Jet Lag To From Philippines

Jet lag to and from the Philippines

Jet Lag between USA and the Philippines

I have read different methods to alleviate jet lag. I don't think any of them work. Or maybe I have just been too busy to follow the steps. For example, one method says to change your bedtime by an hour a day for 10 days or so. Going to bed one hour earlier each day. I tried it for several nights before my flight one time. Did not see an appreciable difference after arrival at my destination.

Flying from the Philippines to Florida, USA the plane arrives at about 7 p.m. in Tampa (or 7 a.m. the next day Philippine time). Upon arriving at my house, I stay up until about 3 p.m. I always get a bad case of jet lag that lasts for about a month. Within a few days by 1 p.m. in the afternoons I am ready to go to sleep. Once I parked the car at a buffet restaurant and was walking across the parking lot to the restaurant. My eyes were very heavy, and I thought I might actually fall asleep walking. I fought it and was able to eat then go home and straight to bed.

Traveling from Florida to Manila is different. I always arrive in Manila at about 9 or 10 p.m. (which is 9 or 10 a.m. Florida, USA time. Of course, I am not ready to go to sleep, so I want someone to talk with. That keeps others awake.

By 10 a.m. the next morning it is 10 p.m. Florida time and I am ready to go to bed. I sleep until about 5 p.m. and get up and eat "breakfast." This last for several weeks, though I try to fight it. Slowly but surely, I finally get adjusted to the new time zone.

I was living in the Philippines by continually extending my visa. So, within a couple of weeks after each arrival I was almost fully adjusted to the new time zone.

If you are coming to the Philippines from the USA, you will probably be hit by jet lag. Expect to sleep most of each day in your hotel. Then you will be ready to get up and go out for the evening.

Ten tips for fighting jet lag.

If you have a method of fighting jet lag that works for you, please share it with others. Add a comment below on this page.

Use this Jet Lag Calculator and get some more advice.

If you are flying to meet ladies of the Philippines consider that you may have jet leg when you arrive. The farther you travel to the Philippines the more you will be affected by jet lag. For example, if you are traveling from New York to Manila you can expect to sleep mostly during the daylight hours and be awake at night for up to 2 weeks. Remember, New York is halfway across the world from Manila.

There are many American fast food restaurants all over the Philippines.

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Please check back to read more about jet lag between the Philippines and other countries. Last updated June 7, 2022.

Buying Property Philippines

Properties for sale in the Philippines

Buying Houses or Buying Condos in the Philippines

A foreigner may buy a condo in the Philippines but may not buy a house or land unless he is married to Filipino. There is no such thing as "Title Insurance" in the Philippines. I have asked real estate agents and representatives of developers. Personally, I cannot imagine buying property without property insurance.

I am a real estate broker in Florida, USA and lenders require property insurance for each property purchase they provide a loan for. As far as I know property insurance is available throughout the USA.

After reading the Wikipedia entry (at the link above) about government processes which can ensure clean title I now feel more secure about buying Philippine property. No one fully explained the procedure to me. The real estate agents tried to explain but something was lost while I tried to understand their imperfect English.

I discovered there may be insurance companies outside of the Philippines which may write property insurance for properties in the Philippines. But I think that most international property insurance written by U.S. title insurance companies is for commercial businesses.

Read this about the about title in the Philippines.

Read about a court decision that could have disastrous effect on millions of owners (Posted 02 April 2012 - 05:45 PM by Fred42).
Here is the article Fred42 referred to.

It is VERY important that you read these articles.

You may find properties for sale or for rent in the Philippines by visiting this link.

In my opinion it may be much safer to just rent a house or condo in the Philippines.

Do NOT buy or rent a residence near or downwind from pig farms in the Philippines. In fact, be as far away from pig farms and chicken farms as possible.

It would be wise to consult with an experienced Philippine real estate attorney before even looking for property. Protect yourself!

