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DVD9 – It’s a Video Buffet!

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Do you know what a DVD9 is?  Have you ever seen a DVD before that was labelled “DVD9”?

If you’ve seen that before, it’s a pirated DVD!  DVD9 is a “brand” made in Malaysia.  The name came from the fact that a dual layer DVD can hold approximately 9 Gigabytes of data.

DVD9 is available all over Southest Asia, including the Philippines.  Although some DVD9 movies come in through Manila, most of them come into the country through the famed “back door” route: from Malaysia, they make the short hop to Tawi Tawi, up the Sulu Peninsula to Zamboanga City, and are then distributed to the rest of the Philippines.

If you know where to shop for pirated movies (DVD9 and some others), you will find almost an unlimited selection of movies, TV shows and other entertainment available for your choosing.  You can easily find everything from classic movies from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, up to current TV series that aired even this year!  Even current movies that are still in the theaters are available on DVD!

It is not hard to find where to buy these items, I know two different shopping centers in Davao who are selling a full selection of DVD9 releases.  I used to be a big consumer of DVD9 pirated DVD’s, but for about a year now I have not purchased one.  I just kind of got tired of them, and also decided not to purchase pirated products anymore.  Personally, I have no problem with people who do so, I just decided that it was not for me.

How much is the price, you ask?  For a current run movie (a Hollywood movie that’s still playing in theaters) you can get it on DVD for P40 to P60 or so.  If you buy several, you should be able to bargain the price to the lower end of that scale.

The quality?  If you get a DVD9, the quality is generally excellent.  If you buy another “brand” of pirated DVD, the quality is usually not as good as it is on the DVD9’s.

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Comments

  3. Do you know any websites or email of someone to contact to purchse these dvd 9 movies? I collect movies. Do you know of any company that will ship to USA?
    Tami

  4. I am sorry, Tami, I don't know of ways to purchase DVD9 from abroad. Just to be clear, these are pirated movies. They probably wouldn't make it through US Customs!

  5. Morning Bob,
    That's so cheap. A few years ago you used to pay that just for a blank DVD! Although it is still theft and you may be charged in the west (and will definitely have the product confiscated and destroyed) it is certainly one of those "victimless" crimes at the lower end of the scale. The big studios will beg to differ. What interests me from your comments are that you can get old films too. If the quality is good that would be great. Even better if they would make to order. Given that these can be electronically transmitted nowadays there is no reason not to expect that. Mmmm . . . interesting. At least something is still cheap in the Phillipines, eh Bob!

  6. Hi AussieLee – Indeed, they are quite cheap! I went to a big place selling DVD9 the other day with a friend, the first time I went there in over a year now. It has grown in that time too, probably at least doubled in size over the past year!

  8. Hi Lloyd – Long time since I've seen you! I hope that you are doing well. For DVD9's in Davao, check at Mantex on San Pedro Ave. It is next to Dunkin Donuts. When you enter Mantex, go al the way to the back, and over on the right side. They have a huge selection. If you get a bad one, they will exchange it for you too.

  9. Bob,
    Thank you for the information as to where to purchase DVD9's. The ones we purchase at Victoria are really not that good.
    I am retired now and drawing SS for both me and our son(Adam 1 year old). I just closed the business in November and kept the http://www.wheelchairparts.com.
    We purchased a condo in Pasig (Metro Manila) and visit it every 3 or 4 months just to get away for a month at a time.
    Take care and best to you and family.
    Lloyd

  10. Hi Lloyd – It sounds like you are doing well, Lloyd! Good luck to you, and all the best to your family too.

  11. hello bob
    i have certainly watched alot od dvd9 videos when i was there in panabo.i did usually pay like 40p each dvd but when i sent my brother in law he paid only like 20p.the biggest problem with dvd9 is alot of the money goes to aid in buying firearms for the rebels in western mindanao and once i heard that i figured i wouldent support that kind of institution.i could be wrong about that but its what i was told.and alot of the videos are labeled improper and very poor quality.i did watch some video that wasent even in the theaters in usa.that was kinda cool.
    salamat bob

  12. Hi Ron W – For that price you paid, I think you might have been watching VCD's not DVD9 DVD's. I haven't seen them being sold that low yet. I could be wrong though.

