BP: me too don't like tipping .. especially where the staff are pushy .. But I do tip, when I remember their pay is peanuts ..
As you say, if you open bottle et al. then tipping should be on a tight fist .
And impressing filipinas with money ??
that doesn't work .. they will let 'heart rule over money .. ' and in an instant will say "I will work my ass and pay you back .. '
Don't bother showing off money to pinays .. says my 2 cents ..
and if you spend a 10,000 peso entertaining a girl, and morning you give her 1,000 peso - as you have no cash in in hand .. - she will be mighty offended .. and forget the 10,000 peso and more of gifts you have bought her ..
I sincere advice: if you are messing with bar girls/FLs, or the lesser educated/exposed, be vary of your $ being appreciated. Most often, it is not. A 1,000 $ iphone is not valued at 1,000 $ .. in their simple eyes .. it is valued as a 'gift' and hence, meaningless.
In my case, for some of my friends ask me to bring stuff, I make sure they pay me back, and then of course, I don't mind spending the same money for drinks and dinner with them .. but, if I don't ask them back, and when I am short of cash, and ask, they will be mighty offended for me expecting to be paid for "GIFTS" and easily forget that the gift too cost money - I explicitly make it clear that it is NOT A GIFT - it was specifically asked / demanded - so PAY ME - LOL ...and suddenly the demands too will reduce .. of course, I may loose a few gems on the way, but I am left with the best .. who appreciate and understand me ..
Of course, better behaved people dont have such problems ..