U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines.

U.S. Embassy, Manila, Philippines

U.S. Embassy, Manila, Philippines

Homepage of the US Embassy in Manila. Via the home page you can find information about the following subjects and more.

U.S. citizen services.

"The Consular Agency in Cebu City offers routine passport, citizenship and other services to Americans living in the central and southern Philippines.

The U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu provides notarial services and special consular services for Americans citizens including assistance regarding deaths, arrests, and the welfare and whereabouts of American citizens in the Philippines.  Americans planning to marry in the Philippines may also execute an "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" at the Consular Agency." 

Getting married in the Philippines.

"Any foreigner who wishes to marry in the Philippines is required by the Philippine Government to obtain from his/her Embassy a "Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" before filing an application for a marriage license."

Consular agency in Cebu.

"The Consular Agency also accepts applications for passport renewal, replacement, additional pages, and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA).  Applications are then sent to the American Embassy in Manila for adjudication.  American citizens can also register with the U.S. Embassy through the consular agency to receive updates and alerts."

Passports / Lost Passports

"Only emergency passports are available on a walk-in basis.  Please be aware that the rules for emergency passport issuance are strict, and a consular officer will determine if your situation meets the standard for an emergency.  If your situation is not considered an emergency, you will need to book an online appointment, and return to the embassy on that day.  Before coming to the embassy, please read all the instructions for the passport service you need." 

Continued security threats in the Southern Philippines.

Here you will find "Travel Cautions and Warnings" and the "Latest Messages to U.S. Citizens."

U.S. Visas for Filipinos.

Do you want to visit the United States of America? Check out the following video.

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Attorneys in Angeles City and elsewhere in the Philippines.

Visa, Passport and Immigration offices in the Philippines.

The Eurotel is a hotel near the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Scroll down this Philippine hotel page to read about the Eurotel. I walk from there to the embassy in about 15 minutes. Have patience at the front desk, the hotel is very busy. The Eurotel serves mainly Filipino food but features Western foods at a free breakfast buffet each morning; inquire as to breakfast hours. If you prefer American or Western foods, you can eat across the street at Robinson's Mall. There you may try the Fresh Baker, Sbarro's, Friday's, McDonald's and many other fast food restaurants.

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about the U.S Embassy, Manila, Philippines. Updated June 3, 2022.

Are Ferries Safe? in the Philippines

Ferry Boat Travel in the Philippines

Are Ferry Boats Safe in The Philippines?

Worse than the Titanic! Dona Paz burned and sank in December 1987.

I was living in Manila when the Princess of the Stars sank. Fortunately, none of my wife's friends or relatives were aboard. But many people lost their lives and many lost loved ones.

I know people who have sailed on ferry boats in the Philippines without incident. But I choose not to. Flying in the Philippines is the way we have traveled from island to island.

Before you decide to travel by ferry in the Philippines check out this list of maritime disasters in the Philippines.

In the Dona Paz video a survivor says, "I won't ride a ship again, even if it's free." After watching the video, you may decide to travel only by land and air in the Philippines.

Check out more about the Dona Paz tragedy at Wikipedia.

There are smaller boats which I would be happy to travel in. For example, small sail boats and catamarans which give rides to tourists in places like Boracay.

July 2, 2015. Hmm, maybe I will not ride in catamarans. See this story about a catamaran which capsized. Fifty-six souls perished when it capsized (at latest count.) See another story and video about the disaster.

Update Aug. 15, 2015, Another ferry engulfed in flames.

Update May 23, 2022, A Bangka on fire.

Some more advice

"Ferry accidents occur. Some vessels are poorly maintained and overcrowded. Accidents are more prevalent during the rainy season as storms can develop quickly. As a result, local authorities may suspend ferry services on short notice when a storm signal is raised, even if the weather is clear. You could get stranded at ports for several days.

If travelling by sea:

• use only a reliable company.
• don’t board vessels that appear overloaded or unseaworthy.
• make sure you have access to a life jacket.
• plan for extra time, especially during the rainy season" (excerpt from travel.qc.ca).

Update June 19, 2023, from an article at The Manila Times titled

"PH ferry with up to 65 people onboard catches fire at sea, rescue underway."

"Sea accidents are common in the Philippines because of frequent storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces."

Other forms of transportation in the Philippines are bicycle, motorcycle, airplane, bus, taxi, jeepney, train, tricycle and pedicab.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about traveling by ferry boats or other types of boats in the Philippines. This page updated June 19, 2023.

Starting A Business in the Philippines

Starting a Business in the Philippines

Starting a Business in the Philippines

College graduates in the Philippines often take jobs as department store clerks. Many high school and college graduates seek employment as Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs).

