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[B]J: My GF here has sent me photos and videos of what is left of the family hacienda after the typhoon passed through Visayas.[/B]
For those not here, two typhoons hit SE Asia in the past week, the second on the heels of the first. Lots of water and wind. Expect requests.
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;3028704] Expect requests.[/QUOTE]I gave 10,000 PHP more for the worried look on her sister's face than anything else. She has 3 kids and husband is a typical deadbeat, chicken fighting, Red Horse etc. No doubt the neighbor will chip in to rebuild the shack. Samar waitress, same thing this morning, Poverty sucks.
[QUOTE=Jarango;3028677]My GF here has sent me photos and videos of what is left of the family hacienda after the typhoon passed through Visayas. Before it was a shack,. Now it is a pathetic ruin.[/QUOTE]The good thing about living in a shack is that is does not take much to rebuild after it has gotten destroyed.
[URL]https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1071562058524825[/URL]
Found this vid in the feed today. Its a 4-minute vid from a FB account called Expose Philippines (Exposing Hypocrisy in Philippines Politics and Beyond). Wildly political in nature, probably a thorn in the government's side (ala Rappler). I draw attention to this particular political vid, not for politics, but for how the narrator states the history and makes the case for why pinoy are wildly interested in the HERE AND NOW only regarding corruption. While she is talking about politics, it also applies to why the girls here are not so much interested in fellas chatting them up on dating websites for weeks or months prior to a trip here, and are much more interested in someone who can earn her some money TODAY.
Suggest you watch the first 3 minutes of this video for reference. Here is some of it, from about 0:55 into the vid:
"[B]What matters is: Who gives me food today.[/B] Who pays for my medicine? Who shakes my hand and remembers my name?" SNIP.
"Its how the brain works under threat. You reward whatever eases the pain in front of you right away. Education isn't accessible to all. Opportunities to plan for a future are scarce. And when education and opportunity are out of reach, survival itself becomes the only rational vote". SNIP.
"When you've been told for generations that corruption is normal, that all leaders are the same, the rational brain shuts off and the survival brain takes over. Its conditioning, not ignorance. [B]What mental model do we fall back on: Who helps me now?[/B] Who makes me feel seen? That is the model that kept families alive". SNIP.
"The problem isn't that Filipinos are lazy of blind voters. [B]Its that the system trained us to prioritize short-term relief* over long-term reform".[/B] SNIP.
"Survival mode brains need visible, immediate rewards to trust again".
* Obviously a reference to politicians giving all voters in their district bribe money for their votes. What would be more important to you, if you were poor: Fast money from a political candidate that puts food on the table TODAY? Or a politician who gives no money but promises to reduce political corruption LATER?
Entitlement in the west:
[URL]https://www.facebook.com/reel/1534189301100983[/URL]
And they question the passport bro's.
Anyone have any recommendations for a good luggage storage place in BGC? Maybe up to 1 week if I decide to hop over to Cebu or AC.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3029429]Anyone have any recommendations for a good luggage storage place in BGC? Maybe up to 1 week if I decide to hop over to Cebu or AC.[/QUOTE]Are you coming back to Manila? If so, I always just leave it at the hotel. They all have storage rooms and don't charge much, if anything at all.
Enjoy. G.
Staying at AirBNBs. Otherwise hotels would be best.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3029474]Staying at AirBNBs. Otherwise hotels would be best.[/QUOTE]Many condo towers have storage rooms and can do the same thing. It helps if you are coming back to the same one.
It doesn't hurt to ask before leaving.
G.
[QUOTE]I lost my Wise card last trip. That was a PITA but it was easy to find a work around. Cash would have been totally different. These days, there are so many low fee and easier options than cash.[/QUOTE]Moved the conversation to "general" thread.
I landed here a day and a half ago have not used cash yet. At airport used Grab after entering my CC. Maybe just me and a trust issue but I still use cash for all transactions in a bar which leads to my question. I've been using BPI ATM's. I'm being charged 650 peso and the limit is only 10k peso per transaction? That's going to add up quickly if girls at the Burgos bars are 10-20k as some report. Are there cheaper ways to get cash in BGC/Makati?
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;3028789]The good thing about living in a shack is that is does not take much to rebuild after it has gotten destroyed.[/QUOTE]It doesn't take much for you and I to help rebuild the shack.
