Bill's Ten Travel Tips For The Philippines

[roaddog 219]

I like to flip the coins against the walls. i usually get out of there 50P to the good haha

[roaddog 219]

I'm pretty good at picking the dead chicken. Bet on the other chicken you will be winner every time I think

[Mailman 660]

I can count that many in SM alone at any given time.

10,000 or 50?

 

50. The only thing I have ever counted in the 10,000 range was the number of threads created by Cary in the News & Headlines forum.

[SkyMan 22,912]

The problem I run into with #1 is that after I run into a few guys w/o change, I'm the one w/o change. It amazes me the number of times a small resto (not a calderita) is not able to change a 500p note.

 

I have real trouble with #6. I know where you're coming from and I know that nothing I'm going to say is ever going to change any of the ways things are done here. But I was in the AF a long time and we were constantly told that if we saw a better way to do something, faster, higher quality, cheaper, more efficient, whatever, we should speak out and be rewarded for it. I feel that if I just say nothing my wife will assume that's normal and ok. A lot depends on how you say it of course. If you're constantly complaining and whinning and saying things are stupid (kind of like some of the members of this and other boards) it gets really old. On the other hand, if you kind of make a joke of it it's not so bad but you still get your point across.

 

For example, when I went to the Bureau of Lands to get 2 copies of the official plot plan of my land. I went to the window to request it and they needed some referrence number I didn't have have. They could not look up thte number from the lot number. So the next day I returned with the number they needed and requested the 2 copies. They wrote down the order and gave me a receipt and told me to come back in 2 days. When I came back I didn't have the receipt and so they had no way of looking up the order. The next day I came back with the receipt and they found the order and wrote up some other receipt that I had to take a block away to the cashiers office for payment. The cashier was a whirl of bits of paper and rubber stamps and scribling things on the papers and stappling and getting her boss to initial stuff and then she said. "14 pesos please" hahahahahaha All that for p14? I'm thinking. So I pay and then back to the other office for my copies. The lady hands me 1 copy and says, "I'm sorry, they only made one copy" and then she handed me p7. I was shocked she was able to refund a few pesos but not able to accept a few.

 

Anyway, a lot of guys would have launched at that point but I just laughed my way out of there. I thought about ordering the second copy but just decided I would if I really needed it. Hahahahahaha

[Jess Bartone 1,774]

The problem I run into with #1 is that after I run into a few guys w/o change, I'm the one w/o change. It amazes me the number of times a small resto (not a calderita) is not able to change a 500p note.

 

I have real trouble with #6. I know where you're coming from and I know that nothing I'm going to say is ever going to change any of the ways things are done here. But I was in the AF a long time and we were constantly told that if we saw a better way to do something, faster, higher quality, cheaper, more efficient, whatever, we should speak out and be rewarded for it. I feel that if I just say nothing my wife will assume that's normal and ok. A lot depends on how you say it of course. If you're constantly complaining and whinning and saying things are stupid (kind of like some of the members of this and other boards) it gets really old. On the other hand, if you kind of make a joke of it it's not so bad but you still get your point across.

 

For example, when I went to the Bureau of Lands to get 2 copies of the official plot plan of my land. I went to the window to request it and they needed some referrence number I didn't have have. They could not look up thte number from the lot number. So the next day I returned with the number they needed and requested the 2 copies. They wrote down the order and gave me a receipt and told me to come back in 2 days. When I came back I didn't have the receipt and so they had no way of looking up the order. The next day I came back with the receipt and they found the order and wrote up some other receipt that I had to take a block away to the cashiers office for payment. The cashier was a whirl of bits of paper and rubber stamps and scribling things on the papers and stappling and getting her boss to initial stuff and then she said. "14 pesos please" hahahahahaha All that for p14? I'm thinking. So I pay and then back to the other office for my copies. The lady hands me 1 copy and says, "I'm sorry, they only made one copy" and then she handed me p7. I was shocked she was able to refund a few pesos but not able to accept a few.

 

Anyway, a lot of guys would have launched at that point but I just laughed my way out of there. I thought about ordering the second copy but just decided I would if I really needed it. Hahahahahaha

 

Great story. Too many blokes get stressed on this kind of thing, but they only hurt themselves stressing, when they should be relaxing into their stress-free retirement, and you must admit the 7P was a crack-up.

 

Of course I have all this ahead of me... we'll see how I react then.

[KeithAngel 222]

The change thing can be problematic stratergies

 

When your at the mall buy 3 100 piso phone cards at different stands each with a large note

 

In a cab with no change they can and often suggest stopping at a gas station buy some water or cigs etc problem solved

 

Even when you have change try to pay with larger notes to increase your stock for when they cant

 

Never give the 10 piso on say 110 piso bill in cash rich environments (bakers in malls) the staff will sort it and your small bills coins stock grows

 

Treating it like an occassional task stops it becoming an issue

[ricosadao 3]

5. ) Never raise your voice at a Filipino away from your own

neighborhood. Never call a Filipino "STUPID". They are very sensitive

about it. If you do get angry & make the mistake. Please leave the

place as soon as possible .Go Away Fast because you are in more

DANGER than you realize. Filipinos do not like to fight & "fair

fights" are not the custom, "fight to kill" is.

 

Of particular interest to men..

 

Also bear in mind that Philipinos are rarely 'alone' somewhere..

