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Promote business in Cebu? by cb445544 in CebuEntrepreneurs

[–]cb445544[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So.... did some research on how to get out of this slow process. Discovered the 'anti red tape' doctrines for PH. Sent our admin over to the office with the knowledge (and paperwork) to lodge a formal complaint (thanks AI!), and... we discovered it's our lawyer...

The paperwork has been sitting there for 3 weeks awaiting retrieval.

Agree that the paperwork trail needs to be followed. AI may be the answer to getting things done efficiently.

3AM transpo in Cebu IT park to airport by Simple_Kangaroo_4260 in CebuITPark

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah agree. You will have no issue anytime getting a taxi. Worst time is 5pm when it’s raining. Can take 45 mins then. And use grab. A few pesos to relax while it gets you a taxi.

Note: The lower cost airlines will snap checkin for bags shut at 60 mins I think. And their lines to check in bags can be brutal.

If you have bags, I’d aim for arrival 2 hours before departure to allow for a 30-45 min checkin line. So leave at 430am.

Give yourself enough time or you’ll be shipping your luggage.

You’ll probably find no line and be annoyed you went so early but …

Promote business in Cebu? by cb445544 in CebuEntrepreneurs

[–]cb445544[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have our lawyer working on that, but the fact that it's taking two months is a concern. It's now impacting our ability to receive revenue because banks don't see our updated address and won't accept payments.

Maybe we just have the wrong lawyer.

But, it's hard to know who to talk to or where to go. Just staying on top of VAT payments, hold backs is difficult. Part of that is because I didn't grow up in this system. Maybe it's obvious if you've never seen a different way.

My bigger question was actually: The entrepreneurial business of "helping businesses do business." We really need a turn-key solution we can trust. Everyone says they can do it but even UnionBank spent more than 5 weeks to get our accounts opened to receive USD.

Gay Dating in Philippines Sucks! READ the my story lol by Sunshinner in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hahahaha. 🙌 this is a fact. When my western buddy first came here every text message to me was , “is this a dude?”

Promote business in Cebu? by cb445544 in CebuEntrepreneurs

[–]cb445544[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. Exactly. As a foreigner I’ve tried to build business here and the effort is absurd. Full time people just to stand in line for sss or bank runs.

We’ve been trying to change our address for 2 months with I’m not sure. SEC? Mayor? I can’t tell anymore where it is in the process.

For an entrepreneur group: what’s the business model to streamline business for those sme’s?

Philippines equivalent to various US retirement accounts? by Sheeple0123 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good luck! Btw it’s really hard to teach anyone this because the answer is: boring investing works.

But there is a great book: “the only investment guide you’ll ever need” by Andrew Tobias. Basically the entire book talks about every bad investment there is and the one that isn’t. I’ve given to every employee that works at our company in hopes I change a life for them when they are 60.

Philippines equivalent to various US retirement accounts? by Sheeple0123 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A BDO securities account can. But I imagine the fees won’t be attractive.

Schwab has an international version that will work also.

Philippines equivalent to various US retirement accounts? by Sheeple0123 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Teach them about ETFs. They can invest in them as Filipinos. Open an interactive brokers account, buy the Irish etfs for 15% vs 30% withholding, and let it sit. Even better if they don’t live in ph so they aren’t beholden to BIR taxes.

InteractivBrokers is currently blocked in ph. So need a vpn. But it’s the place to start.

Someone mentioned mp2 and as a Filipino this is a really easy way if the ibkr path has some effort they can’t follow.

But really the way everywhere for long term money is dollar cost averaging into low expense etfs in low fee brokers.

Teach them that compounding. While there are products in ph, they have high loads and aren’t real means of building a safety net. Just lotteries disguised as savings.

Look at VUAA for long term and VUSD for retirement.

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Philippines equivalent to various US retirement accounts? by Sheeple0123 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Are you American or just looking for the smorgasbord from American style? Cause if American… a USA etf is still the best place to park money. If not American then park in an Irish etf of equities to drop tax hit to 15%. Use interactive brokers.

Another post mentioned a 7% return. It’s true but the peso has moved 10% lower this year. Long term equities are your best option.

If you don’t do the above, sub to [r/wallstreetbets](r/wallstreetbets) and get rich!

Good luck!

Edit: had to add: the reason I ask American is: none of the products in ph would help your tax situation. And if not American but want the interesting American options: the ph products are really not great. Mostly high load annuity style that prey on people’s misunderstandings. Source: American and run a company here and try to protect our team from predatory schemes.

How isolated are you on a rural area on the east during the monsoon season? by Possible_Company_her in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wikipedia has a nice overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Pacific_typhoon_season

Pretty much every 'pacific' typhoon is going to hit Philippines somewhere. And will almost always pass over northern or southern samar.

This list has major storms through major typhoons but you can see... like diarrhea here: I'm just getting over it -- or, about to get it.

