General Info

[Kabul Guy]

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Worldremit: This is what I currently do directly from my computer. The exchange rates are much better than WU. But your friend needs a bank account. If your friend is a regular friend or more, then you are doing them a favor by suggesting they open a bank account.

The situation: It turns out that RP has the longest lock down of any country worldwide. But if you look at the numbers (worldometer), RP has not been hit very hard.
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I have used world remit in the past and it allows cash pickup at metrobank, LBC Pawlan Pawnshop etc.

I just signed up for Gcash, I linked my peso account and was able to send the Blow Job Queen some cash for her birthday which is today. No fees to send vs about 10% when I use world remit (part is the cash advance fee my Cdn credit card charges for using World remit services.) No issues with conversion as when I convert my USD to peso at the bank I get a very good rate.

While the stats look really good for here, we all know just how bad they are at keeping track of anything here especially something that may make them look bad. If they were that good I think that the restrictions would have relaxed more than they have, lots of people in different places still going about business as normal and lockdown enforcement has been pretty lax to say the least in many places. I am on a general Philippine discussion board and some places are reporting very severe enforcement of lock down, others almost zero enforcement.

In other words, about what you would expect for the Philippines.

[Wicked Roger]

I'm an occasional contributor, but wanted to give my advice on sending money to RP. I am currently just outside the Capital region under MCQ.

Worldremit: This is what I currently do directly from my computer. The exchange rates are much better than WU. But your friend needs a bank account. If your friend is a regular friend or more, then you are doing them a favor by suggesting they open a bank account..

You have the option on WorldRemit to get cash pick up also Just check the drop down box as the first option it gives is bank but click on that and you 3 more options so the cuties can get via Cebuana, M Huiller and other instant cash places. They need a pass to get it if still a strict quarantine.

Not sure if this can be seen on the attached but if you look closely you see 4 options Big Fun.

[Beavis]

I agree but I walk every afternoon (Olongapo on GCQ now) and am seeing more and more people getting back to normal. The road crews have gone back to work trying to get a jump on the rainy season I assume. Most people still wearing masks but many aren't. Social distancing is practically out the window. Cars and scooters moving 24 hours again though not near as many. Alcohol sales have returned so a few late night parties are resuming. The cage is open and the dogs are coming out. Not like anyone is going to be successful by telling them to go back inside. This is going to be interesting for the next few weeks.

I am thinking it will be a gradual opening, we will still see lots of things that will be closed, especially the high risk things like sports events, wide open inter island and international travel, bars and other similar venues will have social distancing restrictions maintained.

It will not stop it but might slow it down enough to flatten the curve so that they can control the speed at which it spreads while at the same time generating some income and production to keep the people going.

I fear a complete social breakdown more than I fear the virus. At least with the virus I can isolate myself as much as possible. With social breakdown I cannot stop myself from being the target of the crowd should they decide to see how much cash the white guy has.

[Big Fun]

I'm an occasional contributor, but wanted to give my advice on sending money to RP. I am currently just outside the Capital region under MCQ.

Western Union: It's easy for a friend to pick up money; however, I think the exchange rates at WU are very poor. If you add on the service fee, it can be quite a chunk. One option is that you can send the money in USD. Your friend can pick it up and then exchange at a competitive money changer. I have used a large WU office in Makati where they can do this. Your friend should ask before the money is sent whether that is OK.

Worldremit: This is what I currently do directly from my computer. The exchange rates are much better than WU. But your friend needs a bank account. If your friend is a regular friend or more, then you are doing them a favor by suggesting they open a bank account.

The situation: It turns out that RP has the longest lock down of any country worldwide. But if you look at the numbers (worldometer), RP has not been hit very hard. Yesterday there were four deaths in a country of 100,000,000. Compare that to North America or Europe. Total deaths have been about 850 --maybe some undercount, because technology is not well developed here. Every year, 70,000 people here die from pneumonia. Make your own conclusions. Sadly, I think the lock down will be very devastating for many Filipinos. Think of the street sweepers, taxi drivers, waitresses, hotel room cleaners etc who help make your visit so enjoyable.

Reopening: Given the gov't attitude on lockdown, I don't think we will see bars and clubs opening anytime soon. I could be wrong. I expect many will go out of business.

Only positive when the strict lockdown comes on June 1 (we hope) is that hotels and domestic flights appear to be rock bottom. So I'm here.

OK, hope this is helpful.

[Kabul Guy]

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The Philippine Government cannot afford to provide enough resources to sustain the people for a long time. They are near the end now and there are not enough humanitarian groups to pick up the slack. It's anyone's guess but from what I am seeing I predict that everything is going to be open much sooner than expected.

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I am thinking it will be a gradual opening, we will still see lots of things that will be closed, especially the high risk things like sports events, wide open inter island and international travel, bars and other similar venues will have social distancing restrictions maintained.

It will not stop it but might slow it down enough to flatten the curve so that they can control the speed at which it spreads while at the same time generating some income and production to keep the people going.

I fear a complete social breakdown more than I fear the virus. At least with the virus I can isolate myself as much as possible. With social breakdown I cannot stop myself from being the target of the crowd should they decide to see how much cash the white guy has.

