General Info

[Mr Enternational]

Okay, let me put it this way. Is there any place where you must pay to get a job, even in restaurants?

In Philippines, yes, you must pay something like 5, 000 peso or more, to get 'short listed' and that is NOT BRIBE. It is payment levied by the employers to stop time-wasters, or so they say and no, the 5, 000 don't get returned whether you get selected or not.

Okay. But if I had 5,000 pesos I WOULDN'T NEED A FUCKING JOB!

[Gangles]

Quite some time ago, when I was working in Washington DC, I ate fairly frequently at upmarket restaurants in the Georgetown area.

The wait staff and bus boys were not paid a salary. They made their money from tips from big payers. And some restaurants charged a fee to start work at the resto.

Is that any better or worse than paying to get a job in the Phils? But at least in the Phils they are paid a salary, plus tips, in a resto.

Maybe this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

G

[GoodEnough]

Okay, let me put it this way. Is there any place where you must pay to get a job, even in restaurants?

In Philippines, yes, you must pay something like 5, 000 peso or more, to get 'short listed' and that is NOT BRIBE. It is payment levied by the employers to stop time-wasters, or so they say and no, the 5, 000 don't get returned whether you get selected or not.

So in essence, Filipinos put up with this kind of crap, and the banks, almost all, are privately owned. So they think they are doing the right thing paying to withdraw money.

So, smart people like us, keep cash (carefully hidden and disbursed) and minimse ATM withdrawal, (oh, not to forget that at more than a few ATMs, guys loiter around to whack you off. And it is more scary when the bank security is walking with the trigger finger ready.) of course. Use credit cards to pay for anything major. And when doing ATM withdrawal, withdraw max, whether needed or not.

I agree that it pays usually to withdraw more than you need to lessen the per peso cost of the transaction. I've used a debit / Visa here for years, and actually prefer it to using my other cards since there's no bill at the end of the month. However, my bank reimburses me for all of the ATM transactions, so my use of the card for cash withdrawal is virtually free.

GE

[Sxxxx]

I got the same message. Why can't he just post it publicly?

I got the same message too. These people are just plain lazy. All the info they require is on this Forum. If they can't be bothered to read the Forum, I can not be bothered to help them. They must demonstrate they have made an attempt to find the info on the Forum first, before I will help them. This latest poster should take his Mother along, she will know, LOL.

[Nitec]

Well I am new on here and I don't really know how is things work here, I asked a few ashole who been keep showing off and talking about everything include their wihte hair in their arse but when I asked a simple quiestion they been so surprise.

Well there was afew members who gave me info and I appricate that.

[Nitec]

Not sure where to post this. This is from a newb (he has one post in a thread in the middle-east). I get about one a month like this in PM:

I was thinking to go philipien 14th of January for 21 days maybe more, I would love to ask a few quiestion and if you would give me advice I will be very happy. I like to know which part philipien I should go for party? Do you know any hotel you can tell me or people you might know? It's would be great any info you could give me. Thank you

I think its in bad form for newbs (even long-time lurkers) to hit us up for information before going there. Really, go get a travel guide. Before contacting us here for info about the country, please do the following:

1. Take a trip there.

2. Post at least one full Field Report (include hotel review, chica review, food review).

This goes for any newb to the country. You need to give something to the thread first (a FR would be nice). THEN feel free to ask me where the laundromats are located near G-Point. Also, it is not possible to give specific answers to broad-based questions:

"Where is best place for party?" I don't know, as I don't attend parties. Party with locals? Party with expats?

"Where is best hotel?" Best hotel in what category: price, ambiance, location, pool, bar? My idea of a good hotel is different than yours.

"Where is best place to meet girls in Filipines?" EVERYWHERE, but its a stupid question that's not really answerable.

Other gents?

Well I thought you showing of on here that is why I asked you, you fucking ashole did I ask where I can find girls, if old guy like you find girls I can find hunderds of them idiot, I asked same quiestion to another a few members they been very helpful not like you ashole.

[FurryFriend]

I think its in bad form for newbs (even long-time lurkers) to hit us up for information before going there. Really, go get a travel guide. Before contacting us here for info about the country, please do the following:

I got the same message. Why can't he just post it publicly?

[WestCoast1]

Not sure where to post this. This is from a newb (he has one post in a thread in the middle-east). I get about one a month like this in PM:

I was thinking to go philipien 14th of January for 21 days maybe more, I would love to ask a few quiestion and if you would give me advice I will be very happy. I like to know which part philipien I should go for party? Do you know any hotel you can tell me or people you might know? It's would be great any info you could give me. Thank you

I think its in bad form for newbs (even long-time lurkers) to hit us up for information before going there. Really, go get a travel guide. Before contacting us here for info about the country, please do the following:

1. Take a trip there.

2. Post at least one full Field Report (include hotel review, chica review, food review).

This goes for any newb to the country. You need to give something to the thread first (a FR would be nice). THEN feel free to ask me where the laundromats are located near G-Point. Also, it is not possible to give specific answers to broad-based questions:

"Where is best place for party?" I don't know, as I don't attend parties. Party with locals? Party with expats?

