Hey, i need a list of things to do & not to do in the Philippines. My teacher's son is going to the Philippines this summer and he asked me to think of some things he might need to know. He expected me to know but i've only been there twice. In 1994 & 2005. I looked around on the internet for tips, but i feel like ppl on AF will give me real straight forward answers. Im not sure where he's going to be in the Philippines but i told my teacher to ask him. I'll put that on here when I found out. He's going in late summer, so probably August.

my mom told me not to speak english when you are haggling

^ The good thing about this is his son is going w/ his Filipino friend & they're gonna stay at his friend's uncle's house. So he won't have to worry about getting scammed because he'll have some Filipinos w/ him that know the deal.

Dont look too cocky, you're gona get beat up.

Don't flash cash, or your @$$ is ash. (LOL)

LOL if he's white...his @ss is a walking target

1) Respect our culture. Don't impose on us the culture you were accustomed to.

2) Speak our language or at least try. People will appreciate you more.

3) Be a responsible tourist.

4) Go to less frequented places because they are cheaper and probably more beautiful. For example, Panglao > Boracay

5) WAG MAGYABANG! Kung mayabang kayo, sana mapagtripan kayo. hehehe

Dos and Don'ts in the Philippines

1. Don't leave your things unattended
2. Never show your $ to anyone except close friends
3. Try to learn some of our words and it will be well appreciated by Filipinos
4. Never look upon our girls as PUTAS
5. Beware of POKPOK and PUTAS, their only target is your cash
6. Refrain from riding taxi, ride a bus or a jeep instead, in that way, one can enjoy the Philippine experience at it's best.
7. always tap your wallet, make sure it is still there
8. Be nice to anyone, don't be rude
9. Smile when you are talking to someone
10. Respect our culture no matter how disgusting it is to you especially eating balut and fried chicks.
11. If you are in ROME, "DO WHAT THE ROMANS DO". same goes here in the PHI.

DAAS ALL FOR NAAAW!

#7....LOL last time I went there...my mom told me to trust no one but my relatives

don't rape filipinas

don't get into fights because they will chop you

and don't say you are vietnamese because they will beat you

LOL we are talking about the Philippines here...a country that took in Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees during the 70s and 80s

oh my bad

don't they hate vietnamese

LOL no we don't...filipinos in the Philippines is neutral when it comes to her neighbors

Have u ever been to the Philippines???? maybe ur talking about some overseas born filipinos in Canada

don't dress with too much jewelry and $hit, keep money concealed, keep passports in a safe at your hotel (but bring a photocopy of your passport with you at all times, and know where your country's embassy is)
don't jaywalk unless you have filipino-style alertness...
don't refuse to eat anything given to you (you'll end up eating it one way or another)
don't freak out if you see security guards with assault rifles at places like malls and banks...
DON'T drink the tap water. just don't.
nevertheless, stay hydrated; drink bottled water and get all your shots, especially hep B and C shots since you'll probably want to have ice with your drinks eventually...
if you're filipino, speak filipino. -__-
the traffic can be very 'WTF' at times (in metro manila) so be prepared for anytihng.

yah?

nice i love my filipinas

is that ok

its all good...

filipinas in the Philippines look 10 times better then the filipinas overseas

thanks

Are taxis dangerous for foreigners? My mom told me they were so we rarely rode in taxis. And when we did, my mom told me & my bro not to talk because we can pass for full Filipinos, but when we talk we sound like Southern white ppl, haha. And she said the might try to kindap us...

So they'd beat up a white guy if they saw one?

But how's the weather in August? I kno it's rainy season, but is it hot?



I know that's right!

In Manila dont try to rent a car and drive. avoid crowded places. beware of mandurukot (pickpockets), when exchanging dollars to pesos dont go to the blackmarket, just do it in the bank even tho they offer a lower exchange rate.

One simple question: where is he planning to go? This makes a big difference, of course.

If they must stay in Manila, I always fly my guests from overseas to stay at our place in Forbes Park and only take them around Makati for shopping (and occasionally Ortigas, if they get bored in Makati). As for visiting people/socializing, I'd take them to see friends in Greenhills, San Juan, Ayala Alabang, and maybe Valle Verde. Not sure about Corinthian, but probably not (yeah, call me a maarte snob). If you stick to these areas, there's really little concern apart from basic big-city common sense...

Otherwise, I would treat them to a stay at my family's vacation home on Boracay (if they are beach-going types), my brother's place at Amanpulo (ditto re: beach), or at my condo at the Tagaytay Highlands. On Boracay, if you are with a group of friends (having a street-smart, trustworthy Filipino with you is a good idea if you plan to go carousing at night) and avoid taking those dangerous, dirty tricycles and outrigger boats (we have our own Rover and powerboat cabin cruiser to travel around the island), then you are pretty safe. Just don't get careless with your belongings and do stupid things (think drunken debauchery late at night). Just basic common sense again. Nothing to worry about at Amanpulo. At the Highlands (or similar members-only, exclusive resorts), you are almost totally safe. Just don't get hit by any stray golf balls from those old, Tsinoy duffers.

I don't recommend that Americans drive around here, unless they plan only to drive on the C5 or around places like Subic or Clark (if you must go here, get yourself a place at the Mimosa), have lightning fast reflexes, perfect vision (at night, esp.), control of their fear, and are accustomed to driving in places like Bombay, Cairo, etc. For my guests, it's no problem, as I have a number of very skilled (and street-savvy) personnel who can shuttle people around in any one of the spare cars at my place. In short, it would be best if he has someone he knows and can trust provide transportation and protection.

