http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Philippine+tourist+visas

Some people really do expect to be spoonfed sometimes

i think about 90% of the questions asked in this thread could be searched in the thread or deserve a lmgtfy.

Went to resorts world last night, tried to get into repupliq but was wearing shorts and they wouldn't budge, even after offering to get a VIP table.

I can honestly say I have never seen so many beautiful women in one place before. At one point my jaw physically dropped, which I didn't think was a real thing.

Planning to go back next Friday, a few qs for those who have been before.

1. Are the VIP tables worth it? I understand its 20k for the ones with a couch?

2. Are the beautiful creatures I saw last night approachable, or will they be hanging out with local millionaires and celebrities?

3. Any tips?

4. Any good stories?

We went to the casino instead last night and played poker. I haven't played in months and was never a cash play fan but wow, they were terrible.

Airport tricks and tips...

Some are silly.

I have found NAIA can be busy even at times I did not expect it to be so. For example, it was packed at 5 am on Monday when I was taking a 6:50 flight to KL.

Anyway, when you first get to the airport, there is that initial security X-ray step, and there is an expedited line for Crew/Diplomats. There is a security guard at a podium checking ID/boarding pass. I give her three rolled up 50 peso notes. Worked 2x so far. Saved a bunch of time.

Internet check-in counter. Often I have found that internet check-in will not work for MNL departures. (This was on MAS and EVA). Both times the internet check in line was empty. When I flew EVA, I flew economy, the regular check in counter was very long, and just went to the empty internet check in, saying oh im a stupid American I think I checked in online, certainly tried, lets get me a boarding pass.

When coming back into the country, and going through customs, take the line on the far left, next to the PWD/Senior Citizen line. If there are no PWD/SS, they call people from the adjacent line into that queue.

When coming back into the country, book a departure ticket on like SA to SING, which can be cancelled, so you can more easily get the tourist visa. Have a print out of this itinerary with you at customs.

There is a lounge which can be bought into for around 450 pesos, if you have time to kill/want access to a lounge and are not flying business. It is pretty cheap and the lounge quality is pretty weak but there is free coffee, instant noodles, mixed nuts (lol), wifi, some small sandwiches. They still charge for alcohol and cans of soda and bottled water, etc. They have a absolute water cooler available which should be the same quality as the bottled water.

I got to check that place out. In my experience, I last much longer at a club/have the chance to actually enjoy it when I get a proper place to sit. It is bonus if they funnel chicks to you. Among a couple expats 20k split up is not the worst value.

Good idea to carry a pen when coming into the country, i got stuck having to try find one at customs.

vip tables not worth it

the beautiful creatures are not approachable, they are probably millionaires and celebrities themselves

bring lots of cash and dress nice

none to write home about

lol

exactly

Most Filipinos (...in the Philippines) do not know what poker is.

This is all the funnier when you consider the song "Poker Face" was one of the top two or three songs for 2009-2010. It was the favorite dance of the gays (and performed by all of them). As a side note, the society is very accepting of gays. They are generally the comedians in a group.

When I was there (for three-and-a-half years, playing online poker), I just said that I work on the Internet. They usually didn't question me further about it.

I'm not so sure it's a great idea to tell them you are a professional poker player. For one, it won't impress them if they know what it is. A lot of the guys there like to gamble on anything instead of work. They are known as "standbyes". If you have Filipino friends, you will probably be warned not to talk to the standbyes, as they are often trouble.

You also probably don't want people there to associate you with gambling. Gambling = money = trouble for you attracting the attention of the wrong people. Plus, all the Filipinas will think you are rich...you don't need to encourage those thoughts. While there are a lot of nice ones, there are many who will try anything to swindle you out of a few bucks.

If you are staying for an extended period of time, I suggest you find some Filipinos to make good friends with. They can be invaluable answering questions and give you advice that can keep you out of trouble. Learn about the culture. It appears deceivingly like the United States, but then you notice many things they do that won't make sense to you if you don't understand the culture.

One example: A person's reputation is priceless and the culture is based around "saving face." You will often see Filipinos laughing in public. Of course, they can just be having a good time. But laughing is also a reaction to a delicate situation with the purpose of diffusing the tension. If someone makes a mistake, it is quickly laughed off and forgotten.

A second example: getting into arguments in public is taboo.

While all Filipinos are expected to abide by unstated codes of conduct, luckily for us foreigners they overlook when we do something wrong.

I can go on and on about the Philippines. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and have plans to head back there to play online late this year. This time, I'll stay as long as I can.

