Non lethal weapons are one thing, but if a body wants to bring in firearms they do require registering and you need a good excuse such as for a competitive shooting match. If you really insist on being stupid and want to carry heat for ""protection"" you don't need to try to smuggle it in. Firearms of almost any description can be obtained on the black market. It is illegal for normal citizens to possess firearms and that also applies to foreigners without proper registrations and permits. As you have noted, foreigners are held to a different standard. More than likely if you were merely caught in possession you would be deported, but it wouldn't be unusual to be ""sequestered"" for a while if you had injured an attacker. Don't expect the US Embassy to intervene, they don't involve themselves in domestic police matters. As I've said before, your best defense is between your ears. Be aware of your surroundings, be friendly and smile!

Yes, there's no problem bringing the stuff in, but if you walk around armed with tasers, pepper spray etc., and you get into a problem where you have to use it, you will not be treated in a very understanding manner by the PNP. You may very well end up in the same ""hotel"" as your attacker. So if you have a weapon, and you use it, toss it before the police arrives or run in a different direction... As mentioned here so many times before, a foreigner does not get away with as much as the local citizen. I have friends in higher echelons of the Philippine police, and even they always admit to me the problem with corruption and bias against foreign visitors, which means that all of a sudden you may end up in the slammer and your attacker goes free if you injure him with your non-lethal weapons. Just some random observations...

just to throw this out there...would anyone here in this group know if there are va approved schools in the pi that i could use under the montgomery gi bill? tnx...mike by the way i think this is the best site ive seen so far for the info ive been looking for relocating to the pi. i only have until july 2003 to use my va school benifits since i retired july 93. i'll be in the pi no later than oct. this year

Yes there are. Check out the RAO sites at Subic and Clark. If there aren't any listed an e-mail to either one will get you the info. I know a retired Marine MSGT who attended school on the GI bill, but can't recall which one.

Someone send this to me from another group. I never open exe files so was sure I did not have it. But I did. Though you may be sure you do not have it, I suggest you check. I do not think is a good idea to send messages like this. But since I had it, I decided to send it to the group and others.

I don't know of any schools here or in the States where the GI bill has not been approved for use. I think you can use if for flower arrangements. Many have used it at UP, and there are some using it at Silleman in Dumaguete. The VA is very liberal about this I believe.

Someone send this to me from another group. I never open exe files so was sure I did not have it. But I did. Though you may be sure you do not have it, I suggest you check. I do not think is a good idea to send messages like this. But since I had it, I decided to send it to the group and others.

This is a hoax I believe, created by a Portugese. This type of email was sent around the Makati business community summer of last year and caused a slight panic. Research found that the file was a legitimate Windows file, however it is seldom used so deletion causes no harm to the usual Windows user.

Thank you, so much. I deleted it and also from my recycle bin. How do I get it back? Must I reinstall windows 2000? They have the recovery instructions for 98 and ME, but not 2000. I have notified the guy who sent it to me. He sent it to a large list too. I am very happy you caught it so quickly adam. I hope I was the only one fooled.

I got this email from a Filipina friend some days ago about the use of shabu. Is it really true there are so many shabu users now in the PI, even in the provinces? Does somebody know what is shabu in english? Is this type of drug also sold in the west? ""dont u have the problem of drugs there? here in our country n even in our city,shabu is so rampant even sons of rich n poor r mostly users...bec its so accessible now,,u can buy 1 sachet of shabu for 100pesos so thats explain why many are hooked on them...""

Shabu is certainly very common in the west. You know it as methamphetamine. With the know-how anyone can cook it up in their kitchen and it's cheap. You'll find it in almost every community in the RP, probably even more common than marijuana. Possession is a capital offense in the RP.

I have to agree with Don - it's a breeze. The airport's efficient and easy to clear. The cost is reasonable. There's no hassle or having to negotiate a fare. It's easy for both coming and going.

