General Info

Just a note to budget-conscious visitors and those planning on staying in PH for a long time or retiring here.

From July 1st to November 1st, 2010, the US Dollar has decreased in value nearly 9% vs. The PH Peso: from 46P to 42P to $1. Furthermore, inflation is nearly 5% in 2010 in PH. So the buying power of US Dollars will end up decreasing about 14% overall in 2010.

Furthermore, the PH stock market has been one of the hottest stock markets in the world in 2010, up about 35% I think. Real estate is booming, etc.

All of the above trends may be significant to your PH travel / living plans. For example, if you made your plan in early 2010 to live in PH on US $20K per year, please consider that your $20K is now worth $17K, and real estate prices are higher, etc. You might want to update any PH living / retirement plans you've made.

[QUOTE=Nvslim]Excuse my lack of knowledge, but I have been married the past 20+ years and never used a condom before (been very lucky not to catch anything deadly). Astro Glide (great stuff) on your dick first and then the condom so you slide inside the condom?

Thanks,

Slim[/QUOTE]Japanese make the thinnest condoms and they are very durable. Try Kimono, Crown, or Okomoto brands then insert lube inside before putting on! Don't use the wrong lube however that will break down the condom. Use only water soluble lubricant like KY, Astroglide, Wet Stuff, Lubafax, Le Gel, or Muko. Never use oil based lubricants or petrolium lubricants. Also try the larger sizes of these brands as they usually feel better, although it depends on the size of your penis. Hope this helps

[QUOTE=Econo Tech]. Somebody had lodged a caveat, and he had to forego the 150, 000 US Apartment at 75, 000. And he is yet to get his money.
[/QUOTE]One lesson from this is: rent, don't buy. Don't put your money where your cock is. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy didn't get framed because they first found out he had property.

I'm thinking of staying in Manila for like a month. A descent hotel would be like 70* x 30 = 2, 100 USD. A bit too much for my budget.

Anyone knows where I can find short term rental for furbished appartement, either a studio or a one bedroom flat.

Thanks

[QUOTE=Satyr23]

Hope this helps

[/QUOTE]

It does and thanks.
Slim

There is a very serious problem with land titling in the Philippines.

In this country, there are four entities which can issue title. This means that you can never be sure that the title that you hold to any parcel of land is the only title to that parcel, and it will not be challenged.

I spent some time working on a major project to reform the land titling system in the country, and it failed. Apparently because members of the congress did not want the system to be improved.

Of course, on top of this, if your filipina wife/gf decides that she really does want your land, she will take it, no matter what pieces of paper you hold.

This means that you have two impediments to freely and securely owning your lot of land

Up to you to decide if you want to take the risk. There are many stories of land owners having their land stolen out from under their feet. Best to be sure that you will not be one of them.

I think that it is safer to buy an apartment or condo, where you do not actually own title to land.

G

[QUOTE=Backslash]
Q2. Is picking up girls in Cebu realistic in Malls ( I have heard about places in Ayala Mall or SM Mall there) Will my race be a problem? Will my age be beneficial or will it hurt me? ( I actually am very interested in picking up girls in Malls, as it just seems different to picking up bar girls) If it was realistic, then I would probably want to spend more time in Cebu. However, I have also thought since this is my cherry trip to leave things simple. So I'm not sure...
[/QUOTE]

Depends on what you look like. I am Chinese Canadian myself. But frequently get mistaken for a local Filipino. Not in the bars in AC, because local Filipino guys don't often frequent those bars. But on the street and in the malls, locals often start jabbering in Tagalog to me, assuming I am Filipino.

[QUOTE=Backslash]
Q3. Being an Asian-Australian, will Bar Girls attempt to extort me for Korean/Japanese Prices in AC? Will they expect crazy tips or something? I mean at the end of the day, will they consider that I'm Australian or Korean/Chinese?
[/QUOTE]

I am Chinese Canadian myself. Have been in AC twice in the last couple of months. Tell people your background, and nobody will expect you pay/tip like a Korean or Japanese.

If anything, they won't really know what to make/expect of you, since ethnic Chinese (from outside Philipines) are rare visitors to AC. They will probably revert to what they are most familiar with, and treat you like a (white) foreigner. Or maybe that's because of all the whiteys I hung around with.

