General Info

[QUOTE=Edward M; 1106095]I have had good success with Pimsleur for Portuguese and Thai already. I did not like their Spanish program partly because it started out too slowly for someone that already spoke some Spanish and partly because it focused on overly formal European Spanish in which I had no interest.

Anyone use Pimsleur Tagalog, and if so, how useful was it in AC? By way of comparison, I was able to communicate quite effectlively in Rio after going through Pimsleur Portuguese levels 1-3. There is only 1 level for Thai (as Tagalog) so I was not able to converse in Thai in Pattaya but found that when people did not understand my English I could throw in a Thai word or two to help clarify things.

The problem is that it seems that I cannot get the Tagalog course as cheap as the Thai course and I assume that it would not be as useful because English is also a national language in the PI. Also I imagine that most of the girls will not be from Manila so they would they be more comfortable speaking Cebuano (or some other language) than Tagalog. If that is the case then I do not see much point in learning a langage that will be second for both of us.

How does the bar girls' comprehension of Tagalog compare to their comprehension of English? Does anyone sell cheap Pimsleur / Rosetta Stone on the street? [/QUOTE]I have used Pimsleur for Thai and Tagalog. Level 1 only.

The Tag is a little easier because the pronunciation is harder for Thai.

As far as usefulness is concerned, I really consider both of them marginal for someone who is just going to be there for a week or two at a time. That just does not give you time to build some extra vocabulary or grammar, and in AC and Manila, there are so many english speakers, so you need to ask yourself what the point is.

Having said that, if you were going to live there or had an asawa, then you might find it handy, and especially if you start going to out of the way places. You are also right that there are other local languages. So learning Tagalog might not help you if you were living outside a Tag speaking area.

Some people like learning a language just for the heck of it.

In summary, if you like learning languages, or you have a pinay wife, or you are going to live there long time, it is worth it.

If you are just going for a couple of weeks or less, nah, don't bother.

I have not seen any Tag or RStone stuff on the streets in AC, maybe not much call for it, and that tells you something.

If you do decide to do the Pimsleur 1, you might AFTERWARDS use the site below to increase your vocabulary:

[url]https://learningtagalog.com/course.html[/url]

It will not help in the least if you are a complete Tag Noob, but once you have the basics, it will give you some vocab and phrases for different situations. There is also a downloadable text book which has some useful stuff.

[QUOTE=Rubberyman; 1106541]I have used Pimsleur for Thai and Tagalog. Level 1 only.

The Tag is a little easier because the pronunciation is harder for Thai.

As far as usefulness is concerned, I really consider both of them marginal for someone who is just going to be there for a week or two at a time. That just does not give you time to build some extra vocabulary or grammar, and in AC and Manila, there are so many english speakers, so you need to ask yourself what the point is.

Having said that, if you were going to live there or had an asawa, then you might find it handy, and especially if you start going to out of the way places. You are also right that there are other local languages. So learning Tagalog might not help you if you were living outside a Tag speaking area.

Some people like learning a language just for the heck of it.

In summary, if you like learning languages, or you have a pinay wife, or you are going to live there long time, it is worth it.

If you are just going for a couple of weeks or less, nah, don't bother.

I have not seen any Tag or RStone stuff on the streets in AC, maybe not much call for it, and that tells you something.

If you do decide to do the Pimsleur 1, you might AFTERWARDS use the site below to increase your vocabulary:

[url]https://learningtagalog.com/course.html[/url]

It will not help in the least if you are a complete Tag Noob, but once you have the basics, it will give you some vocab and phrases for different situations. There is also a downloadable text book which has some useful stuff. [/QUOTE]I agree that tagalog is only worth learning if you plan to stay along time or marry a Phil wife who is not strong in English. OR if you really just enjoy learning languages.

Assuming you have no moral aversion to pirate copies, you can download Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur for most languages for free through download sites such as Rapidshare. I've seen Tag for Rosetta Stone there but not Pimsleur.

For those not familiar with download sites, the best place to search for links is probably.

[url]http://www.warez-bb.org/[/url]

Which is free to join and use.

The big download sites are rapidshare, hotfile, megaupload etc,

They allow you to download files one at a time at a slow rate for free or you can buy a subscription allowing a huge amount of downloading at a much faster rate. Rapidshare is the biggest and cheapest service, a sub will cost about $8 +

For those not familiar with such things most of the big files such as movies or Rosetta Stone ISOs are compressed and split with WiNRAR s you may want to download this program as a first step if you haven't got it (us are use a free alternative such as 7Zip). If you get into this stuff in a big way, I would also recommend Internet Download Manager (you can search for a pirate copy on Warez BB) which makes downloading multiple files much much easier.

[QUOTE=Goatboy55;1106101]Samar has the best girls. Whenever I am in a bar be it Manila or AC and I pick to my mind the cutest girl there, she's always from Samar. This cannot be a co-incidence. Any action down in Samar?[/QUOTE]Samar (Northern and Eastern) is almost the poorest area in the Philippines aprt from areas in ARMM, and consequently it is an area where there is a lot of New Peoples Army (NPA) activity (Communist rebels is the term that the government uses for them).

