Filipinas - Opinions and Advice

[QUOTE=Prov1]The bottom line is I'm treated very well by her without the threat of her unpacking my saddlebags and taking half my shit. I know it would be nice having her live here in California but it just ain't worth the risk of having her "change" once she gets here as others have stated.

Take my advice and keep the little lady in the P.I.. She will take good care of you and the cost impact is minimal. I'd suggest you get on the frequent flyer program with Philippine Airlines and you will be upgraded to first class before you know it. Just have a Scotch and an Ambien and you will be there before you know it.[/QUOTE]DD,

Just found this post and thread which may be worth reviewing if you haven't seen it. I think it's on the money.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=468935&postcount=143[/url]

PB

Its 8:30am Sunday here in Manila and I'm in the business Center at the Peninsula. Got in at midnight; checked into the hotel; went to EDSA and got a barfine. She's upstairs sleeping as I write.

Everyone in the hotel is addressing me as 'Senator', I mean everyone. At breakfast; the concierge, housekeeping. What a hoot! The only downside is that I can't be rude to anyone now: I have to actually answer the 100 'Good Morning Senator's I get everyday instead of ignoring them like before.

CL: Thanks for recommending the Almont in Butuan. If you booked it for me (and other hotel arrangements) wouldn't you get a commission? As it seems that it would not make a difference to me pricewise, I'd be glad to send you any business that I could. I'm in the PI about every two months. Let me know.

It seems that Prov and Guinness, in a fatherly way, are questioning my committment to mongering. Fellas!! I just want to have my cake and eat it too. Even if I have a nice young Filipina at home, I can still make mongering trips. And will. It never stopped me before (although probably had something to do with my being divorced LOL). If I want to visit an AMP in Manhattan I will. That won't change. So what we are really talking about is capital. And how to preserve it. Thats why, as soon as I get back on the 17th, I will get a consultation with one of the most prominent family law firms in New York.

Surf, I'm glad to see you coming around. Just a few days ago on the 'Mansion Incident' section of the Colombia board, you advocated my demise in a particularly gruesome way. Now you're giving me legal advice. I know I speak for Prov and Guinness when I say "welcome back to humanity.":)

You didn't mention whether your prenup was overturned. Also, as I understand it, child support is the only thing that cannot be addressed in a prenup. Anyway, no more speculation. I'll go to the top law firm in NYC when I get back.

Finally: One reason why I get along so well with my ex is that she and the kids are very well taken care of, both materially, and in terms of time spent with the kids. It would be same with any Filipina I take back. Any prenup would reflect the fact that she is giving up the best years of her life. In no way am I trying to enslave anyone or be unfair. I just don't want to subject myself to a court system which often treats the guys like we are criminals and leaves us penniless.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back upstairs and bang my barfine one last time before she leaves.

Don

DD:

I never "advocated" that kickboxer go after you (I abhor violence), I merely noted that he would not need a weapon to hurt you (the guy is tough as nails depite being about 5'5").

You are wise NOT to skimp on the lawyering expense as it will save you in the long run. My agreement was never invalidated because we settled; luckily, my ex made good money (mortgage broker) so I got out fine really (except having to pay my own attorney which was painful and gave me some appreciation for how clients feel getting those huge bills). You cannot waive support, child or spousal, as you will learn from your lawyer so there is no magic bullett. Divorce is not cheap, especailly where there is a disparity of income.

Finally, I urge you to reign in your staff before they alienate CebuLocal by trying to embroil him in a dispute in which he has never been invloved.

D.D. since there seems to be some discussion over going to Butuan, ive been there a few times let me tell you a few things about it. Best way to access if is by going to Cagayan de Oro. They have flights in from Manila. You then catch a bus (aircon) is about five hours. Not much in the way of hotels there, you might shell out P1000 for the best place in town. Cant recall the name of the hotel I stayed at something like the dynasty or whatever, white building with green chinese characters. As far as hotels go typical Philippines which means the cockroaches can carry you out the door, but they do have hot water and cable if I recall.

You usually have to get around by trisikad, not many taxis. The Bus stop you get off in is rather rough. I wouldn't worry too much about personal safety in that area of Mindanao but you might meet up with a pickpocket or snatcher at the terminal, plenty of 'em.

