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Tactics when visiting relatives in The Philippines

Discussion in 'Travel Tips and Advice' started by Maharg, Sep 2, 2017.

  1. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    i see what you mean. now trying to convince the wife lol.
  2. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    wife checked it out--yes--youre right. thanks for your timely advice. now she wont have to buy so much spam, coffee, toblerones--etc. i dunno why she dont just dish out pesos--much easier.
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  3. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    I've seen this on another thread and still don't understand why take those items. I've never had any problem finding those items in all the supermarkets there and not overly expensive. If you wanted to stuff a Samsung UHD 4K 65" Curved Screen QLED TV in your baggage, that I understand as they are very expensive there...........:D
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    • Funny Funny x 1
  4. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member


    oh--i totally agree with you....and yes--she did send a tv back a few years ago--stuffed into a balikbayan box. for some reason she just cant see that paying for a box to go over negates any savings on canned goods. but--if it keeps her happy....it aint my money !
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Don't forget that the UK (only) toblerones now have half the chunks missing. UK Toblerone changes

    Better to buy toblerone locally when she gets there or people might think you are a cheap Charlie.
    • Funny Funny x 2
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  6. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    This. We did exactly this. Although my wife organised it and paid for everything. I knew nothing about it. High point for me was taking her there on a motorbike. Very liberating going hacking off down the road without a crash helmet!

    Last day here today. Just waiting to be checked out from the apartment. Had a great time here, and my missus scared of all the hangers on that ruined her sister's visit before we even came here. And when she is scary, she is SCARY!

    Wonderful to finally spend proper, quality time with the family. This is particularly true about my new niece, who barely let go of my hand until we left for Manila and has been crying a lot ever since and asking when I'm coming back!
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  7. John Surrey
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    John Surrey Well-Known Member

    Get mine in Mercury...
  8. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Toblerones are all over the place there. You even have to run a guantlet of toblerone salesmen at the airport when you get off the plane.
  9. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    My wife claims it's not the goods themselves, it's where they come from. There is boast value to having foreign imports to show off. A foreign jar of coffee is perceived as better and with more shelf appeal than a locally bought one of the same brand. Make of that what you will..
    • Agree Agree x 2
  10. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest


    In our local supermarket we have an imported isle with all that stuff in it..
    I pose there in front of it and fill my basket in front of Filipino shoppers..
    They all look mighty impressed...
    Not!
  11. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Perhaps things bought in the local supermarket do not have the same kudos, or perhaps my wife just doesn't know as much about Filipino culture as you do.
  12. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest

    Perhaps.
  13. Bluebird71
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    Bluebird71 Well-Known Member

    Easy - just say no. It's not as impolite as asking for money is it?
  14. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest

    In the Philippines it`s impolite to say "No"!
  15. a8amg
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    a8amg Member

    Yeah I've had 40Kg allowance before, but I was told that no bag should be over 30Kg, and to split it into 2 cases if it is
  16. uklove
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    uklove Active Member

    Chocolate in the Phils does not taste the same as in the UK...but at least the local stuff doesn't melt like ours.
    Just treat everyone to a few bottles of red horse and Tanduay...and of course lechon baboy.
    • Agree Agree x 2
  17. Bluebird71
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    Bluebird71 Well-Known Member

    That may well be. The answer is still no though.
  18. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I agree, never found any decent chocolate in the Philippines.

    When I have flown across with KLM, I always get stocked up with a mixed pack of the Droste chocolate pastilles in Amsterdam airport. :like:
  19. Bootsonground
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    Bootsonground Guest


    But you will hurt their feelings!
    Foreign Devil you!!
    • Funny Funny x 2
  20. Bluebird71
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    Bluebird71 Well-Known Member

    In an SM supermarket (really enjoyed going there), they had Fox's biscuits from good ol' Blighty. Sweet wise, that kept me going.

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