Now! - Badladz Adventure Resort

Traveling and Living in the
Philippines
What Every Foreigner Needs to
Know
Introduction
I want to thank you and congratulate you for downloading the book, “Traveling
and Living in the Philippines”. Hopefully this means you are ready for a life
changing experience!
This book contains proven steps and strategies on how to have fun and enjoy your
stay in the country without encountering a lot of problems. The last fifteen years
has provided me with some very valuable lessons. I’d like to share them with you
here.
The Philippines can be both very familiar and very strange. Despite the obvious
poverty experienced by the majority of Filipinos, many of them speak English.
Just about everyone has a cellphone, a TV, and a refrigerator. They wear jeans
and shirts, shorts and miniskirts. Many Western ideas have found root here, as
have American movies, TV shows, music, and books.
Yet it’s a very conservative country too. The Roman Catholic Church is very
influential here, which is why the Philippines is the only country left in the world
(aside from the Vatican City itself) where divorce is not legal.
With this book, you’ll have a better chance of making sense of it all! And of
course, this book also tells you where to go to have lots of fun and adventure.
Thanks again for downloading this book, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading it!
 Copyright 2014 by Sean Cooney - All rights reserved.
This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in
regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that
the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or
otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a
practiced individual in the profession should be ordered.
- From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a
Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and
Associations.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this
document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this
publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed
unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.
The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that
any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any
policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter
responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal
responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation,
damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or
indirectly.
Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is
universal as so. The presentation of the information is without contract or any
type of guarantee assurance.
The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the
trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All
trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are
owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.
Nine Things You Must Avoid In The Philippines
The Philippines is an incredible place full of beaches, beautiful people, vacation
destinations and business opportunities. It’s easy to get swept up in it all and
lose track of the basics. This list will make you aware of the most prominent
things to remember when coming to the Philippines.
Thou Shalt Not:
1.
Forget the lessons you have learned in your own country. They are
twice as valuable and pertinent here.
2.
Try to see the entire Philippines in three weeks. Transportation is
time-consuming. Pick one or two spots, hang out, and enjoy your vacation.
3.
Wear expensive jewelry, flash a lot of cash, let people see you have
expensive toys etc. The attention you attract is not the kind you want.
4.
Trust immediately. Everyone is friendly but not all are your friends.
5.
Give anyone money! Not the beggars, not the girls or boys or people
that want you to invest. Everybody has a story and most of them are not
true.
6.
Make any long-term commitments. Not for housing, relationships
or partnerships etc. There are many opportunities here, don't take the
first one.
7.
Rent a motorcycle here if you do not ride one at home. This ability
does not come with your tourist visa and will often get you in trouble or
hurt.
8.
Put off medical treatment for anything. This is a tropical climate
and things like infections can get out of control quickly.
9.
Send money to the Philippines after you leave. If someone is
waiting for you, they will wait. They survived before you arrived, they will
survive until you return.
Chapter 1: Police and Corruption in the Philippines
In general, the Philippines is a very safe country as far as violent crime goes. Even
with the terrorist groups, which are all based in the southern islands, the violent
crime here is quite low compared to Western countries. And for foreigners, the
chances of being a victim of such a crime are practically negligible.
All you need is some basic common sense. For example, every city in the world
has some dangerous or “bad” parts. Find out where these are, and then just don’t
go there, especially when you’re alone. And when you do go out, don’t flaunt your
money and jewelry.
So if you ever encounter the police, chances are, you’re not the victim. You’re
probably a suspect.
Often, an encounter with the police means having to deal with the traffic cops.
This will probably be inevitable if you plan to drive while you’re here, since the
traffic rules here are very complicated—and often ignored by the local drivers.
Here, it’s every man for himself, and when you drive that way sooner or later
you’ll find yourself flagged down by a cop because of a violation.
So here are some tips you can use should you get into this kind of situation:

Have a 200-peso bill folded in your driver’s license jacket. When you’re
flagged down, just be friendly instead of arrogant. You’ll be asked for your
license. If the cop is amenable, your license will be returned to you minus
the money. In the rare cases when they’re not, you’ll have to surrender
your license to the cop then retrieve it a few days later at the local city hall.
There you will pay the fine and your license, which has basically been held
for ransom, will be returned to you.

If a situation does arise and the police become involved, deal with him
right away by paying him off. Don’t argue and don’t wait for his buddies to
join him. Don’t even ask to speak to his supervisor. You’re just increasing
the number of people you have to pay off. Pay and walk away is our motto
here. I guarantee this will be a fraction of the cost if the situation escalates.

In general, minor scuffles are dealt with this way. But you’ll have to pay
more money if you commit a more serious violation.

Don’t even ask for help from your Embassy. These people will simply make
sure that you are treated correctly and that you get your due process. But
that also means you won’t be able to pay off the cops and engage in other
forms of bribery, since the embassy people will be looking over your
shoulder. Just ask my friend Scottish John. He refused to pay up AND
called his embassy. Instead of paying a P5,000 ‘fine’ on New Years Eve it
took 5 days and $5,000 so he could expedite the court process and get on a
plane back to work.

