THE CFO EXPERIENCE

[thinkerlove0212 158]

Its been a great experience and challenging at times. This is my 4th time here. second in Manila. Being in Manila a 2nd time for us has helped make things easier. I woke early before Anne and first got a small instant coffee at hotel but decided to go to the McD at corner for a "cup" of coffee. being by myself I realized how funny the differences are here. They insist in putting my takeout drinks in cellophane( throws me for a loop when Anne says that all the time for plastic bag we all love to hate) Our first stay a few months ago was at Manila Pavilion. It is a Waterfront hotel but not as nice and personal as Insular in Davao. I stayed at The Corporate Inn across street one night the first time because I arrived early the first time so we decided to stay here again. Its quiet and inexpensive. Just make sure you get a deluxe room with a exterior window. Otherwise dark and no view or sun. We are facing the street, but noisy can open 2 windows and see sun. Why is patios hard to find in Manila? There is a 7-11 across street for toilettries, drinks and San Migs. Mcd's , Chow King and Shakeys on corner. I must advise to avoid JollyBee at all costs. Four times here I decided to try it and cant explain the fake cheese and mysterious sauce on cheeseburger! Saint lukes is walking distance a block away. Laundry is same direction. We decided to do the 130 pm at PRISM which is closest. Dont let Map fool you in walking. Or using Cab! We leave an hour early before start time( nearby right!). We tell cab driver corner of Taft and Ocampo, BDO and Equitable building. He drives one block and he must have got confused by the BDO building. He says "many BDO buildings". He stops. I say go to 2422 Taft Ave. He is know completely confused. I say go back to hotel so I can print map. We race to print map( remember...nothing quick, fast or easy here). Jump in another cab. I show him map and address and he wont glance. I know what he is thinking. He is confident, fast, right streets.....then it happens. Where do I go? Imagine scene between him, me and fiance... I thought he would nosebleed when I turned map upside down to reference North and south, Roxas BLVD and US embassy. .I grab map I say stop its at this corner.....another big scene. We pay and walk to what map points too which is wrong....close but wrong My love Anne says it shows which block. I follow her thinking why would CFO put dot on corner but it just means this block???? I am the stupid one.. "PULIS" station at corner they and a civilian guide us. Its is an easy block walk in Chicago but here you have 3 times difficulty navigating a sidewalk that has become a maze of people, bikes, cars and squatters etc. We arrive late. The guard and police are helpful and the Guard was enjoying his time and I think even having fun poking at the younger Policeman surrounding area. So now we are way early for 330pm but she goes in. I have two choices. Starbucks or find a San Mig....San Mig it is! I start around block, first restuarant and guard ignore me, second waitress looks like I am an alian. Walk almost directly behind CFO is Mama V's KTV. They do have food. There are some more interesting views and thoughts on this and my watchings but all I can say is this is my first experience that taxiis and people need GPS and use street addresses which only a few buildings have. We started for a 130pm. Back at hotel after 6pm.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Anne and Bret

[Wally G! 58]

Wow... That was the good, bad and confused. I have been to the Philippines 3 times and experienced the same but every time I went I thought OK I got it now. Placse, food, shopping etc... Wrong!!! Philippines will always surprise you with something off the wall or make you scratch your head.. LOL!!!

Trust me I was directing the taxis when I was there. I knew manila better than them !! LOL!!

I did not have the experience of being there for my wife's CFO seminar but I was there for the USEM interview. I still love the Philippines.

Well... Congratulations you and fiance are on the way now..!!! :dance:

[Joe & Liezel 0]

Its been a great experience and challenging at times. This is my 4th time here. second in Manila. Being in Manila a 2nd time for us has helped make things easier. I woke early before Anne and first got a small instant coffee at hotel but decided to go to the McD at corner for a "cup" of coffee. being by myself I realized how funny the differences are here. They insist in putting my takeout drinks in cellophane( throws me for a loop when Anne says that all the time for plastic bag we all love to hate) Our first stay a few months ago was at Manila Pavilion. It is a Waterfront hotel but not as nice and personal as Insular in Davao. I stayed at The Corporate Inn across street one night the first time because I arrived early the first time so we decided to stay here again. Its quiet and inexpensive. Just make sure you get a deluxe room with a exterior window. Otherwise dark and no view or sun. We are facing the street, but noisy can open 2 windows and see sun. Why is patios hard to find in Manila? There is a 7-11 across street for toilettries, drinks and San Migs. Mcd's , Chow King and Shakeys on corner. I must advise to avoid JollyBee at all costs. Four times here I decided to try it and cant explain the fake cheese and mysterious sauce on cheeseburger! Saint lukes is walking distance a block away. Laundry is same direction. We decided to do the 130 pm at PRISM which is closest. Dont let Map fool you in walking. Or using Cab! We leave an hour early before start time( nearby right!). We tell cab driver corner of Taft and Ocampo, BDO and Equitable building. He drives one block and he must have got confused by the BDO building. He says "many BDO buildings". He stops. I say go to 2422 Taft Ave. He is know completely confused. I say go back to hotel so I can print map. We race to print map( remember...nothing quick, fast or easy here). Jump in another cab. I show him map and address and he wont glance. I know what he is thinking. He is confident, fast, right streets.....then it happens. Where do I go? Imagine scene between him, me and fiance... I thought he would nosebleed when I turned map upside down to reference North and south, Roxas BLVD and US embassy. .I grab map I say stop its at this corner.....another big scene. We pay and walk to what map points too which is wrong....close but wrong My love Anne says it shows which block. I follow her thinking why would CFO put dot on corner but it just means this block???? I am the stupid one.. "PULIS" station at corner they and a civilian guide us. Its is an easy block walk in Chicago but here you have 3 times difficulty navigating a sidewalk that has become a maze of people, bikes, cars and squatters etc. We arrive late. The guard and police are helpful and the Guard was enjoying his time and I think even having fun poking at the younger Policeman surrounding area. So now we are way early for 330pm but she goes in. I have two choices. Starbucks or find a San Mig....San Mig it is! I start around block, first restuarant and guard ignore me, second waitress looks like I am an alian. Walk almost directly behind CFO is Mama V's KTV. They do have food. There are some more interesting views and thoughts on this and my watchings but all I can say is this is my first experience that taxiis and people need GPS and use street addresses which only a few buildings have. We started for a 130pm. Back at hotel after 6pm.

Thanks for the info - I also found this today in my search for more info about this process..this is the official web site for the CFO process in the Phils:

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-an

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Hahahaha that is so funny. But glad the medical process is done for you guys.