In 2007, while on holidays in Thailand, took a Bangkok to Manilla flight and stayed for three weeks the granted period a visa on arrival was given @that time.
1964 Jungle survivor school above Subic Bay, back again for work in 2006 in Manila area. Sort of amazing how all that worked out.
About 2004, went to Manila looking for trade staff for my business in Australia. Hatted the place thought what a dump. Went back a few times and employed a fair few on 457 work Visa's. Long story short once I sold my business in 2013 one of my Filipino workers intuduced me to my now wife. She was renting a room from him in Aust while studying. Before you know it I started coming a fair bit, my views on PI have changed a lot since the early trips.