Phillipines, Manila, Makati Happenings

[etsys]

dragonstar87: you cannot bring more than 10,000 peso, unless you declare


Bringing Currency into the Philippines

BRINGING IN AND TAKING OUT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY IN EXCESS OF US$10,000.00

No permit is required from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to bring in to or to take out from the Philippines of foreign currencies. However, foreign currency in excess of US$10,000 carried by the traveler must be declared at the Bureau of Customs Desk in the airport. This is pursuant to the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, which requires all money transactions involving amounts in excess of PhP400,000 to be reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (even if the transaction is done through the banks).

Travelers arriving in the Philippines must submit to the Bureau of Customs Desk in the airport Arrival Area a Declaration Form stating the amount (foreign currency in excess of $10,000.00) being brought in. The source of the money (e.g., personal income) must be stated.

Travelers departing the Philippines must submit to the Bureau of Customs Desk in the airport Departure Area a Declaration Form stating the amount (foreign currency in excess of $10,000.00) to be brought in or taken out of the Philippines. The source of the money (e.g., personal income) must be stated.

BRINGING IN AND TAKING OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINE CURRENCY IN EXCESS OF PHP10,000

The taking in and bringing out of Philippines of Philippine currency in excess of PhP10,000 is strictly prohibited, and any need carry any currency in excess of the said amount must be given authorization by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Cash Division.

[dragonstar87]

its like 300 sing okay

[etsys]

the 10,000 peso rule is for PESO, you can bring other currencies upto 10,000 US$ before need to declare

I bring in 9,000 peso, max, and 1,000 $ max, and if I need more, ATM it is

And if I need more, I am in deep trouble ..

And limit hotel stay and all to payment by CC

[AtlasShrugged]

Originally Posted by dragonstar87

its like 300 sing okay

If you do change in SG, try get small notes. Taxi wun give u changes when u give them.

[etsys]

AtlasShrugged: even if the ride is 200 peso, you give a 1,000 peso, forget about change - no kidding ..

After all, it is Christmas time .. and it is perfectly normal to relieve foreigners of their excessive money in the name of Sharing and Caring

[bolsterposter]

Originally Posted by qarlos

I'll be in Makati Dec 3-15. Anyone want to hang out, get some drinks, check out the local eye candy?

Also any recs for weekend trips? Is it worth it to fly to say Boracay sat morning, come back sunday night?

boracay is fun, but i think at this point of time, it might be a bit rainy. also don't go alone if you can help it. loads of free temporary gfs can go with you if you know where to look

or i don't mind going too, if it's full board paid for

alternatively, can do a day trip to tagatay (2-3 hours away from manila i believe), and dine at antonio's the only other filipino resto that's on the miele guide. have'nt been myself, but i heard it's nice.

personal experience:
NAIA always has a long queue for immigration except if you travel in the early mornings. Hence, i always try to arrange my flights out via t3 instead to avoid the immigration queue

if you are in a hurry though, you can always jump queue at immigration, just tell them your flight is leaving in 20 mins..

one good thing is that now, they finally don't require you to remove your footwear while going through customs checks.. but still pat you down quite aggressively - so always remember to keep your wallets and money in your hand carry or you will be "forced" to make a donation.


on taxi rides:
if you find that you don't have small change or you think the driver is going to say "walang" when you ask for change from 1k php, just stop at 7-11 buy a drink or prepaid top up card, and break your large note. i would rather spend the money on a drink i don't want than feed the cab drivers' "no change" mentality.

as for the 10k php rule, always remember the 3 golden rules:
#1 don't get caught
#2 everything is legal, as long as you don't get caught
#3 if you get caught, refer to #1

[datou]

Originally Posted by AtlasShrugged

If you do change in SG, try get small notes. Taxi wun give u changes when u give them.

singapore change money dfficult to get small notes, they will round up n refund u sgd.
anyway can always change a small amt at manila airport to get some loose change or break your big notes by buying a drink at airport.

go for the white meter taxis n avoid the yellow ones.
i took once ,same distance from airport to 5 stars coach station the white taxi meter appeared abt 80p n the yellow one is abt 160p. yes they tampered the meter.

last week i took the same route white taxi meter is 78p. when paying i said 80 n gave the driver 100p. i got my 20p change .
of course better to hv loose change when taking taxis.
also there's a no. to call for complaints if u want to.