The chances that you get attacked are not high. But if you do, and you successfully defend yourself, most criminals are not stupid enough to run to the police..chances are, they are known criminals anyway. I'll take my chances and beat the offender into submission ha ha

Yes, there's no problem bringing the stuff in, but if you walk around armed with tasers, pepper spray etc., and you get into a problem where you have to use it, you will not be treated in a very understanding manner by the PNP. You may very well end up in the same ""hotel"" as your attacker. So if you have a weapon, and you use it, toss it before the police arrives or run in a different direction... As mentioned here so many times before, a foreigner does not get away with as much as the local citizen. I have friends in higher echelons of the Philippine police, and even they always admit to me the problem with corruption and bias against foreign visitors, which means that all of a sudden you may end up in the slammer and your attacker goes free if you injure him with your non-lethal weapons. Just some random observations...

Hi, this is Roger a new member. Are there any members living in Dipolog City? That is where my wife Lourdes is from. appreciate the input.

As Ron reports, Shabu in the Philippines is comparable to methamphetamine in the US (""crank""). In the US, this commodity is referred to as the ""poor man's cocaine,"" because it is a stimulant but much cheaper to produce than what imported cocaine products cost. Although I had been seeing reports since 1990 about Shabu in the Philippines, often involving Korean and Chinese criminal types (and more recently, Australians and other foreigners), I've had the impression that it's not as common as on the US west coast (where every community has conspicuous users). When I was last in Pangasinan in 1999, my brother-in-law, involved in local politics, told me that any arrests for minor possession was made a big deal in the media because it was good publicity for law enforcement.

Below is a great site for 'immunizing' your brain on virus hoaxes. A good rule of thumb for everyone is never pass verbose warnings of viruses. Best to simply say ""Here's a virus warning you should see.. {WEBLINK HERE}"" If everyone were to follow this rule, these things would die. Unfortunately, people find it easier to click the ""FORWARD"" button rather than research to make sure it is the truth that they are forwarding. http://www.snopes2.com/computer/virus/virus.htm But don't feel bad. you are one of thousands before you who unknowingly propagate these clever messages that afford the author his perverted need for what I like to call ""anonymous fame"" (something that you achieve if your hoax gets press on CNN or the Wall St. Journal). It's all just a technological version of ""wives tales"".

Has anybody spent any time in Moalboal I have been looking at varrious websites It looks like a great place and not to far from Cebu City? whats the best way to get there? is it a safe place and traveling to it, is that a safe road? how about accomodation can you recomend and is there any internet cafes there?

I haven't spent any time in Moalboal, but it seems to be one of the favorites of divers and snorkelers. It's 3 hours from the airport by taxi. You would pass through CarCar heading through Barili and south to Moalboal. A taxi should run about P1,200+ and some resorts will arrange transportation for you. You can take a taxi from the airport to the south terminal in Cebu City (P200), then bus to Moalboal (I think it's about P50). From there you can take a tricycle to any of the resorts. Happy trip!

no offense, but let's talk about the philippines. ne time u have ne question about viruses or virus hoaxes go 2 this site b4 passing the message along. u ppl r doing exactly what the originator intended which is 2 clog the internet w/useless information. even the anit-virus sites tell u not 2 pass these messages on. so let's stop this thread, pls. sorry if i have offended neone. here is a great site 4 all virus info. save it as a favorite and u will never b misinformed. this first site will register u, 4 free, 2 email u netime there is a real virus alert:

If more people use these shortcuts in thier text, we won't have to hesitate to catch their meaning. Perhaps you're a Victor Borga fan. (o: no offense, but let's talk about the philippines. ne time u have ne question about viruses or virus hoaxes go 2 this site b4 passing the message along. u ppl r doing exactly what the originator intended which is 2 clog the internet w/useless information. even the anit-virus sites tell u not 2 pass these messages on. so let's stop this thread, pls. sorry if i have offended neone. here is a great site 4 all virus info. save it as a favorite and u will never b misinformed. this first site will register u, 4 free, 2 email u netime there is a real virus alert:

I read the NY Times story, which said China can produce software more cheaply than India and has tech schools that at least match India's. The article says the only advantage India has over China is that software techs are taught in English. Seems to me that this could be an advantage for the RP, too, where many people not only speak and write good English but are familiar with the culture and idioms of the English-speaking world. But it's also clear that this advantage won't last forever. Good fortune to all,

