Big Jim’s Philippines Experience

Hi Jim,

You seem to be the best expert on bohol and so we wanted to ask you for advice. My wife and I are planning a day trip to Bohol from Cebu for this June and only want to see the Baclayon Church, Loboc River for a lunch cruise, tarsier interaction (on Loboc River?), the Chocolate Hills, and the man-made (mahogoney) forest.  Therefore, our questions are:

1) Should we book our high-speed ferry ahead of time now in the U.S. or just wait until we arrive in Cebu (we plan to go to Bohol the day after we arrive in Cebu)?

2) Should we prebook a Bohol day package tour online now or just go with one of the drivers / tour operators upon arrival at the ferry pier in Bohol?

3) Do you have any other suggestions or advice? 

 Thank you!

Jeremiah

Hi Jim,

Love your site! I recently married my sweet angel in Cebu last month!

I would like to know what are the costs of pregnancy there from pre-natal care to birth.

Also, Is it possble to buy medical and dental insurance for my wife while I wait for her to come to the US?

Thanks,

Paul

Can anyone advise me please if it is necessary to obtain an Immigration Clearance Certificate as I am the holder of ACR (Alien Certificate of Registration)  I am returning to Australia at end of this month.

Many thanks

Nigel Smith

jaemartphils@hotmail.com

hi all, i’m in australia but will be in cebu next month. im looking to find an company that can make T-Shirts (printed with logs), Caps, Bags ect. can anyone help as ive tried google and the net, but im not having much luck. there for our Karate club in australia. thanks mathew

i understand what you are saying about relatives wanting to mooch money from you.in 1974-1976 i was in the navy and spent some time in p.i. it was terrific and i will never forget the experiance.i have been unhappily married now for many years and until recently the philippines was just a distant memory in the back of my sub-concsious mind.recently however,my younger brother has bagan to correspond with a fillipina girl on some fhilapina dating service on the internet.well let me tell you that in my mind he really opened up a can of worms (a very large can) and he really got me thinking about the philippines and the women that live there.i have been carfully researching the philippines on the internet now for more than two weeks and let me tell you that i want to go there right now so bad that i can taste it.my life has been so hum drum now for so long and my marrige so rocky that going to the philipppines is almost more temptation than i can handle.on top of all this living here in america really stinks right now.i hat california and i despise the town i live in.perhaps i am being ungratefull but it is hard for me to exist at my age here in california.im not very old though.i just turned 53 two days ago.my business is doing lousy and my marriage is almost beyond repair.it is more than tempting to take the money that i have and retire early to the philippines,leaving my wife and child behind to fend for themselfs.of course i would get a legal divorce first.does anyone out there have any advice for me!!!.am i not intitled to be happy the remainder of my days?

Greetings! Ianne here of MIRIANN PRA Services, an accredited marketer of the Philippine Retirement Authority.
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My purpose in writing this post is to help or guide foreign nationals make their stay in the Philippines as fun and hassle-free as possible. Relax in their home or hotel and let us sweat it out for them!

I personally assist them and guide them through the process.
If you have questions about the Special Resident Retiree Visa program, please feel free to send me an email.  
Mobile: 09064948217
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E-mail: iann.axa@gmail.com

While the link lasts, check out this article on Sun Star website
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/con-ass-resolution-filed-house”

The article is as clear as mud, unless you are a Filipino attorney. However, it appears as if some small action has commenced which could pave the way for for foreign ownership of land in the Philippines. Don’t get too hopeful though. It could still be years off!

The article is copied below
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This was a question asked recently on Yahoo answers for which my answer was chosen as Best Answer by the asker. As this same information will be very useful to people reading my blog, I have copied it here, with some minor editing to make the links work with this blog

I am planing on traveling to cebu, philippines, for one week to meet my girlfriend for the first time, I have chatted with her for over 1 and a half years, anything that I might need to know would be great, since this is my first trip on a plane and first trip overseas, thank you!

Additional Details
I chat with her often on web cam and talk to her on phone. I bought the airline tickets and see made arangements along the way, and never was forceful about it, I have also seen most of her family on webcam as well, including mother and father, and she wats to stay with me during our stay there in a floor of condomium that I am renting during our stay for 42 dollars a day

by Jim S Member since:
11 February 2008
Total points:
2806 (Level 4)
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
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While the link lasts, read MARK D. MERUEÑAS’ story on the GMA news website
GMA WEBSITE

Mark writes as if the vigilantes are a bad thing and reports that Gloria Arroyo wants the Philippine National Police to act to bring the vigilantes to justice.

I have personal experience with the vigilantes. When I was living at the Cebu Century Hotel, in downtown Cebu City, the vigilantes shot dead a bugaw (pimp) who operated near the hotel. Following the shots, I went outside to see what was happening. It seemed that the whole street was rejoicing. The were hundreds of people in the street in front of the hotel. Every where I walked people were saying……”thanks god he is dead”. Apparently he had personally robbed many people in the area or made trouble for people.

If all vigilante killings were greeted the same as that one, I will pleased for them to continue.

It does worry me that they may get the wrong person.

You can make up your own mind!

The story is being written in 4 parts.

The first 2 parts from the GMA story are copied below.

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