General enquiry about PH

Another question to all, what is the best supermarket price and quality to buy groceries, veggies and meat. I have seen on the internet SM, Robinsons, S&R etc.

Additionally ow does the TV channels work, is through a decoder or the internet?

Thanks

aklokow wrote:

Additionally ow does the TV channels work, is through a decoder or the internet?

Depending of location whats available.  Cignal satelite is common.

aklokow wrote:

Another question to all, what is the best supermarket price and quality to buy groceries, veggies and meat. I have seen on the internet SM, Robinsons, S&R etc.

Additionally ow does the TV channels work, is through a decoder or the internet?

Thanks

Have you been to Lopez, Quezon?  The town has a small population. I don't think there is an SM or Robinson's supermarket nearby. There might be small mom-and-pop type grocery / stores there. 

The place to get produce and meat in your area would be the nearest local public market. Veggies and fruit at supermarkets are expensive. I've  also noticed that they also go bad quicker compared to those  bought at the public market.  SM, Robinson's, Puregold and S&R are a 10-min drive away from our place. But we don't buy our fish, veggies and fruit there.

Yes been to Lopez many times that is also where we have built a house, additionally my wife's family are also there. They have a local market for fruit veggies and meat and so far it seems that to but groceries is to go to Lucena where there is a SM.

aklokow wrote:

Another question to all, what is the best supermarket price and quality to buy groceries, veggies and meat. I have seen on the internet SM, Robinsons, S&R etc.

Additionally ow does the TV channels work, is through a decoder or the internet?

Thanks

It can come from satellite or from cable if you are lucky enough to have internet.

I believe Fairview Open Market is the best Market I've been to in the Philippines! Just a block from SM Fairview in Pasong Putik Quezon City

AKLO- Supermarkets about all the same to me. Food is food. I always check out the inside of the store

to see if clean or unkept. As far as prices its easy to learn the ropes which markets charge more than

others. SM supermarket and Robinsons are well kept and clean. I dont buy any meats or chicken,fish

from the wet market for it might sit there for hours or maybe even all day in the exposed air that

invites bacteria. In the bigger stores like SM and Robinson they keep most of it in a cooler or on ice. As

far as tv and internet PLDT offers a internet and landline combo for about 2000 pesos a month and

SIGNAL TV is around 520 pesos a month with an initial 1 time installation fee less than 2000 pesos for

that. They need to install a dish is why they charge it.I had Signal TV 6 years 390 to 420 pesos a month

and here 9 yrs and they raised it to 520 pesos a month. Its a fair price! Check with PLDT.They might also

offer cable TV with the internet and landline combo. Am not sure about that.

Hello Aklokow.
Capricornrising is right, check out how clean each store is. Mostly I have found Robinsons, S&R, Landers to be clean with bulk buying options but higher prices.  I have encountered rats and mice several times in nearest Gaisano Mall, put back a loaf of bread that had been chewed, I only buy tinned or bottled foods there now or out of the freezer. Check out your local area and talk to local expats.
regards  Bruce

GoDees-Yes cleanliness is imperative. I was in Shanghai China with my Foreign English co-teachers

2012. I was teaching English at a university at the time. While we were at a restaurant the floors were

dirty and I just happen to look over at the salad bar and a  waitress accidentally bumped the bar and a

cherry tomato fell onto the dirty floor. She just picked it up and put it back on the salad bar. Another

teacher also saw it happen. Needless to say, we didn't eat at that restaurant again.JIMMY

capricornrising wrote:

GoDees-Yes cleanliness is imperative. I was in Shanghai China with my Foreign English co-teachers

2012. I was teaching English at a university at the time. While we were at a restaurant the floors were

dirty and I just happen to look over at the salad bar and a  waitress accidentally bumped the bar and a

cherry tomato fell onto the dirty floor. She just picked it up and put it back on the salad bar. Another

teacher also saw it happen. Needless to say, we didn't eat at that restaurant again.JIMMY

Don't expect too much in a 3rd world deprived country (unless you are going to some real poshed upscale expensive restaurant) literally your so called waste is another mans/families meal heard of pagpag?
Thats why I hardly eat outside as I am very careful/selective in what i buy/eat can't afford to spend on fine dinning....so I've learnt to cook on my own & watch clealiness/ingrediants/everything that is required to keep me fit /againt falling ill & that comes with lots of savings too.

manwonder wrote:

Don't expect too much in a 3rd world deprived country (unless you are going to some real poshed upscale expensive restaurant) literally your so called waste is another mans/families meal heard of pagpag?

