the name of the game you are alking about is actually POOL, while the game known to us as [american] pool is called "bilyar" in the PI.
You may also search youtube for "novus" game.
Filipino musings
- Thread starter jay helfert
- Start date
You may also search youtube for "novus" game.
It is highly recommended to stay away from the southern islands. I have had no problems during my stays on Luzon. Then again, I've had relatives that live over there watching over me. Almost everyone I met can speak at least rudimentary english. All in all, it's a very nice place to stay. Just really hot sometimes with no wind and the monsoon season hits in August.
Also, do not drink the well water or anything made from it that has not been boiled first. Trust me. :grin:
Also, do not drink the well water or anything made from it that has not been boiled first. Trust me. :grin:
A damn good lifestyle here! 50,000p a month (about $1,200) is more than enough to live well in the Philippines.
I'd love that Brandon. Playing pool here is like America in the 60's and 70's, when there were poolrooms everywhere and lots of guys itching to play. Not all players here are great, many only average and definitely beatable. Even the good players in most rooms are totally unfamiliar with Banks and One Pocket. I've beaten some pretty good players at these two games. Guys who I would have zero chance with at 9-Ball or Eight Ball.
I still like the challenge of playing on strange equipment and using a house cue. I carry only a tip tapper and a piece of scotch brite with me, to clean the shaft and work the tip. Then I'm good to go. My 500p game the other night didn't pan out. They saw me talking on TV and he decided that I must be a good player. I tried to explain that I was only doing commentary and could not play with these guys, but he just smiled and took a pass. First time I ever lost a game because I was on TV. :wink:
Yes, you can play pool day and night here, if that is your goal. And bet what you want, from cheap (50p a game) to relatively expensive (1000p a game - $22.50). For bigger action you will get steered to One Side or Pan Pacific with all the big name players. I rarely mess with any of those guys, but I have had success playing Banks in One Side with a couple of third tier players (still pretty damn good).
My daughter is doing great! Thanks. She just turned 22 months and speaks fluent Tagolog and some english. She makes it all worthwhile for me coming over here. I adore my little girl and am very happy to have her. She is my miracle baby, coming 30 years after her big sisters.
Last edited:
I do fine on my Social Security! You gotta love the Philippines!
BTW, there are many foreigners living in various places in Mindanao! You can get killed anywhere on earth if it is your time! Try walking at night in any poor area in the US and see if you make it back home! You just have to be smart like Jay says.
The Filipinos are wonderful people. Most are very very poor! I'm considered a rich American here but I really have nothing more than my SS to live on.
A bank officer may only make 25-35k pesos a month. A skilled carpenter makes maybe about 450 pesos a day (about $10.40). Metro Manila and especially Makati City is expensive compared to the provinces.
It really depends on what you want/what you can afford.
Last year Jay said he got his tooth fixed and it was good and inexpensive. In Davao City, getting teeth x-rays and cleaning is about 300 pesos! Having to get a tooth pulled is about 300 pesos from accredited DDS!
In Davao you can rent a nice small house for 4000-5000 pesos a month!
I live in the city where Lee Vann Corteza is from and there are open air bilyar parlors everywhere and nice pool halls in malls. As much action as you can handle - just like Manila but on a much different scale!
--Jeff
my bad i jsut realized how long ago that was. just seems like not long ago to me because it really stuck out in my mind.
everyone knows why people want to go to the PI. it's a third world country and your dollars go way further over there. and much like mexico you can get just about anything you want.
all that being said i really want to go!
Dang, Jeff.
I didn't know you are in Davao City.
I wish I can retire now and head out there.
I'll be there in August for 3 weeks .
DON'T go to the South (Mindanao) is what I've been told many times. That is where the rebels hang out and bad things happen. That is one large island I will never visit. Maybe the big city (Davao) is all right, but there are so many other nice places in the PI, I guess I will just pass.
Last edited:
You heard BS. Try looking up Davao City on Wiki
Hey Joey, if you ever want to visit Davao City let me know! correction = did you mean you were visiting Davao City in August???
--Jeff
LOL
Davao City is one of the safest cities in the Philippines.
Poverty level in Davao City is about half of Manila.
Edwin, Linds and I were there in 2008.
but i consider to go support the 10 ball open :thumbup:Sorry if this is not related to the thread
But, if someday you all have some time to pick a place to vacation..Don't forget about BALI...
You can rent a car with 16,5-20 $ per day.. a motor bike rent rate about 5$ per day. The price of gasoline only 0,5 $ per liter. With 1000$ you can live here more than 2 month. The sun always shine. The sea in the island is so clear. The people is so friendly, beer is very cheap. The culture of the people is amazing. Very safe place, you don't have to lock your car or motorbike and nobody will take away from you.
This place like a heaven to me.. Last week i enjoy a week vacation with my wife and my 1 years old son. it's amazing, you can meet almost every people from every country, the japanese, chinese, american, australian , european almost every body.
Trust me you won't dissapointed at all..
But, if someday you all have some time to pick a place to vacation..Don't forget about BALI...
You can rent a car with 16,5-20 $ per day.. a motor bike rent rate about 5$ per day. The price of gasoline only 0,5 $ per liter. With 1000$ you can live here more than 2 month. The sun always shine. The sea in the island is so clear. The people is so friendly, beer is very cheap. The culture of the people is amazing. Very safe place, you don't have to lock your car or motorbike and nobody will take away from you.
This place like a heaven to me.. Last week i enjoy a week vacation with my wife and my 1 years old son. it's amazing, you can meet almost every people from every country, the japanese, chinese, american, australian , european almost every body.
Trust me you won't dissapointed at all..
