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First of all, it is better to pose this question to long-term foreign residents than Filipinos. Not because Filipinos would mislead you necessarily, but because they only know what it’s like being Filipino in the Philippines. They do not know what it’s like being a foreigner in the Philippines.
Here are some tips:
- Don’t carry and flash large amounts of money. Keep your money locked in the hotel vault.
- Don’t wear expensive watches and jewelry.
- Avoid seedy or “squatter” areas alone and at night. And, never hang in low places like that while drunk.
- Don’t carry your passport around with you. For most purposes here a photocopy will suffice.
- Beware of touts on the street stumping for “money changers.” They usually display impossible exchange rates scrawled on a scrap of paper. These clip-joints, usually located on a side-street or alleyway, use sleight of hand to short change you BELOW the rates honest money changers would provide. Here’s the thing. HONEST money changers don’t use street touts, period. You should check rates daily online at XE Currency Converter - Live Rates. They also have smartphone apps. Now, you may not get as much as the prime exchange rate at a money changer, but most are better than ANY bank and with less time-wasting and paperwork hassles. TIP: In virtually every town, barangay, etc., there’s an MLhuillier. In cities, there are many, sometimes 3 or more within a block or two. But, even if there are 10 near you there’s always ONE that has a much higher exchange rate than the others. Just go into one and ask them which branch has the highest rate.
- Running low on funds? You can send yourself Philippine Pesos cheaper than using an ATM. The service I use is Xoom, a PayPal Service. I have used them for many years (before the PayPal buyout). Send yourself the funds in pesos to be picked up at MLhuillier or 1000s of other locations. Here’s where my MLhuillier tip above can really pay off for you. If you send yourself $1000 or more you can pick up dollars at the nearest MLhuillier, then go to the money changer with the best rates and usually save $30 - $50 on the exchange. Sometimes you can save a bit using Western Union, but the hassle factor isn’t usually worth the savings.
- Keep in mind that Foreigners are often assumed by Filipino vendors to be rich and loose with money, so you will often encounter what I call the “Puti Surcharge” (inflated price due to having white skin, lol). In many cases, the initial quote is not set in stone. However, Filipinos do not haggle like Thai, Middle East, or Mexican vendors, they will generally quote their preferred price, then when asked for the “last price” they will drop to their bottom price (maybe).
- Don’t be loud and obnoxious, and don’t confront eye-to-eye. Filipinos, in general, are very sensitive. They call it “balat sibuyas” (onion skinned). And, because of their 400-year Spanish influence and the Catholic religion, it’s easy to forget that Filipinos are Asian. But, if you’re here for some time it’s common to hear someone say things like “I have no face left to show him” (shamed, they lost face) or “She really has a thick face” (meaning she has no shame or pride). A confrontation with a Filipino can result in anything from causing someone to cry or stop talking to you to them pulling out a pistol or knife and hurting or killing you. Be nice.
- Don’t talk badly of others, particularly if they are poor, gay, etc., even though some Filipinos might do it themselves.
- Refrain from pointing out what’s wrong or backward here. They already hear enough about it from balikbayan OFWs (returning overseas Filipino workers). It’s kinda like, “I can pick on my little brother, but I’ll beat your ass if you do it.” It’s okay if they gossip or complain about their systems, but they don’t like you to do it.
- Do NOT make a scene or complain excessively (or at all) at the immigration office. The government here has grown tired of foreigners getting loud and irate so they have started expelling obnoxious visitors. It would suck to come here and be turned away before you even have a chance to see the sites. Be respectful. Once here, you will find that the satellite offices are usually much nicer and easier to deal with. The one in SM Aura mall is particularly nice and very efficient. Plus, the satellites and provincial offices allow casual dress whereas the main immigration office in Intramuros requires long pants, shirt (no tank tops) and shoes (not flipflops).
- In Manila, you need to keep your wits about you, especially when entering a taxi. Check to make sure the taxi driver engages his meter before you start a trip. Actually, it’s probably better to download the Grab Car app and use that instead of taxis wherever possible. The rate is already fixed and the drivers generally do not ask for or expect tips (though if one is particularly good and helpful you might want to add a little).
- In the Visayan cities, like Cebu, you will notice a huge difference in the taxi drivers’ attitudes and honesty. It is a point of Cebuano pride to be humble and honest. Whereas a Manila driver might pretend he doesn’t have change, a Cebuano driver will try to give you a measly few pesos change back. In this case, you should refuse the change and reward their honesty with a tip instead (it’s a hard job to earn a living as a taxi driver here).
- Unless you’re in a rush or have a lot of baggage avoid the “Airport Taxi” service. The rates they charge are considerably higher than the yellow taxis. And, to make matters worse, they usually have touts based near the exits of the airport to lure you in. Ask a guard where the “metered taxis” are located. Again, you can use Grab at the airport as well.
- Keep in mind that though most Filipinos are warm and honest people you probably won't meet many of those approaching you in touristy areas. The miscreants target foreign tourists, so you will always see the worst element of society here first. Don’t judge all Filipino people by the predators on the street.
