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[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1757368]MB I took this pic about 4 weeks ago in Cebu. The rate was at that time about as good as one could find anywhere in phils. The only better rate I saw was in Manila for 45.05 p on the USD.[/QUOTE]On 10th July I was in Cebu and the rate was $1 usd = 44.50 where as I exchanged from Pasay, Manila $1 usd = 45.05.
[QUOTE=MuaTur;1757340]Not only Mactan Airport, all over the Cebu provides crappy exchange rate relatively than Manila. As we expect the bank exchange rate should be same all over the nation. But Philippine or Cebu is different; provides lower rate than Manila.
So on my 2nd visit to Cebu I took enough php from Manila just to skip crappy exchange behavior.[/QUOTE]Why would you expect the exchange rate to be the same all over the nation? Each private exchange house has its own operating expenses and cost of doing business.
What is crappy rate? 1/4 of peso difference? The exchange kiosk in Ayala Mall / Cebu has always had a good rate.
[QUOTE=Dg8787;1757373]Why would you expect the exchange rate to be the same all over the nation? Each private exchange house has its own operating expenses and cost of doing business.
What is crappy rate? 1/4 of peso difference? The exchange kiosk in Ayala Mall / Cebu has always had a good rate.[/QUOTE]Dear fella,
I didn't said private exchange counters. I mentioned Bank Exchange rates. So far I know Bank Exchange rates are set up by the Central bank of the nation and for every enlisted banks all over the country.
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1757368]MB I took this pic about 4 weeks ago in Cebu. The rate was at that time about as good as one could find anywhere in phils. The only better rate I saw was in Manila for 45.05 p on the USD.[/QUOTE]Did you take your picture at Mactan Airport? I was talking about the arrivals hall. Now I remember in Departures there is an Exchange place also but I did not pay attention.
[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1757451]Did you take your picture at Mactan Airport? I was talking about the arrivals hall. Now I remember in Departures there is an Exchange place also but I did not pay attention.[/QUOTE]I am always amused by the guys who will spend anything up to an hour or two looking for a better forex rate, and who believe there is a difference between 45.00 and 45.05.
$1000 usd = 45,000 php or 45,050 php. Is it worth the running around trying to get a better rate?
I travel all around SE Asia for work and I use ATMs in every country to pull cash from my dollar account held with HSBC in the Philippines. With HSBC I don't pay any fees because of the way my account is structured, and the exchange rate is always much better just drawing down cash as I need it through the ATM.
I've walked another block for the extra dollar, but your point is taken. I've also walked an extra block and then had to walk back. And on one occasion the rates had changed in the five minutes of walking back and forth. LOL.
I'm a little confused about the last part of your post. Are you saying that using your HSBC ATM card you end up saving money compared to using cash exchanged at a money changer?
[QUOTE=RedKilt;1757515]SNIP
I travel all around SE Asia for work and I use ATMs (SNIP) HSBC (SNIP) and the exchange rate is always much better just drawing down cash as I need it through the ATM.[/QUOTE]My SNIPs are just to show how I read the passage. It sounds like you are comparing ATM to ATM.
[QUOTE=RedKilt;1757515]I am always amused by the guys who will spend anything up to an hour or two looking for a better forex rate, and who believe there is a difference between 45.00 and 45.05.
$1000 usd = 45,000 php or 45,050 php. Is it worth the running around trying to get a better rate?
I travel all around SE Asia for work and I use ATMs in every country to pull cash from my dollar account held with HSBC in the Philippines. With HSBC I don't pay any fees because of the way my account is structured, and the exchange rate is always much better just drawing down cash as I need it through the ATM.[/QUOTE]Indeed. I banked with HSBC for years and was amazed by their rates and the smoothness of operation considering that branch was in the (Fort Bonifacio) Philippines.
[QUOTE=RedKilt;1757515]I am always amused by the guys who will spend anything up to an hour or two looking for a better forex rate, and who believe there is a difference between 45.00 and 45.05.
$1000 usd = 45,000 php or 45,050 php. Is it worth the running around trying to get a better rate?[/QUOTE]And they probably need an extra drink after running around in the heat for hours, which will cost them more than 50 PhP. LOL!
[QUOTE=XMan;1757538]I<SNIP>
I'm a little confused about the last part of your post. Are you saying that using your HSBC ATM card you end up saving money compared to using cash exchanged at a money changer?
[/QUOTE]Yes. I have just returned from a 62-day trip and I paid no commission and the steady forex rate worked out better for me. And I had no hassles either making sure I wasn't duped by the money changer.
The Motivation:
Finally I found myself be able to post my first FR about Philippine. It was due from long time since the two weeks long trip was been made in mid February of this year. Please be noted that the girls I met in this whole trip none are from P4P scene. All are I met from different dating sites like DIA, Tagged and Phili Cupid. I have to confess that I am not a person who feel comfort with the P4P girls or the P4P girls find themselves non suitable with me (It was been proven again in my last AC tour). Finally I found myself under a guided tour for the places I visited in Philippine. I had visited Manila, AC, Bacolod and Cebu in this time and in every place my girl was waiting for me in my arrival point. So my FR (s) are going to post in their respective pages. In my FR I am going to include the date I started my voyage; even I was in China on that day. Just because of these days were dedicated for Philippine.
