Manila

The best or was it the worst day was when doing a work permit renewal some years back ( maybe they dont do this any more ) had to do the NBI clearance thing.
The line was so damned long.. must have been a thousand in it.. but of course me being Mr Whitey, I was with my NBI "friend".. straight to the front of the line, sat in an air conditioned office while things were done, then out again. Felt good but couldnt help a moments feeling bad seeing all those poor guys knowing they were in line for at least next 6 hours.

Looks like were all saying the same thing about banking here.

My MO is to walk into the bank, find the manager who knows me ( even tho I only visit once a month), sit down and chat about nothing much with him..but as soon as Ive sat down.. a cashier will come and take care of whatever it is I need doing. No queues.. no "Sir fill this in and that from too".. Oh no.. I sit and it gets done.
But it proves that all us whiteys get well treated in banks, as long as we know someone. God help the "unconnected"

[QUOTE=Gamahucher]Yes and what sort of government puts restrictive/protectionist regulations on their banking systems - I am no economist but I imagine the answer is a pretty crap/insecure one. India used to be the same about until about 10 years ago they discovered that a partial deregulation and modernisation of their banking system was the only way ahead for their proposed economic expansion plans. And look at them now. The Philippine banking system is 20 years out of date. Where else can you waste an hour queing to do a simple transaction. Or what about those fucking annoying, constantly offline ATM's (or conversely, as happened to me the other day I withdrew P4000 and got it all in 100's. Nice!!). And have you tried to cash a TC in a Philippine bank recently. No the banking system is like the rest of the place, a fucked up, chaotic mess. GH[/QUOTE]


Well, if you lent a Filipino some money that lived in the Philippines... would you expect to get you money paid back montly and on time?
Just imagine all the poor Filipinos going to the bank and getting loans... the Banks would be broke pretty quick.

I do agree that the banking system and other systems suck.

I also hate it when I go to a store and the saleperson has no clue about a product. Or you ask for help, and instead of trying to figure out a solution, they will be quick to say it can't be done.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough]Don't think so. I've got a Philippines Visa and I've never gotten Cebu Pacific to accept it or my US Visa. I think it just depends on the time of day, whether the system is working or not, and other factors that contribute to making this one of the least efficient, least productive countries in the world.[/QUOTE]


No No No, like Mattrick has agreed. A VISA credit card from the US or Canada will not work. I tried my VISA card and Debit card, it would not work. SO my Canadian friend tried to pay with his Candian VISA credit Card. It would not work either. Use a MASTERCARD and it will work. I bought many tickets online from Cebu Pacific lately. I have to use my MASTERCARD to pay.
My MASTERCARD AND VISA card are from the same bank.

It does not matter if you have verified by VISA or MASTERCARD.

I think someone else got me wrong thinking I was talking about an immigration VISA.

I have had my VISA Credit card for many years and I asked my bank for a MASTERCARD just so I could pay for Cebu Pacific online. It works.

I tried bookiing a roundtrip from San Fran to Manila on PAL and neither my Mastercard nor Visa (from different banks) worked. Again, I called them and they said some problem with authentication, etc. And that if I called the agent they could give me the internet rate online, but they'd have to email me some form to sign and send to them. Jesus. How f'n inconvenient!

Anyone else shed more light on this? I thought it was just Cebu Pacific that was having issues.

Thanks

[QUOTE=Gagoo]No No No, like Mattrick has agreed. A VISA credit card from the US or Canada will not work. I tried my VISA card and Debit card, it would not work. SO my Canadian friend tried to pay with his Candian VISA credit Card. It would not work either. Use a MASTERCARD and it will work. I bought many tickets online from Cebu Pacific lately. I have to use my MASTERCARD to pay.
My MASTERCARD AND VISA card are from the same bank.

It does not matter if you have verified by VISA or MASTERCARD.

I think someone else got me wrong thinking I was talking about an immigration VISA.

I have had my VISA Credit card for many years and I asked my bank for a MASTERCARD just so I could pay for Cebu Pacific online. It works.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Redfield10]I tried bookiing a roundtrip from San Fran to Manila on PAL and neither my Mastercard nor Visa (from different banks) worked. Again, I called them and they said some problem with authentication, etc. And that if I called the agent they could give me the internet rate online, but they'd have to email me some form to sign and send to them. Jesus. How f'n inconvenient!

Anyone else shed more light on this? I thought it was just Cebu Pacific that was having issues.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

I have not had any success in the past 3 years trying to purchase my ticket on-line from Cebu Pacific. I just call Cebu Pacific Airlines and give them the information by phone. But before I did that I called my credit card company and told them that I was going to make the purchase. I have had success doing it that way. They will email the tickets. Just call when it's early in the morning in the Philippiines and you should not have to wait. You can not do that with PAL but they will hold your ticket for an extended period of time so you can pay for it when you arrive in the Philippines.

