Philippineangels.com is unlike any other internet dating site. We check the birth certificates and photo Id of all the ladies before their profile is uploaded. We meet most of the girls in our office in Tacloban or on our tour of the islands where we meet women personally before they are published onto the site.
Getting Here and Getting Around
The Philippines are served by two international airports, Cebu in the centre of the islands which also serves the larger island of Mindanao and Manila in the north. Both airports have carriers from around the globe using hub and spoke systems. This means that from the UK for example, there are no direct flights to the Philippines, although several airlines (e.g. Qatar airways) can get you here with flights from Manchester, London Heathrow and London Gatwick to both Cebu and Manila. They Stop at Doha and then you have to change fights to either Cebu or Manila. From Europe expect to take 24 hours+ to fly here, due to the stop over time and of course the time difference (The Philippines
are GMT +8hours). From USA and other parts of Asia there are many airlines which do fly directly so it’s best to check out the best deals online. If in doubt, check out the schedules onhttp://www.opodo.com/ or http://www.expedia.com/ or other such agencies to find out the routes and airlines available. Try contacting the airline direct; they are sometimes cheaper than many of so called
discount agents. Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport is served by National and International carriers, listed below are the airlines and destinations they serve, if in doubt always check with the airline first to ensure the flights you require are available to integrate into your itinerary;
Airlines operating in Ninoy Aquino International Airport
as of January 2009
Bacolod, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Iloilo, Jakarta, Kalibo, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Laoag, Legazpi, Macau, Malay, Naga, Osaka-Kansai, Puerto Princesa, Roxas City, San Jose (Mindoro), Seoul-Incheon, Singapore, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Taipei-Taoyuan, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga
Bacolod, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Beijing, Busan, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Fukuoka, General Santos, Guam, Hangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Iloilo, Jakarta, Kalibo, Laoag, Las Vegas, Legazpi, Los Angeles, Macau, Melbourne, Nagoya-Centrair, Osaka-Kansai, Puerto Princesa, Roxas City, San Francisco, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong, Singapore, Sydney, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Taipei-Taoyuan, Tokyo-Narita, Vancouver, Xiamen, Zamboanga
One thing to remember is that because there are many Filipinos working overseas, getting here at Christmas is virtually impossible as seats get booked up very early, so after October for example the prices can be double what they normally are. Do also bear in mind that returning from the Philippines at Christmas is also much cheaper than usual. Once you arrive here it can be quite a daunting experience for the unprepared or
unseasoned traveller. I remember my first time here when I landed at Cebu; the public are not allowed to be near the arrivals area at the terminal. So when you exit after clearing customs, there was no open armed lady waiting to great me, just an army of licensed bandits in Taxis wishing to rid me of as many pesos as possible. Manila is a different story. Ninoy Aquino airport is quite modern in comparison and as such has a taxi rank outside the
arrivals area and is much more user friendly than Cebu. That said, I prefer Cebu because of its muchmore intimate atmosphere and quieter ambiance, though be prepared for a landing similar to that on a freshly ploughedfield. The runway is not as long as many newer aviation establishments.
Being made of concrete one can feel all the expansion joints as the pilot engages reverse thrust and applies the brakes preventing you from saying “Hi” to the unsuspecting rice farmers at the end of the runway. If you do wear dentures, it’s a good idea to have your top set in place with an extra strong impact adhesive to avoid touchdown embarrassment. The airport after all, is an updated airfield which was built during USA army occupation in WW2, retrieved, by General Macarthur after he had ousted the Japanese invaders back to the rising sun.
If you are still uncertain about landing in the Philippines and you want your lady to meet you, why not take advantage of our greetings package. Where we will bring your lady from her home town / city and bring her to the airport of your
arrival to greet you. For further details
please see our section on; “getting you together”.
