General Info

[GoodEnough]

I've now been in country for about a year without leaving, and knew that I would have to get an "Exit Clearance" prior to going to Thailand in two weeks. Since I'd never had to go through this process before, I was somewhat curious how long it would take, but the whole thing was surprisingly efficient and I was in and out of the Immigration office in Davao within an hour, with clearance in hand, thumb prints and photo firmly affixed thereto.

I noticed, while there, that the country now offers six. Month Tourist Visas that are evidently there for the asking. I had thought that the longest possible renewal was three months, so whether this is something new or whether it has been available for sometime, I don't know. It's also clear that under current rules, anyone staying without leaving for more than six months is subject to the Exit Clearance requirement.

GE.

[Buko Max]

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story...speed-increase

[GoodEnough]

Hutsori,

I've been frequenting various coffee shops and using my laptop tethered to my mobile phone. I was shocked when I ran Ookla speedtest and the download speeds hit 20 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps (Bo's coffee at Glorietta 5). I think it was in the later evening. So less people were around as well.

The Seattle Coffee in Salcedo Village is much slower at around 6 Mbps, but still pretty good.

A month or so ago, in the middle of the day, I clocked a download speed of more than 30 at the Fairmont. Later in the day it was less than 10. I get similar, though less dramatic fluctuations in speed whether at home in Davao, or in my office in Ortigas. I get the same thing with 4 g speeds or even 4 g access. My guess is that there's not enough of a paid subscription base here to warrant the investment necessary for Smart or Globe to achieve greater consistency.

GE.

[Hutsori]

Hutsori,

I've been frequenting various coffee shops and using my laptop tethered to my mobile phone. I was shocked when I ran Ookla speedtest and the download speeds hit 20 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps (Bo's coffee at Glorietta 5). I think it was in the later evening. So less people were around as well.

The Seattle Coffee in Salcedo Village is much slower at around 6 Mbps, but still pretty good.

Many things will affect data throughput. In my previous Makati condo, a building that was almost fully occupied, severe latency came at night when people were at home from work. For instance, from 7 pm to midnight it was impossible to watch a video on youtube uninterrupted. My current place is much better; it's also much less occupied and a very recent build. The OP was quite concerned about Internet QOS because he earns his livelihood using skype or other video chat apps. In Sept 2014 Akamai Technologies' State of the Internet Report assessed the Philippines' average speed at 2.5 mbps; the world average then was 3.9 mbps. If you look over the conversation (beginning in Aug or Sept 2014) you'll see that pretty much everyone was telling the guy that he'd have to come to the Philippines to determine whether or not Internet speed was sufficiently fast and reliable enough for him to conduct business.

[ImAGuy]

Ignorant? Damn. I am kinda ignorant. Thanks for the reminder.

And thanks to anyone who responded in detail.

[Random99]

If very reliable, high-speed, always-on internet service is a must for the country you choose to reside you ought to look at, according to 2014 global rankings done by Akamai Technologies, 3) Japan, 2) Hong Kong and 1) S. Korea. The Philippines ranked 49th. I'm amazed it ranked so highly.

Hutsori,

I've been frequenting various coffee shops and using my laptop tethered to my mobile phone. I was shocked when I ran Ookla speedtest and the download speeds hit 20 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps (Bo's coffee at Glorietta 5). I think it was in the later evening. So less people were around as well.

The Seattle Coffee in Salcedo Village is much slower at around 6 Mbps, but still pretty good.

[Mbsl65]

Awesome answer to an ignorant individual.

Even though you are not a paid member you have become entertainment value to the paid members. No doubt your Chinese friends have these educated opinions taught to them and no experiences of what they are talking about. I believe the Chinese have historically been taught China is far superior to the rest of the barbaric world. Hence other people and other countries. I will leave it at that.

[Random99]

Ship / D cups / DG/ others, thanks. I've just had a few Chinese friends warn me against going (they acted like PH is a war zone) and wanted to hear some other opinions. Will possibly live there for a few years.

