Budget Airlines Less Appealing For Passengers On A Fixed Schedule

Comment from a reader on "Crooked Immigration At Cebu Pacific Terminal":

The requirement is to have a confirmed return or onward ticket. An open dated ticket doesn't do it.
One would assume that the ticket must be dated within the authorized stay of the tourist. So I guess technically the guy was right. But one does have to ask the question as to who they are working for ?

[The Subic Bulletin] For years the situation has been simple, most tickets have a year validity so you simply get a flight a year away and change it when need be, however budget airlines insist you take the exact flight or forfeit the ticket. All they do is make themselves less appealing for travelers that are not on a fixed schedule.

Another Abuse Of Power?

Comment from a reader:

Has anyone noticed the tent that has been erected in one corner of the PTT gas station right outside Royal?

Its hard to believe, but this tent houses an unregistered business with no permit to operate. This business has been operating there for several months without being shut down.

How can this be?

This unregistered business is selling a pre-paid discount card and in the terms and conditions on their website its says the card must be "validated at their head office (see map)" but no map or registered office exists. What is this rip-off preying on the unsuspecting tourists and residents?

On further investigation it was found that the website was registered in the name of BRIAN GORDON.

Why are other locators forced to do things correctly but it seems the rules don't apply to the Gordon's who can just pitch a tent anywhere and start peddling as they please.

Is this the sort of abuse for government rules and regulations we can also expect from Bong and Dick? What happens if Dick becomes president, which one of the family will become the huweting king?

Can someone tell me more about this situation and why its been able to occur?

How Wide Is His World?

Comment from a reader on "Community Property However You Spell It":

And right your policy is, too, SB. One can discern much about the character and credibility of a writer by the style and composition of their inputs.

Aside from that, although I agree with the writers definition of community property laws in the Philippines, I think I would quarrel with the claim that its "common practice worldwide.

I can only wonder just how "wide" is his world. Keep the warts in there.

Snow Mobiles For Sale

Comment from a reader on "Baypointe Construction Shames Ampelos Towers":

SB. I HAVE A PLACE NEXT DOOR, RECENTLY I HAVE OBSERVED MORE ACTIVITY, MORE CEMENT TRUCKS, MORE WORKERS, ETC.

CANNOT FIGURE FOR SURE IF THE ACTIVITY IS BOGUS OR A CON JOB, HOWEVER, ANYBODY INTERESTED I AM SELLING SNOWMOBILES AT BARGAIN PRICES.

[The Subic Bulletin] We heard there is a bridge for sale too, just down the road....

Kalaklan Exit Needs Bailey Bridge

Comment on your post "Stay Of Execution":

There is no logical reason to close this bridge and build the other one at the same time.

Put a Bailey Bridge in or why not build the new one at the dock then barge it in, surely there is an alternatavie than putting places like baloy and barretto in the dark ages for almost a year!!! the money they will lose in taxes for lost revenues will be 5 times the cost of a temporary bridge..

Why Torture Yourself

Comment from a reader on "Investments For My Wife's Family":

There seems to be an endless supply of naive foreigners arriving in Paradise who never heard of the term "caveat emptor."

The author should not blame Philippine law for what he obviously considers to be an unfair rip off of his assets. Most countries have similar laws regarding real estate ownership.

Perhaps he might find solace if he commiserates with an American who has been victimized by a divorce and property settlement in a community property State.

and Another;

Best is you marry a American Women!

Best you go home where all is good. Why torture yourself in the country that done suit your needs?

SBMA Kills Subic Culture

It was announced to the local schools and organizations that SBMA has given the Subic Bay Cultural Center to a private corporation.

Although this may be a great location for another white elephant casino the schools and organisations have not been offered an alternative inside the Freeport!

So Subic Freeport has lost any culture that it had....

Vigilante Patrolmen Still Confused Over SCTEX Speed Limit

Comment from a reader on "Who Is Capable To Enforce?":

This moderator is very naive if he/she thinks having the deeply corrupt Philippine National Police patrol the Subic expressway would be a good idea.

