General Info

[QUOTE=Sammon;2697859]If you have a international plan like I have from T Mobile and have grab app you can use it without problem. Long time ago I always had to get a unlocked phone and buy SIM cards from countries I visit. Load up minutes etc which was annoying. Now I get dial tone in any country and unlimited data. My phone works just like home in USA. Only thing is calls cost per minute. But I do not mind. My phone bill can be deducted from taxes anyway. With grab you need not deal with taxi mafia in Philippines.
As for ATM use Bank ATM at the Mall in Angeles just outside the bank. It is safe. When in Manila use China bank ATM. They can be found in the malls as well.[/QUOTE]The unlimited roaming deals from our Australian providers is $5-$10/ day. Meaning my 14 day visit for data will be $140. Or I use a local Globe Sim card for 2 x Go90 7 day promotions cost me P180 = $5 total. With the $135 difference I can put that P5,000 to a great overnighter. Plus I have a local PH number which freelancers, drivers, hotels can contact me.

[QUOTE=AsianPursuits;2698184]The unlimited roaming deals from our Australian providers is $5-$10/ day. Meaning my 14 day visit for data will be $140. Or I use a local Globe Sim card for 2 x Go90 7 day promotions cost me P180 = $5 total. With the $135 difference I can put that P5,000 to a great overnighter. Plus I have a local PH number which freelancers, drivers, hotels can contact me.[/QUOTE]Does putting a local SIM card into your regular phone change your phone number?

My situation:

I have an unlocked Verizon iPhone 13 pro. Verizon told me I can buy a SIM at the MNL airport and use it with my phone. Any local calls are charged to the account associated with the SIM. And calls made to / from the US (my home) will be handled / charged to my US Verizon account.

Somehow that seems too easy.

I wondered why nobody here is talking about the recent elections.

Marcos jr. Will be the new President and he is a lapdog of Mr. Xi.

Times will change for us.

We should enjoy the phills now. It will change soon.

[URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2312026/philippines-marcos-wants-china-ties-to-shift-to-higher-gear[/URL]

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2698231]Does putting a local SIM card into your regular phone change your phone number?

My situation:

I have an unlocked Verizon iPhone 13 pro. Verizon told me I can buy a SIM at the MNL airport and use it with my phone. Any local calls are charged to the account associated with the SIM. And calls made to / from the US (my home) will be handled / charged to my US Verizon account.

Somehow that seems too easy.[/QUOTE]The iPhone 13 has dual sim capability. It is like two phones in one. You will keep your Verizon number and get a new number for your new sim card. Yes, it is that easy. I have used dual sim card phones for years. The phone will not have two physical sim cards. One will be an e-sim card. You need to know if your Verizon account is on a physical sim card or an e-sim. That information will be valuable when getting your Manilia sim card. Lots of information out there on dual sim card information. Good Luck.

[QUOTE=AggieDad1;2698444]The iPhone 13 has dual sim capability. It is like two phones in one. You will keep your Verizon number and get a new number for your new sim card. Yes, it is that easy. I have used dual sim card phones for years. The phone will not have two physical sim cards. One will be an e-sim card. You need to know if your Verizon account is on a physical sim card or an e-sim. That information will be valuable when getting your Manilia sim card. Lots of information out there on dual sim card information. Good Luck.[/QUOTE]Many phones have real dual sim, mine, OnePlus, have two sim slots, so I can keep my national sim and add a local one.

But generally I prefer to remove the national one and keep only the locally brought one mainly to avoid any mistakes.

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2698231]Does putting a local SIM card into your regular phone change your phone number?

Somehow that seems too easy.[/QUOTE]In my personal situation.

I put my Au phone to a separate phone which stays in my room.

I put the local sim into my main phone. I use the data for my usual apps like Whatsapp, which retain my Au number.

Are you using an e Sim with Verizon? Check the menu, you should be able to software disable a SIM if using multiple SIMS. You can always test in the US with a cheap prepaid Sim or borrow a SIM from a willing friend.

Always check the SIM status if roaming, especially if you have multiple SIMS. I had cases in the past where my SIM selection would change randomly. Had a couple cases where I got charged for receiving SMS at exhorbitant rates in Europe.

As for calls and data, you need to set in your menu. Verizon might allow you to disable international roaming or calls but I don't recommend it.

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2698231]Does putting a local SIM card into your regular phone change your phone number?

My situation:

I have an unlocked Verizon iPhone 13 pro. Verizon told me I can buy a SIM at the MNL airport and use it with my phone. Any local calls are charged to the account associated with the SIM. And calls made to / from the US (my home) will be handled / charged to my US Verizon account.

Somehow that seems too easy.[/QUOTE]

I actually have / had multiple phones / numbers and would forward calls to my local phone / SIM. Better to leave your primary phone in the safe, especially if it is expensive one.

I am not sure if the good old days of easy travel will return. In the current climate, one of the reasons you could be nabbed or movement restricted is Covid. If you are far from your hotel and cannot get back if a lockdown / quarantine happens, it is better to have your good phone and SIMs with you. So far doesn't happen in Philippines.

