Stephen Hall, a 68-year-old former record shop owner from Bolton, has been stranded in the Philippines for 18 months after his passport was stolen shortly after his arrival in December 2024. He now survives on oatmeal and bread, has only the equivalent of £20 left, and fears being thrown onto the streets or placed in a detention centre.
The Theft and Its Aftermath
Hall embarked on an open-ended tour of Asia, planning to visit Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand before ending in Georgia to teach English. However, upon landing in Manila, two men on motorbikes snatched his bag containing his passport, phone, camera, reading glasses, concert ticket, bank card, and cash. He was on his way to watch Ian McNabb, former frontman of Icicle Works, headline a festival.
After the theft, Hall contacted the British consulate but said delays caused him to miss his planned flight to Saigon in January 2025. He applied online for an emergency British passport, which was issued on March 14, 2025, and valid until December 13, 2025. The passport stipulated a return route through China and Qatar.
Visa Overstay and Appeal
Instead of flying out, Hall challenged a $300 fine for overstaying his visa. He won his appeal on November 30, 2025, but this left only two weeks to arrange his departure before his passport expired. By then, he lacked funds for flights and accommodation in Manila, and there was insufficient time to receive his appeal certificate and ensure he left Qatar before the passport expiration.
Despite winning the appeal, Hall was blacklisted and ordered to leave the Philippines by December 17, 2025. He contacted the consulate in January 2026 and was told he had to restart the entire process. He lodged a formal complaint with the Foreign Office, which was referred back to the consulate in Manila.
Current Situation
Hall is now sleeping in a capsule hotel in Cebu, where he has not paid his bill for six months. He has only £20 in pesos left and has not had a full meal in six months. He said, "I have a bowl of oatmeal in the morning and then buy a cheap loaf of bread when it's half price and a buy a boiled egg and make a sandwich."
He described his situation as "surreal" and said, "I've been stranded here for 18 months and I have no passport and no ticket back to England. I'm not making any progress whatsoever." He fears being placed in a detention centre, where he would "just give up hope."
Appeal for Help
Hall said, "My only hope is meeting someone with a lot of money who will buy me a ticket home." He expressed frustration with the British government, noting that he has paid taxes all his life and has never asked for help before. He said, "What's the point of having an embassy?"
John Kilroy, an 88-year-old New Zealand expat in Cebu, has been supporting Hall with bread, oatmeal, and occasional meals. Kilroy said, "I feel very sorry for him... I am concerned that he may be arrested shortly and placed in prison, a very scary prospect for foreigners here."
Official Response
A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said, "We are supporting a British man in Manila, including providing advice and assistance with departure options, and are in contact with the local authorities."
