*** ANO BAYAN!! ***

THE PURPOSE OF

PHILIPPINE TRAVELERS PAGE

Welcome to the ORIGINAL Philippine Traveler's Home Page!

First and foremost, you need to understand that even though I am a true-blue (baby blue eyed) American born professional... "I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES !!". Outside of the United States, despite the heat, humidity, and hardships endured by its people, the Philippines is my favorite place in to be in this world! Throughout the years, I have gained many personal friends as well as professional and political contacts there. I have even learned much of the beautiful Tagalog language (also known as "Pilipino").

The primary purpose for this page is to educate, inform, alert and provide resources and assistance to those who have an interest in the Philippines and/or in traveling to the Philippines. We also strive to make it possible for you to verify what your Filipina-Pinay has told you by having one of our contacts in the Philippines personally meet her, verify who she is as well as those facts she has told you, and take photos of her, her family, residence and more. (In a manner in which she will never know you have had her checked out!)

If you haven't been here before, or if you have not been to my site for a while, HANG ON! You are in for a real educational experience!  There is so much information contained herein that it will undoubtedly take you numerous hours of reading, and even then I am sure you will return time and time again to check out and verify certain scams, facts, warnings and suggestions as you actually encounter them in your own search for happiness.  So get yourself a cup of coffee, cold drink, popcorn and/or a sandwich and prepare to be educated in the world of internet and long-distance searches, relationships, marriages, etc.. Be sure to read EVERY PAGE of this website before committing yourself to a relationship that will affect the rest of your life! Take advantage of my almost 20 YEARS of experience and travels to the Philippines.

PHILIPPINE TRAVELER has worked for years with and for California law firms as both investigator and paralegal assistant.  Handling both criminal, civil and immigration cases.  Many having required frequent trips to the Philippines since 1989.

In general, the Filipino people are very friendly and industrious. Plus most of the ladies are among the most humble, honest, loving, caring, loyal, beautiful and industrious ladies in the world! (Note: There are very few countries in this world wherein in some places, you can still find 30 year old virgin females! This is due to the respect that most have for themselves, their future husbands, their family and reputation. It also comes from the deeply rooted sense of family values and strict religious upbringings.

PHILIPPINE TRAVELER is not a pen-pal or e-pal club. There are already many reputable matrimonial clubs on the internet, and PHILIPPINE TRAVELER is not in competition with them. The services you will find here will be needed by you AFTER you believe you may have found your life-mate! (But hopefully BEFORE you have sent over large sums of money or have spent the funds for round-trip airfare tickets, gifts, etc..) Even more important, it is suggested that even if you have someone in particular you wish to meet, perhaps a pen-pal or chat-mate you may have met online, we strongly suggest you treat your trip to the Philippines as one of your greatest vacation adventures! That way, should you encounter a problem with your friend, or find you are not compatible, then you can still enjoy yourself and even be open to meeting new people!

Most importantly, be advised that this page is the original Philippine Traveler’s web-page (experienced since 1989), and is primarily created for the American, Canadian or western man who has a pen-pal, pen-friend, fiancé, wife, bride (asawa) in the Philippines! (We are now aware of three knock-off, or copy websites that are actually run by "newbie's" who now claim to be experts, including one who was our own client!)

In all facets of life, there are always those people who will try to "take advantage", abuse and/or steal from the unsuspecting and vulnerable. Unfortunately, the Philippines is no different. Especially wherein many of the people suffer a degree of poverty that most Americans can't even begin to imagine. Compounding the problem is the fact that all of the United States Military bases (especially Subic Bay ) have been closed. This resulted in many ladies and girls, both from the legal and illegal lifestyles,  (Legal being those who worked at the bases, or in the surrounding towns, restaurants, clubs, etc., and who had common-law American husbands or boyfriends; Illegal being of course the prostitutes, bar girls, etc.), suddenly finding themselves without any source of support or income, many with so-called “illegitimate” Amerasian children resulting from relationships with American servicemen. One has to also be aware that it's not only violent crime that is "organized" in the Philippines, Even the beggars on the streets, especially at Christmas time, are often working for a "syndicate" or other organizational forms. Naturally, since the advent and popularity of the internet, it was axiomatic that the poverty stricken, unscrupulous and even criminal facets would figure out how to target unsuspecting and even lonely western men from their hard-earned cash.

