Big Jim’s Philippines Experience

This is my response to Sonorous on Lonely Planet’s Philippines Forum, to the following question.

Hello -

Thanks!

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Today I decided I would like to eat in the food court at Gaisano Metro in Cebu City.

On the way there, I had to pass the old lady outside the bakery. That is her spot. There are Filipinos who sleep in the streets at night but she is not one of them. She walks to work and if you see her walking, you will think she is quite fit. However, after she has taken up her spot, she puts on a display of being in the most awful pain……… and only your money will make it better.

I also was bypassed by a group of 3 girls. I see them regularly walking the streets. They are not there at night time either! One of the girls has what looks like a burn on her forehead. Every time they pass me they point to the burn then have their hands out. I am not sure if they are asking for money to fix the burn or asking for money so their boss won’t burn her again.

A new beggar I passed on the way to Gaisano Metro was a young girl at the traffic lights. They had stripped off her top so she looked more desperate. She didn’t get a second glance from me either.

They are all scammers and apart from the old lady, the money will probably just go to a boss.

So I arrived in the food court to find it packed but I could see some vacant tables to sit so I ordered my food. My favourite, steamed rice, which is rice with pork and vegetables. Plus some other Filipino delicacies. I turned around with my tray of food and started looking for a vacant table, I couldn’t find any.

As I was wandering around looking desperate, a Filipino man waved me over and pointed to a seat next to him. He was sitting with a woman. His wife, I presumed.

I sat down and started eating. The Filipino man was quite friendly and asked all the usual questions? What is my name, where am I from, am I married, how old am I, how many children, how old are they etc. The same questions you will get from most Filipinos that you meet for the first time. He told me his name was Juan….and we shook hands. No mention was made of the women at the table.

Then the woman got up and left.

Not his wife after all!

This was Juan’s cue!

Juan had been waiting for the woman to leave because what he was going to ask was too embarrasing.

Juan said to me……..I haven’t eat all day…will you buy me steamed rice?

Well we had become friends of sorts while eating my meal so i said…..OK!

I knew it cost P42 because I had just bought one for myself. So I gave Juan a P50 note to buy his steamed rice. About one American dollar.

At this point I did not know what Juan would do. Would he then just disappear now that he had his money?

Juan walked straight over to the counter and purchased a bowl of steamed rice. He then came back and sat down beside me and handed me back P8 change.

My most unusual beggar experience ever.

If all beggars were like him, they would get my money every time!

Recently, I tried to visit an American friend at his home in the province.

When I arrived, I was told he had moved.

I contacted my friend to find out why.

He had moved because he was afraid.

Afraid of his neigbours!!!

This was something in need of investigation!

The town where my friend was living is low crime. No foreigners harmed in recent times and probably no foreigners harmed since the second world war when the Japanese were turned away by hand to hand combat and heavy bombing from the Americans.

Why was he afraid?

Apparently his neighbours would drink and get noisy and sometimes keep him awak until 2am. Nothing new there. That could happen anywhere.

What had really happened?

Apparently one night, there was a Filipino looking in his window during one of the drinking sessions and when he rang the police, they would not come.

Why would the police not come?

There was no crime being committed!

If anyone has ever tried to get the police in the Philippines, you will know that it is hard enough to get a policeman to come, even if a crime is being committed.

I questioned friends about the neighbourhood. Apparently the neighbours would get drunk and noisy from time to time before my American friend moved in, continued while he was living there and are still doing it now. They have never harmed anyone! They had even invited my American friend to join them.

I questioned my friend about the Filipino looking in the window. On reflection, he thought the Filipino may have just been using the window as a mirror.

So what was the best solution here? For me, I would have drank with the neigbours. Not every time but sometimes. I am sure we could all be friends and there would never be a need to ring the police.

So!

What are you afraid of?

For those people who are needing to travel in June or July, Superferry have a new promo.

You can get fares as low as P588 between Manila and Cebu

But you only have a few days to buy your tickets!

Details are as follows
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Hi Jim,

You seem to be the best expert on bohol and so we wanted to ask you for advice. My wife and I are planning a day trip to Bohol from Cebu for this June and only want to see the Baclayon Church, Loboc River for a lunch cruise, tarsier interaction (on Loboc River?), the Chocolate Hills, and the man-made (mahogoney) forest.  Therefore, our questions are:

1) Should we book our high-speed ferry ahead of time now in the U.S. or just wait until we arrive in Cebu (we plan to go to Bohol the day after we arrive in Cebu)?

2) Should we prebook a Bohol day package tour online now or just go with one of the drivers / tour operators upon arrival at the ferry pier in Bohol?

3) Do you have any other suggestions or advice? 

 Thank you!

Jeremiah

Hi Jim,

Love your site! I recently married my sweet angel in Cebu last month!

I would like to know what are the costs of pregnancy there from pre-natal care to birth.

Also, Is it possble to buy medical and dental insurance for my wife while I wait for her to come to the US?

