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visiting phils for 1st time

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markrf
  2/22/2017 20:07 EST

Hi everyone,
I'm a US citizen in love with single filipina who lives and works in manila. I just got my passport and we are planning a trip for me over there to see her. I have been scammed before but believe i am more careful now. I've videochatted with her, seen her fb page, and so on. Just wondering, what do I need to look out for when I land there? I know that is very general question, but i'm nervous about this whole thing, and some "voice of experience" advice would be reassuring.
Thanks, Mark

MrMakati
  2/22/2017 22:59 EST

Tell her you've been scammed before and now you're completely broke and had to borrow money for the airfare to see her. Split the bill with her when you visit..

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sherwood
  2/23/2017 01:31 EST

You need to trust her to watch out for you. Especially in Manila. She should do an outstanding job because it is her country and she is very familiar with the ropes. Trust her to be the eyes and ears to make you stay safe.

draks
  2/23/2017 02:19 EST

Not sure how well you know her or how long you have chatted. Be aware if she was wanting to go shopping in an expensive shopping mall she will probably expect you to buy clothes or jewelry. Don't offer to buy. Just keep your head firmly on your shoulders, go meet her family, see if they hint about money. In her house are there pictures of her with another guy? Does she keep getting phone calls and walk away from you, if she is texting have a quick look see if it's in English, it's a minefield really. I know I sound very skeptical but all the years I have been here I have seen so many cheating women, and men have admit.
Don't flash the cash never tell her or any one of your wealth. Just be very very careful. Hopefully she is honest and straight with you I really hope so. Oh don't carry lots of cash take a credit or debit card and keep the pin number secret. Just take out what you need each day. Good luck to you.

GaryD
  2/23/2017 03:04 EST

There is a big chance you will have rent-a-crowd along with you and you will be paying.

MrMakati
  2/23/2017 08:00 EST

If she really love you, she will spend her money on you and even support you. I know lots of Filipinas who support their lazy boyfriend. My girlfriend never handled her hard working money and gave me everything she earned.. Allow her to pay for everything and see how much love is there.

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ACEPoolPlayer
  2/23/2017 08:27 EST

How have you been scammed before? By a Filipina? What did you learn?

HMcBride
  2/23/2017 11:02 EST

Good question AcePoolPlayer.

There are some good answers here already but I will chime in....

Have you ever been outside the US before? You had better be afraid/ aware of everything around you because there will be many people wanting a piece of what's in your wallet. Nearly everyone will assume that you are rich.

Just because your dollar equals nearly fifty pesos does not mean you should act ritzy and frivolous. Just do what the one guy said and only take what you need for each day and do not try to hide the "stash" of cash in a hotel room because house keeping will/might be hunting for it.
Ferdinand Maggellen described the PI, back in his day, as "a country of thieves." LOL Even my stepson laughed and agrees with that analogy.

Just be on your toes and very careful.

MrMakati
  2/23/2017 12:30 EST

If you lend money, don't expect it to be returned.

seernai
  2/23/2017 17:34 EST

That's the same anywhere not just in the Philippines my Eldest Granddaughter "borrows" money off me every couple of months or so I dont expect it back I give it to her because she is my Granddaughter, if you give money freely here it's your problem if you expect it back don't give it in the first place if you expect it back

nonievales
  2/23/2017 20:23 EST

@HMcBride, I can't help but respond to the denegrading comment you made about the Philippines as 'The country of thieves', according to Magellan you say. There is also a saying, 'There is no honor among thieves'. Magellan sailed the seas in seach of booties to take home. Who do you think influenced the local natives to have such a bad trait? It was the Spaniards. They were thieves to the nth degree. How many boat loads of gold do you think they plundered from countries they conquered? I know of good people in the Philippines, but to call the whole country THIEVES is beyond the pale. Every country has its own share of good and bad. I have had my own bad experiences, but I have met more people here who would protect my back to the point they would die doing it.

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trappedinhell
  2/23/2017 22:02 EST

@markrf How long are you staying? Will you stay at a hotel, apartment, or w/ her & her family? Nothing to see in Manila, that you've already seen in the states. Expect to go to the malls & dine out most of the time. Usually the whole family comes along when you go to the malls or eating out & you're expected to pay the bill (not unless the Filipina comes from a wealthy family). The flip side to the coin of getting cash from the ATM daily is that they'll think you have an endless source of money from that magic machine. And most establishments here don't take debit or credit cards. "Cash is King" here in P.I. Hopefully your GF could take you around outside Manila, Taal volcano, Baguio, Borcay, Puerto Galera, etc... & it would be just the two of you.

markrf
  2/23/2017 22:15 EST

Thanks. She wants to do things outside manila, i forgot the name of the resort, but she priced it for me and it is affordable - at least according to her.

markrf
  2/23/2017 22:20 EST

Thanks for your reply.
We've been chatting and video chatting nearly every day for 7 months. I do trust her, altho i've trusted too easily in the past.
So our credit and debit cards work in the Phils? Are there a lot of atms? Should I notify my credit card companies before i travel? Thanks for any advice you have about this.