Last word of advice: make friends! Most people I have flown over here have really found meeting people in places like Forbes, Greenhills, Ayala Alabang, Amanpulo, etc. to be invaluable to enjoying their stay, and they often come back for more.

Thats where all the whitey, upperclass society goes....u know u spanish don't really fit in the Philippines...u guys r white...ur not asian. why not move back to spain or mexico

OMG this guy did NOT just diss corinthians.

bring money so you can drink all night!

what a d!ck ...

and here i'm trying really hard to be one

DUH! They charge you more..

Umm always hide the valuable items.

Everyone is forgetting to warn him about the bathrooms. I don't know about you guys, but its a major problem for my family. Filipino bathrooms (C.R.) are usually very nasty looking, there flushes don't work, they have a horrid odor, they have no soap or trash can and most of all no toilet paper. Just saying the truth.

Also don't take things too personally, I was insulted almost everytime I met someone. They kept on asking me about Americans and they were quite rude, ignoring the fact that I was Amreican raised.

Don't use cell phones in the Jeepny.

Theres quite a bit of stuff to remember but, have fun.

why did they insult you?

Some people that I just met asked me "We heard that Americans are all rude and have no manners, is it true?" They made statments like " American girls are all wild, they aren't conservative like Filipinos. Americans need to learn how to cover up, they walk around half naked" or " Americans don't care about their elderly, they just throw them away after they can't work, because they don't care about family"

For some reason all the people were oblivious to the fact that I was American in nationality.

Also when I would talk to my family, they made fun of my English, they calimed it was slang. I guess I spoke so fluently they consider it slang.

As to why... I have no idea. I guess it was there chance to bash an American without consequenses. My mom said the culture is diffrent. In United States it is rude to ask such questions to a person you do not know well. Also it is considered ignorant to "make-fun" of how another speaks. They were just ignorant basically.

I guess they base their perception about America with everything they see on TV and the news.

Yeah if you speak English, even though in perfect diction and grammar, as long as you have that American accent, they'd think it is slang. You should try speaking in Ebonics.

I know!!! When my Uncle Effren visited me here, he was like to my mom, " Siguro mga negro kanya mga classmates?"

I thought that as an attorney and as a high ranking offical in the Philippine Gov. he would understand foregin affairs, at least be able to disingusish between ebonics and proper English.

I tried speaking in ebonics they can't understand me haha. They need to start watching BET.

Tell your uncle that the phrase "Wassup mah niggah?" is the American way of saying hello.

Then drop him off to either Oakland, Detroit or South Central LA.

Haha no unfortunatly I'm not that rebelous. Like most Filipino kids I just smile and bless.

My perception about Americans are like those when I was in the Philippines but when I get here and after observation and understanding it better, Americans are more restpectful. And when it comes to wild attitude, Filipino teens are wild stupid, most of them drink start at age 13 like my cousins, friends, neighbor, etc. And smoking marijuana on the street corner is just natural mostly teens.

People there thinks their above the rest and they looks down on poor people and try to be different.and having an expensive cellphone(but can't afford to load cellphone) is considered a status symbol and hanging out at Starbucks.A stuck up is commonly known as a snob. Someone who's rich and would look down at you like you're not worth a penny.Think they can treat you how they like just because they might have some sort of high status.

I experience that in the Philippines but here in the U.S. nobody gives me a hard time and they're very restpectful. They say SORRY when they accidentally step on your foot but in the Philippines they just ignore you especially if you look YAGIT or poor. They say this:

I dont think theyre trying to be insulting tho... pinoys are just that way when talking to family members

Of course taxi drivers are not dangerous. They just need your dollars. Other than that, they don't care about you.

For some people, white guy = god. so why the hell beat them up. they got tons of dollars. perahan nalang sila.





I bet you've never been to places outside your elite world.



see. it's just cultural difference. can't handle it? don't come back. simple.

we make fun of your ridiculous twang and you make fun of our idiotic FOB accent. it's just a two-way relationship.

there are many ignorant people in this world. it's not specific to any nationality. those ignorant Pinoys asking you silly questions they base on TV are no different from some Americans or any other foreigners who think Filipinos live in the jungle and swing from tree to tree.

there is a small viet community in the island of Palawan in the Phils. according to some articles I read, the Phils. was one of the nicer countries in treating the refugees.

so you like Filipinas?

Baby right in the balls!! not to mention how fil-ams think about their fob bros/sis. hypocrites!

lol kastila, what are your bad experiences as a foreign looking white dude? got mugged?

If I happen to be alone at some of the less exclusive places, such as Bora, Tali, and Puerto Galera, some of the commoner girls will try to come on to me, thinking that I am some dumb, classless, foreign tourist. Of course, the moment I open my mouth, they realize who I am and go back to seducing the old Americans, Brits and Germans...

Oh, and thanks for caring pare.

I realize that you're joking, of course. If you want to fit in (and know enough Tagalog/Filipino to get by with Taglish or Coño), I suggest strongly that you try to copy the accent you hear from these guys (it's about as close to what we speak as I could find on YouTube):




(wait for the speaker at around 1:10)

Hope this helps.

Only urinate in places with this sign:

"bawal umihe dito, kung hule putol etits"

thank you for joining AF. astig ka Kastila.

btw, what happens when a TIMAWA or aliping sagigilid like me comes on to you, almighty king?

i resent that


oh yeah, don't forget to bring toilet paper when you go out!

your a girl?

you mean... i don't seem like one?

haha cuss you said "i resent that" which i thought your a girl that living aboard and you were taking that as insult.

haha OOPs my bad...sorry.

well, i am a girl

oops

i'm losing it!

lol no problem i don't take offense to stuff like that at all

my bad