General Info

[AussieOverboard]

Hi,

I plan to meet my GF from Samar's parents for the first time. She said we should bring food over. Is there something that I should get in the US to bring? What is appropriate?

I always bring my Father in Law a bottle of Chivas from duty free. From what i can tell it is a real status symbol and makes him very proud to offer his best guests a drink. My mother in law is on medication so I alwats bring her 3 - 4 months supply. SHows I am thinking of her. Wife I bring Large blocks of cadbury, If you wrap them in about 5 sheets of newspaper they dont get melted. I normally bring a couple of barbie dolls as on your travels you will always meet some cute youngster, cousins daughter etc and they love having a barbie doll. For the younger boys I just make sure i have plenty of 5 and 1 peso coins. they very happily run off to the sari sari store.

[X Man]

I suppose you'd have to expect fewer books about travel considering the huge difference in visitors. In 2007, Thailand got about 1.2 million foreign tourists a month, Indonesia averaged 442,000 and the Philippines about 285,000.

That being said, I've found books on culture, character, diving and even bicycling.

Maybe now would be a good time for people to recommend their favorite books and/or web sites on the Philippines.

X

Anyone ever wonder why there is so little literature written for or about The Phiilippines? I mean there really is not alot out there. From what I've gathered, the best resource out there is the Lonely Planet guide, which even seemed to me to be outdated.

Is this an untouched market, or do people just not care? God knows theres a ton of info out there for Thailand.

[Jim Nelson]

Greetings all. Just got back from 2 weeks in the Phils (AC, Boracay and Manila) Nothing noteworthy to report in AC or Manila. Just wanted to write a quick Report/Commentary on Boracay.

I had read several reports from other members regarding the merits of taking a date to Boracay. Some lamented taking a date with them, because there seemed to be plenty of available girls there on the island. Others still took a date with them, and thought it was a wonderful experience.

After talking with the travel desk at Pacific Breeze and reading the reports I decided to go solo. BIG MISTAKE!

Prices (For 1 person) was 16, 000 pesos ($350 USD) for airfair and hotel for 2 nights at the La Carmela hotel or 13, 000 Pesos each for 2 people.

The Carmela is on the beach. About a 2 or 3 star hotel around station#2.

Read all the posts about the action and abundent woman at Bamboo bar, Summer place, Hey Jude, and Cocomangas.

What I found. Mostly Euro/ North American couples in Boracay, and VERY touristy! (think Pattaya minus the woman, but better beaches) There was a fair share of youngish guys (early 20 something) on the hunt just looking for single tourist girls to hook up with.

As far as the Freelance scene goes. It was IMHO MUCH WORSE than advertised! That is of course unless you were willing to comprimise yourself considerably! The best place I found was Cocomangas (not directly on the beach) mostly pairs of girls at this place. I would guess on any night there were six to ten freelanacers there. Only one rating above a 5 in the looks department. (this girl was quickly swooped up and was gone within 20 minutes) leaving her unattractive older chainsmoking friends behind.

I took a trike down to D-Mall and then walked to Hey Jude which was absolutly dead. Then a stroll to Summer Place (this was on the trike drivers suggestion for best place to go) and Bamboo Bar, both of which were dead also.

There was a few girls lurking in the shadows on the footpath on the walk back to La Carmela offering "special message" for 1500 p however they was just soo unattractive. In the end. I could not comprimise myself to go with the extreme uglies. So I went home alone.

In retrospect I wish I would have brought my AC hottie with me. Yes it would have cost me an extra 10, 000 p ($220 USD) but it would have been better than scouring Boracay for the dregs that were available.

The weather there was VERY WINDY! And cold too (low 70s) Did a bit of Diving with Victory Divers (A german outfit) who I can thouroghly recomend- (1700 p for a dive and rental)

All in all I'm glad I went to Boracay, but I was SOO happy when we touched back down in Clark!

Perhaps my sampling group was to small (2 nights, midweek) or there is some "secret" place I don't know about. But.

IMHO Boracay is a great place to take a date or do some diving, but don't plan on finding some great freelance scene there!

A Note for you pilots and Aviation buffs. The Caticlan airport is a single strip runway less than 3000 ft long! The Dornier 328 needed every inch to get off the ground. In fact the day before we arrived a Z AIR went long and crashed at the end of the runway. The wreckage was simply pushed to the side, and the show went on.

INGAT!

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[ShadowAxis]

I blame the food. Which is horrible. Locals eat like raccoons and the diet is almost entirely pork fat, skin and other nasty byproducts; local fruit (mango), local vegetables (ochre), chicken feet, fish that is soaked in oil and burned. There is just nothing positive to say about the local cuisine. So no one comes here for the food.

The local culture is defined by the modern shopping mall and a unhealthy surplus of Jesus, there is absolutely nothing interesting about the monuments, sights or history of the place. There is no sense of national identity. The locals see themselves as failures; the solution to any problem is prayer. Anything worth looking at has been destroyed by war, or simply fallen into a state of ruined neglect. The government is hopelessly corrupt, the cities are not tourist friendly and the whole country needs a bath. Locals take no pride in anything but their car, trike, or motorcycle. The jeepney will be all spit and Polish, but the house will look like something out of National Geographic. It is OK to steal from white people. The language is useless and hard to learn. You get about six weeks of nice weather every year. Most areas are poor and depressing; the wealthy areas you probably can't afford to play in. Even as a westerner.

I have been living here now for four years. The location is convenient and most people speak English; good conveniences however most people visit the Philippines for the same reason they cross the boarder and hang out in Tijuana. It's a cheap place to party with plenty of incredible pussy.

