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Posts tagged as “Travel”

Why did Makati Gil Puyat Avenue change to Gil Tulog Avenue?

July 25, 2024

This have been trending since yesterday, the issue is that Makati’s Gil Puyat Ave. was suddenly change to Gil Tulog Ave. Thanks to the recently typhoon, people did not notice about the new “name’ until recently.

So what this an official change of name by the Municipality of Makati or it’s just a prank made by someone for clout and clicks?

After a quick google and a visit to the Philippines subreddit, it turns out this is a marketing stunt by “Gil Tulog” is a marketing stunt by Wellspring, a health and wellness brand known for its melatonin supplements.

It’s not just with the street name of Gil Puyat, the campaign also includes Wellspring-branded jeepneys, that they are calling “Sleepneys.” The “sleepneys” will give free rides if your route is “Terminal: Guadalupe Complex > Buendia, EDSA (SB) > Paseo de Roxas > Nicanor Garcia > Tordesillas, Makati City > Ayala Avenue > Senator Gil Puyat Avenue > Washington Intersection, Makati City.”

It’s unclear on how much Wellspring paid for the publicity stunt and if they received the approval of Makati city but one thing is sure, this is “genius but stupid” at the same time.

Source: visor, Balita

Your Guide to South Korean’s Simplified Visa Application this 2024

February 5, 2024

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Philippines just released a simplified guide for those who wish to apply for a visa to South Korean. Check the table below for your category and see the required documents.

*Although the tables show the required documents, it’s still necessary to submit other general documents in standard visa applications. Please refer to this table carefully.

For those elected as politicians, refer to this table:

Politician

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Senate
COE (or Certificate of Appointment)
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Congress
Governors
Provincial Board Members
Mayors

For elected government officials, refer to this instead:

Government Officials

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Individuals ranking higher (including) Assistant Secretary of the Executive Branch of the Philippine Government COE MUST HAVE the following details included:

•Affiliated Organization
•Position
•Salary
•Working Period
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police

“If the relevant information is omitted or cannot be verified due to a lack of contact with HR, disadvantages may be given to the applicant” – Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines website.

For professionals with licenses, refer to the table below. Note that not all license holders are eligible for the simplified visa application criteria, only the ones specified below:

PRC License Holders

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Physician
•COE (Original)
•Copy of PRC ID/IBP
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Dentist
CPA
Pharmacist
Veterinarian
Lawyer (including Judge/Prosecutor)

For credit card holders, please refer to the card types below:

Credit Card Holders

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required

BDO Gold

•Mastercard Gold Credit Card
•Visa Gold Credit Card
•JCB Gold Credit Card
•UnionPay Gold Credit Card
•Diners Club International
•American Express Cashback Credit Card
•American Express Explorer Credit Card
•COE (Original)
•Copy of Credit Card (must show ALL front details)
•Copy of Credit Card Account Monthly Billing Statements for the last 3 months
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certificates
BDO Elite

•Mastercard Titanium, Platinum, World Elite Credit Card
•Visa Platinum
•JCB Platinum
•UnionPay Diamond
•Diners Club Premiere
•American Express Platinum
•American Express International Dollar Charge (Platinum, Gold, Green)

Although the Embassy states that financial documents are not required, it will still be up to the applicant if they choose to submit these.

In addition to the documents outlined in the table, applicants and their family members are still required to submit a document to establish their relationship. For children over 18 who are still studying, they are required to provide scholastic documents.

Philippine Airlines announces new NAIA Terminal Assignment

March 28, 2023

In connection to the MIAA’s announcement regarding the terminal changes for domestic and international flights. Philippine Airlines (PAL) made their own announce regarding the new terminal assignment.

In a nutshell, all PAL flights to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phnom Penh, and Singapore will depart from and arrive at Terminal 1, then All other PAL international flights, as well as all domestic flights, depart from and arrive at NAIA Terminal 2.

Here’s the full text of PAL’s announcement;

Travel Advisory
CHANGES IN PAL’S MANILA (NAIA) TERMINALS
Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore flights will use NAIA Terminal 1 from April 16, 2023.

Starting April 16, 2023, Philippine Airlines flights to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phnom Penh, and Singapore will depart from and arrive at Terminal 1 of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), along with PAL flights to the United States, Guam, Canada and Bali.

All other PAL international flights, as well as all domestic flights, depart from and arrive at NAIA Terminal 2. Please see the full list below.

Please check the flight terminal assigned to your flight before proceeding to the airport, to ensure a hassle-free departure and arrival.

