Is Manilla Really so Bad?
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now I know... 
I was actually thinking,that, maybe there's something so special about you that make them stare...
View attachment 48791
I was actually thinking,that, maybe there's something so special about you that make them stare...
View attachment 48791
Now I feel terrible, like I've been using deceptive emoticons!
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
I'm in Cebu. The last time I had to travel to Manila, it turned into a small nightmare, beginning right after I walked out of the domestic airport. I wanted to get to the nearby MRT (skytrain) station (it was only a couple blocks away). I could have taken a taxi but a pedicab offered me a ride and we agreed on a price of 40 pesos (that's about one US dollar). I thought "I want to help the poor" so I hopped into the pedicab instead of a taxi. That was a big mistake. This guy really "took me for a ride" (pun intended). Yes, he really tricked me. He took me many many blocks, through many backstreets, for a very long time. I started to get concerned about where in the world he was taking me. And the whole way he kept saying this:
"Merry Christmas, 50 dollar! Merry Christmas, 50 dollar!"
By the way here's a tip. Anytime anyone in the Philippines says "Merry Christmas", RUN. (Especially if it's like the middle of July!) In America when someone says "Merry Christmas", that maybe means they are giving you something, but in the Philippines it's the opposite. Anytime anyone on the street says "Merry Christmas", it means YOU GIVE THEM something.
Anyway during this very long mysterious ride through all the backstreets of downtown Manila, every time he said "Merry Christmas, 50 dollar!", I simply said back to him: "Yah you give me 50 dollar." Well he got happy every time I said that, as if he thought I was agreeing to give him 50 dollars. I really started to get concerned that at the end of this very long ride to God knows where, he would actually expect 50 DOLLARS. And sure enough, when the ride finally ended -- at a different, far away MRT station -- he actually did expect and demand 50 DOLLARS. I later realized what he had done. He purposely took me to an MRT station further up the line, to really try to earn that 50 dollars.
I told him "I'll give you 50 PESOS", and smiles dropped and things got real serious, and he said in clear English "NO, YOU GIVE *ME* 50 DOLLAR." I tried to give him the 50 pesos and he refused. Then I walked away, walking down the jungle street in this loud metropolis, loaded down with baggage in both arms. The guy was all over me. I couldn't shake him off. I was seriously started to get worried that I was gonna get stabbed or something. I couldn't shake him off though I was trying to get away, and then he changed his demand to 200 pesos and I continued to refuse, while watching my back! I really felt that I was in danger, so I actually jumped out in the middle of the street to stop all traffic, to get attention and get visibility. But that was a stupid idea with the traffic and horns blowing at me, so I aborted that stunt. Then I kept going, loaded down with baggage, trying to escape from the guy. Actually there was no hope of escaping from him so I was looking for a police officer. I saw some armed pawn shop security guard but he was totally useless of course because his job was to simply guard that pawn shop.
Then finally the guy harassing me actually suggested getting the police, believe it or not. And he saw one and ran ahead and talked to the policeman before I could. The policeman judged everything without even talking to me and came to me and said:
"Sir, 100 pesos is reasonable for that distance."
So you see, we agreed on 40 pesos. Then he took me to a far away destination and changed it to 50 DOLLARS. Then it changed to 200 pesos. And now in front of the police, it's 100 pesos.
At this point I was irate and told the police officer I'm not paying more than 50 pesos and told the officer that the whole way he kept saying "Merry Christmas 50 dollar!". The officer repeated that to him and the guy answered back in Tagalog acting as if he didn't even understand "Merry Christmas" (playing dumb and totally denying everything). I asked the officer if I could be on my way and he said no because this man has a complaint against me. I said "Well I have a complaint against him!!!". Then the officer pretends to not know who to believe (but I'm sure he knew that an American tourist wouldn't make up all of this, but he had to pretend to be unbiased). And I asked again to please let me be on my way, and again the officer said he can't because this man has a complaint against me, and again I said "Well I have a complaint against him!", and so the officer said:
"Then I have to take you both to the jail".
