General Info

[JohnIsFun]

We are starting to see some form of confirmation of this opening on 10th of Feb, for example here https://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/.

And it is specified that french covid certificates are accepted, which is good too.

Regarding sim card from Phil, that's not a real issue, you just have to buy it on arrival, airport or anywhere else, that's what I do all the times I come there, then you can use local apps with a Phil number, no prob.

You can buy SIM card locally at lot of places including the airport and many shops in the city. These are not expensive. What I found is the vendors selling at the airport will charge little extra. So only buy the sim card wit small credit that allows to get a Grab or taxi. You can top up in the city or online. You may there are more promotions online also.

[WestCoast1]

We are starting to see some form of confirmation of this opening on 10th of Feb, for example here https://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/.

That's the spirit! Mongers getting in the swing of things.

Its like old times. Making plans to meet far more girls than will be possible in a two week trip. Just caught up in the excitement. Juices beginning to flow again.

The fellas and the pinay are getting excited, and that's been my bailiwick (see pic). I expect at least one quality field report from every inbound BBB guy. Dr Westy is ready to turn over the reigns to the inbound foreign doctors. Let the vaxxing begin. . .

[RakSopheni]

Regarding sim card from Phil, that's not a real issue, you just have to buy it on arrival, airport or anywhere else, that's what I do all the times I come there, then you can use local apps with a Phil number, no prob.

Yeah, agreed. It's just a waste though because I use google fi which gets service in any country the minute you land and this would mean I need to bring a second unlocked phone just for that specific purpose. As you point out though, it might not be necessary for much longer.

[ThomasCasey]

More true words can not be spoken. BM is repeating what I said before, and it bears saying again: Do NOT trust what you read in airbnb descriptions of condo units. Few owners have bothered to update their description to tell you that the government has closed the ammenities (basketball court, pool, and gym). At times of different lockdown strictness, some residences will open one of those items, socially-distanced (example: only 1 family can use the pool at a time, to include no more than 4 persons in the water at once). The gym, if opened (I've noticed never at the same time as their pool), might allow no more than 3 or 4 persons inside. This usually last 2 or 3 weeks, then the residence closes everything again. Many residences have not opened any of their amenities during lockdown (so much cheaper to maintain a gym or pool that you don't have to maintain). None of this has stopped owners / hosts from continuing to advertise the lovely pool or gym at their place.

Same can be said for your guests. A general rule of thumb (during pandemic) is this: You can register (in advance) as many guests as the unit allows. If you are registering for 2 persons, then the host will want you to send your and your (1) guest's eye dee in advance. You (and guest) might be required to provide a health checkup from a doctor or a PCR negative result. If you are registering for 3 persons, you must send all of that (or show up with the 2 guests and everyone's health documents) in advance. This prevents you from bringing in girls serially, as we are used to pre-pandemic.

Thanks for the intel WestCoast1. Traditionally I've stayed at hotels (whether in Palawan, Bohol, Manila, or Cebu), and have never had problems bringing anyone back. For my next trip (keeping fingers crossed the reopening is happening!) I was thinking about getting an Airbnb for more privacy to avoid the walk of shame at a hotel. Reading what you wrote is making me think it's better to just stick to a larger hotel as I'd hate to get blocked bringing anyone back.

Second question: I noticed a lot of people tend to go to a ST hotel for fun. I've never tried this as I've never had an issue staying at my regular hotel. Is there any particular reason why a number of you only use ST hotels? Is it for privacy, security? Just wondering so hopefully I can learn some new tricks. I guess I always feel more comfortable and cleaner being at my own hotel.

Thanks!

[Albert9989]

We are starting to see some form of confirmation of this opening on 10th of Feb, for example here https://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/.

And it is specified that french covid certificates are accepted, which is good too.

I
These tasks are more difficult than even entering the country. The pre-booking and roundtrip tickets are a huge risk in the case of denial of entry. And the S-Pass registration and Travel Permit is not possible unless you have a PH sim card because there is no way to change the country code.

Regarding sim card from Phil, that's not a real issue, you just have to buy it on arrival, airport or anywhere else, that's what I do all the times I come there, then you can use local apps with a Phil number, no prob.

[Dashing Don]

You mean to say everyone needs a booster dose of viagra from the the time you wait for the slow elevator till you get inside your room LOL!