For many high school graduates and college graduates a good option is to start a business of their own. Even if you are not a graduate you can succeed in business if you gain the knowledge needed and plan to persevere.

There are many franchise opportunities. Some examples are Buko Juice and ice cream stands and stalls in grocery stores and malls. Be careful of franchise agreements; have them reviewed by a business attorney.

In the Philippines many homeowners operate small stores street side at their residences. These are called Sari Sari stores.

Foreigners are not permitted to own 100% of a business in the Philippines, they are limited to owning 40% of  the business. The other 60% must be Filipino owned.

Consult with an attorney in the Philippines about going into business.

Some of the best businesses to open might be:

Food Carts
Lunch Spot near a soon to open new school
Lugawan
Internet Cafe
Spa
Salon

And here is a New Idea.

Want a FREE business education? Check out "myownbusiness -how to start one, how to grow one."

See a list of over 40 free educational websites where you can get a free education.

See an article about the Economy of the Philippines.

Avoid making mistakes when starting a business!

Get a Website for your business!

Whether your business is very small or not you need a website.
See my offer of a free website.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about starting a business in the Philippines. This page last updated April 27, 2022.

Etiquette in Philippines

Proper Social Behavior in the Philippines

Etiquette in The Philippines

Never call anyone over to you by saying "Psst."

Never beckon someone by using your index finger in a raised 'come to me' fashion.

From "Top 10 Hand Gestures You'd Better Get Right."

The “Dog Call”

"Curling your index finger towards you in a summoning motion is a gesture generally linked with seductive temptresses in Hollywood movies, beckoning for their targeted men to follow them into another room.

Calling a dog.

Beware, however, of using this gesture. 

In the Philippines – it’s a method of communication considered worthy only to use on dogs and is actually punishable by arrest. Worst of all, they’ll break your index finger in order to prevent you from committing the same crime again!"

Emma, the author of the article about hand gestures concludes the article with "So, there you have it – ten of the most popular (and most globally misunderstood) hand gestures, in all their glory.  .... the best idea when travelling abroad is probably to keep both hands pinned to your sides. Permanently."

Filipinos are very gracious people, but never insult Anyone!

"Never Insult a Filipino – It may be the last thing you do.  Insults are taken very seriously and if you cause a Filipino to lose face, expect to be shunned by them and their family. Losing face is taken very seriously here and sometimes, if the offense is bad, the knives will come out. It’s best to be respectful and complimentary to anyone you talk to."

Business Etiquette in the Philippines (an article in USA Today.)

Manners while riding in jeepneys.

Manners when riding in tricycles.

Commuter etiquette Jeepney, Bus, Train

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about getting the best experience at this blog about etiquette in the Philippines. This page last updated Sept. 14, 2023.

Avoid Crime in Philippines

Crime in The Philippines

Avoid Criminals in the Philippines

Setups in hotel rooms - legal age lady invites an underage girl to the room (a "sister," "cousin," etc.) - next thing you know a police officer will be at the door. You will need an attorney!

Pickpockets in malls, in jeepneys, on sidewalks, in crowds.

Robbery at gunpoint - stay alert.

Be careful where you walk at night.

Ask someone where not to walk (eg. a security guard or a desk clerk at your hotel.)

Snatchers - will grab the necklace off your girl's neck and run.

Someone tries to befriend you - "Hey Joe, I've been to the US also..." - don't answer, just keep walking.

Someone tries to sell you a gun - it is illegal for foreigners to own guns - see self defense in the Philippines.

Be especially alert in bus stations.

On the bus, sit near the front of the bus so that you can make a hasty exit if armed robbers get on the bus and start demanding money (advice from a police officer.)

The two locks shown above will adjust to fit different inswing doors.

Carry some kind of traveler's security door lock to use when staying in hotel rooms. Try it when you preview the room. Make sure it fits the door before you check in.

On two occasions someone has tried to get into my hotel room in the Philippines. One time, at a cheap hotel in Batangas, the person used a tool, which left marks on the door and door frame, while we were sleeping. In the morning I noticed a lot of pry marks and it was hard to open the door. The other time, at the Mariche Apartelle in Cavite (across from SM Bacoor Mall), we were awake and heard someone trying our door. Both times I had inserted a steel lock like the one in the second image. It foiled both attempts to get in.

If you would like to order a lock, like the one I use, contact me. This lock works on doors which swing into the room.

Here is an idea for a makeshift lock made out of a common dinner fork. It does not appear very secure, but it looks like it would make some noise if entry was attempted, and it would provide more security than no lock at all.

