Best Posts

We have all had ex-pat friends die here and have heard tales of woe from their wives, girlfriends and families.

This posting attempts to explain what happens after you are gone so you can plan ahead to avoid and reduce the pit falls those you leave behind will experience. The old navy adage, "loose lips sink ships" may apply here.

A. Pay the Hospital and Obtain the Death Certificate


B. Notifying the Embassy

The embassy has to be notified of your death. There are a lot of expenses to be paid so you need to arrange your financials so your next of kin will have money to pay them.

Death of a U.S. Citizen | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

It may take several days or weeks to receive authorization from the embassy to allow the funeral home or crematorium to dispose of your body and there is generally a storage fee while waiting on this authorization.

If you have children or relatives in the States, make a list to assist the embassy in contacting them perhaps to speed things up. Your filipina wife may need to show your marriage license to prove her standing in your affairs when dealing with different agencies.

C. Local Banking Arrangement and Withdrawal

Central Bank regulations require banks to freeze single and joint accounts when a depositor dies and the person withdrawing on those accounts casually or unintentionally says that you have died. The accounts are frozen until BIR notifies them taxes have been paid by that estate. If you have single accounts or local investments, it is likely that money will never find its way to your next of kin when they need it. With FATCA the U.S. IRS may have an interest in your bank accounts also.

SGV & Co. Philippines | Ernst & Young | Accounting Firm

Joint bank accounts

D. You may have lots of stuff but your Filipina wife owns it.

Inheriting can be tough without a will and take time and money.

Inheritance tax and law

shakey

 

I like the notion of shooting known drug dealers and arresting politicians involved in the trade. If 90% of the shootings and arrests are accurate, I will take the other 10% as collateral damage to cover the ones who robbed my house. FU bad guys.

 

• Features
• News
• World

PH military launch airstrikes against Abu Sayyaf
Posted on July 6, 2016

3698
SHARES
Share on FacebookTweet on Twitter

Air and artillery, along with troops from Joint Task Group Basilan, are now pounding an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) enclave at Punoh Amirul in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

The military offensive started on Sunday, Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) spokesperson Major Filemon Tan said.

A series of airstrikes and artillery fires were delivered by military troops, targeting more or less 150 ASG members under Furuji Indama and Isnilon Hapilon.

No casualties was reported on the government side as of this press time while the number of killed and wounded in the bandit side is still to be determined.

Since Sunday, troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion situated in Barangay Magcawa, Albarka have been engaging in a series of armed confrontation with the group of Indama, while being backed by 3rd Air Division personnel.

Focused military operations are currently being intensified in all efforts of the military to neutralize the ASG based in the province of Basilan.

In Sulu, troops continue to operate in an area where kidnap victim Kjartan Sekkingstand is known to be located.

“As to the report that the kidnap victim will be beheaded anytime, we cannot confirm or deny that. The troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu continue to conduct focused military operations

 

This Sunday 7/10/2016 is the annual Nutri-Fit Walk starting at two locations by 6 AM which will have upwards of a thousand walkers Politicians, schools, businesses and bands.

On the map the BLUE route will be from Bethel and the RED route will be from Flores Avenue with both groups converging in Freedom Park by about 9 or 9:30 AM. Assembly at both starting locations starts at 5:00 AM with the walk starting about 6:30.

If you are coming into town from the North before 630 turn left at St. Paul and shift over to Airport RD/Hibbard/Perdices. From the South stay on the highway and continue to Locsin before turning right toward the Boulevard. You will have to find parking on the side streets and walk to your favorite breakfast place. The Al Fresco dining areas along the Boulevard will provide a good view while enjoying a coffee or a breakfast buffet at Why Not.

shakey

 

A friend of mine was telling some stories yesterday and revealed that when he was 5yo he and his family were evacuated from Negros by submarine mid-WWII, and taken to Australia! Evidently because someone in the family was a US citizen.

He does't remember a lot of it because he was so young, but he was told later that there were DON'T TOUCH signs all over the inside of the sub.

They met the sub near Bayawan somewhere, and were depth charged along the way to Oz because the captain of the sub was still hunting Japanese ships during the trip...

The US didn't bill the family for that but they did charge them for the boat trip from Oz to USA 6 mos later..

He's the guy that owns the building Pasta King is in. Some of you may know him

 

I finally figured out what's been wrong with my Moon fajita experience. While the first fajita wrap on the 3 per order was tasty enough, my happiness went down hill as I'd eat the next two.

I recently realized the fancy hot sizzling cast iron platter they are served on is over-cooking the chicken and veggies as they sit in front of you. Which yields tough meat and reduced sauce that's too thick and bleh after the minutes tic by.

So about a month ago I had them serve it on a regular plate, with the sauce on the side and TA-DAH-instant satisfaction throughout the entire meal!

A huge improvement.

 

Given this really Hot Weather, as one would expect my Electric Bill is Quite high due to the A/C"s running more than usual. So After coming back from my break on Siquijor I was not well for some time, In all, I missed on 3 Outings I would have gone to in that time and at a conservative count saved some 1.700 peso which more than covered the Extra I needed to pay for Electric. Just goes to show that even given the cheapness ( At times of Living here and Socializing) We can if needed tighten out belts a little and stopping Home a couple of Days can save us some cash.
Maybe not a Topic for everyone to join in but just my thoughts on how to cope sometimes when we are on a fixed Income.