General Info

[John Clayton]

Lurkers, I guess watching the US TV show "Almost Paradise" set in Mactan, Cebu PI is bringing up visions of wanderlust. I get that some of the setting of the show is fictional (there is no US Navy Base in Cebu) but wanted to know if that hotel they are shooting at is any good for lurking. I've notice some cuties in the background and I suspect those are some of the more high end types or general public but wanted to know if a trip to Mactan is going to be worth it once the PI opens up.

I was there for two nights in early March. The hotels were empty because of Covid, but I got the impression that the place is pretty much 100% Korean / Japanese / Chinese. I wouldn't go there for mongering.

[Drbombay]

Lurkers, I guess watching the US TV show "Almost Paradise" set in Mactan, Cebu PI is bringing up visions of wanderlust. I get that some of the setting of the show is fictional (there is no US Navy Base in Cebu) but wanted to know if that hotel they are shooting at is any good for lurking. I've notice some cuties in the background and I suspect those are some of the more high end types or general public but wanted to know if a trip to Mactan is going to be worth it once the PI opens up.

[Member #4794]

MM, do you have a link to this tracing?

They have not yet applied this to anything but COVID but after they are done with COVID these people will have learned a new terrifying skill. Some states in America have passed laws that CCTV and facial recognition cannot be used by law enforcement but as far as I know the Philippines hasn't even considered this law. I admit this is all in beta stages of development but when this system does get up and running and there is no real threat like COVID-19 and when costs for the implementation of this plummet. What do you think they are going to do with this system?

https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-te...y-cam-use-face

https://www.cnn.ph/news/2020/5/12/ma...-tracers-.html

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/0...ontact-tracing

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-...ontact-tracing

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...this-play-out/

https://www.biometricupdate.com/2020...legal-guidance

https://www.biometricupdate.com/2020...mong-personnel

[Red Kilt]

These are the GCQ guidelines.

Note the curfew data.

[WestCoast1]

Contact tracers are learning a new trade and governments across the globe are hiring teams of contact tracers. Our phones have anonymous or not so anonymous Bluetooth tracking data. They are using CCTV and extra ordinary means to track people.

MM, do you have a link to this tracing?

[WestCoast1]

In the news:

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/money/tops...Mkn&ocid=wispr

"Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is resuming operations of scheduled flights on selected international and domestic routes starting June 1.

In an advisory, PAL said it will operate limited international services on routes to the USA, Canada, Guam, Vietnam, mainland China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Japan, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. ".

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/money/tops...Mkn&ocid=wispr

"THE country will be transitioning into more relaxed lockdowns starting June 1, with fewer restrictions on people's movement and more outdoor activities and physical reporting to work allowed.

Most areas in the Philippines will be placed under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) the least strict lockdown level the starting Monday, while Metro Manila, Davao City, Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 4-A (Calabarzon consisting of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Pangasinan, and Albay will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ). ".

[Cbea20]

One thing we learn from history, other than we don't learn from history, is that when a government uses a crisis to increase surveillance of its people, is that it never gives up this power once the threat subsides.

Counterexample: Habeas Corpus suspended during American Civil War, temporarily.

One thing we do learn from history is that absolute statements, such as "never", do not stand up to examination.

[Kabul Guy]

Contact tracers are learning a new trade and governments across the globe are hiring teams of contact tracers. Our phones have anonymous or not so anonymous Bluetooth tracking data. They are using CCTV and extra ordinary means to track people.

.......

One thing we learn from history, other than we don't learn from history, is that when a government uses a crisis to increase surveillance of its people, is that it never gives up this power once the threat subsides.

[Member #4794]

Contact tracers are learning a new trade and governments across the globe are hiring teams of contact tracers. Our phones have anonymous or not so anonymous Bluetooth tracking data. They are using CCTV and extra ordinary means to track people.

What implications does this have on the mongering world? As we do, do something that is in a gray area. After this virus subsides who is to say that they will not keep on this team of contact tracers with their new found skills to keep tabs of persons of interest or create new types of extortion scams.

What would you do if confronted with a history of your bar fines this is also dereliction of the terms of most people passports. There is a line on the US passport agreement that prohibits sex tourism. What is your take on this NEW profession of contract tracers and what impact do you think it will have on this community none at all or will we have to start carrying our cellphones ins Faraday bags / blackout and wear masks and other extraordinary means to subvert these contract tracing teams? Are you taking any extra precautions due to the governments new invasions of privacy? We won't really know to What extent they will abuse their new found powers. I do feel like this has some far reaching implications that are as of yet unknown.

[WestCoast1]

I have used world remit in the past and it allows cash pickup at metrobank, LBC Pawlan Pawnshop etc.

I just signed up for Gcash, I linked my peso account and was able to send the Blow Job Queen some cash for her birthday which is today. No fees to send vs about 10% when I use world remit (part is the cash advance fee my Cdn credit card charges for using World remit services.) No issues with conversion as when I convert my USD to peso at the bank I get a very good rate.

I have used World Remit (the 'other' WR), WU, and other online sending. From my end, I use my bank's checking account for sending (ATM, not credit card, so I don't get hit with a cash-advance fee). From the girl's end, I send cash pickup only (I choose from the dropdown list: BDO, Cebuana, LBC, M Lhuillier, etc). The vast majority of my sends are quickly approved online (within a minute) and a control number is given, which I pass to the girl for pickup. However, as this is not a credit card transaction, on occasion my home bank holds up the process for several hours (not sure the reason why). I think the usual cost to me is about $3 USD. There is a free option for sending, if you don't mind several days delay in when your girl can pick up the money.

