino pride is upheld.
And likewise, the Zamabales Congressman threatened to commit suicide, if the Americans came back, as he fiercely said Americans are evil, but in reality, he feared the Americans will want to take back some of the infrastructure they left behind, infrastructure that has been distributed within the rich and powerful, or partnered with some foreign company with the foreigner putting most money, and one of the rich having majority share (60/40).
And that's why new businesses or small industries can never come up.
If you get successful, one of the congressman, or senator will want a share, and if you are a foreigner, they will find a way to take over your business.
If you are a local, they will find a way to shut your business down, quoting some spurious violation, while the likes of the Ken Tex with zero fire exists, thrive. As they have the right people in their pocket.
In essence, Philippines will continue to export more and more, malls will be built to suck the money, and. The rich will get even richer, the poor will get even poorer (ah, OFWs? Do you know what they teach returning OFWs? They are taught stuff like how to run a sari-sari shop, coffee business, food cart, and likes, never a helping hand to let them setup something that will grow. No. Not possible.).
And for the masses, they are happy hearing about Kris Aquino being scolded by foreigners, and how Ding Dong Dante's wife is pregnant, and which woman President is romancing, and about another actor, who is reminiscing his past loves. Or his past sex partners. By media controlled by one of the families, while the news of the 72 killed in the fire becomes second page news.
And for the output of the universities, influenced by the tele-dramas and such, all showing rags-to-riches stories, and letting the young fantasize that it is real life (can't blame 'them because of the poverty.).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYjfT7uIRIQ
Sorry for the rant.
Fastpiston: the quality of the electrical items you find in Philippines is not even 1/10th of the quality of what you see in KL or BKK, and they cost premium prices.
Shopping in SM? 90% of the clothes have horrible stitches, but are promoted and the masses living on the remittance economy love SM. (SM is opening it's 53rd mall think. Soon).
BrainDrain
05-18-15, 04:16
You just can't really replicate the pinay GFE experience with anything but a pinay.It's often forgotten that a pinay is often "all-in". They are there for hours, not 30 minutes inc shower time.
I visited the Swiss version of FKK and had a wonderful night but did spend A500 about P18,000 for the evening.
Can certainly make P18,000 go a longer way in AC.
Spanish and Chinese DYNASTIES!You realise that Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Andrew Tan and many others were born outside the Philippines and started their businesses after WWII, in some cases decades after independence. Their histories are far different from that of the dynastic Zobel de Ayala's. Looking at Asia it's rare to find an Occidental surname running a business empire in Japan, Korea, China, etc. It's pretty much the Fujian Chinese and a few Indians who have found success in Asia beyond their homelands. In Asia it seems it's the Philippines (Zobel de Ayala, Aboitiz) and Hong Kong (Keswicks) where some European surnames still exist as prominent, dynastic business leaders.
Sadly for the Philippines there are few industrialists on its list of billionaires; most have made their fortunes in retail, real estate, and food & beverage.
Louis Paul Heussaff and Rajan Sadhwani are less notable, i.e. non-billionaire, foreign business leaders who have thrived in the Philippines. The community of prosperous Sindhis in the Philippines tells me that foreigners can and do flourish.
Econo Tech
05-19-15, 06:58
Louis Paul Heussaff and Rajan Sadhwani are less notable, i.e. non-billionaire, foreign business leaders who have thrived in the Philippines. The community of prosperous Sindhis in the Philippines tells me that foreigners can and do flourish.My 2 cents is, anybody who is not a Ayala, Zobel, Tan, or Sy, to Gokongwei, or. Such uber big, can only go to a certain level.
If and when they threaten the dominance of the oligarchs, a way will be found to trim the tails of the intruder.
If nothing, then evidence can be manufactured about wrong doings, and it can be convincing enough to warrant your bank accounts to be seized and business frozen.
Happens a lot, but not much hits the news stands.
Latest. License of Sea Air (the reincarnated Sea Air. Owned and run by Airline professionals) and Sky Jet, as they were challenging the dominance of PAL and Cebu Pacific.
Well, even Chinese / Chinoys are not immune to the constant threat of shut down. By fellow Chinoys.
My 2 cents is, anybody who is not a Ayala, Zobel, Tan, or Sy, to Gokongwei, or. Such uber big, can only go to a certain level.
If the Philippines is as static as some believe then it would be only the long-established dynastic families such as the Tuason family running the show - it is the only family elevated to noble status by Spanish royal decree, quite a feat by a Chinese immigrant. At the start of the 20th century the Tuasons were at the pinnacle. Today, the Tuasons are certainly a prosperous and powerful family, yet they have been overtaken by 1st generation upstarts such as the Tans and Sys. If things are so locked up how could this happen?
Today where are the Gorrichos and the Pardo de Taveras? Do you know what happened to the tycoon Vicente Madrigal's estate? Where is Ynchausti y Compania? We all know of the Zobel de Alayas, yet who knows of the McMickings? The dilution of oligarch power and wealth was in large measure due to feuding amongst heirs; in such cases it's the lawyers and judges who benefit. For example, Vicente Madrigal died in 1972, and his 7 children battled 23 years to sort out an imperfect settlement. In 2012 disputes over some estate holdings were still unresolved, and at that time 6 of 7 original heirs were already dead. The disputes persist for generations. The heirs' attention is on each other and not on business, and the marketplace's gaps and seams are found and won by others. Henry Sy did nothing revolutionary; he merely bought some shoes from the US, built on his success expanding to stores and then malls, yada yada. As the founders of the Sy and Tan empires pass it'll be interesting to see what transpires. Will this hold true: the first generation makes it, the second generation spends it, and the third generation blows it. That the Zobel de Ayalas and the Cojuangcos have thrived through the generations is remarkable.
Let's not think the Philippines is controlled by Insulares, Chinoys and Mestizos exclusively. Don Antonio Floirendo, the "Banana King" from Davao, started as a kutsero (horse-drawn carriage driver) and later founded his agricultural business in 1950. Manny Villar, real estate mogul and politician, came from a lowly family living in Tondo. And there are many more.
Wicked Roger
05-20-15, 10:25
The subject of speeds has been discussed before but another survey on Asia ranks the Philippines above Afghanistan and states it is the most expensive (which I believe) There are was to improve speed as some have said (Pip J for one) but the speeds and costs combination makes it a poor deal.
Friend who come to Manila a lots was in Seoul the other week and the comparison was so different and shocking.
http://kickerdaily.com/philippines-ranks-second-slowest-in-asia-for-internet-download-speed/
GoodEnough
05-20-15, 13:21
The subject of speeds has been discussed before but another survey on Asia ranks the Philippines above Afghanistan and states it is the most expensive (which I believe) There are was to improve speed as some have said (Pip J for one) but the speeds and costs combination makes it a poor deal.
Friend who come to Manila a lots was in Seoul the other week and the comparison was so different and shocking.
http://kickerdaily.com/philippines-ranks-second-slowest-in-asia-for-internet-download-speed/In a recent survey that I saw summarized on FaceBook today the Philiipines was ranked dead last. It's like every other bit of infrastructure here and the fact is no one cares.
GE.
Member #4387
05-20-15, 16:44
In a recent survey that I saw summarized on FaceBook today the Philiipines was ranked dead last. It's like every other bit of infrastructure here and the fact is no one cares.
GE.I agree with you that the ones who matters do not care but for a few of my fuckbuddies having lived abroad and who operates internationally they do care a lot. Infact they are quite embarressed in how fast phils is slacking behind countries they should've been able to compare themself with. They can view it on a weekly basis as they have stopover in huge modern cities globaly and according to them (and myself ofcourse) it is not a pretty sight. A frase often heard is "what can I do about it". Ofcourse moving again is an option I lay out for them. But for these speciments as they have grabbed hold of rather, in phil standards, popular jobs (cabincrew) and have their base at NAIA. Moving is not an option until something opens up in other crewbases (airlines hub I e).
For the more homely girliecrowd (most of them ofcourse in my fleet) they don't know anything else than "clogged or slow moving systems"and probably don't view it as so bad. Ofcourse when they are with me they can hear my frustration when a porn video won't stream fast enough or I curse the much hated traffic and the disfunctional airport (the latter two my favorites). But unlike them I can go home soon. I have great compassion with them.
Harvard has given the green light to mongering and / or wanking.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/mens-health/11617397/An-orgasm-a-day-could-keep-prostate-cancer-at-bay.html
Econo Tech
05-23-15, 04:27
In a recent survey that I saw summarized on FaceBook today the Philiipines was ranked dead last. It's like every other bit of infrastructure here and the fact is no one cares.
GESorry, you got that wrong.
Some news title said "Philippines Doesn't have the slowest Internet speed" and they published some report that says Afghanistan is the slowest.
A proud moment it was, for the Philippine Telcos (who were on record saying that internet is an optional service and not bound by any SLA).
And more interesting news.
http://m.inquirer.net/newsinfo/?id=692910
And then.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/74517/teenage-pregnancy-among-todays-filipino-youth
Econo Tech
05-23-15, 06:57
On the subject of job prospects.
Of late, I met a few Pinay nurses.
Nurse 1: Qualified as a nurse, worked as a Construction company quantity surveyor, looking for a job as a QS in Singapore. Couldn't tell her Singapore wants QS with qualification in QS. When her pass was rejected, she was not happy saying she has a degree, and what is wrong with Singapore, why they don't have compassion. Etc. Etc.
Nurse 2: Qualified as a nurse, working as a nanny, and moon lighting as a hooker in a famous Pinay bar. She was adamant that she will get back to her nursing career.
Alas, didn't have the heart to tell her that the fact that she qualified as a nurse, but worked as a nanny is a big no-no for Singapore hospitals. They need nurses who worked as nurses.
Nurse 3: Again, qualified as a nurse, and worked in Singapore as a old folks home care taker. Trying very hard to get back into nursing track. Alas, all her applications are rejected (Nursing home care takers get paid about 1,000 S $ - plus food and lodging, not bad vs being unemployed back home).
Nurse 4: Again, qualified as a nurse, worked for an American as an accountant in Philippines, and now trying hard to get a nursing job in Singapore. As she is open enough. With her Singapore nursing experience, she wants to move to Canada. Alas, as in above examples, Nursing board in Singapore is pretty choosy, and with a large pool of nurses to select from, they discard those who did work in non-nursing jobs.
Nurse 5: Qualified as a nurse, and with no chance for training / experience, volunteered in the Philippine Navy Hospital for a year, and then, based on her working with "NAVY" she was 'head hunted' and landed in Libya, and only recently got out of Libya.
She is job hunting in Singapore, but, with her Libyan Experience not documented, Singapore Nursing board is not so keen on her.
So there you go.
You can qualify as an engineer, and work as an accountant, you can qualify as an accountant and work a a legal assistant et al, in your own country.
Once you go overseas, the buyers are getting more choosy and with lower and lower pay scales and people willing to work (especially those from Philippines) the chances are vanishing.
For comparison, Nurses from India are paid upwards of 2,500 $, for Filipino Nurses, starting is 1,800 $ - more or less the agents have decided that at 1,800 $ there are hundreds lining up to join.
