Explore feed

Do you think the high-speed rail from Manila to Angeles will ever be finished?

A foreigner mocked single moms

He was putting down single moms in front of me, while he himself is a single dad who doesn't pay child support. Be respectful to people

I have a loving girlfriend who taught me humility

Michelin Stars

Hi, I'd like to do a motorbike trip around the Philippines. Can I rent or buy a Honda Africa Twin DCT, a Yamaha FJR1300AE/AS, or an Aprilia Mana?? I want an automatic. I'm from Australia and I also have a French passport

How things are going lately

This is kind of an open question... but life here in the Philippines seems to have gotten a lot tougher than usual lately. Or am I overreacting a bit?

Getting her number

Foreigners in the Philippines are some of the strangest people you'll ever meet

First off, I'm not complaining. It can even be fun and keeps things from getting boring.

I've already met close to 10 people here who are weirder than anyone I've met in my whole life in the US.

Even if they seem fairly normal at first, their true nature comes out eventually.

They tell the most outlandish stories, a few turned out to be scammers, and the worst of the worst are into illegal stuff I won't get into here.

I suppose it makes sense that they'd go somewhere nobody's likely to fact-check them, where their secret missions won't show up on Google anyway, and where nobody knows them personally to say otherwise.

One guy owned several stores and had sons making huge money back in the US, but needed a big loan from me. (Makes sense, right?)

Another guy kept telling me how rich he was, but when it was time to pay the bar tab he had zero money. Security walked him to an ATM, he paid part of the bill, and only then did they let him go.

Never a boring day in the Philippines!

The sun's been strong since the morning, so we're using electricity as usual even though the local grid has scheduled maintenance from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Water heaters. Induction cookers, etc.

A talented cat

I couldn't wait to leave, but now I miss the Philippines

I left the Philippines to find a new home elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

I got fed up with everyday things like rent that's overpriced for the quality, poor food options, and feeling like a walking ATM.

I got an emergency passport because I didn't want to wait for a real one, which could take a few months.

The plan was Singapore, then Malaysia, maybe Indonesia, and then Thailand.

The end goal is to get the DTV and move to Thailand, at least for the short term.

Singapore is great, I like it a lot, but it's more expensive than America. Staying there cost me over $1,000 a week.

Malaysia just seems too boring for me. I know I should probably give it some time, but I'm just not feeling it, and I don't like wasting time when I already know I probably won't want to live somewhere long.

Don't get me wrong, Malaysia is nice, with better infrastructure than the Philippines and less poverty. Nothing's wrong with Malaysia, but I miss the people in the Philippines. They're hard to beat, at least for an American.

In Malaysia I even thought about going to Filipino restaurants just to meet people from the Philippines.

I always heard dating in Malaysia was tough, but I don't think that tells the whole story. I don't mean to be mean or rude, but I haven't seen this level of obesity outside America.

The plan was to stay in Malaysia and go through the DTV process. But I don't know if I can stay here that long. It's not that bad, I just really hate wasting time or being bored when I don't have to be. I mean, I can afford to go anywhere I want, so there's no reason to sit around being unhappy.

I also heard Malaysia is really strict about the DTV requirements for Thailand. So that took some of the wind out of my sails.

I'm still trying to give Malaysia a bit more time. But I still find myself missing the people in the Philippines.

I love Thailand, it's a great country. We just have to jump through some hoops to get the DTV so I can stay long. And I'm not 100% sure I won't be coming back to the Philippines often once I move to Thailand.

Filipinos don't actually speak English

This was probably the biggest culture shock for me after coming to the Philippines. I'd always heard that Filipinos are very good at English, so I expected a generally fluent level.

But when I actually got here, it was quite different from what I'd imagined. Many people here know a lot of English words and understand English reasonably well, but a lot of them struggle to speak in complete sentences fluently and with consistently correct grammar.

That's very different from Spain, which is what I'm used to. Honestly, the overall level of English in Spain is quite low, and a large part of the population can barely speak it at all. But among people who really do speak English, the line tends to be clearer: either they don't speak it at all, or they've learned it properly enough to speak with fairly solid grammar and fluency.