Bank of the Philippine Islands

Both BPI and Banco de Oro (BDO) and other Philippine banks publish lists of bank owned real estate including houses, land and commercial properties. Pick up the lists at their branch offices. The lists feature properties which have been foreclosed.

Talking with a banker at Banco de Oro (BDO) we discovered that banks do not make loans for all properties. The house or property you like may be in an area where the bank or banks will not make a loan. I do not know the reason for this. Do your research and talk to a banker of a major bank; for example, BDO or Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) before even looking at properties. Check out their web sites.

We really liked one house we looked at in Poroc (not far from the Clark Freeport Zone.) We were told by the real estate lady that it was being sold by the young couple who were living in it with their young child. But, due to several contributing factors I did not make an offer on it. I found out there would be no property "title insurance." Another contributing factor was Mt. Pinatubo's proximity to the house. Mt. Pinatubo is still active, though only mildly at present. It was dormant for about 500 years before the last eruption, so it probably won't erupt again for hundreds of years.
If you are considering buying property you may want to consider how close is the nearest volcano and what are the chances of it erupting while you own the house or other property. I have been told that Mt. Pinatubo was considered an "extinct" volcano before its violent eruption on June 15, 1991.

Probably the most important factor was, that after talking for quite some time with the "sellers" and their real estate lady, the man disclosed that the house was actually owned by his aunt who was at that time confined in a hospital in Manila. Being a licensed real estate broker in the USA this raised a '"red flag." The aunt was quite old and that could present a major problem. If an owner is deemed incompetent, and it sounded like she was, a transaction can be reversed. In the USA a contract is not binding if it is revealed that a party to it was incompetent at the time of signing. So, those factors put an end to my interest in that house.

Always consult with a Philippine attorney who specializes in real estate before you begin your search. An attorney can give you basic advice that may save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Have personal experience buying, selling or renting in the Philippines? Share it with other readers by making a comment below.

Match Filipinas Dating

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back to read more about buying property or houses in the Philippines. Last updated June 17, 2022.

Colleges Philippines

Attending and graduating from colleges in the Philippines.

Colleges in the Philippines

I attended 3 years of college in the USA and never entered the field I had majored in. Never graduated college.

But I have started several businesses and operated them for varying lengths of time; an installation business, an electronics store, a painting business for 15 years and then founded and operated a Florida real estate brokerage for over 17 years.

Most expensive and the cheapest colleges in the Philippines

Cheapest colleges in the USA

Free MIT college courses online! For example, "Entrepreneurship 101" offered free by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Watch the following YouTube videos.

See what some experts say about college in the United States of America.

 

The web site he refers to has been taken down but the ways to save money on college are invaluable.

College? Who needs it?!

John Stossel - College is a RIP OFF!

Peter Schiff -- Just skip college!

I think that college is more necessary in the Philippines and some other countries. But, in the USA there are many college graduates who owe a fortune in student loans but cannot find a job in their chosen fields.

A major difference between U.S. and Philippine colleges is cost of tuition.
For example, in the Philippines medical college cost about $1,500 US per year!
Find how much does medical school cost in USA?

An excerpt from About.com

 "In 2010, the median debt at graduation 

was $150,000 at public institutions, 

$180,000 at private, and $160,000 

combined."

According to a www.USNews.com "Eastern Carolina 

University's Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, 

N.C., tops the list of least expensive public medical 

schools for in-state students, with a total annual cost of 

$12,644. Brody's cost is less than half the in-state 

average among public medical schools, and less than a 

third the average among private medical schools."

Here's a list of over 40 educational websites where you 

can get a free education!

The first two links are wrong. Alison free courses are 

found here. Coursera is found here.

If you have insights about college in the Philippines, please share with other readers by making comments below.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back to read more about college in the Philippines and college in the USA. This article last updated June 4, 2022.

Visas Passports Immigration

Immigration in the Philippines

Visas, Passports and Immigration in the Philippines

You will need a USA Passport before you may travel to foreign countries.

