Every change on this site that could alter a decision, on the day it went live, with the source it came from and the page it changed.
A visa rule, a fare, a surcharge, a festival date, the peso, an advisory, a new guide: if it could change what you do, it is listed here when we publish it. Corrections are labelled as corrections. Wording changes, link fixes and housekeeping are not listed. Each entry links to the page that carries the full wording and its verification date.
51 entries since September 2026 · newest: · the dates that move trips are also kept on the Festivals & Holidays Calendar.
November 2026
Festivals & holidays
Fiesta Señor 2027: the Basilica's calendar of religious activities is out — January 3 to 22
The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu has released its general calendar for the 462nd Fiesta Señor: the pilgrim-image visitation on January 3–6, its opening salvo and the start of the novena Masses on January 7, novena Masses on January 7–16, the Traslaciones on January 14–15, Visperas Day on January 16, the Fiesta Señor on January 17 and Adlaw sa Hubo on January 22. At a press conference on November 12 the Basilica's media liaison described the Walk with Mary at 4 a.m. on January 14 and, on January 16, the seaborne procession and the solemn foot procession, with both Mactan bridges closed to pedestrians during the seaborne procession. Exact Mass times and procession routes aren't published yet. These are the church's observances, separate from the Sinulog Foundation's civic schedule, which is still marked coming soon. The Sinulog guide's status box and schedule table and the calendar row carry the dates.
On the site: Sinulog guide, Festivals calendar. Source: Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu's general calendar, announced on its social media page, as reported by CDN Digital (Nov 12, 2026); the Basilica's Nov 12 press conference as reported by SunStar Cebu (Nov 12, 2026)
Cost of living & money
October inflation hits 7.8% — and gasoline falls ₱16.80 a liter from November 10
The PSA's October print puts headline inflation at 7.8%, the fastest since February 2023, up from 7.2% in September and led by transport and utility costs. Relief followed at the pump: the Department of Energy announced a rollback for November 10–16 of ₱16.80 per liter on gasoline, ₱4.10 on diesel and ₱3.70 on kerosene, citing eased fears of disruption to Middle East oil supplies. The cost-of-living page's dated note carries both, with the peso back at the ₱63 level after October 27's record ₱64.17.
On the site: Cost of Living. Source: PSA October CPI as reported by the Philippine Star (Nov 6, 2026); DOE advisory for Nov 10–16 as reported by the Daily Tribune (Nov 9, 2026)
Festivals & holidays
Sinulog 2027: four more dates on the organizers' site — Sinulog sa Dakbayan January 10, Festival Queen January 15, grand parade January 17, awarding January 18
The Sinulog Foundation's 2027 site now lists Sinulog sa Dakbayan on Sunday, January 10, the Festival Queen on Friday, January 15, the grand parade on Sunday, January 17 and the awarding ceremony on Monday, January 18, 2027; its schedule of activities, parade participants and route maps are still marked coming soon. The Foundation's main site lists the parade-day times at the Cebu City Sports Center (Mass 8 a.m., kick-off 9:15 a.m., grand finale 6 p.m.) while its countdown clock runs to 8:30 a.m. The Sinulog guide's status box and schedule table, the calendar row and the January circuit guide carry the new dates.
Two new pages. The Festivals & Holidays Calendar puts every festival and holiday date we have verified for December 2026 to December 2027 in one table, with its status and the day we last checked. This page lists every dated change we publish, with its source and the page it changed.
The peso crossed ₱64 per US dollar on October 27, 2026, closing at a record ₱64.17, and eased back to ₱63.74 by October 30. The peso explainer, the money tips and the $100K runway post now carry the October 27 figure. The site's planning rate moved to a rounded ₱64 on October 31; no stored dollar figure was re-converted.
On the site: Peso explainer, Money tips, $100K runway, Cost of living. Source: Bankers Association of the Philippines closes as reported by the Inquirer and the Daily Tribune (Oct 27) and GMA News (Oct 30, 2026)
Flights, ferries, roads & fares
Airfare fuel surcharge rises to Level 17 for November 1–15 flights
The Civil Aeronautics Board's surcharge level for November 1–15 is Level 17, up from Level 16 for October 16–31: roughly ₱559–1,635 more on a domestic ticket and from ₱1,846 on an international one. OceanJet's temporary 10% fuel surcharge on its fast ferries, in place since September 21, had not been lifted as of November 1.
