Feed

How do you all watch the NFL and American college football here in the Philippines? I'll take a Monday replay if I have to, because right now I've got nothing! Everything I normally use is either blocked here or says I'm out of market. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks

This restaurant has the best pulled pork sandwiches. I brought my own BBQ sauce.

This place is honestly perfect. It's a pulled pork sandwich, and the only letdown is that they don't have a good BBQ sauce, so I brought my own. It's somewhere in Cavite 👽🔫

FYI

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/09/04/us-expands-travel-advisory-adds-leyte-mindoro-negros-samar/

I wanted to share how I troubleshot my solar setup as it nears the two-year mark, in case anyone in the group runs into something similar.

First of all, if you're planning to go solar and you're not an expert who can DIY everything, don't just go with the cheapest quote. There are plenty of installers who compete purely on rock-bottom prices, don't have the technical chops to solve complex problems, and vanish completely once the install is done.

My installer was about 10–20% more expensive than the cheapest quotes I found, but across five purchases over the last two years, he's kept earning that premium.
During my first year, he drove up from Manila to Baguio the very next day to deal with an urgent problem.
He answers my questions and messages reliably, even on Sundays.
He honestly talked me out of certain upgrades he didn't think were worth the money.
He solved every complex technical request I threw at him: charging our solar batteries with V2L from my EV, wiring the whole house to critical loads for convenience, and even pooling net-metering credits.
Even though he does huge 1.97MW installations for universities and military bases, he's never treated residential clients like small fry.

Here's the problem we just solved.
A little under two weeks ago, after installing my second solar setup, I noticed a glitch on the Deye app's summary screen. The main house runs two 8kW inverters in parallel, but the summary only showed output from one of them. Oddly, when I went straight into the device view, both were producing.

Digging deeper, I found that one inverter's internal time zone kept resetting to UTC -05:00 instead of our local UTC +08:00.

My installer pushed a remote firmware update to fix the sync, but that created a new headache: the inverter started heavily throttling output in peak sunlight. I knew for sure it wasn't the weather or clouds, because my second setup, barely 100 meters away, was logging a clean production curve while this unit spiked and dropped erratically right at midday.

Looking into it further, we found that the two parallel units were on different firmware versions, which clashed at the software level and made the system throttle production.

After another firmware reinstall to properly match both units, the next day's curve went right back to a smooth, unbroken bell shape.

The time zone still acted up now and then, which we traced to the logger falling out of sync and resetting every night. My installer gathered all the diagnostic data and filed a warranty claim directly with Deye, putting the five-year warranty to good use.

If you're getting into solar without deep technical knowledge, remember that choosing an installer is like a marriage. Pick someone who's in it for the long haul, not a one-night stand.

Above all, I prayed about this, and thanks to God, full production is back.
“I prayed, and God restored what was broken.” — Joel 2:25

A Philippines expat, or REALLY a Philippines immigrant? Here's how to tell which you are…

By definition, an expat stays for a short time and intends to go back home. Expats also float around between countries. Immigrants, on the other hand, move to another country long-term, essentially permanently.

So if you're on a 13a visa in the Philippines, you're definitely an IMMIGRANT. If you bought your girlfriend or wife a house because you couldn't put it in your own name, you're definitely an immigrant. If you've lived in the Philippines for years on a tourist visa, fly out for a day after 3 years, and fly back the next day to live another 3 years, you're an immigrant.

If you're like me, spending a few months in the country and then flying to Vietnam or Thailand for months, then by definition you're an EXPAT. Expats don't settle permanently in one place. That would be an IMMIGRANT.

So now that I've explained the difference, which are you: an expat or an immigrant?

Lifestyle upgrades in the PH: what did you choose? Regrets? Choices you were happy with?

I came to the PH years ago, for money and women, like most people. I learned a lot about personal finance and, for once in my life, saved a bit. Now that I'm about to hit a major financial milestone… I'm wondering what the future holds in terms of more comfort. I now look at things through the lens of smarter choices and long-term consequences, and I've also realized that economics and comfort are two different things.

