Philippines

Imgembo

My girl friend is going to Mannilla for three months this summer to work on an economic development project with the Canadian Urban Institute. Since there is a very diverse group of people on this fourm i wanted to find out if any of you have spent any time over there. We are trying to find some decent living arrangement's for her. In addition to communication options while she is there and travel options ( what is the best method). If any one has any tips or general suggestions it would be wonderful to help put her ( and mine) minds at ease.

danielzreyes

Where in Manila? I was born in Pandacan Manila Phil.

Imgembo

danielzreyes:

Where in Manila? I was born in Pandacan Manila Phil.

Said a place called Makati (sp?)

rzaman

Imgembo

ug dan

I deloyed there in '02. The country was beautiful and the people were the friendliest of all the places I went to. I would like to go back some day

cabinetmaker

My wife is from Mindanao.

bigfnsteve

Imgembo:

My girl friend is going to Mannilla for three months this summer to work on an economic development project with the Canadian Urban Institute. Since there is a very diverse group of people on this fourm i wanted to find out if any of you have spent any time over there. We are trying to find some decent living arrangement's for her. In addition to communication options while she is there and travel options ( what is the best method). If any one has any tips or general suggestions it would be wonderful to help put her ( and mine) minds at ease.

Alrighty so i`ve spent some time in Manila and out in the provinces the last 3 years. With regards to a place to stay. I would look in the makati, green beltglobal city area. I guess it would also depend on where most of her work will be. Eastwood and ortegas are also nice areas. Traffic is bad everywhere. Get use to it. Regarding communication skype and magic jack are the best methods I`ve a crossed. If she is still needing living arrangements I may be able to set you up with someone who may be able to help. Feel free to pm me.

danielzreyes

bigfnsteve:

Imgembo:

My girl friend is going to Mannilla for three months this summer to work on an economic development project with the Canadian Urban Institute. Since there is a very diverse group of people on this fourm i wanted to find out if any of you have spent any time over there. We are trying to find some decent living arrangement's for her. In addition to communication options while she is there and travel options ( what is the best method). If any one has any tips or general suggestions it would be wonderful to help put her ( and mine) minds at ease.

Alrighty so i`ve spent some time in Manila and out in the provinces the last 3 years. With regards to a place to stay. I would look in the makati, green beltglobal city area. I guess it would also depend on where most of her work will be. Eastwood and ortegas are also nice areas. Traffic is bad everywhere. Get use to it. Regarding communication skype and magic jack are the best methods I`ve a crossed. If she is still needing living arrangements I may be able to set you up with someone who may be able to help. Feel free to pm me.

As bigfnsteve said, Makati is very crowded and congested. It's considered to be the business/higher class compared to other areas in Manila. As far as transportation, the amount of ways of travel is limitless. FromTaxis, Jeepneys (most common), Tricycles, Motorelas, rickshaws etc. +1 on Skype and majic jack etc. Plus there are countless numbers of internet cafes there. I'll also recommend a simple phone card. Just remember that live communication can be tricky because Phil is 16 hours ahead. Btw, the Philippines has a pretty decent selection of Cigars. I have smoked a few (I even may have bombed a few BOTL with a few). Maybe you can tell your GF to come home with a box or 2 of some Filipino cigars

bigfnsteve

danielzreyes:

bigfnsteve:

Imgembo:

My girl friend is going to Mannilla for three months this summer to work on an economic development project with the Canadian Urban Institute. Since there is a very diverse group of people on this fourm i wanted to find out if any of you have spent any time over there. We are trying to find some decent living arrangement's for her. In addition to communication options while she is there and travel options ( what is the best method). If any one has any tips or general suggestions it would be wonderful to help put her ( and mine) minds at ease.

Alrighty so i`ve spent some time in Manila and out in the provinces the last 3 years. With regards to a place to stay. I would look in the makati, green beltglobal city area. I guess it would also depend on where most of her work will be. Eastwood and ortegas are also nice areas. Traffic is bad everywhere. Get use to it. Regarding communication skype and magic jack are the best methods I`ve a crossed. If she is still needing living arrangements I may be able to set you up with someone who may be able to help. Feel free to pm me.

As bigfnsteve said, Makati is very crowded and congested. It's considered to be the business/higher class compared to other areas in Manila. As far as transportation, the amount of ways of travel is limitless. FromTaxis, Jeepneys (most common), Tricycles, Motorelas, rickshaws etc. +1 on Skype and majic jack etc. Plus there are countless numbers of internet cafes there. I'll also recommend a simple phone card. Just remember that live communication can be tricky because Phil is 16 hours ahead. Btw, the Philippines has a pretty decent selection of Cigars. I have smoked a few (I even may have bombed a few BOTL with a few). Maybe you can tell your GF to come home with a box or 2 of some Filipino cigars

Regarding transportation. Jeeps are fun.,they do take a little time or atleast for me it did to become comfortable. You dont see to many 6+ foot 280 pound white guys riding in them now regarding taxis ive never had an issue however there have been some issues with them and people being robbed. These cases are somewhat rare but they do happen. The bus system leaving Metro Manila is nice and simple. Getting out to clark/subic or even out to bagio is easy and cheap. When I dont have a driver this is my preferred method to get out of the hustle n bustle of MM. One of these days i should post some pics of my big a$$ in a tricycle or riding hunched over in a jeep. The Filipinos,get quite a good laugh. I hope she`ll be able to venture out into the provinces as they are beautiful along with some of the other Islands. Palawan, Cebu , Borocay and northern Luzon are awesome. Each one has something special about them . Especially Pomponga .... such good food. I wanted to add that if your a blackberry user BBM works awesome and is cheap to get using over there. You could also use whatsapp or something similar.

danielzreyes

Hey bigfnsteve. If you don't mind me asking, what brought you out to visit the many islands of my home country? A 6'+ 280 white man getting in and out a jeepney filled with little Filipinos lol. Wish I was there to see that.