Wicked Roger
05-23-15, 23:22
In light of GE's interesting and for some relevant FR on the absurdity of the license plate situation where those wishing to work (and pay taxes) can't work for lack of a license plate etc this article was amusing (in truth it would be if the situation was not so incompetent and ridiculous).
As GE said, a person could end up selling a car with no plate maybe years after the car was purchased!
http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/05/24/1458111/editorial-changing-light-bulb
As GE said, a person could end up selling a car with no plate maybe years after the car was purchased!
Haha. Really? Almost 2 years I'm still waiting. But who's going to buy my vehicle in Davao if my plates are eventually supposed to go to the dealer in region 7?
GoodEnough
05-24-15, 07:04
Haha. Really? Almost 2 years I'm still waiting. But who's going to buy my vehicle in Davao if my plates are eventually supposed to go to the dealer in region 7?Just illustrates, as I've said many times before, that this is a country in which nothing ever works very well for very long. I realized about 8 weeks ago that my car was due for its annual registration. So I contacted the lady who usually handLES.
LTO-related matters for me, gave her the paperwork and the money. I still don't have the new registration. Why? Well it turns out about 11 months ago or so a CTV caught me doing something I shouldn't have done, and I promptly paid the fine for which I have a receipt, which I gave to her. Evidently though the crack LTO hasn't yet recorded that the fine has been paid despite the fact that I can prove it has been. Just part of the theater of the absurd that is this country.
GE.
ConquerorVal
05-24-15, 17:41
I was thinking of bringing some small gifts for the girls when I return to AC in August. Any suggestions? When mongers bring clothing, what size would fit most. I usually go for the spinner type of a body.
They all love candy. You can buy clothes for them there if you care to.
I was thinking of bringing some small gifts for the girls when I return to AC in August. Any suggestions? When mongers bring clothing, what size would fit most. I usually go for the spinner type of a body.
Econo Tech
05-26-15, 17:08
GE.Saw some news that the LTO has been marking up the plate cost by 50 peso, needlessly. Equating to 400 million peso. To their own slush fund?
Well, I don't blame the LTO head honchos, being under paid, had to find ways to stash away funds I guess, a-la the AFP and PNP secret retirement funds.
Yep! And there's no shortage of punters either. Guys are flying from across the globe to fuck mediocre pinays for that price you mentioned. It's like that in Bangkok also. Plane Janes with stretch marks getting top dollar!Don't listen to this rubbish and IT IS RUBISH!
Here's more garbage.
For AUD 110 - 160, you can get ST with a girl in any Australian brothel. This will include DFK, BBBJ, DATY and one pop. Time will be limited to 30 minutes, but that's all you need. For a USD 100 tip, you can get full service at an AMP in most Californian cities. GBP 170 at Phoenix Club (formerly Lady Marmalade) in London will get you 2 hours of banging with 6 gorgeous Eastern European babes.
What is the USP of Makati girls? Stretch marks, lousy attitudes and a hint of anger? If plane loads of gullible men are landing at NAIA to pay these crazy prices, then that's their choice. A fool and his money.This is pure bullshit. A fool needs 30 minutes and he can have it w / the lowest product available. Go for it fool!
$100 for full service at a California AMP is utter bullshit. Why these guys have to put down anonymous punters is unknown to me. Maybe these two are the same guy, regardless, they are full of shit!
They are lower than the stretched marked workers they put down, freakin low life do nothings. Where is your worth to this planet? The stretch mark bitches are making punters happy. WTF are you doing to make the world a better place? Let's hear about that! All I hear from you two is put downs! STFU please, like forever!
I was thinking of bringing some small gifts for the girls when I return to AC in August. Any suggestions? When mongers bring clothing, what size would fit most. I usually go for the spinner type of a body.I bring Sees Candy suckers and sexy lingerie.
The candy is for whoever, front desk, maids, BGs, etc.
The lingerie is for the ladies and I test drive it on them before they take it home.
Victoria Secret, Frederick's of Hollywood are my main sources but you can find cheap fishnet stockings etc at sexy clothing shops everywhere. I like fucking them in it (and I do, then slowly remove one item at a time :)) and they love it when I give it to them. Both these stores have panty sales all the time. Buy 7 panties for $4,00 each, affordable, and they look great.
These are great gifts and easy on the wallet.
The same teddy on 4 different BGs. The last lady, a Burgos BG took it home. On future trips I won't give the teddys so easily, I'll keep it for more use, it was over $40 bucks lol. I am a sucker for these good hearted BGs. I miss all these BGs.
Don't listen to this rubbish and IT IS RUBISH!
Here's more garbage.
This is pure bullshit. A fool needs 30 minutes and he can have it w / the lowest product available. Go for it fool!
$100 for full service at a California AMP is utter bullshit. Why these guys have to put down anonymous punters is unknown to me. Maybe these two are the same guy, regardless, they are full of shit!
They are lower than the stretched marked workers they put down, freakin low life do nothings. Where is your worth to this planet? The stretch mark bitches are making punters happy. WTF are you doing to make the world a better place? Let's hear about that! All I hear from you two is put downs! STFU please, like forever!In the bay area, there are 120/160 AAMP houses. $120 for half hour is possible. The women are Chinese, a crapshoot because photos are not real. But it is possible to fuck for around $120. Check back page.
Uncle Volodya
05-27-15, 08:43
I bring Sees Candy suckers and sexy lingerie.
The candy is for whoever....front desk, maids, BGs, etc.
The lingerie is for the ladies and I test drive it on them before they take it home.
Victoria Secret, Frederick's of Hollywood are my main sources but you can find cheap fishnet stockings etc at sexy clothing shops everywhere. I like fucking them in it (and I do, then slowly remove one item at a time :)) and they love it when I give it to them. Both these stores have panty sales all the time. Buy 7 panties for $4,00 each, affordable, and they look great.
These are great gifts and easy on the wallet.
The same teddy on 4 different BGs. The last lady, a Burgos BG took it home. On future trips I won't give the teddys so easily, I'll keep it for more use, it was over $40 bucks lol. I am a sucker for these good hearted BGs. I miss all these BGs...Haha. Nicely done. Beats the Roaming Gnome!
FreebieFan
05-27-15, 10:03
I bring Sees Candy suckers and sexy lingerie.
The candy is for whoever....front desk, maids, BGs, etc.
The lingerie is for the ladies and I test drive it on them before they take it home.
Victoria Secret, Frederick's of Hollywood are my main sources but you can find cheap fishnet stockings etc at sexy clothing shops everywhere. I like fucking them in it (and I do, then slowly remove one item at a time :)) and they love it when I give it to them. Both these stores have panty sales all the time. Buy 7 panties for $4,00 each, affordable, and they look great.
These are great gifts and easy on the wallet.
The same teddy on 4 different BGs. The last lady, a Burgos BG took it home. On future trips I won't give the teddys so easily, I'll keep it for more use, it was over $40 bucks lol. I am a sucker for these good hearted BGs. I miss all these BGs...Nicely done Socker.
I found a website called dealextreme.com. They have very cheap slutwear on their site. Normal maids outfits, schoolies, stckings, some latex and spandex copy materials, teddys. I have an order for a few articles supposedly on the way. If it works, great. If if doesn't work due to customs of different countries etc, no big deal. .
Engine Driver
05-27-15, 11:30
Don't listen to this rubbish and IT IS RUBISH!
Here's more garbage.
This is pure bullshit. A fool needs 30 minutes and he can have it w / the lowest product available. Go for it fool!
$100 for full service at a California AMP is utter bullshit. Why these guys have to put down anonymous punters is unknown to me. Maybe these two are the same guy, regardless, they are full of SHITTTT!
They are lower than the stretched marked workers they put down, freakin low life do nothings. Where is your worth to this planet???? The stretch mark bitches are making punters happy. WTF are you doing to make the world a better place????? Let's hear about that! All I hear from you two is put downs!!!!!!! STFU please, like forever!!!!!!!No need to get personal here. I said that for a $100 tip (on top of the $50 massage fee) you can get ST full service at a number of Californian AMPS. I have, many times both in SF and LA. Your immigration department has seen fit to allow 1000's of Chinese women into your country and many are happy to service punters for that amount. Next time you are in San Francisco, go for a walk around Chinatown and see what your country has to offer (before you start bad mouthing contributors). You might be surprised.
The 30-minute production line sex works fine for 1000's of men in Australia. Married western women hate having sex after 40, so a man getting a quick release in a ST brothel is fine. They don't necessarily want to run off with an uneducated Pinay from Mindanao as they lose their lives, their assets and family in the divorce. At least we have legalised prositution in Australia. Apart from Nevada, where else do you have legal brothels in your country smart ass??
where else do you have legal brothels in your country smart ass??LOL, I think it's called the institution of marriage!
HotShaneHot
05-31-15, 01:48
Has any one see this scam?
I got an email from someone and it goes like this.
Hi Sir.
This is Jessie from the Philippines. I can help you find a filipina girl to marry. I am attaching the photos of Marilou, my sister. She is 27 years old. Cute and petite. You can have her for $75,000,00.
I hope you consider. Marilou can marry you then. I will arrange meeting wedding and relocation with Marilou.
If interested, please contact me at phone. Number?
But he did send some nice photos so I was thinking I would share them.
Capt Munch
05-31-15, 16:23
Has any one see this scam?
But he did send some nice photos so I was thinking I would share them.Gee. Price inflation. 3. 375 million php doesn't buy what it used to.
That is a HARD sell at 27 years old!
1335 EWR's at 2500 php or 3. 65 years of daily fun here in Angeles (before the prices go up again).
I think I know where my money is better spent.
Econo Tech
05-31-15, 23:41
Has any one see this scam?
I got an email from someone and it goes like this.
But he did send some nice photos so I was thinking I would share them.Maybe the girl and the picture are real and the guy does trust you to do the right thing. (No pun intended).
And if you have spent time in Philippines, too many TV shows glorify the rags to riches stories, of girls who found a extremely rich husband and became rich and prosperous, through hard work (Don't ask me how much hard work is involved once the girl marries a rich guy. Or even reasonably well off guy, vs PH Standards).
They all have brain washed enough girls and family members to firmly believe there are lot of foreigners running around with a lot of money with their sole intention of marrying a poor filipina and uplifting her family in the process.
HotShaneHot
05-31-15, 23:42
So I was ask him if her had lady from 18 to 23 years old and bigger tits.
This is what he send me.
HotShaneHot
05-31-15, 23:44
And this one to.
And this one to.Hope he has lots more "sisters" to share pictures of! To be fair, for older ladies, they're quite decent.
HotShaneHot
06-01-15, 11:28
Hope he has lots more "sisters" to share pictures of! To be fair, for older ladies, they're quite decent.Yes I know what you are thinking, Did I ask him if he has more lady, and he has.
So I was get more photos.
Asian Rain
06-01-15, 15:03
Has any one see this scam?With that Cesarean section scar, not even worth it in pesos. The look of squalor in the room is priceless. I bet Jessie and her would be holy terrors if they managed to get their meat hooks into some lonely unsuspecting poreiner. Enjoy the Philippines, AsianRain.
HotShaneHot
06-01-15, 23:12
He send me this one to.
