Updates feed

Has anyone with a USAA ATM card managed to get more than 10,000 pesos out of a machine in the Philippines? Any suggestions

appreciated. $160 per withdrawal isn't good enough ...

Musk: "Call centers will disappear quickly because of SI."

I've visited the Philippines and I'm hoping to retire there soon, but I have bad arthritis and fibromyalgia. I can't seem to find much pain medication, and I can only bring a month's supply of mine at a time. Besides faith healers, which I've already been to see, what are doctors there giving for pain?

I want to ask about lizards. I know they're harmless, but how long do they live and how big do they get? I rented a house in May and saw baby lizards back then, and now I'm seeing bigger lizards that I'm pretty sure are the same ones. Today I saw another baby. Do they just leave, or do they take over the place and have to be exterminated?

A lot of people misunderstood my post. I posted because I wanted to know more about lizards. It doesn't mean I'm afraid of them or can't stand them.
I asked about extermination not because I want to kill every lizard I see, but just for information.

Making a beat

Fuel prices down for diesel by PHP 3.01 per liter, up for gasoline by PHP 1.56 and kerosene by PHP 1.77 starting October 13

📌 Starting Tuesday, October 13, pump prices in the Philippines went down for diesel and up for gasoline and kerosene. The Department of Energy (DOE), announcing on Monday, October 12, said the adjustments are a PHP 3.01 per liter decrease for diesel, and increases of PHP 1.56 for gasoline and PHP 1.77 for kerosene. Diesel fell again, following last week's cut.

■ What's changing
· Diesel: down PHP 3.01 per liter (Shell: PHP 3.00)
· Gasoline: up PHP 1.56 per liter (Shell: PHP 1.50)
· Kerosene: up PHP 1.77 per liter (Shell: PHP 1.70)
· Seaoil adjusted by the same amounts as the DOE announcement. According to Philstar, these prices apply from Tuesday, October 13 through Monday, October 19.

■ Why prices are going up and down
· The DOE cited the G7's plan to release diesel reserves as a factor pushing diesel prices down, and China's halt on petroleum product exports as a factor pushing gasoline and kerosene prices up.
· According to Philstar, on October 2 the G7 agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil, mainly diesel. The DOE said this supply measure does not focus on gasoline and kerosene, so prices for those two fuels are expected to stay high.
· Last week (October 6), diesel fell PHP 1.30, gasoline rose PHP 1.93 (The Manila Times reported up to PHP 1.90), and kerosene rose PHP 3.30.

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· Prices differ slightly by company and gas station, so check the price board before filling up.
· If you drive a diesel vehicle, this week's costs go down. But gasoline rose again after last week, so fuel costs are higher for motorcycles and gasoline cars.

■ Sources
CLTV36 News (official Facebook, 10/12), Philstar (10/12), The Manila Times (10/13)

■ Photos
· 1. Stock photo · A passenger car being refueled at a gas station — The Manila Times
· 2. Stock photo · A hand refueling with a pump nozzle — Philstar

A question for all you online warriors lol. My girlfriend got married in Japan and divorced there, and she has the divorce paperwork. It's been over 20 years now. Since we're planning for the future, I asked her to get her CENOMAR (certificate of no marriage). It came back showing her marriage, so she went to her local office to find out what's needed to clear it. I'm not sure of the process myself, so for her peace of mind I'm wondering what it is.
Marriage is also on the table for later, most likely after I move there in a couple of years.
So for now I'm going to try to get her a B2 tourist visa so she can visit until I retire.
Any help is appreciated, no negativity please. 🙏

"Hey bro" - what's the sociological explanation here?

From a sociological perspective, how did saying "hey bro" to foreigners spread across the Philippines?

You can hear it everywhere, from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao, from Palawan to Samar.

My guess is that only some boys, around ages 10 to 16, do it.

In my view, Filipino boys don't say this to older Filipino men.

So where did they learn it, and how did it spread?

Social media? The influence of American culture? Kids copying each other? Or something else?

Sharing some news I saw today. It's welcome good news for anyone trying to get a foreign divorce from a previous marriage recognized.

What are the rules on hanging laundry on a condo balcony?

Short version:
What are the rules about hanging laundry outside on the balcony at the condo where you live? Or more to the point, are the rules actually enforced?

Long version:
We stayed at an Airbnb (the one next to Rise), and the house rules card said no hanging laundry outside. Looking out from the 30-something floor, I could see lots of units with drying racks and clothes out to dry.

Looking up from that Airbnb's pool area, there were also plenty of units drying clothes.

