Postponement of the implementation of VISA-FREE entry to Taiwan for Filipinos was reset to September

Visa-free entry for Filipinos to Taiwan was postponed according to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines which was originally set to June 1, 2017. 

According to its website's advisory, the implementation of postponement was "to complete relevant administrative procedures and inter-agency coordination."

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is expected to release the full details of the implementation either in September 2017 or at an appropriate date, according to TECO.

Here is the full text of the advisory:

The implementation of VISA-FREE entry to the ROC (Taiwan) for Filipinos has been rescheduled to September 2017, and the exact date of the commencement of the implementation of the visa-free treatment will be further announced in September or at other appropriate date this year

Post Date:2017-05-16

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has recently announced that the implementation of visa-free entry to the ROC (Taiwan) for Filipinos has been postponed in order to complete relevant administrative procedures and inter-agency coordination. MOFA is expected to release the full details of the implementation of the said visa-free arrangements including the exact date of the commencement of implementing the visa-free treatment and its requirements either in September 2017 or at an appropriate date in due course.

Since 2016, the ROC (Taiwan) government has adopted a number of visa liberalization measures for the Philippine nationals to visit Taiwan as part of its “New Southbound Policy”. These measures are expected to enhance the bilateral relations, and expand the multi-faceted exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Despite the postponement of the said visa-free policy, since as from October 2016, the Philippines has been included in Taiwan’s e-visa program list, for Filipinos who wish to visit Taiwan for tourism or a short visit, they are advised to continue to apply for either free Travel Authorization Certification (TAC), or payable e-visa (single entry:NTD1,632) or the payable appropriate proper visa stamped in the passport (single entry:P2,400, multiple entry:P4,800). Therefore, for the time being, prior to the full implementation of the visa-free arrangements, Filipinos should still follow the existing visa regulations and procedures to obtain visa(s) before travel to Taiwan.

In addition, MOFA has decided to further enlarge the eligibility criteria of the ROC (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) for qualified Philippine travellers starting from 1st June this year. Filipinos who have been issued with an ROC (Taiwan) visa (labor visas with remarks “FL” or “X” are excluded) over the recent 10 years may also apply for the said TAC, no need to pay any fee. The said TAC allows multiple-entries to Taiwan, valid for 90 days with every stay up to 30 days.

Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, Representative of the ROC (Taiwan) to the Philippines, wishes to emphasize that the granting of visa-free privilege to Filipinos is one of his priority work plans during his tenure in the Philippines, and that he and his colleagues in TECO will make strenuous efforts to make his dream of closer Taiwan-Philippines bilateral ties come true as soon as possible. It aims to enhance the mutually beneficial bilateral tourism, trade, investment, agricultural, technology, economic, cultural, educational and people-to-people cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Representative Lin further pointed out that the postponement is simply for smooth operations, more effective immigration procedure, and the safeguard of security for all passengers. The direction of the visa-free policy remains unchanged. As Taiwan is implementing “New Southbound Policy”, “the Philippines is considered as an important partner of Taiwan, so we are really making efforts to welcome more Filipino visitors to visit Taiwan, and the postponement of the visa-free arrangements is only intended to conduct seamless operations, facilitate the entry to Taiwan, and enhance security and safety for everyone”, as mentioned by Representative Lin.



For further visa information, you may check the website of TECO in the Philippines at http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ph



Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines

May 16, 2017, Makati City, Metro Manila

The Bud Dajo Massacre in 1906: A little Summary

It was a Moro name Pala who ran amok in British Borneo, set up his camp in Sulu which resulted in the chain of events in 1906. Later then, Sulu civilians at Bud Dajo were defying American occupation. On March 5, to the early morning of March 6, 1906, there was a massive artillery founding the crater as per order by General Leonard Wood. 2000 went uphill and local account says 1500 Filipinos killed and on the US side, 18 died, 52 wounded.