Visa
I got a 1 year in and out Visa from the Philippine embassy. It was $100 and allows for a 2 month stay without an extension. It will probably be useful for me as I might take a few trips outside PI.
(I have no intention of getting anything but a tourist visa.).
Money, banks etc
I believe there have been several posts about this, but I setup both a Schwab account and an HSBC Premier account before I arrived to the Philippines.
Schwab: Free ATM withdraws – I don't have a huge amount with Schwab, so I'm being judicious using this account. I've read that Schwab sometimes kills small accounts without notice.
HSBC Premier: Unless you have a stash of cash laying around, you'll probably need to put some of your investments with them as the minimum is $100 K. Their process is pretty cumbersome as well.
Banking in Philippines: No need to wait until you have your lease or residency. They will use your main Premier address instead of a local address. (This might be handy for someone who does a lot of traveling back and forth.) 2 accounts are opened: (1) USD (2) PHP. It's a one way transfer system, so you have to be careful not to send too much USD to PHP. You can't transfer the money in reverse (PHP back to USD). It takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks and then you pick the paperwork / card up at the branch.
(I brought cash as well.).
Temporary Housing while finding a long-term lease
I booked a 1 bedroom suite at a long-term discounted rate with a hotel that specializes in corporate housing. This was definitely an expensive way to go. The benefits were that it gave me flexibility to extend my dates rather easily, but paid a premium. I was a little worried about some of my things and I wanted to have a hotel safe: expensive camera, many bank / credit cards, cash etc.
A cheaper avenue would have been AirBNB or another equivalent site. I was worried about having a safe though. It seems some of the nice AirBNB building may have a front desk safe available. This is what the flight attendant told me about the Rockwell.
Unfortunately, having too much flexibility made me procrastinate the apartment search some. Perhaps, I would have been more aggressive with my timeline.
Permanent Housing search (this took 1+ months, but should have been much faster)
This was pretty daunting and I wasn't really sure where to start. I probably should have taken a less extensive method as I probably missed out on a pretty nice apartment.
I surfed the internet and found a couple different corporate real estate sites. It seemed like they have a pretty extensive listing of all the condo buildings in Makati / BGC / Ortigas (I decided ahead of time that I wanted to be in the nicer part of Manila). I proceeded to make a list of all the buildings and 1 by 1 run a google search on each building to find (1) available rentals (2) more details about the actual condo building. Any ads and information, I then cut and pasted into excel with the hyperlinks to the ads.
This was very tedious and took me much longer than expected. When I was doing this, I dreaded it and procrastinated it for days at a time.
I finally started to email / text responses to the ads and looking at different apartments. I probably looked at 15+ different apartments with 4 different agents. It's a less structured real estate market with respect to agents. Anyone can list / show the apartments and work with the owner. There isn't an exclusive listing agent. Additionally, they didn't seem to keep the ads up to date (some places were not available although the website said they were).
I did find an apartment that I really liked and did get a price lower than the listing. I made a reasonable offer and added a couple things at the owner to make the offer attractive. Obviously, it's a case of interest in the condo in my favor. If there were tons of other offers pouring in, I don't think I would have received a lower price and then would have gone with backup condo options.
I think this is pretty obvious, but every person is going to make an apartment decision based off their individualized preferences and budget. I won't go into too many other details since my preferences were pretty unique / customized.
Thanks to all who gave me pointers and feedback earlier.
Postscript
While things can be backwards and not efficient here, I've not let it bother me and just accepted that's how things are. I guess just go with the flow instead of getting all worked up.
Additionally, I think I'm done with the bar girl scene. For me, there are enough other things to keep me busy / entertained and I'll use the dating sites, but be very selective on whom I meet. The thought of being here an extended period of time puts things in a different perspective.
Anybody have experience with these folks? I registered with them and so far I have 20 interests and lots of conversations. IN LESS THAN 1 DAY.
Usually, I do Thailand but I'd like to try somewhere "different". I'm not afraid of being played, just don't want to waste a whole lot of time.
LOL, I think it's called the institution of marriage!Yeah but then there's "DIVORCE" where the fuc. King you GET is for the fuc. King you GOT. Boats, airplanes and WOMEN. It's cheaper to RENT.
Anybody have experience with these folks? I registered with them and so far I have 20 interests and lots of conversations. IN LESS THAN 1 DAY.
Usually, I do Thailand but I'd like to try somewhere "different". I'm not afraid of being played, just don't want to waste a whole lot of time.It's a legit site. As for the women they range from legit to dodgy. I like that PL allows its ladyboy members to identity as such because a member can specify the genders allowed to view his account; if a ladyboy can't see you she can't message you. The hassle with the site is as a standard, non-paying member a male, and only a male, is limited to sending 1 message every 10 minutes; paying members are unrestricted. After establishing contact shift to email, chat app or SMS to get around PL hamstringing you.
The best way to avoid wasting time is to be direct in your profile; use it as a filter to eliminate those who aren't interested. If your profile is all about love, LTR and marriage, and this is a misrepresentation of what you really want, you will get a lot of messages and interests, and the consequence for you is time wastage. Yes, some girls won't read the profile before sending an interest or a simple "Hi" message, and this can be followed up by you replying: "Have your read my profile and do you understand what I'm looking for?" Proceed with those who reply affirmatively.
Another way to gain efficiency it to ignore girls who are far from where you'll be staying. Unless you willing to pay for her transport there's little reason to communicate with a Makati resident when you'll be staying in Cebu only. My standard reply to far-off girls is this: "Thanks for sending me your interest / message. Have your read my profile and do you understand what I'm looking for? It's a pity you live so far from Manila. The next time you visit here let me know and we'll get together. " This has worked with some OFWs who are passing through Manila to / from their overseas jobs and also some Philippines residents who travel to Manila for work, leisure or to interview and/or train for overseas positions such as cruise lines.
Member #4387
06-05-15, 04:16
Yeah but then there's "DIVORCE" where the fuc. King you GET is for the fuc. King you GOT. Boats, airplanes and WOMEN. It's cheaper to RENT.
It's a legit site. As for the women they range from legit to dodgy. I like that PL allows its ladyboy members to identity as such because a member can specify the genders allowed to view his account; if a ladyboy can't see you she can't message you. The hassle with the site is as a standard, non-paying member a male is limited to sending 1 message every 10 minutes; paying members are unrestricted. After establishing contact shift to email, chat app or SMS to get around PL hamstringing you.
The best way to avoid wasting time is to be direct in your profile; use it as a filter to eliminate those aren't interested. If your profile is all about love, LTR and marriage, i.e. a misrepresentation of what you really want, you will get a lot of messages and interests, and the consequence for you is time wastage. Yes, some girls won't read the profile before sending an interest or a simple "Hi" message, and this can be followed up by you replying: "Have your read my profile and do you understand what I'm looking for?" Proceed with those who reply affirmatively.
Another way to gain efficiency it to ignore girls who are far from where you'll be staying. Unless you willing to pay for her transport there's no reason to communicate with a Makati resident when you'll be staying in Cebu only. My standard reply to far-off girls is this: "Thanks for sending me your interest / message. Have your read my profile and do you understand what I'm looking for? It's a pity you live so far from Manila. The next time you visit here let me know and we'll get together. " This has worked with OFWs who are passing through Manila to / from their overseas jobs and also some Philippines residents who travel to Manila to interview and train for overseas positions such as cruise lines.I used to be a long time user of Pinalove (PL) and do please read what the fine member Huts is pressing. I have good report comming from PL and I believe I have met like 150 girls from This site exclusevly the last 2 years. In DIA it is mostly "can you come we fuck" bangbang msg but in PL somw girls are restrictive so they will need a drink before pants comes down. From 150 come si come sa objects I have fucked everyone ex 2 girls. Leaving from the past DIA, where maybe I did a hit rate (fucking) in the mid 90%. I hear some guys get cheated and the girls are not genuine, this is a none exsisting problem to me?
Have just met a long lasting girl I met 3 years ago, through PL, in Dubai (passing by), we did fuck andn catched up. Nicy nice.
This is not a pic of her as that will not happen. This is a gullible one from the Manila Bay hotel New World. Just saying but all of the gems are great, trust me:-)
Visa
I got a 1 year in and out Visa from the Philippine embassy. It was $100 and allows for a 2 month stay without an extension. It will probably be useful for me as I might take a few trips outside PI.
(I have no intention of getting anything but a tourist visa.).
This is a very good report and I'm pleased to see things have worked out.
I didn't know of the 1-year multiple-entry visa you wrote about; a one-time $100 fee allowing multiple visits up to 2 months each without incurring additional visa fees is a good deal. Of course you have travel costs every two month, but you can pick up really cheap fares on Cebu Pacific and AirAsia when you book well in advance. An "unrestricted national", I'm on the 2-month extendable visa that allows one to stay in the Philippines up to 3 years without leaving; this costs me approx. $700 per year for visas and I-Card.
I learnt a lesson the hard way many years ago. I applied for and received an extended-stay visa outside the Philippines, arrived in Manila and completed my immigration procedures at NAIA. I failed to tell the immigration agent I had a visa; he failed to see I already had a visa, so he stamped me in as a regular tourist; and I failed to look at what he stamped in my passport. Seven weeks later I went to travel agent for it to do my extension on my behalf. Surprise! I was informed I had overstayed my visa. I recall thinking I'd face large fines or even be deported. I had to pay a fine, but to its credit the Philippines is not harshly punitive.
Looks like the dollar is having a pretty good week. Spot rate was in the 45.25 range at one point (expect a discount around .25-.50 rate when exchanging), but seems to have settled around 45.
I was just looking at a chart for fun and it must have been proverbial heaven in 2002-05. If the fx rate ever got to mid-50's, I'd consider buying property (condo) here.
Going to Philippines this summer, will check it out / may move there for good.
Leaning towards a Schwab High Yield Investor account, as there are no FX fees, etc. Anyone here have any bad experiences going that route?
Member #4387
06-12-15, 10:26
To the eurpopean crowd:
Relatively recent (March 15 I believe) mentioned airline started up with non stop flights from Istanbul (IST) to Manila (MNL). With relatively good connectiontime from Oslo and beeing a Star Alliance member (bonuspoints, I am a Diamond) I thought, wow, good lets try this.
Booked my tickets in Biz a couple of days before my departure and I was happy about the price (Euro2200). Thai charged almost Euro3000 for the same flight.
Beeing relatively late in to IST from Oslo we did have only 45 min connection time but we were ran through a speedy process by an turkish sportsman. Even I did have trouble hanging on to him. And a couple of old blokes were blue in there faces when we finaly reach our boarding gate (IST is a rather big airport). I asked the sportsman about our bags but he told us no problem as our arriving plane was parked relatively close to our departing MNL plane. Short connections can be hazzle as you might make it but not your luggage. I felt eased by his "promise"(even if I knew he did have nothing to do with the baggage handling).
While omboard the relatively old A340-300 aircraft (Turkish is not using their relatively new B777 fleet on this route yet) our captain told us it was going to be a delayed departure due to cargo and bags beeing still loaded. For once I was happy about this comment so I just laid back and felt relaxed. After a while, well after expected departure time, the captain once again adressed a new delay due to a cabincrew member sick so they had to replace her. I was thinking, as Turkish is a huge airline, they ofcourse have a lot of airport standby crew actually at the airport. It took one hour to replace her. 1. 5 hrs late we took off.