Thats why I hardly eat outside as I am very careful/selective in what i buy/eat can't afford to spend on fine dinning....so I've learnt to cook on my own & watch clealiness/ingrediants/everything that is required to keep me fit /againt falling ill & that comes with lots of savings too.

Fine Dining Definition: When somebody else is picking up the check.

I've been on the other side of that a couple times, even my own family takes advantage. I probably set the bar too high when they see me grocery shopping and follow suit. In the beginning when I arrived in the Philippines, when shopping in the mall, when it came to dining, I would always say no fast food, sit down restaurant only.

Now I say we have a refrigerator full of food lets eat when we get home. Once in a while I'll order two pizzas from Greenwich. I need two because we have six adults and I like the leftovers for my next day meal. My wife makes a good cheeseburger far better than the popular chains.

I'm getting off Mandwonder's experience. I never eat street food, I have my favorite dinner menu, which my wife prepares for me. The only item the family and I agree upon is Burritos, which my wife prepared last night.

So they eat their Filipino food and I eat my American food, works for me.

Thanks guys great advice, also we were thinking we have the house already and next to it is empty land, maybe I buy that and then rather plant my own veggies and fruit, I know the fruit trees will take a while nevertheless the veggies is a plan. My brother in-law has a chicken business so for chickens we are sorted its mainly beef, where to find to good beef as pork is available anywhere.
Anyway the first cargo for our house has left Dubai and arriving approx 9 July in Manila. so the next couple of month is to ship the final cargo and then hopefully Covid allows us to travel.

Hi all another question, does anyone have perhaps contacts to reduce the import tax on a vehicle? Currently they quoted me 80% approx of the purchase value which makes no sense to import a vehicle.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

[[b]Fine Dining Definition:

My definition of fine dining is eat at home      because I find eating at restaurants among the most boooooring.

Seen horror stories as in Gordon Ramseys 24 hour restarunt resque with very dirty kitchens and to old food, so mostly when being without kitchen access I just bring some washed veggies and buy bread, banamas or something in a shop not need cleaning. And if more than two days I only ask for very hard boiled eggs with the peal still on, because hard for them to  contaminate or mess up that    

And some "star" chefs seem to have damaged their taste by using strong spices long time,  often they put on to much salt.  E g one in Sweden famous chef , his meatballs tasted bad, I can do it miuch better myself...

And at more expensive restaurants the portions are even to smaöö toddlers, so back when I have needed to eat a posh dinner of businesss reasons, then I ate a proper meal BEFORE I went there       Nowadays Im old enouh to not need to bother to go to such   

Enzyte Bob wrote:

[   I would always say no fast food, sit down restaurant only.

Except at very special occasions a few times per years, I would say:
-We eat at home. Here you have a banana.   

Enzyte Bob wrote:

[   My wife makes a good cheeseburger far better than the popular chains..

Yes. The only I ffind them do better than even me are french fries - because I dont have any frier 

Enzyte Bob wrote:

[   I'm getting off Mandwonder's experience. I never eat street food, I have my favorite dinner menu, which my wife prepares for me.

There is an other eason too.
A Filipina I knew had got the advice to go to food carts close before they close at evening to get discount.  She ended up fainted at floor at home by food poisoning...  Lucky she survived.

aklokow wrote:

Hi all another question, does anyone have perhaps contacts to reduce the import tax on a vehicle? Currently they quoted me 80% approx of the purchase value which makes no sense to import a vehicle.

It make no sence to import a vehicle       legaly other than in parts.  (Except from within Asia7 countries.)  Thats why vehicles are even smugled in so we need to look  up with such if buying vehicles.

Parts assempled in Phils have much lower import tax, thats why such cars as Suzuki pickups are common in Phils and some manufactorers  as e g Mitzubishi have manufactory there or in other Asia7 country to cover that market avoiding the very high custom tax.

Cleanliness is always important!

Best dining is at home. Especially during this pandemic. People sometimes/usually go out to eat to

show others they have money and it also shows they are lazy because they dont wanna cook at home

or dont know how to.Cooking is an art and should be applauded as one. I am not a good cook but have

learned to cook for myself dishes that I like although someone else might not. Society is turning into a

lazy generation of people. Cooking is an art. Invite a few friends over once and a while and show off a

little. Just my thoughts!

capricornrising wrote:

People sometimes/usually go out to eat to show others they have money

Hey world look at me, I must be rich eating a double cheese burger.

and it also shows they are lazy because they dont wanna cook at home

An astute observation only lazy people eat out

Cooking is an art and should be applauded as one.