P.S. you and your lady might enjoy a trip to nearby Camuiguin Island, nice place.


regards

Spam hog

[QUOTE=Surfer]DD:

I never "advocated" that kickboxer go after you (I abhor violence), I merely noted that he would not need a weapon to hurt you (the guy is tough as nails depite being about 5'5").
[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Surfer] Kickboxer would need no knife to tear you to shreds you old racist Don, even if you are a foot taller than he is. I'd like to see it, you in your Klan Robe all shiny White until it became a nice shade of crimson as he tore you to pieces. Sounds like a pay per view event MANY would enjoy watching. Hmmm.[/QUOTE]

Surfer, once again you have proven you are nothing but a two faced liar. YOU are the serial antagonist on this thread as you are in Colombia. Look, We understand you lost half your assets to a filipina you imported to the U.S., who married you only for a nice looking green card. We also understand you think this time you can find the "right" girl, if only this time you travel outside Manila. Go ahead, but don't take out your frustrations on the rest of us. Please post a field report next year after the 2nd filipina unpacks your saddlebags. I'm sure it will go something like this: "If only I were to have travelled deeper into the jungle I'm sure I could have found a girl to accept me for who I am." :)

SH, have you done a Camiguin report? I'd like to go there someday. I think GE (Davao) was planning to go there just before his injury, so we didn't get a report. Send us some info if you can...

X



[QUOTE=Spam Hog]D.D. since there seems to be some discussion over going to Butuan, ive been there a few times let me tell you a few things about it. Best way to access if is by going to Cagayan de Oro. They have flights in from Manila. You then catch a bus (aircon) is about five hours. Not much in the way of hotels there, you might shell out P1000 for the best place in town. Cant recall the name of the hotel I stayed at something like the dynasty or whatever, white building with green chinese characters. As far as hotels go typical Philippines which means the cockroaches can carry you out the door, but they do have hot water and cable if I recall.

You usually have to get around by trisikad, not many taxis. The Bus stop you get off in is rather rough. I wouldn't worry too much about personal safety in that area of Mindanao but you might meet up with a pickpocket or snatcher at the terminal, plenty of 'em.

P.S. you and your lady might enjoy a trip to nearby Camuiguin Island, nice place.


regards

Spam hog[/QUOTE]

Prov: Please show us ONE post where you have imparted information or posted a photo. Just 1. You have never posted anything besides attempts to stir up flame wars. You have been duly warned by jackson that the next incident would be your last. Seems like it is time for administrative action in which no "vote" is required.

How do you go about getting an international license to drive?

[QUOTE=Spam Hog]D.D. since there seems to be some discussion over going to Butuan, ive been there a few times let me tell you a few things about it. Best way to access if is by going to Cagayan de Oro. They have flights in from Manila. You then catch a bus (aircon) is about five hours. Not much in the way of hotels there, you might shell out P1000 for the best place in town. Cant recall the name of the hotel I stayed at something like the dynasty or whatever, white building with green chinese characters. As far as hotels go typical Philippines which means the cockroaches can carry you out the door, but they do have hot water and cable if I recall.

You usually have to get around by trisikad, not many taxis. The Bus stop you get off in is rather rough. I wouldn't worry too much about personal safety in that area of Mindanao but you might meet up with a pickpocket or snatcher at the terminal, plenty of 'em.

P.S. you and your lady might enjoy a trip to nearby Camuiguin Island, nice place.


regards

Spam hog[/QUOTE]

A couple of years ago I stayed at Almont Inland Resort. It cost something like 1000. It has nice grounds, a good pool and ok rooms. It's on the way out of town going towards the airport.

At the time there was a Cebu-Butuan flight but last year it was discontinued. I'm sure there are still Manila flights though. I plan on being there some time next month so I'll be able to report on any new hotels or flights

[QUOTE=Chevy 68]How do you go about getting an international license to drive?[/QUOTE]

I guess that depends on where you are from. But for most countries an international drivers license is nothing but a translation of your original drivers license in a foreign language. For the Philippines I never needed one as they accepted my European driers license at all rental agencies.

If you are from the USA, Canada, Australia, or any first world country, the Philippines recognizes and accepts your country's Driver's License to drive in the Philippines, as will the car rental agencies. To confirm, ust the car rental agency. The question though, is: Do you really want to drive in the Philippines, and Can you drively safely in the Philippines?