The Voyage:
Couple of days before 14 Feb'15, the peoples I work with in China informed me that their office is going to close for New Year Spring Festival until 27 Feb'15. So what I am going to do in these long holidays. The plan was already cemented before, what I will do and I asked them to make my ticket for Manila. I want to stay in Philippine all along the festival time. They gladly obliged. Soon my wide smile vaporized when they told me there are no direct flights on 14 Feb'15 from China (any City) to Manila. But I was determined to fly for Manila, because the plan already made with my tagged girl that she is going to meet me on 15 Feb and just waiting to hear my arrival time. After some extensive analysis and search my itinerary was been made as follows:
14 Feb'15: from Chongqing to Guangzhou: start 6. 45 pm and arrival 8. 20 pm, Sichuan Airlines.
14 Feb'15: from Guangzhou to Hong Kong: start 10.20 pm and arrival 11.30 pm, Cathy Pacific.
15 Feb'15: from Hong Kong to Manila, NAIA 3: start 6. 20 am and arrival 8. 35 am, Cathy Pacific.
The itinerary was a huge Joe Frazier punch. The awaiting in HK airport for 7 hrs just made fudge off all my lights in my face. But reluctantly I accepted. I was so keen to keep my meeting word with my girl and in any case I was intended to arrive on 15 Feb'15 to meet her. It's became my obligation because of from that day she made her work off.
The Miss Haps:
I arrived in Chongqing airport in time. The boarding pass was taken in time. After little late we on board but plane were not moving for fly even the schedule time passing over. That again made my hypertension; do I going to miss the connecting flight? Yes I did. I failed to catch Manila flight on that night. Sichuan Airlines get delay for 2 hrs because of Chinese Army certainly occupied the Chongqing Airport Runway for unknown reason. Stayed in Guangzhou and finally I arrived Manila 2 days later after rescheduling my flight.
When I informed my girl over phone that I had failed to catch the connecting flight for manila, still I feel her sound that she did not believed it. That time she thought I am not coming to see her. I am just a lire.
Lesson learnt:
1. To catch the connecting flight it was been kept 2 hrs gap. It was foolish a plan. We did not consider there may be many IF (s) can herm the schedule. And it does.
2. It was wiser to staying a night in HK and catching the flight for Manila comfortably.
I know that some members have the Senior Discount Card without being a citizen. And I know you are supposed to be a citizen to use the card for a discount and I know what the penalties are if caught. Anyone ever been caught? Seems difficult or impossible to catch someone if you are careful (stay away for Airlines maybe) but maybe impossible to get caught in restaurants? I would really appreciate comments. Better real info and experiences. Thanks.
I love ISG.
[QUOTE=PirateMorgan;1758376]I know that some members have the Senior Discount Card without being a citizen. And I know you are supposed to be a citizen to use the card for a discount and I know what the penalties are if caught. Anyone ever been caught? Seems difficult or impossible to catch someone if you are careful (stay away for Airlines maybe) but maybe impossible to get caught in restaurants? I would really appreciate comments. Better real info and experiences. Thanks.
I love ISG.[/QUOTE]As I understand it, the discount is for senior citizens born in the Philippines. In my opinion if you are in need of the discount then you shouldn't be here. On the other hand if you are just cheap or actually a thief then just reach into the cash register and take the money, it would be easier for everyone involved.
[QUOTE=PirateMorgan;1758293]I know that some members have the Senior I.D. without being a citizen. And I know you are supposed to be a citizen to use the card for a discount and I know what the penalties are if caught. Anyone ever been caught? Seems difficult or impossible to catch someone if you are careful (stay away for Airlines maybe) but maybe impossible to get caught in restaurants? I would really appreciate comments. Better real info and experiences. Thanks.
[/QUOTE]This is what the gov't says:
[QUOTE]A Senior Citizens Identification Card is issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in the city or municipality where the senior citizen resides. Documentary requirements vary per municipality, but the basic qualifications based on RA 9994 are as follows:
*Must be a Filipino citizen who is a resident of the Philippines
*Must be 60 years old or above
*May apply to senior citizens with dual citizenship provided that they prove their Filipino citizenship and have at least six months residency in the Philippines[/QUOTE]These are the penalties:
[QUOTE]Republic Act No. 9994
(c) Any person who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00).
If the offender is an alien or a foreigner, he/she shall be deported immediately after service of sentence.
[/QUOTE]
Food for thought: some Filipino legislators proposed the benefits be extended to non-Filipino citizens, [url]http://globalnation.inquirer.net/105530/alien-seniors-should-get-discounts-too[/url]. Excerpt: [quote]Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. said the elderly foreigners residing in the Philippines "[have] been overlooked, even if their contributions have been just as relevant and considerable."
They noted that these foreigners come to the Philippines to put up businesses or settle here as retirees or immigrants.
"During their stay, they bring in considerable investments, patronize local businesses, contribute to the local economy, and in some cases take a role in nation-building," they said.
By taking up permanent residence in the Philippines, they become as much a part of the public as Filipino citizens, they added.[/quote]
All of the information members have provided I am aware of. I simply asked if anyone had one and used it or knew of any problems from misuse. Zero on this idea. We can move on now.
[QUOTE=PirateMorgan;1758587]All of the information members have provided I am aware of. I simply asked if anyone had one and used it or knew of any problems from misuse. Zero on this idea. We can move on now.[/QUOTE]You're welcome. The guys who were caught misusing the senior IDs wanted to reply but they're in prison. Oh well.
One thing I keep in mind when answering someone's question is that there are other readers who have varying levels of interest and knowledge of that same topic; I try to write to the forum rather than the one individual question asker.