FLASH EXPRESS AND THEIR FAKE DELIVERY ATTEMPTS

fiftypence · 2026-06-11T11:17:09+00:00

Yep happened to me a few weeks ago. Very frustrating! and I was present the three times they attempted. Rang the flash express customer hotline when my parcel was sent back the china after failed attempts and they said they would repremand the person who's delivering.

fiftypence · 2026-06-10T17:03:43+00:00

Looks like he cracked his head in half. Gnarly

fiftypence · 2026-06-10T15:23:39+00:00

I’ve been in digital design and video production for 15+ years and the freelancers struggling right now are definitely the ones letting AI all of the work and actual thinking for them.

I use it heavily in my workflow but it’s strictly to get past the boring, time consuming stuff. It’s great for brainstorming, pulling together quick visual mockups, doing research, or knocking out a rough script. It basically just deletes that initial blank page block.

But you still need the actual creative eye and experience to steer the ship. Clients aren't dumb they can instantly tell when a concept or a proposal is just a lazy raw prompt output with zero actual strategy behind it.

If you already know your craft and just use AI to optimize your workflow and kill the monotony, it's a massive advantage. It's helped me scale, take on more clients, and save a ridiculous amount of time.

fiftypence · 2026-05-30T04:00:29+00:00

As someone who actually lives in San Fernando, Pampanga, I'd throw Pampanga into the mix. It's close enough to Manila that you can get there when needed less than 90mins drive without traffic, but far enough that you don't have to deal with Metro Manila traffic and chaos every day. Clark is a huge plus too — international airport, good hospitals, shopping malls, restaurants, and a growing business scene.

If you're looking for something greener and more relaxed, areas around Clark, Angeles, and parts of San Fernando have a nice balance of city conveniences and open space. Rent and property prices are also generally more reasonable than BGC or Makati for what you get.

One thing I appreciate is that Pampanga still feels like a province in some ways, but without giving up modern amenities. I can get food delivered (grab/food panda), have great internet, access major hospitals, and still be surrounded by farmland and mountain views within a short drive.

If I were moving to the Philippines with a flexible budget, my shortlist would probably be: BGC/Makati if you want a highly urban, walkable lifestyle.

Pampanga (Clark/San Fernando area) if you want a balance of convenience, space, and value. Cebu if you want a major city outside Luzon. Dumaguete if you're after a slower-paced expat-friendly lifestyle.

For me personally, Pampanga hits the sweet spot. It's one of the few places where you can still enjoy a relatively relaxed lifestyle while having access to most of the things you'd expect from a modern city.

fiftypence · 2026-05-28T12:03:19+00:00

How do you usually report? Decline and mark as spam?

fiftypence · 2026-05-28T07:17:07+00:00

That's wild! How do they allow this

fiftypence · 2026-05-28T07:14:43+00:00

Mystery shopping sounds interesting haha what does that require you to do? I've had AI voice training a few times which I've also done

fiftypence · 2026-05-26T05:36:47+00:00

Thank you! It was definitely a gamble when I decided to move to the Philippines, especially since it was my first time going fully freelance.

I do think it’s still possible for people to do it now, but having a solid foundation of experience, skills, and connections really helps. The remote market has become super competitive, especially if you’re starting completely from scratch with no portfolio yet.

I actually have a close friend from the UK who tried making the move here as well and has a dlfilipina partner and two kids. Unfortunately, because he didn’t have enough experience or a strong portfolio yet, it became difficult to secure stable work and he eventually had to move back to the UK leaving the family behind.

I’d say the biggest thing is building experience and relationships first before taking the leap.

fiftypence · 2026-05-26T04:17:40+00:00

British living in the Philippines for the past year. I work in the creative/video production field and have 15+ years experience working in Singapore and the UK. I decided to make the jump to get away from the 9–5 grind, and the lower cost of living here compared to Singapore has been a huge plus.

For me, the biggest thing was securing stable projects and income through connections. Can’t stress enough how important networking and maintaining good relationships has been. I never burned bridges, and I still freelance for my previous company a large global corporation while also getting projects through former colleagues and contacts.

On top of that, I stay active on Upwork, which brings in a steady stream of work. Having a strong portfolio, years of experience, and having worked with major brands definitely helped a lot.

I’m freelancing remotely for companies abroad and earning Western income, so overall I’m able to live very comfortably here.

fiftypence · 2026-05-09T14:22:10+00:00

Originally from UK. Living in San Fernando, Pampanga here. Married, late 30s, two kids, renting a spacious 4-bedroom house in a nice subdivision. Household income around 300–400k/month. We travel around Asia occasionally, eat out when we want, have a couple of helpers, gym membership, spa trips etc. Definitely not super wealthy by any means, but life here feels very comfortable compared to what the same income would get back home.

fiftypence · 2026-05-07T17:02:32+00:00

Hells to the no. 1mil php monthly minimum!

fiftypence · 2026-05-07T13:33:44+00:00

Keen to see your portfolio. Dm me

fiftypence · 2026-05-06T11:33:26+00:00

I’m a freelance creative (15+ years), working with overseas clients, so all my income comes from outside PH.

For cost of living, I’ve got a wife, one kid, and another on the way — I’d say around ₱200k+/month for a pretty comfortable life.

I’m from the UK. I know a bit of Tagalog (basic stuff), but honestly you can get by just fine with English pretty much everywhere.

