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In other news, the university dean that I was dating in Pi before covid went down, just informed me that damn near her whole family tested positive although they were vaccinated.What vaccine were they vaccinated with? China vaccine?
Anyone heard from Kabul Guy? It's been a few months since he was posting.Was he in Kabul lately?
Mr Enternational
09-21-21, 19:28
In other news, the university dean that I was dating in Pi before covid went down, just informed me that damn near her whole family tested positive although they were vaccinated.
Albert9989
09-21-21, 20:38
In other news, the university dean that I was dating in Pi before covid went down, just informed me that damn near her whole family tested positive although they were vaccinated.Which is not a surprise.
Even vaccinated you can still catch covid, where the difference is, its that you are far better protected against severe forms.
But you can be tested positive.
And in a country with only lets say 20% vaccinated, many, many, vaccinated will continue to be tested positive, especially with delta variant.
The only solution for them is to reach 80% vaccinated to reduce the number of contamination.
And being positive doesn't mean being seriously ill.
Dashing Don
09-21-21, 22:48
Here's hoping that the recent easing of travel into the US will spur the opening of countries worldwide, especially the motherland--the phils. The Phils especially, seems to unfailingly imitate any trend from the US so lets hope. Life in these first world countries is definitely boring and I for one am ready for a PI trip.
In other news, the university dean that I was dating in Pi before covid went down, just informed me that damn near her whole family tested positive although they were vaccinated.At 95% effectiveness the probability that an isolate group will have contracted the virus is microscopically small. Something appears to be awry. Be skeptical and be circumspect.
WestCoast1
09-30-21, 14:05
They are wanting to vaccinate the youth. 39,000 registered. Isko is the mayor.
At 95% effectiveness the probability that an isolate group will have contracted the virus is microscopically small. Something appears to be awry. Be skeptical and be circumspect.You assumed they were vaccinated with Pfizer of Moderna. Which is highly unlikely. More likely vaccinated with CCP Sinovax which is not effective at all.
Geneva Guy
09-30-21, 17:09
You assumed they were vaccinated with Pfizer of Moderna. Which is highly unlikely. More likely vaccinated with CCP Sinovax which is not effective at all.Absolutely true the chinese vaccines are the old style killed virus and clearly they are much less effective, and yep China sent a bunch to PHIL to use.
GG.
Absolutely true the chinese vaccines are the old style killed virus and clearly they are much less effective, and yep China sent a bunch to PHIL to use.
GG.My GF from Davao has had 2 of the Chinese vaccine. She knows about the efficacy of the Western ones and is a little bit pissed that the Chinese one may not protect her and her family as well.
Absolutely true the chinese vaccines are the old style killed virus and clearly they are much less effective, and yep China sent a bunch to PHIL to use.
GG.IMHO, "the old style" vaccines still make up almost all of the other vaccines given worldwide. Some originated from methods not allowed today.
If you have vaccine concerns, old style have a long development and testing history. The production is also longer.
IMHO, the problem with the Chinese vaccines are that raw data and vetting and peer review are not available or not possible. Vaccines need to to be tested and reviewed.
Johnson Johnson vaccine has a one dose system but there are issues. Maybe a 2 dose formulation might be better. I am sure many propeller heads are reviewing the options. One dose would be great.
The good thing is that the China vaccine makers claim it prevents death. That is very important. It is claim also made by the major covid vaccines used in the US.
Version 2.0 covid vaccines are coming soon. All the covid vaccine makers want to ultimately get paid for their vaccines. BioNTech got a big boost from the US donation of its vaccine.
Mr Enternational
10-01-21, 12:48
You assumed they were vaccinated with Pfizer of Moderna. Which is highly unlikely. More likely vaccinated with CCP Sinovax which is not effective at all.My girl got the Johnson (pun intended) and her family got AZ. So I guess those 2 are not effective at all either.
Soapy Smith
10-03-21, 09:09
A good friend and her two 20 ish kids got their first Moderna jabs in Malabon on the 30th. Another son got Pfizer about two weeks ago.
Wicked Roger
10-03-21, 23:19
My girl got the Johnson (pun intended) and her family got AZ. So I guess those 2 are not effective at all either.You can still get Covid even being doubled vaxxed. Just mild symptoms. Cases on this noted in the press. Maybe she is trying the sympathy card and is wanting you to send lots cash as the family very sick, no breadwinner (except you) etc etc.
IMHO more likely as AZ appears to be very effective longer term some studies state (more than Pfizer. But I don't want a debate on this! I have AZ and is effective IHMO.
My GF from Davao has had 2 of the Chinese vaccine. She knows about the efficacy of the Western ones and is a little bit pissed that the Chinese one may not protect her and her family as well.Money. It is always money.
The creators and manufacturers of vaccine need and want to get paid. Even "free" vaccines through COVAX are paid for by money donations from richer countries. The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine was actually developed by a Turkish immigrant and his wife in Germany. But the US also did a lot of the basic research.
In the past, Malaysia and Thailand did not want to share avian flu virus samples until they got reassurances that they will get access to affordable vaccines later. China had sequenced the DNA of the virus found in Wuhan but did not want to share the data. Those who share information, especially sensitive ones, were subsequently scrubbed.
China donates some but they want to sell. IMHO the news I see also reported some strings attached.
In either case, whatever vaccine that can be acquired need to be used because of the short shelf life. Most importantly, all the US and WHO approved vaccines are supposedly able to lower or prevent death. Again, if you look at antibody levels 6 month later in BioNTech (600) and China (0) vaccine recipients, is it possibly true what the WHO is saying? Maybe.
It was like a long time when Ethiopia was suffering a famine crisis but they rejected US grain donations because they were genetically modified. IMHO, it is better to avoid starvation / death and eat the genetically modified grain.
Merck is coming out with a Covid pill to reduce hospitalization and prevent death. Pretty pricey at US1,000 per treatment. Pfizer is not far behind with their version. What I don't understand is that propeller heads were looking at this in the beginning. Why did it take so long? Most of the stuff in the Covid pills grew from previous AIDs research.
Oh. Some propeller heads got their BioNTech vaccines are were so confident that they got Covid and died. I watch the Covid situation in Israel closely because most got vaccinated and with BioNTech.
WestCoast1
10-04-21, 23:43
Regarding eye dees. In the old days, the hotel / condo guards would accept most any eye dee a girl had (even if it wasn't hers). They would take it, put it in a drawer, and give it back when the girl departed the residence with no troubling issues. But IMHO, things have changed. Previously many of my girl's eye dee was a sheet of paper, possibly a police clearance (b / w pic of the girl from the local PNP), or a laminated card (such as Phil Health), with the girl's photograph taped onto the card and then laminated over. Those are gone now. Most eye dees now look like your home country's driver's license. They are hard plastic and not laminated. They have a picture and signature area, and either a swipe / black rectangle containing info pertinent to you or your account (like a credit card), or bar / QR code. The have the Philippine flag or the Department's circular logo. Or other Phils insignia ghosted onto the card.
During covid I have had girls turned away from a mall and hotels for not having a 'valid' eye dee. One girl presented a recent police clearance and was rejected. One girl presented her laminated college eye dee and was rejected. Other girls have been rejected for previously-accepted eye dees (ie, Brgy eye dee). In the pic (eye dees accepted for passport application), notice the college eye dee. Shown as valid here, it was rejected at a common ST hotel. One of my regulars was turned away for her previous Phil Health eye dee; the hotel staff called if fake (it might have been, but we've used it before).
Valid eye dees are easy to acquire for girls who have a birth certificate. You / she can apply online for eye dees (ie Postal) and have them delivered (cost I think was p800 for a Postal, 1 week delivery fee was about p75, next-day delivery was p500). More than 20 post offices in NCR are now same-day Postal eye dee production (small extra fee) for walk-in.
The old days of girls producing any old eye dee (or alternately, bluffing the guard by saying: "Its ok, I will vouch for her" or such) are gone. Covid rues have made Guards and staff to be strict. The hotel staff that turned away my girl with the Phil Health laminated card said: "If this is real then you to go Phil Health they will replace it with a real Phil Health card". We walked up the street to a pensionne house I have used before and were rejected at the front desk for the same reason (they had never asked a girl for any eye dee before).
Age: Your residence (and ST hotels) at various times might reject anyone under age 21. "Sir the girl is not yet 21. At this time she can not go inside". But, but, but she has an eye dee and DID YOU SEE THAT ASS?
Notice on the bottom of the pic: "NBI Clearnace is just a supporting document and is not a valid eye dee by itself". Also, a birth certificate is not a valid eye dee.
A good friend and her two 20 ish kids got their first Moderna jabs in Malabon on the 30th. Another son got Pfizer about two weeks ago.My mate living in Mindanao and his family are currently down with covid. Vaccinations were promised a month ago but the barangay squashed the idea as 'pfizer' was not safe according to their FB buddies. So now they are dealing with a local health crisis. Not much can really be done if anyone gets sick. Nearest hospital is hours away and has limited resources anyway. It's certainly not a hospital more an infirmary.
These local barangay people should not be making health decisions.
Take care everyone. Get vaccinated with whatever you can get.
P.S.: my local city in RWML has a masseuse who has worked 5 days in different parlours possibly spreading the virus. Certainly it's going ot be a thorny problems if lots of punters get contacted and traced to her happy ending parlours.
WestCoast1
10-05-21, 00:03
Again, if you look at antibody levels 6 month later in BioNTech (600) and China (0) vaccine recipients, is it possibly true what the WHO is saying? Maybe.B: Can you share a link for this info? And what is the WHO saying?
I don't have the link now, but a few months ago there was a graphic posted on social media by the Phils government that showed which vaccine brands had been acquired by the government here (about 8 brands), how many doses of each, how many doses of each were gifted vs paid for, and what the government had paid per dose (when purchased). I believe Pfizer and Moderna were about $20 USD per dose, J-J and Astrazenica were about $15 per dose, and the others were much cheaper, under $10/ dose (Sinovac was $2/ dose). I can't remember if I posted it.
Hypothetical: Consider the cost of vaccinating all 110,000,000 pinoy with the most expensive, such as Pfizer. 110,000,000 x $20 x 2 (doses each) = $4. 4 billion USD. Now consider the costs of the lockdowns: Ayuda ($80 USD) to each family, multiple times (at least twice, for around $3 billion). Closed business revenue. Closed taxation revenue. Increased hospital and DOH expenses paid for by the government. And I don't think we are done with ayuda. Isn't it just cheaper to buy the doses?
Mr Enternational
10-05-21, 01:35
You can still get Covid even being doubled vaxxed. Just mild symptoms. Cases on this noted in the press. Maybe she is trying the sympathy card and is wanting you to send lots cash as the family very sick, no breadwinner (except you) etc etc.LOL. No. She is a university dean and her family is full of doctors and lawyers. No need for me to be a savior. She has never asked me for 1 peso.
WestCoast1
10-05-21, 05:14
Some good news, the USD / peso is back up above 50:1, working well for me.
B: Can you share a link for this info? And what is the WHO saying?
I don't have the link now, but a few months ago there was a graphic posted on social media by the Phils government that showed which vaccine brands had been acquired by the government here (about 8 brands), how many doses of each, how many doses of each were gifted vs paid for, and what the government had paid per dose (when purchased). I believe Pfizer and Moderna were about $20 USD per dose, J-J and Astrazenica were about $15 per dose, and the others were much cheaper, under $10/ dose (Sinovac was $2/ dose). I can't remember if I posted it.
Hypothetical: Consider the cost of vaccinating all 110,000,000 pinoy with the most expensive, such as Pfizer. 110,000,000 x $20 x 2 (doses each) = $4. 4 billion USD. Now consider the costs of the lockdowns: Ayuda ($80 USD) to each family, multiple times (at least twice, for around $3 billion). Closed business revenue. Closed taxation revenue. Increased hospital and DOH expenses paid for by the government. And I don't think we are done with ayuda. Isn't it just cheaper to buy the doses?Was an off the cuff remark from news from people requesting Pfizer booster after China vaccine. To be fair, antibodies are only one indicator. We are still learning.
Money. It is the money. Prices are negotiated and supposedly confidential. Except for AZ which is to be public domain and should drop significantly from your numbers. Moderna took government money and I am not sure what is the deal. EU does not want to relax patent rules for Covid.
Nothing is without risks. For me, myocardial infarction is the same as a heart attack. Especially after reading your numbers. There is Boris' answers to them pile up high.
WestCoast1
10-05-21, 15:25
Thanks to the member who sent this link (abs-cbn website). Pics are numbers vaxxed in phils. Types of vaccines procured (brand, donated, purchased / procured). Percentage vaccinated.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/infographic/03/23/21/philippines-covid-19-vaccine-tracker
WestCoast1
10-06-21, 00:43
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/cm/got-pfizer-protection-drops-below-155502055.html
News from the Pfizer front. The timeframe of the effectiveness of the vax. I would like to see this kind of data for all the brands. From the article:
On Oct. 4, The Lancet published a study that examined the Pfizer vaccine's effectiveness over six months. According to the study, the effectiveness of Pfizer at preventing COVID infection dropped to 47 percent from 88 percent six months after the second dose. However, the vaccine's effectiveness at preventing severe outcomes remained high. Pfizer was 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalization and death related to COVID for at least six months, even as the highly transmissible Delta variant became the most dominant strain of the virus.
SNIP.
Vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant began at 93 percent after the first month, then dropped to 54 percent after four months. Meanwhile, against other COVID strains, efficacy fell from 97 percent to 67 percent. "To us, that suggests Delta is not an escape variant that is completely evading vaccine protection," study leader Sara Tartof, PhD, told Reuters.
Mr Enternational
10-06-21, 02:11
Pfizer was 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalization and death related to COVID for at least six months, And how would they know these 90% would be dead or hospitalized without their vaccine? Johnson asked today that people have to take more of theirs. They say protection is not waning, but just to have extra protection!
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/05/health/johnson-covid-vaccine-boosters-eua-request/?utm_term=1633430330598397a9f857c1c&utm_source=cnn_Breaking+News&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=%2F1aTQUct9rX0BG4Qb%2F3t3iXCkovEgVypMjEkQH%2BxnaINTHyILIsLqQ74uYZgZvR9&bt_ts=1633430330600
ErsatzJulian
10-06-21, 04:47
And how would they know these 90% would be dead or hospitalized without their vaccine?Er, the usual methods of enrolling a bunch of people who have been vaccinated and a bunch of people who have not been vaccinated, normalize for the usual parameters like age, sex, gender, socio-economic status and ethnicity, and then compare the number of people in both groups who require hospitalization?
And how would they know these 90% would be dead or hospitalized without their vaccine? Johnson asked today that people have to take more of theirs. They say protection is not waning, but just to have extra protection!
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/05/health/johnson-covid-vaccine-boosters-eua-request/?utm_term=1633430330598397a9f857c1c&utm_source=cnn_Breaking+News&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=%2F1aTQUct9rX0BG4Qb%2F3t3iXCkovEgVypMjEkQH%2BxnaINTHyILIsLqQ74uYZgZvR9&bt_ts=1633430330600Because there has been a global trial of unvaccinated people since November 2019 and the unvaccinated humans haven't been doing too good in that trial. So it's easy to compare a sample of the 1,000,000 from April, May, June 2020 last year with 1,000,000 vaccinated people in this year.
WestCoast1
10-07-21, 10:27
Regarding pregnancy and vaccines. 'Urgent' warning from CDC:
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/lifestyle/pregnant-women-covid-vaccine-choices-cdc-urgent-warning-120054307.html
Guessing that if your gal is buntis, her next jab should be in a different bodily location (alternately send her to Dr. Westy): From the article:
"CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh known or potential risks," the Sept. 29 advisory reads. The message also contains concerning data about pregnant women and COVID-19.
As of Sept. 27, the CDC says, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in pregnant women, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths. In August alone, 22 pregnant women died of the virus, CDC data show.
Data also indicate that about 97 percent of pregnant women who are hospitalized with COVID-19 were unvaccinated. "In addition to the risks of severe illness and death for pregnant and recently pregnant people, there is an increased risk for adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, including preterm birth and admission of their neonate (s) to an intensive care unit," the CDC says. "Other adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as stillbirth, have been reported. ".
There's also this unsettling fact: As of Sept. 18, just 31 percent of pregnant women were fully vaccinated before or during their pregnancy.
And how would they know these 90% would be dead or hospitalized without their vaccine? Johnson asked today that people have to take more of theirs. They say protection is not waning, but just to have extra protection!
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/05/health/johnson-covid-vaccine-boosters-eua-request/?utm_term=1633430330598397a9f857c1c&utm_source=cnn_Breaking+News&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=%2F1aTQUct9rX0BG4Qb%2F3t3iXCkovEgVypMjEkQH%2BxnaINTHyILIsLqQ74uYZgZvR9&bt_ts=1633430330600Every time I hear Fauci, I think of the gain of function research he funded in Wuhan and kept quiet for a year and a half. Then there is the no mask advice. And the no PPE advice.
At least in Prometheus, they did the experiments and storage on a different planet / universe and not on the other side of the same planet.
As for the vaccine research, the test groups are not in the millions. Phase 3 trials might be in the thousands. It depends on what is reported back to the manufacturer from the front line doctors / medical institutions. There is not a bottomless pit of money to pay for tests. I am sure, many things fall through the cracks and will only surface later. Covid tests cost money are are not 100% accurate.
They now blame the hospitalizations and spread on the unvaccinated. Problem is that vaccinated can still transmit and pass on the virus. I suspect the vaccinated are probably thinking that they can live life like before and might be a big contributor to the spread. Their symptoms are not as bad and they probably have a shorter infectious period. IMHO, a perfect spreader.
AZ vaccines are not always available. Ask the EU. I thought AZ is suppose to be very price competitive. Problem is India and China are big drug manufacturers. So China probably want to promote their own vaccine. WHO approved the China vaccine with probably less independent data and review. Kind of like the World Bank leader who fudged some economic numbers so China does not look bad.
IMHO, the current advice is that the benefit of a vaccine out weigh its risks. So go for it unless you live in a bubble.
It's been more than 18 months since they closed entry to the country for foreign tourists. There can be nothing worse than travelling a quarter or a half way round the world, like the 3 people mentioned in this news report (link below), only to be told by immigration staff when you arrive in the Philippines that they won't let you in!
BI reminds aliens they need visas to enter PH
By Margret Fermin -October 8, 2021
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reminded foreign nationals intending to travel to the Philippines that they must secure the appropriate visa to be able to enter the country.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the Philippines remains closed to foreign tourist due to the Covid-19 pandemic, following resolutions from the Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), thus only aliens with valid and existing visas are allowed entry.
Morente added that tourists or temporary visitors who are coming here for business, humanitarian or other meritorious reasons should apply for 9(a) visas and entry exemption documents (EED) from any of the Philippine embassies or consulates abroad.
Until now we have been getting reports of aliens being turned back at our airports because they dont have visas at all, he said.
He lamented that exclusions of improperly documented aliens at the airports continue despite the bureaus repeated reminders and public advisories on the need to have a visa via its website, the social media sites and the press.
Morente again reminded airlines that it is also their responsibility to see to it that foreigners who booked their flights to the Philippines have valid visas.
BI reminds aliens they need visas to enter PH
The BI Chief issued the statement upon learning that three foreigners were recently turned back by immigration officers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) for failure to present valid entry visas.
Two of the passengers, an Australian and a German, were excluded on Tuesday after arriving from Singapore while the other one, an American, arrived last Saturday from Los Angeles, USA.
They all claimed during interview they were unaware that they needed to get visas before coming here.
Two of them said they are married to Filipinos who were not traveling with them while the other one said he was going to visit his Filipina fiance.
Airlines are subjected to administrative fines if they board improperly documented foreign nationals, said Morente. Hence we wish to reiterate the importance of proper documentation to avoid such incidents.
https://philippineslifestyle.com/bi-reminds-aliens-need-visas-to-enter-ph
WestCoast1
10-08-21, 09:50
It's been more than 18 months since they closed entry to the country for foreign tourists. There can be nothing worse than travelling a quarter or a half way round the world, like the 3 people mentioned in this news report (link below), only to be told by immigration staff when you arrive in the Philippines that they won't let you in!
Airlines are subjected to administrative fines if they board improperly documented foreign nationals, said Morente. Hence we wish to reiterate the importance of proper documentation to avoid such incidents.I think we have discussed previous to Covid that the Philippines Immigration rules are hardwired into airline computer systems (and rarely updated). Several times I have reached LAX / SFO / Other Longbow airport, only to be confronted at the check-in counter about this or that visa / Immigration issue and refused boarding, only to be allowed to board a short time later when the airline (KAL, Delta, ANA) check-in supervisor had to google on his / her phone to get the Phils Immigration update. The airline's computers should catch these issues at the swipe of your passport at check-in. I later visited a KAL office to confirm an upcoming trip so there would be no problems at the airport, and the KAL lady told me that the same computer catch would have happened if the I had purchased tickets thru a travel agent and provided my passport in advance.
The three gents in the report. Technically its the airline's fault. Even for the ones coming to Phils because of a pinay spouse or child (currently allowed I think), they can not come as simple tourists, they must apply for and receive a visa thru a Consulate for just that reason (it shows they are not simple tourists) before traveling. If they were turned away and taken back to Singapore or the point of origin, a simple Consulate visa application to visit their family in Phils would seem to rectify the situation (and cost them a week's time getting here). Someone correct me if this is wrong. I was told by a similar inbound Phils gent after his arrival (and his visit to a Consulate first) that marriage and / or birth certificates and pics of you and your pinay spouse or child are necessary proof at the Consulate for said visa.
OTOH. It would seem common knowledge that the vast majority of countries have shuttered their borders to tourists for the duration, and one should check directly by phone or email the Immigration policy of said inbound country (never hurts to contact a travel agency. . .). OTOOH (On The Other Other Hand), here in Phils, I am finding many locals who have no idea that their country is closed to tourists. They confuse the regulars who live here (and thus stayed during Covid) with fellas such as myself, who come / go at will. They think of the expat regulars as tourists. "Bob is here. He is allowed to come here. The tourists can go here if they want". Bob is a 13 (a) Permanent Resident visa, complete with wife and property here; he never has to leave, and as such can come / go as he pleases. He is not a 2-week warrior who was home when the lockdown hit. Hard to make the distinction here.
Good update Mdemde.
WestCoast1
10-08-21, 11:28
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pfizers-covid-19-immunity-protection-032404881.html
From the article:
In the first study, researchers from Qatar found that Pfizer's immunity protection drops to as low as 20% just four months after a person receives their second dose. They based their report on observations of infections among Qatar's over 900,000 vaccinated people. The researchers found that Pfizer's protection against infection was "negligible" shortly after the first dose, but jumps to 36.8% three weeks later. When people receive their second dose, immunity protection increases to 77.5% after about a month.
But once that month is over, Pfizer's immunity effectiveness declines steadily, hovering at around 20% after the four-month mark, per the researchers.. SNIP.
