Makati

[PhilJoy]

My last several inbounds into T1 and T2, I couldn't find a regular white taxi when I stepped outside with my luggage.

I had the same problem on my last two arrivals into T1 Westie.

The white and yellow cabs are now located down the ramp on ground level.

_ Phil.

[GDreams]

Option 2 is to use your own phone's app, walk outside and wait for the car. Just like everywhere else in the world. EA says there is signage but I didn't see it. At T1 pick up is at pillars A5 to 6. At T3 it is downstairs outside arrivals. Payment is via whatever your app's default is..

When I arrived in March T3 was in a carpark on the right after coming out of Arrivals, you actually need to walk to the last bay and go back inside and it to the left then straight on. A taxi tout actually gave me directions as its not obvious though the app did specify the pickup point.

[Goferring]

A small touch of confusion. Some gents report that getting Grab at NAIA involved going to the Grab area, and some employees (Grab? Airport?) got them a Grab car / taxi (no app needed). EA appears to have used his app (no need for such employee help). Which is it? Can I use the Grab app to order a Grab car / taxi while I'm waiting at the luggage carousel (or departing the luggage carousel), and have them waiting for me (meter running I would assume) at the NAIA Grab area (as I do with Uber in my country)? Why would I need locals or employees to help me get one if there is a line of them waiting for customers?

In typical Phil style, the answer is all of the above.

Option 1 is to use the employee 'assisted' Grab Booths. Expect a long line and at least 15 minutes of manual processing of your booking. You are then given a small sheet of paper with the car's rego and told to wait off to the side. In about 5 minutes the car arrives and your journey begins. Pay the driver in cash as cards are not accepted when the girls do the manual booking.

Option 2 is to use your own phone's app, walk outside and wait for the car. Just like everywhere else in the world. EA says there is signage but I didn't see it. At T1 pick up is at pillars A5 to 6. At T3 it is downstairs outside arrivals. Payment is via whatever your app's default is.

I wasn't aware of it at the time but the driver who drove me from the airport confirmed that customers can use their own app. I thought that the Booths were the only option but I was incorrect. Interestingly, there were also many Pinoys in the line behind me who thought the same thing.

In future I'll be using my own phone and app and just walk to the collection point. The manual processing at the Booth is just a total waste of time.

G.

[WestCoast1]

I had no issue at all. Followed the signs to the end of the terminal. Stepped outside, called on my app and within 5 min was in the car. Very smooth experience. This was T1 I believe (Singapore airlines).

A small touch of confusion. Some gents report that getting Grab at NAIA involved going to the Grab area, and some employees (Grab? Airport?) got them a Grab car / taxi (no app needed). EA appears to have used his app (no need for such employee help). Which is it? Can I use the Grab app to order a Grab car / taxi while I'm waiting at the luggage carousel (or departing the luggage carousel), and have them waiting for me (meter running I would assume) at the NAIA Grab area (as I do with Uber in my country)? Why would I need locals or employees to help me get one if there is a line of them waiting for customers?

[Old And Ugly]

Thats piss poor screening by the bar. The mamasuns usually hire these girls so a valid ID would be my first question. When you get a ID come back and see me, as you can't barfine without one. I usually ask them but I've been known with a buzz to forget. This happened to me once and I took her back to bar and got barfined returned. Hiring her without ID was just stupid.

Happened to me too, but right after the scamdemic in AC, the girl had a pic of her vax certificate in the phone, but the overzealous receptionist at the hotel, didn't accept it, she wanted the original. Went back the bar next door (Viking) and got my 3 K BF back, waisted only the money for the LD.

[Expat American]

It's another one of those Only in the Philippines moments. Grab is a cluster fuck at any Phil airport. In town it's great but at the airport it sucks. As usual, it's just lack of organisation and doing things the most complicated way possible. I always thought that using your own app and phone wasn't possible and that those useless Booths were the only option. Turns out that you can but they don't advertise it and don't even have a marked meeting point.

Other counties just use the app and often even have photo directions in where to go to meet the car but 'Welcome to the Philippines'.

