Chat Rooms & Pen Pals

[QUOTE=Sammon; 1253701]Yes, Laptops cost money depending on make and model but most Phi buy it from pawnshops used very cheap. Why would they need laptops anyway? It is not like they are doing international business.

Give me a break. 5800 for a pair of shoes? Real nice girls settle for 400-500 pesos. My gf does not buy anything over 300 pesos.[/QUOTE]I told the one asking for the laptop pretty much the same thing and told the shoe girl that I could buy two nice pairs of men's dress shoes here in USA for less than that.

No requests for money this evening but I did see two ladyboys that had hijacked some obviously gorgeous females' pics. I'm sure more requests for money will come in shortly.

[QUOTE=Slippery;1253865]No requests for money this evening but I did see two ladyboys that had hijacked some obviously gorgeous females' pics. I'm sure more requests for money will come in shortly.[/QUOTE]You sound excited to have further discourse with them. How much money will you be sending them?

I should post this experience here to act as a warning for those who are not yet familiar with pinay concepts of time.

I have been caught out so many times but I am getting tougher now.

I had arranged to meet a DIA contact in a local Manila mall yesterday (Friday) at 11 am in a pre-arranged spot (20 mins from her house). I thought I knew her "well" after a fair bit of chatting online and she seemed quite smart etc.

I arrive at the mall at 10. 55 and text her "I am here now". Text comes back "I will be a little late. Sorry".

Me: How late? What time will you be here?

Her: I have to wait for my Auntie. She will not be home until 12.

Me: Whaaat? So you mean you will not be here until 12. 30? (says me allowing for her travel time as well; remember it is now a few minutes past 11am)

Her: Opo.

Me: Forget it then. I don't have that much time to waste. Cancel meeting. You have no respect for me.

Her: OMG. I am so sorry. I forgot you are foreigner and important for time.

Me: Yes. Good luck. Don't contact me again. I am not interested any more.

Today, I get a text."Hi. So sorry about yesterday. Can we still meet today?"

I ignored and deleted.

[QUOTE=Screaming Beaver;1253872]You sound excited to have further discourse with them. How much money will you be sending them?[/QUOTE]Hhahahahahahahahahaha good one

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1253913]Me: Forget it then. I don't have that much time to waste. Cancel meeting. You have no respect for me.

Her: OMG. I am so sorry. I forgot you are foreigner and important for time.[/QUOTE]Haha. She FORGOT you are poriner!

For newbs to pinas, let this part be a lesson. They see themselves ("the Filipino") as an entity (a strong national identity) , and you as a separate entity. They have a view of time that many americans would jokingly call "mexican", or even "south american" time. They are often late (often by multiple hours) to most everything (how DO they get to church?). There are bunches of stories on this board about the girls being late. Pinay are used to waiting for long periods of time for: gifts (money, jewelry) , work, food, clothes, etc. A pinay who does not get your money today for her latest "emergency" will not be negatively effected. She will squeal, but that is another cultural aspect: pinay teenage drama. What's that? She's been looking for work for 4 years and hasn't found it yet? Welcome to filipines, where everyone has to wait, and wait. What's that? She needs a new pair of flip-flops or blue jeans? She'll make due with the current ones for another 6 months. What's that? She's (or her family) hungry? Waiting until tomorrow to eat will not kill anyone there. Sound harsh? It's a way of life for millions of pilipino. Waiting to do things, waiting to go places, waiting to acquire things. Like watching the cockfights or Pacquio box, 'waiting' is endemic.

There are multiple cultural differences like this one that will befuddle both the newb and the regular all of our lives.

[QUOTE=Westcoast1; 1253985]Haha. She FORGOT you are poriner!

