There is a very good MBA program at the Ateneo Graduate School called Regis. It's accredited in the US also since it's affiliated with an educational institution based in Vermont I believe. Just visit the Graduate School website for details. Another good MBA program is at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City. Agriculture and fisheries related masters are available in other UP campuses. Semesters usually start in June and November. Some schools follow a trimester schedule. Decide on what course you want to take first and see what school's offer them. Then if you think you would like the school's location to become homebase for the duration of your studies. You can then start working on the entrance requirements. These usually include your transcript of records, 2 recommendations and an interview (and sometimes an exam). All universitites will ask for a permit to study in the Philippines, so you will have to work on that too. Some universities charge a different tuition rate for foreigners.

I'm sponsoring a couple of students in Davao and Cebu, the one in Cebu goes to school in Danao City, pays P14,000 a year. In Davao (if you pay up front, P4,000 at MSU and P8,000 (forgot school's name) per semester. U of San Carlos in Cebu is probably the top of the ""pecking order"" for Cebu Universities; after that, the schools mentioned in a previous post (in Manila) would be the next step up.. It's interesting, but a friend in San Carlos City (Negros) went to elementary (I think), HS and college, all in the same complex, different from what we are accustomed to here.

It might be added that the schools mentioned including LaSalle charge P40,000/semester and up. Somewhat higher than most other collages who's tuition's are more typically P8,000-P12,000. Still a bargain compared to US schools.

Well, here in Cebu City, I look at the rates and it is not a thing of what school I would have wanted to attend, keep in mind that you do get a world class education here but in some places in the states they will not really recognize as much a degree from here once you get back to the states, Why do you think that so many docters,lawyers, ect. that when they get to the United States that they are not able to get a job even though they have the skills and education and even working for a lower salary.

I am still using the pre-paid internet cards that you told me about, I rather still use them because even in the states when you have problems with you phone line that affects everything else. I am considering though getting a service with skycable for their package deal, but I might just stay with what I have.

I got a message there is some flooding in areas of Davao has any one heard anything .Thanks for your help,

Yes, I did. As a matter of fact, I didn't say anything about it on the list until I had already begun. Of course, after the stroke that put a bit of a damper on the learning for a while, but I hope to get back to it soon. I have also experienced troubles with some teachers not sticking to it, so I have to find a new teacher, etc. But, overall it is going well. I know a lot of cebuano words and can carry on simple conversations already. I'll keep you posted!.

Is arriving at Cebua airport as much a nightmare as Manilla, or is the taxi service fairly normal?

That's a good question, Tim, as I was thinking of getting one for the two months I will be there. I understand they are something like $30 and then you get prepaid cards.

The feedback on PLDT DSL from Digital Filipino, a mailing list for Filipinos interested in IT, is its bad. The service crawls worse than a dial-up sometimes. Mozcom is better but its quite expensive. They do not offer unlimited for personal accounts. Also stay away from Pacific Internet. A couple of friends subscribed to it and they have this installation app for their subscribers. When you get tired of them and uninstall it, it messes up your system. I have used Rebel (in Manila) and the service is great. They might offer unlimited dial-up accounts this year. Another card that has good feedback is Gotcha. Good luck!

Basic models start around P2,500 or so and range well over P12,000. One of the later models of the Nokia with all the basic functions including text capability (most models afford text) might be around P6,000-P8,000. I last bought one a year ago so prices have surely changed some since then. There are fixed length contracts available that come with phones (as they do in the US), but I think you'd be money ahead to buy the phone with a sim card specific for Globe or Smart and buy calling cards for it. That seems to be the most efficient method for the folks I've been dealing with.

