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If it were me, I would've stayed there at least 30 more minutes...

I knew you'd all be like this.

No biting, okay?

Hello everyone, thank you so much for taking the time to share your opinions, experiences, concerns, and even your prayers. I can't reply to every comment individually, so I'm answering all of you here at once.
P.S. To the grammar/spelling detectives, thank you for solving the biggest problem in the world 🙈😜 I hope you all get well soon.

Now, let me tell you a bit more about our situation. I'm a Filipina from Cebu, and I've been married to my American husband for 21 years. He's 77 and I'll be 44 soon 😉 Yes, it's a big age gap. We have no children and no close family in the US. My husband is retired and I care for him full-time. He isn't a veteran, so he doesn't qualify for state or program assistance like TRICARE/VA or Medicaid/Medi-Cal. Medicare doesn't cover Alzheimer's care. I also don't qualify to be paid as his caregiver through the state (IHSS). (In my case) Social Security doesn't give me anything either just because I'm my husband's caregiver. I've talked to 5 social workers about whether there's any help available, but no, there was nothing. Yes, healthcare is better here, but in my experience that's not the case for this disease. My biggest worry right now is giving my husband the best care and quality of life without ending up homeless, and making sure I don't get sick or injured myself. Thank you again for your time. Now I have to make a big decision all by myself. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Hi, I'm Mari. Is there any Filipina wife here who is taking care of a spouse with Alzheimer's? I'm currently living in the US and I'm seriously thinking about taking my husband back to my hometown in the Philippines. I've been caring for him since 2019, and it's getting harder and harder. Finding a helper is impossible, and I don't want to put him in a care facility. Do you have any advice? Thanks in advance.

Why do we have to step outside just to photocopy documents at a government office?

Why do so many government offices have no copier or scanner that people submitting documents can use?

Honestly, it's such a hassle. The line is huge, and then suddenly they tell you to go outside to copy a required document and come back afterward. And you end up spending extra money over one simple piece of paper.

I understand that every agency has budget constraints, procurement procedures, and policies, but is it really that hard to offer free copying for everyone?

Not everyone who comes to a government office has spare cash or the time to go hunting for a print shop. Some people travel from remote barangays just to process a single document. There are seniors, persons with disabilities, and people whose budgets are already tight who have to spend more because of an unexpected missing document.

I wish there were at least a free copy and scan corner. Public service is supposed to make things easier for citizens, not pile unnecessary inconvenience on top of an already exhausting process. Sigh...

We live in an age of globalization (and have for generations now).

I'm a mixed Filipino (Indian-Spanish), and I'm happily dating a Filipina girlfriend (Spanish-Chinese). We've both traveled a lot and met people from all over the world, so we've experienced a wide range of cultures. I've been visiting this subreddit for years, and every time all I see is guys chasing the wrong Filipinas lol. And I'm 100% sure the women you should actually be meeting are somewhere else.

I want to point out that women of the type similar to me are socially "hidden." That means you have to build your own path to reach them. Let me show you a framework for finding a healthy person.

Build a network. The more your connections span different industries, the wider the net you can cast.

This is advice that works anywhere: work on yourself first. Then someone will definitely show up. Don't chase people for no reason.

Traditional women won't mind if you approach them. Just don't be oblivious. If they're interested, they'll give you signals like women anywhere in the world. (This is obvious, but surprisingly many people can't do it.)

If you've caught the eye of a woman from a solid family, be ready to meet her family. I've heard that parents from the other side of the Philippines are fine to avoid, but in this case you can't ignore them. Otherwise, from that point on you'll be Sisyphus, endlessly rolling a boulder uphill to win her interest.

This may come as a shock, but the Philippines is a country built to be divided into those who rule and those who are ruled, and that divide exists in modern society too. It's easy to tell apart the families who act within the lines I described and those who don't.

In my view, most foreigners chase the Filipinas on the opposite side of that line. If you insist on doing so, your ethics and morals need to be extremely high, because you'd have to bear every bit of the trauma those women have carried from generations of oppression.

While taxpayers still struggle with website errors and long lines at BIR offices, the BIR even held a full-production concert

I went to see Dr. Joselle Chua.

She was so kind and explained everything so well that I asked her name after the appointment, and I was surprised when she said it was Joselle Chua. It seems her husband named the clinic after his wife. Impressive...

I booked a Saturday 10:20 a.m. appointment, but since it was my first visit, between the eye measurements, the vision test, and then seeing the doctor, it took over an hour..

Including the dry eye medication and the consultation fee, it came to about 1700. She said there's no problem with the lens of my eye, but it looks dry, and that I should try the eye drops and if there's still a problem
OCT Macula (Macular Optical Coherence Tomography)

• What kind of test is it?

  • OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) uses light to take ultra-high-resolution cross-sectional images of the tissue inside the eye, like a kind of "micro CT scan just for the eyes."

  • The macula is the most important part of the retina, responsible for the center of your vision (over 90%).

• Why is it done?

  • It is performed to precisely analyze cross-sections of each retinal layer to check for diseases that affect central vision, such as macular degeneration, macular edema, central serous retinopathy, and macular hole.

OCT Optic Nerve (Optic Nerve Optical Coherence Tomography)

• What kind of test is it?

  • This test uses OCT equipment to scan the Optic Nerve (the optic nerve and optic disc), which carries visual information from the eye to the brain, and precisely measures the thickness of the optic nerve fiber layer in micrometers (µm).

• Why is it done?

  • It is an essential test, most notably for the early diagnosis of glaucoma and for checking whether it is progressing. When there is optic nerve damage or glaucoma, the optic nerve fiber layer becomes thinner, and this is compared against normal values.