That's the spirit! Mongers getting in the swing of things.

Its like old times. Making plans to meet far more girls than will be possible in a two week trip. Just caught up in the excitement. Juices beginning to flow again.

The Filipina Pea over on Youtube was ecstatic about the news as has been every Filipina I've communicated with.

Meantime there's a snowstorm here in NYC. Can't wait to get on that plane.

[RakSopheni]

I think that anyone offering clear predictions is doing so on the basis of hunches. As you rightly pointed out, rules changes and "mandatory" checks may actually be true or may be ignored totally, and it is not possible to predict what will be the case once you arrive. I could, for example, as of today, hop a flight from Davao to Clark with no test requirements and on presentation of vaccination certificates. . In theory, I could return to Davao without any testing requirements as well. However, this could change overnight and it would be unsurprising. In theory, I could drive from Davao to CdO (about 300 km) with no worries. In practice, some barangay captain could decide to erect a roadblock somewhere along my route and decide to require a negative PCR test result which I could not provide. Likewise, I might find on my return that Davao has changed the rules and requires a negative PCR test prior to being allowed re-entry. The frequent, seemingly impulsive rule changesusually communicated quite poorlyare one of the reasons I've deferred all in-country travel..

It looks as if the desperate and dateless may be confined to Angeles were a lot more is allowed by locals, transport and accommodation options. Unfortunately, for those going to Manila, Cebu or the provincial centers it may be a while before AirBnB, condos, Grab and the like allow easy access to our hobby.

I found both these responses useful and thoughtful, thanks.

From what I gather here and elsewhere it sounds like at the very least an arrival in Manila and subsequent travel to Pampanga via the Dau Bus or private car is still a possible and a practical expectation. Newly arriving tourists at the very least will not be confined to shuffling around Makati. Encouraging as well that in Angeles the Airbnb's and hotels are not as restrictive to our hobby. Both of these are baseline expectations.

Additional excursions, say perhaps Clark to Coron, Coron to El Nido (ferry) or Manila to El Nido might be subject to unpredictable and constantly changing requirements. A little research turned up a big laundry list of tasks to require to enter El Nido for example:

https://guidetothephilippines.ph/art...ravel-covid-19

El Nido, Palawan Island travel requirements for leisure travelers:

For tourists coming from outside Palawan:

Starting November 22, fully vaccinated* individuals are exempted from presenting a negative COVID-19 test. They must instead present a vaccination certificate from vaxcert.doh.gov.ph or a vaccination card.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers need to negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arrival.

Pre-booking at DOT-accredited El Nido hotels and resorts

Roundtrip flight tickets

A QR-coded tourist ID from elnidotourism.ph or the El Nido Tourism mobile app which they can download from the App Store or Google Play

Registration and Travel Permit from s-pass.ph

These tasks are more difficult than even entering the country. The pre-booking and roundtrip tickets are a huge risk in the case of denial of entry. And the S-Pass registration and Travel Permit is not possible unless you have a PH sim card because there is no way to change the country code.

https://s-pass.ph/

It's encouraging as another poster has pointed out that the USA CDC Vax card will be accepted. Also I would add that it is still possible to turn this paper card into a digital pass even if the issuer was not a state with a registry. Walgreens, for example, provided me with a Smart Health QR code on their website which alone was unusable, but then I was then able to verify it with the CommonPass App which produced another certificate and QR code that are universally readable.

All in all, it sounds like tourist travel to PH is now moving into the realm of possibility, but expectations need to be tempered and one should not expect a quick return to the good old days.

[WestCoast1]

You mean to say everyone needs a booster dose of viagra from the the time you wait for the slow elevator till you get inside your room LOL!

Hahaha. If by 'everyone' you mean me, then: Yes! At my age. . .

And then please refresh your vax card. See if it says "August 9 2021, Viagra, Lot 206, J Alcalda (your hussie), Brgy 607 Malate, Manila".

[GoodEnough]

Yesterday, I posted a link to a news article quoting a government official that the country would open again for tourists on or about 10 February. Today, another newspaper claims that the decision relative to the admission of tourists is "on hold" because of the omicron spread. Given that nothing much has ostensibly changed over the past 24 hours, it's not clear what the policy is. Here's the link to the aforementioned article: https://www.thenationalnews.com/trav...from-february/.

