Post: #3301

Had a great time last month. Greenbelt is a great area, right up there if you've only got a couple weeks or you're new to the country. Maybe I'm looking at it with 20/20 hindsight, but for the price, I don't think staying there gave me any huge advantages over other places I could have stayed.

To be across from Greenbelt mall, you're going to be spending a good amount, especially if you're not on a long term basis. It definitely has it's benefits- a very nice open air park in the middle of the mall and lots of western comforts. It's a centralized location in Makati that everyone is aware of and knows how to get to.

On the other hand, the default price for most things in the mall area are overinflated by a wide margin. Yes of course, it's easy to look around the neighborhood and find good deals, but it won't be the first place you walk in. Nearby Makati Square has good prices (and bowling, if you're inclined), and Little Tokyo has restaurants with some of the best Sushi you'll get in the country.

It's a nice area for sure, but I think you can explore most of the best of it's charm in a few days. The multitudes of restaurants and the open air bars at Greenbelt 2 are probably the biggest draw, though they're all overpriced in my opinion. Ayalla cafe had the best tapsilog I've ever had, for a fair price. The history museum is worth a look.

I rarely, if at all, did any nightgame. I was focused almost primarily on apps/online, and occasionally day game. I had no issues and I think on some level, staying in such a cloistered area is overkill. For a much cheaper price, I'm sure you could stay in Pasay near MOA and get most of the same experience. There will be lots of girls living in Las pinas, Laguna, Cavite, etc on top of the girls already going to MOA that you will be meeting.

On the other hand you can stay in Ortigas or QC. Ortigas has lots of call center agencies, and the huge SM megamall complex. There's plenty to do, and it's centrally located between Makati (where lots of women work) and QC (where lots of people live). Might be an excuse for them to come stop in to SM megamall until traffic dies down.

QC, so diverse. Where everyone goes home to sleep and settle. There's actually a lot of opulent neighborhoods there and a lot of the celebrities and other elite live in gated communities there. Also lots of universities and young people depending on the area. You'll have to look for bars and recreation, but there are areas within the city to be sought. Certainly has more of a local flavor, but I think the more seasoned travelers would enjoy it. I'm always trying to explore deeper into Filipino society and culture and I plan to spend some time there in the near future.

Post: #3302

Thanks everyone for replying
Update: I contacted airbnb and told them about the problem. The host is a filipina living in california. She on purpose pinpointed the wrong location near ayala park where all the bulge bracket banks are located. Now not only they refunded back the full amount of 529 euros but extra 10% credit of 53 euros. I have booked another place which is just 1km from greenbelt with many coffee shops and restaurants nearby. I also contacted many listings for their full address and nearly all of them are faking their locations on the map. Funny, one filipina said she will give the address after payment.

Post: #3303

Glad you got this resolved, bro!

Edit: We should write a letter to Airbnb telling them how pervasive this faking gps is. Either ask them to update the software requiring their full addresses and basing their location off the address making it impossible to fake, or suspend their listings until the hosts get the location correct to within 200 meters or something.

Post: #3304

(03-25-2016 05:44 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  Glad you got this resolved, bro!

Edit: We should write a letter to Airbnb telling them how pervasive this faking gps is. Either ask them to update the software requiring their full addresses and basing their location off the address making it impossible to fake, or suspend their listings until the hosts get the location correct to within 200 meters or something.

That's a good idea. I've also seen ads where the dropped pin for their location is much different than the address in the listing.

In most industries I'm aware of, this would be considered fraud, and action could be taken against its purveyors. I'm sure if enough people make a stink to Airbnb, they'll be forced to tighten up and enforce their policy.

Post: #3305

Never had this problem before with airBnb.
I guess if it is common in Manila, sticking to big prominent buildings with names tenants are prone you use in listings is good way to avoid this problem. Buildings like Gramercy, or other with well known names.

Post: #3306

Before booking, I always message the host and ask:

-The exact address or name of the building.
-Which floor is the apartment on.
-Whether or not they can include cleaning a couple of times a week. Ideally free, if not, I need to know how much it will cost.
-What kind of wifi connection do they have. Is it high speed?
-Any other questions if it's not clear from the listing - swimming pool, sauna, washing machine, etc.

Post: #3307

Can anyone recommend a way to avoid the taxi lines around Greenbelt and Glorietta Malls during the busy times?

Post: #3308

(03-25-2016 05:17 PM)esalen1 Wrote:  Can anyone recommend a way to avoid the taxi lines around Greenbelt and Glorietta Malls during the busy times?

Uber

Post: #3309

Thanks for the heads up with AirBnB locations.