- Don’t hand money to beggars, period. They might look “kawawa” (pathetic), but many are “owned” by crime syndicates. And, others are just using the ruse of begging as redirection so they can snatch your phone or wallet. And, you might be able to beat them in a fight but I guarantee you can’t outrun them. Plus, if you give to one be prepared to be beset upon from every angle by a gang of them. I once cautioned a friend about this, he didn’t listen. He said, “But I have a heart.” I said, “Better to have a brain than a heart.” They got his phone AND his wallet.
- Learn to be patient. It’s rare that anything here happens quickly or without bureaucratic red tape. Plus, most things here are done “old-school.” Don’t be surprised to see carbon paper and hand-written journals and log books in use. Patience is truly a virtue here.
- They still have travel agencies here, use them for your travel arrangements. Trust me, for their paltry $3 surcharge they’ll probably save you money on fares and make traveling here much more stress-free. Some of them can even arrange for extra baggage and other services like that.
- Always pre-pay excess baggage in advance when traveling domestically. If you’re staying in a decent hotel they probably have a luggage scale. If not, you can usually buy a cheap handheld scale at a mall. It’s well worth the $7 or so it will cost you. The same 10 kilos of excess baggage might cost you $4 in advance but swell to $50+ at the check-in counter (ouch). I’ve seen Filipinas cry at the counter because the baggage charges ruined their plans. I sometimes get lazy and rather than weigh everything I’ll just assume that it’s 10 kilos over and pay the 200 pesos as a kind of “insurance.” One “promo” trip I took to Thailand ended up costing me about as much for “excess baggage” on the return as the entire inclusive air + room promo trip.
- Don’t fiddle with your cell phone on the street. It’s a sure way to invite a “run by snatching” and lose a phone. In fact, I suggest going to the mall and buying a cheap $10 (push button) phone or a low-end ($35 or so) smartphone and a local sim card. Leave your brand new iPhone in the hotel vault. Filipinos get their phones snatched all the time, and you’re probably not nearly as mindful of snatchers as they are.
- Carry your wallet in your front pocket (if you need to carry it at all). I carry a wallet with a chain connected to my belt loop and still keep it in my front pocket. There are some very skilled pickpockets here.
- Don’t carry a backpack on your back, snatchers will very quickly pull out a box cutter and cut it open and grab your goodies before you know it. Watch what Filipinos do, they carry their backpacks in front of them.
- Don’t buy stuff from street vendors. Even if it seems like a good deal I can guarantee you that you could find the same knockoff sunglasses (or whatever) for half as much somewhere else. Also, it attracts other street urchins to pester you to buy more garbage.
- Don’t go to dangerous or remote areas. Western Mindanao is just probably not worth the risk for foreigners. There are plenty of nice historical areas and beautiful beaches to visit in Luzon and the Visayas.
- Watch the language you use, it might not mean the same thing here as where you’re from. For example, you might call your western girlfriend “bitch’ in a playful way and she may not be offended by it. Whereas, here in the Philippines bitch is generally synonymous with whore. So, if you call your Filipina girlfriend a bitch, even in a playful way, she might be seriously offended (or slap your face) no matter your intentions.
- Names for gays here are not usually meant to be offensive. A Filipino might call a gay man a bayot (Bisaya) or bakla (Tagalog) and neither party would mean any offense (or take any). Some people do use it in a somewhat derogatory manner. For example, Rodrigo Duterte has a habit of calling his detractors “bayot, putang ina” meaning “faggot, son of a (bitch/whore).” I really don’t think he means any real malice by it, it’s just his flamboyant style. Like him or not, he’s not one to mince his words. I find it a refreshing departure from those who are careful to only say what they think people want to hear instead of speaking their minds. For the most part Filipinos are very accepting of LGBTQ. Don't be a homophobe.
- Political correctness here isn’t as pervasive as other countries. Filipinos say things that might shock you, but they don’t mean it in a bad way. I told a girl one time that she had pretty eyes only for her to respond with, “I’m chinky-eyed” and another one told me “I’m not beautiful, I’m black like a neeger.” They didn’t mean it in a derogatory way, of course. They just don’t understand how it is in other counties. By the same token, they do judge (or “grade”) other Filipinos by skin tone. One Filipina said to me (talking about a dark-skinned girl I had dated), “I can’t believe you actually were with with that ugly black Jurassic.”
For men:
Most of the following is not from first-hand experience, but rather from conversations with foreigner victims I have met over the years.
- Don’t buy Viagra (or Cialis or anything else) on the street. If you need it you can get a prescription from a medical clinic in a mall for a >$10 doctor visit and buy legit generic equivalents in the pharmacy cheaper than on the street. Just ask the pharmacy clerk.
- If you feel you must mess around with prostitutes don’t take them to your hotel room. Many are shabu (meth) addicts and will steal anything that’s not nailed down. There are plenty of “short time” hotels you can go to for a couple of hours while your belongings wait safely for you in your hotel room.
- Don’t entertain any young-looking girls who can’t produce a picture ID. They could be underage, and that’s the kind of trouble you don’t want. It doesn't matter if they lie to you about their age (and they will) if you’re caught with a girl under 18 in a private setting you are in big trouble. A few years ago, a guy I knew got in a real mess with that and it cost him a good bit of money to bribe his way out of it.
- Don’t entertain married women. Adultery is a crime here and you could both end up in prison. No joke!
Use your God-given brain. Stay safe, and Mabuhay! It’s more fun in the Philippines!
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