Allovertheworld

6 hours ago, RO_AH said:

What upsets me the most about this is what the Dr. told my wife. They said it could also be cancer 😲. Seriously? She is 31 years old and never smoked a day in her life and you want to make her think she may have cancer??? Her chances of having lung cancer are about as close to zero as you can get. Now I have to keep trying to convince my wife that she will be okay.

I sent my gf in Davao City to get a depo shot, two refused to give it to her. One doctor told her it would make her sterile.

I can see silliness like this in the province, but at SLEC you would think they would have better trained doctors

When did the rule start?

I am sorry I don't get this one, It's absurd.........

This is insane.

Right now USCIS is taking in paperwork for people who came her illegally to get work authorization cards.  A guy who works for me they just filed DACA for one of his 17 year old brother last week.

While the people who did everything legally get stabbed in the back, it's really not fair at all.

52 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

Many Texas areas have had huge jumps like that.  Frisco is a great and booming area, but currently is a bit out of our price range.  That could change.

 

Not interested in Austin, at all.

Austin has become a liberal wasteland from what I have seen.

9 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

Uh oh!  I got things twisted up, didn't I!!!!

 

Ok, but I don't understand your comment.  I am looking at houses in Texas, target area San Antonio, everyday.  In fact, we just had a video call with a Filipina real estate agent there!  I think the inflated prices will drop some before I buy in 2022.  However, looking at 300k usd in SA vs. what 300k USD will get you in Luzon now, SA wins hands down.

Texas you could find a nice starter house for 120K just about 10 years ago, now of days I would say that price is double, but the offest is interest rates are silly low.

I am not familiar with San Antonio real estate, I think only Austin has gotten out of control on houses, and that is mostly due to all the people moving out of California and relocating to Austin area.

Me I live in Frisco, I live in about $500K house here, but I only paid $290K for it back in 2009 during the recession.  House in my city are little higher than state average due to my location

2 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

  As I said, I would stay here if it was just me, my wife and older stepdaughter, I would stay here.  However, for my two younger daughters, I believe their lives will be enriched by our move to the U.S.

 

My nephew moved right outside Davao City a few years ago.  I just talked to him, he said Davao CIty suxs now of days. Heavy traffic, law enforcement writing tickets right and left for any kind of violation they can to make money.  Curfews and lockdowns everywhere

His American buddy who lives inside Davao City, is having a hard time finding red meat.   I made my first trip to Davao in 2007 and really loved the city, now of days I don't think I would want to go back.  

Just now, seekingthetruth said:

No, not exactly from me.  What I was mostly talking about is your kids.  As I said, I would stay here if it was just me, my wife and older stepdaughter, I would stay here.  However, for my two younger daughters, I believe their lives will be enriched by our move to the U.S.

Your profile says you live in Hawaii, the most expensive state, so that certainly is true.

Wrong person,  I am in Texas some of the cheapest houses in the USA.

Hawaii is retarded on house prices, been that way for ever.

15 hours ago, jskibo said:

Wife and I also want to get over there by the end of the year and spend 6-8 weeks looking for some land for retirement (been waiting a year now for that as well).

You would think once Philippines open back up for tourism and gets rid of all the quarantines for travelers and curfews and lockdowns, the price of land should be some good bargins out there.  It seems as if the politicians have done there very best to kill the Philippines economy.

34 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Wait until you see the prices in America start skyrocketing. If you are looking at houses for less in US that are less, then you are certainly not looking where I live. It seems everyone is trying to convince me I am wrong for wanting to live there. As if I don't have friends or know people. I base my decisions on my life and what I have learned. Like I said earlier, there are 2 sides of every coin and a lot of people seem to only see one side. I look at both.

Yes, House have sky rocketed in the last decade in USA. 

Interest rate is less than 2% on a 15 year note, and low 2% on a 30 year note which is almost like free money.  

I wouldn't set up any type of bank account in the Philippines.  Seems like a hassle, always see people waiting in lines to do bank transactions.

I am sure corruption runs deep in the banking industry in the Philippines. PDIC only insures like up to 500K Pesos or $10,000 USD.  Seems like a bad deal to me

45 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

Quite the opposite here in Subic.  They were starting to loosen up with kids at some of the attractions.  Last Saturday, the 30th, we went to Funtastic Park, which just reopened a few weeks ago.  When we parked, my 4 year old was hesitant to get out of the car.  She said "I can go inside?" and when I said yes, she started shouting and dancing around!  It was the first time she had been in a business or attraction since March 16th, 2020.  We all had a lot of fun and we were the only customers!  On Sunday, she went in her first store and had some much fun shopping!  Her six year old sister had already been allowed to go to the mall a few times.

