X-Pats are no longer Seniors.

Not true. Yes, the original law was amended several times, lastly in 2010, but all versions of the law, including the current one, exclude non Filipino citizens from the definition of beneficiaries:

SEC. 2. Definition of terms. – For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows:

“(a) Senior citizen or elderly refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old;

As a legal foreigner (no Philippines passport/citizen) you can be a resident but never a citizen.

Moreover, it is wise not to try to circumvent this since the law explicitely states:

“(c) Any person who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00).


“If the offender is an alien or a foreigner, he/she shall be deported immediately after service of sentence.

After the latest version of the law came into effect the only change that was made (through a circular of the BIR in 2015) was to instruct merchants and government employees to accept not only the official 60+ card but also other id cards.

 

Left hand vs right hand.

According to the PRA:

PRA: Philippine Retirement Authority

So at least one branch of the Philippine government says we are entitled to discounts, not to mention avoiding standing in line with they youngsters.

 

Yes Dave, apparently the Philippine Retirement Authority has "merchant partners" who will make discounts available to members in their SRRV program.
However, in my view that list of "merchant partners" (which is found here: PRA: Philippine Retirement Authority) has nothing to do with the "60+ law".

 

Rats. Another good idea bites the dust. Thanks for finding that list. I thought I might be onto something by filing a complaint with the PRA but they seem useless and toothless once they have your money.

 

Can anyone add anything to this list (and correct me please if I am wrong on anything):

1. Queue in the wrong line and get at least 6 months in prison and deportation
2. Your spouse dies and your Visa is cancelled
3. Your spouse dies and the house you paid for is inherited by you but only for a short time to enable you to sell it for the benefit of her family (but that may include your children if you have any with her)
4. Your spouse dies and you find that any property (including cars, cash) you put in her name is given one half to the children; she has no legal right to bequeath it all to you.

Over the year I have been here, I have learned more and more information about inheritance that makes me ensure all property and cash is in my name; on the issue of housing I will always rent.

 

No, if that would actually happen many many foreigners would do time and get deported, and many Filipinos below 60 would likewise get fined and imprisoned.
As long as you don't actually claim the financial benefits you should be fine.

No, not by definition, only if you are here on a 13a visum you would need to "downgrade" to a tourist visum after the demise of your spouse.

Yes you can inherit from your spouse, also real estate (but how much of it depends on whether there are others with a legal claim). You cannot sell or bequeath such real estate to any non filipino. I never found any solid information about "for a short time to enable you to sell it for the benefit of her family". I believe that part is best qualified as unsubstantiated rumour.

Yes, same as in many western countries, in the Philippines one cannot through testament rob children from their legal right to a part of the deceased's estate.
However, even if the spouse could do so by testament, testaments can be changed, and don't require the consent of a spouse.

Right, that is your prerogative, to make sure that the person who loves and cares for you most gets absolutely nothing after your demise (much more likely to occur before hers than vice versa). I hope you can still look in the mirror.

 

I did NOT actually make any such statement "
to make sure that the person who loves and cares for you most gets absolutely nothing after your demise" - my reasoning is to ensure that should my spouse demise before me (statistically unlikely, but then so is winning a lottery jackpot yet some do) it is not her family who then gets all my assets (get it?). And, no, I do not look in the mirror much at my age, even though people here call me "gwapo" (mostly men!); I just take their opinion for it

 

My social solutions are:
#1 To anyone who calls me 'sir' I immediately also respectfully call them 'sir'.
#2 I am on crutches after four back operations but I always initially stand at the back of every line, but are often escorted to the front of the line usually by a nearby guard or sometimes by those in the line. I do have considerable difficulty standing in line for more than a couple of minutes.
#3 If I am offered someone else's seat I humbly accept their generous offer. Young and old often offer me their seat.
#4 Unlike many Americans I never yell or complain in public. I'm in a different culture, and I accept their ways of doing things.
The result for me is zero stress in public places and friendly faces everywhere! That's just my way of doing things. I am 72.

 

As for the senior queue vs regular queue, I'm just happy being in an orderly line that everyone respects. So often not the case here.

 

Perfect POSITIVE attitudes. I have been told by professionals that they are very surprised when talking with me I don't shout or show arrogance. Why should I? More importantly, why do so many other foreigners behave like that?