I will be living in philippines only for 6 months next year. I will rent an apartment in a small town in mindanao and i want to get braodband there. Only options there are Smart bro and Globe...i have heard that Globe is useless so i will have to take Smart. But the problem is that they require 24 month contract

My question is can i just leave it unpaid after my 6 months in phils? Is there any concequensies? Or do they just terminate my connection and blacklist me if i dont pay and thats it? There is also Smart bro prepaid but its ridiculously priced so i cant take it.

Another question: Can i just get a normal Smart buddy cellphone sim and use it with my Huawei usb modem? They offer Unlisurf data plans. What is the difference between Smart bro and normal mobile net? Do they use the same technology?

And also if anybody have used mobile connection in phils i would like to hear experiences is it reliable enough for poker?

Smart Bro you can get Pay as you go. If you register your sim card you can get five days unlimited surf for 200php so works out at 1400 a month. This is what I use.

Grinding poker- I use it but be warned it isn't perfect. Before you start 16 tabling find a place it works and its reliability. I have my Smartbro on an extendable USB cord so I can move it around trying to find the best place to use it.

I just play Stars because the disconnection policy is superb for a dodgy connection.

If I were you I would get Smart + Globe and test them both.

Can you tell me what is the name of the plan? What does this P1400 consist of?
I visited smart bro website but they doesnt have a plan like that.

http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/SMARTBroProducts.htm

There is a prepaid plan but thats priced P10 for every 30 minutes but that would cost me P6000 a month if i use internet 10 hours a day. lol.

Do you have some other plan not visible on the page i linked?

Yeah i will get both smart bro and globe and use the other as a backup.

Thanks for the info PItom

Ok this is the right place to ask about Manila.. So, here we go.

I'm thinking of travelling to manila to check out the poker/party scene. I was wondering wheter the cash games are worth the effort and wheter you can squeeze out the a profit. I spent 3 months in SE Asia last year and thoroughly liked it so i have a general idea about how things work over there. (you know, visas, taxi drivers and ****)

Only problem about SE Asia is that you can't much gambling. So, all i'm asking is a brief overview about the best casinos to play poker in Manila. My best game is NL HE and that's probably the most popular game there anyway. I know your all itching to get another scandinavian euro trash grinder over there to drain all the fish.

Thank you for your time

When you get your Smart Bro you register it at smart.com.ph/connect. Then you just log on click on data packages and your good to go.

You can find a 50/100 game every night of the week but that is only 1/2 USD so in my opinion its not worth it.
And the rake is so high....
Just head to resort world, they have to best poker room with the easiest games imo

Hey can anyone recommend a good doctor in manila i live in the fort so preferably one close to there thanks!

st. lukes?

Ya go to st lukes there
Or Makati Med Center in dela rosa st, they claim to be the best hospital in the country.

These are high end and should have top notch doctors I presume.

I'd rather Self diagnose with google than use a Doctor!!

Speaking of doctors, how have you guys (especially people from the UK/EU) sorted your health insurance? The travel insurance I've looked at only cover shorter trips <30 days ish. Have you found a better offer for a travel insurance or do you have a private health insurance in the PH?

My uncle's gf works for accreditation Canada, which looks at hospitals in other countries and 'accredits' them as being up to Canadian standards or not. St. Luke's, Medical City, and Asian Hospital (I think) all pass. Makati Med fails every time. I wouldn't go there unless I had no other choice or knew a specific good doctor there.

I looked in to Private Health and I think you can get Blue Cross for 18-25k a year. I'm not sure if I am going to get it I think I would rather just jump on a plane back to the UK.

Yes, that would work for non-emergency stuff but what about let's say an emergency surgery, anyone being covered for that? Ideally I think a good travel insurance that covers long-duration trips but I haven't found any yet. A travel insurance would cover emergency treatments in PH plus transportation to your home country if needed.

I've heard good things about rw. thank you

I have used this:

http://www.worldwideinsure.com/

12 month insurance from 225 euros and thats very cheap. 2-18 months coverages...no stupid 30 day rules. Remember that you have to buy this while you are still in your home country. For all EU/UK residents. I just bought 6 months insurance for my phils trip for total of 112 euros.

Bad thing is that it doesnt cover motorbike accidents, but i guess its the same with most insurance companies.

Thanks, exactly what I'm looking for.

this thread makes me so pumped to graduate silly universityyyyyy and travel! useless post sorry but im all giddy lol

Think I'm coming over soon to scout out Makati's livability. Any recommendation for what hotel to stay at? I'd like to closely mimic what it will be like living there. If/when I move I'll want to stay in a $1-1.5k/month 1br place in Makati.

Anyone know of spot to watch UFC 121 at?

Balls has all the UFC main events. If you want to watch it in a bar most will put it on if you ask.

hey any of you guys recommend the best way to get to angeles city from manila also a nice hotel to stay at and any trip reports on the live games?

Victory Liner bus from Cubao to Dau, then trike to your hotel. Royal Amsterdam is good if you want to stay on Fields. Search Google for more details.

I played here http://www.wildacespokersports.com/international.html

the cash games were 10-20, 10-25 and 25-50. It isn't really a place where you go to win huge amounts of money as the rake is a killer. But you do get free beer at the table. Locals are nitty as hell and the 25-50 can get quite boring. I mostly played the 10-25 as you can get some good banter at the tables.

The have small buying tournaments daily I played in a 750piso freezeout and a 100p rebuy Crazy Pineapple MTT.

I have heard that there is a bigger cash game at the casino with some crazy gambling Koreans.

What do you guys do for your laundry? I don't see many laundry mats around, I'm assuming there is some kind of serviced laundry type place for you guys in manila?

For me I pay like 25 per kilo for just straight wash and dry and 55 per kilo for stuff that needs to be pressed. Kinda pricey when you get beyond 10 kilo's but than again its worth it since all my clothes come back clean and folded n I don't have to **** with detergent/fabric softer, wrinkled clothes etc...