5 Minutes With Bob/sam/joe; What To Discuss/share

[Old55]

I guess it can become dificult at times living around people who take advantage but most Filipinos are good and decent folks. We are very lucky to have Filipino family and friends who truly care for our wellbeing during our visits.

[Mr Lee]

I must say that there do seem to be a lot of negative, safety, rights and other scary posts on here, I sometimes wonder whether I'm doing the right thing to move to the Philippines, I belong to a couple of Thailand forums (more Aussies and Brits)and Thailand has the same issues as the Philippines yet the forums are very positive about living in Thailand despite the visa hassles etc.

I have found few foreigners that I have seen walking around wish to be friendly, and those with young ladies tend to be extra protective of their relationships, so if and when another foreigners makes eye contact with me and seems friendly, and we end up talking, then I usually see what direction their thoughts are heading and what experience level they have, and if they have more than I do, then I try to learn from them, but if they wish info from me, then I try to provide what they seek or direct them to this forum, where they would probably get better answers because of the vast diversity of experience members have, than I alone could ever give. No matter how much any of us think we know, we can always learn from others and that is what is so wonderful about a forum for me, because I learn new things all the time.As for negative postings, we actually had a topic awhile back on this forum HERE about the crime news posts and if I remember correctly most people said they would rather know than not know and most even asked me to keep up those news posts.This world is made up of people with a lots of different thought trends, so we all have different wants and needs. Some people might rather not know that they can be scammed, robbed or murdered and that very likely could have been the attitude of some people who may have ended up having those very things happen to them, because they wanted to see the world via rose colored glasses, or just did not wish to educate themselves, so therefore did not know what might be in store for them. Not knowing something can get a person into trouble or maybe even killed if not prepared, but since that seems to be the way some feel and have continually vocally expressed those feelings, that was yet another reason I stopped being an admin on here, because it was impossible to keep everyone happy and rather than a member not read a topic that might go against that persons grain, they are the ones who continually complain instead of posting the positive things they apparently see daily.We all have the choice of ignoring reading any category we do not wish to read, or even putting any member whose posts we do not enjoy reading on ignore. That would be done by going up to the top right to your name and pull down to settings, then look on the left for ignore preferences, then put in that members forum name, and you will no longer have to read their posts. Now that I am a member and not an admin, anyone can ignore my posts, so anyone who does/did not like what I post or have posted in the past, is welcome to put me on their ignore list and that is yet another reason I gave up being an admin, so members could do that if they did not like what I posted, because they could not ignore an admin. Yes there was a method to my madness. :yes:Some forums post nothing but positive posts, and it is my opinion that is just as wrong as a forum that posts only negative posts. I believe a forum needs to be balanced but in order to be balanced, those members who complain the most about negative posts should try their best to offset those negative posts with positive posts about the Philippines, that is if they can find positive things to post about, but IMO reality will eventually set in that the Philippines is what it is, and rose colored glasses will not change that for those of us who have their/our eyes wide open.For some the Philippines will be a paradise, and for others it will be a hell, and for others everywhere in between and to some it is just a place to escape to. To tell you all the truth, I find it to be an in between, if it were not for my wife who is Filipino, after 17 plus years of seeing little improvement and much more uncontrolled crime against expats and richer Filipinos all the time in the Philippines, I would not even bother going there anymore if it were not for my wife, but keeping her happy is of the utmost importance to me, so that is why we go back and forth. Now what do I mean by uncontrolled crime, when was the last time you read about someone being caught and punished for killing an expat. When was the last time you read about someone being caught and punished for robbing or burglarizing anyone of means. Crime is out of control because we and the rich are thought of as nothing more than cash cows and there is little if any sympathy when we or the rich are victims, unless they/we are connected. There will always be those who have no choice but to live in the Philippines because they will be living on a small pension, or social security, or those who have a dream to start up a business that might not be available to them in their own country, the Philippines might offer a great opportunity to live a smaller, simpler life for less. In my mind and opinion, if it were not for the women, the Philippines would not have many visitors, and few expats wishing to live there, so for those who can afford life elsewhere as I can, I see no point in living full time in the Philippines. JMHO Edited December 12, 2011 by Mr. Lee

[Curley]

Good post Mr Lee

[sjp52]

I would ask them about places they have been that they like here in the Philippines and things they like to do. We hear so much about be careful of this or that and always be on your guard and it would be nice to talk about the good things in life and the positives of the Philippines. I had a neighbor from England and he was so positive about his life here in the Philippines. He was a joy to go visit and have morning coffee with. I think if you fill your life with positive people and positive and enjoyable things to do the negatives will not have as much of an impact on you

[Mr Lee]

Good post Mr Lee

Thank you. Forums are made up of the same people you may meet in the Philippines, so you will meet positive and negative people as well as those who have positive and negative things to say about the Philippines. I am basically a positive person who enjoys life but I tell it like it is, and I only wish there had been forums telling it like it was back when I went to meet my wife but back then there was only the dating news lists who only told the positives of Filipino people. One thing people need to take into account, for a forum to be very busy, they need members who wish to travel to or live in a country, so they will often just give you the good and not that bad, so their forum can grow. I want this forum to grow for Tom the owners sake, but not at the expense of any of them members lives or safety. Edited December 12, 2011 by Mr. Lee

[Jim Sibbick]

Good post Mr Lee

Thank you. Forums are made up of the same people you may meet in the Philippines,