According to historians, the "massacre" could have been avoided by cutting food supply , forcing the rebels to come down but Gen. Leonard Wood needed the battle of Bud Dajo so badly to justify his military standing. Accounts also pointed out that it was a necessary action before it gets sympathy from the neighboring community.

 Source: http://www.akrosdayunibers.com 

Local assert that there was an issue on the economic aspect of the sulu sultanate by diverting the trading route bypassing Sulu, instead directly anchoring over Davao and Manila. Another version says the US would be adopting a foreign policy to commit genocide. Both adaptations might lead to the unfortunate event in 1906.

Afraid of "Bangkaw", Gen. Pershing, who succeeded Gen. Wood, ordered the mass production of caliber 45 arm gun to suppress noncompliant locals.

OK..im not a historian, nabasa ko lang sa kanto at sa kapapanood ng EJK hearing. dont worry. haha.anyway, you could believe anything written from our books pa naman...credits to Abraham Idjirane.

Backpacking Phi Phi Island 2016

The Phi Phi Islands are in Thailand, between the large island of Phuket and the west Strait of Malacca coast of the mainland. The islands are administratively part of Krabi province. Wikipedia

Kho Phi Phi Backpacking 2016 -The Beach! (Thailand)

From Rassada Pier, Phuket, the cost of the ferry is 300 Baht back and fourth. The agent picked me up around 7:15 am. The first trip is 8:30 am, but it didnt depart on time, an hour and a half, the ferry starts rolling and i think the whole boat is over cap! The travel is more than 1 hour, so expect 2 hours or less as the captain extravagantly shows you some of the most popular geological spots mostly seen on hollywood movies. I keep my action cam rolling until we arrived at the Khu Phi Phi port. There is a visitor travel tax of 20 baht upon arrival. 

The picture speaks for itself - so eventually a party island! Yohoooo..lets partey parteeeeee!

Nowadays, seems im getting lazy writing my travels here. Feel free to ask me by commenting below... ill answer anything to the best of my ability. Action cam shots will be posted on my next update..

KEEP TRAVELLING!

PS- next post: Phuket Island, Langkawi, Georgetown, Phuket-Trang-Satun by Bus Experienced, Singapore.

Backpacking Langkawi - The Jewel of Kedah

Compose of 99 tropical islands, Langkawi has been accorded the geographic status by UNESCO, for its beautiful geological heritage of stunning landscapes, karsts, caves, sea-arches, stacks, glacial drop stones and fossils.

As a natural paradise, the islands are perhaps unmatched anywhere else in South East Asia. You can enjoy nature-based activities or simply laze by the beach.

I came from Satun, Thailand via ferry which cost 300 Baht. Your first stop is Kuah where you could see the famous Eagle Square (prominent landmark). I had so much fun in here, so talking about it wont end up on this page, so better check out my photos below.

Kuah

Jetty Point, Pier

Kelim Karst Geopark

Country Side

Sky Cab

KhmerX 3D Test

How to Get an Australian Visitor Visa (subclass 600) for Filipinos

Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist Stream: document checklist

Visa application requirements differ from country to country. If you are outside Australia, your nearest immigration office outside Australia will tell you exactly how to lodge your application and what documents to provide.​

You need to provide documents to support your application for this visa. We can make a decision using the information you provide when you lodge your application. It is in your interest to provide as much information as possible with your application. 

Provide certified copies of original documents. Do not include original documents unless we specifically ask for them. Police certificates should be original documents. Documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.

Use this checklist to make sure your application is complete.
Forms

• A completed application form.

Receiving assistance

• If someone gives you advice or lodges your application for you:
• Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance (133KB PDF) (the agent or exempt person completes the form and you must sign it).
• If you would like someone else to receive correspondence from us on your behalf:
• Form 956a Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (116KB PDF)

​ Charges

• Pay the visa application charge. (usually Au$135)

Jakarta to Bali in 10 Day Itinerary 2015

 Hey readers! How are you? It's been a while, I'm not posting on my blog.. I was very busy and wasn't able to travel much.. My hectic schedule and other important matters had shunned me away from writing and travelling.