Arriving in MNL I saw a depressing sign as I was not suppose to have any special assitance or whatever. My name was held up by airport staffs (and the same for the rest of the Oslo passengers). Ofcourse I knew our bags did not make it and I was totaly correct. They told us they would do their very best to get the bags here as soon as possible but when I asked what they put into the statement "doing their best" the answer was even more depressing. They would put it on the next MNL flight this Saturday. I pfcourse objected and told them I knew Turkish has loads of flights to ie Singapore and Beijing and could easily send our bags through their and ship them on by either Singapore Airlines or Air China (noth Star Alliance partners). I was told that was not their policy but he would mention this soulution to the Turkish Airlines Manila based manager. Ofcourse I did not hear more from them.
Travelling a lot each year and my bag does not arrive happens but all companies I have flown so far will do their outmost to transport your bags to you as soon as possible. Turkish does not seem to care. I was asking for a compensation bcs all I did have was an extra t shirt and their answer was that it was up to the mention Manager to decide. In earlier simular cases I have allways gotten atleast an small ammount of cash to survive one day and buy items but Turkish don't give a shit. Ofcourse I did not hear anything from the manager or the airline whatsoever. And it is not that I can not afford to buy a few items but it is a priciple involved.
I will see Saturday what happens. I regret hugely i did not fly Thai:-)
Jose Marcia
06-12-15, 12:43
Skogis:
I was in the similar situation. I had booked three separate FF Tickets from IST. They told us that flight is overbooked and they are within IATA rules to do so. There was no flight the next day and they told us to try after two days. They declined any compensation. They were so rude to us. My reply was: I work for the US Government. You do whatever you think is right, but when I get back in the US, I will do what my rights are. I will take you to the small claims court and will ask for compensation. I won't need a lawyer but you will need one. Within 30 minutes, I was walking out with three 500 Euro checks, confirmed ticket after two days, free hotel rooms / meals vouchers. Ironically, we were suppose to stay in Istanbul for two nights. This delay worked out great for us.
Member #4387
06-12-15, 13:32
Skogis:
I was in the similar situation. I had booked three separate FF Tickets from IST. They told us that flight is overbooked and they are within IATA rules to do so. There was no flight the next day and they told us to try after two days. They declined any compensation. They were so rude to us. My reply was: I work for the US Government. You do whatever you think is right, but when I get back in the US, I will do what my rights are. I will take you to the small claims court and will ask for compensation. I won't need a lawyer but you will need one. Within 30 minutes, I was walking out with three 500 Euro checks, confirmed ticket after two days, free hotel rooms / meals vouchers. Ironically, we were suppose to stay in Istanbul for two nights. This delay worked out great for us.Yes I could obviously asked to talk to the on ground manager but as I stood long enough to fill out the "property irragularity report" and I had pussy waiting I thought I might deal with this later. Probably a lot easier to deal with Turkish back home in Norway than here in phils anyway. I have also travelinsurance ofcourse can reimburse me with what I have bought so far (but still peanuts). But as Turkish seems quite arrogant I will not let this go just out of princip. But they were right about the. IATA rules that they are allowed to overbook a flight but by doing so they should instantly first ask the passangers if any voulenteers would give up their seat toward a compensation. If no one voulanteerly wants to do so an airline can actually "by force" deny u boarding. The passangers with the cheapest tickets will have to stand behind but ofcourse by generously beeing awarded compensations one way or another.
I find it funny though that you have to wait two days as they fly to Beijing and Singapore and airline partner fly to manila from there. It seems they dont deal much with rebookings and checking available options. Well well, last time i fly an airline with atleast daily flights or more to a destination and even if Turkish gave away a seat to me my biz with them is over. Turkish call themself an european airline and is a member of Star Alliance. Hickups have happened to me(simular situations as u meantioned as well)but the difference is that Austrian, Scandinavian, Lufthansa, Thai etc(biz)will treat u accordingly and throw money, flightcoupons or bonuspoints after u. Luckely I did not loose any pussy over it, thanks God. My biz with Turkish is finished if i ever recieve my bag.
Going to Philippines this summer, will check it out / may move there for good.
Leaning towards a Schwab High Yield Investor account, as there are no FX fees, etc. Anyone here have any bad experiences going that route?ImAGuy -.
I just moved here recently as well. Just wrote some info:
http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?2479-Chat-Rooms-amp-Pen-Pals&p=1732414&viewfull=1#post1732414.
Wicked Roger
06-15-15, 12:47
Was posted on he UAE board but relevant given your tastes.
http://www.aliexpress.com/promotion/promotion_big-big-big-breast-sex-doll-promotion.html
Wicked Roger
06-15-15, 21:52
This is a link to a news article on the CNN survey that claims to show that the Philippines has the second best food in the world. Clearly the survey was undertaken by imbeciles IMHO (and likely GE's also). I can so little to praise food here which is generally fatty, loaded with sugar in some form or other and tastes disgusting. Now there is seafood but that exists and other countries also. So that does not IMHO qualify.
Had the survey stuck with national dishes and asked intelligent people then I am sure the results may be different.
The other surprising thing (well not really) is that this is headline news. Methinks some one needs positive news not the real stuff.
Just my take on things gents.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/16/1466440/cnn-poll-philippines-has-worlds-2nd-best-food
This is a link to a news article on the CNN survey that claims to show that the Philippines has the second best food in the world. Clearly the survey was undertaken by imbeciles IMHO (and likely GE's also). I can so little to praise food here which is generally fatty, loaded with sugar in some form or other and tastes disgusting. Now there is seafood but that exists and other countries also. So that does not IMHO qualify.
Had the survey stuck with national dishes and asked intelligent people then I am sure the results may be different.
The other surprising thing (well not really) is that this is headline news. Methinks some one needs positive news not the real stuff.
Just my take on things gents.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/16/1466440/cnn-poll-philippines-has-worlds-2nd-best-foodIn the world? Maybe in Asia, though I would rank Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan ahead of the Phils. While I like the seafood and BBQ in the Phils I find that my diet is far less healthy than when I'm back in the states. It's much harder to find good healthy ingredients. And as for the restaurants, the big cities of Manila and Cebu isn't even in the same league as the major cities throughout the world. Obviously the folks in this survey don't travel much and maybe travel much outside of Manila.
Now when it comes to worldwide hobbying, well then the Phils is definitely #2 if not #1 .
I know there have been several posts on this in the past, but Uber is definitely a plus for me here in Makati / BGC.
Pros:
* Clean, new cars always with good aircon.
* Don't need to have cash.
* No expectation of tip.
* No haggling of price. There seems to be a plethora of GrabTaxi participants which are hiking up fare expectation. Good luck getting a taxi during rush hour without a flat fare (no meter) and the driver trying to double the price.
Cons:
* Prices at times will multiply 2 x normal fares or some other multiple. I usually take them off hours (mid-day or late evening), so I'm not 100% sure of the formula.
* Drivers seem to be new, not experienced.
* Mapping function on the app isn't great. Sometimes I have a hard time getting it to pinpoint my correct location and typing the exact address does not always work. I try to go to a known place when I'm in Makati ie Starbucks at Glorietta 5 and use that as the address.
* Doesn't seem to be that many Uber drivers, so you may have to wait some.
* I think someone mentioned in a previous post about privacy concerns as Uber may store the locations tied to your credit card (not a big deal to me).
Although I've signed up for Grab Taxi, I haven't used that app yet and Uber is a better seems to better price than a regular cab (no apples-apples comparison yet). It was only 80 pesos from BGC to Makati (daytime) and 110 pesos (during traffic). That same day, my fare for 3-4 blocks in Makati was 60 pesos with a regular taxi (traffic).
Econo Tech
06-17-15, 01:52
In the world? Maybe in Asia, though I would rank Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan ahead of the Phils. While I like the seafood and BBQ in the Phils I find that my diet is far less healthy than when I'm back in the states. It's much harder to find good healthy ingredients. And as for the restaurants, the big cities of Manila and Cebu isn't even in the same league as the major cities throughout the world. Obviously the folks in this survey don't travel much and maybe travel much outside of Manila.One of my former boss' nanny used to nag him to invest some money in a Filipino restaurant, and her nagging got worse when her cousin landed in Singapore, with a HRM Degree.
Till my boss got a bit too fed up and asked the nanny why he should put in a 100 K in a Filipino restaurant.
She replied, 1) to help her cousin work, and 2) there are thousands of Filipinos in Singapore and 3) Filipino food is the best in the world, and all can eat.
While he agreed to the fact that anybody can put up with bland Filipino food, vs spicy or such other food, his next questions were, 1) why there are never any non-Filipinos seen eating in Filipino joints in Singapore and 2) as a well traveled person, why Filipino restaurants only operate in places with large overseas Filipino community (including Jollybee) - unlike Thai, Italian, Mexican, Indian.
Case closed.
They have a 24/7 Call center to solve issues. It is toll free. You can also call from Skype. They are trying to establish themselves as a premier airline, so I assume they may do anything to fix your issues.
This is a link to a news article on the CNN survey that claims to show that the Philippines has the second best food in the world. Clearly the survey was undertaken by imbeciles IMHO (and likely GE's also).http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/16/1466440/cnn-poll-philippines-has-worlds-2nd-best-foodHere is your answer. It was an open Facebook 'poll'. So it was more of a poll of who is on facebook in reality. CNN's real crime is in cheapening the word poll. The pinoy website just turned it into something more than it is.
This wasn't exactly Gallup here. Italy was 3rd and Taiwan at #1 had more votes than everyone else combined. Look at the vote totals its a joke.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/14/travel/world-best-food-culinary-journeys/index.html
Engine Driver
06-21-15, 03:02
Doesn't the porn star Janice Griffith look a lot like a hot girl from AC?
WestCoast1
06-21-15, 23:04
At NAIA T3 recently, I got dropped off for my CP domestic flight fully 3 hours prior to departure. The lines outside were the normally long lines. As I was approaching the queue with my luggage, one of the airport porters approached me and asked if I was a business traveler. In almost all of my past trips, this is a cue for a bribe to get thru that line faster. Usually I give the guy p100 (or even p50) and he's happy with that. Yes, stud, I am a business traveler. He put my bags on a cart and before he could move me towards the door, I told him p100. He wanted p500. I giggled and pushed the cart to the end of the line. He dropped to 450. I demured with 100. He walked away. A few minutes later he walked by again and offered 400. I looked away. A moment later a different porter walked by and asked if I was a senior. I have no idea in phils what age a senior is, but I replied Yes, yes I am. My knees tell me the rains are coming.
He took the cart from me and led me past the queue to the door, loading my luggage onto the xray machine, then off the machine once the luggage was through it. He walked me right to the CP line for Persons With Disabilities / Senior Citizens (the queue was empty) and left me there, he turned to walk away. I called him back and pulled the folded p100 note from my shirt pocket that I had ready for the first guy, and stuck my hand out to shake his hand, with the folded note concealed in my palm. When he saw that I was attempting to give him money, he smiled and walked away. Sweet! I checked in and went right to security and my gate. Apparently chivalry is not dead in phils. BTW, there were LOTS of much older philipino in the long line, and I did not see a single one of them selected for the same good treatment.