Then we would have the shakedowns that we see on the national highway in Barrio Barretto. These private expressway patrolmen may have a vested interest in earning revenue from catching speeding vehicles (as do police all over the world, catching speeders is a big revenue generator for towns worldwide) but who cares? As long as they catch the speeding idiots who are endangering the lives of the rest of us, I hope they make good money for the expressway. (As for your other naive question, if a member of my family was assaulted, would I want the police or private security investigating the case, of course the answer is that I would hire private security to get the job done, as would anyone in the Philippines who could afford it, and not leave it to the corrupt, inept PNP to get justice for me and my family. (I wouldn't hire the Starbucks security guy though. Then who would guard the coffee?)

PS. I notice you still evaded the central question: do you personally drive faster than 100 kph on the expressway? If you do, then be honest and admit so we know your bias on this issue.

[The Subic Bulletin] There is no doubt the PNP is not perfect, but I suggest you go up to the PNP training center located up near the magazine area sometime. The PNP is recruiting and training a better educated breed of Policeman, this combined with the restriction on promotion for non graduate cops means the PNP is certainly getting its act together. Everyone has horror stories and thats why its pleasing that they are actually improving their game. Go and meet the new PNP, talk to them, you will be presently surprised.

You keep harping on about people speeding by going over 100 kph but you have not answered our original question, why are there conflicting 80 and 100 kph signs on the expressway, see here. Do the vigilante patrolmen enforce the limit that suits them or is this just another example of the incompetence that you place your trust in? Maybe if these cowboys were properly trained they would have not allowed the expressway to become cloaked in smoke and cause multiple deaths. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20091229-244526/Burning-ban-sought-near-SCTEx-after-4-die-in-smash-up Lives should come before profits.

We don't believe the central question here is the driving habits of the moderators but I can tell you that your assumption, or assertion for that matter, is incorrect.

While we appreciate your intentions on this subject, based on the comments we have received you seem to be alone in your quest. Time for a new subject?

Right Wing Nut Sweet Talks Subic Bulletin

Comment from a reader on "Credibility "Expert" Hits Below The Belt!":

I really think you normally do a great job on being objective. However, you made an error when you let someone post a right wing diatrab under the auspices of agreeing with you.

Not everyone is a right wing nut and our personal political views are irrelelevant to anything in the Philippines. I would not insult anybody by comparing lying, making rash decisions and lack of education to Bush.

Please screen the posts from now on and lets leave religion and politics to sections of the internet where that is the topic.

Community Property However You Spell It

Comment from a reader on "Investments For My Wife's Family":

If you're going to live in the Philippines, married to a Filipina, you should at least learn how to spell "Filipina". It's not "Philippina". Sad to say, the blog moderators don't know how to spell it either. the reason 50 percent of your condo goes to your wife in the Philippines is the same reason 50 percent of your condo in the United States goes to your wife: it's called community property and it's not some strange Philippine tradition, it's common practice worldwide!

[The Subic Bulletin] One more time for the dummies.... We don't and won't spell check contributions, we believe in them being published exactly as received, warts and all.

Baypointe Construction Shames Ampelos Towers

Comment from a reader:

Why are you censoring comment on the Ampelos towers?

Did you guys buy a unit in this mess or something and don't want to see it criticized?

Condolences if you did buy into this thing, but it's a very relevant topic and the blog no longer ever mentions it. How is it not newsworthy that the big new hospital building that started a year ago right by Ampelos is nearly done and Ampelos still has that token rebar sticking out of the ground to dupe more buyers into this failed project.

Even if you guys were duped into buying into this thing, you should still do the right thing and provide news (and warnings) to your readers. That's what being "unbiased" is all about.

[The Subic Bulletin] Now thats what we call an over active imagination...

Last year we were getting accused of being anti Korean this year we are getting accused of protecting and even investing in a Korean company's projects. Our heads are spinning...

Fact is although Ampelos seems to be going nowhere there has been nothing else to write about this white elephant and certainly there have been NO submissions from readers, so where is this censorship you speak of?

We must confess that we sometimes wonder if the concrete trucks causing the dangerous road hazard in Canal Road is just a publicity stunt? Pretend your building if you can't so more people will invest.

Maybe you should write some constructive contributions next time!

Exit Ticket Required

Comment from a reader on "Cebu Pacific's Bad Attitude":

I just had the same problem in Hong Kong with Philippine airlines. I had to buy a full fare return ticket. In more than 30 trips over the past three years this has never come up.
Something has changed and it seems we have not be advised.

and another;

As an American expat traveling in and out of the Philippines since the mid 80's, I have observed that some airlines will ADVISE the traveler to purchase a return flight out of the Philippines or 'take their chances', and some airlines will take it upon themselves to ENFORCE the Philippine immigration rule of the return flight out before issuing the boarding pass.

