On Exchange at AIM. Manila Philippines

Transcription

1 On Exchange at AIM Manila Philippines (1 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

2 Fall 2003 By Bernard Muller Forewords: Looking back at my exchange at AIM, I must say that the decision to go the Philippines was one of the best I made in my life. It gave me the opportunity to visit a country I probably would not have gone to otherwise, it allowed me to familiarize myself with the Asian culture, discover new places, meet new people and make many new friends. From a professional point of view it is a unique experience. It allowed me to understand the many challenges but also opportunities of an emerging country, something that would not have been possible by just visiting the country as a tourist, or by (2 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

3 taking a course about it. Who should go on exchange to the Philippines? If you are curious and open about being in a new environment and culture, ready to listen and learn and not give lessons, the Philippines is for you. Staying in Makati (business district of Manila, where AIM is located) will not pose any challenge. Makati as almost like any western city with big (and even bigger) shopping malls, but to truly experience the Philippines, you will have to venture away from the city. This may sometime be more challenging and if you travelled before to developing countries, your experience will be helpful. The Philippines is also famous for terrorist activities but events seem to be limited to the southern part of the country (Mindanao). During my stay and my travelling all around the Philippines, I never felt in danger and threatened in any way. English is spoken fluently everywhere in Manila and almost everywhere in the Philippines. You may have to speak slowly sometime but generally language is not a problem and you don t have to speak Tagalog (a few worlds are always welcome though). In this paper, prices are given in Pesos. At the time of my stay in the Philippines, the exchange rate was about P50 to P55 / US$. Before going there Get accustomed to the Philippines and get a good guide book, for instance: Lonely Planet, or Philippines Travel Guide by Jens Peters, which is, in my view, by far the best. When to go: (3 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

4 When do you need to arrive to the Philippines? It depends whether you opt to do an internship or not. AIM gives you the option of going on an internship before classes start, but this is purely optional. AIM will help place you in a company and according to other exchange students, the positions offered were quite challenging. Being busy in Europe, I decided not to do the internship but keep some time before classes start to visit Singapore and Indonesia. Classes only start on the beginning of October and since it is quite easy to get settled, you can arrive the week before beginning of class or even during that first week, when you will have to decide on your courses. Visa: The visa issue is quite confusing and I think all the exchange students at AIM had a different experience. I contacted the Philippines embassy in Paris to ask about the student visa. I was given back a never ending list of requirements and documents to obtain from both AIM and McGill. For some reason, after I specified I was going to AIM, it all changed completely. The visa became free and all I had to do was to send the letter of acceptance from AIM and my passport. It did require quite a few phone calls to the embassy though, so you will probably have to be patient. It was not the end of it though, since the ending date was wrong on my visa and I was supposed to extend it once in the Philippines. Most of the other exchange students entered the Philippines with just a tourist visa. Residents of most of the western countries do not need a visa only if their stay is less than 21 days. If you don t have at least a tourist visa, you risk being asked for proof that you will be leaving the country within that time frame (flight ticket). Once in the Philippines, you can obtain the visa at AIM s administration office (or actual proof you studied at AIM). The process takes 4 to 5 weeks so do it early. The cost was around P4,000. Mine was not processed on time, but I could leave (4 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

5 the Philippines without any problem. What to bring: The bad thing is that most airlines only allow you to carry 20kg of luggage. The good news is that you really don t need to bring much in the Philippines. The temperature is always warm in the Philippines and the only time I had to wear a sweater was hen visiting the Rice Terrace in Banaue or when the AC was too strong in some classes. Clothes can be purchased for much cheaper in the Philippines than in Europe or Canada. If you are tall (Above 1.85m) you may have difficulties finding shoes or pants at your size, but they can be custom made. When renting a place, the owner may ask for the full amount plus security deposit (4 months rent) to be paid in cash. So bring enough traveller checks or US dollar bills to convert them to Pesos. Euros are very difficult to exchange and are not accepted anywhere. For some diving trips, prices are quoted in US dollars. If you have a tri-band phone, bring it. A cell phone is not a luxury there, it is mandatory. Everybody in Makati has one and it is the main mean of communication, much more than in Canada. People use their phone mostly for texting, so get used to your little keyboard. When you arrive: Transportation: (5 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

6 One you exit the airport, you will find many taxi booth. They are all prepaid and charge the same amount to bring you to Makati (about P350). You can get cheaper taxis if you just walk outside the airport or to the departure area. Be sure to ask for the meter to be turned on then, or agree on the price before (should be around P150). Temporary lodging: If you arrive in late September, try to contact the other exchange students, since some of them probably arrived a couple of weeks ago to do an internship. You can also stay for a few days in a hotel close to AIM, for instance at: El Cielo for about P1,000 a night. If you come during a week day, go straight to AIM and talk to the administration office, they can arrange for you to stay in the dorms for a few nights. Housing: You can stay at the dorms at AIM but that may not be the best option. Dorms regulations are quite strict (no drinking, no cooking, no guests etc ) and it may be best to live off campus and enjoy more freedom. If you arrive late September chances are some other exchange students (we were 9 last year) are already here and they can help you share or find a place. All the exchange students stayed at Asian Mansion II, which is close to AIM and offered the best value. I checked some buildings around and they were either more expensive or wouldn t rent a place for less than 6 months. A furnished studio will cost you around P16,000 per month, which is quite expensive in the Philippines, but Makati is the business district of Manila so prices are higher there. You can always try to bargain for electricity, cable or phone to be included, especially if you pay cash and upfront. Just go to the lobby and ask the janitor who will put you in touch with agents or owners wanting to sublet their place. You can get your laundry picked up directly from your room (6 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

