Filipinas - Opinions and Advice

Am I the only one who is confused? X

D'etat: " I own a nice house in an upscale suburb of Metro Manila. I wear nice jewelry and can afford to travel at my leisure any where on this green earth and party like rock star. X I am self made."

[QUOTE=D Etat]Guys it was not meant to be an offense. It was just something I thought about from time to time. Being around Filipinos in Dubai, Japan Korea and PI. I am not rich by no means. All people like money. PI is no different. [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor below average pay with no visa involved. Oh well enough on this next topic?[/QUOTE]

Confused? That makes two of us :) Manye looking at your photos I would say you are about 35-50. You are too damn old to be this childish. I am not rich X. But I do wear nice jewelry and fly first class and own a nice house in an upscale suburb of Manila. You don’t have to be rich to do that X. What you do need though is a steady flow of capital (money) and mine comes in like Washington D.C.

Too many girls to be had, too little time to have them all...and just one XXXX to do them with...lets move one to the next subject ;)

[QUOTE=MichaelTheOne]Too many girls to be had, too little time to have them all...and just one XXXX to do them with...lets move one to the next subject ;)[/QUOTE]
I agree MTO!
Number one status symbol amongst average Pinay's seems to still be cell phones. How many times has a girl told you gentleman a story of hardship, you've given her some money to help out only to find she runs out & buys a top of the line cell phone! Ugh! Then to cap it off she goes & hocks it to buy milk for baby/pay rent etc. UGGHHH!!! My god every cutey I come across always puts the bite on me for a bloody cell phone sooner or later! Since I live here Im in a position to see that they are not telling lies about the phone hocking, this is what they do.. such inappropriate spending keeps them in a cycle of poverty.
Speaking of cell phones, my singaporean GF just proudly announced to me that she had bought an Apple iPhone. She knows nothing about technology at all but she found it really easy to use & is busily sending me Yahoo IM's from it. BTW this is the ONLY pinay I have _ever_ met who has never asked me for a single centavo. Wish I could have a reason to go to Singapore more often... her pic included just for fun.
Cheers
AV

[QUOTE=Amavida]I agree MTO!
Number one status symbol amongst average Pinay's seems to still be cell phones. How many times has a girl told you gentleman a story of hardship, you've given her some money to help out only to find she runs out & buys a top of the line cell phone! Ugh! Then to cap it off she goes & hocks it to buy milk for baby/pay rent etc. UGGHHH!!! My god every cutey I come across always puts the bite on me for a bloody cell phone sooner or later! Since I live here Im in a position to see that they are not telling lies about the phone hocking, this is what they do.. such inappropriate spending keeps them in a cycle of poverty.
Speaking of cell phones, my singaporean GF just proudly announced to me that she had bought an Apple iPhone. She knows nothing about technology at all but she found it really easy to use & is busily sending me Yahoo IM's from it. BTW this is the ONLY pinay I have _ever_ met who has never asked me for a single centavo. Wish I could have a reason to go to Singapore more often... her pic included just for fun.
Cheers
AV[/QUOTE]


They definitely don’t plan for the future.

[QUOTE=Amavida]I agree MTO!
... her pic included just for fun.
Cheers
AV[/QUOTE]Very nice AV. But take care you don't leave yourself open to some more attacks from our green eyed resident troll. First rule. DFTFT: D

One of the many things that amuse and me about life in the Philippines is the number of pawnshops. They are everywhere (must be a good business but probably cornered by the Chinese Filipino's) and the main item of pawn currency is the ubiquitous cellphone. Number of times I've asked one of my numerous temporary gf's where her phone is only to find that she has hocked it the day before (hurrah! ). Also means that the cheapest place to pick up a second hand phone is from the nearest pawnshop.

About recent technology I've just picked up one of latest ultra portable laptops called the Asus eee. I am mega impressed by it as it weighs less than a kilo, is the size of a paperback book, and yet has all the functionality of a full laptop. Has some limitations but perfect for a travel laptop. Just have to work out how to put XP on it as the installed OS is Linux Xandros, which is OK but is a pain with regards to installing software.

Cheers GH

I was talking with a friend of mine, a long-time veteran of the PI, and we both agree that the money spent on cellphones and texting is a hugely unproductive drain on the economy.