This happened to me several years ago when I booked an online one-way ticket from San Francisco to Manila on a Cathay Pacific flight. Upon arriving at the check-in counter in SF they insisted that I purchase a flight out of Manila before I would be issued a boarding pass. So I purchased a Manila-Hong Kong (one-way) ticket. This past November, I flew on a one-way Hawaiian Airlines flight to Manila from Honolulu and they mentioned nothing to me about purchasing a flight out. So it appears that it depends on what the policy is of the particular airline you are flying on.

As for me I will be applying for a Permanant Resident Visa during my next stay in Honolulu, which I have been told by an Olongapo Immigration Branch official, it can be issued on the same day at any Philippine Consulate abroad. Required documents would be the Philippine marriage certificates and birth certificates of your Philippine-born children.

It however would take a year if applied for at immigration in the Philippines (what's new?).

[The Subic Bulletin] We certainly remember it being this way since at least the mid 90's and in fact it is a requirement by most countries that have visa on arrival schemes.

The law is such that if a passenger is denied entry to into the Philippines the airline must take him back out of the country and if he does not have a valid ticket the airline carries the cost. So in fact the airlines have the choice to enforce this or not but carry the consequences should the visitor be denied entry.

Stay Of Execution

Comment from a reader on "Kalaklan Bridge Update":

The obvious solutions never happen in the Philippines. Often, the answer which makes the most sense, doesn't seem to work here either. I think it might be a black hole where good sense and management cease to exist.

[The Subic Bulletin] Unfortunately the stories getting around in the press have failed to point out that the Bridge closing has only been postponed not prevented...

Bridge will now close on June 16 so we will have to sit in the rain instead to fight the hellish traffic, thanks for nothing...

Freeport Cable's Speedy Service

Comment from a reader on "ESPN Still Has Card Problems On Freeport Cable":

I was told a couple of weeks ago that the problem would be corrected "by the end of the week". This would have been January 9 or 16, don't remember exactly.

However, THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THE YEAR!!!

Cebu Pacific - Profit Before People

Comment from a reader on "Cebu Pacific's Bad Attitude":

With regard to Cebu Pacific's inflexibility, I totally agree.

On December 23 my family and I checked-in at the Cebu Pacific Terminal 3 location in Manila for a domestic flight to Bohol after fighting through gridlocked traffic in the city. We just made it in time.

One of our family members who had to travel on her own from Angeles City made it to the check-in counter just as the rest of us put our bags on the scale. We were all there and glad she made it, however she was turned away because she didn't make it with in their apparently MANDATORY 45 minute time frame prior to departure.

We explained that the traffic was terrible approaching the airport, and the rest of us were also delayed because of it, and could we please get her on the flight? They replied in no uncertain terms that no, this was CP policy and they had to follow it.

So we asked them to re-book her on the next flight available and they replied that no, her ticket was now forfeited and she had to purchase an entirely new ticket (rules you know). Furious, and no time to get her booked, we boarded the flight without her thinking perhaps they had sold her seat to someone else. As they closed the cabin doors we saw numerous open seats throughout the aircraft, including hers! What idiots! Cebu Pacific- YOU SUCK!

Another View On SCTEX Enforcement

Comment from a reader on "Misguided Enforcement On The SCTEX":

I looks like this guy is one of those driving with 65km/h with his van on the left lane.

Than he is upset if somebody wnants to pass him with 110km/h. Keep of from the left lane.

If you want to fight for something, fight against pollution. Thats where thousand of people got killed every day, NOT from a few speeding cars.

Speak For Yourself!

Comment from a reader on "Zambales Residents To Black-ban Subic Freeport":

Speak for yourself!

The numbers of residents that boycott SBMA shopping will be less than 1%.

As with everything, we will get adjust and move on. Where are you going to get specialty goods that are import? Don't act like a silly child.

The Balikbayan Privilage

Comment on your post "Cebu Pacific's Bad Attitude":

It's all in the "TIMATIC" and Philippines Immigration posts and various Airline websites.

