2 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

We don't go back to the P.I. While the countryside is beautiful, and the scuba diving absolutely fantastic in Palawan prefecture, we never had a really 'delicious' meal in any restaurant we visited. People were always friendly, prices fine, plenty to see and do, but the food sucks! We found ourselves living on lumpia!

To me, a culture's food is important, and we could just 'tolerate' the foods we ate while there. It was OK, but that's as far as it went.

Even the point you critiqued is far off the mark. The food there is mostly inedible crap. Not even a matter of taste it's just low quality slop for the most part.

3 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

You guys wouldn't believe this

My number one vlogger I like in the Philippines is a guy called Alex who reads out the Philippines foreigners news everyday

I just found out another YouTuber has exposed him ...he is not in the Philippines but ....Bangkok !!

Really ...he always said on his news mornings he is coming live from Cebu

Absolutely liar he is in Bangkok!!!!

Very common because what travel vloggers realized years ago is that most Filipinos mooch around all day watching stuff on social media about their own country like a bunch of weirdos. Vloggers go there to attract an easy sub base and viewer base. You have probably seen the "hmmm Jollibees, sarap" videos from vloggers who after recording a dozen videos in a week of being in the Philippines then spend a month in Thailand uploading the videos onto their channel every few days.

Whilst the Filipino bums are not watching stuff online about their country, they are either trying to scam foreigners or waiting for the only breadwinner in their family who works as a maid is Saudi Arabia to send them money so they buy Red Horse and do videoke. This is most families there btw to some extent or another. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid with the only saving grace is that you will appreciate other places in SEA after going there. Thailand is far superior. The people, the place, everything.

5 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I just looked him up briefly.

He seems to be putting young girls (minors?) in his videos in sexually suggestive scenes ... not explicit porn, but very edgy ... that might have something to do with it.

Youtubers get desperate for clicks and go too far.

I wonder if he would get away with that in Thailand. Probably not. One of the girls parents might file a complaint at some point.

Agree..he looks like a pedo looking his pray!

3 hours ago, connda said:

Ok - don't ever go to the PI. Nobody will miss you. I've spent considerable amounts of time in the PI during my adult life. The PI is what the PI is. I like the people. I have to know how to handle yourself. Each to their own.

True.I been working in 43 countries and never had any problems with the locals.

But some people have problems wherever they go.Its all about behavior and how u talk and acting against people.Be friendly with an open mind is a good start.

.

4 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Did they point their machine guns at you?

McDonalds Manila:- To the left of the door was the figure of Ronald the clown. To the right, a security guard with sawn off shotgun. The comparison was something I could not get my head around. I got chatting to the security guard, he was an ok guy. I asked if he had or would ever shoot someone, he replied... oh yeah. Yep, the stale food is that bad in DaPhils.

4 hours ago, kevozman1 said:

I have been there. It's a complete dump. Everything is awful.. Just awful. Put up a map of SEA on your wall, throw a dart and go to whatever country it lands on except for the Philippines. Yes I mean even Myanmar included. That's how crap the Philippines is.

When you say you've been there, how much experience do you actually have?

I've travelled and lived all over the Philippines, and notched up about 6 years there in total. You can lead a peaceful and fulfilling life in the Philippines, but, like most countries, there are both good and bad places to visit.

Can you believe it's 3 hours away from Bangkok

Jump on a plane one Sunday morning from BKK and go there for the day !!!

You only need a day ,come back to BKK Sunday night

Absolutely shocking place you will see the difference

9 hours ago, JackGats said:

Besides, why should it be ok to film people for the internet in "third world" countries? Are you allowed to film people for the internet without their consent in ... the US?

If you are in public, then the answer is "YES". You can film and post anything you can see from a public place.

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Can you believe it's 3 hours away from Bangkok

Jump on a plane one Sunday morning from BKK and go there for the day !!!

You only need a day ,come back to BKK Sunday night

Absolutely shocking place you will see the difference

If Thailand and PI are on your list to never return, your list must be getting short

16 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Just watched another YouTube video with the arrest yesterday of another Philippines Vlogger " Pro life traveller "

Now if you don't know the Philippines late last year introduced new laws that if you vlog you can't put people's faces on and encouraged their citizens to report foreigners vlogging .