Don't kid yourselves, shabu use is rampant here in the Philippines. It is available everywhere, Manila, and all the provinces. Cebu probably has a higher ""per capita"" use rate than Manila. The barangay I live in, Tisa, is considered one of the two worst in Cebu. This doesn't mean you see it being sold openly on the street, but believe me, anyone can get it if they want to. Posession of small amounts is not a capital crime, only amounts over 200g rate the death penalty. Personal users rarely are arrested because they can usually buy off the police, who are often users themselves. They often confiscate the shabu for their own use. Shabu use gives a sense of confidence and well being to people who are usually on the bottom of the economic ladder and who have little hope of improving their lot. Unfortunately it also results in a downward spiral of depression, paranoia and despair, with no way out. This is a problem that will never be solved by strict law enforcement, but only by improving opportunities for the poor to make a decent living. Just my two pesos worth.

From my experience and research here, asking users, sellers and the police, I find Rick's answer correct. And I believe his solution is too. Young children in the slum areas are using it as are those in the wealthiest areas of the Philippines, old and young. Since Filipinos generally are happy people and from what I can see, use is moderate it is not causing a problem like it may be in if it were so cheap and available in the States. But it does make Arroyo's job harder. She wants to take away everyone's candy while making the country free of crime and corruption. Is their any wonder why she is having such difficulty. The precentage of those using this drug is very high. The pecentage who are abusing it is much lower. But as time goes on, who knows what havoc it will bring. This, to me, is the biggiest looming danger in the Philippines, and I don't think anybody has the answer. If you give the poor jobs, they will buy more. Education never seems to work with these things. Legalization seems a lame option. I hope someone has an answer, any answer. It is so easy to make and is being made here now, how can you enforce laws against it, when people don't mind going to jail anyway. You can get it in jail probably cheaper.

Shabu is called ""Meth"" in the States and the old slang term was ""Speed"" but another is ""Ice"" ; it's an EVERGROWING PROBLEM the Philippines and you should be aware of its users' symptoms so you can stay clear of them. Talking fast or in an illogical way, chewing their teeth, staying up for 2 or 3 nights at a time and aggressive behavior are a few of the signs. The most dangerous situation arises when they haven't slept of 3 days and they hullucinate which is when they turn violent and imagine seeing you as some large threatening insect or something. It's not likely to go away because the profit margin on making it is about 20+ times the investment in a small laboratory and a few ingredients. The Motorcycle gangs in the States have been making similiar drugs at home in their bathtubs since the 60s. Also the Mexican mafia in the States have established labs and distribution all over; my home state of Iowa has a major problem with shabu or Meth. Anytime you notice a violent murder reported with 15 or 20 stab wounds in the victim, it's SHABU.

I'm looking for beautiful, sedate locations in the Philippines that would be make a good writers' hideaway; where someone could get a 3-6 month rental fairly inexpensively, and have interaction with a community (or not) as one pleases. You know, sometimes you want to hang-out with people and sometimes you want solitude to do you work. My criteia are: -- safe -- healthy (preferably no malaria) -- reasonably quiet (e.g. no cities) -- not too far off the beaten path -- inexpensive (e.g. Boracay and up-market places are out) -- beautiful (interior/mtn region is fine; doesn't have to be on the ocean) -- little to no nightlife (nightlife usually attracts obnoxious loud people) -- a place with a fair amount of other artists or writers -- good cafes, bohemian feel Any suggestions? If you've ever been to Ubud, Bali, are there any places similar to it in the Philippines (safe, inexpensive, fascinating culture, peace and quiet a 20 minute walk away from the center of town, many local and expat artists, little to no nightlife to speak of, interesting things to do and, almost forgot, great eatin'). Some places I'm considering: -- Sagada -- Palawan Island (presumably tourists aren't being abducted there these days - or are they?) -- Malapascula Island -- Dumaguete (I like University towns; is there a more pleasant one that I've missed?) -- Catadunes -- Bohol -- Camiguin Island Anyone know what the apartment and/or long-term bungalow rental scene would be like in these places? Roughly how much should I pay for a small, basic clean place? Are there expat communities in these places? Not that this is of great importance; but it might be nice every so often to be able to speak with expats if I were to live in a foreign country for more than a month or so. I don't see the point of living in a foreign country and not wanting to interact fully with the local people. I'd like to steer clear of Mindano or anywhere else considered dangerous. But then isn't Abu Sayaf threatening to harm tourists throughout the Philippines? What type of people were abducted from Palawan Island? Rich business people, missionaries, or regular Joe tourists? I didn't realize the abductees (20 of them?!?) were taken from Palawan. I thought it was somewhere in Mindano. How real is the risk of other abductions in other places frequented by travelers? I'd also like to steer clear of tacky tourist build-up. Ubud is getting worse, but it's still wonderful just a short distance out of town. Me, I love walking all around. Great exercise, contemplative, etc. So long as I'm within a 30 minutes' walk of a village center, that's fine. Also looking for Ubud-like places in Thailand and Malaysia; though I hear there's nothing quite like Ubud anywhere on earth. The Philippines seems like it has the greatest potential to have Ubud- like places out of the three. Where in the Philippines would you go if you were a writer looking for a writing retreat?

