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No way 😭

European investors/traders living in the Philippines – looking for advice 🇵🇭

Hi everyone! I'm from Slovakia in Europe, and I spend about 7 months a year in the Philippines. I'm looking into ending my European tax residency and becoming a Philippine tax resident.

I invest in US-listed stocks through Revolut and also trade actively. I'd like to know how capital gains (profits from stock trading) are taxed in the Philippines, and whether 0% tax on my trading profits would be possible in my situation.

I'd like to get in touch with people who have actually done something similar:
- Are you originally from Europe and changed your tax residency to the Philippines?
- Was it difficult to establish Philippine tax residency?
- Do you invest in stocks or trade actively? How are your capital gains taxed?
- Is it possible to legally pay 0% tax on profits from trading US-listed stocks?
- Are there any complications with your residency status, tax registration, or tax filing?

I'm especially looking to hear from people with firsthand experience rather than general advice.

If you're doing this yourself and can share your experience or have a quick chat, I'd really appreciate it! Please leave a comment below or send me a private message. Thank you! 🙏

DepEd Heat Stage Class Guidelines — At 42°C and Above, Both In-Person Classes and Home Learning Are Suspended

📌 On Wednesday, October 28, Education Secretary Sonny Angara of the Department of Education (DepEd) said that if school temperatures reach 42°C, classes can be suspended entirely in consultation with local governments. DepEd issued guidelines in preparation for a strong El Niño (DepEd Memorandum 64, 2026), and during extreme heat, decisions will be made in stages at the school level rather than through a nationwide blanket class suspension.

■ What's changing
· Below 27°C: Regular in-person classes.
· 27–32°C: School heads may shorten in-person class hours or switch to blended or home learning.
· 33–41°C: In-person classes stop and switch to take-home assignments.
· 42°C and above: Both in-person classes and home learning activities are suspended.
· The threshold temperature differs by news report — Philstar reported it as air temperature, while GMA reported it as the heat index.
· Secretary Angara said that when students are sent home early, schools must notify the local government so that mayors and governors are kept informed.

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· Class attendance and home learning may change depending on the heat stage, so check your child's school announcement channels in advance.
· Since classes can end suddenly, it's a good idea to plan ahead for child care and getting your children home.

■ Sources
GMA News (10/28 — the local government consultation part was confirmed by one source), Philstar (10/27)

■ Photos
· 1. File photo · Exterior of the DepEd building in Pasig — Philstar
· 2. File photo · Electric fan running in a classroom — GMA News

How hard is it to get a Philippines visa if I don't have a job but have enough money for the trip?

Hi everyone, I'm planning a trip to the Philippines for travel and fun, and I've booked everything, but I don't have a job. I have enough money for the 15 days (50 dollars a day). Could I get denied a visa because of this?

Angeles Police Arrest 7 Wanted Persons Through Warrant Operations on Oct. 27

📌 According to the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), several police units carried out a series of arrest warrant operations in Angeles City on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and apprehended 7 wanted persons. The details released by the police office include the arrests of a man who failed to appear in court and a man accused of slight physical injuries.

■ What Happened
· At around 8:55 a.m., the 5th police station and the ACPO tracker team, among others, arrested a male resident of Barangay Margot. A bench warrant issued on Oct. 15 for failing to appear in court in a case of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property was served, and bail is set at PHP 5,000.
· At around 1:10 p.m., a joint team including the ACPO Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) arrested a male resident of Barangay Malabanias on an arrest warrant (issued Oct. 20) for 3 counts of slight physical injuries. The recommended bail is PHP 6,000 per count.
· At around 4:50 p.m., arrests continued in an operation carried out at the police office level.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The operations were carried out under the command of the Angeles City Police Office, led by Colonel Robert C. Domingo as officer-in-charge.
· The charges against the remaining arrestees can be found in the police office's official Facebook post.

■ Notice for Residents and Travelers
· If a court date has been set for an accident or assault case, be sure to attend. If you don't show up, a bench warrant may be issued and you could be arrested.
· If you have been a victim, report it to the nearest police station and keep a record of the case.

■ Source
Angeles City Police Office (official Facebook, 10/28)

■ Photo
· Graphic from the Angeles City Police Office announcing the arrest of 7 wanted persons (faces blurred) — Angeles City Police Office (official Facebook)

Pampanga Police Deploy 1,350 Officers to Cemeteries for Undas — Traffic and Safety Notice for Angeles and San Fernando

📌 On Wednesday, October 28, the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (Pampanga PPO) announced that it will deploy about 1,350 officers, 90% of its total personnel, to cemeteries across the province during Undas (All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2). On the same day, Angeles City released traffic advisories for five cemeteries and memorial parks, and San Fernando City announced its response plan for 12 cemeteries.

