Manila

[Pinga 98]

Grab taxi. Shenanigans.
* More Grab shenanigans coming soon.

You are an amazing source of information. I like your obsession in researching this.

[WestCoast1]

And people think I'm crazy preferring to walk everywhere.

I'm with you, I often take a morning and evening walk. But sometimes there is rain, or its just to hot, or too far.

Grab, Part II coming soon. And don't get me started on Waze.

[Goferring]

Grab taxi. Shenanigans.

And people think I'm crazy preferring to walk everywhere. 😁.

[WestCoast1]

Grab taxi. Shenanigans.

I grab a lot, sometimes several times a day. For the past 2 months, about 1 in 3 drivers has been pulling a gimmick. You have to pay attention at the start of the ride, to make sure the driver sets the meter at flag fall (p40 still). The normal procedure and fare is usually as such: You get charged the metered fare + the Grab fee (lowest Grab fee is p35, highest I think is p60, depending time of day, traffic congestion, route, etc). At the end of your ride, there should be no question about your final Grab ride fare. If the meter reads p140, and the Grab fee is p35, your final fare (receipt) should be p175. If you ask the driver for a receipt, he must produce one, and it will show the 140 metered fare. In the app, when telling the app your originating point (E) and final destination (F), the grab fee is set, and shown to you. Also a range is shown to you in pesos; example p132 - p178. I was not aware of it until I was chatting a driver, but Grab's promise is to not charge you any less than the minimum (p132) or more than the maximum (p178), regardless of the final fare. I confirmed that with several other drivers.

The gimmick is as such: The driver doesn't set the meter. Normally with the meter running, you should know the final fare by adding the Grab fee to the metered fare (if you remember the Grab fee from the app, which Grab hides quickly from you after you hit the button to order your taxi, and makes it difficult for you to find later -- you must contact Grab and ask what the Grab fee is, as they no longer include it in their emailed receipts). However when you reach your destination you notice the meter is off. You ask the driver what is the metered fare. "It is in your app sir, just look". So you look in your app and the metered fare does not show. You hand your phone to the driver and ask him to show it to you on your app, but he can't. "Sir its in the previous screen when you ordered the taxi. Its gone now". Interesting, I don't remember the final metered fare being possible to know when I ordered your taxi, as you had not yet arrived to pick me up. "No sir, you will see it on your receipt later". Actually guy, I will not, they no longer show the separated fare + grab fee in the receipt*.

My good man, I want to know now what is the metered fare. "OK I will show you". He pulls up his Grab app, which is ready for him to fill in the metered fare. The Grab fee of p35 already shows, and can't be changed. On the bottom, it shows the maximum of the previous range (p132-p178), or p178. He must type into the metered fare box a number (pesos) for himself. He then minimizes the app, and opens his calculator. He subtracts, 178-35 = 143. He goes back to his Grab app and enters 143 into his metered fare. "There sir your meter is p143". Before I could balk he hit the SUBMIT button.

What a ripoff! If traffic is heavy, the normal fare for that route would be about p130-150-ish, and a p143 would be fine. But in light traffic, that meter might run at p110. With Grab fee of 35, that's p145 (not p178). Its more for him in light traffic.

Drivers have given several incorrect excuses for this 'maximizing' his fare biz. One of them: "Sir this is Grab car. The amount is set advance. You pay the maximum the range". He is conflating his 'Grab Taxi' (meter + Grab fee) with a 'Grab Car' (fare is always higher than the ranged maximum, is set in advance and agreed to by the customer when ordering the car).

I discovered that contacting Grab to ask about this is very difficult in their 'Help' section. I had to file a driver complaint. In the complaint you MUST fill in a box that asks you how much you were overcharged. If your complaint does not involve an overcharge, you can not complain to Grab. I entered p35 overcharge (was not sure how much to enter, so I used the Grab fee amount). It took several days to receive back the obligatory "We received your complaint. We will look into this" reply. Several days after that, they replied with such: "We have investigated and found the driver is at fault for claiming to be a Grab Car. He has received a strike. You are credited p35 to your credit card".

OK, Grab has done the right thing. However this happened again and again, even during the 1 week that Grab was investigating. I started entering large 'overcharge' amounts, just for fun. I reported many of the drivers, always with the same response: "he has received a strike. You are credited p110 to your credit card". That was for a p155 ride. Grab kept their fee (p35), giving the driver almost nothing. Fascinating; they were taking my overcharge amount and giving it back to me, regardless what I put into the box. BTW, I don't have any remorse for driver's misbehavior in this matter.

