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EDSA in one shot.

Has anyone here brought a pet from the US to the Philippines?

Nice knife

Let's be honest, there really are heartless government officials out there. People like that make life even harder for the poor. That's why being poor in the Philippines is so hard.

How much should I expect to pay for a taxi from Cebu for 3.5 hours?
I'm flying into Cebu next week and have a 3.5-hour trip to my new home. How much should I pay for a taxi fare? Thanks in advance!

Pro wrestler Hiromu Takahashi guest-starred in an episode of Kamen Rider, and he looks genuinely happy to be transforming into a super villain

Dating as an African Woman in the Philippines

I'm a [26F] African woman currently living in the Philippines, and I'd love to hear about the dating experiences of people in a similar situation. I'm single right now and looking for someone to date seriously. I left my home country when I was young and have lived abroad for a long time, so my outlook is pretty global and open-minded. Race isn't a main criterion for me. As long as we click, I'm open to meeting anyone. I especially want to hear from Black women living in the Philippines (or anyone familiar with that community).

- Where did you meet your long-term partner here (yourself or someone you know)?
- What are the overall dating experiences of foreign Black women dating in the Philippines like?
- Do you have any advice on where to meet decent people who are looking for a serious relationship?

Any insights, tips, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Why are pet owners so inconsiderate?

Meanwhile, at the duck race...

Anyone else get the impression that 90% of the women here are single moms? That's exactly the impression I had when I first came here a few years ago. But after looking into it a bit, it's nowhere near that high.

According to WHO data, there are about 14 million single mothers in the Philippines. That works out to roughly 1 in 4 Filipino women being a single mom. Still a huge number, though.

The reason it can feel like 90% of the women here are single moms is that the moment you get on a dating app, most of the women there seem to be real single moms, and a lot of them are specifically looking for a foreign partner. I think it's because they've been burned by Filipino men (it's a pattern that keeps coming up whenever I talk with women about their past relationships). I thought "90% are single moms" too, but once I started meeting people outside of dating apps, that impression went away.

I also think it's worth saying a few words about why they become single moms, and why roughly 1 in 4 is a single parent. As you probably know, there's no divorce here. When a relationship goes bad, sometimes the moment a baby comes, Filipino men take no responsibility and just leave and disappear. It's very common. Child support exists only on paper, with nobody actually enforcing it, and a lot of women don't even ask for it, either out of pride or to avoid conflict. That's the culture here. Abortion is completely illegal, and the Catholic Church actively fights against contraception and sex education, so you get statistics like 500 teenage girls giving birth every day in this country. Just recently, in 2024, more than half of the babies born in the Philippines were born to unmarried parents. That's one of the direct results of having no divorce law. Put all of this together and it's a "perfect storm," and I think it makes it easier to understand why so many women are raising kids alone.

Of course, a lot of these single moms probably made some bad choices in their lives. That doesn't mean the system isn't to blame. I believe it is. It's the system that failed these women, along with Filipino partners who can walk away or disappear far too easily.

I wish more foreigners knew this.

The Filipino single moms I know are incredibly strong people. They work double shifts to raise their kids and support their families, some at call centers, some at small shops. I've also met senior managers and executives who earn a lot of money.

If I could offer one suggestion: if you want to date in the Philippines, focus more on who the woman in front of you is, how she behaves, and how she treats you. Try to look at those things, rather than just looking at the fact that she's a single mom.

🇰🇷🇵🇭 | A Philippine Air Force delegation attended KAI DAY on the 23rd at the invitation of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The Philippine delegation plans to visit and inspect KAI's production sites for the KF-21 and FA-50 Block-70 aircraft in Sacheon

🇰🇷🇵🇭 | A Philippine Air Force delegation attended KAI DAY, held on the second day of the 2026 Sacheon Air Show, on the 23rd at the invitation of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) officials. A total of 80 representatives from 14 countries, including the United States, the Philippines, Poland, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Romania, took part. As part of KAI DAY, the Philippine delegation plans to visit KAI's headquarters in Sacheon to tour and inspect the production sites for the KF-21 Boramae and the FA-50 Block-70. KAI is exploring new business opportunities in the Philippines, with the aim of winning the Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) acquisition program with the KF-21. The Philippine Air Force is also expected to check on the production status of the first batch of the 12 additional FA-50 Block-70 aircraft it ordered.

KAI is also expected to hold one-on-one meetings with the Philippine Air Force to review in detail the projects currently underway, the status of aircraft acquisition, and the KF-21 that KAI has proposed.

KAI Senior Vice President Song Ho-chul (Head of Production Division) said, "This meeting was a valuable opportunity to share operational records, improvement cases, and challenges with countries that operate domestically built aircraft. By presenting performance improvement cases and strengthening mutual cooperation, it became an occasion to raise the reliability of domestically built aircraft and expand future export markets."

