Best Posts

View attachment upload_2023-5-27_21-16-54.png

The new law (still to be approved by the Senate, but approval in the House went unanimous, so it'll probably be a hammer piece in the Senate also) does redraw the visa schedule for the Philippines.
A lot of it is still unclear, because many things will be decided in an IRR separate from the law at a later stage.

This much is clear:
1. tourists from most countries will get a 59 day initial visa upon entry, rather than the 29 day now.
2. all foreigners in the country who stay beyond 59 days will have to register (ACRI-card) and if tourist, get emigration clearance before exit.

The future IRR (rules and regulations) will decide:
1. whether the 3 year max stay for tourists stays unchanged,
2. whether the balikbayan stamp will survive (current "visa-exempt 1 year stamp")
3. what the future procedure to get a spousal "non-quota immigrant status" will be (the current 13a visa isn't mentioned in the law).

We better be prepared for a period of uncertainty.
Link to the Law text (it's a long read, I only skimmed through it)

 

FOREIGNER FOUND DEAD IN BACONG
An American national was found dead in his rented apartment at Purok 4, Barangay Liptong in Bacong at around 8:42 in the morning on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
Bacong police have identified the foreigner as Hunter Brown, 55 years old, and a US citizen.
According to police, when they arrived at the alleged area, they found the alien on the floor of his rented apartment lifeless. SOCO personnel were also very responsive.
According to the investigation, it has been known that the cause of the foreigner's death was caused by a "natural death".

 

I can tell you there is no charter for fishing in Dumaguete area and I think in all Negros Oriental. Most sport fishing in this area is jigging in 100-300 m deep, it's not for a novice, you need learn the technique for slow or fast jigging, equipment is not in the cheap end at least 10 k + for a starter or second-hand equipment. I will not be in a discussion about fishing in this area or in general but only want to share 2 options for fishing in this area maybe someone can use it. At Highland resort in Mabinay ( you can google it) you can catch snakehead in a lake, a nice place for a picnic, just remember some stuff for mosquito f#@k off. Another option is to rent a boatsman with a banka, it's not for everyone, no comfort, maybe you sit on a bamboo stick for hours or get a wet @ss in the bottom of the boat. I have been at Santa Catalina hiring a boatsman fishing dorado and other fish if you are interested pm me I have the phone number for the boatsman. You can go on YouTube, search for Mike Alano and watch videos from both the lake in Mabinay and from Santa Catalina and other places, also local area, most of the time he is going out from Sibulan. He is a really nice guy both don't have that much time for fishing anymore that he is the owner of Subida souvenirs an expanding business until covid make its entre in Negros, no tourists, as I'm sure you know. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer you, but I'm not a professional, I just like to stay out on the sea and why not go fishing same time

 

I must stress the PM requirement, believe it or not i read a post on FB where some expat clown actually named the shop that was selling him alcohol

 

I agree with your facts and judgment. Indonesia has a very large population ~270 million, the USA is ~330 million pop. I would get vaxxed for the 97% odds of not going to the hospital. The hospitals may be overwhelmed, lack staff, and run out of medicine, ventilators, etc. They may have to practice triage.
The odds of getting it here may be low, but if you do happen to get it, you don't want to be hospitalized.

 

I am scheduled for the AZ vaccine Monday in Bacong. Although I take some meds which might increase the risk, I will take the odds.

 

I quarantined at home on my return from the UK in mid-November. It was agreed in advance with the LGU local leader of the IATF. They will listen to common sense i.e. I have underlying conditions which would affect my survivability if I were to contract Covid 19 and being quarantined with other LSIs was not an option as far as I was concerned. I just got a letter from my Dr in the UK listing these, before I left, and this was accepted. The LGU came round an assessed our property before I arrived and my wife and I had to submit our temperatures to the local health official twice daily.

 

Singapore had a good method around 30 years ago.. The primary production department would send out notices on radio, TV, news papers and post on street corners that they would be controlling dogs on such and such day if they were not in yards or chained up..Even to the point if the owners were walking them without a leash..The person would get a fine of around $100. Any uncontrolled/stray dogs were shot.. The offshore base's in Jurong and Loyang were favourite dumping grounds for unwanted pets.. You know those cute birthday and christmas puppy's that got too big to stay in an HDB flat. The packs of dogs in those places was dangerous if you were walking. Primary production would come with an old beat up Toyota pickup and start shooting.. A truck load of feral dogs on a Sunday morning was easy and from what i heard they went to the zoo where the lions and other big cats quite enjoyed them.

 

Must be a big guy, if the flood gate had to open for him!

I say welcome back, for sure he tested negative travelling and doing the quarentining now so no problem. Must have been a bad time for him, being away from home and his family for so many months.