Just last week 10 soldiers were ambushed and killed in Catubig in Northern Samar.

Stick to the Samar girls that are in AC. If they are at home in Samar they are most likely sweet innocent and law-abiding girls living under the protection of a very large family group, and you don't want to go meddling in that.

The main towns of Catarman and Catbalogan are NOT mongering towns unless you are very experienced, speak the language, or you are travelling with a local who has a lot of prestige in the area. The hostelries are 2 star at best.

I don't know what to think here. It is a little bit odd that a US naval officer would be trying to smuggle fake cocaine but that is what the story says.

From [url]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_philippines_us_navy_death[/url].

US man jumps to death in Manila after drug arrest.

AP.

– Tue Dec 28, 5:52 am ET.

MANILA, Philippines – A USA Navy officer jumped to his death at Manila's airport after he was arrested with what was thought to be cocaine, Philippine officials said Tuesday, but tests later showed the white powder wasn't an illegal drug.

Lt. Cmdr. Scintar Buenviaje Mejia died of head injuries after jumping from a second-floor staircase Monday while a security guard escorted him to the bathroom, aviation police chief Pedro Desuasido said.

The 35-year-old Mejia, a USA citizen of Filipino descent, was arrested a day earlier at an airport X-ray machine after security officials found a plastic packet containing what was suspected to be cocaine in his bag, Desuasido said. He was about to board a flight to Los Angeles.

Desuasido said Mejia shouted and threw the packet at security officials. He denied the packet was his and claimed he was set up.

Dionisio Santiago, head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said chemical tests on the powder in Mejia's bag showed it did not contain drugs. The tests, however, didn't determine what the powder was.

Wossie Mazengia, a USA Embassy spokeswoman, said American officials were aware of what happened to Mejia. She said Philippine National Police officials were investigating.

[QUOTE=Rubberyman; 1106541]In summary, if you like learning languages, or you have a pinay wife, or you are going to live there long time, it is worth it.

If you are just going for a couple of weeks or less, nah, don't bother. [/QUOTE]Thanks for the feedback. Since this will be my first trip I won't bother trying to learn any. I'll see how it goes when I get there and if I will even want to return. FWIW learning the local language has helped my a lot in Brazil and Mexico but those are not countries with English as a national language.

[QUOTE=Edward M;1106650]I don't know what to think here. It is a little bit odd that a US naval officer would be trying to smuggle fake cocaine but that is what the story says.[/QUOTE]Well, most Filipino news sites start as "FIL AM.". Whatever difference that means. Maybe somebody sold him some of the drugs that were cast away in the sea. Off Luzon.

[QUOTE=Edward M;1106653]Thanks for the feedback. Since this will be my first trip I won't bother trying to learn any. I'll see how it goes when I get there and if I will even want to return. FWIW learning the local language has helped my a lot in Brazil and Mexico but those are not countries with English as a national language.[/QUOTE]I speak Spanish and perhaps over 20% of the Tagalog language is Spanish or a derivative thereof. On occasion I might use a few Spanish words that are in their language and they are happy that I speak Tagalog. Don't waste your time trying to figure out their language or logic.

Here's a great example of their logic. I was at Harrison Mall last week wanting reading glasses that I but at any Dollar Store at home for a buck. After 4 stores, nobody knew what I was talking about and one saleswoman wanted me to go to National Book Store for a magnifying glass. We then stumble on a store that had reading glasses and sunglasses which I also wanted a new pair of. Sunglasses were 6 inches from the reading glasses. After finding the correct reading glasses, I kept them on so I could look at the sunglasses. Idiot clerk says oh no, you must pay for the reading glasses before you can look at the sunglasses (6 inches away). I gave him the reading glasses, told him to go [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off and left.

Don't waste your time on their language or or logic unless you are going to be here for a long long time.

Slippery f / k/a PLC

[QUOTE=Slippery; 1106937]I speak Spanish and perhaps over 20% of the Tagalog language is Spanish or a derivative thereof. On occasion I might use a few Spanish words that are in their language and they are happy that I speak Tagalog. Don't waste your time trying to figure out their language or logic.

Here's a great example of their logic. I was at Harrison Mall last week wanting reading glasses that I but at any Dollar Store at home for a buck. After 4 stores, nobody knew what I was talking about and one saleswoman wanted me to go to National Book Store for a magnifying glass. We then stumble on a store that had reading glasses and sunglasses which I also wanted a new pair of. Sunglasses were 6 inches from the reading glasses. After finding the correct reading glasses, I kept them on so I could look at the sunglasses. Idiot clerk says oh no, you must pay for the reading glasses before you can look at the sunglasses (6 inches away). I gave him the reading glasses, told him to go [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off and left.

Don't waste your time on their language or or logic unless you are going to be here for a long long time.

Slippery f / k/a PLC[/QUOTE]


Yeah, there is always a price you pay when you are in a different culture.

Every culture does stuff that others think are crazy. Just ask the average Australian what he thinks about the US custom of tipping, and vice versa. (Always a fun discussion on boards like this from time to time).