Still, Pfizer's protection against hospitalization and death remained "robust" at 90% or higher for six months after the second dose, it said.. SNIP.
The other study, conducted in Israel, looked at 4,868 healthcare workers. It reported that people have substantially decreased COVID-19 antibodies just six months after receiving their second dose of Pfizer's vaccine. The drop is especially prominent among men, the elderly above 65, and those with weakened immune systems.
In comparison, vaccines for other conditions such as mumps, measles, and rubella only show small decreases of about 5% to 10% each year in neutralizing antibody levels, wrote the researchers.
Some good news, the USD / peso is back up above 50:1, working well for me.The GBP / PHP rate is also working well for me!
I normally do a monthly transfer near the end of every month from my UK bank to my bank in the Philippines and keep a record in a spreadsheet of the exchange rate. It has varied between a low of 59.61 in March last year and a high of 68.07 in July this year. At the end of last month I got 67.89.
WestCoast1
10-08-21, 13:18
The GBP / PHP rate is also working well for me!
I normally do a monthly transfer near the end of every month from my UK bank to my bank in the Philippines and keep a record in a spreadsheet of the exchange rate. It has varied between a low of 59.61 in March last year and a high of 68.07 in July this year. At the end of last month I got 67.89.A serious drop in March 2020, from 64.11 to 59.61 in one month. The Covid effect?
Memory challenged is a big problem. For the non Covid variety, this might help remind people of what comes from these beautiful islands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WNMSo-sfAk
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pfizers-covid-19-immunity-protection-032404881.html
From the article:
In comparison, vaccines for other conditions such as mumps, measles, and rubella only show small decreases of about 5% to 10% each year in neutralizing antibody levels, wrote the researchers.
There can be nothing worse than travelling a quarter or a half way round the world, like the 3 people mentioned in this news report (link below), only to be told by immigration staff when you arrive in the Philippines that they won't let you in!
WestCoast1
10-10-21, 01:14
SNIP this might help remind people of what comes from these beautiful islands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WNMSo-sfAkHahaha that's great.
Soapy Smith
10-10-21, 06:04
First person from the Philippines ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RArvuCLElaY
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/08/media/maria-ressa-nobel-peace-prize-interview-intl/index.html
Here's an account put together by the Public Broadcasting Service in the states. Be advised it's about an hour and 40 minutes long, but it is sort of riveting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQpjfWV_p6E
Maybe this balances out some of the frequent accounts about Filipinas stealing, lying, and infecting mongers.
A serious drop in March 2020, from 64.11 to 59.61 in one month. The Covid effect?Yes, it was a serious drop of 7%, in just one month. I'm sure it had something to do with Covid, it must have spooked the currency traders!
The GBP / PHP exchange rate over the last 2 and a bit years I have been here has bobbed up and down a bit every month, as do all exchange rates, but that 7% drop was the sharpest fluctuation during that time period.
Dashing Don
10-11-21, 06:55
Based on plummeting covid case rates in Metro Manila, Bureau of Immigration chief Jaime Morente is optimistic that travel restrictions for inbound tourists will be lifted soon, but cautions that the decision is up to the Inter Agency Task Force, per Philippine Lifestyle News, October 11. Currently, there are no outbound restrictions for Filipinos however, only Filipinos, Balikbayans and foreigners with residency permits are permitted to enter.
International travel for the vaccinated is starting to return with almost daily reports of loosening of restrictions; Malaysia and Singapore being the latest to announce partial re openings.
Maybe soon the games will begin again with gusto as planeloads of merry foreigners descend on the fair shores of the motherland. The board abuzz with chatter about the latest conquest; punters earnestly seeking advise from fellow hobbyists on the moral fiber of this or that bar girl; and the inevitable storm in a teacup regarding the member who 'paid too much' and thus 'ruined it for the rest of us'.
Can't wait.
WestCoast1
10-11-21, 14:27
First person from the Philippines ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RArvuCLElaY
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/08/media/maria-ressa-nobel-peace-prize-interview-intl/index.html
Here's an account put together by the Public Broadcasting Service in the states. Be advised it's about an hour and 40 minutes long, but it is sort of riveting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQpjfWV_p6E
Maybe this balances out some of the frequent accounts about Filipinas stealing, lying, and infecting mongers.Enjoyed the last one, PBS / 1000 cuts. However, it doesn't discount the lying nature of pinoys (it might show the exceptions to the rule). Good work SS, food for thought.
WestCoast1
10-11-21, 14:38
Covid comparison numbers for New Zealand. For the period of August during the Delta outbreak, of 1622 cases: 86% unvaccinated, 10% single dose, 4% double dosed (100% of total cases). Of those hospitalized: 91% unvaccinated, 7% single dose, 2% double dose (100% of hospitalizations).
WestCoast1
10-11-21, 14:46
And speaking of vaccines. Its possible that there might be misinformation out there on social media.
WestCoast1
10-12-21, 08:59
Based on plummeting covid case rates in Metro Manila, Bureau of Immigration chief Jaime Morente is optimistic that travel restrictions for inbound tourists will be lifted soon, but cautions that the decision is up to the Inter Agency Task Force, per Philippine Lifestyle News, October 11. Currently, there are no outbound restrictions for Filipinos however, only Filipinos, Balikbayans and foreigners with residency permits are permitted to enter. SNIP Can't wait.Nice.
OTOH, there is this article on UAL cutting flights out of SFO:
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2021/10/11/united-airlines-cuts-several-nonstop-flights-from.html?ana=yahoo
From the article:
United (NASDAQ: UAL) suspended SFO nonstops to Calgary, a Canadian energy and business center; Northwest Arkansas National Airport, popular with tech vendors and other suppliers to Walmart, based in nearby Bentonville; Toronto; St. Louis; and Oklahoma City. SNIP.
SFOs dominant carrier did not have an immediate comment on the suspension of nonstop flights involving Bay Area airports, but the airline industry has been moving rapidly to adjust service schedules as the Delta variant cooled demand for business travel and delayed return-to-office plans at many companies. SNIP.
But SFOs nonstop service to Shanghai, which had been Uniteds only nonstop service to China from San Francisco, has also been suspended through February. Bay Area residents traveling to Shanghai from SFO will have to travel through Seoul, South Korea, according to the Cranky Flyer travel blog.
United told investors last month that it sees dim prospects for recovery in travel to Asia. "We're not expecting our Asian capacity to get back to normal anytime soon," said Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer.
Apparently Andrew is not reading this Board.
Nice.
OTOH, there is this article on UAL cutting flights out of SFO:
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2021/10/11/united-airlines-cuts-several-nonstop-flights-from.html?ana=yahoo
From the article:
United (NASDAQ: UAL) suspended SFO nonstops to Calgary, a Canadian energy and business center; Northwest Arkansas National Airport, popular with tech vendors and other suppliers to Walmart, based in nearby Bentonville; Toronto; St. Louis; and Oklahoma City. SNIP.
SFOs dominant carrier did not have an immediate comment on the suspension of nonstop flights involving Bay Area airports, but the airline industry has been moving rapidly to adjust service schedules as the Delta variant cooled demand for business travel and delayed return-to-office plans at many companies. SNIP.
But SFOs nonstop service to Shanghai, which had been Uniteds only nonstop service to China from San Francisco, has also been suspended through February. Bay Area residents traveling to Shanghai from SFO will have to travel through Seoul, South Korea, according to the Cranky Flyer travel blog.
United told investors last month that it sees dim prospects for recovery in travel to Asia. "We're not expecting our Asian capacity to get back to normal anytime soon," said Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer.
Apparently Andrew is not reading this Board.China is still not allowing entry to non-citizens unless you can get a "special visa" which are hard to come by, and the quarantine requirements for entry, even for returning citizens, is very strict. So not surprising that United is having troubles getting enough passengers to fill up an airplane.
The pilot shortage in the USA is very real and will only get worse if the US government insists on all pilots being vaccinated. Would not be surprised if most airlines start chopping their less profitable routes and just fly those that they have pilots and crew to handle.
I hear Southwest is offering free flights to passengers who know how to fly a 737.
WestCoast1
10-13-21, 07:46
From an October 7 article on new shipment of 5. 5 million doses of vaccines to Phils:
https://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-delivers-additional-5-57-million-pfizer-biontech-vaccines-to-the-philippines/
Manila, October 7, 2021 The United States, in partnership with the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, delivered an additional 5,575,050 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines as part of its worldwide effort to help end COVID-19.
The vaccines, delivered in five separate shipments to Manila, Cebu, and Davao between October 1 to 6, were part of the 500 million doses of Pfizer the United States is making available for distribution through COVAX, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
From another, today, 1. 8 million doses:
https://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-provides-1-84-million-more-pfizer-vaccines-to-the-philippines/
Manila, October 13, 2021 The United States, in partnership with the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, delivered an additional 1,842,750 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines as part of its worldwide effort to help end COVID-19.
The vaccines, delivered in two separate shipments to Manila on October 10 and 11, were part of the 500 million doses of Pfizer the United States is making available for distribution through COVAX, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This follows last weeks delivery of 5.57 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to the Philippines.
WestCoast1
10-15-21, 01:16
Based on plummeting covid case rates in Metro Manila, Bureau of Immigration chief Jaime Morente is optimistic that travel restrictions for inbound tourists will be lifted soon, but cautions that the decision is up to the Inter Agency Task Force, per Philippine Lifestyle News, October 11. Currently, there are no outbound restrictions for Filipinos however, only Filipinos, Balikbayans and foreigners with residency permits are permitted to enter.Interesting. That looks like a copy / paste from a news article. Regarding the plummeting covid case (or death) rates in Metro Manila, does anyone have evidence of that?
Some evidence of the opposite. See attached pics, from: https://doh.gov.ph/2019-ncov/.
The graph is the death rate (rolling 7-day average) for the NCR since the pandemic start. Note from July 1 of this year to present, it appears to be an uptick-and-hold (not a plummeting decline).
Also of interest: https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/80%25-OF-NEW-COVID-19-CASES-COME-FROM-11%25-30%25-OF-BARANGAYS-IN-NCR-PLUS-AND-SELECT-HUCs-IN-NCR.
Showing the majority of cases coming from only a handful of hotspots (from the pic, guessing Manila, QC, Caloocan, Pasig, and Valenzuela). Headline from the article:
80% OF NEW COVID-19 CASES COME FROM 11%-30% OF BARANGAYS IN NCR PLUS AND SELECT HUCs IN NCR
WestCoast1
10-16-21, 13:43
And, just in from the CDC. Title of the article: Rates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status
See pic, the graphic says it all. Unvaccinated persons in August were 6 times more likely to get infected than fully vaccinated persons. And 11 times more likely to die than fully vaccinated.
Mr Enternational
10-16-21, 14:07
And, just in from the CDC. Title of the article: Rates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status
See pic, the graphic says it all. Unvaccinated persons in August were 6 times more likely to get infected than fully vaccinated persons. And 11 times more likely to die than fully vaccinated.Good thing that nasty August is gone. Now we must be in the clear like the other months when things were pretty much even! Very interesting results posted by a BM in another thread about research that was sponsored by Pfizer.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02183-8/fulltext
IMHO, the little video is much easier and understand and effortlessly crosses language and cultural barriers.
Covid is harder to understand. Especially the significance of gain of function research / proposals.
Many Covid cases and not diagnosed. Even in the beginning and even now. Many of the children and vaccinated do not show symptoms. There are some estimates of 16 times actual Covid cases versus reported cases.
The vaccine is not stopping the Covid spread but is slowing down death and hospitalizations. Pretty soon, things will be back to normal as restrictions are lowered and Covid is allowed to spread. The unvaccinated will be in deep shxt soon. Australia, US, New Zealand, UK, Singapore, Bali, Thailand and many other countries and going away from zero Covid strategy and opening up.
Hahaha that's great.
Memory challenged is a big problem. For the non Covid variety, this might help remind people of what comes from these beautiful islands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WNMSo-sfAk
Soapy Smith
10-17-21, 08:21
Enjoyed the last one, PBS / 1000 cuts. However, it doesn't discount the lying nature of pinoys (it might show the exceptions to the rule). Good work SS, food for thought.Filipinos do lie. It's a cultural thing. My point was simply that ISG reports rarely find anything positive to say about the Philippines, aside from ready access to cheap sex. Maria Ressa is a bright spot; I know there are others but reports of this sort are seen as tangential to ISG. The PBS film actually emphasized the fabricated social media memes--lies, essentially. I'm glad we don't have to put up with any of that in the states.
Soapy Smith
10-17-21, 08:37
I'd love to hear from some of our intrepid members currently in the Philippines: what is the state of vaccine resistance among Filipinos, and what seem to be their arguments?
Fun Times69
10-17-21, 12:57
Does anyone have the latest information regarding entry into the Philippines?
I'm fully jabbed from the UK.
Does anyone have the latest information regarding entry into the Philippines?
I'm fully jabbed from the UK.Most of the tourist oriented countries are looking at USA and European countries about relaxing their own Covid rules and restrictions. USA is allowing foreigners starting November with negative test for only vaccinated travelers. Thailand is also opening with restrictions for the moment. Philippines is looking at how other countries do before they open up. I am guessing pre testing before entry will be here for foreseeable future. Quarantine will go away for vaccinated people.
Problem is if anyone tests positive. All rules state that it will be compulsory quarantine for 14 days or at least till one tests negative couple of times. This has happened to many people who went on vacation only to be confined at one's own expense. At the moment it is hard to plan anything.
I am looking for the days where fully vaccinated requirements should only be the benchmark for travel and no testing.
Does anyone have the latest information regarding entry into the Philippines?
I'm fully jabbed from the UK.This news story was published online this morning, link below;.
BI clarifies entry of alien tourists not yet allowed in PH
By Margret Fermin -October 18, 2021
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified that foreign tourists are not yet allowed to enter the Philippines despite coming from green list countries.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated that only Filipinos, balikbayan, and those with valid and existing long term visas from green and yellow list countries are allowed to enter.
He said the reiteration came as the Bureau received numerous queries from foreign tourists who wish to fly to the Philippines already.
Morente added that Filipinos coming from red list countries may return via repatriation flights and bayanihan flights organized by government or non-government agencies.
On Friday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) released an updated list of Red, Green and Yellow List counries.
Said lists are effective starting October 16, 2021 up to October 31, 2021.
Romania has been classified under Red List, while 49 countries have been placed under the green list.
Included in the Green List are Algeria, American Samoa, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Kiribati, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Yemen.
The IATF-MEID said that all other countries not mentioned are classified under the Yellow List.
The testing and quarantine protocols of those arriving under these lists, according to the IATF-MEID, shall be implemented and monitored by the Bureau of Quarantine.
Despite these travel restrictions, we remain hopeful that international travel will be safely revived soon, said Morente.
Last week, Malacaang announced fully vaccinated travelers arriving in the Philippines are no longer required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a facility.
However, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test 72 hours before their departure from their country of origin.
They are also required to undergo home quarantine for 14 days.
https://philippineslifestyle.com/bi-clarifies-entry-of-alien-tourists-not-yet-allowed-in-ph/
WestCoast1
10-18-21, 14:01
Despite these travel restrictions, we remain hopeful that international travel will be safely revived soon, said Morente. Last week, Malacaang announced fully vaccinated travelers arriving in the Philippines are no longer required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a facility. However, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test 72 hours before their departure from their country of origin. They are also required to undergo home quarantine for 14 days.Great news, right?
Most of the tourist oriented countries are looking at USA and European countries about relaxing their own Covid rules and restrictions. USA is allowing foreigners starting November with negative test for only vaccinated travelers. Speaking of: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-mixed-doses-covid-19_n_616cc888e4b06573572f799a. From the article:
The CDCs updated guidance came shortly after the White House said travel restrictions into the U.S. will be lifted Nov. 8, capping a nearly 21-month stretch that barred unrestricted visitation from China, Canada, Mexico and Europe, as well as many other places. The measures, first enacted in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began to hammer the country, eviscerated the tourism industry and kept many families apart for nearly two years.
I am looking for the days where fully vaccinated requirements should only be the benchmark for travel and no testing.We are all looking for those days, but that would indicate pandemic over. I will PM you.
Great news, right?It's another step in the right direction.
The lockdown restrictions and ban on entry for foreign tourists can't last forever. As we all know it's been more than a year and a half since the first lockdown was imposed last year, and many millions of Filipinos are still out of work, seeking deeper and deeper into poverty.
As to when all lockdown restrictions will be lifted and the face-shield and mask mandates will be scrapped, and as to when the ban on entry for foreign tourists will be lifted, we can only speculate.
Soapy Smith
10-20-21, 06:51
Included in the Green List are Algeria, American Samoa, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Kiribati, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Yemen.
https://philippineslifestyle.com/bi-clarifies-entry-of-alien-tourists-not-yet-allowed-in-ph/Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.
Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.I suspect that some countries on the Green List have supplied some of the green stuff to a number of officials to be honest. It's the only way they could be on it.
SpirouleGroom
10-20-21, 16:17
Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.God. You are still attempting to find any logic in those political 'decisions' ?
Let's explore the wonderful new world order of back to normal shall we?
Japan: Pfizered can get in. If they go through a quarantine of 10 days instead of 14 days + PCR test twice. Guess they don't really trust the Pfizer inoculation.
Colombia: no vaccine required and no PCR test. Guess they don't give a shit anymore.
Argentina and Uruguay: only fully vaccined can get in in November. Guess the virus can't go through the border from Colombia.
Europe: the big chunk of full logic. J&J and Zeneca almost non existent. Sputnik still banned. North European countries just walked away from Moderna. But the European drug agency (where they take orders directly from Pfizer headquarters) stated that the third dose of Pfizer is recommended. But Moderna is an ARN messager like Pfizer.
Africa continent? Saved by the weather. I don't know. I remember numerous apocalyptic scenarios from the medias 6 month ago. Oh, they have been on hcq for decades, this horrific mainstream cheap medicine that can kill you. Guess there is no correlation. ABC news was wondering how Japan have managed to end the epidemic in a matter of weeks since September while the government green lighted again ivermectin in Sept. After having banned it under labs pressure.
Bottom line, nothing makes any sense. Considering the Philippines was a chaotic state before Covid let's assume that it's a very far fetch expectation that things would come back to normal in the next decade.
I'm not starting a vaccine debate. Just looking at the absurdity of it all.
Wicked Roger
10-20-21, 21:56
Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.And who from those countries can either afford to fly to the Philippines, stay in hotels etc? Mostly are poor countries or like in the Falklands far to far away to even warrant a worry about LOL.
But as many of these places remain high risk Covid (and low vax rates) and are not allowed to enter parts of Europe etc then we could easily see a spike in cases in the Philippines if crowds of Algerians, Samoans, etc flood the country looking for a fun time LOL.
Soapy Smith
10-21-21, 08:19
I'm not starting a vaccine debate. Just looking at the absurdity of it all.Did they ever find the corpses of those four British Airways pilots that died of covid?
WestCoast1
10-22-21, 06:15
More vax stats, from the US CDC. See graphic. From a large sample, your chances of dying from Covid are this much greater for unvaccinated vs vaccinated in these age categories:
Age -- Increased risk for unvaccinated.
80+ ---- 5 x.
65-79 -- 15 x.
50-64 -- 22 x.
30-49 -- 30 x.
18-29 -- 54 x.
12-17 -- 5 x.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/age-still-huge-coronavirus-risk-090059106.html
From the article:
Data: CDC; Note: Data represents 30% of Americans across 16 jurisdictions: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York City, Seattle/King County, Wash., Utah and Wisconsin; Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios
I'm writing a personal letter to Brother Kim to expedite my North Korean passport application. And congratulations to the illustrious brother leader for his success against this pandemic.
WestCoast1
10-23-21, 04:48
I'm writing a personal letter to Brother Kim to expedite my North Korean passport application. And congratulations to the illustrious brother leader for his success against this pandemic.Hahaha. Next time I have coffee with Kim, I will ask him to put a rush on that.
Pics:
1) Reason #181 why I love Phils. Couple of young honies just hanging around on their phones. They didn't seem to be waiting for a ride or anything. Just. . . Lounging outdoors.
2 & 3) Graphs from the CDC data showing Covid inoculation rate in the US. A peak around April of 4 million per day. Cratered off now to a fairly smooth 1 million per day. About 220 million dosed of 333 million people (66%; I think that is 1 dose or more, not necessarily fully dosed). By Christmas, that should be about 60 million more vaccines in arms, or about 280 million with 1 dose or more, closing 80% (herd immunity). Well, if it continues that way.
https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/
From the article:
"At least 219,624,445 people or 67% of the population have received at least one dose. Overall, 189,924,447 people or 58% of the population have been fully vaccinated."
4) A reminder. When booking hotel / apartment / condo's in Philippines, you can use the number of persons allowed per room on websites such as Agoda, Booking, or Airbb. However, regardless of what it says on those sites (see pic, Queen bed hotel room good for up to 4 persons -- maybe), you should message the hotel first thru the website (or just call them) to confirm that before reserving (especially during Covid, so many rooms / condo's offered as NO REFUND), and then again a day or two prior to arrival. Rules change without notice. By that I mean: 1) Without notice from the government, and / or 2) Without notice from the hotel or condo owner.
Don't forget to tip your cabbie.
I suspect that some countries on the Green List have supplied some of the green stuff to a number of officials to be honest. It's the only way they could be on it.The WHO has strict requirements for its members to be accurate bean counters. China ran afoul a number of years ago and there was a terrible brouhaha. Heads rolled. The WHO can't do it's job unless there is accountability. No cooking the books. I would trust the numbers.
The heads that rolled in China that I remember are 1) the doctor who cautioned his graduating medical school alumni class' forum to be careful out there as something is not right. And 2) the China doctor who released the Covid19 genetic sequence; though multiple labs in China had their own independent results. And 3) the China techies who tried to preserve the social media history of the early stages of the outbreak in China.
Some number crunches recently reported that calculation and their models estimates that actual covid cases are 16 times or such higher.
PCR and lateral flow tests are expensive. The former requires labs which the WHO has positioned around Africa. But the reagents are still expensive. When you start moving around and pay for your own tests, you will see.
Africa has a very low Covid infection rate. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop to explain why.
Really can't trust world political organizations. Like the UN human rights. This is from WSJ. Google is your friend.
World Bank Cancels Flagship 'Doing Business' Report After Investigation.
Probe faults leaders including Kristalina Georgieva, now IMF managing director, who disagrees with findings.
The WHO has strict requirements for its members to be accurate bean counters. China ran afoul a number of years ago and there was a terrible brouhaha. Heads rolled. The WHO can't do it's job unless there is accountability. No cooking the books. I would trust the numbers.