Your post reminds me of interactions of some of my Filipinos friends with other Filipinos when I was there. The Filipino Friends were lied to by other Filipinos various times, each time I told the friends to not accept that bullshit and call them out on their lie. They said no they will not do that, it is disrespectful to call someone out for lying. I asked them, "isn't it more disrespectful for them to lie to you?" They said, "no we just have to accept it." Is it any wonder why the Philippines is in such a sorry state? People get away with fucking people over and the victims just accept it.

Now I don't know if the AirBnB post were purposefully wrong but deep down inside my gut is telling me it was on purpose to mislead people. They know that most Filipinos will not call them out for it.

Post: #3310

(03-25-2016 05:48 PM)username Wrote:  Thanks for the heads up with AirBnB locations.

Your post reminds me of interactions of some of my Filipinos friends with other Filipinos when I was there. The Filipino Friends were lied to by other Filipinos various times, each time I told the friends to not accept that bullshit and call them out on their lie. They said no they will not do that, it is disrespectful to call someone out for lying. I asked them, "isn't it more disrespectful for them to lie to you?" They said, "no we just have to accept it." Is it any wonder why the Philippines is in such a sorry state? People get away with fucking people over and the victims just accept it.

Now I don't know if the AirBnB post were purposefully wrong but deep down inside my gut is telling me it was on purpose to mislead people. They know that most Filipinos will not call them out for it.

The subject of a Filipino's intentions is one that has baffled scholars for centuries. Only now is science just beginning to uncover the secrets of their mysterious practices.

Often Filipinos will use words that appear very similar to their English counterparts. For instance, they will use words like "yes", "no", "tomorrow", "definitely", "next to Greenbelt Mall", and other phrases that would appear to have clear meanings at first blush.

However, when translated into Filipenglish, words can take on vastly different meanings.

"Will you fix my wifi by the time I get back from work?"
'yes.' (translation: no, but because I won't be working tomorrow, it's not my problem.)

"Just to be clear, I won't be charged anything extra for the water bottles in the unit, will I?"
'no.' (translation: yes, and I will make whimpering sounds and attempt to make you look frugal and shameful in public if we have to argue over this in 3 days when you check out)

"So then, it's settled. We'll meet at Greenbelt 3 at 7PM"
'Definitely.' (translation: If I feel like it, don't forget, or anything short of the planets aligning happens)

"Where is your condo located?"
'Next to Greenbelt mall' (translation: Somewhere in Pasig, but then I'd have to charge half the price and I don't wanna do that. You foreigners are rich anyway)

Luckily though, a breakthrough has been discovered in deciphering their cryptic language. On one of my journeys into the province, I uncovered a Rose-EDSA stone which revealed greater insight and allowed the translation of Filipino English into English. Through years of zen-like patience and esoteric knowledge of the Pinoy mindset, I have divined some of the mysteries of their puzzling communications.

When a direct answer is imperative, I believe there are some strategies that help to whittle down the chances of miscommunication. These are by no means guaranteed, but perhaps something to consider next time you're in that neck of the woods.

- Looking for enthusiasm: Filipinos will often agree to a meetup or event with no intention of going. Often this is done to avoid offense, and it is considered more polite to make up an excuse for why one didn't go later than to simply say they won't be attending. In order to avoid that whole charade, a good indicator of whether someone will stand by their word or not is their level of enthusiasm. Are they messaging often? Do they sound excited to meet? On the other hand, are they suggesting that they might have obligations near that time? Did they mention how long it takes to get there? This is more of an art than a science.

- Befriend: If you're in an environment where you might have to rely on customer service, flirt with the girls, befriend the guys. Make an effort to show enthusiasm for the language, culture, history, and be polite to everyone. Tip when appropriate. There's a cultural tradition called Utang na loob, which is an obligation of reciprocity for those who give to you, or otherwise treat you with respect. If you are treating them with respect and they don't return the gesture, they are bringing shame on their extended lineage. A situation they will often do their best to avoid. You can use that to your advantage.

- Asking specific questions: Sometimes a Filipino may simply not understand what you said, and to be polite, will just smile and say yes. In order to lower the chances of confusion, it may be better to ask a specific question that requires more than a yes or no answer. For instance "What is the best Italian restaurant in the area?" would be better than asking "Is Italianni's the best Italian restaurant in the area?"

- Forcing accountability or consequences: The Trump (pun intended) card in Western-Fil relations. Sometimes they won't budge despite all other attempts at reaching an amendable agreement. If there was a promise to send a handyman to fix a broken door latch, then it's worth the time to go with the super or the handyman to physically show them the problem and watch them until they're done. If your phone lost service, then holding up the rest of the customers until they've fixed it will pressure them to get it done ASAP. It can be awkward to implement at times, but there are ways to do it without crossing certain lines. Get creative. But in some situations, you have to bring out the big guns to get things done.

This is all purely speculation, but I have a theory behind why communication is so indirect. For most of it's history, including the modern age, the principal unit of Filipino society was the extended family, or clan, not the individual. To understand this basic premise makes a lot of the seemingly inexplicable aspects of Filipino behavior perfectly clear.

