Jim Sibbick first visited the Philippines in September 1994 and immediately fell in love with the culture and the people. He lives in Cebu City for part of the year and Australia for part of the year. While traveling to various areas of the Philippines, he shoots videos to bring a bit of the Philippines to those who have never visited or seen this wonderful country. He has more than 100 short videos of the Philippines currently hosted on two websites and available for you to download for free. Follow this site as he discusses his thoughts on the Philippines, new videos available for download and how some of the videos came into being.
Not my photos
Hello Everyone
I have been sent a bunch of Philippines pics, from several people, to load to my website. They will be going into the (relatively) new Gallery.
I have already started uploading the pictures. Some of the intersting ones which are already uploaded are a picture of a monkey that got lost and found it’s way into a private house on Negros Oriental. Another is a picture of a foreigner wedding with all the foreigners wearing Barong Tagalog’s. There are some pictures of Sinulog in Cebu City, from 2007, too! To see the pictures, click HERE.
Enjoy 
Dinagat Island - Trip report
Dinagat Island is situated between the islands of Leyte and Mindanao and is about 60km long and 20 km wide. It is not yet a province but the residents are hoping it will be made a province in 2007.
Map of Dinagat Island
(more…)
Expat Interview
Hello Everyone
I was asked by Expatinterviews.com to do an interview.
If you would like to read my interview, you can do so here:
http://www.expatinterviews.com/Jim-Sibbick.html
Enjoy 
:
Airports in Manila and Cebu
There are 4 airport terminals in Manila for the public to use. They are all situated on the one area of land and use the same runways.
They are:
- The new international terminal which is subject to a dispute between the government and the builders so is not yet in use.
- The old international terminal known as Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 1 (NAIA1). It handles all international flights except for Philippine Airlines.
- The Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 2 (NAIA2). Also known as Centennial 2. In general, this airport only handles Philippine Airlines flights, both domestic and international. It has domestic at one end and international at the other. The building utilises much glass and the when you are waiting for a flight, the only thing separating domestic and international passengers is some very thick glass.
- Domestic Terminal for all domestic flights except Philippine Airlines. When the new international terminal commences operations, the existing domestic terminal will close and domestic flights will transfer to the NAIA1.
I try to avoid Manila so it is a few years since I arrived at NAIA1. In November 2006, I arrived there to find a few things had changed.
21 day visa waiver
Hello Everyone!
There seems to be some confusion amongst people visiting the Philippines for the first time.
The government website clearly states that for most western countries, which includes the UK, other European Countries, USA, Australia and New Zealand. You only need 6 months validity on your passport and an onward ticket, to receive a 21 day visa waiver in your passport. Here is the website so you can read for yourselves:
http://www.gov.ph/faqs/visa.asp
It is irrelevant what the date is on your onward ticket and it is irrelevant if it is an E ticket.
To confirm this, I arrived in Manila from Sydney yesterday, with an E ticket which was beyond the 21 days. The immigration officer read through the E ticket, made no comment at all before stamping the passport with a 21 day visa waiver then welcomed me to the Philippines.
Before the 21 days has expired, arrange an extension at your nearest Bureau of Immigration of you want to stay longer:
http://www.immigration.gov.ph/provincial_offices&subports.php
So, you can do it too 
Get your return ticket to the Philippines and come and see what you have been missing.
:) :)
hello all!!!
hi, im anna from Davao City, Philippines. its nice to be here.. well im an english teacher for koreans and a tourist guide as my part time job. im so impressed with Jim’s testimonials…i hope u guys will visit philippines… well it is not a paradise but for sure u will have a different experience.
Nice Web site
I enjoy your web site very much and have gotten a lot of useful information from it. I leave for Cebu Oct 20 and I am looking forward to the experience. I will be spending a week near Cebu and a week in Mindanao. I am very interested in the Philippine culture and feel your web site has given me some very good ideas on where to go. Thanks for your effort on the web site.
Travelling in Bohol
hi,
i am a hongkonger and i am planning to go Bohol in coming November. I wanna to ask u more info about Bohol local tour, as i can;t find it on internet or elsewhere.
What i wanna know is where can i join those local tour? how much to join them? and what activities they will provide?
it’s will be great to hear from u!
cheers,
cathleen
Camiguin Island trip report
TO COME BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE, click on the white Big Jim’s Philippines Experience at the top of the page.
Last year, a friend of mine visited Camiguin Island and made it sound so good, I thought I would like to go there myself.
In May, I got my opportunity.
Nipa hut, by the sea on Camiguin Island
More Pictures
More than 100 pictures have been added to the website over the last few days.