On the site: Cost of living (dated note), Bohol guide. Source: CAB advisory as reported by GMA News (Oct 28, 2026); OceanJet's advisory and news page (read Nov 1)
Safety, weather & health
Northeast monsoon has set in; no cyclone, no active warnings
PAGASA declared the onset of the northeast monsoon (amihan) on October 27. As of November 1 there is no tropical cyclone inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and no active warning, so the weather alert box on Before You Go stays off; it returns when PAGASA issues an advisory.
On the site: Before You Go. Source: PAGASA (read Nov 1, 2026)
October 2026
Visas & entry
eTravel: the registration window in the portal's own words
Nine pages now say: "Complete your free eTravel registration within 72 hours before your arrival in or departure from the Philippines, as applicable. Have your QR code ready before boarding." That follows the eTravel portal's FAQ, read on October 31. The Bureau of Immigration's advisory phrases the window as "at least 72 hours" before travel; we show the portal's wording and re-read both at each review.
On the site: Travel checklist, Before You Go. Source: etravel.gov.ph, Frequently Asked Questions (read Oct 31, 2026); Bureau of Immigration advisory
Cost of living & money
Planning rate ₱64; four city budget values revised
The site's planning exchange rate moved from ₱62 to a rounded ₱64 per dollar. That is a label change: no stored dollar figure was re-converted. Separately, four planning values were revised as rounded estimates, not market averages: Cebu one-bedroom outside the center $250 → $300; Davao one-bedroom in the center $300 → $340, outside the center $180 → $220, home broadband $25 → $30. Davao's comfortable monthly total is now $824 and the Davao vs Houston comparison 3.9x.
Michelin Guide 2027: 127 places in Manila and Cebu
The 2027 Manila and Environs & Cebu selection, announced October 29, lists 127 establishments: one two-star, nine one-star, 31 Bib Gourmand and 86 Selected (2026 had 108). The Manila guide's food section reflects it.
On the site: Manila guide. Source: guide.michelin.com (Oct 29, 2026)
Flights, ferries, roads & fares
Sugbo Mercado is trading again at its new IT Park lot
The Cebu guide now says the night market is open Monday to Sunday, 4 PM to midnight, at its new lot within IT Park. The hours come from the market's own Facebook page.
On the site: Cebu guide. Source: Sugbo Mercado's official Facebook page (Oct 29, 2026)
Cost of living & money
Central bank policy rate 5.50%
The Bangko Sentral raised its policy rate by half a point to 5.50% on October 22, its fourth straight increase, citing oil, transport fares and El Niño. Its next rate meeting is December 17. The cost-of-living note carries it.
On the site: Cost of living (dated note). Source: BSP decision as reported by GMA News and Philstar (Oct 22–23, 2026)
Festivals & holidays
Sinulog 2027: opening salvo January 7 and grand parade January 17 announced
The Sinulog Foundation and Cebu City announced the opening salvo for Thursday, January 7 and the grand parade for Sunday, January 17, 2027, again based at the Cebu City Sports Center; the full calendar is still being coordinated. Dinagyang's organizers published an initial 2027 calendar (January 22–24) with five judging areas in the City Proper, subject to revision.
On the site: Sinulog guide, Dinagyang guide, January circuit. Source: CDN Digital (Oct 8, 2026); The Freeman (Oct 9), Inquirer (Oct 2) and Manila Times (Oct 6, 2026) naming the Iloilo Festivals Foundation
Visas & entry
SRRV and Digital Nomad Visa cards corrected
The expat visa guide's SRRV card now reads: indefinite stay while SRRV status is maintained; PRA charges an annual fee of US$360 for the Classic option (principal plus two dependents). The Digital Nomad Visa card points to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine embassies and consulates, the application authorities under Executive Order 86, which alone does not mean applications are open.