 

Then Monday it all changed.  We planned to go to Zoobic Safari today.  I called first.  No kids under 15.  Out of curiosity, I called Funtastic Park too, and they said the same.  I found out later Ocean Adventure is the same.  The only place they can go is Camayan Beach, but they can't go in the resto or hotel, just the beach.  I feel really bad for these businesses.  Many are being destroyed.  Our only mall in the Freeport, Harbor Point, is probably at less than 50% occupancy now.

 

Ironically, I think NCR is back on GCQ, correct?  We have not had a case in the Freeport in over a month, yet we suffer.  I think Olongapo has 7 or 8 active cases, but no new in over a week.

 

 

I'am in Texas, pretty much everything is back to normal, most stores require a mask.

We have had 3 million cases of COVID and like  40,000 death.  It's better than living in the Philippines with all the silly curfews, lockdowns,  and people not allowed to leave their homes.

1 hour ago, seekingthetruth said:

Actually, I should clarify.  I have enjoyed quite a few visits to Manila.  What really got me off to a bad start in Manila was the driving and the related corruption.  Perhaps part of it was just bad luck, but the first 4 or 5 times I drove in Manila, I got pulled over for a "violation".  Only one of those times did I really have a violation, when I did turn down a one way street.  That time, my Filipino BIL, a NZ citizen now, was with me in the passenger seat.  He quickly jumped out, saying "I'll take care of this". One minute later we are on the way, with the traffic cop helping me back up onto Edsa, and p500 in his pocket.  That was when I was still learning about how things are done here.  Systematic corruption.  Another time, I was taking my U.S. nephew to the airport in Manila.  We got to Manila really early, so we stopped for lunch.  After leaving lunch, I got pulled over by a traffic cop.  I forgot what he said, but basically it was "driving with two foreigners in the front seat".  Another time, after visiting BI in Intramuros and leaving late afternoon, I was pulled over at a nearby V intersection, for "swerving"  when I took the right road of the V.  There was a whole group of traffic cops operating there, which I have found out since, is illegal.  My wife was with me that time, and argued with him (actually 2 guys) for a long time before we gave up the p500.  While we were pulled over there, there were 3 or 4 other cars pulled over for the same thing (I assume).  All of that was pre-Duterte.  I don't know if it got much better after he was elected.

 

It's the same way in Davao City.  You get pulled over by the traffic enforcers or their slang name of Crocodiles.  You just basically say, I am sorry, I am new to the city and slip some peso, it usually 200 peso and you don't get a ticket.

Corruption and poverty is sytemtic all over Philippines.  

15 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

The other thing about living here is there really not much to do.  Beach and ocean related, yes, if you are in the right place.  However, a lot of those places don't have good schools and hospitals.  Nice parks for kids.  Extremely rare.  Nice, safe and clean places to take the kids are also rare.  I know Manila has a lot to offer in some ways, but I can't stand it there.  Too much corruption. poverty, pollution and traffic.

 

Agreed

That is the reason I would never move there, it just plain boring after a while.  I enjoy fishing and traveling, going to concerts and seeing bands, and traveling. I enjoy living in a clean city, where I have walking trails, nice restaurant and lots of entertainment, nothing like that exists maybe in Manila area.

Many years ago I was like you I couldn't stand Manila, I have actually grown fond of it due to all the entertainment and restaurant and things to do, but there is no way I could live there.  Great place to visit, but no a long term destination for me.

2 hours ago, RO_AH said:

 I will start some sort of business with my wife to occupy our time. I hear a lot of talk of jobs an workforce, but surprisingly no talk of entrepreneurship. There is so much opportunity there. I for one can't wait to live there and hate whenever I have to leave.

The main issue in Philippines on having a business is the margins are so slim on everything, it crazy in my opinion. 

I have owned a few businesses in the USA in different areas, and I have looked into business in the Philippines, it just worth my time or investment to deal with them over there due to the low margins they find acceptable in the Philippines. 