Two days ago, I thought the same situation had popped up. A driver picked me up and drove about 1 block when I noticed the meter off. I told him to turn it on. "Not needed sir. This is Grab. You look in your app for the meter part". I was well aware that the final meter couldn't be in the app prior to the drop off, and asked him to turn on the meter. "OK", and he did. A minute later I noticed that the timer was mis-counting seconds, about 4 seconds for each real second. I pointed it out to the driver. "Sir you said to run the meter". Yes, but its running way too fast. He turned it off, then back on. This time it was running to fast again, but at a rate of 2 shown seconds to each real second, still to fast. The driver pulled over and we stared at it. "Hmmmm. What you want to do?" I was tempted to get out and cancel the ride and get a regular taxi. "Wait", he said. He turned off the meter and turned it back on, and the timer was showing normal seconds speed. Off we went. When we arrived, it showed p102 on a meter that should have read p120+, due to our driving initially with the meter off. He entered p102 for himself in the app, and that was it. I reported the taxi for having a bad meter, and the driver for trying to not run the meter. Bad boi!

On another occasion I was taking a ride where the metered fare should have been p80-90 (plus separate Grab fee) for that time of day (early Sunday morning, almost zero traffic). I noticed the driver had not turned on the meter, and I asked him to do so. He gave the same routine: "Sir its set advance in your Grab app". Still guy, I'd like you to run your meter. "Sir apology, I can not. The meter is broken in this car". I see. We were halfway to the destination. OK fella, you can put me out here and we cancel the fare, or we can continue. "OK we go". Once we arrived, he apologized, opened his Grab app to enter the metered fare. It showed the p35 Grab fee, and the open box for entering the meter amount. He pointed to the empty metered fare box and asked: "How much sir? Up to you". Very nice call on his part. I told him 80, which he entered, and that ended it. I reported the attempted use of the maximum price, and he too got a strike. Anyone know what a Grab 'strike' is? How does it effect the driver?

* More Grab shenanigans coming soon.

[Turgid]

....I was bit confused and also worried since I had this kind of experience FR the first time however, showed courage and stared on the line 4-5 times, left to right and again back. Girls were all excited to go with me but picked the one, whitish girl with glass who looked most silent and quite. I found her very natural. The lady clapped on me and said, "you know how to choose the best out of girls". I had to pay 7 k pesos FR taking the girl back to my Hotel FR overnight....

From your description the girls sound quite delicious especially the one you chose. Seems to be a locals only place, we do know that locals tend to keep the best girls for themselves. Would like to sample similar girls when I next visit the Philippines, whenever that may be.

[WestCoast1]

SNIP Whenever I have travel towards Pacific, I try to stop by Manila where I have got some of my best experiences in life. It was 12 yrs ago, I was walking in Makati, just popped out of the famous LA Cafe, now Manila bay Cafe,

Overall a good (if way previous) field report. Glad you so enjoyed the place. Phils is a place of wonder, oddity, delight, and danger all at the same time.

Regarding LAC. Was rolling down del Pilar in a jeep a few months ago, early evening, past LAC. The lights were on outside and inside, the two front doors were thrown wide open. Inside I noticed two waitresses, no customers. A few evenings later I waltzed by, the doors were again wide open and a handful of customers were inside. The tables are now socially distanced with plexiglass separating customers. Two late-20's gals, possibly working gals, were chatting at one table without food or drink. Several other customers were sitting alone with drink and food. The waitress came over and explained that its 'food only sir', open 7 am-10 pm. Exact same exciting menu as before. The aircon is on with the doors wide open as I passed by sporadically since then.

[Sammon]

I leave in Nepal and have travelled to Manila couple of times, is one of the best place to my mongering experience. Whenever I have travel towards Pacific, I try to stop by Manila where I have got some of my best experiences in life. It was 12 yrs ago, I was walking in Makati, just popped out of the famous LA Cafe, now Manila bay Cafe, a Taxi driver signalled me towards him and as I leaned down to the window to listen him, "wd you like to try college students Sir?" With a sudden jerk of Fantasy, I dived on his front seat and the driver signalled to keep quiet. He drove me around 25 minutes till we entered a lane around residential area and finally stopped by a 2 storey green coloured house. Upon entering, we were greeted by a man who took me to a hall where I was introduced to a middle aged descent looking lady in the hall. She asked me if I would like to stay at her place or go to my hotel, I said I prefer Hotel and need an overnight company. She just clapped gently and there came around 20 girls in different casual dress ups like students in University and lined up by three sides of the wall. The lady who was bit curvy but nice built, touched my chicks and said, "You are very handsome, all my girls die for you, who you like?" Suddenly, a curvy chick on jeans with beautiful smile popped up and said, "Please take me sir, you are so handsome, I want to stay with you and let you do whatever you like for a month, till I become pregnant, want to have a handsome boy like you" !

