r/TruePhilippinesExpats

I've been here since June. I get a haircut about once a month because I tend to get a short mid fade, like an ivy league, and just long enough on top to spike the front. It then grows out over a month and I start doing a side part.

So when I come back it's in a side part. I show a picture of the ivy league haircut with the spiked front.

They don't wet it and comb it forward. They get the fade right but the top they just cut like a shorter side part which doesn't work because it just sticks up and the sides are uneven.

One guy got it right so far. I get the feeling he actually knew what he was doing as he even had better suggestions for my beard length.

But these other guys just seem to give you a shorter version of what you come in with even if you've shown them something completely different.

So now I sit here with a patch missing on one side of the top.

And the beard. Goodness. Didn't fade it up, had to be told to bring the line up higher on my neck three times, and he cut me with the clippers.

Anyway, end rant. Just don't remember having to step for step explain a simple crew cut variation and beard trim.

I could hear their dog walking around, I could hear their quiet conversations, I could hear their TV, their singing, their plates - but today, today was special. Lying in bed, it was queit, I couldn't hear anything, just scrolling through my phone, then out of no where I hear a deep, reverberating rumble break the serenity. I don't think I could be the same anymore! I just moved my bed to the opposite wall, always wanted to do it but just kept on holding off out of laziness and because now the bed is just awkwardly in the middle of the room and blocking the entrance, but I just can't do the uncomfortable feeling of my head laying a mere 1mm (seemingly) from someone else's.

I've been to a lot of condos in the Philippines and it seems that the walls are made of lasagna sheets - absolutely no sound proofing at all. Thank God I'm just Airbnbing and can just up and leave at any time. I can't imagine buying and ending up with a permanent place of abode inside a drum 😭 Is this not a concern to people???

Hey everybody!

Just wanted to check if there would be any issues entering the Philippines without a return or onward plane ticket?

For context, my girlfriend and I live in the PH. She’s a Canadian expat, while I’m a dual Canadian-Filipino citizen. We’re planning a short trip to New Zealand next month.

Once we return to the Philippines, does she need to show a return or exit ticket? Will there be any problems if she only has a one-way ticket? Has anyone done a similar thing in the past?

I assume I don’t need one since I hold a PH passport.

Thank you!

So we were feeling egg sandwiches - just fried egg in whatever bread, nothing fancy. Walked up to this burger stall and asked if they had egg sandwiches. It took a ridiculous amount of time for them to get what I meant but eventually they do, "oh like this" she asks, grabbing a fried egg she already had lined up on the grill in one of those metal ring thingies and puts it in a bun she had lined up as well. I go "yes exactly!" and ask how much. She goes "40 pesos." Erm, I'm looking at the menu and it says 40 pesos for a sandwich with a burger pattie, egg AND cheese. This is just an egg, but the same price? Puzzled, I ask "oh same price like the hamburger with cheese?" "Yes" she replies. I show a faint "Asian shy smile" surprise and then pausing a bit to see if she would reconsider - she doesn't - so I say thank you and walk away.

We go to another joint we happened to come across - same setup, but totally different location, different part of town. Burger with egg (and cheese? Can't remember) - 30 pesos. Eggs only (not on the menu) - 30 pesos. This one was even the actual owner, as I later came to find out.

I display the same surprise on my face when she quoted me the price and ask the same "oh same price as with the burger (and cheese)? She responds "yes", the same way as the previous one. This time I ask "what about for 7 sandwiches (we were 3), still 30 or less?" At this point I'm just trying to understand the mentality and it's not about the sandwiches anymore. I'm trying to see if she perhaps quoted the 30 as an impulsive desire to take advantage without putting much thought into it, in which case I figured I provide the opportunity for her to put some thought into it, and subsequently rescind, recalibrate realizing that she would have much more to gain if she was more reasonable. But nope! She insists "yes 30", she confirms. I smile and feign like I am leaving in a last ditch effort to see if she would prevent the business opportunity from slipping. She went right back to doing her thing - couldn't care less. I thank her and walk away.

