I'll be making my first return trip to Manila in about 3 years, on April 18 for about a week.
If anybody is in town and would like to join me for a few drinks, let me know.
Looking forward to this return for a while
Marty
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I'll be making my first return trip to Manila in about 3 years, on April 18 for about a week.
If anybody is in town and would like to join me for a few drinks, let me know.
Looking forward to this return for a while
Marty
[QUOTE=Marty251]I'll be making my first return trip to Manila in about 3 years, on April 18 for about a week.
If anybody is in town and would like to join me for a few drinks, let me know.
Looking forward to this return for a while
Marty[/QUOTE]
Hey Marty:
I will be in town for 4 nights starting 4/18. Staying near LA Cafe. I will PM you.
Anyone also wanting to meet in CEbu 4/22-4/27
then AC 4/30 to 5/4 I will be around for beers and bar runs.
English speaking working girls--what a novelty!!!
Have anyone been to or has any knowledge of the area I believe to the north of Manila called one hundred islands? Any information will be a great help.
[QUOTE=E 7789]Have anyone been to or has any knowledge of the area I believe to the north of Manila called one hundred islands? Any information will be a great help.[/QUOTE]
Apparently your search engine is broken.. here use mine...
[url]http://rossana2.multiply.com/photos/album/8/PHILIPPINES_-_ONE_HUNDRED_ISLAND_-_2003[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/3712/tcristy1.html[/url]
[url]http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/main.aspx[/url]
[url]http://travel.webshots.com/album/554714971RXYaBO[/url]
[url]http://www.asiatour.com/philippines/e-05nort/ep-nor13_c.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.alaminos.net/[/url]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czWDFN2bHsg[/url]
[url]http://www.philippinesvacation.org/pangasinan/hundred-islands-national-park/[/url]
Was this a mongering question?
AV
Of laptops and US border searches
Mark Rasch
UK Register
Monday, March 24, 2008
[url]http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/march2008/240308_b_laptops.htm[/url]
Recently, I was going through an airport with my shoes, coat, jacket, and belt off as well as with my carry-on bag, briefcase, and laptop all separated for easy inspection. I was heading through security at the Washington D.C., Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, or "National" as we locals call it. As I passed through the new magnetometer which gently puffed air all over my body - which to me seems to be a cross between a glaucoma test and Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - a TSA employee absent-mindedly asked if he could "inspect" my laptop computer. While the inspection was cursory, the situation immediately gave me pause: What was in my laptop anyway?
Similar thoughts must have gone through the head of Michael Timothy Arnold on July 17, 2005. He was having a bad day that was about to get much worse.
Arnold arrived at the International Arrivals Building at Los Angeles International Airport after a 20-hour flight from the Philippines. He might have looked like any other US traveler arriving from Manila after what he said was a three-week vacation visiting friends--tired, haggard, and casual. The Customs and Border Patrol agents were a bit suspicious, because they knew the Philippines is a haven for "sex tourism." They were also suspicious because Arnold could not remember the name of the company where he had once worked as a night auditor and appeared "fidgety." They demanded that Arnold power up his laptop, which the agents then examined for child pornography - which they ultimately found.
The Federal District Court rejected the government's argument that a search of a laptop is no different than rifling through luggage during arrivals inspection, and they suppressed the warrantless and essentially "suspicious-less" laptop search as unreasonable. The case was argued before the federal appellate court in October 2007 and a decision is imminent. The salient question: To what extent may customs, border, immigration, or other government officials search, mirror, copy, or analyze the contents of electronic gadgets with neither probable cause nor a warrant?
At the edge of law
It is clear that people traveling into and out of a country have a lower expectation of privacy at the border. Perhaps more accurately, a governmental search at the border is more likely to be considered "reasonable."
The agents get to do things they can't do if, for example, they simply stop you on the street. They can question you, they can rifle through your unmentionables, and even examine documents you are bringing with you. The agents can even disassemble your gas tank, looking for hidden compartments that you could be using to smuggle things. In the Arnold case, the government argued that its search authority at the border is "plenary" or unrestricted, except that to do an invasive body cavity search, it would have to have some kind of suspicion.
But searches of things? Well, they can do whatever they want it would seem.
The customs agents' job is to protect the nation from "anything harmful," to gather intelligence, prevent terrorism, and to enforce all of the laws, including child pornography and copyright laws. The computer is no different from any other "closed container" that the agent may search. Just as the agent needs no probable cause to search your underwear, they need no probable cause to rummage through your laptop. And besides, they are doing it to protect the country and enforce the laws and prevent terrorist attacks. You don't have any privacy rights at the border anyway, so what's the problem?
Same planet, different worlds
So, for example, is a computer the same as a briefcase or suitcase, under the law? I mean, if you don't want your stuff searched, don't bring it with you. You abandon your "expectation of privacy" at the border, right?