[QUOTE=Backslash]
Q7. With regards to AC, will my age be a problem at all there either? I realise I might be one of the young ones, but will that open me to more runners or a more GFE? Will it make girls more worried about me in the bars, or will they open up more to me?
[/QUOTE]

The younger you are, the more the bargirls will like you. All else being equal of course.

[QUOTE=Backslash]
Q8. I know this might be a weird question, but I am not sure on whether to act poorer than usual in Angeles City or just be myself. The reason I say this is because I am afraid If I just be myself, then the girls might think because I wear some nice clothes, and booked myself into a good hotel, they might think im really rich and try to take me for everything I have. So with that said, I seriously considered bringing my spare mobile phone, and act more like an expat in spending terms and refuse DLDs and so on. ( I have read the forums and won't be wearing any watches, no bling just a simple chain, and no accessories). I just think that because its my cherry trip and I have this perceived idea from the girls that since I'm staying at the Lewis Grand, I'm young, I am financially ok, they will take advantage of that against me. Anyone have any ideas?
[/QUOTE]

Take a middle of the road approach with lots of common sense thrown in. Don't be too cheap to buy a Ladydrink if you are even somewhat interested in the girl, but no DLDs. Not buying LDs can get you ignored pretty good by the girls. The local expats get more attention because the girls know/have seen them before.

[QUOTE=Backslash]
Q9. Will it be hard to find a wingman in January/February from the forum members here who would be interested in helping me out around AC?
[/QUOTE]

Not if you buy them a drink or 2 ;-)
I was lucky enough that I flew there with a buddy, had another buddy who lives there. And got contacts from yet another buddy I know from back home. I hate barhopping on my own.

[QUOTE=Backslash]
Q10. Am I just thinking too much? I personally think I could be, and that no matter how many times I replay what *could* happen in the Philippines regardless of whether I'm in Cebu or Angeles or Manila, it could play out different.
[/QUOTE]

You probably are thinking too much. Get to AC, get half a dozen San Miguel's into you, and it all flows from there.

[QUOTE=Wadman]Depends on what you look like. The younger you are, the more the bargirls will like you. All else being equal of course.
You probably are thinking too much. Get to AC, get half a dozen San Miguel's into you, and it all flows from there.[/QUOTE]

In AC younger does not really mean a thing. These girls are interested in money. They think young guys do not spend enough or have enough to spend on them.
I have seem some stunners with very old looking, very fat and also some who needs a cane to walk.
One of the odd things about Phi is just that. For some reason young girls do not find it odd being with and publicly showing affection with old people good enough to be their fathers or grandfathers. It is a boon to us mongers when age is not a issue. Even normal girls does not care about the age difference.
Maybe it has something to do with them being molested by old uncles.
In most of the other countries you see young girls with old men only in rich circles, not on the street showing affection.

[QUOTE=Sammon]In AC younger does not really mean a thing. These girls are interested in money. They think young guys do not spend enough or have enough to spend on them.[/QUOTE]
Going to disagree with this a bit, or maybe add something. Having spent many nights and days dating both a mamasan, an older waitress, and any number of regular dancers (all of whom hang/hung with me without barfine), I will tell you what they tell me. Younger/handsome DOES mean something. They joke about "They do him free hahaha." While many girls are willing to do anything with any guy (just look at what they put up with from me) no matter his looks, there are also girls that have standards. They will not leave the bar up with older/fat/ugly. Thus, a wide variety of both likes and also what they are willing to do for a peso. If there is an established relationship between the bargirl and the man, she is much more willing to hold his hand in public, f*ck him (even for no money), act like his gf. If not, if they have only his first visit to the bar to see him (and little chance to talk to him or find out if he's nice) they are more likely to do those things based on his age/looks.

I had a 3-some a few months back in AC. After the fun as we were chatting away, we got going on this topic of gwapo and who they like and don't like. I asked if them if they were in the mall and could choose any man for a quick fun-f*ck, who would they choose? Girl A said no black men, but any other. Girl B said no filipino man, but any other. Age, I asked? And what determined which guy? They both said GWAPO. Girl A (age 26) said no older than 25. We laughed because that's younger than she is. Girl B (age 21) said at first no older than 30, then laughed and said, "Maybe 25 also." I asked if they would f*ck a handsome 40-year old man for fun and they both said no. "Not stranger. No. Not even a handsome." So, they are willing to f*ck for free a handsome 25-yr-old guy, but not a handsome 40-yr-old guy This was interesting to me, the stranger thing. I asked if they ever slept with older men who are not a stranger. "Yes sometime. If he's nice man and gwapo too. Old customer sometime."