For newbs to pinas, let this part be a lesson. They see themselves ("the Filipino") as an entity (a strong national identity) , and you as a separate entity. They have a view of time that many americans would jokingly call "mexican", or even "south american" time. They are often late (often by multiple hours) to most everything (how DO they get to church?). [SNIP]

There are multiple cultural differences like this one that will befuddle both the newb and the regular all of our lives.[/QUOTE]WC,

Nice report and it serves as a gentle reminder to newbies that demanding filipinas to convert to 'Western time' from 'Filipina (o) time' is useless. Just accept and live with it, it's a part of the fabric of life in the Philippines where every clock is off at least 10-20mins on either side of the correct time. Someone mused recently how most filipinas didn't wear watches, and that's true. They own cell phones that display the time so no need for an extra device on the wrist that displays how late she is and makes her wrist feel sweaty.

One comment I do want to make that deals with the filipina concept of time management, there is a direct correlation to the amount of time you chat with a girl and if she arrives on time. I have found that chatting with a girl in advance of your visit directly impacts if the girl will be on time or not. Chatting for roughly a month before my visit helps the girl understand what you are all about and puts her at ease and you can get a good sense if thinks will click or not. Often I have found that girls will be on time (and very excited) if they know in advance the day we will meet.

Texting them last minute or chatting with them for the first time on the day you want to meet creates alot of problems since she doesn't know if you are a member of the endless clown-car cavelcade of losers that appear daily on her dating profile and flood her inbox. Those guys will never get on a plane and promise 'hun I will be there next month", always next month it seems.

Also arranging to meet last minute means she has to switch plans and often she will not drop everything on a dime for some guy she just chatted with once. Would you? I don't think so. If someone chats last minute with a girl they just contacted once and then complains they had to wait extra, then they have no understanding of filipina time and should get a grip and realise he isn't in Kansas anymore.

While chatting in advance and making sure the girl will be available and willing to meet on the date and time you suggested helps, it's certainly no guarantee and excuses and delays sometimes happen. Every girl is different and should be treated separately. Always have plan B-C-D ready.

As to your comment "how DO they get to Church", most of the larger Churches have a dozen or more seperate masses each Sunday and most start at 4 or 5am with the last one late in the evening. No need to be on time if you miss one the next mass will be held in a hour or so.

I just can't understand how they will have a chance to make 1000 to 2000 or more depending on who you are. For them that is a lot of money I here stories of how many days they have to work for the same amount of money. You think they would be there early it is a buyers market we do have many to choose from. I wonder if they come 2 hours late for there job how long will they work there?

[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88; 1254019]WC,

As to your comment "how DO they get to Church", most of the larger Churches have a dozen or more seperate masses each Sunday and most start at 4 or 5am with the last one late in the evening. No need to be on time if you miss one the next mass will be held in a hour or so.[/QUOTE]And I also forgot to mention: when pilipino go to a movie at the theater (say, in the mall) , they show up at any given time they feel like. Say the movie starts at 4pm. 6pm. 8pm, and 10pm. Westerners will show up at 3:50pm to buy tickets for the 4pm show, and make sure they are inside and seated with popcorn before the show (to get good seats). If meeting others at the theater, we will "plan" a time to meet in the lobby. Not so with Filipino: they will show up at 4:55 (missing 55 minutes of the movie) , get tickets, enter and sit in the theater, and enjoy the second half of the movie. Then they will wait and stay in their seats after the movie ends, during the intermission, to catch the first half. If meeting friends at the theater, each person or group will simply show up at whatever time they show up, and hope to get seats inside near the other person / group. Absolutely nuts to know the ending of the flick before seeing the beginning! This should be a good primer for the newb as to Filipino concept of time.

[QUOTE=Bonkers1;1254033]I wonder if they come 2 hours late for there job how long will they work there?[/QUOTE]In her mind, she is not "late". She simply does not have the concept of 'punctuality' built into her. However, girls in manila and cebu are familiar with the word punctual (I know, because they misspell it). I've told them in advance to be punctual, and gotten a similar response as RK from the girl, while in YM chat: "oh ya. Your foriner." And in txt, after she has blown it, like RK's gal: "you foriner so punkshal. Why you so stupid." with these kinds of reasonings built into the girls, there is little in them to think that they are "late" for a meetup. On the other hand, she will not be late for a job interview for a regular job.