markrf
  2/23/2017 22:28 EST

It was an email scam that cost me thousands. i was very naive and too trusting of everything she said. I made it easy for them (a team) to totally screw me over.
i learned to videochat and check fb pages and take my time and never send money. Learned the hard way, but i did learn. Others tried to scam me later, but couldn't cuz i was smartened up.

seernai
  2/24/2017 01:09 EST

I have to agree with you The Philippines is most definitely not full of thieves it is like most countries Good and bad Also I also disagree with one comment I saw a while ago which stated that 70% of the population are living in poverty, no way is that correct, yes there is poverty but 70% no way not from what I have personally seen I would say around 20% are in real hardship it's still high and needs to be addressed

trappedinhell
  2/24/2017 01:31 EST

@markrf Yeah notify your bank & credit card co. that you will be using your cards outside the country (US). Otherwise, as a security measure, your bank will automatically freeze your funds & you'll be left w/out cash in P.I. Looks like your GF got it planned where to take you for sightseeing & fun. That's good sign. Just clear it w/ her no chaperone or hangers-on on that trip.

ACEPoolPlayer
  2/24/2017 07:29 EST

You have never to the Philippines. I suggest in the future that you make all the arrangements for your visit through expat or friends recommendations rather than to let your friend choose the resort and whatever else.. How would she know where to go unless she has been there before. Although she may be good and honest you are putting yourself under her control in her country. That's not a good precedent. You need to establish to her that you do know people and things about the Philippines just incase everything doesn't go as planned. I don't want to bust your bubble but you can never leave yourself vulnerable (even just a little), especially as a foreigner in the Philippines. You must always have a plan B or an exit plan.

ACEPoolPlayer
  2/24/2017 08:03 EST

Seernai,
I was curious so I just looked it up. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority and several international organizations the poverty level in the Philippines is over 26% which makes it the highest of every country in Asia, possibly 2nd to Myanmar (depending on the source). I know most expats never get exposed to it but most Filipinos living in barrios do not have a refrigerator, let alone any kind of vehicle (motorcycle, etc..). The typical appliances you'll find are a fan, cheap TV and a radio. Those families with a karaoke machine are already middle class.

ACEPoolPlayer
  2/24/2017 08:04 EST

Most do not have running water (that's also middle class). They usually use a local deep well with a hand pump.

seernai
  2/24/2017 08:11 EST

What do you mean most don't have running water ? Where are you living man? I have been all over the Philippines in the towns and cities there is running water up in the remote Provences you have wells but don't paint the country as having no running water that's nonsense

seernai
  2/24/2017 08:15 EST

I knew it was somewhere around that figure but one guy stated 70% poverty which is way to high different sites will have different figures I would not say it's the worst in Asia try Burma which is far worse than the Philippines

seernai
  2/24/2017 08:32 EST

Compared to what the Philippines was a few years ago things have changed for the better albeit slowly there are more housing Subdivisions being built now and shopping malls and roads are being made , in certain areas it's hard because of Earthquakes etc what I have seen on the Subdivision I live is not so much kareoke machines as those are mainly hired here for parties but most people have TVs , fridges, cooking is still done mainly on work top 2 burner jobs but western style cookers are getting popular if course fans are in most houses and also Air Con is becoming popular although somewhat expensive still to run all day my Neighbour runs hers all day because of her young son Her bill is usually around 8000 peso a month but that's what she has to do for her son. We expats here do see the darker side of life when we go to the city we pass the poorer tin shacks near the river and houses made out of woven lattice type material

GaryD
  2/24/2017 08:37 EST

"What do you mean most don't have running water ? Where are you living man? I have been all over the Philippines in the towns and cities there is running water up in the remote Provences you have wells but don't paint the country as having no running water that's nonsense."

We don't have running water in our village, and we are not remote. We supply about 30 houses from our deep well.

ACEPoolPlayer
  2/24/2017 08:50 EST

seernai,
I certainly hope you are not living in an area that does not have running water. A majority of the poverty areas are in the larger cities (ghettos/over populated barrios). They don't have running water. There are local deep well that people fill up their buckets at. In many areas in the Philippines in order to get running water you must pay for the connection to the closest main line which poverty level people can't afford. Go walk through some of the poorer areas and learn something. By the way just for you information Burma became Myanmar 28 years ago. According to the latest figures from the Asian Development bank the Philippines ranks lower than Myanmar.

ACEPoolPlayer
  2/24/2017 08:57 EST

Thank you Gary for that clarification. I had to pay for several hundred feet of pipes and connections in order for my inlays to have free flowing water in their home. Before that they were like many others carrying the buckets from the closest deep well. They live in the province (not a ghetto). Many areas you have to pay something to fill your buckets.

seernai
  2/24/2017 11:23 EST

I live in Davao and we have running water regarding Burma I have first hand knowledge of that country as one of my Step sisters is Burmese and she told me the Philippines is rated much higher than her country , you don't have soldiers here killing minority groups like over there apart from that my late father was there during ww2 and beyond until 1948 so din compare the Philippines to Burma it is a lot better here

seernai
  2/24/2017 11:23 EST

I live in Davao and we have running water regarding Burma I have first hand knowledge of that country as one of my Step sisters is Burmese and she told me the Philippines is rated much higher than her country , you don't have soldiers here killing minority groups like over there apart from that my late father was there during ww2 and beyond until 1948 so din compare the Philippines to Burma it is a lot better here

silvert
  2/25/2017 01:10 EST

We live in the Province and I would say 80% of homes do not have running water. Just recently a new water treatment plant was built in our town. Only some people could afford to get hooked up. cost us over P30,000. for 300 meters of plastic piping, labour cost and materials.

