Travel nightmare: Offloaded by Philippine immigration and how to prevent from happening

One of the worst travel nightmares of the Filipino citizens are being offloaded by Philippine Immigration. This is one of the many dilemmas of Filipino travellers passing thru our international airports even the travel hasn't started.

Check-In counter for ANA at NAIA Terminal 3

As per Bureau of Immigration's website, Filipino travellers should have the following if the purposes is for tourism;

1. A valid passport (valid more than six (6) months on the date of departure)

2. Roundtrip ticket and Hotel bookings

3. A valid Visa (if applicable)


Filipino travellers should consider in bringing other documents;

4. Company ID and / or Certificate of Employment

5. Proof of relationship (PSA documents; if travelling with children / relatives)

6. DSWD Clearance (if unaccompanied minor)

7. Affidavit of Support: Authenticated by the Philippine Embassy, if invited by relative overseas and          they will support your stay)

8. Travel authority from the Philippine government (if government employee / public official)

Philippine Passport

After check-in, travellers will fill-up departure card and proceed to the Immigration counter, where the immigration officer will asked you a preliminary questions such as;

1. Purpose of travel

2. Employment in the Philippines

3. Duration of stay in your destination / Return date in the Philippines

4. Where you will be staying in your destination

5. Who are your companions (mostly female travellers)

If your answers, didn't suffice, they will put the traveller to secondary interrogation, where another series of question will be asked. If the officer, wasn't convince to the answer, they will be subjected to be offloaded.

No Cart sign at the Arrival concourse at Haneda International Airport (HND)

During my 2 trips to Tokyo, My experience with the IO's wasn't bad. I wasn't asked too much. They just asked my employment, duration of stay. After that, biometric and photo capturing and proceed to the airside. No hassle at all! Though, I wasn't asked to present other documents, it is better to be prepare, you will never know when you will be needing it. The whole process took me approximately 2 minutes.

Another thing, if asked by the Immigration Officer, always be polite (pretend if you want to), being rude to IO's might offload you as well. Be truthful to your answers, these Officers are well-trained to decipher to whom are hiding the real purpose of the trip. Lastly, don't add dramas and commotions, it will give more chances of being offloaded.

Tokyo Station

If travelling to countries that Filipinos doesn't need a visa, research about the destination and plan your itinerary, IO's might randomly asked questions about it and if your destination is not a common country for tourism. These countries are most of the time where illegality happens.

In case of being offloaded for a valid reason, the BOI nor airline will refund your ticket, only the terminal fee and travel tax will be refunded. Going home dismayed of the situation..

The road that leads to Akihabara

I fully understand that the Philippine Immigration is strict to Filipino citizens because in the past, Filipinos are used as drug mules, human trafficking, faking travel documents, and for illegal undocumented workers pretending to be a tourist in the destination. It is the Bureau's duty to protect its citizens from harm overseas.

If you passed the screening, then, congratulations! Enjoy the travel!

reference: http://immigration.gov.ph/faqs/travel-req

BEMANI's old school arcade link using PlayStation saves

In the late 90's, arcades was big hit among people. They usually play racing, fighting games, some goers play crane machine to win a prize. At same time, PlayStation reigns supreme as well. Arcade developers took the advantage of the PlayStation to port the arcade game to the console. Because of porting it to consoles, Konami, an arcade and console developer in Japan created an arcade link to their BEMANI console games to their arcade counterpart.

New Version Link save. Scores can be viewed using the DDR 5thMIX (PS1)

First being the first DanceDanceRevolution game for PlayStation. The game save in the PlayStation memory card or PocketStation can be linked to the DanceDanceRevolution 2ndMIX arcade machine using a dedicated memory card slot in the arcade machine. The arcade link's purpose is to the save scores and play edit step charts to the arcade. Scores from the arcade can be viewed to the game console as well. The succeeding DDR game released in the PlayStation will be have it's arcade link as well. For example, DDR 2ndReMIX (PS1) has its arcade link to the DDR 3rdMIX arcade machine and so on.  This kind of system is available up to DDR 5thMIX (PS1).