[QUOTE=Sammon; 1253701]Yes, Laptops cost money depending on make and model but most Phi buy it from pawnshops used very cheap. Why would they need laptops anyway? It is not like they are doing international business.

Give me a break. 5800 for a pair of shoes? Real nice girls settle for 400-500 pesos. My gf does not buy anything over 300 pesos.[/QUOTE]One time I was chatting with supposedly a virgin girl. She looked very pretty on cam and pics. She was ready to sell her virginity for long time support. She told me 30, 000 pesos per month. I guess even doctors in Phi

Do not earn that much. Phi girls do not have common sense to figure out what will be the right amount to ask for anything. Another girl wanted 5000 pesos for travel expenses to meet me in Manila. She lived one exit before Angeles city.

Anything they say needs to be taken with a grain of salt. I avoid all these girls. Only date and keep realistic girls who are extremely GFE and always happy whatever presents or money given.

[QUOTE=Bonkers1;1254033]I wonder if they come 2 hours late for there job how long will they work there?[/QUOTE]They often do so most employers FINE them for being late. Only then they realise that 2pm is 2pm in Manila, London, NY or Cebu. I often tell my dates I will have lunch at 1pm, if you are not there by 1pm I will ask the first good looking girl that I see if she wants to join me for lunch. If that girl says yes then you are out. So far this has worked for me

[QUOTE=Westcoast1;1254052]And I also forgot to mention: when pilipino go to a movie at the theater (say, in the mall) , they show up at any given time they feel like. [SNIP] Absolutely nuts to know the ending of the flick before seeing the beginning! This should be a good primer for the newb as to Filipino concept of time.[/QUOTE]Great point and I have had several experiences similar to what you described, and it brought back cringe-worthy memories of locals coming into the theater with 20mins left in the movie. Ugg LOL. That's another reason I NEVER go the movie theater on Sundays! The place is full of local 65+ who get in for free and don't care what movie they watch. They just enter a theater sit down watch for awhile, talk to there friends LOUDLY then if they decide they don't like the movie they get up and go see what's playing in the next theater. Freakin' non-stop musical chairs. They do not care if the movie is starting or almost over.

Time management is a foreign concept in the Philippines and it's rooted deep in the fabric of life. For example in most of the Western World a TV program starts on the hour or on the half hour. Example 1pm or 2:30pm and most run 30 mins or 1hr. There are exeptions for live sporting events, movies or a few shows that are presented on cable networks but over-all everything is very structured and defined.

In the Philippines a TV show can start whenever. Example 11:10am. 2:15pm. 4:50pm. It's all over the place with no set guidelines or parameters. That lack of structure is a perfect reflection of the society. Ask someone why the show starts at an odd time like 3:35pm and they look at you like your arm just fell off because no one ever questions why. They shrug there shoulders and say "it just does I dunno why" hehehe I dunno why either funny but true.

[QUOTE=Sammon; 1254055]One time I was chatting with supposedly a virgin girl. She looked very pretty on cam and pics. She was ready to sell her virginity for long time support. She told me 30, 000 pesos per month. I guess even doctors in Phi Do not earn that much. [SNIP][/QUOTE]You would be surprised how much some doctors in the Philippines make. Some are pulling in 10000p+ per day CASH and that doesn't even count the regular (small) Government salary and private insurance payments.

Bonkers, re: time=money. It is this way in the western world. Our income (and our desire for it) often dictates what we do, and at what times. We have little choice in what time to show up at work, or how many widgets we produce in an hour. It is indoctrinated even in the schooling process. However, in poor countries, there is little in the culture to indoctrinate this, as there are so many poor people, that time is what they have, and they cannot trade it for money (like we do in the west). Therefor, what seems obvious to us (time=money) is rarely considered there.

