++ DO - Come prepared
to have a good time.
++ DON'T - Think that
the Philippines is nothing but a place full of bars and women that will have
sex with you at the drop of a dime. The majority of females (including bargirls)
in this country are extremely devout Roman Catholics, thus are extremely conservative.
Approach the wrong one in the wrong way and you will either have your hands
full, or feel like an extreme asshole.
++ DON'T - With the above
in mind, absolutely DO NOT put down Catholicism. Filipino's are extremely
tolerant of many things, but you will lose A LOT of face to them if you insult
God or the Catholic Church. I made the mistake ONE TIME of sharing my lack
of belief in organized religion and it turned into a 3 hour-long debate with
my ex's uncle. Personally, I could have thought of more constructive things
to do with my 3 hours.
++ DO - Use common sense
when walking around. The Philippines is a relatively safe place, especially
compared to the U.S. Let me put it to you like this though, would you go down
an unfamiliar street in the dark if you were back home? Probably not, so why
would you here? The majority of "problems" that you hear about involve
a person being in a situation that could have been totally avoided. How many
tourists or expats do you hear about being robbed on Fields Ave. or P. Burgos
St? Virtually none compared to them take a little adventure that went astray......
++ DON'T - Leave the
"freelancers" and "pick-up" girls on the streets alone,
DO NOT pick them up. Yeah, maybe some could be looking to just get a little
extra money, but think about it...if they are "working" for money,
WHY aren't they in a bar?! Underage? STD/VD? Bakla?! All of these could render
some serious consequences for you, why try to save the tiny bit of money compared
to getting a much safer girl. Be aware that Police in Makati will pickup underage
girls and then transplant them on P.Burgos. As soon as she gets a customer,
an undercover radio's another guy that is waiting down the street and THEN
YOU ARE FUCKED! I have seen it right before my eyes, trust me Police in Fields Ave in Angeles City have been known to plant underage girls and then bust into your hotel room, catching you "red-handed". Both of these result in a lot of hassle, a lot of embrrassment and a lot of money.
++ DO - Always leave
a tip for waiters/waitresses, ALWAYS. It absolutely kills me that some foreigners
DO NOT. The only time that I will fail to leave a tip is if the service is
absolutely horrid. Think about this, that waitress that brought you food makes
P200 ($4) a day!! Even your 20-peso tip will put a smile on her face and she
will remember you, thus paving the way to better service in the future.
++ DON'T - Entertain
a vendor unlessyou are really interested. BELIEVE ME ON THIS. you show the
slightest sign of interest and you will be pestered for the rest of your trip.
You acknowledge them with more then a "No" or a "no thank you"
and they WILL follow you. you have been warned...
++ DO - If you have a
favorite bar, tip the bartender. I do this regularly at Bottoms and my drinks
come almost immediately, always in the bigger glasses and never lean on the
alcohol. I walk in, they know me by name and my drink is on its way before
my ass even touches the chair.
++ DO - Buy the mamasan
a drink if she is being nice to you. I have quite a few here on Burgos that
ALWAYS make sure I have exactly what I want and strike up a conversation with
me (a REAL one). If the girls see the mamasan has respect for you and likes
you (not like that, pervert!) they tend to be more relaxed because "mommy
knows best" and you are obviously a "nice guy". If you live
here or are a regular here/plan to stay awhile, your reputation is EVERYTHING.
++ DON'T - Carry a conversation
with a Filipino-male that is "extremely-nice" that you just met
on the street. The majority of them want to sell you something, offer a "service";
basically it will revolve around them trying to get money from you. Just walk
past them. This isn't to say ALL are like that, but if you are reading this
then you are obviously a newbie, so why take the chance??
++ DON'T - Think that
your shit doesn't stink. ALOT of us foreigners go to exchange our money into pesos and get a fat stack back. Some then feel that since they
have all this money that they can do whatever the hell they want to. Again,
your reputation is very important and asshole guys that act like they own
the country get NO RESPECT from anyone. Sure, they will take your money and
offer you service, but they also talk behind your back when they are away
from you.
++ DO - If you barfine,
tip. PERIOD. In Angeles City the girl gets 1/2 the barfine and guys feel inclined
NOT to tip them. In Makati and Sabang Beach, the girl gets NONE or VERY LITTLE
of the barfine and the tip is pretty much all that she gets. It seems to revolve
mostly around European guys. Case in point: Sabang Beach. Many European's
go there and barfine. When the girl is done with her service they don't tip,
which obviously makes the girl rather upset. Now, because of you, some of
the Sabang Beach mamasan's are asking for the Barfine plus the Tip before
you take the girl out.
++ DO - Tip appropriately.
Tip too much and you are taken advantage of, tip too little and you are a
cheap bastard. P500 in Angeles, P2000-P2500 in Makati, P2000 in EDSA and P1000 in Sabang. You
CAN tip more and it's always good to clarify with the girl before you take
her just to make sure. Yes, it turns it into more of a "business deal",
however if you are starting to think money, then you do not like this girl
enough to the point where the potentially extra P1000 doesn't bother you..
++ DON'T - Listen to
every foreigner that you meet. There is a decent amount of people out here
that are flat out off their rocker. These days I prefer meeting and talking
with Filipino's in Makati more then a foreigner. Keep people at arms length
until you get to see how they really are.
++ DO - Always be nice,
always try to have a smile, and always keep a cool head. Remember that you
are not in your country and the concept of "rapid service" flat
out DOES NOT exist here. People move slower, lifestyle is slower. Don't expect
things to be the same here as they are in the States. I would refer you back
to the tip hint above. Typically after I leave a tip, I will get a regular
waitress that will serve me every time
++ DO - Go to the "Bar-lingo"
area to learn a few words. It pays heavily, and the more you learn the language
the better your experience will be. On top of that you can create many a good
opening lines if you catch the girl talking in Tagalog to her friend saying
that you are cute and you respond, "Thanks!" She will be surprised
and giggle and it will pave the way to a good time. Be forewarned though,
you go overboard with the Tagalog and they will try to talk to you exclusively
in Tagalog. So when they ask, "Oh! You know to speak Tagalog", you
better make damn sure that you clarify that you know only a little!
++ DON'T - Be pressured
to get a girl from the mamasan. It's her job to introduce you to girls. Some
guys like this, most DO NOT. Typically I will tell them that I am "window
shopping" and they seem to appreciate this because it's amusing and they
know that you are at least looking. Try it, it works.
++ DO - Always clarify
BEFORE you barfine that the girl IS NOT a cherry girl and that she doesn't
have her menstruation. If you find yourself in a bar and it seems that almost
every girl there is a cherry girl (or claiming to be), then it should be a
hint to you that it's time to take your ball and go home (read: to another
bar). It's obvious that you are NOT well received here, so you might want
to think about what you did wrong.g.
++ DON'T - Carry your
passport or a large amount of money with you. It's plain foolish. I know that
technically you are required to carry your passport, JUST MAKE A COPY! Remember:
you lose that and you are SCREWED. Also, take only the amount of money that
you think you will need, leave the rest in the hotel, including your ATM Card.
Remember: you lose any of these and your vacation is DONE! Some people are
speculative of the hotel safe typically in the room. Personally I put my money
in an random pocket in the clothes that I have packed.
