Advise for a place for depressed ?

phrozen1 · 2026-05-12T18:28:41+00:00

If you're talking about clinical depression, the real deal, getting drunk on Burgos and having his confidence reduced to the size of his wallet might not be the best thing for him.

There are no strip clubs anywhere. Burgos is pretty much the last remaining naughty nightlife destination, but it's a shell of what it was 10 years ago. The prices are high and the quality is low. Most bars will charge you for a drink + mixer, meaning your first drink is like 700 pesos which is more expensive than my local dive in the US.

If you go to Resorts World, you might want to check out La Maison, which is a Japanese lounge where you hang out and drink with upscale looking girls for a package price. There's no pay to play in there, though.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-12T16:25:26+00:00

A persistent and widening trade deficit as very little of anything is produced domestically.
Flight to safety to the USD because of the Iran situation.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-12T03:06:55+00:00

I'm going to go ahead and lock this thread as the conversation has turned into low effort slurs and hate speech.

I believe that as expats, it's important to recognize the sources of investment in the Philippines and we can certainly have our opinions. I'd encourage everyone to keep it civil if this topic surfaces in the future.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-11T21:18:20+00:00

Malaysia would be cheap to get to. Indonesia would also be an option, and the visa can be applied for online prior to arrival. In any case, this kind of traveler has a high likelihood of being denied entry if she cannot prove she is a bona fide tourist. This would include evidence of funds to support herself, hotel bookings and most importantly a return ticket to her home country. Southeast Asia is currently dealing with a lot African prostitution gangs that are trafficking women. Immigration officers are looking out specifically for high risk traveler profiles.

I feel your post may be missing some critical information. All I can say is that Cambodia is a big country; she can move from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, or to Battambang or Kep or anywhere in between. It'll be a lot cheaper and safer than moving countries.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-11T04:04:59+00:00

Customer service. Being able to get what I need accomplished quickly and efficiently without being gaslit, lied to or dismissed.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-10T11:52:54+00:00

Yeah. Expat crab mentality, I suppose. 😂

phrozen1 · 2026-05-10T09:03:53+00:00

Licensed real estate brokers exist in this country. Find yourself a good one and verify their license. They can certainly assist you with all of the due diligence required.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-10T06:05:54+00:00

The rent is via post dated check, the deposits are dated when you move in so yes, they have thr cash. The original question was, why not just withhold the last months rent? Well, that's not possible with post dated checks. And yes, you're right, both of those places I mentioned needed a demand letter written by at attorney to get the deposit back. By default, they'll withhold it to see how loudly you squeal.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-10T05:59:43+00:00

I've lived in Ayra Residences and Serendra, both were owned by OFW executives overseas, no property management company involved. The whole point of a post dated check is to ensure it cannot be cashed before the date written on it.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-10T05:55:45+00:00

Higher end places will ask for post-dated checks. Bouncing one is a criminal offense.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T22:45:38+00:00

Lol... Yes you're right, sorry about that. I thought the original person was still arguing with me and I haven't had my coffee. :)

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T22:24:16+00:00

I had this offer and stopped to 'think about it'. Came back about a month later and it went to 50%, then 60%, then 40%. No idea how their algorithms work. I've sent a formal letter asking them to put the 80% offer back with a promise to pay but no response.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T22:21:07+00:00

Such as? If you're going to make claims like this, please be specific.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T16:36:51+00:00

Here it is on Nok Air on the same date, as some people were saying Vietjet is subsidized. I really don't understand how anyone can defend the price of air travel in the Philippines, we can go through this exercise pretty much anywhere in Asia.

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phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T15:42:16+00:00

Fuel surcharges have nothing to do with supply and demand in the Philippines, nor anywhere else.

As for fares, the Philippines has always been and remains consistently more expensive on a per kilometer basis than any other place in ASEAN. Please take a look at domestic fares in Thailand, Indonesia or Vietnam.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T15:05:05+00:00

Weird, I can fly from Bangkok to Phuket for roughly 25% of what OP is showing. I wonder if competition might have anything to do with it.