Sorry, I have to disagree.Most expats I know want nothing to do with forums like this.They have no interest or no time or used to be on some forums but got tired of all the bullsh&t or the repetitive questions or being targeted by keyboard commandos.The latest why do I bother incident for me was a woman abusing me for posting"If you decided not to fly with an airline because of the bad reports on trip adviser, you will have no one left to fly with" Apparently I am not allowed to state the obvious.Me meeting people in the street can be a different experience than many posters here. I get recognised in 2 ways From image or by name. I have had several requests from people to have there photo taken with me. Recognising my name can become an open invitation to ask questions. I also get free beers too though, so it is not so bad. Sometimes I get free food and beer all day/night. Then it is really good.Regards: Jim

[Mr Lee]

Good post Mr Lee

Thank you. Forums are made up of the same people you may meet in the Philippines,

Sorry, I have to disagree.Most expats I know want nothing to do with forums like this.They have no interest or no time or used to be on some forums but got tired of all the bullsh&t or the repetitive questions or being targeted by keyboard commandos.The latest why do I bother incident for me was a woman abusing me for posting"If you decided not to fly with an airline because of the bad reports on trip adviser, you will have no one left to fly with" Apparently I am not allowed to state the obvious.Me meeting people in the street can be a different experience than many posters here. I get recognised in 2 ways From image or by name. I have had several requests from people to have there photo taken with me. Recognising my name can become an open invitation to ask questions. I also get free beers too though, so it is not so bad. Sometimes I get free food and beer all day/night. Then it is really good.Regards: Jim

Thank you for the correction Jim, I cannot argue with you since you are way more knowledgeable than I could ever be about the Philippines and expats, so maybe my post should have said the forums are made up of some of the same people you will meet on the ground because I can surely think of quite a few who are on forums and who live in the Philippines but at the same time I surely do not know even a smidgen of all that live in the Philippines who are not on forums.

[Call me bubba]

THATS MY 5 MINUTES ,WHAT ABOUT YOURS ?

Is this typical stuff that your countryman worry about?I don't remember any Australian ever asking me any of the questions on the list except for the best exchange rate for Aussie dollars. And when new to the Philippines, I never wanted to know about any of those things either.Most Aussies I meet want to know value for money accommodation, cheapest beer, best value for money place to eat, cheapest beer, cheapest groceries and where is that cheapest beer again?I would answer your safety questions.Regards: Jim

I understand your reply somewhat.I had tried to open a new TOPIC of why that people,from different parts of the worlddo the things they do(different learning environment) is it upbringing or ??BUT it was closed.I think again my own opinion,(hope this doesnt NOT offend or cause someone to get upset)is that people from different upbringings,backgrounds,educational experiences ( i not say that C word)HAVE different expectations, different worries, different means or ways to handle/deal/cope .Of what i think your saying that mine questions/answers to BOB/JOE would be different than my questions/answers to a Bruce/Sheila?That you (not you yourself) would have "different" needs or expectations than someone of elseof similar age/background whose from another country.(excuse me for going partly off topic)

[Call me bubba]

Sometimes we see a Expat in the mall/store or a (bar/spa/massage )?? Many times we dont have time to talk or chat,If you had 5 minutes to chat or talk with a NEW EXPAT or even a LONG TIME resident.WHAT would information would you share or discuss?let me start...(Oh No I hope its not another agenda)1st I would ask how long he/she has been here? any problems/issues?Would discuss safety issues? Where to get the best exchange rate? how to get the best rate?(credit to Mr Lee ) What is the best bank to use ? (BPI)If they have a family, what are the better hospitals?(st lukes,Asian hospital,medical city)Doctors or dentists ?what about the local schools or "preschool" activities for the toddlers?(little gym/Gymboree)what stores have the "best" products? (S&R, UNIMART,cash&carry,Pioneer,Cherry)Insurance? health? auto?(health, Blue Cross,Philhealth) (auto =cant help)Warnings on scams,,(when your in a taxi and some girls enter &take your wallethow someone would call."claim" that your sick/ill or in jail and they need you to get their money and bring it to a "trusted"friend)What are the best websites to find local info/news?(PHILIPPINES EXPAT FORUM of course,philnews,clickthecity just to name a few)THATS MY 5 MINUTES ,WHAT ABOUT YOURS ?

does any body have any other questions that could be added to this?Guess i would add, that have you had your vaccinations? tetanus ? for Hepa? Typhoid ?and the other illness that can be prevented,(bruce if you want go ahead and open a new topic since your the resident medical advisor)MOST important is TAKE TISSUE PAPER WHENEVER where ever you go, as it will be needed.(thanks to art)

[Jollygoodfellow]

THATS MY 5 MINUTES ,WHAT ABOUT YOURS ?

Is this typical stuff that your countryman worry about?I don't remember any Australian ever asking me any of the questions on the list except for the best exchange rate for Aussie dollars. And when new to the Philippines, I never wanted to know about any of those things either.Most Aussies I meet want to know value for money accommodation, cheapest beer, best value for money place to eat, cheapest beer, cheapest groceries and where is that cheapest beer again?I would answer your safety questions.Regards: Jim

I understand your reply somewhat.I had tried to open a new TOPIC of why that people,from different parts of the worlddo the things they do(different learning environment) is it upbringing or ??BUT it was closed.I think again my own opinion,(hope this doesnt NOT offend or cause someone to get upset)is that people from different upbringings,backgrounds,educational experiences ( i not say that C word)HAVE different expectations, different worries, different means or ways to handle/deal/cope .Of what i think your saying that mine questions/answers to BOB/JOE would be different than my questions/answers to a Bruce/Sheila?That you (not you yourself) would have "different" needs or expectations than someone of elseof similar age/background whose from another country.(excuse me for going partly off topic)

EdI told you why your topic was closed in a PM so dont push me today OK.I dont handle pain in the kidneys real well so I dont Handel sarcastic in each post so either drop it or wear it. Not a good day to push my buttons.