  13. Hi Bob,

    Something I have always wondered, If the DVD9's are contraband why are the stores not closed down? They hardly sell them under the counter. I have bought a few but honestly use them as "ironing" movies. When I have to stand and iron…. you dont see the bad quality its just on as a diversion. If there was a movie I really wanted to see I would still go to a movie house or buy the real thing. But always remember to get the "english pronounce" otherwise you get bad movies in another launguage.

  14. Hi Carolynn – Why aren't the stores closed down? Ha ha… welcome to the Philippines! That just is not the way it works here. From time to time there will be raids, but it is rare, and when there are raids, the stores just re-open in a few hours (at the most).

    I have had good luck with the quality of the DVD9 movies. I would say that if I buy 10 of them, 9 are good quality, one will have some defects, and I can return that for another movie.

  15. if you intend on bringing them back make sure you get them WITHOUT a label marking them as a movie…blank label (no label) works best to get them thru customs…if you have the labels on them be careful…put them on your body…..rule of thumb is they will not search you unless they find significant contraband in your luggage…or so I've been told…heheheh 😉

  16. Hi brian – I would personally recommend against bringing DVD9 movies to any countries where you may travel. It simply isn't worth the risk of getting into serious trouble.

  17. welll yes, and if you buy them? is that also ignored? Would just be my luck to get "copped" buying a dvd

  18. Hi Bob
    To me I always looked at them having supbar quality compared to regular dvd plus they dont have any extras like featurettes or outtakes, and the sound I'm sure is very poor if you played on a good sound system. The only good thing about these dvd9 is that many people who could not afford to watch these movies now can, and the American culture through these movies becomes even more universal or popular.

  19. Hi Carolynn – No, you don't need to worry about being busted. I used to buy tons of these and never had a problem. Don't take them outside the country, though, as you may get busted when you enter another country.

  20. Hi Neil – Other than lacking the special features, I can't see a difference between DVD9 and a real DVD. The sound is great through my Bose Surround Sound system too! 😆 Another good thing, and advantage is that you can buy a lot of movies that are not available on release DVD – like stuff from a generation ago that has never been put on DVD before.

  21. I have a billion of these movies. I love them for movies that I haven't seen and am not even sure I will enjoy. In reality, I prefer the "real" DVD's but in Manila they are somewhat hard to find (all though there are a few stores) and the price is a lot higher than amazon.com. Main feature I like of the real DVD's is all the extras which aren't always found on the pirated. I also always use subtitles when watching DVD (yeah, I know that is kinda weird) and depending on which DVD's you buy, some of them can have really funky subtitles (done by someone who is obviously not used to English figures of speech.

    Here in Manila they still run about P40.

  22. Hi kikas_head – Your experiences pretty much mirror mine. Even if you want to buy legit DVD's they can hardly be found!

  23. While I do not worry as much about the people at the top of the food chain, those of us who get paid to write for a living always worry about such things. Writers make much less than folks think for books, for movies, for almost anything. If they have a good agent, they perhaps get a percentage of each DVD sold. A tiny percentage.

    That being said, I suspect that it is difficult to find legitimate copies in the Philippines.

  24. Hi Tom N – I pretty much make my living by offering intellectual property, and I don't like to not be paid for it, if it is something that I am asking a price for. This is one of the reasons why I don't really go for the pirated DVD content any longer.

  25. Hi Bob, I'm glad you're doing your patriotic duty by not buying these pirated DVDs anymore. Not many people think of the consequences when they buy such items, but they are actually funding terrorism. And terrorism – as we all know – is the root of all evil.

  27. Hi Bob. "I'm shock…shock that this is going on in there"( my version of Captain Renault/Caude Rains….my favorite actor in Casablanca).

    I'm sure those raids just 'round up the usual suspects'. After proper realignment(tong should be on schedule) and some shows of destroying some DVD's…. business, as you said, goes back to normal.

    I think the only solution to this problem is for the legal copywright owners to sell their products(should be better product too) to the same or even lower price as these pirated ones.

    "…I'm just a poor corrupt police captain…", Captain Renault says.

