General Info

[Azmodeus Fl]

As long as you don't act like a fool you shouldn't have any problems.

Hi Jack,

Manila and Northern Philippines is very safe. Besides you have a local friend with you. Bulacan is not too far from Manila.

I have gone to more remote areas in PHI and never felt threatened. Phi people are very much used to foreigners.

Phi girls are generally very friendly and wants you to meet their family if they like you. As to your relationship with her you are on your own. Phi girls in HK are not as naieve as you think. They want to make as much money as possible to send home. Maybe she thinks you will marry her.

As to me meeting the girls family is like being in a party with lots of strangers. There is nothing common to talk about.

But make a trip to experience yourself.

[Cunning Stunt]

She lives in City of San Jose Delmonte, Bulacan, Manila and rents a town house there where she lives with her son and niece. (when she is not "working" in HK). She wants me to meet her family and show me how she lives in Manila.

I wouldn't worry too much. You do not mention how you met the lady and what she does for a living? I assume that you feel that she is trustworthy?

One thing I would say is for you not to expect too much as regards luxuries etc, if you do opt to go stay with her. Filipino's are proud people and live as well as they able but most are only able to maintain, what to affluent western eyes, is a very basic standard of living. But, believe me, if you can put up for a little while without luxuries and can endure cold showers etc, then her estimation of you will rise tenfold. Consider it, a couple of days roughing it (like a weekend camping holiday), and keep a smile on your face and she will be so made up. She will no doubt, also get loads of kudos in showing you off to her friends and family.

San Jose Delmonte itself is hardly out in the sticks. It is in the northern Metro Manila area adjoining Quezon City, about 1-2 hours from central Manila, depending on the traffic. Its in a fast developing area and is fairly affluent by Manilan standards. The area probably boasts fairly low crime stats compared to other parts of the metropolitan area. You will be fine.

[Sammon]

Hi Jack,
Manila and Northern Philippines is very safe. Besides you have a local friend with you. Bulacan is not too far from Manila.
I have gone to more remote areas in PHI and never felt threatened. Phi people are very much used to foreigners.
Phi girls are generally very friendly and wants you to meet their family if they like you. As to your relationship with her you are on your own. Phi girls in HK are not as naieve as you think. They want to make as much money as possible to send home. Maybe she thinks you will marry her.
As to me meeting the girls family is like being in a party with lots of strangers. There is nothing common to talk about.
But make a trip to experience yourself.

[JackTheLad2]

I would be grateful for some advice and help. I usually do my mongering in Hong Kong and have met a very nice girl that I have now known for nearly a year and have met her twice - the last time she spent 2 weeks with me recently in HK and we had a fabulous time - my reports are in the HK forum. She wants to take me to Manila to visit her family after we meet again in HK next March and I can just about manage a 2/3 day visit without raising anybody's eyebrows at my absence. She lives in City of San Jose Delmonte, Bulacan, Manila and rents a town house there where she lives with her son and niece. (when she is not "working" in HK). She wants me to meet her family and show me how she lives in Manila.

She is not a gold digger - she has never asked me for any money in the year I have known her and the 2 weeks we spent together were a freebie although I obviously gave her something.

My question is - it it safe? What would I need to look out for other than the normal visitor precautions. I have never been in Phil before but have read plenty about it. Any guidance/advice would be most welcome. She is a mature 32 year old - I am double her age!

[Puerto La Cruz]

Have been there two times during holy week. Plenty of women available. If they do leave town to go to the province, its only for a couple of days. Caution though because if you are planning to go to any of the resorts, book well in advance as they fill up for that holiday. Room prices at the resorts will go up by 50% from Good Friday to Easter Sunday as alot of people are trying to get out of Manila. Room prices in Manila will stay the same.

[Frenchhero]

I might be in Manile ou AC during the holy week in april (9-12 april-).
Does anyone know how is the situating regarding the number of ladies available in both cities?