ACEPoolPlayer
  2/25/2017 07:46 EST

Silvert,
Thanks for the input. I also had to pay a similar amount to get my in-laws hooked up to running water in their home. Unless you live in a city or the center of a town that's what the normal is, buckets to a local deep well or pay a lot to get hooked up to the main water line. The Philippines is and will be a great place for many of us but unfortunately the rick keep getting a lot richer and the poor never get out of the hole. That's why the poverty level is the highest in Asia. The poor are really poor. If you own a refrigerator and a motorcycle you are already middle class. If a family owns even a 20-40 year old car or jeep they are upper middle class. There are a lot of people on this site that are quite knowledgeable about the Philippines but there are also several who think they are experts but actually have little real knowledge of what life is like in the Philippines outside their little subdivision and town.

markrf
  2/25/2017 11:55 EST

Thank you Sherwood. Yes, I will be trusting her to be my eyes and ears. Who else would I trust? So far she has said we shouldn't stay in manila but should go to a resort to spend time together. Makes sense to me as long as it is affordable. We are talking about prices and dates right now. We have tentative plans for me to arrive during Holy Week and stay for 7-10 days.

markrf
  2/25/2017 12:06 EST

She lives in manila but wants to go to a resort to spend our 7-10 days together. I think she mentioned el nido palawan. but i haven't priced it yet. Her family is pretty split up geographically. Chances are greater that we will eat and socialize with her work and church friends who i will not plan on treating. Thanks for your comments and feedback

Spruik
  2/25/2017 18:52 EST

>>>
Chances are greater that we will eat and socialize with her work and church friends who i will not plan on treating.
<<<

If you expect them to pay for themselves, your reputation will be shot.

draks
  2/25/2017 20:20 EST

Wow come here during holy week that's a big mistake, you will not be able to move all week everywhere is so busy large professional in every town it's interesting but very busy time.
You might be expected to pay for some of her family to be with you in the resort. Good luck

HMcBride
  2/25/2017 21:44 EST

Nonievales.. I meant what I said in a joking manner. I have spent time in many countries and have read a plethora of history books and realize that the Spaniards, French, British and other explorers were plundered, among other things.

I love the PI and have many wonderful in laws and friends there. Nobody except a few young kids ever ask me for money.

So, there is no need to jump my arce!

trappedinhell
  2/26/2017 03:18 EST

@markrf Holy Week? Geez, bad timing bro. Majority of the people in Manila will be going out-of-town during that week. Expect heavy traffic on the two expressway (north & south) going out of Manila. Although some of these people will be spending it on their homes in the provinces; resorts will be crowded and hotels fully booked. Prices in this tourist spots will temporarily go up due to high demand during this week. If you're going to El Nido, in Palawan (southern Philippines) make sure you've already made reservations at a hotel or pension house. Most likely you'll be flying from Manila to Puerto Princesa Airport in Palawan, so consider too about booking your flight early on. Try to raise these questions w/ your GF, if she had considered these things.

draks
  2/26/2017 04:03 EST

Just a bad time to travel. You will spend hours and hours in traffic jams for a week plus as said before everywhere booked solid and prices sky high
Holy week we just stay local

nonievales
  2/26/2017 06:22 EST

@HMcBride, glad to hear you love the country. I guess it just didn't come across as a joke when I read it. I am a pussycat, I don't snarl nor growl...I would rather be part of the solution and not be the problem, so, PEACE...

MrMakati
  2/26/2017 08:21 EST

If you don't plan on treating them, ask for separate checks for her friends and co-workers at the dinner table and see how well that goes.

MrMakati
  2/26/2017 08:21 EST

If you don't plan on treating them, ask for separate checks for her friends and co-workers at the dinner table and see how well that goes.

GaryD
  2/26/2017 08:52 EST

We were spending a couple of days in Dumaguete and were invited to my wifes batch mates get to gether at a restaurant along the seafront. It was like a lamb to slaughter. I ended up picking up to bill for about 20. The wife wasn't to impressed either.

