Category: Information

Ferry to Puerto Galera

Getting to Puerto Galera from the Luzon mainland involves getting a ferry from Batangas.

The main passenger ferry terminal is at Terminal 3 in Batangas, with Bankas going to the 3 main ferry drop off points in Puerto Galera of:

Muelle Bay
Sabang
White Beach

The current fare can be seen at; Minolo Shipping Lines
Phone: 043 287 3614
Mobile: 0917 8392 680

A list of Ferry Schedules is shown here (as shown on the Minolo Shipping Lines site 2 Aug 2013):

2014 UPDATE:   LAST FERRY from Muelle Bay Puerto Galera to Batangas is 3:30pm (Jan 2014)

 

These 2013 times may be out of date, but the main website is no longer operating.

 

Puerto Galera to Batangas   Batangas to Puerto Galera
5:15 AM 6:30 AM
5:30 AM 7:15 AM
5:40 AM 7:45 AM
6:15 AM 9:15 AM
6:55 AM 9:45 AM
7:30 AM 10:45 AM
7:30 AM 12:05 PM
8:05 AM 12:30 PM
8:20 AM 12:45 PM
8:55 AM 2:00 PM
9:30 AM 3:30 PM
10:15 AM 4:00 PM
10:45 AM 5:00 PM
11:10 AM
11:35 AM
12:00 PM
12:30 PM
12:55 PM
1:15 PM
1:45 PM
2:50 PM
3:45 PM
4:00 PM
4:15 PM

[mappress mapid=”49″]

Cherry Mobile Phones

Lazada 300x250 1A Selection of Cherry Mobile Phones

Price list at: 

Cherry Mobile Spark TV  **

  • Screen Size: 3.5-inch
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Cherry Mobile Rave  **

  • Screen Size: 3.5-inch HVGA (480×320)
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Cherry Mobile Burst  **

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  • Camera: 5 megapixel camera with flash
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Cherry Mobile Thunder  **

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Cherry Mobile Thunder 2.0  **

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  • Bluetooth: YES
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  • Dual SIM / Dual Standby
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  • 1GB of RAM
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  • 8MP autofocus BSI camera with LED flash
  • 2MP front-facing BSI camera
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n / Wi-Fi hotspot

 

Cherry Mobile Omega HD 2.0  *****

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  • Operating System: Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean
  • Processor: Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 PowerVR SGX 544 GPU MediaTek MT6589 chipset
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  • WIFI: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
  • Camera: 2MP rear camera
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  • Android 4.1 Jellybean

 

 

Cherry Mobile Fusion Fire 10.1 Tablet

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  • Front Camera: 0.3MP (Front),
  • 1GB DDR3 RAM
  • WiFi capable

 

Electricity in the Philippines

Albay is yet again facing total power disconnection if the local Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) fails to settle its outstanding electricity bill to the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC).

At 12 noon, 30th July 2013, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines cut off power supply to the Albay Electric Cooperative because of nearly P1 billion in unpaid debt to the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC).

As at June 18, 2013, ALECO had an outstanding arrears of P19.9 million, with a further P99.6 million, that would be due on June 25, 2013.

Current news states that Aleco owes a total of almost P4 billion to all the power producers and suppliers (National Power Corporation, PEMC, Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and the NEA).

In 2011, it was stated that the State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) was owed P27 billion by 90 electric cooperatives around the country. That is an average of P300 million for each electric cooperative.

In 2010 the Albay Governor, Joey Salceda made this statement:

For 35 years, Albay province provided Luzon with the cheapest and cleanest energy, yet Albayanos have no substantial benefits. We serve the country, but what the Albay province got is only a P14-million royalty for four years and Aleco is paying back WESM [Wholesale Electricity Spot Market] of P2.1 billion this is completely unjust.

On face value, it seems that Albay isn’t being given sufficient credit for its own inputs.

The Albay, Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant, has a production of 275Mw.
Luzon uses about 7,000MW per hour according to www.wesm.ph, so this single Albay power plant provides 4% of all of Luzon power, and with its population of 1,233,432 (www.nscb.gov.ph) being 2.5% of the Luzon population based on the figure of  48,520,774, it could maybe get close to becoming self sufficient in power.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has declared it is the Department of Energy (DOE) that owes Albay P102 billion, which the latter contributed to the country’s development over 34 years from out of its indigenous geothermal energy, and that the power sourced from Tiwi, Albay, accounts for 11% of the power flowing through the entire Luzon grid.

Electricity has been generated using geothermal power in the towns near Mayon since 1967, and the Philippines has grown to now be the second largest producer of geothermal power in the world.

