Philippines and Cebu Stripped

Having been able to taste the life abroad has made me miss a few things here in the Philippines, particularly here in Cebu, a beautiful hometown. Dubbed as the Queen City of the South, for it's strategic location, making it the center of trade and commerce in Central Visayas. Among other things, Cebu is rich in culture and filled with beautiful and happy people.

The only way you can truly enjoy a foreign place is living like the locals. Be with them, eat with them, walk with them. And these are definitely a few of many things you should immerse yourself in, here in Cebu.

Eat with the locals. 
Here are a few of the wide variety of Filipino dishes.

1. BALOT or duck's embryo
Balot is one of the many Filipino exotic foods.

2. LECHON and PUSO - Cebu's pride


3. SUTUKIL
4. PANCIT PALABOK
5. BBQ
6. Dugo-dugo
7. BOODLE FIGHT




Ride with the locals. 

In the Philippines having a car is not a necessity, with the variety of local transportation available..who needs a car??


1. Jeepney

2. Tricycle


3. Habalhabal


4. Trisikad



Drink with the locals. 

Filipinos are happy people, and we enjoy our drinks. Drinking is a way of socializing for Filipinos. We get to gather friends and catch up on each others  life.


1. Tuba/ Lambanog


2. Beer (San Miguel Beer -made in the Phils.)



Sing with the locals.

 Filipinos looooove to sing. As 9 out of 10 Filipino's can probably hum a tune or two. Home of top caliber International singers. So it's no wonder anywhere you go, in every nook and corner of town you'll see and hear these:

1. Karaoke
2. Harana


Feast with the locals. 

Philippines is composed of 7,000+ islands and with that come's along 100 different festivals, ubique to each region. So basically, there is always a festival going on in the Philippines all year round.


1. Sinulog



Talk like the locals.

Tagalog - is the national language. Though foreigners don't usually get a hard time traveling around since most Filipinos are english educated.

1. Salamat -Thank you.
2. Palihug ko - Kindly or please
3. Maayong buntag kanimo - Good Morning to you
4. Maayong udto kanimo - Good Noon to you
5. Maayong hapon kanimo - Good Afternoon to you
6. Maayong gabii kanimo - Good evening to you.



Most importantly,

Learn from the locals. 

Filipino's value the family very much. We have close family ties that even at hard times it is not an unusual scenery to see a BIG family living in the smallest of houses - together.
We treasure our elders, we give them great respect for the wisdom they've gained for the years of experience, of living and learning.

Online Pet Adoption Scam

A lot of these online pet adoption scams have sprouted like mushrooms all over the web, and to have you get a picture of the lengths these scammers would take to pocket your money, i will share the conversations I've had with one. I almost got conned. 

TWO LOVELY MALTESE PUPPIES FOR ADOPTION

	Inbox		X

Reply

Rita Elsie  to me

show details Mar 9 (6 days ago)

