General Info

[Red Kilt]

Sorry about this

Am I required to have health insurance? Visa?

As I read it, I don't need to obtain a visa before entry into the Philippines as a British passport holder But once entered I can obtain extensions there. And will I need the proof of health insurance when going for the extention

You will be given a 21-day visa when you arrive. You can then get a further 38-day extension at a Bureau of Immigration office, WITHOUT having any health insurance.

If you go to an overseas Philippines Embassy you can apply for the 59-day visa straight up. It saves any hassles to get the extension.

[FreebieFan]

Sorry about this

Am I required to have health insurance? Visa?

As I read it, I don't need to obtain a visa before entry into the Philippines as a British passport holder But once entered I can obtain extensions there. And will I need the proof of health insurance when going for the extention

Travelling to any country without Health Insurance carries massive risks. Imagine you get knocked down by a car, multiple breaks and a porlonged stay in hospital. You most certainly wouldn't want to spend your time in a " public hospital in Phils (if in doubt, go to PGH and see the wards there. Crowded, no air con, no privacy, and unless you have friends relatives to bring you food, you will go seriously hungry. This isn't the National Health service.

Its a sensible rule that you have health insurance and I would REALLY recommend you have some.

[Col Law]

Sorry about this

Am I required to have health insurance? Visa?

As I read it, I don't need to obtain a visa before entry into the Philippines as a British passport holder But once entered I can obtain extensions there. And will I need the proof of health insurance when going for the extention

[Italo Norman]

Just a curious question. Are you looking to jump her or catch up with her?

Those that return from overseas are normally back to settle down.

My 0. 02 $ worth comment.

Actually she was a penpal that I hooked up with years ago. Just a old friend. No. Not trying to jump her. LOL.

Thanks

[Econo Tech]

I no longer have her email address or phone number. Is there a way of getting her cellphone number from one of the providers there? Really do appreciate this guys. She was someone I knew along time ago in the states and moved back.

Thanks

Just a curious question. Are you looking to jump her or catch up with her?

Those that return from overseas are normally back to settle down.

My 0. 02 $ worth comment.

[Whatsgoingon]

Well my 3 day trip to the Philippines is sadly over today. When last here in 1997 I worked flat out for a month and then only had one night out. This time I made sure I walked around a few shopping centres and visited some normal bars.

Nothing could have prepared me for how many beautiful women there are in this country. My lowlight was actually a girl from a gogo bar, my highlight, my temporary girlfriend who I am dangerously close to falling in love with!

If you are planning to come here and like Filipina, be prepared to be stunned. This 40 yr old guy feels like a 18 year old full of testosterone after 3 days. Thank fuck I have a business class flight to catch up on some sleep on the way home. And some good memories.

Thanks to all the past contributors who as always make ISG the great base of information for us all.

[Italo Norman]

I no longer have her email address or phone number. Is there a way of getting her cellphone number from one of the providers there? Really do appreciate this guys. She was someone I knew along time ago in the states and moved back.

Thanks

[Fast Eddie 48]

Flights to phils from vancouver canada where always around 1000-1250, now with a stronger than US dollar, the flights are the highest ever.

2000-2500. Agent says its high time. WTF?

Vandaddio,

There are big demand on travel from North america to Asia this summer because of the World expo in China, tour company purchase alot of ticket in advance so there are not many seat avalible until the end of AUG, I got ticket last yr in June for 1100 USD it will be back to normal in Sep but again fuel tax will go up.

Fast Eddie 48

[Buko Max]

Sorry coming soon as a brit, what's the tea like just lousy Lipton.

You are correct CL, most places only serve Lipton so best to bring your own if you are like me and must have a daily spot of tea!

[Col Law]

Sorry coming soon as a brit, what's the tea like just lousy Lipton.

[Denom]

Slow down ;) If you stay close to the sea, you will get the best seafood ever. lapulapu in good sizes and dirt cheap, crabs, shrimps, tuna, you name it. It is fresh for exactly the reasons you deplore.
I never stay in too small places too long. So a small town is reasonably fine, say the district market town. Villages are ok for day trips or hiking.