Check out the procedure for applying for your US Passport.

Click on this link to find the Passport Acceptance Facility nearest to you. These facilities will accept your passport application.

If you are outside the USA and want to renew your passport, find US Embassies, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions. You may apply for a new passport at these locations.

New countries have been added to the list of countries requiring no visa to enter the Philippines. Also, see the length of time you may stay in the Philippines without a Visa extension.  A person who marries a Filipino may apply for Permanent Residency and thus avoid the bimonthly visa renewal process.

Visas for the Philippines

Read what the US Department of State advises about entry and exit requirements for US Citizens.
You will learn about visa requirements and penalties for overstaying your visa in the Philippines.

Immigration office at Intramuros, Manila 

In December 2008 I had been in the Philippines for almost a year and 3 months. In September 2007 I had received a 3-month extension. It was about to expire. Well, it was almost Christmas and I decided I'd better go to immigration. I should have gone before the holiday season started. I checked on the Philippine Immigration web site. Much to my chagrin I discovered that the offices were closed for the holidays! That was not good.

Extend Your Visa Before You Overstay!

I now had only one day to extend or depart! That night we got on the web and made reservations on Continental Airlines (now United Airlines after the merger.) I had to pay a very high fare, over $1,000 for a one-way trip to Florida, USA, because it was a last-minute booking. At 10 p.m. we received confirmation. I was on the plane at 9 a.m. the next morning. And wouldn't you know, the flight from Manila to Guam was almost empty. So much for giving your Frequent Flyer members a break!

After arriving back in the USA my wife sent me email informing me that immigration police had rounded up about 25 people, in our area of Metro Manila, who had overstayed their visas. I hear that immigration makes a habit of rounding up, at Christmas time, visitors who have overstayed their visas. I'm sure that made their Christmas especially 'merry.' So, BE SURE to go to immigration before offices are closed for the holiday! And be there early in the day so you may get your passport back before closing.

If you are on Luzon and have been in country for almost a year you will need to go to the main immigration office in Intramuros, Manila. If you go there by taxi the driver can let you out right in front of the building. You will not need the driver to wait for you. There will be plenty of taxis when you are finished there. If you go by jeepney ask the driver to tell you where to get off ( "please tell me where to 'go down' .")  You may verify the information on this page by visiting an immigration office near you (for example the Angeles City office in the Clark Freeport Zone).

"Persons who overstay their visas are subject to 

fines and detention by Philippine immigration 

authorities. Please remain aware of your visa status 

while in the Philippines and strictly follow 

immigration laws and regulations. Travelers 

departing the country from international airports 

must pay a Passenger Service Charge in Philippine 

Pesos." (From the US State Dept. web site.)

See the possible penalties for overstaying your visa and find out about the ACR card and more by visiting the Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines web site.

If you are on another island in the Philippines, be sure to go to the nearest immigration office and inquire about your situation and get their advice about what to do when and where. I suggest you do this soon after arriving at your destination.

Do not overstay your visa! It is recommended that one should get one's visa extensions 7 to 10 days before they are about to expire.

Bureau of Immigration office,
Clark Freeport Zone,
Angeles City, Philippines.

If you are in Angeles City, you may get visa extensions at the Bureau of Immigration office in the Clark Freeport Zone. Don't arrive late in the day or you may need to return the next day to pick up your passport. The process here is streamlined, it takes a lot less time to get an extension here than at the main office in Manila. It is a small office and there are a seldom many people waiting. The staff are all very pleasant. It is not necessary to pay a taxi 300 pesos to get there from SM City Clark Mall.
Just go to the jeepney terminal across the street from the mall. The one near the public park.
Ask any driver which jeepney goes to the immigration office. I think I recall that it is at the number two jeepney stop. They leave about every 15 minutes. The cost will be about 20 pesos each way. Just ask the driver to stop at the immigration office or ask any passenger "will you let me know where to 'go down' for immigration?" Everyone in the jeepney speaks English. Most of them work in call centers. The office is a very short walk across a parking lot from the jeepney stop.
If you want to wait for your extension to be processed, you may wait at one of the several restaurants near the immigration office or at the Mini Stop convenience store nearby.
When you are finished at immigration go back across the street to the little bus stop shelter on the sidewalk and wait for a returning jeepney.