I cannot offer any clarification as to which of the sources is accurate; the one I cited yesterday or that from today's link.

GE.

I should not have posted the link above without having first checked the date, which I failed to do. The date of the article was 14 January, which preceded the date of the announcement of a couple of days ago. Thus I assume that the 10 February date for the entry of tourists is still valid. Sorry for not having been more thorough.

[Sammon]

Elevators now hold a max of 4 persons, so you can plan on longer wait times. For those of you familiar with Birch Tower's long lines pre-pandemic when a dozen people can be squeezed in the elevators, imagine how long the waits are now.

strange.

You mean to say everyone needs a booster dose of viagra from the the time you wait for the slow elevator till you get inside your room LOL!

[WestCoast1]

The Philippines uses a yellow vaccination card which can be bought from Amazon.

All those that I saw in Manila are electronic (not paper) and from the same source (NCR). Online, in advance of your vax, you must register. Your name, address, phone number, and selfie (mandatory) are recorded and placed on your electronic vax record. The electronic vax card / record they send to your phone also includes a QR code that is generated and just for you. When you show up for your vaccination (mass vax sites, vaxxing hundreds or thousands at a time), you must show a valid eye dee, and on your phone you show the vax record (complete with your picture and QR code). The info on your electronic vax record, including your pic, must match your face and your eye dee. You sit down for your shot, and a clerk takes your eye dee and phone to compare pics and make sure that you are you. He then scans your vax record's QR code, which brings up on his computer screen the same vax record. This prevents buying a fake card from anywhere (it would not have your unique government-issued QR code). When the clerk is happy, you get jabbed from a nurse. Once jabbed, the clerk clicks something on his computer. They told me to hit 'Refresh' on my phone's vax record. Whereas before the vax record on my phone had blank administration boxes, once I refreshed, it said such as: "August 9 2021, Pfizer, Lot 206, M Alvarez 9 (the nurse' name), Brgy 607 Malate, Manila". No hand-writing anything on a card. The same thing happened with my second vax.

Others, both pinoy and foreigners, had the same vax card on their phone. At times when the NCR goes into stricter lockdown, all the indoor food joints started making us show a vax record in order to enter the place.

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.

More true words can not be spoken. BM is repeating what I said before, and it bears saying again: Do NOT trust what you read in airbnb descriptions of condo units. Few owners have bothered to update their description to tell you that the government has closed the ammenities (basketball court, pool, and gym). At times of different lockdown strictness, some residences will open one of those items, socially-distanced (example: only 1 family can use the pool at a time, to include no more than 4 persons in the water at once). The gym, if opened (I've noticed never at the same time as their pool), might allow no more than 3 or 4 persons inside. This usually last 2 or 3 weeks, then the residence closes everything again. Many residences have not opened any of their amenities during lockdown (so much cheaper to maintain a gym or pool that you don't have to maintain). None of this has stopped owners / hosts from continuing to advertise the lovely pool or gym at their place.

Same can be said for your guests. A general rule of thumb (during pandemic) is this: You can register (in advance) as many guests as the unit allows. If you are registering for 2 persons, then the host will want you to send your and your (1) guest's eye dee in advance. You (and guest) might be required to provide a health checkup from a doctor or a PCR negative result. If you are registering for 3 persons, you must send all of that (or show up with the 2 guests and everyone's health documents) in advance. This prevents you from bringing in girls serially, as we are used to pre-pandemic.

Elevators now hold a max of 4 persons, so you can plan on longer wait times. For those of you familiar with Birch Tower's long lines pre-pandemic when a dozen people can be squeezed in the elevators, imagine how long the waits are now.

You need to ask questions about these kinds of things from your host before renting. Also, many places want a month's rent, many refuse to take over-night or for a week (not mentioned in the description). Also some unit owners will refuse you the opportunity to go there and view the room; they will tell you to rent for a month and if you don't like the place you can leave, but no refunds. Also don't be surprised if you msg a host in Airbnb, and nobody responds. That just means the owner is not wanting to rent, and has forgotten / failed to de-list the place. Airbnb has gone strange.