Timatic

IATA Timatic is the industry standard used by airlines and travel agents to check passenger documentation requirements. The service provides personalized immigration and health requirements based on the destination, transit points, nationality, residence and departure country.
Timatic features:
• Passport requirements and recommendations
• Visa requirements and recommendations
• Health requirements and recommendations
• Airport tax to be paid by the traveler at either departure or arrival airport
• Customs regulations relating to import/export of goods and small pets by a passenger
• Currency regulations relating to import and export by a passenger
Timatic can be used to provide passengers with this critical information as part of the booking process, as well as during check-in to ensure travelers have the correct travel documentation.

http://www.iata.org/ps/publications/timatic.htm

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/

http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=239&Itemid=37

THE BALIKBAYAN PRIVILEGE (R.A.6768 as amended)

By legal definition, a Balikbayan is:

1. A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least 1 year;
2. A Filipino overseas worker; or
3. A former Filipino citizen and his or her family, who had been naturalized in a foreign country and comes or returns to the Philippines.



• The "Balikbayan Privilege" may be availed of by foreign family members of all 3 classifications provided that they travel together everytime they enter the country (MEMORANDUM dated July 1, 2008 issued by Atty. Edgardo L. Mendoza, Chief, IRD).

• "FAMILY" shall mean the spouse and the children of the Balikbayan who are not Balikbayan in their own right traveling with the latter to the Philippines. (Section 2 (b) of R.A. no. 9174, amending R.A. 6768, entitled: "An Act Instituting a "BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM", by providing Additional Benefits and Privileges to Balikbayan and for other purposes").

• Correspondingly, all Balikbayans 14 years and below and 60 years of age shall be allowed to extend their temporary visitor visa under Section 9a of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 as amended, for a maximum period of 6 months for every extension PROVIDED that all appropriate fees are paid. Thus, Balikbayans are allowed a maximum total stay of 2 years inclusive of all extensions. (MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. ADD – 02 – 011 dated 11 February 2002).

The Commissioner of Immigration Andrea D. Domingo informed the Department of Foreign Affairs on 04 June 2001 that, "All Immigration Officers at authorised ports of entry shall grant the benefits and privileges to all Balikbayans and Former Filipinos included every time they enter the country to visit, regardless of their frequent travel". This means that the above categories of persons could now avail of the Balikbayan benefits and privileges regardless of the number of times they enter the country within a year.

I'll add that it must be kept in mind that the Balikbayan visa is for Filipinos/Filipinas THAT ARE RESIDING IN COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF THE PHILIPPINES. It's to entice them to return and stay a while and "spread the wealth"; it's not designed for those that are living in the PI to get "Pass Go" card and thereby create a new class of immigrant.

If you really live in PI with your asawa, go get an ACR I-Card like others have done.

[The Subic Bulletin] We tend to agree, its a bit tough to be complaining about the system when your really circumventing the system.

Leasehold Rights Fight Update

SBMA has backed down somewhat in the battle over the registration of leasehold rights.

The mandatory registration will now cost only 200 Pesos.

More information can be found on the Subic Chamber of Commerce website http://subicchamber.org

Kalaklan Bridge To Remain Open!

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand C. Arreza has assured Olongapo City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. that the Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge which connects the Freeport to Olongapo and Zambales in the north will no longer be closed as planned during the construction of a new bridge beside the old one.

“We’ll keep it open per your request,” said Arreza in a message to Mayor Gordon on Monday.

“Mayor, as we discussed last Friday, we’ll just reinforce Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge to keep it open,” Arreza said in a text message when Mayor Gordon inquired on a plan to conduct a load test on the bridge to determine its current capacity. “We’ll just reinforce Kalaklan Lighthouse bridge to keep it open.”

Arreza also said the load test has been canceled since it will only cause further damage to the concrete piles and that since they have no sensors, the test will be useless.

Earlier, SBMA has announced that the Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Feb. 15 and pedestrians on March 1, 2010 until construction of a new bridge has been completed about a year later. This has caused an uproar from several sectors both in and out of the Freeport but specially from Olongapo businessmen who foresee a resulting monstrous daily traffic jam in the narrow streets of the city proper.

The protests were fueled more when it was learned that the old bridge will not be demolished yet while construction of the new one is ongoing but, instead, will be closed for the use of the contractor which bagged the contract for the construction of the new P200M bridge.

The U.S. Navy built old bridge which was constructed over 50 years ago has allegedly weakened with wear and tear through time. It has been closed to heavy vehicles but has been kept open to light vehicles and pedestrians for about a year now.

