Bouncing Checks...Almost!

I have been paying my condominium unit for more than a year already and I admit, it's really been draining my finances. I got the condo unit, somewhere in Pasig and still under construction, for zero interest payable in three years that's why I have such a high monthly payment. I issued three years of checks to pay for it using my Chinabank current/checking account, my salary account actually.

Yesterday, I withdrew P2000 pesos to pay for an unexpected expense with my mommy but this morning when i went to the office, I, again, withdrew P900 but when I looked at the available balance, the amount fell short of my required funds for the check to be deposited tomorrow so I immediately accessed my Chinabank Online to verify and requested my officemate to transfer P820 to my account as I handed him the cash.

Just one of the wonders of Internet banking here in the Philippines that there's no transaction fee for intra-bank funds transfer and also I didn't have to pay P1200 service charge to China Bank for a bouncing check.

I experienced a bouncing check last May when I wasn't able to clear a manager's check i requested from BPI to transfer funds to my China Bank account.

Not that I'm afraid of estafa here since the real estate company can just forfeit my unit in case I can't pay it anymore, but the P1200 is P1200, plus the hassle of looking for additional funds since I can't access my BPI account easily to transfer. There's still no way I can transfer funds from BPI to China Bank except over the counter.

For more information on the Philippines' Bouncing Checks Law, click here

Cheap Airline Tickets Fraud

I've received information for many months now on the proliferation of scams offered in public places where unscrupulous people openly offer cheap flights, domestic or international, to various destinations or discounted air fares.

Uninformed people will pay in cash but the miscreants will buy the plane tickets under the buyer's name using stolen credit card credentials online and pocket the cash they receive.

Upon check-in at the airport, presentation of the credit card used to purchase the tickets will be required for boarding and so the unknowing victim won't be able to board his flight.

Tips to guard against fraudsters and scam artists like these:

1. Purchase airline tickets online yourself or through a reputable travel agency.

2. Make sure names on the credit card and airline tickets match

3. The mode of payment on your e-ticket should always indicate cash if you paid for it in cash. If not, question the ticket issuer.

4. As always, my favorite advise to people: If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't true!


This is not unique to the Philippines but also present in other countries in Asia. I have yet to see ATM card payment options for various carriers like Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific, SeaAir, Asian Spirit and other budget airlines but this would become a reality also

Pardon for Erap is a Mockery of Justice

I was thinking for few days now of posting my disapproval of the granting of executive clemency for Erap floated around. Today, such pardon was granted to Erap by PGMA and as always I see it as a mockery of justice. We've gone through many years of trial and now he's again a free man? So now I know that any powerful person can commit plunder, not admit guilt even if proven to be guilty and still roam free. Only in the Philippines!

News reports tell PGMA did it for national unity. National unity what? Just because of political pressure and the never-ending sword of damocles in the form of an impeachment did PGMA in? Or maybe PGMA is seeing her own future when the law finally catches up with her. This country will never be united since everybody wants to be the one seated in Malacanang. Politicians will always quarrel among themselves and the cycle of impunity will never end.

Regarding the Department of Justice, I have a still pending motion for approval and a clarification on a case I've been pursuing against an uragon fraudster for almost a year now trapped in a tarpit. This Erap pardon recommendation by the DOJ was submitted in no time at all. Injustice by the sitting president, and by the Department of Justice Delayed, if not Injustice!

This nation is really heading to the dogs.

Format New USB External Hard Drive

I just acquired a new external hard drive, a cheap 100GB USB for only P3850 (plus the P250 casing) at PC Bodega in New Manila. My officemate also got one but was unable to use it immediately since he doesn't know how to format an external hard disk via USB.

I directed my officemate to this link in order for him to format the drive, using Windows XP's Disk Management utility, so that it'll also show on My Computer.

Now I have lots of data backup jobs to do, including pictures backed up in various CDs and computers :)
Format New USB Hard Drive