Peso past ₱63; Meralco's October rate; airfare surcharge eased
The peso broke ₱63 per dollar for the first time on October 15. Meralco's October residential rate is ₱15.06/kWh, up about ₱0.32 from September; on October 10 the energy regulator approved Meralco's first distribution-rate reset in 15 years (an average ₱1.48/kWh for 2027, from ₱1.35), with no effectivity date announced. The airfare fuel surcharge eased to Level 16 for October 16–31 flights.
On the site: Cost of living (dated note). Source: BAP closes; Meralco advisory (Oct 13) as reported by GMA News and the Daily Tribune; CAB
Cost of living & money
September inflation 7.2%
Headline inflation re-accelerated to 7.2% in September (PSA), up from August's 6.1% and back at April's three-year high. The cost-of-living note, the peso explainer and the $100K post carry the figure.
Proclamation No. 1427, signed September 8, 2026, sets ten regular holidays, eight special non-working days and one special working day for 2027. The Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha dates come by separate proclamation and are shown as pending. The table was verified against the Official Gazette.
The in-country requirements are now the Bureau of Immigration's eight-item checklist for Conversion to Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage (Probationary), BI Form V-I-002-Rev 1, as read in October 2026. Consular applications have their own section, with the Washington embassy's list as the example.
On the site: 13(a) visa guide. Source: immigration.gov.ph (BI Form V-I-002-Rev 1); philippineembassy-dc.org
New guides & tools
Travel insurance comparison re-attributed
The insurance comparison now carries a visible note that it rests on provider-published plan information. Fourteen sentences were re-attributed to the insurers' own pages, and no prices are printed; get a direct quote.
Healthcare statements re-based on the State Department's country information
The healthcare guide and 59 destination and comparison pages no longer carry unsourced verdicts such as "excellent", "world-class" or "a fraction of US prices". Hospitals are named without ratings, with facts taken from the hospitals' own sites; the quality summary is the U.S. State Department's country-information wording. PhilHealth's foreign-national membership figures (annual premium ₱17,000, or ₱15,000 in the lower band) were re-read in the 2026 Citizen's Charter.
On the site: Healthcare for retirees. Source: U.S. State Department country information for the Philippines; PhilHealth Citizen's Charter 2026; the hospitals' own sites
Safety, weather & health
Safety and advisory posts: advisory geography, no safety ratings
"Is the Philippines Safe" no longer opens with a yes, its ratings table is gone, and comparisons with France, Germany and Mexico were removed sitewide. Both posts report the U.S. State Department's advisory geography as issued, Level 2 for the country and Level 3 for Mindanao with the exceptions the advisory names, and do not certify destinations as safe.
Thailand: 30 days visa-free since September 15, 2026
Thailand revoked its 60-day visa exemption effective September 15, 2026. Eligible nationalities, US passport holders included, now receive 30 days visa-free for tourism; the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington says the stay can be extended for another period of up to 30 days, solely at the immigration officer's discretion. The Tourist Visa still gives 60 days. Every page that described the old exemption was corrected on September 19, and the Thailand post was rewritten from the embassy's pages on October 6.
On the site: Thailand visa changes, Southeast Asia visa guide. Source: Royal Thai Embassy, Washington (visa exemption and Tourist Visa pages, read Oct 6, 2026); Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Visas & entry
Vietnam e-visa guide re-verified
Processing: allow at least 3–5 working days. Passport: keep at least two blank pages available for entry and exit stamps. E-visas are accepted only at approved border gates (15 airports, 27 land crossings and 39 seaports listed in October 2026). The health paragraph follows the State Department's Vietnam page.
On the site: Vietnam e-visa for Americans. Source: evisa.gov.vn; U.S. State Department's Vietnam page (Sept 15, 2026)
Flights, ferries, roads & fares
Jeepney, ride-hailing and airport-taxi fares from the September 28 LTFRB adjustment
Traditional jeepneys ₱14 and modern jeepneys ₱17 base fare, plus ₱2 and ₱2.40 per added kilometer; ride-hailing base fares ₱55 / ₱65 / ₱75 by vehicle class plus ₱15 per kilometer; airport taxi flag-down ₱115.
