Metro Manila

[Professional]

Manila will have the biggest selection. Not sure about financing as they are tight with this. I was interested in Tokyo Mansions when they were first offered. I will check to find out about prices and values.

Davao just began construction on condos two years ago. I heard from Jobeth that the first Project is now complete. She saw it when she was doing some part time work at the mall next to them. I do intend to look at these when I return to Davao City. They should be much cheaper than either Cebu or Manila but I will verify this. This is a "new concept" for Davao so the first condos could be reasonable or horrifically overpriced, depending on demand.

I will post what I fine out on condos in Manila, Cebu and Davao. I have not looked in Cebu.

Dragon Slayer

Thanks alot for looking into this.

I am not really worried about financing and really if I do finance it I would refi my current home in USA to finance a condo in the phlippines mostly because the interest rate is cheaper.

Thanks again!

[Dragon Slayer]

Manila will have the biggest selection. Not sure about financing as they are tight with this. I was interested in Tokyo Mansions when they were first offered. I will check to find out about prices and values.

Davao just began construction on condos two years ago. I heard from Jobeth that the first Project is now complete. She saw it when she was doing some part time work at the mall next to them. I do intend to look at these when I return to Davao City. They should be much cheaper than either Cebu or Manila but I will verify this. This is a "new concept" for Davao so the first condos could be reasonable or horrifically overpriced, depending on demand.

I will post what I fine out on condos in Manila, Cebu and Davao. I have not looked in Cebu.

Dragon Slayer

[Professional]

Questions for you DS and GE and anybody else that can answer this question:

I am thinking of purchasing a condo as an investment maybe around Makati area or Metro Manila? What do you guys think will be the problems with this? I am unfamiliar with the area in terms of appreciation and quality built. From the last time i was around metro manila the quality of material used and craftsmanship did not seem to be there like in the good old USA but not sure if that has changed. I did an analysis of the cost vs renting it out and found a positive cash flow if financed 30 years like here in USA.

My question is will it hold up for thirty years? will it appreciate? if not what would be the point?

Would other areas like Davao or Cebu be a better choice? What do the condos sell for in Davao?

[GoodEnough]

DS is correct. I've been here for the last two nights in the Dusit, after an absence of about a year. The place is totally renovated, and it's changed dramatically from what it was. All the rooms have been re-done, the lobby has had a total make over and the place is truly 5 star--plasma TVs on the walls of all the bedrooms, a lovely garden with a Japanese restaurant, a new Italian restaurant and superb service. Security has been tightened substantially and it now requires a room key to use the elevator, so the possibility of unwanted visitors has been eliminated. All in all, a very enjoyable experience, and one I hope to repeat often.

I was somewhat amazed that, even after an absence of about a year, several of the staff greeted me by name and welcomed me back.

GE

[Wicked Roger]

Guys,

GoodEnough was in Makati the past night and I think he is there for three nights with his wife. He told me the Dusit is very nice now. So, I may stay there once again.

Dragon Slayer

Dusit is a great hotel now, I stay there now each time am in Manila, GE is absolutely correct and I get good rates which makes the stay even better.

[Dragon Slayer]

Guys,

GoodEnough was in Makati the past night and I think he is there for three nights with his wife. He told me the Dusit is very nice now. So, I may stay there once again.

I was online last night and my jem in Manila IM'd me. She got on cam and had a tiny, beautiful girlfriend with her, whom I saw on cam. Nowhere near as beautiful as Jen but still hot. I have met a few of Jen's girlfriends including the one who left manila and now has a samll house and farm in Ormoc City. She was a vry beautiful woman with a foreigh boyfriend who saw her once a year for two weeks in January (married obviously) but calls and e-mails her regularly. He often is abusive to her. I told her to tell the married asshole to [CodeWord140] off.

I sometimes wonder why beautiful women have beautiful girlfriends and fat, obnoxious women have fat, obnoxious girlfriends or ugly women alwyas with other ugly women. Jen appears to have a large group of friends the 'ugliest" of which on a 1-10 scale would be an 8.0.

I has asked her if the girl in Ormoc was interested in the Kid when we were both there. She said yes. But the Kid does not do good at all and even in this case where Dragon Slayer is once again setting it up for him, he fails miserably. he got a throat infection which kept him sidelined but he refused to give up smoking or drinking (dumbshit). And he passed on dinner with this gorgeous lady.

I think the Kid and the other guy on the Board, Aimless should hangout together. It would be interesting and entertaining, I am certain.

Dragon Slayer

[Amavida]

I did notice, when I was staying on Burgos in Makati last week, as I have noticed multiple times before, that the fabled bars had few to zero clients. I have little knowledge of bar ownership and management, but I assume you need to take in more than you pay out and I don't see how that's possible with what I've observed. I simple to not understand how these places stay in business given the absence of clientèle and the ridiculous price structure.

GE

G'day GE, I know a couple of BG's in Burgos. They give me frequent reports indicating what I see every time I go there.. empty bars. The girls tell me they get a 'salary' of P2500. Obviously drinks + occasional BF is added to this. Its a mystery to me also how these bars stay open. I guess the busy times must be so insanely profitable that it carries them through the rest of the year. Incidentally my BG friends in AC claim to get a weekly salary of P1500.

Cheers mate

AV

[GoodEnough]

I doubt that there's anything I could possibly say about Manila's bar scene that hasn't been said a thousand times by other posters chasing bar girls. Everyone knows about Burgos St., EDSA Entertainment Complex and LA Cafe, and there's certainly nothing I can contribute that would make these any more (or less) appealing than they already are.

I did notice, when I was staying on Burgos in Makati last week, as I have noticed multiple times before, that the fabled bars had few to zero clients. I have little knowledge of bar ownership and management, but I assume you need to take in more than you pay out and I don't see how that's possible with what I've observed. I simple to not understand how these places stay in business given the absence of clientèle and the ridiculous price structure.

I did meet an interesting Belgian guy who was staying at my hotel. He spends about 6 months a year in Butuan (Mindanao) with his Filipina girlfriend and their baby and 6 months in Brussles with his wife and their children. He used to own one of the more popular bars in EDSA and said he made great money, but then, after 5 or 6 years, had a heart attack and couldn't run it any more. A truly interesting and intelligent guy and I enjoyed our conversation, sitting outside having a coffee and waving away the guys selling cheap viagra, watches, sunglasses, hats, pennants, clothes, toys, wallets, belts, and probably living room furniture.

Anyway, as DS knows well, I'm not a devotee of Manila. I find it dirty, polluted, congested an unpleasant, and I'm always happy to return to the fresh air of Davao.

GE

[Dragon Slayer]

GUys,

GoodEnough has been after me for a long time to start a Manila Board here. He spends a lot of time here and I have been spending a minimum of 3-5 days per Trip over my last ten trips to the Philippines (2 1/2 years). As most of our time is spent in Makati City, I thought the Title "Metro Manila" would be appropriate.

We can now hear GE's experiences at LA Cafe, EDSA Plaza and a few places in Ermita I am unfamiliar with still. I can relate my pussy hunting on Burgos St (just can't seem to stay away) and the area around Little Tokyo, my favorite dining locale in Makati.

Dragon Slayer