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This is a quick review of letter writing hints.  Let's start with your envelope.  The ladies tend to like envelopes which match the writing paper and which have a flowery design.  Many Christian gift stores have writing paper sets with bible verse inscriptions on them.  You should always print your return address so that the lady will be able to correctly write your address on her return letter and remember to include "USA" in the return address if writing from America.  Keep in mind, if the lady can not read your handwritting your letter will find itself in the trash bin.  When writing her address, make sure to write it exactly as you get it.  some of the addresses are strange like "Behind the Coke machine near the River" but usually it will get to her if written the same way.  When you write her name it is a good idea to put "Miss" before her name though I think that this is done less now than in the past.  The filipina considers the more formal the letter at first the more respectful the suitor.  You should remember to always put "Philippines" at the bottom of the address even if this may be obvious to you.  Keep in mind that the rest of the world is not obsessed with filipinas and unbelievably they do not know what country Cebu City is in (or what island for that matter).  I had one letter returned to me by the US postal system becoz I had not written Philippines on it.  On the lower left hand corner of the envelope write the words "Air Mail".  For some reason, the Philippines postal system seems to deliver the letters quicker if this is written on the envelope.  Towards the bottom right hand corner write the words "please do not bend photo(card) enclosed".  This serves two purposes.  First, they won't bend your photo and if the envelope is thicker the good old postman will think it is the photo and not $$$$.  When deciding whether to send $$$ in your envelope, keep in mind that if the postman finds money in your envelope you will never again be able to send her a letter.  I have been told by others that it is better to have your letter postmarked rather than put a stamp on it becoz the Philippine postman may permanently borrow the letter to collect the stamp.  Personally, I stamp almost all of my envelopes and I have had no problems.

We tend to trash the Philippines postman for stealing but the US postal authorities are also to blame.  For two weeks, I had not received any mail from the Phils which was unusual.  I had sent a check to a Philippine address agency also with no reply.  I contacted the agency and found that they like the others did not get my letter.  I formally complained to my postmaster and had the letter traced.  At first they said they could not find it but when presed they miraculously found that the letter had been put in the dead letter section of another city's post office.  After I threatened to have this investigated I found 5 letters in my mailbox from the Philippines the next day.  Of course, you can trace US mail but You can not trace Filipino letters.  I suspect that racist employees of the US postal service tend to "misplace" letters written by American men to filipinas.

Cecil

... in response to Review of Letter Writing, posted by Cecil on Aug 12, 2001


Cecil, you give good advice.  Yes, "Miss" is still sign of respect and I would suggest you use.  Can not hurt and may make a big difference with some.

Yes, "Print" your address, including country, on both envelope and on letter and on back of photos.  Typed labels are good.

Remember mailman in Philippines may or may not read English well.  Print carefully the same way woman sends to you.  If it says % someone, put it on letter as that is person mailman know.  Many homes not have street number, maybe not even name so often rely on mailman knowing family and many families have similar names, so this is very important.  If letter undeliverable, it is often thrown away not returned to sender so you don't really know if girl receive or not.  Also, letter thief is common crime in Philippines, so insure anything of value you send.

Cecil right also about writing "Air Mail" on envelope or best to use blue sticker provided by US Post Office.  I do not feel you should send much cash by mail.  A dollar for help with postage is fine but for more use insured mail - same for gifts.

FedX is not good for small villages (cities it's fine) as the FEDX person not know family and hard for them to find unless she has a formal street number address.

Cecil must know me, as I love the pretty stationery.  Jerry also sometimes prints letter on computer using (easy to read) handwriting font with rose as watermark - very nice.  But, clear handwriting very personal so do not print all your letters.

I have a sample 1st letter on my website, but, of course, personalize for yourself.  Be careful writting women in same village - do not send them same letter, OK!

Blessings,

Jean

... in response to Re: Review of Letter Writing - Good tips..., posted by FilipinaCupid on Aug 13, 2001

Hi Jean,

Do you know people from smaller towns that had trouble with FedEx? I have only heard of one problem. Since they subcontract private couriers for actual delivery outside of larger cities, provided they reliable, I would think it would be the best way to ship...although expensive. I have heard that the private couriers they use are more reliable than the Philippine postal service.

I recently sent documents by FedEx to Butuan City (pop. 267,279). There is no FedEx office there. I was a little worried because there are no addresses in the barangay of 1000 households where my fiancee lives. She had also recently moved to another house. She told me not to worry, that everyone knew each other and the delivery person would find the way to her house. If not, they could always call.

I was able to track the package as it arrived in Subic Bay and cleared Customs. After it arrived Paranaque (airport area in Manila) I was no longer able to track it. I figured that it was transfered to a private courier company. 5 business days after I shipped it, the package arrived intact at my fiancee's house, delivered by private courier.

Cecil gave some excellent advice about sending mail! I do much of what he says, but I never thought that part of the blame for problems belonged to the USPS. From now on I won't be so quick to judge the Philippine mail service. I also have my mail stamped "Air Mail" by the US Postal Service. A new clerk will often tell me that all mail goes airmail to the Philippines. I explain to them that once it gets there, it is often put on a slow ship to my fiancee's island, as opposed to transport by air, if not labeled "Air Mail." They find this hard to believe. US post office employees live a sheltered life and have no idea of what occurs in other countries. Sometimes they will speak of delivery agreements with other countries. It is all meaningless once your mail is outside of the US. I never stamp mail, but meter it. There are too many "stamp collectors" between Manila and Butuan City. None of my stamped mail has ever made it. My mailed postcards never made it either. I always put them inside other mail now. I also never send money. I agree...once discovered, your mail will be "inspected" and placed in the circular mail box (discarded) from then on.

I really like Greg's ideas of writing "Jesus Cares!!" and no return address on the outside. You will probably never get a letter returned to you anyway, unless it never leaves the US, due to an incomplete delivery address. I will use these additional techniques from now on.

Thanks Cecil, Greg, and Jean for an informative discussion.

Dave H.

... in response to It's In the Mail..., posted by Dave H2O on Aug 13, 2001

FedEx now has a small office in Butuan City. FedEx does not fly to Butuan, so my package arrived on a PAL flight. When the FedEx employee received it, he called my fiancee to verify delivery address and get directions. Then the package was delivered to my fiancee's house by a FedEx employee.

Dave H.

... in response to Correction!, posted by Dave H2O on Aug 13, 2001


That good point Dave.  Telephone to call is also important for other things as well.  I recommend a service that delivers gift certificates in Philippines for a variety of popular stores like "Robinson's Department stores"

It works great when you have formal address but telephone is important if just a general address as I have had some delayed by 2 days trying to find right home when they had confusing adddress and no phone.

Dave, I appreciate your many informative posts.

Blessings,

Jean

... in response to Review of Letter Writing, posted by Cecil on Aug 12, 2001

Good points. Instead of writing your return address on envelope, it's best to write "guess who"...and put your return address written clearly inside. I write "Jesus Cares!!" on back of envelope..a Post Office worker would feel guilty for messing with a letter with Jesus's name on it. greg