On the site: Transport guide, Cebu guide. Source: LTFRB fare adjustment as reported by Philstar (Sept 27, 2026)
Visas & entry
Visa extension fees from the BI Citizen's Charter 2026
A first extension, the 29-day visa waiver, is ₱2,160 on the regular lane or ₱4,160 express at the BI Main Office, per the Bureau of Immigration's Citizen's Charter 2026, replacing an older 2025 figure on nine pages. The Emigration Clearance Certificate is ₱1,710.
Expressway tolls, the Batangas port fee and Hundred Islands fees dated
SLEX Alabang–Calamba is ₱137 for a car since July 1, 2026. The Batangas Passenger Terminal fee is ₱90 as of July 1, 2026 (Philippine Ports Authority). Hundred Islands' official fees took effect September 1, 2026: registration ₱130 / ₱210, one-day boats from ₱1,920.
On the site: Calamba, Batangas, Hundred Islands. Source: Toll Regulatory Board rates as reported by GMA News; PPA Memorandum Circulars 017-2025 and 020-2025; thehundredislands.ph
Living & retirementCorrection
Families page: a school that does not exist was removed
An entry for an 'American International School' in Forbes Park was removed from the school list; no such school exists. Brent's entry now reads Brent International School Manila, Biñan, Laguna. Tuition is given as a broad range of roughly $10,000–$30,000 a year across international schools.
Legazpi's airport is Bicol International (Daraga), which replaced Legazpi Airport in October 2021. Subic Bay has no scheduled passenger flights. Panglao is reached from Cebu by fast ferry (about 2 hours to Tagbilaran), not by a flight. La Union's nearest airport is Clark. Caramoan's access route runs from Naga, not Catanduanes. Bislig and Baguio's Loakan Airport have no scheduled flights.
On regional guides, the domestic-help row now shows the legal minimum for the region (Caraga ₱6,500 a month; Central Luzon ₱6,500) with "actual pay varies by arrangement", in place of unsupported ranges.
On the site: Butuan, Surigao City, Tarlac. Source: NWPC wage orders (Region XIII DW-06, effective Jan 3, 2026; Region III DW-05)
Flights, ferries, roads & fares
Cebu Pacific's new Cebu and Davao international routes pushed back
Cebu–Shanghai and Cebu–Nagoya now start December 1, 2026 (from mid-November) and Davao–Bangkok December 2 (from October 26) in the airline's latest schedule filings.
On the site: Cebu guide, Davao guide. Source: AeroRoutes (Oct 1, 2026); CAPA (Sept 30, 2026)
Flights, ferries, roads & faresCorrection
El Nido, Coron and Siargao turboprop flights leave from Clark, not Manila's NAIA
Since March 29, 2026 Cebgo's turboprop routes to El Nido, Busuanga (Coron) and Siargao operate from Clark. Every itinerary and guide that routed them through NAIA was corrected; Manila-origin itineraries may still be sold with a connection.
Salary guide rewritten around PSA's survey; family income from the 2025 FIES
There is no single "average Filipino salary". The guide now gives PSA's 2024 Occupational Wages Survey figure, ₱21,544 a month for full-time time-rated workers at formal establishments with at least 10 employees (about $345), with ₱29,310 in Metro Manila, the NCR minimum wage of ₱755 a day (Wage Order NCR-28, September 26, 2026) and the kasambahay minimum of ₱7,800. The $500 post cites PSA's preliminary 2025 Family Income and Expenditure Survey: average family income ₱411,350 a year, about ₱34,300 a month.
On the site: Average salary guide, Is $500 a lot?. Source: PSA Occupational Wages Survey as reported by Philstar Life; NWPC; PSA 2025 FIES as reported by BusinessWorld (Aug 2026)
Cost of living & money
City budgets on comparison posts now come from one data file
Every city budget on the comparison and "can you live on" posts now comes from the site's single cost data file (tight, comfortable and premium tiers), so the same city shows the same figure everywhere. Independent figures and "X% cheaper than Manila" percentages were removed; where another country is compared, Numbeo's own stated gap is quoted with its date.
