Phillipines, Manila, Makati Happenings

[bolsterposter]

Originally Posted by fijiperri

On a more related note all these writings make me very tempted to go drop by for a visit at Greenbelt...have been reading this thread from page 1 and did some homework besides just getting spoonfeed and its really quite doable...

Planning to fly airasia to Clark and from there cab to hotel...hotel wise still pondering (e-hotel? Tune hotel?), can't make up my mind... Any recommendations bros? A bit more ex is ok but good if near mbc or Havanas like walking distance haha...anyway thank everyone here for sharing...it's helpful to newbies like me looking to travel to someplace foreign to Cheong...

note that Greenbelt or GB is actually not in the same area as MBC. Nothing that a 30 mins 140 php cab ride won't solve but if you intend to spend more time cheonging MBC then you should consider staying closer to it at around the malate area. Unfortunately not very sure about the hotels around manila, but i do know that if you're looking for upmarket hotel pan pacific is pretty near , walking distance to mbc. If looking for value hotels Tune or Sogo is ok as well.

much better to fly from sg -> manila then take a 20-30 mins cab ride to your hotel in manila. The commute from clark -> manila is do-able but it's at least 1.5 - 2 hours one way and it will cost you about 2-4k php (depends on your nego skills) and that doesn't include the tolls which is another 500 php thereabouts. But it's year end now, so flights are pretty much booked up, so if you can work it out, and find a cheaper option for sg -> clark -> cab -> manila then by all means go ahead.

other budget airlines that fly direct from sg -> manila aside from jetstar are cebu pacific , tiger *usually has quite good deals, and air phil express.

just remember that cheonging in ph is pretty do-able, almost everyone speaks engish, it's easy to get around as cabs are quite inexpensive, signs are in engilsh and anytime you feel homesick just pop into a nearby mall for sg brands like toastbox / breadtalk and ya kun, lol!

@etsys, @atlas -> nope not in sales, but if you're a slim, pretty and sexy chick that is into sales men, then hell yeah, i'm in sales...

[fijiperri]

Thanks for the advice bro...yeah if it seems like much too hassle to fly to Clark and then travel to Manila then I guess I will fly directly to NAIA...as for stayin around I am thinking of checking out the Greenbelt area and pop by Havanas just to check out the scene then take the 30 min ride to mbc on the other day...yup that's roughly what I have in mind...I'll try to report back with frs where I could haha

[etsys]

Originally Posted by bolsterposter

note that Greenbelt or GB is actually not in the same area as MBC. Nothing that a 30 mins 140 php cab ride won't solve but if you intend to spend more time cheonging MBC then you should consider staying closer to it at around the malate area. Unfortunately not very sure about the hotels around manila, but i do know that if you're looking for upmarket hotel pan pacific is pretty near , walking distance to mbc. If looking for value hotels Tune or Sogo is ok as well.

I would recommend Rivera, and the similiar hotels around MBC, but, Malate is NOT a good place for a first timer .. heck, not even for regulars .. that place has loads of street kids and hustlers ..and more ..

Better to put up in Makati, take a foray to Malate, and if the place don't give good vibes, atleast relax in Makati ..

much better to fly from sg -> manila then take a 20-30 mins cab ride to your hotel in manila. The commute from clark -> manila is do-able but it's at least 1.5 - 2 hours one way and it will cost you about 2-4k php (depends on your nego skills) and that doesn't include the tolls which is another 500 php thereabouts. But it's year end now, so flights are pretty much booked up, so if you can work it out, and find a cheaper option for sg -> clark -> cab -> manila then by all means go ahead.

I wouldn't can from AC to Manila, or vice-versa - take the bus .. in the AC thread, there are enough ideas .. and also Swagman's fly the bus does a decent service, AC-Malate/Manila -for 660 peso .. much cheaper than the 2-4 K (that money can get you 2 barfines in AC)

Heck, if in AC, why go to Manila ?

When in Candyland, stay in Candyland - though for some, Manila offers it's own incentives like a bit upmarket crowd, and friends, and negated by more effort needed as you are dealing with mostly FLs and regular girls, vs AC - after all, almost every girl in AC bars are available ..

