Michaelm54
American looking for information about Philippines
Forum posts
101
Contacts
3
About me
American
Registration: 25 April 2021
My solar experience - in a video - because no one reads so much text by GoetzPhil
I installed my 4KW plant 18 month ago, upgraded it 6 month ago with a 2nd 10KW battery and just last month upgraded from 4KW to 6KW.Its a video, because I guess even everyone tells so, most of you wont read the 20K text script I prepared for it.So ...
Power outtages here in Zamboanga del Norte have always been 2 to 3 a week some scheduled for all day. the ones that that pushed me over the edge were the late evening and into the night ones. All that scrambling for the battery light around the ... Read More
Minnesota man by MinnGuy
update: I thought I was posting in new member introductions but I guess I created and entirely new thread. ll'll just leave it here. ======================I'm aware that I could be being scammed, but maybe not, so I am exploring what's true.I ...
Theres millions of people here that can use some extra cash and they are good at their stories because they are partially true. Frankly i don’t think there is a reason to tell you how much she makes a day unless she is leaning into your ... Read More
Contact advocate for a SRR visa by Michaelm54
I’ve used the balikbayan privilege visa for two years. I’m going to Vietnam for 10 days and extend it another year. For me, a SRR visa looks like a good choice because I don’t mind parking $10k USD that my wife can collect if I ...
@Michaelm54 thanks folks got what i need. Read More
Contact advocate for a SRR visa
I’ve used the balikbayan privilege visa for two years. I’m going to Vietnam for 10 days and extend it another year. For me, a SRR visa looks like a good choice because I don’t mind parking $10k USD that my wife can collect if I ... Read More
Best place to visit from Manila by Michaelm54
I need a short trip out of the Philippines (5 to 7 days) to renew my Balikbayan privilege visa. We went to Bangkok last time. Any ideas for a quick trip the Vietnam? We like anything from French colonial architecture to clean local restaurants to ...
@FindlayMacDThanks! I wondered about that, I’ll check it out. Read More
Best place to visit from Manila by Michaelm54
I need a short trip out of the Philippines (5 to 7 days) to renew my Balikbayan privilege visa. We went to Bangkok last time. Any ideas for a quick trip the Vietnam? We like anything from French colonial architecture to clean local restaurants to ...
@Cherryann01that was really helpful. Thanks! I don’t mind connecting flights if I’m familiar with the airport or it’s one airline with a short layover. Long fly days really wear me out. Im 69 so I do remember so much news about ... Read More
Best place to visit from Manila
I need a short trip out of the Philippines (5 to 7 days) to renew my Balikbayan privilege visa. We went to Bangkok last time. Any ideas for a quick trip the Vietnam? We like anything from French colonial architecture to clean local restaurants to ... Read More
Importing a new car from China by stillbiker
Hello to ALL. I intend to buy a new electric car from China. Does anyone have an idea on how to proceed? I need a forwarding company to do all the papers work. Can you recommend one? Best regards. Rudy.
I have an EV coming from China should arrive the first week of September. My solar guy got an electric car import license. Until recently the tarif was 150% ( luxury tax) last year for complete cars. We were going to import in pieces (motor, body ... Read More
Filipino Drivers by arty5987
Why are Filipinos such bad drivers?Is it just ignorance of the rules, or is it something deeper?V VERNON B. SARNEOCTOBER 21, 2017 77,512 VIEWSA A AWhy can't we respect something as simple and universal as the yellow box? ILLUSTRATION BY ...
Per capita death rates between the US and Philippines are close to the same at 11 and 13 respectively per 100k regardless of no helmets in most rural areas of the Philippines. Try Norway, Switzerland, Iceland all under 2 per 100k. Read More
Filipino Drivers by arty5987
Why are Filipinos such bad drivers?Is it just ignorance of the rules, or is it something deeper?V VERNON B. SARNEOCTOBER 21, 2017 77,512 VIEWSA A AWhy can't we respect something as simple and universal as the yellow box? ILLUSTRATION BY ...
Americans are too hung up on structure in all aspects of life and death. I’ve seen 2 dead bodies in the street since I got here 2 years ago. Imagine a city with a population of 100k in America with out traffic lights. The murder rate would ... Read More
shipping "stuff" from usa to the philippines. by stuleer
has anyone found a cheap way to do this? What i an interested in shipping are "things" like tools, maybe some small pieces of furniture. I live in Hong Kong and spend summer time in the PHilippines where my wife and i have a house. but there are ...
