General Information

[Member #4491]

[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88; 1371356Now things have improved to the point where it's a simple process. Last time in BI it took me 60mins to get the extension and it wasn't crowded or hot. YMMV.[/QUOTE]Evolution. Cebu is some years before Davao in many aspects, and probably also when it comes to this. Few things annoy me more than these fixers jumping in front of me in lines. I also implement a NO FIXER policy if I am in the line. This "fixing" a means to an end for many guys and girls that have no other work, I get that, but in this case it is just dysfunctional and annoying.

B.

[Stroker Ace88]

Not sure how it is in Cebu but in Davao there is a visa service office right next to the immigration office at Victoria mall. No passing around of passports. You can actually see the person take your passport and walk over to the long line. Risk is close to zero and I personally know of about 40-50 cases where it was used with 100% success. So maybe this could be an option also in Cebu? I hate to stand in line.

Barba

BI Mandaue is located just off a busy industrial area and is tucked down a small mostly residential side street. While there might be a few visa service offices around BI, why pay the extra when you already made the trip and it's much easier to walk in BI and get the extension done in the same time. Most visa service offices are located on Mango or in a mall that foreigners frequent. I have not seen any signs near BI recently that offer visa services.

Please note that as of mid 2012 BI Mandaue and NBI Cebu offices (I can't comment on other Gov locations in the Philippines) have implemented a NO FIXER Policy. This wholesale reform means it takes just as long to process the application-extension as the fixer will take. Gone are the days when long lines exist and the fixers walk to the front of the line and have instant access to the officials to get their papers processed first.

Previously BI Mandaue was a distaster with long lines and even longer wait times. Things are much much better and it's a very easy process now at BI. Even NBI has gone digital and getting an NBI clearance takes an hour not weeks like it did with the old system.

Barba, I hear ya about waiting in line and I agree. I used a visa service before 2011 when paying up to 1000php to a visa service office was well worth it to avoid waiting in lines all day in a crowded office for a priority number to be called. Now things have improved to the point where it's a simple process. Last time in BI it took me 60mins to get the extension and it wasn't crowded or hot. YMMV.

[Member #4491]

Not sure how it is in Cebu but in Davao there is a visa service office right next to the immigration office at Victoria mall. No passing around of passports. You can actually see the person take your passport and walk over to the long line. Risk is close to zero and I personally know of about 40-50 cases where it was used with 100% success. So maybe this could be an option also in Cebu? I hate to stand in line.

Barba

[Stroker Ace88]

You most likely will be going to Ayala mall a few times to meet girls or shop. You can drop your passport off at Olivis travel and pick up your new visa the next day. It's a big time saver and time is money when your in the Philippines. I believe I payed a service fee of 500 peso. I assume any mall will have at least one agency offering the service.

With the number of Cebu tourists on the rise there has been an increased number of 'visa service' companies that have opened shop. Personally taking the risk of losing my passport far outweighs the couple of hours that I spend at BI and I get the visa extension on the spot. Trusting a visa service with your passport can be risky. The visa service companies mostly use middlemen or fixers to get the visa extension and the foreigner is often unaware that their passport goes through several hands before being returned and that increases the chance your passport could be lost.

I used a visa service years ago but the last time I used one the fee started to increase and the normally reliable visa service took 6 days to return my passport. I told myself never again. Every day I would go to the visa service office and they would give me excuses and there I was shitting bricks worried they had lost my passport. I was kicking myself for trusting a local with something that was valuable to me. Never again.

[Bob Bowie]

You most likely will be going to Ayala mall a few times to meet girls or shop. You can drop your passport off at Olivis travel and pick up your new visa the next day. It's a big time saver and time is money when your in the Philippines. I believe I payed a service fee of 500 peso. I assume any mall will have at least one agency offering the service.

[Wicked Roger]

YS45,

I was going to suggest you post in the Philippine Travel Announcements section but I see you already did that. I notice Enjoy the Philippines.

Or if you arrive in Manila NAIA Terminal 1 see earlier FRs.

