wtf is going on.

So, facing eviction in a week, and not wanting to go through the endless pain of Manila moving tilt, I called the stupid owner of my apartment and offered him 50% more than I am currently paying to let me stay another 6 months. He’s like, “Nah I have to sell, creditors are closing in.” ffs - why can’t poor people just leave me alone.

Out of options, I locked up a pretty awesome unit in Rockell, which is this new, awesome area just outside Makati (and where I should have moved when I first got here, and I’d probably be 300k richer and a lot saner and not addicted to Valium/Xanax). The entire contract and payment process was smooth, and everyone I dealt with was highly competent. A far, far cry from 18 months ago.

HSBC killed my bank accounts for “money-laundering” last year, so I’ve been operating on cash and credit cards, which creates a world of tilt at times. Apparently, accepting a 10k wire transfer was money-laundering in 2007. For some illogical reason this morning, I thought I would try and open a new HSBC account. I walked out of the bank the proud owner of new USD, AUD and Peso bank accounts. wtf? How can you close someone’s accounts for “money-laundering”, then let them open new accounts a year later? I didn’t ask questions. Ding.

Visibly shaking with fear and physically nauseous at the impending doom of tilt awaiting me, I walked into PLDT (national DSL provider) to start the process of getting my net switched on in my new unit. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Last year, the PLDT national office was a crumbling mess with wooden benches where you waited for up to half an hour to speak to a moron who gave you a ticket which placed you in a line with 50 other people for 2-3 hours before you could then speak to another braindead moron. But today, I walked into a plush fantasy of awesomeness.

An agent greeted me at the door of the completely redeveloped first world lobby, and directed me to the central processing agent, who quickly handed me a ticket and directed me to empty, plush, new lounges surrounded by flatscreens and awesomeness. Before I even sat down, my number flashed up on the flatscreen and a computerised annoucement directed me to Booth 9 where a wonderfully competent lady set everything up painlessly and said my internet would be connected in 3 working days. Ding.

I walked home through Greenbelt 5, which is a brand new luxury shopping centre in Makati. The changes in this city in the last 18 months are just unbelievable. Money must be just pouring into this city. Rental prices are going through the roof, there are 10x the luxury cars on the streets now, foreigners are everywhere. The level of transformation in such a short period of time is really quite amazing.

I never, ever thought I would say this, but I can’t help but think investing in the Philippines would be a pretty smart move right now…I’m sure a coup will come along soon and pitch the country back 10 years, but if they can stay stable, and fix the corruption/traffic issues, this country could do amazing things in the next couple decades.

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3 Responses to “wtf is going on.”

3 Comments »

1. Love your blog yoyo! This post however desereves a few more dings! Gets me in raptures every time.

   Comment by Simbaruby — June 5, 2008 @ 5:45 pm

2. dude you forgot about the upcoming macau style hotels in paranaque. 5 years and manila will be saturated with foreigners. I wi=sh I could move back there and live a baller life like u.

   JEFF
   busto

   Comment by jeff — June 6, 2008 @ 4:44 am

3. I think you’ve accidentally stumbled into opposite land…

   Tomorrow… crooks will chase cops… cats will have puppies.. and hot snow will fall up…

   Comment by Stick — June 6, 2008 @ 6:42 am

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