Later date in Cebu, when departing for the province at the Lapu airport (early afternoon flight, weekend), there was nobody in line at the airport entrance xray machine. Then there was nobody in the queue at my CP domesic flight queue. From airport entrance to gate was under 7 minutes. WTF it never happens so good!
GoodEnough
06-22-15, 00:27
One of the nice things about living here as one advances in years, is the priority given and deference paid to "seniors. " I fly almost weekly out of terminal 3, and I never get in line to get into the terminal. Instead, I go to the front of the queue and tell the security person that I'm a senior (no lie there) and I'm allowed through the entrance immediately. Since I always print my boarding pass for CP from my computer, I just go to the gate after airport entry. The whole process rarely takes more than 5 minutes.
GE.
WestCoast1
06-22-15, 02:49
Since I always print my boarding pass for CP from my computer, I just go to the gate after airport entry. The whole process rarely takes more than 5 minutes.
GE.How do you drop off your checked luggage?
How do you drop off your checked luggage?I think in Manila T3 there is a separate line for online checkin to drop off baggage.
WestCoast1
06-22-15, 08:30
I think in Manila T3 there is a separate line for online checkin to drop off baggage.Have asked about that repeatedly at the checkin counter. What is the point of checking in online ahead of time, if you can't drop your checked luggage and go? Or its possible GE has no checked luggage.
Have asked about that repeatedly at the checkin counter. What is the point of checking in online ahead of time, if you can't drop your checked luggage and go? Or its possible GE has no checked luggage.Without regard to luggage. Advantage to checking in online is that you are checked in. In the event you are getting to the airport late like stuck in traffic at least you are already checked in and they won't give your seat away, especially in an overbooked situation.
I am sure I have seen separate online checked in baggage drop lines for Cebu Pacific in BKK, Cebu and Manila. But I have not used any.
GE may not have any check in luggage. Usually CP tags the carry on at the counter.
Wicked Roger
06-22-15, 09:52
I think in Manila T3 there is a separate line for online checkin to drop off baggage.Possible GE has a small carry on Westie.
But at T3 I always check in online and trust NE the queues are huge for bag drop off as no dedicated counter. CPac is trying to get everyone to check in at the booths before the desks hence less hassle for the counter staff.
In Mactan (Cebu) I have better luck than Manila but I once said "why ask me to check in online if there is no dedicates desk and I have to still queue for a long time" All I got was 'wait a while" LOL.
I was in my late 40's before I accepted that I was "middle aged". I did the math. Over half way to the average life span. Ouch.
GE, when did you start admitting that you are a "senior". I've been told that you'd punch out any young 20 ish guy who suggested that you put out one of your 30 cigarettes a day. But I've also heard you love wine. So maybe that is your elixir.
One of the nice things about living here as one advances in years, is the priority given and deference paid to "seniors. " I fly almost weekly out of terminal 3, and I never get in line to get into the terminal. Instead, I go to the front of the queue and tell the security person that I'm a senior (no lie there) and I'm allowed through the entrance immediately. Since I always print my boarding pass for CP from my computer, I just go to the gate after airport entry. The whole process rarely takes more than 5 minutes.
GE.
Fast Eddie 48
06-22-15, 21:57
This is a link to a news article on the CNN survey that claims to show that the Philippines has the second best food in the world. Clearly the survey was undertaken by imbeciles IMHO (and likely GE's also). I can so little to praise food here which is generally fatty, loaded with sugar in some form or other and tastes disgusting. Now there is seafood but that exists and other countries also. So that does not IMHO qualify.
Had the survey stuck with national dishes and asked intelligent people then I am sure the results may be different.
The other surprising thing (well not really) is that this is headline news. Methinks some one needs positive news not the real stuff.
Just my take on things gents.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/16/1466440/cnn-poll-philippines-has-worlds-2nd-best-foodTo Wicked.
I think Manila have the worst food city in the World along with the world worst airport, I am lucky there are KFC and taco bell here or I will go hungry.
Fast eddie 48.
I think many guys who visit here or who trawl through the dating sites get a false impression of just how large (small?) the P4 P scene inn the Philippines actually is.
If you visit AC; hang out at the bars in Cebu or Burgos Street / GB / Malate in Manila you see only a fraction of the population.
Some hard data:
Phils population (today) is 103.2 M (increasing by 5335 births each day).
62.5 M of this population is aged between 15 and 64.
31.2 M of this 15 - 64 population are females.
Let's guess some numbers.
If there are (say) 2000 working girls in AC; 3000 working girls in Manila; 3000 working girls in other cities; 2000 women on dating sites; that's one million females.
That's roughly 3% of the (possible) female population that might be engaged in sex activity.
If you want to double it to be extra conservative, then make it 6% of the (possible) female population that might be engaged in sex activity.
That leaves 28 M women going about their normal life not even aware of the "red light" scene in Manila, AC or elsewhere. Those of us who live here interract with these women each day in our work and business transactions. Sex is not on the agenda, discussed or ever an issue.
I hope this helps give some perspective.
If you want to check my figures, there are plenty of sites (eg http://countrymeters.info/en/Philippines).
Makeupaname
06-23-15, 04:21
Let's guess some numbers.
If there are (say) 2000 working girls in AC; 3000 working girls in Manila; 3000 working girls in other cities; 2000 women on dating sites; that's one million females.
That's roughly 3% of the (possible) female population that might be engaged in sex activity.
Is this a trick?
Wicked Roger
06-23-15, 04:52
To Wicked.
I think Manila have the worst food city in the World along with the world worst airport, I am lucky there are KFC and taco bell here or I will go hungry.
Fast eddie 48.FE,
In my world KFC and Taco Bell are not food, just heart disease etc bombs. Taco Bell is pseudo Mexican and I don't consider Mexican food as food. Trust those that know also know I don't eat that crap. By food I mean healthy nutritious etc and a walk around most malls in the Philippines will show you that is an area seriously lacking.
Now I have eaten Mexican 'food' - with Westie and I got serious food poisoning. And the other time with Irony Monger (same resto) and he chose the food as he understand Mexican 'cuisine' and was OK but I don't go running to those places (more away from LOL).
But your comments is understood and each to his own but the fact that the news had this as a prominent feature goes to show how much the news here is biased towards anything of a 'good news story' regardless of what the rest of the world thinks.
Is this a trick?I realized from your comment that my quoted statement.
"That's roughly 3% of the (possible) female population that might be engaged in sex activity" is not the full statement that I meant to say.
I meant " That's roughly 3% of the (possible) female population that might be engaged in P4 P activity".
I have no doubt that many more females are engaging in sex activity with bfs, gfs, husbands etc but this happens way outside of any mongering contexts.
I realized from your comment that my quoted statement.
"That's roughly 3% of the (possible) female population that might be engaged in sex activity" is not the full statement that I meant to say.
I meant " That's roughly 3% of the (possible) female population that might be engaged in P4 P activity".
I have no doubt that many more females are engaging in sex activity with bfs, gfs, husbands etc but this happens way outside of any mongering contexts.Probably referring more to your arithmetic, or lack thereof!
Member #4387
06-26-15, 03:28
Had to laugh arriving into MNL T3 yesterday as the two latter years(maybe longer)the walkways / peoplemovers have been shut down/out of order(who knows). Maybe I am dreaming but I think I have seen one of them working one time and that's it. Normaly you can atleast walk on them as to overtake the slow moving crowd of newly arrived Koreans or to lessen the risk of beeing hit by them moving golf cabbies transporting lazy or injured people. Yesterday they had even blocked one of them walkways. I did put on a cheerful grind and I thought a kodakmoment would be appropriate.
On the plus side a smiley young immigration girl waved me over to the senior citizen booth(i hope not for viewing me as one no pun intended for the senior crowd pls)as there was a couple of people ahead of me in the business line. She looks in my passport and view numerous arrival / departure stamps from phils and gives me this nice cheeky smile. The fastest immigration officer ever handling my arrival. Beeing allready horny (I allways get a boner when the wheels touch down on the Naia runway) I thought about asking her number but on the other side that could turn out ugly so I let it rest. Picked up my bag(nr 3 on the belt) and threw myself into the waiting hotelcar. I didn't clock the time spend from deplaning until sitting in the car but I think 20 min max (probably less). Except from the never ending walkwayissues and to many people try to push a taxi on me (well I would have saved 700 piso taking one yesterday as my hotelcar cost php1800 and probably would do the same job) this MNL arrival was one of my best ones.
Arriving by Emirates 4:35 pm traffic was relatively easy on the way to Makati.
If there are (say) 2000 working girls in AC; 3000 working girls in Manila; 3000 working girls in other cities; 2000 women on dating sites; that's one million females.
As others have already pointed out your calculation is not correct. However the total number of one million could very well be right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_the_Philippines
I wish phones would make it a little easier to do a mass change in your settings for multiple apps and messaging. I'm learning (w / o any negative repercussions) to switch my notifications to not show up on a locked screen before meeting / bring anyone back to my apartment.
I'm usually pretty casual with leaving my phone around (obviously with a password setting).
Terminal 3 is the best terminal so far. I saw some of the other international airlines started using it also. KLM is one of them. I hope they can organize the airport based on the same standards and run somekind of a shuttle service between the terminals.
Had to laugh arriving into MNL T3 yesterday as the two latter years(maybe longer)the walkways / peoplemovers have been shut down/out of order(who knows). Maybe I am dreaming but I think I have seen one of them working one time and that's it. Normaly you can atleast walk on them as to overtake the slow moving crowd of newly arrived Koreans or to lessen the risk of beeing hit by them moving golf cabbies transporting lazy or injured people. Yesterday they had even blocked one of them walkways. I did put on a cheerful grind and I thought a kodakmoment would be appropriate.
On the plus side a smiley young immigration girl waved me over to the senior citizen booth(i hope not for viewing me as one no pun intended for the senior crowd pls)as there was a couple of people ahead of me in the business line. She looks in my passport and view numerous arrival / departure stamps from phils and gives me this nice cheeky smile. The fastest immigration officer ever handling my arrival. Beeing allready horny (I allways get a boner when the wheels touch down on the Naia runway) I thought about asking her number but on the other side that could turn out ugly so I let it rest. Picked up my bag(nr 3 on the belt) and threw myself into the waiting hotelcar. I didn't clock the time spend from deplaning until sitting in the car but I think 20 min max (probably less). Except from the never ending walkwayissues and to many people try to push a taxi on me (well I would have saved 700 piso taking one yesterday as my hotelcar cost php1800 and probably would do the same job) this MNL arrival was one of my best ones.
Arriving by Emirates 4:35 pm traffic was relatively easy on the way to Makati.
Wicked Roger
06-28-15, 23:54
Terminal 3 is the best terminal so far. I saw some of the other international airlines started using it also. KLM is one of them. I hope they can organize the airport based on the same standards and run somekind of a shuttle service between the terminals.Is "best" compared with NAIA 1, 2 and 4 maybe but is definitely nowhere near international standards as the country aspires to be. Long way to go. The AC (aircon) at times never works, the people walkalators are always broken but I still use it to 'overtake' the slow movers and the selection of coffee shops is dreadful. But that said, I always use T3 but then I also travel a lot and make my assessments based on that also.
