General Info

[Jambo]

I just spent a fairly dissapointing 10 days in Manila and Cebu. Productive photo-recon work was done on a new hotel in Cebu near Ayala Center, and I will post that when I get home.

I would have done better had I worked on the ladies online harder in the last week, but I was actually working, and working in the PI as well, and so the time managing PI contacts suffered.

I did get good results sending msgs to girls that were "online now" in Tagged. I managed to insult some truly "good" girls, and others were clearly semi and not-so-semi pro. One encounter with a girl who looked nice in the pics was like: Me: Well if I like you I will want to bring you back to my hotel. Her: Ah well thats ok, but if there is going to be sex, I need some help with my studies. Me: Hmm I see, and how much help do you need? Her: I need 1, 500 for my yada yada. Me: well I was thinking more like 500+ taxi money, but if you can provide special service (anal sex and or come back again) , I suppose I could help that much. Her: (well she did not go for that.) haha oh well! Too mercenary for me anyway.

Note to self (A note to Myself that I share with you). After observing other Western men in the territory, I resolve to:
- Get my weight back under 180lbs.
- Don't be too tall. If I were too tall, I would court E European girls.
- Wear a shirt and trousers, and shoes, a jacket sometimes in the evening. Avoid looking like a pensoner.
- Walk upright, back straight, head erect, eyes bright, mouth closed for Gods sake. Affecting a slightly bemused look on my face. More like Rodger Moore and less like Gandalf.
- Maintain an appearance that I am confident and enjoying myself.
- Keep to a moderate pace, not shuffling, and not rushing about.
- Try not to sweat so much.

[Econo Tech]

I am not sure what you mean by "two timing" or "3-timing". Are you suggesting that she shouldn't be able to chat to 2 or 5 or 10 other guys, but it is OK for you to have a wide variety of numbers in your directory.

Well, me, having dipped my head deep in Phil, and having waded in till my chest level, I don't get stressed when that happens to me. Heck, one of the girl shacking up with me, sent me a text from her 'other' Sim card, asking if we can meet up, when she was lying next to me. And having screwed me and hadn't even cleaned up her drips. Oh, well, it keeps me entertained though. Haha.

My advice was for those 'newbies' and those who are 'in LOVE'. Not for me to fret over it. I take the multi-sim thing as one of the many quirks of dealing with pinays. (oh, my current gf told me that the word Pinay doesn't exist. It had been just coined as a female of 'pinoy'.)

The usual "Oh you forget me already" comment follows when I don't recognise the number. How TF am I supposed to know hehe? They get a bit sheepish when I challenge them on it.

Oh, that happens when the girls put your name differently under different sim cards, and then get you mixed up wih somebody else LOL or the new SIM doesn't have your contact, but the phone has your text minus the name.

Of course, keeps the fun going though.

[Red Kilt]

What is fairly common as well is that most girls have more than one sim card (either swapping sim cards to check messages or carry more than one phone) and of course, they 'forget' to tell you that.

I don't mind, but when I see more than one sim of the same network, it means she is two timing or three timing.

I am not sure what you mean by "two timing" or "3-timing". Are you suggesting that she shouldn't be able to chat to 2 or 5 or 10 other guys, but it is OK for you to have a wide variety of numbers in your directory.

Texting is the number 1 pastime here so they will use whatever they can to maximise their costs and access.

What makes me laugh is how they will text me from a different SIM that is unknown to me and then they get antzy when I ask "who is this please"?

The usual "Oh you forget me already" comment follows when I don't recognise the number. How TF am I supposed to know hehe? They get a bit sheepish when I challenge them on it.

Some of them live in a strange mind world.

[Econo Tech]

It's fairly common to get a reply text from some strange number and the girl will explain she went to borrow a cell phone (insert family member or neighbors name here) from someone close to her who uses your provider.

What is fairly common as well is that most girls have more than one sim card (either swapping sim cards to check messages or carry more than one phone) and of course, they 'forget' to tell you that.

I don't mind, but when I see more than one sim of the same network, it means she is two timing or three timing.