Luckily, I'm back on the road again. So, you wanna go to Indonesia for 10 days? I'm gonna sum it up to my best ability. Hope it could provide information as well as help you on your journey.

Enough said, below is a map that shows my route all over  Java and Bali for 10 days!

Click the image to enlarge

What you really need to get there?

Money! Ha-ha... I have at least $300 with me exchanged at a private money changer at NAIA 3 airport.. Beware! Don't get so pretty excited by having your money exchanged at the money changer, which is located between the check-in counters and the immigration checkpoint! They usually blow the exchanged rates! So as a tip, there is Landbank satellite branch on the first floor, get your money  there.. So you won't feel scammed by the private money changers! Your PHP 10,000 could give you almost IDR 3M... with the private money changers you could get as much as IDR 2.7M.. That's around PHP 1000 more or less. Anyway, better use your ATM Credit/Debit cards.. Much better real time exchange rates, trust me.

Eid-Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan last July 17, 2015. I'm lucky enough to celebrate with the locals. Although it was unfortunate that we weren't able to ride on my dream midnight train from Jakarta, the overnight bus rides were definitely a whole new experienced. 

10 Days Itinerary 

Day 1 - Jakarta

Day 2 - Jakarta

Day 3- Yogyakarta

Day 4 - Yogyakarta

Day 5 - Surabaya

Day 6 - Surabaya

Day 7- Ubud

Day 8 - Ubud

Day 9- Kuta

Day 10 - Kuta

Day 1 -2: Jakarta 

 

Monas Tower, Jakarta Indonesia

The capital of Indonesia, google has told me about lots of things to do in the City, whilst I was able to book at the city center - a walking distance to most of the sites, I still wasn't able to penetrate all the tourist spots being featured on other blogs. Things got rough for me on day 1 and day 2. My bookings online didn't go as smooth as I thought. I spent a day looking for the travel and tours office and failed (went to Podomoro City). I also went to Pasar Senen Station trying to find my train - I failed (fully booked due to Eid-Al-Fitr). The site seeing has gone so expensive by using taxi and bemo (local motorized cab) - we should have opt for a motorbike which we haven't thought until we're on Yogyakarta.

Finally, the manager of the hostel told us that we should head directly to Jakarta Bus Terminal at Grogol. We took the overnight bus roughly 14 hour trip to Yogyakarta. 

Day 3 -4: Yogyakarta

Burubodur Temple, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Things to Do in Jakarta, Indonesia

The city of Jakarta, formerly called Batavia is located at the northern part of Java. The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta with a population of over 10M is a mix of cultures ranging from Arabian, European, Chinese, Indian, Javanese and Malay. The Special Capital Region of Jakarta once flourished as the center of trading during the time of the Dutch East Indies. The metropolitan area is an agglomeration of 5 cities namely Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi thus known as Jabodetabek which is the next largest suburb in the world.

Monas, Jakarta Indonesia

Things to Do:

1. Monas

2. Istiqlal Mosque

4. The Catholic Cathedral

5. Sunda Kelapa

6. Cafe Batavia

7. Pasar Baroe

8. Old Batavia

9. Senayan Area

10. Mall

Food

Transpo

Cost of Living

@@@@@well update this soon

Visiting Bohol Island Philippines, Backpacking 2014

Bohol is a first income class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of 4,117.26 square kilometres (1,589.68 sq mi) and a coastline 261 kilometres (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines.To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

Ruined Roman Cathedral Church, Inabanga, Bohol

Backpacking Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 2013 - Day Tour

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh; formerly named Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn; French: Saïgon), is the largest city in Vietnam. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam from 1955–75. -Wikipedia

Language: You can communicate in english, it has become a second de facto language in Saigon. Vietnamese is there official language. 

Currency: 1 Php = 480 VND (Vietnamese Dong), 1 USD = 21000 VND at the time of writing.

