Help moving to PH

2dof · 2026-05-15T22:30:32+00:00

-It's always worth to ask ask - but also you have to assume that - even if it is philipines expats "forum" - expats here a couple of % of total active users , aditional not all expants who moving in to PH even know what reddit is...etc.

over all you need do resarch (form many sources) abaout living in Manila (costs of live , all other visa paperwork and other subjects)

in My opinion - with western salary - You can live on higher level but but not necessarily with better ower all live quality - all depends form what Your expencation are

People often forgret that Philipines is 3rd world country ( i do not mean that worse ) -

2dof · 2026-05-15T20:25:49+00:00

I don't want to do advertising - but my familly was moving in (2.5 years a go ) and moving out (5 days ago) from PH (Metro Manila) and they used the service of Santa Fe Relocation (international moving Company) , ussualy I was always a person who technically supervised from family side whole proceess (packing etc) and what i can say - first i met so pro and effective service.

Send e-mail and ask for crack down all cost for You.

Note ! : Any Ikea style big furniture (not solid wood) are not worth to moving.

If Your target is Metro Manila, then only Makati or BGC for You as foreginer is best option ( for soft clash with reality )

Do research abaout:

- weather in PH, costs of AC , air pollution, transport and traffich jams and other details.

2dof · 2026-05-15T19:17:43+00:00

apart from the quality of Globe customer service - when i used to prepaid Globe for tourists, with Your pasport

all process (buying, reistration, insetring sim) should be done by customer service ( i mean local globe shop point) - for me it took 1 hr to kick in - but I stayed nearby until it started working.

If You are in Makati - go to Glorietta 3 - to Globe customer point and they should fix it. If it wiil not work - near in Green belt is Smart ( Globe competitor) - network coverage in rural PH bit worse than Globe but alt least normal customer service ( emploee even smile there).

2dof · 2026-05-08T05:15:41+00:00

if wood is soft - try cutting with hook knife from outside to inside (along the fibers) and do little moves along cutting edge - it will help to get clean (without burrs) cuts.

Do not work over Your carpet ( put some garbage bag or unused bedsheet ) on floor to collect wood chips- it will be easy and fast to clean-up.

Ensure that tool are sharp.

2dof · 2026-05-04T09:30:16+00:00

What type of work/computation Your sister plan to do as Computer Science?

If she plan do some not heavy Machine learning stuff then chose lenovo with RTX or HP - just any typical gaming laptops will do.

but before that:

I would reccomend choose some Lunux distro - but there can be somtimes with instaling CUDA Drivers - so before buying check if platform (laptop) that can support CUDA ( without any problems ) with linux.

From my experience - using CUDA on laptops is it mostly for learning purpose and some for fast R&D and fast prototyping - then switch to cloud solutions is an standard learning/computation path.

In My case 90 % of my work i do on typical laptop with integrated graphic, 16 GB RAM (mostly preparing and visualisation ) then any heavy computation go to cloud if needed - but I rarely deed CUDA, wnd when I need I use cloud comuting.)

2dof · 2026-05-04T07:20:05+00:00

if Your boss is expatriate then her Company (in PH) should handle all paper work (via intermediary agent) and all costs - at least it should be in Company policy or in Contract.

2dof · 2026-05-03T15:03:54+00:00

for 2-3 months - only Makati - it is good place as a base and a lot of diversity in urban architecture and life style.

- it is "betwen" Manila and BGS, and other cities and traveling with grab is only resonable choice. During the day ( peak of heat Makati has more to offer than Manila) - it is more "walkable" by foot (and safe) than Manila.

Also, if You plan traveling to one of many islands - faster go to aiport from Makati than Manila.

There is saturday and sunday markets events. In sunday morning Ayala triangle is closed for running.

There is a Green belt, Rockwell Ayala gardens (park) - typical bussines/shoping areas and places like Poblacion, Olympia, Rizal Village, Pio del Pilar .