[Kabul Guy]

....

Worldremit: This is what I currently do directly from my computer. The exchange rates are much better than WU. But your friend needs a bank account. If your friend is a regular friend or more, then you are doing them a favor by suggesting they open a bank account.

The situation: It turns out that RP has the longest lock down of any country worldwide. But if you look at the numbers (worldometer), RP has not been hit very hard.
......

I have used world remit in the past and it allows cash pickup at metrobank, LBC Pawlan Pawnshop etc.

I just signed up for Gcash, I linked my peso account and was able to send the Blow Job Queen some cash for her birthday which is today. No fees to send vs about 10% when I use world remit (part is the cash advance fee my Cdn credit card charges for using World remit services.) No issues with conversion as when I convert my USD to peso at the bank I get a very good rate.

While the stats look really good for here, we all know just how bad they are at keeping track of anything here especially something that may make them look bad. If they were that good I think that the restrictions would have relaxed more than they have, lots of people in different places still going about business as normal and lockdown enforcement has been pretty lax to say the least in many places. I am on a general Philippine discussion board and some places are reporting very severe enforcement of lock down, others almost zero enforcement.

In other words, about what you would expect for the Philippines.

[Wicked Roger]

I'm an occasional contributor, but wanted to give my advice on sending money to RP. I am currently just outside the Capital region under MCQ.

Worldremit: This is what I currently do directly from my computer. The exchange rates are much better than WU. But your friend needs a bank account. If your friend is a regular friend or more, then you are doing them a favor by suggesting they open a bank account..

You have the option on WorldRemit to get cash pick up also Just check the drop down box as the first option it gives is bank but click on that and you 3 more options so the cuties can get via Cebuana, M Huiller and other instant cash places. They need a pass to get it if still a strict quarantine.

Not sure if this can be seen on the attached but if you look closely you see 4 options Big Fun.

[Beavis]

I agree but I walk every afternoon (Olongapo on GCQ now) and am seeing more and more people getting back to normal. The road crews have gone back to work trying to get a jump on the rainy season I assume. Most people still wearing masks but many aren't. Social distancing is practically out the window. Cars and scooters moving 24 hours again though not near as many. Alcohol sales have returned so a few late night parties are resuming. The cage is open and the dogs are coming out. Not like anyone is going to be successful by telling them to go back inside. This is going to be interesting for the next few weeks.

I am thinking it will be a gradual opening, we will still see lots of things that will be closed, especially the high risk things like sports events, wide open inter island and international travel, bars and other similar venues will have social distancing restrictions maintained.

It will not stop it but might slow it down enough to flatten the curve so that they can control the speed at which it spreads while at the same time generating some income and production to keep the people going.

I fear a complete social breakdown more than I fear the virus. At least with the virus I can isolate myself as much as possible. With social breakdown I cannot stop myself from being the target of the crowd should they decide to see how much cash the white guy has.

[Big Fun]

I'm an occasional contributor, but wanted to give my advice on sending money to RP. I am currently just outside the Capital region under MCQ.

Western Union: It's easy for a friend to pick up money; however, I think the exchange rates at WU are very poor. If you add on the service fee, it can be quite a chunk. One option is that you can send the money in USD. Your friend can pick it up and then exchange at a competitive money changer. I have used a large WU office in Makati where they can do this. Your friend should ask before the money is sent whether that is OK.

Worldremit: This is what I currently do directly from my computer. The exchange rates are much better than WU. But your friend needs a bank account. If your friend is a regular friend or more, then you are doing them a favor by suggesting they open a bank account.

The situation: It turns out that RP has the longest lock down of any country worldwide. But if you look at the numbers (worldometer), RP has not been hit very hard. Yesterday there were four deaths in a country of 100,000,000. Compare that to North America or Europe. Total deaths have been about 850 --maybe some undercount, because technology is not well developed here. Every year, 70,000 people here die from pneumonia. Make your own conclusions. Sadly, I think the lock down will be very devastating for many Filipinos. Think of the street sweepers, taxi drivers, waitresses, hotel room cleaners etc who help make your visit so enjoyable.

Reopening: Given the gov't attitude on lockdown, I don't think we will see bars and clubs opening anytime soon. I could be wrong. I expect many will go out of business.

Only positive when the strict lockdown comes on June 1 (we hope) is that hotels and domestic flights appear to be rock bottom. So I'm here.

OK, hope this is helpful.

[Kabul Guy]

....

The Philippine Government cannot afford to provide enough resources to sustain the people for a long time. They are near the end now and there are not enough humanitarian groups to pick up the slack. It's anyone's guess but from what I am seeing I predict that everything is going to be open much sooner than expected.

...

I am thinking it will be a gradual opening, we will still see lots of things that will be closed, especially the high risk things like sports events, wide open inter island and international travel, bars and other similar venues will have social distancing restrictions maintained.

It will not stop it but might slow it down enough to flatten the curve so that they can control the speed at which it spreads while at the same time generating some income and production to keep the people going.

I fear a complete social breakdown more than I fear the virus. At least with the virus I can isolate myself as much as possible. With social breakdown I cannot stop myself from being the target of the crowd should they decide to see how much cash the white guy has.