Balikbayan box 24 x 24 x 18 for $105 with Forex. I sent over 20 boxes here in 2021 and a box every 9 months since. Read More
Help: Dog owner threatens me!!! by Larry Fisher
We live in the province. We have 5 dogs, 4 male 1 female, she's in heat and being kept secure. There are dogs running loose all the time already in this area. Once a week or so there's a skirmish outside, but usually nothing serious. We have weak ...
@Larry Fisher Our dogs have all sorts of wounds from scrape ups. With each other at meal time, girls in heat and visitors girl dogs in heat bring. Ears get it the worst of it and I won’t get near fighting dogs. I keep a big bucket of water ... Read More
anyone ever deal with squatters? eviction? by Soonretired
i own a house maybe 20 feet from the ocean at high tide, we own the lot all the way to the ocean. some guy built a "temporary house/shack" in front of my house, about half of it is on my property . it has no foundation but is built on ...
Did anyone here already suggest money, figure out what the legal process would cost and offer to give them that much. When my wife’s parents sharecropper rice farm was being sold they were supposed to pay them 7,000 peso to leave after 4 ... Read More
concrete hollow block mold by Dave & Ruby
I'm looking to buy a single concrete hollow block mold or a multiple concrete hollow block machine for building my walls for our house. I would like the size of the mold to be 400mm (long) x 200mm (wide) x 200mm (high).
@Moon Dog nice reply, I saw the pictures of your house completed and it was very nice. Our place is finally done and the landscaping is filling in faster than I imagined. Read More
How can foreign couple open restaurant in Philippines by i3ar
Hi all. I saw a restaurant with a couple that are both not Filipino, how is it possible that they have opened a restaurant when I read that there need to be 60% Filipino owned and 40% is a foreigner. I'm asking as I'm looking to open a ...
You could just ask them or are you shy? Read More
Starlink in Philippines .. $599 unit & $99 monthly for 200 Mbps by PalawOne
Musk’s Starlink internet service to be offered in the Philippines in Q1Reuters - February 4, ...
We’re pretty far out in the boonies along the Zamboanga del Norte coast and PLDT recently ran fiber optic by our resort. We get 300mbps for $50 a month with zero installation fee. We have a pisowifi that always at least pays our WiFi bill ... Read More
US General warns of war by PalawOne
***US general warns of war with China 'as early as 2025'The Manila Times & Agence France-Presse, January 28, 2023https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/01/28/news/us-general-warns-of-warwith-china-as-early-as-2025/1876243A four-star US Air Force ...
its a complicated mess. 1/3 of Philippine liquid fuels is refined fuel from China. Does that give them a little leverage which side Philippines has to choose?? Read More
Traveling to Philippines. Where will I go through customs? by Adam478
I'm flying from the USA to Davao with a 1 hour layover in Manila. Should I be concerned that 1 hour is not enough to get to my next flight or will I not need to do customs until I reach Davao? I arrive at terminal 2 and my flight to Davao also ...
Did you book both flights together with PAL? Check with them, Davao airport has customs and sometimes I’ve done connecting flights where you never officially enter the country until the final destination. Read More
Traveling to Philippines. Where will I go through customs? by Adam478
I'm flying from the USA to Davao with a 1 hour layover in Manila. Should I be concerned that 1 hour is not enough to get to my next flight or will I not need to do customs until I reach Davao? I arrive at terminal 2 and my flight to Davao also ...
that would totally panic me, Bob’s right about the flights coming in late, customs are always packed, there’s security to go through and you’ll have a whole plane full of people rushing to security. Is you second flight on Cebu ... Read More
Bongbong going Bonkers by Enzyte Bob
A new law waiting to be signed: Registration of Sim Cards.Foreign nationals:(1) Full Name(2) Nationally(3) Passport Number(4) Address in Philippines(5) Failure to register P100,000 to P1,000,000 fine.This is not only for foreign nations but for ...
Of the 245 countries/territories with territory-bound mobile operators, 185 countries have SIM card registration laws. 13 will collect biometrics (fingerprints, but some will take a face scan too). 51 countries have no registration requirements.This ... Read More
The dogs here are crazy by eptowing
So this is my first trip to the Philippines. First thing I must remind you is I’m traveling with my 75 pound chocolate lab. These people think my dog is a man eating Animal. When we go for walk or at the outside markets and when they ...
Okay Read More
I want to move to the philippines by zilehjnecake05
Good morning everyone,My name is Zile and i am a new member in the last 30 seconds, i am from Canada and my dream destination is to live in the Philippines. i wish to be friends with all and hopefully get some insights on my plan to shift to the ...