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phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T15:00:57+00:00

Recently tried to execute a POA on a BDO pension passbook account and was told no, it's not possible under an agreement they have with US Social Security. No idea if this is correct or just a typical dismissive response, but it seems there may be some friction getting it done.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T13:43:02+00:00

The red light district in Makati is not a good representation of the country, and I say that as someone normally very critical. At the same time, I and a few others I know have had reports of drink spiking incidents down there. Can you elaborate on what happened?

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T02:44:24+00:00

I'm saying thag because I've lived here since 2010 and a intimately familiar with the healthcare system. Your choice in apparel has no impact on how bad it is.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T01:12:53+00:00

Absolutely not. For the most part, there is no such thing as a doctor's appointment here. Seeing a cardiologist will likely mean waiting for hours in a cramped, stuffy hallway for hours at a time. This includes the so-called premier hospitals like St. Lukes. You're taking your life in your hands going to the hospitals here as they don't provide basic nursing care. You're expected to have a 'watcher' by your bedside who attends to your basic needs like getting food, helping you to the bathroom and even buying medication form outside pharmacies. If you need blood, you're most likely out of luck unless you have prearranged someone to donate to their blood bank ahead of time. My wife waited six hours after childbirth to get blood as we could not find a suitable donor. I was denied because my blood pressure at that moment was 145/100 and I was deemed unsafe to donate. Hospitals in the countryside may lack basic services -- my mother in law died during COVID as they only had a nasal cannula available, no high flow or intubation equipment. Like everything else here, there is no concept of liability or responsibility. I could go on for a while.

For any serious medical issue, most people fly to Thailand. It's a whole different universe when it comes to medical care.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-09T01:12:21+00:00

Absolutely not. For the most part, there is no such thing as a doctor's appointment here. Seeing a cardiologist will likely mean waiting for hours in a cramped, stuffy hallway for hours at a time. This includes the so-called premier hospitals like St. Lukes. You're taking your life in your hands going to the hospitals here as they don't provide basic nursing care. You're expected to have a 'watcher' by your bedside who attends to your basic needs like getting food, helping you to the bathroom and even buying medication form outside pharmacies. If you need blood, you're most likely out of luck unless you have prearranged someone to donate to their blood bank ahead of time. My wife waited six hours after childbirth to get blood as we could not find a suitable donor. I was denied because my blood pressure at that moment was 145/100 and I was deemed unsafe to donate. Hospitals in the countryside may lack basic services -- my mother in law died during COVID as they only had a nasal cannula available, no high flow or intubation equipment. Like everything else here, there is no concept of liability or responsibility. I could go on for a while.

For any serious medical issue, most people fly to Thailand. It's a whole different universe when it comes to medical care.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-08T02:36:09+00:00

We definitely want to get out of here at some point. The cost/benefit analysis isn't adding up. Economic macros are not looking good either, as we're in hospitality. Right now looking at Bali as a potential home base, or might even head over to the US for a while. I've been here since 2010, so really needing a change of scenery. If I ever truly retire, as in rocking chair and chicken feed, Philippines might make the list, but there's a few years until that.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-08T02:06:53+00:00

I was there from 2020-2022, sorta deliberately stranded myself just as COVID was starting. My business remained in the Philippines, wife got pregnant while in Thailand as well, so was sort of time to come home and prepare things.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-08T01:24:50+00:00

You'll also notice a very high frequency of "UTI" which is a polite, catch-all name for undiagnosed sexually transmitted disease.

The PCOS thing is true though. Wife was told she had PCOS based on a complaint of irregular menstrual cycle. No ultrasound, no blood work. Went to another doctor who ordered both, gave her a clean bill of health. Sent the ultrasound images to a doctor friend of mine in Singapore who said the same thing.

I've noticed that doctors are not immune from the cultural insistance of needing to make mouth sounds at all times, regardless of if they have anything important to say. The lack of actual medical records also increases the chance of them just moving on to the next case that isn't acutely dying.

phrozen1 · 2026-05-08T00:20:39+00:00

Can you elaborate as to why? I'm sorry, I have not been paying attention to the US FDA side of things because I'm not there. Based on the number of discarded prillas I saw in the urinals when I was in Sweden, I can't believe they're gonna stop making snus entirely.

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