General Info

[QUOTE=Amavida;1637434]The take home message from the study was: 1) use the worlds most expensive phone (iPhone) & 2) Be in an high socio economic zip code (or have an IP address originating from one). No, not slum address at all Skip! AV.[/QUOTE]I agree with your first takeaway. But following the article, living in a high socio-economic zip code is likely to get you directed to more expensive products. So that would be a takeaway for those who want to be led to high-end products. And for people who don't want to be led to high-end products, do you think that's the takeaway advice?

[QUOTE=SkipKost;1637680]I agree with your first takeaway. But following the article, living in a high socio-economic zip code is likely to get you directed to more expensive products. So that would be a takeaway for those who want to be led to high-end products. And for people who don't want to be led to high-end products, do you think that's the takeaway advice?[/QUOTE]Nope, I don't believe that's what the study was saying Skip. That's extrapolating to far.

AV.

[QUOTE=SkipKost;1637675]And if you look closely you find that they often have crude misspellings within the instruction sheets and even on the outside of the box. Even the manufacturer's name: "Eli Lily and Company. ".[/QUOTE]By all means use caution, yes. Over ten years I have found that the generic Viagra sold on the street is what it is claimed to be. Yes, the boxes are reproductions of the original manufacturer box. Cost of the genetics are roughly one fourth of the pharmacy sold product. I have purchased both from time to time.

My sample size is not that big, I don't nip down to the local hawker 3 times a week LOL!

YMMV.

AV.

[QUOTE=Amavida;1637516]GE, Clark field office is efficient also. Not comfortable with this. I know it has been brought on by all the Mumbai & ROK over stayers grossly abusing the system but it feels like a noose slowly tightening. Not a friendly feeling to be required to be fingerprinted. Its kind of laughable because they don't check the veracity of your info anyway.

AV.[/QUOTE]Doesn't make me entirely comfortable either AV, but I'm not going to get paranoid about it. I was fingerprinted using the old ink pad technology, when I applied for my first ACR about nine years ago, and again (electronically) the last time I renewed my driver's license. I'm not sure what, if anything, the government here does with the digitized information, but I'm guessing not much.

GE.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1637814]Doesn't make me entirely comfortable either AV, but I'm not going to get paranoid about it. I was fingerprinted using the old ink pad technology, when I applied for my first ACR about nine years ago, and again (electronically) the last time I renewed my driver's license. I'm not sure what, if anything, the government here does with the digitized information, but I'm guessing not much.

GE.[/QUOTE]Immigration has been fingerprinting long staying foreigners (>6 months) when they apply for their departure certificate. Why there is this departure certificate requirement I can't tell you. Taking someone's fingerprints a week prior to their departure doesn't seem to me the best way to thwart crime. It may aid in solving crimes, but if the criminal has already departed the country it's not an efficient system. Nowadays many countries capture a visitor's fingerprints upon their arrival immigration at the port of entry. I don't see how a government having this info can harm me; if they're going to frame me for something the might the state wields is so massive it can do so at anytime. The only things I'd worry about are a) hackers capturing my personal info from a gov't system or b) someone at the immigration office selling my info to telemarketers.

According to a news report there are approximately 1700 OFWs working in the three nations of West Africa hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak and an additional 100 Philippines peacekeepers in Liberia. What's alarming is that the government, in typical fashion, seems to have no plan to safeguard this country from potentially infected returnees. (I guess that is left in God's hands.) Given the state of the public health system and the general incompetence displayed by politicians and officials, this could indeed be a ticking time bomb!

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1637838]Immigration has been fingerprinting long staying foreigners (>6 months) when they apply for their departure certificate. Why there is this departure certificate requirement I can't tell you. Taking someone's fingerprints a week prior to their departure doesn't seem to me the best way to thwart crime. It may aid in solving crimes, but if the criminal has already departed the country it's not an efficient system. Nowadays many countries capture a visitor's fingerprints upon their arrival immigration at the port of entry. I don't see how a government having this info can harm me; if they're going to frame me for something the might the state wields is so massive it can do so at anytime. The only things I'd worry about are a) hackers capturing my personal info from a gov't system or b) someone at the immigration office selling my info to telemarketers.[/QUOTE]If they register us in a data base, it would be easier for them to bring things together. I was searching several threads yesterday looking for the discussion, if doctors have the duty of notification (but couldn't find it) . Just as an example, if a doctor would find a STD and he would report it, than this information goes into the same data base and you will have trouble next time you enter Philippines. Maybe they don't even let you in anymore. Just a thought.

Preferably with easy access to Manila. A flight+short drive etc. Neither needs to be the best, but would like to do both. Anyone else ever try to make this work? Not looking for a long trip or vacation, just a weekend getaway. I'd rather not take someone with me either.