[RainmanSahut]

Philippines Government Announces Travel Ban Lifted February 10 with No Quarantine.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic...hnk/index.html

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1...ries-by-feb-10

Fully vaccinated foreign travelers from non-visa required countries may enter the Philippines either for business or tourism purposes, acting presidential spokesperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Friday, January 28,2022.

Traveler 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.

They will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

Happy Hunting Fellows.

Rainman.

[Goferring]

I think that anyone offering clear predictions is doing so on the basis of hunches. As you rightly pointed out, rules changes and "mandatory" checks may actually be true or may be ignored totally, and it is not possible to predict what will be the case once you arrive.

GE.

It's perfectly normal for the permitted and practical to be totally different things. 😜.

It looks as if the desperate and dateless may be confined to Angeles were a lot more is allowed by locals, transport and accommodation options. Unfortunately, for those going to Manila, Cebu or the provincial centers it may be a while before AirBnB, condos, Grab and the like allow easy access to our hobby.

Progress is being made though. 👍.

[The Rose]

What an unfortunate way to let yourself feel. Cogitate more and maybe some niceness will come your way.

You are patronizing me and virtue signaling.

If you have a breadth of experience in the Philippines or if you RTFF then you will have familiarity with the following hazards pitfalls that await foreigners in the Philippines. This list is not exhaustive.

Those guys on Fields Avenue who claim that they know you from the hotel in order to involve you in a scam.

The petty criminals who clamor to sit next to you on the LRT or the jeep because you are a foreigner so that they can try to pick your pocket.

The bargirl who promises to stay all night and then leaves after one session claiming her mother just got sick.

The several foreigners who are robbed and murdered each year and yet these crimes are never solved.

The staff at the bar who pester you to buy unwanted drinks.

The never ending parade of hucksters on the street who accost you with a never ending variety of ways to get you to reach in your pocket and part with your money.

The whole gang of trike drivers who have institutionalized overcharging foreigners.

The girls who are in cahoots with the police or with police impersonators and claim that they are either under age or have been abused in a foreigner's hotel room so as to extort money from the foreigner.

The waitress in the bar who pads the bill after the foreigner can't effectively track what he has drunk.

The customs officer at the airport who plants contraband in a foreigner's luggage to extort money from him.

Like I said this list is not comprehensive.

BTW. I am nice and much niceness comes my way even though I am perceived as a walking ATM machine. I am ever vigilant and never stray too far from my primary purposes for being in this land. Always remember: If you begin to understand the Philippines then you are totally confused.

[GoodEnough]

Does anyone with BOTG have information regarding restrictions on inter-island and inter-regional travel. A recent youtube video by Philly in the Philippines seemed to suggest that this process was paper-work heavy with mandatory check-ins with Barangay Captains and the submission of pre-travel clearance forms for a simple trip from Angeles to Puerto Galera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=211LDgoQ4Lc

Assuming this is all still true, do the same BOTG members see this loosening up in the coming months should the trend towards Omicron endemicity and less restrictions continue?

I think that anyone offering clear predictions is doing so on the basis of hunches. As you rightly pointed out, rules changes and "mandatory" checks may actually be true or may be ignored totally, and it is not possible to predict what will be the case once you arrive. I could, for example, as of today, hop a flight from Davao to Clark with no test requirements and on presentation of vaccination certificates. . In theory, I could return to Davao without any testing requirements as well. However, this could change overnight and it would be unsurprising. In theory, I could drive from Davao to CdO (about 300 km) with no worries. In practice, some barangay captain could decide to erect a roadblock somewhere along my route and decide to require a negative PCR test result which I could not provide. Likewise, I might find on my return that Davao has changed the rules and requires a negative PCR test prior to being allowed re-entry. The frequent, seemingly impulsive rule changes—usually communicated quite poorly—are one of the reasons I've deferred all in-country travel.

The only certainty right now is the uncertainty of pandemic responses not only within and between regions, but also from barangay to barangay. My guess—and I emphasize that this is strictly conjecture—is that, as in other countries, the omicron wave will recede here within another 3-4 weeks and the country will begin to open again assuming omicron is not supplanted by yet another mutation. That said, I think the national government is doing its best to cope with an extraordinary public health situation, by making vaccines accessible to as many people as possible and doing so at no cost to the recipients and that's commendable.

GE.