I have been to Manila 4 times after that but never caught by a Taxi driver who CD drive me to similar place. Guys, any of you know what kind of place it is and if they still exist? I would love to plan a holiday specially to visit similar place again!

You are lucky nobody threatened or robbed you. Manila is a big city and there are lots of scams going on. Besides in some cases police are in on it. I have had some taxi drivers / pimps suggest the same. Never had the guts to try. I always look for the safe option. There are plenty of young college girls in dating sites.

[MutantChicken]

I have been to Manila 4 times after that but never caught by a Taxi driver who CD drive me to similar place. Guys, any of you know what kind of place it is and if they still exist? I would love to plan a holiday specially to visit similar place again!

These are what are called casa or dorms, by locals and guys who have reported this previously on this forum. Your tastes / standards must be considerably lower than mine, as I have been twice, once with a guide and once alone, most recently 3-4 yrs ago. In my opinion and from what I vaguely remember, from the 3 casas I went to, 2 being reasonably near La cafe, the other towards QC near a fire station if I recall correctly. The quality of the girls were very average, I didn't see anyone that really impressed me and I think I was quoted 2 k-2.5 k (alone) and 3 k with a guide. I could be wrong with the exact figure as I recall it was significantly more than prices in AC, and the same as the saunas in manila IE 2-3 k. I didn't ask if the price was for ST or LT as the girls were not attractive enough for me to warrant further investigation.

Two years ago when I was hanging out at some local brothels where the price was 1500-2500ST, I spoke to locals and they told me these casa have all closed down. That could be true or they simply didn't know but anyway, I'm sure if you asked a taxi you will again be guided there for the usual commissions.

[TravelTop]

I leave in Nepal and have travelled to Manila couple of times, is one of the best place to my mongering experience. Whenever I have travel towards Pacific, I try to stop by Manila where I have got some of my best experiences in life. It was 12 yrs ago, I was walking in Makati, just popped out of the famous LA Cafe, now Manila bay Cafe, a Taxi driver signalled me towards him and as I leaned down to the window to listen him, "wd you like to try college students Sir?" With a sudden jerk of Fantasy, I dived on his front seat and the driver signalled to keep quiet. He drove me around 25 minutes till we entered a lane around residential area and finally stopped by a 2 storey green coloured house. Upon entering, we were greeted by a man who took me to a hall where I was introduced to a middle aged descent looking lady in the hall. She asked me if I would like to stay at her place or go to my hotel, I said I prefer Hotel and need an overnight company. She just clapped gently and there came around 20 girls in different casual dress ups like students in University and lined up by three sides of the wall. The lady who was bit curvy but nice built, touched my chicks and said, "You are very handsome, all my girls die for you, who you like?" Suddenly, a curvy chick on jeans with beautiful smile popped up and said, "Please take me sir, you are so handsome, I want to stay with you and let you do whatever you like for a month, till I become pregnant, want to have a handsome boy like you" !

I was bit confused and also worried since I had this kind of experience FR the first time however, showed courage and stared on the line 4-5 times, left to right and again back. Girls were all excited to go with me but picked the one, whitish girl with glass who looked most silent and quite. I found her very natural. The lady clapped on me and said, "you know how to choose the best out of girls". I had to pay 7 k pesos FR taking the girl back to my Hotel FR overnight.

Back in hotel, the girl was very sie and this was her 3rd time with a man. She started work to cover her expenses on Nursing studies since her father as Chef's income was not enough. I made her go for shower and there she came back with sparkling whitish body, long hair, sporty legs and flat belley. She was so quiet and followed whatever I said, she had no experience of a blow job but I made her take on mouth and she did just to make me happy. Upon action, black hairy pussy amid whitish skin, she cried a bit when I pressed my dick hard inside, was ok bit later as she started enjoying. That was one of my most memorable moment of mongering. It was good 6-7 minutes of action with a girl who neither moved nor responded but just kept following me in her action and rhythms!

