General Info

Due to the Pope's visit the government has directed the mobile service providers disrupt service intermittently. I was without service for a couple of hours yesterday and again this morning.

"We apologize for the temporary interruption of mobile phone services last night which was ordered by government authorities in the interest of public safety. Please bear with us if similar situations occur in the next few days during the Papal visit. ".

[URL]http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/16/15/no-signal-smart-globe-apologize-service-disruption[/URL]

I was just out for lunch in Robinsons Ermita, still no mobile network, it sucks.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1669625]Due to the Pope's visit the government has directed the mobile service providers disrupt service intermittently. I was without service for a couple of hours yesterday and again this morning.

"We apologize for the temporary interruption of mobile phone services last night which was ordered by government authorities in the interest of public safety. Please bear with us if similar situations occur in the next few days during the Papal visit. ".

[URL]http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/16/15/no-signal-smart-globe-apologize-service-disruption[/URL][/QUOTE]Bizarrely I received a text message from Globe saying it was adding cell sites to make sure the speed and coverage for the visit would be improved as so many would be using the network.

Now if they can do that for the Pope's visit why not always (? Oh yes means investment which some don't want to do unless the consumer foots the bill for it plus extras or someone can't get the 'bung' big enough maybe LOL).

Can one buy the morning after pill. Often called Plan B in the USA, in the Philippines? Just in case of an accident?

Is a prescription necessary?

Thanks!

Forest, I got this off a webpage sometime ago and stuck it in my Dropbox:

It is surprising that many Filipinos still don't know much about the morning-after pill. There are several regular contraceptive pills you can use for this purpose: Lady, Microgynon 30, Nordette, Rigevidon 21+7, Trinordiol, Tri-Regol, Nordiol 21, Femenal, Logynon. Those pills either have a combination of Levonorgestrel / Estradiol or Norgestrel / Estradiol. The amounts of hormones also vary among brands thus there are different dosages for these pills. For example:

*Lady, Microgynon, Nordette - 4 tabs taken as soon as possible after coitus (not more than 72 hrs) then 4 more tabs taken 12 hrs later.

*Femenal - 2 tabs within 72 hrs then another 2 tabs 12 hrs later.

The most common reactions are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps. The nausea can be very severe but they subside after a day. There are more serious side effects like stroke (usually among smokers) but the incidence is rare.

2 tabs of Bonamine one hour before taking the pills can lessen the nausea and vomiting which are common side-effects.

[QUOTE=Forest;1672157]Can one buy the morning after pill. Often called Plan B in the USA, in the Philippines? Just in case of an accident?

Is a prescription necessary?

Thanks![/QUOTE]I use to carry that with me in my bag of tricks before my vasectomy luckily I never had to use it. I brought it from the US. Having it in your hands is the simple part. Getting the girl to take is is the real challange. Be prepared for some fireworks. Giving her that is basically saying 'take these * so we can kill pur / your baby!" that's what she will hear. Most Pinay would refuse to take those, especially if they are young and childless. I'd say 90% of the them I have been with over there. Evens ones you just met. Older ladies with kids, hardened pros and more educated ones may be more flexible but I don't have as much experience with them.

[QUOTE=David_33;1672161]It is surprising that many Filipinos still don't know much about the morning-after pill.[/QUOTE]Actually its surprising when Pinays know anything about any form of birth control or even understand their fertility cycle. Their mindset is more like the post WWII generation here in the US in my parents time.

What is best, to show up with US dollars or use the ATM's in the Airport for initial pesos?

[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1672395]What is best, to show up with US dollars or use the ATM's in the Airport for initial pesos?[/QUOTE]Cash. Why? You'll have an ATM fee of p200 charged by the ATM's bank. Your bank will also charge you a fee. Or two. Then you have the exchange rate, which in my experience is not as good as what the money changer will give you. Contact your bank to inform them you'll be using your credit / debit card overseas and to ask about the fee(s).