A little bit of RTFF does not hurt!

[Stroker Ace88]

Going to Cebu Feb 4 to 28.

Is anyone going to be wing man?

There are alot of great places in Cebu too.

YS45,

I was going to suggest you post in the Philippine Travel Announcements section but I see you already did that. I notice your stay will be longer than 22 days, that means you will need to get a visa extension from BI in Mandaue. Cost 3030p* (2012 prices not sure if there was an increase Jan 1st). Wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and a shirt with a collar like a golf shirt. Although a clean tshirt will do as long as it`s not a wife beater. No shorts, no flipflops, no sandals. If you forget and show up with flipflops or shorts there are a few locals that hang around the gate and will `rent`you some shoes or long pants, but they are dirty and small.

Post a trip report stud.

Enjoy the Philippines.

[YellowStar45]

Going to Cebu Feb 4 to 28.

Is anyone going to be wing man?

There are alot of great places in Cebu too.

[Frenzy3]

Ok, advice taken. I was probably wasting my time on here trying to help anyway, no biggie. Now I know what to expect next time. Funny I was commended for keeping people informed on other forums, as they were returning the favor in real time. I'll be back soon, but sometimes a slightly different perspective is useful, as it certainly was for those on Mindanao.

Unless you are posting personal experiance or some useful link that is hard to find in google (like the ones that where posted in the linc forums) , then no point spamming this forum I did not find your post useful, I also did not bother posting a report about Cebu as we did not get the storm. If any one asks here I will reply.

Do not post here about Mindanao there is another thread in the Philippine area for that area.

[MidniteRider]

Ok, advice taken. I was probably wasting my time on here trying to help anyway, no biggie. Now I know what to expect next time. Funny I was commended for keeping people informed on other forums, as they were returning the favor in real time. I'll be back soon, but sometimes a slightly different perspective is useful, as it certainly was for those on Mindanao.

[Wicked Roger]

MR,

I agree with WR, the storm will pass to the south and Cebu will not take a direct hit. There will be heavy rains, high winds, localized flooding, some storm surge, many people who have built in or along drainage canals will have homes washed away. The sun will come out on Wednesday and the cleanup will begin.

And that is what happened. Winds and lots of rain nothing much, some localised flooding which is not unusal given how bad the infrastructure is in parts of Cebu.

Am told by friends that Butuan took hammering.

Cebu is fine and seems some people are going to Starbucks etc so life seems OK if that is true

[Frenzy3]

I have to say your experience is in line with mine. I do not think Cebu is much of a short term destination for mongering, at least to the unguided.

For short holidays stick to AC, Cebu is best when you have a month or more, I live here so I long term here, it was better 5 years ago, it good for guys looking to pick up girls but not like AC from what I hear.

[ManonsanBoy]

The reports breaks down cebu into a number of areas where to find girls.

Mall hunting.

The 3 malls mentioned is.

There are a few more bars but given the lass attarctive girls and / or higher drink / LD prices I can't be bothered to describe.

I have to say your experience is in line with mine. I do not think Cebu is much of a short term destination for mongering, at least to the unguided.

[Stroker Ace88]

This is direct surge action against the coast.[SNIP]

MR,

Very bad form to 'flood post'! IE; to multi-post the same basic content over and over without a reply. Also a BIG No-no to cut and paste direct quotes from other forums even if you were the one to post it on the other forum, which you did not. Are you in Cebu now? No reason to get so hysterical IMO.

I agree with WR, the storm will pass to the south and Cebu will not take a direct hit. There will be heavy rains, high winds, localized flooding, some storm surge, many people who have built in or along drainage canals will have homes washed away. The sun will come out on Wednesday and the cleanup will begin.

[MidniteRider]

[Unannotated link deleted by Admin]

EDITOR'S NOTE: This report was edited to remove what appeared to be an unannotated link to another website.

Please do not post links to other websites without some explanation as to what may be found at the linked webpage.

In other words, if you want to post a link to another website, please include some commentary describing what the link is to.