 

Guys loitering nearby might be that person's brothers,buddies etc..

 

So they will come from nowhere and gang-up on you..

 

Be prepared...

Edited April 5, 2010 by ricosadao

[Bonehead 18]

good poker room at the waterfront in lahog

 

go there all the time...

 

 

 

 

 

quote name='JT_' date='21 September 2009 - 09:18 PM' timestamp='1253539107' post='119403']

What if you like a bet??? Is there any particular reason to avoid having a 'bet' with the locals??

 

Is there a casino (or Poker Pit) in Cebu?

 

 

Yup, I play poker at Waterfront Lahug too. Haven't played anywhere else. Just don't bother playing the slot machines, they just eat your money. I noticed nobody plays them. Also stay away from the craps table, unless you're really good at math and know exactly what you're supposed to get paid.

 

Poker is no problem. The people are nice and it's safe at Waterfront.

[Bonehead 18]

5. ) Never raise your voice at a Filipino away from your own

neighborhood. Never call a Filipino "STUPID". They are very sensitive

about it. If you do get angry & make the mistake. Please leave the

place as soon as possible .Go Away Fast because you are in more

DANGER than you realize. Filipinos do not like to fight & "fair

fights" are not the custom, "fight to kill" is.

 

Of particular interest to men..

 

Also bear in mind that Philipinos are rarely 'alone' somewhere..

 

Guys loitering nearby might be that person's brothers,buddies etc..

 

So they will come from nowhere and gang-up on you..

 

Be prepared...

 

Sounds like Hawaii. :-) Actually Hawaii people are really nice. Like the Filipinos and Filipinas I've met. Just be nice and don't piss them off. Starting a fight when you're an army of one, isn't a good idea anyplace.

[ricosadao 3]

Words of wisdom to newcomers in these lands..

 

Never, ever, take any local seriously,whatever their story is...

 

Treat their demands with humorous scorn..

 

That includes the mrs..after you had a kid or two with her allow her some slack

[ArieBombarie 365]

It sounds a lot like the Coast of Colombia ---Barranquilla--where I lived for about 4 years. I should be right at home.

rw

 

Yep, I lived in Bogota / Cartagena for several years with my Paisa wife... Nothing beats the vendadoras around the beach in Boca Grande...

 

Rip-offs / scams are the same the world over, just subtle variations of the same theme... Once you become accustom to the 'hook', you learn to defend against them... More common sense than anything else...

 

My very first rule of thumb is to always be leery of over-friendly strangers...

 

 

yep a lot of this kind of advice is about not being an ignorant small towner when you go to the big city

[ArieBombarie 365]

5. ) Never raise your voice at a Filipino away from your own

neighborhood. Never call a Filipino "STUPID". They are very sensitive

about it. If you do get angry & make the mistake. Please leave the

place as soon as possible .Go Away Fast because you are in more

DANGER than you realize. Filipinos do not like to fight & "fair

fights" are not the custom, "fight to kill" is.

 

Of particular interest to men..

 

Also bear in mind that Philipinos are rarely 'alone' somewhere..

 

Guys loitering nearby might be that person's brothers,buddies etc..

 

So they will come from nowhere and gang-up on you..

 

Be prepared...

 

picking fights abroad is close to suicidal anyhow, only a fool goes on somebody else turf and thinks he can get away with it and any locals have right on their side if you disrespect them in their own country

[Budokan 0]

5. ) Never raise your voice at a Filipino away from your own

neighborhood. Never call a Filipino "STUPID". They are very sensitive

about it. If you do get angry & make the mistake. Please leave the

place as soon as possible .Go Away Fast because you are in more

DANGER than you realize. Filipinos do not like to fight & "fair

fights" are not the custom, "fight to kill" is.

 

Of particular interest to men..

 

Also bear in mind that Philipinos are rarely 'alone' somewhere..

 

Guys loitering nearby might be that person's brothers,buddies etc..

 

So they will come from nowhere and gang-up on you..

 

Be prepared...

 

True, that they gang up, i have seen that...

But its also true they wont respect you if you cant stand up for your self, i been able to do that down here several times and that was not a problem....

 

Have you guys ever wondered why they don't respect white guys? Maybe because you let them step all over you....

[jphardy 0]

Mostly common sense but sound advice

[Stranded Shipscook 2,856]

True, that they gang up, i have seen that...

But its also true they wont respect you if you cant stand up for your self, i been able to do that down here several times and that was not a problem....

 

Have you guys ever wondered why they don't respect white guys? Maybe because you let them step all over you....

 

?? in all those years i have never had anybody stepping all over me or disrespecting me, i really got no clue what this means.

Of course, when its meant that some youngsters from the other side of the road shout "hey Joe, your ugly" or so, but i honestly can not take that seriously. if i hear it at all, that is.

Or some Viagra Dealer at Fuente says nasty nonsense because i don't buy any pills of him, but even reacting on that with the slightest verbal remark would be ridiculous.

Nope, i rather have the feeling that i have to take away the insecurity, fear and shyness of the people i deal with. Which i do with funny jokes vehemently and this is always very welcome.

Another contrary observation i almost have daily, that my customers still name me 'SIR" when i am in my Restaurant greeting and entertaining them. Since i do run a fine dining they are definitely not the poorest or uneducated kind.

nope, i definitely can not say, that Filipinos disrespect me.