Filipinas - Opinions and Advice

[QUOTE=Orangevale Rob]I think this is true. Every woman in the Phils says she's in college or a college graduate... but I thought they taught college in English there. Funny that sometimes their English is pretty darned poor for a college graduate.[/QUOTE]A couple points. First, primary and secondary school is only til 10th grade (6 years elementary, 4 years high school, with no jr. High / middle school). So college isn't necessarily the same thing in the Phils. That it is in more developed countries.

Second, the quality of colleges varies widely. While there are some very good Universities, I visited others which were just diploma mills. For instance, I've encountered several universities with computer science programs with no computers! And have met plenty of college grads with very poor English.

Ok, I find myself in a weird spot. I met this girl online at one of the dating sites. She asks if I am really from the town that is listed in my profile. I say yes. She says "great, I am coming to work there! " So, this girl is coming to work in my city, apparently she has the work permits and everything, and she's going to fly here soon. I have chatted with this girl minimally, maybe a total of an hour, and she wants me to pick her up at the airport and she wants to stay with me at my house.

So. Alarm bells are going off. It just feels strange. I guess she's still got the Filipina "white guys are fantastic" mindset, which of course she's going to lose in about 1 week here. But I sure wouldn't mind some free stuff.

Anyone got any thoughts on that?

[QUOTE=Orangevale Rob]Ok, I find myself in a weird spot. I met this girl online at one of the dating sites. She asks if I am really from the town that is listed in my profile. I say yes. She says "great, I am coming to work there! " So, this girl is coming to work in my city, apparently she has the work permits and everything, and she's going to fly here soon. I have chatted with this girl minimally, maybe a total of an hour, and she wants me to pick her up at the airport and she wants to stay with me at my house.

So. Alarm bells are going off. It just feels strange. I guess she's still got the Filipina "white guys are fantastic" mindset, which of course she's going to lose in about 1 week here. But I sure wouldn't mind some free stuff.

Anyone got any thoughts on that?[/QUOTE]She won't show. Or she will find a better offer. They all start off super enthusiastic then move onto the next one. Remember. Were all searching in chat sites for Manila / Under 25 / Slim etc. Highly likely that maybe shes doing the same. Get some verification about what shes doing and saying etc. Don't be suprised if this enthusiasm burns out quickly.

[QUOTE=Orangevale Rob]Ok, I find myself in a weird spot. I met this girl online at one of the dating sites. She asks if I am really from the town that is listed in my profile. I say yes. She says "great, I am coming to work there! " So, this girl is coming to work in my city, apparently she has the work permits and everything, and she's going to fly here soon. I have chatted with this girl minimally, maybe a total of an hour, and she wants me to pick her up at the airport and she wants to stay with me at my house.

So. Alarm bells are going off. It just feels strange. I guess she's still got the Filipina "white guys are fantastic" mindset, which of course she's going to lose in about 1 week here. But I sure wouldn't mind some free stuff.

Anyone got any thoughts on that?[/QUOTE]Just don't give out your address in the interim. Personally, I would try the "I'm being deployed to Afghanistan so I can't pick you up at the airport" or "I'm being relocated to a new city and I cannot tell you where under the witness protection program! :D

Actually I think it burned out before my conversation with her was done.

I didn't want to blow her off, especially if she needed a place to stay, but the whole thing just struck me as wierd. But then if I picked her up at the airport, I would know if she just came from the Phils. I'm not too concerned with being ripped off, unless some crime syndicate is sending 25-year-olds half way across the world to get into my house and steal my LCD TV.

So, anyway, haven't heard back yet, still don't know what's really going on.

[QUOTE=FreebieFan]She won't show. Or she will find a better offer. They all start off super enthusiastic then move onto the next one. Remember. Were all searching in chat sites for Manila / Under 25 / Slim etc. Highly likely that maybe shes doing the same. Get some verification about what shes doing and saying etc. Don't be suprised if this enthusiasm burns out quickly.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Orangevale Rob]Ok, I find myself in a weird spot. I met this girl online at one of the dating sites. She asks if I am really from the town that is listed in my profile. I say yes. She says "great, I am coming to work there! " So, this girl is coming to work in my city, apparently she has the work permits and everything, and she's going to fly here soon. I have chatted with this girl minimally, maybe a total of an hour, and she wants me to pick her up at the airport and she wants to stay with me at my house.