  30. I generally hat corruption and illegal activities. and i am appalled that SM can get away selling fake louis vuitton bags in cebu.

    but when it comes to lifes necessities, like drugs, i am 100% for pirated. like india. they don't care about patents. they say its of national security that their people are healthy. Hmm i wonder why philippines don't declare this and drop pharma prices by 90% overnight?

    Regarding movies, I consider them of national interest, unlike louis vuitton bags which are totally unnecessary. these movies broaden our peoples minds and allows our children to be creative, so that they are not watching stupid programs on gma and abs cbn, really stupid.

    But we cant afford it. so what? let them buy and watch these dvds. its the way to improve the lives of our people. our people need to at least SEE what first rate things are, at least through movies. as we cant experience them first hand physically.

    Pirated dvds and drugs illegally imported are two things i fully support!!

    p.s. there is a big difference in quality in pirated including dvd9 and original dvds. you are compressing so much data into one dvd, which means you are dubbing losing data. so screen is not so clear and sound is not complete surround. so you if you are a collector, you dont want these. if you just want to watch latest movie or tv series, they its fine.

  31. If you plan on visiting the Philippines and scooping up a lot of pirated DVD, Audio CD be aware that these could be confiscated by US Customs upon your re-entry to the USA. The Philippines is well known for piracy of copyrighted items. If you purchase legitimate items at known stores make sure you keep the reciepts and feel certain the best you can that you have not purchased items that infringe on anyones copyright.

    For Filipinos coming to the USA, if you are caught bringing in pirated products, customs and immagration may refuse you entry into the USA and put on the next available flight back to the Philippines.

    Follow this link and go to the bottom of the page for more information on this: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/p…

    You can buy a lot of the " old " movies etc. here in the USa very cheaply, you can buy pre-rented DVD from places like Blockbuster for a fraction of their original list price.

    Is it really worth taking a chance going through US Customs with " Known " pirated and knock off items ? Not for me thanks.

  32. Hi khaye – I disagree about movies being an item of "national interest" – there is no difference between a pirated movie and a pirated louis vuitton bag in my opinion.

  33. Hi Bob New York – I totally agree. I have posted several comments that one should not bring these movies with them when entering any other country. You are 100% correct.

  34. I've always felt a little uneasy about buying pirated movies and music CD's. The artists who produce these items should be compensated for their work. I've always thought it isn't much different than walking into a store and stealing something off the shelf. The only difference is that when stealing something from a store you have a much higher probability of getting caught. I'm by no means an angel in life, but pirating is just one of my pet peeves.

  35. Hi Joe Parisi – I agree. That's why I stopped buying these DVD9 videos over a year ago now. It just not the right way to go.

  36. Bob,

    Sometimes I feel like a fool…I shell out $14.99 for a CD, and my friends get all the music they want for free 🙁

  38. Hi Bob,

    I don't now if what I heard is true. DVD players are manufactured by zone. So, if your playing unit is in the US, you cannot use DVD that comes from Asia. Player units in Europe cannot play DVD's from the US.
    Perhaps the the idea of zoning is to avoid or minimize piracy.

    Do you know about this Bob?

  39. Hi robert – What you say is partially correct, and partially incorrect. DVD players indeed are coded by region. However, the pirated "DVD9" movies are coded for "Region 0" which means that they are regionless, and will play on every DVD machine.

  40. Piracy is piracy is piracy… For someone whose work revolves around intellectual property, I am, of course, extremely displeased with the practice.

    I do not mean to cast a harsh indictment as the business environment (in the Phil) and the "consumers" are co-conspirators here. I just wish it were different. Of course one can argue that if the business flounders because the consumers don't patronize, then that would probably end it. But that's a just a dream, right?

    I still wish that the Philippines would take the steps toward implementing laws that make it world-class when it comes to business.

    A curious question, are there no rental places like Blockbuster? Why do people need to buy all the time? If they're for rent, then they become more affordable… How about Netflix? Not in RP yet?

  41. Hi ecstasy – Oh, yes, there are rental places here. Not Netflix or Blockbuster, but local places. But, they are not widely patronized, as the DVD9 are so cheep!