There is a shuttle but it is IMHO like a rugby scrum at times. The last time I took it (it was raining, no taxis, no choice) my bag was on top of my head while it felt like being in a overcrowded sardine can. Never again if it can be avoided.
The entire airport management needs to be replaced by people with experience and who care for passengers and in the Philippines that will be a very long time before such positive change occurs.
Member #4387
06-29-15, 01:59
On my last trips I have also used Terminal 1 and even ef it is old and stinks in many ways if has one big pre these days and it is that many airlines have changed to T3 leaving T1 less crowded / less risk a widebody arriving ahead of you making immigration line long. Allways swift arrivals there lately qnd no lines whatsoever. I preplan the terminal of arrival based on where I start up my mongering. Ie if I stay City of Dream Hyatt or New World Manila Bay it is more convenient arriving T1 from a traffic point of view while in a taxi / hotel car. For my Makati stays I allways try hard to get my ass into T3. Another pre T1 has is that the pushy guys offering u taxi can not wait inside the terminal arrival area. They have to stand at the other side of the street. So they can not irritate u atleast until they can see u and they try to wave u down and scream out their offers. If u have hotelcar u can all quietly walk to the designated area without any hazzles. T3 is chaotic this way..
As a sidenote, since these guys irritates me, on a arrival into T3 a couple of trips ago i pretended i was interested in a mafiataxi(i did ofcourse allready have a hotelcar arranged). No people around as i was the first put of the terminal from my flight. He started with a topped up price as in 1800piso, i told him no. Hanging on to me while walking his next offer was 1200. Me still walking showing no interest he broke the price down to 1000. He soon gave in and asked how much i was willing to pay and i told him 645piso just for fun. It was ok. I just informed him i did have a waiting
WG; i agree highly that NAIA airport as hole does not even deserve to be measured along with top notch intl ones like(HKG, PEK, SIN, BKK, PDG, etc). From reasons unkown to me Naia reminds me allways about the crazy and shitty Simon Bolivar intl Airport of Caracas, VE. I have no idea but my speculation would be that the administration of NAIA knows very little about how to run an airport and probably are possitioned there as a gesture from beeing related or close friends to the rulers of Phils. Ie the cousin or whatever he is of the president beeing suddenly the CEO of Clark airport. Only in phils
Wicked Roger
06-29-15, 06:58
much i was willing to pay and i told him 645piso just for fun. It was ok. I just informed him i did have a waiting
WG; i agree highly that NAIA airport as hole does not even deserve to be measured along with top notch intl ones like(HKG, PEK, SIN, BKK, PDG, etc). From reasons unkown to me Naia reminds me allways about the crazy and shitty Simon Bolivar intl Airport of Caracas, VE.
I have no idea but my speculation would be that the administration of NAIA knows very little about how to run an airport and probably are possitioned there as a gesture from beeing related or close friends to the rulers of Phils. Ie the cousin or whatever he is of the president beeing suddenly the CEO of Clark airport. Only in philsReminds me of some African airports (Djibouti springs to mind) plus the odd Soviet area terminals as well.
As for the speculation I think IMHO you are correct. Is correct and others on the forum have said similar about the management of the airport. The Clark thing is to do with another cousin or whatever being appointed to the board with no airline / airport / aviation experience. Nothing new in this country.
GoodEnough
06-29-15, 07:49
Is "best" compared with NAIA 1, 2 and 4 maybe but is definitely nowhere near international standards as the country aspires to be. Long way to go. The AC (aircon) at times never works, the people walkalators are always broken but I still use it to 'overtake' the slow movers and the selection of coffee shops is dreadful. But that said, I always use T3 but then I also travel a lot and make my assessments based on that also.
There is a shuttle but it is IMHO like a rugby scrum at times. The last time I took it (it was raining, no taxis, no choice) my bag was on top of my head while it felt like being in a overcrowded sardine can. Never again if it can be avoided.
The entire airport management needs to be replaced by people with experience and who care for passengers and in the Philippines that will be a very long time before such positive change occurs.The simple truth is that there's nothing (short of demolition) that could transform NAIA into an airport that meets international standards. To do so would require the installation of one or two parallel runways, for which there's neither space nor money. Simultaneously, it would require the acquisition of new ground equipment, which was "supposed" to have been accomplished a decade ago until the funds allocated mysteriously disappeared. The other simple truth is that the politicians, motivated by a level of avarice that's awesome to behold, simply don't give a damn. So, this poor place will continue to slip ever further behind its more visionary ASEAN competitors many of which are investing billions of dollars in improving their air and sea transport systems.
The one faint hope for this place is that some national politicians will eventually listen to the offers from private companies--like San Miguel--to build new airports and / or subways and / or ports and to operate them as well. As such offers have already been, made and resoundingly rejected by the rapacious ignoramuses who run the country, such progress is unlikely.
GE.
I have no complaints. I arrived at t3 Saturday evening and got through immigration and customs with only a two minute wait. Not counting walking time. 300 p got me to Tune with zero negotiating. I guess I have low expectations but I have never entered the US as fast or easy but I have only traveled out of the country 50 times or so.
GoodEnough
06-29-15, 11:06
I have no complaints. I arrived at t3 Saturday evening and got through immigration and customs with only a two minute wait. Not counting walking time. 300 p got me to Tune with zero negotiating. I guess I have low expectations but I have never entered the US as fast or easy but I have only traveled out of the country 50 times or so.I'd say you got lucky. However, your experience doesn't have much to do with the airport facilities which are subpar by a wide margin.
In contravention of your experience, today it took me a total of about 5 hours to travel from Davao to Manila, a distance of less than 1,000 km. This was not the fault of Cebu Pacifc which boarded the flight on time, and then we had to wait 30-40 minutes beyond scheduled departure time for clearance to be granted by Manila. Arriving over Manila, we had to circle for 40 minutes or so until space opened up on the single runway. Fortunately, I had reserved a hotel car which was waiting for me as I stepped out of the terminal. Had that not been the case, I would have been forced to join the queue of maybe 200 meters for a taxi, and by the way there were no taxis in evidence.
I've decided that, in the brilliant panoply of lights that are SE Asia, the Philippines is the burned out bulb.
GE.
Member #4387
06-29-15, 12:29
I'd say you got lucky. However, your experience doesn't have much to do with the airport facilities which are subpar by a wide margin.
In contravention of your experience, today it took me a total of about 5 hours to travel from Davao to Manila, a distance of less than 1,000 km. This was not the fault of Cebu Pacifc which boarded the flight on time, and then we had to wait 30-40 minutes beyond scheduled departure time for clearance to be granted by Manila. Arriving over Manila, we had to circle for 40 minutes or so until space opened up on the single runway. Fortunately, I had reserved a hotel car which was waiting for me as I stepped out of the terminal. Had that not been the case, I would have been forced to join the queue of maybe 200 meters for a taxi, and by the way there were no taxis in evidence.
I've decided that, in the brilliant panoply of lights that are SE Asia, the Philippines is the burned out bulb.
GE.And here you make a strong point. To go into a more detailed explenation why you have to circle / holding position as in not having landing clearance / not having take off clearance is due to aged tech systems by Naia. Their radars and ground handling sucks big time and only at Naia you have to wait for take off due to a landing one 3 min away. By then in modern airports atleast 2 simular sized aircrafts would be able to have taken off. At Naia you are stucked. Ofcourse sometimes you will experience holding positions arriving modern huge airports as well but not anything like the Naia one. Logistics and layouts here are old. I am sure they have a doppler radar somewhere, hehe. And the crossing runway for mostly props and light airbus takeoffs isn't making it easier in the airports dynamics.
I see the problem moving and construct a new airport, it is not like boiling hot dogs, as they need probably to move it to another location. I guess just people in charge here are more worried filling their own, and the familes / friends, pockets with money so development have to rest until a real change in gouverning can happen.
GoodEnough
06-29-15, 13:11
I would agree with you Skogis, except that about 2 years ago, or, maybe slightly more, San Mig approached the government with a complete design for a new airport in a new location. At it's own expense it had already done the preliminary surveys and most of the design work. The company was prepared to construct the facility at its own expense and then to operate it. The proposal never even got a serious hearing. Why? Because of the endless greed of the politicians, coupled with their total incompetence and utter lack of concern for the country's development. Amazing that Thailand managed to construct what is now rated as one of the world's best airports, a subway and monorail system and a system of beautiful elevated highways, and all within a period of about 15 years.
GE.
Doesn't SM already own Philippine Airlines? It is one of the worst run airlines. If they did true competition, they could not survive for a single day. I wonder how they could run an airport.
I would agree with you Skogis, except that about 2 years ago, or, maybe slightly more, San Mig approached the government with a complete design for a new airport in a new location. At it's own expense it had already done the preliminary surveys and most of the design work. The company was prepared to construct the facility at its own expense and then to operate it. The proposal never even got a serious hearing. Why? Because of the endless greed of the politicians, coupled with their total incompetence and utter lack of concern for the country's development. Amazing that Thailand managed to construct what is now rated as one of the world's best airports, a subway and monorail system and a system of beautiful elevated highways, and all within a period of about 15 years.
GE.
Doesn't SM already own Philippine Airlines? It is one of the worst run airlines. If they did true competition, they could not survive for a single day. I wonder how they could run an airport.Nope! From memory they bought a 49% holding in 2012, but recently sold it all. Not sure of the reasons (but could hazard a few guesses!).
Member #4387
06-30-15, 08:32
Doesn't SM already own Philippine Airlines? It is one of the worst run airlines. If they did true competition, they could not survive for a single day. I wonder how they could run an airport.My best bet is, and I agree that phil airlines are shitty company, they could become major player in Asia if they changed out all their (atleast many of them) top people with people actually are skilled in running an airline. The top CEO in ie Emirates is British, he got the job bcs arabs don't know squat about operating in an internationally aviation environment.
My bet would be also head people in Ethiad, Qatar and Gulf Air are from developed countries. Head in Cathay and other major players around the globe are skilled in aviation. I even know Air China, China Southern, Hainan etc have western people in the top managment(maybe not the CEO level but to acually run their airlines). To me, travelling sometimes biz class by phil airlines to BKK, it seems they don't give a shit. Maybe, if some of you fine gents have flown Phil airline long haul to Paris or London, you can correct me. But a B777 or an A330 is the same flying between BKK MNL as MNL CDG / LHR. Don't make me want to book their service for anlonger flight than 3 hrs. The aircraft itself beeing modern and all that is ok but they by far don't have the servicelevel in Biz class we can get used to in the western world (and how many westerns like the chicken adobo?)...
GoodEnough
06-30-15, 09:47
Skogis' point about the lack of sufficient local expertise to operate an airline to international standards is true, and not only for air transport, but for several areas of the service sectors. I've stayed in many, though not all, of the five star hotels in Makati, for example and noted that all of the GMs I've met are Western. Even in the call center business, the larger, more successful companies are Western-owned and run. I attribute this not to a lack of talent, but to the deplorably low standards enforced by training institutions here. The simple fact is that there are no institutional mechanisms here that would enable the service economy to achieve international standards nor, evidently, is there any particular desire to do so.