Thanks,

Paul

Can anyone advise me please if it is necessary to obtain an Immigration Clearance Certificate as I am the holder of ACR (Alien Certificate of Registration)  I am returning to Australia at end of this month.

Many thanks

Nigel Smith

jaemartphils@hotmail.com

hi all, i’m in australia but will be in cebu next month. im looking to find an company that can make T-Shirts (printed with logs), Caps, Bags ect. can anyone help as ive tried google and the net, but im not having much luck. there for our Karate club in australia. thanks mathew

i understand what you are saying about relatives wanting to mooch money from you.in 1974-1976 i was in the navy and spent some time in p.i. it was terrific and i will never forget the experiance.i have been unhappily married now for many years and until recently the philippines was just a distant memory in the back of my sub-concsious mind.recently however,my younger brother has bagan to correspond with a fillipina girl on some fhilapina dating service on the internet.well let me tell you that in my mind he really opened up a can of worms (a very large can) and he really got me thinking about the philippines and the women that live there.i have been carfully researching the philippines on the internet now for more than two weeks and let me tell you that i want to go there right now so bad that i can taste it.my life has been so hum drum now for so long and my marrige so rocky that going to the philipppines is almost more temptation than i can handle.on top of all this living here in america really stinks right now.i hat california and i despise the town i live in.perhaps i am being ungratefull but it is hard for me to exist at my age here in california.im not very old though.i just turned 53 two days ago.my business is doing lousy and my marriage is almost beyond repair.it is more than tempting to take the money that i have and retire early to the philippines,leaving my wife and child behind to fend for themselfs.of course i would get a legal divorce first.does anyone out there have any advice for me!!!.am i not intitled to be happy the remainder of my days?

Greetings! Ianne here of MIRIANN PRA Services, an accredited marketer of the Philippine Retirement Authority.
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• We follow up and expedite processing of legal documents  related to investment transactions.

My purpose in writing this post is to help or guide foreign nationals make their stay in the Philippines as fun and hassle-free as possible. Relax in their home or hotel and let us sweat it out for them!

I personally assist them and guide them through the process.
If you have questions about the Special Resident Retiree Visa program, please feel free to send me an email.  
Mobile: 09064948217
Office. Tel: (032)5152103
E-mail: iann.axa@gmail.com

While the link lasts, check out this article on Sun Star website
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/con-ass-resolution-filed-house”

The article is as clear as mud, unless you are a Filipino attorney. However, it appears as if some small action has commenced which could pave the way for for foreign ownership of land in the Philippines. Don’t get too hopeful though. It could still be years off!

The article is copied below
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This was a question asked recently on Yahoo answers for which my answer was chosen as Best Answer by the asker. As this same information will be very useful to people reading my blog, I have copied it here, with some minor editing to make the links work with this blog

I am planing on traveling to cebu, philippines, for one week to meet my girlfriend for the first time, I have chatted with her for over 1 and a half years, anything that I might need to know would be great, since this is my first trip on a plane and first trip overseas, thank you!

Additional Details
I chat with her often on web cam and talk to her on phone. I bought the airline tickets and see made arangements along the way, and never was forceful about it, I have also seen most of her family on webcam as well, including mother and father, and she wats to stay with me during our stay there in a floor of condomium that I am renting during our stay for 42 dollars a day

by Jim S Member since:
11 February 2008
Total points:
2806 (Level 4)
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
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While the link lasts, read MARK D. MERUEÑAS’ story on the GMA news website
GMA WEBSITE

Mark writes as if the vigilantes are a bad thing and reports that Gloria Arroyo wants the Philippine National Police to act to bring the vigilantes to justice.

I have personal experience with the vigilantes. When I was living at the Cebu Century Hotel, in downtown Cebu City, the vigilantes shot dead a bugaw (pimp) who operated near the hotel. Following the shots, I went outside to see what was happening. It seemed that the whole street was rejoicing. The were hundreds of people in the street in front of the hotel. Every where I walked people were saying……”thanks god he is dead”. Apparently he had personally robbed many people in the area or made trouble for people.

If all vigilante killings were greeted the same as that one, I will pleased for them to continue.

It does worry me that they may get the wrong person.

You can make up your own mind!

The story is being written in 4 parts.

The first 2 parts from the GMA story are copied below.

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Here is my answer to a person who asked this question on Yahoo answers

To ask questions about the Philippines or answer other people’s questions on Yahoo answers, click HERE

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
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Many people think it is a good idea to get in a taxi in the Philippines and negotiate a price.

It isn’t!

Negotiating a price with the driver will almost always result in you paying more.

So when you get in a taxi, make sure the driver starts the meter. It is illegal if they won’t!

Here is a recent article from the Manila Times regarding this
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/nov/15/yehey/metro/20081115met6.html

Take note of the phone numbers in the article!

