General Information

[QUOTE=David_33; 1208377]Sorry, has to be the 25th. At first I thought I was going to have to forget about ISG guys and just let my GF come with her classmates. But some guys have PMd me, so its on. It will be purely forum members this time. Probably best without the chicas.

Redman69, I'm sorry if I am missing something, but I don't know what pic you are talking about. Am I becoming senile?[/QUOTE]The pina / chicas are a shy bunch. Even today I met another guy from this forum with 2 of my gf one girl had to sit next to him and she was shy to even sit there, I had to get up and sit next to him and they sat on the other side of the table.

I am back in cebu the 26th, I am off to Butuan to find some girls, no dia just turn up and catch them with my charm LOL. So we should meet up when I get back. I rather you come and see my native hut and have a drink with my girls I guarantee you never experience what I have a home in any other home. Tonight we are drinking as a send of for my trip. I am only taking 2 gf, the photo are the girls in my house there are 5 more out side drinking at the table out side.

David when I told you guys my fiance dropped me you guys asked for pictures. I just did not want to. Hell she could of lied to me, married me and made my life miserable. She just kept the money for manila visa process and of course the ring. So I got off easy.

Now about senile. Let me see have you ever been to Lima? If you can not remember. I think you might be getting a little demensia. It happens to all of us.

I allready owe you for the great advice you pm"the me on my earlier trip. And my friend Hank Damon speaks good about you from Peru. That is in South America in case you forgot.

Have a good time. I get there 11-3-11. If you are there then. I will take you out to dinner or something.

OK, I still think you should have posted her photo.

Well, more than a hundred guys PM me for Lima info and hook ups and since its not a business for me, I keep no records. Sorry if I didn't remember you. However I of course remember about the girl who shafted you. Luckily you will get the free lunch and only have to pay for one or two jeepneys to arrive at the hotel.

If you haven't seen a begger, you are probobaly staying at upscale hotels and taking taxis. I recommend you walk a bit and get a taste of Cebu.

[QUOTE=Frenchmen; 1208387]Sorry for the off-topic but. Really?

C'mon guys, who would want to "save" on taxis in Cebu, the average trip is 80-100 peso (2-3 bucks) and drivers are friendly and a wealth of information, my most expensive taxi fare was 400 pesos, going to the tops and having the driver waiting for me for one hour. Aside the fact that is way too cheap to take the taxi, I really felt very safe in Cebu, I haven't seen one beggar and not at any moment I felt threatened in any way but that doesen't mean you should not always watch your back.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=X Man;1208704]If you haven't seen a begger, you are probobaly staying at upscale hotels and taking taxis. I recommend you walk a bit and get a taste of Cebu.[/QUOTE]There are beggars but not like Malate area in Manila. I have not seen many children begging. Taxi people are much more honest in Cebu. They turn on the meter without being asked. Once at destination they do try to give change even if it is 5 pesos.

Have not seen any beggars outside Ayala Mall. Have not seen any shady characters much on the street like in Manila. Cebu seems to be more organised.

Many girls at Ayala mall who smile or give you the eye. Since I had GF did not respond. Quite a few girls at Casino offering massage. One said 1000 pesos but once in the room asking price will go higher I would imagine.

[QUOTE=X Man;1208704]If you haven't seen a begger, you are probobaly staying at upscale hotels and taking taxis. I recommend you walk a bit and get a taste of Cebu.[/QUOTE]I do not disagree with that but I was just comparing to some other parts of the world where your taxi is literally assulted anytime it stops and where you are sourounded by them from the moment you step out of the taxi. As for walking As I said in my previous post. Taxis are cheaper than walking in Cebu.

[QUOTE=Sammon;1208741]. SNIP. Quite a few girls at Casino offering massage. One said 1000 pesos but once in the room asking price will go higher I would imagine.[/QUOTE]"Girls" offering massage usually triggers an alarm for me.

In Greenbelt, Manila, an offer of massage is usually code for "I am a ladyboy".

The real women are more upfront than that these days.

[QUOTE=Cuchulain;1205147]Ok these are the spots I know but I have heard of others. One place I know for sure is the port road area, I talked to guys last trip that picked up girls there. Where is this road? I have read stories on here of college students around san marcos or another school downtown can anyone confirm. There has to be tons of other spots can where girls are standing around looking for action.[/QUOTE]Near the Cebu Port Center on S. Osmena Blvd not too far from SM and close to the Mandaue city limits you will find hoards of girls waiting to be picked up after 11:00 PM. You will need a vehicle and some of these girls are very scary. Also in and around the streets near Club Arena there always seems to be girls hanging out late night. There is another place known as 'Bonifacio' in Colon very similar to the 'basketball court' where you can drive up and shop without leaving your vehicle.