The government's position is as frightening as it is naíve. A computer is not the same thing as a briefcase. Nor, for that matter, is an iPod, a thumb drive, or a cell phone. It is both quantitatively and qualitatively different, and that makes all of the difference in this case. It seems that the government and the lower court are speaking past, and not at, each other. The government says, "We can do anything for any reason," and the court says, "No, you need reasonable suspicion to search a laptop."
Indeed, they are both wrong.
The consequences of the government's argument would be that they could, at the border, seize your daughter's iPod and lock her up if they thought the songs were not licensed. They could copy the entire contents of your computer, read your e-mail, medical records, communications with doctors, lawyers, or priests. They could examine deleted files, create a database of your friends and associates, and provide any or all of this information to the CIA, Interpol, the NSA, the FBI, or for that matter, the Iraqi intelligence services. All without probable cause, suspicion, or warrant, because you had the unmitigated gall to cross the border with your laptop.
Encrypting files on the laptop would be of little utility because, if they win their argument in another border search case in Vermont, they could compel you to provide them with the encryption key. The only thing you could do is not take your laptop or wipe it clean before you come back.
The consequences of the defendant's argument are likewise unappealing. If the government could not search computers at the border (or needed reasonable suspicion, which they don't need to search luggage), there is some merit to the argument that the computer will become the medium of choice for transporting contraband (although it's still easier to simply e-mail it to yourself.)
Luggage or laptop?
The government's argument is predicated on the assumption that a laptop is no different from any other container. Yet, that assumption is simply is not true.
Computers contain vast quantities of confidential and private information, communications, and relationships, for which most people would agree should be maintained with a reasonable expectation of privacy, even when they cross the border. While all of this information is entitled to legal protection against unreasonable (e.g. warrantless) searches by the government inside the country, some of it is entitled to even greater protection. Stored electronic communications, privileged materials, trade secrets, financial records, and other information are particularly protected against government intrusion.
While most people do not travel internationally with a copy of every chat they have ever had, or every Facebook friend's picture in their Samsonite, or every picture they have of their boyfriends or girlfriends, they have exactly this information on their laptops. They have their checkbook information, passwords, financial records, medical records, correspondence, records of books purchased, Web sites reviewed, and more. In short, communicative and expressive materials.
In 1958, the State of Alabama required the NAACP to provide it with the names and addresses of all of its members, a requirement that the Supreme Court held violated the expressive and due process rights of the organization. Yet, according to the current government's argument, if this information was contained somewhere on a laptop computer traveling across national borders, the information could be accessed, copied, and entered into a central depository, even absent of any evidence of criminal activity.
[QUOTE=Amavida]Apparently your search engine is broken.. here use mine...
[url]http://rossana2.multiply.com/photos/album/8/PHILIPPINES_-_ONE_HUNDRED_ISLAND_-_2003[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/3712/tcristy1.html[/url]
[url]http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/main.aspx[/url]
[url]http://travel.webshots.com/album/554714971RXYaBO[/url]
[url]http://www.asiatour.com/philippines/e-05nort/ep-nor13_c.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.alaminos.net/[/url]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czWDFN2bHsg[/url]
[url]http://www.philippinesvacation.org/pangasinan/hundred-islands-national-park/[/url]
Was this a mongering question?
AV[/QUOTE]No sir it was a question looking for maybe some mature first hand experience from one of you gentlemen. Mature is the key word there, makes me wonder why you would bother to respond.
[QUOTE=E 7789]Have anyone been to or has any knowledge of the area I believe to the north of Manila called one hundred islands? Any information will be a great help.[/QUOTE]Hi E,
The information that I am posting is over two years old and may not be timely. We left Manila by bus (Victory Liner) and it took about 5.5 hours to reach Alaminos. From there, we went to Lucap and we stayed at Hundred Islands Resort Hotel. We used the services of a boatman who was to take us island hopping. As you can appreciate, it is not possible to visit a lot of the islands and you have to specify to the guide where you want to visit. The islands which we did visit were Children's Island, Quezon Island, Govenor's Island, Marta Island ( a very pretty small island ). Marcos Island has a blowhole and a vertical shaft of rock, Scout Island and Quirino Island have caves, Cuenco Island has a cave traversing the length of the island. It is possible to stay overnight on some of the main islands.
I did find touring the islands very relaxing. There are a lot of coral reefs and natural beaches to see. You will be astounded by the scenic beauty and you will find your piece of paradise in the park. IMHO it is definitely worth a visit and I would go back.
All the best, wazza.
[QUOTE=E 7789]No sir it was a question looking for maybe some mature first hand experience from one of you gentlemen. Mature is the key word there, makes me wonder why you would bother to respond.[/QUOTE]
Ok, sorry I dont have firsthand knowledge of that area. Hope the info i gave was of some use. I looks like a wonderful place for a holiday away from the cities.
All the best,
AV
Hi folks,
I'm in Manila on business but got nothing to do over the long weekend (April 5-7). I've been in Manila a few times, but never had the time or urge to try the local scene, considering I live in LOS.
Might have a go at EDSA complex tonight, and depending what I find there, maybe hop on a bus to AC to spend the weekend there. If anyone is party to that , PM me!
