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Is the Philippines a low-trust society in some ways? Is it really the case that habitual lying, zero sense of responsibility, fraud, and the dishonest ways of many Filipinos have led to the situation we see now?

We can't put all the blame on the government. I feel like Filipinos' pride, a harsh culture that takes other people's money for granted, a strong culture of gossip, and a belief that if you haven't deceived the other party in any deal or promise, you've lost (even when you're being treated fairly), have made people forget what it means to work honestly.

When the friendliness on the surface is stripped away, it feels like something rotten is underneath. This country has stayed stuck in the 1950s because of the harsh ways of its citizens. If you're a foreigner, you shouldn't trust anyone here. Am I overgeneralizing? I've seen a lot of very dishonest things firsthand.

Climax

Slay Queen

Dune: Low-Budget Edition

US Residents: Changes to Social Security in 2027
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA):

Based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026, Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive a 3.6% COLA in 2027.

Gasoline seen dropping ₱4.00–₱4.20 per liter next week; diesel seen rising ₱0.20–₱0.40

📌 October 16 (Fri.) Oil industry players expect Philippine gasoline prices to fall by ₱4.00–₱4.20 per liter next week, while diesel prices are expected to rise by ₱0.20–₱0.40. These are still industry estimates, and the Department of Energy (DOE) is scheduled to announce the final adjustment amounts on Monday (the 19th).

■ What's changing
· Gasoline: expected to drop ₱4.00–₱4.20 per liter
· Diesel: expected to rise ₱0.20–₱0.40 per liter
· These estimates are based on four days of trading this week in Singapore's international oil product prices (MOPS), so they may change depending on the remaining trades.

■ Why prices are going up and down
· Gasoline: Leo Bellas, president of Jetti Petroleum, explained that prices fell because supply conditions in Asia have improved and refineries that finished maintenance have resumed operations.
· Diesel: Global inventories remain low, which pushed prices up, but expected additional supply from Russia and the G7's plan to release diesel reserves have limited the increase.
· Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz were cited as a factor pushing prices up.

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· If you drive a gasoline vehicle, filling up after the adjustment takes effect could save you about ₱160–₱168 on a full 40-liter tank.
· If you drive a diesel vehicle, it's better to fill up this week, before prices rise.
· Check the DOE announcement on the 19th for the exact effective date and the adjustment amounts for each oil company.

■ Sources
The Manila Times (10/16), Daily Tribune (10/16), Inquirer (10/16)

■ Photo
· Stock photo · A person refueling a motorcycle — The Manila Times

Here's the situation. I'm a Filipino woman in a long-distance relationship with a foreign man. We've been dating for a few months, and we talk every day by message and video call.

Before ending a call that day, he asked what time I would be home from church. I said around 7 PM my time, which was 6 AM for him. Since I knew it was his day off, I told him it was fine to rest, because he usually wakes up at 4 or 5 AM.

That afternoon I was going to have dinner at my brother's house, and I sent him a message saying I would text him when I got home. I got home around 8 PM, but there was no reply. By 9 PM I was really worried that something had happened. I sent several messages and waited for an answer, and I fell asleep while waiting.

When I woke up, his reply was there: "Hey babe, just woke up. Currently taking a crap."

I know he was sleeping, and I know he had no obligation to stay awake and wait for me. That isn't what upset me. Before the call ended he said he would do something and didn't, and after that I was worried for hours with no contact. Seeing that reply made my worry feel unimportant.

We argued about it, and for the last two days I've been trying to explain. I wasn't angry that he was sleeping, and I didn't want him to sacrifice his rest for me. I was hurt because I felt he didn't care how worried I had been. He kept saying I was making a big deal out of nothing.

In the end we broke up. He was supposed to visit me next month, but he has since said he got a refund on the plane ticket.

So I genuinely want to ask: if you had said you would do something for your girlfriend on the other side of the world, didn't do it, and she worried because she couldn't reach you, how would you respond to her? Do you think his reaction was reasonable, or can you understand why I was hurt?

Is anyone planning a Thanksgiving gathering near Dipolog (Buug, Zamboanga del Norte)?

The proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act aims to replace the outdated 1940 Philippine immigration law and systematically close the "permanent tourist" loophole.

Keep in mind that it may take several years to become law, or it may never pass. Just so you know.

He wants to get in too. No regrets.

Those of you holding a 13a resident ACR card, how long before the card's expiration date do you renew it? And do you have to bring your passport along and keep it with you until the new card is issued?

North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) resettlement housing targeted for completion in Angeles and Mexico, Pampanga by 2027

📌 According to a October 16 report, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) inspected resettlement housing sites in Angeles City and the town of Mexico, Pampanga, for families who must relocate due to the NSCR construction. Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said the National Housing Authority (NHA) and local governments are speeding up the work, and the housing can be completed by 2027.

