Pacific South Morning Journal ®

      It appears that certain operational rules may vary depending on their proximity to the Manila office. Federal regulations should be consistent throughout the country but not every small office is authorized to perform all functions of the main office in Manila… Understand your personal needs from immigration ie What is it that you need?… Establish the closest office to you that will fill your needs… Always verify or double check information that is given to you from your local office… By asking for clarification from another person and a different day you can be better equipped when you go to immigration to complete your tasks. Be sure that you follow their directions to the letter.. Note** If there is a misunderstanding accept that you misunderstood- ask what to do to rectify the mistake without challenging their authority.. This will not help you.. Be Organized...  Have all of your paperwork in order and present it th...

Which Visa Is the Right One for You? There are different visa types that may apply to you when you move to the Philippines: A tourist visa is only necessary for stays exceeding 30 days and requiring multiple entries. A non-immigrant visa is granted for the purpose of pre-arranged employment, trade, transit, and education. The requirements naturally vary. Non-quota immigrant visas apply to children and spouses of Philippine citizens and returning natural-born Filipinos. Quota immigrant visas a re granted to applicants with enough financial capital who possess extraordinary professional skills or qualifications to benefit the country. A maximum of 50 quota immigrant visas are granted per year. The special resident retiree visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows multiple entries and indefinite stay. To participate in this visa program, applicants must submit a deposit depending on their age and retirement pension. I f you receive a pension and you are at least 50 years old, then...

Manila- T here are countless sources for mould and bacteria that cause us all, especially expats, in the Philippines to suffer unnecessarily.  Expats are especially vulnerable because our bodies are not necessarily accustomed to the type of allergens in a new environment.  In terms of medications for your allergies   never assume that you cannot get the medication that you need in the Philippines. It will save you grief if you go to a few pharmacies and ask for what you need.. You may find the medication you want in a different brand or very similar meds under a different name. Also ask your friends on Face Book or other social platforms what they are using for similar conditions. It is helpful to clean your home using a bleach solution to kill mould and bacteria on contact… The common name for allergic rhinitis is hay fever. It is diagnosed when symptoms appear which includes itchy nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin, as well as other parts of...

Trump Keeping His Word on H-1B Work Visas By Karin McQuillan     T he pro-immigration lawyers are apoplectic, which is always a sign for celebration. As in other Trump achievements during his first year, the President is accomplishing a cutback on foreign tech workers displacing Americans entirely on his own. The Republican Congress remains stubbornly opposed to the immigration restrictions Republican voters want.  The main tool at President Trump’s disposal is the appointment of a new agency head, in this case Francis Cissna as director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), who came on board in October, followed in swift order by the novel idea of actually following the law and scrutinizing visa applications. Unsurprisingly, the law calls for high-skilled visas for foreign workers to fill critical jobs. Instead, Silicon Valley and the Obama Administration abused the privilege and used it to import cheap STEM workers to replace higher...

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has waged a 48-year-old insurgency, the longest-running armed rebellion in Asia. Do not be fooled by misinformation about this group. They sell protection, murder and kidnap just like the mafia does in other parts of the world. Targeting construction companies are a common practice of the NPA but other businesses and even poor residents of an area are frequently forced to donate rice to them during hard times… Police are another prime target and they are murdered for their weapons … Good people who would defend these murders and thugs are in denial about the true nature of the NPA.      Today   Nov. 22, 2017 ...Armed men believed to be New People’s Army rebels killed the caretaker of a construction firm in Sitio (subvillage) Masagana, Barangay (village) Putlan.. Reports said the armed men also shot at a police vehicle carrying 8 policemen who were responding to the shooting ...

Warning:     Government troops and communist rebels clashed in Nasugbu town in Batangas province on Monday morning. Casualties have not been reported as yet.. There have been several attacks over the past 10 days and the attacks may become more frequent. If you are a foreigner it may be wise to refrain from entering areas known to be populated with NPA.... Be especially cautious in Mindanao and mountainous areas of the Visayas..      G overnment troops and communist rebels clashed in Nasugbu town in Batangas province on Monday morning, military reports said. Major Engelberto Nioda Jr., commander of the Philippine Air Force 730th Combat Group, said his men clashed with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the villages of Utod and Bunducan at past 8 a.m. He said the firefight was still ongoing at 10 a.m. He did not say if the government or rebel group had suffered casualties. Nioda, in a telephone interview, said more than 20 NPAs fled their camp...