FWIW the app didn't even work upon arrival at Gensan airport. Despite having a heap of cars out the front, all with the Grab logo, none accepted bookings online. I gave up after 3 attempts. Luckily the first guy I asked only wanted P40 over for the trip so I didn't even worry about haggling. I'm guessing they don't want to pay the Grab commission.

I had no issue at all. Followed the signs to the end of the terminal. Stepped outside, called on my app and within 5 min was in the car. Very smooth experience. This was T1 I believe (Singapore airlines).

[WestCoast1]

It's another one of those Only in the Philippines moments. Grab is a cluster fuck at any Phil airport. In town it's great but at the airport it sucks. As usual, it's just lack of organisation and doing things the most complicated way possible. I always thought that using your own app and phone wasn't possible and that those useless Booths were the only option. Turns out that you can but they don't advertise it and don't even have a marked meeting point.

A system so silly that this probably belongs in the "Stupid Sh*t" section.

Other counties just use the app and often even have photo directions in where to go to meet the car but 'Welcome to the Philippines'.

Yes. In the home country, you use the app to book either when you deplane, or when you pick up your luggage. The Uber cars aren't allowed in an airport 'waiting area' like at NAIA. They are either out on regular patrol in the area, or they specifically loop around the perimeter of the airport waiting for airport arriving passengers who need a lift. Once they take your ride request, they enter the airport and proceed to a parking area specific to Uber. The customer picks up his luggage and walks to that area in the parking lot or structure. Directions there are posted on airport walls and you get a message from your driver on how to get there. The driver sends me a message like: "I just arrived at the Uber pickup area. I am in parking slot #27". I just have to go find that slot. This simple system does involve some walking from the luggage carousel area to the parking structure, but otherwise it works like a charm (I can see how persons in a wheelchair might need help getting there).

The idea that the airport needs 'helper' personnel (either their own, or from Uber or Grab), is a bit silly and is just an extra step in confusion. Not to mention in corruption, as if the app is bypassed for any reason, the drivers have a chance to not run the meter or insist on higher pay in advance.

Where on earth could this have been set up this way. Where. . . ?

My last several inbounds into T1 and T2, I couldn't find a regular white taxi when I stepped outside with my luggage.

[Locamotive]

Worst experience ever leaving phillipines in the morning. Went to iron horse tonight in Burgos street! Found a cute girl grinding all over me spent $12,000 pesos on our drinks with mamasan! Even tipped good! Go to city garden hotel only to find out the girl doesn't have government ID. As soon as we leave she starts I'm so shy sir drama before we even get to the hotel. Then she try's to get me to pay to go a hotel iron horse owns instead! I returned her back to the club! Told mamasan the embarrassment I just endured. Then she tries to give me uglier girls. I told her the only girl I like there they bring her over and because I have a full size penis says 30,000 to go with me! Instead of the $5000 agreed with the other girl. P.S. $4600 bar fine which after enough of a scene they paid me back! Brutal trip in phillipines worst girls in the world and scams! I'll stick to Colombia, Brazil, Thailand.

Thats piss poor screening by the bar. The mamasuns usually hire these girls so a valid ID would be my first question. When you get a ID come back and see me, as you can't barfine without one. I usually ask them but I've been known with a buzz to forget. This happened to me once and I took her back to bar and got barfined returned. Hiring her without ID was just stupid.

[Goferring]

The whole Grab thing at Terminal 1 is a shitfight.

Better off getting a yellow metered cab downstairs from experience.

_ Phil.

It's another one of those Only in the Philippines moments. Grab is a cluster fuck at any Phil airport. In town it's great but at the airport it sucks. As usual, it's just lack of organisation and doing things the most complicated way possible. I always thought that using your own app and phone wasn't possible and that those useless Booths were the only option. Turns out that you can but they don't advertise it and don't even have a marked meeting point.

Other counties just use the app and often even have photo directions in where to go to meet the car but 'Welcome to the Philippines'.

FWIW the app didn't even work upon arrival at Gensan airport. Despite having a heap of cars out the front, all with the Grab logo, none accepted bookings online. I gave up after 3 attempts. Luckily the first guy I asked only wanted P40 over for the trip so I didn't even worry about haggling. I'm guessing they don't want to pay the Grab commission.

