General Info

[Golfinho]

But we are talking about the real world here. The place where the proceeds are used to benefit people other than those that obtained the proceeds does not exist. Communism attempts to do it, but we still see those that run everything living swell, while the common folk are scrounging t.

You are talking about your world, homie: the place of some Hobbesian ghetto, where Capitalism pretends to do it, but we still see those that run everything living well, while the common folks are scroungeing.

Note: refer yourself to Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Anyone who has spend anytime in Asia inevitably muses to the effect the various colonizers had on their respective domains: Consider Malaysia viz-a-viz adjacent Indonesia; the French domains; independent Thailand, etc. And anyone has obviously noted more similarities between the Philippines and Central America than with Asia.

[Mr Enternational]

'turning a profit' and using the proceeds to benefit the people are two different things, homie. The plantation system, for example, turned some of the richest profits in ante-bellum America but only for a certain class (and color) of people, who knew how to use slave labor resources to their advantage.

But we are talking about the real world here. The place where the proceeds are used to benefit people other than those that obtained the proceeds does not exist. Communism attempts to do it, but we still see those that run everything living swell, while the common folk are scrounging.

So back to the original argument. Even if the US had not taken whatever PM alludes to from the Philippines way back when, the chances that your average bar girl, fisherman, or farmer would be benefiting from it today (or even back then) are no doubt nil.

Like I said, nobody was thinking about those diamonds until DeBeers figured out how to profit from them. Then all of a sudden they are in the wrong. But you realize how worthless they really are when you try to sell them back to the person you bought them from. Diamonds ain't shit without the marketing behind them. They can give the whole damn mine back to the natives, but that does not mean they will know how to market it in order to get something from it.

[Red Kilt]

Check in on line, as early as a week in advance with some airlines, and then just do a bag drop at airport.

Sounds good in theory but for Cebu Pacific the bag drop lines are as long as the regular check-in lines.

I have had this debate with them already. There should be an advantage for those using advance check-in. At present, there is very little.

[Golfinho]

Just because someone is sitting on resources, does not mean they know how to use them to their advantage or to turn a profit.

'turning a profit' and using the proceeds to benefit the people are two different things, homie. The plantation system, for example, turned some of the richest profits in ante-bellum America but only for a certain class (and color) of people, who knew how to use slave labor resources to their advantage.

[Golfinho]

How do you check in advance if airlines only open check in counters 2-3 hours before the flight? There only 2 points you can be sent back. Leaving Philippines at BI and immigration at distination point.

Check in on line, as early as a week in advance with some airlines, and then just do a bag drop at airport. Note, once checked in, you can't make ticket change or get refund should your travel plans change.

[WestCoast1]

Its been over a week of continued tropical depression, heavy winds and rain. Traffic is its usual bad self 9 am-9 pm-ish, and the flooding / rains haven't helped. More than half my taxi drivers are not running a meter. They aren't being snotty or making a big money grab. At the end of the ride I just hand them what I think the trip would normally cost, and only one argued for more. On the way from the airport to my condo I noticed no meter. "Sir what did you pay last time taxi to Malate?" 180. "OK, 180 is ok to you?" Ya, sure. Gave him 200 and everyone was happy. Its been like that quite a bit. One driver said that the meter was mostly meaningless in heavy traffic where rides are made longer by flooding. "I go from Malate to Mandaluyong in afternoon its an hour and 280 on the meter. Thats crazy sir it will cost me that much to operate this taxi because fuel cost. Meter is wrong for long fare. Working for nothing". I understand.

Snotty driver. Took taxi in rain one night with my girl from my condo to Calle 5 (Mabini, I think). Trip time: 3 minutes. No meter. Handed the driver p100, asked for p50 back. If there had been a meter, the cost would have been < p50. He took the 100 and sat still. My girl said to him: "You give 50 back". He sat still. She got mad and started in on him. I grabbed her arm and shushed her. We all sat quietly for about 30 seconds. "F*ck! Ok!" he handed me 50 and we departed. Arguing with the driver won't help your cause. OTOH, he can't get another fare until you depart his taxi.

Had several good Grab rides at low cost. Went from my condo in Malate to Knightsbridge in Makati. Stated Grab cost on my phone: P255. Good deal, nice driver, good convo, and he hoisted some heavy stuff in / out of the vehicle. P100 tip and everyone was happy. Interestingly on the way to Knightsbridge, he got his next Grab fare from? Knightsbridge right back to my condo in Malate.

[Mr Enternational]

Perhaps if the USA had not invaded in 1898 and robbed the place blind, it would be richer.

Finally I am disagreeing with PM about something. Just because someone is sitting on resources, does not mean they know how to use them to their advantage or to turn a profit. Diamonds were sitting in Kimberly Mill for 1 million years. What were the natives doing with them? Shit. DeBeers comes along and started tricking the whole world into buying clear rocks for astronomical prices and everyone wants to talk about how the natives were robbed blind.

[Dg8787]

Perhaps if the USA had not invaded in 1898 and robbed the place blind, it would be richer. When Singapore was founded, Lee Kuan Yew said he wanted it to be the new Philippines of Asia.