Electricity rates:

Sept 2010: A figure of P19.19 a kilowatt electricity rate was quoted with Albay having the lowest power rate in Bicol at just P16.50 a kilowatt an hour.

June 2013: Meralco, stated that the the generation charge was now P5.66 per kwh.

Private Health Insurance in the Philippines

I had a look at premiums for Private Health Insurance in the Philippines today…

The first on-line quote that I found was:

Annual Premium of PHP 114,774
Total Cover of: PHP 200,000 (Maximum Benefit Limit = benefit per illness per year)
!!

My 2nd online quote was:

An Annual premium of US$5,165 (PHP206,600)
A lot more expensive, but with a Maximum plan benefit of $1,600,000 (PHP64,000,000)

Quite a large difference.

www2.maxicare.com.ph
and
www.allianzworldwidecare.com

Retirement Visa for the Philippines

The Philippines is a popular place for people from many countries to retire to, mainly because of the lower costs of living when compared to their home countries.

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration provides the (SRRV), Special Retiree’s Resident Visa for this purpose.

This Visas comes at a cost, but is available for those aged 35 upwards.
It does have the main advantage of SRRV holders being exempt from ACR, I-card, exit clearance and re-entry permit requirements.

For the younger retiree, aged between 35 and 49 years, they must make a US$50,000 time deposit. (SRRV SMILE)
For the older retiree, aged over 50, they need to make a US$20,000 time deposit. (SRRV CLASSIC)

Retirees with an overseas pension of at least US$800 per month, are able to apply for the SRRV with a reduced time deposit amount:

This is only available for the older retiree, aged over 50, and they only need a US$10,000 time deposit.

You do have to ensure that the the proof of your pension is in an acceptable form to the Bureau of Immigration.

The SRRV CLASSIC  allows the retiree to convert the deposit into into a Ready For Occupancy condominium or long-term lease of House and Lot. However, the Investment, if converted this way, must be at least US$50,000.

The Fees for these options are:

  • Application Fee: US$1,400 (PHP56,000)
  • Annual Fee: US$360 per year.  (PHP14,400)

This information is current at July 2013.

Updated information can be seen at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration website: http://immigration.gov.ph
Search for “Special Retiree’s Resident Visa”.

Visa Extensions in Puerto Galera

There is an Immigration Office in Puerto Galera, even though it isn’t shown on the the official website.

It’s current operating hours are:

Monday: 8:30 am to 12:00 noon.

Tuesday: 8:30 am to 12:00 noon.

Wednesday: 8:30 am to 12:00 noon.

For those who say it is open all day on Monday and Tuesday…. it isn’t.  Trust me, as I turned up on Tuesday at 1pm, and it was closed.  They changed their opening hours between my last two visits, sometime between May 2013 and July 2013.

Location:

The Puerto Galera Immigration office is in a small room near the shopping area just above the main public market. The building also houses the Public Library and a Western Union Office.

On both sides of the Public Market there are concrete stairs, and you need to go up ONE floor, to the second floor. [The ground floor of buildings in the Philippines is called the first floor, so the Second Floor is the first one you get to when going up the stairs]

Go up the stairs on the Right [When facing the market], then turn right when you reach the next floor.
After facing right, you will see that straight ahead on the left is Western Union, and on the right is a shopping area, turn right and follow the line of dresses on sale. Halfway down on the right is a small door, this is the Immigration Office.

If you take photocopies of the photo page of your passport, and the page(s) with your Philippines entry stamps (especially the first entry one), then you could be out again within 10-15 minutes. That is how long it took me today, but I do already have the ACR photo card, so that may speed up the process.

This office also did not object to me wearing shorts 😉 Not like the very strict Cebu office.

The cost for a 2 month extension (May 2013) was 3,030 pesos. (I expect the same price in July 2013)

P 300 Application Fee
P 1,000 Extension Fee
P 500 Certificate Fee
P 30 LRJ
P 1,000 Express Fee

It was 4,500 pesos in July 2013, as there was an extra charge for the Temporary Resident permit, after 6 months. !!

Visa Fees so far:

FREE 21 day entry visa
PHP 3,030 after 21 days, lasting for another 38 days, total 59 days.
PHP 7,340 after 59 days, lasting for another 2 months and including the ACR Photo card ( I-Card)
PHP 3,030 after 4 months, for another 2 months.
PHP 4,500 after 6 months, lasting for another 2 months and including the Certificate of Residence (Temporary Visitor).

