How much per month you'd need to live a middle upper class life there, on a seaside (and where's internet good enough for poker)?
would $800-$900/month be enough?

Not if you're not Filipino. You end up spending way more then usual because things are so cheap or you pay more then Filipino's do.
After a while you get used to it and know how to lower the cost of your every day routine, but we will always pay more then locals.
The first month I was here I spent €3k, and in retrospect I have no idea how

wat?

What if I learned the language? My aunt is Phillipino (mail order) so she could help me out.

Also will I be murdered by Muslim extremists if i have a Star of David tattoo on my arm?

I pay 260$ in Makati less than a kilometer of the Fort. Its Pembo (over 40k people living here) and I know only one other foreigner living here.

No jeepneys but the Tricycles are very loud.

By the way I have four nice rooms (two with marbled floor and two with wooden floor). Still a very nice emty appartment next to mine but like I said: foreigners dont like it because its too loud. I dont hear the noise in my bedroom so I am fine with it. In Global City 5 minutes with Trike the same condo is over 1000$ at least.

I love the place.

See you at Metro Walk at the 25/50 table!

By the way: I never paid more than a dollar for the haircut!

I hold a Malaysian passport. What visa should I apply for if I want to spend 3-4 months in Manila?

There seem to be a huge population of poker players over there, compared to other asian countries anyways. Would really love to go there and play some live poker on the side.

Anyone know about any good burger places in Manila or makati
I cant find any in japan so I think this is a good opportunity for me pls ! lol

Can you give us some examples besides the taxidrivers and the GROs (guest relation officers)?

Somebody can recommend a good saladbuffet around Makati? I know that the good hotels have also buffets but these are to upscale for me. I dont want to spend more than 10$.

Try Chili´s new Texas Style Burger a generous chunk of beef patty grilled with special seasonings and topped with cheddar cheese, tangy jalapeno coleslaw, kettuce, tomato, pickle and crispy tortilla chips. Pair each delicious mouthful with home-style fries and creamy guacamole dip on the side.

Chili´s is located in Greenbelt 5 in Makati (Ayala Avenue close to Edsa)

Merchants in Greenhills (an air-conditioned flea-market), boat tour guides taken not through a travel agent, walking tour guides, etc.

There is a Chili's (big US chain restaurant) in the Greenhills Shopping Center area. I've had their burgers a few times and they taste just like the ones i'd get if i was in the US. The rest of the menu is good to.

freedom18:

Charlie's hand crafted burgers in Kapitolyo, Pasig. It's beside the carwash. Get the angus style burger... the cheesesteak sucks

I heard the burger in Hard Rock cafe in Glorietta 3 is also awesome.

my roomate and me are heavily considering moving to the phillipines in oct 09.
I just read the first and the last 2 pages of this so I might double ask some questions, sry for that.
Is poker taxfree(if so do I just need to get a residendy or something like that)?
Visa easy for Germans/Americans to get?
What is like the best place to live and how much would like 1.5-2kUS get us rent there?
overall 1k seems like standard cost of living besides housing?
I read about power outtakes, are they frequent?
many tourists in manila?
Internet is reliable?
What about like opportunities to shop, I saw they have malls but are they wide spread?

Is poker taxfree(if so do I just need to get a residendy or something like that)?

If you do not establish residency then it will be. You can only stay up to a year if you don't establish residency, and after the first three months, have to pay about $50/month to stay

Visa easy for Germans/Americans to get?

You don't need a Visa if you are American, just 3 months to start with and then pay every month afterwards for the first year. Don't know if german.

What is like the best place to live and how much would like 1.5-2kUS get us rent there?


If you're looking for a two bedroom that should get a pretty nice one, although two studios are often cheaper than a single two bedroom. The best places to live are Rockwell (where I live) and Fort Bonifacio. Makati CBD is nice too but it's more expensive and it's very congested and just has too many people. I would not stay anywhere outside of Makati or the Fort if you are new to Manila and don't speak tagalog.

overall 1k seems like standard cost of living besides housing?

Should be doable, if it is not including utilities costs.

I read about power outtakes, are they frequent?

Good buildings have generators, so you shouldn't have problems.

many tourists in manila?
In Makati yes, not so many outside of Makati.
Internet is reliable?
yeah if you get the right plan it's good

What about like opportunities to shop, I saw they have malls but are they wide spread?
Lots of great shopping all around makati.

thx for the answers but can you rephrase the tax answer please because we are kinda confused.
Also does it just apply to american citiziens, but also for germans?
And from what I have read so far on the intrawebz ayala abang (obv wrong spelling) is supposed to be a nice place and we can get like 400 sqm villas furnished for 2k there, would your advocate living there.
Also what about bannanas?Is it hard to get them, and can you bribe out if you get caught?

does anyone want a roommate in phillipines? seriously...

Taxes on poker winnings:
If you are an American citizen, you are liable to pay taxes on your winnings regardless of where you live. However, if you're living abroad you can qualify for a foreign earned income exclusion, which is $91,400 for the year 2009. One of the ways to qualify is what the IRS calls the physical presence test: (from wiki) "A U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident alien who is physically present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 full days during any period of 12 consecutive months."

Visa:
If you're an American and visiting the PI as a tourist, you can receive 21 days upon arrival. It's technically a visa waiver (not a visa) but the point is that you don't have to pay for it or arrange for it in advance like you have to for other countries. Extensions are available at the Bureau of Immigration for up to 12 or 18 months, I forget exactly how long. Not sure how Alex23 got 3 months.. maybe he can elaborate.

We need a FAQ for the Philippines.

By the way theres a very good appartment for 260$ (70qm marbled floor, nice bathroom, 4 rooms) besides mine CLOSE to global city/the Fort/Market Market. Its quite loud but you dont hear much noise in the bedroom. The area is not very good but its safe just typical filipino not like the US or Europe. You dont find these condos below 1k $ in a good area. Minimum contract is a year and its of course unfurnished. Water is free. Electricity around 30-60$ a month depends on the use of the aircon (you dont need one most of the time). Internet is about 40$.

Dumb question, but are you sure this applies to poker players? That's a sweet deal if it does.

Are any of you rich poker players living in the Philippines looking for someone to keep them company and mooch off you, to the tune of about 2500USD a month?

I'm going to Philippines on June 1st and I'm probably gonna stay for anything from 3 months to a year. I'm both a british and Filipino citizen so I don't have to worry about visa's. I'm gonna stay in Davao aswell as ive been going to that city every other year since I was 4 years old (now 20). I'm also renting a 2 bed apartment for php10k/month. If any of u guys wanna take a trip to Davao I would hapily show u guys round. Would also be good to meet up with u guys already out there or who are gonna be out there, I'm gonna be in Manila for a while also.

Danny

i want a roomie there someone to help me out atfirst

is it easy to get presscription medicine there? xanax that kind of stuff?

I asked earlier if a Jew would have troubles in the Philipines.

Everyone I know is telling me not to go to mindanao ... So a trip to Davao with someone who knows the area would be awesome

PS: anyone going to Embassy tonight?