Well, never had anything serious with girls of that 'caliber' but. When a 'aunty' or 'friend' or 'family member' lends her a phone to reply, sometimes accept it, mostly increase your 'scam guard' level. LOL

[GregLondon]

I use Caxton FX Cards (

https://www.caxtonfxcard.com/index.asp

). You load them online, have very competitive exchange rates and charge no extra commission or ATM charges. They come in 3 flavours, Global, Euro and Dollar. The Global card is the one to use in The Philippines. I always use it at HSBC as their withdrawal limits are higher and HSBC do not try to levy an ATM transaction fee. They are a very good product and I very seldom have cause to use my Debit or Credit Cards anymore whilst outside UK.

As far as I am aware, they are only available in Britain. Don't think that the US has a similar product.

Looks like an interesting product for Dollar or Euros CS but I'm not convinced the Global one is such a good idea. They are making their money on the FX spread. That's 2. 75% for the global one and an unspecified spread on USD or Euro where you take the rate offered on upload. On Santander Zero and Metro you would save this 2. 75% (of the 2. 75% 1% gets passed on to visa / mastercard, I've not figured whether you escape that part with Santander or Metro). The US banking system is relatively primative so it may be more difficult to get such deals.

[GregLondon]

Talk N Text is not a sister company, but a brand name of Smart Communications.

Smart Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone, better known as PLDT. Sun Cellular is a brand owned by Digitel. In March 2011 PLDT bought a 51% controlling interest in Digitel. That move means PLDT owns or controls Smart, SUN and PLDT brands. Calls or texts from a Smart user to a Sun user (or vice-versa) are treated as two seperate networks and as a result fees are higher than intra-system calls and texts. PLDT also owns TV5.

TM is not a sister company of Globe, but a brand name of Globe Telecom.

I would guesstimate that indeed some girls have the newer dual SIM capable phones, but it's still under 50% from my experience and observations. Many girls still use older single SIM Nokia hand me down cell phones or China phone knockoffs. I have found that many girls that have dual SIM capable phones will have both SUN and Smart to avail of super promo unlimited text offers on different days from each provider. Also it can be as simple as her auntie uses Smart and most of her friends use Sun.

Some girls will make a face when you tell them you are using Globe. Alot of the girls do not use Globe as it's seen as a more expensive provider. When you send a text from a Globe SIM card it's more expensive for the girl to reply if she uses another provider. Sometimes when there is no reply, a girl could be using an unlimited 24 text promo for a fixed price. The promo is only valid intra-network such as Sun-Sun, Smart-Smart or Globe-Globe. It's fairly common to get a reply text from some strange number and the girl will explain she went to borrow a cell phone (insert family member or neighbors name here) from someone close to her who uses your provider.

Useful clarification from SA. The key point is that almost all of the girls wil be using one or other promo deal whereby they have unlimited intranetwork texting. Unless they have opted for the more expensive all network deals this means that texts outside their network cost a min of 1 or 2 P per text and soon eat up load given that most girls will probably make 100plus texts a day.

[Stroker Ace88]

The largest phone co is SMART (with sister co Talk N text) This has good coverage all over Phils but tends to be alittle more expensive.

Talk N Text is not a sister company, but a brand name of Smart Communications.

The up and coming rival now in Second place is SUN Good coverage in big cities but not so great in some of the provinces. Cheap intra network calling deals so popular with young city girls.

Smart Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone, better known as PLDT. Sun Cellular is a brand owned by Digitel. In March 2011 PLDT bought a 51% controlling interest in Digitel. That move means PLDT owns or controls Smart, SUN and PLDT brands. Calls or texts from a Smart user to a Sun user (or vice-versa) are treated as two seperate networks and as a result fees are higher than intra-system calls and texts. PLDT also owns TV5.

The 3rd co is GLOBE with sister Co TM, Similar good coverage to SMART and sometimes a less conjested network.

TM is not a sister company of Globe, but a brand name of Globe Telecom.

Intra network calls / texts are much cheaper than inter network. Many girls will no have multiple SIMS for this reason. [snip]

I would guesstimate that indeed some girls have the newer dual SIM capable phones, but it's still under 50% from my experience and observations. Many girls still use older single SIM Nokia hand me down cell phones or China phone knockoffs. I have found that many girls that have dual SIM capable phones will have both SUN and Smart to avail of super promo unlimited text offers on different days from each provider. Also it can be as simple as her auntie uses Smart and most of her friends use Sun.