I have been to Manila 4 times after that but never caught by a Taxi driver who CD drive me to similar place. Guys, any of you know what kind of place it is and if they still exist? I would love to plan a holiday specially to visit similar place again!

[Steve Nash]

If you are looking for girls that don't ask money, you can just put in your profile that not interested in girls asking money.

So you filter off all the service providers.

I agree 100% you must put that you are not looking for Goldiggers and Escorts, I even put it in capital letters so they won't miss it. It does filter most of the goldiggers and escorts. But you will still get afew who you will later on find out they were escorts, but very few mostly the ones who keep in touch with you will be normal girls looking to date and possibly have a relationship with you.

I met alot of freebies on Tinder that way, just be patient, because some of these girls won't meet you right away, so just add them in your fake Facebook account, chat them for afew days and then they are ready to meet. On your Facebook you need to have your real pictures, I have pics of many places I travel before, and I'm always smiling on my pics. The point is that they need to trust you, and that you are real and a good person. You can get hot girls freebies like this, videocalling them is another way to meet them right away.

Just make sure to be honest and tell them that you are not looking for serious relationship after you had the first sex, specially if you notice they are falling for you. You don't want to hurt them because they are good girls looking for serious relationship. Karma will bite your ass if you do that.

Even if the girl is very hot don't be afraid of losing them when you tell them your real intentions. That's why is better if you have hot GF in the side, so you are not afraid of losing the hot girls.

I notice when I was single and I didn't have a hot GF in the side, I will delay telling the hot girls that I wasn't looking for relationship so that I can keep seeing them.

Funny thing is some of the hot girls will still want to meet me even when I told them I have a GF. But very few of them of course. I guess the very few that still wanted to meet me were hoping that I will breakup with my GF and be with them.

But like one of the mongers said, it helps alot if you are young and not too old, I'm 40 and I can easily pass as 29-30 yrs old (when I cut my hair, LOL).

[WestCoast1]

Pic taken during the April ECQ in Manila. Various compounds, streets, or blocks are cut off from entry / exit due to new case spikes, often for 24 hours, or several days. QC got hit with lockdowns pretty regularly during that time.

[Sammon]

I've never gotten any benefit from this. Any hard core hooker is going to be blatantly obvious (as you showed above), even to the point of telling me her price before even being asked. Any one on the fence / semipro may be scared off or embarrassed to admit it directly.

Generally speaking, I prefer the semis anyway: less hardened and often more fun. That's why I'm happy to play the game that they are "students" or similar.

Enjoy Brazil. G.

Even a hardened hooker can fool you as a day old virgin LOL!

[Goferring]

Not me. If they are exhibiting hooker behavior I ask them right out if they are a hooker.

I've never gotten any benefit from this. Any hard core hooker is going to be blatantly obvious (as you showed above), even to the point of telling me her price before even being asked. Any one on the fence / semipro may be scared off or embarrassed to admit it directly.

Generally speaking, I prefer the semis anyway: less hardened and often more fun. That's why I'm happy to play the game that they are "students" or similar.

Enjoy Brazil. G.

[Mr Enternational]

I always like to give them a guilt free way to confirm the situation: "What would you like to do? Relax? Have some fun? Both?" Invariably it's "Both".

Not me. If they are exhibiting hooker behavior I ask them right out if they are a hooker. And I tell them what made me ask; because only hookers do that shit you are doing.

Funny shit. Laat Sunday afternoon me and my girlfriend were at a restaurant in her small town in Brazil. Some chicks rolled through being led by a butch. One chick had on clear shoes and a redhead chick had on a green dress. There were 2 more chicks as well. I told my girlfriend look at those hookers over there. Why do hookers always wear clear shoes? She said yes, they pretty much look like hookers.

That place closed and we were riding through the next town and saw the chicks get out of an Uber going to a bar. That night when my girlfriend went to sleep, I got on one of Brazil's biggest hooker websites and looked under this small town, suprised they even had listings. One of the 5 ads that I saw was the chick that had the red hair and green dress. I fucking knew it!

[Goferring]

non-pros may hint "what are we going to do?.

I always like to give them a guilt free way to confirm the situation: "What would you like to do? Relax? Have some fun? Both?" Invariably it's "Both".

At Ed5: "Fun" online always means sex.

Enjoy. G.