Manila

[Dg8787]

Many, if not most, of the Filipinas that sex tourists interact with are elementary school dropouts. I have quite a bit of formal education but a much smaller Filipino vocabulary than these women's English vocabulary, even though I have been to the Philippines more than 25 times, with visits ranging from two weeks to five months.

I assume Dg's quote from a text message was largely paraphrased, but it did contain 16 or 17 unique English words. I'm not inclined to make fun of their English when I've not been motivated enough to learn their language.

Basically her exact words. 99% of the girls I have met can converse in English. They are actually more literate than foreigners. Most of them can read and write in English.

Only one bargirl that has trouble reading texting English but her verbal command is good. But she has quite a tight body, beautiful eyes and fuxks like hell despite having 4 kids and is under 30 years old.

Never had a pinay not understand what and when I wanted it in English. No need for an English major here.

[SethMacfarlane]

Jewelry in Asia does not tend to be 24 kt. You said it yourself. 24 kt is too soft, so how would it keep as something like a ring? Other metals have to be added to give it stability. 22 kt is common for something like bracelets and charms though.

Since covid, I have been bored here in Asia so I have been having jewelry made. The options are 10 K, 14 K, and 18 K. You pay market price for the gold and you are charged a separate price for labor. I am having 2 rings made. I paid market price for 18 K, $30 each for 2 diamonds and she is giving me one free, and $130 labor for each ring. There was a difference of $210 between the 14 K and 18 K.

I also bought a 23 k (96%) gold bar for my father's birthday to have it inscribed and diamonds put in. The bar for half oz (15.24 g) was market price at $906. I paid $10 commission to the store. I had the back smoothed out, 2 diamonds added, and stuff written on it for $60.



So when you take stuff back to sell it in a gold shop, you are given market price minus a commission. You are not offered half of what it is worth as would be the case in a pawn shop.

Mr. E your a cool MFer. Love seeing people buying their parents cool shit.

[GoodEnough]

Many, if not most, of the Filipinas that sex tourists interact with are elementary school dropouts. I have quite a bit of formal education but a much smaller Filipino vocabulary than these women's English vocabulary, even though I have been to the Philippines more than 25 times, with visits ranging from two weeks to five months.

I assume Dg's quote from a text message was largely paraphrased, but it did contain 16 or 17 unique English words. I'm not inclined to make fun of their English when I've not been motivated enough to learn their language.

There's no need to belabor Soapy's point, but it's true that there's a direct and strong correlation between degree of English language capability and education. We should also consider the historical reality that, during the years of the Cory Aquino administration, the Philippines "lost" a generation of English Language teachers because, in a burst of post-Edsa patriotic fervor, she, as mandated a change in the language of instruction in schools from English to Tagalog. Though that mandate has long been overruled by subsequent presidents, the diminution of English Language skills has persisted.

GE.

[Goferring]

I assume Dg's quote from a text message was largely paraphrased, but it did contain 16 or 17 unique English words. I'm not inclined to make fun of their English when I've not been motivated enough to learn their language.

I'm not going to portray pinas as Rhodes Scholars but I can remember having the same discussions about PNG Highlanders. Most spoke very basic English. Of course, that was often one of 5 national and regional languages that they did speak so who was I to judge. 😁.

G.

[Soapy Smith]

When people debate Thailand and Philippines, defenders of the latter always say "They can speak English so at least you can have a conversation. " Is this sort brilliant dialogue what they are talking about?

Many, if not most, of the Filipinas that sex tourists interact with are elementary school dropouts. I have quite a bit of formal education but a much smaller Filipino vocabulary than these women's English vocabulary, even though I have been to the Philippines more than 25 times, with visits ranging from two weeks to five months.

I assume Dg's quote from a text message was largely paraphrased, but it did contain 16 or 17 unique English words. I'm not inclined to make fun of their English when I've not been motivated enough to learn their language.

[Bamboo Pete]

Well the idea of "quarantine" is that you are not in contact with the local community. Do the right thing and set an example of a traveller than can fly in and follow the rules. "breaking" the rules doesn't help anyone and you can then encourage others to abide and then keep you safe!