That happened in Mindanao. The southern part of the Philippines. In Mindanao, there is only 1 place that is safe and that's Davao City (my hometown). The rest, avoid it at all costs.
Mindanao is the one place in the Philippines that the Spanish couldnt conquer thats the reason why the island is still filled with Muslims. A lot of them arent too fond of westerners.
Awesome to see someone from my city here!
I grew up with Lee Van. His house is only 2 blocks from ours and I saw him play when he was still a kid.
Great! We will have to go play sometime at some place you recommend Darren!
--Jeff
That would be much more than necessary unless you try to gamble with the locals. LOL That could be costly, living there you could easily get by on 10K a year.
Joey and other Filipinos tell me that Davao is very safe but I've had others tell me it's very safe for Filipinos not so much for Kanos. I've spent a few months in Cagayan De Oro which is on the northern part of Mindinao and found it to be very safe, but the pool action seemed limited. The people there were some of the friendliest I've ever met anywhere. There's a small island about an hours Ferry ride from Cagayan De Oro called Camiguin Island. To me this is the most beautiful place on earth. You can stay there in a nice resort for about $20 a day and the whole island is filled with friendly people who will help you all they can to make your stay something special. I rented a motorcycle (like a 175 Yahama) and drove all over the island and had a great time. I met a guy from Austrailia who had moved there and was a pool buff. He invited me to his home to play some pool which was also fun. There is a resort on Camiguin that is built in the trees, like Tarzans place. You can rent a room and sleep 100 feet above the ground with a swimming pool below. It's incredible. I too love the Philippines. I still have dreams of retiring there some day. We'll see!
I'm in Manila now. My entire trip was one month's duration but that included flights in the USA and two days in Hong Kong where I was entertained by "Blowfish" from this forum. This is my second time in the Phils. I'm staying in a nice hotel right in the city about one block from "One Side". I'm not quite as fond of walking in this heat and humidity as Jay. I get soaked in sweat after about 10 minutes outside, and then I can't play, but I did play yesterday with "Dgem" and "JoyJoy". They have been great to me in all ways. The friendly hospitality puts Americans to shame.
Some folks might be put off by the poverty, and it hits you right where you live in Manila. There is a constant barrage of pimps, kids begging, and people selling everything from sunglasses to viagra. Mostly they're selling sex, but that's our fault ! I just keep walking. Initially I felt in danger at times when the street was dark late at night. I've come to realize that violent crime is virtually non-existent here. I'm a big guy, and maybe that has helped, but others concur that it is safe. During this trip I have been to Hermes where I watched Dennis Orcullo play a race to 23 against Lee Van Corteza. Dennis won but it was close at 23-20 or 21. After that we went to Legends and Monday I am going to Star Paper where they have 45 tables and all pool is FREE
. I feel like a rock star everywhere I go.
This place is paradise for a single guy. You don't need to pay for sex or go to the wild bars. The older guys, fat like me, bald, gray on top etc. just go hang out in the malls. The girls will come to you with a sweet smile or maybe a direct greeting. They are warm and inviting beyond belief.
I can't say enough good about my time here so far. I have at least 6 phone numbers in my Filipino cell phone, plenty to keep me busy. The other nite I took one smokin' hot young girl to the Hard Rock Cafe, and while she was dancing I played pool with some really hot girls about 30. They could play a little too ! Got another number :thumbup:. Life is good here.
Yesterday my Filipino friends took me to visit Tony Bautista, one of the best Pinoy cuemakers. We are all aware of the problems in the past with warpage due to green wood. I chose some old cocobolo and BEM and a Mezz shaft. It was a fantastic deal believe me. I'm getting a 6pt wrapless cue made of cocobolo and BEM, with ringwork at all positions, a radial pin, and a Mezz Alpha shaft with matching ringwork for a little more than a good sneaky, SHIPPED
!!!
If you are thinking about going, go now! You'll never be any younger. It'll never be any cheaper, and you'll never appreciate it more...Tom
Some folks might be put off by the poverty, and it hits you right where you live in Manila. There is a constant barrage of pimps, kids begging, and people selling everything from sunglasses to viagra. Mostly they're selling sex, but that's our fault ! I just keep walking. Initially I felt in danger at times when the street was dark late at night. I've come to realize that violent crime is virtually non-existent here. I'm a big guy, and maybe that has helped, but others concur that it is safe. During this trip I have been to Hermes where I watched Dennis Orcullo play a race to 23 against Lee Van Corteza. Dennis won but it was close at 23-20 or 21. After that we went to Legends and Monday I am going to Star Paper where they have 45 tables and all pool is FREE
. I feel like a rock star everywhere I go. This place is paradise for a single guy. You don't need to pay for sex or go to the wild bars. The older guys, fat like me, bald, gray on top etc. just go hang out in the malls. The girls will come to you with a sweet smile or maybe a direct greeting. They are warm and inviting beyond belief.
I can't say enough good about my time here so far. I have at least 6 phone numbers in my Filipino cell phone, plenty to keep me busy. The other nite I took one smokin' hot young girl to the Hard Rock Cafe, and while she was dancing I played pool with some really hot girls about 30. They could play a little too ! Got another number :thumbup:. Life is good here.
Yesterday my Filipino friends took me to visit Tony Bautista, one of the best Pinoy cuemakers. We are all aware of the problems in the past with warpage due to green wood. I chose some old cocobolo and BEM and a Mezz shaft. It was a fantastic deal believe me. I'm getting a 6pt wrapless cue made of cocobolo and BEM, with ringwork at all positions, a radial pin, and a Mezz Alpha shaft with matching ringwork for a little more than a good sneaky, SHIPPED
!!!If you are thinking about going, go now! You'll never be any younger. It'll never be any cheaper, and you'll never appreciate it more...Tom