Another word of advice which may save you a lot of time and trouble; before going to the immigration office find a photocopy machine and make a copy of the photo ID page of your passport and a copy of the page showing your latest visa expiry date. You will need those copies and there is no copy machine at the immigration office. You may find a copy machine at one of the restaurants near the office, but then again it may be out of service. So, to avoid having to go back to get copies, like I have had to do on a couple of occasions, get copies before going there.

Your hotel may have a copy machine. If not, there is a computer service store on a N.W. corner of Fields Ave. (not far from the jeepney station.)
You might think you could get copies made in SM City Clark Mall but good luck! The copy store on the second floor usually has a long waiting line. Whenever I tried to get copies there it seemed all the customers ahead of me were printing books!

At the main immigration office in Manila there should be a copy machine service in the main lobby. If there is not, then ask directions to a nearby copy center. There should be one across the street from Greenwich Pizza (about 2 blocks from immigration.)

Regarding your passport. I asked an immigration employee at the office in the Clark Freeport Zone if I could carry a copy of my passport. She replied, "You must have your original passport with you at all times."

Be sure to report to an immigration office after New Years Day.

"...all foreigners holding immigrant or non-immigrant visas are required to report to the bureau within the first 60 days of every calendar year, to avoid administrative fines or possible deportation."


Update July 23, 2013: Long stay 6-month visitor visa extension for tourists.


Please share your personal experiences at the Bureau of Immigration offices with other readers by making comments below.

Read about immigration at the airport, DMIA, in the Clark Freeport Zone.

Read tips for traveling abroad.

Buying or Selling real estate in the Philippines or USA.

Meet Filipinas

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back to read more about passports, tourist visas, Bureau of Immigration and flying to the Philippines. This article last updated June 4, 2022.

Find Rentals Philippines

Rentals in the Philippines

Rentals in the Philippines

Philippine rental rates are usually considerably lower and sometimes amazingly lower than similar properties in the USA. For example, our apartment in a rural area, which cost 3,500 pesos a month or about $80 would probably cost $400 US or more in a similar area in the US.

In Angeles City, in or near the Clark Freeport Zone condos or apartments range from a low of about 5,000 pesos to about 25,000 pesos a month. The average monthly rate is probably around 15,000 pesos in the Angeles City area. A fine new one-bedroom unit can be had inside the Freeport Zone for about $525 US per month. Many landlords want first, last and security deposit and a sizable utilities deposit.  Most want a full one-year lease. Shorter term lease rates will be higher, if you can find such units.

Use this money changer calculator to convert pesos to US dollars.

For those who intend to stay less than 6 months it is probably best to stay at a place like the Charlie Hotel (formerly Charlie Apartelle) where one may rent a 1 bedroom furnished apartment for about $500 to $600 US a month.

It would be a good idea to go look at cities you think you might want to live in. Check out the area. This will help you decide where to rent or buy a condo or house.

Check out an article comparing renting to buying in the Philippines. The author says that renting is the best way to go in the Philippines. He points out, among other things, that a foreigner can never really own a house in the Philippines.

Living in a compound in Metro Manila

First, we lived with my wife's family in a "compound" in a barangay in Paranaque City in Metro Manila for 2 years. About 30 families lived in the compound. The units were arranged in a large rectangle around a central paved courtyard (like a hacienda). There was a sidewalk, in front of the units on one side, which passed through the compound leading to a large neighborhood of squatter dwellings. Some squatter areas look almost like developed subdivisions while other squatter areas are very basic. The poorest ones consist of "houses" made of secondhand wood and metal (some beer can aluminum already printed with labels.) I will write about those in upcoming articles.

