i've decided i'm gonna play appt cebu. would be good to meet a few fellow poker players living in manila.

seems like a good deal to buyin with fpps

280,000fpps = $5000 package
best rate otherwise is 250,000fpps for a $4000 bonus

also is anyone living in cebu? i went there couple of years ago when i first came here and didn't really like it but i reckon going back there after i've been living here a while i may change my mind. I do think to myself what am i doing living in the city when the reason i came to the philippines was to live on a island.

also has anyone got an idea where u can buy a 30" 2560res monitor here? i saw one on the hp website but they havn't got back to me yet. and it may take a couple of months to order.

FYI, here's where the event is being held:
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/cebu/mactanresort

You need to think laterally on this kind of stuff. Your greatest risk when hiring the bodyguards comes from...? Initially, from the bodyguards you've hired. It takes a long time (yrs?) to build up trust to the point where I'd trust any bodyguard I hired not to...run / be otherwise useless...the minutes bullets start flying.

Just have your driver be extra 'security' - carry a gun, maybe registered in his name as it's technically illegal for foreigners to carry. Though I reckon that would technically cost you $50-$100 to 'sidestep'.

I see below someone mentions the Toyota Fortuner - you'll see them everywhere in Makati and it's a pretty tidy SUV and doesn't stand out. That was the SUV I was looking at buying briefly.

I have heard from some guys(politicians and business men) that have bodyguards that Muslim bodyguards are the one you want, they dont back down and the general population are afraid of muslims..

Have been lurking on the thread for some time. Planning on coming out early December.

-We are having some stuff shipped out via Steven's International right before we fly out. Has anyone else shipped stuff out? I am getting apprehensive since some of the things we are shipping out are a 58" plasma, new computer and the 30" Samsung from the FTP store. Are we going to get scammed at customs big time? I am expecting to get somewhat scammed, but I don't want to ship things out and then have to pay $2000 to get things through customs on items that are worth like $4000. We are supposed to go through a local moving company in Manilla and they said that customs will only be $135-165, maybe this is their standard customs bribe since they deal with customs on a daily basis?

-Also, not sure when we are planning on coming back. From what I can infer, we need a return ticket leaving the country to get the entry Visa. Is this something that I can do by printing out an Expedia itinerary showing a ticket I haven't gotten yet? Or am I better off just getting a cheap ticket through an Asian commuter airline to Taipei or whatever?

-As far as cashing out of FTP/Pokerstars, how many of you are doing the wire transfer vs the check?

-Banking- We are thinking of going with HSBC premier, but if we are denied are we able to open a HSBC account in the Philippines and just transfer from an American HSBC? Can we even open up an account in the Philippines as American citizens?

-Housing- Want to go with Rockwell for obvious reasons. When we move and need to pay the several month deposit can we pay by American check, Credit card, or do we need to go to the ATM daily for a few weeks? Maybe Western Union or the like? How did you all do it? How at risk is the security deposit with Rockwell? Are we just subleasing from some guy who might not give us the deposit back or are we renting directly from the big corp?

-Is the food around Makati mostly costly american imports? Or will I be able to get some dirt cheap Filippino street food in the area?

-Doctor stuff- Can I get most Rx meds that I can get in America? We are both on a couple of different things. Should I be filling up on a years worth of birthcontrol before I travel or will I be able to get an RX? I also am interested in getting things like Lasik/dental work/laser hair removal done while I can do it for a portion of the American price. Have any of you gotten these things done? Is it just as safe? Do you know how much cheaper it is? How do you find what doctor's you go to?

Thanks for all the advice in the thread so far. It has been a great resource!

Anyhow good luck and hope you enjoy your time here.

me and few other friends (students in early 20s) are going to be in manila for 1 night. its either going to be friday or monday. where should we go out? we're looking for a normal club or bar, no hookers etc. as for staying i think everyone recommends makati right? anything cheap and decent u can recommend?

also after (or before) manila we wanna go to some nice resort for 3 days. boracay is best from what i've heard but not sure if its worth to spend so much time getting there. what would you recommend? time is a big consideration here i guess.

