General Info

[QUOTE=Pute Nut]Usually I have paid around 2-300 pesos each for unlocking, and I didn't bring any girl lol.

The white skin tax is usually optional. Just smile and joke a little and take your time negotiating. In 90% of the cases you WILL get filipino price, or even better sometimes. If the vendor is in the 10% hardhead cat, just move on. There's not exactly a shortage of vendors in PI.[/QUOTE]

Very true on all points. My Pinoy wife is a born bargainer. If she's with me, I stay out of the way and often out-of-sight. If she doesn't get the right price, I wait for her to move off and then I move in. Sometimes I do better, surprising her. Sometimes nothing will work (especially with those from one particular non-western specific religeous belief - that's not an ethnic slur, just an observation of local reality similarily well known by Pinoys). Yes, if you can't bargain in one place, move to the next one until you get a decent price. Anyone who _doesn't_ bargain is labeled a fool as they walk away stupidly poorer. Sorry, this doesn't work at Petron and Shell. :-)
[QUOTE=Pute Nut]
BTW for cigs your best buy will probably be buying whole cartons at Makro for instance. They have a fixed price, locally made Marlboros will be like 240 pesos for a carton of 10 packs, for example.
Enjoy PI[/QUOTE]

Sh*t I tossed my receipt, but RFC is just over P240 Marlboros soft-pack - on credit-card! Cash price at Malvar is P237.25 right now. Makro is about the same, yes, cash-only, but you have to show some "proof" that you have a local biz licence to get Makro membership, though Makro is hungry for biz so that shouldn't be too much of a problem unless you run into some protocal-brainwashed-hard-head clerk.

[QUOTE=Lorenz]I just would like to know if it is possible to find generic Viagra/Cialis (like Vigora, Zeagra, Camagra, Tada, ect. etc.) in the Philippines (Cebu City and smaller cities).
How much does it cost for 4 - 100 mg tablets?
L.[/QUOTE]

Obviously you've not bothered to read all my and others comments on that, so one more time, if you're in any tourist-prone area (like Malate) you will be deluged by offers to sell you such. I wouldn't be inclined much to trust any of them for anything I would injest, nor would I want to injest any of it, but reportedly some do. Price, I have no idea, I just do my best to make them understand I'm not a tourist and I'm a terrible target for their "sales" endeavors. If you want a *guess*, I'd bet it's probably less than a prescription in a western country, which here is way too much.

You really need that stuff ???

[QUOTE=Cebu Local]Yes ,Better to play safe,But again a guy should not be doing 10 year olds,That is wrong and illegal to the greatest majority of people,somehow I dont have much sympathy for guys caught banging 10 year old kids.Just my PERSONAL opinion[/QUOTE]

Grabe! No excuse for that sort of s*it. Give them a chance to get a few years past puberty! Besides, if they haven't had a local boyfriend initiate them, why the hell would someone want that task? Better, much much better to be #2 and make their life much better than their #1 did.

The other night my (PNP) friend told me he wants to give me a 15-year-old birthday present next time around. 15? Ok, I respect his desire to be good to me (and yes, I know him well enough that it's not a trap, anything but), but hey, 15!!!! I'm trying to figure out how to just sway him into a night out with some 17-year-olds, or maybe even 22-with-half-a-clue.

Anyone abusing 10-year-olds should get what they deserve with no sympathy from anyone I know.

[QUOTE=X Man]Although we all have heard the bar girl sob stories and assume it's all bllsht, this is a seriously impoverished country. Just last week in Cebu I was hanging out with a girl and we went back to her place for a change of clothes. I've seen these places before and it never fails to amaze me. ....
** Hmmm, maybe that's why she spent three days with me, no barfine, never asked for a penny, and no rules except, "don't fk my friends or coworkers". [/QUOTE]

Most Pinays, whether recently from the province, or when they were little, or their parents came from the province, are simply hoping for a better life. In all too many cases, their most immediate desire is to get their first decent meal in 4 days, and thereafter to feed and clothe (never mind educate) their kids and dream to someday help their families. No wonder they look at foreigners as their only possible hope, most often having been taken for an abusive ride by some deadbeat Pinoy kid. If you want a good one, then thee hard part is to pick out the ones who've not been too hardned by their life before they meet you. Then you'll have someone who really would like to fall in love and dreams of some chance to do so with a decent guy. If you find such a girl (there are literally milllions!) then treat her well and if you choose well she'll do the same for you. Just don't take her overseas to be "westernized" unless you already truly have a life-partner.

More than once I've handed a decent girl a few hundred or more pesos in return for nothing more than her appreciation for her daughter's birthday or some very immediate need. At the same time, those who read my postings know very well "koriput ko" when it comes to paying for "services" but I'm totally stupid and mushy when it comes to helping someone really deserving and in need.

The above of course doesn't apply to sex-tourists, who match up perfecly with the hard-core sexworkers at some ridiculous per-shot payout.

[QUOTE=X Man]** Hmmm, maybe that's why she spent three days with me, no barfine, never asked for a penny, and no rules except, "don't fk my friends or coworkers".
[/QUOTE]

Another followup to this specific point. I have at least 3 and if I was to try to remember surely more long-time female friends who have pointedly told me they would not be at all offended if I go with someone else while they're "busy", and offhand I now remember that #1, 3, & 4 tried very hard to instroduce me to friends to keep me happy until they could get around to renewing old pleasures with me. Then again, we're all honest with each other, have real-life conversations, etc. That's what good friends do, eh?