In addition, some of the "clubs" assist, encourage and/or allow the bar girls to maintain pen-pal, pen-friend, or e-pal relationships with foreign men, and some may even entertain so-called "tours" wherein the American or western man is brought over and meets many girls at the same time, usually at the club or hotel,  or a house owned by the club, website or hotel owner and/or his or his wife’s family or friends. Remember that the bars and clubs are where most of the bar girls from Angeles City, Subic Bay and Olongapo went when the world's largest military installation closed! (As did all of our other U.S. military bases in the Philippines.)

SOCIAL CHANGES IN THE PHILIPPINES:

One must first understand that the Philippines has been undergoing great social changes in the last twenty years!  It used to be that the Filipina, Pinay ladies were basically uneducated and had no choice but to accept a local guy who was to be the bread winner for her family. It also used to be common for the men to be the educated member of the family. In effect, she was kept barefoot, pregnant and uneducated.

Not so any more! Filipina ladies are now very aware of the importance that education plays in one's future.  They also realize that with the invent of the internet that they do not have to accept a Filipino, Pinoy male who will often times be unemployed, heavy smoker, drinker, user of drugs (Most often "shabu" which is the strongest form of methamphetamine, commonly called "ice" here in the states.)

One of the greatest social changes in Philippines occurred when President Corazon Aquino ordered that all high schools teach English.  Following her lead, President Gloria Arroyo declared that English must also be taught in the elementary schools.  The results have been phenomenal, and the educated Filipina, Filipino worker is now one of the most sought after workers in the world!  In addition, the Filipina lady can now avail herself of the internet and intelligently communicate with English speaking men from around the globe!

All to often, American men think that the Filipina, Pinay is only after entry into the United States, to be petitioned, a green card, and American citizenship.  This is not necessarily true.  For the honest and sincere Filipina, Pinay is merely using those tools (which necessarily include but are not limited to their use of her education, English and the Internet), which she has available to her in order to locate and marry hat individual which would be best for her future, the future of her future family and even her immediate family in the Philippines. 

In short, if an honest and sincere Filipina had it in her power to marry a doctor or lawyer, etc. in the Philippines, she would probably do so!  But there is still a bit of a class system in Philippine society, so the odds are probably just as good or perhaps even better at finding a good spouse on the internet, whether in Philippines or United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or other countries.

Social changes in the United States and other western countries also play a major role in this phenomenon.   We are currently in a time in history where divorce rates in America are at their highest, American women are often fighting to be recognized as "equals" to American men.  They are career oriented, often times earning more than their husband, and are no longer satisfied with just having a good husband and family, which is what most Filipina, Pinay would hope and pray for!  So it is only logical that the Filipina, Pinay ladies and the American men, many who are divorced, should find each other!

In addition, it should be noted that in her search for happiness, the average Filipina, Pinay is not prejudiced by age or social status. She merely wants to be loved and blessed with a good husband and family.  Unlike the social stereo type found in the USA wherein it is primarily "acceptable" to marry if one is within five years of age apart.

PHILIPPINE TRAVELERS WEBPAGE AND SERVICES have been prepared to provide and assist you in confirming and checking out and/or enabling you to determine the TRUE, HONEST and SINCERE Filipina, Pinay from those who are UNSCRUPULOUS, SCAMMING, and financially driven!

ENTER THE INTERNET

(AND THE DANGERS & ABUSES RESULTING THEREFROM)!!