Yes sir, a culinary delight, I'll stand up and take a bow while thousands applaud. Thank you, thank you, thank you all very much for this honor.

Society is turning into a lazy generation of people.  Just my thoughts!

Please pass on more of your wisdom.

Enzyte Bob
I also prefer home cooking. My wife knows which Filipino meals I will eat and every Sunday night is my turn to cook (I miss cooking as I love it ) and I have learnt which meals that I cook my family will eat. Family favorites are creamy garlic chicken with mash, potato salad, crepes ( pancakes ) and now l have found a god source of Australian scotch fillet (P850/kg), we have steak once a month. It does take time to find good clean sources of food and this site has helped. So Thanks to all.
regards  Bruce.

GoDees wrote:

Enzyte Bob
I also prefer home cooking. My wife knows which Filipino meals I will eat and every Sunday night is my turn to cook (I miss cooking as I love it ) and I have learnt which meals that I cook my family will eat. Family favorites are creamy garlic chicken with mash, potato salad, crepes ( pancakes ) and now l have found a god source of Australian scotch fillet (P850/kg), we have steak once a month. It does take time to find good clean sources of food and this site has helped. So Thanks to all.
regards  Bruce.

Hi Bruce

I couldn't agree with you more about home cooking, when I met my wife in Las Vegas she worked as a cook in Toto's restaurant serving Filipino food.

She left and open a catering business, Aidas-Kitchen.com. Now closed, it had a Filipino menu on line.

Who doesn't prefer a good home cooked meal?

I still eat a western diet, but now with more Chicken and Rice, replacing Beef and Potatoes. I do miss BBQ'ing bone in rib eye steaks over charcoal with a  baked potato, butter and sour cream.

My post was in disagreement with Capicornrising: That people eat out to show others they have money and they are lazy for not cooking at home?

I guess you still could be lazy and cook at home, but there are other ways of showing people you have money. Maybe by driving a Lambo to the restaurant.

Well, I am not talking about hamburger joints Bob. I am talking about restaurants and the more expensive the better. Did you pass on that part of the wisdom phase in your life?. As far as your other refutes I will just ignore them. If you have lived here long enough you will know it is a fact that rich Philippinos like to show off their money. For example, when I was in SM dept store I was fixin to buy a nice TV and it was quite a bit of money and when there was a Pinay in her 50s I would guess she walked by me and I told her the one I was looking at looked like a nice tv set and she immediately walked over to another large screen tv that was about twice the amount of the one I was looking at and I could notice a bit of arrogance in her demeanor.. I was only here about 2 yrs at that time. Can you honestly tell me Bob you haven't noticed this kind of behavior?

I am not talking about hamburger joints. Yes-many people are lazy and don't wanna cook and prefer to

eat out. Just ask my Ex. If you are a good chef I will gladly applaud you. If you arent then no bows,

please! That's all the wisdom I have for today.

capricornrising wrote:

I am talking about restaurants and the more expensive the better.

As far as your other refutes I will just ignore them.

If you have lived here long enough you will know it is a fact that rich Philippinos like to show off their money.

That's ok capicornrising, it guess it's easy for you to ignore my refutes.

I'll paraphrase your remark: People sometimes go out to eat to show they have money, it shows they're lazy because they don't want to cook at home. Please refute that.

Now your "claimed fact" rich Filipinos like to show off their money. Who are they showing it off to?

I would think the opposite, the Philippines is the land of counterfeits, a blessing for poor people. I will agree Filipinos like to have branded merchandise, albeit fakes.

Now in the states my wife had the real thing, I laughed when we got to the Philippines, telling her we could have saved thousands if she bought fakes in the Philippines. She simply said it would not be the same feeling if she had counterfeit fakes.

Other than food...the other important essentials would be clean drinking water / sufficient s-excercise / a reliable wife or partner / like minded expat friends to chill with & most importantly always being able to have sufficient emergency funds in the bank account.
Not having any of these *omo will lead to an unstable/unhealthy/unsustainable lifestyle...Btw I'd love to have a fake looking lambo (heard some are being hand built in vietnam) but really can't afford one right now.

[link under review]

Not taking sides here but Filipinos do like to show off having money, and with genuine high end brand name items if they have a lot of it.

manwonder wrote:

Other than food...the other important essentials would be clean drinking water / sufficient s-excercise / a reliable wife or partner / like minded expat friends to chill with & most importantly always being able to have sufficient emergency funds in the bank account.