[Beavis]

Since Olongapo went to GCQ a lot of things seem to be getting closer to returning to normal. The virus hasn't gone away but at some point the powers that be are going to have to decide to either open the country back up and let the virus run it's course or watch people starve and deal with the chaos that goes along with it. The Philippine Government cannot afford to provide enough resources to sustain the people for a long time. They are near the end now and there are not enough humanitarian groups to pick up the slack. It's anyone's guess but from what I am seeing I predict that everything is going to be open much sooner than expected. Again these are opinions only and I have nothing to back it up other than my daily observations. I guess we will see but many local businesses have already said they will not reopen so eventually a big decision is going to have to be made.

[GDreams]

Thanks, yes with WU you have a xfer cost but then they can get the money instantly in any WU office or desk, only need for receiver is card, transaction number and name of sender.

The money made in these transactions is usually in the rate spread and not so much the fees. Always compare the rates. In some place WU is good others TW is better in terms of dollars received vs dollars paid.

[EihTooms]

Vote +1 for TransferWise.

The ATM fees are higher than some cards but the exchange rate and convenience is so good.

If anyone wants a sign-up bonus of a free transfer, I can send a link.

+2 for TransferWise. I use it on my phone all the time to transfer money from my USA bank account to my Thailand bank account. At first I was not pleased with the TransferWise results because I need to make sure the transfer shows up as a "Foreign Transfer" on my Thai bank account statement/pass book for the purpose of meeting the 65,000 baht per month income requirement to maintain a retirement visa. The money must provably come from outside of Thailand. But my first couple of transfers with them only showed up on my statetment/pass book as a "bank transfer." Not good enough.

Then I played with the options and discovered if I use the "Bank Debit (ACH)" option to make the transfer (sometimes referred to as "Direct Debit (ACH)" option on the mobile app I think) and choose to have it sent in USD to be converted into THB here on arrival, it did show up as a "FTT" (Foreign Transfer) on my Thai bank statement/pass book.

A $1,000 USD transfer costs about $15 USD, which they take out of the money being transferred, not from your originating bank account. And even if I don't initiate a transfer on the app with my smartphone until as late as 11:30PM, the money will show up in my Thai bank account around 2:05PM on the very next business day.

[Albert9989]

I don't know. I've never used Western Union.

Perhaps others can answer.

The benefit of most of the remittance companies is that the recipient doesn't need a bank account to access the money. But they charge accordingly.

G.

Thanks, yes with WU you have a xfer cost but then they can get the money instantly in any WU office or desk, only need for receiver is card, transaction number and name of sender.

[Wicked Roger]

I don't know. I've never used Western Union.

Perhaps others can answer.

The benefit of most of the remittance companies is that the recipient doesn't need a bank account to access the money. But they charge accordingly.

G.

Western Union can ask a lot of questions about the sender being a US company that can be seen as intrusive (eg place of work, pay slips, passport etc).

Other similar online remittance web sites include Worldremit which is less stringent and is similar Transferwise.

[Goferring]

But western Union is not working from US?

I don't know. I've never used Western Union.

Perhaps others can answer.

The benefit of most of the remittance companies is that the recipient doesn't need a bank account to access the money. But they charge accordingly.

G.

[Albert9989]

Transferwise is very efficient and has great rates but you do need a bank account to transfer from and to. You can only send from an account in the name that of the TW account holder but the recipient can be anyone in pretty much any currency.

They do offer a debit card with good rates for purchases. Cash ATM withdrawals are very limited, $300 a month from memory.

To do a transfer just down load the app, set the ammount and currency, and key in the destination recipient and account.

Transfers from civilisation to SEA are typicially 2 or 3 days.

Enjoy. G.

But western Union is not working from US?

[PilotPaul]

Transferwise is very efficient and has great rates but you do need a bank account to transfer from and to. You can only send from an account in the name that of the TW account holder but the recipient can be anyone in pretty much any currency.

They do offer a debit card with good rates for purchases. Cash ATM withdrawals are very limited, $300 a month from memory.

To do a transfer just down load the app, set the ammount and currency, and key in the destination recipient and account.

Transfers from civilisation to SEA are typicially 2 or 3 days.

Enjoy. G.

Vote +1 for TransferWise.

The ATM fees are higher than some cards but the exchange rate and convenience is so good.

If anyone wants a sign-up bonus of a free transfer, I can send a link.

[Chocha Monger]

Sheeesh. If you dislike Messrs Reacharound's and Trainwreck's creative masterpieces so much, why do you so effortlessly keep falling into their trap? Every single time! Sheeesh. LOL.

Sarcasm, acerbic wit and humor is lost on many mongers. LOL.

The man is obviously an avid fan of Messrs Reacharound and Trainwreck. He never misses an edition of their creative masterpieces.

[Goferring]

Does anyone know how to use transferwise?

Usa to PI.

I don't have a PI bank acct, do I need one.

I paid for a acr card in 2019 but they never had it when I went to immigration to pick it up.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks.

Transferwise is very efficient and has great rates but you do need a bank account to transfer from and to. You can only send from an account in the name that of the TW account holder but the recipient can be anyone in pretty much any currency.

They do offer a debit card with good rates for purchases. Cash ATM withdrawals are very limited, $300 a month from memory.

To do a transfer just down load the app, set the ammount and currency, and key in the destination recipient and account.

Transfers from civilisation to SEA are typicially 2 or 3 days.

Enjoy. G.