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Hello everyone... I have a quick question. I'm in Bohol right now and I'm planning to visit the waterfalls. I know there are guides at each waterfall, so how much should I tip the guide on average? I don't want to give too little or too much. Thanks in advance.

What's the average price of beer in the Philippines, and which brands would you recommend?

Safely behind the newly installed expensive steel door.

Oh wow, I met a vanboy 😂

I saw everyone talking about vanboys, and I wasn't interested at all. Then I ended up meeting one 🤣

It was the worst.

A young woman was asking my friend for help, and she walked into the road without looking around, and he scolded her like you'd scold a dog. For reference, this is Siargao. Dogs, kids, adults, motorcycles, and tricycles all wander the roads here.

When my husband told him not to speak so harshly, he swung his motorcycle around and came charging at us as if he was going to fight. 🙄 My husband is 6'2" and a former soldier, and I'm 6'. But I'm used to island life, so I completely calmed the situation down. My husband got a little heated, so I calmed him down too. The guy kept picking fights. It was ridiculous. In the end, we managed to send him away.

A few days later, my friend showed me a controversial video on TikTok, and when I saw the vanboy's face, I knew right away. I'm writing this in case anyone's curious. 😂

What's the best way to watch American TV in the Philippines?

Pose for it

So what's the plan?
I've retired and came to the Philippines. Now what do I do?

If I move there, do I have to get something like a permanent residence visa after 30 days? Is it difficult? I'm from the United States. I'm 67, and no, I'm not a former military member.

I know what you did, boss

I spent 6,000 pesos in a single day living a Western lifestyle!

I'm telling this to people who think the Philippines is cheap. And yes, it really is cheap, but only if you're willing to live at a lower standard than a Western one!

Yesterday I did a simple grocery run for 1,500 pesos, paid 2,000 pesos for the day's accommodation (rent), and spent 2,500 pesos on dinner.

So I did hardly anything, and 6,000 pesos disappeared in one day.

I'm not sure exactly how much money you need per month, but I'd guess it's around 200,000 pesos.

Do I still need an ACR card if I'm retired and receiving a pension? If so, how do I get one? I'm here on a Balikbayan visa, and I plan to apply for a 13a visa the next time I go to Manila.

A person who can't be fixed

I'm retired and receive a monthly Social Security (SSA) benefit plus a lifetime company pension. My plan is to live 6 months in the Philippines and 6 months in the U.S. (I have a house in a rural area with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, and I recently remodeled it). While I'm in the Philippines, I want to buy an SUV locally to drive. Because of the SUV, I need to send around $30,000 to $40,000 through a bank-to-bank transfer. I've heard the IRS requires reporting to them if more than $10,000 is deposited at a bank... Is that right? What should I do, or do I really have to report it? If I do need to report it, what form should I use? Thanks in advance for your advice... God bless...! 👍🏻

Does anyone who receives a UK pension apply for the UK heating allowance?

The lion invading the tiger's personal space…

Weird/crazy, very Filipino date ideas in Manila to show my foreign boyfriend?

My foreign boyfriend is coming to visit Manila for about a week, and I'm looking for fun things to do together.

For reference, my boyfriend has been to the Philippines before, so I don't want to take him on typical tourist routes. When I lived abroad, he visited the city I lived in, and he showed me the places that were part of his daily life, the places he frequented, the neighborhoods he knew well, and small things that meant something to him. I didn't want to go to famous tourist sites; I wanted him to experience what my real life was like.

This time, I want to do something similar in Manila, but I want to show him more of my childhood. I'd like to go to my old school, the road I walked to school, and the places I used to hang out, and eat the food I ate as a kid. I also want to find truly strange, fun, and distinctly Filipino experiences.

What my boyfriend most wants to see is dwarf boxing in Pob lacion. He doesn't really want expensive activities, fancy restaurants, common recommendations like Intramuros, BGC, or rooftop bars, or ordinary tourist spots. I'm open to anything: bizarre local events, lesser-known Filipino traditions, unusual performances, neighborhood activities, weird competitions, chaotic local experiences, things most tourists would never think of.

I'd prefer things that are unique to the Philippines, or specifically to Manila, rather than activities he could do in any other country.
What are some truly unusual, fun, and slightly crazy things to do in Metro Manila? Bonus points for things locals know about but tourists usually don't do!