■ What's Changing
· San Fernando View Residences in Mexico — a 4-story building, with 288 units initially allocated to families relocating due to the railway construction. Phases 1 and 2 (4 buildings) are targeted for completion in November 2026, and Phase 4 (6 buildings) in November 2027.
· Casa de Angeles in Angeles City — the first resettlement housing complex in Angeles City, with 615 units in 4-story buildings, targeted for completion in December 2027.
· The site inspection was led by Undersecretary IC Calaguas of the DOTr to check construction quality and progress. This follows President Marcos's directive to move relocated families to safe and livable places.

■ Local Government Position
· Mexico Mayor Rodencio Gonzales and Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II expressed support for the resettlement project.
· The DOTr, NHA, and local governments agreed to continue coordinating to speed up construction and ensure timely move-ins.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· If your household is among those being relocated, check the move-in schedule and allocation process with the NHA and city/town offices.
· Construction vehicles are frequent around the railway construction zone and the resettlement housing sites, so it's wise to allow extra travel time.

■ Source
The Voice Newsweekly (10/16)

■ Photos
· NSCR resettlement housing site inspection — The Voice Newsweekly

Where can I get an RFID sticker for my car near Olongapo without driving all the way to Angeles?

I'm thinking about leaving the UK and splitting my time between the Philippines and Thailand (probably going to Thailand about 3 times a year). I've heard that the Philippines has less hassle with immigration procedures and income issues, and that it's easier to settle there permanently.

What I'm wondering is this:

I've heard that you can stay up to 3 years without leaving after being given 30 days on arrival—how does that work??

And I've heard that, unlike Thailand, you don't have to pay tax on income earned overseas—is that right??

Also, if there's anything I need to report, what would that be??

German Shepherd, Attacked by Doodle

Hello everyone!

Has anyone recently entered the Philippines with a passport that had less than six months of validity left?

I hold a French passport. It's valid for my entire stay (under 30 days), but it won't have six months remaining.

I read a post saying there may be exceptions to the six-month passport validity requirement.

Has anyone entered the Philippines smoothly in this situation, or run into problems with the airline or immigration?

I'd really like to hear real experiences, especially recent ones.

Thanks in advance!

All 30 of the first gift packages for children (1,000 pesos each) have been sold out!

We're now preparing the next 30!

Ombudsman files 3 graft charges against former Pampanga Rep. Gonzales over ₱611 million flood control projects

📌 On October 16 (Friday), the Office of the Ombudsman filed three counts of graft against former Pampanga Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. with the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court. He is accused of having prohibited financial interests in flood control projects worth over ₱611 million that his family's construction company won while he was in office.

■ Case Background
· The charges fall under Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits public officials from having direct or indirect financial interests in contracts they may participate in officially.
· The company in question is ADG Construction (A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction), and the three contracts were awarded by the Region 3 office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
· The projects are: flood mitigation facilities in San Fernando and Bacolor (over ₱252 million), flood control and slope protection works in Mexico town (over ₱94 million), and another flood management project in Mexico town (about ₱265 million).

■ Investigation and Current Status
· Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that although Gonzales claimed to have transferred his shares, the money kept flowing back to him, meaning there was no real divestment. According to anti-money laundering records, payments made to the company ended up in his personal account.
· Gonzales's side has reportedly claimed that the share payment went to his sister. The allegations will be resolved in court.
· The case began with an investigation by the Ombudsman's Field Investigation Office in July and August, and complaints from residents of Barangay Santo Cristo in Mexico town. The residents submitted photos showing erosion, collapse, and cracks in the concrete slope protection structures.

■ Notes for Residents and Travelers
· Pampanga has been placed under a state of calamity province-wide due to flooding this year, and controversy over poorly built flood control facilities continues, including the recent successive collapses of the Arayat dike earlier this month.
· If you are traveling through low-lying riverside areas in Mexico, Bacolor, or San Fernando during heavy rain, please check guidance from provincial and city disaster management authorities first.

■ Source
The Manila Times (10/16), Daily Tribune (10/16)

■ Photos
· 1. Former Pampanga Rep. speaking in the House plenary hall — rappler.com
· 2. Former Pampanga Rep. delivering a speech at an event — Daily Tribune

Hello, this is my first time in this group. I'd like to be introduced to an honest, professional immigration attorney who can help with figuring out which visa my son should apply for to bring his Filipino wife to the United States. My son has been living in Manila for over a year (they have one child, and another is due soon), and he wants to bring his family to his home in Houston, Texas. He tried to follow the proper procedure, but he made a mistake, so now he has to start over from the beginning. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all. 🤗

Hello everyone! I'm Wayne, and this is my wife, Sarah Bird. We're both originally from Los Angeles, but now we live in the countryside on the Big Island of Hawaii, and we're planning to spend the holidays in the Philippines!

We'll arrive on Christmas Eve to meet family in BGC and Baguio. Before we head north, we'll have some time around BGC during Christmas, and we'd love to meet good people and have a great time.

What do you all do at Christmas? Are there any holiday gatherings, community events, or chances to hang out and make new friends?

We're very friendly, fun, and into wellness, hiking, adventure, cultural events, family get-togethers, volunteer work, and exploring new places. Good food, good conversation, and good people are what we have in mind for the holidays!

If you're nearby and want to connect, please say hi. We'd really love to meet you!

Wayne & Sarah