General Info

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1944390]I'm curious about whether anyone has seen any reliable information on the impact of the current imbroglios on tourism? I'd imagine, given the recent verbal assaults against the EU, the UN and the US that tourism from these areas would be adversely affected, but I've got no confirmation that this is true. Does anyone know?

GE.[/QUOTE]No info here in the USA. No one here in USA is upset at all about Dutere's comments about anything and I mean anything, whether it is directed to USA or not.

I highly doubt anyone is offended and changed plans to come. Only ones I can think of who might be offended would not even have the budget for a plane ticket.

Philippines is not on too many peoples radar here. Most remarks are made hoping that President Du30 will clean out the corruption. Also they blame the Catholic Church for the over population and poverty problems along with the corruption as causes.

Anecdotally again, OFWs here in SoCal are keen to say that PI is safer now than before, because the extrajudicial stuff is against the druggies, not tourists. This is more worker to co-worker "I heard that. " kind of conversations than any big concerted effort to spread the word. Probably some potential tourists are scared off but IMHO not significantly many.

[QUOTE=Amavida;1944451]5 year highs earlier in the year. Official figures are current only until July. (Check out the Korean numbers, phew).

Anecdotally cancellations are occurring. Awaiting next batch of numbers.[/QUOTE]The highest was end July 2016 based on the 2 links I presented Amavida. And please share with everyone your statistical basis for the "anecdotally cancellations" as would love to know how many and the percentage of total reservations please. And what was the reason as could be sickness, death, as well have a weak stomach and some maybe recreational druggies also so perhaps feel other countries will be more lenient to their hobby. Who knows but help everyone with figures and sources.

I ask again are you related to the CHR and / or the previous administration as you seems somewhat intense in your dislike of the new administration. Stats from the links I provided (did you read?) show end July being the best month so how do you know that people are cancelling.

Please share your wisdom.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1944390]I'm curious about whether anyone has seen any reliable information on the impact of the current imbroglios on tourism? I'd imagine, given the recent verbal assaults against the EU, the UN and the US that tourism from these areas would be adversely affected, but I've got no confirmation that this is true. Does anyone know? [/QUOTE]The majority of my Australian family and friends are amazed that I am still prepared to stay in the Philippines despite "the new President".

I have a "milestone" birthday coming up early next year and my family have all suggested we celebrate somewhere in Oz, Bali, Singapore or Bkk, but not Philippines.

It's definitely not robust empirical data, but it does suggest that the adverse press and media has had some effect on a small segment of the educated Australian populace.

This incident happened in Cebu but given it is a more general comment on monger attitudes, I posted it here.

I was travelling from Cebu to Manila. Normally I don't have anyone accompany me to the airport but this time I did. A well dressed fairly conservative girl I have known for a few years. As we walked into the domestic airport. A tall youngish (35 approx.) foreign guy gave my friend the eye. I asked my friend to take a seat at the cafe while I checked in. After checking in I came back outside to the cafe and the foreigner was sitting two tables away directly looking at her. Ok I should have started to get suspicious. I walked my friend back down the ramp to arrivals. As we were walking down the ramp the announcement came that my plane from manila had arrived so I was conscious for time. I took her right up to within 20 metres of the taxi line and told her take the white taxi not the yellow. . Ok I should have walked her to the taxi and put her in the taxi. As I was walking back up the ramp the foreign guy walked past me avoiding eye contact. I looked back towards the taxi line and there was no one in the queue so I assumed she had already walked to the taxi and got in. What I had not realised was the illegal taxi touts had commandeered her and convinced her that she had to wait for a taxi they would organise. Why the airport allows these people to rip people off I don't know. They should be arrested and fined. Based upon what my friend has told me the foreign guy grabbed her before getting into the taxi the illegal touts had organised and would not let her in the taxi saying I want to know you; you are beautiful. My friend asked him to let her go so eventually the illegal taxi lady calls security over. The foreign guy tells the security guard get lost it is none of his business. Finally the security guard physically intervened and pushed the foreigner out of the way. My friend jumped in the taxi and left. It is really my fault, I should have walked her into the taxi and secondly walked back when the guy passed me on the ramp.

The point of the story is that some guys get delusions that the Philippines is a candy shop and everything is there for them to pick up. This guy is delusional and in grave danger of physically accosting the wrong person. Approaching any random girl and chatting them up has risks. Physically restraining someone is path to disaster. Hope this post has some educational value.