Spruik
  2/26/2017 13:02 EST

Gary, pls tell us the details, how that happened,

We note that you were invited but you picked up the bill... for 20 !!!

markrf
  2/26/2017 13:17 EST

Thanks for bringing up those points. We were planning to spend holy week and the following week vacation to extend our time together. I'll talk to her about what you said; Thanks again

siayan
  2/26/2017 18:19 EST

My opinion is to get as far away from Manila as possible. It always drives me nuts and I could never get comfortable. If it is your first time stay in resort areas. they are generally safe. Spend time doing nothing but walking on the beach, eating at the restaurants and talking. Avoid visiting family if possible or until you have full trust. Keep your cash secure.Give her $100 dollars worh of pesos and tell her to pay for the day because you can't figure out the currency. See how she handles it. Enjoy yourself no matter what.

standupguy
  3/25/2017 20:56 EST

seernai - I am certain that the 20% poverty rate is incorrect. About a year ago, I reviewed the PH government reports on poverty and (when I have time) I will review them again. Definitely poverty back then was over 70% which is based on a poverty rate of about $1.00 (Canadian) per person per day. The number of people living at this rate was over 2/3 of the population. I will follow this post up with the current PH gov. reporting on poverty following another review.

charkee
  3/25/2017 21:34 EST

My wife grew up in this poverty. She was raised with 8 siblings along with other 8 cousins in the same home. The home was very large, made from whatever could be found in the jungles and was adequate. They never went hungry, though due to lack of knowledge their diets were a bit low on the protein side. However lack of money is a real problem when there is nothing to buy a pencil or notebook for school. No money for shoes, clothing or medicines. Many in the provinces have good knowledge of herbal medicines and I have met skilled shamans, native healers and midwives that do amazing work.

seernai
  3/25/2017 22:28 EST

Believe it or not during the 70s and 80s there were People in the uk worse offer than Filipinos especially during the strike years of the miners and British Steel Strikes, I worked in British Steel for over 23 years , during the Steel strike I had to pick coal of a Slag heap from a local mine as I had very little moneye just £23 every 2 weeks ,from the union , some guys lost their homes as they could not keep up the mortgage payments, having 2 small children to raise was very hard at that time lucky the strike lasted just 3 months , it took years to recover

ACEPoolPlayer
  3/27/2017 07:52 EST

Seernai,
Although It sounds like you had difficult times during the steel strike in the UK 40 plus years ago, to say the Filipinos were better off it just ridiculous. As it has been mentioned earlier most of the Filipino families in the country do not have running water/plumbing or a refrigerator today nor did they have those convenient items 40 or 50 years ago under Marcos. It's a silly comparison. Try going a few weeks without running water or the ability to flush a toilet. That's what it's like in many areas in the provinces. Yes, those people who make it out of the barrio or get away to the big city may have running water but all the others do not.

acol
  10/1/2018 19:20 EST

Magellan, back in his days ? LOL He was killed on Mactan as far as I know
.....

mootpoint20
  10/3/2018 15:28 EST

Go to the city of Gotcha in Mindinao. People are so poor they don't wear clothes. They also don't steal because they have no place to put your american dollars, except in cavities.

davyboy17
  10/4/2018 06:00 EST

Hi Just be aware that she maybe just interested in your cash, go by your gut feelings most are just trying to get out of poverty that said there is many genuine girls there enjoy

draks
  10/4/2018 08:51 EST

To compare the hardships felt in the UK in the 70's to here is really just ridiculous. Yes some people did lose their houses and couldn't afford their mortgage, but they had houses as opposed to here where most lived in nippy huts, made of insect infested bamboo. When I first visited here in 1995 the roads to Baguio were mostly mud tracks very few concrete roads. All along these tracks lived the farmers etc little tiny huts full of people. No running water, I did see some with electricity but most were lit by candles and lamps. Very very few fat people, only in manila.
believe me the miners, and steel workers saw extremely hard times but absolutely nothing like the absolute poverty of here.
I lives on a farm here for over two years I saw first hand how hard they worked just to put very basic food on the table. The family I lived with were very poor, but even they had a lot more than some that lived nearby.

draks
  10/4/2018 08:51 EST

To compare the hardships felt in the UK in the 70's to here is really just ridiculous. Yes some people did lose their houses and couldn't afford their mortgage, but they had houses as opposed to here where most lived in nippy huts, made of insect infested bamboo. When I first visited here in 1995 the roads to Baguio were mostly mud tracks very few concrete roads. All along these tracks lived the farmers etc little tiny huts full of people. No running water, I did see some with electricity but most were lit by candles and lamps. Very very few fat people, only in manila.
believe me the miners, and steel workers saw extremely hard times but absolutely nothing like the absolute poverty of here.
I lives on a farm here for over two years I saw first hand how hard they worked just to put very basic food on the table. The family I lived with were very poor, but even they had a lot more than some that lived nearby.

seernai
  10/4/2018 09:45 EST

Did you ever work on the steel industry in 1980 when most of us were forced to go out l on strike or be Black listed by our suppliers ? Many people lost their homes during that time so never even had a Nipa House to live in , if you lived in a council House and were married and had kids you were luckier than the single guys as we had £23 every two weeks to live on the single guys had nothing for 3 months unless you experienced those Times sorry but you havent got a clue what your talking about I worked in the steel industry almost 24 yrs before having to move on to other things because of plant closures .

