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This one's for the Americans, but I'd also be curious how Aussies, Europeans, and Brits handle it.

Has anyone in this group who was born in the Philippines gotten US citizenship without a CRBA (Consular Report of Birth Abroad)? Any child born to an American parent who meets all the requirements is a citizen. The CRBA just confirms that.

So, has anyone over 18 without a CRBA gotten a US passport?

Yes, I know how to file the forms. I'm just wondering if anyone has succeeded.

I've got a dilemma and could use some help.

I know I can bring up to two bottles of liquor into the Philippines. But I can't find Balvenie 15 anywhere, so that plan went out the window.

I don't drink much, but when I do, it's usually Scotch or Old Fashioneds.

Any recommendations for something that's hard to find or ridiculously expensive in the Philippines? Ideally something around 15–21 years old that would be nice to open over the coming holidays.

What would you bring from the US?

Hey, quick question. How do you get from the ferry in Tagbilaran City to Libaong?

Thanks, everyone. :)

I'm Filipino and 55 years old. I married an American man, who is a civilian now, and we separated in 1999. My son is already 35. My ex-husband never brought us to the United States, though my son did get child support. Maybe because we don't know much, I don't know how my son or I can get to his father, and his father now has a disability. My son has the right to go to the US where his father lives, but my ex-husband keeps saying he has no money. Can anyone here help with how my son can join his father or go where he lives? I'm just looking for my son's rights as an American too.

Just curious. If you hold a CDL, can you get a job driving a truck in the Philippines? And does anyone know if there are American companies in the Philippines?

2 arrested in Mabalacat, Dau drug buy-bust — P374,000 worth of shabu, handgun seized

📌 At around 9:43 PM on Friday, October 9, two suspects were arrested in a joint buy-bust operation by the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Barangay Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga. According to the Pampanga Police Provincial Office, the operation yielded approximately 55 grams of suspected shabu (methamphetamine) with an estimated street value of P374,000, along with a .38 caliber revolver and two live rounds of ammunition.

■ Incident Details
· The operation was jointly conducted by the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (Pampanga PPO) and the PDEA Regional Office III (Central Luzon).
· The location was in the area of Biglang Sibul, Balaba Phase 2, Barangay Dau, Mabalacat.
· According to police reports, the seized items include approximately 55 grams of suspected shabu (standard street value of P374,000), one .38 caliber revolver, and two live rounds of the same caliber.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The two arrested suspects and the confiscated items were brought to the Pampanga Police Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) for documentation and processing.
· The police stated that the suspects will face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) and the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition (RA 10591) pending the results of the investigation. The names, ages, and nationalities of the suspects were not released.
· Police Colonel Ricardo M. David stated that crackdowns on illegal drugs and activities will continue to be intensified throughout the province.

■ Note for Residents and Travelers
· The Dau area is close to Clark and Angeles, where police and PDEA drug operations have been ongoing recently.
· The Philippines strictly penalizes drug possession and trafficking under the dangerous drugs law. Foreigners are no exception, so do not accept items or packages entrusted to you by strangers.
· Avoid taking photos or approaching the vicinity of enforcement operations and follow police instructions.

■ Source
Pampanga Police Provincial Office (Official Facebook, 10/10)

I'm a 39-year-old US Air Force veteran with an honorable discharge and 100% P&T (permanent and total disability rating). When I turn 40, would I qualify for the SRRV Courtesy program as 'Retired Military Personnel,' even though I separated from the military rather than retiring after 20 years of service?

Anyone with type 2 diabetes, where did you get suitable health insurance?

I'm on Ozempic and looking for coverage that will cover me without having to go to a US territory.

Update: let me school you all! Type 2 diabetes doesn't go away, so it's not a matter of stopping the meds once you lose weight. Those of you telling me to 'clean up my life' are jerks. My weight got away from me a few years ago, and T2D runs in my family. I was diagnosed, treated, lost over 40 pounds, and my blood sugar went from 438 at diagnosis to 90 to 120 now.