I assume he meant the police station, but in any case, I said "Okay!!! Let's go!!!".
Then he began to escort us "to the jail" (and I was quite ready to settle it all there), but then finally the pedicab driver looked back at his pedicab and then finally put out his hand to accept the 50 pesos from me.
Then I told the officer PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS GUY STAYS OFF MY BACK -- I'M GOING TO ENTER THE MRT THERE RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU!
The End.
"Merry Christmas, 50 dollar! Merry Christmas, 50 dollar!"
By the way here's a tip. Anytime anyone in the Philippines says "Merry Christmas", RUN. (Especially if it's like the middle of July!) In America when someone says "Merry Christmas", that maybe means they are giving you something, but in the Philippines it's the opposite. Anytime anyone on the street says "Merry Christmas", it means YOU GIVE THEM something.
Anyway during this very long mysterious ride through all the backstreets of downtown Manila, every time he said "Merry Christmas, 50 dollar!", I simply said back to him: "Yah you give me 50 dollar." Well he got happy every time I said that, as if he thought I was agreeing to give him 50 dollars. I really started to get concerned that at the end of this very long ride to God knows where, he would actually expect 50 DOLLARS. And sure enough, when the ride finally ended -- at a different, far away MRT station -- he actually did expect and demand 50 DOLLARS. I later realized what he had done. He purposely took me to an MRT station further up the line, to really try to earn that 50 dollars.
I told him "I'll give you 50 PESOS", and smiles dropped and things got real serious, and he said in clear English "NO, YOU GIVE *ME* 50 DOLLAR." I tried to give him the 50 pesos and he refused. Then I walked away, walking down the jungle street in this loud metropolis, loaded down with baggage in both arms. The guy was all over me. I couldn't shake him off. I was seriously started to get worried that I was gonna get stabbed or something. I couldn't shake him off though I was trying to get away, and then he changed his demand to 200 pesos and I continued to refuse, while watching my back! I really felt that I was in danger, so I actually jumped out in the middle of the street to stop all traffic, to get attention and get visibility. But that was a stupid idea with the traffic and horns blowing at me, so I aborted that stunt. Then I kept going, loaded down with baggage, trying to escape from the guy. Actually there was no hope of escaping from him so I was looking for a police officer. I saw some armed pawn shop security guard but he was totally useless of course because his job was to simply guard that pawn shop.
Then finally the guy harassing me actually suggested getting the police, believe it or not. And he saw one and ran ahead and talked to the policeman before I could. The policeman judged everything without even talking to me and came to me and said:
"Sir, 100 pesos is reasonable for that distance."
So you see, we agreed on 40 pesos. Then he took me to a far away destination and changed it to 50 DOLLARS. Then it changed to 200 pesos. And now in front of the police, it's 100 pesos.
At this point I was irate and told the police officer I'm not paying more than 50 pesos and told the officer that the whole way he kept saying "Merry Christmas 50 dollar!". The officer repeated that to him and the guy answered back in Tagalog acting as if he didn't even understand "Merry Christmas" (playing dumb and totally denying everything). I asked the officer if I could be on my way and he said no because this man has a complaint against me. I said "Well I have a complaint against him!!!". Then the officer pretends to not know who to believe (but I'm sure he knew that an American tourist wouldn't make up all of this, but he had to pretend to be unbiased). And I asked again to please let me be on my way, and again the officer said he can't because this man has a complaint against me, and again I said "Well I have a complaint against him!", and so the officer said:
"Then I have to take you both to the jail".
I assume he meant the police station, but in any case, I said "Okay!!! Let's go!!!".
Then he began to escort us "to the jail" (and I was quite ready to settle it all there), but then finally the pedicab driver looked back at his pedicab and then finally put out his hand to accept the 50 pesos from me.
Then I told the officer PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS GUY STAYS OFF MY BACK -- I'M GOING TO ENTER THE MRT THERE RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU!
The End.
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sorry to hear that sir roboop.,
That's one of the sad reality here Philippines, someone filipinos [abusive, educated/educated] will
take advantage of you especially if are a foreigner/tourist. Even us (of their own race) is inevitable.