Sure like minded wife is very important.
Noit so good for one of my sisters, she want to live rural and her husband want to live in city so hard to get solution. They have "solved" it by moving city - rural -  city - rural -  city - rural -  city - rural -  and now they think of city again   
But worse for couples who have diferent oppinions if get kids or not, which I suppouse is common in big age gap relations where the older have grown up kids allready and the young dont have any...

Enzyte Bob wrote:

Now your "claimed fact" rich Filipinos like to show off their money. .

Not only the rich   
Dont know if this example is for showing off or because of lazyness;
They are so poor so they are often short off food, but when they have money they pay tricycöe from highway/town to village instead of walking 400 meters!!!   

A midde class Filipino in big dept by he got scammed in the KAPA scam and thought itwas so good deal sio he had borrowed as much as he could and "invesed" that too althugh it was an OBVIOUS scam just by looking wat they "guaranteed".  (I had told in an economic forum with mainly Filipinos it was a scam direct I saw it.) He still try to show off with birthday parties and BOUGHT a car he cant afford... 

They are some rich but not that rich. A family I know one of the sibbings to the bride, the family of the bridegroom did spend a bit over half million just at the wedding!!!   

I prefer a girlfriend, who found a 20 000 pesos budget for the wedding enough 

Enzyte Bob wrote:

Now in the states my wife had the real thing, I laughed when we got to the Philippines, telling her we could have saved thousands if she bought fakes in the Philippines. She simply said it would not be the same feeling if she had counterfeit fakes.

If my girlfriend would want a Gushi bag or such, it would disquaölify her from becoming wife to me      even if she would pay it for her own money, because such wasteing  dont suit my oppinion...
(I think similar to Kamprad, the founder of IKEA. Hold the costs down, dont waste at posh. Cheap transports too. He even went by subway instead of limousine, although I  drive car but allways a cheap one   
Once it was very cold . minus 20 C, and business people where very frozen in their suits and coats, when they went to bank having to hold a briefcase,
while I didnt freeze by I dressed as a Canadian lumberjack and brought my paperwork in a 10 cent  plastic bag so I could have my hands in my pockets...   Some of the frozen  were occupied with freezing        while some looked down on me, although I bet I made a biger trade than at least half of them        (This was before things could be done through internet.) 

Enzyte Bob wrote:

I would think the opposite, the Philippines is the land of counterfeits, a blessing for poor people. I will agree Filipinos like to have branded merchandise, albeit fakes..

But that is showing off too      although a fake show off.

capricornrising wrote:

rich Philippinos like to show off their money.

coach53 wrote:

They are so poor so they are often short off food, but when they have money they pay tricycöe from highway/town to village instead of walking 400 meters!!!   
Filipinos it try to show off with birthday parties and BOUGHT a car he cant afford... 

That is a characteristic not only in the Philippines but also in many other asian countries (the new rich)...they do like to flaunt branded stuff...especially their kids & its quite obvious maybe even expected.
However what I still can't understand is the rampant irresponsible spending habbits of the not so rich here...In fact I would consider them to be very poor.
Repossession of motorbikes/cars is also rampant here...a very lucrative business to be in.

Well, Bob looks like you didn't waste much time jumping on me so I will just end this now like I did with my American gf who had a "my way or the highway' type personality. I used to just reply to her"Whatever you say" and that ended it. There was no use trying to talk to her and I am not really interested in bringing back old bad memories. Just do me a favor and don't comment on any of my posts and I will do the same with yours. We have enough unwarranted wars in this world already. I will terminate this once and for all by this"Whatever you say Bob"Manganddang Gabi! You can always find someone else to bash to booster your low self-esteem and get the attention you are seeking. I will not reply to any more of your posts. Please do the same for me. Got it? Take care and may God bless the Philippines and whatever is left of the USA!

manwonder wrote:

Repossession of motorbikes/cars is also rampant here...a very lucrative business to be in.

Yes can be if the reposessed have become to much damaged    The  lendings by selling vehicles against monthly payments have high interests compared to other lendings with collateral.

capricornrising wrote:

You can always find someone else to bash to booster your low self-esteem and get the attention you are seeking. I will not reply to any more of your posts.

I didn't bash you for attention. . . .I questioned your thought process in making the statements that you made.

Well you could have been nicer when asking his train of thought and not been so condescending and insulting.