Best Places to Retire: SRRV options as PRA lists them
The SRRV section names the current options, Classic and Courtesy (principals 40 and older); the Smile option is no longer presented as current. Davao's safety line follows the advisory geography.
On the site: Best places to retire. Source: Philippine Retirement Authority's SRRV page; U.S. State Department advisory (Sept 1, 2026)
Festivals & holidaysCorrection
Holy Week guide: one claim overstated its source
"In 2026 Ruben Enaje ended his vow" overstated the report: he had announced in 2025 that he would retire, reversed, and returned in 2026 for what he described as his final crucifixion; the guide makes no 2027 prediction. The 2027 rows keep the traditions, while 2026's train, mall and bank arrangements stay in the 2026 column until the 2027 ones are announced.
On the site: Holy Week 2027 guide. Source: DZRH (Apr 3 and 6, 2026); GMA 24 Oras
Festivals & holidaysNew
Five seasonal guides, October 1–3
Panagbenga 2027, Christmas 2026, the Black Nazarene Traslación 2027, Chinese New Year 2027 in Binondo and Holy Week 2027 each got a guide with a status box, the dates confirmed so far and last year's schedule as the pattern. Ati-Atihan's official 2027 dates (January 7–17) and Dinagyang's (January 22–24) were added the same day from the organizers' announcements.
Before You Go's health update (September 2026) now reads: dengue cases remained below 2025 levels nationally, but the Department of Health reported an increase in recent weeks during continued rains. An El Niño note from PAGASA's October 2026–March 2027 outlook (issued September 23) sits near the top of both season pages.
On the site: Before You Go, Best time to visit, Rainy season. Source: Department of Health updates as reported by Philstar (Sept 23) and the Daily Tribune (Sept 22, 2026); PAGASA climate outlook (Sept 23, 2026)
Flights, ferries, roads & faresCorrection
Siargao's rain and surf months were backwards
The Siargao guide had the rainy season as June–October. PAGASA's 1991–2020 normals for the nearest station (Surigao City) put the wettest months at November–February, 19–24 rainy days a month, against 10–12 from May to September; the weather card and the surf-season months were aligned with it.
On the site: Siargao guide. Source: PAGASA climatological normals 1991–2020, Surigao station
New guides & tools
Nine region pages filled out; Baguio moved to the Cordillera
The thin region index pages got an overview, the regional center and climate normals. The Baguio guide moved to the Cordillera region at /regions/cordillera/baguio; the old address redirects.
On the site: Regions, Baguio. Source: PAGASA climatological normals; the regions' own pages
September 2026
Flights, ferries, roads & fares
PAL's Chicago–Manila nonstop from November 9; OceanJet's 10% surcharge
Philippine Airlines' nonstop Chicago (O'Hare)–Manila route is set to launch November 9, 2026, three flights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) on the A350-900. OceanJet added a temporary 10% fuel surcharge on all routes from September 21, 2026, to be lifted once fuel prices stabilize; Cebu–Tagbilaran is ₱960 tourist or ₱1,440 business class.
On the site: Manila guide, Bohol guide, Dumaguete guide. Source: PAL announcement as reported by the Philippine News Agency (Apr 16, 2026); OceanJet advisory
Visas & entry
SRRV figures verified on PRA's own page
Age 40 and up. Classic deposit $15,000 (pensioner) or $30,000 (non-pensioner) at 50 and older, $25,000 or $50,000 at 40–49; pension proof of at least $800 a month for a single applicant or $1,000 with dependents. Courtesy deposit $1,500 at 50 and older, $3,000–6,000 at 40–49. Processing fee $1,500; annual fee $360 for Classic. The SRRV Smile option is no longer listed.
On the site: SRRV requirements, FAQ. Source: pra.gov.ph/SRRVisa (read Sept 13, 2026)
Safety, weather & health
Weather alert box removed
PAGASA's southwest-monsoon advisory series ended with Weather Advisory No. 80 (final, September 11), so the alert box on Before You Go came off. It returns when PAGASA issues a new advisory or a cyclone enters the Philippine area.