Basically, I've maxed out economics and I'm at bare-minimum comfort. There's no situation better for me than the current one, but I'm not rich either, so every choice really matters. I wanted to ask how you all prioritized lifestyle upgrades.

For instance, I ride a Honda Click 125… it's great. But I rode an ADV 160 yesterday and it's clearly worth the price. Talking to AI, it's probably the best all-round bike, the price is OK, and it feels better to ride… but honestly the Click gets the job done, it's cheaper, it's never failed me, and most importantly the front hook lets me carry groceries, which is priceless. What I'm missing is rain protection, so before getting the ADV it'd probably be smarter to get an actual vehicle, like a 280k multicab or something. Then again, I can just grin and bear it; living in the PH has made me better at that too. So I could buy two Clicks, run them hard riding two-up, get another, and only then do what I want and buy the ADV at double the price and sink another 100k or so into it.

My laptop runs hot too, but I don't want to drop 240k on a nice computer when my living situation can't support it, given my AC setup and the heat here. And if I get AC I could move to a quieter room… and why not a more comfortable bed while I'm at it?!

Since I'm a homebody, a home upgrade would clearly be the biggest one, but the prices just don't match reality. I don't want to spend more than I would in the US for less. When some lolo (grandpa) is selling a 'RUSH SALE' 1000sqm raw lot that's 80% slope for 6 million pesos (negotiable, haha)… a nice spot for the dog I want to pee in is a luxury I can't afford here.

Ultimately the smartest choice for me is no change. I should be content; everything is OK… but human nature gets in the way. Either way, the PH and what I've experienced and learned here have set me up better. The math will get done, and I won't buy anything without giving it enough time.

So, what lifestyle upgrades have you made that worked out or failed? I'd like to learn from you all before I inevitably make my own mistakes :)

I've lived here for over 8 years, and for the first time ever I'm going to the barangay captain with a problem. It affects both our house and the elementary school across from us.

Our power supplier made a complete mess of things and then sent us a disconnection warning. And that's after they couldn't even give us a bill last month because the meters were unreadable. Both of the new replacement meters are also showing higher usage, so I want them checked too.

The school is closed on Sundays, which is when they read the meters, so they hand the school's bill to us and ask us to pass it on.

Foreigners living in the Philippines: what do you wish were easier to get or arrange here?

Hi everyone, I'm genuinely curious about this and would love to hear from people who actually live here.

I run a business that supplies military camps, and through that I've met and dealt with quite a few foreign military personnel.

What I found interesting is that many of them said they'd love to come back to the Philippines someday, not on duty but on their own time, to really enjoy and experience the country.

That got me wondering about foreigners who already live here, stay for a few months at a time, or keep coming back.

What's hard to find or arrange in the Philippines?

Anything goes. A product that's hard to find, transportation, accommodation, deliveries, local services, sourcing something, language or communication issues, paying with a foreign card, or just dealing with businesses where the pricing or process isn't clear.

Basically, the stuff that makes you think, 'Why is this so hard here?' or 'I wish I knew someone reliable who could just handle this for me.'

I'm asking because I'm exploring whether there's a real problem my business could eventually help solve. I don't want to assume what foreigners need; I'd rather ask directly.

I'm also not looking to make a quick buck off foreigners. I'm much more interested in building long-term relationships where people come back because they trust us.

Fair, transparent pricing, no inflated 'foreigner price', no overcharging. We can also take foreign and international cards, which might make things easier for some people.

I'm not selling anything here. I'm just genuinely interested in your experiences.

What service, product, or everyday problem do you wish someone would make easier for you in the Philippines?

Even the small annoying stuff counts. 😅

Has PR104 from Manila to San Francisco been unusually bumpy this week?

We're over the Pacific right now on Philippine Airlines flight PR104 from Manila to San Francisco.

The air has been rough for most of the flight, with a few stretches of especially strong turbulence. We've flown this route many times, and neither my wife nor I remember it being this bumpy for this long.