ACR Card:
Front: Philippine Immigration ACR Card Front Back:   Philippine Immigration ACR Card Back

Desktop Computers in the Philippines

Lazada 468x60 2

Bestsellers

HP ENVY TouchSmart 23-d005a All-in One Desktop

HP ENVY TouchSmart 23-d005a All-in One Desktop

₱ 59,990.00

Lenovo IdeaCentre b540 Multi-Touch All-in-One DesktopLenovo IdeaCentre b540 Multi-Touch All-in-One Desktop

₱ 56,390.00

Less 3% =₱ 54,490.00

Acer Aspire 5600U 23” Touch Screen All-in-One PCAcer Aspire 5600U 23″ Touch Screen All-in-One PC

₱ 58,900.00

Asus ET2701 INTI 10-point Multi-Touch All-in-One PC

NEW Asus ET2701 INTI 10-point Multi-Touch All-in-One PC

₱ 88,995.00

Desktops computers

Asus Essentio CP1130 DesktopNEW Asus Essentio CP1130 Desktop

₱ 15,900.00

Acer Veriton N2620G DesktopNEW  In Stock  Acer Veriton N2620G Desktop

₱ 18,900.00

Less 4% = ₱ 18,190.00

HP Pavilion p2-1213d Desktop

HP Pavilion p2-1213d Desktop

₱ 20,990.00

Asus Essentio CP6230 DesktopNEWAsus Essentio CP6230 Desktop

₱ 21,000.00

Laptop Computers in the Philippines

Computers and Laptops at Lazada Philippines

Haibook LGS30 10.2" Netbook (Black) with free Speakers, Wireless Mouse and Sleeve Bag Haibook LGS30 10.2″ Netbook (Black) with free Speakers, Wireless Mouse and Sleeve Bag ₱ 11,187.00 Less 15% = ₱ 9,499.00

Acer Aspire V5-431P-10074G50Mass 14-inch Touchscreen Laptop (Silver) Acer Aspire V5-431P-10074G50Mass 14-inch Touchscreen Laptop (Silver) ₱ 24,899.00 Less 10% = ₱ 22,409.00

Haibook LGS30 10.2” Netbook (Black) with free Speakers, Wireless Mouse and Sleeve Bag In Stock Haibook LGS30 10.2″ Netbook (Black) with free Speakers, Wireless Mouse and Sleeve Bag

₱ 11,187.00

Less 15% = ₱ 9,499.00

Redfox WizBook 1050i 10.1” Netbook (Black) Redfox WizBook 1050i 10.1″ Netbook (Black)

₱ 9,600.00

Asus Vivobook S400CA-CA039H 14” Touch Screen Laptop (Black)

In Stock, Only 3 items left

Asus Vivobook S400CA-CA039H 14″ Touch Screen Laptop (Black)

₱ 32,995.00

Toshiba Satellite E300-1006U 14”” Laptop (Champagne Gold)

In Stock

Toshiba Satellite E300-1006U 14″” Laptop (Champagne Gold)

₱ 42,349.00

Less 8% = ₱ 38,990.00

Asus Vivobook X202E-CT128H 11.6” Touch Screen Laptop (Silver)

In Stock

Asus Vivobook X202E-CT128H 11.6″ Touch Screen Laptop (Silver)

₱ 26,995.00

In Stock, Only 1 item left

Lenovo Ideapad Y480-59344530 14″ Laptop (Grey)

₱ 51,995.00

Less 5% = ₱ 49,400.00

Dell Inspiron 14 3421-i3 14” Laptop (Black)

In Stock, Only 1 item left

Dell Inspiron 14 3421-i3 14″ Laptop (Black)

₱ 29,990.00

Lenovo Ideapad G480-59335098 14” Laptop (Red)

In Stock, Only 1 item left

Lenovo Ideapad G480-59335098 14″ Laptop (Red)

₱ 25,995.00

Asus Vivobook S400CA-CA038H 14” Touch Screen Laptop (Black)

In Stock, Only 1 item left

Asus Vivobook S400CA-CA038H 14″ Touch Screen Laptop (Black)

₱ 29,995.00

Less 10% = ₱ 26,996.00

Acer Aspire One AOD270-281KK 320GB 10.1”” Laptop (Black) Acer Aspire One AOD270-281KK 320GB 10.1″” Laptop (Black)

₱ 19,499.00

Lenovo B Series B470e 14” Laptop (Black) Lenovo B Series B470e 14″ Laptop (Black)

