http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ Just another bbPress community en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:17:46 +0000 http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=50#post-268 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 07:24:09 +0000 Doug 268@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I visited my girlfriend for the first time in the Philippines and met all the family.<br /> The hardest thing to accept was the expectation to take all the family including uncles aunts cousins and step relatives with you where ever you wanted to go and have to feed them all and buy presents which they would tell you they wanted.<br /> After several days of this I said that I wanted us to spend time together alone and we went away for a few days but on our return she was called a brat by her brothers and sisters for going "soloing" and not taking the mother or any other relatives.<br /> The next visit I agreed to take the mom with us but when we were ready to leave there were 4 members of the family ready to go and so had all these to feed and put up in hotels as we were staying overnight. This was the final straw that broke the camels back and refused to take any one else and we did our own thing and stayed in hotels.<br /> I am not a miser and would give anyone but to have this constant request for money and gifts i found not acceptable.<br /> I have now left the Philippines and my girlfriend has had a lot of bad mouthing from her siblings about not doing more for the family.I wanted to buy a house there but my girlfriend knows that I could not stand the constant invasion of relatives coming to stay and expecting to be taken for meals and shopping expeditions.<br /> Is this normal ?</p> <p>I want to be with my girlfriend and she with me but if this would be the norm then I would not be able to cope with this. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=258#post-2493 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:10:09 +0000 stan 2493@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hi love this forum....</p> <p> I have just recently started dating a beautiful filipina girl who is here on a work contract to work at a local hotel. She is very sweet and has wonderful old fashioned values..... she has been in the country for 6 months now and the work contract states that she is to work here for 2 years with options for her employer to keep her for another year.<br /> She has a husband that she is seperated from back in the philippines and a daughter of 5 years. She has expressed to me that she would like to bring her daughter to this country because she misses her so much! She seems to think that in order to bring her daughter over to Canada she has to become a Canadian citizen which will take about 2 years and has to be sponsered by her employer (who is only able to sponser 4 people per year)<br /> Does anyone know if there is a faster way for her to be with her daughter? I have even expressed to her that I would be willing to pick her daughter up for her since she is unable to leave the country for the first year or two of her contract! </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=189#post-1957 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:48:17 +0000 Rich321 1957@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>My impression of this forum as well as some other ones coming out of the Philippines is the majority of people who post on the forum are still working and not truly retired in the sense of drawing social security or some pension and sitting on their tush all day doing nothing (OK... drinking beer). </p> <p>Is this because such retirees have little interest in the Internet or is there really more working-class expats living in the Philippines than true retirees?</p> <p>Or, are there a lot of expats who truly retire (i.e., draw social security and/or a pension) but continue to work in some fashion? </p> <p>For myself, I plan to officially retire but i can not imagine not working in some fashion. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=257#post-2485 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:27:23 +0000 glimer 2485@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hello All :-)</p> <p>Nice site !!!</p> <p>Just reading about the guy in Surigao arrested for violation of<br /> REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042.<br /> Well i didnt know much about that before but reading what this Act actually says<br /> I started to wonder.....</p> <p>I am planning to settel down here too... like many of You guys...but<br /> am I as foreigner with legal visa not allowed to hire even a maid or an assistent to help me responding my many emails and stuff ?<br /> And what about a nanny ?<br /> Do I need a special permit for that...in case where do I get that ?</p> <p>Could You advize me on that Guys ?</p> <p>Thanks</p> <p>If You want to read that law its here:<br /> <a href="http://images.gmanews.tv/html/research/2007/12/ra_8042.htm" rel="nofollow">http://images.gmanews.tv/html/research/2007/12/ra_8042.htm</a> </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=251#post-2450 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:19:28 +0000 mushin 2450@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> My wife (a Filipino) and I are thinking to move back to Davao where she has a home for maybe 8-10 months. I have been trying to determine if I need to have a return ticket back to the US and what else I may have to do or need to take with me. I read on one of the other posts here about getting an extended stay once I arrive at the Manila airport’s BI office to get to 60 days. Then I will renew it every 60 days until we return at the BI office in Davao. Right now I am just not sure what day we would return so I am trying to avoid having to pay for airline ticket changes if I bought a round trip ticket.