[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88;1254086]Time management is a foreign concept in the Philippines and it's rooted deep in the fabric of life.[/QUOTE]Well spoken. You can imagine that for peoples of simpler cultures in older times, such as hunters / gatherers, or farmers, time is thought of in terms of seasons, or months (moons) , or years (young person, adult, old person). There would be little reason for such people to think of hours or minutes, or to be punctual."Meet me tomorrow when the large tree shadow touches the river," seems an odd idea. Yet to us westerners, we live our lives by the clock (and productivity, another often-missing Filipino concept). Filipines has come out of that hunter / farmer phase in many ways now for some years, with large cities, factories and production, colleges, etc. They still fish / farm (as we do in the west) , but a good chunk of the population lives in metropolitan areas, yet they still hold tight to the older ways and concepts.

[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88;1254086]You would be surprised how much some doctors in the Philippines make. Some are pulling in 10000p+ per day CASH and that doesn't even count the regular (small) Government salary and private insurance payments.[/QUOTE]Interesting. Few years ago I was in a bar in manila. Upon pulling up to the urinal in the men's CR and starting to discharge my biz, an older pinoy began massaging my shoulders, unannounced. Your first thought is to elbow this guy in the mug and tell him to back off. He does it for tips. I declined his service and went on my way. An hour later, taking another [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] (not on a pinay haha) , I started chatting him up. He was a chirorpractor in the US for 20 years. He studied at a famous college there. He decided to go home and be with his family instead of staying in the US. He told me he makes enough in tips working in the CR at that bar on Fri / Sat nights that he does not have to work at anything else the rest of the week, and he takes care of his entire extended family.

On the other hand, a few years ago, there were articles in filipine newspapers about the exodus of filipine physicians who quit doctoring there, went to nursing school, and came to the US as nurses, making more than they could make as a doctor in phils.

[QUOTE=Westcoast1;1254160][SNIP]Interesting. Few years ago I was in a bar in manila. Upon pulling up to the urinal in the men's CR and starting to discharge my biz, an older pinoy began massaging my shoulders, unannounced. Your first thought is to elbow this guy in the mug and tell him to back off. He does it for tips. I declined his service and went on my way. An hour later, taking another [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] (not on a pinay haha) , I started chatting him up. He was a chirorpractor in the US for 20 years. He studied at a famous college there. He decided to go home and be with his family instead of staying in the US. He told me he makes enough in tips working in the CR at that bar on Fri / Sat nights that he does not have to work at anything else the rest of the week, and he takes care of his entire extended family.[/quote]Many other docs such as ENT's, gyno's and most specialists now request (unofficially of course) small cash payments from patients who require a same-day or next day appointments. Payment vary from 500-1000p each and add up fast when seeing dozens of patients every day. Some choose to wait the week or two before seeing the doctor for free but those that want faster access pay.

Some surgeons and disease specialists are now accepting cash payments from a few patients who require a more personal response. In exchange they get 24hr access to the doctor and are placed at the front of any list for operations or procedures. The family often pools or chips in for the extra expense to ensure the sick family member gets special attention. The payola system is alive and well in the Philippines.

Doctors such as dermo's that perform cosmetic procedures are raking in the cash hand over fist.

[quote]On the other hand, a few years ago, there were articles in filipine newspapers about the exodus of filipine physicians who quit doctoring there, went to nursing school, and came to the US as nurses, making more than they could make as a doctor in phils.[/QUOTE]Yep doctors who passed there board certification in the Philippines (notorious for low standards) must take additional courses and pass the Western board exam in order to practice medicine there. The test is often so difficult for Philippine doctors the easiest route to a good paying medical job in the West is the nurse route. Many general practitioners (GP's) in the Philippines are now nurses in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE and making good wages.