[QUOTE=BambooPete;1637852]If they register us in a data base, it would be easier for them to bring things together. I was searching several threads yesterday looking for the discussion, if doctors have the duty of notification (but couldn't find it) . Just as an example, if a doctor would find a STD and he would report it, than this information goes into the same data base and you will have trouble next time you enter Philippines. Maybe they don't even let you in anymore. Just a thought.[/QUOTE]Call me a cynic but I doubt things would ever get so thorough in the Philippines. If there were a medical data exchange with immigration I fear this would cause many foreigners to forego treatment locally and seek it elsewhere. The end result of this delay would be more infections passed to locals, and I think this isn't a goal of the gov't. I wouldn't be opposed to a gov't barring entry to someone with an STD like HIV.

[QUOTE=Hummus;1638151]Preferably with easy access to Manila. A flight+short drive etc. Neither needs to be the best, but would like to do both. Anyone else ever try to make this work? Not looking for a long trip or vacation, just a weekend getaway. I'd rather not take someone with me either.[/QUOTE]La Union, Zambales and Baler are the closest places to Manila. Not too many p4 p FRs here about those places. Try a dating site.

[QUOTE=Hummus;1638151]Preferably with easy access to Manila. A flight+short drive etc. Neither needs to be the best, but would like to do both. Anyone else ever try to make this work? Not looking for a long trip or vacation, just a weekend getaway. I'd rather not take someone with me either.[/QUOTE]I guess you're looking at Surigao. Avid surfers can chime in with other places. Everywhere you go in the Phils there are girls floating about game for a root & cash, some places more plentiful than others. If you go to a place frequented by lots of foreigners you are less of a novelty.

AV.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1638210]Call me a cynic but I doubt things would ever get so thorough in the Philippines.[/QUOTE]I used to believe that but things are changing. Yes, it's still fubar in many ways but look back at your first experience of the Immigration office in Manila & compare it to today. Back in 2005 I remember standing a throng for two hours outside in the heat, finally getting to a crummy wooden counter behind which were filing cabinets stacked 10 high stretching back a kilometer (so it seemed). Now it all computers, air-conditioning & very short waits.

Yeah It would be great to keep the diseased out but where on earth has this ever been implemented successfully?

AV.

[QUOTE=Amavida;1638226]I used to believe that but things are changing. Yes, it's still fubar in many ways but look back at your first experience of the Immigration office in Manila & compare it to today. Back in 2005 I remember standing a throng for two hours outside in the heat, finally getting to a crummy wooden counter behind which were filing cabinets stacked 10 high stretching back a kilometer (so it seemed). Now it all computers, air-conditioning & very short waits.

Yeah It would be great to keep the diseased out but where on earth has this ever been implemented successfully?

AV.[/QUOTE]At ports of entry it's easier to implement because there are far fewer of them, and under the cause of anti-terrorism some western countries have provided money and know-how round the world. Implementing something to all the thousands of hospitals and clinics nationwide is an all together different feat. It certainly can be done. Is there really a need? Banning the entry of a foreigner who at some point before tested positive for the clap does little if anything to advance public health when the borders are open to everyone else who aren't tested. It's pointless. Where on the earth has this been implemented? Nowhere. The only country that could do so would be North Korea.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1638232]It certainly can be done. Is there really a need? Banning the entry of a foreigner who at some point before tested positive for the clap does little if anything to advance public health when the borders are open to everyone else who aren't tested. It's pointless. Where on the earth has this been implemented? [/QUOTE]Ok, you convince me, this really wouldn't make sense. But what are they doing with the health data? Just for statistics? Do the doctors really have the duty of notification, and if yes, for which deseases?

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1638232]I fear this would cause many foreigners to forego treatment locally and seek it elsewhere [/QUOTE]Actually, I had 2 problems over the last 5 years and I did not go to doctor. As most spread STD in Philippines is chlamydia, I tried it with self medication (Zitromax) and fortunately it worked well.

Brings me to the question. Does anybody know a doctor in AC who would not report?

I know some guys are paying in various ways for their friends to attend College / University.

The data for passers for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (L. E. T.) given last August 17,2014 has just been announced. Graduate teachers must pass the L. E. T before they can get a license to teach.

[B]Results:[/B]

25,301 elementary teachers out of 70,786 examinees (35.74%) passed the Elementary exam.

26,767 secondary teachers out of 77,803 examinees (34.40%) passed the Secondary exam.

You can work out that there are large numbers of graduate teachers who cannot teach because they can't pass the LET.

I also have the data regarding which schools were most successful in garnering passers and which ones were abysmally poor. I will share that data on PM if anyone is worried about where their hard-earned is going.

Note this is for TEACHING only, and not for the incredibly over-subscribed Hotel & Restaurant Management programs.