General Info

[Wicked Roger]

Ah Westy, your post invoked so many memories of so many similar situations. I think the problem is you were looking for logic in a country which doesn't operate according to the laws of logic; or at least no logic I've ever been able to fathom. Filipinos are so habituated to crap service that they likely believe it to be the norm, so they wait, docilely thinking (to the extent they ever wonder at all), that the entire planet must be like this. And I don't believe the provincial location had much to do with it: I've run into identical situations in Davao and in Makati.

A couple of days ago I was in a huge Mercury Drug getting a prescription filled. I got waited on immediately, gave the lady my credit card which she ran, and then had me sign immediately. And then the wait began: first she took my drugs and my cards to the cashierwho had several additional baskets of drugs in lineand then, finally, the cashier counted each of my pills (3 prescriptions), and then ran additional calculations through her machine, and then printed out still another receipt, finally returning the basket to the lady who had waited on me in the first place. Then that lady counted each of the pills for each prescription in front of me, gave me back my card, and bagged the order. It's the same everywhere, and it's one reason why no meaningful competition is permitted in the country. If the rules changed, and American / Canadian / European / Japanese / Australian consumer companies were allowed in, the locals would be out of business in months.

GE.

Me too GE, especially the pharmacy. At Watsons in Cebu they are more efficient in that they can be slightly faster in the deed but at others it is painfully slow while 4 people do the job of one. But this provides employment and at around 300 pesos a day maybe the owners don't care.

As you say any half decent western or Jap company would be welcome except by the local businessmen who enjoy a favoured status that other countries won't afford the locals.

Westy. I know you are a calm and patient fellow but even that must have driven you crazy. I have also has 'frustrations' such as yours but never bothered to see it through as you managed.

The Globe Express counter in Ayala, Cebu) was never express and could be an hour before being served for something very simple. Worse if there were Koreans in queue which for me meant for me "come back another day".

[Red Kilt]

I was calm through this.

So I'm in the province . . . <SNIP>

I don't get it WC.

You return to the Philippines every 3 months or so and keep on doing it again and again and yet you spent an inordinate amount of time reporting these lowest-common-denominator instances of bizarre experiences.

I don't understand why a country that obviously attracts you also makes you wish to openly denigrate both the people and their quaint processes.

If you lived here like I do you would know that events of this kind are common and so are best avoided. Why anyone would want a photocopy of a receipt already provided is likely to bewilder most people. That's where your problem started. Surely you know by now that all cash exchanges in department stores must be enacted through a cashier.

Your second mistake was to try to prove some sort of point (I am not sure what it is) to people for whom English is a second language. If you had managed to speak to "management", I am curious to know what would have been a successful outcome for you? Opening a 2nd cash register for you to pay your 2 pesos more quickly?

I enjoy living in the Philippines by keeping Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer foremost in my thinking:

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

The courage to change the things I can.

And the wisdom to know the difference.

After my 20 years here I only ever take on major areas of inefficiency if I wish to make a point AND try to get a process changed. In other words, I choose my battles wisely.

[D Cups]

Indeed. The entire country is a model of inefficiency.

It's the same everywhere, and it's one reason why no meaningful competition is permitted in the country. If the rules changed, and American / Canadian / European / Japanese / Australian consumer companies were allowed in, the locals would be out of business in months.

GE.

[MrWoolyBooly]

Get in line, and get used to it

My compliments on your superhuman patience. Or on your lady friend's ability to keep you blissfully unperturbable.

[GoodEnough]

Ah Westy, your post invoked so many memories of so many similar situations. I think the problem is you were looking for logic in a country which doesn't operate according to the laws of logic; or at least no logic I've ever been able to fathom. Filipinos are so habituated to crap service that they likely believe it to be the norm, so they wait, docilely thinking (to the extent they ever wonder at all), that the entire planet must be like this. And I don't believe the provincial location had much to do with it: I've run into identical situations in Davao and in Makati.