[PhilJoy]

It's been literally decades since I've been through T1 so I couldn't find an open Globe desk for a SIM card. Maybe closed for Good Friday, who knows? Grab booth was at the far drop off lane tucked away to the right, out of site. A line a mile long and painfully show due to staff manually checking in customers one at a time and repeated wifi crashes. After waiting forever, I found out that we can in fact use the App on our own phone but pickups are in a different unmarked area. If hailing yourself, go to pillar A5 to 6 for pick up. Using your own phone also allows the usual in-app card payment. The Grab booth is way slower, charges a premium and only accepts cash payments to the driver. I'll be doing it DIY next time and bypassing the Grab Booth entirely.

The car arrives after a few minutes and we are off to a one night transit in the cheapest hotel I could find on Burgos. I stayed at a complete shit hole apartment last trip so didn't want to stay there again. We arrive and it's the same place!! The owner had just changed the name on Agoda. Cheeky fucker. A room inside the Citadel Inn, right on Burgos. It's still a shit hole with broken doors, hasn't seen a paint in decades and the wifi doesn't work.

I walked over to the 7/11 to grab a P59 Globe Sim card. Way cheaper than the airport so I was happy about that. Or so I thought. Back in the room, still no wifi so I bought a global roaming pack from my home telco as I need to download the Globe App to activate the new Sim. For whatever reason, the app recognises the Sim but doesn't allow me to activate or top up the card. I find the Globe web page and attempt to activate through that but I need to scan a selfie and passport.
By this time, it's getting pretty late.

Welcome to Manila. 🤦.

Hi G,

Things can only get better, but it's Manila.

The whole Grab thing at Terminal 1 is a shitfight.

Better off getting a yellow metered cab downstairs from experience.

Always have the same problems with Globe, especially in Sabang or outside major cities.

I just do a $5 a day roaming plan with Vodaphone in case everything turns to shit and the hotel wi-fi is crap.

Enjoy your trip and look forward to hear of your adventures.

_ Phil.

[Goferring]

Fair warning: a long and rambling post with no action reports. Just my ham fisted arrival into Manila.

I nearly fucked up during my home country check-in. I made the mistake of forgetting that I had a dummy ticket and saying the I'm staying 58 days. "Can I see your visa, Sir? Had to back peddle fast, hand over the $10 dummy ticket from Top Onward Ticket and convince him that I was indeed leaving in 24 days. Crisis averted, he finished check-in and actually let me on the plane.

I usually arrive on Cebu Pacific into T3 but am trying another airline. I arrived into T1 late-ish at night. Flight was ok and only delayed by 30 minutes. Lied to Immigration that I'm only staying a month so arrival formalities were pretty easy and quick. No one asked for an onward ticket but I did have to scan the eTravel QR code. Lines were short but as usual moved at a snails pace. It was late so I didn't worry about finding the Immigration office to do another in-airport visa extension. It's been literally decades since I've been through T1 so I couldn't find an open Globe desk for a SIM card. Maybe closed for Good Friday, who knows? Grab booth was at the far drop off lane tucked away to the right, out of site. A line a mile long and painfully show due to staff manually checking in customers one at a time and repeated wifi crashes. After waiting forever, I found out that we can in fact use the App on our own phone but pickups are in a different unmarked area. If hailing yourself, go to pillar A5 to 6 for pick up. Using your own phone also allows the usual in-app card payment. The Grab booth is way slower, charges a premium and only accepts cash payments to the driver. I'll be doing it DIY next time and bypassing the Grab Booth entirely.

The car arrives after a few minutes and we are off to a one night transit in the cheapest hotel I could find on Burgos. I stayed at a complete shit hole apartment last trip so didn't want to stay there again. We arrive and it's the same place!! The owner had just changed the name on Agoda. Cheeky fucker. A room inside the Citadel Inn, right on Burgos. It's still a shit hole with broken doors, hasn't seen a paint in decades and the wifi doesn't work.