MVW67

danielzreyes:

Hey bigfnsteve. If you don't mind me asking, what brought you out to visit the many islands of my home country? A 6'+ 280 white man getting in and out a jeepney filled with little Filipinos lol. Wish I was there to see that.

that would be funny! Them jeepneys are small!

bigfnsteve

danielzreyes:

Hey bigfnsteve. If you don't mind me asking, what brought you out to visit the many islands of my home country? A 6'+ 280 white man getting in and out a jeepney filled with little Filipinos lol. Wish I was there to see that.

I use to work with quite a few pinoys. They hassled me about not ever going considering I`ve to upwards of 30+ countries. So back in 2010 I went for the first time. Stayed with the family of a co worker. Since then I`ve been 10+ times. I`ve made allot of friends and some I consider family. The generosity and hospitality keep bringing be back. Frankly the way Filipinos eat and drink sam mig light (although i prefer red horse) is right down my alley also:) for the record no I dont have a girlfriend or go over there for the "sex tourism". Just had to get that stereotype out of the way. Theres is no much more to the people and country than that. Although fillipinas can be beautiful while being down to earth, fun and kind hearted. More so than the majority of women I`ve encountered around the globe. But thats a whole other topic for another day Its kinda funny when i come back my mind has to switch from taglish mode back to American English haha

danielzreyes

bigfnsteve:

danielzreyes:

Hey bigfnsteve. If you don't mind me asking, what brought you out to visit the many islands of my home country? A 6'+ 280 white man getting in and out a jeepney filled with little Filipinos lol. Wish I was there to see that.

I use to work with quite a few pinoys. They hassled me about not ever going considering I`ve to upwards of 30+ countries. So back in 2010 I went for the first time. Stayed with the family of a co worker. Since then I`ve been 10+ times. I`ve made allot of friends and some I consider family. The generosity and hospitality keep bringing be back. Frankly the way Filipinos eat and drink sam mig light (although i prefer red horse) is right down my alley also:) for the record no I dont have a girlfriend or go over there for the "sex tourism". Just had to get that stereotype out of the way. Theres is no much more to the people and country than that. Although fillipinas can be beautiful while being down to earth, fun and kind hearted. More so than the majority of women I`ve encountered around the globe. But thats a whole other topic for another day Its kinda funny when i come back my mind has to switch from taglish mode back to American English haha

Dude, you speak tagalog???

Imgembo

bigfnsteve:

Imgembo:

My girl friend is going to Mannilla for three months this summer to work on an economic development project with the Canadian Urban Institute. Since there is a very diverse group of people on this fourm i wanted to find out if any of you have spent any time over there. We are trying to find some decent living arrangement's for her. In addition to communication options while she is there and travel options ( what is the best method). If any one has any tips or general suggestions it would be wonderful to help put her ( and mine) minds at ease.

Alrighty so i`ve spent some time in Manila and out in the provinces the last 3 years. With regards to a place to stay. I would look in the makati, green beltglobal city area. I guess it would also depend on where most of her work will be. Eastwood and ortegas are also nice areas. Traffic is bad everywhere. Get use to it. Regarding communication skype and magic jack are the best methods I`ve a crossed. If she is still needing living arrangements I may be able to set you up with someone who may be able to help. Feel free to pm me.

I will deff send you a pm after i get a little more info from her host organization. They are taking for ever getting back to her about the project. Also going to have to look into theses cigars you speak of .

bigfnsteve

danielzreyes:

bigfnsteve:

danielzreyes:

Hey bigfnsteve. If you don't mind me asking, what brought you out to visit the many islands of my home country? A 6'+ 280 white man getting in and out a jeepney filled with little Filipinos lol. Wish I was there to see that.

I use to work with quite a few pinoys. They hassled me about not ever going considering I`ve to upwards of 30+ countries. So back in 2010 I went for the first time. Stayed with the family of a co worker. Since then I`ve been 10+ times. I`ve made allot of friends and some I consider family. The generosity and hospitality keep bringing be back. Frankly the way Filipinos eat and drink sam mig light (although i prefer red horse) is right down my alley also:) for the record no I dont have a girlfriend or go over there for the "sex tourism". Just had to get that stereotype out of the way. Theres is no much more to the people and country than that. Although fillipinas can be beautiful while being down to earth, fun and kind hearted. More so than the majority of women I`ve encountered around the globe. But thats a whole other topic for another day Its kinda funny when i come back my mind has to switch from taglish mode back to American English haha

Dude, you speak tagalog???

Very little... i understand more than i speak. Shhh i keep that a secret though... haha.

danielzreyes