Checklist for extended stay in the philippines

[Heruamen]

 Hello guys I have not posted much lately, been too busy talking to the sweetest woman in the world.   I am looking for a checklist of things that I should bring for my stay in the philippines.  Basically I would like the veterans who have gone there to provide a helpful list of things they found were necessary and helpful to them during there stay.  I will go on August 15.  I discovered flights from Atlanta to Manila that were dirt cheap.  It will save me $1000 dollars if I just fly to Manila then book a second flight thru the Philippines airlines, rather than have one flight from Atlanta to Cagayan De Oro.
     I knew i would eventually meet a good woman, but I never expected to meet someone who would be like a soulmate to me, someone who can relate to me on every level, someone who is the female version of me who can finish my sentences before I do because she is so in tune with me that she knows exactly what i am feeling in that moment.  Her maturity, intelligence, and sweetness have completely stolen my heart.  I am glad that i had the experience of talking to many women so that i can now clearly see how this diamond outshines all the rest.    Has anyone ever traveled to Cagayan De Oro ? It seems so much more interesting to me in terms of natural beauty then Cebu

[Ray]

Cagayan De Oro is a nice medium-sized city with some decent hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls but not a lot of tourist attractions. While you’re there, you might want to consider a side trip to Camiguin Island. It’s about a 1 hr auto trip to Balinguan and then a 1-1/2 hr ferry ride to the island. You could do it in a day but an overnight would be nice. Be sure to have lunch on the lagoon near Binoni at the J&A Fishpen!

If you’re not going to spend any time in Manila, also check airfares for overseas flights to Cebu. For example, Cathay Pacific flies to Cebu via Hong Kong and you can miss all the hassles in Manila. Also, PAL now only allows 2 checked bags at 50lb each where some airlines may still allow 2x70lb.

What to bring? Personally, I would use my full baggage allowance. It’s HOT, so plan on 2-3 showers a day when figuring how many changes of clothes to bring. You should try to have enough for 5 days between laundry runs.

Bring cash, not traveler’s checks, and a major credit card for hotels. You can also rely on ATM cards, but still have cash backup.

Make photocopies of your passport and plane tickets in case of theft or loss. If staying in a hotel, don’t leave any valuables in your room. Check passports and valuables with the hotel desk for safe deposit while you’re out. $100/day should cover it conformably, including most of the hotels in that area.

Bring mosquito repellent, Pepto Bismol chewable tabs, Imodium AD, a hat, swimsuit, your favorite toiletry products, some hand towels for wiping off the sweat, an engagement ring, camera with lots of backup batteries/memory cards, and pasalubong (small, inexpensive souvenir gifts for girl and family). Forget the chocolate…it rots their teeth out! 

From your post, it sounds like you may be needing the appropriate immigration forms to start a fiancée petition. If so, I can give you a check list for that.

Ray

[Romello]

The only advice I could add is to keep cash.  On your return trip, you will have to pay a "Terminal Fee" before going to your gate.  Keep at least $20 bucks.  Have fun, I did not have my fee so I had to say two extra days.  However, they were the best of the whole trip.

Congrats to you man, I know the joy.  Francy will be here in October.  When your lady gets here, maybe we can all sit down together.

[Heruamen]

   Thanks Rommello I would Love for us all to hang out,  i showed a picture of you and Francy to my girl today and she felt very inspired by it.  I also told her that you were the one that really convinced me to look at cherry blossoms which is where i met her.  Thanks for the info ray.  I laughed when you said engagement ring.  I was stunned at how relatively inexpensive the ring she says she likes is.  So i plan to have that in the kit as well.    Whats interesting is that I have already met her whole family(in cam) and i talk to her dad on regular basis and I love how they are really cool people, i know i will be comfortable among them.

[Dave H]

Hi Heruamen,

Congratulations!

Pretty much everything has been covered for a short visit. How long do you plan to stay? That will determine what you may need to bring. A longer stay requires more planning. Medicines are often not of the same quality. If one takes any on a regular basis, they may want to bring several months supply or make arrangements to have it shipped to them in the Philippines. I was planning on long term, so I shipped many items by balakbayan boxes (I used UMAC freight forwarders) through my local Filipino sari-sari store. They arrived several months later in CDO and were delivered to me by truck. I still wish that I had shipped a few things that I gave away. Many items here are not of the same quality that we expect. The Chinese are excellent at packaging, but IMHO make some really inferior products for sale here. Chinese products imported to the US are better made...really.  Most bedsheets and linens here are not normally as good a quality as those I bought in the US. I broke two cheap plastic toilet seats. Once I just put my foot on the lid after a shower to dry it and the toilet seat snapped it in half. Luckily, I didn't fall in!   I finally found a heavy plastic one after searching many stores. But I had to replace the cheap plastic mounting screws with brass ones. CDO is a great town. Most things can be purchased there. Good quality items can be purchased in specialty stores and even at some malls (usually called "imported" items, not from China). But "imported" goods usually cost more than you would pay for them in the US. If I am looking for items I can't buy in my town I go there. I am a few hours from there by auto or bus. Unless you are very tall or big, clothing is cheap and readily available.

Dave

[Romello]

Yeah!!! Good call on the Medicines

On my day 9 my Asthma kicked in along with a bad cold.  There is no
Primatine Mist or Night Quiel there.

Good thing I brought my own.

[Dave H]

Yeah!!! Good call on the Medicines

On my day 9 my Asthma kicked in along with a bad cold.  There is no
Primatine Mist or Night Quiel there.