[QUOTE=New Kid]Actually this phrase is actually what is known in Filipino slang as "Taglish" as in "Tag-Lish" as in "Tagalog + English".
... mainly used this to make themselves know as belonging to the upper level strata of Filipino society. You could hear this kind of talk among filipinos/filipinas in the Metro-Manila area such as Makati, Ortigas, Alabang etc.[/QUOTE]

This goes back a couple or 3 years, it may have changed, but I rememer the PLDT customer service menu was "English, Tagalog, or 'taglish'", and I've also seen 'taglish' on an ATM menu, don't rememer which bank. Was amused at the time.

It appears that it may be getting easier to bring that special girl over to the USA if she is a Nurse. Or even better, maybe there is the possibility of meeting that Filipina without having to fly half way around the world.

[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/24/world/americas/24nurses.html?ex=1149134400&en=f1aed1614303bada&ei=5059&partner=AOL[/url]

As for the PNP giving out birthday gifts,Never think that they will not try to set you up and extort money's from you.Never forget that anything under 18 yrs old will get you TWENTY in the big house.And who wants to eat fishheads and rice three times per day in jail.

Think more,Play Safer.

B.B.

[QUOTE=Bill Buxton]As for the PNP giving out birthday gifts,Never think that they will not try to set you up and extort money's from you.Never forget that anything under 18 yrs old will get you TWENTY in the big house.And who wants to eat fishheads and rice three times per day in jail.[/QUOTE]

Depends on the individual. Some make their "living" a bit beyond the edge more than others, and that's not just limitd to PNP but to all right down to traffic enforcers and office clerks. I have some friends at all levels, but at the same time one particular traffic-"enforcer" and I exchange knowing glances every time we pass each other. I just happen to now know where he "earns" his living and how and how to ensure he can't trap me for BS again.

On the other hand, I completely trust certain friends in uniform here with my life. I'm still alive.

[QUOTE=Bill Buxton]
Think more,Play Safer.[/QUOTE]

Yup!!!!!!

Never fall for anyone trying to get you a gal that you think you can trust. What I am saying is you befrend a cop or other official and they might see a way to get some revenue from the deal. Use your head "on top" and you will be fine. Things here are just loie at home, think before you strike and never forget you are a walking "ATM" and everyone knows that you can get money if you need it.

My girlfrend lost her passport in a taxi in manila and went to the police in subic to get a report. She needed a report to get her new passport, and the law there asked if she had a boyfrend here? She answered "yes" where is her from they saked? She said America, they told her if she ever had trouble with me to come see them and they would help her. What they saw was a chance to get some cash for her and them. After all when was the last time you went to mickey-D'S and had a happy meal looking at a guy with a "twelve gauge shotgun hanging from his shoulder". People are people wherever you go, never let your guard down and allways look around you and get a feel for the area.

They take your picture and send it to guys down the street you have never ever seen before. The cell phone is a great tool in the hands of scammer. Just do not be over trusting with anyone even guys from your own country.

I trusted a guy at the maii in manila to fix my cell and after he got it in his hand he walked out around the counter and ran from the store! Thats how fast things happen you never know. From sails clerk to on the fly cell phone thief in the mall!

Be ready, Play safe. B. B.

[QUOTE=Bill Buxton]Never fall for anyone trying to get you a gal that you think you can trust. What I am saying is you befrend a cop or other official and they might see a way to get some revenue from the deal. Use your head "on top" and you will be fine
[/QUOTE]

Well, depends. My long-time neighbor has always paid back every centavo I've lent him to help him out in the past, and he's as likely to buy me drinks at his house as I might if he walks over here. But that's *my* neighbor, when we get together and party at our homes out here in the province. Not only did he offer, but much later when I took him up on it he also helped me out with one little problem. Another time he chided me for not calling him on the spot so that he could tell a street cop not to hit on me for Christmas cash. Recently when there was serious political trouble brewing he made a point of warning me to stay home one particular day, just in case, especially if I might notice that the TV stations might go off the air at the same time as all cellfone service stops working. Fortunately all I noticed the next day on TV was that by strange coincidence some coup plotters had been arrested, and he came back from "alert" safe and we shared some beer, with no further mention of that.

Is the person you know one who will seize your drivers licence, or is he who will rescue it for you from the bad guys? There's a world of difference between the two.

Maybe the difference is that he's a neighbor and friend who happens to wear a uniform when he goes to work, not just someone in a uniform who wants to pretend to befriend you. Certainly be very vary of the latter, as my neighbor himself advises his real friends.

I'm going to Manila for 1st time in December for 2 weeks. Can you tell me the best way to spend my time and also where to meet like minded blokes to hook up with while i'm there?

Tthanks in advance.

Jeff

[QUOTE=Splottboy]I'm going to Manila for 1st time in December for 2 weeks. Can you tell me the best way to spend my time and also where to meet like minded blokes to hook up with while i'm there?

Tthanks in advance.

Jeff[/QUOTE]I spent lots of time in Barrio Baretto,many retired guys there and not very expensive. There are many hotels,restaurants,bars with out and with gals.The crime rate is Nil and the owners of most places there are interactive with customers. Many owners from all over the world, sweeds, aussi, american, ect. Good mix and quite friendly area. Always remember if you ask a group of guy's a question and there are 12 guys there you will almost always get 10-12 different answers. Why? who knows?just use common sense and think for yourself. Filter out the BS to beer ratio and you can decide what advice best fits you.

B.B.

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[QUOTE=CanContrib]This goes back a couple or 3 years, it may have changed, but I rememer the PLDT customer service menu was "English, Tagalog, or 'taglish'", and I've also seen 'taglish' on an ATM menu, don't rememer which bank. Was amused at the time.[/QUOTE]

That's still the same and almost all ATM's I used include the taglish language option. Actually they have no tagalog option .. which isn't that strange cause many of the words used in the ATM screens don't have a tagalog translation. They have to use english terms to make it work.