■ What's Changing
· The Pampanga PPO (Provincial Director Col. Ricardo M. David) will send about 1,350 officers to cemeteries across the province to handle security for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
· Ahead of Undas on Sunday, November 1, the Angeles City Information Office posted traffic route advisories on its official Facebook page for the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Holy Mary Memorial Park, Angeles City Public Cemetery, Golden Haven Memorial Park, and La Pieta Memorial Park.
· Under "Alerto Daun 2026," San Fernando City will deploy more than 500 personnel from city hall, the police, the fire department, and volunteers to 12 cemeteries from Thursday, October 29 to Tuesday, November 3, to handle security, traffic, and emergency assistance.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· Police urge people to avoid dark and secluded areas, keep a close watch on their belongings such as mobile phones and wallets, and beware of online scams that trick you into giving personal information to strangers.
· If you see any suspicious behavior, report it to the police right away.
· Angeles City advises following traffic signs and the instructions of traffic enforcers, and allowing plenty of travel time. Routes for each cemetery can be found in the advisory images on the City Information Office's official Facebook page.

■ Sources
Pampanga PPO (official Facebook, 10/28), Angeles City Information Office (official Facebook, 10/28), Daily Tribune (10/28)

■ Photos
· 1. Undas traffic advisory map around La Pieta Memorial Park, Angeles City — Angeles City Information Office (official Facebook)
· 2. Undas response coordination committee meeting — Daily Tribune

Peso hits record intraday low of 64.18 per dollar, then rebounds to close at 64.025

📌 On Wednesday, October 28, the Philippine peso fell to a new record intraday low of 64.18 per dollar before rebounding to close at 64.025. That is 14.5 centavos stronger than the previous day's record-low close of 64.17. President Marcos said, "Don't panic," and vowed to defend the peso as much as possible.

■ What's changing
· On the 28th, the peso slid to 64.18 during trading. That is weaker than the previous day's (27th) close of 64.17.
· It closed at 64.025, recovering 14.5 centavos from the day before.
· President Marcos named higher oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict as the main reason for the peso's weakness, saying "Don't be alarmed, don't panic," and said the government will defend the peso as much as it can.

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· Exchange rates can swing a lot within a single day, so compare rates at several money changers when converting dollars or Korean won to pesos.
· A weaker peso can push up the prices of goods traded in dollars, such as fuel, so it's wise to prepare for changes in your cost of living.

■ Sources
The Manila Times (10/28), GMA News (10/28), Philstar (10/28)

■ Photos
· 1. File photo · Peso and dollar bills at a money changer's counter — Philstar
· 2. File photo · The Philippine president giving a speech — The Manila Times

Motorcycle rider shot dead in San Enrique, Negros Occidental — 3 arrested within 3 hours

📌 At around 3:45 p.m. on Monday, October 26, a man riding a motorcycle on the national highway in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, was shot multiple times and died. About three hours later, police stopped a suspect vehicle in the neighboring city of Bago, arrested 3 suspects, and seized a rifle and a handgun.

■ Incident details
· The victim was riding a white Honda Beat motorcycle on the national highway in Sitio Asinan, Barangay Bagonawa, when gunmen in a vehicle following behind opened fire on him.
· The victim's age and occupation have not been disclosed.

■ Investigation and current status
· Police traced the vehicle's route using CCTV, and at around 6:20 p.m., Bago City police stopped the suspect vehicle in Barangay Don Jorge Araneta, Bago City, and arrested 3 people.
· A semi-automatic rifle, a 9mm pistol, ammunition, and the suspect vehicle were seized.
· Along with murder charges, charges for violations of the firearms law and the drugs law are being prepared, and the motive for the crime has not yet been determined.

■ Advice for residents and travelers
· If you are riding a motorcycle on the national highway and the same vehicle follows you for a long time, stop at a crowded place such as a gas station or a police checkpoint to check.
· If you witness a shooting, do not approach; report it to 911 from a safe place.

■ Sources
DigiCast Negros (10/27), KAMI.com.ph (10/28)

■ Photos
· The seized rifle and handgun and the suspects (faces covered), released by police — DigiCast Negros

Ketamine Worth P18.72 Million Disguised as "Cleaning Powder" Seized at Clark Port — Recipient Arrested

📌 On Tuesday, October 27, at the Port of Clark in the Clark Freeport, Pampanga, a 26-year-old man picking up a parcel from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was arrested by a joint team of agents including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). The parcel contained ketamine worth about P18.725 million and had been declared as "sodium bicarbonate cleaning powder."

■ What Happened
· The parcel left Amsterdam and arrived at the Port of Clark on October 10. To evade inspection, it was declared as "sodium bicarbonate cleaning powder."
· Authorities confirmed the contents were ketamine and, on Tuesday, October 27, arrested a 26-year-old resident of Rodriguez, Rizal who came to claim the parcel.
· The value of the seized items was reported as P18.725 million (the Daily Tribune reported "more than P18 million").

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The operation involved the PDEA Pampanga Provincial Office, the PDEA Clark International Airport Interdiction Task Group, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Clark, the Police Aviation Security Group Region 3, and the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG).
· Charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) are being prepared against the arrested man.