@etsys, @atlas -> nope not in sales, but if you're a slim, pretty and sexy chick that is into sales men, then hell yeah, i'm in sales...

Well, in this world, unless you are loaded, a-la Al Pacino - Scarface style and say "when I got money, every woman wants me .. " - we all gotta 'sell, sell, sell ..'

[manilaboy2007]

Originally Posted by AtlasShrugged

I agreed. Bro etsys helped me a lot too. He is very helpful. Can't thank him enough.

Airasia to Clark then to MBC will be very long travel distance n time.
Why not fly to NAIA? Tiger/Jetstar/Cebu/Airphil Express so many options.

If you want near MBC, think Tune Ermita is very near to there.
N opp Tune Ermita, the Nailas Money Changer shows one of the best rates in manila.
Pls note I have not tried them as transport to n fro to change $$ is crazy n unsafe. If u do stay there, u can try out. Remember, count your $$, return to room, lock your $$ in safe n bring what u need out.

Just to add that I find changing money at those Western Union related branch in the Mall giving damn good rate. I change at the Western Union at Market Market at 2nd floor inside this fashion street area (Like bugis style of setup) and they give me 33.4! The rest of Manila is like 32.6 to me man.

[etsys]

Originally Posted by manilaboy2007

Just to add that I find changing money at those Western Union related branch in the Mall giving damn good rate. I change at the Western Union at Market Market at 2nd floor inside this fashion street area (Like bugis style of setup) and they give me 33.4! The rest of Manila is like 32.6 to me man.

For first timers: when it comes to money changers, I am never comfortable ..

I use cards as much as possible for hotel etc, and control my need to change money .. or stick to ATM withdrawals - max 10,000 peso per day based on bank / ATM

Most of the money changers have a group of hangers-on .. watching dunno what ..

so stick to places that are private and don't show off ..

After all .. when a person is jobless or earning 5000 peso a month, a foreigner showing off more is an open recipe for any unemployed to do a hit and run ..

[AtlasShrugged]

Originally Posted by etsys

For first timers: when it comes to money changers, I am never comfortable ..

I use cards as much as possible for hotel etc, and control my need to change money .. or stick to ATM withdrawals - max 10,000 peso per day based on bank / ATM

Most of the money changers have a group of hangers-on .. watching dunno what ..

so stick to places that are private and don't show off ..

After all .. when a person is jobless or earning 5000 peso a month, a foreigner showing off more is an open recipe for any unemployed to do a hit and run ..

Seriously, I really hate their 10k rule

[AtlasShrugged]

Originally Posted by manilaboy2007

Just to add that I find changing money at those Western Union related branch in the Mall giving damn good rate. I change at the Western Union at Market Market at 2nd floor inside this fashion street area (Like bugis style of setup) and they give me 33.4! The rest of Manila is like 32.6 to me man.

I heard GB1 Lvl 1 changer nt bad

[AtlasShrugged]

Btw anyone here tried Asian Massage??
No special type. Purely massage..

[etsys]

AtlasShrugged: seriously, when you find out how much most people there earn, 10k is a loootttt of money

[AtlasShrugged]

Originally Posted by etsys

AtlasShrugged: seriously, when you find out how much most people there earn, 10k is a loootttt of money

True....Therefore play safe there..

[Lizarre]

What is the current rate for pesos at Lucky Plaza ?
Is that the best location for pesos or is there not much difference from other moneychangers elsewhere?

[fijiperri]

Bro etsys, thanks for the tips...just to summarize the reason why I go Manila is that during my trip I meeting my fren there ( yes the one I mentioned in pm)...also I want to check out Havanas and the Greenbelt entertainment scene just to see how its like...as for going to mbc I probably just going to pop by but won't stay near there...I'll leave that for the second trip I will make soon after...

As for changing money I probably won't even change there as I don't want to change in plain sight and get targeted...most probably change in Singapore even if the rate not so good...

yah it's true abt their lower earning power...I interviewed one of them whose last job was a senior manager at an mnc there...her last drawn salary was sgd550...apparently that's enough per month even after deducting rent and food...even my fellow interviewer said: "wah cheaper than interns here!"

No wonder its great for them to work here and save enough after a few years to buy a house back there and the pmets who garner a higher salary, they share and rent condo units and live better than me here!