Good thing I brought my own.

Hey Romello,

Congratulations! Great to hear that Francy and you will reunited soon!

I had the same problem with my asthma. I hadn't had an attack in the US for over a year (with a bad cold). Shortly after I arrived, the smoke from all the cooking fires near my old house triggered a bad bout of asthma. Fortunately I brought along my meds also! I am happy that the air is much better at my new place.

Dave

[Heruamen]

  I want to stay for 3 months and i am trying to make arrangements, and i very stressed out about it.  I tried to not to set an exact date for my girl because i didnt want to disappoint but but somehow she got one out of me, so I must deliver on schedule.

[Dave H]

 I want to stay for 3 months

Hey Heruamen,

That is a nice amount of time! I would try to get in as much sight seeing as possible. If you start having kids soon after marriage, it will limit your ability to do much traveling around the country. If you don't want to stay at her place (a good possibility that you will be invited) you might try to locate an apartment or house to rent. It will give you a home base to venture out from. $100-200 per month can get you a very nice place. That will save you a good chunk of change over a hotel for 3 months. I like to live among the people and not with a bunch of foreigners at some hotel. I have made several very good friends in my neighborhood. I have learned a lot about the Philippines from them! I wouldn't worry too much about bringing along a bunch of stuff other than what was mentioned before. I a wear a size 10.5-11 shoe and don't have a problem finding shoes here. Most of the time I am in slippers (flipflops), shorts and a T-shirt.

You may want to check out Filipino Martial Arts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_martial_arts

Man you are going to have a GREAT TIME!

Dave

[Bear]

Herumen,

Sorry to be missing so many post but its my busiest time of the year.  Some how I managed to get some time to go on a vacation and we leave as soon as I wake everyone.

I agree with most of whats been said except the Chocolates.  I took 10 bags of a variety and a few chocolate oranges.  I didn't get even one piece and it was the thing everyone liked the most.  I took my F-I-L a Gerber pocket took, my M-I-L some perfume and Honeys brothers and sisters tee- shirts with "MADE IN AMERICA" (very important) on them.   I kept little things like stickers and candies in my pockets for the kids.  To be sure that I'd allways be able to communicate and "see" my wife I took her a laptop and put a phone line in her families nipa hut.  The phone line became a problem as everyone in the neighborhood called whoever and whereever they wanted and Honey's parents didn't stop them so I Had hone take out the phone but left the line.  I had to purchase her Zoom cards for connection but I think DSL is cheaper now.

I made this a test on Honey and let her plan most everything an I just let her know what my interest are.  I gave her all my money except what I would need to get back home if it turned bad and was amazed at the responsibility she placed on it.  After two days she asked me to take it back because she was just afraid of having it (4x what her father made in a normal year).

Have a great time!!!! and I am jealous of your trip.  Mine was one of the happiest times of my life so I know you'll soon agree.

The Bear Family

[Dave H]

I am looking for a checklist of things that I should bring for my stay in the philippines.  Basically I would like the veterans who have gone there to provide a helpful list of things they found were necessary and helpful to them during there stay.   

Herumen,

I agree with most of whats been said except the Chocolates.  I took 10 bags of a variety and a few chocolate oranges.  I didn't get even one piece and it was the thing everyone liked the most.  I took my F-I-L a Gerber pocket took, my M-I-L some perfume and Honeys brothers and sisters tee- shirts with "MADE IN AMERICA" (very important) on them.   I kept little things like stickers and candies in my pockets for the kids.  To be sure that I'd allways be able to communicate and "see" my wife I took her a laptop and put a phone line in her families nipa hut. 
The Bear Family

I think pasalubong (token gifts for family members) derserves it's own thread.


Dave

[Heruamen]

wow dave $100-200 a month? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tell me more Dave because that would save me a huge chunk of change.  I was looking at staying at coconut bay in Cagayan De Oro that would be roughly $630 a month but they seem willing to work with you on the price if you are planning to stay awhile.  However i like the sound of this apartment thing i will investigate.

[Dave H]

Hey Heruamen,

We are renting a 2 story, 2 bedroom cement block townhouse for $120 per monthly. We signed a one year lease, but we  could have rented for several months at a time, for a little more money. Have your lady ask around and find some places for you to check out after you arrive. Make sure she gets the price before they learn she has a Kano. Some people may try to charge more if they find out first that she is with a foreigner. Our landlord doesn't because he prefers foreign tenants and doesn't want to run them off. Our immediate neighbors are Japanese (couple), Korean, and British. You can rent furnished or buy inexpensive furniture. I would try to find one with at least an aircon in the master bedroom. We bought ours, but will use them in our new house when we build it. We are in an upscale neighborhood, several blocks from a big shopping mall. If things work out the way you planned, you may want to extend the lease for a year...or more.    My British neighbor arrived yesterday to visit his wife and new baby.

I would suggest that you also bring along a MagicJack (magicjack.com) if you are bringing a computer or your lady has one. You can call your friends and family back in the US for free. All calls to the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands are free. You can set it up with your area code. Leave it when you return and your fiancee (if she or a family member has a computer) can call you or you her for free as if it were a local call.

Dave

[soltero]

  I want to stay for 3 months and i am trying to make arrangements, and i very stressed out about it.  I tried to not to set an exact date for my girl because i didnt want to disappoint but but somehow she got one out of me, so I must deliver on schedule.

Make sure to take a digital camera and send your cuz pics of you and your girl and the surroundings DAILY!