Trials here can take a dozen years or so, and money speaks. In the very off
chance that the evidence is heavily against you and you are convicted of a
serious crime, then your money can still get you a very good life in prison.
You can get a TV, air-conditioning, an Internet connection, and other
amenities.
Obviously, you don’t want to let it reach this stage—pay them off as fast as
you can. For minor offenses, the police can be bargained with.
Sorry, this is the reality here. I do not make the rules only follow them. “When in
Rome, do as the Romans do”. These are lessons discovered by myself and first
hand accounts from people I know. They apply equally to foreigners and Filipinos
alike so do not feel discriminated against.
Personally, I am ok with this system  as I come from a country where they can
lock you in a room and throw away the ROOM!
Chapter 2: Cost of Living in the Philippines
If you are used to Western prices, then the cost of living in the Philippines will be
dirt cheap. To put it in perspective, the minimum wage here is about $10 a day,
and entire families get by with that kind of income. They find an apartment or
build a house, feed themselves well, send their kids to school, have their own TV,
and everyone in their family probably owns a cellphone.
So let’s look at what you’ll need when you’re here:

For your living quarters, you can find something very decent for about PhP
10,000 a month. The prices are much lower if you don’t live in the major
cities. In fact, why should you? What’s the point of living in the Philippines
with its 7,100 islands if you’re not living comfortably by the beach?
But if you have a ready cash of about $40,000, that would allow you to buy
a very nice house in one of the provinces. Take note however that a
foreigner cannot own land here (under their name). You can however rent
a house. Or you can legally buy a condominium unit in your name.

For your food, if you plan to cook and prepare your food yourself, about
$100 dollars a month per person ought to cover it. Food is very cheap
here, and often you get your food really fresh. Try to buy fish, and in the
market the fish are still grasping for breath.

Entertainment here is also very affordable. You can watch a movie in a
very modern movie theater for less than $5 per person. If you want to go
out, then you can spend a thousand pesos ($25) and have a very good
time.

Beer (the good kind) here costs less than a dollar if you buy at the
supermarket, and a pack of cigarettes is a dollar each—and that’s right
after the prices just doubled recently because of the “sin taxes.”
So basically, everything is cheaper here. If you’re living on US currency, then if
you earn a minimum wage in the US, you can live like a rich guy (or at least a
middle-class guy) here. If you are earning over $30,000 a year then in the
Philippines you’d be considered a millionaire (in Philippine currency).
Chapter 3: Teaching English in the Philippines
Everyone who wants to travel (especially in Asia) has probably considered the
appeal of teaching English abroad. Relatively easy work, and good hours and
good pay.
BUT: Teaching English here in the Philippines doesn’t really make a lot of sense.
First, let’s have a basic history lesson. The US controlled this country in the first
half of the 20th century after they won a little war against Spain. The US
rationalized their control because they wanted to “Christianize” the people—
never mind that the country has been Catholic for the previous 300 years.
But essentially, the Philippines managed to emulate a few American customs.
Because of the American occupation, Filipinos grew to love basketball and they
are pretty good at it!
Their government is set up much like the US government, with a President, a
Senate and a Congress, and a Supreme Court. The laws are written in English and
court is actually conducted in English with translators for the Filipinos.
Filipinos to this day follow American trends in fashion, music and technology.
Oh, and did I mention, Filipinos understand and speak English very fluently? It’s
part of their primary education. That’s why American movies don’t have subtitles
when they show them in the Philippine theaters, they understand the dialogs just
fine.
The Philippines is perhaps one of the few former Spanish colonies where the
people don’t really speak Spanish, unlike the countries in South America. There
are a lot of Spanish words in their local languages and dialects, but they don’t
really know the language. It’s taught only in college, as an elective.
There’s a reason why this country is one of the biggest outsourcing hubs in the
world. A lot of people speak English, and it’s considered to be the 2 nd or 3rd
largest English speaking country in the world. Coming here to teach people how
to speak English is like coming here to teach people about Jesus Christ—they
already know the subject!
When you first come here, you’ll realize that right away. The posters and signs are
all in English and everyone uses common English words like please, thank you,
and you’re welcome. Those phrases are already part of the local vocabulary. In
fact, more people here say “thank you” than those who say “salamat”, which is
the local equivalent.
However, that doesn’t exactly mean you can’t teach English in the Philippines.
There are a lot of Asians who come here to learn how to communicate in English
and many Filipinos are employed as teachers or tutors to these students. If you
want to teach English in the Philippines, your students are going to be Koreans,
Japanese and Chinese nationals. Just keep in mind the demand for this position
is lower than you might have thought.
Chapter 4: Is It Safe to Travel in the Philippines?
Yes, but…
While we talked about this a bit in an earlier chapter, the topic of safety does
deserve its very own section in this guide. So let’s tackle the issue of safety once
and for all.
In general Filipinos are very non-confrontational. The criminals don’t usually
threaten you with a deadly weapon or inflict you with bodily harm just so they
can take what you have. Their preference is confidence games, overcharging for
services or product and slight of hand like pickpocketing.
There are lots of rowdy places where the riffraff like to hang out, and even there,
bar fights are rare.
So if you are concerned about your safety here, you don’t have to be. You’re much
more likely to get hurt or to die in the US or in Europe than in the Philippines.
Now you may have heard some news reports about Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist
groups, but those people operate on the islands in the far south of the county.
Remember the 7,100 islands? Well, just don’t go to the few with problems and
you will be safe.
Here, the problem is poverty. The pocket money you bring in with you is probably
more than what many people here earn in 6 months.
Here, when someone poor returns money that is not theirs, it’s virtually national
news. It’s reported in all the newspapers and on the TV when a taxi driver returns
a bag full of money to a rich person or a foreigner.
So as a foreigner here, you must not flaunt your wealth. People already think
you’re rich because you’re a foreigner. To their eyes there’s no such as thing as a
poor foreigner. So your responsibility is to not give them the temptation to rip
you off or steal your money and valuables.

