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Will inflation change where people travel to in Southeast Asia?

My Note to Self

Is anyone home?

I'm looking for a hobby to take up after moving to the Philippines. Has anyone here tried metal detecting on the beach?

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.

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?

How about stockings as gifts for the women in the Philippines?
Mask, lip balm, cosmetics, or food are not bad either... hehe

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??

I saw a flyer saying persimmons were 9,800 won for 2.5 kg today, so I rushed over and bought them. That's 20 of them. Less than 500 won each.

I rinsed 10 persimmons under running water, put them straight into the freezer, slept a short nap, and when I woke up they were frozen solid.

Yes!! After soaking them in water, the skin came off easily even with just a light touch, with the insides still frozen.

Eating them as they are, the intense sweetness and soft, chewy texture make a fantastic pairing.

Real ice hongsi is worth several times its price.

It tastes over 5,000 won's worth, not 500 won, to the point where I could give a $100,000 wine tasting review to a bottle of Oliver biscuits!

What a wonderful color. Like the blood of a pigeon, it brings to mind a premium ruby. It foreshadows a flavor that is anything but ordinary."

"First, flowers... Lavender, perhaps. In the image, several kinds of red flowers. And not just one or two, but a full flower field. A faint hint of tanned leather atmosphere. And mixed in is something similar to Japan's umeboshi. A pure, untainted scent of the primordial beginning. The taste of excellent fruit. The aroma of oak barrel aging, the earthy scent of terroir from fertile land. And herbs. A slight hint of tobacco. For what is barely a single sip of liquid, it's like an orchestra of 100 players! Countless flavors are intricately intertwined, yet none of them show off. A perfect balance where each element maintains its precision."

"But... where in this fermented grape liquid is the value of ten thousand times an ordinary wine sold for $10? Even if it's delicious, it's only 11 to 12 times better! Even the joy is only 14 to 15 times!"

So they say.

Hmm.

Electronic Notarization Goes Nationwide on October 19 — Also Recognized for Land and Corporate Documents

📌 Starting Monday, October 19, the Philippine Supreme Court will launch its electronic notarization (e-notarization) service nationwide. Earlier, on Tuesday, October 13, the Supreme Court signed two joint circulars with the Land Registration Authority (LRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), allowing e-notarized documents to be used for land and corporate transactions.

■ What Changes
· The Land Registration Authority and Registers of Deeds nationwide will accept and process e-notarized documents such as deeds of sale and real estate mortgages. The LRA said the move is expected to speed up land transactions and improve identity verification.
· The Securities and Exchange Commission will accept and process e-notarized copies of registration, filing, and compliance documents through its own systems.
· The service is available through Supreme Court-accredited e-notarization providers: NotarizeIT (UNAWA), TWALA (Ohelio Inc.), and QLegal (Quanby Solutions Inc.).
· Documents notarized under the existing 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice remain valid.

■ What's Next
· The Supreme Court is consulting with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to make the service available to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), but no agreement has been reported yet.
· The Supreme Court says the system is meant to make legal processes easier for people who find it difficult to get notarization due to distance or travel, while keeping safeguards against fraud.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· Fees and required documents were not reported, so please check directly with an accredited provider before using the service.
· Before using any e-notarization service, confirm that the provider is Supreme Court-accredited to avoid falling victim to fake notarization.

■ Sources
The Manila Times (10/16), Daily Tribune (10/15)

■ Photos
· 1. Stock photo · Exterior of the Philippine Supreme Court building — Daily Tribune
· 2. Stock photo · Courtroom interior of the Philippine Supreme Court — The Manila Times

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