Another arrest yesterday of a Estonian man ,( Pro life traveller) and

last year was famous YouTuber Vitaly who is still in jail

Flippa's should introduce the death penalty for vloggers.

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Flippa's should introduce the death penalty for vloggers.

Woah. So I better not j walk or ill be headed for the firing squad.

2 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Woah. So I better not j walk or ill be headed for the firing squad.

Were in my post did you read j walk ?

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Were in my post did you read j walk ?

Are you really this obtuse or is drawing a comparison something above your pay grade.

1 hour ago, Peabody said:

If you are in public, then the answer is "YES". You can film and post anything you can see from a public place.

Just make sure there aren't any ICE agents around

24 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Are you really this obtuse or is drawing a comparison something above your pay grade.

If you think j walking is on the same level as these obnoxious vloggers.... thats on you, not me.

Just spoke to a Filipina on Messenger. Apparently living costs rising quite high now, maybe delayed inflation effects.

BGC is overrated and far too expensive. When you go outside the grinding poverty is unbearable.

Nice nature, but everywhere is overcrowded. Even the waterfalls.

Phillippines suffers from the usual problem of island nations, too large, too difficult to administer, too many islands. Not to mention typhoons, terrible internet.

Just now, Ralf001 said:

If you think j walking is on the same level as these obnoxious vloggers.... thats on you, not me.

If you think vloggers should be given the death penalty....thats on you and I advise you seek professional medical help.

8 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Just spoke to a Filipina on Messenger. Apparently living costs rising quite high now, maybe delayed inflation effects.

Cam, Cam, Cam taking the bait in two countries. Give it a break buddy, you are going to tizzy out.

16 hours ago, Harry Tuchas said:

25 years ago it was already a filthy sewer hole. Dangerous, crap infrastructure, the transportation blows, shabby looking environs, bad food, and all that annoying Catholicism. The women can be a bit fun, but they aren't the most attractive lot in SE Asia, not by a monger's mile. The people in general can be friendly, and they do speak decent English, but they are full of BS and the place is just kind of dull.

And 25 years later it's only gotten even worse. More crime, drugs, poverty. And now it gets terribly battered by storms and floods every year. Probably one of the last places I would want to visit again at this point. And retire there? Shiii... Yeah, not in this lifetime.

And many folks openly carry handguns in holsters. Seen this in supermarkets, shops, hotel lobbies, brs, even banks.

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

And many folks openly carry handguns in holsters. Seen this in supermarkets, shops, hotel lobbies, brs, even banks.

Sure you were in the PI?

From Gargle:

No, open carry of firearms is generally prohibited in the Philippines, with a strict emphasis on concealment for those authorized to carry outside their residence; displaying a firearm openly is illegal unless in immediate, legitimate use, and requires a special Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR). Firearms must be concealed, in a holster, or secured, and carrying them openly is a violation that can lead to license revocation and penalties. 

Key Rules for Carrying Firearms:

• Concealment is Key: Firearms must be hidden from public view.

• Permit Required: You need a PTCFOR to carry a firearm outside your home.

• No Display: Tucking a gun in your waistband or flagrantly displaying it is prohibited.

• Secure in Vehicles: Firearms must be secured in a vehicle compartment.

• Specific Locations Restricted: Firearms are generally banned from places of worship, public amusement, and other commercial establishments, even with a permit. 

1 hour ago, Peabody said:

Sure you were in the PI?

From Gargle:

No, open carry of firearms is generally prohibited in the Philippines, with a strict emphasis on concealment for those authorized to carry outside their residence; displaying a firearm openly is illegal unless in immediate, legitimate use, and requires a special Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR). Firearms must be concealed, in a holster, or secured, and carrying them openly is a violation that can lead to license revocation and penalties. 

Key Rules for Carrying Firearms:

• Concealment is Key: Firearms must be hidden from public view.

• Permit Required: You need a PTCFOR to carry a firearm outside your home.

• No Display: Tucking a gun in your waistband or flagrantly displaying it is prohibited.

• Secure in Vehicles: Firearms must be secured in a vehicle compartment.

• Specific Locations Restricted: Firearms are generally banned from places of worship, public amusement, and other commercial establishments, even with a permit. 

He was probably talking about guards and yes, most of them have pistols or shotguns.

1. The entire country is like one big Tijuana. It is depressing. Very little landscaping in the homes, even nice homes are ugly, and have barbed wire, and walls topped with glass shards everywhere you look.

