General Info

[WestCoast1]

Artisto Art, clean out your PM box. I cannot reply to your Private Message until you do.

Westy.

[Member #4387]

I am popular here and that's all I can say. Koreans may be popular too. I don't give a shit in p4 p girls though. Just saying.

Not to offend the offended ones not enjoying people to have a relatively successful mongerlife I meant ofcourse "popular" and not popular. It was all in a humoristic twist ofcourse (to late to edit though). All the time we know where we are, in this dysfunctional country called the phils, the word "popular" I would guess is a relative term. I do have a, almost, hazzlefree mongerlife. In that aspect I feel popular as I read here and in other foras that people have great problems making this life work and it comes with loads of hazzle too. My latest trip (ending today and 46 girls later in a sweet 9 day mongerspree) I do have problems to see any koreans beeing, well, maybe more popular, but not so effective as me, hehe. Its all about great prepwork and timings (the old scrapbook and a pen works nice to keep track of a busy sched) No high tech items needed realy but ofcourse a phone with Smart prepaid comes in handy dealing with pinays.

I must say though, even if I don't trust pinays much, that my girls have very little to non experience with foreign people. Koreans and Korea is ofcourse something / someone theyve heard about but from there to call them favorites would be a bit harsh I guess (not saying norwegians are favorites either). I work in a non proffesional environment when it comes to girls (a few here and there slips under my radar I am sure but still) and to girls like this I guess koreans are as popular or the oposite as other nathionalities. In a bar environment I guess things might differ quite a lot, I would not know. I am sure I could keep up with the koreans also here if I wanted to explore this side of the mongerbiz.

Sometimes mongering is also about quite things down and after 9 days of heavy Makati mongering it was time to cool off with a special someone in Cebu(will write it in the misplaced Cebu thread, my subjective meaning)..

[Member #4387]

Hmm. Koreans do seem popular here. I realized anglos are pretty much out after seeing two tall handsome German backpackers with drab looking girls, perhaps older than them as well. Minutes later saw a chubby Korean with a pretty nice Filapina behind him (lived in China for 5 years in a city with a large Korean population so I can kinda spot them now).

I am popular here and that's all I can say. Koreans may be popular too. I don't give a shit in p4 p girls though. Just saying.

[ImAGuy]

Hmm. Koreans do seem popular here. I realized anglos are pretty much out after seeing two tall handsome German backpackers with drab looking girls, perhaps older than them as well. Minutes later saw a chubby Korean with a pretty nice Filapina behind him (lived in China for 5 years in a city with a large Korean population so I can kinda spot them now).

[Sxxxx]

I posted this in the Angeles thread, but felt it should also go in the General thread as I suspect this airport scam is happening at all Philippines international airports.

For your information, the Philippine Star newspaper today carried an article about security staff at Clark International Airport stopping anyone at security carrying more than Peso 10,000 out of the country. They will say it is illegal and will have to confiscate the money with lots of documentation. Or are willing to forget the whole thing if they get 50% of the amount involved so one can catch the flight.

On departure, this Peso 10,000 rule is very poorly advertised. Be aware of this Clark scam. Probably happening everywhere else in the Philippines. Every government regulation is twisted into a scam.

This behavior is the mirror image of Philippines traffic police behavior who want cash for not writing a ticket and sending one's drivers license to the Traffic authority. Using the later route, there is of course, a fast processing for a 'cash consideration'!

Scamippines

My bags went through the scanner, P60,000 in hundreds etc. No one said anything. Clark and then Cebu airports. But thanks for reminding us of the 10 rule.

[Fastpiston]

I posted this in the Angeles thread, but felt it should also go in the General thread as I suspect this airport scam is happening at all Philippines international airports.

For your information, the Philippine Star newspaper today carried an article about security staff at Clark International Airport stopping anyone at security carrying more than Peso 10,000 out of the country. They will say it is illegal and will have to confiscate the money with lots of documentation. Or are willing to forget the whole thing if they get 50% of the amount involved so one can catch the flight.

On departure, this Peso 10,000 rule is very poorly advertised. Be aware of this Clark scam. Probably happening everywhere else in the Philippines. Every government regulation is twisted into a scam.

This behavior is the mirror image of Philippines traffic police behavior who want cash for not writing a ticket and sending one's drivers license to the Traffic authority. Using the later route, there is of course, a fast processing for a 'cash consideration'!

Scamippines.

[Member #4387]

It happened a few times last year. And when the hapless passenger thinks all is doomed, a tri lingual fellow who claims to have god connections with the police appears and he " negotitates " your release. A well thought out and well practiced scam.

Isn't it allways nice with good samaritan helpers? Much like me visiting Pattaya a few weeks back (a place I never go to by the way, hehe) and was driving moto in a one way street (wrong direction). Rightfully so I was stopped by a policeofficer who took my lincense and wrote me up a ticket of 400 bhts. Since I was reluctant walking all the way over to the ticketoffice (this was far from soi 9) and I had an upcomming session waiting I wanted this to go away as quickly as possible. Another bikedriver catches my drift, pops in and bring me around a nearby corner. I pay 500 bht in cash to him, the policeofficer throws away my ticket, I get my license back and drove away (this time without helmet as I forgot to put it on).

[FreebieFan]

Isn't this the case when the shapely lady at the duty free shop would slip in a "free gift" that is not accounted for in the receipt and then out of the blue the cops would show up asking to check your purchases "randomly" ?

It happened a few times last year. And when the hapless passenger thinks all is doomed, a tri lingual fellow who claims to have god connections with the police appears and he " negotitates " your release. A well thought out and well practiced scam.