What surprised me in the Philippines is that English is far more widespread, but wide exposure doesn't necessarily mean grammatical accuracy or fluent speech. Many people communicate in English and know plenty of words, but their sentence structure and grammar can still be quite weak. The difference between being able to communicate in English and actually speaking it fluently and accurately is something I didn't expect before coming here.

Taken over by Looney Tunes

Has anyone here from the Subic area tried living at Anvaya Cove? What do you think about retiring there?

Showing up isn't an investment: why any man with self-respect shouldn't be paying for dates here

Spend enough time in the Metro Manila dating scene, whether you're a foreigner, a balikbayan or someone coming from abroad, and it becomes clear that a lot of guys make a fundamental mistake: they assume this city runs on an outdated, traditional rulebook. The reality is that Metro Manila is a fast-paced global hub, and the city girls here operate the same modern way as girls in Miami, Houston or New York. The game is the same, yet too many men keep playing by a lopsided set of rules that no longer make any sense.

You know, guys, we've been taught our whole lives to respect women's boundaries, especially around personal space and physical safety. If a woman doesn't want to come to a guy's place on the first date because she needs time to build rapport and feel safe, I completely respect that. It's an entirely fair standard. But the double standard shows up when a man sets an equally valid boundary: refusing to buy a multi-course meal for a complete stranger on day one. The moment you say you don't pay for first dates, the script flips instantly. Suddenly you get passive-aggressive remarks or get shamed for "not being a real man."

What I've noticed is that this reaction often exposes a deeper issue: the difference between simply being broke, and being broke while expecting to be treated on the strength of an unearned ego. A lot of matches from the apps try to project an image of complete financial independence, saying they can easily take care of themselves. But ask a basic, simple question like "What's your usual budget for a meal when you eat out?" and they immediately get defensive or claim that you're the one on a tight budget. Someone whose finances are genuinely in order can easily say something like 800 or 1,000 pesos for their own meal. Getting angry when the chance of a free meal disappears just shows they expected someone else to pay for an experience they never intended to pay for themselves.

What makes this even more ironic is seeing women in their mid-to-late twenties and older clinging to this sense of entitlement. In a dating market overflowing with options, older matches are competing directly with a huge pool of women who are younger, fitter and noticeably more agreeable, and therefore far less tiring. Using a high-demand, low-effort strategy while approaching "auntie" age is a total misreading of your market leverage. When your competitors are younger, more open, and keen to build a real connection without demanding an entry fee, expecting to be treated only speeds up your own exit from the dating market.

On top of that, many women in big cities don't realize at all how lopsided supply and demand are. They assume being attractive is a rare asset that automatically comes with privileges. But in a city of millions, you can step outside right now and pass five women who are just as good-looking, if not more. For a man who has always been able to meet attractive women, looks alone aren't a reason to cover all the costs. Attractiveness only gets you noticed; what earns respect is mutual effort and real substance.

Looked at purely objectively, the return on investment for ordinary app dating here is fundamentally broken. In big US cities, a nice dinner for two usually runs over $100. In Metro Manila, a high-end restaurant easily costs 2,000 to 3,000 pesos. If an active guy meets two or three new matches a week, he's spending 6,000 to almost 10,000 pesos every week, only to routinely hear that she "didn't feel the vibe" or that she just wanted a free weekend dinner. Run that over a month and the numbers say it all: paying top-tier prices for bottom-tier enthusiasm is the worst possible move.

To be clear, this is never about not having money. I spend thousands of pesos at places like LongHorn Steakhouse every weekend without a second thought. I can cover the bill no problem. But this is a matter of principle, and in 2026 the core truth still stands: being able to meet someone doesn't mean being entitled to what's theirs. Just because a woman can show up at a venue doesn't mean she's earned the right to a man's hard-earned resources.

In the end, real interest needs zero financial sponsorship. If a woman is genuinely drawn to you as a person, the venue stops mattering. Whether you're eating street food or sitting on a bench, if the energy between you clicks, the setting is secondary. If a fancy restaurant is a must just for her to show up, she isn't connecting with a person, she's trading her time for an experience. In modern dating, investment has to go both ways. If you want more effort from a man, you have to bring more effort yourself. Just showing up is no longer an investment.

Personally, I think it's a better system for everyone to just pay their own share. That way nobody feels like they owe the other person or got used. If you two click after that, great, next time if you want to pay, go for it. Every relationship is different, right? The bottom line is that, as far as I'm concerned, some things are just dead in the "big 26."