I'm 5 foot 8 and weigh 175 pounds. I've already 'cleaned up' my life, so if you don't have anything useful to say, don't reply. There are some nasty attitudes floating around in here. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Hi everyone, my father is elderly and has always wanted to live in the Philippines. He's in assisted living now and needs help with meals, cleaning and medication reminders, so this dream will probably never happen. But I'd still like to make it come true in some way. I'm wondering if there's a place with this level of care where he could stay for a short while. Probably 1 to 2 months, to escape some of the winter. Thanks in advance for any info.

EDIT. Thanks everyone. I'm looking for a place already set up for this kind of care, so I don't have to manage too much from far away. Not a big budget.

Has anyone here used Popcorn for phone service while living in the Philippines?

I'm moving to the Philippines next month and trying to work out the best phone setup. I want to keep my US number for banking, verification texts and anything else I still need to handle back home, and I'll also get a local Philippine SIM/eSIM for everyday use.

I came across Popcorn and it looks like it could be a good option, but I'd love to hear from people actually using it overseas.

How has it been for receiving calls and verification texts from the US? Any problems with banks or 2FA codes? And does it work reliably over Wi-Fi/data in the Philippines? The Tagaytay area in particular.

Also open to other suggestions if there's a better way to keep a US number while living abroad.

Hi everyone, has anyone here used House of Bookkeepers for an ITIN application? Almost 6 months ago we paid for their ITIN processing service for a family member (needed for a Fidelity / US stock claim). We called the IRS ITIN Operation to check, and they said they have no record of any application received under our name.

Has anyone here actually gotten their ITIN through them? How long did it take? Is it normal for the IRS to have no record after 6 months?
We're worried because we've already paid and we really need the ITIN to get the funds released. Any advice would be appreciated.

Pampanga Arayat flood control dikes collapse consecutively — Vice Governor demands sheet piles to be pulled out for inspection

📌 On Friday, October 9, Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to pull out and inspect the sheet piles embedded in the Pampanga River flood control dikes that collapsed consecutively in Arayat earlier this month, demanding that the causes and accountability be determined. The collapsed sections are in Barangays San Mateo and Lacquios, and a joint provincial government-DPWH task force is scheduled to extract sheet pile samples starting next week to check their quality.

■ What Happened
· On Friday, October 2, about 50 meters of the San Mateo dike collapsed, and a few days later, an additional 20-meter crack developed in the same area.
· The Lacquios dike also collapsed by about 30 meters. The date varies by report — the same day as San Mateo on the 2nd (The Manila Times 10/4), or the 3rd (The Manila Times 10/10).
· Multiple cracks also appeared starting October 1 on the Mandasig dike in neighboring Candaba, prompting 12 families living along the river to evacuate.
· Residents reported that there was no heavy rain or noticeable strong current when the collapse occurred. However, the initial report on October 4 stated that river water swollen by monsoon rains in recent weeks eroded the dike foundations, so the exact cause must be determined through a technical investigation.
· The project cost for the San Mateo dike is 291 million pesos, and around 200 households nearby are worried about potential overflow if the river swells again.

■ Next Steps
· Vice Governor Pineda stated that as similar collapses continue, responsibility must be determined, and called for an inspection of sheet pile quality and construction status.
· The nearby Candating dike collapsed three times: in August 2024, September 2025, and January 2026. At that time, there were also demands for a public inspection of the sheet piles, but the inspection did not take place as the contractor offered to repair them at no additional cost.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· If you live near the Pampanga River in Arayat or Candaba, regularly check evacuation notices from the city hall or barangay.
· It is safest to stay away from collapsed or cracked dike sections and the roads on top of them.
· If you live near the dikes, keep valuables and documents in a high place in advance and plan your evacuation routes.

