General Info

[PedroMorales]

Covid rules for flying into the USA for both US and non US citizens.

Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...countries.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...travelers.html

I have no intention of flying to the USA. However, if I had, I would take notes from such official sites. I have non US citizen friends who neither have nor want a Green Card who have flown to the uSA in recent weeks and are there now on their own business. I presume they did due diligence before flying.

Vaccinated Cattle: I know plenty of qualified people warning against these shots, which are now being dispensed to children with God knows what long term results. I don't rely on sex sites like this or google for such information and you should not insinuate otherwise.

6079 Smith W.

The lockdowns hit here early last year somewhat suddenly. A lot of weekend warriors got out quickly. After lockdown, there were still quite a few here who had some difficulty getting out (sweeper flights; their 3 week trip turned into 6 or 8 weeks; a sweeper became available in your city * Covid isn't real. A lady said she'd read it in FB. Covid isn't real and if vaccines come later they are fake also. This was around June 2020, I haven't heard it since then from any pinoy. OTOH, I have heard it (and continue to hear it) from certain foreigners.

[GDreams]

Regarding quarantine and vaxxes. Regardless the vaccine you receive, a percent of those vaccinated are not protected; they end up contracting covid and getting sick (or die) from it, and they are for a period of time infectious. In addition, while vaxxed persons are usually immune from Covid's ravaging symptoms, those persons can contract it a-symptomatically and be infectious for a period of time. We all become possible walking incubators. For those reasons, I am guessing that the swab + short quarantine might become the conservative measures taken for some time to come (guessing: years).

* Covid isn't real. A lady said she'd read it in FB. Covid isn't real and if vaccines come later they are fake also. This was around June 2020, I haven't heard it since then from any pinoy. OTOH, I have heard it (and continue to hear it) from certain foreigners.

Yes you can still catch it after being vaccinated after all the vaccine stimulates an immune response so there is always a possibility that the virus can linger while the body is trying to expell it. I have not seen any data on deaths after being vaccinated but the general feedback is that with the body's immune system prepared the symptoms are usually mild to nil.

I have had both doses and had mild to no reaction.

I had one girl writing to me telling me it was fake even though her sister had it. I guess because the sister did not get very sick she didn't see the problem. Another said she spent 2 weeks in hospital (22 yo) She complained no one was allowed to visit!

[AggieDad1]

See the attachment.

[WestCoast1]

Problem is that these same visitors have to turn around and go back home. What do their home countries think of a vaccinated person immersing themselves in the Ph environment?

The lockdowns hit here early last year somewhat suddenly. A lot of weekend warriors got out quickly. After lockdown, there were still quite a few here who had some difficulty getting out (sweeper flights; their 3 week trip turned into 6 or 8 weeks; a sweeper became available in your city only each few weeks, and if it filled up you waited for the next one). In addition, I saw some long-time residents here (multiple nationalities) head home. Most of those got home by June / July 2020. I stayed in contact with a number of them, and at no time was there a required quarantine for my returning country-men. They stepped off the airplane at LAX, went thru Immigration the normal way, picked up their luggage, and headed off to another terminal for their domestic flight to their home city; to be picked up by family or Uber home. To this day I believe there is no quarantine required for returning citizens. The only difference now is the required swab and temp checks for your outbound flight. One day when I fly home, I doubt there will be any quarantine just because I was overseas in Phils. The US recommends "self isolation":

https://www.afar.com/magazine/is-qua...to-the-u-dot-s

From the article:

Well, an Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel signed by President Joe Biden on January 21 stated that all travelers entering the U.S. from a foreign country will now be required to comply with other applicable CDC guidelines concerning international travel, including recommended periods of self-quarantine or self-isolation after entry into the United States.

But during a January 26 media call, when asked about enforcement of the quarantine, Dr. Marty Cetron, director for the CDCs Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, said, Were not at this time issuing federal quarantine orders.

Within next three months it may or may not be clear if the vaccine protects 100 percent against covid for the purposes of our hobby who like to travel all over the globe and suck, dip, galavant with known or unknown girls who maybe carrying covid and other germs. Once limited travel is proven to be safe all countries will have to open their borders to vaccinated people. Quarantine will rob minimum 2 weeks from travel plans and nobody in their right mind will travel and quarantine unless they plan to stay in that country long time.