Avoid Criminals. DO NOT do the following:

Do not wear gold jewelry in the Philippines.
Do not wear diamond rings in the Philippines.
Do not wear expensive glasses in the Philippines.
Do not wear expensive watches in the Philippines.
Do not display expensive cell phones or tablets.
Do not drive expensive cars in the Philippines.
Do not carry a lot of cash.
Do not hire taxicabs that have no signs on the doors or on the windowsills inside the car.
Do not walk on dark streets.
Do not be a belligerent, overbearing, bossy foreigner.

Never call anyone "stupid" if you value your life.
Always be "nice" and respectful.

Maintain a low profile as much as possible.
However, all Anglos are considered "rich" by the majority of Filipinos. In fact, all foreigners are considered rich.

Do not buy gold jewelry or diamonds or any expensive items for your Filipino girlfriend. Unless she is rich by Philippine standards, she or some member of her family will probably eventually pawn them (if they have not already been stolen from her by a stranger, "friend" or family member.) Save these purchases for after you are married. Keep in mind she may be a scammer.

This is not a complete list of tips but it should be helpful. Will add more later.

Be alert and have a good time in the Philippines.

Have you been a victim of a break in, a snatcher or a pickpocket? Or do you have ideas regarding security? Please share your experience or suggestions with other readers by making a comment below.

Update Sept. 25, 2015: Abduction close to Davao on the island of Mindanao. Read a startling and enlightening news report about it here. 

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about crime in the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Translate This Blog Translation Service

We can translate for you.

Translate This Blog

View this blog on a tablet, laptop or desktop computer. Then click on the black sidebar at right of your screen. Then click on "translate." Choose your language from this list.

Translation Service

English is taught in schools in the Philippines. However, there are many Filipinos who do not speak English or who do not speak it fluently.

If you have not found some girls or ladies in the Philippines who may be a match for you check out my article about finding your Filipina match. There are many girls and young ladies who will be interested in communicating with you. Most of the girls who work for merchants in the shopping malls are college graduates. The Philippines abounds with lovely ladies. Start your search now and you may be in the Philippines meeting with that special someone sooner that you think.

If your goal is marriage, you must meet her in the Philippines and be able to document your meeting with emails, photos together and with her family, etc.

Have you found a lady in the Philippines who does not speak English or who speaks very little English? Do you need an interpreter?

We can translate for you for a very low fee. We interpret text or verbally in 3-way phone calls or verbally during live video chat where you and your friend or up to 10 people may participate.

We can arrange 3-way phone calling between you, your new friend and our interpreter. Or we can arrange for

3-way video chat via Google Hangouts, Skype, Yahoo Messenger, or OoVoo. More than 3 persons may video chat in some of these services. Our interpreter speaks English and Tagalog. Many Filipinos speak Tagalog (or Filipino). Especially those who live on the big island of Luzon (where Manila and Angeles City are located.)

If your friend is from a province where a language other than Filipino is spoken, we can arrange a translator, who speaks that language and English, to serve as your interpreter.

Contact me to inquire about our services.

List of speakers per language (from en.wikipedia.org)

Below are population estimates from the 2000 Philippine census by National Statistics Office of the Philippines on the number of Filipinos who speak the following 19 languages as a native language.

Name of Philippine language	Number of native speakers
Tagalog	22,000,000
Cebuano	21,000,000
Ilocano	7,700,000
Hiligaynon	7,000,000
Waray-Waray	3,100,000
Kapampangan	2,900,000
Northern Bicol[12]	2,500,000
Pangasinan	2,434,086
Southern Bicol[13]	1,200,000
Chavacano	1,200,000
Meranaw	1,150,000
Maguindanao	1,100,000
Kinaray-a	1,051,000
Tausug	1,022,000
Surigaonon	1,000,000
Masbateño	530,000
Aklanon	520,000
Ibanag	320,000
Español	2,000

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about translate this blog, interpreters in the Philippines. Interpreting between Filipino, Tagalog or other dialects and English. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Latest News Philippines

Latest News of the Philippines

      Latest News of the Philippines

A good way to get the latest news about the Philippines is to make this web address a home page in your browser.

Google Blogger has removed the news icon from all blogs.
So, no matter which browser you use, you may see the latest news about the Philippines by visiting,

Google News Philippines

The Inquirer

Aljazeera

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This article may be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about the latest news of the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Drugstores in Philippines

Pharmacies

Drugstores in The Philippines

It was suggested that I take "Imodium" to settle my stomach if I ever got a touch of food poisoning. I used it on several occasions, and it always worked in a matter of an hour or two. It is available at a drugstore near you. Use the store locators to find a

 nearby Mercury Drug store, Watson's drug store, or 

a Generics Pharmacy (scroll down the Generics page.) 