You can use your license from the stated I believe for 3 months after that you must get an international one.You can use the original from the states much longer say you went out of the country on business and just returned.They will never know.I can give you the name of a place to go and in a half hour a drug test and a box of chocolates have an international one.
All about who you know and peso- nality.Walk right past the COMMON people and straight to the supervisors office of the motor vehicles division.


Just like back home right.

B.B...

I'm in the Marriot in Cebu having just arrived by overnight ferry from Butuan.

Took a direct flight to Butuan from Manila. 41us. The Almont Hotel is supposed to be the best in town but has been closed for a year for renovation. So I stayed at the Almont 'Inland Resort' near the center. The same one that Mahku referred to. I got the 'matrimonial suite', which is the best in the hotel: a cabin in front of a spacious pool. $60 per night. But, they charge you up front and won't refund you. Nice place. Spacious and ok food.

Met some other caucasians here in the nearby Gaisano Mall. All were here to spend time with their wive's families. American, Canadian and Irish. The Irish guy married a nurse who works in a hospital in back of his house in County Cork. He couldn't believe the talent in PI.

There's nothing to do here but go to the mall. There's a nature preserve 70km south but no one has heard of it. The people look more indigenous here (sorry Surfer; thats code for being darker, and usually poorer).

Met the FH girl at the airport. She's not quite as pretty in person as on cam--one of the many things I have learned on this trip. Also, her English is less than proficient which means I have to repeat things and have difficulty communicating in general. Other than that, she is a fine person but I have given up any thoughts of going any further with this.

to be contd

[QUOTE=Chevy 68]How do you go about getting an international license to drive?[/QUOTE]
Go to any AAA office and show them your license, give them a picture and pay the fee. You will get the international license, which I have never found to be very helpful.

Here in the PI they will accept anything short of a birth certificate. Any European, US, Canadian, Japanese license will do. For those staying a bit longer, and who have an address that's other than a hotel, it's also fairly simple to arrange for a local license, which is what I use. It will take you about an hour's worth of hassle at the Land Transport Office, coping with the endless hoards of people.

Remember, if you're renting a car outside of Manila, most of the rentals here don't exactly conform to US/European standards, and you're likely to get something that's 5-6 years old and a bit banged up.

Driving here takes some getting used to. In Davao, for example, which is alleged to be the world's largest city, I have never seen a stop sign in my 3 years of driving around the city. There are only 4 or 5 traffic lights in the city, two of which actually work some of the time. No Filipino driver stops at any intersection for any reason and it's wise to always slow down and look. Traffic lanes are a Western concept that is not understood clearly here and right of way is not operational here, nor is the idea of "passing lane." Car lights are something to be switched on when the car is new, and before they've burned out. After that, forget it. Bicycle lights have not yet been discovered here, and I don't think I've ever seen one. As I think I've said before, if you're going to drive here, just assume that every driver within your immediate vision is about to do the most stupid, irrational thing you can imagine and then you drive to avoid their stupidity. You will rarely be disappionted, as Filipinos--otherwise the world's nicest people--do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it while behind the wheel.

All told though, if you survive the first 3-4 days, you begin to internalize their behavior so that you can anticipate it without conscious thought. Once this happens, you should be okay.

:D

GE

Cont'd.

The girl is a virgin and is determined to stay that way until marriage. She says that a lot of the girls in her town, nearby Bayugan, are like that. Its fine with me. She's with me here in Cebu but I'm not trying to take her 'flag' as virginity is know in these parts. The psychological and emotional reprecussions would appear to be too great and I can always get a working girl. I think SH referred to this in a mongering report he made a while ago. I feel the same way.

Her take on the internet dating thing is interesting and she's been quite frank. In the mall we met a middle-aged female who works in an internet cafe and helps girls who don't know english. If the girl gets the caucasian to send money, this 'internet mamasan' gets half.

Other stories about caucasians taking the 'flag' and taking off; getting girls pregnant and taking a powder; a ninteen year old who was pregnant with a filipino who took off, but who managed to 'bag' a 70yo Canadian who now lives in the village with her. Hilarious! A million stories about the Internet and caucasians. But a few things become obvious: that Filipinas make good wives and want to be good wives and mothers. That catching a caucasian is viewed very positively, so I assume that there are many more success stories than bad ones.

Probably, I'll look for 21yo+ girls who have a college degree and are thus better able to read and write english because for me, no matter how good looking the girl is, if you have to constantly repeat everything it gets tiring. I knew there was a problem when I found myself speaking broken English.


Thats all for now; more later,

Don