A couple of days ago I was in a huge Mercury Drug getting a prescription filled. I got waited on immediately, gave the lady my credit card which she ran, and then had me sign immediately. And then the wait began: first she took my drugs and my cards to the cashier–who had several additional baskets of drugs in line–and then, finally, the cashier counted each of my pills (3 prescriptions), and then ran additional calculations through her machine, and then printed out still another receipt, finally returning the basket to the lady who had waited on me in the first place. Then that lady counted each of the pills for each prescription in front of me, gave me back my card, and bagged the order. It's the same everywhere, and it's one reason why no meaningful competition is permitted in the country. If the rules changed, and American / Canadian / European / Japanese / Australian consumer companies were allowed in, the locals would be out of business in months.

GE.

[WestCoast1]

I was calm through this.

So I'm in the province for a few days with my pinay. We are having the usual lovely time. Her youth, vigor, and continuously growing appetite had earned her a new phone and some shopping. We arrived as the mall opened, and she had previously picked out a new smart phone and was showing it to me at the mall. I was surprised at the relatively inexpensive price and we purchased it using my CC. As the deal was wrapping up I asked the clerk to make me a photocopy of the hand-written receipt. She said that they had no copy machine, and instructed me to the mall's department store for a scan. I left the pinay at the phone company wrapping things up (she was looking at some other stuff) while I wandered next door for a photocopy.

I handed the receipt to a male clerk and asked for one photocopy. He handed it to a lady clerk who was operating the copy machine and they spoke the local language for 90 seconds. It took him 90 seconds to explain that she needed to make one copy. She put the original on the glass, pushed START, and made one copy (that took 5 seconds). Keep the time (s) in mind here. She handed me the original and copy and printed "1. 75 xx" on a piece of paper. I pulled out a p50 note (my smallest) to pay the under-2-pesos price, and she directed me to a separate payment counter. Of course. The mall had only been open for 25 minutes and I noticed about 25 people in line at the payment counter, with only one register ringing items. Hmmmm. What to do? Hand the copy back and say 'No thanks', walk away, and have the hotel make a copy for me in a heartbeat? Why yes, that should be the call. Just then she grabbed the copy from me and pointed out to the other guy that there was a smudge on it. I didn't care. But she insisted that she re-copy the original (more time spent).

I was not thinking straight, and I got in the long line. I read on my phone for a few minutes, and then it became a bit like torture. I watched the sales clerk ring one item at a time (not by scanning, but by entering the price by hand). Several customers had oodles of items (it must be back-to-school time, every pencil must be entered separately at the register). 10 minutes on I had closed half the distance to the register, in order to hand over 1. 75 pesos. Tick, tock. One's blood should boil, right? I just didn't have a fight in me, so I just waited. 20 minutes. Bit like torture defined: Its like sticking a sewing needle into one of your testicles, but just 1/20th the way. Every 60 seconds, stick it in 1/20th more. Painful, but in drawn out doses.

I could see my pinay way down the hall still talking to the phone sales lady. When I finally paid for my item and got my change and receipt, there is a lady sitting next to the sales clerk. She bags things, smiles nice, staples the receipt to the bag, says good morning, etc. She wears a different outfit than the other floor personnel so I assumed she was management. Seemed pleasant. Ma'am, can I have a moment? I'd like to discuss an issue with you, ok? Right away she and the sales clerk stopped dead and looked nervous, like they had done something wrong. The sales clerk said "I think the change is right sir. I can count it again". No sweetie, I wanted to find out how it could take 25 minutes to get and pay for a single p2 photocopy.

More nervous stares. Nothing moved. I asked the second lady, the one in the different outfit, if she was management. "No sir. " Ah. Well, can you call a manager here for me? "No sir". Ahhhh. Why not? "No sir. We don't have manager here". Both girls were staring at me like there was about to be a fight. Everyone in line was staring. Nothing moved. Really ladies. A big department store with no managers? "No manager". Well, nothing to lose here, and my (mild) fight was back in me: Ladies I can stand here until you get security or a manager. Or anyone. "OK fine. You go upstairs and find manager. You make a complaint me". Oh, no ma'am, I don't want to make a complaint about your performance. I want to complain about the long wait. "Then you go. You go there". OK ladies, you get back to slowly doing. . . What you do. I'm off.