Another major bridge linking the Freeport to Olongapo through R.M. Drive - the Main Gate bridge, has been closed to vehicular traffic for almost 2 years now for the same reason of alleged weakened structure.

Mayor Bong Gordon has been making representations with the SBMA to keep Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge open, at least to light vehicles, to avert a potential traffic disaster in Olongapo City.

Traffic Congestion In Olongapo

Comment from a reader on "It's Official - Ayala Mall For Subic Freeport":

hope the city must also think an alternative plan to ease the traffic in gapo...

like in the case of ramos st., along victory liner up to the stretch of chowking..

fruit vendors had already occupied the half lane of the street....

there is no more space for pedestrians walking along the said street...

[The Subic Bulletin] Yes that's the same stretch of road that SBMA wants to shove the Kalaklan Bridge traffic!

Crooked Immigration At Cebu Pacific Terminal

Comment from a reader on "Cebu Pacific's Bad Attitude":

I returned to the Philippines on Jan 4, 2010 via Cebu Pacific through Manila arriving around 5am. The innigration room was full of arriving passengers and it took me almost 2 hours to reach an immigration officer.

I too am married to a Filipina but have a tourist status because I refuse to go through the 13a bs. I was asked for a ticket exiting the Philippines, which I produced. However, the immigration officer said it was not valid because the flight was on Feb 12, 2010 and I was only allowed 21 days in country.

My passport has many extension stamps in it and I told the immigration officer that I would extend after the initial 21 days. He refused to stamp my passport and directed me to see a Cebu Pacific representative in order to buy a ticket.

After protesting quite loudly about this bs he changed his mind and stamped me in.

My question is if you have a ticket to exit the country does the date have to be within the 21 days? Also, why was there only 6 immigration officers working at this time of the morning when so many flights come in, when I got there the room was half full but by the time I left it was full!!!

I have my own theory on why so few immigration officers were working but will keep that to myself!

[The Subic Bulletin] Sounds like the Immigration officer is on commission from Cebu Pacific. There is no doubt they are taking advantage of customers that they should be helping instead. The best advice seems to be don't fly Cebu Pacific!

Opposition Grows To Kalaklan Bridge Closure

Story by Ed Piano sent in by a reader:

Different groups in Olongapo City have banded together to oppose the closure on February 15, 2010 of Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge which connects Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City and the rest of Zambales.

Led by the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB), Metro-Olongapo Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MOCCI), Subic Bay Resorts Association (SUBRA), Olongapo Chinese Chamber of Commerce and several transport groups in Olongapo and Zambales, an appeal to delay if not avoid the closure of Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge was conveyed to Engineer Joselito Bakuzeta of SBMA Eng’g Dept., in a consultative meeting on January 20, 2010 at the Olongapo City Hall.

A new bridge will be constructed beside the existing one which was built by the U.S. Navy some 50 years ago because, according to SBMA officials, the structure has weakened over time.

However, the same experts said the old bridge can still service light vehicles and pedestrians, which has been the case for almost a year now, pending the construction of a new one.

In a multi-sector meeting held at the SBMA Board Room earlier, it was revealed that the bridge will not be immediately demolished and instead, will be used by the contractor for its equipment, drawing reactions from city representatives for what they say “undue favor to the contractor over the public’s interest.”

According to MOCCI President Aurelio “Bong” Pineda, with the expected resulting monstrous traffic situation in Olongapo once the Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge is closed, businesses in the city will certainly suffer, eventually affecting everybody, from students to employees, even passersby.

According to the GSBTB, the imminent closure is ill-timed since it will coincide with the on-set of summer vacation, the beginning of construction activities relative to the establishment of the SM Mall, Ayala Mall, Ocean 9 Casino, the Ampelos Tower as well as the Expansion Project of the New Banicain Fishport.

“This will definitely affect our business. Most of our visitors in the summer are day tourists. If the average traveling time from Manila to Subic is 4 hours and another 4 hours going back, visitors have no time left to enjoy their day and if that is the case, tourists will not come here anymore. If you really need to close down the bridge, do it after the summer season so that our business will not suffer too much. We have employees to think of and our employees have families and children to tend,” said representatives from MOCCI.

“If you need to demolish the existing bridge for the construction of a new one, you have to provide an alternative for us because the bridge’s closure will certainly create traffic and congestion plus the downbeat to the tourism industry. The contractor and SBMA can provide a bailey bridge to temporarily accommodate motorists and pedestrians until the new bridge is finished,” Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, who mediated on the meeting, told Bakuteza.

