General Info

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1786467]Furthermore she has to pay 50 PhP a day for lunch.[/QUOTE]I happened to be talking to the wife about schools and lunches just a couple of weeks ago. In her school (Negros Or) kids either went home for lunch or brought a packed lunch. She didn't mention any lunch fee but I'll ask her tonight if I remember. The subject came around because we were talking about school hours elsewhere in the world, while her area was an early start, a late finish. And a long, 2 hour lunch. Said to be that long so that kids that had to walk home for lunch had time to do so, as only a few could afford trikes and living a couple of miles away from school and walking was common.

But could well be different elsewhere.

[QUOTE=EconoTech;1786621]I know Filipinos are known to over act, OA, as they themselves call it.

When the pope came, and when he flew to Tacloban, they shut down NAIA which is totally disregarding the Pope's request to minimize inconvenience to the common man.

As for APEC, I am booked to go on 20th, though as of now, there is no confirmation of the no-fly zone. I hope saner senses prevail, though since the US, Russian, China and Japanese Heads of State are due, the Filipinos may totally shut down NAIA, just for the fun of it.

God Help the Philippines.[/QUOTE]God gave up long, long ago.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1786595]Just a heads-up for any guys who might be planning travel in or through Manila on November 18 & 19.

APEC will be held in Manila on those dates and with 21 country leaders in town Metro Manila will be in a state of semi-lockdown. All businesses have been requested to close on those dates.

Schools and Universities will close for 4 days on November 17,18, 19 and 20.

It may not be easy to get around the city on 18 and 19 if you have an advance schedule hoping to meet up with dating site conquests.[/QUOTE]The only advantage of APEC: The scammers at Manila airport will keep a low profile on those days. They would not want to put bullets & white powder in leaders' bags!

Hard to find recent info on EDSA near airport.

Staying in this Pasy area near mall of Asia. Any recent reports on EDSA? Have RTFF & done a search. Is there enough talent here for 3 days before I go further afield.

[QUOTE=NewImage;1788163]Hard to find recent info on EDSA near airport.

Staying in this Pasy area near mall of Asia. Any recent reports on EDSA? Have RTFF & done a search. Is there enough talent here for 3 days before I go further afield.[/QUOTE]There are about 10 bars inside the EDSA complex. There might be an average of 25 girls / bar = 250 girls. I know that the bar Firehouse has 20 girls on stage at one time, with 20 more on break. Anyway, there is plenty of talent. Take your time, don't feel pressured to buy lady's drink. Get there about 8 pm. 6 months ago the barfine was 1950 pesos, the girl's fee was separate. Don't forget to talk with the girl re: menses, time, what's expected, etc. Some girls are ok with pics. Enjoy.

Mr. Hawaii has already answered the question.

I seem to remember a lot of the ladies seem to prefer short time.

Upon departure, I prefer not to take the taxis right in front. I just walk down the street a bit where you can get a taxi who will use the meter.

Some taxis turn off of Roxas Blvd. And take a short cut down a dark narrow street. Don't be alarmed, you are almost there!

[QUOTE=NewImage;1788163]Hard to find recent info on EDSA near airport.

Staying in this Pasy area near mall of Asia. Any recent reports on EDSA? Have RTFF & done a search. Is there enough talent here for 3 days before I go further afield.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=NewImage;1788163]Hard to find recent info on EDSA near airport.

Staying in this Pasy area near mall of Asia. Any recent reports on EDSA? Have RTFF & done a search. Is there enough talent here for 3 days before I go further afield.[/QUOTE]Note that EDSA is a road, and EDSA Entertainment Complex is a building on EDSA. Asking a taxi driver to take you to EDSA might not yield the desired result given that it is miles long! Then again, he might take one look at you and know exactly what you want.

Anyway, even if EDSA EC is not enough for 3 days, you have a couple of massage places near the airport and Manila Bay Cafe maybe 15 minutes away, depending on traffic. Not sure of picking up girls at Mall of Asia but it's a nice place to go for food and (non-girly) bars on the boardwalk.

Good post that definitely helps newcomers. And EDSA is pronounced as an acronym, rather than the individual sounds of the letters.

[QUOTE=Simmer;1788437]Note that EDSA is a road, and EDSA Entertainment Complex is a building on EDSA. Asking a taxi driver to take you to EDSA might not yield the desired result given that it is miles long! Then again, he might take one look at you and know exactly what you want.

Anyway, even if EDSA EC is not enough for 3 days, you have a couple of massage places near the airport and Manila Bay Cafe maybe 15 minutes away, depending on traffic. Not sure of picking up girls at Mall of Asia but it's a nice place to go for food and (non-girly) bars on the boardwalk.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=XMan;1789033]Good post that definitely helps newcomers. And EDSA is pronounced as an acronym, rather than the individual sounds of the letters.[/QUOTE]Thanks, and good point on the pronunciation.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1786595]Just a heads-up for any guys who might be planning travel in or through Manila on November 18 & 19.

APEC will be held in Manila on those dates and with 21 country leaders in town Metro Manila will be in a state of semi-lockdown. All businesses have been requested to close on those dates.

Schools and Universities will close for 4 days on November 17,18, 19 and 20.