Regarding quarantine and vaxxes. Regardless the vaccine you receive, a percent of those vaccinated are not protected; they end up contracting covid and getting sick (or die) from it, and they are for a period of time infectious. In addition, while vaxxed persons are usually immune from Covid's ravaging symptoms, those persons can contract it a-symptomatically and be infectious for a period of time. We all become possible walking incubators. For those reasons, I am guessing that the swab + short quarantine might become the conservative measures taken for some time to come (guessing: years).

On Thursday I had one of my Ph front line worker twiglets telling me on whatsapp that her provincial mum will not get vaccinated as the mum doesn't like the side effects of the vaccine. If this attitude is permeating through provincial Ph then they will never get the virus under control. Hopefully the unvaccinated mum doesn't get the covid side effect of dying

One of the Board members (MM possibly) mentioned a few weeks ago a survey, showing that only about half the adult population in Phils intended to get vaxxed. That percent rises only to about 65-70% in the States. Sadly, there will be no herd immunity, and until there is one, you have indefinite wildly cyclical CQ situations.

I continue to be amazed at the superstitions and fake-news items (usually from FB) that I've heard from locals here regarding the negatives of vaccines. Many purveyors of such bola offer up googled proof. Or, they simply rely on their own opinion of vaccines in general. Here are a few gems:

* The Covid vaccine magnetizes your blood, allowing the government to track and ego-locate you. No kidding a lady showed me that in FB. A lady told me that the Covid vaccines work in conjunction with 5 G cell towers; she read it on the internet. However we couldn't find that when we googled.

* The vax makes you more sick than Covid (opinion, can't argue with that). "That's what I hear".

* Its not for me. My mama don't want so I don't want (opinion, can't argue with that).

* Bill Gate's company made the virus and the vaccine long ago, sprung it on the world last year, and is making huge profit. Googled article shown to me. The article did not name a company that Bill Gates is involved with, so I asked the guy who showed me that article to tell me who Bill Gate is. "Rich guy". I see, does he have a big company? "Yes". What kind of company? "I don't know". A tech company? "I don't know". A pharmaceutical company? "I don't know". A dildo factory? "What?" Check. Kidding about that last question.

* I makes you sterile. The lady told me: "You can't have babies after the vaccine". I see, ma'am. "I won't get it I don't want sterile". Ma'am, you said that you are 72 years old! A week later one of my regulars asked if I was planning to get vaxxed. "Don't do it Westy you can't have more children". Interestingly, she was aware that I can't have children anyway. A month after that another one of my provincial regulars told me the same thing. When she walked thru my door she was brimming with energy and wanted to talk about the vaccine and becoming sterile. "I'm not do it. Don't do it Westy you will sorry after you don't have a kids". I dragged her to the bedroom and put her energy to better use.

* Covid isn't real. A lady said she'd read it in FB. Covid isn't real and if vaccines come later they are fake also. This was around June 2020, I haven't heard it since then from any pinoy. OTOH, I have heard it (and continue to hear it) from certain foreigners.

[Sammon]

Within next three months it may or may not be clear if the vaccine protects 100 percent against covid for the purposes of our hobby who like to travel all over the globe and suck, dip, galavant with known or unknown girls who maybe carrying covid and other germs. Once limited travel is proven to be safe all countries will have to open their borders to vaccinated people. Quarantine will rob minimum 2 weeks from travel plans and nobody in their right mind will travel and quarantine unless they plan to stay in that country long time.

Not a lot of countries including here in USA can afford not to have tourism take a big hit let alone Philippines, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Panama, Colombia etc.

I believe CDC is taking a close look about travelers bring back covid or covid variants into the country. Only time will tell which should be max 3 months or less. If everything is good all countries will open up. There maybe forms to fill up, temperature check which already exists and other testing requirements. As long as there are no quarantine vaccinated people can travel freely. At the moment people are traveling with this requirement. Only issue is before CDC eliminates testing requirements to come back people are scared to go and get stuck in other countries which has happened.

Hopefully things will get back to reasonably normal by September if there are no major outbreaks. If there are another year of blue balls.