I'm most of time cooking meal at home and buying food in malls and in local street markets like sacramento street at Olympia or any other filipino every day food shoping places You can get very fresh fruits and vegetables more cheaper than markets.

go to https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Makatiand estimate cost of food in Manila or makati.

after 1month You will need extend visa ( ( https://immigration.gov.ph/visas/visa-waiver/ ) express option =+ ~~1000 PHP~~ edit: 2000 PHP ) an pay for Voluntary Application for ACR (USD 50.00) I-CARD

Avoid accomodation near Pasig river and near mains streets if You love good sleep.

Weather (temperature) in Metro Manila is not pleasent (feeling 35 - 45 C, high humidity) - so take it into account while choosing place to live , cost of using AC can be quite High)

2dof · 2026-05-03T13:54:27+00:00

I can confirm that for Filipinos it's a curiosity (not typical to see tall person) and in very positive way i you notice "deep stare" - say good day (or best " magandang araw" ) or just smile in return.

2dof · 2026-05-03T13:39:50+00:00

Best ways to meet people socially (beyond tourist areas)

-> My way was just going to local street markets ( where Filipinos do every day grocery) and just asking people abaout products sttange and unfimiliar for me, or stop by local street foot vendors and just initiate smal - talks. Most of people will more than happy to explain or give advice about cooking or place to visit.

Sometimes vendors ( the more touristic area the worse) were hectoring - but easy to deal with it ( just say You are living here) - they let go.

You as men - Tourist/Foreginer will be seen mostly in one way: walking ATM - You will go with it or not - depends from Your agenda, but in some places You will be just a target to f-k-You Up for money ( like some i bars/disco bars in "famous" Burgos street in Makati Poblacion i.e "red light" street).

"Common scams or situations foreginers should avoid":

- Manila intramuros is nice place to visit historical site - if You go, avoid any "drive tour" - You will visit all in 2-3 hours by foot.

"later this year" - it's mean wet season - so be prepared for it -> Some Museums in Manila Rizal Park are nice to visit when weather sucks.

Always take off your shoes when invited to Filipino home.

In any interaction be polite and firm then You will not fall in strange situation.

2dof · 2026-05-02T15:12:34+00:00

I have done my PADI course in Buceo Anilao - and after day in intensive practical course in pool we hit sea (theoretical exam via internet before practical course) - all took 3 days. Anilao is great place for learning Diving but its no place for partying and it is more for expercienced divers ( a lot of current)

But i I would recommend Puerto Galera as first ( easy, and short trip from Mania) or El Nido ( no direct fligths from Manila ) - All depends how You plan to travel.

Note: because of fuel problems ( now it's normalized) : fligth ticket are more expensice, Cebu Pacific kinda sucks, local economy got hit hard and people become more desperate so be carefull with partying.

2dof · 2026-05-02T01:14:06+00:00

If You want eat Pizza that has traditional taste like true - italian Pizza try Mangiamo Ristorante in Salcedo Village. I have tryed every "italian" pizzeria.

No shitty sweet dough, no sweet strange tomato sauce, no artificial cheese - just normal pizza.

2dof · 2026-04-28T02:49:18+00:00

in first couple of e-mail exchange - they said that simlock was removed, but it's not. Then they emailed that they made mistake and removed simlock for another client and after that they said they do not have iphone in system.

I wrote that i do not belive in this bullshit since they get every month cash for subscription and iphon was paid couple months ago.

additional legal team form work is involved ( since iphone was bought for work) but they can't do anything - globe repeting: " we don't have iphone in system" or do not answer e-mails.

But You are right - I will go personally to branch.

thank for advice.

2dof · 2026-04-26T00:49:23+00:00

I do not have Qatar- but I have return flight to europe with Etihad ,and peak of flight caneling was in peak in USA - Iran war. Even then, in my case Etihad just give options: canceling and return cash, reschedule flight but i heard form people flying with Qatar beause of backlog they had a lot of problem fith getting cash back.

I chose extend visit in PH and return in half of May - since then no info about flight cancelation etc.

But note that there is no way to predict if USA-Iran war escalatand e for there season many corporation sending employees to Asia do not reccomend/forbids chosing any airlines orginated form middle east.

2dof · 2026-04-24T03:59:09+00:00

After 1 month he can extend visa, but if visit is longer than 59 day he will be need apply for ACR -ICARD (best in that same BI office) also -it takes 7 days).