Joy's post has solved all my problems. I trust her good judgment and assessment. P2,500 is really not too high. I believe even some in the US, where volume users bring down the cost, it costs almost as much, sometimes more. And he installation is very low here maybe higher than there. Prices may drop too. DSL is very new. I had heard so many complains about the speed. And I had it in for an hour or so, but it was a crawl when it worked. And it did not work at times. But for some here it is still too high. Since I do more e-mail than anything I could get away with a prepaid card, if I only use them in the morning. They are fast then. It is the afternoon that is a problem even connection. Unless you need fast serve all day like it seems I may prepaid is fine. Thank you for your comment, Chester. Regarding the acceptance of the schools of the degrees from the Philippines: I found as a personnel officer you did not hire the degree but the person. In certain fields like medicine, law and others that require exams there can be problems, but not in California where even a legal secretary can take the bar if he or she has been in the job for a sufficient period of time. But the bar is *hard.* Past it and you are an attorney, even without a degree. If a company finds an employee they like, in most disciplines, they will accept them. Compatibility with the other member of the company, your work mates, is the key, not the degree. It is usually only as screening mechanism by most personnel people in private business and public. What would you rather have, a genius from a top ranked \Ivy league school, who causes management endless problems, fights with peers, subordinates an superiors, or a average bumpkin from a mediocre school who not only shows up on time, but tries and gets along with everyone? I can assure you, most employers would take the later without hesitation. Law suits are expensive and taking someone's job away from them is taking a property right. Some Philippine schools are much more demanding than US schools. You can learn as much here as in the States I am convinced. And with the Internet, public television, channels like Discovery and others, available today and good discipline, what you learn is up to you, not the school. I believe a dedicated student is more important than quality teachers, if the information is available. And if you can't afford these ""great"" US schools, have to spend half or more of your time working, what good are they? Here you can have tutors for a dollar an hour, sometimes even teachers. And sometimes they will help you for free in their off time. Where can you find that in the States. If I had my formal education to do over again, it would be here. But if I had my life to live over again, it would be here. I sure do like my US citizenship and the benefits it confers on me. I do love my country of birth and many things about it. But I find it hard to afford to live there in the style I have become accustomed too here. I feel the same way about the hospitals. Great medical care in the States for those who can afford it. Good medical care here and most from the States can't believe he low prices. $2 for a doctors visit, $4 for a specialist? What can you get for $4 in the States? And if you are totally broke here anyone can walk into a charity hospital. Got to get the maid on the intercom for tea, so I'll say bye for now. Chores, chores, and chores.

You can buy a cell starting at about P2,750, with P300 usage included and add thru prepay cards. I don't know how much monthly cell service is, I always used the prepay method.

I would like to inquire about learning the cebuano language. My wife is from Imelda and she speaks cebuano. She is trying to teach me the language but alas she is not a teacher, and does not really know how or where to start. We would like to know if there are any books available that I might be able buy that might help, I tend to learn much easier by reading and then practicing. I thank you in advance for any help you might be able to offer.

Sorry, but if you think Manila is a nightmare you won't find it much different in Cebu. If you don't have a pre-arranged ride, the normal fare from the Airport to Cebu City will be P150-P200. The return ride from the City will be P50 cheaper. You won't get a pick of taxi's, they are waved up to the ramp one at a time and you'll get the next one in line. I don't think it's much of a hassle, but then I've been doing it for a long time. Happy trip!

Even when I thought I had a ride (i.e. Marriott), I always got either a taxi or a ""car"". The fee used to be P150 but I think it went to P200 in April, but that's only $4 US and it sure beats the hassle of Mnl (very pushy for tips, always feel like I'm being hustled, even when it turns out someone is doing me a good deed). Small price to pay. My first trip, I spent 3 days in Mnl (sick). My friend suggested that I head to Cebu, I did. I was just away from the terminal, at the 1st stop sign (before you make the right), in an industrial park type setting and I felt so much better. I knew that I was going to like Cebu.

I agree, Dig's place is comfortable and the food is good. I hope to return there in May. Here is a URL for Capt'n Gregg's Hotel. The site hasn't been updated in a while; Dig's not much on doing website stuff and his ""webmaster"" just got married, stalling any near updates.

Thanks for the information, Gale. Can it be that PLDT DSL is faster here than in Manila? I assume you are in Manila. Joy does not work for PLDT so I am sure if she says it comes down at a 1mps it does for her. Rebel sounds good for dial up. But it is only 56K and you get much less, I think. But since you can get cards, if my demo from PLDT DSL does not make me happy, I will try it.

My simple Siemans costs $40 has almost no features but is just what I want. I lose them so quickly, I would not get a fancy one. I use it rarely anyway. My service runs about $5 for two months and I always have excess because of lack of use. I do not like to text and calling is too expensive when I have two land lines sitting here.

You know I respect your judgement. But I breeze through the Cebu airport and have to fight people at the Manila airport, especially when transfering from the international to the domestic one. I wonder why we have such different experiences and opinions on this, when we agree on most things? Maybe we will hear from others.

It does seem odd. I've never had problems at ether location. The layouts are different, but to hear some of the war stories of Manila I think that maybe I've been arriving at a different place! The only time in my memory that Manila was out of the ordinary was just after Marcos fled when the city was still under martial law. Even then I experienced no trouble at all. Or maybe I'm just not swift enough to know what's been going on around me...maybe there's bliss in ignorance!

What happened to Satellite for Internet access? As I remember Bob Martin's past posts, it seemed that it was much faster than anything else that was available in the PI. What did I miss?