[QUOTE=AsianPursuits;2698585]In my personal situation.

I put my Au phone to a separate phone which stays in my room.

I put the local sim into my main phone. I use the data for my usual apps like Whatsapp, which retain my Au number.[/QUOTE]

Let's brace and see how this impacts PH.

For those needing a swab test on the way out of Manila going back home:

[URL]https://www.facebook.com/rtpcrswabph/[/URL]

Gentlemen: I'm not an avid poster here but appreciate all of the great reports! I'm trying to confirm some information my lady friend just sent me in Manila. I just received it Friday, May 27th here in the USA. Late afternoon! She said GMA. A Philippine TV station mentioned EFFECTIVE June 1st. NO MORE COVID TEST REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE PHILIPPINES.. IF.. IF.. YOU HAVE YOUR BOOSTER SHOTS! Can someone confirm this? This isn't a joke. I just want to confirm any changes as I'm arriving in early June. I did just check. Website and no info there yet! I hope this is true and I hope this is helpful to others!

[QUOTE=BarneyRubber;2701793]Gentlemen: I'm not an avid poster here but appreciate all of the great reports! I'm trying to confirm some information my lady friend just sent me in Manila. I just received it Friday, May 27th here in the USA. Late afternoon! She said GMA. A Philippine TV station mentioned EFFECTIVE June 1st. NO MORE COVID TEST REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE PHILIPPINES.. IF.. IF.. YOU HAVE YOUR BOOSTER SHOTS! Can someone confirm this? This isn't a joke. I just want to confirm any changes as I'm arriving in early June. I did just check. Website and no info there yet! I hope this is true and I hope this is helpful to others![/QUOTE]Circulating in numerous news sources. Or check this official site: [URL]https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175295[/URL].

Good news.

[QUOTE=BarneyRubber;2701793]Gentlemen: I'm not an avid poster here but appreciate all of the great reports! I'm trying to confirm some information my lady friend just sent me in Manila. I just received it Friday, May 27th here in the USA. Late afternoon! She said GMA. A Philippine TV station mentioned EFFECTIVE June 1st. NO MORE COVID TEST REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE PHILIPPINES.. IF.. IF.. YOU HAVE YOUR BOOSTER SHOTS! Can someone confirm this? This isn't a joke. I just want to confirm any changes as I'm arriving in early June. I did just check. Website and no info there yet! I hope this is true and I hope this is helpful to others![/QUOTE][URL]https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/5/27/no-more-Covid-test-rule-fully-vaxxed-boosted.html[/URL]

[QUOTE=TripleX;2701819][URL]https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/5/27/no-more-Covid-test-rule-fully-vaxxed-boosted.html[/URL][/QUOTE]Good news. And lifting the travel insurance requirement. From the article:

[B]"Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) Inbound travelers no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 test result upon entry provided they are vaccinated and with a booster shot, according to new rules released by the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The rule, which takes effect on May 30, covers people 18 years old and above, while minors 12 to 17 years old should have the primary vaccine series. Children below 12 are exempted provided they are with fully vaccinated and boosted parents/guardians.

The government also lifted the travel insurance requirement.

The Tourism department welcomed the move."[/B]

In addition, the Intramuros BI office (and all the others) have been on a reduced-capacity basis since the pandemic started. It has operated at greatly-reduced operational personnel, and went to appointment-only for all needs (visa extensions, OFW, and so on). Walk-ins were eliminated regardless of need. Normally the appointment schedule is full (red boxes on the calendar) or nearly full for 4 weeks ahead. Its easier to get one of those agencies to process your extension (the agents can walk in at any time, and have their own set of windows which are under-utilized) than get an appointment. When you use the online appointment calendar it looks like the picture, with red slots out for a month, often times showing FULL. But recently it changed, with lots of open (blue) slots. Also, the slots stop on the last day of this month, and don't continue into next month. That *might* be an indication that they are going to allow walk-ins again next month.

Also the worm turns quickly in Phils. When I first screen-captured that picture, each blue box for May 30 and 31, showed exactly 100 open slots. A few minutes later when I refreshed the page, they had changed to the number of slots you see here (183 to 196 slots).

+ 2 extra credit points to the BI for stopping the appointment-only system (if its happening).

-2 points for not announcing it in advance (if its happening).

To get an appointment: [URL]https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph/[/URL].

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2701895]Good news. And lifting the travel insurance requirement. From the article:
[B]"Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) Inbound travelers no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 test result upon entry provided they are vaccinated and with a booster shot, according to new rules released by the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The government also lifted the travel insurance requirement.
[/B]
[/QUOTE]Good news.

But there is something I cannot find, its about what they call a full vaccination schema or this booster shot.

Is there any delay for this booster shot? One month old, two month, six month?

Example for me, I had 3 Pfizer in 2021, the last one which could be the booster one I guess, was in Dec 2021. So is that ok or should I take a fourth one and how long before the travel?

Can we arrive with a last injection six month old?

Unclear for me up to now.