Manila

[WestCoast1]

Sammon, don't lose your faith in Santa. Keep checking your stockings.

Sammon never loses faith. I suggest he take matters into his own hands when he return. "Grab the bull by the horns", so to speak. If you catch my drift.

Hey, who's taking that picture. . . ?

[Soapy Smith]

My experience has been that often Filipinos have a difficult time delivering bad news. In those situations they hem and haw and become evasive rather than saying, "Look pal, your shit out of luck."

Yes. They will say "maybe" when the answer is no, because they don't want to deliver bad news. I assume it also explains some lying. They sometimes lie to avoid delivering bad news and / or to avoid they or the other person losing face.

[The Rose]

Talking to pinoy government officials, whether LGU or above, whether in Phils or in other places, is HIT-and-MISS. I capitalized that on purpose. It can be sketchy information, wrong information (a good bet), or information that they themselves might change on the fly. Getting solid intel from them can be impossible, even for the simplest of requests.

My experience has been that often Filipinos have a difficult time delivering bad news. In those situations they hem and haw and become evasive rather than saying, "Look pal, your shit out of luck."

[Bushes]

Sammon, don't lose your faith in Santa. Keep checking your stockings.

Dear Santa,

You forgot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfpnDPDvMec

Talking to pinoy government officials

[WestCoast1]

GE.

I'm not sure how to interpret all of this. "Evidently" is similar to "assuming" or "presuming". I learned a looooong time ago not to assume or presume anything. SNIP Since making your original posting, what made you backtrack a bit? SS.

I spoke with someone who helped to create the message who clarified it for me. The words you put in quotes reflect the gist of what I was told. I was also told that a decision on when to start admitting tourists is still being discussed and that no decisions have been reached.GE.

Talking to pinoy government officials, whether LGU or above, whether in Phils or in other places, is HIT-and-MISS. I capitalized that on purpose. It can be sketchy information, wrong information (a good bet), or information that they themselves might change on the fly. Getting solid intel from them can be impossible, even for the simplest of requests. For example you go to your Brgy hall and ask how to deal with a situation. The lady there tells you to go to the Dept. Of Trade to deal with your problem. She walks away and you speak to a Brgy guy, and he tells you to talk to the Dept. Of Health. You taxi to the DT and explain your problem, only to be told that they don't deal with your kind of issue, and they direct you to the DOH. You taxi to the DOH and explain your situation, only to be told that they don't handle that kind of problem: "You try the DT maybe". Maybe?

Recently I transmitted to another expat who has lived in Phils much longer than me, a story about how my local Brgy office had effed up a situation for me, repeatedly (specifics not mentioned here). It was one of the worst cases of multiple incompetent LGU and Mayoral personnel, and poorly run systems, that I have ever seen. It threw hundreds (dare I say a thousand) persons into disarray. Multiple Brgy personnel gave conflicting advice on what to do, and the Mayor's office forgot (failed) to publicize the bad situation, and failed to deal with it after it happened. When I wrote and described it to our expat friend, his simple (and completely correct) reply was such as this: "Another disaster, a tragedy. But not surprising, as you are talking about people who could not organize a bake sale". You know the old line: "Its not a bug, its a feature", meaning that this kind of thing is a way of life in Phils.

When GE is describing the situation with the announcement, its very understandable. One government department decided to publicize some upcoming thing (good), but they did it in English (should be good, but not necessarily, translation difficulties). They didn't explain it very well (bad). Leaving everyone confused. Its not a bug, its a feature. Phall in line, phella.

FWIW, I tried calling the PI consulate offices in Los Angeles and San Franfreako to get an "official" clarification and was stonewalled with recorded menu messages.

As all government offices are on reduced hours, reduced workforce, reduced clientelle (50% or 30% at any given time, covid-case related), and mandatory online appointment scheduling, its a fair bet that they are doing that at all consulates or Phils government offices the world over. So much for walking into the Phils Consulate on La Brea in LOS Angeles to apply for a visa. And so much for phoning them, you might need to make an online appointment.

[WestCoast1]

Either way, certainly "titillating". (adjective. Arousing mild sexual excitement or interest; salacious.).

Was She Cold or Just Excited?

I can 'assume' that she was not too cold (she is / was vivacious, humorous, happy, and narcissistic). That leaves. . . Well use your imagination.

Here is another one of my gals, also 'titillating' (and not too cold).

