General Information

[QUOTE=Dirk67;1621312]Thanks for the advice-- I ended up staying in Ayala. Did not have time this trip to check out the student dorms. Not sure exactly how it works, do you approach the handlers or do they approach you? I am not western looking so they may not know I'm not local. I also assume a blue note means 1000 p note? How do you guys ensure age is 18+, and do you get to see the options before committing?[/QUOTE]Dirk,

You are very welcome. Always willing to help out mate.

Student dorms around Colon. First don't get the wrong impression, most students are not there to service foreign mongers. In fact if any student is seen in the company of a non-relative foreigner by a University official (while dressed in school colors) they can be expelled on suspicion of breaking the University morality code. Best to save the Uni colors for the room.

Having said that there are always some students who are willing and available to go with a foreigner for some ST action. Honestly the scene is not as good as it once was but some students can still be found with the help of a local pimp. Just be careful when someone approaches you and offers Filipinas. You have to spend some time to figure out if the pimp is real. There are / were some scams going around where the pimp comes up and asks you if you want someone. If you agree he then asks you to go with him to view the Filipinas. Once at the place you pick a Filipina and agree on the price the pimp has his friends come in with fake NBI or PNP shirts and tells you that you are in trouble. Blah blah blah and after scaring you for awhile they tell you that the problem can go away for a price. Total scam but when you're new in town or not sure the imported sausage pays up to walk away.

While around Colon you will be approached by all kinds of locals. I know a few of the Colon pimps that are legit and I only deal with those guys. If I don't see them around I refuse all other offers and walk away after sitting for some time and finishing my SML. Granted it's been awhile since I felt an urge to troll around Colon looking for company, just too many great non-pros online offering it up for me to go looking for possible trouble. Those late night Colon and Gate 3 excursions are mostly behind me to be honest.

If you do not look like a typical Kano or have Asian features you might not get any action around colon. If they think you're a local most might suspect undercover PNP and stay away just in case.

Yes a blue note means a single 1000 pesos note. Usually I tip the pimp 50 php up front plus 150 php later if he brings me someone I want to take back to my hotel. I make it clear to him exactly what kind of Filipina I'm interested in and the incentive of getting the extra 150 php means he only rounds up the types I want. I offer the Filipina 800 php for full service ST and spend a few minutes talking with her to make sure she is ok with everything.

Age. Once you have spent years in the Philippines you can kind of judge the age of a Filipina to within a year or two. The times I have been unsure I just walked away. I also usually stay at the same few hotels in Cebu so I have built up relationships with hotel staff. That includes general managers, security and some front desk staff. I usually bring a bottle of whiskey or wine for a few select managers. Usually I get these items free on comp from other relationships so it doesn't cost me anything except the risk the bottles break in my checked luggage. I bring fun sized chocolates for the front desk girls and tip the bell boys and security. This has allowed me to build up relationships over the years at select hotels and get me perks like very early check in (8 am) free buffets and massages, free use of hotel van and driver for the evening.

Several times security has quietly pulled me aside and informed me that my 'guest' for the evening was well known to them and that she was previously caught stealing items or causing problems. I would then tell my guest I have changed my mind and now I would rather go get a bite to eat and lure her down the street to inform her I was no longer interested. I trust these people and if they tell me someone is trouble I walk away.

[QUOTE=SergeantRay;1622660]I, too, stay in Colon all the time. I agree that a key is not to get too drunk, don't antagonize people, and don't flash cash or jewelry..[/QUOTE]We could say that about many cities in the world. From my word travels this statement is true for Rio, parts of NY, parts of London (well part of the UK! Part of some Middle Eat countries, Sydney, Melbourne, a lot of African places, well I could continue but I think we get the idea.

Be quiet, respectful, not flashy and don't make a pig of yourself as that will certainly lead to trouble.

[QUOTE=SergeantRay;1622660]I, too, stay in Colon all the time. I agree that a key is not to get too drunk, don't antagonize people, and don't flash cash or jewelry.

Where is the new gym? I know there's one on Pelaez right across from the Century Hotel.[/QUOTE]Yes, I used to use the one on Pelaez, but this new one is the same price. It is located on RLandon Street, between Osmena Blvd and Junquera.

