I went to Philippine's Puerto Galera via 馬尼拉 last Oct. I saw some philippine people put a USD1.00 note in their passport. The immigrantion may give troubles to their own people but not to visitors.
自由行馬尼拉, don't take your kids. By the way, 馬尼拉 do not worth to go.
試過自已去馬尼拉數次,有過境有自由行,出入Immigration 都冇問題.其實一般菲律賓人好nice,我有一次只係幾個女仔去,向一位老闆問路,佢索性叫司機車我地去.食物水平in general 不及其他SE Asia 地方,但絕非只用椰油煮食,choice也很多,燒乳豬,蝦醬都美味.Chinese food in general is good. 馬尼拉的5-star 酒店設施極好,商場e.g. Shoemark, Ayala Centre極大型可行一天, if only stay in hotel + shopping + join local tour, 渡假幾天絕無問題.菲律賓並不可怕.
菲律賓is a paradise but Manila is not. Manila is a place similar to Shenzhen.
Paradise around Manila are Puerto Galera, Anilao/Batangas and Boracay.
Crystal clear sea water, cheap seafood, especially the grant prawn @0.25kg, grant crab @1kg,