General Info

[WestCoast1]

However this being the Philippines, enforcement will be highly variable. I am in Cebu province and other than most places closed, have had very little restriction on my movements, only asked for my pass at one mall, not the other and never while moving around. However with everything closed, I have not been moving that much.

Every business here requires you show your brgy exit pass when entering the front door (hardware store even). No mask, no exit pass, no entry (excluding businesses inside malls; the pass must be shown at the mall entrance). Only curfew restricts movement.

Once places open up, I doubt if they will be asking me for my ID thinking I am over 60 when it will be the businesses doing the checking and they need the income. I also look younger than 60 so they have some deniability.

Few have asked my age, as I also look younger, and maybe they just don't care to ask. When asked, I've been honest (I am over 59), but nobody cared, nobody told me that I could not go inside.

They will deal with any further outbreaks by contact tracing etc before undergoing another severe shutdown.

There is a lot of trace-back documentation going on at restos and coffee shops suddenly. Every coffee shop I enter now makes me fill out a form with my name, residence, and phone number, right at the front door, before entering.

[Kabul Guy]

RK, is the restriction indefinite because you are over 60 or will you be allowed out of your home .....

There are 4 levels of quarantine, from strictest to least restrictive.

ECQ Enhanced Community quarantine.

MECQ Modified Enhanced Community quarantine.

GCQ Modified General Community quarantine.

MGCQ Modified General Community quarantine.

Under all of these over 60 cannot go out except for essential reasons, Over 60 can go to work in allowed businesses.

The over 60 will not be able to move freely until we get to the new normal.

However this being the Philippines, enforcement will be highly variable. I am in Cebu province and other than most places closed, have had very little restriction on my movements, only asked for my pass at one mall, not the other and never while moving around. However with everything closed, I have not been moving that much.

Once places open up, I doubt if they will be asking me for my ID thinking I am over 60 when it will be the businesses doing the checking and they need the income. I also look younger than 60 so they have some deniability.

The government is under a lot of pressure to reopen the economy so I am thinking that at the end of the current restrictions, most of the country will go to MGCQ and movement will gradually return to normal. They will deal with any further outbreaks by contact tracing etc before undergoing another severe shutdown.

[Datiao]

I just came across this post in the Sao Paulo thread and I find it very meaningful to share some parts of it.

Quote:
Every man, based on his personal circumstances and desires, has his own limits and that's fine. You don't call a man a cheapskate just because he goes for the Buick every single time. But you don't call him a snob either just because he prefers a BMW, and can tell the difference between the two. I personally won't be going for any Bentley's! I could, but for me that's too much to be paying for "a car" (a piece of ass). But I do accept that there is a difference in value between a Buick and a BMW and a Bentley, and I know how to recognize each one when I see it. What price I want to pay, that's up to me, without passing negative judgments upon others and what they are willing to pay for.

[Amanut]

I was able to get a last-minute seat on a special flight into Manila for OFWs at 0040 h on June 11.


My test results came back within 46 hours.

I was free to go home immediately.

Now confined in my own condo and not permitted outside because I am over 60. The condo security have reminded me of this.

If you don't have a 13 A visa and are expecting things to ease up soon then don't hold your breath. Cannot see tourist visas being issued for the PH for a long time yet because cases of Covid are still increasing in various parts of Manila and elsewhere.

I am not sure why anyone would be desperate to come here as the virus is still all over and I sure as hell don't want to get it. A family friend from Makati (48 yo, non-smoker, fit and healthy), got it a month ago and died 3 weeks later. His wife said he died in agony from lung failure. It can hit anyone.

RK, is the restriction indefinite because you are over 60 or will you be allowed out of your home and circulate after you are virus free after 14 days. My more direct question is are you under an indefinite house arrest? Are there any loosening of restrictions for things like buying groceries, shopping, or meeting friends? Getting laid?

For us sixty plus year old visitors there, I can't imagine anything more fun than a 30 day vacation of being locked in my hotel up indefinitely regardless of whether it is a 1 star or 5 star.

Nut.