Hi, Thanks for the mail of interest as concern of my puppies their names are Female:::Maria Male:::mack, They are 12weeks old, they are all vet checked and vaccinated, home and potty trained and will be coming along with all their necessary papers,diapers and 1year health guarantee  and others like,eating boll,pet blanket,play toy and food menu,they go along with other home pets and love the company of kids mostly,i am finding adoption into a home to these puppies were love and care will be reign to them, some one that will take very good care of them,so if you know that you are not going to give them  all the love,care and attention, then lets forget about the puppies because they are the most precious things to me just that it is because of my health condition that does not permit me to be with them because some times they like to be held very close and need all the attention to them selves, i will like to know a little more about you be fore we proceed with the re homing process of my puppies, are you taking the both of them? are you married? do you have kids? do you have a vet center near by? do you promise to give her all the love and attention she requires? do you have experience in keeping dogs? sorry if i ask to many question but i will want you  answer these question i ask  so that i can be sure of who want to adopt the puppies and can it be possible for you to send me pictures of your home.will like to know if you are interested in taking both.  i will be waiting to read from you soonest My regards ___________________________________________________________________ I saw this ad for Two maltese puppies for adoption and this was the reply i received from a person who called herself Rita Elsie, who claimed to be in Singapore at the moment. the following conversations would be as follows... ____________________________________________________________________ Hello Dear,  thanks for the mail you have in regards of my puppy, yes i am a breeder of puppies and dogs, i have been keeping dogs for the past 7 years now,and since you already know their type of food they love best i think all i need from you is your details and all you will need to do is pay for the transportation fee to your home address As for the puppy it will cost you 250$ Thanks for answering my questions once more. If that is fine by you then i will need this information from you to get the puppy registered and it will be deliver to your home soon.Please do send me this information as soon as possible. Your full names.......... home address........... postal code.............. Phone number............   Maltese Puppy: 1male and 1female My Regards ____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ me to Rita show details Mar 10 (5 days ago) may i know details from u as well, where are u from, a picture of u and the puppies together and more that u  can add. when money is involve i just want to be sure as there are a lot of scams all over the net. if and so, i am appeased that this is no scam, can u give me 3 weeks to come up with the money. thanks. _______________________________________________________________________________________ In the next reply you will then notice that she is trying to avoid the part as to when I was asking about  details of herself.. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Rita Elsie  to me show details Mar 10 (4 days ago)  hello    thanks for the mail well i am sure that they are many scam on line now an i want you to belief that i am not that kind of person because this puppy's mum was giving giving to me by a Rev. father on my birth day and that is the mind reason why i am not selling this puppies including my illness so i do not have a pictures with me and these puppies but i can sent you some of their pictures again so as to ensure you that i am the owner of these puppies ok these pictures were taking just some few days ago with the one i sent to you so here are attachment of the pictures presently i am in Singapore for further treatment since in Philippines i do not have any relatives there so i move to Singapore some few weeks ago and note that these puppies have all the traveling papers including their health record which they will be coming with so if you are interested in me shipping the puppies get back with the information i ask from you. we will be waiting me to Rita show details Mar 11 (4 days ago) thanks for the reply, im sorry to hear about your illness, may you get well soon. i don't mean to be pushy but since u have mentioned your in singapore, can i ask a  friend of mine, now living in singapore to meet u up and see how the puppies are? i'll  arrange with my friend first.  for clarification i'd only be paying for the shipping fee then? since u said you are not  selling. thanks and good day to you. _________________________________________________________________________________ It wasn't actually of my intention to have my friend see her but I was just testing what  her response would be..and still as all scammers are she came up with a pretty clever  reply..still not providing me with details of her identity... Rita Elsie  to me show details Mar 12 (3 days ago) Hello dear,    sorry for the late reply well actually i will love to meet your friend but can he make today because the reason i am talking about shipping is that i am to travel for more treatment so if he can make it today after i am done with my doctor i will be very happy and to make sure of that the people i am giving my puppies to a good people so please do get back to me when your friend can come and pay a visit or if he can't come then i will be left with no option than to ship the puppies to you and all i am asking is that you should be responsible for their shipment fee to your location and all they are asking is your full delivery details so that they can be sure of your home address when delivery is to take place so will be waiting as soon as you read this mail. Thanks. ___________________________________________________________ And as gullible as I was , I did give my address and number. She wasn't consistent on whether i'd be paying for the puppies and the shipping fees, coz she mention a sum of 250$ a puppy earlier, OR just the shipping fee. ____________________________________________________________ Rita Elsie  to me show details 3:36 AM (19 hours ago) Hello,    I am very sorry for the late response of your mail i was very sick and was admitted at the hospital i just got back and found your mail and i just wanted you to know that i am done with the registration of the puppies and you will be paying 360$ for both puppies to shipped to your home address as stated below so the delivery will soon be contacting you in regards of the delivery so i want you to keep your promise as you early said please do get back to me as soon as you receive the puppies at your home address. will be waiting and stay bless and do not forget to sent me resent pictures. Regards _______________________________________________________________ I was surprised that at 4 o'clock in the morning, my phone just kept ringing with this international number beeping 023779658454, a guy with this funny accent, was telling me that he's from a pet courier service in which Rita Elsie has rented, He asked me to check my email for the payment details... _______________________________________________________________ International Cargo  Movers  Welcome To The Pet Animal Express Pets Movers.    