Well I still think Colon is not a good place but this article says it can be fun. Always watch out for the kids etc who are good are picking pockets.

[URL]http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/business/hangingrice/2014/09/19/12-cool-reasons-go-colon-night-market-366403[/URL]

Almost tempts me to go there as well LOL.

LevDog. Sent you a PM.

I am renting a house on my next visit, and would like to find a place to store my cash, any one know of short term deposit boxes banks or the like?

[QUOTE=LevDog;1622269]Hi X-man,

Colon is a great place to live for many reasons. Again it is not dangerous. I have never had a problem, and I walk the area all hours, including late at night. The way to stay safe is don't get falling-down drunk. I love to walk and you have E-Mall, department stores, Gaisano Metro, Main etc. And there is a brand new gym 1 block from where I live which costs 500 P / month. Fuente is an easy 20 minute walk. I have explained in the past how I get my girls. They come from all over the city, generally I stay away from the Colon girls who are not highly desirable. However there are 6 major Colleges in the area so there are tons of "good girls" in the area. I travel by taxi, and 99% of the time I am able to get a taxi in under 1 minute. It usually takes a taxi about 20 minutes for my twice daily trip to the Waterfront Casino{Lahug}, a place I spend many hours. Love your picture technique, sounds like a sure fire winner, never met a Cebu girl who did not love have their picture taken.[/QUOTE]Yea. Like the Waterfront hotel. Lahug. A little expensive but perfect location to the mall, and surrounding girls for directions to online contacts. Some of my posts photos were from there.

Pm.

[QUOTE=Poolmover;1624185]Yea. Like the Waterfront hotel. Lahug. A little expensive but perfect location to the mall, and surrounding girls for directions to online contacts. Some of my posts photos were from there.

Pm.[/QUOTE]Waterfront Lahug is located across from IT Park, but is no where near a mall. The rooms are dated and the place is very overpriced for what you get. Not a very good hotel IMO unless you have a lot of business to attend to at the US Consulate. Even then, there are a lot better options.

[QUOTE=ColLaw;1624168]I am renting a house on my next visit, and would like to find a place to store my cash, any one know of short term deposit boxes banks or the like?[/QUOTE]Yes I know of a few, but they charge based on a yearly rental, not monthly.

Best place to store your cash would be in a Western bank and take it out as needed.

[QUOTE=StrokerAce88;1624303]Waterfront Lahug is located across from IT Park, but is no where near a mall. The rooms are dated and the place is very overpriced for what you get. Not a very good hotel IMO unless you have a lot of business to attend to at the US Consulate. Even then, there are a lot better options.[/QUOTE]Waterfront Hotel Lahug is walking distance to Ayala Mall, I walk it every day, takes less then 10 minutes. The rest of your post is correct, unless you don't consider Ayala a mall.

[QUOTE=LevDog;1624507]Waterfront Hotel Lahug is walking distance to Ayala Mall, I walk it every day, takes less then 10 minutes. The rest of your post is correct, unless you don't consider Ayala a mall.[/QUOTE]I walk around my subdivision, I walk around S & R, I walk around the golf course here in Cebu from the cart to the fairway. I walk from the sala to my swimming pool. I send my butler to fetch the Rolls when I have the need to amble out and see how the common folk are doing. Must be my advanced age that keeps me so spry and handsumx2.

So you say you walk it every day? Gee how can that be if you stay in Colon? Oh that's right, I forgot you're a gambler, and make twice daily trips to PAGCOR and thus as a result when exiting the hotel you have to hoof it on foot to Ayala because you blew all your pesos. I will remind my butler to blow the horn when we pass you on the street sometimes, but alas it's not daily because you have not been in Cebu for many months. Did you know that there's a PAGCOR located on the second floor of Crown Regency Fuente? So technically you could walk from Colon up Jones and save the twice daily taxi fare (gamble it away) to the Waterfront? I just saved you 200 php + per day, so who says old guys can't learn new tricks?