Soapy Smith
10-26-21, 20:26
Really can't trust world political organizations. Like the UN human rights. This is from WSJ. Google is your friend.Google is whose friend? Should we assume this is sarcasm? Google and Apple recently shut down the social media app of the Russian opposition as Putin's re-election opened. Simply put, Google and Apple want to be able to continue to do business in Russia.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-16/russia-targets-google-apple-in-crackdown-before-elections
Personally, I trust UN agencies more than other sources. The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, like other UN agencies, have more than 3,000 consulting NGOs at their disposal. This is because member nations often cannot be trusted to inform the broader UN body about things going on within their borders or conflicts with neighboring countries. NGOs are by nature, much more independent. I realize NGO is a dirty word in this forum, but there's really only a handful of them that are trying to catch human sex trafficking. There are plenty of things not to like about NGOs, but their consultative status with the UN is probably not one of them.
Hello guys. Whats the latest on the tourist visa entry to philippines? Can tourists visit without quarantine?
WestCoast1
10-28-21, 12:16
Hello guys. Whats the latest on the tourist visa entry to philippines? Can tourists visit without quarantine?I believe tourists can not yet visit.
On another, but good, note. See pic. In the news this morning was an article on which vaccines will be accepted by the US when inbound foreigner travel starts next month in the US. If the US is about to do it, others will probably watch for spikes, then follow suit.
WC.
Hello guys. Whats the latest on the tourist visa entry to philippines? Can tourists visit without quarantine?Not allowed for USA tourist.
WestCoast1
10-29-21, 10:52
Finally learned what the new 'Alert Levels' are. See pic. This replaces the previous ECQ / MCQ.
When the NCR came out of its last strict MECQ, we were at Level 4 (the strictest of 1 thru 4 levels). Then the past few weeks they lightened up to Level 3, which is set to continue thru Nov 14:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/808895/gov-t-extends-alert-level-3-in-ncr-until-nov-14-2021/story/
From the article:
Under Alert Level 3, several establishments including restaurants, gyms, cinemas and movie houses will be allowed to operate at 30% indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals and 50% outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated. I am used to pulling up my vax card on my phone before entering most any coffee shop now. While many eateries have re-opened, they have most of the chairs removed or taped off, and you can only enter if fully vaxxed.
In addition, two articles on the need to lower the Alert Level to 2, with reduced new cases and the economy (adding p3. 6 billion to the economy weekly).
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/23/21/alert-level-2-in-ncr-possible-with-covid-19-decline
https://www.bworldonline.com/further-lowering-alert-level-in-ncr-to-boost-economy-says-chua/?fbclid=IwAR3x-wHVR6LYd1BnE14iAEAo8ivPt3c9d99SMo4F7nBadQ2DMGaBRUSU_9w
And there are about 78 NCR areas under lockdown:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/pnp-78-ncr-areas-under-granular-lockdown/ar-AAPZolu?fbclid=IwAR0M_CcvrC_JoEiHa2Mky2QpCZSBwaFADDtrN1qYo07_jdlBtdKk3plUNPU
From the article:
The number of areas under granular lockdown in the National Capital Region (NCR) has increased to 78 from 76 as of Tuesday, based on data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) released Wednesday.
In an update, the PNP said the areas under lockdown are located in 54 barangays. The areas under granular lockdown included 46 houses, 21 residential buildings, seven subdivisions or villages, and four streets. According to the PNP Public Information Office, local government units (LGUs) have the authority to impose or lift the lockdowns. To ensure security and adherence to minimum health standards, the PNP has deployed 304 personnel and 254 force multipliers to the concerned areas.
Metro Manila Council (MMC) head and Paraaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez earlier said the presence of one COVID-19 case is enough to lock down a house or a condominium floor. To impose a lockdown along an entire street, there should be at least two COVID-19 cases.
WestCoast1
10-29-21, 11:14
Taxi's. Good luck. There has been for 4 days running a shortage of both Grab and regular taxi's. When Grabbing a Taxi (after 10 am, about), after entering departure and destination points, I quickly get a msg: "Sorry there are no drivers available". I then try a Grab car, same result. I have spent more than 10 minutes (or 20) at a time each of the last 4 days hunting taxi's on busy streets. The rare taxi that does come by already has a passenger.
Also, traffic is almost back to normal in the daytime -- bad since the past few weeks. It seems as if the number of cars on the road and people in the streets and sidewalk has increased, but not the number of taxi's.
The overnight curfew has been lifted in Metro Manila, another encouraging sign that things are starting to get back to normal there, but not so here in Cebu City which is currently under an 11.30 pm to 4 am overnight curfew. Apparently the police in Cebu City are not keen on lifting the curfew. They are not health professionals so I'm not sure why they should have any input into this, it should not be of any concern to them and they should mind their own business!
The police have said the overnight curfew had contributed to lowering the crime volume in the city, which it probably has, but the reason given for the overnight curfew when it was introduced was to try to contain the virus, not to reduce crime levels.
News report today from Sunstar, link below;.
PHILIP A. CEROJANO
November 04, 2021
CEBU City may also lift its curfew for a gradual shift to the new normal amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, following the announcement that the curfew in Metro Manila, comprised of 17 local government units, will be lifted on Nov. 4.
We will discuss it from the convergence point of view. If and when we are ready, then why not? Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama said on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
The acting mayor said he would first discuss the matter with officials of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Ahead of this meeting, however, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said Wednesday it would not recommend lifting the curfew.
The acting mayor has not said when he will convene the convergence meeting of the various sectors, including the business sector.
City Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the EOC, also said they would have to observe the Covid-19 situation in the city first.
Now, its too early. We have yet to see the effects of the loosening of our restrictions, on Covid-19 infections. Maybe in two weeks time, we are going to reassess the situation because it hasnt been too long yet that we allowed the minors to go out of their homes, Garganera said.
Since Covid-19 reached Cebu City, the City has imposed a curfew.
Last year, the curfew began as early as 8 p.m. during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period, the strictest quarantine classification. This was moved later to 10 p.m. during the period of modified general community quarantine.
Now that the Alert Level System has been implemented and the city has been placed under Alert Level 2, the curfew has become shorter at from 11:30 pm to 4 a.m.
Under Alert Level 2 and since Oct. 25, minors in the city have been allowed to go out of their homes to enter establishments permitted to operate at limited capacity, for as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Just like in Metro Manila, new Covid-19 cases in Cebu City have dropped. Cebu City Health Department data show that in the last 10 days, 45 of the citys 80 barangays had not recorded any Covid-19 transmission.
Despite this, Police Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy city director for operation, wants the curfew maintained.
Parilla said the curfew had done a lot to reduce the number of new Covid-19 cases because this limited the mobility of the people at night.
The curfew had also contributed to lowering the crime volume in the city in the past few months as people returned home early.
We prefer to still have a curfew because at least we would still be in control. Aside from controlling (the growth of) Covid cases, the curfew has had a big impact on crime volume, Parilla said.
In fact, the CCPOs Covid-19 response that has kept Covid-19 cases low was even held up as a model, whose best practices Camp Crame instructed all police regional offices nationwide to adopt.
Police Col. Roderick Minong, deputy regional director for operations of the Police Regional Office 7, said that while Covid-19 cases in major cities in the capital and in Mindanao increased, Covid cases in Cebu City continued to decline.
Parilla said the CCPO could only propose the maintenance of the curfew to the EOC, and that if the government decided to lift the curfew, it would have to abide by this.
As of Nov. 3, there were only around 200 active cases of Covid-19 in Cebu City. As a result, the critical care utilization rate (CCUR) of the 15 hospitals located in Cebu City has been declining.
From the 80 percent CCUR in August, that brought harrowing scenes of patients receiving treatment inside their cars while waiting in line outside hospitals, now there is only a 15.48 percent occupancy of Covid-19 beds in hospitals, where only 63 patients from Cebu City continue to be treated for the viral infection.
Only barangays Talamban and Guadalupe have had active cases in the double-digits, at 16 and 14 active cases, in the past 10 days.
Some barangays had only one to eight active cases.
The EOC recorded only 10 new cases from 498 individuals who were swabbed, on Nov. 2.
Rama urged the people not to give up on their usual health precautions despite the decline in Covid cases in the city.
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has agreed to lift the unified curfew hours in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) starting Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
A resolution signed by all the 17 Metro Manila mayors and MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos stated that the standardized 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. curfew imposed during the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the Metro over the past month has been lifted.
However, the existing local ordinances on the curfew hours for persons below 18 years old will remain in effect.
Abalos said with the Christmas season approaching, mall operators also agreed to extend their operating hours until 11 p.m., instead of the usual 10 p.m. (CTL, AYB, TPM / SunStar Philippines)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1912134/Cebu/Local-News/Acting-Mayor-Mike-Rama-mulls-lifting-Cebu-City-curfew-but-police-not-for-it
Albert9989
11-04-21, 10:02
Thanks mdemde for these infos.
Anyway if they keep a night curfew, at least could they decide to open borders.
Still waiting.
But, still no clear signs of opening, waiting.
And, waiting also for your next story in the Cebu section.
WestCoast1
11-06-21, 11:29
Some Covid stuff. Looks like a new treatment for Covid, from Pfizer. I think its a pill, given to those who are already sick. The study is not huge in number of subjects (I think I read about 800 people), but it looks very promising. Merck has already applied for a similar treatment FDA authorization:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pfizer-says-effectiveness-covid-antiviral-110635778.html
From the article:
A pill to treat COVID-19 from Pfizer significantly cut the risk of hospitalization and death in a clinical trial, the company has announced.
Pfizer said Friday its pill to treat COVID-19, Paxlovid, in a clinical trial was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 89 percent when it was given within three days of the onset of symptoms, The New York Times reports. The trial consisted of participants "who are at high risk of progressing to severe illness," Pfizer said, and there were no deaths among the group treated with Paxlovid compared to 10 deaths in the placebo group, per ABC News.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla described the news as a "real game-changer," adding the data suggests the pill "has the potential to save patients' lives, reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections, and eliminate up to nine out of ten hospitalizations." Pfizer executive Annaliesa Anderson also told The New York Times the "results are really beyond our wildest dreams."
WestCoast1
11-06-21, 11:34
What an amazing feat for the major drug companies to get thru trials for their various Covid vaccines in record time (warp speed). From:
http://www.marginc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Phase_I_II_III_for_website.pdf
The article:
A clinical trial (or study) consists of three phases. Even before any of the phases begin,
treatments are thoroughly tested in labs, sometimes on animals, in order to gather valuable
information about the toxicity of the investigational treatments.
Phase I studies are done to identify the proper dosage ranges for which an investigational drug
can be administered while monitoring and studying the method of absorption and possible
toxicity of a new treatment. In Phase I studies, an investigational drug is tested for the first time
in small numbers (usually between 20 and 100 subjects) on healthy volunteers. Volunteers are
administered the study drug in a single dose to start, with dosages gradually increasing until
minor side effects occur. This gives researchers valuable information on how the drug interacts
with the body while also alerting them to the common side effects. Participants in Phase I
studies are often confined for 24 hour periods at special overnight research centers where they
are closely studied and monitored with frequent blood and urine tests.
SNIP
In Phase II studies, researchers begin to understand the safety and effectiveness of the
investigational drug being tested. Phase II studies also deal with a relatively small number of
subjects, usually between 100 and 300 patients that have the targeted disease or condition.
Like Phase I studies, safety is the main goal of these trials. Phase II studies can often take
between one and three years to complete and are geared towards adjusting treatment doses.
Researchers are also looking to monitor common side effects and whether patients improve as
a result of the drug. In Phase II studies subjects are randomized, or assigned to different
groups. One of the groups receives the study drug while the other group, or control group, will
receive the standard treatment or a placebo for part or possibly the duration of the study. Phase
II studies are usually double-blinded, which means neither the patient nor the researchers know
whether a patient is receiving the investigational drug or a placebo/standard treatment. Only
about 1/3 of drugs that enter clinical testing complete the Phase II process.
Phase III studies provide the facts about an investigational drug through extensive testing of
the safety, efficacy, and proper dosage levels in a large group of patients with a specific illness
or disease. In a Phase III study the investigational drug may be tested on several thousand
subjects over a two to five year span. In Phase III, the goal is to have practicing physicians
evaluate the investigational drug and its positive and negative effects. Often times the Phase III
research includes evaluating the safety and effectiveness of treatment on various subsets of
patients such as men versus women, African American versus Caucasian, elderly versus
young, etc. Many drugs tested in Phase III may already be approved by the FDA but are being
evaluated against a placebo or the existing standard treatment for the particular illness or
disease. Treatments that have reached Phase III have already passed toxicity testing and have
proved to be at least somewhat effective. About 80% of drugs that enter Phase III will
successfully complete it.
Unfortunately it has become a bipartisan argument. Fauci is in CYA mode and has changed the website info on the research and is demanding more information from the researchers who received the funding. WHO has finally paid attention and that the project recipients were probably not the most impartial inspectors / investigators; unfortunately since they are probably the most knowledgeable. Google is your friend.
As the released US intelligence report suggested, we will most likely miss / missed the window to find the source of the Covid-Sars2/ Covid19 virus. Information out of China is protected by extremely strong data privacy laws.
These are the 2020 UN Human rights council members Bolivia, China, côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, France, Gabon, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan.
Russian Federation, Senegal, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. Would I dare imply the wolf guarding the hen house?
As for the Covid pill, Fantastic! (If you or your insurance company has USD1000) Pfizer has really done a great pr and suggested allowing generics to be manufactured for several hundred USD eventually. A really bold and strategic move to take the high road. In more ways than one $. This is really great because it shows how money moves everything. Live Aid started a lot of the AIDS research and we are benefiting from research funded and derived from that era.
Unfortunately, research on SARs gain of function was not done of ISS or on the moon ala "Prometheus".
Every time I hear Fauci, I think of the gain of function research he funded in Wuhan and kept quiet for a year and a half. Then there is the no mask advice. And the no PPE advice.
At least in Prometheus, they did the experiments and storage on a different planet / universe and not on the other side of the same planet.
As for the vaccine research, the test groups are not in the millions. Phase 3 trials might be in the thousands. It depends on what is reported back to the manufacturer from the front line doctors / medical institutions. There is not a bottomless pit of money to pay for tests. I am sure, many things fall through the cracks and will only surface later. Covid tests cost money are are not 100% accurate..
WestCoast1
11-10-21, 15:26
The overnight curfew has been lifted in Metro Manila, another encouraging sign that things are starting to get back to normal there, but not so here in Cebu City which is currently under an 11.30 pm to 4 am overnight curfew. Apparently the police in Cebu City are not keen on lifting the curfew. They are not health professionals so I'm not sure why they should have any input into this, it should not be of any concern to them and they should mind their own business!Speaking of Cebu. Seems things might be changing: Lifting of the face shield.
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/rama-lifts-wearing-face-shields-100000951.html
From the article:
CEBU City Acting Mayor Michael Rama will lift the requirement to wear face shields inside establishments such as malls and traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ).
Rama is scheduled to issue a directive Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, to allow people to enter establishments even without a face shield but it would still be mandatory to wear a face mask.
For air-conditioned transportation, the face shield requirement stays, but the malls wont need that anymore because these are not crowded places. The places that require face shields are hospitals, laboratories and other crowded places, Rama said.
Not sure who thinks malls aren't crowded places.
Curfew has been lifted in Angeles City also. It still remains at Midnight in Olongapo but people are moving around 24 hours a day. It only seems to assure businesses close by 12. As well BI has said it is ready to open the borders but have not given any timeframe of when that could happen. With the way things have gone since March of 2020 that could mean anytime between next week and the year 2525.
Speaking of Cebu. Seems things might be changing: Lifting of the face shield.
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/rama-lifts-wearing-face-shields-100000951.html
From the article:
CEBU City Acting Mayor Michael Rama will lift the requirement to wear face shields inside establishments such as malls and traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ).
Rama is scheduled to issue a directive Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, to allow people to enter establishments even without a face shield but it would still be mandatory to wear a face mask.
For air-conditioned transportation, the face shield requirement stays, but the malls wont need that anymore because these are not crowded places. The places that require face shields are hospitals, laboratories and other crowded places, Rama said.
Not sure who thinks malls aren't crowded places.
WestCoast1
11-11-21, 14:20
OK. If its 5 am UTC, what time is it in Phils?
OK. If its 5 am UTC, what time is it in Phils?What ever time you are trying to log on. Most likely immediately after you have finished typing a long post or reply.
5 to 10 forum minutes can also be 30 to 60 US minutes.
Welcome came to web Hosting 😁.
OK. If its 5 am UTC, what time is it in Phils?Here is your answer below. The thing that puzzles me about the ISG timing is the time indicated in the tops left of the posting, like Westcoast's AC posting: "Today 01.03". My question: Is this UTC time?
WestCoast1
11-12-21, 03:35
Here is your answer below. The thing that puzzles me about the ISG timing is the time indicated in the tops left of the posting, like Westcoast's AC posting: "Today 01.03". My question: Is this UTC time?Good graphic explanation. So Phils, at 12:30 pm, same time as UTC at 4:30 am, would be forward 8 hours. Those msgs that I receive from ISG (Notices) almost never come during that time. They appear at 10 am, 4 pm, 5:30 pm, 7 pm. Never near the Phils lunch hour. Mostly at times as described by Goferring: Anytime I try to post (or preview) a lengthy report.
I have always been puzzled by the date / time stamp on my posts. Those times don't seem to correlate to anything.
I have always been puzzled by the date / time stamp on my posts. Those times don't seem to correlate to anything.I posted my last message at 10.08 Philippines time but at the top of my posting it says "Today 13.08". Three hours ahead of my local time. So I was wondering if the administrator was located in a time zone 3 hours ahead. Eastern seaboard of Australia? An Australian ISG administrator? Nothing against Australians!
AussieGaigin
11-12-21, 07:49
I posted my last message at 10.08 Philippines time but at the top of my posting it says "Today 13.08". Three hours ahead of my local time. So I was wondering if the administrator was located in a time zone 3 hours ahead. Eastern seaboard of Australia? An Australian ISG administrator? Nothing against Australians!I thought the times displayed were adjusted to the time zone nominated in your UCP settings. I'm in Sydney which is currently GMT +11 with DST, and the time is displaying correctly.
Check your settings.
AussieGaigin
11-12-21, 07:53
I posted my last message at 10.08 Philippines time but at the top of my posting it says "Today 13.08". Three hours ahead of my local time. So I was wondering if the administrator was located in a time zone 3 hours ahead. Eastern seaboard of Australia? An Australian ISG administrator? Nothing against Australians!I thought the times displayed were adjusted to the time zone nominated in your UCP settings. I'm in Sydney which is currently GMT +11 with DST, and the time is displaying correctly. Have a look at the Front Page of the forum and check the "current time" at the bottom of the page.
Check your settings.
WestCoast1
11-12-21, 08:43
I posted my last message at 10.08 Philippines time but at the top of my posting it says "Today 13.08". Three hours ahead of my local time. So I was wondering if the administrator was located in a time zone 3 hours ahead. Eastern seaboard of Australia? An Australian ISG administrator? Nothing against Australians!The current time is 3:44 pm (15:44) in one of my favorite Asian countries. Lets see what shows on the time stamp later.
* Edit: And says "Today 00:43" on the posting (see pic). Indicating 12:43am tomorrow, 9 hours later than Phils? Or indicating 12:43am early this morning, 15 hours before phils?
WestCoast1
11-12-21, 09:42
The current time is 3:44 pm (15:44) in one of my favorite Asian countries. Lets see what shows on the time stamp later.
* Edit: And says "Today 00:43" on the posting (see pic). Indicating 12:43am tomorrow, 9 hours later than Phils? Or indicating 12:43am early this morning, 15 hours before phils?What a difference an hour (or less) makes. Now, 4:38 pm and 54 minutes after that post, the post's timestamp shows "Today 08:43" (see pic).
Based on plummeting covid case rates in Metro Manila, Bureau of Immigration chief Jaime Morente is optimistic that travel restrictions for inbound tourists will be lifted soon, but cautions that the decision is up to the Inter Agency Task Force, per Philippine Lifestyle News, October 11. Currently, there are no outbound restrictions for Filipinos however, only Filipinos, Balikbayans and foreigners with residency permits are permitted to enter.
International travel for the vaccinated is starting to return with almost daily reports of loosening of restrictions; Malaysia and Singapore being the latest to announce partial re openings.
Maybe soon the games will begin again with gusto as planeloads of merry foreigners descend on the fair shores of the motherland. The board abuzz with chatter about the latest conquest; punters earnestly seeking advise from fellow hobbyists on the moral fiber of this or that bar girl; and the inevitable storm in a teacup regarding the member who 'paid too much' and thus 'ruined it for the rest of us'.
Can't wait.Is this the same Dashing Don that I met in Makati years ago? I recognize the hypnotic rhythms and eloquently expressive phrasing of your posts. It's good to see a familiar name.
Yes, I know, I've been MIA for a few years but it's good to be back. And like you, I too am looking forward to the games beginning again.
BTW: I am planning a trip in the March / April timeframe, I hope things are opened up a little by then.
G.
WestCoast1
11-16-21, 03:22
BTW: I am planning a trip in the March / April timeframe, I hope things are opened up a little by then.
G.Some mild good news. The bars in Malate / Pasay area are beginning to re-open. Padi's Point on Buendia (just west of the Taft LRT station) is now open. There is not entertainment allowed yet, but that could come after November 30 if the Alert Level goes from its current #2 to #1. Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES. . . !
Disclosure: I have no idea if anything has re-opened in Burgos.
The sooner you fellas get back here the better, to take all this poon off my hands (and face). One man can do only so much vag-vaxxing, and his hands might get full.
JonesLover
11-16-21, 20:02
Hi,
In your opinion what are the best free and paying dating sites for Philippines?
Thank you.
WestCoast1
11-16-21, 21:50
Another CDC graph showing cases (red) and deaths (blue) disparity between vaccinated / un-vaccinated. I have not found a similar graph for Philippines.
Hi,
In your opinion what are the best free and paying dating sites for Philippines?
Thank you.I have been using https://www.dateinasia.com (free) and https://www.pinalove.com (it has a free version which limits the number of messages you can send, and a membership version with no such limits) and have had good results over the last 2+ years I have been living in Cebu City. But, as with all dating sites, it's a numbers game, so be prepared to put a lot of work into arranging meets by way of sending out lots of messages. My experience is that not all girls will respond, some will, and then sometimes after 4 or 5 chat exchanges they will ignore your messages. But if you stick with it I'm sure these sites will work for you as well.
A news story published online this morning, link below;.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified today that the Philippines is still closed to foreign tourists.
By Margret Fermin -November 17,2021.
"The country remains closed to foreign tourists. Only those under the allowed categories as set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) if coming from green or yellow countries may be admitted to enter," Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.
Morente stressed that, while there are encouraging signs that the country might soon reopen its borders, the BI will continue to restrict the entry of foreign tourists until the government decides to the lift the travel ban on them.
Presently, only Filipinos, balikbayan, and foreigners with valid and existing visas issued by the BI and other specialized government agencies are allowed to enter the country.