I had been to the Philippines 15 times mostly for 4 week stays over 15 years from Dapitan to Baguio and had an idea but didn’t know what it would be like to live here. I have a coconut farm, a rice farm, and a walled beach compound. After a ... Read More
Balikbayan visa by Michaelm54
Im married to a Filipina, we’ve been here in the Philippines for 9 months and built a house on a Balikbayan visa. Does anyone know if we can get a new 1 year Balikbayan stay by leaving the country on a short trip out of the country and coming ...
@Rex71Great we’re planning a trip to Thailand in October, if that doesn’t work to reset me for another year, there is a BI a couple of hours away in Dipolog city that’s open on Fridays.Carry on carrying on as they say, life here in ... Read More
Balikbayan visa by Michaelm54
Im married to a Filipina, we’ve been here in the Philippines for 9 months and built a house on a Balikbayan visa. Does anyone know if we can get a new 1 year Balikbayan stay by leaving the country on a short trip out of the country and coming ...
@Enzyte Bob Thanks Bob, we’re planning a Thailand vacation in October so I’ll re-up the Balikbayan but in the meantime get my ACR card soon and then work on my 13A next year. Life in the Philippines is good! Read More
Balikbayan visa by Michaelm54
Im married to a Filipina, we’ve been here in the Philippines for 9 months and built a house on a Balikbayan visa. Does anyone know if we can get a new 1 year Balikbayan stay by leaving the country on a short trip out of the country and coming ...
I knew it wasn’t a visa but had no idea what to call it, thanks! … privilege hardly sounds important enough but I do feel privileged and grateful to stay here. The immigration officer looked at the marrage license for 10 seconds ... Read More
Balikbayan visa
Im married to a Filipina, we’ve been here in the Philippines for 9 months and built a house on a Balikbayan visa. Does anyone know if we can get a new 1 year Balikbayan stay by leaving the country on a short trip out of the country and coming ... Read More
Tagalog ... and 'he' and 'she' by PalawOne
Here's an interesting article regarding Tagalog .. from here: evs-translations.com/blog/tagalog/Am interested because I'm trying to assist my wife's otherwise very good english language skills regarding "he" and "she" when in ...
@coach53 but liv would be pronounced leave. I used to work with some French computer guys, we very much got a kick out of making them say ‘sheet’ because it comes out ‘shit’. They couldn’t make that long e sound. ... Read More
Analysts predict peso to be one of the worst-performing. by manwonder
This will be good news to some foreign expats residing here...."the local peso is predicted to continue its decline"Certain currencies (USD/SGD/other) exchange rates have been steadily on the rise over the last few weeks & it is predicted that ...
Economic forecasting was invented to give astrology credibility- Murray N. Rothbard. Read More
Brown Outs In Dumaguete by Enzyte Bob
I happen to watch Paul in Dumaguete (old dogs new tricks) say they experienced a planned brown out. China owns 40% of the Philippines power grid, good grief, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, brown outs in Manila.70% of all Solar Panels are ...
@Fred thanks for the post, watching where China is buying up farmland (and Bill Gates for that matter). I’m just finishing up building our house in a farming community. Two things I’m interested in and know nothing about is a solar ... Read More
Brown Outs In Dumaguete
@Enzyte Bob China makes boundary map revisions with Donald Trumps sharpie, but they do have the biggest stick. China is the only one with the know how to drill deep sea, I don’t see any of the internationals going against China. Unproven ... Read More
Brown Outs In Dumaguete by Enzyte Bob
I happen to watch Paul in Dumaguete (old dogs new tricks) say they experienced a planned brown out. China owns 40% of the Philippines power grid, good grief, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, brown outs in Manila.70% of all Solar Panels are ...
@Enzyte Bob The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was completed in 1986 but never put on line. The reasoning was the Chernobyl event and corrupt kickbacks, I suspect meaning it was known to be unsafe.I’ll check out Paul’s thing but ... Read More
13a Visa Process I experienced 2022 Manilla by PNodens
I know there is another post about the process of applying for a 13a visa but I just did this week and since my experience was vastly different I decided to start an updated thread. This will be a bit long.So before going to immigration here is ...
Well done! I will use this reference too. Read More
The dogs here are crazy by eptowing
So this is my first trip to the Philippines. First thing I must remind you is I’m traveling with my 75 pound chocolate lab. These people think my dog is a man eating Animal. When we go for walk or at the outside markets and when they ...