When people from poor countries disembark, they are often asked to show means of support and, if they don't have it, they are sent home, often at the expense of the air line. That being so, it makes sense to check in advance.

Can you please elaborate (tell) on how USA robbed Philippines blind in 1898? And since then if that is what you are saying?

How do you check in advance if airlines only open check in counters 2-3 hours before the flight? There only 2 points you can be sent back. Leaving Philippines at BI and immigration at distination point. Please explain what you mean here.

[Member #4698]

Many reports that I read mention how bad traffic is in Manila. Occurred to me to check out Google maps traffic information (shows the typical traffic for different days of the week and times). Was an eyeopener (red is bad, green is good). Pretty much any hotel around the LA cafe / Manila area is bumper to bumper until later in the evening. I looks like the traffic around the EDSA complex is usually moving along. Same around the greenbelt mall area. The map is showing typical traffic on a Wednesday around 530 pm. Traffic to and from Burgos street doesn't get really bad until 7 pm in the evening but it stays that way well into the evening.

Getting around Metro Manila in prime time is rough. This is why I usually stay in a hotel in Malate or Pasay when I want to focus on EDSA (and possibly Robinson Mall & LA Cafe) and a hotel in Makati when I want to focus on Burgos et al. At 9 pm it takes 30 minutes at best and usually longer to travel by taxi the distance from Greenbelt to the EDSA Entertainment Complex or vice-a-versa. At the same time it only takes 7 or 8 minutes to travel from LA Cafe to EDSA or to travel from Burgos St. To the Greenbelt Mall. Don't even ask me how long it takes to travel by taxi from Makati over to Quezon Ave at 8pm. LOL. A long time!

On my last trip I was in and out of MNL a couple of times. I stayed for 4 nights at the Hyatt City of Dreams Hotel and 10 nights (5 nights each) at the Fairmont and Peninsula Hotels. After a couple initial visits to Plan B and the Cotton Club, I made arrangements with my respective bar girls there in addition to my Bottoms Bar long time regular dynamic duo to visit me wherever I was staying. My motto is let the girls deal with the traffic while I relax in the hotel unless I am looking for new.

[Breadman]

Many reports that I read mention how bad traffic is in Manila. Occurred to me to check out Google maps traffic information (shows the typical traffic for different days of the week and times). Was an eyeopener (red is bad, green is good). Pretty much any hotel around the LA cafe / Manila area is bumper to bumper until later in the evening. I looks like the traffic around the EDSA complex is usually moving along. Same around the greenbelt mall area. The map is showing typical traffic on a Wednesday around 530 pm. Traffic to and from Burgos street doesn't get really bad until 7 pm in the evening but it stays that way well into the evening.

[PedroMorales]

I took a 30 ish girl to HK, few out of CRK. I did put p5 k into her purse for her to have as ready cash. We went through outgoing immigration separately.

It is a Philippines "republic" which is supposed ot allow their people the right to leave. Perhaps if the officials of the country made it a better placee to live, then more of their citizens would return.

Perhaps if the USA had not invaded in 1898 and robbed the place blind, it would be richer. When Singapore was founded, Lee Kuan Yew said he wanted it to be the new Philippines of Asia.

When people from poor countries disembark, they are often asked to show means of support and, if they don't have it, they are sent home, often at the expense of the air line. That being so, it makes sense to check in advance.

[Bushes]

The largest export of PI are its people to fuel global work forces. Because of foreign pressures against [CodeWord908], I think age restrictions are imposed. They can sell their body and soul but cannot sell their pussy.

It is a Philippines "republic" which is supposed ot allow their people the right to leave. Perhaps if the officials of the country made it a better placee to live, then more of their citizens would return.

[Firebird]

Yes and yes.

Which airport did you fly out of?

Thanks.

We flew out of Nino Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Since we had to go through separate channels in Imigation (Foreign and Filipino), actually the Customs officer came out of here booth to check with me if we were together. I said yes and away we went. No major problem.

Good luck.

[PinaLove]

I have a few questions regarding BI letting Pinay out of the country.

I will be flying to Hong Kong with a Pinay friend. She is single in her late 20's with 2 children, has had her passport for 4 years and never exit the Philippines. We will be in Hong Kong for a few days and returning..

I took a 30 ish girl to HK, few out of CRK. I did put p5 k into her purse for her to have as ready cash. We went through outgoing immigration separately.

It is a Philippines "republic" which is supposed ot allow their people the right to leave. Perhaps if the officials of the country made it a better placee to live, then more of their citizens would return.

[Dg8787]

When you write "I will be flying to Hong Kong with a Pinay friend", does that mean that.

- the both of you are leaving PH together and.

- the both of you are arriving into HK also together?

That is how I did it with my GF and there was no trouble at either end. Just have to show the HK hotel where you are stayng and also they may ask for her return flight.

Not sure of your nationality, but with my US passport there was no issues of us coming together.

Good luck.

Yes and yes.

Which airport did you fly out of?

Thanks.