Hostel/Lodging: Average Cost is around  7-10 USD per night

Top Places to Visit

1. Saigon Square

This historic area is bordered by City Hall, the beautiful Rex Hotel and numerous French and Vietnamese restaurants.

Entrance Fee: No

Ho Chi Minh Square, Saigon, Vietnam.[click to enlarge] 

Saigon-Siem Reap- Bangkok- Pattaya City in 6 Days Backpacking Tour

Few months ago, i was blogging about my long route to several countries in IndoChina. However, that was a bit off the chart. I had several personal issues that need further assessment, and this plan needs a great revision. The original idea was to backpack Saigon-Phnom Phen-Siem Reap- Bangkok - Vientiane. Financially, this original plan was far too expensive and money isn't coming in pretty badly.

Aside from that, my passport is about to expire 2 months prior to departure which gives me just a few weeks to processed the whole thing. My departure flight from Bangkok is a little bit hazy. In short, I'm planning for a trip which i am bit hesitant to undertake.

So cutting the trip for a maximum of 6 days excluding my 1 day stay at Manila is important. The new route is to fly from MLA- HCMC, roadtrip from HCMC to Siem Reap, bypassing Phnom Phen, then another road trip from Siem Reap to Bangkok, and Bangkok to Pattaya City and vice versa.

Anyway, all went will :), So here is a short recap of my 6 days backpacking trip.

Day 1: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Ho Chi Minh Square, Saigon, Vietnam.[click to enlarge]

12:20am : Arrival time at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport

9:00am-9pm : Day tour (Ho Chi Minh Tourist Spots)

Reunification Palace, Ben Than Market, Poo 2000, Saigon Square, Water Puppetry, War Remnants Museum, Japanese Restaurant, Saigon Central Post Office, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, Ticket bookings.

Day 2: Saigon- Siem Reap

Bus departure, putting off the luggage,Sintourist Cafe, Phnom Phen, Cambodia.

6:00am- Bus departure from Saigon
9:00am - Vietnam-Cambodian Border Immigration
9:40am - Bus stop, breakfast at the Cambodia border
12:30pm - Arrival at Phnom Phen , Booked ticket bound for Siem Reap, Lunch at Sintourist
2:00pm - Bus departure to Siem Reap
8:00pm- Arrival at Siem Reap and check in hotel

Day 3: Siem Reap City, Cambodia

The Bayon Temple, Ankor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

6:00am- Swimming at the pool
8:00am - Day tour; Hindu temples and Angkor Wat
1:00pm - Lunch at Neary Angkor Wat Restaurant
2:00pm- Visiting South Gate temples, Bayon etc.
4:30pm- Siem Reap City Tour; Kings Palace, Parks, Angkor National Museum, Night Market, Dinner at KFC
7:30pm - Siem Reap Temple Club; Dining and Watching Cultural Show with Apsara Dance
9:30pm- Citywalk from Pub Street to Hotel.

Day 4: Siem Reap to Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok. Thailand.

DFA Passport Renewal in Southern Philippines 2013

My scheduled flight was on October, and my passport is about to expire. One of the ruling is that you need to renew your passport 6 months prior to your departure. Its a pain in the ass when the immigration pull you off because you are carrying an expiring passport. To avoid this unfortunate event prior to your departure i list here the things and requirements needed for you to be able to renew your expiring passport and travel smoothly without the immigration hassle.

