danfinn
American expat in the Philippines
Forum posts
1865
Contacts
1
About me
American
Registration: 05 February 2022
Activity
Electronic toys by Fred
Today, whilst babysitting my naughty daughter, I decided to wander into a local electronics shop known as Electronics city. The place is pretty good for home stuff but not really a 'boys' toys' shop. I have to admit, they have some especially nice ...
Yep to the above. I can't remember how many inkjet printers I've owned over the years but not a one has been worth the money. Cartridges are silly money and the ink tank types have flow issues unless you use them a lot. My last canon died of an ... Read More
Want Suggestions on Renewal of 13A & Annual Report. by Enzyte Bob
(1) My stepson is working to file my annual report online.(2) Also my 13A must be renewed in February.****************************When I applied for the ACR-1 & later the 13A it was such a hassle, something I don't want to go through again.Has ...
@danfinn anyone in Cebu area? - @uhrigg Yes, JRC is also in Cebu. I am not associated with them except for being a customer. In cebu google search tells me "JRC VISA CONSULTANCY, Unit 602, 6F, BPI PHILAM CENTER, CEBU BUSINESS PARK, Cebu City, 6000 ... Read More
Want Suggestions on Renewal of 13A & Annual Report. by Enzyte Bob
(1) My stepson is working to file my annual report online.(2) Also my 13A must be renewed in February.****************************When I applied for the ACR-1 & later the 13A it was such a hassle, something I don't want to go through again.Has ...
(1) My stepson is working to file my annual report online. (2) Also my 13A must be renewed in February. **************************** When I applied for the ACR-1 & later the 13A it was such a hassle, something I don't want to go through ... Read More
Hi, Health Coverage for Expats in Cebu by uhrigg
Hello, I am new here and have no clue what I am doing but... anyways..I just got here to Cebu and I am wondering about health insurance/coverage.. any input ..Thanks..btw, I am George
@bigpearl... but one hospital stay for 2 days and nights with a multitude of tests the bill was like P61K, in a private room,In Dumaguete a private room at Silliman SUMC University (US) hospital is about 3K per night and a full blood panel is about ... Read More
Hi, Health Coverage for Expats in Cebu by uhrigg
Hello, I am new here and have no clue what I am doing but... anyways..I just got here to Cebu and I am wondering about health insurance/coverage.. any input ..Thanks..btw, I am George
@PalawOne 1. Public National Health Insurance: PhilHealthThe cornerstone of public healthcare.Cornerstone indeed. For citizens.Expats are charged several multiples of the premiums charged citizens. Expat benefits for serious illnesses do not include ... Read More
Hi, Health Coverage for Expats in Cebu by uhrigg
Hello, I am new here and have no clue what I am doing but... anyways..I just got here to Cebu and I am wondering about health insurance/coverage.. any input ..Thanks..btw, I am George
@pnwcyclistThere are international firms that offer health insurance, ie. Pacific Cross, but I believe they all operate on a reimbursement basis.Which is rather important because the hospital wants payment when patient is discharged and ... Read More
TOURISM IN THE PHILIPPINES by Enzyte Bob
Recently I saw this Tourism chart, I don't how accurate it is. Remember when the saying was: Don't believe anything you hear and only half what you see, well with IT, Social Media & News Reporting who knows what.Well AnywaysTourism from January ...
Yeah Dan agree, what ever happened to "more fun in the Philippines" that was flogged to death. There are far better destinations but iff you have a Filipino partner the choice becomes clearer. Yep, my annual visitor visa have gone up P6K per year ... Read More
TOURISM IN THE PHILIPPINES by Enzyte Bob
Recently I saw this Tourism chart, I don't how accurate it is. Remember when the saying was: Don't believe anything you hear and only half what you see, well with IT, Social Media & News Reporting who knows what.Well AnywaysTourism from January ...
I don’t believe the Philippines has ever been a big tourism destination. It’s like Australia, where large-scale tourism by foreigners is basically a myth of the tourist industry and which they justify using the inflated figures of ... Read More
TOURISM IN THE PHILIPPINES by Enzyte Bob
Recently I saw this Tourism chart, I don't how accurate it is. Remember when the saying was: Don't believe anything you hear and only half what you see, well with IT, Social Media & News Reporting who knows what.Well AnywaysTourism from January ...
Not sure how you get to that conclusion about Covid, Dan - it is losing status as a tourist destination due to all the issues that never get resolved and which have been aired online ad-nauseum - high prices for food and lodging relative to other ... Read More
TOURISM IN THE PHILIPPINES by Enzyte Bob
Recently I saw this Tourism chart, I don't how accurate it is. Remember when the saying was: Don't believe anything you hear and only half what you see, well with IT, Social Media & News Reporting who knows what.Well AnywaysTourism from January ...
Recently I saw this Tourism chart, I don't how accurate it is. Remember when the saying was: Don't believe anything you hear and only half what you see, well with IT, Social Media & News Reporting who knows what.Well AnywaysTourism from January ... Read More
US Direct File won't happen in 2026, IRS tells states by PalawOne
Perhaps of interest .."Direct File won’t happen in 2026, IRS tells states"By Natalie Alms November 4, 2025https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/11/direct-file-wont-happen-2026-irs-tells-states/409309/The free service that allowed ...
@PalawOneSo, I'd surely feel sympathy for any in the Philippines who owe taxes to any another country, especially when a country apparently makes it more difficult to obey the law and to pay them? Doesn't seem cricket somehow, or so one may ... Read More
USA SMS 2-Factor Authentication by danfinn
One concern of many USA expats here has been the use by banks and CC card companies of SMS texts for OTP codes when trying to log on to online banking apps and cc's. Since, typically, US cell phone providers would not allow permanent roaming in the ...
Jameelur asked . . . .What happened when you put in a VOIP number? Did it detect and reject that number out right or you just never got an SMS on it after adding it? ******************************* danfinn replied . . . . never got SMS otp code ... Read More
USA SMS 2-Factor Authentication by danfinn
One concern of many USA expats here has been the use by banks and CC card companies of SMS texts for OTP codes when trying to log on to online banking apps and cc's. Since, typically, US cell phone providers would not allow permanent roaming in the ...
What happened when you put in a VOIP number? Did it detect and reject that number out right or you just never got an SMS on it after adding it? - @Jameelur never got SMS otp code when using magicJack VoIP. still works on google voice VoIP i believe. Read More
WU Transfers by vehicross100
I found it interesting that through my WU app I can send $ using my debit card to Gcash, PayMaya, Shopee, Lazada, Bayad and a few more. This is all for $0 (FREE) transfer fee and at a rate of 58. My usual Bank to Bank is $2 per transaction and ...
FYI, after reading this I tried to set-up a $400 WISE transfer from my USA credit union to my MAYA card. Results were, transfer direct from bank, instant. I could also use a listed debit card or new debit card where they promised the transfer in ... Read More
WU Transfers by vehicross100
I found it interesting that through my WU app I can send $ using my debit card to Gcash, PayMaya, Shopee, Lazada, Bayad and a few more. This is all for $0 (FREE) transfer fee and at a rate of 58. My usual Bank to Bank is $2 per transaction and ...
@vehicross100In my case I never got that concerned about age, exchange rate and gender. I will just see how it goes. Read More