General Info

[QUOTE=GregLondon]I'm thinking of opening a Phil peso account, anyone sufgest which bank is best.[/QUOTE]
I'm with HSBC Premier. excellent service so far.
Cheers!

[QUOTE=Tenchi]Anyone mentioned this video? I saw it posted on another site and thought you guys might wanna check it out. Of course one hopes to never be paid a visit from the Bureau of Immigration...

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNzaSWjouA[/url][/QUOTE]

Wow...very good video ...an eye opener...

Foreigner's who come to PH should always remember that "There is no cure for jealously". I'm from a third world country and i know to some extent how it works here. As you see in the video, all folks who come from EU or America built a palatial bungalow surrounded by ghettos in remote places.

They are bound to be the target of extortion by mafia. No matter how many books you read and forum posts about in living in the Philippines .....one will take a long time in understanding the psychology of people in a third world country.

Except few, everyone who is on top in a third world country came from mafioso mentality extortion and parasitically leeching into who made money genuinely. You will face the same issues if you do that in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia etc anywhere in Asia. This is also true in Korea and Japan... Protectionism in Asia by few families which i call mafia is everywhere. You may read ohh how great is Japan and look at korean economy, they are better than PH...if true.., try opening a business there...you will be cut down in no time.....its worse in Korea and Japan...in PH you can bribe and get your way around..In Japan and korea..you will be stuck in prison for ever.

How many Europeans or American do you think have made it in japan or korea...None...How many Japanese and Koreans are successful in America and europe....thousands

You don't have to worry about poor people, its a wrong assumption that poor people are after your money. Its the people who are in power, with plenty of money to payoff other gangsters will do such a thing. Actually, 90% of people in Asia are good like anywhere, its the few people on top who controls everything and would do anything to stop anyone else from coming up.

As Denom has pointed out, its pretty much the case. Since, last 150 year's, few families are controlling the breath of PH economy. Do you think they will easily give it all away ?

As many of us know, why do you think farangs always say "no matter what you do, you will never be a part of them" however, many Asians, who go to farang lands quickly raise to the top, becoming part of the society, contributing to the society and culture of the adopted land. We know 1000's of Asians who are successful in europe and America and part of the society.

UK's richest man is an Indian, lots of Filipinos and Asian's are millionaires in America. How many we know in reverse..none...Its a fact folks..Don't swing your tail too much..else it will be cut to size..Period.

1. Keep a low profile. 2. rent condos 3. Live among Filipinos 4. Don't built 100 thousand dollars mansion in remote corners of the country.5 Most of all...keep moving from place to place..Don't attract too much attention.

Personally, even if im from India, which does not attract too much attention. Due to my lifestyle :)...I always keep changing my location...couple of years back i was in Cebu, then i moved to manila...i came back..now i go back to Cebu and live in a different place.

The point is...when you start getting attention and people start to recognize you around...time to pack your bags. Again, I say, PH and Asia is a very good place to live and enjoy..people are nice..poor, middle class people are not your problem...its people in power with millions of dollars with greed down in their neck will make sure you pay for trespassing into their territory

I hate this when good people are exploited.

[QUOTE=The Hyena]LOL. Let me be the first to welcome you to the wonderful world of Ivory Soap. LOL.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like a good soap...will try it out...will do anything to get laid :)

[QUOTE=Tenchi]Anyone mentioned this video? I saw it posted on another site and thought you guys might wanna check it out. Of course one hopes to never be paid a visit from the Bureau of Immigration...

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNzaSWjouA[/url][/QUOTE]This video is a "Must Watch' for anyone contemplating a move to the Philippines. An easy mistake for a westerner is to think that the law is there to protect the innocent. In fact, your innocence may be your fatal flaw. Pay attention, cultivate a mild paranoia, and absorb what the 'old pros' on this site are sharing.

[QUOTE=Tenchi]Anyone mentioned this video? I saw it posted on another site and thought you guys might wanna check it out. Of course one hopes to never be paid a visit from the Bureau of Immigration.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNzaSWjouA[/url][/QUOTE]Thanks so much for that info very scary dont you think?

[QUOTE=Ekspat]I'm with HSBC Premier. excellent service so far.
Cheers![/QUOTE]
Agreed E, perfect service, very helpful when I went into the branch to set up all the accounts, the internet banking etc, treated me like a gentleman (which depsite rumours to the contrary, I am )...and my acccount officer was quite cute as well :)

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]I agree with WR.

I use HSBC (the world's local bank) in Manila.

I am not charged ANY fees because I deposit my pay cheques directly into the account.