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Hello Everyone

I have been sent a bunch of Philippines pics, from several people, to load to my website. They will be going into the (relatively) new Gallery.

I have already started uploading the pictures. Some of the intersting ones which are already uploaded are a picture of a monkey that got lost and found it’s way into a private house on Negros Oriental. Another is a picture of a foreigner wedding with all the foreigners wearing Barong Tagalog’s. There are some pictures of Sinulog in Cebu City, from 2007, too! To see the pictures, click HERE.

Enjoy

Dinagat Island is situated between the islands of Leyte and Mindanao and is about 60km long and 20 km wide. It is not yet a province but the residents are hoping it will be made a province in 2007.

Map of Dinagat Island

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Hello Everyone

I was asked by Expatinterviews.com to do an interview.

If you would like to read my interview, you can do so here:

http://www.expatinterviews.com/Jim-Sibbick.html

Enjoy :

There are 4 airport terminals in Manila for the public to use. They are all situated on the one area of land and use the same runways.

They are:

1. The new international terminal which is now designated Terminal 3. It was supposed to be the terminal for all international flights but that does not look like it will happen any time soon. Presently tthe only international flights are for Cebu Pacific. It is also operating as the domestic terminal for Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines (now incorporating PAL express) plus any jet aircraft flights for Seair and Zest
2. The old international terminal known as Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 1 (NAIA1). It handles all international flights except for Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
3. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 2 (NAIA2). Also known as Centennial 2. In general, this airport only handles Philippine Airlines flights, both domestic and international. It is V shaped and has domestic at one end and international at the other. The building utilises much glass and when you are waiting for a flight, the only thing separating domestic and international passengers is some very thick glass.
4. Domestic Terminal for all prop planes for Zest and Seair

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Hello Everyone!
There seems to be some confusion amongst people visiting the Philippines for the first time.

The government website clearly states that for most western countries, which includes the UK, other European Countries, USA, Australia and New Zealand. You only need 6 months validity on your passport and an onward ticket, to receive a 21 day visa waiver in your passport. Here is the website so you can read for yourselves:

http://www.gov.ph/faqs/visa.asp

It is irrelevant what the date is on your onward ticket and it is irrelevant if it is an E ticket.

To confirm this, I arrived in Manila from Sydney yesterday, with an E ticket which was beyond the 21 days. The immigration officer read through the E ticket, made no comment at all before stamping the passport with a 21 day visa waiver then welcomed me to the Philippines.

Before the 21 days has expired, arrange an extension at your nearest Bureau of Immigration of you want to stay longer:

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/provincial_offices&subports.php

So, you can do it too

Get your return ticket to the Philippines and come and see what you have been missing.

:)   :) 

hi, im anna from Davao City, Philippines. its nice to be here.. well im an english teacher for koreans and a tourist guide as my part time job. im so impressed with Jim’s testimonials…i hope u guys will visit philippines… well it is not a paradise but for sure u will have a different experience.

I enjoy your web site very much and have gotten a lot of useful information from it. I leave for Cebu Oct 20 and I am looking forward to the experience. I will be spending a week near Cebu and a week in Mindanao. I am very interested in the Philippine culture and feel your web site has given me some very good ideas on where to go. Thanks for your effort on the web site. 

hi,

i am a hongkonger and i am planning to go Bohol in coming November. I wanna to ask u more info about Bohol local tour, as i can;t find it on internet or elsewhere.
What i wanna know is where can i join those local tour? how much to join them? and what activities they will provide?
it’s will be great to hear from u!

cheers,
cathleen

TO COME BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE, click on the white Big Jim’s Philippines Experience at the top of the page. 

Last year, a friend of mine visited Camiguin Island and made it sound so good, I thought I would like to go there myself.

In May, I got my opportunity.

Nipa hut, by the sea on Camiguin Island

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More than 100 pictures have been added to the website over the last few days.

Taost Temple in Cebu City

These pictures were taken with my video camera during May and feature sights in Cebu City, some pictures from Camiguin Island and some more pictures from Leyte.

To access the pictures, start at the picture index page and choose the type of pictures you would like to view: http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/Philippines_picture_%20index.htm

Enjoy!  

I was previously a partner in a tourism business in Cebu City. Our driver for the tours was Danny Noy. Danny is a taxi driver in Cebu City and has many years experience.

Danny Noy - Ph. 09193753071

His taxi is clean and well maintained and Danny has proved to be very reliable.

He will happily use the meter for normal taxi operations but for special jobs (eg house hunting or a tour of the city), his standard rate is P250 per hour around Cebu City or make a deal for the whole day.

Danny’s taxi 

Danny can also arrange other transport such as a bus, mini bus, jeepney, van or multicab.

To contact Danny from within the Philippines, phone  09193753071

From outside the Philippines, +639193753071

This is Danny’s email.
dannymar07@yahoo.com.ph

and Danny now has a new website

http://www.cebutaxiservice.com/reliable_cebu_taxi_driver.htm