General Info

[Hutsori]

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.

[Ikksman]

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

[GoodEnough]

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.

[Pip Jaeger]

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).

[PirateMorgan]

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.

[Hutsori]

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...%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...%2F2015&s=GN8k.

[Econo Tech]

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

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.

[WestCoast1]

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.

[PirateMorgan]

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.

[GoodEnough]

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.

[Red Kilt]

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.

[Ikksman]

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

[Pip Jaeger]

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.

[Econo Tech]

Found this interesting:

http://www.mb.com.ph/mandatory-sim-c...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?

[Red Kilt]

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.