[Dg8787]

But DG you are not a cheap charlie and you have your stimulus cheque LOL Many are not so lucky and will try and stiff the banks a few pesos and boast about it here LOL.

I kind of like the bar set a little high. Keeps out the cheap Charlies.

[Wicked Roger]

I am ready to put up my $3,000 deposit. I can use my $1200 stimulus money towards it.

Hopefully no 14 days of quarantine. But if I can do the quarantine in my AC hotel that would be ok.

I have half a dozen girls waiting for my return. Additional 3 new ones awaiting!

But DG you are not a cheap charlie and you have your stimulus cheque LOL Many are not so lucky and will try and stiff the banks a few pesos and boast about it here LOL.

[Dg8787]

This will seriously dampen the demand for monger (maybe anyone) cto come to the Philippines of cash is needed. Those who do will wonder how long to wait before they get the cash back if pass the test? Some bank refunds in the western world take week! Hopefully not so in Asia.

Those with blue balls may need to look elsewhere in the near future or stay at home and get used to the local talent. Especially the cheap charlies on the board who boast about stiffing a trike driver 50 pesos or insist 1000 pesos all night is the norm and then say they paid the lady less!

I am ready to put up my $3,000 deposit. I can use my $1200 stimulus money towards it.

Hopefully no 14 days of quarantine. But if I can do the quarantine in my AC hotel that would be ok.

I have half a dozen girls waiting for my return. Additional 3 new ones awaiting!

[Wicked Roger]

"And starting June 15, Cambodia also requires foreign travellers to deposit $3,000 for testing, quarantine and travelling including covering treatment costs in case they test positive for Covid-19 while in Cambodia.

This is highly likely to become the standard fee around the ASEAN region at least. It will be announced in PH as soon as the airport opens to those without PH passports or 13 A visas.

Not many people have $3000 usd as disposable cash to deposit into a bank account and be consumable by the local health authorities.

This will seriously dampen the demand for monger (maybe anyone) cto come to the Philippines of cash is needed. Those who do will wonder how long to wait before they get the cash back if pass the test? Some bank refunds in the western world take week! Hopefully not so in Asia.

Those with blue balls may need to look elsewhere in the near future or stay at home and get used to the local talent. Especially the cheap charlies on the board who boast about stiffing a trike driver 50 pesos or insist 1000 pesos all night is the norm and then say they paid the lady less!

[Red Kilt]

Today's Phnom Penh Post had the following statement (in a longer article).

"And starting June 15, Cambodia also requires foreign travellers to deposit $3,000 for testing, quarantine and travelling including covering treatment costs in case they test positive for Covid-19 while in Cambodia.

Government spokesperson Phay Siphan said the government reversed its earlier decision because the virus is gravely affecting the economy.

He said it has become the international standard for countries to charge for treatment services and require foreign travellers to have health insurance".

Note the final line in the Cambodian statement.

This is highly likely to become the standard fee around the ASEAN region at least. It will be announced in PH as soon as the airport opens to those without PH passports or 13 A visas.

Not many people have $3000 usd as disposable cash to deposit into a bank account and be consumable by the local health authorities.

[PilotPaul]

That's my report. Back to having a drink, watching TV, and working a little.

Thanks for the reports RK & BF. It's hard to imagine that life is still so dead in Ph while back here in Australia life is pretty normal these days. Looking at the Ph covid numbers and the society's way of flouting the rules I can see in time Ph will get on top of it, eventually. The returning travellers would be a little blip compared to the community cases.

[Big Fun]

Was in Rizal outside of NCR, but came to Makati due to extreme boredom. Makati gives a different flavor of boredom. LOL. Can at least get a better selection of food here. Oh also, my part of Rizal had a liquor ban.

The rules are that you are not supposed to travel between various regions except for legitimate business reasons, but with all the traffic etc, that is not being enforced. A month ago there were roadblocks, but now essentially nothing. Even with the roadblocks / checkpoints, the Filipinos were hyper vigilant the first day after a speech from Dutuerte with guns and gates, second day kind of waved people through as they had a look, third day eating lunch watching the cars, forth day texting and web surfing heads down, forth day maybe no one at the checkpoint, or sleeping. You could count on it. The pattern repeated after each presidential announcement.