I totally agree. It was just a thought how to sneak a girl in, but I decided already, not to do it. Quarantine would only be 3-4 days and these few days are not worth the risk.

Get yourself the closest hotel to the arrival airport and followup testing. Then when you are cleared, then you can start thinking about girls. (Just don't think too much about they have more cases and infections than where you are now.).
From the Manila hotel list.
81. Richmonde Hotel, Eastwood.
Address: 17 Orchard Road Eastwood City Bagumbayan, Quezon City.

What was your criteria to select these hotels? I think, Pasay hotels are closer to the airport. Is it the idea, to get out of Manila by airplane? Would I be allowed to fly from Manila to Clark (via Cebu) after negative test?

[Bamboo Pete]

Am told this morning by one of my Manila regulars, that the NCR has gone back to ECQ today. Not sure how that changes arrivals (who is allowed, and procedures).

A friend of mine received a cancellation mail yesterday for his flight in September by Qatar Airways to Clark. I wouldn't be surprised if mine would be cancelled too. Aug 22 via Istanbul by Turkish Airline. Don't think many Filipinos flying from there. Maybe I'm not even sad if they cancel it, if I look at the latest figures of new infections.

[Bamboo Pete]

If Bamboo Pete doesn't have a 13A visa he probably will not be able to board the Aug 22 flight. SRRV holders are still being denied entry.

Are you sure about this? There are different kinds of SRRV visas. Some are for spouses, and some are for people who deposit money.

[Bamboo Pete]

From the Pamapnaga list I would go for PARK INN BY RADISSON CLARK.

I have written emails to quarantine hotels in Pampanga, including Park Inn. From those who answered, all said they wouldn't pick me up in Manila. So, I have to look for a hotel in Manila, or a taxi to take me to Pampanga. Are taxis allowed to leave Manila?

Correct. Very strict provisions in NCR now.

I must now stay home as only those under 60 years and with a barangay pass can go to the supermarket.

All barber / coffee shops etc closed again. Ortigas Center is like a ghost town today.

No Grab or taxis running. No MRT or LRT for the next 14 days.

This seems to become my biggest problem now. If I stay in Manila quarantine hotel, how do I get out of Manila afterwards?

[Cbea20]

The Kruggerand has the right admixture of copper for a firm wedding ring. That's what I had on hand when the time came. One ounce made two rings. What was it I don't remember 18 or 20 carat.

Oh well, I had to cancel my Manila plans because Cebu City change from suppose to be MECQ to GCQ, so since both Manila and Cebu City have Canadian embassy / consulate and both are in GCQ starting today, I rather go to Cebu City since is closer to Negros where I am right now.

I know that there has been alot of stories that you guys also mention here about people getting stuck someplace, but all those stories come during ECQ, I will never travel to another city and even worse to another province during ECQ.

I will only travel because is GCQ, and because they will open the Canadian embassy / consulate on June 1st, and because I have something important to do there, unless of course the mayor of Cebu City change the guidelines which is exactly what he did today.

So from this new guidelines I will only be able to travel to Cebu City by Section 15 CV: "Persons going to the airport for travel abroad. ".

Well, I'm hoping it can apply to me, I will need to find out in the terminal with the CERES buses (maybe ask the soldiers there), that my flight going to Canada is in July from Cebu City (I have proof, I have my airplane ticket already), so I'm going there a month in advance to wait for my flight there. I'm hoping they might let me. The only other option will be to wait until June 15, when they will hopefully change the guidelines and they will allow province traveling. If everything goes to plan they should change from GCQ to MGCQ which should hopefully allow provincial traveling.

Asia is a very big continent (and the Philippines is arguably not even in it, since for years they were called "Philippine Islands of the South Pacific" and Filipinos were pacific islanders).

So it depends where you are.

You can absolutely get "24 karat" and it is preferred by most locals. Though when you take it home you might find that it's actually a lower karat.

