General Info

[Bushes]

IMHO, that is normal for almost every country. There are some common minimum rules like passport valid for 9 months and such. Some places even require an invite to visit. The countries website will list the requirements. FWIW, HK is pretty open and relaxed.

She was questioned and I was asked to show prove of the hotel reservation and her return ticket. After 10 minutes she was released to go..

[TurdyCurdyOne]

Maybe you have been a victim of these Philippine forums that delete posts for no reason, delete accounts because you defend yourself against their paid members who flame or attack you unprovoked, or for your criticizing some business or friend they have a cozy relationship with.

This is so common online. There is only one word for it: Corruption The main Cebu forum is particularly bad in this regard. Usually what happens to these forums is that members soon learn to be afraid to post anything that might be the slightest bit controversial or to defend themselves against unwarranted attacks by paid members who are given special flaming privileges that make them immune to most verbal retaliation.

Most of the major Philippine forums are like this. And they are so afraid someone will sneak in and challenge them that they make it difficult to even create an account. Difficult for the ordinary user, but not for someone who knows anything about how these corrupt operates work. They refer to anyone they don't like who posts info they don't like as spammers. 90% of the time has nothing to do with the classical definition of spamming-promoting sites for commercial purposes. It's only they don't like your opinions or you challenge their opinions.

This post will probably also draw flames from those who are ready to defend corrupt sites that they have a special interest in.

The thing to do with such sites is block their advertising revenue by using adblockers (I have not done this for this site, since it is usually one of the more professionally run sites). Do not give them any good content. Only leech off what the other members are sending out. Bleed them dry.

Usually they will dry up until it's time to find another owner (sucker) to take over.

The internet is a big place, you do not have to put up with mistreatment..

[Wicked Roger]

The statements were more for show than anything else. A few paragraphs and that was it. I think this shows to the UN and other concerned countries that PH is working against sex trafficking.

I agree DG. Signed the same. Twice on one occasion as had 2 bisexual pinays with me to another Asian country. Plus as a back up had their parents sign an affidavit and once the immigration got a ta testy and I felt her jealousy was going to ruin the party I showed her that and it shut her up fast. But I still signed the statements.

Saw a Dutch guy be asked the same for his wife. That was hilarious as he took huge umbrage and caused a real stink in the passport area. More so as they had their kids with them and the passport all had same surname.

Very strange fellows the Philippines immigration people at times.

[Dg8787]

Thanks for sharing. Having to sign statements makes me more nervous. Enjoy the rain.

The statements were more for show than anything else. A few paragraphs and that was it. I think this shows to the UN and other concerned countries that PH is working against sex trafficking.

[Dg8787]

Landing in HKG and my Pinay was flagged in immigration. She was questioned and I was asked to show prove of the hotel reservation and her return ticket. After 10 minutes she was released to go.

I guess the first timers are a risk of over staying.

BTW, both Manila and Hong Kong immigration people were professional in their interviews and process.

[Bushes]

Thanks for sharing. Having to sign statements makes me more nervous. Enjoy the rain.

There was 2 statements that I signed to. Both stating that I was not using her for sex trafficking or selling sex. This was the main thrust of the interview.

[Dg8787]

Thanks to everyone's advice.

Flew out yesterday with Pinay to Hong Kong. At the immigration booth.

The officer apologize for the inconvenience but first timers are subject to an interview. At the interview desk they asked her the regular questions and had her fill out a form with questions regarding her travel and financial matters. They looked at her pictures to validate our prior relationship.

Then the officer ask me to come over for the interview. Regular questions to confirm her story. After that I was requested to fill out a form that I was taking care of her financial needs on the trip and will make sure she returns to PH. There was 2 statements that I signed to. Both stating that I was not using her for sex trafficking or selling sex. This was the main thrust of the interview. I believe she had to state the same.

After that the interview officer filled out the rest and stamped approval for travel and told her to go to booth 26. Problem was no one at booth 26! And no other booth would take her. Back to interview officer about no one at booth 26. Officer says only booth 26 can process her. Waited 5 minutes and new rotation of booth people come out. Finally someone takes booth 26 and rubber stamps her passport.

[Red Kilt]

I've never been to Australia but if you prefer Manila over Australia it must be really bad LOL.
Why is it so bad?

I didn't express a preference for one place over the other; I merely said I was glad to be back in the Philippines.

I am lucky to have a balanced life in that I am able to spend time working in a number of SE Asian countries for short, intermittent periods and also have my own comfortable place in Ortigas which is clean, relatively disciplined, well serviced with facilities and is organized.

Visiting Australia is always hectic, stressful and extremely expensive but also enjoyable.

[Soapy Smith]

I've never been to Australia but if you prefer Manila over Australia it must be really bad LOL.
Why is it so bad?

I've never been to Australia, but I confess I go though withdrawal each time I leave Manila for the states. The principal things I like about the Philippines are:

1. Slower pace of life, easier to take things less seriously; there's a lot less scurrying around and anxiety over things that are actually quite trivial;.