I find it is easier to go with the flow culturally speaking. Sometimes the effort to insist on one's own cultural values when in another country is just not worth it. Except when it comes to eating balut, he mutters darkly.

No doubt the store clerk went home and had the pamilia rolling on the floor with laughter about the crazy Kano trying to buy glasses.

[QUOTE=Rubberyman; 1107166]Yeah, there is always a price you pay when you are in a different culture.

Every culture does stuff that others think are crazy. Just ask the average Australian what he thinks about the US custom of tipping, and vice versa. (Always a fun discussion on boards like this from time to time).

I find it is easier to go with the flow culturally speaking. Sometimes the effort to insist on one's own cultural values when in another country is just not worth it. Except when it comes to eating balut, he mutters darkly.

No doubt the store clerk went home and had the pamilia rolling on the floor with laughter about the crazy Kano trying to buy glasses. [/QUOTE]Yah, as I mentioned elsewhere, when I was negotiating for a property, and when I kept pushing for a smaller unit, the property agent. A filipina, lost her mood and yelled at me telling me that I don't deserve to buy an apartment and what a cheapskate charlie I am. And few years later, she is all smiles and begging me to come and visit her properties. Nah. It is a given that while you thought that you gave the sales man a tough time, their pea brain would have been pretty amused by the silly kano.

[QUOTE=Econo Tech;1107236]Yah, as I mentioned elsewhere, when I was negotiating for a property, and when I kept pushing for a smaller unit, the property agent. A filipina, lost her mood and yelled at me telling me that I don't deserve to buy an apartment and what a cheapskate charlie I am. And few years later, she is all smiles and begging me to come and visit her properties. Nah. It is a given that while you thought that you gave the sales man a tough time, their pea brain would have been pretty amused by the silly kano.[/QUOTE]You know, I am willing to bet that she probably had you lined up as husband material, either for herself or for a 'friend' or at the very least for some lucky pinay thereabouts. So you NEEDED a bigger apartment.

[QUOTE=Rubberyman;1107422]You know, I am willing to bet that she probably had you lined up as husband material, either for herself or for a 'friend' or at the very least for some lucky pinay thereabouts. So you NEEDED a bigger apartment.[/QUOTE]Nah. She wasn't lining me up with any 'husband' material, I am 100% sure. She just wanted me to splurge beyond what I can afford.standard filipina thinking, and she even mentioned that some of her buyers are Caregivers in Canada.

I could also quote another situation: I had an incident, when we were trying to negotiate for Copra, and the seller, maybe new in the business, kept saying "sir, you can afford to pay a bit more. Every extra dollar you pay goes to making somebody's life better." etc etc. And my friend started explaining that business is business, and he is not running a charity business, and the sellers should be happy to be able to have a buyer. And all. I quitely pulled him aside and told him to 'cease and desist'. Nah. He didn't want to listen and started his lecture on economics and how his being there to purchase is itself a big boost, and his offering above market rate is a measure of his confidence etc. Etc. . And there was stunned silence from the Filipinos. A while later, almost all of the local sellers were like "we'd rather starve than to sell to this arrogant bastard."

Try explaining that. And for that matter, the main point of contact. The Filipina, was bought up in LA, and decided to venture into doing export promotion of Filipino produce, but her attitude and mentality never changed.

I could go on.

[QUOTE=Econo Tech;1107475]sir, you can afford to pay a bit more. Every extra dollar you pay goes to making somebody's life better." etc etc.[/QUOTE]Thats what the preacher tells them every Sunday (as donation bag is being passed around the church). Son, every peso you share makes somebodys life better.

Very easy concept to embrace, especially when you are sharing someone elses pesos.

[QUOTE=Fast Buck Artist; 1107497]Thats what the preacher tells them every Sunday (as donation bag is being passed around the church). Son, every peso you share makes somebodys life better.

Very easy concept to embrace, especially when you are sharing someone elses pesos. [/QUOTE]Yah, and sometimes they loose focus on where to draw the line. Even when buying stuff, they expect more payment than market rate, because, after all, you paying more means, more poor people will apparently benefit. :confused:

I stopped trying to make sense out of such stuff. A long time ago. .

The dread, button-pushing HIV / barebacking topic, for some inexplicable reason, commenced recently in the Photo Galllery thread-which, I think we would all agree, is not exactly the most appropriate place for it. So I'll throw in here just a brief addenda that may be of interest.

There are probably a number of reasons why the HIV rate in the Philippines is relatively low, aside from the possibility of lax (or even deliberately misleading) government reporting. Among them: 1) Philippines sex workers, compared to sex workers in other SE Asian countries entertain relatively fewer clients; 2) There is relatively less intravenous drug use; and 3) Unlike in most other SE Asian countries, male circumcision is the norm in the Philippines.

An excellent, informative, sensible, highly readable book on the topic is 'The Wisdom of Wh***s' by Elizabeth Pisani. I recommend it.
*For some reason, when I input the full 'W' word (meaning paid sex worker) in the title above, it automatically gets edited out. Hmmmm...

Manta Ray

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5y7FmuIds8[/url]

[QUOTE=Manta Ray;1107957]The dread, button-pushing HIV / barebacking topic [/QUOTE]