Living in small towns or rural areas in the Philippines

Second, we lived in a rural area on the outskirts of Magalang, a small town about 15 or 20 minutes from the Marquee Mall in Angeles City.

Low rent rates and clean air to breath are the two big advantages of living in a rural area in the Philippines.
But, before you sign a lease or purchase agreement use Google Earth to search for pig farms and poultry farms nearby. You may be very sorry if you do not. Your health is at risk. We made the mistake of leasing before we thoroughly checked out the area. If you are interested in apartments or houses for rent in rural areas in the Philippines read my article about pig farms and chicken farms.

A secret to living in a small town or a rural area is always be friendly and polite. A local police officer, a friend of a friend of mine, advised us to only live in "secure" subdivisions or condos in the cities or close to the city centers. Secure meaning a place that has gates and armed guards. The USA State Department website advised Americans to maintain a low profile. Thus, my choice of a very old car which needed body work and paint. Most Filipinos think foreigners are "rich." True, most of us are not super rich but even a social security check makes us rich in their eyes. The average clerk in a department store in a large mall like an SM Supermall, a Robinson's Mall or an Ayala Mall earns about 300 pesos a day ($7.10 US as of 08/16/2012.) Less than the USA minimum wage per hour. So, in a way, you are rich in the Philippines!

Here are pictures of the apartment we leased in a rural area. You might say it was a mountain view apartment. From the apartment on the 2nd floor there is a good view of Mt. Arayat. It is on the outskirts of Magalang city. About 20 minutes from Angeles City if traveling by car.

Our apartment building on a dirt road.
A volcano, Mt. Arayat,
in background behind the building.

Our 40 sq. meter apartment in Magalang.  On the right, first floor.
3,500 pesos a month rent (would be $83 US as of Aug. 16, 2012.)
A 2 bedroom, 1 bath unit with a car park and gate.
 Similar apartments closer to SM City Clark mall in Angeles City
 will have rates of 10,000 to 25,000 pesos per month.

The road leading to our apartment
(near where we turn right onto a dirt road.)

Before we purchased the car, we used jeepneys and tricycles. We would walk about 1,500 feet from the apartment to the corner of Magalang-Angeles Rd. where we would catch a jeepney. There was never a long wait. Jeepneys came by about every 5 minutes.

At night we would get off the jeepney at the same corner and then would ride one of the waiting tricycles back to our apartment.

After we first moved in, we met a neighbor who advised us not to walk after dark. He said, "if you do walk at night and someone robs you, just give him what he wants or he may kill you."

He also told us that "if you see some guys walking down the street with rifles, just don't pay any attention and they won't hurt you." I do not know who he was referring to, but I have heard of the New People's Army (NPA). It is probably more dangerous living in rural areas. However, we lived in the apartment for over one and a half years without incident. Near the end of our lease a woman was accosted on the road near us, and a gas station attendant was murdered by a robber at the corner of Magalang-Angeles Road where we often waited for jeepneys and where we got tricycles to ride home in at night. I heard by the grapevine that a foreigner was shot dead in the local market (where I shopped occasionally) and that another was shot dead while walking near a road with his little daughter, who was kidnapped. Those incidents were some of the reasons we moved out of the area. Pig farms and chicken farms were two other reasons (flies from the chickens and stench from the pigs).

Find more information about my experiences living in Metro Manila and in Magalang, a small farming town, in a rural area, not far from Angeles City, in my post "Living In The Philippines."

Here are some sites where you may
find rentals in the Philippines:

Island Properties

OLX


Specific travel warnings for Americans traveling or living in the Philippines.

Find out about air pollution in the Philippines. Most of the pollution is from vehicle exhaust. Go to this link to learn about masks which are available. Use one to protect yourself in polluted areas.