Some girls will make a face when you tell them you are using Globe. Alot of the girls do not use Globe as it's seen as a more expensive provider. When you send a text from a Globe SIM card it's more expensive for the girl to reply if she uses another provider. Sometimes when there is no reply, a girl could be using an unlimited 24 text promo for a fixed price. The promo is only valid intra-network such as Sun-Sun, Smart-Smart or Globe-Globe. It's fairly common to get a reply text from some strange number and the girl will explain she went to borrow a cell phone (insert family member or neighbors name here) from someone close to her who uses your provider.

[Tally Wacker]

I saw this video and found it provides an interesting perspective on life in Manila. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Ht_19N8Uw

That video would have been interesting if they would have included up the skirt shots of the young filipinas getting on and off the bus.

Instead of Trike Patrol it could be Bus Patrol.

[Member #4698]

I use Caxton FX Cards (

https://www.caxtonfxcard.com/index.asp

). You load them online, have very competitive exchange rates and charge no extra commission or ATM charges. They come in 3 flavours, Global, Euro and Dollar. The Global card is the one to use in The Philippines. I always use it at HSBC as their withdrawal limits are higher and HSBC do not try to levy an ATM transaction fee. They are a very good product and I very seldom have cause to use my Debit or Credit Cards anymore whilst outside UK.

As far as I am aware, they are only available in Britain. Don't think that the US has a similar product.

I carry the Amex pre paid card. Excellent exchange rates as you would expect and no fx transaction fees or extra commisions, but it offers only one free ATM withdrawal per month, after the free one they charge $2 per ATM use. BDO ATM networks accept the card in the PI. Max withdrawal is 50,000p per day in PI. It is a safety net.

[Cunning Stunt]

I would be interested in other people's tips but I think I have a strategy for eliminating this cost at least fro those based in the UK.

I use Caxton FX Cards (https://www.caxtonfxcard.com/index.asp). You load them online, have very competitive exchange rates and charge no extra commission or ATM charges. They come in 3 flavours, Global, Euro and Dollar. The Global card is the one to use in The Philippines. I always use it at HSBC as their withdrawal limits are higher and HSBC do not try to levy an ATM transaction fee. They are a very good product and I very seldom have cause to use my Debit or Credit Cards anymore whilst outside UK.

As far as I am aware, they are only available in Britain. Don't think that the US has a similar product.

[GregLondon]

Now that almost all Phil banks have started to charge 150-200P fixed fee for an ATM withdrawal fromm a foreign card (remmeber thats about half a days wage for the average Philipino) and foreighn banks have upped their FX charges on ATM withdrawals to 2-3% for typical banks you can easily lose 5% in total which really adds up if you are staying longish term in the phils and relying on foreign ATMS.

I would be interested in other people's tips but I think I have a strategy for eliminating this cost at least fro those based in the UK.

1 There are a couple of UK banks which to my knowledge waive international ATM withdrawals. Santander through its Zero Account and the little known London based banking start up Metro Bank. If you chhoose one of these accounts you can eliminate the 2-3% charges in the UK. In the Phils most banks now charge a 150-200P fixed ATM fee on foreign withdrawals and the maximumn withdrwal is often just 10k to 20k PHP. However if you go to one of the Citibank ATM machines (Ayala in Cebu and I guess also in Manila) they don't charge the 200P ATM withdrawal fee. Therefore if you have a Santander zero or a Metro (UK) account you can take out as much as the sytem will alow penalty free (the Exchange rate used by visa and mastercard is the commercial rate with a very mall spread.

If you want to withdraw money widely in the Phils you can then deposit a stash of this money in a local bank such as BDO or Metro and use their ATMS domesticlaly with no fee.

[FreebieFan]

western world gets so uptight about being politically correct that even referring to someone as being 'foreign' is perceived as derogatory? Come on.

My morning thought. Back to work.

I've lived in 11 countries and have seen on a daily basis how this is. The papers in Malaysia refers to thefts invariably as being conducted by " foreigners".