The OP mentioned the Waterfront Lahug has a [B]"PERFECT LOCATION TO THE MALL".[/B] You and the OP might consider it perfect, but I don't, and I would assume any newbies reading the Cebu GI section without doing any homework would be more than a little pissed to find out there are much better hotel options should one prefer to be close to Ayala. Tune, Quest, Mandarin Oriental, Parklane and many others are right across the street from the mall. IMO 10+ minutes on foot for you might be 30+ for older gents like me.

I think guys like you are just bitter because they have not visited the RP in awhile, and have to sit at home saving pennies for a trip and building up all kinds of animosity at the rest of the members here who do spend a lot of time in the RP.

I just ask you to stop spreading false formation. First you are spreading rumors how dangerous Colon is and then you don't realize that the Waterfront Hotel is a very short walk to Ayala Mall. Your statement was Waterfront Lahug 'is no where near a mall' If you prefer not to walk around Cebu, I respect your right. Personally I feel walking is fun and gives people a different perspective of the city. I am not sure why you feel a need to attack me personally.

SA is just making a pathetic effort to impress you that he has 2 pesos in his pocket. He is a "cubicle man".

And refuses to live life in the real world. Just ignore him.

I've walked around Colon a 100 times day and night and no drama.

Enjoy

[QUOTE=LevDog;1624626]I just ask you to stop spreading false formation. First you are spreading rumors how dangerous Colon is and then you don't realize that the Waterfront Hotel is a very short walk to Ayala Mall. Your statement was Waterfront Lahug 'is no where near a mall' If you prefer not to walk around Cebu, I respect your right. Personally I feel walking is fun and gives people a different perspective of the city. I am not sure why you feel a need to attack me personally.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=StrokerAce88;1624303]Waterfront Lahug is located across from IT Park, but is no where near a mall. The rooms are dated and the place is very overpriced for what you get. Not a very good hotel IMO unless you have a lot of business to attend to at the US Consulate. Even then, there are a lot better options.[/QUOTE]On my first visit to the Waterfront (2011) I was killing time in the casino and hit a jackpot for almost $1 M pesos. I soon realized that I had 100 new friends.

Robb.

[QUOTE=Robbaf;1624680]On my first visit to the Waterfront (2011) I was killing time in the casino and hit a jackpot for almost $1 M pesos. I soon realized that I had 100 new friends.

Robb.[/QUOTE]Robb,

Yah I remember you posting about the jackpot way back when.

Did you get to keep all of the jackpot or did BIR take a slice?

[QUOTE=LevDog;1624626]I just ask you to stop spreading false formation. First you are spreading rumors how dangerous Colon is and then you don't realize that the Waterfront Hotel is a very short walk to Ayala Mall. Your statement was Waterfront Lahug 'is no where near a mall' If you prefer not to walk around Cebu, I respect your right. Personally I feel walking is fun and gives people a different perspective of the city. I am not sure why you feel a need to attack me personally.[/QUOTE]That's because you're new to Cebu, so to you it's only a rumor.

Do you know that the two biggest street gangs (Bloods and Crips) control territory around Colon? Do you know that there are many fraternities that also control areas in and around Colon? They also control many other areas around Cebu and if you know what to look for you can spot the territory 'tags' that dot the battle lines. You probably walk past it and never realize what you're looking at.

Back in May I had lunch with a local official. During the lunch a wide variety of topics came up, and one of which was Colon. He told me in no uncertain terms that it was getting more and more dangerous there. It seems (according to him) some fraternities are requiring new recruits to find, beat and rob a foreigner as a right of passage to get into the frat. Mostly older expats are targeted, but not always. A lot more info was revealed but I will keep it to myself.

Last year a well known expat Paul Jones was sitting and drinking around Colon and he was attacked and beaten within an inch of his life. Maybe he was drunk and said the wrong thing, I am not sure since I was not there, but other expats who were there claimed it was a random thing.

One thing I do know is what happened to Paul Jones is not an isolated incident and if you enjoy Colon and you have never had a problem, then as I previously stated in an earlier post that's cool. I am not an alarmist. I do not go around crying wolf mate. In fact I often keep a lot of what I have heard to myself. A lot of the crap never makes it into the local papers.

Ignoratio beatitudo est.