Ah. There you have it. Its only a sample of two girls, but you can see that they prefer younger men (unless he's paying). They prefer gwapo (unless he's paying). I get this same info about the dancers from a mama and a waitress. If you are older or less handsome and a stranger, then money is the only thing that matters. If you are younger or more handsome, money matters less. They are GIRLS.

[QUOTE=Sammon] I have seem some stunners with very old looking, very fat and also some who needs a cane to walk.
One of the odd things about Phi is just that. For some reason young girls do not find it odd being with and publicly showing affection with old people good enough to be their fathers or grandfathers. It is a boon to us mongers when age is not a issue. Even normal girls does not care about the age difference.
[/QUOTE]
Disagree respectfully with this. I think there is something more to add to the mix here. We've all seen the PYT with the grandpa-cano in philippines, both in AC and in the province. It seems the only country where this happens (19 y.o. girl and a 67 y.o. man with a cane and holding hands). While Sammon says "young girls do not find it odd... with old people...", I disagree. She is VERY aware of the oddity of this. She is VERY aware of what she is displaying. So is everyone else. Is it a boon for us? Yes! But, I think all the parties are aware that its some form of prostitution (the girl, the man, her family, and the public who has to view them). You will not see young girls holding hands or having an open relationship with a filipino man who is 20-30-40 years older. Given that, and the fact that she will stop being his gf the instant his money stops flowing, I think we should not delude ourselves into thinking that these girls are not averse to older men (like girls everywhere tend to be).

I was chatting a girl in Dipolog. Her pinay neighbor (age 20) got a visit from an aussie, an older fat gent (she estimated in his 60's), for a week. My friend said that while everyone turns a blind eye to them holding hands and sleeping in his hotel, "we all know she do anything now for the pisos." And, "we never do with pinoy like that." Age really is an issue, but $ can overcome that (as paper covers rock...).

I need to get additional Visa pages for my passport. I was told by the U. S. Embassy to send the passport and form by Air 21/Fed Ex. They said the U.S. Embassy would then contact me and I would then go it and pay in the morning and receive it back in afternoon.
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Has anyone done this process and did it work smoothly? or was it a hassle?
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Thank you for your help.

[QUOTE=Big Johnson2]I need to get additional Visa pages for my passport. I was told by the U. S. Embassy to send the passport and form by Air 21/Fed Ex. They said the U.S. Embassy would then contact me and I would then go it and pay in the morning and receive it back in afternoon.
-
Has anyone done this process and did it work smoothly? or was it a hassle?
-
Thank you for your help.[/QUOTE]
I just did it a couple of weeks ago, and it worked fine. The whole thing took about 3 days with no hassles at all.

GE

[QUOTE=GoodEnough]I just did it a couple of weeks ago, and it worked fine. The whole thing took about 3 days with no hassles at all.

GE[/QUOTE]Has anyone gotten a new passport recently? I travel frequently and I want to get the new 48-page passport. Is the US Embassy in Manila able to process it?

[QUOTE=Westcoast1]Going to disagree with this a bit, or maybe add something. Having spent many nights and days dating both a mamasan, an older waitress, and any number of regular dancers (all of whom hang/hung with me without barfine), I will tell you what they tell me. Younger/handsome DOES mean something. They joke about "They do him free hahaha." While many girls are willing to do anything with any guy (just look at what they put up with from me) no matter his looks, there are also girls that have standards. They will not leave the bar up with older/fat/ugly. Thus, a wide variety of both likes and also what they are willing to do for a peso. If there is an established relationship between the bargirl and the man, she is much more willing to hold his hand in public, f*ck him (even for no money), act like his gf. If not, if they have only his first visit to the bar to see him (and little chance to talk to him or find out if he's nice) they are more likely to do those things based on his age/looks.