Im always look 4 branded items in my shopping.  I'm looking for quality of the product not showing off my money. In the long run it's cheaper to pay more and get higher quality than to buy cheap and having to continually replace. I know the majority of Filipinos can't afford the higher prices and have to buy the cheaper products over and over keeping them in poverty. To me that's one reason the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

I’m sorry, but if eating out is just showing off your wealth, how is the Philippines any different than any other country in the world? The high end and family and casual dining industry, (at least before the pandemic) is doing quite well. How many tv shows are devoted to it?
I would submit that for the middle class and below, an occasional treat of a good meal in a good restaurant is just fine. It is even, just in my opinion, a stress relief, from being holed up in a house with the same people day after day.
There are show offs in every culture. I think a large percentage of the Foreigners here are just as guilty of that as any Filipinos.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, of course, but it feels like there has been a decided drop in empathy and civility during this pandemic.
Of course, the anonymous online word also contributes, since people can express things that they would probably be embarrassed to say out loud in public.

Blacksheep-Yes you are right. There are probably more Americans showing off their money here than

Philippinos possibly because they have more to spend than most Philippinos do. I have gotten the

impression while living here that Philippinos in general think that we as foreigners are rich and I do

believe that they acquired this thinking because of many foreigners retiring here who have 2-3

pensions and spending money like its going out of style thus leaves an impression of Americans that

we are all rich. Its just not true. Before the Pandemic I used to go to the weekly meetings the

foreigners had at a local restaurant here and they sat around talking about all they had, their accomplishments

condos,ect. One of them even invited us all over to his expensive Condo with his Karaoke set up and his

goodies in his 10 million peso Condo. He had to take us all thru his house showing us what he had."His

wealth here in the Philippines" I have never been rich and I have never been poor and always had just

enough for my NEEDS and not my WANTS. I just wish the foreigners here would stop spreading there

money around so much, although I think its too late to erase the impression Philippinos already have of us

Gringos. Just my observations and thoughts. Not trying to offend anyone here.

If "showing-off" is going to be in any way or form "profitable" for me maybe I would too.
Otherwise I'd prefer to remain this big ugly/intimidating looking fish in my small little pond.
(omo)

The Philippino people are wonderful fisherman/women and most like what they catch. May God bless

the Philippines and ALL the wonderful people who  live here.

rodneypg3 wrote:

I know the majority of Filipinos can't afford the higher prices and have to buy the cheaper products over and over keeping them in poverty. To me that's one reason the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

I believe keeping in poverty depend of the huge EARNING differences          
Many poor get only the minimum salary around 7000p per month and many dont even earn that   

blacksheepjuno wrote:

I’m sorry, but if eating out is just showing off your wealth, how is the Philippines any different than any other country in the world?

Its rather common in "western" countries too but few do it often there. 
There are a lot of food carts in Phils, none in Sweden.

blacksheepjuno wrote:

IThe high end and family and casual dining industry, (at least before the pandemic) is doing quite well..

I dont know statistics special for fine dining, but BEFORE pandemic restaurants where very common BANKRUPTCIES in Sweden.

blacksheepjuno wrote:

I I would submit that for the middle class and below, an occasional treat of a good meal in a good restaurant is just fine. It is even, just in my opinion, a stress relief, from being holed up in a house with the same people day after day.

(Before covid)  Why bein hold up in a house? ? ?         when there are things as for instance
walk/canoe/swim/bike/sail in nice nature
dance
do or look at sports...

blacksheepjuno wrote:

IThere are show offs in every culture. I think a large percentage of the Foreigners here are just as guilty of that as any Filipinos.

Well. The foreigners yyou see in the Philippines are NOT the common percentages in their home countries.
Some are at vacation and spend much more than they do normal.
Of foreigners living in Phils there is a much biger part what I call "bar people". 

blacksheepjuno wrote:

I  it feels like there has been a decided drop in empathy and civility during this pandemic. .

Realy ? 
Perhaps less noticed by the need is much biger ?
I start doing my best to try to add earning in a poor region anyway.  Although officials make it very hard... 

blacksheepjuno wrote:

Of course, the anonymous online word also contributes, since people can express things that they would probably be embarrassed to say out loud in public.

I agree.
Although I have sharp toung face to face too      although much more often online because online it dont function to ignore bullies because then both they and readers believe the bullies have wonn. When meeting I ignore 5-8 times more but make it obvious I ignore them by treat them as they are less than air   

aklokow wrote:

Additionally ow does the TV channels work, is through a decoder or the internet?

