General Info

Great comments! I may pass through Cebu after Boracay.

Your friends geography knowledge reminds me of the time last year when I was passing thru immigration at the Cartagena airport and a $10 bill from Croatia fell out my passport. I said incorrectly it was a Bosnian bill but the gal corrected me because
the bill had a picture of the parliament building in Zagreb and she identified Zagreb as the capital of Croatia.

Maybe your friend should apply for a job in immigrations?

[QUOTE=BrainDrain;1659446]Are you going back via Cebu by any chance? There is a girl there whom I have dated (unsuccessfully) a few times whom is a geography nutcase, name a county and she knows the capital and population. Amazing.

When I say unsuccessfully that's in the context of actual penetration as BBBJ and CIM is apparently not sex and she's saving herself (apparently).

Happy days.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1659437]As an aside, Philippines culture doesn't handle being alone very well either. Hence the lack of concern about your supposedly dead wife.[/QUOTE]In fact, if you know enough Pinays, you will know calling a person dead also means they broke up / had arguments / just hate the person.

And when you answer the 'how did the person die' thing, that's also common.

Like a girl, who's best friend had a fight, so I asked girl A, where is your friend, she goes "she died" . And then I ask how, and she goes. Car accident.

Only a few months later when the friend called did I know they had a serious argument and as far as girl A is concerned, her friend is dead!

Pretty normal talk.

Well it is if you read this article which I did and found interesting, amusing and at the same depressing. As the writer says, Filipinos are a happy bunch who think the world is OK as they watch TV and the Pope is coming (why are there holidays in NCR for his visit, more downtime for the thriving economy IMHO).

The list of issues is very long and very depressing. Many who have lived here a long time will be better placed to comment but it missed off the Czech Ambassador story and few more but maybe he ran out of column inches LOL.

[URL]http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014/12/24/1406102/phl-among-top-10-worsened-states[/URL]

The working days over the next few weeks are very limited.

Dec 25 Thursday. Holiday.

Dec 26 Friday. A holiday also.

Dec 27 weekend.

Dec 28 weekend.

Dec 29 open for business.

Dec 30 open for business.

Dec 31 . Wednesday. For some a holiday.

Jan 1st Thursday. Holiday.

Jan 2nd Friday. Also a holiday for some.

Jan 3rd and 4th weekend.

Jan 5th to 9th normal work.

Jan 10 -11 weekend.

Jan 12 open for business.

Jan 13th open for business.

Jan 14th open for business.

Jan 15. Thursday. Holiday. Pope arrives.

Jan 16. Friday Holiday.

Jan 17-18 weekend.

Jan 19th Monday is a holiday as this is the day the pope departs. ? Like that requires a holiday?

ATM's will be out of order nationwide as banks will be closed for most of the next few weeks.

Members on the ground may know of a slightly different schedule. The above was given to me by a Makati resident.

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1660133]
Jan 15. Thursday. Holiday. Pope arrives.

Jan 19th Monday is a holiday as this is the day the pope departs. ? Like that requires a holiday?[/QUOTE]Without relevance whatsoever I find it funny there have been 13 popes called themself pope Innocent. Historicaly one of the most pop (e) ular names for popes from St Peter until the present pope. On the other hand there is only one pope Hilari (o) us. We all know and read about ministers and leaders of the catholic church beeing far from innocent. I wonder how the traffic situation will be in the areas the pope will visit?.

[QUOTE=Skogis;1660138] I wonder how the traffic situation will be in the areas the pope will visit?.[/QUOTE]Don't even want to think about it! I had the misfortune to be in Manila during the last papal visit of John Paul II, twenty years ago. It was horrendous then particularly on the day he arrived and there were fewer vehicles on the road then. If you have any plans regarding arriving or leaving Manila on Jan 15, I suggest you change them now if you want to retain your sanity.

[QUOTE=CunningStunt;1660153]Don't even want to think about it! I had the misfortune to be in Manila during the last papal visit of John Paul II, twenty years ago. It was horrendous then particularly on the day he arrived and there were fewer vehicles on the road then. If you have any plans regarding arriving or leaving Manila on Jan 15, I suggest you change them now if you want to retain your sanity.[/QUOTE]I had the pleasure of being stuck in the airport on a cathay flight waiting to depart during last visit. There were 20 planes all ready to pushback but we all had to wait because Popeys plane was deemed to have priority over all airspace in Philippines.

And sure enough, he was seriously late as all the ass I mean ring kissers wanted a last lick.

Departed 4 hours late.

Happy Christmas all. Those of you lucky enough to tuck into the traditional Noche Buena supper of spaghetti (How??? Really, how???) enjoy the night with your girl(s).