I had a 3-some a few months back in AC. After the fun as we were chatting away, we got going on this topic of gwapo and who they like and don't like. I asked if them if they were in the mall and could choose any man for a quick fun-f*ck, who would they choose? Girl A said no black men, but any other. Girl B said no filipino man, but any other. Age, I asked? And what determined which guy? They both said GWAPO. Girl A (age 26) said no older than 25. We laughed because that's younger than she is. Girl B (age 21) said at first no older than 30, then laughed and said, "Maybe 25 also." I asked if they would f*ck a handsome 40-year old man for fun and they both said no. "Not stranger. No. Not even a handsome." So, they are willing to f*ck for free a handsome 25-yr-old guy, but not a handsome 40-yr-old guy This was interesting to me, the stranger thing. I asked if they ever slept with older men who are not a stranger. "Yes sometime. If he's nice man and gwapo too. Old customer sometime."

Ah. There you have it. Its only a sample of two girls, but you can see that they prefer younger men (unless he's paying). They prefer gwapo (unless he's paying). I get this same info about the dancers from a mama and a waitress. If you are older or less handsome and a stranger, then money is the only thing that matters. If you are younger or more handsome, money matters less. They are GIRLS.


Disagree respectfully with this. I think there is something more to add to the mix here. We've all seen the PYT with the grandpa-cano in philippines, both in AC and in the province. It seems the only country where this happens (19 y.o. girl and a 67 y.o. man with a cane and holding hands). While Sammon says "young girls do not find it odd... with old people...", I disagree. She is VERY aware of the oddity of this. She is VERY aware of what she is displaying. So is everyone else. Is it a boon for us? Yes! But, I think all the parties are aware that its some form of prostitution (the girl, the man, her family, and the public who has to view them). You will not see young girls holding hands or having an open relationship with a filipino man who is 20-30-40 years older. Given that, and the fact that she will stop being his gf the instant his money stops flowing, I think we should not delude ourselves into thinking that these girls are not averse to older men (like girls everywhere tend to be).

I was chatting a girl in Dipolog. Her pinay neighbor (age 20) got a visit from an aussie, an older fat gent (she estimated in his 60's), for a week. My friend said that while everyone turns a blind eye to them holding hands and sleeping in his hotel, "we all know she do anything now for the pisos." And, "we never do with pinoy like that." Age really is an issue, but $ can overcome that (as paper covers rock...).[/QUOTE]
You are basing your opinion on what they are saying. Ofcourse they will not admit to what is in my report. What they say and what they do are totally different. In reality if you have gone to Phi many times as I have you see very young girls with old men all the time. Even in provinces
old men have married and living with young wives. Ofcourse there is some stigma attached to it but for the sake of stable life with money the girls and their families are willing to overlook these things.
The other day I was chatting with a girl from Dia. I asked her why she is interested in foreign men. She said her friend who is 22 years old is married to a guy from Australia who is 66 years old.
Even in AC I have seen good looking girls with old men. Do not forget AC exists only because poverty is everywhere in Phi.
In an Ideal world without poverty very few young girls will go with old men.
P4P girls will go with whoever but normal girls will not.

I have a sister inlaw. Who 20 years ago was pretty. 22 years old. passed her PI nursing board. Was a registered nurse. She ran off to Cagayan Del oro with a 64 year old married doctor who had four kids. Yes he had money. Yes the family disowned her for 10 years. Yes she gave him only one son to seal the deal. Yes they are still together.

My X did not like me saying your sister is just lazy. I still stand by the statement.

It happens in PI with PI men also is my point.

[QUOTE=Redman69]I have a sister inlaw. Who 20 years ago was pretty. 22 years old. passed her PI nursing board. Was a registered nurse. She ran off to Cagayan Del oro with a 64 year old married doctor who had four kids. Yes he had money. Yes the family disowned her for 10 years. Yes she gave him only one son to seal the deal. Yes they are still together.

My X did not like me saying your sister is just lazy. I still stand by the statement.

It happens in PI with PI men also is my point.[/QUOTE]
Sex and companionship is a powerfull weapon which has been used historically by young beautifull girls to seduce rich powerfull men so that they can have a good life.
Although in our western countries it is frowned upon for a 20 something girl to be with a 60 something man, this happens in poor countries. In effect it sad. But who are we to judge?