I went to the phone place and grabbed my pinay. "Where are you Westy? I'm starting to worry". I gave them the short version. The phone-store saleslady said to go upstairs and find the management office to file a complaint. So off we went upstairs. You'd think it would be easy to find the Management office, but think again. We asked clerk after clerk at the department store where the Management office was, and mentioned I wanted to make a complaint. They pointed in this direction, then that direction, they called other mall employees over to confirm the location. Finally we reached the Management office, in the far back corner. Just a door and a security guard. Employees walked in and out. The guard confirmed that yes, this was the management office. Well, I'd like to file a small complaint. "Really sir". He said that like nobody had ever done that before. Yes, son, yes. "OK then". He picked up a phone and talked to someone for 2 solid minutes. Then he looked at me and said: "Complaint, yes?" Yes, stud, yes. Another solid minute of talk on the phone from the guard. "Sir what is your complaint?" Wait time downstairs, and one other item. Any manager will do. Well, another solid minute of phone chat from the guard. "Sir, they will not speak with you. OK?" What? I walked all over the place looking for management. Isn't this their office? "Yes sir. But they won't hear a complaint". He hung up the phone. "Sorry sir".

Well, if you want to get a cano's neck hair up. I said politely that I would not leave until I could find a way to file a complaint. He talked to my girl for 2 minutes. Then he got back on the phone and talked for 90 seconds or so. "So, you want your 2 pesos refund. Correct?" No. I never mentioned a refund. Neither did my pinay. "Yes she did sir. " I looked right at her and asked if she told the guard that I wanted a refund, and she nodded yes. Jesus (stick the needle in just a bit farther, please). I re-explained that I was complaining about the wait time, and the fact that nobody seemed to know how to find a manager. "Ohhhhhh. Wait sir. " he talked on the phone for another minute. "OK. You can make a complaint if you want at the complaint desk. Down one level". Wait, wait. You mean there's a COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT, and nobody bothered to mention that? "Yes sir. Just I find out about it also on the phone". Hahaha OF COURSE!

We walked towards the escalator to go down. For fun I asked the first passing saleslady: Who would I speak to if I had a complaint about the products or service here? "Um, I don't know. Wait". She called over another, then yet another clerk. They talked to my pinay. They spoke for a moment and my pinay told them that we'd been to the management office. It was like we'd cured cancer, suddenly they were all smiles. "Yes sir. You would go to the management office". Jeez.

Soooooo. We get downstairs to a desk marked "Complaint Desk". I sit and relay the situation to a nice lady. Her brow furrowed. She seemed genuinely interested. "So you have two complaints. First, too long to pay for copy. Second, the lady there say there is no management?" Spot on girl. "That lady also did not direct you here to me?" Correct. "We have a policy to direct unhappy customer to my desk for complaints. We imbestigate all". Oh, sweet woman, the lady at the sales counter was not the only one who didn't direct me to you. Most every employee I've spoken with in the last twenty minutes didn't direct me to you when I mentioned a complaint. "Really. Do you remember who they are?" Yes. Sherrie, Claudine, Monica, Samantha, Esmi and Langa. Several others. Also the security guard at the management door didn't know of your desk until a few minutes ago. If you have that policy, why didn't the manager on the phone with the guard originally tell the guard to send me to you? He asked questions over the phone and then tried the brush-off.