Those who wish to travel to the Philippines under a tourist visa may only do so if they apply for a 9 (a) temporary visitors' visa, and an entry exemption document (EED) from Philippine posts abroad.
Morente said that, while the BI is ready and prepared for the eventual reopening of the country to foreign tourists, the decision to reopen will come from the President and the IATF-MEID.
The BI Chief issued the statement following reports that the Bureau's offices were being swamped with queries from persons who assumed that foreign tourists can now enter the country after Metro Manila was placed under the less restrictive Alert Level 2 status.
"We advise the public to refer to our website and social media pages to keep themselves updated on our latest advisories on guidelines and requirements for international travelers," he said.
The Palace earlier said that the Philippines will again be welcoming foreign tourists "in due time," saying such a move will depend on the experience of other countries who have already opened their borders to foreign visitors.
For inquiries, please contact Bureau of Immigration at (02) 527 3248.
https://philippineslifestyle.com/ph-still-closed-to-foreign-tourists/
SpirouleGroom
11-17-21, 11:51
Another CDC graph showing cases (red) and deaths (blue) disparity between vaccinated / un-vaccinated. I have not found a similar graph for Philippines.Keep holding your breath. The turn of the tide is happening right now. Gibraltar,100% astra and Pfizer called off all their Christmas festivities due to a surge in hospitalizations. Wait, it must be, it has to be unvax hospitalization! How come? Where is my sweet little narrative?
Iceland, same. Belgium, rise in hospitalizations in the most districts. Same in France even though the mainstream narrative holds on his mantra, it's an un vax epidemic!
I'm laughing out loud and can't wait to read your 2022 comments: Philippines still closed to foreigners with 99,8% of the pop. Damn 0,2% of unvax. They must be dispatched on an island to get back our normal life.
JonesLover
11-17-21, 15:40
I have been using https://www.dateinasia.com (free).They banned me for no reason.
I have tried many times to re-enter and register again but I have never succeeded. Do you have any idea how I can get back? Thanks.
They banned me for no reason.
I have tried many times to re-enter and register again but I have never succeeded. Do you have any idea how I can get back? Thanks.I was also banned you need to get a different phone number and email address then you should be good to go its the best site if you are not banned also mingle2.com and tagged are free site you may have some luck on.
They banned me for no reason.
I have tried many times to re-enter and register again but I have never succeeded. Do you have any idea how I can get back? Thanks.Change your profile picture.
They check that also.
JonesLover
11-17-21, 23:47
Change your profile picture.
They check that also.I did it many times. But I think my problem is the number of the Smartphone. I have one number only and I think I have to use a different number.
Can somebody shed some light on the reasoning behind keeping the US and European countries in the yellow status? Is there a scientific formula they are using or are the wrong people getting paid off? Any input would be appreciated.
Link below.
Good news! But only for tourists from 'Green List' countries (which includes China, India, Taiwan and Japan, but excludes the US, Canada, the UK and the rest of Europe, and Australia), though at least it's a start and another sign that the country is on the road to getting back to normal.
As we all know, the Philippines has been closed to foreign tourists since March of last year, and this significant news about reopening (it is the first and only news report I have seen) comes just 3 days after it was reported that The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that "PH still closed to foreign tourists"!
This news is from a 3 minute video clip (link below), which was posted online earlier this morning. Apparently the authorities have yet to finalise all the details. But it is encouraging news.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/11/20/21/philippines-to-reopen-borders-to-foreign-tourists
JonesLover
11-20-21, 13:16
Friends,
I need some suggestions because I need to use DateInAsia.
Yesterday a friend of mine came to visit me at home. I had he registered with DateInAsia with my PC, in order to better verify my problem.
In wizard I noticed that you no longer need to use the phone number. I immediately thought it was a good thing.
When he filled out all the forms, placed his photos and confirmed his email. , Everything looked OK. But after about 2 minutes, his account was closed.
It seems incredible that DateInAsia is behaving in such a detrimental and zany way towards its customers.
So DateInAsia doesn't check only photos, but other things as well to get accepted.
My question: in your opinion what can I do to get an Account on DateInAsia again?
Thanks.
Friends,
I need some suggestions because I need to use DateInAsia.
Where do you live? It's possible that the country that you live in has been geo blocked.
I remember reading about 5 years ago that thaifriendly.com which is a sister site to pinalove.com had geo blocked users in Turkey, because there were large numbers of users there being abusive to the girls. So maybe dateinasia has geo blocked the country or put some other restriction in place for where you reside.
But it's possible that there is a fault with the system at dateinasia, looking on their faq page at https://www.dateinasia.com/faq I found this info;.
Q14: I want to contact you and ask you something, can I?
Yes you can, but because this site is free, support is limited and we do not guarantee a reply.
Please note the following before you decide to contact us:
You must use English language.
We will not reply to rude messages.
We will only reply to important messages.
Average response time is currently 5-7 days.
We will not reply if your question is already answered elsewhere in the site.
If you wish to report a member, you must do it as described in Q1 on this page.
Keep in mind that this is not a public service. To be a member here is a privilege and not a right.
If you still wish to contact us, please fill in the Contact us form.
I hope that is of some help to you.
JonesLover
11-21-21, 10:01
Where do you live? It's possible that the country that you live in has been geo blocked.
I remember reading about 5 years ago that thaifriendly.com which is a sister site to pinalove.com had geo blocked users in Turkey, because there were large numbers of users there being abusive to the girls. So maybe dateinasia has geo blocked the country or put some other restriction in place for where you reside.Thanks for your interesting reply. But not in my case. In fact a strange thing happened to me a week ago. After being banned more than 10 times, DIA accepted my registration and I used DIA for 3-4 days. It worked very well. I had only entered 2 photos. Then I had the bad idea to add a third photo and DIA banned me. Again. It is a crazy site. In your opinion why was my registration accepted? Yet I have always used the same browser (if I remember well) and the same PC. I would like to find the answer.
Friends,
I need some suggestions because I need to use DateInAsia.
Yesterday a friend of mine came to visit me at home. I had he registered with DateInAsia with my PC, in order to better verify my problem.
In wizard I noticed that you no longer need to use the phone number. I immediately thought it was a good thing.
When he filled out all the forms, placed his photos and confirmed his email. , Everything looked OK. But after about 2 minutes, his account was closed.
It seems incredible that DateInAsia is behaving in such a detrimental and zany way towards its customers.
So DateInAsia doesn't check only photos, but other things as well to get accepted.
My question: in your opinion what can I do to get an Account on DateInAsia again?
Thanks.You've been IP blocked. Using a proxy will get around it, or changing your internet provider.
JonesLover
11-21-21, 19:50
You've been IP blocked. Using a proxy will get around it, or changing your internet provider.Unfortunately this is not the case, I tried to sign up even when I was in South America but without success. I also tried a VPN program to change IP but without success. DIA is diabolical.
Unfortunately this is not the case, I tried to sign up even when I was in South America but without success. I also tried a VPN program to change IP but without success. DIA is diabolical.I've never understood why guys go to so much trouble to (re) enrol in DIA only to be repeatedly blocked. Just move on to any other app who won't cause any problems. DIA is hardly the only show in town: pina love, Fil Cupid, Tinder, Seeking Arrangement, Insta, Facebook, plus many more.
Enjoy G.
After being banned more than 10 times Please indulge my curiosity and answer 2 questions. What were you doing to get booted. You have to be more subtle than messaging things like, "I want to thrust my purple red rock hard-on into your glistening dripping twat." That will probably cause a stir. However you probably weren't that forthright. 2nd question: Why didn't you figure it out after 10 aliases?
CodeName47
11-22-21, 09:06
Link below.
Good news! But only for tourists from 'Green List' countries (which includes China, India, Taiwan and Japan, but excludes the US, Canada, the UK and the rest of Europe, and Australia), though at least it's a start and another sign that the country is on the road to getting back to normal.
As we all know, the Philippines has been closed to foreign tourists since March of last year, and this significant news about reopening (it is the first and only news report I have seen) comes just 3 days after it was reported that The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that "PH still closed to foreign tourists"!
This news is from a 3 minute video clip (link below), which was posted online earlier this morning. Apparently the authorities have yet to finalise all the details. But it is encouraging news.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/11/20/21/philippines-to-reopen-borders-to-foreign-touristsGood News!
Thank you for that info and link. Any further updates on dates?
JonesLover
11-22-21, 16:10
I've never understood why guys go to so much trouble to (re) enrol in DIA only to be repeatedly blocked. Just move on to any other app who won't cause any problems. DIA is hardly the only show in town: pina love, Fil Cupid, Tinder, Seeking Arrangement, Insta, Facebook, plus many more.I'd like to explain it well. I am not talking about other guys but about my case.
I wrote to around 80 girls in DIA (used for 3 days) and all one 80 answered me. It's unbelievable but they all told me they wanted to know me, despite my not young age.
Since I was then banned from DIA, I started using Badoo. I wrote to 20 girls and maybe only one answered me.
So I tried Tagged and maybe only 2 girls answered me.
I tried PinaLove and after sending 10 messages, only 1 girl replied to me (then PinaLove is not free).
I don't like Tinder because there are a lot of pro and semi-pro. I don't like neither the pros nor the semi pros as far as the Philippines is concerned.
All other social networks are paid. This is the real reason I would like to re-enter DIA.
The last time I was in PI (about 8 years ago), the girls would all communicate with me using your basic text messaging. Are they primarily using WhatsApp and Messenger now or is there a particular App that I will need to use? I will be in Makati in April and I always buy an unlocked / burner phone for my mongering that I leave behind when I return home (no loose ends.). I'm just trying to figure out what type of phone to get and if I should buy it when I get to Manila or buy it in advance in the US. Any advice will be appreciated.
I'd like to explain it well. I am not talking about other guys but about my case.
I wrote to around 80 girls in DIA (used for 3 days) and all one 80 answered me. It's unbelievable but they all told me they wanted to know me, despite my not young age.
Since I was then banned from DIA, I started using Badoo. I wrote to 20 girls and maybe only one answered me.
So I tried Tagged and maybe only 2 girls answered me.
I tried PinaLove and after sending 10 messages, only 1 girl replied to me (then PinaLove is not free).
I don't like Tinder because there are a lot of pro and semi-pro. I don't like neither the pros nor the semi pros as far as the Philippines is concerned.
All other social networks are paid. This is the real reason I would like to re-enter DIA.So many free sites out there put a city in the phils on your profile make it easier to talk with pinoy women I was also banned from DIA I just focus on other online sites I met enough girls on other sites like Tagged, ok cupid, badoo, mingle2,com to keep me busy when I was in the phils in 2019 where are you located at now and what age are you looking for if you are looking for women age 28 to 44 tagged has so many women that will meet you I probably have over a 100 phone numbers of girls.
Please indulge my curiosity and answer 2 questions. What were you doing to get booted. You have to be more subtle than messaging things like, "I want to thrust my purple red rock hard-on into your glistening dripping twat." That will probably cause a stir. However you probably weren't that forthright. 2nd question: Why didn't you figure it out after 10 aliases?Many aps also track IP addresses: put in that you are in Manila but log on from elsewhere repeatedly and this will get flagged and you may get banned.
Some are also requiring photo verification: the app may require you to download a real-time selfie, not a saved photo. If image recognition software don't match the two then you may get banned.
I'd agree that the best way to get more and better quality matches is to be there. "I'm in Glorietta. Meet for coffee after class? Is far more productive than "I'm in Nebraska. Suck my dick if I come in 6 months?
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app. SMSs are used but they can be more expensive for the girls especially to foreign numbers.
Enjoy. G.
WestCoast1
11-23-21, 02:29
The last time I was in PI (about 8 years ago), the girls would all communicate with me using your basic text messaging. Are they primarily using WhatsApp and Messenger now or is there a particular App that I will need to use? I will be in Makati in April and I always buy an unlocked / burner phone for my mongering that I leave behind when I return home (no loose ends.). I'm just trying to figure out what type of phone to get and if I should buy it when I get to Manila or buy it in advance in the US. Any advice will be appreciated.Can I ask, the burner phone. A cheap (p500) simple keypad phone? Or alternately a touchpad phone? Suggest you purchase in Manila either way.
Preferred app would be simple txt messaging, but in order of usage: Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, others. Just guessing based on experience.
I'd like to explain it well. I am not talking about other guys but about my case. I wrote to around 80 girls in DIA (used for 3 days) and all one 80 answered me. It's unbelievable but they all told me they wanted to know me, despite my not young age.
So many free sites out there put a city in the phils on your profile make it easier to talk with pinoy women I was also banned from DIA I just focus on other online sites I met enough girls on other sites like Tagged, ok cupid, badoo, mingle2,com to keep me busy when I was in the phils in 2019 where are you located at now and what age are you looking for if you are looking for women age 28 to 44 tagged has so many women that will meet you I probably have over a 100 phone numbers of girls.The OP seems to be stuck on DIA, for his stated reasons. Our suggesting different apps has not slowed his excitement over DIA.
As a side note regarding DIA. Over the last year I have had tremendous success with DIA, but in a different way. I stopped using it to meet for joy time (I had regulars draining me, and some of them had referrals for me for 1-offs). I started using it to date girls in public places (coffee shops, doughnut shops). DIA saw an explosion of girls online starting a few weeks after the pandemic started. When I was in the province, suddenly there were 4-8 new girls (search limited to 19-25 age) most days in that city alone. When I am in Manila, that can be several times that number daily. There is simply an explosion of young beauties online wanting to meet ANYONE in town. DIA is amazing (alternately, the pandemic has made DIA amazing).
Many aps also track IP addresses: put in that you are in Manila but log on from elsewhere repeatedly and this will get flagged and you may get banned. Some are also requiring photo verification: the app may require you to download a real-time selfie, not a saved photo. If image recognition software don't match the two then you may get banned.We have posted sets of instructions here before, regarding both DIA and FB making alternate accounts. You will need:
1) A new phone sim, and a different phone than you used before (borrow a friend's if you don't have a second phone).
2) You will need to use a different wifi (IP address) for creation of your different / new email address, created using the new sim and phone from above. Next on the new wifi create your new DIA account using your new phone number and email. You will NOT upload your pic at this time.
3) You might need to return to that wifi later for email confirmation of your account (using the new email and sim for OTP possibly). You will NOT upload a pic at this time. Keep your account statement simple, don't mention your playboy ways. This can be edited later after approval.
4) You might need to return to that wifi later to upload your new pic (a recently taken selfie). Later, if you need to send a different real-time selfie for verification, don't be wearing the same shirt please. Feel free to browse and reply to messages, explain to the lady's questions about your lack of a pic saying that its being reviewed by DIA. Log out.
5) You might need to return to that wifi later to receive email verification of your new pic and reply to an OTP. At that time, log into your new account (from the new wifi), browse, reply to messages. Log out.
6) You will need to wait a few days. THEN try logging in from your home wifi with your new sim.
What? You didn't think they keep track of your previous email address, phone number, device information, and IP address, in order to cross-check against new second / alternate account attempts? Of these 4 items, you can fool them if you have all new. All of this is time-consuming, a day or so between steps. If you find yourself in-country for a 2-week trip and then find you must (re-) create a new account, you have waited too long.
We have posted sets of instructions here before, regarding both DIA and FB making alternate accounts. You will need:
1) A new phone sim, and a different phone than you used before (borrow a friend's if you don't have a second phone).
2) You will need to use a different wifi (IP address) for creation of your different / new email address, created using the new sim and phone from above. Next on the new wifi create your new DIA account using your new phone number and email. You will NOT upload your pic at this time.
3) You might need to return to that wifi later for email confirmation of your account (using the new email and sim for OTP possibly). You will NOT upload a pic at this time. Keep your account statement simple, don't mention your playboy ways. This can be edited later after approval.
4) You might need to return to that wifi later to upload your new pic (a recently taken selfie). Later, if you need to send a different real-time selfie for verification, don't be wearing the same shirt please. Feel free to browse and reply to messages, explain to the lady's questions about your lack of a pic saying that its being reviewed by DIA. Log out.
5) You might need to return to that wifi later to receive email verification of your new pic and reply to an OTP. At that time, log into your new account (from the new wifi), browse, reply to messages. Log out.
6) You will need to wait a few days. THEN try logging in from your home wifi with your new sim.
What? You didn't think they keep track of your previous email address, phone number, device information, and IP address, in order to cross-check against new second / alternate account attempts? Of these 4 items, you can fool them if you have all new. All of this is time-consuming, a day or so between steps. If you find yourself in-country for a 2-week trip and then find you must (re-) create a new account, you have waited too long.Or just set up your new account using Google Chrome's Incognito mode. I assume Apple Safari has the equivalent.
Worked for me. ☺65039;.
Soapy Smith
11-23-21, 07:21
14 posts in a row about chat rooms. Could we move this discussion to the chat room thread and leave general information for such content as announcements about changes in covid policy? Thanks.
JonesLover
11-23-21, 13:07
where are you located at now and what age are you looking for if you are looking for women age 28 to 44 tagged has so many women that will meet you I probably have over a 100 phone numbers of girls.I live in Europe and I can travel only once a year. I look girls 18-22 yo. I'm an old European but I look youthful. I leke to know girls from Davao or other towns in Mindabao.
JonesLover
11-23-21, 13:23
It seems to have solved my problems with DIA. Yesterday I have created a new account with everything new, emails, photos, etc. Etc.
Then I had DIA choose my location. Now I have already texted some girls and everything seems to be working fine. In my opinion, they always banned me because I always put a position that was not real. I think this was my problem.
I would like to ask a question: a couple of years ago, but even more recently, DIA was always asking for your phone number. Now DIA doesn't ask it anymore and this is great news.
Philippines to reopen borders to foreign tourists
Good News!
Thank you for that info and link. Any further updates on dates?I haven't seen any more news about this, but if I do I will post it here.
WestCoast1
11-24-21, 15:45
I haven't seen any more news about this, but if I do I will post it here.Since we started discussing this 'green' list recently, several of my regulars from both the city and province have been hastily messaging me about the 'foreigners they are coming here now from a green list'. I tell them to google search the green list and see if it includes the Brits, Aussies, Kiwi's, or Americans. "No. So?" Sweetie in your bar did you meet very many persons from Sudan? "Never". The girls are just as a-twitter and confused about it as we were.
It seems to have solved my problems with DIA. Yesterday I have created a new account with everything new, emails, photos, etc. Etc.
Then I had DIA choose my location. Now I have already texted some girls and everything seems to be working fine. In my opinion, they always banned me because I always put a position that was not real. I think this was my problem.
I would like to ask a question: a couple of years ago, but even more recently, DIA was always asking for your phone number. Now DIA doesn't ask it anymore and this is great news.I think DIA has become user friendly lately. There are some rules to follow. For a while DIA would put out a warning saying those who ask for outside website to chat may have bad intentions. This elicited a laugh from me. But they gave done away with that now. Now I ask for I. The for messenger, Skype etc and there is no need to chat on DIA and get banned for the saying wrong thing. No need to ask if the girls are interested in staying with me. No need to ask if she is a real girl. No need to ask how much. Most girls have chat accounts where you can say whatever you want and if they do not want sex so be it.
I got banned couple of times before but now for a few years I am okay.
Sir Lancelot
11-24-21, 23:28
The girls are just as a-twitter and confused about it as we were.The green list doesn't have any relation to the number of COVID cases or the success of vaccination programmes. India is on the list but UK / Australia aren't! It doesn't make sense. The only conclusion is that they've decided on a phased return. I just hope the rest of us can visit sooner rather than later.
The green list doesn't have any relation to the number of COVID cases or the success of vaccination programmes. India is on the list but UK / Australia aren't! It doesn't make sense. The only conclusion is that they've decided on a phased return. I just hope the rest of us can visit sooner rather than later.According to New York Times database, the daily number of Covid cases per 100,000, averaged over the last seven days, is 64 for UK, 5 for Australia and less than 1 for India. Deaths due to Covid per 100,000 is 0. 20 for UK, 0. 03 for Australia and 0. 02 for India.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-cases.html
It is tempting to declare that India has poor data gathering. May be. But there is another explanation. Natural immunity from large number of infections in April-May.
The Economist explained, "A survey of blood samples published this week shows that more than 90% of Delhi's residents have antibodies against covid-19 coursing through their veins. ".
https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/10/29/how-did-india-beat-covid-19
Vaccine is not the only path for immunization; natural immunity from infection may also work (just to clarify, I am not an anti-vax).
This is not to say that Philippines' list is rational. I am just putting forth a potential explanation.
The green list doesn't have any relation to the number of COVID cases or the success of vaccination programmes. India is on the list but UK / Australia aren't! It doesn't make sense. The only conclusion is that they've decided on a phased return. I just hope the rest of us can visit sooner rather than later.This is the Philippines. Do not look for rationale or logic. Most western countries have had access to highly effect vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna and have high vaccination rates.
Vaccination rates are immaterial if you only allowed the vaccinated in. Do not look for logic in the PH government.
Don't let me get started on the logic of BBM.
Sir Lancelot
11-25-21, 19:41
It is tempting to declare that India has poor data gathering. May be. But there is another explanation. Natural immunity from large number of infections in April-May..The data gathering in some countries has been laughable at times throughout the pandemic. China declared itself pretty much COVID-free a year ago! But what you say about immunity is a really good point, especially in places like India where population is high and hygiene is low.
I'm hoping to visit Philippines in March. If UK doesn't make it on to the green list I might have to resort to applying for Sudanese citizenship.
Dashing Don
11-26-21, 20:55
The phils is to open on a temporary, 15 day basis, beginning on Dec 1, to vaccinated travelers, who must have a negative covid test taken within 3 days of their flight.
I went on the PAL website to look for flights from JFK. There were a few available in December with an average fare of $2800 which is very high. Who knows if the temporary period will be extended, and also there's the problem if you buy a ticket and they ban travel. Which would leave the traveler / monger at the tender mercies of PAL.
Its confusing to say the least and typical of the Phils but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
FuriousGeorge
11-27-21, 01:29
And, the United States IS on this list of accepted countries:
https://dfa.gov.ph/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa
The phils is to open on a temporary, 15 day basis, beginning on Dec 1, to vaccinated travelers, who must have a negative covid test taken within 3 days of their flight.
I went on the PAL website to look for flights from JFK. There were a few available in December with an average fare of $2800 which is very high. Who knows if the temporary period will be extended, and also there's the problem if you buy a ticket and they ban travel. Which would leave the traveler / monger at the tender mercies of PAL.
Its confusing to say the least and typical of the Phils but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
The phils is to open on a temporary, 15 day basis, beginning on Dec 1, to vaccinated travelers, who must have a negative covid test taken within 3 days of their flight.
I went on the PAL website to look for flights from JFK. There were a few available in December with an average fare of $2800 which is very high. Who knows if the temporary period will be extended, and also there's the problem if you buy a ticket and they ban travel. Which would leave the traveler / monger at the tender mercies of PAL.