It is very likely that if you are lucky enough to have your lady there to meet you, chances are she will have to have travelled far to meet you at either Cebu or Manila. So please do not expect to get in a car and arrive to her home town in a few hours. My advice would be to book into a hotel close by the airport or get a connecting flight / ferry. Both airports serve the many provincial airports around the islands. Check out Philippine airways and . Cebu pacific airlines. For ferries to the provincial areas of Bohol, Mindanao, Leyte or surrounding islands check out the Philippine ferry schedule on http://www.schedule.ph/
Some of the ferries in the Philippines are aging vessels and have only limited accommodation for long distance travel. Even on shorter distance, prepare for basic seats and the only option of soup and soft drinks for refreshments. There is usually a videoke to entertain you on board, though be sure to get there early to avoid disappointment. The ferries like all other modes of transport are relatively cheap, Cebu - Ozamis for example will set you back around 1200 peso for a cabin or if you wish to share a dormitory type bed with 500 others, tourist class is around 800 pesos. For islands like Leyte, there are “Supercat” services on high speed catamaran type ships which take around 3 hours. The cost is around 750 peso as opposed to 400 – 500 on ferries which take over 5 hours. The majority of ferries in use have been imported from
mainland Asia namely Korea and China. Their mechanical reliability and inexperience of the crew, can sometimes lead to discrepancies of departure and arrival times. From one who has been stranded offshore in such a vessel with a “minor technical a problem”, namely the transmission failed. I know all too well the unpleasant experience of being delayed on such a vessel. Having wrongly assumed the ships would sail to timetables in Swiss watch type accuracy and
dependability, I personally would recommend you use the Supercat catamaran where available. These are more reliable and offer a fair degree of certainty for connecting flights or where deadlines have to be met. Though even these modern ships, are prone to delays in high seas. The rule of thumb being; be prepared for the unexpected.
Recently there has been much publicity about the standard of ferry safety and the sea worthiness of the current fleet in operation. This has been highlighted by several disasters which have resulted in fatalities and severe injuries as a result of these vessels capsizing during tropical storms. Many Filipinos have been casualties of
these regrettable events
and we advise you to board the vessels with caution and vigilance when imminent storms are forecast in the area of your journey. The inexperience of the staff and pressure to operate even in unsuitable conditions can draw into question the necessity to travel. Philippineangles.com is not scaremongering or wants to be a “nanny travel guide”, we just want to ensure you take precautions and observe local conditions before embarking upon a lengthy journey.
Once you arrive at your destination, the chances are that if you wish to visit your ladies family and I would highly recommend you do, then you may well be faced with another logistical nightmare. Public transport in the islands at local level can be quite challenging and confusing for the uninitiated. For example you fly into Cebu and then get a connecting flight to Tacloban. No problem so far you say, but if your lady, like Maricris lives in the provinces some 80km away from the airport in Tacloban. You are suddenly faced with quite a problem of getting there. Please remember that there is no railway network on the islands and the only way to get from city to town is by van or bus.
Vans started life as a mini bus designed to carry 14 people in relative discomfort, however what Toyota and Nissan did not realise is that with a greater degree of discomfort and an additional 16cm wide seat at the end of each row, it is possible to get 18 passengers plus luggage on board. If you did not know the person you are sat next to when you got on the van, chances are you will be good
friends by journeys end. Most vans do thankfully have aircon to ease the journey pains and the only stops they make are at the destination of the passengers.
The only other option would be to travel via bus, usually this aging vehicle has seen many a long mile on the road and the only aircon is dependent on the amount of open windows. The bus stops wherever people want to get on or off, so consequently can take twice as long as the van. Despite the cramped conditions of the vans, they travel directly to the destined town and will endeavour to drop you off at your doorstep. Try asking that of the stage coach driver the next time you travel by bus!
On longer haul distances you may well find the answer is a coach. Most have aircon and comfy seats that you don’t have to share with anyone. Many of these coaches have also seen better days though and so it’s best to check out the interior before you buy your ticket. The upside though is they do offer you a chance to see many wonderful views of the
countryside along the route. The Ali Mall centre in Cubao, (Manila), is the main Coach station, where you will find many alternative coach operators to take you to your required destination. The coaches offer an economical alternative to local flights or ferries, but because of the road network, these can take a considerable time to reach destination B. They are quite safe and carry two drivers who change the task of steering the passengers to alternating eateries and CR’s along the route every four hours. Most have reclining seats to face the challenge of sleeping on your expedition, however a pillow bought from the many hawkers is a good buy to ease the burden of catching 40 odd winks.
Ok so you reach the next local town / city, what then? Well depending on where you want to be, there are several options open to you. A Jeepney (originally a converted USA army jeep left from WW2) colourful chariots that has two rows of seats facing each other and remember that no matter how full they get, there is always room for one more passenger. The routes of the Jeepney are bewildering to the uninitiated and
so it is highly recommended you have your lady with you to help decipher the pending journey. If your journey is a shorter distance then a tricycle or even a pedicab maybe an option. Pedicabs are purpose made bicycles that have attached a further wheel to enable two seats usually covered by tarpaulin to shield against any inclement weather. Many of these
contraptions have solid rubber tyres, have no suspension and because they were designed to carry locals, anyone over 5’ 6” and 170lbs, will have an extremely interesting journey. Tricycles are quite simply, converted motorcycles, usually Honda 155 TMX, with the same interesting seating arrangements. Most modes of transport are cheap, with fares costing as little as 6 pesos on a pedicab to around 25 peso for a few km ride in Jeepney.