<br /> I currently am unemployed and while we are there I plan to do some studying for a MCDBA or MCTS certification and we will also be looking for potentially another place to buy. So our return trip is hard to predict we may want to go back to the US at anytime.<br /> Robin </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=249#post-2428 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:56:08 +0000 imagine 2428@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>What happened to Erik? Anyone have that information?......i2f </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=255#post-2476 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:19:03 +0000 Gerry 2476@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> I have decided, after much deliberation and advice from on line friends, that I want to retire to the Philippines.<br /> The more I read, the more confused I become.<br /> Can I get a permanent visa or similar document to reside there permanently or do I have to renew it or leave periodically?<br /> In one of your forums I read about the need to have a plane ticket to leave in order to enter the country.<br /> Can someone please tell me exactly what I need to do to be able to permanently retire to the Philippines? </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=256#post-2477 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:01:53 +0000 Kevin Hemminger 2477@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I'm an American citizen, been in the Philippines since March 2008 (going on 20 months) I've been simply renewing every 2 months on a visitor visa.</p> <p>I'm married to a filipina and will have been married for 1 year come December 8th.</p> <p>I'm considering the Balikabayan visa (take my wife to Singapore and come back next day and get a 1 year Balikabayan stamp) because it seems like its the least hassle, automatic and free (besides the cost of the trip). This leaving for a day won't change the status of my filipina wife into balikabayan though correct? (I've heard or read that there's less rights available to a filipina if they are balikabayan).</p> <p>On the 24th month it will be 2 years ... I'm assuming that no matter what I do I have to leave and come back? I've heard about a spousal visa that will allow me to renew year by year, how much is that, how long does it take to get it and would I still be required to leave before the 24th month before it kicks in?</p> <p>Just wanting to do the least hassle method, I don't want to have to wait for months for documents that may or may not being processed properly. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=254#post-2472 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:55:29 +0000 rab 2472@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hi all<br /> i am new to the site and have found stories here very interesting. I am engaged to a lovely girl at the min and we both live and work in the UAE. We are looking at getting married in the Philippines next Nov and im wondering if anyone out there has any helpful tips for me.<br /> I have been over a few times and love the place and people just cant beat it we are also looking at moving over after the marriage as we both think it will be best the place for us.<br /> Thanks<br /> Rab </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=243#post-2369 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:54:19 +0000 c13384 2369@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I plan on spending next July in the Philippines to do some scouting for the "ideal" (haha) retirement location - where hopefully the humidity and heat are not killing. I know that this is a very subjective issue but does anyone have specific recommendations that I could use as a starting point? I like cities (Victoria, and Quebec City Canada, and Manhatten being some favourites) but also mountains and beaches as in beautiful British Columbia Canada. Thanks for any thoughts. david <a href="mailto:daid.kuracina@ocdsb.ca">daid.kuracina@ocdsb.ca</a> </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=233#post-2320 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:43:05 +0000 Matt 2320@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hello,</p> <p>Has anyone in this furum built a home in the Philippines?</p> <p>Can someone recomment a reputable architect and builder in Davao City?</p> <p>I am also interested in hearing about your experiences (good and bad) during the construction process of your homes. And, an advice you may have to offer.</p> <p>We currently live in Manila in a condo we bought pre-construction. Although it was marketed as a premier property the quality of construction was the worst I have ever seen. It is all repaired now, but only after several costly legal battles. I really want to avoid these problems when we build our home.</p> <p>Thanks, Matt </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=253#post-2466 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:45:29 +0000 jerry09 2466@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>hi everybody,<br /> i need to renew my US passport. I went to the embassy website. It seems that they will only take cash or a credit card. I only have a atm card (debit or cash). I have downloaded and filled out the form and it is ready for when I call Fedex/air 21. Should I just send it for now, and then go there to the embassy in person in a couple of days?