     R ody identified the start of the process for the drafting of the Code of Conduct (CoC) on South China Sea as among the significant achievements in the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. China has been pushing for the CoC which got stalled after the Philippines, under the heavily American-influenced Noynoy, opted to follow the dictum of Washington for a third-party negotiation through the arbitral tribunal at The Hague. It was a futile and at the same time costly exercise since China refused to recognize the authority of the United Nations (UN)-backed body over the territorial disputes. The so-called Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) issued a ruling invalidating the nine-dash line claim of China that was hailed as a victory for the Philippines but which experts of international law believe would be hard to enforce, particularly because of China’s rejection of the process. China wanted negotiations on the dispute conducted ...

by Ross Douthat      R eflection on the political activities in our home country help give us clarity about our lives and serves to  ground us here in the Philippines, to some degree. History seeks to repeat itself but the mistakes of the past need not to reflect the decisions of the future. Unresolved issues continue to haunt us ,as citizens, in as much as they are a reflection of fairness and law; or lawlessness.  A longstanding phenomenon has emerged called the "Clinton Machine" which is colored by graft, murder,blackmail and the lowest form kind of leadership in politics. The Democratic party has fragmented while the Republicans continue to jockey to defend their ideals ,each claiming superiority or the other ; a division that is wider than ever before. In the long standing liberal narrative about Bill Clinton and his scandals, the one pushed by Clinton courtiers and ratified in media coverage of his post-presidency, our 42nd president was ...

Peace talks have stalled between communist rebels and the government, and as of this day Sunday 11,19,17  President Rodrigo Duterte declares the New People's Army (NPA) as a terrorist group. "I have be issued a proclamation to directive to remove them from the category of a legal entity or at least a semi-movement which would merit our attention, placing them pareho sa (the same as in) Amerika, terrorist," Duterte said... The rebel group has been on the United States' terror list since 2002. Duterte said he considers the communist rebels as criminals after the NPA killed a paramilitary member on November 15 in Negros Oriental. Three civilians - including a four-month-old baby - were also killed in an ambush in Bukidnon on November 9. "We will file terrorist, murder lahat. Arson with murder. Lahat na. Because I  consider them criminals already. Now, it's a great conspiracy between itong mga BAYAN pati — they are in conspiracy with the rebellio...

     T he fiancé(e) K-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen. The K-1 visa permits the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival. You can learn more about fiancé(e) visas at usvisas.state.gov. To apply for a fiancée visa, follow the steps on the Fiancé(e) Visa Process on usvisas.state.gov. Scheduling an Appointment To schedule a visa appointment for K visa petitions, please contact the Manila Visa Information and Appointment Service center hotlines at (632) 976-8500, (632) 976-8501 or (632) 976-8502. The call center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on Philippine and U.S. holidays. Callers in the U.S should call (703) 520-2235 on its Eastern Standard Time equivalent of operation hours. You must have the case number, passport number, and passport expiry date for each applicant (principa...

Manila, November 14, 2017 —  The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines commends the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA IADITG), the Philippine Bureau of Customs, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on the seizure of 1 kg of drugs, suspected to be cocaine, and the arrest of the traveler in possession of the drugs. On November 12, 2017, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila shared information on a high-risk traveler aboard an incoming international flight with the Philippine Bureau of Customs and the PDEA at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  This information resulted in the arrest of a Colombian national for possession of drugs.  This operation was successful thanks to close coordination between HSI, the Bureau of Customs, the PDEA, and the NAIA IADITG. During an interview with the Philippine Bureau of Customs, the traveler admitted to swallowing approximately 1 kg of cocaine in order to smuggle...

So what’s behind Cambodia's crackdown on the opposition? Cambodia's supreme court disbanded the country's main opposition party on Thursday. Hun Sen, 65, is one of the world's longest-serving leaders, first taking office as prime minister of Cambodia in 1985. Rights groups say hundreds of opposition figures, journalists, trade union leaders and others have been killed in politically motivated attacks during his time in power. Hun Sen's dominance was challenged in parliamentary elections in 2013, when the newly formed Cambodia National Rescue Party nearly pulled off an upset. Since then, its leaders have either been jailed or pushed into exile. On Thursday, the Supreme Court dissolved the party, accepting the government's claim that it conspired with foreigners to stage a revolution. This effectively allows the ruling party to run uncontested in next year's polls. So, will the court's ruling help consolidate Hun Sen's three-decade-l...