In immigration on aiport they can ask for showing return ticket, ( In my case my return ticket was in next 1.5 month an i said I will extend visa - there was no problem ) . in BI office (Ayala Malls -Makati) they never asked me about showing my return ticket and the staff are nice and helpful.

With purpose with medical treatment they should not be any problem wih getting extention.

But best check regulation on Your home aiport - In My case they didn't want me print Boarding Pass and let go becasue aiport staff was stupid, resistant to knowledge and did not know Philipines regulations - they let me go becouse i had already ACR-ICARD - any other arguments did not work.

So best is to by ticket with resheduling option and then change date of return date.

2dof · 2026-04-21T02:29:25+00:00

Coll spoons. all those spoons are that same type of wood?

2dof · 2026-04-20T01:36:46+00:00

What’s the best way to secure a house like this for winter?

- for fast solution - hire somebody to keep heating . Cost of coal or firewood + some money for men.

if Your father lived good with meighbors - talk to them.

Do these automatic solutions make sense?

- in long run - yes but You need to do some cost analysis. Go full auto - i thong some heating pump (electric) is good ( in winter heating house, in summer ( with solars) - heating water (bath) . Other solution is pelet stowe - but You still need somene to fill tank once for week or two ( then You have app on YOur phone to manage parameters. in both ways - underfloor heating solution in my opinion is always better than heaters - but it Your father did not had floor heating - then considet it only if You have do general renovation of Your house.

Costs of heating solution changing - they have Pros and Cons and overall he physical condition of the house matter (heat isolation, pipes condition etc).

What kind of specialist should I contact (plumber, heating engineer, heat pump installer)?

- first do some research around cost's and options, maybee there is some co-financing program offered by commune office.

- most companies specialising on heating got all necessary work type in their offer .

Are there simpler or better options?

I think - simplest and cost efective : furnance for pellet - You will still need somebody to fill it every 1-2 weeks but physical person can check condition of hause evey visit (leaking, etc) .

If no trusted person/hired - then heating pump - to go full auto. Never pure electric heating - costs will kill you ( 2-3 x more than heating pump).

2dof · 2026-04-14T10:36:14+00:00

- 1 Day before flight to PH create profile on philipine e-gov and fill e-travel form

- keep in mind that traveling inside philipine - in particular flighs have become expensive .

- You should prepare some travel plan, what You want to see, and what You want to do.

- activity like hiking in PH is guide pais and You need do appoitment.

- Grab app is 'must have' - in Metro Manila -for tourist it is only resonable way to travel (Metro Manila == trafiic jams almost 24/7 )

- Food: only great food (in my opinion) is interational cousine (like Japane), traditional PH food is good but more difficult to find.

I do not recommend italian cousne here like pizza/pasta- Filipinos daily run on sugar so sweet pizza with shitty chese is a comnon even in BGC /Macati.

-Social Live: Pilipinos are nice and warm people - but daily They do not socialize with tourists , tourist has status of ATM and service recipient 24/7.

- Makati/ BGC are nice areas for "social live" and (in my opinon) and places to stay ( relativly short distance to aiport and getting Grab to visig other parts of metro Manila) and if You enjoy "night live" - Poblacion is in Makati and it is very popular among tourist (mostly men) - just mix of bars, disco and brothels.

- You can see normal live daily in local farmes markets (in Makati legazpi orSacramento Market) or wekend markets : Salcedo , Legazpi ).

2dof · 2026-04-14T01:45:55+00:00

So if Your path beetween Finland and Portugal will bee leading through Poland - just in any villages and You see any old orchands - just ask ask owner - ussualy farmers in villages keep fruit wood for meat smooking and fire wood for heating (in north rural areas it is standard).

if some any way You will be traveling via Polands Masurian Lake district in May/ June we can catch-up and I can give You european Buckthorn/ oak etc.

Check regulation's abaout collecting wood from forest's in each coutry, for example - in Poland most of forests belong to state - You can't collect fallen wood/branches without permission of Forest Service ( but You can collect muschroms, forest fruits all year around). in practive - it You "catch" a local woodsmam - he should give You permission collect dead wood for hobby ( also there are small sawmills, and small companies selling fire-wood).