■ Notice for Residents and Travelers
· If someone you don't know asks you to receive a parcel for them, refuse. The person who picks up the parcel may be arrested.
· For overseas online purchases and parcels, check that the declared contents match what is actually inside, and do not accept items whose contents you don't know.

■ Sources
CLTV36 News (official Facebook, 10/28), Daily Tribune (10/28), Punto! Central Luzon (10/28)

■ Photos
· 1. Bags of seized ketamine and evidence laid out by the operation team — CLTV36 News (official Facebook)
· 2. The PDEA joint team at the Clark operation site (faces blurred) — Daily Tribune

Seagull Chat

67-Year-Old Business Permit Inspector Shot Dead in Arayat, Pampanga — Child Hurt by Stray Bullet

📌 At around 7:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, a 67-year-old man riding a motorcycle in Barangay Gatiawen, Arayat, Pampanga was shot by an unidentified gunman and died on the spot. The man who was killed was a business permit inspector for the Arayat local government, and one child hit by a stray bullet was injured and taken to the hospital.

■ What Happened
· At around 7:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, a 67-year-old business permit inspector riding a motorcycle in Barangay Gatiawen, Arayat was shot by an armed assailant.
· The victim died at the scene, and one child hit by a stray bullet was treated at Arayat District Hospital.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The motive has not yet been determined.
· Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspect and are conducting a manhunt.

■ Notes for Residents and Travelers
· If you hear gunshots, immediately get low and take cover behind a solid wall.
· Do not approach the scene or film video; once it is safe, tell 911 your location.
· If you witnessed anything or have dashcam footage, you can report it to the police station with jurisdiction.

■ Source
Daily Tribune (10/28)

Beware of blackmail scams from apps like Tinder

This is a very common scam in the Philippines. After you match with a "girl," she suggests having some fun over video chat. While that's happening, they record everything on their end and then threaten you, demanding money.

This scam exists on every dating app, and it especially targets foreigners, who are easier to fool.

Luckily, I'm not stupid, so I caught on right away.

Can I report this to the police? Is there anything they can do, or will they not even care? The idiot sent texts from two numbers. I think the first one is the real number and the second one is the one they use for the blackmail.

Will the police do anything, or won't they care?

If the moderator allows it, I can share the numbers here.

Another law enforcement official. Again.

My thoughts:

It's frustrating that people who are legally licensed end up bearing the full brunt of the fallout. 90%, no, 99% of licensed firearms owned by civilians and private individuals have nothing to do with incidents like this.

Ever since these incidents started happening, all we've gotten in return are disadvantages. Additional requirements for a gun license, mandatory safes, seminars, and what worries me most is the rule the authorities are about to enforce, which would let them come into your home without a warrant to check whether you're complying with storage requirements. And so on.

But as you can see, the ones causing problems time and again are people from law enforcement. Not long ago, two high-ranking officers decided to leave their service firearms in their car, and they got stolen. And now this incident.

Shouldn't the ones who need to be regulated more strictly be the people who are supposed to know the law, yet are the careless ones?

Source: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/unangbalita/773293/lasing-na-pulis-arestado-matapos-umanong-manutok-ng-baril-sa-isang-van/video/

If you won, you won.

When a friend says, "It's on me"

Are there any expat meetups in Baguio?

Why are so many foreigners addicted?

I mean to alcohol or women, but let me start with something that happened to me recently.

A fat foreign guy in his 40s bragged to me openly that he slept with some woman for the price of a cup of coffee. I hinted that I wasn't interested, because I wanted him to stop telling me his war stories, but he still pulled out photos of the women he'd slept with. One was extremely obese, and the other was in her 20s and missing teeth. And this guy has a partner who takes care of him.

He looks subhuman, but he thinks he's handsome. The only reason women show interest is that he keeps offering them money.

Every other guy I've met drinks themselves to the brink of death too.

The first guy was truly pathetic. He bragged about going to the gym, but he couldn't even explain his workout routine. Because he promised or sent money, he started to believe he was handsome, and he kept asking me whether the women were with him because they loved him for who he is.

I've never seen people like this in Thailand.

It's only in the Philippines.

They say the Philippines ranks 10th in the world for using AI tools the most

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-countries-using-ai-tools-the-most/

It makes sense that India and Brazil, with their huge populations, rank near the top, but several Southeast Asian markets also landed strikingly high. Indonesia ranked 6th with 3.7 billion visits, and the Philippines ranked 10th with 2.9 billion visits.

Both countries come out ahead of larger or wealthier countries like Italy (2.6 billion), Spain (2.5 billion), and South Korea (2.3 billion).

This metric counts website visits, not users. One person can visit multiple times, and visits to different tools are counted separately.

Because of Airbnb's new rules, hosts can no longer use outside contracts. How do you think this will affect the real estate market? Airbnb hosts can't do long-term rentals, since that would violate the agreement.

No valid visa or passport