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I'll be staying in Quezon City at the end of this month
I've never been there before.. though I've been to the Philippines many times.

I'd appreciate suggestions for an area to stay in and, if possible, a place to stay

Ideally even one with a kitchen and a balcony.

Thanks so much

When can you extend your visa online?

This is what I've read, but it's a bit confusing.

1st extension (29-day visa waiver extension): can be done online (extends the initial 30-day visa-free entry to 59 days total).
2nd to 5th month extensions: must be done in person at a Bureau of Immigration (BI) office (note that an Alien Certificate of Registration, the ACR I-Card, is required from this stage).
6th month extension: can be done online.
7th to 12th month extensions: can be done online.
After 12 months: stays over one year no longer qualify for online extensions and must be handled entirely in person at a BI office.

If I'm understanding this correctly:

Arrive and do the 29-day extension online (already did this).

In person for a 60-day extension.

Online for a 60-day extension.

In person for a 60-day extension.

Online 60-day extension x2.

The rest must be done in person.

Is that right? Also, I assume that even if I extend past a year, if I leave at day 350 I can still get my ECC at the airport (it says under 1 year you can get it there).

What fruit grows on your land?

We've got all kinds of fruit on our mountain property. This picture is papaya.

By the way…. papaya is commonly described as a giant tree-like herb (not a fruit) because its trunk is soft. 😳

What fruit do you have on your property? Pictures appreciated.

A wonderful mom posted that she was worried a Filipino reading tutor might give her child a Filipino accent. She sounds like a great parent, so this is a different question. Are other families with one expat parent worried about accents?

Does Team Aussie in the Philippines want their kids to sound Aussie, or is Team St. George (England) hoping for a posh English accent? If I had a vote, I'd pick Michael Caine's Cockney.

My wife grew up in rural Mindanao and speaks with a neutral, near-American accent. I speak neutral American English. Our kid learned English at 5, is now 8, and speaks with a generic, near-American accent.

The kids in our mixed-family group also speak with generic, near-American accents, even with Kiwi (New Zealand)–Filipino, Swedish–Filipino, Japanese–Filipino, or Korean–Filipino parents.

I'm not pushing the American accent. If I could have any accent, it'd be Ray Shoesmith's from the show 'Mr Inbetween.'

Just so you know

There seem to be quite a few openly racist people in this sub. Just so you know, hurling racial slurs is a deportable offense if you get caught.

Do I need to declare a wedding ring at customs?

Hi everyone, I'm really torn about this. I'm a foreigner, I have to fill out eTravel, and I'm planning to propose to my Filipina girlfriend.

I'll be bringing a wedding ring worth about 2,300 dollars

Should I declare it?

Kitty on the meow-ve

What an interesting way to remember Uranus

I never would have imagined these guys sound like this

Good evening, fellow expats! I have a question for those of you who married a Filipina, had kids in the Philippines, applied for dual citizenship, and now have kids with two passports. How did you handle the official birth certificate, the difference between middle name and maiden name, and how that shows up on their US/UK/Australian passports?

My wife insists that our soon-to-be-born baby should carry her surname as a 'middle name.' I'm worried that could make it confusing what to put as the middle name on the US passport.

What did you end up doing?

Thanks!

Irony at the police station

I had to spend about two hours at the police station today because of a malicious mischief (property damage) case they're filing for me

While I was there, two guys came in, one with bandages on both arms. The other guy flat-out admitted they'd gotten into an argument and he ended up stabbing him, and the guy had to go to the hospital. He wasn't handcuffed, wasn't searched.. it was actually kind of awkward having him just stand there after what he'd confessed. In the end he sat down with the victim, they agreed on a financial settlement, and that was that.

Shortly after, the police brought in a guy for shoplifting mayo. He was handcuffed, searched, and put in a holding cell. I offered to pay for the mayo, but apparently that wasn't an option because the store owner wanted to press charges.

So there you have it. Stabbing is fine, but shoplifting mayo is where they draw the line.

Started talking to a 30-year-old Filipina teacher from Bohol a month ago. Are they usually this shy and quiet?

I'm American and 44, and she's 30. We met on a dating app a month ago. We text and video chat almost every day, but she's really quiet and barely tells me anything personal, while I'm an open book. I have to lead the conversation and pry if I want to know something (asking over and over and explaining why), and even then she seems nervous and reluctant to tell me. On video calls I mostly just see her eyeball, nose, and forehead. I have to tease her to get her to show her whole face, and even that doesn't last long. She says she looks haggard and she's shy, even though I keep telling her she's not ugly. I've talked to her sister on video calls, and her sister seems totally normal on the phone, so I'm a bit confused. I feel like she isn't trying very hard and isn't showing much interest, or that she's scared. I've met her younger sister and brother on video calls, and last week she had her mom say hi to me, and she said her family asked about me at dinner, so I kind of feel like she might just be a shy Catholic girl — but I'm still not 100% sure. Is this normal behavior, and if so, when does it end? If not, please explain. Any tips to make our conversations a bit livelier? Thank you.