Don’t leave your valuables unguarded or unattended. That’s just stupid. If
you stay in a hotel, ask for the use of a safe for your valuables. In fact, just
don’t bring those valuables in the country in the first place. That will
lessen your worries.

Don’t flaunt your expensive cell phones and cameras in the streets,
especially in the poorer sections of the country. And don’t open your wallet
and flash those bills.

Again, don’t come to the “bad parts” of town. That’s just asking for it.

If you are ever mugged (which is extremely rare, by the way), then let them
get your wallet, while always keeping a bit of extra cash elsewhere (like in a
backpack). This is also helpful if you happen to lose your wallet, as many
places take only cash as payment in the Philippines.
These are basic precautions. You won’t likely be a victim of a violent crime, and if
you take some sensible precautions you won’t be a victim of property crime
either. Just use your common sense. The Filipinos are very friendly—they’re
probably among the friendliest people in the world, but there are lots of very poor
people here, so don’t be careless about your belongings.
Chapter 5: Business Opportunities and How to
Avoid Failure
A lot of Westerners come to the Philippines for the beautiful beaches here and
they fall in love with the easygoing lifestyle. I know. I did! Many are tempted to
stay here permanently and start a business of their own. Consequently, they tend
to end up failing in business, because business is not easygoing. When it’s about
money in this country, it can get complicated in a hurry.
So are there many business possibilities here? Yes, there are. In fact, it’s not
uncommon to see Westerners running their own business here. It’s not just the
large corporations investing in the country. You’ve got regular foreign nationals
starting their own resorts and hotels, their own shops and diving stores, and their
own pubs.
But you will also see a lot of failed businesses with abandoned locations to prove
it. There are plenty of reasons for those failures, and you should learn from their
examples so you don’t make the same mistakes.
So here are some general tips if you want to start your own little business here:

Do not forget the lessons you learned in your own country. Research
EVERYTHING, take no ones word for ANYTHING. I cannot believe how
many “masters of the universe”, western trained, educated, business
minded people come here and do deals on a handshake or make deals
based on verbal assurances. They believe the “Antique American silver
coins” and “Rolex” watches selling on the street are real. A friend of mine
was offered a 10kilo bag of collector coins, all in their own little plastic
holders, and a Rolex watch as collateral for a loan. He had them evaluated.
ALL fake. Land titles are the same. Do the research. Maybe the title is for
an entirely different property. Maybe the title is fake. Maybe they have
borrowed money from others against it.

Remember the law is written in English so read it! All contracts here are
written in English so read them!

You need to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. The red tape and
bureaucracy here is terrible, but you have to go through all the tiny details
to make sure that all your paper work is in order. This is one situation
where you DO NOT bribe the officials for a favorable decision. Remember,
this is a democracy. Governments come and go. The next one might
retroactively enforce the laws you flaunted and it will bite you in the ass.

You may want to talk to some foreigners who have SUCCESSFULLY set up
business here – HINT HINT my email is [email protected]. They may
know exactly what kinds of permits you need and how you can get them.
They can tell you where to go, what you need, and what to do. Much more
importantly, they may know who you need to talk to.

Basically speaking, you can’t be the majority owner of a Corporation here
in the Philippines. Filipinos must own 60% so you will often see investors
here putting 60% of the ownership in the name of Filipinos with the 40%
in his name. This basically means that you have to know who these people
are. If you want to avoid potential trouble, then these people must be very
close to you.

That’s why many of the foreign small business owners here who have
Filipinas wives will put their business in their wife’s name.