On the site: Before You Go. Source: PAGASA Weather Advisory No. 80 (Sept 11, 2026) and the Sept 13 forecast
New guides & tools
Trip planner uses the site's cost data
The trip planner's per-destination daily costs now come from the same data file as the calculator and the comparisons; they had sat 15–30% below it.
On the site: Trip planner, Calculator. Source: The site's cost data file (Sept 6, 2026 edition)
Visas & entry
How long can Americans stay? Answered from the Bureau's pages
The expat visa guide now answers the question from immigration.gov.ph, checked September 12, 2026: thirty days on arrival without a visa, with the extension path and the ACR I-Card requirement taken from the Bureau's visa-waiver and ACR I-Card pages.
On the site: Expat & visa guide. Source: immigration.gov.ph (visa waiver and ACR I-Card pages)
Living & retirementNew
Healthcare for retirees guide published
Is healthcare good in the Philippines for retirees: hospitals by city, PhilHealth membership for foreign nationals (annual premium ₱17,000 per the 2026 Citizen's Charter), and Medicare's limits abroad, where Original Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States. Revised on October 7 to the State Department's wording on quality.
On the site: Healthcare for retirees. Source: medicare.gov; PhilHealth Citizen's Charter 2026
Visas & entryNew
Customs: what you cannot bring into the Philippines
A guide built on the Bureau of Customs' own four categories, prohibited, restricted, regulated and allowed with limits, with the rules travelers get caught on: meat by type, a 30-day supply of controlled medicines, the ₱50,000 and US$10,000 currency thresholds, pets and drones.
On the site: Customs rules. Source: customs.gov.ph; bai.gov.ph; ddb.gov.ph; BSP FAQ
Flights, ferries, roads & faresNew
Do's and don'ts for first-time visitors
32 rules labelled rule, safety, courtesy or practical, each with its reason. Grab's coverage list was corrected at the same time: Dumaguete City is on it.
On the site: Do's and don'ts. Source: grab.com/ph/locations (read Sept 8, 2026); CDC travel health pages
Cost of living & money
World Bank: the Philippines is now upper-middle income
The World Bank moved the Philippines into its upper-middle-income group in the mid-2026 classification, on 2025 GNI per capita of $4,850 against a $4,636 threshold. The rich-or-poor explainer carries the figures and the 15.5% poverty rate (2023).
After the peso's record close on September 4, the site's planning rate moved from ₱61 to ₱62 and a new explainer shows what $500 to $3,000 a month buy at the new rate against the spring's ₱57, the inflation offset, and who the move helps or hurts.
On the site: Peso explainer, Cost of living. Source: BAP close as reported by the Manila Times (Sept 4, 2026); PSA August CPI
Safety, weather & health
State Department reissued the Philippines advisory on September 1
The reissue adds rural and interior areas of Leyte, Mindoro, Negros and Samar as areas of increased risk within Level 2, citing insurgent activity and occasional clashes in remote inland barangays. The Level 3 Mindanao exceptions (Davao City's central business district and airport, Davao del Norte, Dinagat, Samal, Siargao and two named thoroughfares) are printed as the advisory states them.
On the site: Travel advisory explained, Davao guide. Source: travel.state.gov, Philippines Travel Advisory (issued Sept 1, 2026; confirmed Sept 6)
Living & retirementNew
Renting a condo in Manila
An answer-first guide: a tourist visa is enough to rent; expect two months' deposit and one month's advance at signing; the post-dated-check workaround; a viewing checklist and a lease-clause table.
On the site: Renting a condo in Manila. Source: The site's BGC, Makati and first-90-days guides; common Metro Manila lease practice
Nothing in this topic yet.
What gets listed, and what does not
Listed: a change to a fact a reader might act on, on the day it is published, with the source it came from and a link to the page.
The wording follows the page it describes. Visa, entry, safety and health entries restate the page's wording and add nothing to it.
Not listed: style edits, link fixes, layout changes and anything that has not been published.