3 hours ago, Mike209 said:

Yeah so I called the IRS and they said that there was some kind of error that had to do with returns and payments so he was telling me that it supposed to take like 16 weeks

Yep Same answer I got

9 hours ago, top_secret said:

Me and my Filipina wife DID get married in Costa Rica in December.  That part can be done.  I 'should' be able to get a Philippine visa and be eligible to enter the Philippines now, and I will tackle that hurdle in a month or so when I have a bunch of other paperwork in order.  I haven't tried yet.  I am also filing an i-130 for a spousal visa to the US for her, but that is of course a time consuming process.  If you are hoping to get married and then return to the Philippines together on the same trip, that becomes more complicated as you would have to get married, get the paperwork in order, apply for a visa at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate, etc.  (Philippines Embassy in Mexico City has consular jurisdiction over Costa Rica for example)  A time consuming process dealing with bureaucracies in more than one country.  Realistically I'd think it would take a couple of months to go from a Costa Rica wedding, to having possession of an actual Philippine Visa as the spouse of a Filipina.  But if you are in it for the long haul, it may be the quickest option?  I don't really see how else you would be allowed into the Philippines right now.  I guess it also depends on how much time and money you have for the necessary travel.

I am still impressed with your story, you figured out a way to make things happen.  

Instead of sitting on sidelines crying, you got out there and figured a way around the system legally.

5 hours ago, Mike209 said:

So my wife has her interview and they're requesting that I upload my 2019 tax transcript so I've been hearing that they're not accepting the actual tax return so I'm not sure if that's the case but I went on IRS and they do not have my 2019 text transcript available

I have the same issue with tax transcripts. I filed my taxes in July 10th a few days before they were due, wrote them a check, they cashed the check a few days later and endorsed by the Dept. of Treasury.

I called IRS back in October and said it should be cleared up by December, I called back in late december and no tax transcripts and they said it could be up to 16 weeks before my tax transcript is available.

I have read on this forum of others having the same issues.

1 hour ago, RO_AH said:

Just like in America some states have been much more restrictive than others, in the Philippines some areas are more restrictive than others. I built a house in the Philippines. Do you know how much I paid for a building permit and how long I had to wait for it? Ummm I didn't because I didn't need one. My wife has a store. She sells alcohol, beer, and pretty much anything else she wants. Do you know what kind of liquor permit she needs? None. Do you know what restrictions she has on what time of day she can sell alcohol? None. 

 

It's fine if you choose to see all of the negatives of the Philippines, but there are 2 sides to every coin. America is supposed to be the land of the free. But in a lot of ways they are much more free in the Philippines.

She has a store that allows her to sell liqour during a liqour ban?  Is this like a grocery store or a sari sari store?

12 hours ago, jskibo said:

Do they spell it PANGIT?

Pera Pera

It's not uncommon when I walk the streets and market places in the Philippines, for woman and children request to have a picture taken with me..........

All the girls in the Philippine call me Gwapo or Pogi

Don't know if that's bisaya or tagalog.

I am thinking about changing my name

4 hours ago, 0NI said:

Whoever told you that you need a CFO Cert while visiting...you need to stop listening to them. lol

Exactly

3 hours ago, Adventine said:

For anyone considering the Philippine Airlines nonstop flights to the US:

 

Philippine Airlines to lay off 2,300 employees mid-March (rappler.com)

 

I really would rather avoid transiting through a third country, but if PAL reduces its flights to the US, I may be obliged to. Already, the flight prices MNL-LAX and MNL-SFO are significantly higher than when I last checked a few days ago.

The article doesn't mention anything about going to a 3rd country, it talks about laying people off.

PAL only goes to a very few cities in the USA anyways, no biggie if they go out of business.  Per the article PAL doesn't expect to return to normal until 2024, you might as well put a fork in them they will be done or taken over or merged with another carrier.  

PAL only has like 60 planes so it a pretty small airlines in general, maybe the Philippines government will come in and subsidize them in the future, but who knows if they do stuff like that in the Philippines.

We did K1 a few years ago,  After we filed to adjustment of status wife did biometrics.

Never did a interview for her 2 year green card, never had an interview for her 10 year greencard.

She filed for US citizenship last year, we got a letter last month saying no need to come in for biometrics.

14 hours ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

My spouse is a teacher at DepEd high school grade, I can tell you pretty much no learning is happening or has happened for the last 10months. She only has 2 online classes a week and 1-3 kids show up out of 25. The homework packets are a joke. If the students or parents complain that the teachers give a bad grade they just change it. Whole thing is a joke.

 

Jordan

Wow.......

2 hours ago, NoMansLand2020 said:

They are in CDO, which is still under MGCQ. In person school is not happening and we enrolled them in an online private school based out of Manila. 

Wow

So what are they doing to teach the kids in CDO?   I don't see online learning working due to poor internet and lack of IT infrastructure.