@eptowing what in the world made you think it’s a good idea to bring your dog to a place like the Philippines? They don’t eat dogs here, but you might have considered that possibility. Do chocolate labs taste anything like ... Read More
Hospital Costs by michaelwackers50
A recent non-surgical (pneumonia) stay of eight-days in a local hospital (Muntinlupa 'Westlake') put me back 200,000 Pesos for accomodation, doctors' fees, examinations & scans plus intravenous infusions.
The average insured overnight hospital stay in the US costs about $11,700. So 8 days would be about $93,600. If you are covered by Medicare your standard %20 copay would be $18,720. Medical costs are broken beyond repair in the US. Read More
My Post Was Removed - I contest it. by kristopherryanwatson
so yesterday I published a post:I wanted to know about people's experience as to where they went to get a vaccine and their experience of it - was removed.it was suggested by the Expat.com team to post in the Classified Section.Um...but ...
@kristopherryanwatson there is not much point in discussing the merits of your post without swing your post. Maybe it belongs in the classifieds. Read More
My Post Was Removed - I contest it. by kristopherryanwatson
so yesterday I published a post:I wanted to know about people's experience as to where they went to get a vaccine and their experience of it - was removed.it was suggested by the Expat.com team to post in the Classified Section.Um...but ...
@kristopherryanwatson instead of being confrontational it might help to see it from their point of view (right or wrong in your personal view) and propose a rewording. I’m all for negotiated peace. Read More
My Post Was Removed - I contest it. by kristopherryanwatson
so yesterday I published a post:I wanted to know about people's experience as to where they went to get a vaccine and their experience of it - was removed.it was suggested by the Expat.com team to post in the Classified Section.Um...but ...
@Lotus Eater I believe Elon Musk is a mens after shave. Read More
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets by Michaelm54
We’re building a house in Eastern Zamboanga del Norte. Im looking for high quality kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well as some household furniture. I remember in the middle of a long thread someone talking about fine woods in Cagayan de Oro, ...
Thanks for feedback it confirms what i was thinking. The doors we had made for our farm house of Gmelina are nice and quite heavy with heavy duty hinges. Im still impressed 4 years later. The cabinets are a different story, they are okay but i want ... Read More
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets
We’re building a house in Eastern Zamboanga del Norte. Im looking for high quality kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well as some household furniture. I remember in the middle of a long thread someone talking about fine woods in Cagayan de Oro, ... Read More
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets
We’re building a house in Eastern Zamboanga del Norte. Im looking for high quality kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well as some household furniture. I remember in the middle of a long thread someone talking about fine woods in Cagayan de Oro, ... Read More
"Philippines to re-open to vaccinated foreign tourists" by Moon Dog
"The Philippines will re-open to fully vaccinated tourists from most countries on February 10 and lift quarantine requirements, officials said Friday, nearly two years after closing its borders to contain the ...
Interesting that the article says no China or Taiwan travelers. Read More
Here We Go Again by Enzyte Bob
Metro Manila is on a level three alert again. All people who are not vaccinated must remain in their homes except for essential trips. Visitors below 18 and above 65 are not allowed in Ayala Malls except for essentials, also restrictions for ...
I like to get my wifes father’s opinion on a lot of things. Hes a practical thinker and many of my ideas, while I thought were fairly reasearched, aren’t all that practical here. But they will let be stupid if I dont ask. Read More
SRRV Expanded Courtesy Visa by DukeStamina
I have a question. I served in the U.S. military for 6 years. I have an honorable discharge and a DD-214; but I am not considered retired military. However, I am now retired from working and I am collecting Social Security. The amount far exceeds ...
I’ll be needing to know the same sort of thing. The closest BI to me will be in Dumaguete City. Read More
CBD topical for pain by Michaelm54
Has anyone found a legal source of CBD topicals for pain in the Philippines or is it legal at all? I haven’t been to a doctor to ask yet.
:/ I had to laugh when I showed the word ‘Malunggay’ to Ann, my wife, she knew of the medicinal and nutritional use, pointed to a tree in our yard and said they’ve been using in cooking as long as she can remember. I want to try ... Read More
CBD topical for pain by Michaelm54
Has anyone found a legal source of CBD topicals for pain in the Philippines or is it legal at all? I haven’t been to a doctor to ask yet.