For many years, American men have sought Asian brides, with the Philippines being a primary source for these ladies. Pen Pal Clubs, Matchmakers, and Tours have been in the so-called "Mail-Order Bride" industry for decades. And the same abuses suffered by men at the hands of unscrupulous ladies, families and/or organized crime groups, have now spilled over into the internet, which is perfectly "ripe for the picking" to these same unscrupulous people, as well as new ones. The only difference being that the potential "harvest" of single men (and their cash), is now unlimited and instead of targeting just American and Canadians, the entire globe has been opened up, thanks to the internet.  As such, the intelligent man must now CHECK OUT HIS PROSPECTIVE FUTURE MATE, before he starts sending cash and items to a lady he has never met!!!

Remember that first and foremost, the lady or ladies you are writing to, YOU HAVE NEVER MET! All you know about her and/or her family, job, location and/or life's situation, is what she has told you, or the photo/s she has sent to you. (And hopefully it is a "she" or “female” who is at the other end!)
 

THE "INTERNET CAFE" EXPERIENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES:

Thousands of internet cafe's (aka: Cyber Cafes) have sprung up throughout the Philippines!  This is not per-se a bad thing for the Filipina or Filipino, since it allows internet service to be available to a person who might not otherwise be able to afford or have access to the internet.  For that very reason it is also a good thing for the western man who, on the other side of the planet, is in search of an Asian fiancée or bride-to be.

All one has to do is enter any internet cafe and the experience is basically the same:

Most internet cafes tend to separate the males and the females (boys and girls, ladies).  This is primarily due to the high noise levels generated by the boys or men, who are usually there only to play the latest internet or action video games.

With the exception of the occasional student or working individual, the first thing you notice is that in one section usually every computer is full of Filipino boys, with speakers blasting the loud and energetic sounds of the latest military, police or space aged video games.

The other section is almost opposite!  The ladies side is usually very quiet and serious.  Much like that in a library.  Before each computer in this section sits a beautiful brown skinned (morena) Filipina, Pinay girl or lady who has just spent her last few hard earned pisos in the hopes of finding that perfect husband. Often times the parents of the lady have sacrificed family food money to enable their daughter to search for that one man in a thousand with which she has the most in common and who will actually care enough to fly around the world to meet her. In many cases, this is the families one chance at improving life for the entire family, since a good daughter and/or her good American husband will dutifully send a small monthly allowance (baon)  to the family in the Philippines for rice and/or to help another sibling through school, etc.. (Most American men do not understand that it is the DUTY of a good daughter to help her family! For a daughter to not do so would be to disgrace not only herself, but also her family in their local community.) This is why it is so very important that the man who truly believes he loves or cares for a lady to seek the assistance of someone who is familiar with the customs, culture and lifestyles of the Philippines! (Keep in mind also that almost every island or province has its own unique customs and cultures, as is supported by the fact that in the Philippines there is 33 different dialects or languages!)

In some cases the Filipina, Pinay who is sitting in front of the screen at the internet cafe has traveled an hour from a mountainous area or small island that does not have landlines or internet access, just for that one or two hour period in which she hopes to meet an honest and genuine husband on the internet. This is the honest side of the internet cafe.  Of course some are fortunate enough to be able to afford their own home computer, but this is still far and few, and in many cases is cause to ask "what other man (pen-pal, chat mate, etc.) sent her the money to purchase it, or may have even brought the computer to her?  This is not always the case, but now-a-days one must always be thinking and vigilant.)

Anyway, at first glance you note that each Filipina is studiously attuned to her own screen, while frequently checking to make sure no one else is peeking over her shoulder to assure her privacy, or lest anyone else might steal her man.  There is no doubt in your mind that each is chatting, sending offline messages, IM, YM, or emails to their latest "boyfriend" with he hopes that he will be the "one".  But upon closer look you realize that most of the ladies are not chatting that "one" hope, but "is artfully juggling as many as up to ten instant chats at a time! You get tired just looking at the skill and determination she uses to carry on so many conversations at the same time!

It is not uncommon for Filipina (also called Pinay) to be writing to MANY western men on the internet and/or through pen-pal clubs. Each American is, of course, led to believe that "HE" is her "one and only"!  And we cannot chastise them for this, since we Americans also usually write to numerous Filipina ladies, as we "narrow the search" for our own life’s mate. The only difference is that in most cases, the girl or lady in the Philippines is quite frequently receiving some form of regular monetary amount or allowance (called a "baon") each month from the men who write to her.