[BrizLad]

I am not (quite) ready to write off the remainder of the year as I have some faint optimism that the country will begin to open in early fall, at least to visitors who can prove they've been vaccinated fully.
GE.

Problem is that these same visitors have to turn around and go back home. What do their home countries think of a vaccinated person immersing themselves in the Ph environment? Will western countries have the evidence, confidence or political power to allow a vaccinated citizen back into their pristine, crisp, first world air without a lengthy quarantine? It seems emergence from this pandemic is relying on all countries to pull together.

On Thursday I had one of my Ph front line worker twiglets telling me on whatsapp that her provincial mum will not get vaccinated as the mum doesn't like the side effects of the vaccine. If this attitude is permeating through provincial Ph then they will never get the virus under control. Hopefully the unvaccinated mum doesn't get the covid side effect of dying.

Like GE, I also remain optimistic that by the end of the year things will have evolved dramatically in countries with high vaccination rates. The travel opportunities will get promoted between these countries making it easier to travel between US-UK-AU-EU-CH (maybe). Governments will not see that same motivation to give mongers a free pass to Ph. Ph will be available provided you have the time and money to do a 14 day quarantine upon return.

Covid airfares certainly make a negative impact on our south-east asian pleasures. An airfare from her in Au to Mnl is $1 k more than pre-covid. Add the cost of quarantine $3 k. That makes a three week Ph visit airfares increase from $600 to $4,600. Factor in additional Ph 'covid' costs. I can stay here and have a lot of fun with the extra $6 k.

BL.

[GoodEnough]

Good news. I contacted my Brgy recently to ask the procedure to get vaxxed. I was told to come back when the nurse came back from lunch. She would have me fill out a health form, then she would make an appointment at a local hospital, and it would be free of charge. I asked how long it takes to get an appointment. "Today sir, this afternoon you can get a vaccine". Sweet.

Evidently here in Davao, a number of senior citizens who had received their first shots failed to return for the second doses, so that might account in part for what appears to be somewhat of a surge in supply here. I'm somewhat surprised that you haven't yet received your vaccines given that my two friends on live in Makati got jabbed weeks ago, one with Sinovac and the other with AstraZeneca—Oxford. I thought that supplies in MetroManila were plentiful.

GE.

[WestCoast1]

WC is correct in stating that the regulations and quarantine status of various locales change frequently and often abruptly, but this has to do with spikes in infections as far as I can determine.

My info is the same. When someone tests positive in the brgy (often foretold with symptoms), the DOH isolates those persons, then often times locks down his home, or larger compound's group of homes, or part or all of the larger Brgy, often for just 1-2 days. They literally cordon off the area, nobody in / out. If you were outside at the time of the lockdown, you can go live somewhere else for a few days. If you were inside, you are not leaving unless its an essential departure (ie, medical).

My guess is that, as vaccination efforts gain more momentum, and "essential" workers get vaccinated,

Good news. I contacted my Brgy recently to ask the procedure to get vaxxed. I was told to come back when the nurse came back from lunch. She would have me fill out a health form, then she would make an appointment at a local hospital, and it would be free of charge. I asked how long it takes to get an appointment. "Today sir, this afternoon you can get a vaccine". Sweet.

Online recently I saw an ad that read as such: "If you live in Brgy 520-531-602-603-619-705-706, you can get a free vaccine. You can contact your Brgy office for an appointment. You can get your appointment same day or next day. Before we are vaccinating front liner and seniors. Now everyone. For the community get vaccinated!" Sweet again, and easy. I don't know why other Brgy are not included (guessing, shortage of jabs currently). The slightly scary part is that these admissions that you can get vaxxed today (or tomorrow, which is relatively fast) leads to the impression that people are having misgivings about getting vaxxed. A shortage of jab supply (which exists here) should indicate long lines. By extrapolation, when there is a later surge of jabs available, few people will take advantage of it. Sad face. The more jabs that occur to persons here, the faster the easing of CQ restrictions.

[GoodEnough]

I think 2021 is a write off. There wil be some let up over the Northern summer and then back in to flu season with more draconian measures. At this rate, LBFM is permanently off the menu, which is a shame as a bad hour here buys a good week there.