I know what it is like to ride in jeepneys and to ride in tricycles in polluted areas. I know what it is like to be driving in the Philippines in a car with open windows. Our car had no air conditioner.

If you are considering buying real estate in the Philippines be sure to consult with a Philippine attorney before even beginning your search. An attorney can give you basic advice that may save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back to read more about rentals and living in rural areas or small towns in the Philippines. This article last updated June 4, 2022.

Buying Real Estate Philippines

Buying real estate in the Philippines.
Selling real estate.

Buying and Selling Real Estate in the Philippines

There are great opportunities to purchase condominiums, townhouses and houses in new developments all over the Philippines. Compared to properties in the USA prices are usually considerably lower. Sometimes much, much lower. 

Some of the largest and finest developers are Ayala Land, DMCI and Federal Land. There are also many other reputable real estate development companies.

Six Senses by Federal Land.

A good developer's agent, a licensed real estate broker or an attorney can assist you with the ins and outs of buying or selling Philippine properties.

Are you considering buying real estate in the Philippines? Click on the last link below to check out numerous cites in the Philippine Islands.

I hear that real estate is appreciating well in the Philippines. I think that applies mostly to residential and condo properties in quality developments.

A foreigner can purchase a condo in his own name but cannot buy a house or land in his own name. A foreigner may lease a property.

If a foreigner marries a Filipino then he may purchase property in his and his spouse's name.

It is best to consult with a Filipino attorney about how to arrange your purchase and in whose name to buy it. There are methods that are not widely publicized.

Be sure to hire an attorney to review your purchase plans and to review all documents before finalizing a purchase. Ask the attorney to verify the history of the title the seller holds to the property. Real estate can be tricky, so protect yourself by seeking advice of professionals.

Most houses and apartments in the Philippines have steel bars at the windows and have steel gated car parks.

Want to rent an apartment or a house in a large city or a rural area in the Philippines?

Meet Filipinas

Read about selling properties in the Philippines.

If you are a Filipino or a foreigner who has a property to sell and would like to see if featured in this blog, leave a comment below.

 

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back to read more about real estate in the Philippines. Last updated March 31, 2024.

Taxis In Philippines

Taxis in the Philippines

Safe Taxis in the Philippines?

 Safety tips for riding in cabs.

These tips apply whatever country you are in.

1. Do not ride in taxis that do not have meters!
2. Always tell the driver you expect him to use the meter. If he won't then don't get in the cab.
3. Always make sure that the meter is reset before you depart. If he does not reset it, get out and get       another cab.
4. Never get in a Philippine taxi that has anyone else in it. Only ride in a taxi that has no other passengers. The others could be robbers.
5. Check and see if the cab number is painted on the interior window sills. If it is not, do not ride in that cab (text the company name and taxi number to a friend or relative as a safety precaution).
6. Check and see that there are inside handles on all doors and that there is a visible door lock knob.
7. Actually try locking and pulling the door handle as if opening it before getting in the cab. Then keep the windows up and doors locked. Ask the driver to lock the front doors.
8. If a driver suggest that he take a shortcut tell him no, unless you are familiar with the area.
9. If the driver drives like a maniac ask him to drive safely or tell him you want to go down at the next corner. Most taxis do not have seat belts for your safety. After one ride in a taxi I realized why it is so dangerous to ride on motorcycles in the Philippines. The driver was inches from one he passed and tailgated very close to another at high speed.
10. Look to see if there are seat belts for the rear seat. If not you may want to find a different taxi. Usually only the newest ones will have safety belts. Many times you may need to ride in taxis without seat belts or wait a long time to find one with them.
11. At bus stations there may be a car or two, parked inside the bus area, offering taxi service. I have been approached by drivers but the cars had no signs on them. I suggest you never get in one of them. Better to go out on the street and hail a taxi. There will be young guys who will offer to hail a cab for you. They will expect a small tip (maybe 20 pesos.) It is worth it. Then ask to be sure the driver will use the meter. If a driver asks if you can add an extra 30 to 50 pesos just say yes and give it to him when you pay. It's a hard job and I think they really earn it.