We've got several flights within the US over the next few weeks, so we're hoping for calmer skies.

Have any Filipino travelers or fellow expats flown PR104, or a similar trans-Pacific route, this week?

If so, did you hit the same turbulence? Was it rough most of the way, or only over a certain part of the Pacific?

I'm also posting this so anyone who gets motion sickness or anxiety in rough weather on flights can prepare ahead, e.g. Dramamine, Meclazine, anxiety meds.

I appreciate every comment. Safe travels, everyone.

I'm moving from Arizona to Angeles, Pampanga on October 14th. I love going to punk rock shows. I know there's more going on in Manila than in Angeles. I heard Mow's in Quezon City is a good place to see punk bands. Do you know of any other places? Thanks

Do people judge Western men with much younger Filipina/Filipino partners a lot?

I'm asking because on another Philippines subreddit there was a ton of prejudice and disapproval about age-gap relationships between middle-aged Westerners and much younger Filipinos.

Westerners looking for a younger Filipino were slammed as 'entitled' and 'taking advantage of vulnerable people'.

Honestly, I was shocked by the hostility. Is this common?

Cebu folks: does the internet stay up during a brownout?

I'm seriously thinking about moving to Cebu. I love nature, and the beaches nearby look amazing. The one thing giving me pause is the power outages. I'd live somewhere with backup generators, so that part's not a problem. What worries me is whether the internet goes down along with the power. I'm planning to run an online business, so I really need reliable internet.

If the place I'm renting can keep the electricity on during a brownout, will I still have internet?

Looking for recommendations for a hotel near the airport in Manila. Clean, safe and not expensive. Thanks

The Philippines 🇵🇭 and the lack of seasons

As my stay in the USA winds down… I'm reminded (every day) of the joy of 'seasons'…'chapters'…

The Midwest calendar is clearly divided:
Spring: baseball starts…gardens come alive, Easter….warmer days.
Summer: baseball, cookouts, beaches, long evenings, vacations.
Fall: football (college and NFL)..leaves changing..baseball playoffs…Halloween
Winter: NFL playoffs, snow, indoor life, basketball, Christmas

The USA has four distinct lifestyle seasons.
The Philippines 🇵🇭 has three psychological seasons: Hot…Rainy/typhoon….BER/Christmas.

I prefer the USA 'calendar.'
I appreciate the Philippine one too.

The Philippines 🇵🇭 has two chapters.

If you're looking for a traditional, conservative woman, you probably won't find one in the Philippines, and here's why

Before I get into it, I already know most of the guys replying will talk about how great their Filipina girlfriend/wife is. From what I've seen, they're the MINORITY!

Here's the reality in 2026:

There's a reason the passport bro crowd flocks to the Philippines as its number one destination: in all of Asia, Filipinas are known as by far the easiest to hook up with casually. Am I saying all Filipinas are easy? Of course not. But generally, everyone knows what I'm saying is true. I'm not trying to shame anyone either. It's just a fact. Go to Vietnam and try to casually hook up with Vietnamese women. It's much harder. Vietnamese women are probably the most traditional and conservative in Asia, and certainly far more conservative than Filipinas.

Here's the deal: foreigners WANT EASY, not traditional or conservative. That's why they skip Vietnam and head straight to the Philippines. But if you're genuinely looking for a traditional, conservative woman, I think you'll definitely have better luck in Vietnam, maybe even Thailand. From what I see, the Philippines is just a meat market. If that's what you want in a wife, it's your place.

Again, obviously this doesn't apply to all Filipinas, but in general there's a far larger pool of Filipinas willing to hook up short-term with any foreigner. In Vietnam that pool is much smaller, so what I'm talking about is a numbers game. I'm not saying there are no easy Vietnamese women, there are, but the pool is much smaller than in the Philippines. Passport bros know this and flock to the Philippines for that reason. Do you want a Filipina wife who's already been passed around by tons of passport bros? 😏

Hi, I'm planning a trip to the Philippines. Which YouTubers or content creators should I watch to get the most solid, all-round info and insights on the Philippines (visas, cost of living, dating, culture, etc.)? Thanks in advance!