I have 3 sub-accounts under the major account. A peso, an Aust dollar and a USD account, with 3 different ATM cards to access any of them anywhere.

I also have an HSBC credit card account that is linked to one of these accounts for direct debit.

All very easy to do with minimum of fuss.

The best thing about HSBC is that there is never any lines to deal with at ATMs or inside the bank itself.[/QUOTE]Do you need a Philippine residence to open up an account?

[QUOTE=Philosophery]Do you need a Philippine residence to open up an account?[/QUOTE]
Not for me but is because I am already an account holder with HSBC overseas.

And I have obey the rules on deposits which is very easy as a non resident (ie just don't deposit any pesos into your peso account while in the country as you must only deposit from a foreign currency account)

[b][u]EDITOR'S NOTE[/u]:[/b] [blue]This report was deleted because it contained links to a competing Forum. Please read the Forum's Posting Guidelines and the Forum's FAQ for further information. [i]Thanks![/i][/blue]

[QUOTE=Denom]PS - I wrote the post below before realizing there is a part II of the video. It does not change much to what I wrote except that it is true that some of the people presented in the second part have indeed made quite a difference. They have done outstanding work and deserve all our admiration and gratitude - especially if their efforts prove to be sustainable![/QUOTE][QUOTE=Tenchi]Anyone mentioned this video? I saw it posted on another site and thought you guys might wanna check it out. Of course one hopes to never be paid a visit from the Bureau of Immigration...

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNzaSWjouA[/url][/QUOTE]Yeh, I nearly made the same mistake myself... in fact for everyone's benefit there are 3 parts.

Part 2 [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFp0ld_lgdk[/url]

Part 3 [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiXFXhD2cwY[/url]

I think this should be an induction video for anyone coming to the pines for anything more than a holiday!

[QUOTE=Tenchi]Yeh, I nearly made the same mistake myself... in fact for everyone's benefit there are 3 parts.

Part 2 [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFp0ld_lgdk[/url]
Part 3 [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiXFXhD2cwY[/url]

I think this should be an induction video for anyone coming to the pines for anything more than a holiday! :D[/QUOTE]Wow - thanks for the info - I missed that one too, especially since the second part looked like the real end.

The third part is almost more moving than the two before, especially when that German guy gets released and gets to meet his family again. It also shows that Lehnert probably would not have gotten away with it had he not influential friends - and that the job he is doing now to free innocent foreigners from jail would also not be possible without that support. Well, let's hope it stays that way through political shifts. We have seen what happens when a Lim takes over from an Atienza :(((

[QUOTE=Denom]Wow - thanks for the info - I missed that one too, especially since the second part looked like the real end.

The third part is almost more moving than the two before, especially when that German guy gets released and gets to meet his family again. It also shows that Lehnert probably would not have gotten away with it had he not influential friends - and that the job he is doing now to free innocent foreigners from jail would also not be possible without that support. Well, let's hope it stays that way through political shifts. We have seen what happens when a Lim takes over from an Atienza :((([/QUOTE]I like the part where PRA gives full support - isn't that the job of PRA to ensure such harassment doesn't take place ?

And does everybody need influential friends to safeguard the interests of the investors?

I totally laud Lehnert's work and knowing who's shoes he is stepping on - I wouldn't be surprised and do believe if he is a marked man. May God Bless him.

[QUOTE=Tenchi]Anyone mentioned this video? I saw it posted on another site and thought you guys might wanna check it out. Of course one hopes to never be paid a visit from the Bureau of Immigration...

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNzaSWjouA[/url][/QUOTE]
2 Points I must make about this :

1) This is not a Philippine phenomenon. It can & does happen in other countries. In my home country of Australia there have been totally unjust incarcerations & deportations of legitimate immigrants.

2) The vast majority of expats in the Phils don't have problems. If you wish to stay here in PI don't bring attention to yourself & develop contacts/connections. Keep the bulk of your wealth off shore.

I am totally sympathetic to the men in the video & would not wish it on any person but when I see elderly german men marrying very young girls of poor famillies & splashing big money around I am not surprised by the result...

AV

[QUOTE=Amavida]2 Points I must make about this :

I am totally sympathetic to the men in the video & would not wish it on any person but when I see elderly german men marrying very young girls of poor famillies & splashing big money around I am not surprised by the result...

AV[/QUOTE]

Rule 1 of any expat: low profile

One remarkable thing about these cases is that they have nothing to do with sex. I wonder what the risk is to get scammed by girls you have sex with. Suppose you rent an apartment long term in any part of the country where there is some action. You bring in home 3 or 4 different girls each weak. How long before one of them tells everyone you promised to marry her and if you don't you have to pay etc. ?