Some more advice about taxis

"Although most taxi services are safe and reliable, there have been extortion incidents from taxi drivers.  

To minimize your risks:

• avoid hailing a taxi on the street
• only enter metered taxis from a reliable company and insist the meter be turned on
• prefer hotel transportation, official airport taxis, or a ridesharing app
• never share taxis with strangers
• ask that the windows being rolled up and doors locked at all times
• record the taxi’s license plate number and give or send the information to a relative/friend" excerpt from travel.qc,ca

Taxis in the Philippines. We prefer MGE taxis.

MGE taxis are found in Metro Manila and Quezon City. I have not confirmed that the above phone numbers are current.

MGE and Yellow Cab are two companies which are permitted to pick up at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Yellow cab has an added fee plus higher rates no matter where your service starts. Jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs are not permitted at the international airport If you want to ride a jeepney ask a guard if you can get on a jeepney by walking to the entrance to the airport.

Riding in an air conditioned taxi,

at sunset in Paranaque City, Metro Manila.

Hailing A Taxi

Try to hail a cab in the city center of Manila, they will NOT stop. Near the Ayala train station where Glorietta Mall, Landmark Department Store and SM Ayala Mall are, you MUST wait in line at taxi stands, without exception, and in the evening when many are leaving the malls you may wait up to 45 minutes for your turn to get in a cab. These taxi stands are monitored by security guards, they will note the ID number of the taxi on a slip of paper and hand it to you. This is for your security, you can call a trusted friend and notify them which cab you are in so in the event you are hijacked they can report it to the authorities. And it probably discourages drivers from trying anything funny.

The taxi ID letters and numbers should be painted on window sills inside all doors.
If the ID is not visible do not ride in that cab. Whenever you ride in a taxi be sure to text someone you know with the ID and tell them where you are riding from and to.

MGE and Yellow cabs are probably the newest and best cabs to ride in. And, they are the ones most likely to have seat belts.
However, we have ridden in cabs of many different companies.

About taxi drivers in the Philippines

It is best that you approach a taxi where the driver is seated inside, either in a bus station or on the street. There are drivers who may approach you who are driving unmarked "taxis." Do not use these.

If a driver tries to charge you a flat fee for a trip just say "no" or if you are already seated inside, get out and get another cab. The flat fee will always be higher than a metered fare.

It is common for driver's to ask foreigners to include 50 pesos extra. When I was new to the Philippines I refused. But, after some time there I began to realize just how hard it is to make a living as a taxi driver, so I started agreeing to the extra fee.

If you get a driver who has a nice newer taxi it might be a good idea to get his cell phone number and call 1/2 hour ahead of time whenever you need a taxi ride. Be sure to ask what days he works this week. He will pick you up. We had an MGE driver who would take us to the hospital and pick us up when we were ready to leave. He also waited for us as we shopped along a street and moved the cab to be near us as we walked down the street.  He then helped us load things we had purchased. It is great to have a personal "driver." Our driver, who said he was a former police officer, told us that MGE tests its drivers regularly for drug use.

TIRED TAXI DRIVERS

Driver's work 24 hour shifts and have days off. They sleep on and off in the cab during their shift.

Once we rode in the next Yellow Cab that was in line at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
I was told by the "dispatcher" at the taxi booth that our driver would be wide awake because he would have been sleeping in his cab until he got in the taxi line near the terminal doors.
Well, he was not very 'wide awake.' We left the airport at about 11 p.m. to go to Angeles City. During the 40 kilometer trip on the NLEX (an expressway) the driver showed signs of being tired. Several times he took both hands off the wheel, removed his eyeglasses and rubbed his eyes with one hand while holding his glasses in the other. Not something that inspires confidence in the Yellow Cab company or any company whose drivers work 24-hour shifts. Fortunately, the speed limit is only 100 km per hour or about 62 miles per hour for cars and jeepneys on the Expressway between the airport and Angeles City. The speed limit for trucks and buses is 80 kph or about 50 mph. However, I have been in many buses which have been driven faster than the cars. Some bus drivers drive like they are in sports cars. They get paid by how many passengers they have carried during their shifts.

