A spanish in the Philippines!

Hello angelaguerra I run a blog all about the Philippines called retiringphilippines.org in it all your questions should be answered. Check it out and let me know.

Hi Charles,

Maybe you could help us by giving some advices on the forum (here) so that other members can benefit from it. Thank you.

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Hi angelaguerra,

Welcome to Expat.com!

Thinking of visiting the Philippines, alone...be Street Smart
For a stay in Manila you need more than one day to see the main attractions. My last visit to Manila was for a week and I still did not see all there is to see.  I strongly suggest you meet someone in the manila area or go with a crowd, something like a tour and let them show you around as they will suggest places to visit and places to avoid. Be street smart don't carry a lot of cash with you, do not carry a wallet in your back pocket as it will end up missing. If you carry a backpack make sure you hold it or wear it in front where you can see it or money and valuables may end up missing. Beware when kids here are begging for a few pesos while you are searching for coins some other kid is in your backpack grabbing your phone and money, it happened to my wife just recently. When you travel make sure you have a inexpensive money belt worn under your clothing to prevent theft on the airlines, believe me it happened to a close friend while he slept on the plane someone came over and emptied his pockets of about 10,000 in cash, wow. There is safety in numbers, don't venture out too far on your own and watch out for anyone following you as they are up to no good and will likely get you in an isolated area to rob you. One trip to Cebu City a few years ago my wife noticed the same two guys in the store next to where we were shopping on the street that were following us. She tole me come on walk fast, so I did, all the way back to our car and drove away. She tole me in the car that two guys were following us likely looking for an opportunity to rob us. I have been robbed of the few pesos I had on me in a CR once which is short for Comfort Room or bath room. Do not go in if you are the only one there or someone will follow you in to rob you. If kids ask for coins only give them 1 to 5 pesos, no more as likely these kids are controlled by a pimp who ends up receiving all the coins in trade for a bed. Child Labor... and some times out rite trafficking in people as in kidnapped. You see this all the time in the streets they come knocking on your car window with their hands stretched out or making a sign like they are hungry, not true this is to make you give them coins like in making you feel sorry for them, and believe me I do feel sorry for them as they are being exploited by the pimp who is in charge of them.

Again my best suggestion is to not travel alone once you get off the plane you should have someone there to meet you. I suggest meeting someone online ahead of time and have them meet you at the airport, even if it is a travel agency person you pay to show you around, I have done that myself. When choosing a travel agency to show you around get advice from the hotels as they know the best trustworthy people to help you. Also avoid wondering off on the side streets doing so will likely result in you loosing everything you have on you and even your clothing. Again do not stray off the main streets. I know of an expat actually it was his first day in the Philippines so he decided to take a walk around the neighborhood and guess what he was robbed of all his belongings including his passport.

The Philippines is a beautiful place but like any city in the world, there is crime and murder just about every day here.

Hi angelaguerra,

Welcome to xpat blog and soon welcome to Manila.

Have a great day in Hanoi.


Cheers!

thank you very much for the great welcome and the information! (Charles)itŽs very helpful!
IŽm living in Vietnam, that is very very safety country, so I used to have confidence in everybody, but people told me that Philippines is much more different.
I hope I will have a very amazing trip, and I hope also donŽt get involve in any trouble!
once again, thank you very much!

Another suggestion is to buy one of the cheap Cherry Mobile cell phones they work great and only cost Php 799 each. I don't mean this as an advertisement rather a suggestion, cellphones are stolen every day here so having a nice expensive model is a greater loss than one that is under 1000 pesos. It even has a radio built in. The next model up has a camera still just under 1000 pesos. These are sold all over the place and in most cell phone stores.
Good luck with your trip to Manila, get lots of photos. Oh by the way, in manila I kept my camera in a plastic bag and only took it out once in a while for a photo. Cameras are another hot item for theft here. I recommend not wearing it around your neck so all can see. Keep an eye on your back make sure no one is following you as you walk around the malls or city streets. If you see someone following just jump in a taxi an leave the immediate area.
Charles

Hola Angela! 

No creas que Manila es una ciudad de mala gente. Al contrario, en la compania de buena gente tu estancia pudiera ser una experiencia inolvidable. Mandame un correo electronico o buscame en Facebook para que podamos conversar mas.

Un saludo caluroso desde Manila,

Richard

hola Richard, muchas gracias por tu post, dame tu correo, porque el facebook en vietnam esta capado por el gobierno y no puedo entrar..

un saludo!

[email protected]

Hi!

Could you please post in English in this Anglophone forum so that each member may understand and participate.

Thanks,
Harmonie.

Hola mi amogo!  I am not a native Spanish speaker jajaja.
You can learn about many fun things to do and places to go once you are here. Lonely Planet guides are usually very good about letting you know the things to see and do, but there are other ways.
Cebu is famous for its religious history involving Magellan. There is some night life in the city, including a rather nice casino.
Manila has about what every other large city has. Much of the sites are located in city itself not one of the many subburbs. But its not really a tourist city. Not much in the Philippines is geared for upscale tourism. There are expensive places like Makati and Boracay, but the infra structure is very poor.
Actually Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong have many more things to see and do. So have fun.

hola,

Busco conversaciones españolas para practicar mi español.
im estudiando español ahora en instituto de cervantes manila.
alguien hablar espanol?

adora

Hi adora!

In English please ..

Armand

Hi angelaguerra,

there is a way of accessing facebook in Vietnam. I myself is using it just to access Facebook site.

Anyway, where exactly in Hanoi are you?



cheers!

hi versan, iŽm in westlake in hanoi!

hi Armand,

Busco conversaciones españolas para practicar mi español.
im estudiando español ahora en instituto de cervantes manila.
alguien hablar espanol?

means....

i am looking for Spanish conversations to practice my Spanish.
im now studying Spanish Cervantes Institute of Manila.
someone to speak Spanish?

anyway thanks for asking. sorry for the late reply.

I miss my country (Philippines). Everytime I hear that someone will go on a vacation there makes me feel jealous! But I hope everyone planning to make a visit there could have a great time! There are a lot of things to see in the Philippines and the people are very hospitable. But also remember that it is a third world country, so it's better to be cautious all the time. Be attentive. And most of all, ENJOY!

well good to hear that your visiting to phils...for your info from manila to cebu just around 45mins air travel..and from the cebu airport if you wanted to go through hotels just nearby ,,,

When you arrive in Cebu remember I am almost in sight of the Airport I live on Mactan Island and where I am is between the Gaisano Mactan Island Mall and the Airport or about five minute drive from my place to the Airport baggage pickup. I'm so close I can hear the planes landing and taking off. If you need anything while here just let me know.

dear all, thanks all the people that reply to me. Finally I change my plan. I fly from Manila to Palawan, and I will be there for one week. After I planned to go to CEbu ( to visit one friend)and Boracay.
Do you know some cheap hostels in this islands? thank you very much again!