What if all that money count go into investment in business free from graft and government intrusion?

[QUOTE=Gamahucher]
About recent technology I've just picked up one of latest ultra portable laptops called the Asus eee. I am mega impressed by it as it weighs less than a kilo, is the size of a paperback book, and yet has all the functionality of a full laptop. Has some limitations but perfect for a travel laptop. Just have to work out how to put XP on it as the installed OS is Linux Xandros, which is OK but is a pain with regards to installing software.

Cheers GH[/QUOTE]

I'm looking at the new air mac after lugging my mac pro laptop around the place.

[QUOTE=Gamahucher]Very nice AV. But take care you don't leave yourself open to some more attacks from our green eyed resident troll. First rule. DFTFT: D
[/QUOTE]DFTFT?? I am missing a few cells here. I like MR X aka DUDE's caustic comments just as I like reading yours and D'etat. D'etat, I DIDNT TAKE OFFENCE at the [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor comment I was being tongue in cheek.

I have from my research worked out how to live in the Philippines in a reasonable pension and eat out everyday for 500 pesos a day. I could do it cheaper if I lived with my (next) girlfriend in her place but I do have standards.

The money I save with this frugality will be reinvested back into my nest egg which sadly got a rummaging recently. A little sacrifice and discipline today will enable me to live the life I was dreaming of before the stock market took a dive.

[QUOTE=Bilbo Baggins]I'm looking at the new air mac after lugging my mac pro laptop around the place.

DFTFT?? I am missing a few cells here. I like MR X aka DUDE's caustic comments just as I like reading yours and D'etat. D'etat, I DIDNT TAKE OFFENCE at the [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor comment I was being tongue in cheek.

I have from my research worked out how to live in the Philippines in a reasonable pension and eat out everyday for 500 pesos a day. I could do it cheaper if I lived with my (next) girlfriend in her place but I do have standards.

The money I save with this frugality will be reinvested back into my nest egg which sadly got a rummaging recently. A little sacrifice and discipline today will enable me to live the life I was dreaming of before the stock market took a dive.[/QUOTE]Hi Bilbo,

I also looked a the Mac which is a beautiful piece of equipment. Almost a work of art. However I went for the eee as its even smaller and lighter and less than a quarter of the price. Yet it has a webcam and full internet connectivity. Plus its virtually idiot proof and designed for a 10 year old which means its perfect for me! Even getting used to the toytown keyboard and hope to crack the XP installation today.

I admire you if you can live for long on 500 pesos a day. I tried that for a while a few years back, staying in P150 a night rooms at Jowards Pension on Adriatico in Malate (friendly but oh so basic) and eating local foods in malls and cafes but its not something I would want to do for extended periods. However it does allow you to meet some interesting characters and I found that many Filipinas were remarkably sympathetic and giving when they got over the shock of the realisation that a westerner appeared to be as '[url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor' as they are. If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been living 'au natural'.

BTW. Just trying to wind up the wind up merchant but methinks he is too wily to be drawn.

GH

[QUOTE=Sergeantray]I was talking with a friend of mine, a long-time veteran of the PI, and we both agree that the money spent on cellphones and texting is a hugely unproductive drain on the economy.

What if all that money count go into investment in business free from graft and government intrusion?[/QUOTE]

I hate to generalize I am into details. But like I said they live for the moment. When I stayed in Japan over a year a lot of my ole lady friends worked for peanuts hotels, warehouses, nightclubs etc.. but they owned 2000-4000 watches I could not understand it. Also some of them were illegals or visa overstayers so they could be busted and deported back to PI at any moment even so they shopped until it was no longer feasible. I also discovered something else about them whenever I would question their behavior such as the watches they seem to always turn the table. You have one too is what they would say. They seem not to know the difference between living and living above your means. In Japan though a lot of them have it good. They smile at lonely Japanese guys and they become Santa Clause. One girl I knew there was married to a cool as a fan naturalized Filipino but was getting supported by a Japanese. Incredible.

[QUOTE=Sergeantray]I was talking with a friend of mine, a long-time veteran of the PI, and we both agree that the money spent on cellphones and texting is a hugely unproductive drain on the economy.

What if all that money count go into investment in business free from graft and government intrusion?[/QUOTE]Good point Serge but you try and extract the texting cellphone from the clutching paws of the average Filipino and you would have widespread anarchy on your hands. It is one of the few, cheap pleasures they have in their poor, blighted lives.