2. The security situation is not very good. You always have to keep your eyes open, keep an eye on your back, and beware of robbery, home theft, and violence. It is rampant. I have many friends who live there, and they all say the same thing.

3. If you do get into an altercation with a Philippine man, or are getting robbed or harassed, unless you are a 6th degree sensei, do not fight back. An astonishing number of locals are well trained in the fighting arts. Many are good with sticks, knives, blades or any sort, and their hands, fists and feet. I have a friend who is a world class security consultant. He is a black belt in a few different martial arts. He says he can usually fight his way out of a gang of men, nearly anywhere in the world. Except in the PI. That is the only country he will NOT take an assignment. The average guys there, can take down the average Westerner in five seconds. In Thailand few have those kinds of skills. Very few.

4. The food sucks. The only other country I can think of with worse food, is Cuba. Granted, if you are willing to spend the money, you can find good food. But, it is not the general rule, as it is here. Also, the access to fresh fruits and vegetables is pathetic compared to Thailand. Very low quality, and often not fresh. Thailand is a paradise by comparison, when it comes to all things related to food.

5. Pollution. They use a lower grade of diesel. So, there is alot of soot in the air. The PI has an epidemic of lung diseases and respiratory diseases. Even on many of the populated islands. The hospitals are full of people who are having a very hard time breathing. It is a real issue there. Lung disease is at an epidemic level, though the authorities do not like to talk about it, and publish very little information on it.

6. Aesthetics. The average house you would rent, looks like a slum. Tall walls, with barbed wire, to keep out intruders. And they just do not pay attention to landscaping and gardens like the Thai people do. So, most neighborhoods are fabulously ugly. Alot of slums in the big cities, and just not physically appealing.

7. Renting. There is a vastly lower number of rental units available, few are as nice as what you can find in Thailand, and it is almost always more expensive, with the possible exception of Central Bangkok. You just cannot find the studio apartments like the ones available all over Hua Hin, for 6,000 to 8,000 baht a month. That does not exist there.

8. Infrastructure. The entire country lacks the infrastructure you have here in Thailand. As I am typing now, I am enjoying a 1GB download speed, and a 700MB upload speed, all on fiber optic cable, for 800 baht a month. Unheard of in many countries, including the US! Triple the cost there. No sky train network anywhere near comparable to Bangkok. No MRT network either. They have one under construction, and it will be limited to ten stations.

Shall I go on? I could. As far as I am concerned, the only reason to live there is the women, and a slightly more cooperative, and far less xenophobic and racist government.

8 hours ago, JensenZ said:

When you say you've been there, how much experience do you actually have?

I've travelled and lived all over the Philippines, and notched up about 6 years there in total. You can lead a peaceful and fulfilling life in the Philippines, but, like most countries, there are both good and bad places to visit.

Here is the thing. Some people are low IQ pea brain buffoons who will never work out a damn thing in their life no matter how much time they are given. Other people work things out fast. A couple of months mostly in the Visayas and briefly in Luzon was enough for me to come to a conclusion. I was planning to stay a bit longer and do study escrima, but just like everything else there I realized that it would probably be a <deleted> up in some way or another so I skipped it. My theory on the Philippines is that the people running the show keep poking the people there as they have been selected to be one of the world's slaves, especially the females. Add to that they are not exactly the smartest group of SEA folk/browns and you have the Failippines. I may have some sympathy if the locals were not weirdly arrogant with it. Fck 'em and fck anyone who rates that place quite frankly.

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

1. The entire country is like one big Tijuana. It is depressing. Very little landscaping in the homes, even nice homes are ugly, and have barbed wire, and glass topped walls everywhere you look.

2. The security situation is not very good. You always have to keep your eyes open, keep an eye on your back, and beware of robbery, home theft, and violence. It is rampant. I have many friends who live there, and they all say the same thing.

3. If you do get into an altercation with a Philippine man, or are getting robbed or harassed, unless you are a 6th degree sensei, do not fight back. An astonishing number of locals are well trained in the fighting arts. Many are good with sticks, knives, blades or any sort, and their hands, fists and feet. I have a friend who is a world class security consultant. He is a black belt in a few different martial arts. He says he can usually fight his way out of a gang of men, nearly anywhere in the world. Except in the PI. That is the only country he will NOT take an assignment. The average guys there, can take down the average Westerner in five seconds. In Thailand few have those kinds of skills. Very few.