Its confusing to say the least and typical of the Phils but there's light at the end of the tunnel.Peak season for airfare is November 15 to January 15 and may 15 to August 15. So it is not surprising when you got high price. Philippines airlines always has higher fare going to Philippines compared to Cathay pacific, Eva Air, Korean etc.
Looks like all countries are closely watching what USA does regarding vaccine requirements, negative test within 72 hours, banning countries with higher positive cases. I do not think things will be back to like before till middle or late 2022 at the earliest because of covid variation.
Engine Driver
11-27-21, 04:24
The phils is to open on a temporary, 15 day basis, beginning on Dec 1, to vaccinated travelers, who must have a negative covid test taken within 3 days of their flight.
I went on the PAL website to look for flights from JFK. There were a few available in December with an average fare of $2800 which is very high. Who knows if the temporary period will be extended, and also there's the problem if you buy a ticket and they ban travel. Which would leave the traveler / monger at the tender mercies of PAL.
Its confusing to say the least and typical of the Phils but there's light at the end of the tunnel.Two weeks is a long time in Covid land. Don't get too excited about dumping those cum loads in some 18 year old pussy. The African strain is on the move. The Dow plunged 2.5% yesterday on fears that the African strain is going to shut borders again. The Dow is a better predictor than the WHO.
If UK doesn't make it on to the green list I might have to resort to applying for Sudanese citizenship.Your wish came true, sooner than March. No need for a Sudanese citizenship.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-reopen-some-foreign-tourists-next-week-2021-11-26/
And UK is definitely among the list of countries from which vaccinated tourists are allowed with no quarantine:
https://dfa.gov.ph/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa
Pack your bags and fly, before Omicron throws spanner into your plans.
Albert9989
11-27-21, 16:50
Yes but when you check cost for flights. From Europe nothing lower than 1300 Euros.
Things have changed.
Still not back to what we knew before.
Good news! But only for tourists from 'Green List' countries (which includes China, India, Taiwan and Japan, but excludes the US, Canada, the UK and the rest of Europe, and Australia), though at least it's a start and another sign that the country is on the road to getting back to normal.
And, the United States IS on this list of accepted countries:
https://dfa.gov.ph/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa
Your wish came true, sooner than March. No need for a Sudanese citizenship.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-reopen-some-foreign-tourists-next-week-2021-11-26/
And UK is definitely among the list of countries from which vaccinated tourists are allowed with no quarantine:
https://dfa.gov.ph/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa
Are you guys sure that this new list is correct?
First Mdemde reported that there were only a few countries in the green list, and now there are suddenly dozens of countries in it? Including countries like the US, Canada, the UK and the rest of Europe, and Australia?
This 'new' list seems to be the normal (pre-covid) list of visa exemption countries to me.
WestCoast1
11-28-21, 11:58
Are you guys sure that this new list is correct?
First Mdemde reported that there were only a few countries in the green list, and now there are suddenly dozens of countries in it? Including countries like the US, Canada, the UK and the rest of Europe, and Australia?
This 'new' list seems to be the normal (pre-covid) list of visa exemption countries to me.No, not sure. I did not find a date on the Pinga article, suggesting that it could be the pre-covid list.
https://dfa.gov.ph/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa
And there is Omicron to deal with, now spread to Europe and Australia:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/travel-curbs-aimed-covid-variant-080030748.html
Relax fellas. Things are fickle. The country opens. The country closes. Everything changes. Suggestion: Once the country opens, make your travel plans for 90 (or more) days following that.
WestCoast1
11-28-21, 12:15
From ABCD-Rippler-LGBTQ-Westy News Corps (or possibly the Manila Bulletin):
https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/28/ph-wont-allow-entry-of-fully-vaxxed-foreigners-lgus-to-step-up-covid-19-response/?fbclid=IwAR0LTGVUMZdR1Ba2QhjtBzp7YHS3JYbEVQHNo2W7dUROoZgnun9e_iTUFYs
Headline: "PH won't allow entry of fully-vaxxed foreigners", from November 28. Here is the entire article:
The Philippines will not be pushing through with its plan to open the borders to foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on December 1 due to the threat of the highly mutated Omicron variant.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement after the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases allowed on Friday the entry of fully vaccinated foreigners from non-visa-required countries from December 1 to 15,2021.
So close!
Suggestion: Once the country opens, make your travel plans for 90 (or more) days following that.Sound advice, let others be the guinea pigs to test the system out. The authorities are still flip-flopping about.
If I was making plans to travel I would not rush into it as I think that there is a high risk that the authorities could impose further restrictions and might even do a full lockdown again, and travellers could end up marooned as many hundreds of thousands of travellers were last March.
Patience is a virtue!
WestCoast1
11-28-21, 15:14
Sound advice, let others be the guinea pigs to test the system out. The authorities are still flip-flopping about.
If I was making plans to travel I would not rush into it as I think that there is a high risk that the authorities could impose further restrictions and might even do a full lockdown again, and travellers could end up marooned as many hundreds of thousands of travellers were last March.
Patience is a virtue!Yes. Outsiders are possibly not thinking ahead to the fluidity of the pandemic thinking of those in pinoy-land. One gent here said on this page that a 15-day visit might be possible. Imagine: You fly in on December 1, to depart December 15. Things change after you buy your ticket (or just after you board your flight), and the Phils government suddenly requires a 7 or 14-day quarantine, making your visit worthless.
Meanwhile, I am still vaccinating the locals.
No, not sure. I did not find a date on the Pinga article, suggesting that it could be the pre-covid list.
You are right, the dfa link I posted had no date but it was referenced in the Reuters link. Like many half-baked announcements in the Philippines, there were ambiguities in the new policy.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/26/ph-to-allow-entry-of-fully-vaxxed-foreigners-from-non-visa-countries-on-dec-1-15/
This article says:
"The government will be allowing the entry of fully vaccinated foreign individuals from non-visa-required territories to the Philippines from December 1 to 15,2021, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced.
Nograles made the statement after the government's pandemic task force eased quarantine and testing protocols for Filipino and foreign travelers coming from green, yellow, and red list territories. ".
US, UK, etc. , were among the non-visa-required countries but were never on "green list".
But two days later, the policy to allow foreigners from non-visa-required territories is reversed, making this discussion mute.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/28/ph-wont-allow-entry-of-fully-vaxxed-foreigners-lgus-to-step-up-covid-19-response/
I did buy a ticket to Philippines for over $3k in cattle class and today I cancelled it. Damn Omicron.
Now all I can do is watch pictures posted by WestCoast1 for two more years. I am at a point where if I ever met a Filipina, I would be closely examining her body for "WC" and "WestCoast" sign to see if she has already been defiled by him.
WestCoast1
11-29-21, 02:11
Now all I can do is watch pictures posted by WestCoast1 for two more years. I am at a point where if I ever met a Filipina, I would be closely examining her body for "WC" and "WestCoast" sign to see if she has already been defiled by him.I have some good news, and some bad news.
Good news: I can't imagine it being 2 more years until the great unwashed return. A few more months, as covid numbers will continue to drop with continued vaxxing.
Bad news: Pinga, while I photo many sessions, I don't photo all of them, and I only post a fraction of the ladies that I session with. Its possible that one of your gals has session-ed with me and has the 'W' tat. Its also entirely possible that one of your gals session-ed with me and has no 'W' tat. I mean its Covid and all; the ladies have been suffering with no wages and other covid stresses. However, inspect every part of her nakedness -- look closely. And remember, if you don't find the tat, it doesn't mean that she wasn't with me. And if you arrive and discover that she's not available on the dates you wanted, well. . . Its possible that she's busy getting vaccinated.
However, inspect every part of her nakedness -- look closely. And remember, if you don't find the tat, it doesn't mean that she wasn't with me. You are killing me! Now that I look, all Filipinas have West Coast tat all over them. Yikes. You vaccinated the whole country!
WestCoast1
11-29-21, 04:24
You are killing me! Now that I look, all Filipinas have West Coast tat all over them. Yikes. You vaccinated the whole country!Ya its true. Have been using my special proprietary blend, which I refer to as 'Ibeenavaxxin'.
Ya its true. Have been using my special proprietary blend, which I refer to as 'Ibeenavaxxin'.I hope it works against the Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, I am still vaccinating the locals.Your enthusiasm, commitment and selfless dedication to your job is an inspiration for us all.
I am also doing my best to help with the vaccination effort, just last Friday I went to Lapu-Lapu to give another booster shot to one of the locals and she proudly posed for me whilst I took a pic which will serve as proof of having received her November booster shot.
We must not let our guard down. Even when a girl has been vaccinated twice, it's important to make sure she gets a regular booster shot. And the girls should be encouraged to bring their sisters, cousins, next door neighbours and friends along to get jabbed, though hopefully not all at the same time!
WestCoast1
11-29-21, 09:55
I hope it works against the Omicron variant.I am working daily on a 'fresh blend'. So far none of my vaxxed patients have contracted this plague. I credit weekly booster shots.
Your enthusiasm, commitment and selfless dedication to your job is an inspiration for us all.A man can do only so much. I have been fully committed to my craft these past 18 months, and many a young lass is better off for it. Several of them have even been getting regular ass-booster injections. I credit both their desire to protect themselves and their sense of adventure for going the 'extra Hershey mile'.
I am also doing my best to help with the vaccination effort, just last Friday I went to Lapu-Lapu to give another booster shot to one of the locals and she proudly posed for me whilst I took a pic which will serve as proof of having received her November booster shot.You are commended, sir. More vaxxing I say.
We must not let our guard down. Even when a girl has been vaccinated twice, it's important to make sure she gets a regular booster shot. And the girls should be encouraged to bring their sisters, cousins, next door neighbours and friends along to get jabbed, though hopefully not all at the same time!Good point. This one in fact is the neighbor of one of my regulars, and she has now become one of my regulars. She returns Thursday for another booster. I will let her decide which of my proprietary vaccines she wants: "Ibeenavaxxin", "Iwannavax", "Doublevaxmetoday", or "Gimmemorevax".
God bless those beautiful pinay.
LuvMexicanas
11-29-21, 18:34
Ya its true. Have been using my special proprietary blend, which I refer to as 'Ibeenavaxxin'.Greetings fellow hobbyists from the other side of the ocean. I see the error of my vax technique now. I need to inject it and overcome my preference to see my special blend splatter everywhere.
WestCoast1
11-30-21, 15:39
Greetings fellow hobbyists from the other side of the ocean. I see the error of my vax technique now. I need to inject it and overcome my preference to see my special blend splatter everywhere.Greetings LM from the other side of the pond.
Great pic of a great ass! There is no error in your vaxxing technique. Remind the girl to leave the vaccine in place on the skin for a few minutes. It can be absorbed thru the skin (and mouth and ass also). Then after you've had time to take a pic or two, tell her to SLOWLY rub it into her skin, for even further efficay (and take us another pic of that). Tell that Latina that you heard it from Dr Westy.
LuvMexicanas
11-30-21, 19:52
Greetings LM from the other side of the pond.
Great pic of a great ass! There is no error in your vaxxing technique. Remind the girl to leave the vaccine in place on the skin for a few minutes. It can be absorbed thru the skin (and mouth and ass also). Then after you've had time to take a pic or two, tell her to SLOWLY rub it into her skin, for even further efficay (and take us another pic of that). Tell that Latina that you heard it from Dr Westy.I see now why second opinions are so common in medicine. This is an example of oral vaccine administration, but you know how patients are reluctant to show their faces let alone with a mouthful of vaccine, even in the name of science.
Albert9989
12-01-21, 00:05
So it has been announced now, Phil cancel the reopening project for vaccinated tourists due to omicron variant.
Just read that in LE Figaro, French newspaper.
GoodEnough
12-01-21, 00:42
So it has been announced now, Phil cancel the reopening project for vaccinated tourists due to omicron variant.
Just read that in LE Figaro, French newspaper.I think all of us who live here suspected that this would happen. On the good news side of the ledger, the government is now undertaking a massive effort to vaccinated up to 3 million people a day, so the time of re-opening may night be postponed for very long.
GE.
Albert9989
12-01-21, 01:05
I think all of us who live here suspected that this would happen. On the good news side of the ledger, the government is now undertaking a massive effort to vaccinated up to 3 million people a day, so the time of re-opening may night be postponed for very long.
GE.At the same time one expert medic is saying that this omicron could be the end of covid, he see that new variants are more and more contagious but at same time less and less dangerous as it seems that south Africa is reporting very light impact on people.
And he says also that this is a normal behavior of these viruses.
Lets see if he is right.
PolyOrchid
12-02-21, 03:40
We must not let our guard down. Even when a girl has been vaccinated twice, it's important to make sure she gets a regular booster shot. And the girls should be encouraged to bring their sisters, cousins, next door neighbours and friends along to get jabbed, though hopefully not all at the same time!In light of this latest variant, your dedication and unbounded giving is impressive. Would that I were there to aid your efforts.
However, I'm soon to arrive in Colombia and will embark on an equally selfless mission there to save every girl I can. Although I try to reach everyone, my initial thrust is with the 18-22 year-old group, an especially vulnerable demographic that demands my highest attention.
WestCoast1
12-02-21, 16:45
In light of this latest variant, your dedication and unbounded giving is impressive. Would that I were there to aid your efforts.
on to arrive in Colombia and will embark on an equally selfless mission there to save every girl I can. Although I try to reach everyone, my initial thrust is with the 18-22 year-old group, an especially vulnerable demographic that demands my highest attention.Dr PO, please feel free to update us on your progress as you go. So much vaxxing to be done with the Columbianas. If you vax on the skin of the fanny, ala Dr LuvMexicanas, its possible you might have to "spank it in" for maximum effect (err -- so I've heard). Pictorial updates are always favored.
God bless those beautiful pinay.Amen to that!
WestCoast1
12-06-21, 02:20
We continue to get these two items, both on the open Board, and I get them from the gents (both new and seasoned). The vast majority of persons currently in RWML, including those experienced travelers, seem woefully misunderstanding the effect the pandemic has had on SE Asia. The over-riding sentiment from them is just two items:
1) "I plan to come in February (or substitute any future month). Do you think it will be open by then?" Nobody has any real idea when the foreigners will be allowed back in, including me. No crystal ball. "But its getting close, right?" Seemed that way, until it didn't.
2) "I can't wait to get back to this or that AC or Burgos bar (or LAC or Burgos street girls)". Without my crystal ball handy, there is no way to know if these places will be around after the foreigners come back. Just look at Cowboy Grill. The Remedios CG has already been completely remodeled inside and is now a sports bar with big-screen TV's; there is no chance that this previous entertainment venue will be back to its glory days. OTOH the Mabini CG has a sign outside saying they plan to re-open one day, the complete opposite of Remedios. Similar has happened on Burgos.
There still seems to be a feeling that one day soon the pandemic will just "be over". Its possible, but me-thinks the effects of the thing will continue on for quite some time after foreigners come back. I think the glory days are not over, but they may return later than one might think, and come in different forms.
Relax gents. I'm not trying to scare you off, but many of the old norms have changed, and some might not change back. Sad face.
Steve Nash
12-06-21, 20:04
I want to know the meaning of Home Quarantine here in Philippines, I'm doing my mandatory 6 days hotel quarantine in Manila now, and they told me after I get a second negative RT-PCR Covid test on the 5th day here (I got my first RT-PCR Covid test before my arrival), that I will have to do 8 days Home Quarantine (so I will complete the 14 days).
That doesn't make any sense, 2 negatives Covid test, one 72 hours before my arrival and a second one on the 5th day in Philippines should be enough to tell them that I don't have Covid, plus I'm fully vaccinated and I don't have any of the Covid symtoms. In any country: USA, Canada, Europe, etc. That should be enough for you to be Covid free!
So my question is, what does Home Quarantine means in Philippines, would I be allow to go outside? Is there someone who will be checking me all the time, like someone from the Barangay? How strict is this Home Quarantine?
Because even now in the strict hotel Quarantine I am right now, people can easily leave the hotel, I know there are cameras BUT at night there are no guards in the hotel, the reception girl told me that at night there is nobody watching us but that there are cameras everywhere.
If this is suppose to be a strict Hotel Quarantine, well is not that strict and secure, what about the Home Quarantine after 2 negatives test?
My guess is that nobody will be watching you, they will just trust you that you will stay home during those 8 days.
BTW, I know before (last year or this year before more than 30% of Filipinos got vaccinated) they were very strict, Westcoast told me they have a guard watching you on every floor, but now is different, they seem to be less strict during hotel Quarantine, so if anyone here has done Home Quarantine the last month or two months when they are less strict, please let me know how it works, either here or in private message.
Thanks in advanced.
PedroMorales
12-06-21, 20:12
Fully vaccinated travelers with a negative pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR test are required to complete facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results, taken on the 3rd day after arrival. After receiving negative test results, travelers are required to self-monitor until the 14th day, with the day of arrival being the first day.
Fully vaccinated travelers without a negative pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR test are required to complete facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result, taken on the 5th day. After that travelers are required to take home quarantine until their 10th day, with the day of arrival being the first day. Travelers must secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least 6 days.
There it is, without any perv pics.
Just get another test before the 14th day to keep them off your back. Also check out travel forums, not sites where sickos post dick pics.
I want to know the meaning of Home Quarantine here in Philippines, I'm doing my mandatory 6 days hotel quarantine in Manila now, and they told me after I get a second negative RT-PCR Covid test on the 5th day here (I got my first RT-PCR Covid test before my arrival), that I will have to do 8 days Home Quarantine (so I will complete the 14 days).
Thanks in advanced.
Even New Zealand has dropped the zero covid strategy and going towards living with it and flattening the curve. I think I said before that I suspect the live-with-it strategy is just allowing vaccinated people to spread covid. The unvaccinated are really screwed. The banning of south African countries is just going to encourage hiding infections, create chaos and harm and will probably not help in the long term.
SA suspects that there are incubators of HIV and Covid and resulting in interesting mutations like omicron. Hopefully the mutations lead to a weakened covid eventually. So far, I have not seen any news of death attributed to omicron. We shall see after Christmas, a super spreader opportunity.
I think all of us who live here suspected that this would happen. On the good news side of the ledger, the government is now undertaking a massive effort to vaccinated up to 3 million people a day, so the time of re-opening may night be postponed for very long..
Steve Nash
12-07-21, 19:25
Fully vaccinated travelers with a negative pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR test are required to complete facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results, taken on the 3rd day after arrival. After receiving negative test results, travelers are required to self-monitor until the 14th day, with the day of arrival being the first day.
Fully vaccinated travelers without a negative pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR test are required to complete facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result, taken on the 5th day. After that travelers are required to take home quarantine until their 10th day, with the day of arrival being the first day. Travelers must secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least 6 days.
There it is, without any perv pics.
Just get another test before the 14th day to keep them off your back. Also check out travel forums, not sites where sickos post dick pics.That Information is the outdated one, because if you see their source link, is usually this one:
https://philippines.travel/safetrip#inboundadvisory.
It says this (Effective December 3, 2021):
Fully vaccinated individuals are required to have a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hrs prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the 5th day, with the date of arrival being the first day. Upon release of a negative RT-PCR test, they may be discharged from facility quarantine. After which, they are enjoined to self-monitor up to the 14th day from the date of arrival.
The one I mention on my post before is from their official Source: IATF 152, December 2, 2021:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2021/12dec/20211202-IATF-RESO-152-RRD.pdf
Which says:
For fully vaccinated individuals. A negative Reverse Transcription. Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test conducted within seventy-two hours (72 hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin will be required. Upon arrival, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day, with the date of arrival being the first day. Regardless of a negative result, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine up to the fourteenth (14th) day from the date of arrival.
I'm hoping the first one above is the right one, so I will do only self-monitor and not home quarantine.
I will know more about this tomorrow (or later because is 2 am here in Philippines) when they come to my room for my second RT-PCR test, I hope is not too expensive!
WestCoast1
12-07-21, 20:19
There it is, without any perv pics.
Also check out travel forums, not sites where sickos post dick pics.We are finding it interesting that you are back another time complaining about perv pics, something we are about.
And he doesn't like America (see pic). Sad face. From his own words, Medellin thread:
Just popping in here to take a pop and remind people how stupid low class Americans are. And you think they are all US dependent, you Walmart winker.
America, land of fat women, does not figure.
Americans, of course, have no savings and most have no equity so they don't figure in the rainy day stakes. Too many hamburgers, not enough forward planning.Medellin thread:
You have watched too many Audie Murphy movies. Have you seen Colditz where US prisoners escape? In reality, none escaped. And Americans did no serious fighting in Europe. Bar the Ardennes where they were surrender monkeys and shot prisoners out of hand.
90% of German casualties were on the Eastern Front. The Yanks came in late, robbing and raping all round them. They even make movies boasting about their thieves.
Now off you go and polish up your brasses on the USS Harvey Milk.
This Brit invented the Internet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee Americans do not invent. They just rob (from German physicists after WW2) and rape. Away and eat your Big Mac and Coke.General Info thread:
Good. You trot out figures from the USA, a place I never wish to see again.
You mention Florida. I have also seen videos of gators ambushing hunters and the hunters running faster than Forrest Gump. Not for me.And by his own words, he's been recently moderated (see pic).
Don't tell what's-his-name, but the doctor continues to vaccinate the locals (see pic). Lets recap: he doesn't like the dick, the poonana, or Americans.
WestCoast1
12-07-21, 20:20
I will know more about this tomorrow (or later because is 2 am here in Philippines) when they come to my room for my second RT-PCR test, I hope is not too expensive!I have seen prices ranging from p2600 to p3300.
I have seen prices ranging from p2600 to p3300.Ouch! Does that come with a BBBJ at least?
WestCoast1
12-08-21, 01:49
Ouch! Does that come with a BBBJ at least?Negative. Cash only. However many places come to your home for that price. A friend had one recently, and got his results in the email 12 hours later.
WestCoast1
12-11-21, 10:44
I will know more about this tomorrow (or later because is 2 am here in Philippines) when they come to my room for my second RT-PCR test, I hope is not too expensive!
I have seen prices ranging from p2600 to p3300.
Ouch! Does that come with a BBBJ at least?Explained, in a pic. 12-hour results, p3200.
In the past I have always been pretty lucky in avoiding any lingering and unwelcome "bugs" from my mongering time in the PI. However, there is always a first time for everything. If anyone has some advice on the process necessary to procure pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, etc.) in the unfortunate event that I might need some in my upcoming visit, I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to respond to the post.
Thanks, G1.
In the past I have always been pretty lucky in avoiding any lingering and unwelcome "bugs" from my mongering time in the PI. However, there is always a first time for everything. If anyone has some advice on the process necessary to procure pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, etc.) in the unfortunate event that I might need some in my upcoming visit, I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to respond to the post.
Thanks, G1.Many storefront Doctors available for P400-600 per visit. See one on the first drip.