[QUOTE=MsAccount;1945157]
The point of the story is that some guys get delusions that the Philippines is a candy shop and everything is there for them to pick up. This guy is delusional and in grave danger of physically accosting the wrong person. Approaching any random girl and chatting them up has risks. Physically restraining someone is path to disaster. Hope this post has some educational value.[/QUOTE]I have been very concerned about some of the recent posts in the AC thread endorsing this 'all the women are for sale' mentality. I wish you could cross post it over there mate. I'm glad your friend escaped unharmed. Imagine her reaction next time a foreigner flashes her a smile?

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1945136]The majority of my Australian family and friends are amazed that I am still prepared to stay in the Philippines despite "the new President".

I have a "milestone" birthday coming up early next year and my family have all suggested we celebrate somewhere in Oz, Bali, Singapore or Bkk, but not Philippines.

It's definitely not robust empirical data, but it does suggest that the adverse press and media has had some effect on a small segment of the educated Australian populace.[/QUOTE]I have had the same conversations with friends about "are you sure it is safe" but then they know I have been in Pakistan when there were riots in Karachi, bombs in Ireland, the Middle East and all its loony tunes LOL plus other exotic places and realise that the press has to sell a story and maybe they need to read the other side of the page.

As for your milestone birthday I would suggest a visit to AC or Cebu and we could suggest a collection of cuties to number you milestone age when added up. Mate did this in AC a few years back with his wife rounding up 7 ladies from the bars for a "sex party" in their suite at the hotel. Am sure that would be 'memorable' and is something I will plan when I reach any milestone birthday (but I am a young fella RK as you know!

Just an idea of course RK and one that I would happily help you organise LOL.

I have my Filipino number on roaming when outside the Philippines. Unfortunately the sms costs to respond from overseas to a sms sent to my Filipino number are prohibitive (40 pesos per message if I remember). I have not been able to get Skype (and tried another smaller vendor) to have call number display correctly working in Philippines. Call number display works in Australia but there seems to be some problem with Philippines telecom carriers. Thus if I send a sms message from skype to a Philippines mobile it does not show my number but some number the local philippines telecoms carrier uses. This causes all sorts of confusion where my Filipino recipient responds to the "fake" mobile number displayed as the sender.

Sometimes I get messages from Filipino senders where they don't have any load but use some free messaging service to send the sms. However it still shows as received from the real user's number rather than a fake telecoms carrier number. Does anyone know what local Filipinos use for these Philippines free message services? I expect some responses to say don't use sms anymore-everyone uses facebook messaging or viber or what's app. In my experience that is not true because still many people I communicate with cannot afford a smart phone so they have simple text phone (quite often bought by me)

[QUOTE=MsAccount;1947901]I have my Filipino number on roaming when outside the Philippines. Unfortunately the sms costs to respond from overseas to a sms sent to my Filipino number are prohibitive (40 pesos per message if I remember). I have not been able to get Skype (and tried another smaller vendor) to have call number display correctly working in Philippines. Call number display works in Australia but there seems to be some problem with Philippines telecom carriers. Thus if I send a sms message from skype to a Philippines mobile it does not show my number but some number the local philippines telecoms carrier uses. This causes all sorts of confusion where my Filipino recipient responds to the "fake" mobile number displayed as the sender.

Sometimes I get messages from Filipino senders where they don't have any load but use some free messaging service to send the sms. However it still shows as received from the real user's number rather than a fake telecoms carrier number. Does anyone know what local Filipinos use for these Philippines free message services? I expect some responses to say don't use sms anymore-everyone uses facebook messaging or viber or what's app. In my experience that is not true because still many people I communicate with cannot afford a smart phone so they have simple text phone (quite often bought by me)[/QUOTE]I have my phils number on roaming an have chikka on my mobile which gives me about 8/10? To each number in the phils an to as many different numbers as I want. An for the person in the phils to text me to my roaming number is the same cost as if I was in the phils. I am in Australia.

[QUOTE=MsAccount;1947901]I have my Filipino number on roaming when outside the Philippines. Unfortunately the sms costs to respond from overseas to a sms sent to my Filipino number are prohibitive (40 pesos per message if I remember). I have not been able to get Skype (and tried another smaller vendor) to have call number display correctly working in Philippines. Call number display works in Australia but there seems to be some problem with Philippines telecom carriers. Thus if I send a sms message from skype to a Philippines mobile it does not show my number but some number the local philippines telecoms carrier uses. This causes all sorts of confusion where my Filipino recipient responds to the "fake" mobile number displayed as the sender.
[/QUOTE]G'day MA, if your textors are too poor / uneducated to avail of IP telephony the last resort is to buy an OFW Sim from Globe, load it up with max credit and enable roaming on it just before you board the plane homeward. In your home country use the sim as you would normally. Yes it's not cheap but you value communicating these people and could afford airfares / hotels / punting right? Occasionally you will need to top up the load on these sims. Web sites exist selling third party top up.

