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I'm 64. I retired at 57. I've been married to my Filipina wife for 6 years. Since our online wedding during COVID, we've lived on her family's compound on the island of Mindanao. We've dealt with every situation you can imagine: visa runs, grocery lines, banks, buying cars, insurance claims, car repairs, and so on. There are things I love about living here and things I dislike, but that's true anywhere you choose to live. I love the people, the beaches, the mountains, the food. I dislike the traffic, the humidity, the mud after the rain, the mosquitoes, the ant bites. But I choose to be here. I love my wife, I love my daughter, I love her whole family. They're kind, helpful, caring people. Living in the Philippines isn't for everyone. If you don't have A LOT of patience, the Philippines isn't for you. Brownouts, blackouts, Wi-Fi down, internet down. Because of flooding in our area, we built our house 14 feet up on concrete pilings. Everything included, it cost 25,000 US dollars: buying the lot from a family member, clearing it by hand, and the builders were family and friends. The house is 600 sq ft with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, a kitchen, dining room, living room and balcony. Fully furnished. All concrete. So if you want a simple life, you can have one. Just don't come here trying to change the way life is here. You're a visitor. Respect the people, respect the culture. Have a happy life.

Hi, I just joined this group. I'm retiring to the Philippines and heading to Cataingan, Masbate.
What are the best apps for sending money from the US to the Philippines?
I tried Wise but had nothing but problems.
Any others that work well?

Driver who fell asleep while driving

Hi everyone! If he's married to a Filipina and we have a baby together, does my husband need an onward ticket?

Rather than changing the Philippines, the Philippines changes you

How has the Philippines changed you? Or what have you learned?

Angeles City Police Station Arrests 2 in Margot Anti-Drug Sting, 1 Pakistani National Arrested on Warrant

📌 On the afternoon of Tuesday, October 13, police in Angeles City arrested two people in an anti-drug sting operation and one Pakistani national on an arrest warrant. The information was announced by the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO) on its official Facebook page on the 14th.

■ Incident Details
· At around 3:45 p.m., the 5th Police Station's intelligence and anti-drug unit conducted a buy-bust operation in Deca Clark, Barangay Margot, arresting two individuals using the aliases "PARE" and "WILLIAM." Both are residents of Barangay Sapangbato, and police said "PARE" was on the police watch list.
· At the scene, officers seized the buy-bust money, three sachets of suspected shabu (3 grams total, estimated by police at 20,400 pesos), and one Honda Click 160 motorcycle without license plates.
· At around 4:30 p.m., a joint team from the city intelligence unit, investigation unit, 3rd Police Station, and the provincial special operations team arrested a Pakistani national (alias "TAYAB") residing in Barangay Sapalibutad on a court-issued bench warrant. Police said the warrant relates to eight charges.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· This is based on police announcements, and the charges will be addressed in the court proceedings.

■ Notes for Residents and Travelers
· Anti-drug enforcement is ongoing in Margot and Sapangbato, areas adjacent to Clark. Refuse items or errands requested by people you don't know.
· Foreign nationals may also be arrested on a bench warrant if they fail to comply with a court appearance summons. If you have a pending case, be sure to keep track of your court dates.

■ Source
Angeles City Police Office (official Facebook page, 10/14)

■ Photo
· Angeles City Police Office enforcement announcement graphic (suspects' faces obscured) — Angeles City Police Office (official Facebook)

Does my outbound ticket have to be within 30 days of arrival, or can it be 6 months later? I'm applying online for the 30-day extension and I already have an ACR card. Once I'm there I'll keep extending 60 days at a time.

Thanks

Chocolate Lab + giant puddle = total idiot sprint!

Nature is beautiful

Hi everyone. Is there anyone here who really knows the SRRV visa/program? I have a few questions. Thanks. 🫡

Whisky Test

Over 1.2 million pesos' worth of unregistered fabric softener seized from warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga — 2 Chinese nationals arrested

📌 On Monday, October 12, approximately 1.2 million pesos' worth of fabric softener not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was seized from a warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) served a search warrant and arrested two Chinese male nationals on the spot, and is pursuing two more individuals.

■ Details of the Case
· The location is a warehouse in Barangay San Isidro, San Simon.
· The CIDG National Capital Region (NCR) unit served the search warrant together with the Air Force, military intelligence units, and the FDA.
· The seized goods were 9,628 packs of "Harmony" laundry fabric softener, worth approximately 1.2 million pesos (CLTV36, Pampanga Police Provincial Office).
· The two arrested individuals were the founder and a manager of a chemical products manufacturing company and were the subjects of the search warrant. Police believe they stored and sold fabric softener without FDA registration and a License to Operate (LTO).

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The two individuals are in CIDG custody, and the case is proceeding under violations of the FDA Act (RA 3720, as amended by RA 9711).
· According to CLTV36, authorities are searching for two more people related to the case.
· On the same day, 16,492 sacks of rice (about 20 million pesos) were also seized from a warehouse in Naic, Cavite, but this was a separate operation unrelated to this case.

■ Notes for Residents and Travelers
· Check whether household products such as detergents and fabric softeners carry an FDA registration number on the packaging.
· Unbranded products or unfamiliar brands sold far below market price may be unregistered.

■ Sources
Daily Tribune (10/14), Pampanga Police Provincial Office (official Facebook, 10/14), CLTV36 News (official Facebook, 10/14), CLTV36 (10/14)

■ Photos
· CIDG warehouse search scene and seized fabric softener (faces obscured) — Daily Tribune

The Gray Hound and His Pool Toy Story

Attention to everyone chasing their dreams

Scouting trip
I'm flying to Metro Manila in about 3 weeks to check things out. What would you put on my must-see list to help me figure out whether, and where, I should retire here?

A question for those going for a K1 visa. Have you heard when interviews will start being rescheduled?
I was asked to add the following, though my main interest is the K1:

Have interviews restarted for CR-1 and IR-1 visas too?

We're moving to the Philippines soon, and my husband is retiring and has been really stressed and anxious.. because this will be the first time he's not working or doing anything... me too... I've lived abroad half my life and all these changes are stressful..

Nigerian Man Arrested for Alleged Rape of a Minor in Laguna Mall Parking Lot

A 35-year-old Nigerian national known only by the alias "Anthony" was arrested on October 10, 2026, in Quezon City. He is accused of raping a minor in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

According to police investigation:

October 12, 2025: The suspect allegedly asked the minor victim to accompany him to the mall to buy a cake for his mother's birthday surprise.
When they arrived at the mall, it had not yet opened.
The suspect allegedly drove up to the 5th floor of the mall parking lot in Barangay Tagapo, Santa Rosa.
Police said he raped the minor inside the parking lot.
The victim reportedly tried to resist but was overpowered. The victim begged him to stop and let her go.
The victim later informed her parents, who filed a criminal complaint.

The suspect was on the regional police office's list of top priority wanted persons.

On February 19, 2026, the Santa Rosa court issued an arrest warrant under the 1997 Philippine Anti-Rape Law, and bail was not recommended. On October 10, 2026, police located and arrested him at 21st Avenue, Project 4, Quezon City. He is scheduled to be transferred to the Santa Rosa City Police Station for legal proceedings.

Vampire bat [drawn by me]

Angles We Have Heard on High