Most other drug stores in the Philippines have 

Imodium also.

Drugstores in the Philippines

See my article about "Foods To Avoid in the Philippines."

Imodium relieved my several bouts
 of "food poisoning" quickly each time.

Whatever your needs, larger drug stores will probably 

have what you want. You do not always need a 

prescription. For example, when we urgently needed an

inhaler we were able to get one without a prescription.

Mercury Drug and Watson's have stores in the large 

shopping malls and other locations.

Mercury Drug Stores are
near many larger hospitals.

If you visit a doctor in a clinic or in a hospital the 

doctor will probably suggest that you fill your 

prescription at an outside pharmacy. I have experienced this at Makati Medical Center and also at AUF Medical Center in Angeles City. Apparently, the in-house pharmacies in hospitals are not well equipped.

Open-air Drug Stores are found
all over the Philippines.

There are many small open-air pharmacies along city

sidewalks.

You do not always need a prescription to obtain 

medications in drugstores in the Philippines. Just ask. 

If you cannot get it at one drugstore, try another. For 

example, when we needed an asthma inhaler we

were able to get one without a prescription.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about drug stores or pharmacies in the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Advertise Here

Advertise on this Blog

Advertise on this Blog

The majority of visitors to this blog are from the USA and the Philippines. Other visitors are from many other countries. Up-to-date blog articles statistics are available upon request to serious inquirers. Total 895,192 page views as of July 6, 2022.

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I am seeking Hotels, Apartelles, Pensiones, Hostels, Restaurants, Banks, Schools, Real Estate Developers, Real Estate Brokers, Airlines, Taxi Companies, Tour Companies, Dentists, Doctors, Hospitals, Clinics, Travel Agencies and Retail Businesses who want to advertise on this blog.

Options are: 

1. A hot link to your web site can be featured in a blog article or articles. See an example of an active hyperlink (hot link): a link to the "Tsikot" website in my article about Buying Used Cars or New Cars in the Philippines.

2. Feature your site at American Expat in Philippines,

Florida USA Real Estate or Visit Florida USA or all three sites.

I will design an ad for you or you provide an image for it. It will link to your custom page at this blog which will feature information about your service or products and a link to your website.

3. I can embed a video provided by you on a page or pages at this blog. Or we can film a video for you.
Let me know which page or pages you want the video to appear on. 

4. Banner Ads or Display Ads. You provide banner or banners or we can create them for you.

5. Combination of any or all of the above.

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If you purchase one or all of the above options, I will also feature your site via Google, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and LinkedIn.

You will be pleased with my low rates.
All ads subject to approval.

After a rate is agreed upon payment may be made via PayPal or other method.

Contact me about advertising on this blog.

Enter "advertising at your blog" in the "subject" field.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about advertising at this blog about living in the Philippines. This page last updated July 6, 2022.

Selling Houses, Condos, Land Philippines.

 

House For Sale in the Philippines

Retired Real Estate Broker

I was a real estate broker in the USA before coming to the Philippines to meet my wife in person in 2007.  We met first online. A friend of mine picked me up at the Manila airport and took me to his mother's home near Bacoor, Cavite. I checked into a hotel and called her from there.

She explained how to get to her place by jeepneys and several buses. It was so complicated I asked if she could come to Cavite to meet. The next day we arranged to meet at a mall in Cavite. It was love at first sight! 

To make a long story short, we now have three children, a home in Cavite and one live in housekeeper.

Almost nobody uses the MLS here. 

Real Estate business is very different to the USA. There is a fledgling Multiple Listing Service (MLS) here. But apparently most Filipinos try their best to avoid paying any fees. 

There are quite a few property listing services online. Most people wanting to buy or sell are forced to use these. To find properties one must drive an area one likes and write down numbers on signs to contact the owners directly. Or search many listing services.

If a property is in a secure neighborhood (gated and guarded) an employee of the HOA may escort you around to see properties which are for sale. Otherwise, you will need to contact an agent who will show you properties.

You will probably want to rent for your first year here. Narrow your search down to an island or a major city.

Manila, for example, is full of high-rise condos.

A multiple listing service makes it easy to find properties in Florida, USA. Foreigners are permitted to buy properties in the US.

(Coming soon: more details about selling.) 

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about Selling Houses, Condos, Land in the Philippines. Uploaded. March 30, 2024.