Taost Temple in Cebu City
These pictures were taken with my video camera during May and feature sights in Cebu City, some pictures from Camiguin Island and some more pictures from Leyte.
To access the pictures, start at the picture index page and choose the type of pictures you would like to view: http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/Philippines_picture_%20index.htm
Enjoy!
Reliable taxi driver in Cebu City
I was previously a partner in a tourism business in Cebu City. Our driver for the tours was Danny Noy. Danny is a taxi driver in Cebu City and has many years experience.
Danny Noy - Ph. 09193753071
His taxi is clean and well maintained and Danny has proved to be very reliable.
He will happily use the meter for normal taxi operations but for special jobs (eg house hunting or a tour of the city), his standard rate is P250 per hour around Cebu City or make a deal for the whole day.
Danny’s taxi
Danny can also arrange other transport such as a bus, mini bus, jeepney, van or multicab.
To contact Danny from within the Philippines, phone 09193753071
From outside the Philippines, +639193753071
This is Danny’s email.
dannymar07@yahoo.com.ph
and Danny now has a new website
http://www.cebutaxiservice.com/reliable_cebu_taxi_driver.htm
Happy touring
Arrogance and ignorance
Overheard in Gaisano Metro on Colon Street in Cebu City, last week:
“I am an American, I should be able to do things the way I want”
Why? 
Did he mean that because he is an American, he doesn’t have to follow Filipino ways but foreigners from every other country should or did he mean that because he is an American or a foreigner, his culture takes precedence over the Filipino culture.
We may never know!
Additional videos (updated 12th April 2006)
Hello Everyone
Someone wanted to know about the ride on the OceanJet from Cebu City to Tagbilaran so I told them about my OceanJet video. (more…)
Transfer of videos (update)
Hello Everyone
Transfer of videos and update of links on the website are now complete.
Their are 4 pages of videos and a new video index. To access the videos, start with the index page: http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/video-index.htm
There are no descriptions or helpful vid caps but if there is a problem in the future, all 128 videos can be accessed from the links below:
http://www.philippines-experience.com/videos
http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/videos/
http://www.philippines-experience.com/junk
Enjoy the videos
New Cebu day tour video
CebuTours used my Cebu day tour video to promote their Cebu City tour. The video used by CebuTours was focused on highlights and was low quality.
Waterfront Hotel, the white building that looks like a castle, as seen from the Top
(A vid cap from my Cebu Day Tour video)
Since the demise of the CebuTours business, I have re-edited the video. It now has a better image quality and is more detailed. (more…)
What to do with your kids
Are you planning to have your young children visit you in the Philippines or do you plan to travel to the Philippines with young children?
You might be wondering what is available to keep the kids entertained. 
Here are some of my ideas……plus a VERY large free video for you to download……i’ts 280 mb 
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ATM’s in Cebu City and the Philippines
Most ATM machines in the Philippines only let you withdraw P4,000 or P5,000 at a time but if you know where to look and what to do, you can get more. Much more!!
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Malapascua - trip report
Even though my sister in law ran into me on a motorbike on one of my trips and gave me lasting reminders of the trip on my legs, I still have happy memories of being on Malapascua Island.
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The Barangay Fiesta
After many days of different events, the day of the fiesta itself can seem quite a let down.
So, if you are a foreigner and you get invited to a Fiesta, make sure you are in town a few days early so you can make the most of your time.
Many different functions occur in the (more…)
Foreigners giving money to their Filipino family - My thoughts
Since first starting a relationship with my ex wife, she or I have been hit on for money by her extended family. :(
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BOHOL Trip report (Last updated November 2006)
It took me nine and a half years of visits to the Philippines before I finally found the time to visit Bohol. Since then, I have visited this Philippines wonder three more times.
(more…)
A missionary’s view
My brother in law’s brother, Wayne Gadsden, spent 2002 in the Philippines doing missionary work.
He filmed some of his activities in the Philippines and had a few interesting stories to tell too.
(more…)
Security in the Philippines
Everyone has different opinions about security, or any topic for that matter, based on their personal experiences.
The following is my opinion on security in the Philippines. (more…)
Palompon To Maasin - a road trip
For many years, I have wanted to travel down to Southern Leyte and in September 2005, my ex father in law offered to take me.
On our way to Maasin (a vid cap from my Palompon to Maasin video)
(more…)
All you can eat in Cebu City (latest update 15th May 2006)
On a budget and want to get the best value for your money when eating?
The cheapest place to eat is a roadside carenderia but if that is too low class for you, there are several eat all you can places in Cebu City. (more…)
Emigration Clearance Certificate
For those of you who are unaware,
if you have been in the Philippines for more than 6 months on a tourist visa, you need permission to leave the Philippines.