Note: there has been a lot written in ISG's Philippine threads about ATM fees so dig back and you may find relevant recommendations about which bank(s) to use.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1672418]Cash. Why? You'll have an ATM fee of p200 charged by the ATM's bank. Your bank will also charge you a fee. Or two. Then you have the exchange rate, which in my experience is not as good as what the money changer will give you. Contact your bank to inform them you'll be using your credit / debit card overseas and to ask about the fee(s). [/QUOTE]I work for various short assignments in all of the ASEAN countries plus Mongolia, and I have a contrary view to Hutsori's (except for his important advice to make sure your bnk knows that you are using your card in X countries).

In all of my travels over the past 21 years, I ALWAYS use ATMs, because I am not charged bank fees and the forex from my bank for ATM withdrawals and credit purchases is always as good as the money changers. I carry $200 usd in cash (some in small bills) in case the ATM (s) at the airport is (are) not working and I need some form of cash currency.

I use HSBC (account based in Philippines).

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1672434]I work for various short assignments in all of the ASEAN countries plus Mongolia, and I have a contrary view to Hutsori's (except for his important advice to make sure your bnk knows that you are using your card in X countries).

In all of my travels over the past 21 years, I ALWAYS use ATMs, because I am not charged bank fees and the forex from my bank for ATM withdrawals and credit purchases is always as good as the money changers. I carry $200 usd in cash (some in small bills) in case the ATM (s) at the airport is (are) not working and I need some form of cash currency.

I use HSBC (account based in Philippines).[/QUOTE]Red is correct because (I assume) he did his due diligence and choose his bank wisely. I suspect for many here their homeland banks don't offer such desirably advantageous-to-the-traveler terms. I was getting screwed on fees and the exchange rate using the ATMs before I used my noggin, jumped ship, opened a local account, and transfer large sums from overseas periodically. This is why I mentioned one ought to contact one's bank to find out what fees will be levied.

[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1672395]What is best, to show up with US dollars or use the ATM's in the Airport for initial pesos?[/QUOTE]Its always good practice to have and use all available.

Have cash available as credit cards and ATMs go down every now and then.

Use ATMs (bank cards that don't charge a fee I use a debit card) as needed keeping a good stash of cash in case of emergency.

Storms roll in and out of there at will. You need to make sure you have enough cash on hand to survive if you get stuck.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1672418]Cash. Why? You'll have an ATM fee of p200 charged by the ATM's bank. Your bank will also charge you a fee. Or two. Then you have the exchange rate, which in my experience is not as good as what the money changer will give you. Contact your bank to inform them you'll be using your credit / debit card overseas and to ask about the fee(s).

Note: there has been a lot written in ISG's Philippine threads about ATM fees so dig back and you may find relevant recommendations about which bank(s) to use.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the Info. I did read back in the forum on this regarding fees, so opened both a Captitolone360 and a Charlesswab account, but I find the Captiol360 charge some fees. So I opened a CS account. It should be active today. I will test it out to see how long the transfer takes and stuff. I will also, bring cash.

[QUOTE=Transporter;1672460]Its always good practice to have and use all available.

Have cash available as credit cards and ATMs go down every now and then.

Use ATMs (bank cards that don't charge a fee I use a debit card) as needed keeping a good stash of cash in case of emergency.

Storms roll in and out of there at will. You need to make sure you have enough cash on hand to survive if you get stuck.[/QUOTE]Awesome and insightful advice my man. I will keep it close!!

[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1672578]Awesome and insightful advice my man. I will keep it close!![/QUOTE]Less than a month, my loins are aching.

[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1672549]Thanks for the Info. I did read back in the forum on this regarding fees, so opened both a Captitolone360 and a Charlesswab account, but I find the Captiol360 charge some fees. So I opened a CS account. It should be active today. I will test it out to see how long the transfer takes and stuff. I will also, bring cash.[/QUOTE]Glad I checked, when I opened the account. It take 3 days when making a deposit. So I will have to consider when I transfer to checking from brokerage, it takes 3 days to clear to checking account. But it is free in the Charles Swaub, FYI.