[FreebieFan]

Have had a SMART number for past 7 years. Sometimes its up to 3-4 months before I go back to Phils. Number has always been fine.

Did notice in HK tho if my HK sim, can't remember brand, isn't used in 4 months then number is dead.

[Amavida]

Pill taken
Passed out - heavy bleeding
Now in hospital
Am waiting for god news
Cross your fingers for her guys - please

My prayers are with you both.
You will need to stand by her for the medical expenses which are beyond the average pinay's ability to pay & make sure to give her money to buy pain killers & iron supplements. She will be in pain & anaemic after she gets out of hospital. Their rice & a scrap of fish diet does not help anaemia.
All the best.
AV

[Finrod]

What smart tell you is not always correct in my experience. I have had smart sims last much longer.

OK point taken, their website doesn't correlate with your field experience.

I am overseas this week. I have a smart sim on roaming with 10 pesos load on it & am receiving txt's no problem.

Sorry I should have made clear that a balance of 100 pesos was required for both sending and receiving during international roaming. At 10 pesos of load, yes you can still receive, but you cannot send until you get back into the Phils. Try it, you won't be able to. That I know for sure.

The expiration on the sim card is for FIRST USE typically 12 months from purchase. If it is not activated by that date then its kaput. That is different to expiring in use. Yes load cards have finite periods just like prepaid cards all over the world, but the question was how long do sim cards last.
AV

ok. I was thinking of expirations on reload cards.

[Blackangst]

pill taken

passed out - heavy bleeding

now in hospital

am waiting for god news

cross your fingers for her guys - please

godspeed :(

[Blade1]

Pill taken

Passed out - heavy bleeding

Now in hospital

Am waiting for god news

Cross your fingers for her guys - please

I feel ya and im crossing my fingers

I relly hope you will get good news.

[Catswhiskers]

Pill taken

Passed out - heavy bleeding

Now in hospital

Am waiting for god news

Cross your fingers for her guys - please

[Amavida]

Regarding Smart, if you don't reload when your load expires, you then have 120 days to reload and keep the number active, otherwise you lose the number. So practically speaking, if you get a Smart sim, put 300 pesos of load on it and don't reload it again, the load will last 60 days and you get to keep the number going for another 120 days so in effect that sim is good for at least 180 days from purchase.

What smart tell you is not always correct in my experience. I have had smart sims last much longer.

If you go overseas and turn on text roaming, you have to keep a minimum balance of 100 pesos in your sim in order to keep sending and receiving, in addition to the above parameters of activity.

I am overseas this week. I have a smart sim on roaming with 10 pesos load on it & am receiving txt's no problem.

Smart reload cards expire in about 6 months. Their expiration is printed on the back. When you use a sim card, the length of time the load will last depends on the amount purchased.

The expiration on the sim card is for FIRST USE typically 12 months from purchase. If it is not activated by that date then its kaput. That is different to expiring in use. Yes load cards have finite periods just like prepaid cards all over the world, but the question was how long do sim cards last.
AV

[Amavida]

You can send a load to any cp through Chikka Messenger.
Just set up an i$end e-wallet with payment via PayPal.

Cool! thanks for the info! I will file away for future reference!
AV

[Finrod]

Dont know why this varies, i have had sims last much longer than this.
AV

Regarding Smart, if you don't reload when your load expires, you then have 120 days to reload and keep the number active, otherwise you lose the number. So practically speaking, if you get a Smart sim, put 300 pesos of load on it and don't reload it again, the load will last 60 days and you get to keep the number going for another 120 days so in effect that sim is good for at least 180 days from purchase.

If you go overseas and turn on text roaming, you have to keep a minimum balance of 100 pesos in your sim in order to keep sending and receiving, in addition to the above parameters of activity.

Smart reload cards expire in about 6 months. Their expiration is printed on the back. When you use a sim card, the length of time the load will last depends on the amount purchased.