(more…)
Begging in Philippines but Cebu in particular
I heard a long time ago that giving to beggars was illegal but never had any confirmation until now.
(more…)
Travelling by fast craft
Visiting Cebu City and want to go on a day trip to somewhere else?
Travelling on a fast ferry maybe what you are looking for!!!!
(more…)
Things to do in Cebu City (updated March 2007)
Coming to Cebu City and don’t know where to go or how to meet up with expats from your country?
Here are some regular expat activities:-
(more…)
Living at the Cebu Century Hotel
Single, travelling and on a tight budget? This place may be for you!
I live half in Australia and half in the Philippines.
When in the Philippines, I stay at the Cebu Century Hotel cnr of Colon and Pelaez Streets in Cebu City.
I call it the no fuss way to live in the Philippines if you are single.
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The Newbies (3rd and last part)
(the continuing story of my first time in the Philippines in 1994)
(more…)
Travel by Superferry (A trip report about travelling on Superries 12 and 17)
Ever since I heard that the Superferry 12 had a swimming pool, several years ago, I have wanted to travel on it. I think I imagined it to be some sort of cruise ship.
In August 2005, I completed my long awaited trip on the Superferry 12 travelling from Cebu City to Manila and I think my expectations were greater than what was delivered but it was still a good ship to ride on. (more…)
The Newbies (part 2)
(continuing story of my first trip to the Philippines in 1994)
(more…)
The Newbies (Part 1)
In September 1994, when my friend Ian decided he would go to the Philippines to meet his pen pal, Anita, I was invited to go with him.
Later in the trip with my fiance. I think she is making a sign of V for victory.
Ian is wearing the white singlet.
It was our first time in the Philippines however we didn’t travel alone because also travelling with us was Anita’s sister Imelda (who set up the pen pal arrangement and arranged for us to stay with her family as we travelled around), Imelda’s husband Joe and Imelda’s daughter Joanne.
Our only preparation for the trip was watching Joe and Imelda’s wedding video and the movie “Filipina Dream Girls” (still one of my favourites).
All the groups considered troublemakers now, such as the N.P.A., were active in the Philippines at the time but weren’t making headlines in Australia so no one thought to tell us it was unsafe in the Philippines and we never bothered to ask. So, we arrived thinking the Philippines was perfectly safe and as it happened, NOTHING on our trip caused us to think otherwise. It was only afterwards when we got back to Australia and our group of friends with connections to the Philippines widened that we received all the dire warnings about the Philippines. Don’t go here! Don’t go there! Don’t do this! Don’t do that! With all these warnings, I was left wondering how we survived to tell the tale without being stabbed, shot, mugged and kidnapped and all at the same time!
We arrived in Manila early evening. The big moment for Ian and Anita and—————————————————- NOTHING.
Instant unattraction is my impression of the meeting. We had arranged to spend two weeks together with Anita and we were off to a bad start. (more…)
Topics filmed
New to the Philippines and want to see what it’s all about?
Beside the tour videos, I have videos of the following topics, plus more, uploaded to Big Jim’s Philippines Experience.com and available for you to download for free:
Building a catamaran in Carmen
- Boat building
- Disability video (or in this case, no disability. made to show (more…)
Localities filmed
Are you wanting to tour around the Philippines and are seeking some ideas of where to go?
I have videos of the following locations, plus more, uploaded to Big Jim’s Philippines Experience.com and available for you to download for free:
View of Roxas Boulevard and marina from the Aloha Hotel
Around Iligan Bay in Mindanao - trip report
I recently undertook a trip to Northern Mindanao, in the area surrounding Iligan Bay.
Iligan Bay
Several of us travelled overnight from Cebu City to Ozamiz City on (more…)
Welcome
Hello Everyone and Welcome!
The site was originally created at CebuTours.com in July 2005 and was transferred here today, 11th August 2005.
Thankyou Paul Petrea for setting up this site, again!
This site is for me to share my experiences in the Philippines from 1994 up to the present as well as the experiences of my friends. While sharing my experiences, I will substantiate what I have to say with links, videos and pictures.
The pictures will display in the messages but you will notice as you read the messages that there are different colours in the text. That usually means there is something extra if you click on it, such as a link to a website or link to a video. If it is a video and you want to save it to your hard drive, right click on your mouse and select “save as”.
To read the rest of each message posted above, click on the (MORE) button
You will notice changes over time as Paul, myself and others learn how to use the site’s features.
Again, welcome and enjoy!
Regards from your host,
Jim Sibbick
You can contact me by email by sending your email to sibbick61@yahoo.com.au