Philippines
articles on culture, tourism, people and climate in the Philippines
Visa application at the Dumaguete Bureau of Immigration
The entrance is a little hidden inside an alley, but the outside sign shows that this is the entrance to the Bureau of Immigration here in Dumaguete City. Door number 8. Almost at the end of the building. I went…
The beggar and your travel budget – 5 tips how to deal with beggars
It breaks my heart sometimes: children in oversized Tees without any underwear sleeping in the streets, hair all tangled up and so dirty. Their parents look no different, yet they look not mall nourished. The other night I saw an…
My Visa extension beyond 59 days in the Philippines
My visa was about to expire. So I downloaded the necessary forms from the official website of the Bureau of Immigration and headed to Batangas for an extension. Since the Bureau of Immigration closed the office in Puerto Galera, it…
Bureau of Immigration in Puerto Galera
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Puerto Galera has moved. Services have been transferred to Calapan. I found the office, which was supposed to be on the first floor of the Public Market building, hidden behind a second-hand shop, empty…
Applying for a visa at the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands
I knew upfront that I was going to stay in the Philippines longer than the free tourist visa on arrival would allow. When entering the Philippines as a holder of a Dutch passport, you are granted a 30 days visa upon…
Motorcycle Road trip on Siquijor Island
In the years 2015-2019 I did several motorcycle trips through the Philippines. I have so much footage that I never used anymore. I found a way to work through all that and show it on my YouTube Channel. Today I…
Can I travel to the Philippines in 2021?
On January 4, 2021, the Bureau of Immigration released a press announcement about the latest travel restrictions for foreigners that planned on visiting the Philippines during the ongoing COVID pandemic. Here are the latest requirements. It is nearly impossible for…
Altimonan ZigZag Route Philippines
Riding the Altimonan road, or the old Bicol ZigZag route. Was amazing, I did not know what was coming, I just wanted to get off the highway with the huge trucks passing by non-stop. And the road rage of the…
10 things to keep in mind when planning your 2020 Vacation?
With a world that is on lockdown, there are people that need a ray of hope, and they create that ray by looking at vacation spots to visit for the next summer vacation or autumn break. Nothing wrong with that.…
Is it safe to have surgery done in the Philippines?
During my stay in the Philippines, I had a few encounters with hospitals and I have seen rural clinics as well as University hospitals from the inside. I even had some experience on the operating table myself. Nothing serious but…
A consular Interview, what does that mean?
Depending on the country you want to visit you need a visa, and depending on the Embassy you apply for your visa the application might involve a consular interview. When your visa application is received by the consulate, they will…
What is the best month to travel to the Philippines
Most people think living in the Philippines is an endless summer. But the Philippines being a huge archipelago gets its fair share of typhoons and rain. So no endless summer for these islands. It is not even always hot. Some…