Why I'm posting:
I'm currently renting an Airbnb. I have some premium clothes that are supposed to be air-dried, and they don't dry well inside the condo. So out on the balcony in the sun is the best option. Sometimes a cigarette butt drops from above, which is annoying, but what can you do.

So, the rules card at the Airbnb we stayed at before said no hanging laundry outside. We followed the rules there.

The lease at our current condo has nothing about hanging laundry outside. But a community post for the condo we're staying at said someone got fined for hanging clothes.

Still, at our condo too, looking from the pool area or outside at the other towers, you can see lots of clothes, blankets, and sheets drying outside.

So what are the rules where you live? If it's prohibited, have you ever been fined? Thanks for your time.

Crazy world
American women spend money to get darker, while Filipina women spend money to get lighter.
The funny thing is, both are chasing someone else's idea of beauty.
There's an entire industry making money by convincing women their natural skin color isn't good enough.
And here's the real irony: too much tanning damages your skin, while the glutathione injections sold for whitening can carry serious health risks.
If you ask me, the most beautiful skin color is the one you were born with.
What's going on?
😊
To all you Pinays who think lighter skin is more attractive, remember that beauty standards differ depending on where you are in the world. Some women like lighter skin, but others love having a tan. Every skin tone has its own beauty, so be proud of your natural color.

8 Tarlac NBI Officers Relieved — Alleged Extortion and Sexual Harassment of Beauty Clinic, Victims and Public Asked to Come Forward

📌 On October 12 (Monday), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag asked victims and citizens to come forward regarding the alleged extortion and sexual harassment against a beauty clinic by eight personnel of the Tarlac (TARDO) field office, who were relieved of their posts. Earlier, on October 6 (Tuesday), the NBI said it had recalled all Tarlac field office personnel and replaced them, launching an internal investigation.

■ Background of the Case
· Tarlac field office agents recently conducted a crackdown on a beauty clinic, claiming it was not qualified to administer cosmetic injections. Director Matibag said the clinic was a legitimate small business.
· According to the director, there are allegations that undercover agents pressured a nursing student to administer a cosmetic injection and then carried out the crackdown as an entrapment operation, and that when they demanded money from a female owner and she could not pay, they proposed sexual favors in exchange.
· These allegations have not yet been proven.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The eight individuals, including the field office chief, were summoned to NBI headquarters in Pasay City, where they are awaiting reassignment without posts and under investigation. The Internal Affairs Service is conducting the probe.
· The director said the victim's family is reluctant to file a complaint out of fear, but the investigation will continue. The names of those involved and the amount demanded have not been disclosed.

■ Advisory for Residents and Travelers
· If you are asked for money on the spot under the pretext of a crackdown, do not comply. Verify the person's agency and name, then report it to that agency's headquarters.
· If you run a business, keeping your business permits and qualification documents ready in advance reduces the chances of being harassed.

■ Sources
Daily Tribune (10/6, 10/12), Philstar (10/6) — The number of relieved personnel (8), the beauty clinic, and the circumstances of the sexual harassment allegations are confirmed by one source only (Daily Tribune)

My experience hiring drivers as a foreigner in the Philippines

Hi everyone, I thought I'd share my experience hiring drivers in the Philippines. Most of what I learned came from mistakes, and most of those mistakes were mine. Just so you know up front, everything I went through was in Mindanao, so other regions may be different.

I really love going on golf trips when I need a break. Finding new courses is a hobby of mine, and I don't enjoy driving winding, poorly maintained roads myself, so I usually hire a driver. Cebu Pacific has weight limits and airports are loud and chaotic, so I prefer this to flying.

As far as I know, there are no big rental companies like Enterprise or Hertz outside Manila, so I go to the "Car & Driver [city name]" Facebook groups and post something like: "Looking for an SUV and driver to take me golfing at Del Monte in Bukidnon. Meals are on me. All-inclusive prices only, please."

That "all-inclusive" part really matters. Some people quote a price that looks super cheap at first and then nickel-and-dime you the whole trip. I learned that the hard way.

At first I thought it was smart to have a kind of trial period, letting a driver take me around the city for a day or two before giving him bigger jobs. It didn't work for me.

One driver was a real pro. He'd drop me at the course, nap in a hammock, and when I finished he'd take my bag, smile, and ask, "Did you have a good round, sir?" After about six months I had him drive my father too (my father also spends time in the Philippines) and kept giving him more work. I also paid whatever he asked. That was mistake number two. On top of that, I'm the type who doesn't back down when I feel I'm being treated unfairly, which didn't help.