To illustrate, I refer to a discussion I had recently with a friend who for years has owned and operated one of the best Western restaurants in Davao. He recounted his experience in interviewing a young woman who had recently graduated from one of the city's more expensive culinary academies. She introduced herself as "Chef Julie" (I've made up the name) who firmly believed.
--because she had been told so by her school--that having taken a two-year or perhaps even four-year course, she was actually a chef. My friend said her skills were at best rudimentary. Culinary academies, by the way are churning out ersatz "Chefs" by the thousands here, none of whom, I am quite sure, would be capable of holding more than an entry level job in a real restaurant kitchen.
This is a country in which mediocrity is the norm, hyperbole the rule, and fantasy a permanent state of mind.
GE.
WestCoast1
06-30-15, 10:50
I attribute this not to a lack of talent, but to the deplorably low standards enforced by training institutions here. The simple fact is that there are no institutional mechanisms here that would enable the service economy to achieve international standards nor, evidently, is there any particular desire to do so.
SNIP
This is a country in which mediocrity is the norm, hyperbole the rule, and fantasy a permanent state of mind.
GE.To piggyback on that:
Recently used Agoda to book a room at a hotel in the province. The hotel is also a convention center (its not a small place). Booked for 3 nights using agoda as the hotel has no website. Agoda shows wifi in the rooms. Could not get a wifi signal in the room, so I asked for a room with better wifi connection. "But sir we don't have wifi in any of our rooms. Lobby only". Great. Why does Agoda show you have wifi in both the room and public areas? "Sir it does not. Agoda shows we have wifi in public area only". I grabbed my laptop and got on Agoda and showed her the "wifi in all rooms" thing. "So sorry po".
Can I speak to the manager? "What manager sir?" The one who runs the place? "Oh sorry sir. No. He is not here now. You cannot speak to him". Ah, he will be back later today, right? Can you send him to my room to chat me? "Ah sir no. We don't know when he comes back". Tomorrow then? "Ah sir no. We never know when he comes here. Just you can talk to him if you see him here". Great. Send an email to Agoda asking if I can depart my reservation with these clowns and find a new hotel, without financial penalty for the remaining nights.
The next day my girl and I get up and decide to hit the mall. We depart at 9 am. I stop by the front desk and ask for my room to be made up, explaining that we were going shopping for a while. The receptionist grabs a walkie-talkie and says to make up room 203. Somebody responds "OK". We hit the mall and shop, and have a snack. The girl goes home. I get back to the hotel around noon to find the room has not been cleaned. I decide to go to a market and get some fruits, but first I stop back at the front desk and ask them to make up my room, reminding them that I requested it 3 hours prior. The girl walkie-talkies the same command. Reply on the walkie: "OK".
I go off and shop, then stop back in the aircon mall for some tea. Get back to the hotel at 3 pm and find the room still not made up. Head back to the front desk, to find the head maid talking to the receptionist. I ask once again to have the room cleaned, reminding the girl that this is the third time I've asked for the room to be cleaned. The head-maid gal intervenes with: "No". What? "No sir. We clean the rooms on a schedule. 203 will not be cleaned until later today". Really! I noted to the maid lady that there were only about 4 rooms being occupied by customers, and many unoccupied rooms were in the throws of being cleaned during the day. Did the occupied rooms not get priority for cleaning when the occupants were out? "No sir. We clean the rooms in an order. We will get to yours later". Amazing!
I turned to the receptionist and asked if she was aware of this? "Yes sir". So when I told you to make up the room at 9 am, you knew it would not get done till late afternoon? "Yes sir". Why did you call on the walkie-talkie? Why did you not tell me that they would not clean the room till later? And why did you repeat this behavior at noon? "I don't know sir. That is what we do".
I love this place!
To be fair, 3 minutes later there was a knock at my door, the cleaning crew had obviously been summoned.
There is a vast difference between the cultural expectations, and the local expectation is so low that I don't know if the western expectation can be met. A hotel manager in a different province said it to me once, out loud, in english. One day I had called the front desk to ask for an extra pillow to be brought to my room, 2 pm. About 4 pm (no pillow rec'd) I stopped at the front desk and asked again, as I was walking out the front door. At 7 pm I went to the front desk again to ask. At 9 pm (still no pillow) I went back to the front desk, got a bit rough, and insisted the pillow be delivered (and shortly after it was delivered). The following day at checkout, I mentioned this to the manager. Her response: "Foreigner want everything to happen for them right now. Its not the filipino way, sir". The fact that this is cultural, and that pinoy rarely complain about any bad service, means expectations will not change for a long time.
Member #4387
06-30-15, 11:34
Skogis' point about the lack of sufficient local expertise to operate an airline to international standards is true, and not only for air transport, but for several areas of the service sectors. I've stayed in many, though not all, of the five star hotels in Makati, for example and noted that all of the GMs I've met are Western. Even in the call center business, the larger, more successful companies are Western-owned and run. I attribute this not to a lack of talent, but to the deplorably low standards enforced by training institutions here. The simple fact is that there are no institutional mechanisms here that would enable the service economy to achieve international standards nor, evidently, is there any particular desire to do so.
To illustrate, I refer to a discussion I had recently with a friend who for years has owned and operated one of the best Western restaurants in Davao. He recounted his experience in interviewing a young woman who had recently graduated from one of the city's more expensive culinary academies. She introduced herself as "Chef Julie" (I've made up the name) who firmly believed.
--because she had been told so by her school--that having taken a two-year or perhaps even four-year course, she was actually a chef. My friend said her skills were at best rudimentary. Culinary academies, by the way are churning out ersatz "Chefs" by the thousands here, none of whom, I am quite sure, would be capable of holding more than an entry level job in a real restaurant kitchen.
This is a country in which mediocrity is the norm, hyperbole the rule, and fantasy a permanent state of mind.
GE.You speak out my point as in general quite beautifully. I don't carry your native english tounge so I can not indulge myself with those fine words you are using. I understand them put in context though (my mom is american but her tounge today is clear native norwegian). They live by much a fantasy in phils. Hell, I know a while ago, as we have lack of nurses in Norway, a company started to provide hospitals with nurses. It proved though that they did not have a clue what plaster was, even less did they know how to take a blood sample (finding a nutiorous vaine).
Everything was questioned and they were send back (a few of them propably managed to get themself some norwegian wood so they could stay but it was mainly a disaster). Now it is only 2 institutions, Hi so ones, providing Norway with nirses from Phils as they have a norwegian logistic officer placed at the unis so they can view the quality of the educations. They can come easily with no hazzles from the norwegian embassy as they are needed.
I know a girl from San Fernando, a beauty, she just finished 3 years of culinaries and call herself a "baker" as in can decorate. I have viewed some of her work and my mom (I would not say me) can do a lot better than her. She would not before hell freezes get a job as a baker in Norway but maybe in phils I don't know. My mom is by the way only a math and chemical teacher at a UNI in Oslo, Norway.
It is one of the worst run airlines. If they did true competition, they could not survive for a single day. I wonder how they could run an airport.
Maybe, if some of you fine gents have flown Phil airline long haul to Paris or London, you can correct me. But a B777 or an A330 is the same flying between BKK MNL as MNL CDG / LHR. Don't make me want to book their service for anlonger flight than 3 hrs. The aircraft itself beeing modern and all that is ok but they by far don't have the servicelevel in Biz class we can get used to in the western world (and how many westerns like the chicken adobo?)...I have done LAX- (GUM) -MNL / MNL-LAX on PR. Those were looong flights, especially with the refueling in GUM on the way out (apparently they rarely do this any more as they use B777's more than B747's now. Better range). Food was okay, and plenty of it, service was okay, but broken IFE, broken seats, bassinets on the floor because of no attachment points.
But they have no direct competition for many long haul routes. PR are the only airline flying direct to MNL from LAX; United and Delta from the US converge on Narita and then diverge to various points in Asia, so a change of plane is required, which is a bit of a PITA. PR don't seem to interline with much else, at least ticketing anyway, so if you want a through ticket to, say, Davao from west coast US, you can either have PR or one of the Chinese airlines (I forget which), and that's your lot. So, many Filipinos prefer to take PR and I suppose many have some sort of pride in "their" airline. Crazy but that's the way it is.
Wicked Roger
07-01-15, 23:20
Skogis' point about the lack of sufficient local expertise to operate an airline to international standards is true, and not only for air transport, but for several areas of the service sectors.
The simple fact is that there are no institutional mechanisms here that would enable the service economy to achieve international standards nor, evidently, is there any particular desire to do so.
This is a country in which mediocrity is the norm, hyperbole the rule, and fantasy a permanent state of mind.
GE.This today from the Philstar make interesting reading in light of the FRs recently about the airport. Nothing will surprise the seasoned traveler among us. The fact that it has taken a few weeks for the report to be mentioned in the press is also alarming IMHO. It basically slams the entire airport and management, the lack of investment etc. Carries see NAIA as high risk is always comforting to the passenger. If the subject was not so serious it would be funny.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/02/1472363/global-carriers-tag-naia-high-risk-airport
As GE pointed out there were plans for a new airport plus some politicians have pushed Clark (but that need huge investment in a rail service to Manila). But as he also noted, there is limited will to o anything unless people get there share of the pie first putting passengers etc well down the list of beneficiaries.
Read the last sentence, IATA (a least an authority on the subject) agrees that a new airport within a 50 kms radius of Manila is needed but pigs will fly first am sure.
Maybe this is already known here, but some dude who runs a popular blog put Philippines on blast a few months ago. He labelled it the easiest place on Earth to get laid, and even linked one of the dating sites. A lot of guys were calling him out on ruining the Phils.
I'll be there this month. Hoping the same thing that happened in China doesn't happen there.
I am sure he is trying to make money by selling advertising in his site with an increased traffic. There are many morons like him.
Maybe this is already known here, but some dude who runs a popular blog put Philippines on blast a few months ago. He labelled it the easiest place on Earth to get laid, and even linked one of the dating sites. A lot of guys were calling him out on ruining the Phils.
I'll be there this month. Hoping the same thing that happened in China doesn't happen there.
WestCoast1
07-07-15, 13:31
Recently there was discussion of bad-boy taxi drivers in Manila. I was one of those who poo-poo-ed that, saying that lately they had cleaned up their act. Well these things are like the weather here: just wait 15 minutes and it changes. With mucho rains recently in Manila, the worm has turned. I'm in a mall one evening during a downpour. Concluding my business I head out the front entrance, to find a massive line for the taxis. Seems nobody wants to walk in the downpour. I walk back inside and window-shop a bit, on my way to the rear entrance. I've got my umbrella, and its only just over half a mile to the hotel. By the time I reach the rear entrance, the rain has slowed nearly to a halt, barely a drizzle. I was tempted to walk to the hotel. But, there were taxis passing by, and nobody was in the taxi line. Easy pickings, right?