It may not be easy to get around the city on 18 and 19 if you have an advance schedule hoping to meet up with dating site conquests.[/QUOTE]Further to my earlier post about APEC in Manila on November 17 - 20, Cebu Pacific has issued this list of cancelled flights.

[URL]http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/171-aviation-tourism/109956-cancelled-flights-apec-meetings-november-2015?utm_content=buffer3866c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer[/URL]

I haven't yet seen anything from PAL.

It might also be wise to check any other airline's schedule if you plan to be travelling to or within the Philippines at this time.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1789430]Further to my earlier post about APEC in Manila on November 17 - 20, Cebu Pacific has issued this list of cancelled flights.

[URL]http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/171-aviation-tourism/109956-cancelled-flights-apec-meetings-november-2015?utm_content=buffer3866c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer[/URL]
[/QUOTE][B][I]"Guests can rebook their flights for travel within 30 days from the original departure date; or opt for full refund or travel fund."
[/I][/B]

*Full refund* ? You just never see that.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1789507][B][I]"Guests can rebook their flights for travel within 30 days from the original departure date; or opt for full refund or travel fund."
[/I][/B]

*Full refund* ? You just never see that.[/QUOTE]Many cities in the US and Europe handle conferences at least the size of APEC every couple of months without closing down. The problem here is that the infrastructure is so far below any acceptable standard that the government doesn't want to embarrass itself by revealing how shoddy and inadequate it is. So, it will virtually close the city to impress 23 or so heads of state, costing the economy billions of pesos just to avoid demonstrating its colossal in competence. And what's even more unbelievable is that no one questions it. Can you imagine New York or Geneva closing for one or more of the unending streams of UN, eating a held in these cities?

This whole country is a reductio ad absurdem.

GE.

This was my afternoon yesterday. Grabbed a taxi and told him where I wanted to go and what side of the street I wanted to get out on. I wanted to get out on that side of the street as there was less chance of getting hit by a car or jeepney. Of course, he stops on the wrong side of the street after I told him again which side I wanted to get out on. Sure enough, I damn near got hit crossing the street.

After finishing my short business, I went for drink at a bar where all of the help knows me. Notwithstanding the fact that I've been going into that place for over 6 years, and the waitress has known me for at least 3 years, she brought me the wrong drink. She then took it back and 10 minutes later brought me the correct drink. When it was time to leave, no waitress was available to bring the bill. I had to chase one down, and then she had to chase the other waitress down to bring the bill. That was another 10 minutes.

So I went to a restobar for a decent dinner, and specifically told the waitress there what I wanted. She got half of the meal correct. I was getting to my pressure point, so I kept my mouth shut and ate, and won't eat there again.

So then I went to another bar and ordered a drink. They know me there too. I asked for a drink with a mixer MIXED in. She brought me the alcohol in one glass and a can of mixer. I told her I didn't want a can, just about 2 ounces mixed in. "We don't do mixes anymore. You have to buy the whole can. ".

There was utter stupidity 4 times in a row from 4 different filipinos. They're either stupid, don't care or both. But never call a Filipino stupid to their face. You insult their pinoy pride. Pride in what?

Point taken. BTW, what is your nationality? I'm from the US of A (midwest).

[QUOTE=Slippery;1790175]This was my afternoon yesterday. Grabbed a taxi and told him where I wanted to go and what side of the street I wanted to get out on. I wanted to get out on that side of the street as there was less chance of getting hit by a car or jeepney. Of course, he stops on the wrong side of the street after I told him again which side I wanted to get out on. Sure enough, I damn near got hit crossing the street.

SNIP

There was utter stupidity 4 times in a row from 4 different filipinos. They're either stupid, don't care or both. But never call a Filipino stupid to their face. You insult their pinoy pride. Pride in what?[/QUOTE].

[QUOTE=Slippery;1790175]This was my afternoon yesterday. Grabbed a taxi and told him where I wanted to go and what side of the street I wanted to get out on. I wanted to get out on that side of the street as there was less chance of getting hit by a car or jeepney. Of course, he stops on the wrong side of the street after I told him again which side I wanted to get out on. Sure enough, I damn near got hit crossing the street.

After finishing my short business, I went for drink at a bar where all of the help knows me. Notwithstanding the fact that I've been going into that place for over 6 years, and the waitress has known me for at least 3 years, she brought me the wrong drink. She then took it back and 10 minutes later brought me the correct drink. When it was time to leave, no waitress was available to bring the bill. I had to chase one down, and then she had to chase the other waitress down to bring the bill. That was another 10 minutes.

So I went to a restobar for a decent dinner, and specifically told the waitress there what I wanted. She got half of the meal correct. I was getting to my pressure point, so I kept my mouth shut and ate, and won't eat there again.

So then I went to another bar and ordered a drink. They know me there too. I asked for a drink with a mixer MIXED in. She brought me the alcohol in one glass and a can of mixer. I told her I didn't want a can, just about 2 ounces mixed in. "We don't do mixes anymore. You have to buy the whole can. ".

There was utter stupidity 4 times in a row from 4 different filipinos. They're either stupid, don't care or both. But never call a Filipino stupid to their face. You insult their pinoy pride. Pride in what?[/QUOTE]Have ZERO expectations and think of pussy ONLY.