First Trip to Fiancee's Province

[six7one 17]

I just wanted to share my experience with you all. I just returned home from a week long trip to the PI. My Fiancee met me in Manila and we then journeyed 9 hours from Manila to her Province in Bicol by bus. Spent 4 days there meeting her parents and family, sought their blessings, bonded with relatives, and just to take in the experience of her home. Being outside of Metro Manila was also a change of pace I really enjoyed. Great trip. Wonderful family as I expected, Fantastic food, and memories for a lifetime.

Thanks for all the advice I got here on VJ prior to my trip. The Pasalubong ideas were great, even though the extra suitcase fee cost me more than some of the gifts I brought. Damn airline merger (talking about the largest airline in the world based in Chicago). Anyway, here's what I learned that might help you...

• Long bus rides generally don't make many stops for CR
  
• Bring 5 Peso coins with you for the use of CRs at the Sari Saris you do stop for
  
• Towns in the Provinces are generally cash only with few ATMs (if any)
  
• Chocolates are always appreciated. Hard candies for kids
  
• Little to no water pressure can be expected. Shower with a pail is often the means or pumping your own water
  
• Do not refuse food offered and never show you don't like what you've just tried
  
• Trikes are small! At 5'10" I could barely fit in the side car
  
• Power/Water outages are not uncommon
  
• Have a night out or two with Titas and Titos and foot the bills
  

Most of all...

• Be courteous and respectful
  
• Don't act like the foreigner who's there to own the town
  
• Talk and plan things through with your Fiancee to see if your intended actions are acceptable
  
• Don't go around flaunting you have money. It's disrespectful and could probably get you into trouble quick
  

For those of you VJers who have not visited their Fiance(e)'s province/home town, you are missing out on the opportunity for the family to meet you and get to know you. Most especially it gives them an opportunity to ask questions to you and for them to understand the whole K1/K2 Visa process. I had the impression that my fiancee's family thought she would never return home to the Philippines (which I dispelled). Going there was a win win situation and it turned out to be fantastic. I really want to go back again soon. That's how much I enjoyed it.

[lakemurray 0]

glad to hear you enjoyed here in Philippines. all the tips are . have a happy journey and wish you the best for both of you!

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Glad you enjoyed the Philippines. I love it there myself. Your list is so true.

[calibob 73]

At 6'3" I feel your pain......all very good and sound advice. Memories that last a lifetime is well said. Sounds like you have a very good start, best wishes on the rest of your journey!

Bob

[Wally G! 58]

This was me on the pedicab or tricycle. I am solid guy and 5'10. :rofl:

[six7one 17]

This was me on the pedicab or tricycle. I am solid guy and 5'10. :rofl:

Wish I had a picture of the fridge I bought strapped to the back of the trike.

[Philwithlove 17]

im from BICOL too. where specifically your fiance located? there are flights from manila-naga and vice versa and its just 45 minutes and its not that expensive too. saves time and safe compare to riding buses..

[duriantaste 44]

Most of all...

[*]Be courteous and respectful

[*]Don't act like the foreigner who's there to own the town

[*]Talk and plan things through with your Fiancee to see if your intended actions are acceptable

[*]Don't go around flaunting you have money. It's disrespectful and could probably get you into trouble quick

Do you mean that some people are courteous and respectful sometimes not all the time? So in other words you are referring to fake people? That is not cool. (That's my opinion).

I am the same everywhere I go.

Edited March 26, 2012 by duriantaste

[Philwithlove 17]

Do you mean that some people are courteous and respectful sometimes not all the time? So in other words you are referring to fake people? That is not cool. (That's my opinion).

I am the same everywhere I go.

good for you.

thats the reality that some people are courteous and respectful and some are not. sometimes the situation makes people not and some depends on the location. sometimes its the culture. we might find it respectful and courteous but other cultures might not.

OP just gave advice for better experience in the country

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

[*]Chocolates are always appreciated. Hard candies for kids

Are you serious? I had no idea that kids like candy. Sooo.. Nestle made all that money in PI.

[*]Do not refuse food offered and never show you don't like what you've just tried

(read this sentence with a redneck accent...it plays better)'cause even though it's Okay to exhibit distaste / disgust / repulsion... here in the US...them Filipino's might Lechon you for spittin' their food out.