"Where is best hotel?" Best hotel in what category: price, ambiance, location, pool, bar? My idea of a good hotel is different than yours.

"Where is best place to meet girls in Filipines?" EVERYWHERE, but its a stupid question that's not really answerable.

Other gents?

[Econo Tech]

So every time you pull a 10k you get whacked with at least $5. To get roughly $1k out you'd have to spend $20 or 2. I think that's a bit expensive. Also, are there better exchange rates with cash conversion at exchange booths or with ATM withdrawls?

Okay, let me put it this way. Is there any place where you must pay to get a job, even in restaurants?

In Philippines, yes, you must pay something like 5, 000 peso or more, to get 'short listed' and that is NOT BRIBE. It is payment levied by the employers to stop time-wasters, or so they say and no, the 5, 000 don't get returned whether you get selected or not.

So in essence, Filipinos put up with this kind of crap, and the banks, almost all, are privately owned. So they think they are doing the right thing paying to withdraw money.

So, smart people like us, keep cash (carefully hidden and disbursed) and minimse ATM withdrawal, (oh, not to forget that at more than a few ATMs, guys loiter around to whack you off. And it is more scary when the bank security is walking with the trigger finger ready.) of course. Use credit cards to pay for anything major. And when doing ATM withdrawal, withdraw max, whether needed or not.

[Amjeck]

You can take out 40k a day depending on your bank at home just 10k lots (citi does 15k hsbc 20k)

So every time you pull a 10k you get whacked with at least $5. To get roughly $1k out you'd have to spend $20 or 2. I think that's a bit expensive. Also, are there better exchange rates with cash conversion at exchange booths or with ATM withdrawls?

[Fastpiston]

If you are going to give, donate to Red Cross. They are pretty active down there, and really need help right now.

I already got hit with scams. Do not give, if you do not kow the girl intimately. I agree with redkilt here.

But help out if and when you can.

Best regards to all.

CT

A lot of 'charities' in the Philippines are scams. Be very very careful, money rarely gets to the needy. Local Filipinos will confirm this. They laugh when one talks about charities and say they would never give money to them. Foreign governments try and give goods rather than money to try and get round the theft and corruption.

[Fast Eddie 48]

You can take out 40k a day depending on your bank at home just 10k lots (citi does 15k hsbc 20k)

Some bpi will offer you ATM card but only peso account my dollar account has a $750 min bal. And I have to call the bank days before to get aud so I can take money out.

For a short stay of only one month just use your home ATM card. The ques in banks can be long PI has no customer service it just you learn to be patient.

To Frenzy

I don't like to bring too much cash also and my US atm card with chase and Citibank been increasing their fee for oversea ATM withdraw, I also bring Amex traveller check and only use ATM card in emergency only.

Fast Eddie 48

[Cool Traveler]

If you are going to give, donate to Red Cross. They are pretty active down there, and really need help right now.

I already got hit with scams. Do not give, if you do not kow the girl intimately. I agree with redkilt here.

But help out if and when you can.

Best regards to all.

CT

Red Kilt,

I am sure that any aid money from mongers will come attached to a dog collar, chain and a standing Hampton high on Viagra. The victims of the flood scam will most likely come from dating sites and are unlikely to have mongered. Mongering seems to imbue its practitioners with a healthy dose of skepticism.

[Paulr1950]

you can take out 40k a day depending on your bank at home just 10k lots (citi does 15k hsbc 20k)

some bpi will offer you atm card but only peso account my dollar account has a $750 min bal. And i have to call the bank days before to get aud so i can take money out.

For a short stay of only one month just use your home atm card. The ques in banks can be long pi has no customer service it just you learn to be patient.

the hsbc is 45000, at 1 time.

[Frenzy3]

A month or longer. I want to bring cash and deposit in bank then withdrawl as I travel around. I think its better than carrying cash with me everywhere. I could do atm withdrawls with my foreign bank, but the fees are to high and the minimum pesos I can pull is like 10-15k (Too small) I think.

No banks can issue an atm card on the spot?

You can take out 40k a day depending on your bank at home just 10k lots (citi does 15k hsbc 20k)

Some bpi will offer you ATM card but only peso account my dollar account has a $750 min bal. And I have to call the bank days before to get aud so I can take money out.

For a short stay of only one month just use your home ATM card. The ques in banks can be long PI has no customer service it just you learn to be patient.