I've been introduced as " here's our new boss, hes a foreigner" and I could carry on and on and on. Maybe in Singapore you have less of this (which was my point ). And maybe you haven't had 30 plus of being an expatriate and seeing endless refernces to "foreigners". If you have then we can talk.

[Raverboy]

Was reading through a Taiwanese newsapaper this morning that described how "foreigners" were coming to review the upcoming elections.

The fact that they were all from Europe escaped the papers notice, instead they were all described as " foreigners"

Got to thingking that this is a term used by the less developed Asian countries in general.

In Hong Kong and Singapore, because there are a much higher ratio of non HK or Singaporeans in their midst, I guess that they are seen as less different.

But In Taiwan, and certainly the Philippines, and Thailand, everyone who is not Asian is a "foreigner".

Malaysia tends to report people by race or region which is better than the single all purpose "foreigner" term.

In Australia, and Europe which are both developed and quite multi-cultured no. One is referred to a being "foreign.

In US which is less multi cultured in some places, again no-one is referred to as a foreigner, given that there has been a history of people from different lands populating the place.

But in some Asian countries, that have had a long history of peoples from other races living amongst the locals, those of a different skin colour or culture are still, ignorantly to my mind, classed in general as " foreigners".

Ok, morning thought over. Back to work.

Re: Your morning thought.

Your 2 statements above (highlighted in bold) are almost mutually contradicting.

In HK and S'pore, where there's been a long history of peoples from other races (usually caucasian, historically) living amongst the locals (asian) , themselves of different races, those who are not of those races making up the locals, are 'foreigners'. There's nothing derogatory about the term. The western world gets so uptight about being politically correct that even referring to someone as being 'foreign' is perceived as derogatory? Come on.

I am 2nd generation Singaporean Chinese. I shan't speak for Hong Kongers, but IMHO in S'pore, anyone who doesn't have a pink NRIC or a red passport to me in my mind, is 'foreign'. That includes the mainland Chinese living and working in Singapore. But that's just me. In practice, in a social setting, I would prefer to refer to someone by their nationality / where they are from, rather than as 'a foreigner' or being 'foreign', of course. Thats only because it would be crass / obtuse to introduce anyone in a social setting, to be 'foreign' or a 'foreigner'.

Example, at a party that could be anywhere in the world: "Greg, let me introduce Tom, an American. Tom, this is Greg. He is from London."

If I were in Singapore and introducing Tom or Greg to a Singaporean Malay, Ahmad, in the exact same way for example, Ahmad would naturally assume, in his mind, that Greg and Tom and both foreigners.

We have mix breed Eurasians in our Parliament in Singapore. They are local and are MPs. We have CEOs in many private institutions in Singapore who are foreigners. All facts. Nothing derogatory implied at all.

My morning thought. Back to work.

[FreebieFan]

You can take the girl out of the Philippines but can't take the etcetc.

Arranged to meet a cute 22 year old Filipina in Taipei last night. We had met and bonked previously so I knew it was going to be worthwhile but wheras previously we had met near my office, (when she had taken the bus) this time she only had time for me to go near her work place.

I ask her where she is and where is the nearest MRT subway train station. She doesn't know.

I suggest she asks her friends. Error. There were 3 replies to that question all with different station choices on basically three different subway lines.

Finally we narrow it down to a choice of two subway stations that sounded approx correct.

Every ten minutes after that I get the " where are you " texts. I figured I should reply in similar Filipino style " on the way LOL".

So then I'm in the taxi with a driver who can only speak Mandarin, and constantly getting the "where are you " texts. Suggested that as I hadn't been there before I really didn't know. This was met with a " ok " reply.

Anyways somewhere in the middle of some industrial city I find her. And find her fruit packing work and dormitory is near a few motels that were very similar to Sogo. A good if rushed time was had, said girl madly in love with me, and will be good for a few more bonks. One day though I will wake up and ask " is it really worth the effort.".

[FreebieFan]

Just some potentially useful on the phone because info for newbies:

It is GL

Back in the day (the old old days LOL) there were two prefixes. 0919 for Smart and 0907 for Globe.

Of course, that was when PLDT fixed line installation took up to a year to install. And as can be seen, they lost the plot and smart and globe took all their business.