Don't know why Sxxxx and Questor55 would issue such warnings about the area around Mango Square but I find it pretty tame compared to Colon and areas in Manila. Always walking around the Midtown area on General Maxiom, F. Ramos, J, Osmena, R. Aboitiz and Queen's Roads at all times of the day and night, I have never had any trouble except for the occasional bayout and woman beggars holding children in their arms as they can be very persistent. Yes there are some rugby kids who hang out but they are harmless.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;1208308]Outside Julianas venue itself is perfectly ok, its when you walk away or to Mango Square that robberies have occurred. Stay inside the square and you should be alright, walk away, down mango, also called Maximillon Ave, and things might start to happen and you will have no control over it when it does. Do not walk away from the square itself, where you will then be on your own and an easy target. Drop off pick up by taxi at front of the square.[/QUOTE]I think you're a bit exaggerating here.

I was in Cebu two weeks ago and stayed at The Diplomat, which is a few blocks south of the circle. I've walked back to my room from Mango Square in the dead of night without fear. There's too much traffic for anyone to pull a scheme.

Of course, anything can happen anywhere. But it's a mischaracterization to say that the area immediately outside Mango Square is dangerous...unless you consider being accosted by prostitutes and Viagra sellers to be "dangerous".

Overall, Cebu is fairly safe as long as you take commonsense precautions. Pickpocketing should be one's greatest concern there.

[QUOTE=Frenchmen; 1208387]Sorry for the off-topic but. Really?

I haven't seen one beggar[/QUOTE]Apparently, you haven't taken a stroll on Colon or around the northern section of the Fuente Osmena circle.

Philippines is a deceptively poor country. I say "deceptively" because tourists can overlook it.

Tourists go to malls and restaurants and see Filipinos enjoying life and assume that is normal in the Philippines. The truth is, you only see those who can afford to be there. Which is really just a fraction of the population.

Filipinos are also obsessed with image, thanks to its Westernized culture. This means, they'll splurge on clothing and gadgets in an attempt to appear rich when in reality, they can ill-afford it and don't have savings to fall back on. Half of all Filipinos do not earn more than $2 per day.

[QUOTE=FurryFriend;1209179]This means, they'll splurge on clothing and gadgets in an attempt to appear rich when in reality, they can ill-afford it[/QUOTE]They sure are going crazy for the not so cheap Krispy Kreme doughnuts which became available in Cebu yesterday. Long lines continue in Ayala Mall and IT Park.

I agree that Cebu is generally safe. Nevertheless, I stay alert. You increase your safety by not offending Filipinos, not getting too drunk, and not waving around money or expensive jewelry. I almost always get money from the ATM during the day.

I'll ask the hotel security guard to watch me while I withdraw money. I separate my money into multiple pockets, and keep the bulk of my cash either in the hotel safe or a safe in my room.

As regards what sociologists call "conspicuous consumption" such as when the black family living on welfare in a tar paper shack has a Cadillac on the dirt driveway, it exists in the PI. A friend of mine was selling counterfeit Rolex watches (and admitted they were imitation) to Filipinos. I thought he was crazy.everybody knows Filipinos are poor and have no money. Yet time after time I was surprised when on the bus, in the taxi, in poor neighborhoods, I saw him sell dozens of watches at 200 pesos each.

[QUOTE=FurryFriend; 1209179]I think you're a bit exaggerating here.

I was in Cebu two weeks ago and stayed at The Diplomat, which is a few blocks south of the circle. I've walked back to my room from Mango Square in the dead of night without fear. There's too much traffic for anyone to pull a scheme.[/QUOTE]Too much traffic at 1am. 2am? At Fuente Osmena itself there is traffic and people, not so, between Mango Square and Fuente Osmena though, especially people on the footpath, pedestrian traffic almost non existent, and for a good reason. A passing car will not stop and give you assistance? It will not happen. My information is coming from a very long term resident of Cebu City, in that very area, who has proved reliable with info in the past. I queried other long term Cebu friends and they confirmed walking to and from Mango Square, early hours of the morning has become a problem. How many times have you done that walk? Personally I think you are stretching your luck, but thats your prerogative. Day time, no problem, early evening no problem. Early hours of the morning a risk, I will no longer take.

Yes Cebu City is very safe, normally, but there are pockets of the city folks should not tempt fate, late at night or early mornings. I have walked from Fuente Osmena to the GoGo bars, even Spotlight Restaurant in the evenings, say before 9pm, without anyone approaching me many times, many. But with time, things change and I believe the normally serene walk to and from the Square has changed. Doubters are free to doubt. I have no problem with that.

Anyway, I have said my bit, you and others theirs, its up to folks to decide whether they carry on as before. I doubt if we will hear from anyone, who runs into trouble, after reading mine and others warnings LOL. End of the subject for me.

Fellow ISG forum members, this is the last reminder for the free lunch in five star hotel tomorrow, Tues. Plenty of food and good conversation with other interesting guys. PM me for details.

As a guy who has lived her 5 years I have not heard there is a problem and when I visited there walked arround it was safe.

Guys can you only post real experiance and not hearsay.