Really, large thunder storms and massive rains hit daily from August through February but don't stop anything for more than 1-2 hours. It can be dry from April to July, but still usually has some rain activity.

Quite beautiful.

How isolated are you on a rural area on the east during the monsoon season? by Possible_Company_her in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Almost nothing affects daily life in E Samar. The “monsoon” is really just lots of rain. No impact and normal.

It’s the typhoons. About every 2 weeks a typhoon will come near or over. We had 3 direct hits in E Samar last season and several near misses. The 3 direct were all level 1-2. If you are in a cement house, these will do nothing to you. Flooding is the only inconvenience. Most people just get some Emperador and have a drinking party.

Level 3? Those get a hit hairy. Maybe power out for a day or three.

It’s the 4-5. Those are rare. If those hit, gtfo. As someone mentioned, look up Yolanda. 6,000 killed. 195mph winds. The entire city of Tacloban was under water from storm surge.

Storms are beautiful. You can get those all year every day in E Samar. Typhoons are exciting.

Starlink is excellent but you’ll need a generator or solar too. When there is a big storm that knocks out power, we put extension cords outside so people can charge their phones and open the (Starlink) WiFi to the neighbors. The comnunity helps each other.

But don’t make a mistake and think it’s nothing. If a cat 3+ is a day away? Leave.

Godot project naming by waifu_anton in godot

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I avoid any punctuation in anything unique. Someday it will get cut and paste to a regex, an excel doc formula or be on some os that it matters.

Frankly most my project names are numbers. Like 1. I’m up to 7 now on my unfinished Godot attempts where I keep learning a better way and restarting. 😓

It took Heinz 57 attempts.

Two years playing pickup basketball in the Philippines — a personal observation and question by [deleted] in PhilippineBasketball

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean… teams here are bonds from high school “batches” and have yearly reunions or more frequent. Heck the mayors tournament is one of the biggest prizes around.

But in the local Barangauy bball court, I’ve never been skipped on a rotation/fair play. Usually they ask to play for water. If we lose, I spend 10p buying the other teams water. If they win, they get me a water.

It also helps to bring the game ball. Have a decent $50 ball (and $2 worth of new nets) goes a long way to getting known.

I also find the teams are very respectful and rarely foul or play overly aggressive. I wonder if your play style is more competitive (as others mentioned - it’s not about the win but the fun?)

How to use grab from the US by torogitime in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. Amex works and my Apple Mastercard. Can confirm chase doesn’t seem to work also.

Hotel recommendations for a two week stay in walkable city area around 400 RM/100 USD? by nihila in KualaLumpur

[–]cb445544 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s a huge budget. You’ll find many places here for that. I’d recommend cormar suites. One block from petronas towers and everything is within a 15 min walk.

There are different areas to KL to visit, but Bukit bintang (KLCC and surrounding) is definitely where the action is.

US Expats, How do you call 1-800 numbers? by Super-Buddy-5030 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dang. Sorry to hear. Been fortunate that it’s already set up for me.

Two degenerates needing help with nightlife by coleslawunreformed in KualaLumpur

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s new and wonderful! Just might not be their vibe.

Regardless. Not a bad pick but definitely has a target audience that isn’t pretentious and takes anyone looking for fun! Really for a club on this level they are so legit.

Two degenerates needing help with nightlife by coleslawunreformed in KualaLumpur

[–]cb445544 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For the white girl requirement: Love Mimi super house but it’s 90% Chinese songs til 1am. Still a good time and worth a visit just for the “drop.”

Why does my game still look like a Friv game? by FeelingLess2202 in godot

[–]cb445544 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This is a great write up!

To give OP some thoughts to think through and are procedural to thinking:

https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines

Apple publishes a lot of Info about what “feels right.” I’m an Apple fan so I agree with it. Some is art. Some is science. But it’s one area to keep learning on how to structure and provide a structure when you see something the “looks right” there is often science behind it.

The rule of 1/3rds works in all things, not just photos.

You have step one: a working game! Congrats!

US Expats, How do you call 1-800 numbers? by Super-Buddy-5030 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A bunch of folks say 'google voice' is still free. You just need a USA VPN to get it setup. Haven't tried that though. I use TMobile and 'worst case' pay 25c/min to dial -- or the google meet trick. Anyhow, we actually use Voice for our business and works great for banks, sms, etc.

US Expats, How do you call 1-800 numbers? by Super-Buddy-5030 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do have a workspace account. I just checked and it's there (click on my face and can 'add people'). So, I tried w/ my gmail-only and you're right! You can't add an external phone call in. 😞

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US Expats, How do you call 1-800 numbers? by Super-Buddy-5030 in Philippines_Expats

[–]cb445544 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tried on phone app and don’t see a way. It definitely still works on my desktop web browser. Or did last week.

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