Essentials to live in the Philippines

Norm.....

From past experiences, i have found that the use of Australian debit cards in atms in The Philipinnes, is very expensive.  Cost work out at about $A2.50 per push for usually only P4,000.  Then there is the foreign tranaction fee charged by my bank.  So, if looking for say P20,000.....very expensive money.
Also, in our area in the provinces, atms are rare, and some banks i have found will only accept their own card....no others.

You always withdraw the Maximum of 10,000 pesos for the same withdrawal fee. I use my debit card at the supermarket for a large shop for no charge. Everyone will take percentage as well as a fee. No ATMs? Not my preferred place to live. Cheers, Norm

Problem in growing your own vegetables is the temperature. It is way too hot for the European vegetables.
Brussels Sprouts need a colder climate, same as leeks, celeriac and many cabbages.

It's not just the heat but the humidity. You won't grow tropical fruits in Europe, so why would anyone expect to do the reverse here? As they say "When in Rome"

Yes. It's called “Post Emergence Damping Off“. The Seeds germinate, then die. Seedlings from local plants, are immune from the condition.

Yes its very sad trying to grow from seeds here Evan if they are from hot countries to grow in the UK summers, they will not grow here. I have tried with many many seeds and even in an a/c greenhouse to start things off but later they die off.  I had a terrific tray of geraniums but they didn't survive. Good job we gardeners are optimists.

From what I've read it's illegal to import foreign seeds

Yes.You must declare them at Customs

Like many things in the Philippines what is legal and what happens are very different. If you declared the seeds, a certificate of virus free would be asked for hmhmh!

Buy from Chiltern seeds in the UK and state "plain envelope" on the on-line order form . Pay with mastercard and the seeds arrive in about 10 days in a small jiffy bag. Chiltern seeds have customers in the PI.

Stevetheheave wrote:

From what I've read it's illegal to import foreign seeds

@ Stevetheheave > Can you please mention the source of this information please?
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It would be great if we can avoid sharing illegal information the forum as well please. Please check before posting.

Thanks,

Priscilla

You need declair them. It is illegal to ship seeds from 1 Country to another as some are listed as invasive. Also virus free.    Like Mexican field workers took corn seed back to Mexico & planted it there.  It crossed with there corn.  Yields dropped.   But that was just a 1 year problem in a few small areas.  The next year they went back to there own corn.  They all Nations are picky about seeds coming in. Not just the Philippines.

It used to be written in the Customs Declaration form, everyone had to fill in before landing in  the Phillippines. (Now it's a Medical delaration Form.)

A few years ago I brought a small bag of Creeping Bentgrass Seed. To use to landscape my Father in Laws Grave. After collecting my Luggage, I went to the Red Channel at Customs. "I have a bag of Grass Seed I said".
I spent the next Twenty Minutes trying to explaining to a very patient Customs Lady. What I  was bringing into the Country.

i admid having some vegetabols that i was used of eating in belgium here woold be nice , is itesential to live in The Philippines to have them ?
i dont think so .
before i left my country i sayedgoodbey to my family and farewel to the life i was used off as i see that as essential towards emigration .
butttt , if anny of my foreing visitors woold bring along some seeds ,i wil try to cultivate them as i have a pasion for gardening hahaha
greets Dirk

The bank here charges 200p to use a card issued abroad. With a
ceiling of 10,000p per withdrawal, that would be a big hit on my monthly funds.

I would love to try some centerpede grass here.

Use a BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) atm, they allow P20K per withdrawl. It is still a P20K daily limit.

Also you might check with a different bank at your home, mine reimburses me $15.00 US per month for withdraw fees at ATMs.