[QUOTE=CunningStunt;1660153]Don't even want to think about it! I had the misfortune to be in Manila during the last papal visit of John Paul II, twenty years ago. It was horrendous then particularly on the day he arrived and there were fewer vehicles on the road then. If you have any plans regarding arriving or leaving Manila on Jan 15, I suggest you change them now if you want to retain your sanity.[/QUOTE]Thanks God no. But 15 of Jan was actually one datum me likely to arrive MNL. If not his phil visit is advertised in news over here where I stay it is highly unlikely I would noticed until I stood there with both my feet and swinging john on phil soil. Except from WR's news links I hardly don't follow phil news. Ok, I ban the hole period of his stay and either arrive (1) WELL before the pope (building my barricades in my apt) or (2) well after he's gone. "The pope and I have very different MO".

Thanks for the upbeat link. It'll be even better in 2015.

[QUOTE=Skogis;1660230]Thanks God no. But 15 of Jan was actually one datum me likely to arrive MNL. If not his phil visit is advertised in news over here where I stay it is highly unlikely I would noticed until I stood there with both my feet and swinging john on phil soil. Except from WR's news links I hardly don't follow phil news. Ok, I ban the hole period of his stay and either arrive (1) WELL before the pope (building my barricades in my apt) or (2) well after he's gone. "The pope and I have very different MO".[/QUOTE]For those of you who must venture to MNL during the Pope's visit see the links below as gives an idea of the closed roads and NAIA times when arrivals / departure are disrupted (well more disrupted). Yes it will be hell and misery, but thankfully a trip overseas was postponed as I was due to fly through Manila during the Pope's visit and I really was not looking forward to that experience.

[URL]http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/popefrancis/story/394518/closed-roads-suspended-arrivals-during-pope-s-visit[/URL]

[URL]http://www.dwdd.com.ph/2014/12/major-roads-around-naia-to-be-closed-during-arrival-departure-of-pope-francis/[/URL]

And it says in one that T3 and T4 will be "inaccessible" so there are shuttle buses. Joy to the world! LOL.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1660212]Happy Christmas all. Those of you lucky enough to tuck into the traditional Noche Buena supper of spaghetti (How??? Really, how???) enjoy the night with your girl(s).[/QUOTE]Was chuckling at this as I tucked into Filet de Boeuf Wellington, créme brûlée and a lovely bottle of Moët et Chandon Rosé at my favorite French restaurant here in Davao. About as far removed from Filipino spaghetti as possible.

GE.

Thanks FreebieFan for the update on the closing dates. Point taken on the potential difficulties getting cash from ATMs and Banks, and thanks to the others who posted about airport issues.

But what about the fun places in Angeles and elsewhere, will they be closed during the papal visit, or operating on a more limited basis?

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1660133]The working days over the next few weeks are very limited.

Dec 25 Thursday. Holiday.

Dec 26 Friday. A holiday also.

Dec 27 weekend.

Dec 28 weekend.

Dec 29 open for business.

Dec 30 open for business.

Dec 31 . Wednesday. For some a holiday.

Jan 1st Thursday. Holiday.

Jan 2nd Friday. Also a holiday for some.

Jan 3rd and 4th weekend.

Jan 5th to 9th normal work.

Jan 10 -11 weekend.

Jan 12 open for business.

Jan 13th open for business.

Jan 14th open for business.

Jan 15. Thursday. Holiday. Pope arrives.

Jan 16. Friday Holiday.

Jan 17-18 weekend.

Jan 19th Monday is a holiday as this is the day the pope departs. ? Like that requires a holiday?

ATM's will be out of order nationwide as banks will be closed for most of the next few weeks.

Members on the ground may know of a slightly different schedule. The above was given to me by a Makati resident.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=IbnButtita;1660486]Thanks FreebieFan for the update on the closing dates. Point taken on the potential difficulties getting cash from ATMs and Banks, and thanks to the others who posted about airport issues.

But what about the fun places in Angeles and elsewhere, will they be closed during the papal visit, or operating on a more limited basis?[/QUOTE]Te ATM's don't work? Whats does one do when the ATM's are out in Phils??

[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1660561]Te ATM's don't work? Whats does one do when the ATM's are out in Phils??[/QUOTE]Make sure that you have enough in advance I guess. Forewarned in forearmed etc. As soon as they are out of cash, refills are very slow especially when its a holiday. Banks are closed so refilling system is usually closed too.

If you are staying in a decent hotel you can always get a cash advance from your hotel for a fee. They just add it to your bill.