[AtlasShrugged]

Originally Posted by datou

singapore change money dfficult to get small notes, they will round up n refund u sgd.
anyway can always change a small amt at manila airport to get some loose change or break your big notes by buying a drink at airport.

go for the white meter taxis n avoid the yellow ones.
i took once ,same distance from airport to 5 stars coach station the white taxi meter appeared abt 80p n the yellow one is abt 160p. yes they tampered the meter.

last week i took the same route white taxi meter is 78p. when paying i said 80 n gave the driver 100p. i got my 20p change .
of course better to hv loose change when taking taxis.
also there's a no. to call for complaints if u want to.

That's why I keep small notes of 1000php during my prev trip for future use.

[etsys]

Originally Posted by bolsterposter

boracay is fun, but i think at this point of time, it might be a bit rainy. also don't go alone if you can help it. loads of free temporary gfs can go with you if you know where to look

or i don't mind going too, if it's full board paid for

I been in this place .. good and complete .. package

http://www.boracaybeachclub.com/

on taxi rides:
if you find that you don't have small change or you think the driver is going to say "walang" when you ask for change from 1k php, just stop at 7-11 buy a drink or prepaid top up card, and break your large note. i would rather spend the money on a drink i don't want than feed the cab drivers' "no change" mentality.

as for the 10k php rule, always remember the 3 golden rules:
#1 don't get caught
#2 everything is legal, as long as you don't get caught
#3 if you get caught, refer to #1

+1

[manahara]

Originally Posted by etsys

AtlasShrugged: even if the ride is 200 peso, you give a 1,000 peso, forget about change - no kidding ..

After all, it is Christmas time .. and it is perfectly normal to relieve foreigners of their excessive money in the name of Sharing and Caring

Dun say big note like 1000p, I give small note 4x100p for 380p taxi ride the driver also say got no change.

[Cupnoodle]

Originally Posted by etsys

...for a little scary part ..
...so, in front of everybody, at the check in counter, they ask you to open you bag before checking in ...

Wow bro don't scare me? I be landing in NAIA tomorrow morning, hope they don't open my luggage and happen to see some sex toy, condoms, KY, etc...

Have fun

[Tenzing]

Originally Posted by Cupnoodle

Wow bro don't scare me? I be landing in NAIA tomorrow morning, hope they don't open my luggage and happen to see some sex toy, condoms, KY, etc...

Have fun

Condoms, KY are ok items to bring along but sex toys are illegal in the PI..... that was what we were briefed by the MFA staffer prior to our deployment for the disaster relief mission a few years ago. I dun think the law has been changed.

[etsys]

Originally Posted by Tenzing

Condoms, KY are ok items to bring along but sex toys are illegal in the PI..... that was what we were briefed by the MFA staffer prior to our deployment for the disaster relief mission a few years ago. I dun think the law has been changed.

but then again, in the spirit of the season, even KY and Condoms can be considered obscene .. all in the name of some donation to some Charity run by BI/PNP/BoC !!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by manahara

Dun say big note like 1000p, I give small note 4x100p for 380p taxi ride the driver also say got no change.

Go to far away places, taxi drivers always return balance, heck, even give discount to round off the fare ..

So is my aversion to Manila ..

[Longitude]

You can always break your notes from the hotel cashier. I do that all the time.

[datou]

Originally Posted by Cupnoodle

Wow bro don't scare me? I be landing in NAIA tomorrow morning, hope they don't open my luggage and happen to see some sex toy, condoms, KY, etc...

Have fun

when u deal w this type of people, must be steady n try to reason your way out but don't be agressive. i was once stopped at the conveyor for carrying aa size rechargeable batteries. i told them hv been carrying through many airports why no problem n handphone also have battery is allowed.
they nothing to say n i walked on.

many a times they sense notes in my pocket n hinted me for money but i just smiled n walk off pretending don't know wat they meant.

they will try all sorts of pranks to get your money, so we also try to outsmart them.
but always remember don't be agressive but don't give in too easily.
if kenna stubborn ones then bopian, hv to give lor.