That's why whenever i visit other places as much as possible i want to have a companion.
That's one of the sad reality here Philippines, someone filipinos [abusive, educated/educated] will
take advantage of you especially if are a foreigner/tourist. Even us (of their own race) is inevitable.
That's why whenever i visit other places as much as possible i want to have a companion.
yeah i feel sorry too.. but i have to admit MERRY CHRISTMAS 50 DOLLARS!! is funny.. wherever we are we just really need to be extra careful. ive tried when we crossed the pedestrian lane in Cebu City and then we were busy talking with my friend, and didnt notice that someone was slowly opening the zipper of my backpack and got my phone and coin purse. but still he was shocked when my other friend who was walking behind him said to him "IVE SEEN THAT!GIVE IT TO ME!" (i guess he's just new to that dirty business) so he was shocked and gave her the phone but taking with him the coin purse , i was thankful that he just ran leaving my friend safe and he didnt get my allowance which is in the other wallet. so far when we went to Manila everything was fine because im not alone. Manila is busier than Cebu so be more careful.. God be with you
yeah i feel sorry too.. but i have to admit MERRY CHRISTMAS 50 DOLLARS!! is funny.. wherever we are we just really need to be extra careful. ive tried when we crossed the pedestrian lane in Cebu City and then we were busy talking with my friend, and didnt notice that someone was slowly opening the zipper of my backpack and got my phone and coin purse. but still he was shocked when my other friend who was walking behind him said to him "IVE SEEN THAT!GIVE IT TO ME!" (i guess he's just new to that dirty business) so he was shocked and gave her the phone but taking with him the coin purse , i was thankful that he just ran leaving my friend safe and he didnt get my allowance which is in the other wallet. so far when we went to Manila everything was fine because im not alone. Manila is busier than Cebu so be more careful.. God be with you
OHHHH.... There was a time wherein I felt really sorry for this beggar so I gave him some money but only to find out his companions was already busy getting my cellphone!
A very sad reality of what people can do here just to earn money. Sad reality of how hard life is that lead to some people to take advantage to others. But nevertheless, I know a lot of them still choose to be fair and not take advantage despite of their situation.
I was 22 when I first went to Manila with a friend. We arrived there around 10 pm. It was a long story, but we paid 1500 pesos on a taxi at that night, the most expensive fare I ever paid on a taxi in my entire life.
Here in Davao I once paid an extra 200 pesos for a fare of 200 something, and that was around December too, so it's Christmas. When the taxi driver told me the fare I was shocked and checked the meter again, I tried to rebut, and he said cuz I picked a taxi from the airport and that's their policy really and said Ma'am it's Christmas anyway. Lol so yeaahh that's one thing here in the Philippines if it's Christmas "some" expect more from you as a gift.
I know it's annoying but I just wished the small extra money I gave to them would go something worthwhile if not... whatever...hehe. Anyway money is just money it will come and it will go.
I was 22 when I first went to Manila with a friend. We arrived there around 10 pm. It was a long story, but we paid 1500 pesos on a taxi at that night, the most expensive fare I ever paid on a taxi in my entire life.
Here in Davao I once paid an extra 200 pesos for a fare of 200 something, and that was around December too, so it's Christmas. When the taxi driver told me the fare I was shocked and checked the meter again, I tried to rebut, and he said cuz I picked a taxi from the airport and that's their policy really and said Ma'am it's Christmas anyway. Lol so yeaahh that's one thing here in the Philippines if it's Christmas "some" expect more from you as a gift.
I know it's annoying but I just wished the small extra money I gave to them would go something worthwhile if not... whatever...hehe. Anyway money is just money it will come and it will go.
I wouldn't recommend someone strolling in Manila all alone not unless he or she is very familiar with the place.
OHHHH.... There was a time wherein I felt really sorry for this beggar so I gave him some money but only to find out his companions was already busy getting my cellphone!
OHHHH.... There was a time wherein I felt really sorry for this beggar so I gave him some money but only to find out his companions was already busy getting my cellphone!