It is a lifetime amount for them to rebuild. That is why they are living in a shack.
Sorry meant to say 250 peso, not 650. Jet lag.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3030233]Sorry meant to say 250 peso, not 650. Jet lag.[/QUOTE]That's correct, its usually p250 per transaction for a foreign card. Filipino debit cards are p15 I think. Most machines limit to p10 k per use (some limit to 5 k). One of the bank's limit is p20 k, but I can't remember which one, maybe the other gents know which bank.
The other method of transferring your money here is to remit the money, thru Remitly, WU, or other such service. You can then pick up the cash at any of about 8 different remit companies in Phils, such as LBC or Cebuana stores. There are various fees and exchange rates involved with this method. For example while today's exchange rate might be 56.2 pesos for $1 USD, WU might be sending you cash to Phils for p55.2, thus keeping p1 for themselves for their service. Remitly might send you at p55.1, thus keeping p1. 1 for themselves. They show you the exchange rate online before you hit SEND. Some services might also charge an up-front fee (ie, $5) in addition to their exchange rate. Whatever fees they are charging, they also show you up-front what you are giving up in your currency (say, $100 from your bank account) and how much the recipient will pick up in pesos (say, p5722). Using a remit service means you pay any fees once, regardless of the amount sent. You could remit to yourself $1,000 (about p57,000) or more everyday if you like. A remittance account online will require you to fund it with either a bank account (your bank's debit card), credit card (additional fees), or other.
Remitly, and possibly others, remits without any service charge if you send if from your foreign bank account (debit card) directly to your GCash account.
Keep in mind that the ATM machines that you are currently use also use their own exchange rate (in addition to the p250), without telling you up-front what that is. The exchange rate might show up on the printed receipt.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3030209]Moved the conversation to "general" thread.
I landed here a day and a half ago have not used cash yet. At airport used Grab after entering my CC. Maybe just me and a trust issue but I still use cash for all transactions in a bar which leads to my question. I've been using BPI ATM's. I'm being charged 650 peso and the limit is only 10k peso per transaction? That's going to add up quickly if girls at the Burgos bars are 10-20k as some report. Are there cheaper ways to get cash in BGC/Makati?[/QUOTE]BPO, BPI and DBP should be 20 k per withdrawal but this is often reduced at smaller offices. China bank and HSBC are the holy grail at 40-50 k per hit.
Cash Out from a GCash or Maya account is 2% so 200 per 10 k but you can essentially take out as much as you want in one go. Some may have a limit but its in the many tens of thousands. In Butuan, I actually had to wait for the lady to go to the bank and withdraw more cash as I emptied them out. No one complained.
Cash is now the most expensive way to pay for things for a foreigner. I now use:
Agoda for hotels. Charged to my home CCard in my currency. Typically less than walk in rates.
Travel is the airlines website paid for by Wise. Cash is needed for buses. Grab for taxis with pesos charged direct to my Wise with no fees. The Grab markup more than covers what I would be paying for tips, not having the correct small change, ATM fees etc. Also a secure way of getting girls to my door.
Many meals are paid with Wise or Maya. Grab Meals home delivers like Uber Eats and charges my Wise in pesos. Wise is free. Maya is 15 peso.
Even girls paid direct to their G Cash don't bat an eyelid. Not a single girl even commented or raised a complaint. Person to person transfer is 15 peso.
Enjoy. G.
P.S. Sorry, I should have added that Burgos bars will accept CCard but I'd be reluctant to hand it over. There have been reports of scams and follow up charges. I've never tried but maybe you could pay by GCash. It's more secure than CCard as you do the transfer online without handing over your card / bank details. Like all my freelancers and part timers, I'd expect the girls to accept GCash for their tip.
Note that many bars have crap cell reception so have a back up plan. Don't rely 100% on data.
G.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3030209]That's going to add up quickly if girls at the Burgos bars are 10-20k as some report. Are there cheaper ways to get cash in BGC/Makati?[/QUOTE]Guys, correct me if I'm wrong. Doesn't the BDO opposite 7 Eleven on Burgos give 20 k?
Thats what I use for cash for one night on the strip. For multiple nights I'd go to the HSBC ATM in BGC. 100 k in two withdrawals.
Enjoy. G.