Buang
  10/4/2018 10:40 EST

Seernai- I was luckier than you, I got 23.50, made me join up though as I saw the closures coming and the hardships as well. I do remember me and my younger brother sneaking to the railway lines near us to steal coal off the trucks for heating. Ah, the good old days... hold on, same happening again down in Port Talbot right now with Tata. I’m a Geordie though so I guess we had it better.

seernai
  10/4/2018 18:44 EST

Hi I used to Go to the coal yards to get coal as well those were hard Times for sure

surfingcebu
  10/4/2018 22:32 EST

Seenai - yes , the closure fo the steel factories has alot to do with Global trade and the dominate of Hyundai Steel and China Steel and globalization of "trade deals". If yoru generation would have said no to 'globalization' if would have saved jobs . Your job for sure. The Steel factories opening up in the USA for instance is a direct result of democratic nationalism , not economic globalism.
Now, How do we get the RP to prosper ? They have to partner within their county with the RIGHT countries . Stable, pro business economic tenants first though . Horse always before the cart ! How can the RP entice good businesses to come to this country ? I have a few ideas that would work. I truly hope that RP will proper one day . I DREAM IT FOR THE PEOPLE!

seernai
  10/4/2018 23:21 EST

Every plant I went to work closed and I tried different industries , the garment industry Dewhirst in Swansea closed in 2003 business transferred to Morocco 2009 Draka copper works in Llanelli South Wales closed business transferred to Derby in England which was later taken over by prysmian and also closed a year later I then went back to College to gain a diploma in Health and social care and worked in a private Nursing Home until I retired one thing is for sure I grabbed any Job that was available as most heavy industry was closed because of Margaret Thatchers war against the steel workers and mine workers during the 1980s I pity the youngsters trying to find work with their useless University degrees I realised that when I applied for the Nursing home job other applicants had degrees as long as your arm , the reason I got the job was because I had life experience it was My boss who paid for My diploma I consider myself lucky

draks
  10/5/2018 02:01 EST

Serena I really do sympathise with you and the miners that lost their lively hood I really do. My point is only you can't compare the hardships you guys went through, to the poverty here, when I said I lived on a farm, that was only 3 years ago so it would have been a lot worse in the 70's and 80's. You lost your job, you got money from the union you could get unemployment benefits this that lost their homes were probably given council homes, or put into bed and breakfast until they were able to find something else. Not nice must have been awful for these families. But here if you don't work, you starve. My wife lived in a nippa Hut, no electricity no running water, when it rained the roof leaked, high winds, and the Hut blew down, multiply that a few million times, that's real poverty. A bowl of rice with sugar on it or tomato sauce if they could afford it. Hand me down clothes, old school books, no shoes at all. I don't think in Britain they saw such poverty for well over 100 years.

draks
  10/5/2018 02:02 EST

Serena I really do sympathise with you and the miners that lost their lively hood I really do. My point is only you can't compare the hardships you guys went through, to the poverty here, when I said I lived on a farm, that was only 3 years ago so it would have been a lot worse in the 70's and 80's. You lost your job, you got money from the union you could get unemployment benefits this that lost their homes were probably given council homes, or put into bed and breakfast until they were able to find something else. Not nice must have been awful for these families. But here if you don't work, you starve. My wife lived in a nippa Hut, no electricity no running water, when it rained the roof leaked, high winds, and the Hut blew down, multiply that a few million times, that's real poverty. A bowl of rice with sugar on it or tomato sauce if they could afford it. Hand me down clothes, old school books, no shoes at all. I don't think in Britain they saw such poverty for well over 100 years.

seernai
  10/5/2018 02:16 EST

The one thing the Philippines does not get is severe cold winters so you cannot compare what some of the pensioners ate going through today who are on state pension as some have a choice between eating or heating and having to Go to food banks for food those that have paid off their homes are luckier those still paying mortgage or rent are not so lucky as for unemployment benefit you only get that for 6 weeks after that nothing so the uk is not the place it once was and yes ive seen poverty both here in the Philippines , Thailand and in the uk , in Swansea City there are homeless people living in the streets imagine that in freezing cold wet conditions , you would think that in the 6th Richest economy in the world it would not happen but it does so to compare the Philippines with the uk is really a no brainer also people in their 30s now Will ha E to work until they are 70 in order to get their state pension , My Father worked until he was 79 and dropped dead of a heart attack in his job , Welcome to the UK

surfingcebu
  10/5/2018 07:33 EST

Seernai - the reason you got the job was the anti-intellectual slant on things during rough time. You learn to hide your degrees and knowledge , as you pose a threat to the status quo . Happens everywhere during hard times and public unrest ! I for instances boiled down my resume for internal applications and took off a degree or two and lecturing college kids , to get promoted a couple times during the era . "hide and cover" ,network, and smooze was the name of the game back then. talent, qualifications , life experience, and hard work had nothing to do with it or getting promoted . reality .

seernai
  10/5/2018 09:03 EST

The reason I got he job and the others did not was nothing to do with anti interlectuals but hard facts these kids had no life experience Just fancy bits of paper this is is why the uk is starting to Go back to the Old apprentiships employers are getting sick of people turning up for a job interview with no experience of the job they are applying for as for me because I had raised kids and had cared for My Late grandmother I was deemed more suitable than someone with meaningless degrees . I. The caring industry life experiences and the older you are the better . Other jobs such as welding an employer Will say “ Nice certificate now lets see a weld “ again nothing to do with being interlectual but more to do with can you weld , if on the other hand got a degree in electronics well now your talking as you should have the Practical skills as well . When I worked in the steel industry I remember a Guy who had Been a School Teacher but Just did not have any common sense and could not do the job after 3 months training and was fired he found his way in life as a Police Officer eventually . Employers have nothing against interlectuals as long as they can do the job in hand , what you have to remember back in the day work was more labour intensive unlike today where you have to have a diploma for almost every job you apply for for .

gelynch52ph
  10/5/2018 14:38 EST

Unless you are going to an actual resort with a beach, it may very well just be a hotel with a swimming pool right in the middle of the town or city. What is the name and location of this resort she wants to go to?