[*]Trikes are small! At 5'10" I could barely fit in the side car

Why wouldn't Filipino's design their trikes for people with larger statures?

[*]Have a night out or two with Titas and Titos and foot the bills

(but)... Couldn't this be considered "flaunting" money. I say...Damn diplomacy!...hide that money!

Most of all...

[*]Be courteous and respectful

'Cause...Although Americans (say it like Dub-ya would say it) are very discourteous and disrespectful here in the US...well...it's you.. turned into... Lechon...in the PI.

I wonder if (my American) Mom and Dad knew I would grow up and travel to the PI when they taught me to be courteous and respectful... Thanks Mom and Dad for keeping me from becoming Lechon in the PI.

All in all...the OP is good intent but sometimes...I have a difficult time discerning between Arrogance and naivetee.

Edited March 26, 2012 by Crashed~N2~Me

[six7one 17]

im from BICOL too. where specifically your fiance located? there are flights from manila-naga and vice versa and its just 45 minutes and its not that expensive too. saves time and safe compare to riding buses..

My Fiance is in Camarines Norte Province. I took the bus because I wanted to experience it for myself and see other parts of Luzon. The time went by faster than I expected. May do the Manila-Naga flight some other time, but it would still be a 2 hour bus/van from Naga up to Cam Norte. BTW, I can't wait to eat Bicol Express again! Masarap!

[six7one 17]

Do you mean that some people are courteous and respectful sometimes not all the time? So in other words you are referring to fake people? That is not cool. (That's my opinion).

I am the same everywhere I go.

All a matter of opinion and judgement I suppose. Courteous Example: Hosted a dinner for Fiancee's immediate family. I made sure everyone ate before I started. Respectful Example: Greeted elders with their hand to my forehead.

In a different culture, country and even province your actions (and even lack of) are all looked at and judged. When under a microscope of a parent or relative, then you've got to think your actions and gestures through. Just my two cents.

[Philwithlove 17]

My Fiance is in Camarines Norte Province. I took the bus because I wanted to experience it for myself and see other parts of Luzon. The time went by faster than I expected. May do the Manila-Naga flight some other time, but it would still be a 2 hour bus/van from Naga up to Cam Norte. BTW, I can't wait to eat Bicol Express again! Masarap!

im from camarines sur and yup naga is quite far from camarines norte i think its even more than 2 hrs. i have friends and relatives living there too and going there is tiring but when you already there, pineapples are the best there and beaches are great!

i miss bicol express too and some street foods back home. remind your fiance to bring some of her fave foods here in the US just incase its allowed. our home here in the US is far from an asian store and the chips here are like less than 10 variety and all are potatoes. i miss chitchiria (junk foods).

[rlogan 2,036]

I'm a believer in meeting the family, that's for sure. There's lots of transportation options.

I commission cabs sometimes out of the regional airports. If you walk outside there will often be a group of cabs and you can announce where you are going and take the best offer. You can't quite do that at the International airport, but if you are brave enough you can go a little off-airport and make a deal with one of them for a charter.

I've rented or hired cars, multicabs, off-duty jeepneys, motorcycles - and done buses too, but its my last choice! Top choice is a room on one of the ferries if that's an option. A state room has the highest nookie time coefficient. Plus you get to walk around on the deck. There will be a restaurant. Remember not to toss coins to the boys swimming out and diving for them at the side of the ship.

[six7one 17]

im from camarines sur and yup naga is quite far from camarines norte i think its even more than 2 hrs. i have friends and relatives living there too and going there is tiring but when you already there, pineapples are the best there and beaches are great!

i miss bicol express too and some street foods back home. remind your fiance to bring some of her fave foods here in the US just incase its allowed. our home here in the US is far from an asian store and the chips here are like less than 10 variety and all are potatoes. i miss chitchiria (junk foods).

Pinyas in Cams Norte were the best I've ever had in the Phils. Love the way they prep it in a spiral to remove the eyes. Also makes it easy to serve. Fantastic stuff. Of course, got a whole bunch of Pili nuts to take back home. Another famous Bicol product.

I'm sure my Fiancee will find most of what she needs here in my home of Guam. Large Filipino population here and produce and products are pretty easy to find. Thanks for the tip though.