So I found this, I’ll ask around our barangay! Moringa, also known as malunggay in the Philippines, is intriguingly one of the healthiest parts of your favorite Filipino soup dishes. Dubbed the “miracle vegetable”, the Moringa has ... Read More
CBD topical for pain by Michaelm54
Has anyone found a legal source of CBD topicals for pain in the Philippines or is it legal at all? I haven’t been to a doctor to ask yet.
I had the Q A too, I’ll check it out too. Read More
CBD topical for pain by Michaelm54
Has anyone found a legal source of CBD topicals for pain in the Philippines or is it legal at all? I haven’t been to a doctor to ask yet.
Pretty clearly answers my question. Thanks! Read More
CBD topical for pain
Has anyone found a legal source of CBD topicals for pain in the Philippines or is it legal at all? I haven’t been to a doctor to ask yet. Read More
What VPN are you using? by Enzyte Bob
A little background, I use Panda Dome Antivirus software (free). They also include a VPN, 150 Mb per day free. Until recently their free VPN showed my location in the US. Now it shows as the Philippines, for me that defeats the reasons I used ...
On my ExpressVPN Prime won’t work through the Seattle IP address so I tried San Francisco and it worked. I was fooling around with the Netherlands IP and all hell broke loose with google. Sometime I have to go through 10 of those I’m not ... Read More
What VPN are you using? by Enzyte Bob
A little background, I use Panda Dome Antivirus software (free). They also include a VPN, 150 Mb per day free. Until recently their free VPN showed my location in the US. Now it shows as the Philippines, for me that defeats the reasons I used ...
I have ExpressVPN, Has anyone tried YouTube TV or HBO max with their VPN? Read More
Move money from US bank to the Phils... by tpiro
Hey y'all... Planning on my retirement in the Philippines 2022 and if by chance I get the opportunity to purchase a place say for $65k US.. how would one get that $$ over from my US bank to the Phils? Because it will be a while before I can ...
I wire to my mother in law to PNB for our house and what not. I’ll wire about $30k just before we go mid November. My bank, the Boeing Credit Union, also gave me instructions for wiring money to myself or my wife from the Philippines once we ... Read More
All about taxes for expats in the Philippines by Diksha
Hi everyone, Taxation is an important subject, especially when you are an expatriate in the Philippines. We would like to know what you think about the tax system in your host country. This could be helpful to other people preparing for ...
As Monty Python made so clear so many years ago; “I think all people standing in water should be taxed”. And that all I have to say about this. Read More
What are you missing in the Philippines? by Diksha
Hi everyone, Living in the Philippines, on the long or short run, it is completely normal to feel homesick sometimes. We would like to know what you are missing the most about your home country in the Philippines. Do you miss any aspects of ...
Cheese Read More
cagayan de oro by GuestPoster326
Hi all , just like to ask a question here please . I live in Australia and I have a Filipina wife . we have been sending money for 18 months to my in laws , they tell us here ,they have no food to eat, there is no help in Cagayan de Oro at all ? ...
Our family is in north western Zamboanga Del Norte so it’s close to Your’s. Life is pretty much normal we are farmers and rice farming and eggplants farming is back to normal. We have a fishing net so we’re fishing as normal too. ... Read More
cagayan de oro by GuestPoster326
Hi all , just like to ask a question here please . I live in Australia and I have a Filipina wife . we have been sending money for 18 months to my in laws , they tell us here ,they have no food to eat, there is no help in Cagayan de Oro at all ? ...
Yes it’s common that there’s no help in the way of public assistance. People living in the margins have been getting by in the manner they are dealt all their lives. We get a lot of joy sharing with my wife’s community, their ... Read More
water heaters by onemore
Has anyone had any success with the instantaneous water heaters, as i just installed an AEG water heater in the house being built, but only get about 30 seconds of warm water. thanks
Ann refreshed my memory, we bought low budget tankless heaters (the 30 deg F type). One in the community CR and one in the family house. They are really are never used because of the raised tank, but when ever we are staying in Dipolog City we do ... Read More
water heaters by onemore
Has anyone had any success with the instantaneous water heaters, as i just installed an AEG water heater in the house being built, but only get about 30 seconds of warm water. thanks
I put a tankless water heater in the first community CR we built shared by 3 families. Hot water was never used so I moved it to the Family house when we built it. I put a tub in our first house and never used it either. We used a stainless tank and ... Read More
Build or Buy a house? by 66stryker66
My wife and I both US Citizen (but planning to get dual citizenship) is planning to retire in 3yrs or less at age 58. Also coming with us is my mother. I made up my mind to go back home in Davao, I am planning to either build a house or buy in Eden ...