In the past I have always been pretty lucky in avoiding any lingering and unwelcome "bugs" from my mongering time in the PI. However, there is always a first time for everything. If anyone has some advice on the process necessary to procure pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, etc.) in the unfortunate event that I might need some in my upcoming visit, I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to respond to the post..I always travel with a cheap antibiotic called Ciproflaxin (Cipro) that is effective against gastrointestinal issues. In Colombia & Mexico I often take one in the morning when I know I will be eating in a place unknown to me. If / when I do get sick another dose has always cured it.
That is actually not too bad assuming they actually do the PCR test.
Just make sure you have good insurance if you test positive.
I have seen prices ranging from p2600 to p3300.
If anyone has some advice on the process necessary to procure pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, etc.) in the unfortunate event that I might need some in my upcoming visit, I would greatly appreciate it..Go in to any pharmacy and speak to the pharmacist. They are a wealth of information for free. Many controlled drugs in the west like antibiotics can be purchased over the counter in the PI and when there is a drug that controlled, enforcement is lax.
Only specially licensed docs can prescribe opiates and benzodiazepines and then you are limited by the number you can purchase. The first question I ask before I see a PI doc is whether they pay the extra licensing fee to have this capability. My doc has a special relationship with a Mercury drug store so that I can get a double allowed supply.
In the past I have always been pretty lucky in avoiding any lingering and unwelcome "bugs" from my mongering time in the PI. However, there is always a first time for everything. If anyone has some advice on the process necessary to procure pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, etc.) in the unfortunate event that I might need some in my upcoming visit, I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to respond to the post.
Thanks, G1.I always carry Zithromax Z Pack. You take two on day one and one every day for next five days. The antibiotics cover you for two weeks. I take it if I am mongering in Angeles having fun with many girls. If I am only with dating girls I do not take any. However when I come back home I develop a cold because of pollution, contaminated water, contaminated food, getting germs from kissing etc. Then I take Zithromax to clear everything. So far have not caught any STD. However I like to pre empt. I also take OTC medications when I travel.
Dashing Don
12-16-21, 00:06
In the past I have always been pretty lucky in avoiding any lingering and unwelcome "bugs" from my mongering time in the PI. However, there is always a first time for everything. If anyone has some advice on the process necessary to procure pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, etc.) in the unfortunate event that I might need some in my upcoming visit, I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to respond to the post..Try Truvada or Prep. They have a 99% rate of effectiveness.
GoodEnough
12-16-21, 11:12
Guinness,
If you don't plan to travel with any antibiotics (and the Z-Pack is a good suggestion) you can hit any doctor's office in just about any city and get a prescription for same without difficulty or judgment, assuming you're in a reasonably decent size city.
GE.
Guinness,
If you don't plan to travel with any antibiotics (and the Z-Pack is a good suggestion) you can hit any doctor's office in just about any city and get a prescription for same without difficulty or judgment, assuming you're in a reasonably decent size city.
GE.Totally agree. Any doctor any city will give you one shot and Z-pack.
Hahaha that's great.Was watching the Nobel prize awards. Philippines got one. This year's economic awards were for empirical works. All I can say is that some anonymous wolf of wall street made a brilliant investment in a smartphone and selfie stick on his last trip to PI. We are now benefiting from these investments that just keep paying and paying dividends. Just an observation.
Memory challenged is a big problem. For the non Covid variety, this might help remind people of what comes from these beautiful islands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WNMSo-sfAkWith omicron hitting the UK like a tsunami, it makes even quarantine dangerous. Trans continental traveling is becoming so cumbersome and the memories of hitting 2 countries in a 24 hour period is now becoming just a memory.
WestCoast1
12-20-21, 00:31
All I can say is that some anonymous wolf of wall street made a brilliant investment in a smartphone and selfie stick on his last trip to PI. We are now benefiting from these investments that just keep paying and paying dividends. Just an observation.Or, the wolf of Mabini street.
Morsel: A scrawny dividend for the fellas. After the ditty I hit the shower. Just before entering the shower I forgot something and stepped out of the CR and into the bedroom. Not quite satisfied with a double-vaxxing from the good doctor that morning, she had started diddling herself when I left. She didn't know I was standing there. I confess, I did not disturb her, and hesitated a minute before snapping a pic or two and headed back into the shower. There she was, vaccine dripping slowly from her, clitting herself to heaven. Shame on me. Have I violated my medical / ethical standards?
My spell-checker tried to change that to 'clotting'.
Yeah. Not just power but cell tower side thus internet still down. Hard to travel to places with power or working cell tower or telecom infrastructure.....
Don't know how they posted so some places must be up with telecom infrastructure.I'm replying to the general forum as it apples to everywhere not just Bohol:
It's standard practice when a known natural disaster is approaching to disconnect all services and utilities. The authorities are aware of the additional damage that can be done by fallen live power lines, water ingress into substations etc so they do this as a precautionary measure. These are restored when a particular trunk line or area is known to be clear or undamaged. It's not at all unusual for remote areas to have power etc disconnected for weeks.
Albert9989
12-20-21, 08:46
Yes, the impact is for mzny regions from siargao to north Palawan, and Bohol seems to be the most severely hitten.
Now they say 208 deaths globally but the count is increasing every day. 73 for only Bohol at this time.
Its really a huge impact and we or they still don't know the final count.
WestCoast1
12-20-21, 15:43
I'm replying to the general forum as it apples to everywhere not just Bohol:
It's standard practice when a known natural disaster is approaching to disconnect all services and utilities. The authorities are aware of the additional damage that can be done by fallen live power lines, water ingress into substations etc so they do this as a precautionary measure. These are restored when a particular trunk line or area is known to be clear or undamaged. It's not at all unusual for remote areas to have power etc disconnected for weeks.In one of my regular haunt provinces, every time there is a major storm that floods things out, all the restaurants (including Mcdo and Jollie) stop selling soda for 3-5 days. They get their water from underground wells that get stirred up from the storm, full of dirt and visible particles. Many locals also are without usable running water for baths and washing clothes for a few days. It is SOP there.
Off the typhoon topic.
Philippine Airlines sent me a e mail stating hotel names plus quarantine prices for 7 days through March 2022. Also there is a schedule for flights to various countries. They will supply free three meals a day during quarantine if you fly with them from North American departure cities. I did not see any recent regulations mentioning quarantine till March in Philippine government website. Has there been a decision on this? Maybe they informed PAL about re opening with quarantine and testing.
Engine Driver
12-21-21, 08:13
Every year, for the past 10,000 years, the Philippines has been hit with Typhoons at about this time, give or take a few weeks.
So why the fuck did they look all surprised when the typhoon hit this year? Don't they plan ahead? Like have a store of water, food and medical supplies in advance? Perhaps they could tie stuff down, get rid of rubbish and screw down the roof properly before the typhoon season. Just as night will follow day, a typhoon will hit again at this time next year and they will look all surprised again.
DzikaBomba
12-21-21, 08:30
Off the typhoon topic.
Philippine Airlines sent me a e mail stating hotel names plus quarantine prices for 7 days through March 2022. Also there is a schedule for flights to various countries. They will supply free three meals a day during quarantine if you fly with them from North American departure cities. I did not see any recent regulations mentioning quarantine till March in Philippine government website. Has there been a decision on this? Maybe they informed PAL about re opening with quarantine and testing.Selling Tickets and actually flying are two different things.
We all (or most of us) had this already.
You book the flight, they later cancel it and then you have to wait 6 Months or more for your money refund.
Its a free credit for the Airline.
There was an outage, decades ago, in the USA where the eastern half of the country lost power for some days. Cell phones, a new item then, all went down, whereas the old landlines kept functioning.
Then again, I got stuck in San Francisco, though I didn't live there, during the Loma Prieta "World Series" earthquake of 1989. By city policy, all electricity was immediately shut off. I could not buy gas to drive home. At the same time, every block had a warden to go around making sure that all gas powered appliances had the gas valve turned off. SF was more afraid of fire than of aftershock.
I'm replying to the general forum as it apples to everywhere not just Bohol:
It's standard practice when a known natural disaster is approaching to disconnect all services and utilities. The authorities are aware of the additional damage that can be done by fallen live power lines, water ingress into substations etc so they do this as a precautionary measure. These are restored when a particular trunk line or area is known to be clear or undamaged. It's not at all unusual for remote areas to have power etc disconnected for weeks.
Nothing has been openly stated about anything changing towards entry to the Philippines but something is going on. The public has been kept in the dark but everywhere you look businesses are working to reopen. The California Hotel in AC has been closed for a long time but they are preparing to reopen, several of the closed bars in AC and Subic are working to open again. A huge casino with a 400 room Hotel just opened on Clark, all we have is speculation at this point but since the pandemic everything has been at a standstill or complete shutdown. Now all of a sudden there is lots of activity. The Casino is Korean owned like much of AC but it wasn't built for retired expats. Inquiring minds want to know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90GFRKeub8&t=102s.
Soapy Smith
12-21-21, 11:39
There she was, vaccine dripping slowly from her, clitting herself to heaven. Shame on me. Have I violated my medical / ethical standards?Yes, poor bedside manner. You left her struggling after your procedure, because it appears she felt the procedure was not complete.
Soapy Smith
12-21-21, 11:46
There was an outage, decades ago, in the USA where the eastern half of the country lost power for some days. Cell phones, a new item then, all went down, whereas the old landlines kept functioning.I remember it well. It was especially centered on New York City. The cause was a major transmission line from upstate New York, perhaps from the Buffalo area or the St. Lawrence Seaway hydroelectric generators. Phone lines would not have been affected, except for those systems that got their power from that transmission line.
Soapy Smith
12-21-21, 11:51
Yes, the impact is for mzny regions from siargao to north Palawan, and Bohol seems to be the most severely hitten.
Now they say 208 deaths globally but the count is increasing every day. 73 for only Bohol at this time.
Its really a huge impact and we or they still don't know the final count.More recent reports say the toll is approaching 400. I have read reports about highest casualties in Bohol, and maybe Cebu second. I was surprised about this, because the map shows it was a category 5 when it hit Siargao and the southern tip of Leyte, then diminished somewhat to a 3 or 4 by the time it hit Bohol. Maybe the result of higher population density in Bohol, but the photos from Siargao are horrendous.
Soapy Smith
12-21-21, 12:17
Another explanation is that Bohol and Cebu may not have heeded evacuation orders as seriously. Many of the 6,000 plus deaths from Yolanda, centered in Tacloban, were because squatters near the Leyte Gulf waterfront did not evacuate when they should have. In part, the city didn't effectively carry out evacuation orders and many waterfront squatters may not have taken it seriously. The tidal surge was huge, washing right through the airport terminal and knocking out the control tower. I have video and photos of three Chinese freighters that were washed up on shore nearly 200 meters.
A few local governments have been exemplary in their preparedness and mitigation activities, others are far behind the curve.
Albert9989
12-21-21, 14:51
More recent reports say the toll is approaching 400. I have read reports about highest casualties in Bohol, and maybe Cebu second. I was surprised about this, because the map shows it was a category 5 when it hit Siargao and the southern tip of Leyte, then diminished somewhat to a 3 or 4 by the time it hit Bohol. Maybe the result of higher population density in Bohol, but the photos from Siargao are horrendous.Yes I saw the reports, numbers are increasing, and could increase again.
It was a strong hit.
Barney Rubber
12-21-21, 18:01
There was an outage, decades ago, in the USA where the eastern half of the country lost power for some days. Cell phones, a new item then, all went down, whereas the old landlines kept functioning.
Then again, I got stuck in San Francisco, though I didn't live there, during the Loma Prieta "World Series" earthquake of 1989. By city policy, all electricity was immediately shut off. I could not buy gas to drive home. At the same time, every block had a warden to go around making sure that all gas powered appliances had the gas valve turned off. SF was more afraid of fire than of aftershock.CBEA: you just brought back memories. I also was stuck in that San Fran quake in the late '80's. Stuck at the Marriott by the airport just as the World Series started! It was a pain in the ass to get back to LA.had to go over to Oakland and fly back through Vegas! Glad you made it out!
There was an outage, decades ago, in the USA where the eastern half of the country lost power for some days....I remember when FB went down for an hour or two and half the planet lost their minds. 😁.
Here is one of many about Bohol on social media. Does not look good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBEMddBnuqg
I remember when FB went down for an hour or two and half the planet lost their minds..
Soapy Smith
12-22-21, 23:16
Here is one of many about Bohol on social media. Does not look good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBEMddBnuqgThe good fortune of that family, aside from losing part of their roof, was having concrete walls for the house. Imagine those whose walls are woven bamboo and coco wood framing. Some of these videos are hard to watch, even for those of us with limited Filipino and Bisaya vocabulary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvFe4iuGeow
WestCoast1
12-23-21, 14:03
Yes, poor bedside manner. You left her struggling after your procedure, because it appears she felt the procedure was not complete.That's correct: "You can please (or vax) some of the ladies all the time, and all of the ladies some of the time. Those are the ones you want to concentrate on".
I learned a lesson from the girl and her clitting need. Later I let her try the hitachi, which went over very well. She asked to use it on almost every visit. I found that she spent more time vibing herself than we did pleasing sir Westy. I had to set a rule: Please Westy first, then the hitachi for the girl, then Westy again for round 2.
I found that she was willing to give extra goodies for vibe time. #yetanothermedical-ethicalvaxxingbreach.
Soapy Smith
12-23-21, 17:19
I learned a lesson from the girl and her clitting need. Later I let her try the hitachi, which went over very well. She asked to use it on almost every visit. I found that she spent more time vibing herself than we did pleasing sir Westy. I had to set a rule: Please Westy first, then the hitachi for the girl, then Westy again for round 2.
I found that she was willing to give extra goodies for vibe time. #yetanothermedical-ethicalvaxxingbreach.Sounds like she needs a more extended hospital stay than she originally anticipated.
Soapy Smith
12-23-21, 17:49
This story should give a sense of the desperate situation in the parts of the Philippines that were hit by the typhoon. I have friends in Southern Leyte in the municipality of St. Bernard. Their homes were demolished from the effects of wind and a flooding river. They have been living in some sort of evacuation tent. They have been told electric power will not be restored until February 2022. Relatives in Manila want to send them money, but they can't receive it because of the power outage. So, they, or at least some of them, are traveling to Tacloban by bus or jeepneys in order to receive money from the relatives. The trip is more than 150 km. and takes more than three hours. Imagine this happening across the multiple provinces that were hit hardest by the typhoon.
This story should give a sense of the desperate situation in the parts of the Philippines that were hit by the typhoon. I have friends in Southern Leyte in the municipality of St. Bernard. Their homes were demolished from the effects of wind and a flooding river. They have been living in some sort of evacuation tent. They have been told electric power will not be restored until February 2022. Relatives in Manila want to send them money, but they can't receive it because of the power outage. So, they, or at least some of them, are traveling to Tacloban by bus or jeepneys in order to receive money from the relatives. The trip is more than 150 km. and takes more than three hours. Imagine this happening across the multiple provinces that were hit hardest by the typhoon.The devastation and hardship is very hard for us westerns to believe and understand.
I know of a girl who had to have someone hand carry money to her relatives in Cebu. They had no water, no food and no electric. House roof was blown away and the landlord does not have money to repair it. Money remittance place were closed down due to lack of electric.
Another family in hard hit Bohol had their house completely blown away. Living in a tent now. Water and food are scarce. I sent them some money thru Cebuana. Local Cebuana would not dish out for wired funds. Instead used their limited supply of currency for pawned items where they make more money on loans than on money transfers. I had to cancel the transfer thru Cebuana and route it thru Palawan Pawnshop. Where they waited 3 hours in line hoping the Palawan generator would not run out of gasoline! Yes, they did get the money to find out price gouging is in effect.
Life is very hard in the typhoon hit areas. Please have some compassion.
El Moreno 92
12-24-21, 00:15
This story should give a sense of the desperate situation in the parts of the Philippines that were hit by the typhoon. I have friends in Southern Leyte in the municipality of St. Bernard. Their homes were demolished from the effects of wind and a flooding river. They have been living in some sort of evacuation tent. They have been told electric power will not be restored until February 2022. Relatives in Manila want to send them money, but they can't receive it because of the power outage. So, they, or at least some of them, are traveling to Tacloban by bus or jeepneys in order to receive money from the relatives. The trip is more than 150 km. and takes more than three hours. Imagine this happening across the multiple provinces that were hit hardest by the typhoon.Many prayers and Godspeed to them all. I've been there. Very welcoming and lovely people.
Many prayers and Godspeed to them all. I've been there. Very welcoming and lovely people.Funny how this board is silent when a calamity strikes and empathy and help are no where to be found. Guys, it is ok to help out.
GoodEnough
12-25-21, 01:13
This story should give a sense of the desperate situation in the parts of the Philippines that were hit by the typhoon. I have friends in Southern Leyte in the municipality of St. Bernard. Their homes were demolished from the effects of wind and a flooding river. They have been living in some sort of evacuation tent. They have been told electric power will not be restored until February 2022. Relatives in Manila want to send them money, but they can't receive it because of the power outage. So, they, or at least some of them, are traveling to Tacloban by bus or jeepneys in order to receive money from the relatives. The trip is more than 150 km. and takes more than three hours. Imagine this happening across the multiple provinces that were hit hardest by the typhoon.The number of regions and localities affected by the recent typhoon is greater than it was for Yolanda, though the latter was a stronger storm. The problem here appears to be getting sufficient assistance—shelter, food, water, electricity, cell phone service and yes, funds—to hundreds of thousands of people scattered over a reasonably broad geographic area. In the immediate aftermath of Yolanda, Tacloban and its environs were deluged with international aid. The US alone sent naval ships to provide fresh drinking water, heavy equipment, hospital services, technical expertise and a raft of other assistance. Not so this time, and the response from the rest of the international community has been fairly tepid. Here in Davao, the city government dispatched food, water and personnel to a couple of the areas, and I suppose that other municipalities—unaffected by Rai—did the same, but the magnitude of the disaster means that significant additional help is required and it has not been forthcoming.
GE.
I live near to the top floor of a high-rise condo building in Cebu City near the main Ayala Mall. On the night of the typhoon, the wind was so strong that the building was swaying. There is another foreigner living in the building in a unit a few floors above me, and he said he also felt the building swaying.
The storm lasted about 2 hours here. During the storm I went down to the parking lot area of the building to have a look outside, though sheltered from the wind and the rain it was terrifying to listen to the wind howling and screaming, to see the rain thrashing the trees outside and to see debris being blown and hurled around outside.
Living in a sturdy and well constructed building, there was no damage to the structure of the building, but there was minor damage to some areas. The swimming pool took a hit and was filled with all sorts of debris so it will have to be drained and thoroughly cleaned.
Though many people were evacuated from the shanty areas to storm shelters, some weren't, and I can't imagine what it was like for them when the storm hit if they were stuck in a ramshackle house with a flimsy roof and walls.
The mains electricity is still off in my area and has been since the night of the storm, but I am lucky because there is a back-up generator in the building which has been running 24/7 since the night of the storm.
From the news reports I have read, millions of people have no mains electricity or water, we initially had a water supply here in my condo building but it went off 2 days after the storm, though it resumed again a day ago. Whilst it was off they arranged for water trucks to bring water in and pump it into a storage tank in the basement, then we had to go down with buckets or other storage containers and you could either bring it back up to your room by yourself or wait (sometimes hours) for the staff to bring it up to your room.
When I went out the afternoon after the storm there was a lot of traffic about and some roads were gridlocked. The cause? Motorists panic-buying petrol! I passed by 3 petrol stations and they all had massive queues, 100+ cars and dozens of motorbikes outside each one.
And there were massive queues at bank ATM machines, some had about 100 people in the queue, one, in the Metro supermarket at the main Ayala mall, had about 250 people in a queue.
There is plenty of food available in the supermarkets in Cebu City which have all been open since the storm struck, but they are all closing early at 4 pm or 5 pm. There is a shortage of bottled drinking water, I have been out every day since the storm hit to look for drinking water, on approx 20 visits I only managed to buy bottled water on two separate occasions, once in a supermarket in Colon last Sunday, and then yesterday in the Metro supermarket at the Main Ayala mall.
The supermarkets were unable to accept card payments after the storm as their payment systems went offline, so it was strictly cash only. That was still the position as of 2 days ago.
I use Globe who provide the Internet service in my room, and apart from a couple of occasions when it went down for a while it has been very reliable, other foreigners I have talked to have told me they have been without Internet access for days.
The overnight curfew in Cebu City still kicks in at 12 midnight, 5 days ago in Lapu-Lapu it was brought forward from 11 pm to 9 pm, it was reported that it was done to prevent looting though I have not read any reports of any looting incidents.
The main Ayala Mall is still closed, the Ayala central block at the IT Park reopened today with most restaurants and shops inside open. I went to SM Seaside 3 days ago, it was open but only on the first 2 floors, and only a handful of shops and restaurants were open, the majority were still closed. They have opened up free phone-charging areas just outside the main 'inside' entrance (the sheltered area where the taxis drop you off), and I saw about 500 or 600 people sitting down on the ground, in small groups, all huddled around their phones which were plugged into the charging banks.
Some areas in Cebu City have had the mains electricity restored, and a couple of local bar / pubs are open, others are still closed.
I have now experienced two earthquakes and one typhoon, and all were in the Philippines! The first earthquake was in Manila in 1988 or 1989 (I can't remember the exact year), it was on my first visit to the Philippines, the other was in Davao City in 2018. On both occasions I was indoors when they struck. In Manila I was inside a hotel building up on the 20th floor and in Davao City I was inside a condo building up on the 25th floor, and on both occasions the buildings were violently shaking and swaying, though suffered no serious damage. The Davao City earthquake was a magnitude 7. 2. I'm not sure about the scale of the first one in Manila, but it was really terrifying and I thought the hotel building was going to collapse on me and that I was going to die!
Anyway, enough of my rambling.
My thoughts at this time are with all the less fortunate people here who have lost their homes and their businesses, and for the many hundreds who have lost their lives.
NB
This is just from what I have personally seen here in Cebu City, and from what I have seen Cebu City has not suffered too much damage. But there are many reports of serious devastation and damage in other areas of Cebu island and in neighbouring islands.
Steve Nash
12-26-21, 05:14
This story should give a sense of the desperate situation in the parts of the Philippines that were hit by the typhoon. I have friends in Southern Leyte in the municipality of St. Bernard. Their homes were demolished from the effects of wind and a flooding river. They have been living in some sort of evacuation tent. They have been told electric power will not be restored until February 2022. Relatives in Manila want to send them money, but they can't receive it because of the power outage. So, they, or at least some of them, are traveling to Tacloban by bus or jeepneys in order to receive money from the relatives. The trip is more than 150 km. and takes more than three hours. Imagine this happening across the multiple provinces that were hit hardest by the typhoon.I think traveling 3 hours in bus is not big deal for most Filipinos, specially if is for money.