For instance the most expensive "resort" in Dasmariñas is little more than a couple swimming pools and a hotel right in the middle of a metropolitan area. Go to Google Earth and copy this into the search bar.

343 Paliparan 3
Dasmariñas, Cavite

It is the Tubigan Garden Resort (tubig is water in Tagalog)

https://www.facebook.com/pg/tubigangardenresort/about/?ref=page_internal

gelynch52ph
  10/5/2018 14:42 EST

Yes there are lots of ATMs and yes you should notify your bank before traveling. You also need to be aware that if you make purchases with plastic, there is often a 10% charge added to the bill if it is a foreign card. Stick your card into a BPI machine and you get the regular exchange rate plus a P200 BPI charge and whatever your bank charges, so you would be wise to make only 1 withdrawal for the day.

surfingcebu
  10/5/2018 16:12 EST

seernai- apprenticeship programs and internships are more valid than ever today with many high tech trades emerging , in my opinion . But believe me Seernai , history is full of examples of anti-intellectuals sentiment , Large companies included . its not all just about 'being able to do the job' that surprisingly is less important today than ever.

seernai
  10/5/2018 17:13 EST

Standard charge for all Foreign Debit Cards apart from HSBC who dont charge anything here is ?250 per transaction also be careful when trying to use BDO ATMs as not all Will acccept Foreign Debit Cards

gelynch52ph
  10/5/2018 17:48 EST

I would say closer to 80% are living in poverty, but of course I only lived there for 14 years, so probably don't know too much???

gelynch52ph
  10/5/2018 17:54 EST

My wife and my girlfriend both live in Las Piñas about 10 minute walk from each other. My mother-in-law died a couple weeks ago and she never had running water in her life. My GF's mother got her start in business selling city water to all the neighbors because there was no running water in the area other than at that single water station. I lived in Malaybalay and knew many people without running water and one of these days I'll find some pics I took of people washing clothes in the stream in the middle of town. They certainly did not do that because they had plentiful water in the house.

gelynch52ph
  10/5/2018 17:57 EST

I once had a GF who, when I met her, was living in Tanza, Cavite, hardly a remote province and about 10 shacks shared a single hand pump and if you dumped water in the toilet to flush it, you could look out the window and see it floating in the cement ditch right alongside the house. Millions of people live that way, but the government tries to avoid counting those people among the poverty stricken. My GF worked 60 hours a week for P5000/mo. and was happy to have a job.

gelynch52ph
  10/5/2018 18:00 EST

When the SM Wind Residences were built about 5 or 6 years ago in Tagaytay a couple thousand squatter shacks were bulldozed. Where did those people go? They are just invisible to the government.

http://smdc-windresidences.com/

Morgacj2004
  10/5/2018 21:09 EST

I use my US based credit card all the time and have not yet encountered the 10% surcharge.

seernai
  10/5/2018 22:42 EST

Have you tried to get cash with your credit card , personally I use HSBC here in Davao for My Debit card they dont charge anything of course My Bank in the uk charges , also HSBC here is the only Bank you can withdraw up to ?40,000 in one Go subject to your own personal Daily limits

Robertdav298
  10/5/2018 23:36 EST

There are people on this site that will dispute the term "third world country" they say that the RP is progressing, I say thats BS. Your comments are exactly what I am speaking about.......there are places in this country that are still living in the 19th century.
You will get comments the the DAVAO people that live in a bubble because of the D30 affect and those people that live in the rich areas of Manila are not affected because for decades the government has dumped millions of pesos into that city and suburbs while the outer islands still lack the basic living essentials.
Luckily D30 is aware of this atrocity and has programs to help the poor but the problem is the structure is so corrupt it will take decades to diffuse the deep rooted corruption at all levels.

charkee
  10/5/2018 23:59 EST

My in laws carry their water, whenever I'm not visiting :-) About 35 to 40 gallons a day. There is water to be piped but the people between the good spring and the little village refuse to allow a pipeline cross their property. A brother in law who is brgy captain has been feuding with them for over a decade.

Then they approved it and he hired locals to dig the trenches for the pipes throughout the village. Then the people that allowed the pipeline changed their mind and all the trenches were back filled.

But they did get new 18 inch thick concrete road. Still no cell phone service and forget about internet.