Book a return ticket with Cebu Pacific that is within 21 days of your arrival date. I almost lost my plane because I did not have one from Bangkok to Manila.. The cheapest tickets are to Macau or Hong Kong.

I transfer via check from FTP, the problem with that is that it takes over 20 working days before BDO is finished with the clearing the checks, and 6-14 days to get the check from FTP.

Boracay has too many vendors on the beach and in general IMO. I have heard that Palawan is nice, but it takes some time to get there too.

Just decided to spend the last two weeks in January in the Philippines.

A few nights in Manila and about 7 nights on Boracay. Can't wait.

I'll be traveling alone.

ebay? i have one but i just brought it with me from US.

i wonder if stars will give me the fpps in advance for the package. don't think i'll have 280kfpps in time

hey guys Im going to the philippines and looking to travel the country a bit. my plan is to go north after spending 2 nights in Manilla and go hiking/Mountianbiking/kayakking a bit. Im not sure if its worth is to go south because im only staying for 10 nights.

I am just wondering if u guys think i should spend my 10 days somewhere else and wtf am i reading about bodyguards ?

arn't you squishfish from stars? didn't know you lived in philippines also.

nice idea! the vip club is gonna lend me 100k fpps for $2.5k so send them an email about it. gonna get my package soon as i get my fpps.

schedule looks good, should be a fun trip.

DRAFT SCHEDULE*

Tuesday November 10

2:00 PM
Mega Satellite to Main Event
PHP11,000(10,000+1,000)

6:00 PM
Cebu Cup Day 1
PHP5,000(4,600+400)

8:00 PM
Mega Satellite to Main Event
PHP11,000(10,000+1,000)

Evening Welcome Beach Party for PS Qualifiers

Wednesday November 11

12:15 PM
APPT Main Event Day 1A
PHP100,000(94,000+6,000)

2:00 PM
Cebu Cup Day 2

4:00 PM
No Limit Holdem
PHP20,000 (18,400+1,600)

7:00 PM
Last Chance Mega Satellite to Main Event
PHP11,000(10,000+1,000)

Thursday November 12

12:15 PM APPT Main Event Day 1B
PHP100,000(94,000+6,000)

4:00 PM No Limit Holdem KO Bounty
PHP20,000 (18,400+1,600)

Friday November 13

12:15 PM APPT Main Event Day 2

3:00 PM No Limit Holdem
PHP10,000 (9,200+800)

7:00 PM No Limit Holdem Turbo - 20 seconds to act
PHP40,000 (37,600+2,400)

Saturday November 14

12:15 PM APPT Main Event Day 3

12:30 PM No Limit Holdem 6 Handed
PHP30,000 (28,200+1,800)

6:00 PM Deep Stack Event - 2 day event
PHP50,000 (47,000+3,000)

Sunday November 15

12:15 PM APPT Main Event (Final Table)

1:00 PM Philippine Floods Charity Event
PHP 5,000 (5,000+0) with PHP 5,000 rebuys

5:00 PM APPT Sydney Satellite
PHP 10,000(9200+800) with PHP 5,000 rebuys

yea i'm squi5h.

to a post above, i had some dental work done it costed less than 20usd. was expecting to pay 500+ in the us.

To reiterate, you don't need bodyguards! That's really only if you're so loaded it's sick and you're from a country whose embassy has no influence or if you have powerful enemies here. The vast majority of foreigners here will have neither!!

Hello guy, me and one of my friend are living in Thailand right now, we have enjoy Bangkok for 3 months now but we are planning about moving own. And we have stop our choice on Manila. We take our lugging in 1 weeks. We thinking about staying in Manila for 3 months, we both professional poker player

But i have some few question, first of all, i think the best place to lived is around Makati, but i have search around internet for nice appartement for more then 3 hours but didnt find anything well. We are searching for a house/appartement around 500$ to 1000$ with two bedrooms. If you have any tips, know any place or any siteweb that could help us it would be realy appreciate.