Then we took a big trip to Dakak in Dapitan, where Jose Rizal was exiled. The deal was clear: 15,000 pesos for 3 days, which was generous by Mindanao standards (especially since it was before the oil crisis). The trip was a mess from the start. First, he began insisting the 15,000 was for one day. He held out for hours before we were supposed to leave, waiting for me to cave. I didn't. I told him, "Don't be ridiculous, even drivers in the US don't make 15,000 a day." I took him aside and said, "I want to keep working with you, but you have to stop doing this. You know the price, let's just go as we agreed." He said, "Yes, sir," and I hoped that was the end of it.

After that he kept asking for more gas money, so I said fine, but it would come out of the final payment. I took him and my caddie to dinner and paid for their hotel rooms. My understanding is that most people just have the driver sleep in the car, but I wanted to be generous. Then they kept asking for beer money. It was 200 pesos. When I said no, he said, "That's your obligation to us." The argument kept escalating until I said we could go to the barangay and let them decide whether he was being underpaid. Even if it happened again today, I'm not sure I'd give in. It wasn't about the money. I felt betrayed.

With another driver, I agreed on a price that was almost too cheap to make sense. Business was slow on the visa side, and honestly I shouldn't have hired a driver at all... but you live and learn. He was late picking up my partner at the airport, which made me mad, and then he had the nerve to demand an extra 1,000 pesos. I told him to get lost. He then sat in his car in front of my house for 4 hours, so I finally called the police.

The next driver I met was good, professional, and reasonably priced. But after three trips he suddenly hiked his rate. I didn't argue (arguing rarely does any good in this country). I just stopped calling him.

Now I put the terms in writing and have them sign it. It's exactly what I tell my clients: put the terms on paper before anything starts. What I've learned is that paying above the going rate rarely gets you better service, and being too stingy breeds resentment (obviously). Like most things in life, you have to find the sweet spot. It also helps that things are much better for me now than a year ago, so I don't have to choose based on price alone. Knowing which battles to pick helps a lot too. Looking back, honestly, ruining a trip over 200 pesos was dumb.

He saw his chance and didn't miss it

I got an unexpected $90.00 deposit from the SSA today. No email or message in my online account either. Anyone else get one? Or know why?

Vietnam draws 522,000 visitors from the Philippines in the first nine months of 2026

Are there any licensed construction companies with contact info in the Baliuag area?

Fake Diet Coffee Worth ₱6.1 Million Seized from Bulacan Warehouse — 8 Arrested

📌 On Tuesday, October 6, eight employees who were producing counterfeit diet (slimming) coffee bearing a stolen trademark were arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at a warehouse in Parulan, Plaridel, Bulacan. Finished products along with raw materials, packaging, and production equipment worth about ₱6.1 million were seized, and the CIDG warned that fake food products may be harmful to health.

■ Background of the Case
· A field unit of the CIDG's Northern District, acting on a search warrant, raided the warehouse together with representatives of the trademark owner and the Bulacan Provincial Police Office.
· All eight people arrested are employees of the facility: one Chinese national, five Filipino men, and two Filipino women.
· They are accused of producing diet coffee products without the trademark owner's permission.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The charges are violations of the Intellectual Property Code (Republic Act No. 8293). Daily Tribune reported that they will be charged with these offenses, while SunStar reported that they are under investigation.
· The report did not specify which brand's trademark was involved.

■ Notes for Residents and Travelers
· The CIDG warned that fake food products are not subject to inspection or evaluation by authorities and may contain toxic or prohibited ingredients.
· Buy diet coffee and health supplements only from official stores or trustworthy sellers, and be suspicious of products priced far below market value.
· If you experience any physical symptoms after consuming such products, stop taking them immediately and see a doctor.

■ Sources
Daily Tribune (10/9), SunStar (10/9)

Restaurant reviews in the Philippines

In other countries I usually trust Google reviews, but I'm not so sure about the Philippines.

Yesterday I ended up in an area I don't know, so I opened Google Maps and saw an Indian restaurant nearby rated 4.5 from over 700 reviews. The starter and main were both bland and expensive, and the vegetables were overcooked to mush (I ordered a vegetarian dish). Maybe I was just unlucky with what I ordered.

A steakhouse nearby is rated 4.7 with 550 reviews, and an American guy told me it wasn't very good when he went.

I also see ads on here offering to pay people for Google reviews.

How much do you all trust Google reviews? Or could it be that the restaurants cater to the Filipino palate and mine is Western?

I love grilling meat. Chicken, pork, beef, etc. Charcoal is easy to find, but lighter fluid isn't. Without it, it's hard to keep the local stuff burning. Is there another option? What do you all use?
Thanks for answering.