What they do is get in gold bars and then cut them as they see fit.

For example Thai wedding rings are usually 23 karat. And they're usually misshapen in a week or two. It's not about usefulness though. It's about what the ring is worth. That's why they use high karats.

So "24 karat" which is literally called "gold" in Cambodia is preferred because of resale value. It's used most often for rings, necklaces and big bracelets. The loss when you sell back is around 3 percent. In Thailand the prices have to be publicly displayed by law.

18 karat which is called "platin" in Cambodia sells back at a 5 percent or higher loss. So it is much less popular since people use gold as a store of wealth. A lot of 18 karat gold is made in Vietnam. It's used for things like thin bracelets. It's considered a much inferior product. Again remember that people in Southeast Asia buy gold as a store of wealth, not based on how well a ring holds its shape.

If you go to a place like MBK in Thailand they even have 14 karat gold. If you ask the sellers they will come right out and tell you that they keep this for farang. Farang will buy 14 karat gold and love it. Southeast Asian people don't want it.

Then Japanese people don't want any gold. They considered it gaudy and ostentatious. It looks really bad to wear gold in Japanese culture. Yet Japan is the richest country in Asia.

In Singapore it's easy to find 22 to 24 karat gold. That's what locals want. If you want 14 karat you have to look harder. But you can get 14 karat stuff at places like Cartier and Bulgari where they sell a lesser gold content at a much higher price. This is like the 14 karat gold at MBK in Thailand. It's for people who look at gold differently than most southeast Asians.

Keep in mind the measurements are different in some parts of Asia than what the rest of the world uses too.

Forget the Troy ounce in a lot of Southeast Asia.

In Thailand they sell gold by the Baht. In Cambodia they sell it by the chi and damlung.

You buy gold buy weight in much of Southeast Asia and you can get shaped however you want for a small commission that's like 3 to 20 dollars for most jewelry. But if you're a foreigner who doesn't speak the language you're more than likely going to get charged a lot more than anyone else.

Good luck.

[Rick Rock]

Jewelry in Asia does not tend to be 24 kt. You said it yourself. 24 kt is too soft, so how would it keep as something like a ring? Other metals have to be added to give it stability. 22 kt is common for something like bracelets and charms though..

Asia is a very big continent (and the Philippines is arguably not even in it, since for years they were called "Philippine Islands of the South Pacific" and Filipinos were pacific islanders).

So it depends where you are.

You can absolutely get "24 karat" and it is preferred by most locals. Though when you take it home you might find that it's actually a lower karat.

What they do is get in gold bars and then cut them as they see fit.

For example Thai wedding rings are usually 23 karat. And they're usually misshapen in a week or two. It's not about usefulness though. It's about what the ring is worth. That's why they use high karats.

So "24 karat" which is literally called "gold" in Cambodia is preferred because of resale value. It's used most often for rings, necklaces and big bracelets. The loss when you sell back is around 3 percent. In Thailand the prices have to be publicly displayed by law.

18 karat which is called "platin" in Cambodia sells back at a 5 percent or higher loss. So it is much less popular since people use gold as a store of wealth. A lot of 18 karat gold is made in Vietnam. It's used for things like thin bracelets. It's considered a much inferior product. Again remember that people in Southeast Asia buy gold as a store of wealth, not based on how well a ring holds its shape.

If you go to a place like MBK in Thailand they even have 14 karat gold. If you ask the sellers they will come right out and tell you that they keep this for farang. Farang will buy 14 karat gold and love it. Southeast Asian people don't want it.

Then Japanese people don't want any gold. They considered it gaudy and ostentatious. It looks really bad to wear gold in Japanese culture. Yet Japan is the richest country in Asia.

In Singapore it's easy to find 22 to 24 karat gold. That's what locals want. If you want 14 karat you have to look harder. But you can get 14 karat stuff at places like Cartier and Bulgari where they sell a lesser gold content at a much higher price. This is like the 14 karat gold at MBK in Thailand. It's for people who look at gold differently than most southeast Asians.