I’ve had built 3 houses, 3 stories, 2 stories, a very basic Philippine family home and a store in rural Philippines. The only one that got the estimate right was a very basic home for a relitive family that lost their husband and father and ... Read More
Davao to stop accepting Sinovac and Sinopharm
Fact - facts get made up more often than not. Fact - studies show that 86.7 percent of statistics are made up on the fly. (I just made that fact up). See how it works? Original research, and we are all responsible for our own. Read More
Davao to stop accepting Sinovac and Sinopharm
The more we post about this the more we see that ad about livers going bad. There is such thing as original research. Opinions aren’t much more than the biases we acquired before age 18 and we like call it common sense. Read More
What are your favourite meal|food in PH? - Gym freak speaks! by manny123
Well let me begin by saying I can't get rid of The "Adobo". Its my gym buffer food go to! Let me know yours. PS: I treat myself with halo halo as a cheat meal XD
Breakfast with any of the traditional Philippine meats, a sunny side up egg, and garlic rice with 3 in 1 coffee. Read More
Pre-paying the Quarantine RT PCR test by Michaelm54
I’ve been told I can avoid a long line up at the Manila airport immigration if I can show pre-pay receipt for my RT-PCR test. My hotel said I have to line up at the BOQ desk and pay PHP 4000. I found this site online, does it look right? ...
Well that’s darn interesting. Thanks! Read More
Davao to stop accepting Sinovac and Sinopharm
Right, but FB wants people pissed off going back and forth, keeps um looking at the ads. Read More
Pre-paying the Quarantine RT PCR test by Michaelm54
I’ve been told I can avoid a long line up at the Manila airport immigration if I can show pre-pay receipt for my RT-PCR test. My hotel said I have to line up at the BOQ desk and pay PHP 4000. I found this site online, does it look right? ...
Thanks, I found online instructions say not to stress it and just use the same as your quarantine address. Read More
Pre-paying the Quarantine RT PCR test by Michaelm54
I’ve been told I can avoid a long line up at the Manila airport immigration if I can show pre-pay receipt for my RT-PCR test. My hotel said I have to line up at the BOQ desk and pay PHP 4000. I found this site online, does it look right? ...
Thanks for concise simple answers. When filling out the form with OHP it asks for a permanent address and won’t let me use any address other than a Philippine address. The home destination address is no problem, but should we use the same ... Read More
Pre-paying the Quarantine RT PCR test by Michaelm54
I’ve been told I can avoid a long line up at the Manila airport immigration if I can show pre-pay receipt for my RT-PCR test. My hotel said I have to line up at the BOQ desk and pay PHP 4000. I found this site online, does it look right? ...
Double post couldn’t find a delete. Read More
Pre-paying the Quarantine RT PCR test by Michaelm54
I’ve been told I can avoid a long line up at the Manila airport immigration if I can show pre-pay receipt for my RT-PCR test. My hotel said I have to line up at the BOQ desk and pay PHP 4000. I found this site online, does it look right? ...
Thanks that’s pretty clear. OHP would be onehealthpass the online form looks easy enough. The site I found for prepay the test is Red Cross, is there another place to register with them? Read More
Pre-paying the Quarantine RT PCR test by Michaelm54
I’ve been told I can avoid a long line up at the Manila airport immigration if I can show pre-pay receipt for my RT-PCR test. My hotel said I have to line up at the BOQ desk and pay PHP 4000. I found this site online, does it look right? ...
I ended up at Dashlabs too. The price now was PHP 2800. Thanks for confirming what I thought. How long before your flight did you reserve? Okay Our flight isn’t until Nov 17, I’m always jumping the gun but I don’t think it matters. Read More
Pre-paying the Quarantine RT PCR test
I’ve been told I can avoid a long line up at the Manila airport immigration if I can show pre-pay receipt for my RT-PCR test. My hotel said I have to line up at the BOQ desk and pay PHP 4000. I found this site online, does it look right? ... Read More
Mix & Match Vaccines? by Enzyte Bob
My first vac was Sinovac. I understand the other vacs have been available by luck for some people. My son tells me I have to get the Sinovac as my second vac. I would like to have some other vac, has anyone been successful in getting a different ...
What’s your opinion of Sinovac? I’m hearing of many people in our rural community there, that are afraid of it killing people. There’s so much stupid disinformation here like that about Pfizer and moderna I’m just not sure if ... Read More
Return Ticket Exemptions by Moon Dog
This will be the first time I will enter the Philippines without needing a return ticket. I will be availing of the balikbayan visa. This is stated in article 11 of the BI Travel Requirements: "11. Who are exempt from the return ticket ...