We visited Sagada a few years back, and ended up staying for almost a month. Initially, it was hard to believe that we were still in the Philippines. No trash, no beggars, almost no traffic, and friendly locals speaking better English than we did. Great coffee shops and bars, and a 9 PM curfew. And definitely inexpensive. To top it off, on the night before we left, the owners of our guesthouse gave a dinner for us, and baked a cake with our name on it. That was a Philippine experience we've yet to match.

Moalboal is about a P1200 taxi ride from Cebu City though I got one for P800 last time. But there is a very good van ride for P85. That is how I got back. Montrose has places from P1,200 aircon to 600 non aircon. At this time of year you don't need aircon. Mary Place is a good place to hang out. And there is another place where you can see the water but I can't remember the name. It is more popular. The thing there is scuba and not much else. The internet cafe is very expensive, as I recall, something like $5.00 US per hour or more and there is only one place. It is very beautiful and there are some hiking trips you can take. There is night life around near by, I was told but did not look for it. If you type in Moalboal in your browser you should find a lot more on accommodations, reasonable. The food is pretty good most places, but not outstanding I assure you.

I love Sagada. Clean, inexpensive and quiet. Gives you space to think and muse. American portions available. Very fresh veggies. Cool mountain air and misty mornings. Happy and hospitable people. The downside is you are so far from medical help. And seafoods are expensive (if you like seafoods). If you are planning to write this place is definitely great.

Dear Friends, we have 584, of whom 38 are new members who have not been subjected to this recurring post. And, I send it with thanks to all the members, who through their participation, patience, courtesy and concern and work, have been able to make it a valuable and unique resource for those interested in the Philippines for living, retirement, traveling, doing business, or just the simple joy of being here. So it goes: Dear new members and old friends, We have 584 members now, picking up two or there a day. Everyone adds some richness and insight to the list, even if it is only the questions you ask. This has become a very large list, very quickly and now has become worthy of spam. So the moderators and I decided to moderate the post of new members. If you are new, your message may not go on immediately, at first because of review. This is also a high traffic list, sometimes 35-40 posts a day, sometimes over a hundred, never none. If there are too many post for you or things you are not interested in, go to www.groups.yahoo.com and switch to ""no e-mail."" That way, you can then read selected messages while online, from the Yahoo site. You can leave them there or delete them. There are many posts in the searchable archives that are open to you and may provide you with some of the information you are looking for and may not even have the questions formulated. I hope you take the time to read those that are important to you and excuse some of them that are little or no value. Please feel free to post on new subjects or old subjects you would like to have expanded or commented on. But if you check the archives first you may find a long comprehensive thread on that subject already exists, well explained, better than the new explanation you will get from your post. In the files section of our Yahoo Groups list, there is a 2.5 megabyte file from our old home, ""Listbot"" with 1,300 or so messages on it, some with valuable information. There are comprehensive post from the time when the list was new. You can download the file. Just click ""Living in the Philippines"" then on ""your groups,"" then click on ""files."" There you will see the compressed listbot file. It was put up by Robert Warren, our resident database guru, who lives here in Cebu. In the photo section you can post pictures of yourself, your family, honey ko's, and Philippine related photos, and even have your own album. Please feel free to browse it and upload to it. You can find pictures of stunning attractive people and some uglies too, (see the ""Herrington"" folder.) If you have a beautiful girl friend(s), please post pictures immediately. :) We have covered a wide range of topics. It is important to stay ""on topic."" What that means is if you want to talk about golf, that is for the a golf list or newsgroup devoted to golf. But if you want to talk about golf in the Philippines, this is where to do it. Off topics posts are a list killers. People join this list to get information about what is going on here in the Philippines and how it relates to them and here. We all try to provide that. Occasionally I may ban a topic that is related but is just too volatile to moderate for such a large and diverse group of people. Every rule is not in the book. Just use your good common sense about commercial posts, posting someone else's post (give them credit,) remember this is a non profit non commercial list. When one of the moderators or I say a topic is banned, that is the end. Please respect our judgment, flawed though it may be. We don't do it often. If you want to discuss it, do it with me off list. Maybe we can come to some kind of compromise, best for the list.