₱ 22,900.00

Less 4% = ₱ 21,990.00

Samsung Series 5 NP-535U3C-P01PH 13.3”” Laptop (Brown) Samsung Series 5 NP-535U3C-P01PH 13.3″” Laptop (Brown)

₱ 28,779.00

Less 18% = ₱ 23,729.00

Dell Inspiron 14R-5421-i5 14” Laptop (Moon Silver) Dell Inspiron 14R-5421-i5 14″ Laptop (Moon Silver)

₱ 35,990.00

Less 10% = ₱ 32,391.00

Samsung Series 5 NP-540U3C-A01PH 13.3” Touch Screen Laptop (Silver)

In Stock, Only 1 item left

Samsung Series 5 NP-540U3C-A01PH 13.3″ Touch Screen Laptop (Silver)

₱ 53,229.00

Less 10% = ₱ 47,899.00

Sony Vaio Duo 11 Ultrabook 11215CV 11.6” Laptop (Black)

In Stock, Only 1 item left

Sony Vaio Duo 11 Ultrabook 11215CV 11.6″ Laptop (Black)

₱ 77,698.89

Less 10% = ₱ 69,999.00

Globe Prepaid Load Expiry Dates

How long does your load last, when you top up your Prepaid Mobile Phone ?

According to www.globe.com.ph/../call-cards, at July 2013 the validity periods for new Call Card Loads are:

P50 is valid for 15 days
P100 is valid for 30 days
P300 is valid for 75 days
P500 is valid for 120 days

What about loads that are transferred from others ? How long do they last ?

According to www.globe.com.ph/…/share-a-load, at July 2013 the validity periods for Prepaid Share Loads are:

P1 to P10 valid for 3 days.
P11 to P50 valid for 15 days.
P51 to P100 valid for 30 days.
P101 to P150 valid for 45 days.

Postpaid Share-A-Load senders can send give you these validity periods:
P300  valid for 75 days with 35 Free Texts
P500 valid for 120 days with 85 Free texts

Globe-LogoHow do you check your balance and the expiry date of it?

Send the message BAL to 222 and you will get a text back telling your balance and expiry date.

If the balance becomes ZERO, when does the SIM number become inactive?

Your Globe Prepaid sim will expire within 2 months from first use and any remaining/unconsumed balance will be forfeited. To continue availing of the Prepaid service, you need to reload your Prepaid account within 4 months from date of expiry. If you do not reload during the 4 month period from the date of expiry, your Globe Prepaid Sim card will be terminated. Terminated Globe Prepaid SIMS will not be reactivated, and mobile phone numbers assigned to such numbers cannot be reacquired.

How to share a load from one Globe mobile to another Globe mobile.

You need TWO pieces of information:

    1. How Much you are sharing
    2. The Receivers Phone number

Assume you are sending 50 pesos to 0915 123 4567

The process is simple, change the 0 at the beginning of the number to a 2

You now have:

Sending: 50
To: 29151234567

The number to send to is now: 29151234567
The message is 50

Samsung Core I3 NP300E4Z-S04PH 14″ Laptop (White)

Samsung Core I3 NP300E4Z-S04PH 14″ Laptop (White)

2.3 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor
2GB DDR3
1 TB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
DOS Intel HM65 Chipset
Super Multi Dual Layer Optical Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GT520MX Graphics with Optimus Technology 1GB DDR3 Video Memory

Samsung

Price: PHP 33499 at July 2013

Delivery: 5 – 10 days

Philippines Long Stay Visa for Visitors

Philippines Long Stay (6 Month) Visitor Visa

Foreigners intending to stay longer in the Philippines can now apply for a six-month, long-stay tourist visa that has been created by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Previously, the BI granted foreign tourists a maximum stay of two months each time they apply for visa extensions.

A spokesperson said: “Through long stay visa, we expect lesser crowding in our offices due to the decreased volume of visa extension applicants”

This will be more beneficial for those who do stay longer, and will avoid the waiting every two months at the Immigration office. However, there appears to be no financial savings.