This year's Sacheon Air Show newly created GADEX (Global Aerospace & Defense Exhibition), strengthening its standing as an international defense industry exhibition. 124 companies from 22 countries are participating, and the World Air Force Chiefs of Staff Conference, attended by foreign air force officials, will also be held. This shows that the Sacheon Air Show is expanding beyond an aviation festival into a business platform where aerospace and defense companies meet military officials.

In line with the changing nature of the event, KAI is showcasing its flagship aircraft, future combat systems, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology while seeking business opportunities in the global market. Ultimately, the success of this exhibition depends not on how many aircraft and technologies were displayed, but on whether the interest of overseas customers can be turned into actual cooperation and business.

It remains to be seen whether KAI can broaden the export base for the KF-21 and FA-50 while also securing new business opportunities in manned-unmanned teaming systems and unmanned aircraft.

https://m.news2day.co.kr/article/20261023500013

They don't make them like this anymore

Update: The typhoon has passed and the island is safe (October 23, 2026)

The wind peaked around midnight, 12 o'clock. For a first-timer like me, the noise was deafening. The locals are used to it, but they still prepared their homes carefully. Most of the houses in Itbayat Township had their windows boarded up with wood.

It's such a relief that Typhoon Champi's path veered away from the Batanes Islands. Itbayat, where I was, had only minor damage, which is really great. I don't know how the other islands fared.

In the video, you can see a unique jet of water shooting up from the rocks on the beach like a geyser. It looks like Old Faithful lol, at least to my eyes.

It seems there are hollow spaces in the rock structure, so the waves get in there and the force pushes the water out like a geyser. Nature is truly amazing.

Thank you to God and everyone who prayed for the safety of these islands.

When I die, does my Filipino wife really have to move to the US and live there for 5 years to receive my Social Security benefits? (I hope that's decades from now, of course.)

I'll be 58 in December, and I won't start collecting Social Security for another 4 years. I retired early and moved here last year. I'm married, I've built a house now, and I have two stepkids (15 and 17).

What do other expats in my situation do? I worry about how these people would get by with no income after I'm gone, and I can't even bear to imagine it 😢

Do you find a way to go back to the US for 5 years (it costs a lot!!!)? Or is there some other option I'm missing?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Literacy [OC]

Things the Philippines does better

I know everyone complains about systemic corruption, a low-trust society, poor education, pollution, poverty, and so on.

But this time, why don't we flip it and talk about the things that are genuinely better here than back home?

Family values - I really love that here, families take care of their elderly. They don't get abandoned in some facility, slowly withering away, and if they're lucky, getting a visit twice a year. There's also always someone to look after the kids. No matter how toxic dealing with demanding family can be, there's a support system.

Social life - Western culture feels like going to work, coming home, and watching TV alone. Maybe you make plans to meet a friend on a Thursday two weeks from now. In the Philippines, there's always someone to hang out, drink, and cook with. Sometimes someone you've just met will invite you over to relax, and people are so much more social in everyday life.

Wildlife - Even if it isn't well managed, the wildlife here is amazing. Today I saw a kingfisher hunting fish in a shallow reef pool. I also saw flying lizards gliding from coconut tree to coconut tree. And there's so much more.

Adventure sports - It's not for everyone, but as a surfer, I really love that there are world-class waves here and, since it's still an emerging sport, they aren't crowded. There's also top-level diving, climbing, mountain biking, and more.

What do you do with a few hours of free time in Manila?

I have to go to Manila for some paperwork, and I'll probably have about 6–7 hours of free time. I've never been to Manila. What are the best things to do or places to visit?

No helmet!

For reference, here's a quick timeline of my recent SRRV Classic application in Manila.

Sept 7 - First meeting with the marketer (including opening a bank account and getting the required health checkup)

Sept 14 - Deposit completed into the USD deposit account (took a week via Wise)

Sept 15 - Application officially submitted to the PRA

Around Oct 14 - Application approved

Oct 20 - Took the oath and received my passport

Before submitting the application, I got an FBI background check (apostilled by the U.S. State Department) and a Social Security benefit verification letter (apostilled by the Social Security Administration) in the U.S. Everything else I did in the Philippines.

The initial 30-day tourist visa needed to be extended. I went in person to the local BI office and extended it for another 30 days. Timing may vary from person to person.

The PRA staff were very kind and helpful. Working with the marketer was a mixed bag. Sometimes they were really helpful, and other times they actually created problems. I wish I had gotten more recommendations for the marketer I worked with.

The expiration date on my SRRV passport stamp says "indefinite." Somebody must have gotten sick of reissuing stamps. As long as you pay the annual fee, it stays valid "forever."

The ID card expires in 2 years (they didn't offer a 3-year option). I paid for 2 years when I applied. I think it's worth it to save myself the hassle going forward!

Hope this helps!

Allan K's dentures are really...