Zkribbler's Retirement House - Watch it being built!

[Zkribbler]

#1 sounds a lot more expensive than #2, so I vote for #2.

On a totally different subject:
Will the Phils let me in on a 3-week visitors visa if I only have a 1-way ticket? Or should I get a round-trip ticket and eat the return trip? Or may I assume I get the extension, and buy a ticket with the return trip 3-months away?

And can I get the extension in Tagbilaran, or do I have to go to Cebu or to Manila?

Edit_1: I just checked with the Consulate's webpage. I need an return plane ticket before they'll let me into the country.
Edit_2: I can get an extended visa here in L.A. I had forgotten that I already have the form. I'd gotten frustrated and put it away because the process requirements me to submit a copy of my plane ticket but my travel agent is saying to not buy the plane ticket until I get the extended visa.

[Aeson]

You don't need a return ticket, just a ticket out of the country (anywhere). So you could probably save a few hundred if you aren't planning on leaving for quite some time. (They never checked my outbound ticket when I entered... but if you didn't have one murphy's law says they would check.)

[Lancer]

They say they won't but they very likely will. If it were me I'd get a one way and >if they ask< just tell them you're planning on retiring here. That might work. Also,through my travel agent I'm to get some small refund on my return flight, but likely not much and I've not seen anything yet.

The visas can be gotten two months at a time in Tag nearby BQ. Look your PMs. That's how Aeson stayed with us for around 5 months, two visa months at a time. There's a one year limit after which you have toleave the country. That's why you're going for permanant resident...? Someday I plan on doing the same.

[Zkribbler]

You don't need a return ticket, just a ticket out of the country (anywhere).

Good point. If I'm going to eat the cost of an exit ticket, who care where it goes as long as it's cheap?


BTW: Today I learned that the U.S. Postal Service will not forward mail out of the country.

[Lancer]

Zkrib, see above.

It was fiesta in Canayoan (sp) yesterday and this is between my place and yours. Caught it on the walk.

[Lancer]

If you have your income auto deposited you won't need mail in the US. Our banks send our statements here to the Phils. Any friends you keepin touch with just give them your Phils address.

This is around the far corner...




The top of the steps area...

[Lancer]

The far side again. Its getting a little bright on the balcony so these might be a bit jumbled.

[Lancer]

The wood has been taken and the wall revealed...




I think they went to school on my wall and did yours allot flatter.

[Lancer]

A couple more pics of the top of the steps area...

[Lancer]

A later in the day pic. The guys wrestle the waver forms up...



The way home. Time to break the pinyatta (sp). The lady pictured almost beheaded a couple of guys who only wanted to help.

[Lancer]

A couple of guys just pushed Clemente's van by my balcony, never a good sign. Oh ok it started,I guess we're going to Tag after all.


Seeya!

[Zkribbler]

I'm thinking about security on the stairs.

Even with the planned gate, someone can simply grab the outside post and swing around. I don't want to put a solid wall there because the waves would batter it down. I thought about a wall of decorative brink, so the waves can flow though. But I don't think it has steel reinforcement, and thus, would not be strong enough to stand up to any big waves. How about the bricks with the slants in it...like you have in your Jagna stairwell. Does that have steel reinforcing? What do you think of a wall made of that type of brick?

They say they won't but they very likely will. If it were me I'd get a one way and >if they ask< just tell them you're planning on retiring here. That might work

I didn't have enough guts to get a one-way ticket. I don't want to chance being turned away from the country. It turns that a round-trip ticket is cheaper than a ticket that takes you somewhere else, and a 60-day ticket is the cheapest round-trip ticket. So I bought one of those.

I arrive at Tag on May 6 at 9:25 a.m. on board Flight PR 175 from Manila.

[Lancer]

That's great Zkrib.

Well today was a monster. Van broke down in Dimeao and Theresa's bro,Michael, saved us and brough us to a resort from where we went with his driver to Tag. All this took a couple hot hours.

So we get to Tag and started off with the de Oro bank.They had heard of the PRA but only their bank in Manila does that. Ok thx bye.

So next Sec Bank. They never heard of it.

Next ChinaBank. They heard of it, you have to deposit in person.

Next PhilBank or whatever that is, same deal, have to deposit first then go to Manila the PRA.

The thing is you must bring to the bank a letter of into from the PRA signed by "authorized sigs" plus 2 IDs with your $.

ChinaBank requires 45 days for a check to clear and some cash money, she said "maybe a thousand".

Btw, there is a $10,000 "pensioner" option. Did the PRA tell you bout that? Pensioner but no morgager.

Anyway, you owe me a brew for today and Dolores a margarita.

Sorry bout Manila.

Look forward to your arrival!!!

[Lancer]

I'd still put a steel reinforced wall up there. Come here and look for yourself.

The guys will be off tomorrow thru Sunday. After that I'll start them on the circumference wall or something until you arrive.

[Zkribbler]

Just to clarify, I found a list of four banks who do PRA with branches in Tag: Banco de Oro, ChinaBank, Philippine Savings Bank [PSBank], and Security Bank. But I do NOT have information as to whether the Tab branches themselves do RPA. I merely assumed.

So it looks like I'll be okay with either ChinaBank or PSBank. What does Theresa think of these two? If they need a letter of intro or some such from PRA, I shouldn't have to travel to Manila; PRA has a branch office in Cebu in the Waterfront Hotel & Casino. Maybe we can all take a boat ride to see Danny & April.

Anyway, you owe me a brew for today and Dolores a margarita.

I owe you two far more than that!

I knew about the $10,000-pensioner's option. The problem is, I have to know the bank's electronic i.d. code in order to have my pension money deposited there, and to get the i.d., I have to first find a bank.