"Really". She was writing names as fast as she could. "We have complaint policy!" She herself, the Complaint Manager, seemed to have a complaint. THIS is why IMFITP. She picked up the phone and called somebody. No kidding, she talked for 90 seconds on the phone to bring me this: "OK. Upstairs at the checkout counter. There is 2 registers. Each register must have 2 employees, its policy. On one register we have only 1 sales clerk so we cannot operate 1 register. So we only operating the other register this morning. That's why its so long the wait. You understand". No. Really. Really no. How does that diminish the wait complaint? "I don't understand sir. You have long wait because we don't operate 2 registers". Well if you had both registers operating I would have had a 10 minute wait in the payment line, not 20 minutes. "Yes sir". Isn't that still way too long to stand in line to make a p2 payment? Longgggg pause and a stare. "Well. Yes. It is. But understand all registers must have two employees".

She said that she would talk with each of the employees that I had mentioned, and also one of the managers in the management office (whom the guard was speaking with) to find out why they did not direct me to the complaint desk. I said that I would be back tomorrow to follow up with her on her 'imbestigasyon'. Of course I didn't go back.

You know, I'm in the province being lazy with my girl. I didn't want to have to go to her house again and buy lunch for everyone (again), so the idea of shopping and hanging in the mall a bit wasn't bad. What's an extra hour or so?

[George03]

Since you've been around the block a few times, I'm not sure exactly what you are asking, or why. So, I'll just throw a few things out there.

If you have a gal that you feel comfortable traveling with, then there are many options from Cebu City (see Cebu thread). Using Ocean jet or other services you can get to Bohol (white sand at Alona Beach, Tarsier Sanctuary, Loboc River, etc). I've gone to Dumaguete (Dauin, Apo Island, snorkeling) using ferry and bus. You can get to Ormoc, Leyte, although the beaches aren't so great near the city. Islands on my bucket list: Siquior, Camotes.

From Cebu city go north on the island to find Malapasqua or Bantayan Island or south to Oslob (whale watching, beautiful waterfall) or Moalboal. On the south tip of Cebu Island there is a short ferry ride across to Dumaguete port.

Picture: Malapasqua at sunset. X Man.

Thanks for the info. I guess what I was asking, and should have clarified more, is what would you do with two weeks in Phil. For myself I don't want to do too much traveling, especially with the long flight back and other. But a couple of in country trips would be ok. Also, I find that many favorites or girls contacting my on FC etc are from Cebu. Not that I have done a survey, and I probably don't consider the ones from places that I would not go. If I pick a girl to travel with I would probably pick someone that I meet while there to make sure that it is someone I want to spend time with.

Thanks again, looks like plenty to do in Cebu with some time.

[X Man]

Since you've been around the block a few times, I'm not sure exactly what you are asking, or why. So, I'll just throw a few things out there.

If you have a gal that you feel comfortable traveling with, then there are many options from Cebu City (see Cebu thread). Using Ocean jet or other services you can get to Bohol (white sand at Alona Beach, Tarsier Sanctuary, Loboc River, etc). I've gone to Dumaguete (Dauin, Apo Island, snorkeling) using ferry and bus. You can get to Ormoc, Leyte, although the beaches aren't so great near the city. Islands on my bucket list: Siquior, Camotes.

From Cebu city go north on the island to find Malapasqua or Bantayan Island or south to Oslob (whale watching, beautiful waterfall) or Moalboal. On the south tip of Cebu Island there is a short ferry ride across to Dumaguete port.

Picture: Malapasqua at sunset. X Man.

Greetings,

SNIP

Anyway, I may have two weeks to spend, and would like to know what you would suggest. I am sure I would spend a few days in Manila. I tend to have more favorites on FC from Cebu. And I would like to be around the beach more. I don't want to spend too much time traveling around. Any thoughts, suggestions would be appreciated.

[Dg8787]

Official rate as of a minute ago was 50.36 so 50.25 is pretty good.

As of 13:00 EDT the rate is 50.22. Of course this is the rate for large transactions. Your rate can most likely be lower unless there is a black market demand for $$.

I usually am ok with 1/2 to 1% spread depending on the need and amount of conversion.

[GoodEnough]

As seen recently. P50.25 on the USD. Anyone getting higher?

Official ratée as of a minute ago was 50.36 so 50.25 is pretty good.