THE REQUESTS FOR MONEY:

Often it starts with a request for funds so that she may be able to afford postage, paper and envelopes, or for school expenses or a medical problem for the family.

 Postage is a valid claim for poor ladies to request, and at the current exchange rates, which fluctuate around 40 TO 50 pisos to one US Dollar, $5.00 to $10.00 a month is plenty for postage. (Postage to USA is currently 20 pisos per letter and 60 pisos for a card, so $5 pays postage only for 10 letters, 6 if you also consider envelopes and paper).  (Note, the Philippine Peso is actually spelled "Piso", unlike its Spanish counterpart, and is spelled that way right on the money!.)

TAKE CAUTION:

However, in many cases, it does not take long before the American is being told that some tragedy, hospital bill, educational need, a typhoon, rain, mudslide or fire has destroyed the house, etc. has hit the family in the Philippines, with a "hint", or even a blatant request for cash to assist in whatever the purported need is. Now in some cases, the need may be legitimate. But in way to many cases it is not!

In many cases, upon conducting field research, the lady actually has a husband or live-in, who not only condones but encourages such actions by his wife due to the money it brings in. Many of these husbands will even "disappear" from site when the American man comes to visit what he believes is his Filipina, Pinay, Fiancée, and even allow his wife to have sex with the Americano! (In many cases the husband has been found to be off at a relative's house taking care of their children, so that they too are out of sight!)  We have even come across cases wherein the "driver" who was hired to transport the gentleman and his Filipina fiancée was actually the live-in husband! (Read the Scams and Warnings Page) This is easily accomplished when an American many who speaks no Pilipino language believes he can handle his own affairs in Philippines. When in actuality they are speaking about him right in front of his face and he doesn't even know it!

Be advised that in most of the so-called husbands and wives in the Philippines are actually "live-ins", or what we call "common law marriages". Often times the "scamming" couple will not get married with an actual "marriage contract" so that later the lady can find a foreign or American husband.

Hopefully, the above will have at least placed you "on-guard" and will help you to stay alert to the possibilities of potential abuse/s. These are just a few of the common problems encountered by western men. The sob-stories and/or abuses are limited only by their imagination! So beware! Remember the age old adage... IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE... IT PROBABLY IS!!

By now the need to CHECK OUT your prospective mate is now very obvious! And this can best be done by someone who knows the customs, culture, language, games, scams, legalities, requirements, etc., which allow for a valid and honest report. (ENTER THE PHILIPPINE TRAVELERS!!)  Checking out someone in the Philippines is a very special art. Especially since the neighbors and sometimes even entire communities are usually the family or town-mates of the very person you wish to check out! (Filipinos are also very tight and "clannish" due to such closeness.) In addition, one must know where to go to check out the scholastic, police, medical, marital and other records that might later result in denial of a petition for her to come to U.S.A . (Which would of course result in a complete waste of your substantial time and/or money!)

Now that you are familiar with some of the basic social changes, situations and problems which have given rise to the current day internet search, you can better understand some of the WARNINGS and SCAMS that will be set forth in the following pages.

BE SURE TO BOOKMARK THIS PAGE AS A FAVORITE SO YOU CAN EASILY RETURN AND UTILIZE THIS WEBSITE AS ONE OF YOUR MOST USEFUL TOOLS DURING YOUR INTERNET SEARCH!

To mention just a few of the scams or problems PHILIPPINE TRAVELER has uncovered and brought to the attention of his clients are the following:

(1) In one case, as PHILIPPINE TRAVELER was video taping the house of the future bride, another American man was exiting the house! It turned out that HE had been visiting what he thought was HIS fiancé' for two weeks. It was later learned (from neighbors) that the lady and her sisters had made a cottage industry of "playing the clubs", and wrote to hundreds of men in USA , with no intentions of ever leaving the Philippines . They even had notebooks and disks which contained boiler-plate letters and emails which were sent to each American/ Canadian man they were writing to! Of course, each westerner was also sending cash each month. The client was ever-so-grateful to learn of the scam, and especially to view this on the video tape and photos. He was only two months away from taking vacation time and purchasing his airline ticket to the Philippines! (BIG SAVINGS!);

In another case, a lady who professed to her e-mail fiancée' that she was a virgin, was found to have a live-in husband and two children! Another had a criminal record from when she had worked in a disco club. This would preclude her from being able to enter USA . Documents proving the case were copied and provided to the client.

