Well it be on to this

mmkay

Western Union should have an office over there. They are all over the world, (I've used them in Nigeria, Egypt, India, and so on). Check their website for a local office. Really easy to send cash that way.

Thanks. Much appreciated.

I'm here, come to save the day. I missed this until now somehow.

I'm actually back in the USA right now, but I'll try to assist.

As for sending money, I transfer mine through Citibank from the USA, as my wife has both a $ and a peso account, so it is easy to wire from my US based Citibank account.

I hear a lot of people use Western Union with no problems though. There are other methods but I'm not familiar with them.

Whereabouts in Luzon are they?

I love the way this phrase has been adopted.



Sorry to be no help at all.

If it's anything like Thailand, Western Union or a simple direct bank transfer. The fees are usually about 20 GBP, so best to send a large amount every so often rather than a small amount every week.

Cheers KH! The family is in Tarlac, San Matadiero. It's a slightly more delicate situation than just having to send money. I'm sure you are aware of certain predjudices. I have known this girl since I was 21, we have kept in touch for the past 20 years. She did well and moved to HK. There are some medical problems that both Mum and Dad are experiencing that they simply have no way of paying to be treated. Without sounding totally cynical, I just don't want to be bank of TVR1. I think I could quite easily send some money over but and being honest, I don't feel easy just sending it without a little bit of 'due diligence'. I would really like someone to have a chat with the family to see what the actual situation is.

I know where you're coming from. Telling 'porkies' is almost habitual to the Filipino, no matter how well you think you know them. Unfortunately I'm in the USA at the money so no way of checking up on anybody, and most of Luzon is under 4 feet of water anyway. There is a flu plague going round at the moment, as my wife and daughter are all bunged up and can hardly talk on the phone, Plus the maid and her family are laid up with the same thing.

You're in a predicament really, as not sending money means you basically think she is lying. And sending it flays you open to the next step: more money required.

Probably safer to tell her you have some sort of financial crisis and don't really have anything to spare right now. That is an easy way to save face for both her and you.

I frequent a couple of 'NSFW' Filipino forums and a recurring discussion amongst expats is the family incident or drama that requires large sums of folding stuff to be sent from afar. Let me know how you get on.

Isn't it ad infinitum? Or have all those phrases just ended?

Anyway, as you were.

Can you get some details and do a little cross referencing of facts? Maybe find out hospital names, bills sizes etc, or similar, then ask discretely again a few days later, see if the story remains solid.

If my wife was feeling better she may be able to do a little 'private eye' work, but she is pretty much out of action at the moment.