Here in Metro Manila, some use a "digibox." No monthly charge. One needs to buy the unit (around 2-3k pesos). But these usually provide only a few local channels. I think it's better than internet when it comes to up-to-date local news, like typhoon updates, emergency broadcasts, etc. But then again, most of it is in Filipino.

I've searched online for cable and internet in your area. I've found

1. SMS Lopez CATV. Cable channel provider. Unfortunately, they don't have good reviews as per their facebook page.

2. Cignal Satellite. It seems they provide both cable and internet. Main dowside: Expensive. Lowest plan is PhP6,500 / month with just 2mbps. Yikes!

3. Converge. I think, of all the internet provider services I've used so far, this is the best. Unlimited data. 35mbps at PhP1,599 (recent speed test was 26 upload and 27 download). They probably provide service for Lopez Quezon because I've seen an ad on facebook for Converge connection in Lopez Quezon, which is a bit surprising for me. Do be wary of scams.

There was a time when internet connection here in Metro Manila was slow and expensive. If you backtrack 5 years for posts / threads in this forum, you will find a lot of posts by expats complaining of slow internet. Now, you see less and less of that, especially from those living in urban areas.  Perhaps by the time you've moved here, you will have more options for internet.

------

There are so many off-topics in this thread. And posters are prone to making generalizations.

I'm Filipino. I may be wealthy. But I don't flaunt my wealth. I dress simply. Jeans and a long shirt to cover the fanny pack which I had my housekeeper buy at the palengke or public market. If I need to do a quick errand to the mall, I just ride a jeepney. I don't buy designer bags. Just local ones which have gone through many zipper replacements before being discarded. (I found that the best hiding spot for cellphones and purses are inside the torn lining of bags.)

I do have friends who flaunt their wealth. But I have a bigger circle of friends who don't.

Aklo-The Digibox you referred to may be ok but sounds expensive. I guess people living in the Manila

area if that's where you live, things will cost more. Things are less here in N Luzon. I pay 2000 pesos

a month for landline and internet via PLDT. Signal TV I have had 8 yrs and started at 390p a month

and went up to 420 and at 520 pesos a month now. That didn't include the installation fee-I think it

was a few grand. I gave my American landlord and his Pinay wife a yrs free service to Signal as they had

a dinky antenna inside their bedroom and could only get 1 or 2 Philippino channels. They actually

ended up with more channels than I get because they also get HBO and I dont.I get about 3 good Fox

channels to watch movies. The owner is 88 now and bed-ridden so he just watches tv all day and

doesn't get out of bed except to use the CR. They have internet so now they can also watch youtube

movies besides the channels Signal tv allows. The 6500pesos for Signal really sounds out of line. Maybe

they are bumping the prices a bit to make up for the losses in revenue due to this pandemic. I don't

know. I finally got my Suzuki 110 registered and transferred into my name today and the total cost for

everything was about 50 USD total and 11 USD of that was insurance. The insurance cost has stayed

the same since I bought the bike. Seems the total for everything was less last year but sure can't beat

50 USD plus gas a year for good transportation. Gas is only about 4-5usd a week. I don't do any

highway driving here as there's no need to. One thing I really like about the Philippines is there are no

motorcycle cops on every corner waiting behind a tree or out of sight with a speed radar gun trying to

catch you speeding. I also haven't seen many motorcycle cops here. There are no speed signs

anywhere. I have seen very few on the highway to Manila. The police just leave it up to the driver not to

speed and that's just common sense. I catch myself going a little faster than I should sometimes but

only when I feel it's safe and I'm in a hurry. Haven't noticed any cameras here at traffic lights to catch

those who run red lights. More likely to get a parking ticket here than you are to get a speeding ticket

or red light violation. I did stop to buy a tray of eggs today and there were a few checkpoint cops who

were a bit bossy telling me I couldn't park somewhere when I knew I could and it was only for 2

minutes. I used to be a cop in America 25 years ago and understand the whole police authority

mentality thing. These guys have nothing to do all day but stand there and talk to each other and watch

cars go by and get a little bossy with a few motorists sometimes. Makes them feel important. BDO has

a parking spot for its customers and I have parked there many times. Got a bossy cop who wouldn't let

me walk across the street to activate my new BPI ATM card (5 minutes to do that) and then walk back to

BDO and do my business). I just got on my bike and left.Went to another BDO on my way home. BDOs

are ubiquitous  where I live. Sometimes life living in another country can be a bit frustrating.