I used to think it was the Canadian and US banks cracking down on overseas fraud, but I do not think so. I have never had any prblem buying a ticket on-line from SeaAir, it works everytime

[QUOTE=Redfield10]I tried bookiing a roundtrip from San Fran to Manila on PAL and neither my Mastercard nor Visa (from different banks) worked. Again, I called them and they said some problem with authentication, etc. And that if I called the agent they could give me the internet rate online, but they'd have to email me some form to sign and send to them. Jesus. How f'n inconvenient!

Anyone else shed more light on this? I thought it was just Cebu Pacific that was having issues.

Thanks[/QUOTE]This is true, you have to call their office, which is in Los Angeles, and they will email/fax you a credit card form. If you are firm with them they will give you the web rate over the phone. Here is the number:

1-800-I-FLY-PAL

[QUOTE=Sammon]Here is a suggestion.
Go online to visa verified or mastercard secured site.
Check and see if the bank who issued your card is there..
If they are sign up- it is free.
You need to put an password there.
So when you try to use the card , a screen will come on asking for your password.
Once you put the password it should go through.

Not many american banks participate in visa verified or mastercard secured.

I have a capital one card which participates. I have no problem using that
Card in asia.[/QUOTE]

I can buy nothing from the USA with my Wells Fargo Visa because of the screwed up verified by Visa system. That includes attempts from Cebu Pacific site and lots of hotels I have tried. I finally found a guy that will buy the tickets if you pay up front via PayPal. He charges 10% and follows up with you. At least he has with me.

N1

Yesterday I called the Cebu Pacific call center to book a flight. I gave them the credit card details of a UK bank card I hold. They checked and then said it failed authentication. Then came an interesting question. Do you have a card of a UK bank that has branches in the Philippines? I did, and gave them that UK bank credit detail and it passed their authentication. So looks like Cebu Pacific have links into foreign bank branches in the Philippines for authentication of those banks' offshore cards.

Ok, so I called PAL again today and my failed try yesterday had fare ramifications. The damn fare went up! Pissed me off! So, they did say they would email me a sheet on which I had to fill out my credit card (Mastercard info) information, cost, etc. And then I had to also photocopy my driver's license and both sides of the credit card and fax it to them. (yeah, that's really secure. Hahahaha.).

Anyway, I did get the flight booked and they gave me the new and revised more expensive fare on the web. I gave them a piece of my mind. (not bein able to book with my Visa or my Mastercard. Not giving me the fare I had tried to book the first time. And then they also informed me since it was a "special web fare" or some such stupid thing that I would receive no rewards mile whatsoever.

I f'n should have flown Northwest. I coulda booked online. Sure, would have had a two hour layover in Tokyo, but would have received frequent flyer miles and the fare would have been about $75 dollars more.

I told them this policy of theirs would hurt theri business.

Maybe we should all make sure it does. Until they correct it.

[QUOTE=Fastpiston]Yesterday I called the Cebu Pacific call center to book a flight. I gave them the credit card details of a UK bank card I hold. They checked and then said it failed authentication. Then came an interesting question. Do you have a card of a UK bank that has branches in the Philippines? I did, and gave them that UK bank credit detail and it passed their authentication. So looks like Cebu Pacific have links into foreign bank branches in the Philippines for authentication of those banks' offshore cards. [/QUOTE]

Hi all

I plan to be in manila for a couple of weeks, I was wondering what is the best place to pick up cute non working girls that are not out for to get your money, but still likes to have fun.

thanks

ahead of time

from what Ive been able to gather, is that you guys are paying 1500 for the barfine and around 4000 lt? Thats pretty pricey from just a couple of years ago, am I mistaken or thats the going rate going for?

Yea, prices have risen. Just stay home.

[QUOTE=Pimpster]from what Ive been able to gather, is that you guys are paying 1500 for the barfine and around 4000 lt? Thats pretty pricey from just a couple of years ago, am I mistaken or thats the going rate going for?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=X Man]Yea, prices have risen. Just stay home.[/QUOTE]

Airfares have increased too over the last year and it has already lead to reduced demand and decreased capacity on some routes to Asia. Could become interesting..

I arrive in manila for the first time in late September and stay a week. Is it ok to wait until the last minute to purchase an airline ticket to Boracay? I've already booked accommodations for three nights at Bora...after the week in Manila...but i wont know until the last minute if I'll have a companion for the island. Comments? Sugestiions? thanks