My Old Passport(left), New passport(right) sent via LBC

Here are the general requirements according to DFA's website: http://bit.ly/DFAPassportRenewal

FOR RENEWAL OF PHILIPPINES PASSPORT APPLICANTS 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Personal appearance         
• Confirmed appointment         
• Duly accomplished application form – may be downloaded from the DFA website, www.dfa.gov.ph
• No need to submit a passport size photo
• Most recent expiring or expired passport
• Valid picture IDs and supporting documents to prove identity. (Please refer to List of Acceptable IDs and List of Supporting Documents)

Those the things needed in DFA Metro Manila. The situation in Mindanao and Cebu is a bit different. Here are requirements at DFA Cagayan De Oro:

1. Personal appearance
2. 2 Valid ID's
3. Old/expiring passport
4. Renewal Application form(to be fill in)
5. Photocopy of your old/expiring passport
6. Payment PhP 1280 (10 days rush), PhP 950 (20 days)

Process:

1. Pull in line as much as 3AM! (YEAH HEARED IT RIGHT!)
2. Make sure you have all the requirements i stated above.
3. Wait for 7:30AM until the guards will release the forms.
4. Fill up the forms, make sure you reviewed the ones important ei Old Passport Numbers.
5. At exactly 8:00 AM, the first batch will be called! 
6. Remember, if you were able to get there first, you should be on the first 50 customers
7. Second batch, if you are unlucky, would be called around 11am!(i was unlucky!)
8. Your names are to be called by the security guards.
9. Relax and find a seat.
10. Listen to the speaker when your name is called, jump up! hahahaha Finally!
11. You will present the requirements stated above. 
12. If your passport is about to expire 6 months, then most probably the teller wont cancel your passport until you receive the new one. 
13. Pay at the cashiers window for passport renewal, you will be ask if are you gonna pay for a regular or rush, Php 950 and PhP 1280.00.. Of course i choose PhP 1280 for 10 working days. 
14. Get your receipt as well as the requirements being assessed and present those at the ID Validation cubicle.
15. Finally,Wait for your name to be called for picture taking and review of information. 

While waiting for my name to be called, DFA Cagayan De Oro City.

South East Asia Backpacking Tours Plan

Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Bangkok, Vientiane, Hanoi in 15 days.

Ok, so this is my route on my upcoming journey to Mainland Asia. What do you think about this? Click the image to get a closer look of the map.

Itinerary:

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)  -2 nights and  3 days
Phnom Penh - 1 night and 1 day
Siem Reap - 1 night and 1 day
Bangkok - 2 nights and 3 days
Vientianne - 1 night and 1 day
Hanoi - 2 nights and 3 days.

Exclusion - 3 days on travel (bus/train)

Total Travel Days - 15

Estimated Daily Budget - (to be determined)
Hotels - 400 PhP per night (cheapest)

Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2013

Backpacker's Prayer

"Heavenly father, look down on us as your humble, obedient backpackers, who are doomed to travel this earth, taking photographs, mailing post cards, buying souvenirs and walking around in drip dry underwear.

Give us this day Divine guidance in the selection of our hotels, that we may find our reservations honored, our rooms made up, and hot water in the faucets.

We pray that the telephones work and the operators speak our tongue

Discovering Kuala Lumpur Malaysia - A Filipino Travelers Perspective Part A

KL at night, seen from KL Tower. KL Trip 2013 Filipino Blog [click to enlarge]

Along the way...I've learned a little Malay ..Something to boast? LOL.. Crazy! hahaha.  Bagaimana akan anda pembaca? It means... "How are you readers?" haha.. Ok i hope you’re doing well. Good to know that! hehe. Welcome to Kuala Lumpur! It is one of the busiest and most populous cities in Malaysia. The sun rises at around 8am and sets at 8pm. Temperature? i think it must be something around 32-34 degrees. So hot! Don’t forget your sunscreen... Working time is flexible according to my friend who works there for quite some time. Some businesses start at 7am; some open at 9am, so when your body clock wakes you up at 6am then go back to sleep. It’s too early.... :)

First Impression

The people are approachable; the foods are great and yummy! The roads are wider. The environment is diverse, rare faces, cultures and religion. Less rubbish in the metro, they had MRTs; lots of sanctuaries, tourists are will be guided. There is lots of idyllic scenery, especially for photography.