[QUOTE=MsAccount;1947901]
Sometimes I get messages from Filipino senders where they don't have any load but use some free messaging service to send the sms. However it still shows as received from the real user's number rather than a fake telecoms carrier number. Does anyone know what local Filipinos use for these Philippines free message services? I expect some responses to say don't use sms anymore-everyone uses facebook messaging or viber or what's app. In my experience that is not true because still many people I communicate with cannot afford a smart phone so they have simple text phone (quite often bought by me)[/QUOTE]They are using chikka. That's fine for them. Most punters cannot be bothered with the rigamarole involved. Read up on the web if you really must try it.

Cheers mate.

[QUOTE=Paulr1950;1947927]I have my phils number on roaming an have chikka on my mobile which gives me about 8/10? To each number in the phils an to as many different numbers as I want. An for the person in the phils to text me to my roaming number is the same cost as if I was in the phils. I am in Australia.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Amavida;1947945]G'day MA, if your textors are too poor / uneducated to avail of IP telephony the last resort is to buy an OFW Sim from Globe, load it up with max credit and enable roaming on it just before you board the plane homeward. In your home country use the sim as you would normally. Yes it's not cheap but you value communicating these people and could afford airfares / hotels / punting right? Occasionally you will need to top up the load on these sims. Web sites exist selling third party top up.

They are using chikka. That's fine for them. Most punters cannot be bothered with the rigamarole involved. Read up on the web if you really must try it.

Cheers mate.[/QUOTE]Not sure if the OFW SIM is different rates to my standard Globe SIM. But it really does start to add up the roaming SMS costs. I must be recharging my Globe number 60-90 $ AUD per month. I recharge using World Remitt. Chikka is what I wanted to hear. I knew it was something like that but could not remember. I will give it a try. Forum has solved my questions. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Paulr1950;1947927]I have my phils number on roaming an have chikka on my mobile which gives me about 8/10? To each number in the phils an to as many different numbers as I want. An for the person in the phils to text me to my roaming number is the same cost as if I was in the phils. I am in Australia.[/QUOTE]Same here I have a roaming Phil number and then I use local data packages where ever I am (I have around 20 different SIM cards now. Wander around a lot at times LOL). They just text my local Phil number as same cost as usual, I reply on whatever number am using as cheap and I get freebies also in some countries. Or use BBM / WhatsApp / Viber. That is better as easier to send photos and videos. Also some packages I get lots of free international calls so that helps me speak to them and they love that as think am spending a lot on mobile charges just to call them.

[QUOTE=MsAccount;1947901]Does anyone know what local Filipinos use for these Philippines free message services?[/QUOTE]TextPlus, free SMS and VOIP.

I am not much a conversation person, so when I have a girl in the room between pops I let her download apps or games to her CP or tablet using the hotel WiFi. Yes the WiFi speed is slow and maybe even slower as they are browsing thru Facebook, but they are happy and don't mind waiting. I have found the LT girls love the WiFi and usually don't get online that often and are happy amusing themselves.

I had mentioned in a much previous post that I bring used CP and tablets to give away to star performers. I had been getting the used CP for free or cheap from friends who were upgrading their phones. These CP and tablets are still better than the crap they buy in Phil for 4-5 k. Make sure they are unlocked GSM phones before you bring them. Now on #A online shopping store you can buy a great new CP with 5" screen, 16 GB, 2 g ram for $60. Last trip to Manila I exchanged this CP each to 2 different girls for a couple of nights of lovemaking. I also gave them 1 k each for food and round trip taxi.

You can buy a tablet from the online store for $50 and be a hit. I augment the CP or tablet with a 32 GB micro SD memory chip. You can buy those online for less than $11 whereas in Phil they sell for $20+.

For lighter travel I just bring extra CP and micro SD chips.

[QUOTE=BukoMax;1948107]TextPlus, free SMS and VOIP.[/QUOTE]I think some times I away for 2/3 months an I never top up my phils smart number as I only leave with about 110 in cr that drops of soem times as the load will expire, but even if nil balance still works for a few months till you go back or top again.

Ye chikka works fine, there is another one I have used, but chikka now give you more texts per day / per number than befour so no need.