BTW are there businesses in the Philippines free from graft and government intrusion?

GH

Filipinos are very friendly and sociable people but its economy stinks. 60 years of free market economy and look, its SE neighbors are so far ahead. Even Vietnam, just after 15 years coming out of the iron curtain, and is quickly catching up to it. Is it the Spanish influence?

[QUOTE=Gamahucher] If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been living 'au natural'.
GH[/QUOTE]
Hahahahaha how did you know I was a nudist? I have just come back from a two month holiday in the Philippines. I went there to find out if I could live there and what kind of life I could have hence my research. I need to go back and see more places. I stayed in a hotel until I got my bearings then I did the cheap thing for about 3 weeks in a nice pension and then went to a luxury resort in Bacolod, Palmas del Mar for $70 dollars a night (about 3000 pesos a day food and bed) so I swung both ends of the spectrum.

I wouldn't want to be [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor and living in the Philippines without any financial resources. I know how to live cheap now and so long as its a choice and not a necessity it can be fun. I don't need much just some place to work, as for women I still don't know, there were some that fell in love with me but I can't take it seriously the alchemy of white skin, money and kindness interferes with reality.

I'm hoping to spend half the year in the Philippines for the next 5 years then take my nest egg and retire there. Its good to know I can live there without being destitute.

I bought the Mac for the video and photography stuff and I'm very happy with it otherwise I might have done the same as you it gets tiring with the heavy bags when you travel.

[QUOTE=Columpuss] Is it the Spanish influence?[/QUOTE]Yes, or more precisely, the combination of Spanish colonialism and the Catholic Church. It is noteworthy that this is the only predominantly Christian nation in Southeast Asia, and it's the one that all the newly independent nations keep passing by. First Korea, then Thailand, now Vietnam.

I'll save you from a dull and detailed history lesson: rent a copy of the Philippine-made movie, **Jose Rizal**. Rizal was a national hero whose 1896 execution by the Spanish triggered a major rebellion that was not resolved until the U. S. Intervened as a calculated extension of the Cuban-American war. Dialogue in the movie is mostly Tagalog with some Spanish. Has subtitles in several other languages, including English.

[QUOTE=Columpuss]Filipinos are very friendly and sociable people but its economy stinks. 60 years of free market economy and look, its SE neighbors are so far ahead. Even Vietnam, just after 15 years coming out of the iron curtain, and is quickly catching up to it. Is it the Spanish influence?[/QUOTE]Hi Columpuss,

The Philippines was one of the most vibrant and go-ahead economies in SE Asia in the 50's and early 60's and in GDP terms one of the wealthiest. And then along came the bogey man otherwise known as Marcos which started the downward spiral of political mismanagement, rampant corruption and nepotism, and economic plunder on a massive scale, problems which continue to the present day. It all very sad particularly as the country is full of bright, industrious, hard working (yes, really!) folk, most of whom have to go abroad and be the worlds nurses, maids, seamen, construction workers etc, in order to earn a decent crust.

[QUOTE=Bilbo Baggins] I wouldn't want to be [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor and living in the Philippines without any financial resources. I know how to live cheap now and so long as its a choice and not a necessity it can be fun. I don't need much just some place to work, as for women I still don't know, there were some that fell in love with me but I can't take it seriously the alchemy of white skin, money and kindness interferes with reality.[/QUOTE]And there was me thinking that you was the new George Orwell (Down and Out in Manila and Bangkok. Now there is a good idea for an aspiring young author). But otherwise the point of the exercise rather escapes me. Why live on 500 pesos a day if you have the means to live a much more affluent lifestyle? Unless it was a social experiment or you anticipate poverty as an option in the future. Maybe you are the new Chris McCandless? Sorry, I am been facetious.

Incidentaly, one of the happiest foreigners I ever met in the Philippines really was [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor. He was a Scandanavian, about 50ish and living in cheap local style accommodation with his 25 year old Pinay girlfriend. He had no income as such and appeared to be living on his rapidly dwindling capital. But he always seemed content with his lot and as happy as a pig in shit. Often wonder what became of him, maybe he had a lifeline like wealthy relatives back in the west. An option local indigents do not possess.