I step to the curb and a taxi pulls over. The driver rolls his window down and asks my destination. I tell him XYZ Hotel. He simply drove away. Another taxi pulls up and the driver asks my destination. XYZ Hotel. "Two hundred". What? Its a p45-50 fare (60-65 in mid-day traffic). Traffic is light. "Two hundred". Next, have a good day fella. Another taxi pulled up, with a similar result: the driver wanted 150. I told him meter+20, and he drove off.
I started to walk to the hotel (didn't need the umbrella). A moment later a taxi honked at me as he pulled over. XYZ Hotel fella. "One hundred". Eighty. "OK".
There you have it: rain makes them suddenly *ssholes.
There you have it: rain makes them suddenly *ssholes.It's the same way in China. Opportunistic. Personally, I'd gladly pay $5 to get a taxi in a downpour.
WestCoast1
07-09-15, 03:45
It's the same way in China. Opportunistic. Personally, I'd gladly pay $5 to get a taxi in a downpour.Yes. We were commenting recently on how that opportunism had dwindled. I have not experienced it I a long time (several years). In fact, two weeks prior, in two cities outside of Manila (Cebu and a province), I took taxis several times at downpour / heavy traffic times, and every driver performed flawlessly, no hint of opportunism.
WestCoast1
07-09-15, 06:52
Yes. We were commenting recently on how that opportunism had dwindled. I have not experienced it I a long time (several years). In fact, two weeks prior, in two cities outside of Manila (Cebu and a province), I took taxis several times at downpour / heavy traffic times, and every driver performed flawlessly, no hint of opportunism.It occurred again two days later. Same mall (rear entrance, where the taxis are unsupervised). Two drivers wanted p200 to go a p45-50 ride. A third driver agreed to 60 (hard rain).
I got an interesting explanation from the driver of why the sudden opporunism has come up. I didn't ask for any explaination, he just offered it (and who knows if this is true or not). He said he rents taxis for p1000 per 12 hour shift. Since the rains started last week, the owners have increased the fee by 300 per day during the 'tie-poons'. He said the owners are claiming extra damage to the returned taxis from the rain. Does not make much sense to me, but there you have what he told me.
I did not point out to him that adding 300 to his daily expenses, does *not* justify all rides going up by 150+ (you only need to opportunisitcally raise 2 fares by that much to recoup p300).
It occurred again two days later. Same mall (rear entrance, where the taxis are unsupervised). Two drivers wanted p200 to go a p45-50 ride. A third driver agreed to 60 (hard rain).West - Since it's going to be raining for the next few months, you should try out Uber. Although, Uber does have surge pricing -- at least it's somewhat upfront about it.
PirateMorgan
07-12-15, 00:30
I have now lived in the Philippines for 12 hours. Cebu is my new home. Costa Rica, Sosua, Lake Chappala and finally (I hope) the Philippines. I plan to post information here that might be interesting to others who are planning to come to the Philippines. And from the perspective of someone 70 (young 70) years old. I will post each new subject with an appropriate subject line.
PirateMorgan
07-12-15, 00:33
I called PAL before I came and asked if I needed a ticket OUT of the country when I made my reservation. They said NO. When I checked in for my flight at the airport they said I needed it. So I had to buy a refundable ticket for Hong Kong ($450) When I arrived here last night they could have cared less about a departing ticket. Conclusion is-no conclusion. I don't know what to say.
Hi PM, that is good to know. What city are you in?
I have now lived in the Philippines for 12 hours. Cebu is my new home. Costa Rica, Sosua, Lake Chappala and finally (I hope) the Philippines. I plan to post information here that might be interesting to others who are planning to come to the Philippines. And from the perspective of someone 70 (young 70) years old. I will post each new subject with an appropriate subject line..
GoodEnough
07-12-15, 00:59
I called PAL before I came and asked if I needed a ticket OUT of the country when I made my reservation. They said NO. When I checked in for my flight at the airport they said I needed it. So I had to buy a refundable ticket for Hong Kong ($450) When I arrived here last night they could have cared less about a departing ticket. Conclusion is-no conclusion. I don't know what to say.Welcome to the Philippines, where consistency is not a valued trait. The law is that you must have a ticket out of here and it has been my experience that the check-in staff in the country from which you're departing will require a look at the ticket out of the Philippines; not because they really give a damn but because it's included in their checklist of requirements. I've never been asked for the ticket when arriving here, and I've now lived in country for about 11 years.
Let me know if you ever get the urge to explore Davao and I'll be glad to buy the first round.
GE.
I called PAL before I came and asked if I needed a ticket OUT of the country when I made my reservation. They said NO. When I checked in for my flight at the airport they said I needed it. So I had to buy a refundable ticket for Hong Kong ($450) When I arrived here last night they could have cared less about a departing ticket. Conclusion is-no conclusion. I don't know what to say.At check in, whether in US or BKK I have always been asked to show the exit ticket by all the airlines. No exit ticket no check in. I think the policy is if you get denied entry to the country then the airline has to fly you back at their expense. I like the idea of a refundable exit ticket for show.
About half the time I am asked to show the exit ticket at immigration. Half of the time of showing it I am waived on before I can show them. I imagine it depends on what counrty you are coming from. If you are from a third world country then they really want to see an exit ticket.
Welcome to the Philippines, where consistency is not a valued trait. The law is that you must have a ticket out of here and it has been my experience that the check-in staff in the country from which you're departing will require a look at the ticket out of the Philippines; not because they really give a damn but because it's included in their checklist of requirements. I've never been asked for the ticket
GE.The one place they seem to always insist on the out ticket policy is Hong Kong. Invariably if transiting through there the destination is CRK, if that means anything.
Wicked Roger
07-12-15, 07:34
The one place they seem to always insist on the out ticket policy is Hong Kong. Invariably if transiting through there the destination is CRK, if that means anything.Most places in Asia ask (I have been asked in KL, BKK, HK for example) and it is truly a pain especially when you can get an extension legally from the BI in the city where you are staying. I was given a year visa the last time I entered (no idea why, maybe because I am so good looking?
When I leave Dubai I am never asked same in the UK and Europe. In Manila I am rarely asked and if I am I say " I am going soon just waiting for my client / company to say where and when, and if not soon I can always extend can't I?
That seems to work.
But I love that they ask as they sort of say "welcome to the Philippines, when are you leaving" LOL.
The one place they seem to always insist on the out ticket policy is Hong Kong. Invariably if transiting through there the destination is CRK, if that means anything.Bangkok had to go and get a copy from the Emirates desk, as I was having a short trip to LOS I did not carry my exit ticket from Phil with me but Cebu Pasific insisted on seeing it before booking me in.
Last month I had a ticket from EVA Air from Seattle to MNL and BKK to Seattle. I was going to buy my ticket in Philippines. At the airport they would not check me in without an exit ticket from Philippines. So, from my Iphone I bouth a Manila Phuket ticket from Cebu Pacific and got the information on my email. Then they insist to see a printed copy.
Than, I blew a fuse and they took me to their office and assist me to print it in their airport office. Moral of the story, you may need a back up plan if you are doing a multicity. Multi country trips.
Bangkok had to go and get a copy from the Emirates desk, as I was having a short trip to LOS I did not carry my exit ticket from Phil with me but Cebu Pasific insisted on seeing it before booking me in.
BrainDrain
07-13-15, 06:20
If a traveler is denied entry to a country for some reason, my understanding, is that it is the airline that brought them to the country that has to return them to another country. Therefore it is in the airline's interest to ensure that passengers they are checking-in have the required documentation.
The really really big hole in all of this is that I use TripIt for my travel itineraries. When asked for proof of my return journey (which is often on a different carrier) and rarely on a 'return' ticket, I show them my TripIt app view on my iPhone.
That being said, my last exit from Brisbane, the agent made me carry a printed paper copy of my Manila exit tix.
That being said, I have never had a RP immigration officer ask for any proof of a return tix.
BD.
WestCoast1
07-13-15, 08:39
If a traveler is denied entry to a country for some reason, my understanding, is that it is the airline that brought them to the country that has to return them to another country. Therefore it is in the airline's interest to ensure that passengers they are checking-in have the required documentation.You are the one responsible for paying for your own deportation.
Upon arrival in phils, until about 3 years ago, they asked for my outbound / onward ticket *everytime* I didn't hand one to them. Since 3 years ago, its been about 50% of the times that they've asked for it. Don't know why the change at that time.
A few months ago arriving on KAL into Terminal 1, while deplaning, I could not find my full itinerary. I'd torn off the bottom half of the sheet of paper to write something on it, then lost it. I had only the inbound portion. I grabbed a KAL employee in the hallway and explained the situation. He took me to an office to print another for me. They found the itinerary, but could not get their printer working. He instead walked me to the front of an immigration queue and had the officer process my passport on his good word that I was outbound in 3 weeks. Stamp, stamp. "Enjoy Philippines sir". And I did.
Upon checkin with Korean Air in the US, they've insisted upon seeing my original credit card and my full itinerary (printed), so I can show it to phils immigration, everytime. "Sir, you could be deported from Philippines if you don't have your printed onward ticket for the Immigration there".
Interesting. I travel nearly non-stop for business to more than 80 countries for the last 30 years or so and I have never been asked to show proof of exit.
Member #4387
07-13-15, 09:32
Arriving maybe 50 times (give and take a few) into phils the last 3+ years I have never been asked for a returnticket by immigration. Checking in for the Manila leg in Oslo they have never asked me for a returnticket even if I don't return with same company or alliance than my outbound one(i often have multicity returns).
In BKK, if memory serves me right, I've been asked twice for my return ticket. If asked there will be no problem as I have allways a full changable / refundable ticket up my sleaves to show for if demanded. No printed initiary though. Never did I bring them. I believe I have been asked for the CC which I paid the trip with but only in MNL.
And Westie you are right about you have to pay your own deportation but your arriving airline are required to bring you back as soon as possible and in many cases this means, if their returnflight out of MNL are fully booked, they have to leave one paying customer behind. The settlement and cost of your deportation is made later as if you don't pay you will be denied entry into phils until you pay your debt.
So like, if I get a one-way ticket to the Philippines, there's a chance they could send me back?
What about the guys who just want to check out the place, have significant passive income and don't know how long they'll be there?
Bangkok had to go and get a copy from the Emirates desk, as I was having a short trip to LOS I did not carry my exit ticket from Phil with me but Cebu Pasific insisted on seeing it before booking me in.Anytime anymore that I'm going in with no set departure, the remedy is just to get a Star Alliance reward ticket for the lowest reward mileage level, and then redeposit (no cost / penalty for Gold and 1 k).
Arriving maybe 50 times (give and take a few) into phils the last 3+ years I have never been asked for a returnticket by immigration. Checking in for the Manila leg in Oslo they have never asked me for a returnticket even if I don't return with same company or alliance than my outbound one(i often have multicity returns).
Skogis - Immigration is not responsible for looking at the return ticket. The airlines have this responsibility to verify that a person with a 1 way ticket has a exit ticket (they won't ask if you have a round trip ticket).
Like Skogis I have spent tweny years going in and out of Asian and African airports and never, but never asked about a return ticket. Add the USA and Canada also.
Manila is one of the more relaxed airports. The country needs tourism!
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