General Info

[FreebieFan]

I'm sorry to clog up this thread with questions about insects. But I've read about Huntsman spiders with 10" legspans and 7" centipedes. I plan on renting a villa and staying in PH for a long time. Will these kinds of insects wander into the house? Are they found in cities? How about a colder area like Baguio or Tagaytay? I can't find much info about this online, but I seriously don't want to wake up with a giant centipede in my bed. And what about cockroaches? Screen every window and caulk every door, they'll still get in, huh? I must sound like a pansy but I really hate bugs LOL. Also I'll contribute more later on, again, sorry for so many noob questions.

Its a tropical country with a normal range of insects that you would find in any tropical country. Dengue generally comes from mosquitoes that gather around stagnant water (and only one type of mosquito carries dengue) so don't leave water lying around ie in plant pots.

There are geckos that happily eat many of the smaller insects. Geckos interestingly eat other geckos.

There are cockroaches of course, but you can add to global warming by using lots of Baygon etc.

And then there are fire ants. And you really don't want to get any near those little guys. A few of those on your leg and you would know about it very quickly. !

Its a normal tropical country with the normal array of flora and fauna. Of course there are bloodsuckers too but we all know where to find those. LOL.

[ImAGuy]

You know Godzilla, right? Like that but not fire breathing

I'm sorry to clog up this thread with questions about insects. But I've read about Huntsman spiders with 10" legspans and 7" centipedes. I plan on renting a villa and staying in PH for a long time. Will these kinds of insects wander into the house? Are they found in cities? How about a colder area like Baguio or Tagaytay? I can't find much info about this online, but I seriously don't want to wake up with a giant centipede in my bed. And what about cockroaches? Screen every window and caulk every door, they'll still get in, huh? I must sound like a pansy but I really hate bugs LOL. Also I'll contribute more later on, again, sorry for so many noob questions.

[Hutsori]

K,

I googled for this and didn't get much info, so I'll post here. Just how bad are the bugs in PH? How common is dengue? Giant spiders / centipedes? Cockroaches? If I rent a nice place (50 k+/ month) in a cool city like Tagaytay, will that help? Or is all that stuff in the. Provinces only?

You know Godzilla, right? Like that but not fire breathing, which is a relief.

Condos spray common areas every month. A problem area is the rubbish chutes. Monster cockroaches climb their way up from the dumpsters and seize small pets and infants.

The good news is dengue is down, http://outbreaknewstoday.com/dengue-down-60-in-the-philippines-this-year-84443/. Keep in mind TB is not uncommon and many are carriers. ISIS isn't here... yet.

... or buy a can of insecticide for <400php.

When you're in hunter-killer mode spray is okay. The most effective insecticide I've used is the baited roach traps, the one in which roaches ingest the poison and take it back to their demonic dens. A few in the kitchen (beside fridge and under sink), one in the bathroom, and you'll be pretty clean for a couple of months. If you have filthy neighbours put one near your front door as a welcome mat to take care of those migrating.

[Soapy Smith]

The article is very careful to point out that the rather large INCREASE in the incidence of HIV identified in the Philippines has come predominantly from male-to-male contact but there are also residual data that refers to an increase in women with HIV too. The data is not only about male-to-male transmission.

Many men who have sex with other men also have sex with women, and their social networks often include women who engage in commercial sex.

[Red Kilt]

It seems to me the article is only about males who have sex with males.

I think that's a wrong interpretation Mogs (with all due respect).

The article is very careful to point out that the rather large INCREASE in the incidence of HIV identified in the Philippines has come predominantly from male-to-male contact but there are also residual data that refers to an increase in women with HIV too. The data is not only about male-to-male transmission.

My major concern about HIV is the huge number of Filipino seamen who work as OFWs and who visit ports in PNG and West Africa (to mention just 2) and then return home to dispense unwanted pasalubong to their wives, girlfriends, mistresses and assorted bar girls and masseuses.

The preference for unprotected sex with girls about whom one does not have a detailed history is fraught with risk. I suspect that many women in the population have no idea they are infected with any STD, especially those for whom there are no symptoms as yet.

The preparedness to go bareback is reinforced by the weird attitude held by girls who consider that only prostitutes carry and use condoms and they don't wish to be categorized as such. Anyway, why use them if they are simply having sex with guys met in dating sites? Illogical for sure.