As a clan-centered society, an attack against an individual was often met with a massive escalation of violence, to where entire clans were engaged in violence against other clans. This often lead to blood feuds, where patterns of violence between different families would persist for generations. To not meet an attack, or even certain levels of disrespect with an appropriate level of violence in response was a signal of weakness, and would also invite incursions from neighboring clans. This situation persisted for quite a while, with some instances of it being recorded in the previous century.

Naturally, a logical way of dealing with that situation would be a system of diplomacy that was centered on avoiding confrontation and disrespect. Frankness and direct confrontation would be avoided at all costs, as an escalation of a misunderstanding might lead to embroiling your entire extended family into a large multi-generational conflict. It may also explain the quickness of Filipino friendship and the renowned extent of their hospitality. Or I could be wrong. Either way, there's always a reason behind the action. It isn't always apparent without a further look.

Post: #3311

(03-25-2016 05:17 PM)esalen1 Wrote:  Can anyone recommend a way to avoid the taxi lines around Greenbelt and Glorietta Malls during the busy times?

Walk to Legazpi street and take a taxi from there (the walk is all indoors so no problem).

PS Uber is the last thing you want to do. During busy times at that location, prepare to wait 25 minutes for it to arrive, pay surge pricing (roughly x3 the normal price), and then get stuck with it in the traffic, with surge pricing on. It's going to be a sad affair.

Post: #3312

Speaking of decent AirBNB place in Manila.

If anyone could PM me a few links of places that have FAST Wifi I'd be very grateful.

Post: #3313

(03-26-2016 03:09 AM)Malo Wrote:  Walk to Legazpi street and take a taxi from there (the walk is all indoors so no problem).

PS Uber is the last thing you want to do. During busy times at that location, prepare to wait 25 minutes for it to arrive, pay surge pricing (roughly x3 the normal price), and then get stuck with it in the traffic, with surge pricing on. It's going to be a sad affair.

If traffic is bad I'd also recommend trying Grabbike through the Grab app. You will zip past all the cars and only have to stop at red lights. You can get somewhere in the same time as a car would in no traffic. It takes 5 minutes to get somewhere that would be 30 minutes by walking. There is some pressure from the government trying to shut it down, but last I checked it was still up for me.

You request a bike, it arrives, you sit on the back, putting your feet on the pegs and your hands on the driver's shoulders. If you have a bag, I'd wear it so that the pouch is in front of you. Make absolute sure your phone/keys or anything valuable is secure and won't fall out during the moto ride.

Post: #3314

(03-26-2016 08:27 AM)thoughtgypsy Wrote:  

(03-26-2016 03:09 AM)Malo Wrote:  Walk to Legazpi street and take a taxi from there (the walk is all indoors so no problem).

PS Uber is the last thing you want to do. During busy times at that location, prepare to wait 25 minutes for it to arrive, pay surge pricing (roughly x3 the normal price), and then get stuck with it in the traffic, with surge pricing on. It's going to be a sad affair.

If traffic is bad I'd also recommend trying Grabbike through the Grab app. You will zip past all the cars and only have to stop at red lights. You can get somewhere in the same time as a car would in no traffic. It takes 5 minutes to get somewhere that would be 30 minutes by walking. There is some pressure from the government trying to shut it down, but last I checked it was still up for me.

You request a bike, it arrives, you sit on the back, putting your feet on the pegs and your hands on the driver's shoulders. If you have a bag, I'd wear it so that the pouch is in front of you. Make absolute sure your phone/keys or anything valuable is secure and won't fall out during the moto ride.

Tried grab bike few times in Bangkok. But in Manila there was always no grab bike available. Its a new feature and is just picking up.

Bike ride might be shorter, but definitely far from being comfortable or safe...

Post: #3315

(03-26-2016 09:12 PM)Vinny Wrote:  Bike ride might be shorter, but definitely far from being comfortable or safe...

Yes, I got a grabbike in Bangkok and 10 seconds after I hopped on the bike, I regretted it. Nerve wracking.

Post: #3316

(03-24-2016 09:32 PM)thoughtgypsy Wrote:  QC, so diverse. Where everyone goes home to sleep and settle. There's actually a lot of opulent neighborhoods there and a lot of the celebrities and other elite live in gated communities there. Also lots of universities and young people depending on the area. You'll have to look for bars and recreation, but there are areas within the city to be sought. Certainly has more of a local flavor, but I think the more seasoned travelers would enjoy it. I'm always trying to explore deeper into Filipino society and culture and I plan to spend some time there in the near future.

QC is definitely peaking my interest. Would you consider (or perhaps some other forum guys as well) dropping a data sheet at some point? It would go very much appreciated.