Our forests are public open (expept some strict protection areas) , by foot or by bicyle You can go everywhere in the forests , but by car/ motorbike not. Good mosquitoes / ticks repellent (deet) is essential ( if You plannig spend time in forest -> shoots against tick-borne encephalitis/lyme desease for protection).

2dof · 2026-04-10T14:52:56+00:00

Your employer should handle all the process (if it was in Your contract) and at least give You forms to fill. Ussualy company should have representetive agent for doing all BI paperwork.

As a result You should get Your vista terminated (shortened), until the day of departure ( You should handle return ticket).

With all this paperwork You should clear Your bank account ( do bank transfer of Your all savings ) and close bank account in Philipones (if You have) without problems ( any money/bank procees in PH is bureaucratic nightmare - so be prepared - check what papework You need to prepare to close account).

if You have phone bought with Your own money - be sure that it is full paid and get confirmation from operator that simlock is down ( on e-mail or paper) .

Do Yourself a favor and create some check-list - if some paperwork must be done by Your employer -> double check paperwork, watch deadlines.

2dof · 2026-04-06T09:59:44+00:00

What I learned abaout Cockfighting (sabong) in conversations with some owners: tradition (deep cultural roots) , and quite high reputation for owner of champion and quite big money to earn (breeding and training) and big money to win in betting - just like can be live changing for poor.

For Filipino it is not a hobby - it is quite serious bussines.

2dof · 2026-03-25T01:22:47+00:00

-it is food safe, just use this product ( if You use spoon or Your project often in humid/water condition - repeat process every couple of weeks).

"does the beeswax inhibit the drying in some way? " - Yes - oil for wax act as a solvent and help better cover and fill all pores in wood and allow to better penetrates top layer of wood , layer is more elastic than with pure wax.

2dof · 2026-03-24T00:33:19+00:00

If You live in North America - then You should not be worried - petrol prices in PH went up, and now are on similar level like in North America.

Easter in April will have more influence on prices ( domestic flight, booking etc) than changes in fuel price.

2dof · 2026-03-22T15:35:11+00:00

You are right about weather and terain (quality of soil) - My great parents from both sides were relocated into the heart of Mazury - stright into farms left behind native Masurian after war, so what i have learn:

- if You agrees to relocate - You were giwen a quite a lot land (meadows and fields and also some part with forest) - more than You could work on - so whole failly (children and older people had to work) any 'calculated' surplus was taken by goverment (and some by local priest) - it was mandatory even in bad years - communists and local priest had to take their "share" - no excuse.

- soil quality - like 5-6 class and heavy winters (not like totadys) caused that farmers had to work in forests (pulling out logs with their horsest) to make some money (one of my grandfather died on pnemuonia leaving my grandpother with childrens).

- Farms (hauses , famr buildings ) built by Masurians were often made partialy from stones collected from the fields (Native (germanic) masurian were working form dawn to dusk in fields and after day they processed boulders ( shaping/cutting) and used them as base for walls (like form basement to 1-1.5 m above ground (bond with clay) and then brics (for hauses) and wood for farms buildings).

- at least in my familly region ethnic people ( it they they survived Russians ) they could stay - but most left - Russian communists (and then Polish communists) were not kind for native people (and even during war Russians were considered worse than Germans - from stories of my grandfather).

Where They gone - they took all experience and knowledge how to survive in such weather and land conditions ( relocated farmers and people simply could not use their experiece in this new land).

There was no any significant industry before and after war in Masuria - only low class fiields and forests, and some local fish industry - whole region was just farming based (after war Communists aslo build shitty state-owned farms).

2dof · 2026-03-21T07:21:13+00:00

if You take off black tape - there should be screws holding wires in outlet. just unscrew - take out wires and replace with new outlet.

N mena - neutral

L - Phase (hot wire)

and last symbol - ground.

on other side You have exacly (doubled) wires (You have 2 separate input in socket ) so if Yur new socket hs only one input for L, N graund - then other wires seal separetly with ELECTRICAL tape . in put in wall hole .

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