My main point is, however, that the fears about NPA are out of place. Unless you're suspected of connections with the RP or US governments, you're just fine if not better. In Muslim areas experienced travelers will do ok, as long as they do not go south the line of Sindangan/Pagadian on the Zamboanga Peninsula. South risk increases appreciably.
In Cotabato some areas are lawless and that has not necessarily much to do with religion. Criminal networks (I m not talking about the Ampatuans etc) of small crooks might be interested in making some money.
The pickings in all these areas are slim or zero. So you will most probably go there to visit an area together with your newly found love or visit your only love. There is no or just a very small scene.
Also there is no expat-scene at all. These are places to go local and enjoy it.

In other words, locations for people with an interest in the country, people, nature etc. who are not limited to visits of bars.

I agree 100% with everything you say. My (big) problem is that I don't eat sea food, and I rarely if ever eat fish. Forgot to mention that. As for NPA/Muslim, we see eye to eye. I never venture West or South of Davao, but East and North no problem, and I am certainly not afraid of NPA supposedly raiding buses on the road to Butuan, even if they actually do it.

[Vandaddio]

I notice this every year. Its timeframe. Prices jump from 950+ before late April / early May. Then around 1 May they jump to 1400-1600+. Then around late May they can jump to $2K. Usually I make my spring (easter) and summer flight purchases around christmas. This year I only did the spring trip at christmas (china air was running a $644 special!), and put off purchasing the summer because I could not get set dates for my vacation. When I finally got my vacation plans set from my boss about one month ago, I got a price (again on chinair) of under $1100. About 1 week later a gent here on the board PM'd me and asked how I got that price ($1100). A check on their website showed 1400+ the cheapest, and many airlines on orbitz were closer to $2000. Wow.

Yeah, I guess school is out and many people travelling. But 2000-2500 I can stay here and get alot of spinner pussy.

Too bad as I was getting excited to visit. But only for half that price.

[Thaifun]

And don't forget the food, as Cambodia is very different in that than Thailand. I almost starved to death in a remote Cambodian location until I finally found edible vegetable fried rice.

Same problem in mountainous areas in the Philippines where people are too poor to buy a fridge. They can’t stock meat so only eat meat for big occasions when they kill a chicken or a pig. They live on mainly through dried fish (bleah!). For some reasons I also can’t swallow most of their vegetables. I found the parade by getting a mix of cooked eggs, potato and onion. That does the trick, but of course only for a while.

Even in towns where only Filipino food is to be found it is hard to survive (certainly one of the worst aspect of the Philippines), but then in remote areas.. Forget it!

Slow down ;) If you stay close to the sea, you will get the best seafood ever. lapulapu in good sizes and dirt cheap, crabs, shrimps, tuna, you name it. It is fresh for exactly the reasons you deplore.
I never stay in too small places too long. So a small town is reasonably fine, say the district market town. Villages are ok for day trips or hiking.

My main point is, however, that the fears about NPA are out of place. Unless you're suspected of connections with the RP or US governments, you're just fine if not better. In Muslim areas experienced travelers will do ok, as long as they do not go south the line of Sindangan/Pagadian on the Zamboanga Peninsula. South risk increases appreciably.
In Cotabato some areas are lawless and that has not necessarily much to do with religion. Criminal networks (I m not talking about the Ampatuans etc) of small crooks might be interested in making some money.
The pickings in all these areas are slim or zero. So you will most probably go there to visit an area together with your newly found love or visit your only love. There is no or just a very small scene.
Also there is no expat-scene at all. These are places to go local and enjoy it.

In other words, locations for people with an interest in the country, people, nature etc. who are not limited to visits of bars.

[Tally Wacker]

From the girls that I know it was just word of mouth from one friend to the next is how they came to work there. Alot of the girls are located in AC and Manila. There is usually a boss that has what they refer to as an apartment for the girls and a computer with a cam account setup. The girls get a so called salary and the boss is supposed to buy them some food. Then the girls are required to get so much pvt time with customers to continue and working there.

Most girls dont have the money and credit up front to get the Cam account setup so they rely on someone else to work for.

The girls are happy to not have to actualy fuck the person in real but only on cam.

it seems that a lot of these girls are doing xxx cams to make money. I'm curious how they get involved with this type of business. Are there local recruiters? Or do they do to some kind of site and join up?

[Amjeck]

it seems that a lot of these girls are doing xxx cams to make money. I'm curious how they get involved with this type of business. Are there local recruiters? Or do they do to some kind of site and join up?