2. Filipinos' sense of humor. If Westy were to tease those Pinays over some of those inanities, they'd probably be the first to laugh. My experience is that Filipinos are as willing to laugh at themselves as at others;.

3. People, or at least middle aged women, singing along with the radio in the workplace (if radios are allowed);.

4. Acceptance of us long-in-the-tooth men with younger Pinays; the equivalent in the states would quickly start the tongues wagging;.

5. Cheaper prices for almost everything; and.

6. Great sex.

Obviously there is a downside to life in the Philippines, especially in Manila: traffic, pollution, screwed up or incompetent systems, and politics that block change and invariably protect a handful of rich families (perhaps only a matter of degree different than most other countries).

[Socker]

If the Gen Info thread is not the correct place to discuss 'craziness', where is?

Now even you're confused LOL.

General topics such as crazy Filipinas, airline tickets, traffic, visas, immigration, phones, I / e anything that pertains to the whole country belongs here.

Most guys here just don't care so the PI forum ends up being a lousy tossed salad. It's just so simple but some damage has been done.

Cheers Westie.

[Mogwai]

Having just returned from a short 9-day visit to Australia (my country of origin), I must say I was glad to be back in Manila, notwithstanding the airport clusterfuck and the 2-hour trip to my condo.

I've never been to Australia but if you prefer Manila over Australia it must be really bad LOL.
Why is it so bad?

[WestCoast1]

Could those girls be using an app that just bounces back your own lines in interrogative? That way they could run several conversations in parallel with minimal input.

I don't think so. Except for changing my name here (to Westy from my real name), those parrots are actually what those girls wrote. Example:

Girl: Did you take your breakfast / Me: Yes / Girl: You had your breakfast Westy..

The girl's second question, "You had", is different from her first question, "Did you". It cannot be a bounce-back.

OTOH, in FB PM I am getting a duplicate message, but only from some girls. When she says, "OK see you then", within about 1 minute, there is another identical "OK see you then". However that's not happening in txt msg.

Then there are the McDonalds workers where a conversation goes something like this:

Me: I'd like a spicy chicken sandwich combo with coke, dine in please.

McD: Is that dine in or take out?

Me: Dine in.

McD: So a chicken sandwich. Do you want a combo?

Me: A *spicy* chicken sandwich combo with coke.

McD: Spicy chicken combo. What drink do you want?

Hahaha. DON'T! GET! ME! STARTED!

[Sxxxx]

Ha ha, made me laugh.

But, without doubt, the Filipinos themselves will say: "the best job, is a blow job"!

Yes, well I typed Filipinas, not Filipinos, ending with an "a" , and not ending with an "o". As ending with an "o" includes the males, and I am referring to the females. I am not talking about blow jobs by males.

[Simmer]

Concur. The local culture (good / bad / ugly) is worthy of discussion. If the good is worthy of display (ie, pics, pinay GFE), then so is the bad (Cebu Pacific and pinoy time come to mind). In my post I was not discussing the normal inane / vacuous questions the girls ask: Have you taken your lunch? I was pointing out the constant parroting and re-asking of my answer to the first question. This is new for me. Anyone else getting this?

If the Gen Info thread is not the correct place to discuss 'craziness', where is?

Phoning the Philippine Airlines call center is an exercise in patience and repeating yourself to confirm what you just said, and that yes you do still accept their Ts&Cs despite already confirming that by pressing 1 earlier.

But of course such idiosyncrasies are not limited to the Philippines. Apparently I'm too polite, using thank you too often. Then there are the McDonalds workers where a conversation goes something like this:

Me: I'd like a spicy chicken sandwich combo with coke, dine in please.

McD: Is that dine in or take out?

Me: Dine in.

McD: So a chicken sandwich. Do you want a combo?

Me: A *spicy* chicken sandwich combo with coke.

McD: Spicy chicken combo. What drink do you want?

Me: .

Then going to SM Dept Store on 1st September and commenting to a salesperson "Bit early to be playing Christmas music, isn't it?" to which she replies, completely seriously, "we need time to plan, sir".

But there are plenty of good things going for the Philippines and its people. It's quite something going to the provinces and visiting houses which are simple, cheap, rough, basic. But sometimes you're left thinking maybe, just maybe, we overdo things in the west. I was bemoaning the cost of AC earlier because houses here in California aren't designed to be naturally cooled by breezes, so you kind of have to use AC. In the provinces they employ far cheaper methods such as fans and houses that just vent naturally. As for growing your own stuff, people here think you're nuts. Pros and cons, as I keep saying.

[XXL]

... I was pointing out the constant parroting and re-asking of my answer to the first question. This is new for me. Anyone else getting this?

Could those girls be using an app that just bounces back your own lines in interrogative? That way they could run several conversations in parallel with minimal input.