There are some tricks you can use so that you can sidestep all these legal
issues. The easiest is to have the ownership of your business in the name of
one Filipino however there are some steps you need to follow.
First is to Lease the business Location in your name which is 100%
LEGAL. Then install all the utilities like electric, water & phone in your
name, purchase all furnishings, equipment, vehicles etc in your name and
open a bank account in your name. All perfectly legal. Then all you need is
the Business Permit in the name of a Filipino. Now write up a mortgage
contract, in English, that states that the “owner” has mortgaged the
business to you, and they would have to pay you a lot of money first before
they can take ownership of the business.

If you ever need a lawyer for your business dealings, get the services of the
biggest law firm in the area. Law in the Philippines, where corruption is
rampant, is all about the money and the connections.
So get the most successful law firm you can find. Their success is due to
the fact that they are connected to the politicians and the judges. Get them
on your side, and you get those judges and politicians on your side as well.
While this may be expensive, it’s going to be worth it. The legal fees will
still be much less than if you hire a law firm in the US or Europe. And your
chances of winning your case are much higher.
Chapter 6: Shopping in the Philippines
Some people think that there’s really not much shopping around here,
considering that the Philippines is a Third World country. But that’s not really
true. There are a lot of shopping possibilities here, and modern shopping
complexes are plentiful. In fact, the top 10 list of the largest shopping malls in the
world include three malls here in the Philippines.

SM Megamall (#3 largest mall in the world), 5.45 million square feet

SM City North EDSA (#4 largest mall in the world), 5.2 million square feet

Mall of Asia, (#10 largest mall in the world), 4.38 million square feet.
Each of these malls has more than a thousand shops, so you can pretty much buy
anything. And like all the malls here, you can use credit cards or your ATM cards.
And while these are the places where they charge the most for any item, the
prices are still much lower than if you buy them in the US or Europe. There are
hundreds upon hundreds of these malls scattered all over the country, so
wherever you are you won’t really be far from one good-sized mall.
There are also parts of the country, such as those in Metro Manila, where
commerce is done in all the shops and in the streets. There are neighborhoods
organized as malls, in which one street sells a different category. For example,
there may be one street reserved for shirts and apparel, and then another parallel
street reserved for jewelry. Electronic items occupy a lot of streets here, so you
can pick a TV in one street and then a set of speakers in another street.
Remember, you are in Asia with proximity to the great Industrial countries like
China, Japan, Korea & Thailand. Goods from these countries flood into the
Philippines and can be purchased for far less than western counties. Shipping,
Customs, Duty and Taxes are a fraction of what they would be in a western
country.
In these places, the prices are not fixed at all. You have to learn how to haggle.
And if you’re a foreigner, you have to consider the very real likelihood that they
automatically doubled the price when they saw you. As we’ve mentioned before,
they think all foreigners are rich. The fact that you are able to visit another
country is proof of that.
Strangely, there are no obvious signs of security even with all the expensive items
on display in the streets. The only danger for you is the threat of pickpockets. But
robbery cases in these places are unheard of, which is another sign of just how
peaceful it is here in the Philippines.
The only danger for you is that it is very easy to get lost. So when you notice the
crowds thinning, just turn around and go back to where the people are
congregating.
Just a general tip for travelling: wear a small compass on your watchband. I do.
These are available at most Scuba Diving supply companies.
Chapter 7: Fun and Adventure in the Philippines
The Philippines is perhaps one of the most exciting places in the world. We’re not
even talking about the modern fun you can find in Metro Manila (the capital),
where the fun is much like what you’d find in many modern cities around the
world.
Here we are talking about the fun stuff such as the beach and the various lakes
and rivers and everything else you can find in the country side. The beaches here
represent a good example, and they’re the primary reason why so many
foreigners prefer to put up a business near the beach. They get to have fun and
earn good money at the same time.
The Philippines has the 5th longest coastline in the world with 36,000 km so it
should be easy to find YOUR perfect spot 
One editor of a boating and water fun magazine raves about the country.
According to him, the water activities here are world-class, which shouldn’t be
surprising when you have an archipelago comprised of 7,100 islands.
Get out of Manila and the major cities, and you’ll find fun activities such as:

Lazing on the beach. Here the waters are blue and the sand is white, while
the people are friendly. But, be careful when you laze about under the
coconut trees. Falling coconuts kill people each year in the Philippines.
You are much safer Scuba Diving, the sharks don’t hurt anyone here.

Scuba diving. There are a lot of places here where the diving is excellent.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’ll be a nice place to dive into
that fits your skill set.
There are lots of wrecks dating from the Spanish American War thru
World War Two and also many commercial and private vessels sitting on
the bottom. In other areas you will see clouds of fish and beautiful, colorful
coral reefs. The Verde Island Passage, near Puerto Galera has been proven
to be the Center of Marine Bio-diversity in the world with more species of
fish & coral than the Great Barrier Reef.

Sailing. There are lots of sailing craft here, and you can charter one at a
very reasonable rate. Lessons are also available at some of the yacht clubs.
If you just want to go for a joyride, just chat up the “ yachties ” at any one
of the many yacht clubs. These are a gregarious group and will often take
you along for the fun when they cruise.