More on Filipino guitars...
I've learned that the Philippines doesn't mass-produce guitars the way the US and China do. So if you find a skilled luthier and want to sit down and play their guitars before buying, they need to live near you! As luck would have it, I found three promising ones right here on Mactan Island, Cebu: Ferangeli Guitars, Alegre Guitars, and Troy Casquejo (Cebu luthier). I'm going to check them all out!

There's a lesson my father taught me long ago about buying guitars: 'Every guitar MUST come with a hard case.' When I was ten or eleven, we went shopping for a guitar and bought one. After we paid, the clerk asked if we wanted a case. My dad was 'not happy' about that. It's basically lying about the guitar's real price. He returned the guitar and we walked out. That's still my rule to this day. Wherever I shop for instruments, I tactfully bring this up so there's no confusion about the price.

Turns out Ferangeli includes a hard case with every guitar 10k and up, and a soft case with the rest. That alone tells you right away they run an honest business, and that they're used to dealing with customers who expect to be treated with respect. Without even playing one of their guitars, I'm probably going to buy a Ferangeli...

Staying at Go Hotels, there's a durian and fruit stall right around the corner. We ate durian in our room and got fined the next morning. No signs anywhere — has this happened to anyone?

A question about condos

I'm thinking about looking into moving to the Philippines. My expectations are pretty low overall, but where I live has to be quiet. So I'm wondering whether condos generally come with decent soundproofing, or whether they're like typical US apartment buildings where you can hear your neighbors.

Above all, I want a peaceful day-to-day life. I know full well that everything outside my home will be very different from what I'm used to, but my home has to be my sanctuary. If I can't have that, it's not even worth a scouting trip.

We should love everyone equally

#Please be gentle
Hello, expats
Could I ask for your best ideas on a good place to live? Something like a province, where basic necessities are easy to get and beaches, markets and malls aren't far — within 2 hours, I guess.

Thanks!

Condo owners — what made you buy instead of rent?

I'm not looking to buy — I'm just itching to know more about it.

For those who bought, what was the deciding factor over just renting? Any regrets?

Has your unit held its value, or have new builds kept it from appreciating?

If you've sold, what should people know about fees, taxes, and bringing the money back home?

Do you have a long-term plan? Leave it to your kids or your Filipino spouse, or cash out? Etc.

I've also heard stories of people losing big buying pre-completion. Is that because buildings never get finished, or because the price paid ends up higher than the unit's real value at completion?

Thanks ✌🏻

Retatrutide/GLP-1

Has anyone here had experience with retatrutide/GLP-1 in the Philippines? Can it be shipped here, or will doctors prescribe it?

I know a doctor down the street from me. They don't really examine me in the usual sense — they've just written whatever prescription I've asked for so far.

Just curious what other expats' experience has been here.

Thanks in advance.

Metro Manila No-Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) Resumes October 5 — Implemented in 5 Cities, Valenzuela Put on Hold

📌 Starting Monday, October 5, camera-based traffic enforcement, known as the No-Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP), will resume in five cities across Metro Manila: Manila, Quezon City, Paranaque, Muntinlupa, and San Juan. Valenzuela City, which was originally scheduled to resume alongside them, has postponed its implementation due to ongoing road construction.

■ What's Changing
· NCAP is a system that captures traffic violations using CCTVs and digital cameras, allowing authorities to flag violators without traffic enforcers having to pull them over.
· The resumption was made possible after the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions against NCAP and lifted the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that had been in place since August 2022.
· Initially, six cities including Valenzuela were set to resume the program, but Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian postponed the rollout "until further notice," citing that traffic routes and conditions change daily due to road construction.
· While the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not a direct implementing agency, it has instructed police units to assist local government units (LGUs) when necessary.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· Notice of violations will be sent digitally. Fines are based on the 2023 Metro Manila traffic code, and motorists can contest violations with the Traffic Adjudication Board before paying.
· Fines are paid through the respective LGU's online portal, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has also made payments available via the eGovPH app starting in July.
· If you are driving a personal car or a rental car in these five cities, you may still receive a violation notice later even if you weren't pulled over on the spot. For rental cars, check with the rental company in advance on how they handle violation notices.

■ Sources
Philstar (10/2, 10/5), The Manila Times (10/3), BusinessMirror (10/2), Inquirer (10/4) — Fines, contest procedures, and payment methods verified from Philstar