Hi folks!
I'm in Manila on business, but stuck over the long weekend (April 5-7) with nothing to do. I've been in MNL several time but never had the time to try the local scene (I live in LOS so I'm pretty well served back home anyway).
So to make up for lost time, I plan to try out EDSA complex tonight, and depending on what I find there, maybe hop on a bus to AC for the weekend.
I anyone is party to either, please PM me!
I don't have much info on CP other than my CC always works, yet my brother in law tried all his 10+ cards and none of them worked. We're both in the US etc, but I finally ended up booking his ticket.
On PAL, there's a very easy work-around to the printed confirmation need, and that is to e-mail the confirmation have have your relative print it at any internet café. Obvious. Yes. but it didn't come through as that in an earlier post.
Hello,
I want to travel 10 days arround in the Philippines and I am still looking for Girly bars where I just can take a beer and look a show or dancing girlies.
I dont know the name of such clubs but in Pattaya they would call it a bikini club (but they often wear miniskirts and no bikini under it...) thats what I like.
Legaspie? Laoag? Kalibo?
Close to Pattaya is Cambodia....But the scene is completely different there.
In Philippines you have to ask what kind of bars you like (a bar to meet a kind of freelancers (LA cafe and G point in Manilla) , a bar with a line of girls just standing in a row to be picked out and buy ladiedrinks before you can talk (mostly expat owned and cheep-most in Bilbao what the most call ANgeles city) ,a bar with a few girls dancing or a bar with everytime one girl who does a kind of strip act(thats the local Pinay bar - mostly verry sleezy).Or maybe a noisy disco to meet a thing you dont know what it is.
I dont know your age - but because I am older (51) I kind of hate Thailand because they ask high prices to older people.
What I find a problem in Philippines is that you pay the same money for short time as for long time. You have to ask the girl if she WANTS to go out with you until next morning. But even is she sais yes she can leave you earlier or just give you no sex in the morning(even if you asked for it before paying).
You payed everything in advance (if she is a bar girl) so the only thing you can do is give no tips.
Other problem i have with Philippines (and cambodia) is - if you do like long time and if you take the same girl a few times it feels like being married for 10 years...They start to take care of you...hoping you marry them.
On a first 1 week vissit I would do 1 day Manilla (Malate Pension) , 2 days Sabang(beach)(Captain Grags) , 3 days Bilbao(Angeles City, American hotel)) and last day again Manila close to EDSA(Sogo hotel) to get the plain back.
I fully disagree with others that Downtown Cebu is unsafe.
But dont flash with expensive things and dont think a big mouth will help you there because you are between locals. If you can addapt to them they will start to take care of you as if you are one of them.
For me a no go area is Fuente Circel (too many poor children and dangerous papasans on the streets) and the only Girly bar there is way to expensive - only good for the happy hour drinks (silver dollar).
As good expatsplaces I would go only to Maxilon Avenue(BG, Viking the bars on the northside of the street have the best value).
Save and clean but compared to Bilbao and downtown Cebu a little boaring.
so if you have time over...but be prepared - whole Philippines is infested with dirty old stinkin Jeepneys and the toilets around Manilla are clean but in Cebu often verry verry dirty. Even in malls.
And also the food is different from Thailand and the wine is (like in Cambodia) affordable - so not the 600Bath price but more 3$. And the girls like to drink it with you on the balcony.....(most cannot afford it and like to try it)
Andre
[QUOTE=IrishPussyman]Hi All
I have posted on the Thailand forum about my up coming trip in May, which at the moment includes 2 full weeks in Pattaya, I have been to Thailand on a few occasions and usually do Pattaya for 3-4 days, so I have been thinking of splitting the 2 weeks into 1 week in Pattaya and 1 week in the Philippines, for a few reasons, I like to try somewhere new when ever I can and it is not to far from Thailand, now for my question for Philippine regulars if I come for one week I would like to stay in the one area and not change hotel, so for a potential first time visitor where would be the best place for a week to see some sights and have a good selection of nightlife opportunities where I would be likely to find other like minded mongers.
Possible dates would be May 30 for 7 nights.
Will there be any philippine regulars around those dates?
Thank you
IPM[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Andre Cuipers]
.....but they often wear miniskirts and no bikini under it... thats what I like.
[/QUOTE]
Now you're talking !! I havent read any recent reports on bars like this in Phils, are there any?
If so where guys...???, cos Im off to buy a plane ticket ;)
Cheers, F/Fifty
[QUOTE=Fifty Fifty][QUOTE=Andre Cuipers]
.....but they often wear miniskirts and no bikini under it... thats what I like.
QUOTE]
Now you're talking !! I havent read any recent reports on bars like this in Phils, are there any?
If so where guys...???, cos Im off to buy a plane ticket ;)
Cheers, F/Fifty[/QUOTE]
There are a bunch where they dance fully nude. Most that I know of are in Pasay and QC but I know there are others.