  42. piracy is from the perspective of the corporate manufacturers.
    Do you consider india a pirate because they dont respect patent laws regarding pharmaceuticals of large pharma companies and produce generic versions even prior to patent expiry?
    India justifies this by saying drugs are for national interest, so they say hell with patent laws.
    I consider cultural programs through movies and tvs equally important to development and well being of people as pharmaceuticals. pharma matains physical well-being. culture improves the mind well-being.
    Can you imagine philippines not being exposed to good movies and programming? it will fall further and further behind in the race to national improvement.
    movies are not just for entertainment!
    Bob i suppose you consider "piracy is a piracy" no matter what.
    So do you consider people selling generic AIDS drugs in africa pirates? I consider them the soldiers of humanity. big pharma companies label them as pirates!

  43. Hi khaye – ecstasy made a good point – movies can be rented. If movies are such an important cultural experience, rent the movie and watch it. No reason to steal it. This has nothing to do with medicine.

  44. haha bob,
    you are a typical hypocrite. acting like you know everything. a college dropout. i guess u need to at least act like a know-it. afterall u need to sell ur book. i wonder how many you sold? 1, to ur wife perhaps?
    getting desperate? trying to do "seminars" to naive foreigners? so you can't afford to look stupid?
    you are one of the classic examples of things you preach other foreigners to avoid.
    get a life. loser.

  45. Hi khaye – Did you take your medication today? It would seem that you did not.

    Honestly, khaye, I wish you nothing but the best, and I hope that you can do something to improve your life. From the sounds of it, I don't think you are a very happy person.

  46. Bob, WOW some people here are very Angry!

    Here is something way off topic but it ties into "Buffet"
    Tomorrow Sun I will be going to the Newport Folk Festival here in Newport RI and one of the performers will be Jimmy Buffet. I recall a video of you playing some Buffet tunes as you were driving around Davao, perhaps you are a "Parrot Head"

  47. Hi Neal In RI – I am a Parrot-Head to the max! I own every album that Jimmy Buffet has ever put out (I think it's over 50 now, if I recall correctly). Are you also a Parrot-Head? Jimmy is getting a little old now, but I guess we all are!

  48. Bob Im not a" Parrot" Head to the purest but I am a huge fan of his music and I endulge/to excess in a good tailgate party any time it comes up. Of course the wife says"your getting carried away"

    I would love to submit some pics of the concert for you but the are very strict about bringing cameras into the Folk Festival. You would think at $79.00 entrance fee you could bring in whatever you wanted.

  49. Hi Neal In RI – No need for any pics! I've been to a lot of Jimmy Buffet concerts in years past anyway, and I know what they are like. When I was in college at LSU, a group of us went to the Buffet concert on campus, then we traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi the next night to see his next concert! It was quite a roadtrip!

  52. Fireworks obviously erupted while I slept. You know, there's a movie called "Anger Management" (with Jack Nicholson, Adam Sandler). I wonder if it's available on DVD9? This should serve a dual purpose, for entertainment and for therapy. Forget the meds.

  53. Hi ecstasy – I am not sure why, buy Khaye has some sort of anger management issue. He/she always blows up like this, with little, even no provocation at all. There must be some underlying issue that is causing that.

  54. I've noticed that many people are feeling sorry for the artists whose work is being pirated. I have news for you that work no longer belongs to the artists. Unless they own their own record company, distribution company or movie selling outlet they are paid upfront. As far as funding terrorism you might want to check some of the major corporations and check how many of them are funding terrorism by supporting terrorist leaders of countries, you might be suprised. Also many people who would never go into a store and buy pirated media will gladly take a copy from a friend from a legitimate original and that is pirating also.

  56. Hi Bob- Video piracy is a subject that is not really close to my heart, but when I read KHAYEs comments about you, I felt quite offended, as you are offering a great service to many people. Sure you've gotta make a buck, and good on you. Maybee khayes is having a"'Lisa Simpson"' episode. We all have to live in THE REAL WORLD so lets get on with it.

    Lets try and make the world a better place, and people like khaye need to get some perspective, or maybee get layed, (sorry about the adult content)

  57. Hi anthony – Thanks for your support. Don't worry much about Khaye, I am not worried about her. Yes, we all have to make a living, and I feel that I do so in a way that is beneficial for others. Anybody who doesn't want me to be able to make money to support my family is free to go elsewhere, I have no qualms about that.