Swimming. What else to do in the water? There are lots of lakes and
lagoons here, and surprisingly many of the Filipinos take these places for
granted. You can find many lagoons complete with waterfalls and you and
your friends will probably be the only ones there.

Surfing. The waves here are superb. There are so many places to surf here,
and now even the Filipinos are trying to learn too.

Sport fishing. A lot of “commercial” fishing here is actually done by
independent fishermen with their own small fishing craft. But you can rent
a bigger boat and go after bigger fish.

Also Jetskis, Banana Boats, Kayaks. Parasailing, Kite Boarding,
Windsurfing and more !
And we’re just talking about water activities here. The Philippines have a lot more
to offer!

Golf Courses. There are many here but a special one encircles the original
Spanish Fort in Manila at Intramuros and another one on is a
mountainside in Puerto Galera.

Zip Lines and Cliff Diving. These are both exhilarating and usually set
amidst awesome scenery

Paintball Games. Come on, shoot you friends, you know you want to!

Go Karts & Mud Karts. Have some on track and off track competition and
Fun.

Motorcycle Rentals. Get on a bike and cruise around the Island OR around
the Philippines. No better way to “get off the beaten path” and find those
magical spots. Cheap and safe if you are an accomplished rider.

Hiking and Trekking. Get away from the tourist traps and into the jungle.
Clean water, fresh air and great exercise. Use a local guide or wander
about by yourself but don’t forget your compass!

Flying. In Angeles City you can go for a joyride in an Ultra Light aircraft
around the active volcano Mt. Pinatubo. If you want to learn to fly, from
Ultra Light to Commercial Pilot, it is cheaper here than at home.

Shooting Ranges. Grab an automatic weapon and blast away but, this
time, do not shoot your friends!

There is much more, come see for yourself 
Chapter 8: Getting Visas in the Philippines
The red tape in the Philippines is horrendous when it comes to starting a
business when you’re a foreigner but that does not mean they do not want us
staying here. It is never a problem if you want to get a visa so that you can stay
here for a longer period of time. In fact, the country wants you to stay longer.
So here’s how that works:

When you first arrive here as a tourist, you automatically get a 30 day visa
to enjoy the country. You can go anywhere you want and visit any place
your fancy takes you.

When your 30 days is nearly over, find an Immigration office. That’s easy
enough, since these places are located where many foreigners like to go.
When you want to stay longer, you can go to one of these Immigration
offices and get an extension for another 29 days. This will just cost you a
small fee.

If even the last 59 days isn’t enough for you to enjoy the country (this is
normal for a lot of foreigners here, believe me), then, as of Aug /2014, the
country has introduced the Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension program.
This way, you can get a 6-month extension all at once, so that you don’t
have to interrupt your stay with frequent visits to an Immigration office.
If you’re a non visa-required national (Western Countries) the fees for this 6month extension (as of July 2014) is PHP 11,500. In US dollars, that’s less than
$265.
Can a foreigner work in the Philippines on a Tourist Visa…..No
That does not say that you cannot own a business, manage it, and invest in the
Philippines. It just means you cannot work.
If you're planning to do something where you actually need to be working then
you can always get a visa. The Philippines really wants us to stay, and they really
want our money. I'm not going to get into a discussion here on all the different
visas available and the criteria for obtaining one but I will say this, money talks!
You could also get married and this comes with an automatic work permit but I
do not advocate this as a means to an end…There is no divorce here. 
Chapter 9: General Travel Advice for the Philippines
If you’ve decided to come to the Philippines, then you’ve made a good decision.
But if you don’t want to have any reason to regret that decision, here are some
common sense tips to keep in mind:

Have a plan. At the very least, you should book a hotel reservation before
you enter the country. Wandering around in a large city like Manila or
Cebu carrying your luggage without knowing where you can stay isn’t very
sensible at all. Book at least the first night. Once you get out into the
islands you can relax and ”wing it”.

Travel Light. Don’t bring a lot of stuff into the country. It’s enough for you
to bring a few clothes and lots of underwear, plus perhaps your laptop,
your phone and other gadgets. Go for the wrinkle-free clothes, so that’s
another thing to write off your worry list.
You can buy everything else here, since when it comes to these things the
Philippines is actually very modern. In fact, you’ll most probably be
tempted to buy lots of stuff here because everything is relatively cheap.
Remember, you are in Asia and most of the clothes you wear say Made in
China or Thailand.
For the most part you want to be able to move around easily so fewer
things means less stress and more FUN

Another reason why you’ll want to pack light is because the transportation
system here can be a little bit complicated. Going from one part of a city to
another may entail having to ride three different types of vehicles. Also,
dragging a wheeled bag down the beach is just a little ludicrous.

You’ll want to always keep your stuff with you. Bring your bags inside the
taxi instead of putting it in the boot or trunk. Taxi drivers usually just drive
away as soon as you get out of the vehicle.