On December 24, I travel in bus from 11 am to 10 pm, that was a 11 hours bus ride, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.
Some advices from people in Philippines right now, don't go south of Cebu right now, wait until January at least, you won't have fun there right now, not electricity in the whole city, the few areas that have, are condos or areas running power with generators only. The condo I was staying for 2 nights had their generators running 3 times a day, from 6 am to 8 am, 11 am to 1 pm, and 6 pm to 8 pm. Imagine living in the 17+ floor without elevator, like it happened to me. Even worse all the bars / restaurant in Mabolo, Mandaue, Ayala, IT Park, and even Mango were all close at night. I was only able to find 1 bar in Mango open, a bar owned by a foreigner. I only lasted 2 nights in Cebu City, after I got what I needed (the reason I went there in the first place after the Typhoon), I left that city to north of Cebu, where there is electrity, I spent afew days in a beach tourist island north of Cebu and the bars are open, and there is normal electricity.
BTW if you are in Cebu city, Globe is not working there, but Smart are working in case you need load.
For those wandering why the power are not working in Cebu for 10 days now, is because there is alot of electricity post that are almost falling down in the street, roads, houses and almost everywhere, so they are fixing all those posts so people won't get kill electrocuted, so once they finish fixing all those electric posts, they will put the power back. That's what I been told by some of my friends.
WestCoast1
12-26-21, 17:03
SN, Mdemde, good boots-on-the-ground reporting.
Some advices from people in Philippines right now, don't go south of Cebu right now, wait until January at least, you won't have fun there right now, not electricity in the whole city, the few areas that have, are condos or areas running power with generators only. The condo I was staying for 2 nights had their generators running 3 times a day, from 6 am to 8 am, 11 am to 1 pm, and 6 pm to 8 pm. Imagine living in the 17+ floor without elevator, like it happened to me. Both a typhoon issue, and a pandemic issue. Not sure if I reported it a year ago, but my residence at the time had lost one of its two elevators pre-covid. During the pandemic, the second elevator failed, and pandemic supply-chain issues prevented its repair for some weeks. Almost everyone bailed from that place within a week. Who wants to walk up / down 7 flights of stairs, several times daily. You might think its easy to just hit airbb or Agoda and find new digs, but the majority of residences (condo's, apartments, and hotels) were simply closed for this / that reason for the duration of the pandemic, and changing residence was at times either difficult, risky, and / or more expensive.
Even worse all the bars / restaurant in Mabolo, Mandaue, Ayala, IT Park, and even Mango were all close at night. I was only able to find 1 bar in Mango open, a bar owned by a foreigner. I only lasted 2 nights in Cebu City, after I got what I needed (the reason I went there in the first place after the Typhoon), I left that city to north of Cebu, where there is electrity, I spent afew days in a beach tourist island north of Cebu and the bars are open, and there is normal electricity.Many government departments are staffed at levels far below normal levels during Covid. Staffing depended previously on government decree or CQ status. Typical is 50% staffing (or 30% or less, depending).
For those wandering why the power are not working in Cebu for 10 days now, is because there is alot of electricity post that are almost falling down in the street, roads, houses and almost everywhere, so they are fixing all those posts so people won't get kill electrocuted, so once they finish fixing all those electric posts, they will put the power back. That's what I been told by some of my friends.See above. That, and supply-chain issues. Where previously it might have taken them 3-5 days to repair an electrical system, it might now take several times that.
BTW if you are in Cebu city, Globe is not working there, but Smart are working in case you need load.One of my girls didn't communicate for several days, not even in FB to cry her emergency. A globe user. Then this cryptic message: "We are under the water here". She did not reply to my response for 48 hours, then: "My globe works now". I see, things are better? No longer under the water? "No its sh*t for us. Water f*cked everything and top of our home its f*cked and people is get sick here its f*cked". Check.
Mdemde's discussion of a lack of drinking water, even for him, should show the dire-ness of the situation for millions of people.
The number of regions and localities affected by the recent typhoon is greater than it was for Yolanda, though the latter was a stronger storm. The problem here appears to be getting sufficient assistanceshelter, food, water, electricity, cell phone service and yes, fundsto hundreds of thousands of people scattered over a reasonably broad geographic area. In the immediate aftermath of Yolanda, Tacloban and its environs were deluged with international aid. The US alone sent naval ships to provide fresh drinking water, heavy equipment, hospital services, technical expertise and a raft of other assistance. Not so this time, and the response from the rest of the international community has been fairly tepid. Here in Davao, the city government dispatched food, water and personnel to a couple of the areas, and I suppose that other municipalitiesunaffected by Raidid the same, but the magnitude of the disaster means that significant additional help is required and it has not been forthcoming.
GE.In your opinion do you believe the lack of USA and other western countries response and aid is due to the weaken relationships with the Dutere administration?
BTW, there are very few news articles in the USA about this disaster and lack of water and food. Internet or televised news. A day or two after Yolanda Anderson Cooper / CNN was on the ground. Then 3-4 days later the Philippine government aid people were there. An embarrassed PH government had only 1 out of 3 see-130 cargo planes working and emptied disaster funds stolen long ago.
Now 8 years later it is the same all over again except for the lack of international help.
Btw, does anyone know the estimated cost to build a cinder block 600 sq ft house with a corrugated galvanized metal roof on a cement slab floor?
WestCoast1
12-27-21, 00:12
An embarrassed PH government had only 1 out of 3 see-130 cargo planes working and emptied disaster funds stolen long ago.
Now 8 years later it is the same all over again except for the lack of international help."Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss" -- Pete Townshend, Won't Get Fooled Again, The Who.
GoodEnough
12-27-21, 00:44
In your opinion do you believe the lack of USA and other western countries response and aid is due to the weaken relationships with the Dutere administration?
I do't have enough facts to form an opinion, and I'm mystified. Perhaps the rest of the world is too focused on dealing with the succeeding waves of COVID crises to divert attention and funds for this effort. But really, I have no idea.
GE.
WestCoast1
12-27-21, 01:24
I do't have enough facts to form an opinion, and I'm mystified. Perhaps the rest of the world is too focused on dealing with the succeeding waves of COVID crises to divert attention and funds for this effort. But really, I have no idea.
GE.It looks great when you are able to buy (borrow, steal, or otherwise appropriate) recent military hardware from other countries. Five Black Hawk helicopters (bringing the total to 16), Korean rocket launching systems, a Korean warship (see link), at least one UAV, and C-130 Hercs (see pics). Then you can't fix the electric grid after a storm, or provide water. Certainly the pandemic doesn't help a natural disaster.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/08/06/1941064/philippine-navy-commissions-former-south-korean-warship
GoodEnough
12-27-21, 06:34
https://youtu.be/g5STK9K9IjU
This is a video of less than 2 minutes in length, that describes the nightmare aftermath of the typhoon.
GE.
Albert9989
12-28-21, 00:18
https://youtu.be/g5STK9K9IjU
This is a video of less than 2 minutes in length, that describes the nightmare aftermath of the typhoon.
GE.That's exactly what my contacts in Inabanga, bohol, told to me.
Up to now, they have very few supplies, small water and rice, no house or roof at all.
They stay outside exposed to the rain.
Road to Tagbilaran is awful.
No power, no network or very small on some places.
Official says that it will take two months to get some electricity back.
Last day they had 2 kilos rice and 2 canned sardines.
And yes, nothing talk about that on the news here, they are silently left alone outside with about nothing.
Soapy Smith
12-29-21, 02:14
I think traveling 3 hours in bus is not big deal for most Filipinos, specially if is for money. On December 24, I travel in bus from 11 am to 10 pm, that was a 11 hours bus ride, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.I think you missed the point. Some of the Southern Leyte family members had previously traveled several days all the way to Manila by bus, but not under these desperate conditions. The demolition of many households and power not to be restored until February was the point. And, as GE and others report, this is widespread. A single three-hour bus ride is not a big deal, except that these scenes are being repeated across many provinces, when, in fact, most of the affected households don't even have the money for bus fare to get to some sort of safe haven.
In your opinion do you believe the lack of USA and other western countries response and aid is due to the weaken relationships with the Dutere administration?
BTW, there are very few news articles in the USA about this disaster and lack of water and food. Internet or televised news. A day or two after Yolanda Anderson Cooper / CNN was on the ground. Then 3-4 days later the Philippine government aid people were there. An embarrassed PH government had only 1 out of 3 see-130 cargo planes working and emptied disaster funds stolen long ago.
Now 8 years later it is the same all over again except for the lack of international help.My three cents: Duterte's stance toward the US may be part of the problem, but Western countries like the US have other distractions: the pandemic, threats of internal violence, Russia crouched at the Ukraine border, and a generally unacknowledged spread of authoritarianism around the globe.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/12/the-autocrats-are-winning/620526/
I have found the most current news on the aftermath of Rai, not with media in the states, but with Reuters, Al Jazeera, and BBC. The Los Angeles Times did run a story on organizations to which individuals can send contributions, but, as Dg notes, there is no substantial Western governmental response. For that matter, Duterte's friends in China and Russia haven't helped either.
I like Anderson Cooper, but the "Anderson Cooper effect" (actually, Western news outlets generally) is part of the problem. He showed up after Yolanda sooner than most Filipino forces, but probably because CNN could afford a private helicopter, whereas the Philippine government's aircraft were either inoperable or non-existent. He broadcast video of body bags lying around Tacloban and mass, unmarked graves, and compared it to Japanese soldiers present at Fukushima within a couple days, poking around with sticks looking for bodies in the rubble. Japan is a first world country; the Philippines is third world. Multiple land routes connect Tokyo to Fukushima, whereas travel from Manila to Tacloban is a several-day journey, involving a ferry that connects Bicol to Samar, and, in the aftermath of Yolanda, the San Juanico Bridge connecting Samar and Leyte had been closed due to storm damage. Air and sea were the only ways to Tacloban, and the airport was badly damaged and its control tower knocked down. The US Air Force built a temporary air control system after several days, and a US aircraft carrier capable of desalinating salt water arrived later as well. But Cooper's comparison between the situation in Tacloban and Fukushima reflected more ignorance than wisdom.
By the "Anderson Cooper effect" I mean the total focus on calamity and immediate response because these things attract viewers in the West--whereas disasters like Yolanda and Rai are defined primarily by the inability of poor countries to prepare for and mitigate against the effects of increasingly strong typhoons and sea-level rise. The rubble shown in the various news photos from Rai suggests the flimsy construction for most homes of poor Filipinos in the provinces. Compare this to the increasingly stringent building codes that Western countries have developed in the follow-up to natural disasters. But to Anderson Cooper's credit, he did get in a summary interview with Arnel Pineda (Filipino lead singer of the band, Journey) at NAIA airport before leaving after two and a half days for the states. Presumably Manny Pacquiao was unavailable and Pia Wurtzbach had not yet been crowned Miss Universe.
The short answer to the cost of the concrete and metal home Dg proposes is probably somewhere north of $5,000 dollars (250,000 php). More importantly, it's many times more than poor families in the provinces can afford. That's why the disaster photos show all this broken coco wood framework and woven bamboo walls scattered across the landscape of Dingat Island, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, and Bohol.
Unfortunately, countries like the Philippines have a top-down approach to disaster management with the military and national police in charge. So the purchase of Blackhawk helicopters, C-130's, and Korean naval vessels takes precedence over building community resilience from the bottom-up.
I think you missed the point. Some of the Southern Leyte family members had previously traveled several days all the way to Manila by bus, but not under these desperate conditions. The demolition of many households and power not to be restored until February was the point. And, as GE and others report, this is widespread. A single three-hour bus ride is not a big deal, except that these scenes are being repeated across many provinces, when, in fact, most of the affected households don't even have the money for bus fare to get to some sort of safe haven.
My three cents: Duterte's stance toward the US may be part of the problem, but Western countries like the US have other distractions: the pandemic, threats of internal violence, Russia crouched at the Ukraine border, and a generally unacknowledged spread of authoritarianism around the globe.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/12/the-autocrats-are-winning/620526/
I have found the most current news on the aftermath of Rai, not with media in the states, but with Reuters, Al Jazeera, and BBC. The Los Angeles Times did run a story on organizations to which individuals can send contributions, but, as Dg notes, there is no substantial Western governmental response. For that matter, Duterte's friends in China and Russia haven't helped either.
I like Anderson Cooper, but the "Anderson Cooper effect" (actually, Western news outlets generally) is part of the problem. He showed up after Yolanda sooner than most Filipino forces, but probably because CNN could afford a private helicopter, whereas the Philippine government's aircraft were either inoperable or non-existent. He broadcast video of body bags lying around Tacloban and mass, unmarked graves, and compared it to Japanese soldiers present at Fukushima within a couple days, poking around with sticks looking for bodies in the rubble. Japan is a first world country; the Philippines is third world. Multiple land routes connect Tokyo to Fukushima, whereas travel from Manila to Tacloban is a several-day journey, involving a ferry that connects Bicol to Samar, and, in the aftermath of Yolanda, the San Juanico Bridge connecting Samar and Leyte had been closed due to storm damage. Air and sea were the only ways to Tacloban, and the airport was badly damaged and its control tower knocked down. The US Air Force built a temporary air control system after several days, and a US aircraft carrier capable of desalinating salt water arrived later as well. But Cooper's comparison between the situation in Tacloban and Fukushima reflected more ignorance than wisdom.
By the "Anderson Cooper effect" I mean the total focus on calamity and immediate response because these things attract viewers in the West--whereas disasters like Yolanda and Rai are defined primarily by the inability of poor countries to prepare for and mitigate against the effects of increasingly strong typhoons and sea-level rise. The rubble shown in the various news photos from Rai suggests the flimsy construction for most homes of poor Filipinos in the provinces. Compare this to the increasingly stringent building codes that Western countries have developed in the follow-up to natural disasters. But to Anderson Cooper's credit, he did get in a summary interview with Arnel Pineda (Filipino lead singer of the band, Journey) at NAIA airport before leaving after two and a half days for the states. Presumably Manny Pacquiao was unavailable and Pia Wurtzbach had not yet been crowned Miss Universe.
The short answer to the cost of the concrete and metal home Dg proposes is probably somewhere north of $5,000 dollars (250,000 php). More importantly, it's many times more than poor families in the provinces can afford. That's why the disaster photos show all this broken coco wood framework and woven bamboo walls scattered across the landscape of Dingat Island, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, and Bohol.
Unfortunately, countries like the Philippines have a top-down approach to disaster management with the military and national police in charge. So the purchase of Blackhawk helicopters, C-130's, and Korean naval vessels takes precedence over building community resilience from the bottom-up.Very good report.
Sadly the Filipino people are and will continue to pay a steep price for Dutere's leaning and attachment to China. Some have already paid the ultimate price of death. Others will pay that price too in the near future.
I am in contact with some typhoon victims in Bohol and seen pictures and videos of the aftermath. Not much help in on the way. Most homes are destroyed. I doubt if much international help is on the way. IMO the future for the average Filipinos does not look bright with any of the presidential candidates.
90% of the homes need extensive rebuilding. Almost all do not have the money to do so. Let alone to replace the roofs. Most do not have enough of framing to use a tarp. I have not mentioned food or water.
I can see civil unrests coming from the docile people if nothing substantial happens soon.
Nightrider1
12-29-21, 11:15
Does anyone remember all the yolanda aid that came to Phil and then was never distributed to the poor people needing it because in the hurry to get it there the senders did not fill out the proper documentation. It sat on the docks or warehouses for years and was then carted to the landfill. I bet nobody even lost their job for that travesty.
Soapy Smith
12-30-21, 01:55
As Datiao points out, I was a bit hasty in my claim that there's no international governmental assistance for Rai's devastation. For example, UNICEF claims to be on the scene:
https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-rushes-aid-philippines-after-super-typhoon-rai/39210?utm_content=typhoonresp&ms=cpc_dig_2020_typhoon_20201102_google_typhoonresp_delve_None&initialms=cpc_dig_2020_typhoon_20201102_google_typhoonresp_delve_None&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_6KhtZmK9QIVCsiGCh1ulADPEAAYASAAEgIjxfD_BwE
In this report UNICEF claims to deliver, or perhaps has delivered, the following, which had apparently been pre-positioned in a Cotabato City (Mindanao) warehouse:
• around 2,000 family hygiene and dignity kits containing essentials such as water buckets, soap, toothpaste and sanitary napkins.
• 2,767 packs of water purification tablets.
• 2,018 bottles of household disinfectant.
• 2 collapsible bulk water storage containers.
• 50 emergency latrine kits.
• 25 tents for district hospitals and rural health units.
Given the size and extent of devastation, this seems like a drop in the bucket. Similarly, Ireland has committed the equivalent of $280 K to the World Food Program in response to Rai:
https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/ireland-gives-wfp-first-donation-typhoon-odette-response
Also, Relief Web reported yesterday (12 days after Rai's impact) that USAID has "allocated" $20 million in aid to the Typhoon Rai recovery, but USAID's website does not have updated information about these activities. In other words, "the check is in the mail," and this lack of information from USAID may partially explain the lack of attention from US media outlets. This is in sharp contrast to the response to Haiyan (Yolanda). Where's Anderson Cooper when you need him? Maybe I need a new schtick.
https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/usaid-allocates-additional-19-million-humanitarian-assistance-help-people
https://www.usaid.gov/humanitarian-assistance/philippines
Regarding the Chinese donation of rice, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Privado acknowledged that "transportation remained a challenge in reaching the typhoon victims but more than 20 trucks carrying 1,000 to 1,400 food packs each were in transit to different areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. " Twenty trucks are on their way: problem solved. The age old problem of logistics and communication from Manila to the provinces. I still think that suffering on the ground that Dg and I, and probably others, are hearing from friends in the Philippines is badly disconnected from pledges of "allocated" funds in international relief.
PedroMorales
12-30-21, 02:31
UNICEF claims to be on the scene:
2,767 packs of water purification tablets.
2,018 bottles of household disinfectant.
Regarding the Chinese donation of rice, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Privado acknowledged that "transportation remained a challenge in reaching the typhoon victims but more than 20 trucks carrying 1,000 to 1,400 food packs each were in transit to different areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. " Twenty trucks are on their way: problem solved. 2,767 very exact numbers from those serial parasites. USAID are no more than a criminal mafia. The Chinese are better and should use their own logistics, land troops, carriers etc.
I was involved in the Asian tsunami in a minor way and on a voluntary basis. Indians and Japanese did good work. Chinese were still working out their logistics, blue water navy etc. South China Sea shows they now have that capability.
Anyone wishing to donate should contact expat Visayan priests as they would have the local on the ground networks. That is what I have done in the past.
Pledges are pledges. Doesn't mean the money is in the bank. I still can remember the Yolanda pledges never making it to the shores of the Philippines.
Most pledges come with restrictions and conditions. I. e. Most Yolanda pledges never arrived to Tacloban because the major donors wanted to open an international office to be the oversight of the funds and projects. The fundings would bypass Customs, Senators, Govenors and many other hands with the international office. The international office never got approval.
My friends in Bohol got 2 kilos of rice and 2 cans of sardines from Presedential candidate VP Leni and that was it.
I sent my bohol friends money to buy a couple 50 kg sacks of rice and 100 cans of sardines. Hoping this would last the 3 families for a while. They divvy up the rice and sardines into 50 relief bags of 2 kg rice and 2 sardines and handed it out to their neighbors.
They told me they couldn't let the neighbors starve! Filipino thinking is different than ours. Thank God.
Soapy Smith
12-31-21, 04:20
2,767 very exact numbers from those serial parasites. USAID are no more than a criminal mafia. The Chinese are better and should use their own logistics, land troops, carriers etc.
Anyone wishing to donate should contact expat Visayan priests as they would have the local on the ground networks. That is what I have done in the past.Lots of reasons to criticize USAID. Like large international NGOs they are very Western in their thinking, and those models often do not match realities on the ground in developing countries. But evidence for the mafia comparison might be hard to find.
Chinese should use their own logistics, troops and carriers? That's what they typically do in development projects. They don't hire locals, they provide their own people and equipment, which gives them control and provides little if any injection of money into the local economies of developing countries. In some of their projects in Africa they used Chinese prisoners as laborers and then refused to repatriate them back to China.
The recommendation about parish priests in the Philippines may be a good idea, but I don't think most of us know how to contact them.
My friends in Bohol got 2 kilos of rice and 2 cans of sardines from Presedential candidate VP Leni and that was it.
I sent my bohol friends money to buy a couple 50 kg sacks of rice and 100 cans of sardines. Hoping this would last the 3 families for a while. They divvy up the rice and sardines into 50 relief bags of 2 kg rice and 2 sardines and handed it out to their neighbors.
They told me they couldn't let the neighbors starve! Filipino thinking is different than ours. Thank God.Humanitarian relief can become very political. Bong Marcos and other presidential candidates also promised to provide relief, so, despite the puny packages, Leni at least followed through. Following the 2013 earthquake in Bohol, then VP Binay arranged for international aid food to be repackaged into plastic bags emblazoned with words that suggested the contents were provided by Jejomar Binay, who had declared his intent to run for President in 2016.
A group of teenagers associated with my town's local Fil-Am association decided to organize a balikbayan box relief effort (clothes, tools, dry food) for Tacloban in the days following Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). I suggested to the association's president that money is usually a better solution, because it gets to where it's needed more quickly, injects money into the local economy, and avoids the tedious work of unpacking, storing, repacking and trying to match the contents of balikbayan boxes to needs on the ground. They followed through anyway, packing and shipping 14 boxes, apparently addressed to families they knew in Tacloban.
I went to Tacloban the following summer, but before going I met with a Fil-Am mother who helped the kids organize the effort. I asked whether she had gotten advice to send money instead. She said she had, but her parents, who live in Tacloban, told her there were problems in aid distribution. The Red Cross had lots of rice to distribute but didn't have enough feet on the ground to do distribution in Samar and Leyte. So, they turned it over to local barangay officials. Those officials then turned it into a political reward system. Some citizens got five kilos, close patrons of the officials got 7. 5 kilos, and her parents, who weren't close to the barangay officials, got 2. 5 kilos. When I was in Manila in summer 2014 I met a guy who had spent a lot of time in Tacloban during the recovery period. I told him my friend's story, and he confirmed that he'd seen it happening a lot.
Dg's friends' sharing their rice and sardines is consistent with Philippine cultural practices that reflect their commitment to their communities and families. Check out the photo below. Imagine something like this in the countries where most of us live? It's also why p4ps in Cebu, Manila, and AC send home money to their families under the lifelong obligations of utang na loob. Americans especially, but most Anglo cultures as well, think in more individualistic and self-interested ways and can't relate to the girls' feelings of obligation to their families. I agree with Dg: thank God, even though I'm an agnostic.
GoodEnough
12-31-21, 04:54
2,767 very exact numbers from those serial parasites. USAID are no more than a criminal mafia. The Chinese are better and should use their own logistics, land troops, carriers etc.