    Thanks for your comment, anthony!

  58. For #38 Robert

    Commercially manufactured DVD of new or late movies are coded by region, either Region 1, Region 2 and Region 3 and are marked somewhere on the outside of the package. A DVD that is not region coded will usually state that or something like Plays in ALL Regions.

    DVD Players or DVD Recorder / Players are also coded to play DVD of the region that those players are sold in such as all North American DVD Players are set up to play " Region 1 " DVD and may not play those from other region codings.

    Most all DVD Players can be coded for any or all region playback if you know the code to enter to do this. Manufacturers can Not sell " All Region " playback equipment although the selling Dealer can enter the appropriate code to make most all DVD Players suitable for playing DVD from all region codes ( 1, 2, and 3 ).

    I have some older DVD Players here that play Region 1 and Region 2 DVD right out of the box ( no modification ). I believe if you play a DVD on a PC equipped to do so it might play all regions or have a setting in the " properties " for other region or format playback. I read recently on a PC DVD Drive I bought that the Format ( NTSC, PAL etc. ) can be changed up to 5 times only in the " Properties " menu.

    From my first hand experience, " All Region " DVD players are most commonly available in the UK. I have even purchased some of them as gifts for friends and relatives there and they have worked successfully when I have sent them Region 1 DVD from here. It is less costly for people in the UK to mail order or order on line, DVD from the USA than it sometimes is for them to buy them there in the UK, The exchange rate at the moment makes everything in the USA " Half Price " to those in the UK. It is not illegal for someone to buy or sell an " All Region " DVD player in the UK, it is just that the Manufacturer can not directly sell them that way.

    You can check out some " All Region " DVD players at this UK website which is a national chain of retail stores there and might I add a very pleasureable place to buy things from as I have dealt with them for over a decade.
    http://www.richersounds.co.uk

  60. Hohoho ~ I have read most the posts here… amused with the Casablanca reference. People don't realize how entrenched corruption is, even in the US. People here do not often realize how much more difficult it is there. People are exposed extensively to advertising selling everything hooking emotions and desires. When all you get is the advertising and not much help in realizing the purchase, people see the need and fulfill it. Yeah, the famed back door and terrorism. Yes and know. It's black market and not all black market profit goes to terrorists. As you maybe aware, the very government itself has set up certain anti-insurgency groups that have been known to fight terrorism and profit on the black market. I am not criticizing just pointing to the complexity of it.

    You may know that many people who really hate terroism also subscribe to Milton Friedman's economic pilosophy. He is the one that said "I am favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible. " What many don't read or ignore is that he also made these statements:

    "I'm in favor of legalizing drugs. According to my values system, if people want to kill themselves, they have every right to do so. Most of the harm that comes from drugs is because they are illegal. "

    "The black market was a way of getting around government controls. It was a way of enabling the free market to work. It was a way of opening up, enabling people. "

    ….

    I am just tossing it out there because the problem is large. I don't advocate piracy or illegal drugs and I understand the argument for meds. I think people should sit around looking for any quick illegal path to wealth. Although, I have experienced people with such mindsets in the there. There are many rumors on the streets. People look for quick answers. In regards to DVD's people talk like the pirated versions take from the market. It is true, not many there would buy or watch great artworks without the pirated versions. An argument could be made that the market is expanded for legitimate DVD's rentals and so forth. Also as said above, there is a contribution to the quality of mind and life that would be unavailable to many. The proverbial back door is not just terrorists. Of course people get hurt in these activities too. Where ever you find people operating outside the law, it includes all rule of law. And there are a lot of other pleasures out there being catered besides the pleasure of watching a good movie. There are some far more serious issues. Sulu Tiwa-twai and the back door are also large sources of things like kelp/seaweed…. I'll bring that to your attention. There many seaweed farmers around Davao but they lack organization and I think get ripped in the market and have been somewhat ignored by larger concerns….. whatever – interesting post and responses. It was good to hear them all. Including the 9-11 post. you know, 9-11is partly the reason why i wanted to develop in the Philippines. Not to fight it all but to be part in a place that has been hit hard because it is seen through a colored glass that is not accurate at all. ….just thinking out loud