Shuttle buses between Terminals 1 and 2 will be available for PAL passengers arriving in either terminal and connecting to a flight in the other terminal. Passengers of other airlines may use the shuttle buses provided by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

The transfer of these additional routes to Terminal 1 is part of a terminal reassignment initiative of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to ease congestion and improve passenger convenience at all terminals.

Complete List of PAL flights and corresponding Manila terminals:
From April 16, 2023:

T1 – NAIA TERMINAL 1 – Departures and Arrivals:

  • Vietnam – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
  • Phnom Penh
  • Singapore
  • Bali
  • Middle East – Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh
  • Canada – Toronto, Vancouver
  • United States – Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu
  • Guam

T2 – NAIA TERMINAL 2 – Departures and Arrivals:
All PAL Domestic Flights

  • Australia – Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne
  • Bangkok
  • Korea – Seoul (Incheon), Busan
  • Japan – Fukuoka, Tokyo (Haneda), Tokyo (Narita), Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya
  • Mainland China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinjiang, Xiamen, Hong Kong
  • Jakarta
  • Kuala Lumpur
  • Macau
  • Port Moresby
  • Taipei

If your flight is departing on or before April 15, 2023, these are the NAIA terminals in use at present:
MANILA DEPARTURES and ARRIVALS (until April 15, 2023 only):
• NAIA Terminal 1 – for PAL International flights to/from the United States and Guam, Toronto, Vancouver, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Bali.
• NAIA Terminal 2 – for all PAL domestic and international flights, except flights to/from the United States and Guam, Toronto, Vancouver, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Bali.

Thank you.

Happy Bear MilkTea, an authentic taste of bubble tea from Taiwan to Saudi Arabia

March 6, 2023

Craving for milktea?

If you’re in Riyadh, KSA you can checkout Bubble TEA, a milktea shop that started as a home business and now a full blown business with 4 partners around the country. Their shop in Riyadh is located in the Sulimaniyah district, less than 1 km from Prince Sultan Medical City.

This is their location via Google Maps – https://goo.gl/maps/esVNSkkax3RdX6rj7

Happy Bear MilkTea offers dine-in or take-out.

You can checkout their full menu here.

Philippines launches eTravel platform to replace One Health Pass

December 3, 2022

The Philippine government just launched the eTravel platform that will as an online Health Declaration and Contact Tracing platform that aims to promote a convenient and seamless movement of international travelers from departure from the country of origin to arrival at the Local Government Unit (LGU) of destination. The service is for all foreign and Filipino international travelers, including infants and children.

The eTravel service started last December 2, the Health Declaration Checklist of the Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine may be accessed through etravel.gov.ph and anyone accessing the One Health Pass will be redirected to the new eTravel domain. On December 5, the One Health Pass website no longer be accessible by the public.

Using and eTravel platform registration is free and does not collect or require any form of online payment.

Here’s the announcement from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF – EID);

Pursuant to the Philippine Government’s efforts to streamline its entry procedures and data collection processes, we inform you of the launch of the eTravel platform, an online registration system for travelers to the Philippines and returning residents.

Beginning 0001H of 02 December 2022, the Health Declaration Checklist of the Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine may be accessed through etravel.gov.ph.

Passengers using the former www.onehealthpass.com.ph will be redirected to the new eTravel domain. On December 5, the old domain of the One Health Pass will no longer be accessible to the public.

The eTravel platform will host the electronic version of the paper Arrival Card that travelers must submit upon arrival in the Philippines for immigration clearance. Starting 05 December 2022, the Bureau of Immigration will discontinue using the paper Arrival Card. All travelers will be required to provide their arrival information and health declaration through the eTravel portal.

Registration on the eTravel platform is free. The public is warned against transacting with any entities or websites soliciting payments and fees of any kind as these are in no way related to the official eTravel platform of the Philippine Government.

The eTravel platform is a joint initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in partnership with the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Transportation (DOTr).

DFA release advisory for non-OFW Filipinos and Foreign Nationals going to the Philippines.

February 2, 2021
DFA release advisory for non-OFW Filipinos and Foreign Nationals going to the Philippines.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) just release its latest advisory regarding non-OFW Filipinos and Foreign Nationals going to the Philippines.

The advisory basically list all the steps that the traveler needs to take and also what to expect when visiting or returning to the Philippines.

The post list down all the steps and fees that needs to be paid, and also things that you need to expect from the whole process; from registering to the electronic case investigation from (E-CIF), to the booking of your stay in Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ)-accredited quarantine hotel, to the total number of days it will take before you are cleared and the fees that you need to pay.

In total, everything goes well, the procedure will take at least 21 days and the traveller will spend an approximately PHP4,000.00.

I’ve embedded the whole advisory below.

You can also go here for more details.