You must be aware that Tricycle drivers have nerves of steel when riding around the streets and it’s not uncommon for atheists to have strong religious beliefs after a few minutes riding. Having used 100’s in various locations, I have never seen or been involved in one single accident. Maybe drawing a crucifix across my chest every time I
travel helps. In many of the provincial towns, you will also see another inventive form of transport but this is not for the faint hearted. Many 125cc motorcycles have had the seats extended to carry many more than the two people the Japanese had designed, with their myopic sense of reasoning. The most I have seen is seven passengers plus the driver, I have no idea how far they wish to travel,I am just happy I was not amongst
the passengers.
Motorcycles offer a cheap and efficient mode of transport and with a surging economy; many people can now afford to buy their own machine, with payments over several months. Although brand new, a 125 cc machine from China can cost as little as 45000 pesos (less than $1000) so there are many on the busy streets far out numbering cars. Oh and please remember in the provincial areas the roadworthiness of vehicles has two criteria; 1, that the vehicle can get onto the road and 2, that the vehicle no matter how constructed can actually move on the road. Furthermore at night, when you see a vehicle with a missing light or with no lights at all its also because of two reasons also, firstly, the driver may well have forgotten to switch the lights on, or that the lights are not working or in existence. If Saint Christopher be the patron saint of travel, surely he must have drawn his inspiration here.
Hiring a car here has its limitations and there are very few such companies who offer the service, it may seem very tempting to hire a car when you see the price of fuel here, around 33 peso per litre for unleaded and diesel. So running a big 4x4 would be many people’s dream. My advice would be to experience the local transport network and get a real feel for the way of life here. The price of a van ride from Tacloban to Abuyog for example is around 60 peso per person this is for a 70 km ride. Although if you are a foreign visitor you are automatically deemed to have lots of money, even if you have not and you may well be asked to ride the van with only a few other passengers. This is providing you pay the
difference to make up the total value of a full van. Oh by the way, these vans rarely set off unless they have a full quota of passengers. There is no time schedule, you have to wait for a van to arrive and then wait for it to get enough passengers to make the trip worthwhile. While waiting at many of the terminals, hawkers appear from nowhere and
mineral water, snacks, towels, cushions, fruit and all manner of goods can be purchased to ease the interesting journey. I am convinced that one day, while waiting for the van to leave, a hawker will be offering 52” plasma TV for sale at a knock down special offer price, as it’s impossible to recall the entire range of goods I have been offered to buy.
As you might expect, there is a fair share of beggars on the streets, some use badly dressed children as bait to make you feel guilty and coax you to hand over money. You may well feel obliged to share your wealth and why not, with the obviously malnourished folk, however a word of caution. If you do hand over your loose change, expect to be followed by a flock of young children hoping to cash in your generosity.
It may sound a tad chaotic and unorganised compared to western way of life and it probably is. When I was in Hong Kong for example trains arrive with split second accuracy and there is a typical Asian order about the place which co exists to ensure personal comfort and security. In the Philippines there are no trains, Speed cameras are unheard of and traffic police only target unlicensed tricycles or pedicab drivers. Traffic wardens or parking meters are only seen in the movies and to see a policeman on duty outside of the office is quite an event. You must remember this is the Philippines and they dare to do things differently here and credit where it is due, it works very well. People here are used to things happening this way and I for one would not want to see things change. Just please accept things as they are and you will have a great time.
Finally, when you return to your homeland you will have to pay a terminal fee at the departing airport. This is common practice and varies from airport to airport, but you can expect to pay around 550 peso which must be paid in cash or by visa / MasterCard, if you choose to use the many island ferries, you are likely to also encounter this fund raising hazard.
It may sound a tad chaotic and unorganised compared to western way of life and it probably is. When I was in Hong Kong for example trains arrive with split second accuracy and there is a typical Asian order about the place which co exists to ensure personal comfort and security. In the Philippines there are no trains, Speed cameras are unheard of and traffic police only target unlicensed tricycles or pedicab drivers. Traffic wardens or parking meters are only seen in the movies and to see a policeman on duty outside of the office is quite an event. You must remember this is the Philippines and they dare to do things differently here and credit where it is due, it works very well. People here are used to things happening this way and I for one would not want to see things change. Just please accept things as they are and you will have a great time.