I have worked with and for USAID in more than 30 countries, over approximately 4 decades, and never did I witness any behavior analogous to that of a "a criminal mafia," which is a tautological term. I usually skip posts written by this guy since they are typically little more than unsubstantiated, vitriolic rants based on little more, evidently, than odium for the country. In this case however, I couldn't ignore it, given that virtually all of the USAID folks with whom I've worked—most of whom are locally-hired staff—have been capable, intelligent, hardworking and have exhibited nothing but integrity. Yes, the programs funded by the agency often reflect little knowledge of the cultures and countries in which they are implemented, and yes, some are more effective than others, but in this respect USAID-funded programs differ little from those implemented by virtually all bilateral donor organizations. That said, I've also worked for and with Australian and Japanese development agencies and, as with USAID have never seen one iota of corrupt behavior, though I have witnessed a lack of cultural understanding.
At my age, I suppose I should no longer be astounded at the profound ignorance of some of those who post sweeping generalizations with no basis in cited facts. Here in the Philippines, the overwhelming majority of USAID's program staff is comprised of Filipino (a) s, managed by a small core of Americans. The major issue underlying the lack of efficacy of several programs, and again this isn't endemic solely to USAID, is that development priorities are typically defined by politicians and bureaucrats in the home countries of the aid organizations, and who are thus far removed from local recipients and who exhibit no intimate understanding of cultural mores. However, within those constraints, it's been my experience that local aid staff, and the contractors whom they select, do the best they can within the constraints imposed. It's also true that, despite constraints and sometimes badly flawed program designs, some of the aid programs—and I could cite several—have been extremely successful and have had extraordinarily positive impacts on those whom they were designed to serve. Having designed and implemented a range of studies designed to measure such impacts, I know this to be true.
Aside from some small barangay (and in rare cases) province-wide projects, USAID is largely out of the infrastructure business, and has been totally removed from large-scale infrastructure projects for years here in the Philippines. The Japanese, Koreans and Chinese, who do continue to fund these projects do hire myriads of local staff—through local contractors—to perform much of the work, though the engineering designs and project oversight roles are retained by the funding agencies. So to argue that there's little economic impact on the local populations is categorically false. Such claims also seek to obviate the fact that the projects, once completed, not only help to create local employment, but often have huge economic impacts on the local economy. This is particularly true in the case of transportation projects, including roads and bridges, which are sorely needed here.
It's fruitless to hope that the OP will eventually learn to espouse and sustain any logical, fact-based arguments, but as someone who has spent his entire professional life in international development, I did want to do what I could to respond to the skewed ramblings of someone who has no grasp whatsoever of the subject (s) about which he speaks.
GE.
Locamotive
12-31-21, 09:53
Lots of reasons to criticize USAID. Like large international NGOs they are very Western in their thinking, and those models often do not match realities on the ground in developing countries. But evidence for the mafia comparison might be hard to find.
Chinese should use their own logistics, troops and carriers? That's what they typically do in development projects. They don't hire locals, they provide their own people and equipment, which gives them control and provides little if any injection of money into the local economies of developing countries. In some of their projects in Africa they used Chinese prisoners as laborers and then refused to repatriate them back to China.
The recommendation about parish priests in the Philippines may be a good idea, but I don't think most of us know how to contact them.
Humanitarian relief can become very political. Bong Marcos and other presidential candidates also promised to provide relief, so, despite the puny packages, Leni at least followed through. Following the 2013 earthquake in Bohol, then VP Binay arranged for international aid food to be repackaged into plastic bags emblazoned with words that suggested the contents were provided by Jejomar Binay, who had declared his intent to run for President in 2016..Corruption. Plane and simple. This is a common theme in 3rd world countries. Our retarded Vice President went to Guatemala awhile back and said more money would be poured into Central America to help those people so they won't immigrate to the US. She is either very stupid or very naive, that money, most of it will never reach the people. Never has, never will.
PedroMorales
12-31-21, 16:53
USAID is generally regarded as a CIA front. No doubt you were well paid. How about one single field report? Just link to one actual report you gave. All I know is when I reported from Angeles, you objected to my English that I called putas skanks. Here is a link on USAID, the CIA's bandaid on their crimes. There are thousands more https://www.telesurenglish.net/opinion/USAID-or-US-CIA-20160919-0013.html.
Again, if you want to help, give to those networked Pinoy expats with direct contacts on the ground, not to those who have grown fat from such miseries. But this is only a drive by. You post about how you earned your mega salary and let the other guy post his dick pics. I read your first few lines, then cut and pasted. More than you are worth but ymmv.
I have worked with and for USAID in more than 30 countries, over approximately 4 decades, and never did I witness any behavior analogous to that of a "a criminal mafia," which is a tautological term. I usually skip posts written by this guy since they are typically little more than unsubstantiated, vitriolic rants based on little more, evidently, than odium for the country. In this case however, I couldn't ignore it, given that virtually.
Soapy Smith
12-31-21, 23:16
Corruption. Plane and simple. This is a common theme in 3rd world countries. Our retarded Vice President went to Guatemala awhile back and said more money would be poured into Central America to help those people so they won't immigrate to the US. She is either very stupid or very naive, that money, most of it will never reach the people. Never has, never will.Considering the accomplishments of her parents, I suspect Vice President Harris is not retarded. And I suspect she knows the differences in meaning between "plane" and "plain." And there are, of course, alternatives to sending financial aid into the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador). For example, we could pay local armed militias to hang out at the wall and pick off individuals as they try to cross the Rio Grande.
Historically, there has often been corruption in the ways that some countries used foreign assistance, but bi-lateral aid countries have also learned from earlier mistakes. You might want to reread GE's characterization of the ways that most of the projects he has worked with are held accountable. You might also want to check out the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It's an organization of 38 countries who provide most of the world's bi-lateral foreign aid. Within OECD the member countries exchange notes from previous experiences with recipient countries and use this information to coordinate their ongoing aid packages. This makes it increasingly difficult for individual developing countries to pull the wool over the eyes of later donor countries. This doesn't mean donor countries don't make mistakes, but they spend time comparing notes with other OECD members and with folks at the World Bank, IMF, and various regional development banks to get a handle on potential corruption.
Engine Driver
01-01-22, 12:45
Considering the accomplishments of her parents, I suspect Vice President Harris is not retarded. And I suspect she knows the differences in meaning between "plane" and "plain." And there are, of course, alternatives to sending financial aid into the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador). For example, we could pay local armed militias to hang out at the wall and pick off individuals as they try to cross the Rio Grande.
Historically, there has often been corruption in the ways that some countries used foreign assistance, but bi-lateral aid countries have also learned from earlier mistakes. You might want to reread GE's characterization of the ways that most of the projects he has worked with are held accountable. You might also want to check out the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It's an organization of 38 countries who provide most of the world's bi-lateral foreign aid. Within OECD the member countries exchange notes from previous experiences with recipient countries and use this information to coordinate their ongoing aid packages. This makes it increasingly difficult for individual developing countries to pull the wool over the eyes of later donor countries. This doesn't mean donor countries don't make mistakes, but they spend time comparing notes with other OECD members and with folks at the World Bank, IMF, and various regional development banks to get a handle on potential corruption.This thread is turning into a socialist propaganda page, led by a bunch of retired NGO do gooders.
A bit hypocritical don't you think? Fucking the very girls in shithole countries your generous donors sent you to save?
There are far better sites to discuss the achievements of your favorite Democrat politicians. Your fawning praise of a couple of incompetent twits is becoming tiresome. In fact, there is a thread called American Politics, right here on ISG. How convenient! Your political views would be better appreciated there.
Perhaps there you could discuss, amongst other things, the remarkable success FJB had in the pull out of Afghanistan, or how Giggles is winning the battle against illegal immigrants down on the border. You can also discuss how FJB's corrupt mates at the Federal Reserve are totally in control of inflation, even thought it's running at 7%. That's at a 39 year high. They would also appreciate a parallel discussion on gas prices ATM. Oh that's right. All Democrats drive Teslas, even though their electricity comes from coal, so they are immune from gas price rises. Other topics you could discuss are the 400,000 deaths due to Covid in the USA since January 2021. That's more than the deaths under DJT. But who's counting? And how's the vaccine rollout going? Last.
I heard, highly trained military personnel were being sacked after refusing the jab.
"The first thing Joe Biden and I will do in the White House is get this virus under control," Harris said in November 2020.
"We're eight months into this pandemic and Donald Trump still doesn't have a plan to get this virus under control. I do," Biden said late in 2020 on the campaign trail, blaming the former president for Covid deaths.
Since this is a prostitution discussion site, how about we all just focus on mongering? Keep those field reports coming.
Soapy Smith
01-03-22, 23:25
USAID is generally regarded as a CIA front. No doubt you were well paid. How about one single field report? Just link to one actual report you gave. All I know is when I reported from Angeles, you objected to my English that I called putas skanks. Here is a link on USAID, the CIA's bandaid on their crimes. There are thousands more https://www.telesurenglish.net/opinion/USAID-or-US-CIA-20160919-0013.html.I looked up your source. TeleSUR is an "alternative" "news" outlet hosted by the Venezuelan government and initially created by Hugo Chavez in 2007. I think it's helpful to consider the possible bias--or legitimacy--of online sources before advancing them as factual.
WestCoast1
01-04-22, 02:09
Here is a link on USAID, the CIA's bandaid on their crimes. There are thousands more https://www.telesurenglish.net/opinion/USAID-or-US-CIA-20160919-0013.html.
I looked up your source. TeleSUR is an "alternative" "news" outlet hosted by the Venezuelan government and initially created by Hugo Chavez in 2007. I think it's helpful to consider the possible bias--or legitimacy--of online sources before advancing them as factual.I read the article. Its very short, only about 3 paragraphs. Its filled with innuendo, offers no sources, and offers proof of nothing. For example this excerpt:
"Today, the USAID is headed by Gayle Smith, formerly the Special Advisor to President Barack Obama and Senior Director of the National Security Council. To put it simply, Gayle Smith is one of the top spooks in the United States, someone who told the CIA what to do.
Today, this former spook is running a multi-billion dollar aid agency with thousands of employees or contractors operating world wide. Who knows who is an agent and who is a real aid worker when it comes to USAID."
That is my boldface. Its possible that Gayle Smith is a top "spook" in the US. But the author provides no background or proof of such. Is the reader expected to do the author's work and start googling every point in the article? Not exactly hard-hitting journalism, and it would be hard to believe anything from Telesource after reading that. And for those interested in PM's post, I would suggest reading the entire short article and judge for yourself.
Here are a few more doozies that I just made up:
"Who knows who is an agent and who is a real parishioner at my church".
"Who knows who is an agent and who is a real student in my son's third grade class".
You get the idea. Its more an opinion piece than journalism.
Albert9989
01-09-22, 09:21
Seems that things are not improving a lot.
Some chat from inabanga Bohol.
MamaGuevos
01-10-22, 17:28
I read the article....For example this excerpt:
[I]"///o put it simply, Gayle Smith is one of the top spooks in the United States///[/B]..That is hilarious. If it is true, it would explain the lack of intelligence coming from the CIA. For the record, my daughter works for USAID in Asia. She would be an even less believable intelligence officer than Gayle Smith. USAID is not an arm of the CIA. That is completely absurd paranoid nonsense.
Seems that things are not improving a lot.
Some chat from inabanga Bohol.Unimaginable hard times now and to come for months if not years. If you can do something to help do it.
Albert9989
01-10-22, 19:43
Unimaginable hard times now and to come for months if not years. If you can do something to help do it.I am doing, small help, but needs are huge.
GoodEnough
01-16-22, 12:36
The Philippines has just announced that it will begin to allow fully vaccinated foreigners back into the country beginning on February 18. Here’s the link: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165425?fbclid=IwAR1JoJczKiKIM3hgpU0_XQDw0Yy8KCZv1Rr55oLb3xXxwQpkAH5Cs-gILoo
GE.
The Philippines has just announced that it will begin to allow fully vaccinated foreigners back into the country beginning on February 18. Heres the link: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165425?fbclid=IwAR1JoJczKiKIM3hgpU0_XQDw0Yy8KCZv1Rr55oLb3xXxwQpkAH5Cs-gILoo
GE.Meanwhile, here in Cebu City, the Authorities have just tightened down on the hours for the overnight curfew. Curfew hours were 12 midnight to 3 am, now it's from 11 pm to 4 am, meaning all restaurants and pubs have to close before 11 pm.
And 3 days ago Cebu City went to Alert Level 3, so visitors are no longer allowed into my condo building. As far as I am aware, the s / t hotels are still allowed to open. I went to one in Consolacion yesterday with a couple of my regulars and it was open.
After the storm of December 16, many s/t hotels had to close because they lost their electricity and water supply during the storm. A few of them managed to get hold of generators so were able to open.
DzikaBomba
01-16-22, 16:57
The Philippines has just announced that it will begin to allow fully vaccinated foreigners back into the country beginning on February 18. Heres the link: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165425?fbclid=IwAR1JoJczKiKIM3hgpU0_XQDw0Yy8KCZv1Rr55oLb3xXxwQpkAH5Cs-gILoo.There are still no Tourists allowed!
And this link is also not saying that. There is not an single word about Tourists, because Tourists are still not allowed to enter the Country. Read it again. There is no word about Tourists.
The link is only about foreign nationals entering the PH. That means Visa Holders, Family, Business visas and so on.
Still no Tourists! When you have an source with the Information that PH will open to Tourists (and not foreign travelleres, which does not mean tourists) please post it here and not these fake news.
WestCoast1
01-16-22, 17:07
The Philippines has just announced that it will begin to allow fully vaccinated foreigners back into the country beginning on February 18. Heres the link: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165425?fbclid=IwAR1JoJczKiKIM3hgpU0_XQDw0Yy8KCZv1Rr55oLb3xXxwQpkAH5Cs-gILoo
GE.The floodgates are about to open! Good work GE.
Well then, another celebratory pic.
Here's to Group 2! I'll be applying for SRRV next year when all this bullshit blows over.Posted 08-07-20.
Boy that post didn't age well!
WestCoast1
01-16-22, 23:29
Posted 08-07-20.
Boy that post didn't age well!Two things about that:
1) Its 17 months later.
2) For about 8 months into the lockdown, even SRRV holders weren't allowed back in.
Soapy Smith
01-17-22, 07:31
There are still no Tourists allowed!
And this link is also not saying that. There is not an single word about Tourists, because Tourists are still not allowed to enter the Country. Read it again. There is no word about Tourists.
Still no Tourists! When you have an source with the Information that PH will open to Tourists (and not foreign travelleres, which does not mean tourists) please post it here and not these fake news.Good catch. Even more important, there's no specific mention of sex tourists. If they really wanted tourists back, surely they would have made reference to sex tourists. I guess we're back on hold.
Good catch. Even more important, there's no specific mention of sex tourists. If they really wanted tourists back, surely they would have made reference to sex tourists. I guess we're back on hold.Another report on the PI opening but unfortunately specifically referencing Tourist Visas still not being issued.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/covid-19-travel/2022/01/14/philippines-travel-rules-only-fully-vaccinated-foreigners-can-enter-from-february/
Sorry, no direct reference to sex tourists. 😁.
WestCoast1
01-17-22, 10:00
Another report on the PI opening but unfortunately specifically referencing Tourist Visas still not being issued.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/covid-19-travel/2022/01/14/philippines-travel-rules-only-fully-vaccinated-foreigners-can-enter-from-february/
Sorry, no direct reference to sex tourists. 😁.Well then, I take back the celebratory pic. Don't look.
Anyone able to translate what they are saying in the video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBEMddBnuqg
Here is one of many about Bohol on social media. Does not look good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBEMddBnuqg
GoodEnough
01-21-22, 10:53
For whatever this is worth, the Government of the Philippines released a statement today saying that, effective 16 February, all foreigners entering the country will be required to show proof of full vaccination. There is no mention in the announcement of tourists being allowed to enter, nor does the announcement stipulate what's meant by "full vaccination. ".
GE.
GoodEnough
01-28-22, 11:11
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1919432/manila/local-news/ph-to-accept-tourists-from-non-visa-required-countries-by-feb-10
Effective on or about 10 February foreigners are going to be welcome here again, so I am guessing that a lot of guys will start packing.
GE.
Albert9989
01-28-22, 12:36
Hmm, if flight cost are correct.
Quick check Paris-Manila and back: 1200 euros. At best.
Need to wait a little bit more.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1919432/manila/local-news/ph-to-accept-tourists-from-non-visa-required-countries-by-feb-10
foreigners are going to be welcome here again. "Welcome" is a curious choice of words. I have never felt that the Philippines was welcoming me. Rather I felt that I was allowed entry in order empty my pockets of money as quickly as possible so I could go home and return with more.
Also, as you point out the conditions of entry are not fully explained. Will a period of quarantine or testing be required? What constitutes fully vaccinated and how is that evidenced?
My vaccination card documents that I have been fully vaccinated yet this standard issued card can easily be forged.
More cogitation needs to be done.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1919432/manila/local-news/ph-to-accept-tourists-from-non-visa-required-countries-by-feb-10
foreigners are going to be welcome here again. "Welcome" is a curious choice of words. I have never felt that the Philippines was welcoming me. Rather I felt that I was allowed entry in order empty my pockets of money as quickly as possible so I could go home and return with more.
Also, as you point out the conditions of entry are not fully explained. Will a period of quarantine or testing be required? What constitutes fully vaccinated and how is that evidenced?
My vaccination card documents that I have been fully vaccinated yet this standard issued card can easily be forged.
More cogitation needs to be done.
My vaccination card documents that I have been fully vaccinated yet this standard issued card can easily be forged.The Philippines uses a yellow vaccination card which can be bought from Amazon. Who knows if they'll even accept other countries vaccination cards, Thailand needed a QR code with your vaccination records (easily obtainable from your hospital). Who knows what might happen to a person who arrives with a fake vaccination card in a country banning entry to all unvaccinated. And is then found out.
I'd also keep a close eye on Airbnb's and their wordings on who can enter the condo. No use making a trip if they won't allow girls to visit your room.
"Welcome" is a curious choice of words. I have never felt that the Philippines was welcoming me. Rather I felt that I was allowed entry in order empty my pockets of money as quickly as possible so I could go home and return with more.
More cogitation needs to be done.What an unfortunate way to let yourself feel. Cogitate more and maybe some niceness will come your way.
Banana Boi
01-28-22, 19:19
Will it be no quarantine and, more importantly, no antigen / PCR test upon arrival?
Flights are likely expensive now so will wait a month for airlines to start adding flights to Manila.
Albert9989
01-28-22, 19:56
Will it be no quarantine and, more importantly, no antigen / PCR test upon arrival?
Flights are likely expensive now so will wait a month for airlines to start adding flights to Manila.Seems clearly written in the text.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 159, approved on January 27, provides that fully vaccinated foreigners from non-visa required countries must present a passport valid for at least six months, return or outbound ticket to their country of origin, and their proof of vaccination verified through IATF-approved means.
They will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.
Upon arrival in the Philippines, they will no longer be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine and should instead self-monitor for any signs or symptoms within seven days with the date of arrival as their first day.
Fully vaccinated arriving travelers are required to coordinate with the local government units of their destination upon the manifestation of symptoms.
Children 12 years old and below who cannot be vaccinated should follow the quarantine protocol of their adult companion.
The non-visa required countries are listed under the Executive Order 408, series of 1960.
PolyOrchid
01-28-22, 20:05
TheRose,
More fornication, less cogitation.
Will it be no quarantine and, more importantly, no antigen / PCR test upon arrival?
Flights are likely expensive now so will wait a month for airlines to start adding flights to Manila.I checked the flights and they three times the price before. I think airlines have to add more flights so that the price will come down.
There is a test requirement 48 hours before departure. I would wait till that requirement is off.
Dashing Don
01-28-22, 22:52
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1919432/manila/local-news/ph-to-accept-tourists-from-non-visa-required-countries-by-feb-10
Effective on or about 10 February foreigners are going to be welcome here again, so I am guessing that a lot of guys will start packing..True Enough!
I tried booking online within minutes of getting the news on Friday morning, like the well-trained monger that I am. The PAL website kept rejecting my credit card so I tried another but with no success.
I called the 800 number to PAL and was on hold for about 90 minutes. Finally, I heard a deliciously sweet Filipina voice say ' can I help you sir?' LOL.
I managed to get a round trip ticket from JFK on Feb 16 for $2624 which included $240 for bulkhead seats.
I know. Its a lot of money but life is short and its already been two years. I also remember from the December fiasco that the prices of tickets were still high even months out, so bit the bullet.
Ok. Let the flaming begin.
FuriousGeorge
01-28-22, 23:45
Awesome. We will expect a detailed report shortly after you arrive and then I book my tickets. It's about time. I suspect the good times will return soon.
True Enough!
I know. Its a lot of money but life is short and its already been two years. I also remember from the December fiasco that the prices of tickets were still high even months out, so bit the bullet.
Ok. Let the flaming begin.
TheRose,
More fornication, less cogitation.You're right! Let the little head think for the big head. That's the spirit!
The Philippines uses a yellow vaccination card which can be bought from Amazon. Who knows if they'll even accept other countries vaccination cards.. Who knows what might happen to a person who arrives with a fake vaccination card in a country banning entry to all unvaccinated. And is then found out.
The yellow certificate you obtain in the Philippines has a QR code on it, I know, I got one there for yellow fever. Any other injections you get can be added to it, and I'm sure it updates into the database. Say you ink in Covid yourself, are you going to risk dying in prison and bet that some authority on either end doesnt scan it?
If you're from the US, you can present that white CDC card. This is clear enough: "On December 21,2021, the Philippine government, through the BOQ, confirmed that it will accept and recognize USA COVID-19 vaccine certificates, including the USA CDC Vaccination Card, as proof of vaccination status for people vaccinated in the United States." That comes from here:
https://ph.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
If youre from the other places listed, looks like your certificate May be excepted if your government has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF… whatever the fuck that means.
For foreign nationals vaccinated abroad: WHO-issued ICV, or the national / state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON COVID-19 VACCINATION CERTIFICATE ACCEPTANCE / RECOGNITION UNDER IATF 154-E & 157.
Upon the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the national COVID-19 vaccination certificate of the following countries shall be accepted / recognized for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols as well as for interzonal / intrazonal movement, in addition to such other countries / territories / jurisdictions whose proofs of vaccination the IATF already approved for recognition in the Philippines, and without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by IATF for all inbound travelers.
https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/ph/home/covid-19/ArrivingInThePH/ArrivalGuideForFully-VaccinatedTravelersInoculatedInthePhilippines
Will it be no quarantine and, more importantly, no antigen / PCR test upon arrival?
Flights are likely expensive now so will wait a month for airlines to start adding flights to Manila.Anyone see anything about curfew hours for bars and if they even aloud open yet? This will be the real question I think!
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