For Ray Emassy call?

[SteveG]

... in response to Re: $1000?, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 27, 2004

Peter,
 We did miss Melly's interview in spite of the fact that we were there at the Embassy 4 hours early.   Sounds crazy, doesn't it?   Well, if you go to the so-called “American” embassy and it is still like it was, you would see why we missed it.   ( I say ‘so-called’ because nobody could speak English well enough to answer any questions.)   Nobody there really spoke English well and they are very unwilling to even try.   The typical response we would get when asking what to do next was a blank stare and maybe pointing in some vague direction with their lips.    

 Ok, what happened is this.  After a long wait in line outside in the rain, we got in the building to a waiting area with chairs and took a seat.   After a while we were called up to a window and asked a bunch of questions.   "How did you meet, etc?"   There was lots and lots of confusion when we asked the woman what to do next and where to proceed.   The lady began talking in Tagolog....at least I guess that the dialect she was using...and would not speak to me in English.   I got mad...Melly got frustrated....and the lady couldn't care less.   We walked away and began to think that maybe that was the interview.   We DID go to stand in another line based on somebody’s direction - the purpose of which I can no longer remember - and were treated with the same cool reception by the embassy employee.  No instruction whatsoever as to what the process was and where to go next.   We talked and decided that the questions at the 1st window WERE the interview and left.   Just walked out happy as if we had good sense!  LOL    Luckily we dropped back by that afternoon to look at the VISA bulletin board and then took a peek inside the waiting room.   Someone saw us and said they had been looking for us all day!  We had missed the interview.  I figured, "Crud! Now what?"   But in a few minutes we were in a small room being interviewed by the 1st (and ONLY) helpful person that I saw while in the embassy.   In maybe 10 minutes we were done.   If we had not come back until a day or two later, I'm not sure how they would have handled it.  
           SteveG

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Missed Interviews, posted by SteveG on Jan 28, 2004

Good story SteveG,
Sounds like you were lucky, my wife will be with her mama and I will not be there so I hope they will be more helpful to her than what happened to you.  

I know about pointing in general directions with the lips LOL.   When I was on the motorcycle and a fork in the road came up there was never any steet signs.  When I asked which way to a town I got the same direction in a general lip pointing this way or that way.  It seems commen as they don't want to say "I don't know ask some one else?".  After a while I got used to it and next time I needed directions I fliped a coin hehehehe.

[SteveG]

... in response to Re: Missed Interviews, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 28, 2004

Yep Peter,
 You sure have my admiration for traveling on your own over there.  I always figured it would be hopeless because as you said there are NO signs anywhere.  Just roads going who knows where!?  LOL  
        SteveG

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Re: Missed Interviews, posted by SteveG on Jan 28, 2004

It got very humeous after a while.

If I pulled out a map there would be a big meeting and discussion on what the map was about LOL.

But I had a secret weapon

A compass on my watchband [still have it ]

I even used it to find my way out of the big malls to find our motorcycle again.

Heck, I used that for navigating on my sailboat so why not on the motorcycle?

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: $1000?, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 27, 2004

Hi Peter,

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is included in the price of the ferry. In 2001, my wife paid P500 ($10 then) per night for 2 persons in an aircon pension house just off Roxas Blvd, close to St. Lukes and the embassy. She was only there 3 days since the interview wasn't a requirement then.

Dave H.

[Peter Lee]

... in response to ?, posted by Dave H on Jan 27, 2004

Dave H.

Yes, all the ferries I was on througout the Visayas had a place to buy food.  No food was included in the fare.  My motorcycle cost as much as a person.  So far one post says 700 peso for a pention house in 2003.  It all boils down to how long they will stay in Manila as that is where the expens is.  I was advised to have my wife come 10 days to a week before the interview.  I will probabley put $1000 bucks in her ATM card and trust her to take out what she needs.  That way she won't have to travel with much money as she goes.   The ferry from Mindanao to Manila is 3 days I bet the cost of the plane could be cheaper coz they have to eat for 3 days on the ferry.  But if Mama don't want to fly they will take the ferry if there is enough time.  
Do you see any problems with my plan?

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: ?, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 28, 2004

[This message has been edited by Dave H]

Hey Peter,

Sounds like they made you pay for food because you are a Kano. LOL Just joking! You were on inter-island short ferry trips in the Bisayas. On longer trips, Mindanao to Manila (and reverse), the food is usually included in the fare.

I don't see any real problems with your plan as long as your wife can budget the money. My wife is very good at budgeting and getting good deals. She always had a lot of money left over whenever I sent it for something.

St. Lukes should go smoothly...but there are things that could postpone her physical, such as being there during her menses. If all goes well, it should take 2 days. Getting the physical done a week or so before her interview date sounds like a good idea.

Dave H.

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Kano Price..., posted by Dave H on Jan 28, 2004

there are things that could postpone her physical, such as being there during her menses.
I never thought about that DaveH I will calculate that in once we have the Interview date.  
Ya I would feel more comfortable is she was there at least a week ahead of time.  Maybe if I was with her it could be shorter but as it is thats the plan.
I did not know about the food included going to Manila.  The ferry to Palawan was 2 days and we had to buy our own food on the ship.
Last note on the bugeting, I mentioned that in the other posts about using the ATM and having her withdraw what she needs as she needs it.

[Humabdos]

... in response to $1000?, posted by Dave H on Jan 27, 2004

Where is she staying the Hilton! lol Thats way to much!
Hum

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: $1000!!!, posted by Humabdos on Jan 27, 2004

I was told that the Pention house was 900 peso per day for one.  I don't know how much for two maybe a little more if they use the same room.  Deluxe rooms have a fan LOL.  Do  you have inside information a cheaper place?  

Oh my God I am sounding like Johann LOL

[Robian]

... in response to Re: Re: $1000!!!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 27, 2004

Peter, my fiancee and i were in manila last oct. together with my Papa. It's located in Mabini, very near to the embassy and it only cost us 700pesos per day for the 3 of us.
yan

[Peter Lee]

... in response to hi peter, posted by Robian on Jan 28, 2004

Ok thanks,

I was figuring 800peso for my wife and her mama.  So thanks it seems I was not too far off.  The rest of the expenses taxie, visa, medical fees and food along with misc. expenses like extra photos and stuff for 10 days would still be close to $700 to $800 bucks.  The extra $200 is for emergency.  How does it sound to you?

[Robian]

... in response to Re: hi peter, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 28, 2004

We spent 4 days in manila and we spent nearly $400 dollars. I think the amount that you set for her trip is enough.
yan

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Re: hi peter, posted by Robian on Jan 28, 2004

Ok, thanks for the input

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Re: $1000!!!, posted by Peter Lee on Jan 27, 2004

Rooms in the Philippines are always the same for two. I guess you should know that by now ;-)
Hum