Make sure your bags are waterproof. This country as we’ve said is full of
lakes and lagoons and beaches, also LOTS of islands so you will be on and
off boats regularly. You don’t want your trip spoiled by a little water. And
then there are the rains. There’s a dry season and a rainy season, and even
the dry season has occasional rain showers. During the rainy season, you
will most probably get wet and you need waterproof bags for your devices
and other stuff. They are also good to protect against sand.

Once you’re in your hotel, you can then ask for some advice as to where
you can go to have some fun and adventure. Many of the hotels which
cater to foreigners have lots of information as to where you can go, and
they’ll also tell you where the Immigration offices are in the country
should you (when you) want to extend your stay.

Always determine the value of a service before you avail of it. Basically set
the price before you stay, ride, eat, touch, wear or use any service. Saves
arguments and stress. If possible, ask a native or local foreigner what the
rate should be first.

Carry lots of small bills and change. Even a 500 Peso note, about $11, can
be difficult to change and can complicate your travels.

Always change your money in a legitimate Money Changing location, not
in the back street or restaurant. If the rate is too good to be true then it
probably is. You will get ripped off. Same goes for gambling. Go to the
casino not local card games or cock fights. You will lose.

Everything will be late, accept it. This is the culture. Time means little here
but also, remember, that’s why you are here 

DO NOT FORGET - Lessons learned at home. Western countries
tend to “rubber pad” life for their citizens. You go thru life
knowing someone is there to look after you and others will be
following the rules……Not Here !

Look both ways before crossing the road. Traffic here is random and
vehicles often go wrong way one way, wrong side of the road and they are
oblivious to you! ALWAYS check both directions. This goes for sidewalks
as well! Motorcycles use them at high speed. Ask how I know 
This is good training for your travels too as many countries drive on the
opposite side of what you are used to.

Do not talk strangers. These people are ALL strangers to you ! Happy,
smiling, helpful, friendly strangers and surprisingly small so seemingly
harmless. Unfortunately, friendly does not mean they are your friends.
Beware the “fast friend” and unsolicited advice. If you need directions,
travel advice, accommodations, recommendations etc, then YOU choose
whom to ask. Someone coming to you directly without being questioned
will have their own interests in mind not yours.

Do not take Candy from a stranger. Really, do not accept anything from
someone you do not know or did not ask for. A package of cigarettes could
contain drugs, a drink could be drugged or at the very least you could be
charged an exorbitant amount for something you did not want.

Do not give money to strangers. Absolutely EVERYBODY has their hands
out. If you want to make yourself a target then try dropping some pesos
into the hand of a beggar. Every vender and street person will want some
of that action and there are LOTS of them. Also, it doesn’t help. I once gave
a bag of nice clothes to a family I had watched grow up on the streets. They
never wore them. Can’t go out begging in nice clothes! I did some research
and found out they had a house not far away and would put on their
“mahirap” or poor clothes to go begging. This was their job.

If you can’t say something nice, say nothing. Filipinos take offence easily
and loud voices, expressions of anger or aggression will not have the
desired result. Anything you are trying to accomplish will come to a
grinding, screeching, smoking halt. Often the absolute opposite result of
what you want will be the result you get.

Mind your manners. You are a guest here, this is their country and they
make the rules. Filipinos can skirt the law but foreigners cannot. If you
commit a wrong while side by side with a Filipino you will probably see
them go free while the foreigner gets punished. I was once stopped for no
motorcycle helmet whilst locals buzzed past helmetless and oblivious. The
traffic Enforcer simply explained “They have no money to pay the fine” 
Haste makes waste. Be patient. An emergency on your part is a money

making opportunity on theirs. The more you show your need for
something the more of a target you become. Expediting anything is worth
something and there is nothing in it for them unless you pay. They have
nothing but time.

Remember all those lessons you learned while growing up, they still have
value here