■ Sources
CLTV36 News (Official Facebook, 10/9), The Manila Times (10/4, 10/10) — Dike length, project cost, and number of households verified from a single source

Do I have to buy a return ticket out of the Philippines?
If I buy a one-way ticket, what should I do? Any advice is welcome.

What health insurance do you use after moving to the Philippines?

Wise launches an eSIM: a must-have for travelers! ✈️

Just curious: has any foreigner here set up a USUFRUCT agreement so you can keep using your home for life if something happens to your spouse?

We're going with the whole family: three kids, a 4-year-old and 1-year-old twins. We're looking into relocating.
We're looking for a safe neighborhood with a good hospital no more than 30 minutes away, because my 4-year-old needs to see a hematologist and an immunologist. We plan to check out Cebu, Mactan Newtown, Siargao and Boracay. We'd like somewhere with a beach vibe: a walkable area with restaurants and a beach, and a nice villa with a pool. Any areas you'd recommend?

Estimated 121.8 Billion Pesos Lost to Scams in the Philippines Over the Past Year — 73% of Victims Sent Money via E-Wallets

📌 International survey results reported on October 9–10 estimate that Filipino adults lost approximately 121.8 billion pesos to scams over the past year. Released by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) in partnership with Mastercard and Gogolook, the "2026 State of Scams in the Philippines" report shows that the vast majority of those who lost money transferred funds to scammers via e-wallets.

■ Survey Details
· Estimates are based on a survey conducted from March 16 to April 13, 2026, and do not represent the total number of cases reported to authorities.
· 15% of respondents lost money, with an average loss of 10,427 pesos per victim.
· The number of adults who fell victim is estimated at approximately 11.7 million.
· 84% of adults experienced at least one scam attempt over the past year, up from 77% in 2025.
· The most common types of scams were shopping scams (24%), investment scams (22%), and job scams (22%).

■ Channels Where Money Was Lost
· 73% of victims who lost money sent funds via e-wallets. The comparison figure of 34% varies by report — Asian average (Philstar), 2025 Philippines figure (The Manila Times).
· Bank account transfers dropped to 12%, down from 36% in 2025.
· Scammers primarily reached out through messenger apps (39%) and social media posts (36%).
· Only 4% of all respondents reported the incident to authorities, and only 29% among those who actually lost money.

■ Notice for Residents and Travelers
· If online shopping, investment, or job offers require you to send money via e-wallets like GCash first, be suspicious.
· For unfamiliar transaction offers initiated via messenger or social media, always verify the other party's identity before proceeding.
· If you have been victimized, immediately report it to your bank or e-wallet provider and the police to minimize further damage.

■ Sources
Philstar (10/10), The Manila Times (10/9) — Number of adult victims, 84% figure, and scam type percentages are from Philstar; bank transfers, access channels, and reporting rates are from The Manila Times (verified by 1 outlet)

Every time I go to a government office in the Philippines, I'm amazed and disgusted by the pointless amount of paperwork and cost. I just signed up for PhilHealth, and because the payment period ran into next year, the cashier made me go back to the counter and ask for two separate invoices! We're processing a permit to build a retaining wall around our property, and they want five copies of the application, each one notarized, which adds more cost because the lawyer charges per document. Buying land with my Filipina wife was a nightmare with tons of paperwork and requirements. After nine months of back and forth, we're now waiting on a government approval to convert rice field to residential. We're told it could take a year or more unless we hire a “fixer” (a broker). The crazy thing is we've been told we can start renovating now. Does anyone know if that's true? Getting married here is another insanely costly paperwork ordeal. I had to pay $300 in the US to get my documents apostilled because, without knowing it, I had the wrong documents the first time.

This is one major reason the Philippines is a third-world country. Getting anything done is a huge ordeal! Some of you may criticize me for complaining and say I need to accept the situation because this isn't my home country. You'd be absolutely right, and I have accepted it and work with it, but that doesn't make it right...

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