But then again I have just had a discussion with a group of 3 girls who collectively did not realize that a virgin could get pregnant in her first sexual experience. One of them learned the hard way. Another tick for the wonderful sex education programs provided here.

[Mogwai]

Shockingly AC is not in the list.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/89412-...rollable-rates

AC is in the list as 'other high prevalance city' (see the table further down in the article).

The top 6 only lists the cities that are exceeding the national HIV prevalence rate of 3. 5% among males who have sex with males.

It's not clear to me (based on this article) if Angeles is a high prevalance city as well with regard to males who have sex with females. It seems to me the article is only about males who have sex with males.

[Red Kilt]

Generally September to Feb sees more typhoons, but as said, it is unpredictable.

The majority of typhoons pass through the Phils between late June and mid-to late December. Typhoons in Jan / Feb are very unusual.

[Dg8787]

Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.

When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.

What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?

TIA Gus.

Most mongers have enough notice of a pending typhoon and money to get out of town before she hits land. It is of no concern if you are thinking with the little head. BTW you can always shelter up with your poontang for a few days if you are close to one.

[Dg8787]

K,

I googled for this and didn't get much info, so I'll post here. Just how bad are the bugs in PH? How common is dengue? Giant spiders / centipedes? Cockroaches? If I rent a nice place (50 k+/ month) in a cool city like Tagaytay, will that help? Or is all that stuff in the. Provinces only?

All the above are present in PH. Most insects are large enough to provide the average family a high protein meal. At 9k a month you can hire a full-time housemaid to catch all the insects for you or buy a can of insecticide for <400php.

I don't know about Tagaytay.

[Dg8787]

So, I was just thinking, shouldn't the members here have a secret handshake or secret greeting / nod? Remember the movie "The Sting" w / Redford and Newman? I may go to Angeles my next trip, just for a few nights, and would like to know if the guy next to me in the bar is a member of this forum. A handshake, a certain nod of the head, a wave of the hand, would tell me that he is. Too juvenile?

I think a baseball cap with ISG member's current theme "don't f-up the market" would do it. Or for the most senior members "it's not like the good ole days".

[Mr Hawaii]

So, I was just thinking, shouldn't the members here have a secret handshake or secret greeting / nod? Remember the movie "The Sting" w / Redford and Newman? I may go to Angeles my next trip, just for a few nights, and would like to know if the guy next to me in the bar is a member of this forum. A handshake, a certain nod of the head, a wave of the hand, would tell me that he is. Too juvenile?

[ImAGuy]

K,

I googled for this and didn't get much info, so I'll post here. Just how bad are the bugs in PH? How common is dengue? Giant spiders / centipedes? Cockroaches? If I rent a nice place (50 k+/ month) in a cool city like Tagaytay, will that help? Or is all that stuff in the. Provinces only?

[Hutsori]

Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.

When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.

What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?

TIA Gus.

Not only its fair share of typhoons, also earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and severe flooding. Large bugs, too.

Generally you'll see most typhoons and tropical storms from July to the beginning of December. Looking at the most severe, deadliest, and most destructive typhoons in Philippine history Sept - Dec are the bad months. The end of Dec - Feb tends to be the coolest months and low storm activity, yet when the Pope was here mid-January he had to cut short his visit to Tacloban due to a storm. Typhoons tend to strike southern Luzon and islands further south such as Samar, Leyte, and Cebu; southern Mindanao gets the fewest. The most recent typhoon Chedeng hit northern Luzon.

Most things you'd want to know about Philippine climate can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_Philippines. AC and Subic are in the climate type I region.

[Econo Tech]

Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.

When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.

What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?

TIA Gus.

Typhoon prediction is limited to 2 weeks to 3 weeks ahead.

Example, last month there was a massive typhoon predicted to cross Philippines, and devastate Luzon. AC, and the likes. And nearing Philippines it just fizzled out!

Generally September to Feb sees more typhoons, but as said, it is unpredictable.

Though most typhoons like the southern islands, few like AC and the northern islands!

[Gus69]

Please excuse my ignorance guys, but for the past 12 years I have visited Thailand twice a year but now I am thinking of coming to Phils during the winter.

When casually watching the TV news it seems like the Philippines gets more than its fare share of Typhoons.

What is the weather season like from November to February in Angeles and Subic?

TIA Gus.