Don’t worry, Be Happy, Have FUN
Chapter 10: Getting Around in the Philippines
Traveling in the Philippines is a truly wonderful experience. The ever-changing
landscape and seascape afford wonderful panoramic views and a myriad of
picture taking opportunities.
The nature and culture of the people changes from island to island, the foods
change and even the languages. It is like visiting multiple countries and has kept
me entertained for almost 15 years.
Here are some words of advice from someone that has “been there, done that”.
First, although it is nice to see many different locations, it is also very timeconsuming. You need to understand that each island must create its own
infrastructure. Unlike most of our home countries that have a central government
and can move resources around as necessary, the Philippines must duplicate
resources over and over again on every island. Electricity is must be supplied by
local plants, many, many small plants, as opposed to a few large ones. Roads
must be built by local and regional governments as funds allow and the terrain
here, once you've seen it you will understand, is unforgiving. Typhoons and
earthquakes, landslides and monsoon rains take their toll.
All transportation is privately owned, not operated or owned or run by the state
so they have their own levels of professionalism. This includes Jeeps, boats, buses
and airplanes.
As such, these factors conspire to play havoc with schedules. Be aware that any
scheduled departure time is a vague approximation that can vary widely.
A boat or bus that fills up early with passengers, leaves early. Often times they
will sit and wait until they are full before departing as this is, after all, a money
making venture.
To travel from point to point can require a wide variety of modes of
transportation. The walk from your resort to the main road to catch a tricycle
going to the port to catch a boat going to another island to catch a bus going to a
major city then a taxi to an airport and upon your arrival at your destination, the
same procedure in reverse! This can take a full day easily, can be frustrating and
after you have done it once you will not look forward to doing it again. So pick
your spots carefully, you do not want to waste your valuable vacation time
moving from point to point.
Think of it in terms of percentages. If you have 10 days vacation and spend 2 days
traveling, that's 20% of your FUN time!
Honestly, I find it best to pick one spot, maybe two and really, really get to
understand that area.
As an example, Puerto Galera is my favorite and can keep you busy for ten days
easily, never doing the same thing twice ! Caribou rides into the jungle,
waterfalls, zip lines, mountain golf, jet skis, scuba diving. Snorkeling, Native
Manyan Villages, jungle mud karts, petting zoo, paintball games, shooting range,
fiestas, and all the time interacting with the lovely Filipino people. When you
need time to relax there are romantic beach walks, leisurely swimming and
searching the many interesting places to explore. If you are feeling like some
company, tour the FOUR Floating Bars! Go to the disco and dance! Sit in a
beachside bar and swap stories with other travelers and residents.
If you feel you MUST travel then follow this advice. Be sure to leave LOTS of
extra time, do not expect schedules to be kept, carry lots of small bills as no one
will have change and be patient. You will not change it.
But you have lots of options when traveling from one place to another, although it
can get a bit complicated.
In any case, your options include:

Buses. This is one of the major transportation options in the Philippines.
You can use buses to go to different provinces and cities. Then you also
ride them when you go from one point to another within a city. They have
definite routes and loading and unloading areas. The fees are also fixed,
and after the minimum fee you pay more the farther you go.

Trains. In Manila, you can use the railway transit systems which also
crisscross the city. The advantage of these trains is that there’s no traffic,
and a train ride can cut a two-hour bus ride in Manila into less than 30
minutes. But the disadvantage here is that the trains are also often packed
and there will be no such thing as “personal space”.

Jeepneys. The fabled jeepneys of the Philippines must be seen before you
can believe them. These things are like buses, except on jeeps they seat
about 20 people or so. There’s an honor system here when paying. You
give your money to the driver (or to a passenger near the driver who will
pass on the fare to the driver), and then you tell him where you got on and
where you wish to get off. When you want to get off, just say “para” and
they’ll pull over and let you disembark.


Tricycles. In some places such as residential communities, you can ride
these things to travel a couple of kilometers or so. These are just
motorcycles with a carriage on the side.

Pedicabs. These are like the tricycles, except that they use bicycles to pedal
you to your destination.

Van and SUV transports. These are essentially air-conditioned jeepneys.
They start from one point already full, and you can get off anywhere along
its route.

Motorcycle Taxis. This is a trend started recently. Motorbikes will hang
out at crowded intersections willing to give you a lift to your destination
quick and cheap. Nice alternative if you are traveling light.

Taxis. These deserve their own little section as interacting with them can
be a disappointing experience.
They come in many colors but generally the yellow metered ones are
dedicated airport taxis, have a higher “drop rate” AND a higher “run rate”.
They will cost about 50% more than white metered ones.
The way it works here in the Philippines is the Driver pays a “boundary” or
daily rental rate for the taxi. Anything over that, minus fuel, he gets to
keep. They will do anything to make more than the boundary and have
some money to take home. The rules in the Philippines state they must
engage the meter but in many places they disregard this.
Cebu and Bacolod City are wonderful for Taxis with never a problem.
Manila is the exact opposite, the taxi system is out of control and they
show complete distain for the rules.
Here are some things to do or to watch for and should be viewed as a
general warning of possible taxi tourist scams common to many 3 rd world
countries.
It costs the same if the Taxi is in new condition or a beat up piece of crap
so choose wisely. The drivers of the newer ones will generally be more
professional.
Open the rear passenger door. Do NOT get in. Ask the taxi if he'll turn the
meter on. If he does not, leave the door open. You will do this because,
after the 2nd or 3rd taxi, you will get angry and want to slam the door.
However they do not care, it is not their car. Your only revenge for their
dishonesty is leaving the door open so they must get out and close it 
The problem is, during heavy traffic or rainy days you will sometimes go
thru numerous taxis before you get one to turn the meter on. At these
times it really depends on how desperate or late you are getting to your
destination. Sometimes they will ask for meter rate + 20 or 50 pesos.
Sometimes it is double. It really depends on how badly you need the taxi as
to whether you want to accept this.
LEAVE EARLY! I cannot stress this enough! Much less stressful to be early at
your destination then frantic and fuming while the minutes tick by in a snarl of
smoking traffic.
Whenever possible, have the complete address printed on a piece of paper so
there will be no confusion about where you want to go. The driver will speak
English but many place names sound similar and they can be mistaken or claim
to be when you have just paid to get to the wrong place!
ALWAYS, Always carry LOTS of small bills in the Philippines. The driver
WILL NOT have change or will claim to have none. Either way you will
need to do one of two things. Leave all the change with him or WAIT while
he goes looking for some. Neither sounds good so be sure you are
prepared.
Lock your doors, just in case. This is just common sense.
Whenever possible, ask someone what the approximate fare should be to
your destination.
Do not be afraid to tell the driver to slow down or stop using their cel
phone during the ride. It is illegal in the Philippines to call or text while
driving.
How about Tips ? If the driver turns on the meter immediately, drives the
most direct route, does not try to have you pay above metered price and is
generally a nice guy then reward him with a 20% tip. Other than this a 10%
is fine.
Now here is something I want to mention but do not want to frighten
anyone. Very, very rarely I have heard of this happening. You will deposit
your luggage in the trunk, arrive at your destination, exit the taxi and……
the car speeds off with your belongings ! Just be aware, have one of your
companions stay in the car until all is unloaded or, if alone, leave the
passenger door open till you get your stuff.
Please remember the Philippines is a poor country but not a really bad
one. Like all countries there will be bad people so just be aware, be alert
and have FUN 
Of course, if you want to go to another province you are going to need a boat.