Hotels have various rules on guests. I am at City Garden (not Grand) and the easiest way to stay to be a long term guest. Minimum requirement is you stay a week. Other hotels had more stringent requirements: waiting for a flight, stranded, legitimate business with ID. My GF would fail all of those.

Total ghost town, although activity is increasing. Last week I asked at check in. CG had 20 guests total. CG looked like a staged war zone. Big heavy bar on the door with the obligate security guards in the fancy uniforms. Now it's much less stringent than a week ago. My GF is registered but she comes in and out all the time with different staff and they never question her or ask for ID. So I think if you walk in like you are a legit guest, it is no problem. Probably helpful to have a key and know your room number.

Fun things.

Totally dead at night. Walked up and down Makati Ave in the street. Zero traffic. Burgos is like the quietest street anywhere. Everything is closed except for hotels and mini mart /711.

And if you are looking for fake Cialis, fake Viagra, fake watch, or belt etc, you are out of luck! Ha ha ha. Kind of nice to walk up and down Burgos without Cialis being shoved in your face. (but then again, I have my GF here).

I have no idea as to when the bars will open. I have heard that restaurants will be opening soon for eat in dining with appropriate distancing. You know how it goes with bar owners. I am wondering whether bars will now reopen as restaurants to serve food with girls on the side after a payoff to the appropriate local.

That's my report. Back to having a drink, watching TV, and working a little.

[Mr Enternational]

I was able to get a last-minute seat on a special flight into Manila for OFWs at 0040 h on June 11.

Great report RK! I don't know what makes people in these various threads think they are going to quarantine in these countries when they arrive and be able to have someone come visit them. That would totally defeat the purpose of the quarantine.

[Red Kilt]

I was able to get a last-minute seat on a special flight into Manila for OFWs at 0040 h on June 11.

Flight was exclusively for OFWs. Non-OFWs with PH passports or guys like me with a 13 A permanent visa were allowed on once there was space available.

71 pax on the flight. I was the only non-OFW.

Arrived at 0400 h. Very efficient marshalling etc carried out by the PH Coast Guard.

Lots of forms to fill out.

I needed to nominate a hotel from a list in which I would be isolated until my test results were finalised.

My swab test was eventually carried out. Smooth and efficient. Passed through Immig (I was the only one there) and escorted to my airport taxi and sent to my chosen hotel.

Hotel was barricaded against entry by anyone other than staff and those with quarantine bookings.

All smooth. I was instructed not to leave my room and that food would be left outside the door at 0730,1200 and 1800 h.

My test results came back within 46 hours.

I was free to go home immediately.

Now confined in my own condo and not permitted outside because I am over 60. The condo security have reminded me of this.

It's all remarkably efficient.

There is a large backlog of OFWs waiting to return home. The PH airport facility can only accommodate restricted numbers of incoming flights which is why I had 6 commercial bookings cancelled over the 63 days I was waiting to return.

If you don't have a 13 A visa and are expecting things to ease up soon then don't hold your breath. Cannot see tourist visas being issued for the PH for a long time yet because cases of Covid are still increasing in various parts of Manila and elsewhere.

I am not sure why anyone would be desperate to come here as the virus is still all over and I sure as hell don't want to get it. A family friend from Makati (48 yo, non-smoker, fit and healthy), got it a month ago and died 3 weeks later. His wife said he died in agony from lung failure. It can hit anyone.

[PilotPaul]

This is a very good sign for us mongers, at least the local talent pool is opening up like never before.

My 'local' talent pool consists of foreign talent that is in my country.

Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Filipina, Italian, Romanian. I have not banged an Aussie girl for 12+ months.

PP.

[Goferring]

No matter how desperate I get I will never go back to that horrid emasculating entitled pit if despair.

I'll take that as a maybe. . . 😁.

I'm also a convert but I must say that some of the young white chicks I've bumped into in the tourist ghettos and beaches around Asia have been absolutely gorgeous. Of course, the furthest I ever got was a look of disdain or pity. 😥.