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That is an interesting spin on the slow Internet.

I use PLDT DSL line at the moment. I am supposed to get "up to" 5 Mbps speeds. At this moment, speedtest.net is showing a speed of 2.29 Mbps between my computer and Cebu City's PLDT server. Wonder how the lines under the ocean in HongKong can possibly be responsible for that?

I changed the test server to Hong Kong and the speed was reduced to 0.94

I changed the test server to Los Angeles (at the speedtest.net main server) and the speed went back up to 2.10 Mbps. Wow, almost the same as Dumaguete to Cebu. So now I disbelieve their excuse. It only affects specific spots like Hong Kong. Sure, cut cables affect the speed. But how do they explain Duma to Los Angeles getting pretty much the same download speeds as Duma to Cebu on a Saturday afternoon?

My explanation? I believe they have oversold their product and if double the people are on line than the lines can handle then everyone gets half the speed. Or it may be a ratio that is more dependent on how much money the customer is spending. Either way is more about profit taking than cut cables.

 

Im not an advocate for using drugs but marijuana has much less health problems and violent offences relating to it than alcohol does.

I guess if the marijuana was separated in 20 individual match boxes he was dealing it. Not a smart idea.

Run frenchy run!

 

Obviously potential Expats need better preparation financially, physically, mentally and emotionally before coming here. A realistic plan of financial survival here is necessary. There are few governmental safety nets here in the Philippines. Coming to Philippines expecting to have some form of income from within the country, is not valid thinking with the present laws (you can only own 40%, consequently you have no control over "your own" company , and you partners will come from a culture where corruption is rampart. There are many partners available that will be happy to assume ownership of the other 60%our your company with out any investment of their own). There are both natives and expats that are opportunists when it come to your finances. Permits for working here are difficult. Physically you need to know your health issues and the services available here to care for your present health issues, and potential health issues in your family background. Mentally you have to be ready for the challenge of being a minority with few rights, this is an experience most of us have not previously had to deal with in life. Expecting the same right as your mother company is unreasonable. Flexibility of thinking, and acceptance of situations you have not previously experienced is important. Emotionally the Filipino culture is much different from western cultures. If you come her as a single man, and expect to find "sleeping beauty" (or some other fairly tale character) ( or already have found her on the internet) you better open you eyes wide. Read, experience and learn as much as you can from others mistakes. The ladies here may be slight in physical form but do not under estimate their ability to out scam you, out lie you and generally out maneuver you in the world of romance (They love to use the laws here that are definitely written for protecting them, and leaving you vulnerable to having to buy your way out of a situations.) For those happily married members here, congratulations, but not all may married friend are totally happy here. Realize that coming here for romance that you are very vulnerable, while the innocent sweet young ladies you meet are not as naive as you think, and probably on top of the game in romance. At minimum the rules of relationship are definitely different from the Expat cultures and the native cultures.
You have to be strong to survive in the Philippines. You will not arrive with the typical "networks" that you looked to for support in your mother country. If you do not realize that before you come here, with both a solid living plan and escape plan of your own you may find yourself in the position of the other noted in the article above. You need to be strong financially with a plan, mentally strong with perseverance and flexibility in thinking because you have never experience some of the challenges you will come up against here. You need to be mentally strong and capable with emotional stability necessary to navigate the "romance life culture" the Philippines. As Benjamin Franklin said a few centuries ago — 'If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!' The Philippines can be great if you have a plan, and know your intentions in being here .

 

Well I went into this place for breakfast last week , ordered a ham and cheese omelet ,

It arrived pretty quickly and as I was halfway through eating it i was getting a terrible revolting taste ,
I smelt the thing and realised the ham was rotten !!
I then spent the next 5 minitues in the toilet vomiting !!!

Using rotten ham in a omlet will not be getting me to ever return to this place , suggest the owner checks his stock of food, lucky I was sick immideatly as I could of had food poisoning from eating that if it had stayed in my stomach

Get your act together thunder road

 

They remember . . . except when they owe you money

 

AHA. I figured they would work foreigners into the story somehow, even thought the victims, perps, and cops were all locals.

 

If you have an ACR-I card (resident alien) you can avail of PhilHealth for approx P2400 per year. This does not offer a lot of protection but one very good thing is it guarantees the hospital will treat you if you have an accident of need emergency services no questions asked. That is very important in a country where if you don't have cash in hand or insurance will let you bleed to death in the emergency room hallway without treatment. If you want more comprehensive insurance Blue Cross Philippines offers health insurance. Also if you travel frequently and have a Gold Visa or Gold MasterCard and use it to pay for your flight most of them offer travel insurance free for 1 year. If you are interested in more info on same PM me. I will try to answer any questions.

 

Jimf, not sure about the Chinese coming hee, but I think it is safe to say foreigners move here because:
1. Cheaper overall cost of living for retirement
2. Good year round weather
3. Attractive young ladies
4. Pretty good diving
5. Most locals understand English
6. If you find you don't like it here, you can hop over to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia