Manila

CDC approved?

[URL]https://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/doctors/[/URL]

The embassy makes no note of approved testing sites.

The notice from the CDC.

([URL]https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html[/URL]#text=If%20 you%20 plan%20 to%20 travel, before%20 you%20 board%20 your%20 flight.).

Says they accept rapid tests that " meet the requirements under the Order".

Kind of irks me that the manila embassy says nothing about this since it is a requirement and gives no guidance on providers they accept within the philippines and one of the services the embassy is suppose to offer is medical assistance, at the very least releasing a list of labs in manila they accept would be prudent, since this is not optional and the order says they do not accept ALL rapid tests (I assume they do accept them all, given they accept some at home tests, however that not what the order states).

EDIT: a-little more digging i found they kind of do give a list of centers they should accept.
https://ph.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

It seems as if they will accept DOH approved labs and the DOH has a list of approved labs. However this list does not have any licensed rapid antigen labs and it seems to be a list of licensed PCR test labs.
https://doh.gov.ph/licensed-covid-19-testing-laboratories

[QUOTE=MontanaMonger;2681534]Thankfully flying to the US we don't need the PCR test for the US they accept a rapid antigen tests these the results just need to come from somewhere other than a self test, you can use use a self test you brought with you from the US if that test is accompanied with a teledoc session which mine do not, which is sad because they are the ones biden handed out for "FREE". I will use google as a last resort if there is not a more reliable testing center / lab that someone uses here or one someone has used to successfully fly to the US.

Rapid tests should only run somewhere south of 1k, most of the tests seem to be in the 750 php range, they say they provide home service for that 750 but I am not sure how that works.

https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/54021-metro-manila-rt-pcr-antigen-home-testing/

I dont have to take this test for a few weeks so thanks for the heads up i will walk over to that testing center near Robinsons since its close to my hotel that doesnt show up in my google searches nor google maps so ill see if i can find it. There is however a giant hospital on the other side of Robinsons that i have never been to. It says it is a covid testing site as well.[/QUOTE]Centuria Medical. Gen Luna St which is a stone's throw from City Garden Grand. 12th floor. Room 1201 as I recall. $1200 piso. They give the test results to you right then and there.

[QUOTE=DashingDon;2681547]Centuria Medical. Gen Luna St which is a stone's throw from City Garden Grand. 12th floor. Room 1201 as I recall. $1200 piso. They give the test results to you right then and there.[/QUOTE]At Terminal 3 NAIA level 3. 600 php and they give you a hard copy within 20 minutes.

Just took one on March 29.

As you face the terminal entrance it's to the far left.

You can ask any guard or ground staff.

[QUOTE=BigKahuna;2681591]At Terminal 3 NAIA level 3. 600 php and they give you a hard copy within 20 minutes.

Just took one on March 29.

As you face the terminal entrance it's to the far left.

You can ask any guard or ground staff.[/QUOTE]Thanks. That is a big help!

[QUOTE=MontanaMonger;2681351]Anyone know of a reliable testing center in manila? To enter the US one needs a rapid test given by a person, the self tests I have are not accepted unless they include a teledoc call which they don't unfortunately.[/QUOTE]For other travellers do keep appraised of changing testing requirements. Many countries follow similar advice as the pandemic progresses.

Australia has recently removed the requirement for pre-departure covid tests for incoming vaccinated passengers. Perhaps other governments (I'm looking at you GOV. PH) will start to realize that arriving vaccinated passengers are lower risk than the current Ph community risk. Possibly the same in USA.

In my personal case it is 6 weeks before I arrive in Ph. That's a long time in covid-years so I am making an assumption requirements will change either in my Ph arrival requirements, my return requirements, both or none.

Good morning gents.

From the Westy archives, she charmed the pants off me. Twice.

Hi everyone,

I am flying to Manila and Angeles city soon. I have been looking around for escorts. I found a bunch of "spas" on massage republic with cheap massage rates (2000 for 2 hours nuru or lingram).

For somewhere like this - [URL]https://massagerepublic.com/female-escorts-in-manila/misaki-spa[/URL] what would the rough fee be for a happy ending or sex?

Thankyou in advance.

WC reported a while back that LA Cafe was operating as a restaurant only. Information about them on Google Maps suggests they're operating 24 hours, and the picture looks like the entryway may have been altered. Does anybody have information on any of the freelancer bars in Ermita? Slow to return to life? Are there freelancers hanging out in Robinson's Place or on the street near Adriatico and Pedro Gil? Inquiring minds want to know.

[QUOTE=SoapySmith;2684938]WC reported a while back that LA Cafe was operating as a restaurant only. Information about them on Google Maps suggests they're operating 24 hours, and the picture looks like the entryway may have been altered. Does anybody have information on any of the freelancer bars in Ermita? Slow to return to life? Are there freelancers hanging out in Robinson's Place or on the street near Adriatico and Pedro Gil? Inquiring minds want to know.[/QUOTE]Steve Nash reported after me that he saw FL inside LAC when he was there last. I believe that was early January. Separately, G-Point Bar on Faura / Adriatico had re-opened as daytime-only lunch place. Last time I saw it as such was November. Any more recent intel on either place would be great.

Robinson's. The FL inside the Pedro Gil entrance (near Starbucks) had gone back into swing around August, with slightly better looking (and better dressed girls) walking the area around Starbucks and the Atrium. Most days, by noon, were 2-5 gals. One came several days a week, she is a tiny, 19-20 yo, well-dressed smokin' hottie. She does her best to look dis-interested and not make eye contact. But the high heels, and the fact that she never leaves the area from Starbucks to Pedro Gil entrance, and is there for several hours, says she's in the game. Twice I saw a men approach her and chat, then walk away. Possibly her initial price was too high. Other times I saw her get no date, and go home. "Go big, or go. . . ".

Arya Resto, the halal place next to Uncle Chefy, Pedro Gil / Adriatico. On the steps out front (across the street from McDo), by mid-afternoon, were gathering 2-3 girls, and by sundown up to 8 (very average) girls. Oddly the all seemed to know where the nearby ST hotels were!

At the time, before the foreigners came back, I saw the same gents in Robinson's. I went several days a week for a Starbucks or other coffee / foods. There weren't very many of us foreigners, and there were rarely more than 3-4 of us in the mall at the same time (many times I was the only white man in the mall). Talk about a buyer's market.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2684951]Steve Nash reported after me that he saw FL inside LAC when he was there last. I believe that was early January. Separately, G-Point Bar on Faura / Adriatico had re-opened as daytime-only lunch place. Last time I saw it as such was November. Any more recent intel on either place would be great.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the field report and the PM. G-Point's information on Google Maps says they're open from 11 am to 4 am. May or may not be accurate.

[QUOTE=SoapySmith;2685348]Thanks for the field report and the PM. G-Point's information on Google Maps says they're open from 11 am to 4 am. May or may not be accurate.[/QUOTE]Like checking a hotel's current guest policy, you would have to call G-Point and ask their hours. Do NOT trust the current info on G Maps for any business in Phils. A few examples:

1) G Maps shows a McDonalds at a certain location, and shows it as open 24 hours. You walk or go there to discover that the place caught fire 9 months ago and burned to the ground. The charrred remains have not yet been cleared.

2) G Maps shows a hotel's location, phone number, address, room rates, and so on. It appears to be a possible ST place for you in the future. One day while riding by on that street in a jeep you notice the hotel, exit the jeep, and approach the hotel to check rates and guest policy. The hotel's doors are locked, the lights are off, and nobody is inside. You call the phone number and get no answer. A local says the place closed at the start of the pandemic, 18 months prior.

3) G Maps shows a mall is open, giving the hours of operation. In reality it closed last Monday, the start of a higher Alert Level.

Nobody in Phils updates their business' Google info when things change.

Had to move here due to work and it's barren from the excursions I experienced past two days. If anyone has any insite or advise would highly appreciate.

[QUOTE=ExpatAmerican;2680781]That sounds like a lot of work and stress. Wouldn't it be easier to find a partner that understands your needs and lets you play when you need to as long as you come home? As a Rich White Man in Philippines you should be able to find that. Hell, my Singaporean 20 year younger than me wife also accepts my need to play as long as I don't fall in love and come back home to her. Its much much less stressful that way![/QUOTE]Sorry I been very busy lately to reply here, but today I have time.

I hope everyone are having an awesome time here in the Philippines now that the borders are open.

ExpatAmerican about your advise. Honestly, I have that already back in Canada, she is been faithfully waiting for me for 4 years, she knows I have a GF in Philippines which I'm serious about, but she is still hoping it won't work out, my girl in Canada is 13 years younger than me BTW.

I'm not an old rich white man BTW, I'm in my early 40's, but I look at least 10 yrs younger from what I been told. And I'm not rich either, I work hard to save money for every trip I make. And I look more Filipino than white. Latinos and Filipinos get that alot.

Anyways, I'm tired of having open relationships, I want to settle down and have a family before I hit 45 (worse case scenario before I'm 50). Don't get me wrong I love open relationships, but to be honest for me those relationships are empty relationships, where only the woman (on my case) loves the man and put up with his shit, you will never going to love that person like a normal relationship should be. It happened to me with my girl back in Canada, I tried my best to see a future with her but because the relationship started as an open relationship I just couldn't see myself been with her in the long run and also being faithful to her, I see her more like a best friend with booty (she has a big bootie that drives me crazy sometimes). In the other hand my GF here in Philippines not only she is very attractive, smart and hardworker but we have great chemistry, and even thought I been cheating on her for 2 years, I can see her as my partner for life and me not cheating on her. I know is hard to believe that since I been doing that for 2 years, BUT I know I can do it, I have done that before being faithful and in a committed relationship for a couple of years.

I been a monger for more than 13 years now, I think is time for me to retire, not offense to no one here but I don't want to be an old guy paying for sex, I want to have a family, I been having lots of sex since I was 14 (25+ years), I love it as a hobby, specially I love it when they fall so easily not for the money (I don't like paying), but because they really see me as someone they can date and have a serious relationship with (I know, maybe some of them see me as someone who can give them a better future too), BUT that was before, now I'm looking to find the right woman for me where we can grow old together. I'm taking my time with this girl because I want to be 100 percent sure she is the right one.

Anyways, I'm the opposite from most guys here, I never had a family before so is time for me to settle down before is too late.

So yeah, I agree in the sense that if all you want is to have sex you should find someone who can put up with your adventures instead of cheating, like the open relationships I had in the past. BUT at this point I'm way pass that, so I'm looking for something different.

[QUOTE=GenXBaer;2686378]Had to move here due to work and it's barren from the excursions I experienced past two days. If anyone has any insite or advise would highly appreciate.[/QUOTE]Lots of hotties in Alabang, go to ATC mall, you will see lots of hotties there, I had dated 2 girls from Alabang (6-7 years ago) and we always go there to watch movies, you will see lots of hotties in that mall. Can not say much about it since is been a long time.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2684951]Steve Nash reported after me that he saw FL inside LAC when he was there last. I believe that was early January. Separately, G-Point Bar on Faura / Adriatico had re-opened as daytime-only lunch place. Last time I saw it as such was November. Any more recent intel on either place would be great.

Robinson's. The FL inside the Pedro Gil entrance (near Starbucks) had gone back into swing around August, with slightly better looking (and better dressed girls) walking the area around Starbucks and the Atrium. Most days, by noon, were 2-5 gals. One came several days a week, she is a tiny, 19-20 yo, well-dressed smokin' hottie. She does her best to look dis-interested and not make eye contact. But the high heels, and the fact that she never leaves the area from Starbucks to Pedro Gil entrance, and is there for several hours, says she's in the game. Twice I saw a men approach her and chat, then walk away. Possibly her initial price was too high. Other times I saw her get no date, and go home. "Go big, or go. . . ".

Arya Resto, the halal place next to Uncle Chefy, Pedro Gil / Adriatico. On the steps out front (across the street from McDo), by mid-afternoon, were gathering 2-3 girls, and by sundown up to 8 (very average) girls. Oddly the all seemed to know where the nearby ST hotels were!

At the time, before the foreigners came back, I saw the same gents in Robinson's. I went several days a week for a Starbucks or other coffee / foods. There weren't very many of us foreigners, and there were rarely more than 3-4 of us in the mall at the same time (many times I was the only white man in the mall). Talk about a buyer's market.[/QUOTE]I probably told you I saw some FL outside LAC, but not inside, last time I was in LAC was a while ago like 5-6 years ago.