Cheap Hotels

We booked at Mayview Glory Hotel at No 100 & 101, Jalan Pudu Lama, 50200 Kuala, Lumpur, which is next to Menara Maybank. We stayed for two nights there for RM 36.7 per night/person. In the Philippines, the room might cost like 1500 PhP or more. Eventually, they give us a very huge room good for four people. The location is ultimately at the heart of KL. Department stores and shopping centers are just a walk away. Furthermore, the hotel has a travel agency at the lobby which offers travel package deals inside and outside KL.

View from our room at Jalan Pudu Lama, KL.  [Click to enlarge]

Discovering Kuala Lumpur Malaysia - A Filipino Travelers Perspective Part B

In case you have'nt read the first part, please click HERE.

4. Dataran Merdeka or The Independence Square

Merdeka Square on top, Sultan Abdul Samad Building (below) [click to enlarge]

It plays a significant role on the Malaysian liberation from the British. August 31, 1957 marks the independence of Malaysia from the British colonizers. There are a few things you should don't want to miss here such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building inspired in Arabic- Victorian architecture. It also contains a giant clock which is a bet similar to London's "Big Ben". It is furthermore said that the structure is made from 4 million bricks!  So it became one of KL's most loved landmarks.

Royal Club of Selangor, Dataran Merdeka.  [Click to enlarge]

Inside Malaysia - Backpacking to Malacca

Collage Photo of my Travel to Malaysia.

Our 2 nights and three days in Singapore are over… weeew! So we need to move on.. And moving on means a new place to wander! Selamat Datang ke Malaysia (Welcome to Malaysia)! Wow…next stop is Malaysia - an interesting multi-cultural destination.

If you had more time while in Singapore, why not also visit Malaysia. Since, Singapore is just a small part of the Malaysia peninsula, and then it might be better for you to get there as well.

Getting there

There are two ways to travel across Malaysia it’s either by air or by land. On our part, we traveled by bus to see the country side, and it is much cheaper, more comparable to plane where you need to check-in for two hours prior to departure. Eventually, there are a lot of super VIP buses with at least 27 spacious seats and huge seating spaces. You can also incline to as much as 70 degrees while letting the automatic back- massager do the trick for the whole duration.

Starmart Express Air Asia Liner Bus bound for Malacca, Malaysia.

Head on to Golden Mile Complex (the express bus hub in Singapore), at 5001, Beach Road #01-16, Singapore 199588. There are a lot of buses to choose from, and it could be a rewarding experience to find a cheaper good air-conditioned bus bound for Malaysia. We took the Starmart Express Air Asia Liner bus bound for Malacca. StarMart Express operates daily bus service to Malacca, KL, Ipoh, Taiping, Penang, Butterworth and etc. The bus is equipped with a massage chair so you can relax all the way. Singapore to Malacca cost 25 SGD and some buses charge more than that.

We departed at exactly 1 pm in Singapore and arrived at Melaka Central Station at around 4pm after several immigration round-ups between the two countries. Buses will give 15-30 minutes allowance on each border for immigration check-ups.

Another important aspect of this journey is to find something that you can keep your luggage for a while and eventually there is a luggage center of the station! They are open from 7:00 am- 9:00pm. Leave all the burdens..he he..heavy backpack and etc.

You can see this sign.. Beg is Bag. :)

Currency

Malaysian paper bills.

Their money is called Malaysian Ringgit (RM). 1 RM is equivalent to 13.00 PhP. 13 times bigger than Philippine money at the moment. It doesn't matter…goods are way much cheaper in Malaysia... i could still recall during my childhood, my mom used to do some barter trading in Zamboanga City, Philippines because the prices of most Malaysian imported products are inexpensive. Now, i have experienced it first-hand! You can eventually haggle or negotiate on some products down to its cheaper prices here. 

First Stop - Malacca, Malaysia

  This new UNESCO heritage location is a melting pot of Malaysian history with influences from the British, Dutch, and Portuguese.

Our tourist guide in Malacca for less than 2 hours.