Keep in mind the measurements are different in some parts of Asia than what the rest of the world uses too.

Forget the Troy ounce in a lot of Southeast Asia.

In Thailand they sell gold by the Baht. In Cambodia they sell it by the chi and damlung.

You buy gold buy weight in much of Southeast Asia and you can get shaped however you want for a small commission that's like 3 to 20 dollars for most jewelry. But if you're a foreigner who doesn't speak the language you're more than likely going to get charged a lot more than anyone else.

Good luck.

[Rick Rock]

When in town I will get texts "DG po, I need money for xxxxxx, I come boom boom you. What is time good to come? Up to you what you give me. ".

When people debate Thailand and Philippines, defenders of the latter always say "They can speak English so at least you can have a conversation. " Is this sort brilliant dialogue what they are talking about?

BTW: In 2012, the United Nations said the Philippines had the highest rate of methamphetamine use in East Asia.

[Mr Enternational]

One of the reasons for this is that in Asia jewelry tends to be 24 carat gold where in the west jewelry has less real gold content, 18 carat at the most. Western jewelers don't like to work with 24 carat gold because it is too soft.

Jewelry in Asia does not tend to be 24 kt. You said it yourself. 24 kt is too soft, so how would it keep as something like a ring? Other metals have to be added to give it stability. 22 kt is common for something like bracelets and charms though.

Since covid, I have been bored here in Asia so I have been having jewelry made. The options are 10 K, 14 K, and 18 K. You pay market price for the gold and you are charged a separate price for labor. I am having 2 rings made. I paid market price for 18 K, $30 each for 2 diamonds and she is giving me one free, and $130 labor for each ring. There was a difference of $210 between the 14 K and 18 K.

I also bought a 23 k (96%) gold bar for my father's birthday to have it inscribed and diamonds put in. The bar for half oz (15.24 g) was market price at $906. I paid $10 commission to the store. I had the back smoothed out, 2 diamonds added, and stuff written on it for $60.

In the West, $1000 of jewelry is worth maybe $200 the moment it leaves the store. In many parts of Asia it can be returned to the store or on sold for as little as a 10% loss. Hence, the girls know they can return or on sell their gifts at near full price.

So when you take stuff back to sell it in a gold shop, you are given market price minus a commission. You are not offered half of what it is worth as would be the case in a pawn shop.

[AggieDad1]

I'm not sure on the PI but in many Asian countries girls are happy to accept in kind gifts as there is very little stigma about products being used or second hand so they retain their value.

In the West, $1000 of jewelry is worth maybe $200 the moment it leaves the store. In many parts of Asia it can be returned to the store or on sold for as little as a 10% loss. Hence, the girls know they can return or on sell their gifts at near full price.

G.

One of the reasons for this is that in Asia jewelry tends to be 24 carat gold where in the west jewelry has less real gold content, 18 carat at the most. Thus because of the high gold content the value is based closer on the price of gold. I discovered this once when a Chinese girlfriend of mine requested a necklace, but wanted it in 24 carat gold. Very hard to find in Houston, Texas. Basically have to find an Asian jeweler. Western jewelers don't like to work with 24 carat gold because it is too soft. She didn't get the necklace because I realized she just wanted it to turn around and sell.

[Dg8787]

I'm not sure on the PI but in many Asian countries girls are happy to accept in kind gifts as there is very little stigma about products being used or second hand so they retain their value.

In the West, $1000 of jewelry is worth maybe $200 the moment it leaves the store. In many parts of Asia it can be returned to the store or on sold for as little as a 10% loss. Hence, the girls know they can return or on sell their gifts at near full price.

G.

I knew a girl that would pawn / loan her same gold necklace every other month for 1. 5 k to pay her rent or electric. As you may know the interest on a pawn / loan is even higher than a 5/6 loan. I asked her why didn't she just sell it? In my mind it wasn't worth redeeming it all the time. She looked at me like I was crazy! After all it was given to her, she couldnt do that!

It worked for me, every few months I would fuxk the hell out of her so she could redeem it.