Hard to believe but I’ve been living in the Philippines for two months now. Achieving this milestone also necessitated a visit to the Bureau of Immigration office in downtown Olongapo. And that is just what I did.

Filled out the paperwork for a 60 day extension of my tourist status and paid the requisite fee of 8,100 pesos (around $160). And then I had my photo and biometrics (fingerprint scan) taken so that I can be issued the required Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) card. I can’t pick it up for two weeks though. This doesn’t really change my status, although I’m hopeful it will allow me to open a Philippines bank account. From what I’ve read it seems to vary bank to bank (and branch to branch) on whether a tourist is permitted an account. We’ll see. Long term I still plan to do the Special Senior Retirement Visa (SSRV) which provides permanent resident status. I’ll get around to applying for that one of these days.

Another dart tourney yesterday, but I didn’t finish in the money. Bar was packed as we were celebrating the birthday of one of the staff, Flor. It was a good time.

The Alley Cats staff. They are all pretty sweet (more or less) and call me Kuya (older brother) John which I’m assuming is a respectful term of endearment.

Well, so much for assuming. I decided to look up the definition. And yes, it means “older brother”. But this additional context was disconcerting:

2)Furthermore, a girl can call someone “kuya” as to cockblock him, emphasizing that the guy is only a brother to her, nothing more.

Oh well. Any girl who can resist this hotness doesn’t deserve it!

Come and get it!

Regardless, the Alley Cats bar has become my de facto home bar, my Shenanigans if you will. It’s only natural I suppose given that I play darts there at least four days a week. But I like the staff and most of my fellow patrons, so it’s all good. And really, the alternative is the girly “go-go” dancing bars that I just don’t seem to enjoy much at all these days. I guess in part it’s because I feel sorry for the girls and the desperation of their lives.

An action shot of yesterday’s dart tourney….

Buddy is doing well. I had considered changing his name to “Stay” because he would never come when I called him. At least that would create the appearance of a well trained dog. But this morning he did come when I beckoned him which made me feel good. He also gave me some dog kisses, but maybe that’s not a good thing.

I really do not believe a dog should be chained, but Buddy is such an escape artist that it is necessary for the short periods of time I let him outside to do his business…

But at least he has enough sense to come in out of the rain!

I’m still debating whether to bring home a companion dog for Buddy. My friend Mike sent me this photo:

These are Buddy’s brothers and sisters from another litter.

We’ll see. He’s such a whiner when he’s not getting all the attention he wants. Maybe a playmate would help. Or make it worse. Anyway, he did a little better on the leash this morning, although he is still very resistant. Going to keep working at it.

More darts on tap this afternoon. Life is good.