<br /> Also, I have to leave the country for a job, on Nov. 29,,,,will I get my passport by then, if I send it on Monday Nov. 17th?</p> <p>Thanks </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=252#post-2464 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:10:56 +0000 kingskid 2464@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Did you hear about this?</p> <p>Last Friday, November 6, 2009 an asteroid named 2009 VA and about 7 meters across passed about one Earth diameter away. That’s a mere whisker. In fact, NASA is saying this is the third-closest known (non-impacting) Earth approach on record. NASA estimates an asteroid of this size does impact the Earth about every five years.</p> <p>2009 VA was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey only 15 hours before the close approach. The time factor isn’t all that surprising, the asteroid is pretty small. A bit over a year ago a smaller asteroid, 2008 TC3, was discovered only 21 hours before it exploded over the Nubian Desert in the Sudan. The significant thing about 2008 TC3 was for the first time an impacting asteroid was seen from Earth, tracked and a impact solution was derived apparently accurate to a few kilometers.</p> <p>As a side note and I don’t know if it is just coincidence or not, a fireball was reportedly seen over Tokyo on November 6. I’ve been looking without success for something a little more substantial than the reports I’ve seen about the sighting, and I don’t mean to imply they are wrong, just not very detailed.</p> <p>Info source: NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program</p> <p>How long until the next big one shows up at our doorstep? Japan is very close.</p> <p>Special Thanks to Tom's Astronomy Blog. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=97#post-662 Thu, 21 May 2009 19:28:26 +0000 imagine 662@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>What do people do for sailing in the Phils? I am an avid sailor, and in the near future will be sailing to the Phils with my Filipina wife. We would be based in Davao where her family, and family business is also based.</p> <p>I have been to Luzon, Cebu, Samal, Malapascua, and from what I have witnessed from the planes shows me the most fantastic oppurtunity to sail, and explore. Are any of the members here into boating of any kind? Is there any advice that can be shared with me about boating, restrictions, or anything else helpful.</p> <p>Ellen it is I from imagine2frolic. How is the marina coming along?.....John </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=221#post-2229 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:14:27 +0000 Kevin Hemminger 2229@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>When I came to the Philippines, I didn't have a bank account. I simply had a paypal account, and a paypal debit card, I had everything I needed with that.</p> <p>My debit card has since expired, and on top of that I want to conduct business that requires a US bank account now. Is there a US based bank in the Davao area that is able to give a US banking account to a US citizen? </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=246#post-2383 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:19:58 +0000 richard90027 2383@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>We are considering buying property or even a house in the PI but I have heard so many horror stories about Titles and Tax debts on the properties and the risk of buying. I was thinking that maybe buying a foreclosed property from a bank or bank auction may be a good way to go. Seems like the bank would have a clear title.<br /> Anyone have any experience or ideas with this? </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=250#post-2446 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:45:52 +0000 paradise 2446@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I will be divorced in a few days and fear that if I walk away from my property (since the estranged wife does not keep her word and cooperate), I may have to walk away or file bankruptcy which will hurt my credit score tremendously.</p> <p>Will my credit score or credit history be looked at should I apply for a fiancee' visa in the future?</p> <p>Thanks in advance! </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=235#post-2329 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:36:17 +0000 stevenbarber@wctel.net 2329@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Does anyone know the status of Angeles City? I've been trying to contact my father since last week and it seems phone lines have been down. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=18#post-122 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:17:07 +0000 Bking 122@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Good pinoy food 'Golden Courie' located by Ayalla Mall<br /> "Mana' located across from Golden Courie and on Mactan Isl. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=244#post-2378 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:25:44 +0000 bangkaboat 2378@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>As the topic has arisen in various discussions, and as I am always interested in cheap, clean, continuous power, I thought I'd start a topic for the resourcing of information on people's opinions/technical advice, distributor locations around the country, &#38; to see if any members are already using solar and/or wind power generation. I had planned to have our beach house run on Solar power, but I'm just paying for it to be built, my wife isn't interested in my opinion(lol), "Maybe it will, maybe it won't", is the only info. I have.