Paying for tolls

Hi,

Sometimes I take Grab. It's already expensive, but I take it because I don't feel like waiting for a jeepney, or for other reasons. Grab is more than 10 times the price of a jeepney. It's still cheap, but I find it's the small expenses that are dangerous, because unlike big purchases they creep up on you.

Also, a lot of the time I just want to see the scenery, which you skip when you take the toll road.

Sometimes the driver asks, or insists, or just takes the toll road without my consent. Is taking the toll road standard or expected?

Sometimes I feel a bit guilty saying I don't want to take it.

My question is: am I wrong to say I don't want to pay the toll?

What my 13A actually cost, both stages, item by item

Cost questions come up here all the time and the answers are all over the place. I've seen ₱7,380, ₱11,010, ₱12,000, and even '₱20,000 to 50,000' quoted for the same thing. So here's exactly what I paid, with the receipts in front of me.

I filed both stages myself at a provincial district office. No agency, no fixer, no lawyer.

The conversion filing, December 2024

Main receipt, ₱7,153:
Application fee ₱1,000
Implementation fee ₱500
Passport visa fee ₱200
Documentary stamp tax ₱30
Form ₱50
Legal research fee ₱60
Immigrant Certificate of Residence (ICR) ₱1,400
Amendment fee ₱500
Certificate fee ₱500
ACR I-Card ₱2,913

Then a second receipt, printed the same minute, ₱2,500:
Express fee, implementation ₱1,000
Express fee, I-Card processing ₱500
Express fee, filing ₱500
Express fee, certification ₱500

₱9,653 in cash at the window, before anything was approved.

I never asked for express service. There's simply no regular lane on offer. It's charged automatically, and it doesn't appear on any published fee schedule I've found.

Two things about those numbers

The ACR I-Card fee isn't a round number (₱2,913) because it's set at US$50 and collected in pesos at that day's rate. Yours will differ.

The probationary stage has the same structure. Published schedules put processing at around ₱8,620, plus the card.

What's missing from every quote you'll see

Notary, photocopies, folders, photos. And if your office is in another province, the trip. Mine is a three-hour drive, so it's fuel, a night's stay and food. About ₱4,000 each time.

That last item is roughly a quarter of the real cost, and it's on no fee schedule anywhere. If you live in Roxas, Kalibo, Tacloban or Dumaguete, budget an overnight for each filing.

Real total: around ₱14,000 per stage. Roughly ₱28,000 for the whole thing.

The ongoing costs

Annual report, ₱1,310 online. That's ₱300 for the report itself and a ₱1,000 express fee, for a process done entirely over video call.

Exit clearance when I travel was ₱3,690, but that included the annual report, because I filed them together and they shared one express fee. Worth doing if your trip falls around January.

Happy to answer anything specific!

For those living in Cebu City, which food apps do you use to order delivery to a hotel? I have a flight coming up and I'm staying at a hotel near the airport, but my daughter is vegan. I'm looking for an app to buy vegan food and have it delivered. Also, is Uber available in Cebu City for getting a ride?? Thank you

Where's the safest place to live in the Philippines?

I'm moving to the Philippines in December with my girlfriend. She's Filipino. We've been dating and traveling around Southeast Asia for over a year. Because of taxes, next year we can't stay in Vietnam (one of our favorite places) for more than 180 days, so we're going to try living in the Philippines, where the visa and tax rules are easier.

My question is....

Where's the safest place to live? At first I was looking at lifestyle, weather, beaches and so on. But honestly, the more I've researched, the more safety has become my number one priority for our stay. I'll pay more if I have to, and I'll put up with city life, traffic, whatever. I just want to feel safe and comfortable.

Where would you recommend moving?

I'd appreciate any info or advice. Thanks.