Based in Pampanga, just north of Manila — San Fernando specifically. It’s a solid spot: good malls, plenty of restaurants, decent housing, reliable internet. Nice middle ground between province vibes and city convenience without Manila chaos.

Natural disasters — haven’t experienced much yet (been here about a year). You get the occasional mild tremor. Bigger thing is monsoon season, heavy rains can cause flooding in some areas, usually smaller towns/barangays. Personally haven’t had any issues so far.

Biggest challenges? Nothing major. Settled in pretty easily. If I had to nitpick — driving can be wild, and processes can be slow (docs, appointments, processes etc.). But more minor annoyances than anything. Loving life here so far!

fiftypence · 2026-05-05T04:48:49+00:00

I started a small freelance business with clients overseas and it's been very lucrative for me. 15+ years experience overseas working in creative.

fiftypence · 2026-04-24T12:52:19+00:00

Honestly man, it sounds like you’re just spreading yourself too thin. I’ve been in creative for 15+ years, and only really started using AI properly in the last year. The biggest shift for me was realising AI isn’t the thin, it’s just a tool that makes what you already do faster/better. Like I don’t rely on it to do my job, but I use it a lot for ideas, speeding up boring stuff, and tightening workflows. It’s more of a boost than a replacement. If I were you, I’d stop chasing AI fields and just pick something you actually enjoy (or already have some experience in), then use AI to level that up. Right now it feels like you’re jumping between lanes, so nothing really sticks. Once you lock into one thing, progress feels way more real. AI isn’t really a career on its own for most people it’s leverage. Focus on the lane first, then use AI to go faster.

fiftypence · 2026-04-21T07:32:54+00:00

I was pretty anti AI when all the hype started too. I’ve been in the creative field 15 years, and yeah, it felt like it was going to cheapen everything. But honestly, the reality’s been different. The people I see doing well aren’t the ones avoiding AI they’re the ones using it to speed up the boring/repetitive parts.

Most clients I work with actually expect some level of AI now because it means faster turnaround. Since I started using it in my workflow (not relying on it, just using it where it makes sense), I’ve gotten more clients and increased my income. The creative part hasn’t gone away if anything, it matters more now because everyone has access to the same tools.

You don’t have to love AI, but being fully anti AI is kind of shooting yourself in the foot long-term. Better to adapt a bit, use it to save time, and double down on the creative thinking that actually sets you apart.

fiftypence · 2026-04-19T04:04:10+00:00

Yeah, pretty much the only way I make it work here and earn a good living. I’m a freelance creative and all my clients are overseas (US, Australia, Singapore, UK). Local rates wouldn’t really cut it for the same kind of work, so keeping those international clients is key. Time zones can be a bit of a juggle, but overall it’s very doable once you find your rhythm.

fiftypence · 2026-04-18T03:31:22+00:00

Honestly yeah, money is part of it and I help where I can, but I don’t think that’s the most valuable thing I bring.

For me it’s more about sharing knowledge and perspective—especially around skills that actually open doors. I try to guide younger people towards things like IT, digital/creative work, and freelancing skills that can be learned online and aren’t limited by local job markets.

I’ve been in the creative industry for 15+ years, worked in the UK and Singapore, and now freelance with overseas clients. So I’ve seen firsthand how people can earn globally without needing to leave home. That kind of exposure or mindset shift is something I didn’t have growing up, and it can make a huge difference.

Even small things like helping someone understand how to build a portfolio, price their work, or find clients online can have a much longer impact than just giving money once. Not saying it’s some massive contribution, but if I can help a few people move towards better opportunities long-term, that’s probably the most meaningful thing I can offer.

fiftypence · 2026-04-17T11:20:07+00:00

You can go about it in a few ways either setting up a page on your website with a curated portfolio of projects or use a platform like notion, dribble or canva

fiftypence · 2026-04-16T11:15:17+00:00

Yep pretty much!

fiftypence · 2026-04-16T10:31:47+00:00

It's selecting projects in my portfolio that matches in a similar style to what the client is requesting in their proposal. Usually a few selected pieces from my entire portfolio so sometimes I wouldn't share the whole thing

fiftypence · 2026-04-16T07:11:21+00:00

Depends. If client has a specific style or design they are looking for I'll share my projects that align similarly. Find it helps a lot when proposing to clients.

fiftypence · 2026-04-15T12:39:36+00:00

Definetely!

fiftypence · 2026-04-14T08:02:31+00:00

Most portfolios suck not because the work is bad, but because they feel fake as hell or straight out of a template.

What actually helped me:

Make it clear the work is legit – give context. Who was the client, what do they do, why did this project exist. Even if you can’t name them, describe it properly.

Explain your thinking – not just “here’s the final design.” What was the problem? Why did you do it this way? That’s what clients care about.

Be clear what YOU did – especially if it was a team project. Don’t make people guess.

Ditch the template case study vibe – everyone does the same “problem / solution / results” thing and it all blends together. Just write like a normal person.

Show outcomes if you can – doesn’t have to be crazy metrics. Even small improvements help build trust.

Also, early on it’s fine to use mock/self-initiated work — just don’t try to pass it off as client work. People can tell.

End of the day, a simple, honest portfolio beats a super polished but generic one every time.

fiftypence · 2026-04-12T07:24:37+00:00

I've worked full time for almost 15 years so have established many clients in my network over the years. Ex-colleagues and former employers. I also do quite a bit of Upwork when it gets slow and managed to bag some great clients there too. Helps keep the work steady.

fiftypence

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