</p> <p>I recognize that the initial costs deter most from using solar power, but the advantage of no monthly power bill &#38; a lack of "brown-outs" makes one think. Your thoughts? </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=248#post-2414 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:11:42 +0000 Paul Thompson 2414@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I need your help, I wrote the article “They’re Only Seven Once, here on LIP, and am trying to find out what fellow LIP readers have for information on that subject. Thanks for any help! </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=234#post-2321 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:08:09 +0000 mumulifa 2321@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hi Guys!</p> <p>I have been offered a job in the Philippines (resort), though have never been there.<br /> I am 31 yo, woman, have lived and worked in Thailand, Russia, Bulgaria before.<br /> Could you, please, recommend a nice and safe place to stay in Manila first (1 day)?<br /> As I would like to come and see before signing of the contract. By the way - is the Manila airport operating now? And how about the internal flights - from Manila to Puerto Gallera?<br /> Thank you all in advance! </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=247#post-2400 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:05:37 +0000 peterbjarnason 2400@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I've been reading thisWebsite for several months and feel it's about time I contributed something.<br /> But what? Well due to my work and the amount of times I travel in and out I might as well stick with what I know. Travel. Sucks but whats the alternative?<br /> The Philippines have the shortest Visitors Visa I have come across. 21 days. No exceptions. Well what are your options and which is the best for you?<br /> when you see you are coming up to the 3 week limit what should you do?. You're in Puerto Galera and you've got a week till your departure and you're going to overun your Visa limit.<br /> Is that a problem?<br /> Is it going to cause trouble when you show up at the airport to leave?<br /> If you are asked to show your passport to a Police Officer is it a problem?<br /> NO. It's not a problem , so quit worrying and get on with having a good holiday.<br /> Don't even consider heading to the Philippine Immigration Office in Manila to extend it and stay "legal". No need for that headache.<br /> OK, it did change for several months earlier this year, where they closed the option of paying a fine at the airport and go. But its back to that solution and it is in my book the only sensible choice.<br /> The cost is of the fine is 3500 pesos and is capped there so don't worry about a big fine. If you were to play it by the book, you'ld pay that downtown anyway and lose a good days holiday. If you are particularly short of cash or not in the mood to pay that much, you have even more options. Those ones, well, that one, is to do it the Philippine way. My choice always. Have a quiet word with an Immigration Officer at the passport line and you will walk away a happy camper. So will she/he. No more details on that.</p> <p>So forget about that nagging feeling that won't go away. You are not in any trouble and nobody is going to be upset, so get on back to that holiday and all that entails. Just don't forget to keep that 3500 p for your departure and your usual happy face for the Officer there to help you out. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=238#post-2350 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:38:04 +0000 Mandy 2350@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Where is the best place to live in the Philippines? I would love to live there and hopefully get to see my husband more than I do now. I live in the UK and he works on cruise ships so I only see him about twice a year and then he has to go back to the Philippines to sign up for his new contract. </p> <p>We had hoped that he could live here but a call to the Home Office didn't give much hope in that he would not be able to work for a minimum of 6 months because he would have to hand over his passport. With relatives to provide for back in the Philippines and a mortgage that was not an option.</p> <p>The alternative is for me to move there. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=240#post-2366 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:42:11 +0000 DavidS 2366@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>One of my favorite pastimes is walking through a nice air conditioned mall on a hot &#38; humid summer day. Has anyone in Davao tried mall walking for exercise? Are they too crowded? What’s the noise level like? </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=231#post-2285 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:40:03 +0000 Bill N 2285@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Hello,</p> <p>Would like to buy and setup a back up generator for the in-laws house. Although I am in Canada my wife and son are currently visiting. Just got a text from my wife they have been without power for two days and they want to buy generator. If anyone has any advice on what type and where to buy I am open to recommendations. The farm is located in Calatrava, Negros Occ, Philippines. Looking for store and contact where to buy either in San Carlos City, Bacolod City or Cebu city. </p> <p>I told them to find the nearest hotel with air-con and stay there till power is restored. In the mean time I am open to any suggestions from the forum.