I’ve flown round trip to the Philippines 15 times always round trip and staying 29 days. Now that we are moving there perminately eating a return ticket is low on my list of concerns this time, more important is travel hours, time of stop ... Read More
Mix & Match Vaccines? by Enzyte Bob
My first vac was Sinovac. I understand the other vacs have been available by luck for some people. My son tells me I have to get the Sinovac as my second vac. I would like to have some other vac, has anyone been successful in getting a different ...
Enough with sharing nonsense. Acording to a researched article in Forbes yesterday, 100,000 people are in US hospitals with Covid, over 1000 are dying a day. Avoidable because 98% of the people in hospitals are unvaccinated. Are you vaccinated ... Read More
Mix & Match Vaccines? by Enzyte Bob
My first vac was Sinovac. I understand the other vacs have been available by luck for some people. My son tells me I have to get the Sinovac as my second vac. I would like to have some other vac, has anyone been successful in getting a different ...
Get a second opinion. Read More
VISA EXTENSION ???? by MexiBob
Hi, I'm a UK Citizen married to a Filipino with dual nationality; I have visited the Philippines with my wife many times over the last 40 years and never, because of work, had a need to extend my tourist visa. I’m now retired and would ...
Hi Kevin, what paperwork do you need for a Balikbayan visa? Same, I’m married to a Filipina national living in the US for 3 years with her permanent green card, but we want to go back to stay amongst her family. Read More
Getting USA Vaccination Recognized in Philippines by PhilRes
This is going to be an issue at some point - Phil is making exceptions for fully vaccinated citizens vaccinated IN PHILIPPINES - on return Hotel Quarantine by shortening it for them, also before ECQ kicked in - fully vaccinated had rights to move ...
Thanks again for clear posts, I read them all. Your journey is very similar to ours. We’re planning to leave here November 17, after our house sale here in the US closes. We already have the house built in the Phils about an hours drive from ... Read More
Covid Vaccine Followup by Enzyte Bob
My wife had her covid vaccine one month ago, I had my shot two weeks ago at different vaccine centers. We both are sick with the same symptoms. [b] What we have.[/b] (1) constant high fever topping out at 39.8 for almost one week. (2) constant ...
My wife’s sister (in North Carolina) had her best friend and anti vaxer die in two days after getting Covid. Her sister changed her anti-vax tune and wanted us to send her video proof that we weren’t magnetized before she went to get a ... Read More
Health Insurance and your SS Medicare... to drop or not to drop? by tpiro
This may be an old subject.. but I couldn't find the right answer and perhaps someone has experience in this. The question is .. to drop my medicare deduction from SS or not to drop it. Ok.. so here it goes.. I am planning on retiring in ...
Thanks for the post, I had the exact thought. Medical costs in the Phils are good and the care can be good if you find the right hospitals . My sister in law went from Cebu to Manila for cancer treatment chemo and radiation. She is living a good ... Read More
In Quarantine Hotel by Moon Dog
Jovy and I left Atlanta at 2:30pm on Delta. The girl at check in asked if we scheduled a hotel and swab test and date of our return flights but didn't ask to see anything in writing. The plane left on time and was 20 minutes early into Incheon ...
The follow up question is which lane? I would only suspect it’s the Philippine passport lanes even though I’m US passport and wife is Philippine passport. Read More
In Quarantine Hotel by Moon Dog
Jovy and I left Atlanta at 2:30pm on Delta. The girl at check in asked if we scheduled a hotel and swab test and date of our return flights but didn't ask to see anything in writing. The plane left on time and was 20 minutes early into Incheon ...
Was your wife traveling with a Philippine passport? My wife is with a Philippine passport and the old protocol was seperate lines for foreign and Philippine passports. If I can only enter with spouse, it would make sense that we have to pass ... Read More
In Quarantine Hotel by Moon Dog
Jovy and I left Atlanta at 2:30pm on Delta. The girl at check in asked if we scheduled a hotel and swab test and date of our return flights but didn't ask to see anything in writing. The plane left on time and was 20 minutes early into Incheon ...
Thanks, we’ll do that! Read More
In Quarantine Hotel by Moon Dog
Jovy and I left Atlanta at 2:30pm on Delta. The girl at check in asked if we scheduled a hotel and swab test and date of our return flights but didn't ask to see anything in writing. The plane left on time and was 20 minutes early into Incheon ...