Idk but if it had been me, I would have seized the opportunity, 3 people, 7 orders, probably would sell drinks too, or possibly other things, chips? I would gain new customers, word of mouth, potential to get more customers through them, and more still through those customers - just compounded perpetual profits. It's a win win! EVEN if I give the sandwiches away FOR FREE, I'm only losing a few pesos but for returns that are MUCH greater. Why is it difficult to see it that way, especially when you are operating a business? How is it even possible to NOT think that way? I find the same way of thinking (or lack thereof) to be very prevalent in the Philippines, almost across all classes of society. It doesn't matter of it's your local vendor or the biggest establishment in the nation - it's the same mentality, the same counter productive way of doing business. "No problem, you can buy elsewhere" is the moto. Is it pride? But then how come no problem asking for money, and then not proceeding to pay back? How come the pride is OK with scamming 10 pesos when you'll subsequently be loosing a 1000. It just doesn't make sense.

I arrived in the Philippines yesterday and posted asking for recommendations on where to eat and such and I did get a lot of responses. Yesterday I ate at Jollibee for lunch and Manam for dinner. The Jollyspaghetti is something I wouldn't have again and watermelon sinigang was a very interesting introduction to authentic Filipino food.

Anyway, today I decided I would take a walk around the vicinity and find a place to eat lunch at. I settled on fast food again as it was something a local here on Reddit recommended to try. Mang Inasal chicken with "unlimited" rice.

When I was done and headed out, a tiny Filipina woman approached me. I couldn't understand her at first but she was pointing at my food. I was almost sure she was asking to take the leftovers but then I heard her say "you pay for my food now." The woman was wanting me to get back in line and buy her a meal! I thought I was hallucinating.

Needless to say, I did not pay for her food. I said sorry that I couldn't understand her and just booked it out of there. Is this something that happens a lot in the Philippines? I'm astounded.

I did mention in a post I made that I'm not interested in dating at present. Am I open to it? Of course. But certainly not with a woman who comes up to a stranger and demands a free meal.

New to reddit. I'm American, 34, first time in the Philippines. I just arrived today and I'm already set up in my Airbnb. I did some research and know I want to try some Filipino dishes. I'm staying in the Makati area so can anyone recommend restaurants for me to try? I'm also looking to know what activities there are to do. From my understanding it is typhoon season so nothing outdoors right now. Hopefully this is something that can also introduce me to locals to make friends with (not actively looking to date)

Don't take this as a rant, it was just a dumb thought i had when riding earlier haha... So I'm living in the province and this morning I decided to go into town to get some groceries. I pass through maybe 4 to 5 barangays on the way. Does anyone else when they're on their motorcycle at times spot two dogs stuck to each other on the side of the road and think... well shit here comes a new litter of puppies running around 😅🤣😂

I'm a dog lover and I had pittbulls when i was in the states. I usually see other foreigners complain about the dog issues here in the Philippines. For me personally I haven't had any bad experiences with the little fuckers running around haha. I've noticed its the same type of breed of dogs and I think their known as "witch dogs" I'm not sure the actual name. Where i live, there is a girl that usually lingers around that i feed scraps to. She sleeps by the front door now and usually barks when someone passes by. So I have her as a alarm system now 😅

I see a lot of men talking about “Im dating this Philippine girl…” however, she is a bar girl, not a regular girl you meet out and about. Why is that? Do guys want to believe the fantasy? Self sabotage? First time getting some play? Im genuinely curious.

I understand the dating scene is overly saturated now with scammers and sex tourists. There are also people who genuinely want just a casual relationship and honestly that’s fine when you are open and honest about it.

However, is it even still possible to find someone who would want a real relationship with a real connection? I think the best way for this to happen not go through any dating apps. It is just hard to “organically” meet a foreigner anywhere.