4. The food sucks. The only other country I can think of with worse food, is Cuba. Granted, if you are willing to spend the money, you can find good food. But, it is not the general rule, as it is here. Also, the access to fresh fruits and vegetables is pathetic compared to Thailand. Very low quality, and often not fresh. Thailand is a paradise by comparison, when it comes to all things related to food.

5. Pollution. They use a lower grade of diesel. So, there is alot of soot in the air. The PI has an epidemic of lung diseases and respiratory diseases. Even on many of the populated islands. The hospitals are full of people who are having a very hard time breathing. It is a real issue there. Lung disease is at an epidemic level, though the authorities do not like to talk about it, and publish very little information on it.

6. Aesthetics. The average house you would rent, looks like a slum. Tall walls, with barbed wire, to keep out intruders. And they just do not pay attention to landscaping and gardens like the Thai people do. So, most neighborhoods are fabulously ugly. Alot of slums in the big cities, and just not physically appealing.

7. Renting. There is a vastly lower number of rental units available, few are as nice as what you can find in Thailand, and it is almost always more expensive, with the possible exception of Central Bangkok. You just cannot find the studio apartments like the ones available all over Hua Hin, for 6,000 to 8,000 baht a month. That does not exist there.

8. Infrastructure. The entire country lacks the infrastructure you have here in Thailand. As I am typing now, I am enjoying a 1GB download speed, and a 700MB upload speed, all on fiber optic cable, for 800 baht a month. Unheard of in many countries, including the US! Triple the cost there. No sky train network anywhere near comparable to Bangkok. No MRT network either. They have one under construction, and it will be limited to ten stations.

Shall I go on? I could. As far as I am concerned, the only reason to live there is the women, and a slightly more cooperative, and far less xenophobic and racist government.

Who is the 'security consultant' haha. I looked quite well into escrima and was going to join a class in Cebu. Most people don't do it there, but a lot of them are scrappy because they are poor and don't have much to lose. They do boxing, but they aren't that good either and are mostly at weight class from complete midget weight to welterweight.. Really nothing special at all and if you have a gang of men anywhere jumping you with weapons then you're <deleted>.. No marital art is going to help at that point unless you're very athletic and can run away.

edit: Actually coming to think about I would be more worried about having an altercation in Thailand. Thais will jump people to the point where half of the street may get involved.. Filipinos as much as I don't care for them are not like that for the most part.

1 hour ago, kevozman1 said:

He was probably talking about guards and yes, most of them have pistols or shotguns.

My company office in Makati was less then 10 minutes to a major shopping centre. Although there were guards on every entrance you could still see customers with handguns. Staff in my office openly had holsters with handguns. Company had a large manufacturing factory 30 - 40 minutes drive outside of Manila. Company drivers (minivan drivers) would not drive a vehicle unless they had permiss to carry a handgun. At the factory break ins / theft of materials and equipment was rife. All supervisors and many staff had holsters and handguns.

3 hours ago, kevozman1 said:

I was planning to stay a bit longer and do study escrima

Philippines is the expert martial arts in escrima Kali etc ,they are the masters of knife and stick fighting

There are a few knife fighting schools in Manila if your interested

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

. An astonishing number of locals are well trained in the fighting arts. Many are good with sticks, knives, blades or

Yes I want to go to the Philippines to learn with Masters of Filipino knife fighting

I believe at my age trying to defend myself without weapons is very difficult especially if a gang attacks you

I need to learn !!!!

Once again I've been convinced not to waste time going to the Philippines

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Once again I've been convinced not to waste time going to the Philippines

Just to see for yourself a short trip to AC and Subic area (Barrio Barretto) would be a fun week. And, the flight is pretty cheap. My go to place for a nice tuna steak dinner was Mango's in Barretto. For a nice getaway it's not a bad place, see for yourself.

2 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Just to see for yourself a short trip to AC and Subic area (Barrio Barretto) would be a fun week. And, the flight is pretty cheap. My go to place for a nice tuna steak dinner was Mango's in Barretto. For a nice getaway it's not a bad place, see for yourself.

Thing is, there's so many other countries to go, better most likely