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Wow, I finally made it to the Philippines. When I arrived, I asked the immigration officer what kind of visa is needed to stay longer than 30 days. Since I have dual citizenship, there's no problem for me. I just need to show my DC certificate. But my partner, who is in her mid-50s, is in a different situation.

1. SRRV. This is a very expensive option. There's a 1,500-dollar processing fee that you don't get back, plus a large deposit. I heard that if you don't want to stay anymore, you get the full deposit back. Is it really a full refund? I think we'll need to wait about a year to find out. The problem is, what if we decide we don't want to settle here permanently? Right now we're trying it out, so we'd be throwing away 1,500 dollars.

2. Visa extension. I heard you have to go to the city hall for this. Has anyone done it? What was the experience and cost like? How long do they grant extensions for? How much of a hassle is it? If it's cheaper than the initial cost of option 1 and doesn't mean spending several days at city hall, it might be the right choice for us.

3. Leaving the country before the 30 days are up. That's not feasible for a long stay.

Which gives the better exchange rate: ATM or cash?

Hello everyone,

I'm going to the Philippines for the second time. The first time, I brought cash and exchanged it at BDO. Recently I got a Schwab debit card, and I'd like to ask which is the best option for the exchange rate: bringing cash to BDO or using an ATM. I don't want to carry a lot of cash, but I'd appreciate any advice on how to exchange money.

Also, if I go with the Schwab card and an ATM, would it be hard to withdraw pesos at ATMs on small islands like Camotes or Siquijor? That's where I'll be spending most of my time. I read that some ATMs only accept Philippine citizen cards, some have only a very small amount of pesos in them, and I also read scary stories about ATMs not returning debit cards.

Thank you all

Miyu Craft

Hello everyone, like most of you, I send money from the US to the Philippines. Money is safer in the US, so that's what I do. I had been using REMITY, but for the last 3 to 4 months the app has been acting up. It hasn't worked the way I need at all, and I had major problems for three straight months. So I switched back to WESTERN UNION, and it was very simple and fast. That's why I recommend Western Union.
REMITY has become really hard to use, and their customer support is terrible.

Coffee coffee coffee

My Italian cousin showed me a moka pot.
See the photo. Basically, it's an espresso maker that you put on the stove.

She also told me which coffee works best for a moka pot... grind size, bean blend, medium roast... and so on and so forth.
I also got an airtight container and I'm keeping my ground coffee in it.

Does anyone have a recommendation for where to buy coffee?
If you've ever used Lazada, please share your experience.

I'm curious about your coffee routine too.
I'm sure some of you here are into "grinders."

A perfect one-shot.

Hello, I arrive at Ninoy Aquino Airport around 8 p.m. Is there a way to use the internet while I'm in Manila? The hostel I booked doesn't have internet.

Feel Health YAKAP Program
Are there any foreigners who have enrolled in the YAKAP program? How did you choose a medical institution, and how did you sign up? For those who are actually using it, are you satisfied? Thank you 🙏

This puppy loved riding in the shopping cart so much that it fell asleep on the way! 😂🐶 When it's time to go home, somebody please wake it up!

Questions for those who live in the Philippines, or who visit often and know the culture and religion well beyond the usual tourist experience.

I understand there is a public holiday in the Philippines at the end of March 2027.

How might this affect travel to Manila, Boracay, and other beach destinations?

I am especially curious about the effect on bars, restaurants, shopping malls, and other tourist attractions.

Thank you!!

I just read a post saying to open a dollar account here. Does that only apply to US dollars? I'm asking because I'm from Australia.

Costco pumpkin code

Hello everyone,
I'm wondering whether I really need to apply for a digital ID when going to the Philippines. I'm planning a trip of about two weeks next month, but the process through eGov PH is really difficult.. Do I have to apply for it, or is it simpler to do it at the airport? I don't know why, but my applications were rejected several times and I can't figure out what's wrong. Maybe it's because I have to take the photo in a really good spot..

I would really appreciate any replies.

Thank you,

I've seen a lot of negative stories about the Philippines, both here and elsewhere (though that's true of most countries in the world). Today, though, I came across some good news in BusinessWorld, a Philippine online newspaper. According to the report, a recycling program will soon start at the Mr DIY store in Quezon City, where people can bring in their trash and exchange it for money. I hope other places will follow suit.

Team B

Does anyone in Manila speak Russian?

Hello everyone. My wife and friends and I were having dinner, and while we were talking about other things, I overheard someone mention a dollar account. What is that?

A robot that plays pranks on its owner

What's the food you've come to love most since marrying a Filipino? My husband loves ampalaya with egg (bitter melon) and sinigang na baboy (pork sinigang). Hehe.

This is a brushing scam. Scammers send items that were never ordered, with cash on delivery (COD). They usually sell low-quality, cheap goods at inflated prices. This is already the fourth attempt on me. This time it was a very small, cheap Christmas LED set (about a third the size of a cigarette pack) that cost 700 pesos. The delivery rider let me open it to check before paying, so I didn't get scammed this time. The previous three times I believed they were genuine and paid between 500 and 1,200 pesos. I called J&T Express, sent 8 emails, and contacted the Facebook account, but received no response. For any suspicious delivery, be sure to open it before paying. There is very little chance of getting your money back afterward. The items that arrived earlier were tofu (which I don't eat), a pack of seaweed (laver) that I might try, and a flimsy, cheaply made fake leather wallet.