[bolsterposter]

Yes I do agree that the WU outlets are the best for changing money in terms of rates. Even the USD -> PHP rates are the best there. Sometimes they even give you better rates if you ask, just have to be more friendly :-)

Greenbelt entertainment - i think if you discount the cinemas, after 9pm there's really nothing much left save:
a. havanas (not sure about the FL scene there after they started making it mandatory for everyone to get a drink)
b. barcino - enoteca, good selection of wines and sarap spanish fare, but not sure about picking up women here
c. used to have a comedy bar, but think it's closed now

d. well there's palladium at new world, but IMHO that place is dying slowly


on salary, i think the ones who are earning more than the rest right now are the call center agents who get upwards of 600 SGD per month, some of the more experienced ones or supervisors can even get close to 800 SGD or more. Explains why a lot of the graduates from other non related courses join up to be call center agents even though the shift sucks, and must work on most of the local holidays.

But yea, 550 sgd goes a loooong way in ph land, esp if they don't stay around the city area and only eat from the mobile food stations or mini stop.

[fijiperri]

Ah bro bolster poster...my eyes lit up when I saw you mention a comedy club there just to read further on that its closed down...yah would great if there are good comedy clubs or just plain gd clubbing places...the fl and bonking is just an icing on the cake for me...since almost everyone mention Havanas I don't mind getting a drink and checking out the place...

Yeah salary wise I was still new to interviewing them back then so was a little surprised at the low income level...some of them are from the village and working in Manila city after paying rent and monthly expenses they can still save means the cost of living is rather low...I think over here just pay rent the 500 gone already haha

[etsys]

Originally Posted by fijiperri

..

Well, if you got an agenda, then go to Manila, it will be an eye opener, and will make you see the Pnoy PMETs in a new light ..

Like here, they show off nice fancy dresses and bags and iPhone 5 - but the moment they are wheels-down in Manila, all goes into safe keeping ... lest it be stolen (or grabbed - in Pinay speak .. )

Originally Posted by fijiperri

Ah bro bolster poster...my eyes lit up when I saw you mention a comedy club there just to read further on that its closed down...yah would great if there are good comedy clubs or just plain gd clubbing places...the fl and bonking is just an icing on the cake for me...since almost everyone mention Havanas I don't mind getting a drink and checking out the place...

Yeah salary wise I was still new to interviewing them back then so was a little surprised at the low income level...some of them are from the village and working in Manila city after paying rent and monthly expenses they can still save means the cost of living is rather low...I think over here just pay rent the 500 gone already haha

You can check MBC - every 3rd Saturday, Freddie Aguilar performs there - or used to .. not sure about the scene now ..

Well, back to cost of living, an Indian can make it in 1,000 $ in Delhi, but a non-Indian needs 3,000 $ or more ..

More closer a friend in ADB was asked to base in Manila, and he targetted the average cost of living at 50,000 peso excluding apartment - he was shocked his costs overran to 150,000 peso plus

After all, locals shop in local shops, eat in cheaper places, and know the deals and .. get charged local rates.

Expats - for a start, even if you try to go local, you can never get local .. unless you are married or living with a local .. and for food, even if you take the cheapest food, you are still eating at twice the price or more of natives. Forget taxis - any expat gets charged twice or more .. if you live there, you give up bargaining and pay like 400 peso when a native grabs an FX and does it for 10 peso.

Well, that's a simple lesson in Economics.

PS: some people from Village working in Manila ? there are people living in the cemetries of Manila too .. no kidding .. Manila is one of the most congested cities of the world .. have the richest in Asia and the mega poor - including those who live in Smokey Mountain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Mountain "Smokey Mountain has a large squatter community, and it is estimated that 30,000 people live near the site, and make their living from picking through the rubbish at Smokey Mountain"

And also see .. http://www.vice.com/read/living-dead-v14n11

All the while when the cream of the society hosts inaugaral balls, super expensive monthly dinner gatherings, and drive around in Escalades and Expeditions with body guards and more .. and have so much spare money, they don't know what to do with the money ..

Read about LKY on Filipinos ..

http://opinion.inquirer.net/12827/le...on-philippines