Manila

[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.

[Goferring]

However, I have had filipina ask me for money to buy something that they have no intent on buying. ...

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.

[Goferring]

Wouldn't it be easier and smarter to just give them money and let them buy what they need instead of assuming they need rice and hauling it half way across the globe? ....

Also (for whatever she does need):

Its going to be cheaper in PI than RWML, and.

She will be able to get it cheaper than you.

Cheers.

G.

[Dg8787]

No. I am with you in that it does not make sense to drag gifts across the globe (when they can easily be purchased in-country). However, I have had filipina ask me for money to buy something that they have no intent on buying. The real intent is to purchase party accoutrements. A real tell in discovering her intent is to offer to buy it for her when she asks for money to buy something specific. If she balks, she's lying about why she needs it; a sure indicator she wants the money for an illicit purpose.

Case: Went to the grocery store with two of my regulars, picked up some groceries for the place, and had them delivered, including three 5 KG bags of rice. The next day the front desk rang: Sir, miss Jenny is here. Really, send her up. I thought she was coming back the following day. "Westy can I have p500 for rice? I can get 10 kg in the market". Sweetie we just bought you 2 kg of rice yesterday. "Its gone". Sweetie if you can carry them, take two of my 5 kg bags, the brand that you chose yesterday. My gift to your family. "What?" Take two of mine, I can have more delivered here. "Take the rice?" Yes. "No. Westy. Sh*t. I don't need a rice. I need money!" I will leave it to your imagination as to what she is going to do with the money should I hand it over. Certainly she will not buy rice with it. Drugs quickly come to mind, but it might be as harmless as a need for booze for her boyfie when he plays cards with his buddies tonight. It would have been better if she'd spent some more time with me to earn some cash, with no need to explain a need. But, asking and lying is quicker.

Never seen a pina's home piled to the ceiling with rice. Nor gifts piled in the corner (family will take and distribute or sell those).

FWIW. I have never been with a Pinay on drugs or addicted to drugs. Most need money as follows.

Rice.

Rent.

Electric.

Water.

Family.

Medicine.

Most have been shy to tell exactly their needs but when questioned about it they are forthcoming. 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. ".

Some will show the bill openly. Keep in mind most live in legal "squatter" homes which do not have separate bills for electric or water. The main metered squatter will verbally pro-rate the bills to them.

The scams usually come in fake hospital bills or other large emergencies.

[WestCoast1]

So what you are saying is that she is going to sell the 500 peso bag of rice he brings her for 250 pesos so that she can get high? LOL.

No. I am with you in that it does not make sense to drag gifts across the globe (when they can easily be purchased in-country). However, I have had filipina ask me for money to buy something that they have no intent on buying. The real intent is to purchase party accoutrements. A real tell in discovering her intent is to offer to buy it for her when she asks for money to buy something specific. If she balks, she's lying about why she needs it; a sure indicator she wants the money for an illicit purpose.

Case: Went to the grocery store with two of my regulars, picked up some groceries for the place, and had them delivered, including three 5 KG bags of rice. The next day the front desk rang: Sir, miss Jenny is here. Really, send her up. I thought she was coming back the following day. "Westy can I have p500 for rice? I can get 10 kg in the market". Sweetie we just bought you 2 kg of rice yesterday. "Its gone". Sweetie if you can carry them, take two of my 5 kg bags, the brand that you chose yesterday. My gift to your family. "What?" Take two of mine, I can have more delivered here. "Take the rice?" Yes. "No. Westy. Sh*t. I don't need a rice. I need money!" I will leave it to your imagination as to what she is going to do with the money should I hand it over. Certainly she will not buy rice with it. Drugs quickly come to mind, but it might be as harmless as a need for booze for her boyfie when he plays cards with his buddies tonight. It would have been better if she'd spent some more time with me to earn some cash, with no need to explain a need. But, asking and lying is quicker.

Never seen a pina's home piled to the ceiling with rice. Nor gifts piled in the corner (family will take and distribute or sell those).

[Turgid]

Well the idea of "quarantine" is that you are not in contact with the local community. ...........

I'd rather continue banging fat hookers than be quarantined in a hotel in the Philippines for two weeks.

[Mr Enternational]

Or shabu. They might be short on shabu. Or Empi. Don't give me that shocked look; it wouldn't be the first time a pinay asked money for one purpose and then used it for another.

So what you are saying is that she is going to sell the 500 peso bag of rice he brings her for 250 pesos so that she can get high? LOL.

[WestCoast1]

Wouldn't it be easier and smarter to just give them money and let them buy what they need SNIP They may have rice piled to the ceiling already, but no electricity in the house.

Or shabu. They might be short on shabu. Or Empi. Don't give me that shocked look; it wouldn't be the first time a pinay asked money for one purpose and then used it for another.