Not to be a jerk, but it seems like either (a) you don't have much common sense (b) too impatient to do your own research (c) aren't very respectful and / or listen well. OR all or some combination of the three.

Look, spend the $20 on the subscription for the forum and it will allow you to PM people and shows the forum that you are somewhat serious and can read the hints people are telling you.

[Red Kilt]

I was intrigued that she complained because he smelled of cigarettes. I would have thought body odor would have been much more offensive to a woman.

http://www.rappler.com/world/regions...edium=referral

[Dg8787]

Ship / D cups / DG/ others, thanks. I've just had a few Chinese friends warn me against going (they acted like PH is a war zone) and wanted to hear some other opinions. Will possibly live there for a few years.

Even though you are not a paid member you have become entertainment value to the paid members. No doubt your Chinese friends have these educated opinions taught to them and no experiences of what they are talking about. I believe the Chinese have historically been taught China is far superior to the rest of the barbaric world. Hence other people and other countries. I will leave it at that.

Best advice to you is to always filter the advice you get. I am sure your friends have good intentions but they only know what they have been taught and don't know what they don't know.

If you really have a phobia about bugs then my apology for the remarks here. Then you should get some professional help for it.

War zone? You will get many answers for this question. There are some real war vets that have been in real war zones living here. I suppose to them Phils is pretty safe. There are low-life foreigners living here that I imagine feel safe. I suppose an Ivy league graduate might not feel safe unless they are tucked away in a Hi-so enclave where you would not even know what country you are in. Personally, I had a rude awakening on my first trip here, seeing the old run down buildings along with the financial poverty. For better or worse I was able to begin to understand the people and the culture and have made many trips here. Not sure if I would live here yet.

As for if Philippines is a war zone, I can only answer that I have not seen nor experienced any combatants here!

[Hutsori]

Since it seems as if ImAGuy doesn't even have the $19.95 needed to join (and support) the forum, he probably won't have anything much worth robbing. I personally think that giving a lot of help and information to parasitic individuals just isn't right.

I mostly agree, but his entomophobia and "analysis paralysis" endears him to me.

I've just had a few Chinese friends warn me against going (they acted like PH is a war zone) and wanted to hear some other opinions.

Imaguy, a reason your Chinese pals may down on the Philippines is because over the past many years there have been several high-profile incidents such as kidnappings (Mainlanders, Taiwanese, and Chinoys) and a botched rescue of HK tourists that were covered far and wide in the Chinese press. I reckon the diplomatic spats over the West Philippine Sea and the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman poaching in Philippine waters has done little to improve sentiment and enhance goodwill.

[D Cups]

I think you are missing the entertainment value from elaborate posts that some folks put together on what was otherwise a slow news day. ImAGuy was perhaps not the intended beneficiary for some of these posts.

David and Skip, perhaps you are correct but some of us are giving the guy the benefit of doubt. He does ask a lot of Qs that are already somewhere in this thread and yes, he would be wise to cough up the $20 for a subscription. BTW thanks to the respondents who aren't wearing shorts because they have ugly legs. Man, I hate to see ugly legs and crusty toes. Me, I have beautiful legs haha.

[Christian G]

Thanks for the info guys, I may give Subic and Angeles a try in late January, Qatar fly LHR to CRK via Doha, reasonable times and fares good at the moment but I won't be booking this early.

I have a similar idea for next trip too in a same period, but I don't will book anything untill Sept. / Oct.
I think Qatar is a good option with a fly to CLR if I want try AC and avoid Manila.

[Soapy Smith]

Since it seems as if ImAGuy doesn't even have the $19.95 needed to join (and support) the forum, he probably won't have anything much worth robbing. I personally think that giving a lot of help and information to parasitic individuals just isn't right.

I think you are missing the entertainment value from elaborate posts that some folks put together on what was otherwise a slow news day. ImAGuy was perhaps not the intended beneficiary for some of these posts.

[Member #4351]

Since it seems as if ImAGuy doesn't even have the $19.95 needed to join (and support) the forum, he probably won't have anything much worth robbing. I personally think that giving a lot of help and information to parasitic individuals just isn't right.