[WestCoast1]

As seen recently. P50.25 on the USD. Anyone getting higher?

[Red Kilt]

<SNIP>

Nation (Article MRec), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1.

The annual premium contribution rate for PRA foreign retirees is P15,000 while that of other foreign citizens is P17,000. ".

A brief web search showed that this proposal has been kicking around for a couple years. Can anybody among the ExPats shed some light? Benefits, tradeoffs, limitations? Thanks in advance to anybody willing to fill in details.

The benefits for filipinos from PhilHealth are very limited, so the same holds for foreigners.

My wife is a member of PhilHealth but I still have a substantial alternative health cover for her.

The exclusions listed for foreigners also should temper any reader's excitement that they are now "covered" for health care in the Phils.

As I have said many times before on this site- make sure that if you plan to resettle or retire here that you make sure you have adequate health care at an international level.

[Soapy Smith]

I found this story in the Star a few days ago. I'm posting it here since the "Living in the Phils" thread is relegated to the low readership threads "down below the fold".

" Foreign retirees can now join PhilHealth.

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star).

Updated June 18,2017 - 12:00 am.

MANILA, Philippines. Starting July 1, foreigners and former Filipino citizens who have chosen to retire in the Philippines may enroll in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

In a statement, PhilHealth said the new policy is based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) the agency signed with the Philippine Retirement Authority in 2015.

Under the MOU, qualified foreign retirees registered with the PRA or former Filipinos may become PhilHealth members under the informal economy member category to gain access to medical care services in the country.

Interested foreign retirees may submit PhilHealth member registration forms for foreign nationals to the PRA, which will facilitate their enrolment into the National Health Insurance Program.

The requirements for their enrolment are their special resident retiree's visa and documents indicating they have been granted permanent residency status.

Excluded from the foreign retirees' benefits are the Z benefit package, meant for health conditions that require prolonged hospitalization and expensive treatments; reimbursement for all confinements abroad and benefits for women about to give birth.

Nation (Article MRec), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1.

The annual premium contribution rate for PRA foreign retirees is P15,000 while that of other foreign citizens is P17,000. ".

A brief web search showed that this proposal has been kicking around for a couple years. Can anybody among the ExPats shed some light? Benefits, tradeoffs, limitations? Thanks in advance to anybody willing to fill in details.

[George03]

Greetings,

I am thinking about making a 4th trip to Phil. For a summary, The first time, I went to Manila, then Cebu, then Davao. The first time, I went to Manila, Cebu, Davao, then back to Cebu, then to Manila I planned on meeting a non pro in each city. If I like them, I might repeat, find another one on the return, or find working girls. The first trip I spent a few days near LA cafe, then to Makati where I met a Cupid Non Pro that I had been chatting with. We hit it off, so I spent two days with her, then on to Cebu. I was worn out from the Cupid girl, so in Cebu, just chilled at the hotel and hit up Mango Ave. In Davao, I met another Cupid and we spent a couple of nights together. Back to Cebu, no cupid girls, then back to Makati. I met my Cupid Girl for one more night, then back home. I chatted up the Cupid girl for the next 6 months. I made a return trip to Manila to see her, but spent time in Japan and around LA Cafe before meeting her in Makati. She had starting acting a little strange before this trip, but I planned on taking her to Boracay. Even thought she wasn't quite the same, I we still had sex a couple of times a day. I made a return to Japan, then back home. We had a few chats, then haven't heard from her in a while.

I made one more trip, I didn't see any dating site girls, just LA Cafe area, Makati, and Subic.

Anyway, I may have two weeks to spend, and would like to know what you would suggest. I am sure I would spend a few days in Manila. I tend to have more favorites on FC from Cebu. And I would like to be around the beach more. I don't want to spend too much time traveling around. Any thoughts, suggestions would be appreciated.

[BrainDrain]

Are there other free datingsites than DIA (date in asia) where I can have a try to arrange something before I fly there?

Just choose one site and work it. Sames girls different sites, so you only need one site.