Dave Starr

Home Country Things You Better Hold On To.

(Updated 4 November 2020)

Just recentlntlyI was telling a reader that writing about moving to the Philippines seemed very boring to me.

I had gotten very old and stale in my writing and in my living overseas thoughts.

But then I just had a conversation with a fellow US military retiree here in the Philippines and I realized there’s a whole raft of things out there I should be writing about.

One thing people always ask about over the years I have been writing about is:

“What to Bring from the US and What to Leave Behind”

Well, I think rather than a blog article someone could write a whole book on that subject.  Sorry, that won’t be me.

But one thing that did come up with my retiree friend recently is something many westerners who move to the Philippines don’t think about a lot when packing their moving boxes.
[Read more…] about Home Country Things You Better Keep

Will We Ever Meet?

(Updated 18 August 2020)

One of my most popular posts here on PhilFqs is this one: How To Get My Filipino Girlfriend To The USA

I plan to do some extensive re-writing there and add some ideas I have about overcoming the difficulties single Filipinos face in getting tourist visas to visit the USA.

Many Americans tell me, “Hey I don’t want to know about getting visas like the US Fiancee visa (K-1 or K-2)

I Just Want To Meet My Freind in Person

In the past, I have always had a “pat” answer that many readers didn’t like, but it was always a course of action that worked, and it didn’t require anyone’s permission.

Just get a passport. get on a plane, and come here and spend some time with your friend.

But Now COVID 19 Has Gotten In The Way

[Read more…] about Will We Ever Meet? Pandemic Blues

I Hate My Life (Is the Philippines the Cure?

(Updated 10 Jul 2020)

If you’re like most people, you probably have a long list of things you’d do differently if you had a second shot at life.

Maybe, considering our main topic here, you’d be thinking about moving to the Philippines and starting over again.  Many people tell me how they hate their life and “if only” they could afford to move to the Philippines their lives would improve greatly.

But Warren Buffett? Not so much.

[Read more…] about I Hate My Life

Attention US Vets.

(Updated 17 Jun 2020)

I’m just republishing this as a service to any of my readers who are US Veterans.

Thanks to my good friend Jim who forwarded the email to our US Veterans in the Philippines group.

And thanks to the Manila Clinic director, Daniel Gutkoski.  In my nearly 14 years here in the Philippines I have never seen an email from the VA clinic with as much detailed information, much less the director’s direct email and desk phone number.  Could it be there is now actually someone who cares in the VA.   I’m hopeful.

Attention US Vets:

[Read more…] about Updates For US Veterans in the Philippines.

Remember My Post A Couple Days Ago, “Is Everyone Bananas”?

(Updated 16 June 2020)

Well here’s some proof that it isn’t only Americans who can’t see their nose in front of their faces.  The “Brilliant” people of Cebuneeded only two weeks to years the gains made by about two months of COVID 19 lockdown.  Yesterday President Duterte reviewed the new case numbers and the hospitalization numbers and placed Cebu back in the much tighter and a-harder to deal with ECQ level of lockdown.

I don’t know why some people think that the relaxed guidelines mean that we suddenly got a “get out of jail free” card, but the bad news is saddening to say the least.

So, back to square one, folks.  I can only hope that two more weeks of tighter lockdown cause the people who think COVID 19 is over to think again.

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Manila (June 16, 2020)

Location:  The Philippines

Cebu City placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Talisay City under Modified ECQ (MECQ); Metro Manila and other areas remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ)

On June 15, the Philippine government announced the below classifications for areas in the country as a continued measure against the spread of COVID-19:

• Cebu City returned to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status from June 16 to June 30 because the Philippine government notes an increase of new cases; widespread community transmission; case doubling time of less than seven (7) days; and a significant increase in critical care utilization as compared to critical care capacity.

• Talisay City, a city under the province of Cebu, is placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until June 30, for the same reasons.
• Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from June 16-30:

Luzon – NCR (Metro Manila), Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City in Region II; Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Olongapo City in Region III; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon in Region IV-A.

Visayas — Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Mandaue City, Lau-Lapu Cityin Region VII

Mindanao — Davao City and Zamboanga City

• The rest of the country remains under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) until June 30, 2020.

Local Government Units (LGUs), i.e. cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region, may still have curfews in effect to limit exposure to the COVID-19 virus.  Some provinces have implemented their own community quarantines.  If you live in an area that has imposed a local curfew ordinance or similar community quarantine, please plan your activities and travel accordingly and monitor the relevant LGU’s website for their rules and regulations.​

Routine U.S. citizen services, including all passport, citizenship, notary, and legal capacity to marry services are still suspended.  For emergency services, including emergency passports and reports of death, please contact American Citizen Services via email at ACSInfoManila@state.gov or call +63 (2) 5301-2000.  The U.S. Embassy is not accepting walk-ins at this time. 

But Don’t You Americans Get Too Smug

 

I simply can not believe how so many fellow Americans have the head totally up their assholes during this critical time.  Look at this graph of the growth of new daily cases.  Does this look like it’s time to rip off our masks and go back to singing and dancing in the street?

This is our country, people.  Are we going to throw it away because it’s inconvenient to wear a mask or because we want to go sit with our buddies in the bar, shoulder to shoulder, arguing about politics and “taking a knee”?

If you aren’t at home while reading this, GO THERE NOW. Wear a mask whenever you go out and wash your damn hands.  This is serious, guys and gals.  We’re throwing away the entire war against the virus.

More than 116,000 fellow Americans have already died … stop pissing on their graves in order to “exercise your “rights

Today’s Disgusting News.  More than half the States are Going Backward

New daily cases are rising in 27 States.  And look at the growth rates!

Read and Heed People

I know you are smarter than that. I’d like it to be safe for citizens like me to return to the USA … someday,