Post: #3317

Hey guys,

I've been living about 5 years in Bangkok, and before going to Japan I went thru the entire Japan thread to pick people brains.

Then I did the same thing before coming to the Philipines, and what I noticed is usually when people make comparison between girls/situation from X country and girls in Bangkok, I usually always disagree.

Im now here since 2 months, been working a lot but still could make my own opinion on things going on. So if anybody like me who is used to BKK metagame wanna ask specific questions I'd be glad to share my point of view. Im not holding the truth, I just want to contribute

Spoiler : it's wild in here :3

Post: #3318

TheYoungTriceratops - always interesting to read comparisons between different cities, particularly Bangkok vs Manila. I haven't been to Bangkok recently. It would be great if you could make a detailed comparison post.

Post: #3319

Whats the best way to extend visa for about 2 months, after arriving in Cebu?

Post: #3320

Cody,
This clever chap wrote this one a while back. I imagine much of it is still relevant.

(03-26-2016 09:29 PM)CodyB Wrote:  

(03-24-2016 09:32 PM)thoughtgypsy Wrote:  QC, so diverse. Where everyone goes home to sleep and settle. There's actually a lot of opulent neighborhoods there and a lot of the celebrities and other elite live in gated communities there. Also lots of universities and young people depending on the area. You'll have to look for bars and recreation, but there are areas within the city to be sought. Certainly has more of a local flavor, but I think the more seasoned travelers would enjoy it. I'm always trying to explore deeper into Filipino society and culture and I plan to spend some time there in the near future.

QC is definitely peaking my interest. Would you consider (or perhaps some other forum guys as well) dropping a data sheet at some point? It would go very much appreciated.

Post: #3321

Hey guys. I am living in Korea and I will have 5 days off next month and I want to either go to Philippines or Taiwan ( since they are reasonably close to me ) . I went to Cebu a few months ago and I had some decent success there, but I want t try and top it. For those that have been to Taipei and Manila how do they compare? I have never been to Manila before, can you guys recommend me a place to stay that is reasonably priced and would make logistics much easier?

Post: #3322

Are you going on this trip exclusively for girls? Or also for sightseeing?

Philippines: Shit quality, English friendly, but no game needed for 6s/7s other than having a pulse.
Taiwan: Good quality, some game needed to get that quality, less English friendly.

Although if you don't care about quality at all and just want to rack up numbers then you could probably achieve comparable results in both places.

Taipei seemingly gets disappointed reviews from most first time RVF visitors on short trips and it's understandable. Irish and Papi Rico did crush it here without Chinese in just a couple days but they brought top game.

Post: #3323

Guys I am in deep shit right now. My visa was denied. I didn't consult any travel agent and prepared all the documents by myself. I am a student right now and choose self sponsored category with around $1500 in my bank account. I was called for an interview in which I gave stupid answers not understanding what he wants to know. I also showed that I will be in makati for 23 days which is a business location. He asked me where and for how long I have worked. Why I quit my job and did I use to spend all my salary. What am I doing now?
After that I consulted a travel agent and reapplied for the visa. This time in parents sponsored category showing a lot of money taking care of even minute details. Now I was told that I can only apply after a gap of 3 months.
Other mistake was buying Air Asia tickets without checking their cancellation policy. It turns out they provide non refundable tickets only. I have now postponed the flight by 4 days by paying some fee. Now I have spend around $2000 on air tickets, hotel, visa fees, filipino cupid and I have no idea what to do.
I checked the embassy website and found out that they provide visa on arrival if we carry US, Uk, schengen, japan or singapore visa or permanent residence. So I am thinking of appliyng singapore tourist visa that I will get the next day easily and then travelling to Manila in the hopes of getting a visa on arrival. I am worried what kind of questions will I be asked and whether they will deport me back. Should I buy real return tickets to singapore or dummy. I have no intention of going to singapore though. I want to stay in manila for 20 days. They provide 14+7 day extension on request at immigration department. Should I show any reference? How many days should I show and what should be the purpose of my visit? It is such an important trip of my life. Been planning this for 6 months. I am starting a business school now and will not have time for the next 2 years maybe more. Any expert on this matter who will help me please? Feel free to pm me too.

Post: #3324

That's rough man! We all make stupid newbie mistakes when starting out.

What's your nationality? Why do you need to go through an interview to get a Pinoy visa?

Post: #3325

(04-05-2016 07:42 AM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  That's rough man! We all make stupid newbie mistakes when starting out.

What's your nationality? Why do you need to go through an interview to get a Pinoy visa?

Indian national.
Normally there is no interview if it's a short tourist trip. I wrote I want to learn about it's culture and history, all the while showing hotel reservation for 23 nights in makati.
India is one of the few countries that doesn't get visa on arrival in Philippines although
India gives it to filipinos.