This list seems to be the one place where people are interested not only in the ordinary practical problems like cost of living, transpiration and others, but the challenges of relating to the culture can discuss them for the expat point of view. soc.culture.filipino, a long time and successful newsgroup, rarely addresses the issues we do in the depth we do. I guess that is because it is a newsgroup where they tend to the express opinions, but not always from experience and not as structured an approach. There are a lot of arguments, flames, and arguments there. Most are counter productive But that news group is valuable too, in it own way. If you are involved in a relationship with a Filipina or Filipino you may find the Mag-Anak Yahoo list very helpful too. We complement one another. The URL is www.mag-anak.com. Ray Bacon, also a member of this lists is a fountain of information in that and other areas. You can get a lot of guidance from men married to Filipinas successfully and unsuccessfully on this list too. In the archives there are free pen pal sites, legal in this country. Some are involved in relationships and are on their way over here to meet their brides to be or just girlfriends. We may refer you to websites for answers that we don't have or don't have the time to get into. Please be aware our advice carries no guarantee. Mine is only about 60 percent right on good days. There are so many new members, living here, with all kinds of expertise, I can't name them all. We have people who are knowledgeable from as far north as Baugio and far south as General Santos City. David Harrison, Billy Reese, and Thomas Glenn are moderators. Both Dave and Billy are married to Filipinas. Dave is an editor of a highly respected US business daily, who kindly tries to clean up after me sometimes. Tomas is a world traveler, with a bent for the eloquent. When he posts I am sure you will enjoy it, whatever it is about. Billy is very helpful and always there to help when we need him, technical whiz that he is, in addition to his expertise he shares with us, and his interest in and knowledge of the Philippines. I live in Cebu City, single, at the moment, but plan to marry to Ani from Leyte soon, if common sense does not get to her first or the bureaucracy does not delay us even more. We have a some Filipina wives and some other Filipinas married and single, and a number of Filipino men. I am not sure of the demographics of the list, who is Filipino, British, Norwegian,American, male or female because I don't ask those questions. As long as people are interested in living, traveling, retiring, playing or even doing businessmen in the Philippines and they follow the list rules, they are welcome. Some members are experts in various fields Some have experience from running businesses, visas, US and Philippines, travel domestically and internationally, but no expert on romance, as yet, here or anywhere I know about. We do have a water expert, several who know a lot about alternative energy sources, pig farming, organic and hydorophonic gardening, culture, different places to live, and others. These are some of the things you may be interested in getting involved in when not relaxing with a local woman, or man, as the case may be, and local libation, be it alcoholic or not. We have some members who have businesses and post opportunities on the list. There is no problem with that as long as it is not in the body of the post, but in the signature block or reasonable size.. If you do, please let me know. We don't allow post on businesses that may be illegal or controversial to the extent of concerning our Filipino hosts. Neither I nor Living in the Philippines endorse any business proposals. Let the buyer beware, as in all business, especially in a country well know for corruption and unethical business practices, like all other developing countries and many developed ones. We have decided not to post on the terrible attack on the US, because there are better places to post on that subject. Please respect that decision. Everyone here is, of course, very upset about it. There are many lists devoted to it. This is not one. Personal attacks, Flames, are not allowed. Attacking anyone, as we all well know, accomplishes nothing. We have had very few problems in this area. Attack the position,if you will, but for sure not the person. If someone does, a moderator or I will immediately remove the offender. As I am sure you all know, mailing list are not a democracy. If they were, their survival rate would be even shorter. All list die. This one will too. Lets keep it alive and earn from and enjoy it while it lasts. This is not a place to grind your axe, especially if you don't know the languages here and don't have a through understanding of the culture as few non Filipinos do. That certainly includes me. After many years here, two Filipina wives in the last twenty plus years, about quarter million needy Filipino relatives, moderating this list for a several months and a lot of study I am still only superficially aware of what is going on. There are others on this list who know much more than I do about many things. But they don't know it all, nor do our very helpful Filipinos. But together, we make a pretty good resource, maybe the best you will find on the Internet or anywhere else for living, retiring, investing, traveling, and doing business in the Philippines. Our web page has a link to a full free book, ""The Mind of the Filipino,"" by Leonardo Mercado. It will enlighten you and is fun to read. And the site also mentions Culture Shock: Philippines, also valuable but not free. You can get it at the bookstore or on line. If you really want to have a happy life or visit here, reading these books and others can be a first step. If you have never been out of your culture you really don't know it. If you come here and get to know the Philippines or any other vastly different culture, you will have the added benefit of understating you own better. Again, welcome to the Living in the Philippines. I hope it provides you information, and even dear friends, as it has me. And I hope it will make your life happier where ever you are and where ever you are going. Just in case you have not read the""official"" list description, I post below: If you have read it or are already experiencing overload. just ignore it. Living in the Philippines: Devoted to helping foreigners who are interested in cheap quality living in a friendly English speaking country get the necessary information to successfully travel and even become an expat in the land of smiles, beautiful people, beaches and mountains. Information on culture, customs, cheap quality education, places to travel in and around the Philippines, cost and location of hotels and permanent lodging, tourist and permanent resident visas and just abut anything else you may want to know about the Philippines. The only rules are no personal attacks that sometimes may occur when heated disagreements arise. No name calling is allowed. And no Filipino bashing is acceptable, none. There are few Filipinos on this list to defend themselves and they are generally such kind and gentle people that they don't need to do so. If you don't understand the culture here, or the country well enough to understand the Filipino/as, this may be just the place for you start. To understand them enough to fully enjoy them and yourself, you may want to learn some of the language, customs and even live here for some time. You will find it a joy indeed.