I advise you, if you will be traveling far, to stay in a hotel and travel by taxi in the daytime. The same advise applies to traveling by bus.

Driver's must pay a "boundary"; in a sense they rent the cab and then try to make enough money to pay their boundary and still make a day's living. The last I heard the taxi boundary was about 1,500 pesos for a 24 hour period of time. They often sleep in their cab between fares.

A taxi as seen from our taxi
on bridge in Cagayan de Oro,
on the island of Mindanao.

If you are considering renting a car or a motorcycle, think twice. As far as I have learned, there is no collision insurance available. If the vehicle you rent gets damaged, YOU will pay for the damages. However, you may be able to buy good coverage if you buy a young or new car in the Philippines. As for motorcycles, due to the reckless habits of many drivers, it is far more dangerous to ride a motorcycle in the Philippines than in the USA. See my article about driving in the Philippines.

Another factor about driving as a foreigner in the Philippines is that you may be a target of some. You are perceived as being "rich" here. Pedestrians and other drivers may see you as an opportunity to make money. If you are involved in an "accident" it is very possible that you will end up paying much more than would a Filipino. Many foreigners hire a driver or, if married, will let their Filipino spouse drive.

Most taxis do not have seat belts. There is a good chance the newest taxis will have seat belts. Yellow cab and MGE often have seat belts. I use Yellow Cab or MGE when I arrive at the airport.


See information about tipping in the Philippines.
It is from an article "A Guide To Tipping Around The World" at Conde Nast Traveler. Here it is...

PHILIPPINES

At Restaurants: Check the bill–a 10 percent service 

charge may be included, in which case you might 

leave an extra $1 or $2. If it's not included, leave a 10 percent tip or a bit more.

At Hotels: A 10 percent service charge is usually 

included, but you should still give porters 50 cents to 

$1 per bag. Tip cleaning staff only if you see them or if you leave it in a clearly marked envelope, says Filipino-American Alex Clemente of San Francisco's Rajah Tours. "Filipinos are not going to pick up money that's left behind," he says. If a concierge goes out of his way to secure you good tickets or reservations, tip him $4 to $5.

Guides and Drivers: Guides get $20 to $50 a day, 

says Clemente, and drivers about $4 to $5. Tip taxi 

drivers about 10 percent.

Dollars Accepted? Yes! "If you tip in dollars, they 

will love you forever," says Clemente, "because it's 

considered better-quality money" than the Filipino 

peso.

P.S. "If you get stopped by the police, stick 200 pesos 

(about $4) in your I.D.," says Clemente–and he is only 

half joking. Men in blue uniforms who often help you 

park your car should get 10 to 20 pesos–about 20 to 50 

cents."

For foreigners and especially for Filipino taxi riders;

report bad experiences you have in taxis to the authorities.

Use this International Taxi Fare Calculator or

use this Manila Taxi Fare Calculator. Select your own currency then enter your departure point and destination and you can view the fare in your own currency. I have preset it to the U.S. dollar. I advise you to read comments below the calculator.

If you have bad experiences riding in taxicabs in the Philippines please share with other readers by commenting below.

Riding in trains in the Philippines.

Are considering buying a car in the Philippines?

If you are considering buying real estate in the Philippines

Meet Filipinas

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This article will be expanded upon. It is not an endorsement of MGE taxi service. Check back to read more about taxi fares, taxis, taxicabs, or cabs in the Philippines. Last updated June 18, 2022.