In another case, PHILIPPINE TRAVELER was requested by a Filipina who is now a USA citizen, to travel to her house and video tape the house she owned in which her own brother lived. She was asked, and did send, thousands of dollars so that the family house could be improved and a second story added. When PHILIPPINE TRAVELER arrived and video taped the house (inside and out), it was so dilapidated, no second floor was added, and even no rest room was ever built into the house! PHILIPPINE TRAVELER had to go outside to use a hole in the ground which had a plastic molding laid flat on the ground!

So you see, PHILIPPINE TRAVELER handles many types of cases! In fact, about 40% of the clients are Filipino's! A very common request is to have PHILIPPINE TRAVELER check on more than one lady on a given trip. (Usually 3-5 different ladies they have been writing to.)  In such a case it is best to write several interesting ladies in one city, province or island. This saves on travel expenses.

In the case of American's who wish to petition their fiancé's. PHILIPPINE TRAVELER will not only assist the fiancée, in the Philippines, to gather the required documents, but also provides the forms required and helps guide their completion. This is at no extra charge! Remember that in many cases, Affidavits and other documents and photos must also be prepared and filed with the petition. Most Filipino attorneys are not familiar with the requirements of US Immigration (USCIS) in regards to supporting documents.

Now being recently retired, PHILIPPINE TRAVELER’S schedule is pretty much open and available to accompany and assist on most trips.

PHILIPPINE TRAVELER'S services are very affordable! This is because he makes 3-5 trips to the Philippines each year. So the cost of the airfare is split by the number of clients he is assisting each trip. The more clients he is assisting on any one trip, the cheaper the rates. It also depends on which island or province has to be visited to complete the mission. It could even be as little as $100.00 for everything! (And remember, this ALSO always includes a video tape and photographs of the fiance, her family, house, neighborhood, market place, school, church, and much more when available!! (In some cases even video or photos of the live-in or husband the client does not know about!) If the need is urgent, depending on the city, province or situation, PHILIPPINE TRAVELER also has contacts who live in the Philippines who may provide the services needed.

In SPECIAL or URGENT cases, PHILIPPINE TRAVELER will make special trips to Philippines, such as accompanying a client who wishes to have a guide and/or person familiar with the customs, language, scams, legalistic, (even foods), etc., accompanying them.

In some URGENT cases, there may be a petition to be filed for a minor child who is about to reach the age of majority, and who's petition and supporting documents must be obtained and submitted IMMEDIATELY. Every case is different.

Also, be advised that PHILIPPINE TRAVELER does NOT do cases with any other country!! PHILIPPINES ONLY!! This is because (1) P/T LOVES THE PHILIPPINES!; (2) Problems associated with the Philippines are unique and therefore specialized.; (3) P/T has many contacts, friends, attorneys, and family in and from the Philippines. So if you wish these services for any other country, please do not ask. STRICTLY PILIPINO-ENGLISH SPOKEN HERE!! (Pilipino or Tagalog is the proper spelling in Philippines.)

In addition, should PHILIPPINE TRAVELER accompany you, telephone numbers and internet cyber cafes are available in most areas so that you may keep in constant contact with your home or business in the states.   I further suggest that one of the first things a traveler does is to buy a cellular phone as soon as you get off the plane and settled in the hotel. You can always find a CellPhone for less than $100 dollars, including set up and loaded with pisos.  That way, when you return to states, you can always give her the cell phone and you have an instant way to stay in touch with her!

Want to learn of more Scams and Warnings? Be sure to read the more detailed Scams and Warnings Page!