Here is the answer to the difference in opinion between you about the Manila and Cebu airports. At least it's my guess that Ron is a very patient person, in addition to knowing the ropes. He has done it so many times that he is oblivious to the differences. (-: I guess he's one up on me, because I will never get used to the Manila airport chaos. That's why I will always try to avoid it whenever possible. But, obviously we must land there more often than not. For me, there's a big difference between the two, Cebu being my choice.

You know I respect your judgement. But I breeze through the Cebu airport and have to fight people at the Manila airport, especially when transfering from the international to the domestic one. I wonder why we have such different experiences and opinions on this, when we agree on most things? Maybe we will hear from others.

Another opinion... I have gone through MNL Customs just once. My 1st trip there. Around the crack of noon. Busy, busy, busy, whoosh... Curt, arrogant, irritated employees and customers. I thought this was a very bad 1st impression to leave with a tourist. But it was about the same returning through LAX Customs on Eda's 1st trip here. All my other trips I leave LAX at night so I arrive in Cebu between 7:00am-11:00am. I find them very friendly, curious and courteous. Slower pace than Manila, but we get through quickly. Our family is there to greet us and whisk us away, so I can't add about cabs. Might be with the time of day?

The chiro[ractor's name is Dr. Pardis, PARDIS CHIROPRACTIC @ Ayala Center: Cebu 4th Floor. I was adjusted by Doc a couple of times last summer (2000) during a 9 week trip to Asia. He's the first chiropracter I had used outside of my Dr, I was apprehensive but a friend used him regularly, he took care of what was ailing me.

Many make post about Cebu,if anyone can post sites about the area around Cebu,it would help me in my plan travel thier.I will be coming alone Thanks in advance

You can purchase a Nokia 3310 for $60.00 at any mall ie..SM, Gaisano...... However, the latest models will cost you much more, up to $500.00. The $60.00 phone has text, games,etc.

Maybe frequency does dull the senses! As far as airport transportation is concerned, I've never had a particular problem. Passage through customs does vary a great deal. My worst trip through an airport occurred at Heathrow while transferring from American Airlines to Air Lingus a couple of hours after several horses and guards had been killed by a bomb in London somewhere. The police had my son and I spread-eagled against a wall when all I asked were directions. They went through all our luggage and pockets leaving everything in a heap on the floor! Being Irish it wasn't anything unexpected... Still, I've never had a particular problem in Manila, though I suppose there's always a first time. I have heard of foreigners getting ripped off by taxi hustlers at airports in both Cebu and Manila especially during the Marcos regime, though it's never been my experience. That kind of con game can't be played as easily any longer since the rules changed during the Aquino administration. It used to be that the taxi hustlers would be allowed in to solicit arriving foreigners as they removed their luggage from the carousels. They'd be rushed outside past the taxi stands to a private car in a lot or on the street where they'd get a shakedown, usually arriving where they needed to go after being relieved of as much of their cash as deemed possible. I think most seasoned travelers have been aware of these kinds of hustles and avoid them and I don' t think you see it around the RP any longer.

Here is the answer to the difference in opinion between you about the Manila and Cebu airports. At least it's my guess that Ron is a very patient person, in addition to knowing the ropes. He has done it so many times that he is oblivious to the differences. (-: I guess he's one up on me, because I will never get used to the Manila airport chaos. That's why I will always try to avoid it whenever possible. But, obviously we must land there more often than not. For me, there's a big difference between the two, Cebu being my choice.

You know I respect your judgement. But I breeze through the Cebu airport and have to fight people at the Manila airport, especially when transfering from the international to the domestic one. I wonder why we have such different experiences and opinions on this, when we agree on most things? Maybe we will hear from others.

15,000 people displaced in Mindanao flash floods Posted: 4:37 PM (Manila Time) | January 04, 2002 By INQ7.net with Agence France-Presse AROUND 15,000 people in four provinces in Mindanao have been displaced amid continuing flash floods brought about by heavy rains, disaster response officials said Friday. Rain has been falling since New Year's Eve forcing many families in 25 towns in the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Compostella Valley and Davao to leave their homes for safer grounds, the Office of Civil Defense said. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture is estimated at 20.4 million pesos (392,000 dollars), although power and communications remained operational, the office said.

It could be that when PLDT wired Cebu they started using more fiber optics. The lines in Manila are mostly the old type and it's not really made to carry video data. Hopefully they will improve the service soon. Cebu is very lucky.

Thanks Chip. You and Don H. mentioned the same one, it seems, since it is the same address. I have never been to a chiropractor, but it looks like I am overdue. Hah! Do they have varying prices for locals and foreigners? I haven't a clue what a chiro would charge.