Um, you can see how the second half of your statement kind of contradicts the first half, can't you.

The problem is, the society does accept them more then others, but only if they are willing to be the butt of fun, jokes, laughs and good times, much the way native Amercian 'indians' and blacks were treated at various times in the past in the United States.

Also, most Filipinos don't even really have a working understanding of what gay really is.

They seem to lump everyone into hetro or none hetro. This leaves the huge ladyboy/TS population of the country in a weird spot of being called gay, when, in their own minds, they are girls that are attracted to boys. Sure they happen to have been born with a penis instead of a vagina, but that doesn't make them gay. Filipinos don't understand this.

Accepted by the society? Yeah, kind of. Truly understood and respected? Not at all, not for gay guys/girls or ladyboys/TS's.



If you have a white/whitish face, and/or are from the west, they will think this no matter what you tell them.

You could tell them you clean other people's **** up, and, as long as you were a westerner, they would STILL think you were rich.

I understand your points. I had two good friends who were gay and aside from their joking, they were still treated with respect in my barangay. Honestly, I don't know enough about the gay culture anywhere to make completely informed comments.

As far as being rich, they do recognize varying degrees of wealth. I mean, a government official will be considered to have nearly infinite wealth (obtained by unscrupulous means). A foreigner living on a pension will be considered very well-off/somewhat rich. If you create the impression that your business ("professional gambler") is so closely related to money, they may think you are always carrying around large sums of money.

I know, the distinction is a fine one, but the best advice I have is to act as poor as you can and don't flash cash.

LOL, sometimes I don't understand the culture, even though I spent three-and-a-half years living with a Filipino family.

The country is so hot, and yet they still make people wear ultra-hot school uniforms and make them dress up in certain situations.

I went to renew my visa once and had long shorts and flip-flops (the normal attire over there), and they wouldn't let me in because they had a dress code of long pants and "shoes". The office is NOT fancy. How many tourists wear that type of clothing? The visa office was a daytrip and a pain in the a**. So for those newbies: don't forget to wear long pants and shoes when renewing your visa!

in the own minds sure, but in reality they are gay. They are men attracted to other men. Am I missing something here? Wishing that you were a woman doesn't actually make you so :P

Quick visa/airticekt Q;

If i book a return ticket with the return date being 3 months away will this be a problem checking onto the flight if I am only going to get a 21 day visa on arrival? or does the return date have to fall within those 3 weeks?

Going to go and check ticket prices now, my plan is to by a 3 or 6 month open ticket and buy return to bkk's from manila once i'm there for short tips back and fourth.

just a report from Cebu Visa renewal.

Went in about 9am. Got everything done in under 2 hours. Very fast. Got extra 38 days

Had to wear pants and closed shoes inside. I came in shorts so the guys outside charged me 100php to borrow pants and shoes.

Hi guys,

I have booked a ticket to the philippines (manila) with a budy of mine and we planned on staying there for a 1 month-1.5 month or so.

I have a few Q's; What is the best place if we are looking for good internet (and what is the internet like in general in the philippines),nice beaches and some night life. Can any of you guys recommened us a luxury villa/appartment in any of these areas? And what about visa, will(can) that be a prob?
Thanks a lot guys your help is highly appreciated .

My advice would be to go to page one of this thread and read/skim every post.

You will have to show proof that you will leave the country within 21 days. I flew there couple of months ago with Cebu Air and they made me buy a return ticket at the airport before checking in my bags. My guess is most of the airlines flying to Manila do this.

They are a person with male genitalia attracted to other people with male genitalia, yes. So technically you are correct.

But if they feel like they are a women, and they dress like they are a women, and they act like they are a women, and do their best to talk and sound like they are a women, then they are a 'women.'

Doesn't mean you have to choose to be with them, or to have sex with them over a real women, you can leave them alone.

But why not give them the respect they desire and deserve? If they consider themselves a women, there's no reason you and I shouldn't consider them one as well, at least when we are around them.

Was you trying to check in with a one way ticket on Cebu? Or was your Cebu ticket a return ticket with a the return date further than the 21 days after you would have arrived?

As long as you have a return ticket then you will be fine. The 21day thing doesn't matter at all, they just want to see proof of your ability to leave the country.

I didn't have a return ticket booked at the time. Not sure how they would react to a return ticket further then 21 days away.

Well the ticket i'm gonna book is 3 a month open with changeable dates, so if they do have an issue i can change it right there as i'm checking in for a 500b fee. So no problemo

thanks for the replies

Very, very well said.