Home versions of DDR for PlayStation

In the DDR 5thMIX (PS1), a dedicated game save was available for arcade link for DDRMAX to EXTREME (I think starting DDRMAX, the home versions are released in PlayStation 2 console). The arcade link beyond 5thMIX has limitations, it can only store song scores up to 170, DDR EXTREME has a songlist of 240. Kindly click the Youtube link on how arcade link works for DDR EXTREME.

Scores from DDR EXTREME arcade. Can be viewed using DDR 5thMIX (PS1)

Long before e-amusement network arrived in the Philippines, old DDR cabinets with dedicated memory card slots are very scarce, some of them are located far from Manila, some were converted into a ITG (In The Groove) game and worst, being scrapped due to old age.

Also, arcade link is available to the GUITARFREAKS arcade. I can recall that a GUITARFREAKS 6thMIX in the old Club Synergy in SM Megamall with memory cards slots but unfortunately, never had the chance to use the feature.

Home versions of GUITARFREAKS for PlayStation

Now that the old arcade link using the PS1 memory cards are no longer available and e-amusement network is available, I think playing an old BEMANI arcade game will have a nostalgic feeling to the old timer gamers.

Shipping online purchases thru EMS from Japan

Since 2008, I always buy items from Japan thru Ebay. Most of the items I bought are video games. On my recent purchase in Ebay. I took the EMS option in sending my purchases to the Philippines.

Tracking history of my parcel

EMS, as we all know, expensive and faster than the regular international postage. When I am about to check out my items, I was thinking of sending it thru regular postage which is cheaper, however, I took the risk of sending thru EMS.

While I was tracking my parcel online, I was scared that my parcel will be on-hold at the Central Mailing Exchange Center in port of NAIA in Pasay City. Out of fear, I called the EMS, to check my parcel (Please take note that when calling their number, it will take a while to answer, I think there are prior callers on queue and sometimes the number will be busy). The lady who took my call said that my parcel will be delivered the address (what a relief!!). I also took the opportunity to ask the lady if all EMS parcel needs to be picked up at CMEC. I told her that I read post from the various sites in the internet that EMS parcel are for pick up at CMEC. She confidently answered that not all parcels are subjected for Customs Inspection. She said that items coming from countries that has large cases of illegal contrabands or parcels that has declared value of more than the de mini mis  10,000.00Php or approx. $200.00 needs to be checked by the presence of a Customs Officer. She added that the origin of my parcel has no threat of contraband. In case of being withheld by Customs, the consignee will receive a postal notice to come to CMEC Pasay for inspection. If articles of the parcel found untaxable, then, will be released right away.

If your parcel is subjected to duties and tariffs, then, the consignee should be ready of the fees to be paid depending on the calculated fees by the Customs Officer. I never experienced to pay duties and tariffs when claiming parcels, but some people encountered huge fees. I would suggest, to bring some cash. I also read stories over the internet that some were able to haggle to minimize the fees.

The box of my parcel

An hour later, the parcel arrived to my office and paid the postal handling fee of 112.00Php. Delivering EMS parcel to the address really saves time, no waiting time at the City Central Post Office and no long transit times. It seems that my parcel has seamless transaction and I hope that other people who took the EMS would feel the same.

Earn miles in-flight and non-flight!

Eleven years ago, after graduating in college, my mother asked me to sign-up for a mileage program of Philippine Airlines.

PAL's Mabuhay Miles, ANA Mileage Club, JAL Mileage Bank

While filling up the online form, I was wondering what is the use of the mileage program, now, I fully understand the benefits of having an airline mileage program.

Mabuhay Miles activity log

Currently, I have 3 mileage programs such as PAL's Mabuhay Miles, ANA's Mileage Club, and JAL's Mileage Bank. Philippine Airlines and All Nippon Airways have its code-share agreements since 2014. Therefore, I could earn miles whether I use one of the mileage cards. I used my Mabuhay Miles in my ANA flight and my accommodation thru Booking.com and used my ANA Mileage Club card in purchasing inflight sales during my trip to Tokyo last March 2019. Crediting of code-share flight and non-flight accrual may take some time. It took more than 2 months to credit to my account.

Though, not really a frequent traveller, I can also earn miles non-flight, such as, hotel bookings and credit card points conversion. Right now, my goal is to earn more miles non-flight, so that I could reach required miles for my desire route.