Meanwhile , Col. Joe Aquino , head of Olongapo City Office of Traffic Management and Public Safety (OTMPS), accounted that the closure of Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge will lead to no less than 2,500 additional vehicles passing thru Olongapo’s streets and will also adversely affect several thousands of pedestrians who walk thru the bridge every day.

“The closure of Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge means that we have to go around the city to reach the James Gordon Hospital. In times of medical emergencies, a heart-attack victim would be dead already before reaching the hospital since traveling time from the outskirts to the city proper is bound to increase,” said an ex-pat residing in Bgy. Barretto, the city’s beach capital.

To convey the predicament of affected sectors and the city government’s concerns, Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. sent a letter addressed to SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, a day after the meeting, which proposes the following schemes to mitigate the possible effects of the closure of Kalaklan Lighthouse bridge such as the construction of a bailey bridge to be used by pedestrians and motorists during the entire construction period or to reinforce the existing bridge to make the existing bridge safe and passable until the new bridge is constructed.

“We are not opposing the construction of a new bridge per se, what we are contesting is the untimely closure of the existing bridge. There must be a proper coordination with the City of Olongapo in this issue, because we will be the ones facing the wrath of the public when traffic starts to build up in the city’s major roads,” said Olongapo City Administrator Ferdie Magrata.

“It doesn’t make sense. Why close the bridge immediately when light vehicles can still safely pass? Why appropriate the old bridge for the contractor’s use instead of the general public? If it is a choice between the interests of the public and the convenience of the contractor, we expect SBMA to side with the public,” said Vic Vizcocho, Olongapo City Public Affairs Officer.

It can be recalled that over a year earlier, the SBMA has also closed down the Main Gate bridge connecting R.M. Drive in Olongapo and SBFZ to motorists, re-routing vehicles to and from Olongapo and Zambales to 3 remaining entry and exit points: the 1st Gate fronting Rizal Ave. connected by the Asinan Bridge, 14th st. Gate and the Kalaklan Gate, which leads to the current object of controversy.

Should the Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge be closed without an agreed solution that would be beneficial to all concerned, the closure will not only lead to traffic mishaps but will definitely affect the business peak seasons of resort-hotel owners in Barretto and in neighboring towns in Zambales, as well .

Retail Competition And Protectionism

Comment from a reader on "Super Retailers Required In The Philippines":

We have one already, "SM Hypermarket", it's in the Clark SM Mall, and elsewhere I suppose. If you don't read the sign as you come in you'll think your in a Super Wal-mart. Chance it!

[The Subic Bulletin] Although SM does bring a large variety of items into the reach of Filipinos there is no substitute for the competition driven market that comes from having international operators. But that's life in the Philippines where the big money families control the government to legislate in favor of protectionism.

Right On The Mark

Comment from a reader on "Credibility "Expert" Hits Below The Belt!":

Re: Credibility "Expert" Hits Below The Belt!
After reading this authors comments and your reply, it reminds me of the democrat and republican congress in America. The new (democratic) Obama administration is filled with the most hateful people that I have ever heard. If you say anything against them you will be under fierce attack which are most untrue, whereas the republicans would disagree in a much more constructive manner.

This author reminds me of someone in the current administration. After his attack on you on "probability and statistics," he couldn't think of anything else to say so he attacked you on something totally different from the subject at hand. Your reply was in a much more constructive manner and right on the mark. Please keep up the good work; I look forward to reading your bulletin.

Dangerous Brent School Buses

Comment from a reader on "The Brent School Headmaster's Shady Deals":

It is horrifying to know that Zahalka is servicing School buses, Parents should talk to people who have had repairs made at this guys workshop.

Must a accident happen before someone reacts???
Very Scary !!!!

Investments For My Wife’s Family

Comment from a reader on "Land Ownership for Foreigners":

One of the problems in investing in the Philippines, is that many of the hazards are well hidden. After buying my Philippina wife a very nice home in Laguna with hot-spring pool, I wanted to invest in a condo (which everyone told me was something foreigners could do, subject to a 40% rule on overall foreign ownership).

I did not know that if the phrase (married to Juanita De La Cruz) was added to the Title, you have lost 50% of your investment already, and given the difficulty of your American heirs coming here to corrupt the judges, you have probably already lost the entire condo to your wife's family.