So. Alarm bells are going off. It just feels strange. I guess she's still got the Filipina "white guys are fantastic" mindset, which of course she's going to lose in about 1 week here. But I sure wouldn't mind some free stuff.

Anyone got any thoughts on that?[/QUOTE]Beware that this may be phase #1 of a long con. I wouldn't be surprised if she later tells you that there's a problem and that she needs your help with a ticket, or some other stupid shit.

Call me paranoid, but in my short period of messing with Filipinas, I've encountered some of the boldest liars I have ever known.

I can well understand the alarm bells, but there's always the chance that she's telling the truth. Why not just tell her to send you and email or give you a call once she arrives? If that never happens, you will have lost nothing. If she asks for "help" getting there, I've found that the word "no" is one of the most effective, and underused words in the English language.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough]I can well understand the alarm bells, but there's always the chance that she's telling the truth. Why not just tell her to send you and email or give you a call once she arrives? If that never happens, you will have lost nothing. If she asks for "help" getting there, I've found that the word "no" is one of the most effective, and underused words in the English language.[/QUOTE]
I just wanted to give "GOOD ENOUGH" a long overdue attaboy for all his insiteful and integient posts here on this board. As a long time resident of Davao and frequent traveler to other cities there ,he is uniquely qualified to help all of us part time visitors. I met him in person and he is friendly guy too. For all you long time readers of this board to me he is just as good as " CEBU LOCAL" who we have not seen here in a long time but when he was posting he was the best source for Philippine info. I just wanted to give a public THANKYOU

Thanks very much for the kind words. I'm glad that anyone finds any of my comments helpful.

GE

Status Update:

Total Scamsville. She's asking for money now. Details and chat transcript to follow.

At the end I was going to try to get her to show me her tits, but I didn't get that far. I took off half her name to protect the guilty, I don't know why, but I suspect from "alexisclaire" you could figure it out if you knew her. I met her on CB I think.

A pretty good scam though. She had the name of a hospital in my town, she had full flight details about a flight here from Manila (I should have suspected when earlier she asked what the nearest airport was). Pretty convincing. I never would have fallen for it when she asked for money, but up until that point I was hooked pretty well.