</p> <p>Thx,<br /> Bill </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=223#post-2237 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:46:45 +0000 Tom Ramberg 2237@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>Just got back to the US from PI. I thought that I would share my experiances with regard to my ACR card to benefit others as to what could possibly happen. Before leaving to the Philippines I processed my spouse visa with the Philippine consulate in Chicago by mail. It was a very straightforward process with no glitches involved. They approved of my documents and sent me a packet to be opened only by the immigration department in Manila. I thought Wow! this should be a piece of cake! WRONG! I arrive in Manila with my documents and an immigration officer tried to open the packet even though he said he did not know what it was. He then tried to solicit his services as an immigration agent saying that if I didn't use his services there would be a six month wait for processing. I thanked him for his concern and told him that I would follow the instructions given me. We went to the bureau of immigration to submit the documents thinking that everything was complete.WRONG AGAIN! The self proclaimed expert stamped my visa as a tourist which caused us to go to an obscure office for an amendment. Then it was decided that my medical exam that was approved by the consulate was incomplete so off to the Quarantine office for further tests. I now have proof that I was syphillis free at least on that day.... ha ha! Then we went to have my ACR card made which unless you have a scheduled flight out will not be processed that day unless you are willing to submit to an open offer of a special fee. Enough said about that. We then decided that I would pick up the card when I returned to Manila. We changed the plan because I did not want to go there alone.We had a family friend pick up my card after she waited three hours and went to many windows. The officer that we contatcted to arrange this a Mister Castro was very helpful and understanding about my plight so kudos to him for being a fine public servant. With my card brought to me when I returned to Manila I thought my trouble was over. WRONG! a third time! I called the airport to confirm the departure fees. I was told 750p so I reserved about two thousand peso for the hotel taxi and that fee. I go through all the steps to board my flight and I am directed to a special window for ACR card holders. They wanted a 2880 fee for exiting the country. I did not have that amount as I left my cash with my wife. I was directed to an ATM machine which would not take my card. So I went back and asked what to do now. They said go talk to my airline. I thought that maybe the airline would front the money and take it from my card but they brought me to some ATMs downstairs to try. As good fortune would have it one was a BPI machine which takes American cards. So even though I was wringing wet with sweat from running around the airport I was relieved my ordeal was over. I credit Bob's blog with preparing my attitude for such difficulties. Maybe before I would have lost my composure at such an inefficient system. Now I choose my word carefully and accept what I can't change. Thanks Bob for teaching us when to keep our voices lowered and our language polite. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=236#post-2347 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:43:54 +0000 Jacob Elena 2347@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I've tried to read most of the postings before joining in but haven't found any info regarding moving furniture and/or personal belongings to the Philippines. My wife Elena and I plan to move to the Baguio area sometime in the next year. Elena is from Baguio and that is where most of her family still lives. For those who have already moved to the Philippines, did you sell everything before moving and then start anew from scratch or did you ship furniture and personal belongings? Before I spend alot of time researching shipping companies and costs I'd like to know if it is even an option worth pursuing?</p> <p>Any suggestions would be appreciated. </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=242#post-2368 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:53:25 +0000 Rich321 2368@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <p>I received an interesting e-mail alert today from PayPal. Apparently they have a new economical way to send money from the US to the Philippines. I haven't read all the fine print (like both of you probably have to have a PayPal account) but is may be worth looking into. Only 50 cents to send $100 USD sounds pretty good. Sending larger amounts: $2.50 for $500 USD.</p> <p>As a side note, like airline carriers, once one company lowers rates perhaps other competing companies will do the same.</p> <p>PayPal balances and pulling funds directly from your bank account seem to be the most economical. Pulling funds from a credit or debit card are a little higher. </p> <p>A final disclaimer: I have not done any of this stuff myself. Just received the e-mail today from PayPal (because I have a PayPal account). </p> http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/topic.php?id=241#post-2367 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:53:18 +0000 Rich321 2367@http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/forum/ <br />