Loading The Way In Animal Transportation  Service To And From More Than 150 Airports Welcome to Pet Animal Express Service , the relocating pets  best friend since 1977. The relationship of pets and people is a treasured one, as  evidenced by the love shown with the children and their pets in the above photos;  and is  recognized as the human-animal bond. As you contemplate moving your family pet by air  as you relocate, you want the best for your pet...Cargo Wide   holds the welfare and safety  of your family pet as our primary consideration. Whether your pet is an experienced flayer  or a first time flayer, Air Animal's pet move specialists, pet owners themselves, understand  the relationship you have with your pet and will only provide the best pet moving service  for your family pet both, nationwide & worldwide as you relocate.  We handle all of the following:  • Prearrange all necessary flights, ensuring a direct connection when possible....  • Make sure that all necessary shots are current and that all paperwork is in place........  • Pick up your pet at the airport and deliver them to your house.....  • Meet them at the destination airport and deliver them to your home..... And handle them with care during flight.   Dear Client,       We have information about  your puppies here at Pet couriers  Express  from  Mrs Elsie Rita  to be transported and delivered to you using the below address. Our pet  movers provide reliable and secure transport services to animals worldwide. We will  deliver your puppies in a modern and technological method. Our services are just the best  to meet your demand and deliver your puppies on time and on schedule. These puppies  have been registered under the registration number PH6547. We are the leading pet  relocation and as such are devoted to the safety and welfare of all animals. Our caring  staff is always on hand to help and advise in the movement of your families, best friend(s).  We cater for the delivery of virtually all pets and any species of animal, reptile or insect,  with a service second to none.    These puppies are registered here with their number PH06547 , they come with all  necessary papers needed including the microchip identification with the   Immunization certificates..  ....Information of your Parcel..... Sender........................ .................Mrs Elsie Rita Type.......................... .................(Pets-puppy)  Breed......................... .................(Maltese ) Sex and Names................. .............  Male and Female (Mack and Maria) Age........................... .................13weeks  old  Vaccination record........................ Approved  Vet Recor......................... ...........Checked Valid    Medical Inspection.................... ...Done  Health........................ ...................Proper These puppies came with all necessary papers needed,but as our veterinarian must  conduct another test to be of her health status,It was done ,all was fine and Medication  Papers were accurate ,The test Results shows that this puppy are free from such diseases  that may attack other Animals like (Birds, puppies and Cats E.T.C). these puppies is now  ready for shipping and delivery ................ But it should be noted that this processes cannot  be carried out unless the sum of (360 $) is paid for this puppy will come alongside with two  of our pet carriers. This payment is to be done to our New Created Branch of our Company  Head Quarters  .   YOU ARE REQUESTED TO PAY THE TOTAL VIA  WESTERN UNION   USING THE  BELOW ADDRESS OF THE DIRECTOR BELOW AND GO TO ANY OF THESE WESTERN  UNION UNIT AND MAKE THE PAYMENT. ADDRESS AND HOW TO MAKE PAYMENT AS BELOW SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED  WITH DELIVERY SOONEST  NAME:                   OBALE ERIC COUNTRY:          CAMEROON STATE:                 SOUTH WEST REGION CITY:                     VICTORIA ADDRESS:          MILE 1  ZIP CODE:           00237 NB:YOU WILL BE NEEDING A TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER WHEN MAKING THE PAYMENT Test Question............TO WHOM? Test Answer..............Mack and Maria? This payment should be done as soon as possible so the paper work for his flight will be  put together and these puppies should be on the next available shipping session  ,if the  fee is not provided,these puppies will not be dispatched from our detention and will spend  more on daily feedings until the manager confirms the payment of the (360 $)  Kindly email us with the Money Transfer Control Number(MTCN)  as well as the senders  names. As soon as the payment is done...Immediately the payment is confirmed then the  Tracking Number as well as the flight receipt and details to ensure a 100%  assurance for  the transaction shall be forwarded to you before delivery.  Thanks  Below are some western union offices around your location which you can go and make  the payment,all you need to do is to copy our payment address and go to any of them and  make the payment as soon as possible. Thanks  STAY TO ENJOY THE SERVICE   Pet Animal Express  Branch Sweden  SECRETARY MR.MARK ROBSON                                                      WE TREAT YOUR PUPPIES LIKE ROYALTY!                                    CUSTOMERS LAND LINE: +23779658454/+23796513258               CHECK US FOR MORE INQUIRES:www.petcouriers.tk ________________________________________________________________________________ And so It dawned on me, Why on earth are they asking me to wire the payment to  CAMEROON??? And so i googled their courier service online..which is by the way useless because  these scammers actually uses a legit pet courier service website to CONVINCE you,  in which they are in no means connected with.. I checked with Western Union, and they too advised me not to proceed with the  transaction as these types of transactions are already in their watch list. The guy with the funny accent later on called me again, and I frankly told him what  I had just written above..and he started to babble about trusting him and their  company, that my money is safe..and all the sh**t.. and he parted with the words  " Just email Mrs Rita Elsie Madam " and so I did... ____________________________________________________________________________________ me  to Rita show details 4:34 PM (6 hours ago) Im sorry Rita Elsie, I have mentioned our soon to be transaction with my uncle  who is a lawyer, and my sis who is now in L.A. coz i was planning to have her  adopt one of the puppies once she comes to the philippines for a vacation with  her husband who is also in the law enforcement job. Both advised me not to do  any further communication with u or the courier service you've supposedly  rented. I have checked with western union , and they have sincerely advised me  not to pushed through with the transaction, it turns out you are in the watch list.  I almost fell for your scam. Thanks a lot for the betrayal. Goodbye. Please  don't contact me anymore or have  the courier service bother me, as i will take the necessary action if you keep on  bugging me any further. ___________________________________________________________________________________ * note that the lawyer and brother in law is just a fabrication to scare these  scammers off..and viola... Disappeared and never to bother me again... Here is a video in youtube, which addresses on these type of scams.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24eer1IB6RA also check on this site for more busted scams: www.fraudwatchers.org