Robertdav298
  10/6/2018 00:07 EST

Also, my wife is from a province in the mountains of CEBU, they still do not have running water or electric. People go to a mountain stream where they do their laundry and bath. Drinking water comes from an underground spring.
I met my wife in 1995 and it has not changed one bit except the dirt road leading up from the town of RONDA is now cement.
If you go north about 30km, you find the bustling city of CARCAR, complete with GAISANO, McDonalds....ATM Machines etc......but just outside the city there are the barrios where there is no electric or toilets and running water BUT deep wells.

Robertdav298
  10/6/2018 00:13 EST

My advice is to make a copy of your
1) drivers license
2) your passport

Reason, things happen and if you lose either of these you will be SOL At least when you go to the embassy to report a stolen passport you will have proof.

Best of luck, enjoy your GF and safe travels.

charkee
  10/6/2018 00:16 EST

Our deep well is about 15 feet "deep". Don't dare to drink it, but it's okay after boiling. My in laws have a spring with drinkable water. My father in law loads about 10 five gallon jugs on his carabao sled and fills them once every other week as this is for drinking water only. It's about a mile long trek. They own about 50 hectare of gooey red clay mountain side. When it rains it becomes slick as grease. They don't go anywhere then, it's like getting an ice storm.

seernai
  10/6/2018 01:47 EST

Yes make a copy of your passport bio page also the date you entered the Philippines snd the latest visa Extension of applicable

TimL
  10/6/2018 08:21 EST

Jesus.. y’all do realize the original poster last posted to this thread back in Feb 2017, right? ??????

standupguy
  10/6/2018 11:23 EST

gelynch52ph I have gotten VERY large cash advances at the main BDO branch in Davao for $12. Don’t use an ATM. Only the main branch can do it. One advance was for $3000. Forex out of Australia can be used to move large sums of any currency (I use USD). $800 is their minimum. BDO will give you a USD remittance account without a ACR card.

standupguy
  10/6/2018 11:38 EST

seernai I got 120,000 in one go for $12 at the main branch of BDO, at SM Ecoland, putting my MasterCard through three times. They told me the sky was the limit. I returned for a couple more VERY large cash advances. Big Reno and redocorating costs.

yknot
  10/6/2018 20:33 EST

Standupguy, I'm planning on my big move in March 2019 and haven't looked at the banking yet. My US bank is a local southeast US bank. Are you saying I can use my current cards at ATM's there? Of course I'll be living in Dipolog which is a far pace from Davao but on the same island at least. I need to sit down with my branch manager and find out what kind of changes I will need to make to have access to my money there.

standupguy
  10/6/2018 21:45 EST

yknot If you are getting a Tourist Visa, you’lol have to pay for an ACR card. With the ACR card you can open a Peso account and get an IPS. However, if you’re entering with your Filipina wife and have your Marriage Certificate handy, you can stay for 12 months and pay nothing. You need to consider getting a 13A permanent residency ACR card by your Filipina wife sponsorship. But if yo are a Balikbyan Visa, you will need to bring your Marriage Certificate, Social Security Card, your Asawa Ko’s Passport your passport, the bank will make photocopies, and (at least at BDO) you can open a “remittance USD” account in your name. At BDO, they required an initial deposit of $100 USD. Using the Swift Code and branch name and your account number, you can load up your “remittance” account with USD. I use the Aussie company Forex to transfer money from my Canadian bank. They require your Passport face page and one letter addressed to you confirming your address, I used a Canada Revenue Agency letter, but a credit card bill or any bill in your name showing your address will do. Their compliance takes about a week. They are quick and simple and have an app, but I prefer to deal with them over the phone. Then you are set up to transfer as much USD as you want into your USD “remittance” account. My BDO branch wants me to call ahead when withdrawing a large sum of USD. Don’t exchange USD into Pesos at the bank. Western Union and other money changers give much better rates. This is how a Balikbyan Visa guy gets a USD bank account. Forex transfers take 4 business days, and you can do all the set up by email. Don’t use an ATM for withdrawal. You get your USD from a teller. Before I had my “remittance” account, only at the main branch of BDO you can get as large a cash advance as you want (they put it through in 40,000 php chunks) with a MasterCard. I got Pesos this way before I had my “remittance” account. Doesn’t matter the size of the advance, they only charge it a single time. I paid $12 Canadian loonies I just load up my MasterCard beforehand, but I have a.very large limit on my MasterCard.. My MasterCard is an MBNA account at 11.5% interest from the Toronto Dominion Bank that I pay into from my Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce account. Keep all your money in your name. I gave my wife 40,000 pesos for her account in case I fall into the ditch. She has a life long slice of my pension after I die for the rest of her life, a spousal survivor pension, more than enough to support our same lifestyle. Yet the Canadian government is very slow to act. Decision by delay saves them a lot of dosh on the time value of your money. Marriage deserves its own subject stream. Today is our 7th anniversary. Bonne Chance, eh!

standupguy
  10/7/2018 06:39 EST

yknot I am saying you need toopena bank account here to transfer USD into. Depends on your Visa.