I am not (quite) ready to write off the remainder of the year as I have some faint optimism that the country will begin to open in early fall, at least to visitors who can prove they've been vaccinated fully. That appears to be the intention of the Department of Tourism and, while I'm not sure that the objective will be achieved, I do think there will be a sustained attempt on the part of the government to reach it. The vaccination program, at least in Davao where I live, is aggressive and reasonably efficient. Millions of doses of vaccines—largely AstraZeneca-Oxford and Sinovac—seem to be arriving every week and the government keeps opening additional vaccination sites. WC is correct in stating that the regulations and quarantine status of various locales change frequently and often abruptly, but this has to do with spikes in infections as far as I can determine.

As is the case with multiple other countries throughout the world, the government here must balance concern for public health against the pressing economic needs of families. Anyone who lives here can witness first hand the visible economic destruction induced by the pandemic: small businesses have closed by the thousands pushing more people out of work; schools remain shuttered exacerbating an already huge education deficit for young people without computer access; many government offices are operating at half-speed, and the list goes on and on. My guess is that, as vaccination efforts gain more momentum, and "essential" workers get vaccinated, the likelihood of a soft re-opening for foreigners from lower-risk countries and for those vaccinated fully, increases. I should add that I have no inside information, but I do read the local papers and I do observe the vaccination efforts first hand.

GE.

[Member #4794]

Dalia Dippolito is a warning to us all. But there are many Dalias in SE Asia, who never got a green card.

This really has nothing to do with the Philippines can we move this tread to somewhere this belongs? Maybe the General Mongering Q&A section?

[PedroMorales]

Your example is an interesting one and one, alas, we quickly forget. A 21 year old kid has issues, so he blasts a gang of Asian hookers / massage therapists. Like wtf.

The flaw in your argument is classic whataboutery. Americans are afraid of terrorism, even though more of them get killed by forked lightning etc every year. The difference is Americans feel their name and nationality are on bullets when stuff starts happening. You cannot compare traffic accidents and serial killers. Your passing mention of thunder storms is not a good one as one must respect the elements which take no prisoners. Indeed, al lof the world's great hikes have examples of people dying for not respecting the elements and climbers on Everest now use cadavars as sign posts. The best sherpa get the best punters and the newbies get the OAPs who should be nowhere near Nepal, never mind Everest.

Dalia Dippolito is a warning to us all. But there are many Dalias in SE Asia, who never got a green card. As with Dalia, the sex can be great but it can also be deadly. This message cannot be said too often.

Here in the civilised world, ie Western Europe, there are small signs common sense, spear headed by Sweden, is winning. Denmark is cropping the face diapers and there is some push back against the vaccines (sic). I miss my LBFMs and regret not banging them longer, harder and deeper.

I think 2021 is a write off. There wil be some let up over the Northern summer and then back in to flu season with more draconian measures. At this rate, LBFM is permanently off the menu, which is a shame as a bad hour here buys a good week there.

I think most of us know there are risks in our involvement with sex workers. In late March a 21-year old kid killed eight people in three different AMPs in and near Atlanta, Georgia. Most were Korean women, but one male and one female patron were killed, and another man was wounded. The kid was apparently fighting some guilty demons about his "addiction" to prostitutes.

But how do these few incidents stack up against the number of deaths in traffic accidents? Following the same logic you should avoid vehicular travel or going outside during thunder storms. I will try to be more tactful than AA: if you think the risks are too great, maybe you should stop mongering.

[Soapy Smith]

The common thread is it is a human swamp around hookers.

I think most of us know there are risks in our involvement with sex workers. In late March a 21-year old kid killed eight people in three different AMPs in and near Atlanta, Georgia. Most were Korean women, but one male and one female patron were killed, and another man was wounded. The kid was apparently fighting some guilty demons about his "addiction" to prostitutes.

But how do these few incidents stack up against the number of deaths in traffic accidents? Following the same logic you should avoid vehicular travel or going outside during thunder storms. I will try to be more tactful than AA: if you think the risks are too great, maybe you should stop mongering.