Learn more on the SPECIAL TRIPS & SERVICES PAGE.

Hopefully this simple page has educated, alerted and maybe even impressed you. To find out more, contact the PHILIPPINE TRAVELER today! In addition, be sure to check out the other pages herein, including but not limited to the many Internet hyperlinks that will greatly expedite your Internet search for very important information and maps regarding the Philippines! In the links page/s, you will find many Internet links for maps, recipes, laws, even lessons on Tagalog language, and much much more! Feel free to e-mail PHILIPPINE TRAVELER at:

( Philippine_Traveler@yahoo.com ).

In closing, please remember... I LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN HAPPY ENDINGS!! When checking out a prospective fiancée, we always hope to report that she is everything you were told, and even more! I have made many friends of former clients, and references are available! There are many more HAPPY stories than there are bad ones. However, the few examples listed above and those on the Scams and Warnings Page had to be presented frankly and honestly so that one may be "on guard".

All clients are also provided with email and IM addresses, as well as my telephone number, so that we may stay in constant contact with the person who is doing the verification for you. Even telephone numbers in the Philippines are provided so that contact may be maintained when PHILIPPINE TRAVELER is there.

Should you need maps, translations, etc., or should you have questions, or if you feel like you are "being scammed", etc., feel free to contact PHILIPPINE TRAVELER today! E-Mails are checked daily. God Bless and Mabuhay! Be sure to write NEW SCAM OR WARNING in the Subject line of your email so we don't trash it as spam!

 IT HAD TO HAPPEN!  

They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery.    While that may be true in many instances, we find it repulsive that a former client of ours who knew NOTHING about the Philippines, Filipina, Pinay and Petitions, etc. and who even had a couple of our contqacts check her out before they met, opened a webpage with a name almost identical to ours!  It is definitely NOT flattering when an AMATEUR pretends to know what he is doing, at the risk of others having their petitions denied and/or other needs not being met, just so he and his wife may get a couple free trips back to the Philippines!

It is despicable to think that they have even named their website almost identical so that they might trick the search engines and the prospective client base (you) into capitalizing on PHILIPPINE TRAVELERS ALMOST TWENTY YEARS OF LEGAL AND PRACTICAL EXPERTISE AND SERVICE.!!

Although their new webpage has fancy mechanical fades and fans, (something we purposely avoided to expedite loading of our pages), In addition to copying much of our information word for word, as well as many of our links, they also proudly exhibit photos taken by the original PHILIPPINE TRAVELER at beautiful Malapascua Island, http://www.malapascua.de/ ) as well as other places. 

In addition, they use their NEW site in an attempt to locate husbands for there own friends and/or family.  Without permission, one lady, discovered they had placed her photo (and both first and last name) on their newly born website without her permission, and when she demanded they remove it, they refused. Her photo and name is still there to this day, causing much personal grief for her and her fiancé, (whom she did NOT meet through their website!). Yet they marked her photo as TAKEN, so others would believe they had something to do with it. This poor lady is now worried because her fiancée’ has threatened to call off their engagement since her first and last name is searchable to a so-called mail-order bride site! What a conflict of interest!

This is not an auction site where one merely gets kicked off for breaking the rules, but deals with people’s lives, happiness and sometimes large sums of money and crucial time periods. 

We also find ourselves in the uncomfortable and strange position of not wanting to give up any personal information of any client, even these offending ones, and yet trying to protect those who really need more assistance than a newly self-appointed AMATEUR can provide.

Notwithstanding the documentation and photos we maintain in support of our story, simply ask yourself if you would trust your life and happiness to an AMATEUR (1) Who erroneously claims to be an expert; (2) Who copies another’s website as a means of trying to get a free ride, or even a husband for their own family members; or (3) Who did NOT know how to do their own petition and Affidavit of Support just a short while ago?  I don't think so.

If someone is claiming to have years and years of experience, do not be afraid to check out their passport/s as well as their frequent flyer status.

IN CLOSING, KNOW WHO S GUIDING YOU!!