[Dg8787]

Came thru T1 departures the other day and saw the usual thousands of OFWs on their way out. Everyone was aware of the bullet scam but most if not all had luggage and backpacks with exposed pockets, including myself. I saw a few bags Saran wrapped but brilliantly a lot of others used duct tape to secure around the bag. More importantly they duct taped over the zippers on the exposed vulnerable pockets! Haha I think I will get some bright yellow or pink duct tape next time out.

Now I fully understand why United Airlines conducts a secondary physical bag, shoe and personal screening at the gate and then keep you coralled in until boarding. Can't trust the T1 security procedures.

[Fastpiston]

The scammers might lay low for a little while but I don't think this will be the end of them. After all they are used to a certain level of income by now and probably have budgeted it like a steady stream of income. They won't go away easily. I imagine they will come up with a different contraband item soon.

What is surprising or not so surprising anymore is the slow or lack of any government (police) action to this. This will drop tourists a good 15-20%. Maybe a lost of billions of pesos in the economy. I guess no one thinks that far ahead.

A simple change in policy to simply confiscate the bullet would put the scammers out of business.

The Philippines newspapers (all available on Internet) are all carrying the news that the "bullet" syndicate has now been confirmed by the national Bureau of Investigation who have taken over the case. The syndicate appears to thread through porters, immigration, security staff and police, which means that the main airport of Manila is a real snake pit. Will the snakes stay low, maybe, for sure they will probably merely change their mode of operation. This kind of thing is characteristic of a failed state. If the airport is a snake pit, consider what goes on elsewhere. Ask any Filipino and they will tell you. BE VERY VERY CAREFUL if you must absolutely, vitally travel to Philippines.

[Socker]

Thanks for all the advice, folks. Socker and the others. I have never heard of Puerta Galera so I will consider that as well.

Looking forward to the pics, Socker.

If any of you folks need some stuff from the homeland of the US of A let me know.

Going to AC to enjoy the monger scene is elementary school level mongering. It is very easy to find what you want and very safe on Fields Ave.

Like I said before, hit AC, then a couple of days in Subic, and the last night in Makati. Then you'll see 3 sides of the PI and very little travel downtime.

Pacific Breeze Hotel is a solid 3 star (very friendly) very close to Fields Ave. Buy a seat in the van through the hotel. The bus to Subic will pick you up at the PB. There are a couple hotels I recommend in Subic, iCove (3*) and Harley's (2 1/2*) both inexpensive. Harley's is in a better spot (to me) over looking Subic Bay. Icove is new and modern and on the strip w / all the bars.

A couple days later take the same van to Manila and stay in Makati, I stay at St Giles Hotel (3 1/2*) a short walk to the bars on Burgos St. Burgos St is a lot of fun and very different than anything else you will experience on this itinerary.

This is elementary mongering, very easy for a first timer.

A favorite Subic honey from last February.

[Dg8787]

The scammers might lay low for a little while but I don't think this will be the end of them. After all they are used to a certain level of income by now and probably have budgeted it like a steady stream of income. They won't go away easily. I imagine they will come up with a different contraband item soon.

What is surprising or not so surprising anymore is the slow or lack of any government (police) action to this. This will drop tourists a good 15-20%. Maybe a lost of billions of pesos in the economy. I guess no one thinks that far ahead.

A simple change in policy to simply confiscate the bullet would put the scammers out of business.

[Cons68]

I think the world reputed shaman WR advises to offer a virgin, just bring the virgin to him and he will conduct a secret religious ceremony that will rid you of ghosts and hauntings for at least six months.

Having been haunted by ghosts on numerous occasions I want to inform the public that bullets offer no protection whatsoever. When thrown the bullets pass right through the spooks, causing them no harm.

Try hard not to be scared. Fear can only increase the ghost's energy. Instead, act calm. You are in the world of the living and a ghost has no power here, which means it can do you no harm. Panicking will only make things worse.

In most cases, these ghosts do not know that they are dead or perhaps need your help. Talking to them to let them know they are dead may help them move on to the next life. If you are brave enough, ask the spirit what he or she wants from you. You may be able to help.

Many ghosts leave when told to, but if this does not work for you, then you will have to resort to other methods. Dark entities cannot cross a line of salt because it repels negative energy. So, before boarding pour a line of salt completely around the aeroplane. Your flight will now be ghost free. Happy travels!

[Blanquiceleste]

...a few years ago there was a scam at the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) where travelers were accused of shoplifting and detained by corrupt airport security officers until a bribe was paid.

Isn't this the case when the shapely lady at the duty free shop would slip in a "free gift" that is not accounted for in the receipt and then out of the blue the cops would show up asking to check your purchases "randomly" ?

[Wicked Roger]

The bullet scam made the Fox News program "On The Record" last night. I bet this thing dies now. I remember a few years ago there was a scam at the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) where travelers were accused of shoplifting and detained by corrupt airport security officers until a bribe was paid. A couple of tourists refused to pay the bribe and were carted off to jail. News of the scam finally hit the international media and that was the end of it. It is very embarrassing for the powers that be to have this kind of shit go on in in their international airports.

Fox always late with the news LOL Was on BBC a few days ago but then Fox rarely reports mainstream interesting news. I watch it for mild amusement when it is better than watching the paint dry (so to speak).

But I have 'friends' who think Fox is a meaningful news source and find it offensive when I doubt their logic LOL.

I agree it could slowly die now as many pinays I know are facebook trending this with comments about how shameful it is and their government should be ashamed.