The Philippines is a place with so much potential. Which is why idiots like myself fall in love with the it. Sadly, like so many of my self-saboteur ex-girlfriends (unemployable, never thought anything through, irrational, bit*h, or just crazy) the locals will never realize their potential. Near as I can tell the whole population is an economic hostage to about 10 wealthy families who conspire to keep things exactly as they are. The whole country is a pretty poor girl with bad habits; she's an amazing and uninhibited lay, you can fall for her and try your hardest but she will never change.

Nothing to see here, move along.

[Tabolitz]

Johnson, if you want to be casual with the first encounter it should be done in this manner. You need not buy anything from the U.S. there are duty free shops at the airport and you can buy the following:

A) Imported alchohol and cigarettes if you know some of the family members smokes or drink.
B) Chocolates and candy if you think theres a lot of female and kids in the family.
C) As your girlfriend suggest you may bring a cake or sweets to the occassion.

This are the things appropriate for a first encounter meeting the parents. I would say this is a decent or above average things to do. Trust me I am a local and knows this things.

Ciao

[SergeantRay]

On a more serious note, you might bring for her parents:

1. Playing cards (especially Bicycle high quality plastic, since humidity is hard on cards)

2. Chocolates Put them in the freezer before you travel

3. Sunglasses Raybans is overdoing it. I get inexpensive pairs and give them as gifts.

4. Perfumes, cologne. Ditch all of the extra packaging.

5. Scented Body Powder. It comes in handy in the tropics, and it's light to pack.

[Rosco4444]

What to bring when meet the parents?

Ya gotta be kidding!

They will be welcoming people who will not require you to being anything from the States other than................

1. ATM machine
2. Cash
3. Gold Bullion
4. Your generous nature
5. A willingness to share

Good luck

Rosco

[James In Japan]

Anyone ever wonder why there is so little literature written for or about The Phiilippines? I mean there really is not alot out there. From what I've gathered, the best resource out there is the Lonely Planet guide, which even seemed to me to be outdated.

Is this an untouched market, or do people just not care? God knows theres a ton of info out there for Thailand.

[Big Johnson2]

Hi,

I plan to meet my GF from Samar's parents for the first time. She said we should bring food over. Is there something that I should get in the US to bring? What is appropriate?

[Eu Expat]

Hey EU Expat,

I'm 99% sure that you can change RMB to Pesos at the airport in Manila. They have pretty wide currency exchange options. I've exchanged Hong Kong dollars for PHP several times. I also came to Manila once via HK after being in Shanghai and I am pretty sure I changed the rest of my RMB to PHP at the airport as I wasn't headed back to mainland China for quite a while.

Exchange rate might not be the best. To the extent you can, you'll get a more favorable rate with US or HK dollars.

Thanks a lot, this really helps. In fact, I happen to live and work as an executive in Shanghai, so I think Manila will be a nice change for a few days. Hope the place is not entirely set up for older guys, as I am still in my late 20's. Definitely younger than many of the girls people on this forum meet.

[Cebu Steve]

Hey EU Expat,
I'm 99% sure that you can change RMB to Pesos at the airport in Manila. They have pretty wide currency exchange options. I've exchanged Hong Kong dollars for PHP several times. I also came to Manila once via HK after being in Shanghai and I am pretty sure I changed the rest of my RMB to PHP at the airport as I wasn't headed back to mainland China for quite a while.

Exchange rate might not be the best. To the extent you can, you'll get a more favorable rate with US or HK dollars.

[Eu Expat]

Hey guys,

I'm heading over to Manila next week and I'm just wondering - is it possible to exchange Chinese currency (RMB) to PHP in Manila (either at the airport or the banks)?

I know that there are ATMs and that I should bring US dollars, but mainland China uses its own card system and it's kind of hard to buy more than 500 USD in local Chinese banks, if you're an expat who is paid in RMB. It's not a live-or-die situation, as I still have my western credit card, but using RMB will make things hell lot easier for me.

Thanks a lot.

[Mr Enforcer]

Hi,

Have a look here:

http://shanosirishpub.com/home.html

You could contact them direct just to check if they have your particular code there or not. (Aussie rules man meself).

Many thanks Rubberyman. They say on their website NRL and Super 14s. So Angeles. Here we come! And cum again!

[HornyGeorge]

The Church is the primary culprit for the root cause of most poverty in the Philippines, overpopulation. Thailand is corrupt as hell too and has no history of democracy, but look at the higher standard of living. Two main reasons: no Catholic opposition to birth control and tourism revenue.

The Philippines was much less populated in the 60s hence less poverty. The growth rate of over 3% per year is among the World's highest, but the Church continues to threaten and terrorize any filipino politicians who dare support the Reproductive Health Bill being debated in the Congress (but stymied for years by the Church).

[GoodEnough]

As far as I can recall from my 25 years of living in or being in close contact with Phils. Theres hardly ever been a case of a non Chinese foreigner been kidnapped by normal KFR gangs ("kidnap for ransom " gangs). Yes theres been Abu Sayyaf which were quite different.

And yes the Koreans have a thriving kidnapping community amongst themselves, but Johnny WhiteBoy can happily fly to Phils and have no fear whatsoever of being kidnapped. It just doesn't happen.

Well, that's correct for the most part, but again, it depends on where you are. As to whether it's the KFR gangs or the Abu Sayyaf, does it really matter. Getting kidnapped is getting kidnapped. Two of the three Red Cross workers just kidnapped in Sulu were white, though anyone who travels without an official, heavily armed escort there is slightly crazy.

I would say that FF is correct if you're planning to go to the most frequent destinations mentioned on this site, but as the economy declines further and further, and an increasing proportion of the population starts to feel the pinch, the situation may change, so it's always wise to be prudent as it is in any third world country.

GE