 

ALIENS ADMITTED AS TOURIST VISA (9A 59 DAYS)
All aliens who will stay for more than 59 days are required to register with the following fees:

 ADULT
(15 years old & above)		  MINOR
(14 years old & below)
Application 300.00 300.00
Monthly Extension 500.00 500.00
Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) 1,000.00 500.00
Re-issuance of ACR for
(2nd entry of every entry after 59 days)		  250.00  150.00
Exit Clearance (ECC) 700.00 200.00
Legal 40.00 40.00
Express Fee (Certification) 500.00 500.00
Express Fee (For processing)  500.00  500.00
Certification Fee  500.00  500.00
Head Tax  250.00
Express Lane Fee (For Processing of I-Card)   500.00   500.00
Additional Payment for I-Card  US $   50.00 US $   50.00

                                                                             

  • maximum extension for restricted nationals is one (1) month up to six (6) months only (for all expired visa, the updating fees for the payment of express fee will based in the number of months of extension)
  • for non-restricted nationals is two (2) months up to two (2) years (for all expired visa, the updating fee of express if every two months)
  • aliens who will stay for more than six (6) months are required to pay CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCE TEMPORARY VISITOR in the amount of P 1,400.00.

The six month Visitor Visa extension is available at:

Bureau of Immigration at Manila, Luzon

Bureau of Immigration at Mandaue City, Cebu, Visayas

Bureau of Immigration at Davao, Mindanao

It also appears to be now available at:

Cagayan De Oro office, Mindanao.  Although this may only have been temporary.

Boquete Island, Puerto Galera

Boquete Island, Sto. Nino, is one of the islands in the Puerto Galera area, and is considered to be one of the Philippines’ top windsurfing destinations.

Puerto Galera is one of legs on the national windsurfing championship racing circuit. Every year in February, Puerto Galera traditionally hosts the second leg of the Philippine Windsurfing Championships on the waters off Boquete Beach. In 2012 the event became the Puerto Galera water sports festival, including both wind and human–powered water sports.

The best time for windsurfing in the Philippines is during the Amihan season, which lasts from early November until mid-April, when the weather is warm and dry, with steady wind conditions.

Its location is shown on the map here:

[mappress mapid=”42″]

Travel Options between Puerto Galera and Abra de ilog

There is a road that runs around the Island of Mindoro, with one small exception… the bit between Puerto Galera and Abra de ilog.

So, what are the travel options between Puerto Galera and Abra de ilog ?

Driving between Puerto Galera and Abra de ilog

The distance is about 20 km.

The road/path/track between Puerto Galera and Abra de ilog is passable, but in some places only by bike or walking.  A 4WD may be able to make it, if no landslides send you to the bottom, or falling rocks crush you !

According to a study conducted by the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS), “Landslides may occur because the area lies on three active fault lines, and that construction of the road project is indeed dangerous..”

Getting a boat between Puerto Galera and Abra de ilog:

A boat does sound the safest way, although these are the pump boats (motorized bancas) that operate between the Port of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro and Abra de ilog, Occidental Mindoro.

The Accuracy of some travel times and distances quoted on various websites, between Puerto Galera and Abra de ilog, is at times questionable, such as these two:

5 hr 56 min – Travel Time from Puerto Galera to Abra de Ilog
* The above is an approximate. Road Conditions, Traffic, etc. affect travel times.

Distance between Abra De Ilog and Puerto Galera is 24 KM (kilometers) and 437.39 meters, or 15.2 miles.
Travel time from Abra De Ilog To Puerto Galera will take 0 hours and 36.66 minutes if the vehicle keep an average speed of sixty kilometer per hour. Travel time by walk may take around 3.1 hours if you continuously walk at the speed of 6KM.

Talipanan Beach, Puerto Galera

Talipanan is a white beach area west of the more crowded White Beach in Puerto Galera.

Getting to Talipanan:

There are ferries that go direct to Talipanan beach from Batangas port, at about 300 pesos each.
Tricycles run from White Beach to Talipanan, at a fare of between 40 pesos per person and 150 pesos.

Hotels in the Talipanan Beach area:

Map Talipanan Beach, Puerto Galera

[mappress mapid=”37″]

13.4989,120.8893

Minolo Shipping Lines, Puerto Galera and Batangas

Minolo Shipping Lines, operate a ferry service between Puerto Galera and Batangas, using the familiar Outrigger ferries called Bancas or Bankas, in this area.

These Bancas can carry over 100 passengers and operate routes between Batangas, Muelle and White Beach.

Minolo Shipping Lines Banka Golden Eagle
One Way Adult Rates at June 2013 were:

230 php Batangas and Muelle

 30 php Muelle and White Beach

275 php Batangas and White Beach

Children under 12 are half price (1/2), and under 3 are one fourth (1/4) the adult rate.

There are two extra Fees to be payable at Batangas Port:

50 php Environmental User Fee

30 php Terminal Fee

There is ONE extra Fee payable at Muelle Port:

10 php Terminal Fee

 

Minolo Shipping Lines

Tel: 043 287 3614

Mob: 0917 839 2680

www.minoloshippinglines.com

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