If you meet the following classifications below, you will need to follow the instructions and apply for the proper exit clearance at one of the five BI regional offices . Sub-ports cannot process exit clearance permits.  All fees and conditions are subject to change. Normal processing time of 4-5 business days (expedite option available in most cases for +Php500).  Tourist: 59 days – 6 monthsTourists staying more than 59 days but less than 6 months must pay an exit clearance fee . If your date of departure is certain, this can be paid through one of the five BI regional offices; otherwise, the exit fee can be paid at the airport upon your departure. Tourist 6 months+Tourists staying more than 6 months must obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate(ECC) from BI. You must submit the proper form along with 3 passport-sized photographs and the visa fees . Permanent Resident -Permanent residents temporarily leaving the country must apply for a re-entry permit with B...

PhilHealth set to increase members’ premium contribution s By: Joey A. Gabieta -  Correspondent  Nov 17, 2017      S tarting January of next year, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will increase the premium contributions for its members. From the current 2.5 percent, PhilHealth members will have to pay 2.75 percent or an increase of 0.5 percent computed from the member’s monthly basic pay, said Israel Francis Pargas, PhilHealth’s OIC vice president for corporate affairs group. At present, there are 93 million PhilHealth members across the country—15.2 million of them were enrolled by their respective local government units because they were part of the marginalized sector. Pargas said the local government unit will pay the adjustment premium of these indigent members. He, however, said the adjustment didn’t reach the 5 percent allowed under Republic Act 7875, creating PhilHealth. “For the longest time, we have ...

Photograph that clearly shows the Democrat Senator grabbing her breasts while she is asleep. by  PENNY STARR   17 Nov 2017      A l Franken Issues Second Statement, Says He’s ‘Sorry’, Asks for Ethics Investigation Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) has issued a second statement following journalist Leeann Tweeden’s revelation on Thursday that the lawmaker grabbed her breasts while she slept and forcibly kissed her during a USO trip in 2006. Tweeden, who anchors the morning news at TalkRadio 790 KABC, posted a photo on her Twitter account. “I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story,” Tweeden wrote. Franken issued an initial statement Thursday in which he apologized, saying, “I shouldn’t have done it,” arguing the photo “[was] intended to be funny.” Franken’s second statement reads: The first thing I want to do is apologize: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, ...

Dr. David Gonnella, pastor of Magnolia Springs Baptist Church WSFA.com Montgomery Alabama news. by  JEFF POOR1 8 Nov 2017      A labama Pastor Rips Republicans for Abandoning Roy Moore — ‘What a Bunch of Sissies’ An Alabama pastor is not pleased with the way some Republicans have publicly reacted to a Washington Post report published last week that accused Moore of engaging in inappropriate conduct with four teenage girls more than 34 years ago. In an interview with Mobile, AL FOX affiliate WALA, Dr. David Gonnella, pastor of Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore, AL, remains a supporter of Moore despite allegations in the Post’s report. He suggested it was part of an effort to damage Moore’s bid to win the special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Jeff Sessions. “I don’t desert my friends just on mere accusations. I require evidence,” Gonnella said. “It’s funny how the Republican Party is,” he added. “What a bunch of sissies. ...

"I take full responsibility for the mistakes I have made, shoplifting," Riley told reporters. “I know that this goes beyond me letting my school down. I let the entire country down.”      T hree UCLA basketball players have thanked Donald Trump for his help in obtaining their release from a Chinese jail. The players, who had been detained in China on suspicion of shoplifting, admitted on Wednesday they stole items from three stores. LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill remain suspended from the University of California, Los Angeles, basketball team indefinitely, coach Steve Alford told a news conference. All three apologised and thanked Trump for helping secure their release by raising the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit, in their first public comments since being detained. Trump on Wednesday morning said the players should be grateful for his involvement. "Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say t...

So you’ve moved to The Philippines, fallen in love and now you’re married. Welcome to the club! It’s time to take care of the practical side of living here permanently, and one way to do that is to obtain a Philippines 13A visa. This allows you to live here in the Philippines indefinitely and puts an end to those monthly visits to the hot and bothersome immigration office once and for all. So how do you go about getting the 13A visa? Let us explain via this handy FAQ! Q. Who’s eligible for a 13A visa? A. Anybody married to a Filipino. If you’re married (either here or abroad), you’re eligible. Q. Where can I find the relevant law at its source? A. A quick Google search for ‘Philippine Immigration Act 1940, Section 13’ will bring up the exact law. You can see for yourself exactly what it says. Alternatively click here . Q. Where can I apply for the 13A visa? A. You can apply in Cebu, Manila, and Davao. While you can’t apply in any other city as of the time of writing you can ask...