Love it or hate it, I've said my piece, ladies and gents. If you see it differently, I'm always up for a conversation.

Just my personal take as a 25-year-old guy living here.

Proof

How's the lending business in the Philippines?

I work in the UAE and I've heard a lot about this from my coworkers

That lots of people run lending and rental businesses in the Philippines

For example, if I lend 1000, they pay it back at 110 a day over 10 days

Is that true?

U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines

U.S. Consular Agency Cebu, Philippines

The U.S. Embassy's American Citizen Services (ACS) unit will hold a consular outreach event in Bacolod City on October 8, 2026, and in Iloilo City on October 9, 2026.

Locations:
Bacolod City: University of Saint La Salle (La Salle Avenue, Bacolod City, 6100 Negros Occidental, Philippines)
Iloilo City: Belmont Hotel Iloilo (Festive Walk, Daytona Avenue, Iloilo Business Park, Madurriao, Iloilo City)

Service hours:
Bacolod City: October 8, 2026, 7:00 to 11:00 AM
Iloilo City: October 9, 2026, 7:00 to 11:00 AM

ACS services:

The services below are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please come early to secure a spot.

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA):
Check the eligibility requirements and application steps on the citizenship services page of the embassy website.
Important: All CRBA applicants must register through the eCRBA system and carefully follow the instructions for uploading the required documents and paying the fee online. When you finish the eCRBA application, a summary report will be emailed to you. You must print it and bring it with you to be served at the outreach event.

Passports:
Check the eligibility requirements and application steps on the passport services page of the embassy website.
Important: If you are 18 or older and applying for your first U.S. passport, you must apply at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Please follow the instructions on the website to book an appointment.

Notarial services:
Check the application steps on the notarial services page of the embassy website.

What to bring:
Originals and photocopies of the documents required for your service. No printing, copying, or photo services are available on site.
A passport photo that meets the requirements (for passport applicants).
Cash in pesos for the service fees, in the exact amount (see table below).

Paying for ACS services:

Fees must be paid in the exact amount so no change is needed (Philippine pesos only).

Service / Fee (PHP)

Adult passport (DS-11): 10,560.00

Adult passport renewal (DS-82): 8,320.00

Minor passport (DS-11): 8,640.00

Notarial: 3,200.00

Help us plan:

Please fill out the survey on which services you need so we can estimate attendance:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/m1rst8uM72

We look forward to seeing you in Bacolod and Iloilo!

More information and help:
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to reach you in an emergency.
U.S. Embassy Manila (1201 Roxas Boulevard): +(63) (2) 5301-2000, Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The after-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is also +(63) (2) 5301-2000.
From the U.S. and Canada call toll-free 1-888-407-4747; from other countries call 1-202-501-4444, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM U.S. Eastern Standard Time (except U.S. federal holidays).
See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, travel advisories, alerts, and Philippines country information.
Follow us on X and Facebook…

No stereotypes were harmed

iPhone 18 Pro megathread

Okay, I know some of you here in the Philippines have ordered the 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max and are counting the days until it arrives.

What did you order, and from where?

I bought a black 18 Pro Max 1TB directly from Apple. Power Mac here in Leyte couldn't get me the exact configuration I wanted, even with a pre-order.

How about you?

Planning a visit

Okay, so I recently became single and I'm 58. I'm 6'1" and I guess I'm on the attractive side. At least when I was younger I dated a lot of different women.

I'm thinking of spending a couple of months in the Philippines. I'm looking into places to stay and thinking about a condo rather than just a hotel room. From what I've seen, Cebu seems like a good choice overall. To be completely honest, I definitely want to meet some women. I'll just say this much: my 15-year marriage was seriously lacking in the bedroom department. Ideally I'd like to meet someone I could spend the whole time with. I'm not looking for prostitutes or anything like that. I know money will come up now and then for a "roof repair" or a "sick family member," and I get it. If things go well, maybe I'd stay longer.

So here's my point and my question. What's the "higher end" part of town, and where are the best places to meet women? Again, I'm just looking for a companion to spend time with, not a professional, and it'd be nice if she could hold an intelligent conversation on top of that.

While I'm there I'd also like to explore a bit and give skydiving a try.