She said I could get these two tests done. They cost 1000 and 3800 respectively.. Hmm, I'll try the eye drops, and if it's still the same, I'll get diagnosed.

This is so embarrassing! 😂

Phone options

Before I go to the Philippines, what's the best phone option for keeping my US number for banking and verification?

Helping her family is part of the deal

I almost always side with the expats on these issues, but this time I think some of the young guys are barking up the wrong tree.

"I expect my wife to help her family"
"Her family keeps asking me for money"
"She expects me to support her"

These complaints come up all the time. I want to ask those guys, "What exactly did you come here expecting?" Most people who come here are fine with a traditional marriage. The wife obeys her husband, cooks, looks after the house, rubs his feet when he's tired... and does other things too. In return, the husband supports his wife and helps her family out, especially if she's from the province (provinciana).

Let me be upfront: if you want a partner who splits everything 50:50, you won't find one in the Philippines. You might have better luck in places like Japan or Singapore.

Honestly, I think the complaints come from embarrassment, because what the woman expects goes beyond what the man can afford. The solution is to find a woman whose expectations are ones you can handle, and it's better to set honest limits from the start. From what I've seen, the amount considered acceptable for family support is around $200 a month in the province, and probably higher in Manila. If she asks for more than that, find another woman.

The Pasig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 153 has dismissed the slight physical injuries case against viral police rider PSSG Erwin Laguea, following the complainant John Vincent Cayanes' withdrawal of his complaint against the police officer.

You may remember that the incident went viral after the officer was reported to have pushed the complainant, but the full video later showed that it was actually the complainant who chased after the officer while the officer was trying to avoid him.

The complainant voluntarily submitted an affidavit of desistance, saying that the complaint he filed was merely the result of a misunderstanding.

Earlier, the PNP had charged Laguea with attempted homicide, but the Pasig City Prosecutor's Office dismissed it, and Laguea was charged only with slight physical injuries.

The lawyers' group Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP) assisted Laguea, and LCSP founder Atty. Ariel Inton personally took on Laguea's defense.

Fuel price outlook for next week — Gasoline hike and diesel rollback expected on 11/3 (Tue)

📌 On Friday, October 30, the oil industry projected that next week's fuel prices, effective Tuesday, November 3, will see gasoline go up by 2.90 to 3.20 pesos per liter and diesel go down by 0.40 to 0.60 pesos per liter. These are still industry estimates, and the final adjustment will be set by the oil companies' announcements.

■ Next week's forecast
· Gasoline: up 2.90 to 3.20 pesos per liter
· Diesel: down 0.40 to 0.60 pesos per liter
· Kerosene: no estimate given in the reports

■ Who said it and on what basis
· According to the Daily Tribune, the estimates come from Leo Bellas, president of Jetti Petroleum. Philstar reported that the figures are based on the first four trading days of the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) benchmark prices and exchange rate movements.
· Changes in freight and insurance costs have not yet been factored in, so the final adjustment may differ depending on the results of the last trading day this week.

■ Why prices are going up and down
· Gasoline: Continued attacks in the Middle East have raised concerns about energy supply disruptions, which are keeping crude oil prices elevated.
· Diesel: Prices fell because Asian supply increased, helped by China's fourth fuel export quota and South Korea's easing of diesel export restrictions.

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· Gasoline vehicles can save a little by filling up by Monday (11/2), before the increase. For diesel vehicles, filling up after Tuesday is likely to be better.
· We will let you know the final figures again once the oil companies make their announcements.

You can check actual pump prices (Petron Quezon City) every week in the fuel price section on the SeeQee home screen.

■ Sources
The Manila Times (10/31), Philstar (10/31), Daily Tribune (10/30)

■ Photos
· 1. Stock photo · Fueling a motorcycle — The Manila Times
· 2. Stock photo · Fuel pump nozzle and peso bills — Philstar
· 3. Stock photo · Gas station price board and attendant — Daily Tribune
· 4. Stock photo · Filling a motorcycle fuel tank — Inquirer
· 5. Stock photo · Fueling a car at a gas station — Philstar

Hi, I'm Patrick. I'd like to move to the Philippines, and I'd really appreciate any advice on where to start and where to look online. Thank you. It's great to meet such nice people, and I'm glad to connect with those who know a lot about this. My budget isn't big, but I'll be earning a basic income as an online freelancer.

Nice knife

Hello, I just got back from traveling all around southern Luzon.
I'm retired and by no means rich, but I earn enough to get by. I have a Filipina fiancée. I met her when she was working where I live now.

We want to get married, but I'm not sure what to do after that. Where I live now, I can switch my visa to a residence visa, but I really hate the surroundings. I'm tired of living in a cold, desolate vacuum.

During my three-week visit I saw the bad side of things, but I also saw the good side of the people and the beauty of the land.

Are there any decent cities in Luzon? I want to live somewhere that doesn't feel burned out, outside the city. Manila is mostly crowded and dirty, though I'll give it credit for being a city with half a century of history. There are nice neighborhoods, but it's not my taste.

I liked Sorsogon. Naga might be fine in parts too. Still, ideally I'd live outside a city, but with a big enough city nearby to get building materials, decent internet, and somewhere to go shopping together once we have a family.

The US is too tight and expensive. I feel like my life there is over. I moved back for a few years and hated it.

To the moderator who rejected my post because of the image: that image was a photo of flowers I took in Luzon. I didn't know what image I should use.

I just found out today that the Trump phone's battery is made in the Philippines.

Pro wrestler Hiromu Takahashi guest-starred in an episode of Kamen Rider, and he looks genuinely happy to be transforming into a super villain

Meanwhile, at the duck race...

They don't make them like this anymore