Did you schedule the swab test with the hotel? Also, you need a swab test prior to take off in Atlanta? Read More
In Quarantine Hotel by Moon Dog
Jovy and I left Atlanta at 2:30pm on Delta. The girl at check in asked if we scheduled a hotel and swab test and date of our return flights but didn't ask to see anything in writing. The plane left on time and was 20 minutes early into Incheon ...
Thanks for sharing that information. We will be flying to Manila in mid November. We have our hotel booked for 10 days, but I didn’t schedule a swab test yet. Was that done through the hotel or what? Read More
Credit Cards & OTP by Ryan Hull90
My Name is Ryan, and I have been living in the Philippines for sometime working with an organization that is helping with livelihood projects. It is still nice to every now an then buy stuff online from amazon or other US online stores, however I ...
Thanks for the info! Do you link the voice.google to your Philippine phone number? I’m in the US but we’re planning the move back in November, I’ll be cutting my ties to Verizon. Read More
how much i can earn with raise a pig by giovannigio
i would like to ask expat people if someone know, how much it is possible to earn if i buy a baby pig for 1500, o 2500 php and then raise it , and then sell it when it is 100 kilo? thanks
The more the pigs the more the stink. The wind blows the stench from the piggery near us the other way thank god. It was eye watering to ride my motorcycle by it. I stay away. Read More
Modern City With Nearby Beaches? by sinsinbad
I plan to return to the PI whenever travel resumes and looking for a modern city with fairly fast/reliable internet, good places to eat, and without heavy traffic, and with nice sandy beaches with clear and fairly healthy water to swim in nearby to ...
Puerto Princesa, officially the City of Puerto Princesa (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Puerto Princesa; Cuyonon: Siyudad i'ang Puerto Princesa; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Mimaropa region of the ... Read More
40 yr old looking to apply for SRRV visa - recommend a marketer/agent? by valakos
Hi all, I'm a citizen of Australia, aged 40 looking to apply for the SRRV visa but got a few questions for someone who knows the ins and outs of this visa. Any help greatly appreciated - I've fished around the pra website and was hoping ...
Steve, thanks for the input. My timeframe is going to be about 10 months too. My wife is a Philippine citizen and I was thinking of getting a 13a visa which might cheaper in the long run. I am more interested in least time consuming and stressful ... Read More
Visa on arrival for USA 🇺🇸 Citizens ❓ by KenUSA
I’m a US citizen. Is Philippines still giving Tourist Visa on Arrival ? How long is the quarantine? I’m planning to fly in on JUNE 21st. 2021. Thanks for all your guidance! Take care! KEN
Thank you, from what I read on the ph consulate site you are right, it’s just hard to predict. I’m vaccinated and Europe is going wo welcome the vaccinated soon. My hope is that the Philippines will welcome us too. Read More
What's a viable small business for expats to stay busy? by Jackson4
For a near future retiree, it might be good to have something to stay busy with and to have some purpose. I plan to be in the country side. Raising chickens or pigs? Vegetable farming? Mom & Pop Restaurant? What the current expats do and how do ...
In the road badminton is pretty popular in our Barangay too. Just have to move when the tricycles go by. Read More
Moving to the Philippines just before the crisis by Diksha
Hi everybody, Taking the plunge and daring to move abroad is a real challenge, but when your move to the Philippines is marked by an unprecedented health, social and economic crisis, as we have been experiencing for just over a year, this change ...
Thanks for revisiting your story. My wife’s family is mostly in Zamboanga del Norte, I’m retired Boeing engineer. We have a house we build 5 years ago in Sindangan, some the family members there are from your Provence. She came here to ... Read More
Easiest way to get the visitor visa for a 59 day stay? by Michaelm54
My wife is Filipina from Zamboanga del Norte. We have a modest rice farm and home there and have been living in the US for 2 years waiting on the green card we finally got. I’ve been to the Philippines 15 times over the last 10 years but only ...
That was very helpful, so much better to talk to experience than trying to read consulate websites. if you get a visa extension at the airport, in Manila I would guess, is that after passing through immigration and luggage pick-up? I usually fly ... Read More
Easiest way to get the visitor visa for a 59 day stay?
My wife is Filipina from Zamboanga del Norte. We have a modest rice farm and home there and have been living in the US for 2 years waiting on the green card we finally got. I’ve been to the Philippines 15 times over the last 10 years but only ... Read More