Thank you!!

The Philippines is cheap... but only if your standards are low

What struck me most in the Philippines is how dramatically prices rise as you move up the quality ladder.

At the basic level, the country is definitely cheap. But once an average European middle-class person starts looking for familiar standards, the savings shrink quickly, and sometimes disappear altogether.

Supermarkets are a good example. Basic products that Filipinos commonly eat are cheaper, but given the enormous wage gap, they often aren't as cheap as you'd expect. On the other hand, many items that are completely ordinary in a European supermarket, such as good cuts of meat, decent cheese, dairy products, proper muesli, and protein products, cost the same or much more in the Philippines. The selection is also noticeably worse: the plastic-packaged junk food aisle seems endless, while other categories lack surprising variety. Even basic ingredients like crushed tomatoes can be hard to find.

Restaurants show this even more clearly. Cheap food is everywhere, but the ingredient quality is often very poor: lots of rice, greasy meat, fried food, and very little variety. Once you start looking for good meat, proper fish, quality ingredients, and decent cooking, prices quickly approach or exceed European levels. A decent sushi buffet, steakhouse, or Italian restaurant can cost the same as or more than in Europe, with no guarantee of similar quality.

Gyms are the same. A modern gym with proper equipment, air conditioning, and good machines can cost nearly twice as much as in Europe, despite the huge difference in salaries.

Transportation is interesting too. Yes, Grab is very cheap compared to European taxis, but you lose an absurd amount of time in endless traffic jams. In most parts of Europe, you can walk or use efficient public transport at almost no cost. Time is money too.

I haven't even mentioned public infrastructure, sidewalks, cleanliness, or the everyday conveniences Europeans take for granted.

Housing is probably the biggest real saving, but that advantage shrinks when you look for a spacious, well-maintained apartment in a good neighborhood.

The Philippines seems to have a very low entry price but a steep quality-to-price curve. Relying heavily on cheap local labor is much cheaper, but as soon as you need good ingredients, equipment, or a decent standard of living, most of the advantage disappears.

So I'm curious: why is the Philippines considered such a great value country, especially among American retirees?

Is the difference really that big, or do Americans start from a very different baseline? Maybe in the US, groceries and restaurants of similar quality are much more expensive, and walkable cities, good public transport, and easy access to everyday conveniences aren't as common as they are in Europe.

I'd like to hear whether other Europeans feel the same way, or whether Americans really see it differently.

Lil John latest photos

Hearty soup for days when you have no appetite or energy

This is my own Bak kut teh with a slight Japanese/Korean twist!
I use about 800g of pork ribs. First, soak the ribs in cold water with a bit of sake, then pour off the water and rinse them.
Put the ribs in a pot, add fresh water, the bak kut teh spice packet, lots of garlic, onion, and cheongyang chili (spicy Korean green chili). Simmer gently over low heat for about four hours, adding more hot water as needed.
Season with kombu soy sauce from Mitsukoshi and white pepper. Add the potatoes 20 to 30 minutes before the end, and add the green onions just before it's done.
The broth gets richer the longer it cooks, so taste and adjust the seasoning at the end. Enjoy with steamed rice!
Enjoy! 🍲

Looking for a seaside boulevard lifestyle in the Philippines 🌊🏙️

Does anyone know good places in the Philippines where you can live a proper seaside boulevard lifestyle? I'm looking for decent condos on or very close to a waterfront promenade, nice sea views, fresh sea breeze, and shopping malls, restaurants, and cafés nearby.

If you know the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City and the area around Mall of Asia, along with the long boulevard there, you'll understand the kind of atmosphere I mean. Ideally, it would be a comfortable condo lifestyle where you can stroll along the water, have dinner at a good restaurant, and reach a shopping mall without having to travel far.

I know most foreigners prefer the provinces, the mountains, a quiet house, or a seaside home away from the city. That's fine too, since everyone has their own taste. But I'm looking for something different: a seaside boulevard lifestyle that combines modern condos, restaurants, shopping, and a pleasant coastal atmosphere.

📍 Are there other places in the Philippines where I could enjoy this kind of lifestyle? I'd love to hear your recommendations and firsthand experiences!

Thank you! 😊