[WestCoast1]

Article regarding airline travel involving a husband / wife / child (wife is Filipina) with all the correct travel documents, denied boarding by Qatar Airways, and then later refused a refund.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/20...up-to-botswana

A gentle reminder that even when you do everything right, things can go bad. And a gentle reminder that even when you do everything right (vaxed, vax passport), the rest of Philippines still operates under pandemic rules for public places, hotels / apartments / condos / restaurants, barangay, public (PUV, taxi, bus) and private transportation (you still have to wear your mask in a car) -- and these rules change from small to large geographic locations and they change quickly, sometimes announced and sometimes not announced. Even if the Phils government lightened up on some of the rules, there is still public fear of disease which borders on (or crosses into) superstition.

More coming later on how Brgy edicts can change, be more strict than federal or city proclamations, can change quickly, and can be largely unknown to the residents.

From the article:

"Given that your sister-in-law was travelling on a Filipino passport, its possible to excuse the airline for insisting on extra checks; whats unacceptable is its refusal to refund either the original fare or the substitute tickets once it was found they did have the correct paperwork."

[WestCoast1]

You might want to wait a while prior to booking, unless you're positive you can get a refund or change ticketing dates at no charge. Succinctly, there's simply no clear picture yet emerging that could provide guidance for tourists..

In addition to initial surge in prices, you might want to wait until our countrymen (and women) get this stuff worked out of their systems.

I am debating buying a ticket as tickets may skyrocket on news of phils reopening. At this point its a pure gamble in terms of what month to shoot for.

Agree with the other fellas. Wait till the flood subsides. Even when they talk of opening up, they often limit the number of Int'l passengers on a daily basis for a while. Don't buy a ticket in advance. GE is right, things change rapidly here. Also you wait until you are here to buy any domestic airline tickets. Travel rules change constantly from one city to another, with every bloom. A couple I know in Malate (no kids) wants to move back to his province an hour south of Manila. The wife had Covid and got over it months ago. She has a document that says she got over the Covid. Yet she can not travel without another special document. More than a month has passed waiting for it. She and the hubby have enlisted the help of their Brgy captain, he was able to speed up the process to get the document. You buy an airline ticket in advance, and then you can't travel from this place to that place due to a recent travel restriction, you just lose money. Wait till the foreigners come here for a while, see what happens to them first (don't be the tip of the spear, so to speak). Not trying to stop anyone from coming (Lord knows there is a glut of beauty here, and I could use some help), but the beauty will still be here anytime you come (an unlimited, naturally recurring supply). Its just that later (not sooner) you will have more access to it with fewer restrictions.

I'll keep the lights on for 'ya.

In addition, local restrictions on the movement of people from barangay to barangay are often confusing, differ from location to location and change frequently.

Spot on, got more on this coming later.

[GoodEnough]

Thanks, I hope these girls are ready for me.

On more positive news it looks like the US is preparing to reopen international travel or at least allow it and this looks like a precursor to other countries allowing tourists. This might have been what most countries were waiting for.

I am debating buying a ticket as tickets may skyrocket on news of phils reopening. At this point its a pure gamble in terms of what month to shoot for.

"US lowers travel warning to PH, urges full vaccination before trip".

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021...nes-COVID.html

You might want to wait a while prior to booking, unless you're positive you can get a refund or change ticketing dates at no charge. New COVID cases are soaring in some areas, and, much like in the US, local governments are finding some resistance among the population to getting vaccinated. In addition to some surges, the ensuing government responses are often confusing and are resulting in the closure (again) of multiple genres of establishments, including restaurants, bars and other gathering places. In addition, local restrictions on the movement of people from barangay to barangay are often confusing, differ from location to location and change frequently. Thus, it may sometimes be difficult for your latest love interest to visit you easily.

About 2 or 3 weeks ago the national Department of Health and the Department of Tourism did publish a paper indicating that they wanted to start opening the country to fully vaccinated citizens from selected countries, and two do so by the end of this month. However, no implementing rules and regulations have been published to my knowledge, and there's been no further public announcement other than a decision to allow SRRV visa holders back into the country. I live in Davao, have been fully vaccinated here in the Philippines, and am making plans to meet friends who live in various places around to country in Angeles in late August. We're all holding off on booking flights because the rules are so unclear and also because the schedules for internal flights change so frequently, as do rules pertaining to whether negative COVID tests are required and whether any quarantining will prove necessary.

Succinctly, there's simply no clear picture yet emerging that could provide guidance for tourists.

GE.