Except that, i would like to know if they are still some player in Manila. And if yes feel free to PM me!

There is LOTS of poker in Manila. There are about 30+ poker rooms there, some independent and others in casinos. Check out the http://www.pokermanila.com website for details.

Note that the guys at the Metro Card Club in Manila and Cebu are really great, and massive proponents of tournament poker. They also have cash games running regularly at a wide spread of stakes - and some of the higher-stakes action there is a really fun game. Check out http://www.metrocardclub.com for more details.

Cheers,

Jeffrey
http://www.appt.com

you wont find a 2 br in makati for 3 weeks rental, you can get a ****ty 2 br on burgos with that bidget but who wanna live there?
your only choice is to stay at a hotel or to be prepared to pay around 2000 USD, 2 brs are really expensive in makati, especially for such a short time

Dude i said 3 months not 3 weeks

You can get this but it won't be nice at all in Makati. However if you go outside Makati you can get something really nice for 1k/month, even a huge house.

no poker house here in the philippines? wouldn't mind living in something baller like this http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/92...-house-598134/

plus the benifits of living with other poker players

any1 live in q.c. trinoma area, that wants to play basketball?

I might be down for something like this next year.

Hello guy, i am going to Philippine in like 1 weeks whit my roomate. But i have few question

First of all we are considering about going to Manila, but we have heard great thing about Cebu. So what people here recommand. I know Cebu and Manila are completly 2 different kind of city. But if you have any review i will be realy happy to read them.

In another way i have some random question like:

1. Is it possible in Cebu or Manila, to rent a motocycle without any license?

2. How many poker player are both in Manila and Cebu (I mean 2+2 poker player)?

3. I have read people in Cebu were talking Cebu language. But do it is possible to speak in english easily with the local people?

4. Is it possible to find good Internet connection (I know internet connection in Asia sucks, right know i lived in Thailand lol)

5. What kind of activity you suggest for both Cebu and Manila?

6. What are the price for a nice House in Cebu, around the beach but not so far from the city (for 2-3 people)

7. In the same way do you have any tips to find an appartement or a house in Cebu/Manila (Any website, any plugs, anything that could help us to find our way for a new house)

Anyway, thanks you for ur futur response!!!!

quick response as i:m in japan on a dodgy keyboard.

1. Is it possible in Cebu or Manila, to rent a motocycle without any license?

my mate has been driving around for a couple of months with no license and hes been alright, but not driving around in manila tho. i wouldn:t recommend it in the cities where lots of cops will pull you over looking to "fine" u. i got my license fixed for a few thousand pesos. i have a eu driving licence. if u spend a day at the licence place you can get it done quite cheap as long as u have a licence from another country. i have never been pulled over, but i dont drive in central manila.

3. I have read people in Cebu were talking Cebu language. But do it is possible to speak in english easily with the local people?

i speak very little tagalog and i live in manila. cebu they speak another language but younger people would have learned tagalog and english at school.

4. Is it possible to find good Internet connection (I know internet connection in Asia sucks, right know i lived in Thailand lol)

cebu and manila your get good stable internet. i use sky cable. elsewhere else your Probably gonna have to worry about brown outs and disconns.

6. What are the price for a nice House in Cebu, around the beach but not so far from the city (for 2-3 people)

not sure i:m going to have a snoop around the villages in cebu during the tournament tho. i pay 60,000 peso a month for a brand new 3 bed house in ayala alabang, the flagship village in the suburbs of manila. i would recommend that you live in a private village / condo with secuirty.

7. In the same way do you have any tips to find an appartement or a house in Cebu/Manila (Any website, any plugs, anything that could help us to find our way for a new house)

dont look online, prices will be inflated. find a good agent. i have a friend who is an agent who sorted out some houses to view.

jp