I walked over to the 7/11 to grab a P59 Globe Sim card. Way cheaper than the airport so I was happy about that. Or so I thought. Back in the room, still no wifi so I bought a global roaming pack from my home telco as I need to download the Globe App to activate the new Sim. For whatever reason, the app recognises the Sim but doesn't allow me to activate or top up the card. I find the Globe web page and attempt to activate through that but I need to scan a selfie and passport. For what ever reason the AI won't recognise my name on my passport nor match my selfie photo after multiple attempts. I finally get it done then it asks for proof of Phillipines Residential address which I don't have. All of these attempts uses up three Roaming Data packs from my home telco and I still don't have a working Sim. There goes any perceived savings. I give up. It would have been much easier and cheaper to just get someone else to do it when I get the flight in the morning. I pirate another apartment's wifi by guessing the passcode so at least I have something.

By this time, it's getting pretty late. I had organised to meet up with another subscriber but he understandably bailed.

I'm tired, bitter and twisted so I collapse into bed alone. I don't think I missed much. Burgos was very quiet and I didn't even worry about going into a bar.

My flight to Gensan is delayed so at least I get to sleep in.

Welcome to Manila. 🤦.

[Curious GFe]

From my first interaction here just testing the waters to now wanting to subscribe. Thank you for the awareness and tons of information.

In this platform where it all began. Burgos, Makati.

This is where my story started.

2016 to 2018 double life in full swing. Morning duty as a Nursing student, white uniform crisp, heart heavy but determined. Then night falls. And it's straight to Burgos. The street that doesn't sleep. The street where I played my part one of the discreet street girls, walking through flashing neon signs, not just for the thrill, but for survival. For tuition fees, for medical equipment, for a dream.

I still remember the confused glances "A nurse in Burgos?" they'd ask. They thought I was in character. I was. But not the character they imagined. I was fighting for something bigger.

And now, seven years later, I walked back through that street. Not as a girl trying to make it. But as a Licensed Nurse who did.

But the sadness hit too. Some faces didn't change. Some were still walking, still stuck, controlled by substances, by circumstance. That pain stays with me.

Yet in all that darkness, I met my Naughty Angels My Guest / Client who became friends for life.

I carry every memory with me good, bad, and everything in between.

Now I'm not just walking.

I'm running toward the NCLEX, striving for my next level.

And I'll never forget where I came from!

This is my truth. This is my strength.

This is Burgos to Board Exam!

I'm just lucky I had my reasons, my drive, my goals and I made it out!

But not everyone did. That kind of sadness sticks with me.

I'm sharing this not for pity, not for shock but for hope.

This isn't just my story. This is a reminder that no matter where you start, no matter how messy or painful your journey gets, you can still rewrite your ending.

You are more than your past.

You are not your circumstance.

And you are never too far gone to rise.

[Goferring]

What is a 'visa jackpot'?

Everything you said is correct. However, I was referring to Chad falling in love, getting her a visa and taking girlie back home.

That's far more attractive to some girls than a retiree planning to live in the province , on his pension , until he dies.

Cheers. G.

[Trevor2522]

With the explosion in remote work, many have dollars to throw around and the potential of a visa jackpot.

What is a 'visa jackpot'? You meant the potential to stay, long-term, on a work or digital-nomad visa, or tourist visa-waiver? I suspect most just use the latter; who would know what they actually do in their apartment?

The Philippines introduced a Digital Nomad Visa in June 2023 to attract remote workers and boost its tourism industry. This visa allows individuals to reside and work remotely in the Philippines for up to 12 months, with the possibility of a 12-month extension. Visa holders are exempt from local taxes on international income and are restricted from engaging in employment with Filipino employers. To
apply, remote workers must be employed in a foreign country and meet certain income requirements.

Student and normal-job 'hotties' simply don't have the time to go to Palawan. They are busy 6 days a week, and need the seventh to rest, clean and do laundry. Girls with free time to accompany foreigners to remote provinces will be unemployed, between jobs, or seeking work abroad.

[Goferring]

Saw hotties in Palawan with there 20-30 range boyfriends looking for that USA or Australia passport. Best girls I've seen so far! Passport bros is the new way here or Korean minute man!

I definitely agree that sucking 70 yo dick is no longer the only show in town. There are now a lot of 30 yo Chad's in town. With the explosion in remote work, many have dollars to throw around and the potential of a visa jackpot. They are no longer broke backpackers living in $5 beach nipa huts.

It's a shock to the system for horny old sexpats.

Enjoy. G.