[GoodEnough]

I spoke with someone who helped to create the message who clarified it for me. The words you put in quotes reflect the gist of what I was told. I was also told that a decision on when to start admitting tourists is still being discussed and that no decisions have been reached.

GE.

GE.

I'm not sure how to interpret all of this. "Evidently" is similar to "assuming" or "presuming". I learned a looooong time ago not to assume or presume anything. LOL Yes, "regular leisure tourism is still not permitted". But the announcement states that opening up would be in the middle of February. As demonstrated time and time again, that is plenty of time to reverse course on multiple occasions. FWIW, I tried calling the PI consulate offices in Los Angeles and San Franfreako to get an "official" clarification and was stonewalled with recorded menu messages. There is nothing in the referenced announcement that limits visits (beginning in February) to "medical visits and urgent / humanitarian missions". Since making your original posting, what made you backtrack a bit?

Thanks.

SS.

[Sam Sanuk]

Wondering why...

Either way, certainly "titillating". (adjective. Arousing mild sexual excitement or interest; salacious.).

SS.

[Sam Sanuk]

Evidently, the link I posted, though published by the government, is not entirely clear, and is meant to apply only to those coming for medical visits and urgent / humanitarian missions, though that's not stated in the announcement. Regular "leisure" tourism is still not permitted and there's been no decision yet made on when the country will open again for tourists. I misinterpreted the announcement, and probably should not have posted it until I had sought clarification from those involved in the ongoing discussions. Evidently no one has a firm idea on even an approximate date for opening to tourists..

GE.

I'm not sure how to interpret all of this. "Evidently" is similar to "assuming" or "presuming". I learned a looooong time ago not to assume or presume anything. LOL Yes, "regular leisure tourism is still not permitted". But the announcement states that opening up would be in the middle of February. As demonstrated time and time again, that is plenty of time to reverse course on multiple occasions. FWIW, I tried calling the PI consulate offices in Los Angeles and San Franfreako to get an "official" clarification and was stonewalled with recorded menu messages. There is nothing in the referenced announcement that limits visits (beginning in February) to "medical visits and urgent / humanitarian missions". Since making your original posting, what made you backtrack a bit?

Thanks.

SS.

[Bushes]

Dear Santa,

You forgot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfpnDPDvMec

Thanks for the clarification. I went crazy with blue balls looking for any information. All the girls are eagerly waiting for me or the money although I presume it is the latter.

[WestCoast1]

I went crazy with blue balls looking for any information.

Wondering why. . .

[Sammon]

Evidently, the link I posted, though published by the government, is not entirely clear, and is meant to apply only to those coming for medical visits and urgent / humanitarian missions, though that's not stated in the announcement. Regular "leisure" tourism is still not permitted and there's been no decision yet made on when the country will open again for tourists. I misinterpreted the announcement, and probably should not have posted it until I had sought clarification from those involved in the ongoing discussions. Evidently no one has a firm idea on even an approximate date for opening to tourists.

GE.

Thanks for the clarification. I went crazy with blue balls looking for any information. All the girls are eagerly waiting for me or the money although I presume it is the latter.

[Albert9989]

Evidently, the link I posted, though published by the government, is not entirely clear, and is meant to apply only to those coming for medical visits and urgent / humanitarian missions, though that's not stated in the announcement. Regular "leisure" tourism is still not permitted and there's been no decision yet made on when the country will open again for tourists. I misinterpreted the announcement, and probably should not have posted it until I had sought clarification from those involved in the ongoing discussions. Evidently no one has a firm idea on even an approximate date for opening to tourists..

Thanks and don't worry too much, you helped to understand how unclear can be these official statements!

They say foreign, foreigners, and in one place foreign nationals!

That's the key we have to look for in order to understand what they say.

[GoodEnough]

Evidently, the link I posted, though published by the government, is not entirely clear, and is meant to apply only to those coming for medical visits and urgent / humanitarian missions, though that's not stated in the announcement. Regular "leisure" tourism is still not permitted and there's been no decision yet made on when the country will open again for tourists. I misinterpreted the announcement, and probably should not have posted it until I had sought clarification from those involved in the ongoing discussions. Evidently no one has a firm idea on even an approximate date for opening to tourists.

GE.

[WestCoast1]

Double-checking your spelling. Did you mean pfellas or phallus?

Haha YES I DID!