yknot
  10/10/2018 18:01 EST

Hi Standupguy, that's what I figured also but haven't checked into the banks there or their requirements. I'll be arriving initially on a tourist visa then plan to marry so I'll flip that over into something more permanent. But I'll need some way for my social security checks to be available as soon as possible after they're deposited into my US account.

colinneale
  10/11/2018 00:13 EST

hi I am thinking of retiring to Philippines, how did your move go?

standupguy
  10/11/2018 03:50 EST

yknot You can open a bank account with a Tourist Visa once you get your Alien Certificate Rsgistration or ACR Card. Bring your passport, social insurance card, and ACR card to any bank. I use BDO. Set up on-line banking. You can get US dollar account and a Peso account, and transfer money between them. However you get a better rate of exchange on your US at Western Union and money changers than at the bank. On a different issue: get some hydrogen peroxide spray for your toothbrush since the tap water is sketchy and use it on your razor too. I picked up a skin rash off the tap water after shaving since I forgot to splash on isopropyl alcohol after shaving. I use bottled alkaline water. I order the big bottles that are delivered and I have a simple dispenser. Make my ice and coffee with it.

standupguy
  10/11/2018 19:20 EST

colinneale. - my move went fine. Moving is easy; settling in, adjusting to the cultural differences, knowing who & when to trust is the difficult part. I love it here most of the time and sometimes I hate it here. It’s against the law to raise your voice. In Davao, the only place you can have a cigarette is at home. The drivers are worse than the Chariot race in Spartacus. People constantly try to cut in front of you. Crab mentality everything me first. Pinoy’s very friendly. Some of that friendliness real and some just luring you for a scam. Don’t ever tell anyone how much money you have, just say $950 a month. If you marry a Filipina, remember right or wrong their family always sides with their relative no mater how many lies were told about you. Never loan money. These cautions are still less than the overall human warmth and friendliness of Pinoys. I’ve been here almost 8 years and still settling in. I’m loving my beach, house and family. Sometimes the waters very choppy, other times smooth as glass. The Filipina’s are amazing, best part of all.

jackson001
  10/12/2018 23:27 EST

Marcos is listed in the guiness world book of records as the biggest thief in the world.
Every time a flip gets butt hurt, they always say,,,Its worse in other countries.
The problem is 99 per cent have never lived in the other countries. They could even fin the ***other countries** on a world map.

charkee
  10/13/2018 00:38 EST

jackson001 I lived in Honduras for 3 years, Believe me it's worse there, a lot worse. When I first came to the Philippines comparing the two, RP is a paradise.

Benjamin3874
  10/13/2018 06:25 EST

Hi my friend I Red about your concern I suggest meet her in Vietnam or Thailand or Lao Cambodia not in her country many weather go there with pocket back empty hand

surfingcebu
  10/13/2018 09:58 EST

charkee- agree with you 100% , Honduras is a rats nest of corruption at every level , killings and so much other ! I slept with my Glock-22 model. with an armed guard by the front door 24/7. doing circles at random. Even then I did not feel safe.Yes, its really that bad. I was on a work assignment there. The country should be overturned and replaced by a UN provisional government . But of course we all know the UN does noting but corrupt countries rather than fix them …. and collect big fat checks from third world governments to pocket in numbered banks . From my experience too, the UN guys always were the best paid as well . Like standup guy says . Its all about power now ; and money flows from this . Pity .

gelynch52ph
  10/13/2018 11:24 EST

The ATMs all run out of money around Tuesday of Holy Week and are not refilled until sometime after Easter.

Jcglobal
  10/17/2018 06:19 EST

I think you just described the absolute worst case scenario. For you.
Once you get there you will realize there are a hundred other girls prettier, and sweeter,...before you leave the Airport!
Get out. Sever all ties. Tell her you spent your last nickle on the airfare. And you are counting on her to help you out. And , if you are lucky, after she cuts you loose, hire beeway travel to take you to Angeles.

draks
  10/17/2018 06:57 EST

1st time to Philippines and you tell him to go to Angeles? the absolute worst place outside Manila, full off hookers drunk idiots, everyone wants to rip you off, I have been here 8 years and Angeles was the worst place I ever stayed in. Rip off city. Cheapest tricycle ride 100 pesos. Girls that want to take all your money, the bars are full of tourists big fat ugly men who think they are God's gift to women, being fleeced by money grabbing hookers. I lived there now live about 20klm outside. Tricycles 20 pesos jeepneys 9 phone. For God's sake don't go to Angeles unless you like spending your money on expensive beer and prositutes

Benjamin3874
  10/17/2018 07:51 EST

I think this guy his been there get robbed and hooked took his money and credit card now he want to go again we’ll let him do whatever he want he will loose his age why he have to go all the way to Philipine he could go to Chilie Peru they are same like philipinno this guy he think Asian girls are easy bloody trump

gelynch52ph
  10/17/2018 09:07 EST

standupguy Paragraph much? Your long post is just too hard to read and comprehend because it appears to be just a couple of very long run-on sentences.

Benjamin3874
  10/17/2018 09:56 EST

Well keep running cutch up

standupguy
  10/17/2018 18:29 EST

gelynch52ph I normally paragraph, but this board prevents that. I’ll work at being more short & Swift.

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