7 (around P250 for wash dry fold), have your place cleaned and enjoy the roof s swimming pool and sauna General Costs Compared to Canada, the Philippines is a much cheaper place to live. A decent lunch or dinner should cost around P150, P200. Taxis can bring you anywhere in Manila for less than P300 (maximum). Jeepneys are much cheaper but hard to figure out in Manila. There is also an elevated metro to bring you downtown, but you are better off taking a taxi. A hair cut is P120. Clothes are cheaper too, even for designer shirts or jeans. If you didn t bring your cell phone you can buy one here, but if you don t get a calling plan, they may be more expensive than back home. Cell phones are a fashion statement in the Philippines, and you will be able to get the latest model. In Greenbelt 1 (mall in front of AIM) you will find a phone center where you can also buy used cell phones. Phones are GSM, so you can just switch your SIM card. There are two main companies: Globe and Smart. Globe s prepaid is a bit cheaper but if you travel a lot, Smart seems to have better coverage. If you plan to text overseas, check first if they have agreements with companies in your country. Going out is also much cheaper and you can have a unforgettable night out for less than P1,000. Traveling (7 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

8 You cannot go to the Philippines and not explore all it has to offer. Once you go away of the city you will realize that the Philippines treasures are outside Manila. You will soon realize that one semester is a very short time, so don t wait and start travelling early. I managed to visit the main places, but there is still so much to see. I went to Puerto Galera, Mount Punatubo, Boracay, the rice terraces of Banaue and Sagada, Palawan, Cebu and Bohol and wish I had more time. If you like diving, then there are unlimited sites for both reefs and wreck lovers. There are local stores that can arrange trips or just go to any dive center where you are travelling. A dive will cost about US$25 per dive with equipment. If you don t dive, you can prepare your PADI license or go for beginner dives. Diving is a must in the Philippines. Filipinos are very friendly and helpful people. They will go to a great extend to help you and make your trip enjoyable. People may be poor, but they are rich in heart. Try to meet and talk to people and you will make great friends. Security: (8 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

9 The Philippines made the news recently for such events as, attempted Coups d Etat, tourist abductions or terrorist attacks. Most of it is due to the Abu Sayev radical group which operates mostly in the southern island of Mindanao. So it may not be advisable to travel here right now. Manila is a relatively safe city, but I don t know if the omnipresent security guards, searches and bill board saying to leave your firearms in the entrance, help you feel secure or have the opposite effect Anyway, none of the exchange students had any problem in the Philippines, apart maybe from the usual tourist scams. An example: When going to Puerto Galera, someone asked me where I was going. I was going to White Beach and you need to take a ferry boat to get there. They offered to take me to the boat, but instead drove me to a private boat and asked for P2,000 to cross, saying there were no more regular shuttle. I didn t fall for it and of course there were still many for P120 Use your common sense, don t say you are a tourist, get used to bargaining and you should be all right. After hours: Manila is a city with endless possibilities for entertainment. Makati is like any modern city, with flashy restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes. For shopping fanatics, you can spend hours roaming the Greenbelt malls which can rival North American ones. You can enjoy a drink on a terrace all year long. You can find everything you need close to AIM, in fact I was quite surprise to hear that some students, never actually left Makati. Within a short taxi ride, you can explore other area of the city and discover another (9 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

10 world. Go and explore different areas, ask the other students and people for good places. They will tell you all about the best seafood places, bars, pools, clubs, or girly bars in the city. One thing is for sure, you won t get bored, have lots of fun for a fraction of what you would pay in Montreal. The Asian Institute of Management People at AIM, whether they are administrative people or students will help you getting organized and chose your courses. I really want to thank everybody at AIM, both faculty and students, who did everything possible to make me feel welcome and to make sure I would have a smooth stay. AIM is a small private university concentrating on masters programs and continuing education in the business sector. It is very well known in Asia, ranking as the number 1 B-School in the Philippines and number 5 in Asia. It is comprised of mostly Filipinos ad Indians (about the same proportion) and few students from other Asian countries like Vietnam or Japan. Most of the Filipino students are from upper class families due to the quite steep tuition fees. (I think the tuition is about $10,000 per year). Classes and teachers are excellent. Professors were usually educated in the world top universities have extensive industry experience and give great insights on each subject. Courses are mostly case based and attendance is mandatory. The session is ten weeks longs but you are allowed to miss 20% of the classes or 4 classes (you can plan your trips accordingly ). (10 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

11 The workload depends on how much effort you want to put. Students at AIM have a research paper to write and usually spend their weekends working on it. Exchange students just need to attend classes so you can have your 3 days weekends (no classes on Fridays). For most of the classes, you will need to do one presentation on a case and prepare the other ones. So it s up to you how much you want to analyse each case. Beside some finance classes, I also took SMART which is Self Mastery Arts and Spirituality. I would highly recommend it, it s nothing you can get at McGill. Conclusion If you decide to go on exchange in the Philippines, you won t regret it. You will find an excellent school, incredible landscapes and friendly people. For sure you will have a blast and you will wish, like I do, that you could have stayed longer. Don t forget that the Philippines is still a developing country with the associated advantages and drawbacks. But if you are a bit adventurous, curious and have an open mind, this will be an experience you will never forget. And as they say in the Philippines: Mabuhay (11 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]

12 If you have any questions please don t hesitate to contact me at Bernard@Muller.org You can see additional pictures on my website: (12 of 12) [02/08/2004 6:33:17 PM]