Yes, it is a breeze as I just went through today. Just to relate an experience on the trip: I travelled Air Canada Montreal to Vancouver and PAL Vancouver to Manilla and then to Cebu. I asked in Montreal about checking my bag. Should it be each 'leg' or only to Manila until I cleared customs. The woman said she could check it to Cebu and I let her. I thought about it most of the trip. When I got to Manila I had to go to the transfer desk where they said it likely wasn't a problem. Went through immigration. Had to go to a special customs desk where they verified it had been checked all the way and they signed my immigration declaration. Then had to go through customs where they just more or less waived me through. Arrived Cebu, picked up the checked bag and went through customs again (with a new declation, although the same) and was basically waived through there also. I am relating this as others may be flying through Manila under similar circumstances.

Ok, option number 327. If I want to open fund a sari sari store, how big must it be to support 5 folks. These folks are way below poverty level but I would like it to provide food and normal shelter for about 5 folks (two of which are married). I guess I am asking, the startup cost. It isnt my responsibility of where it located, or the operation etc, just the intial startup costs to allow a more than good chance of it working. Thanks for any information and sorry, I cant be more specific but I know nothing of what I am talking about....just looking into a one time setup.

If I want to fund 2 kids going to high school and then college, is there a way to deposit money in a bank account, so that the money goes directly to the schools for tuition, uniforms books....everything, but that the money is not able to be removed from the bank for any other reason. Thanks again.