Bangkas. These are native wooden outrigger boats that come in all sizes
and have slowly evolved into large, 100+ passenger, commercial vessels.
The smaller ones will have one engine and will do short trips while the big
ones can have 4 or 5 engines and air conditioning.

RoRos. Meaning Roll On Roll Off these steel vessels are built for cars and
trucks with room for walk on passengers as well. The larger ones have
entire decks filled with bunk beds dormitory style for overnight trips and a
few cabins if you want to pay more.

Fast Craft. Smaller steel boats for passenger only
So come, enjoy, relax and EMBRACE THE CHAOS
Chapter 11: Places to Visit in the Philippines
The Philippines is a tropical paradise, but some places are really much better
than others. If you love the water, then you will not want to leave at all. Here are
some spots you can visit:

Boracay. This is undoubtedly the most famous beach island in the
country. The fun here doesn’t stop and the beauty of the beaches is
undeniable. Of course, it can get overcrowded and is already a bit overcommercialized.

Puerto Galera. This is in Mindoro, and it’s only about 130 kilometers (81
miles) from Metro Manila. It is the only bay in the entire country that is
included in the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World (Club des
Plus Belles Baies du Monde). It is not as commercialized, and the crowds
are not overwhelming. The snorkeling and scuba diving here is superb
with plenty of coral reef and wreck diving. There are also many restaurants
and nightclubs in the area for nightlife lovers.



Baloy Beach. While you may have heard about Olongapo City because of
its seedy reputation for strip joints, Baloy Beach is a wholesome family
area where the diving is also great.

Alona Beach. This is the antithesis of Boracay when it comes to crowds.
The sand here is also white, the diving here is also excellent, but serenity
can also be found here.

Apo Island. This is one of the more popular tourist spots in Dumaguete.
This is also where divers go, and the water is so clear you can see the corals
without having to go underwater.

Puerto Princesa. This Palawan tourist spot, home to the Underground
River, one of the Natural Wonders of the World is also among the more
famous spots for Filipinos going on vacation.

El Nido. This is another Palawan attraction, which is about 238 kilometers
from Puerto Princesa. It has about a hundred beaches altogether, and it
has been chosen by CNN and National Geographic as one of the best travel
destinations in the entire world.

Coron Island. Again found in Palawan, this island boasts one of the most
visited wreck diving sites in the country with more than a dozen sunken
Japanese ships from World War II.
Of course, this is just a partial list. Come to the Philippines and you’ll discover a
lot more places to visit.
Thou Shalt :
1. Learn from a country and people who know how to relax.
2. SLOW down, breathe every breath and enjoy every moment.
3. Try living a simple and unencumbered life.
4. Be fully aware of your surroundings
5. Forget wealth as a measure of success
6. Live for today
7. Play safe !
8. Start now to improve your physical and mental health
9. Remember, today is the first day of the rest of your life..
Conclusion
Thank you again for downloading this book!
I hope this book was able to help you to learn more about the Philippines.
For more information about the author and the Philippines contact:
Sean Cooney
BADLADZ ADVENTURE RESORTS- Puerto Galera
http://badladz.com
YOU TUBE CHANNEL
http://www.youtube.com/badladzresort
Finally, if you enjoyed this book, then I’d like to ask you for a favor, would you be
kind enough to leave a review for this book on Amazon? It’d be greatly
appreciated!
Click here to leave a review for this book on Amazon!
Thank you and good luck!