alexisclaire: ohhhhh
alexisclaire: thanks
alexisclaire: pls invite your cam
Rob: my cam is not on this computer
alexisclaire: i seeee
alexisclaire: hope your still iterested to meet me there in xxxx
Rob: yes, of course
alexisclaire: ohhh i will try to call you whats your number
alexisclaire: i wanna hear your voice
Rob: it's x-xxxxxxxxxx, but the battery is dead.
alexisclaire: ohhh
alexisclaire: ok
Rob: where did you go the other night?
alexisclaire: i got dc
alexisclaire: power interuption
Rob: so you will be here on the 20th?
alexisclaire: im still a lil worried but mama is trying
Rob: you don't have a ticket yet?
alexisclaire: going there
alexisclaire: its sponsored by the employer
alexisclaire: no problem on that
alexisclaire: rob im a lil bit worrie dbecause i need to go to manila
alexisclaire: and if i cant go to manila for the orientation
alexisclaire: they will replaced me
Rob: oh no
alexisclaire: thats why mama is trying to raised the money
Rob: well i hope she does
alexisclaire: i hope you can help me rob
alexisclaire: i only need a lil help and promise to pay you when im there
Rob: what city do you live in now?
alexisclaire: siugay province
Rob: what city?
alexisclaire: ipil
alexisclaire: i will try to call you
alexisclaire: it end up at voice call
Rob: the battery is dead, I can't answer it
alexisclaire: rob plsss help me
alexisclaire: plsssss
alexisclaire: i will pay you when im there
alexisclaire: plssss
Rob: how much do you need?
alexisclaire: 350
alexisclaire: dollars
alexisclaire: if i cant go manila tommorrow
alexisclaire: i will be replaced
Rob: Well, maybe I can help you when I get to Philippines
alexisclaire: this is my only chance to be there in the usa
alexisclaire: when you get here
alexisclaire: my visa is not good anymore
alexisclaire: really want to work there
alexisclaire: plssss
alexisclaire: im begging you
alexisclaire: plssss
Rob: But I spent all my money on plane tickets and hotels in Asia, I have nothing in the bank right now.
alexisclaire: i only need 350 rob...and on the 20th i will be there
alexisclaire: and i will recieved 10,000 dollars from my employer there as my initial allowance
alexisclaire: i will be well compensated there
alexisclaire: my salary range is 25-35 dollars
alexisclaire: plsssss
alexisclaire: per hour
alexisclaire: plssss
alexisclaire: help me
alexisclaire: this is my only oppurtunity
Rob: I don't know.
alexisclaire: to be there working in xxxxx hospital
alexisclaire: and i dont want to be replaced
alexisclaire: and you dont want to help me
alexisclaire: im just running out of time
alexisclaire: ok i will go now
Rob: it sounds like you really need the money
alexisclaire: for me to be there
alexisclaire: yes i do
alexisclaire: been my dream to be there
Rob: yes, it is the dream of many people to be here.
Rob: I understand.
alexisclaire: ill go now
alexisclaire: im sorry that i ask you
Rob: But maybe you can do some small thing for me, to show that you are serious.
alexisclaire: bye for now
Rob: OK, well I see that you are not serious at all. You are wasting my time.
alexisclaire: hope to talk to you some other time
Rob: Do not bother, you're not serious.
alexisclaire: ok
Rob: You are trying to scam me, I know your tricks.
alexisclaire: whats that
alexisclaire: what tricks
Rob: I ask you for a small sign to show that you are serious and you can't even give me that, so I know you are not for real.
alexisclaire: what sign
Rob: no, no, it's ok, you have to go. Have a good night.
alexisclaire: ok

Yes, it is the women's national sport to do so. For hospital bills, electric bills, Smartbro internet, tuition fee... enrollment fee.

You can answer these questions simply by asking for the name of the bank where you can transfer the money to.

And details like IBAN number, account number and invoice number.

I am sure schools, hospitals, Meralco Electricity etc. have bank accounts sometimes even with more than one bank.

Overseas workers transfer money this way.. and it is becoming more and more common in Phils. to use bank accounts for private purposes too.

Then the reply is mostly Westen Union or Xoom.

For me that's not an option.

[QUOTE=Nightrider1]I just wanted to give "GOOD ENOUGH" a long overdue attaboy for all his insiteful and integient posts here on this board. As a long time resident of Davao and frequent traveler to other cities there ,he is uniquely qualified to help all of us part time visitors. I met him in person and he is friendly guy too. For all you long time readers of this board to me he is just as good as " CEBU LOCAL" who we have not seen here in a long time but when he was posting he was the best source for Philippine info. I just wanted to give a public THANKYOU[/QUOTE]
I will second that. I also work and live here, and have met GE.

Again, thank you for the kind words. I'm now here in your fair city with a couple of friends and colleagues from work. I'm staying as always at the Garden Orchid. The food has not gotten any better since my last trip a couple of weeks ago, but the staff is so pleasant, that it's relaxing to stay here.

Tomorrow, I'll get the afternoon flight to Davao, then wait four hours or so for the flight to CDO where I will be for four nights, again with the same guys.

GE

[QUOTE=Nightrider1]I just wanted to give "GOOD ENOUGH" a long overdue attaboy for all his insiteful and integient posts here on this board. As a long time resident of Davao and frequent traveler to other cities there ,he is uniquely qualified to help all of us part time visitors. I met him in person and he is friendly guy too. For all you long time readers of this board to me he is just as good as " CEBU LOCAL" who we have not seen here in a long time but when he was posting he was the best source for Philippine info. I just wanted to give a public THANKYOU[/QUOTE]

GE is our version of Old Thai Hand only GE is very kind. LOL