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
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.
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.
I don’t have a lot to report on this issue, but it keeps coming up.
Just like the brand new EU” ban on US visitors, the Philippines has a “no foreigners” ban in place.
If you are not a Filipino (or a foreigner legally married to a Philippine citizen) DO NOT show up at a Philippine port of entry.
You will NOT be admitted
When will this restriction be lifted?
Don’t bug your airline, the Manila airport, or even the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. None of them has any control. The restrictions are by the order of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
This IATF is chaired by the President of the Philippines.
They will make the necessary decisions at the proper times.
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.
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,
A lot of people, both Filipino and Foreigner seem to be having a lot of problems lately at NAIA airport. Here’s a news flash. The world is sitting dead in the middle of one of the worst pandemics the world has ever known.
The Trains (or Planes) Are Not Going To Run On Time!
Before giving way to your anger and start cursing everyone in site, back off on the power a bit and try to confirm schedules before you let yourself be stranded by factors outside the control of most airport and airline employees. The following is quoted from the NAIA Facebook Page for you information and consideration.
Getting pissed at everyone in sight is not going to make COVID 19 go away any faster.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport MIAA is sharing a COVID-19 Update.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
Passengers advise with airline tickets to contact their airline first to determine if your day flight continues or not.
DON ‘ T GO TO NAIA WITHOUT CONFIRMED FLIGHT AND TICKET ON THE MISMONG DAY because it’s all flights allowed to enter the airport.
DON ‘ T BELIEVE IN FAKE NEWS! There is nothing good to believe in FAKE NEWS. Let’s stay calm and don’t send the sayings.
The circumstances of these days have been proof that instead of alleviating hardship, those who believed in text or group chat said especially if it is not confirmed.
Our airports are just small. We don’t have a place to offer for passengers for re-booking or fellow countrymen who are in case of ride for free flights. That’s why we beg you all.
For Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) you can call the NCR-Crisis Intervention Unit Hotline at 8734-8635. You can also help text anytime in our NAIA text hotline 0917-8396242 or 0918-9186242 or call our voice hotline 8771-1111 for your inquiries. You can also send a message to our Facebook Page (MIAAGovPH) at any time.
Well, here I am sitting around in the rain, wondering if I am going crazy or is most of the people in the USA are going crazy instead.
I’ve been thinking about a trip to the USA, i=on relatively short notice. If it was not the year of the “Big Virus”, I might already be in Florida where several members of our family live and where I even have a lovely two or three-bedroom house at my disposal (it’s owned by another family member who lives far away, up in the northeast, and she and her husband don’t get to go to Florida nearly as often as they want to.
Should I Ride To The Rescue?
If it were a normal year, as I said, I might already be in Florida, escaping the constant rain and depression which always bothers me a lot during the rainy season here in Luzon.
But of course, it isn’t a “normal” year is tt? In fact, I only just got released from a very strict lockdown, and things are slowly starting to trend back to normal here. But I could travel, permission-wise that is.
Many reading here are interested in moving to and living in the Philippines. There are also many people “shopping around” for information on lots and it’s of other overseas countries.
Often they are talking about southeast east Asian countries because so many other great Asian locations are close to the Philippines.
Time Zones Away
But there are many Central and South American countries which have one big advantage over all Asian countries … they are on the same day as the USA and in various USA time zones … so you don’t have to deal with 12 and 13 hour time differences.
Ecuador is one of those countries. It’s in the US Mountain Time zone and it doesn’t confuse everyone with idiotic US-style daylight savings time rules.
There are a significant number of US and Canadian expats in Ecuador. Here are some of their thoughts and issues here, an interesting read.
So What Does Ths Have To Do With The Philippines?
Well not a lot, really, but noticing how desperately airlines are clinging to life these days and how many perfectly good and still “full of life” airliners are parked all over the world, I thought the idea these guys (the latest reincarnation of the historic US Eastern Airlines)had a good application that would serve both expats and Filipino travelers well.
For Example
The Boeing 767 is Avery comfortable, well-proven airplane. It is about the smallest wide-body still in use, one of the most economical, and there are dozens of the “ER” (extended range) version parked. wishing they could be put to use, right now.
The three major cities/airports in the Philippines could serve any western US city non-stop from the Philippines.
With just one leased airplane a start-up company could get in 5 round trips per week, with 8 or 10 hours of scheduled maintenance with just the single aircraft.
Maybe this could never happen, but it would be nice to dream, wouldn’t it
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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.
