COVID-19 and expatriation in the Philippines

I like to share as well and therefore I like to explain our Situation.

I’m 52 years of age, Born in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany

Living as a permanent resident for almost 13 years in the Philippines. Married to a Filipina and we have two kids. A little Boy 2 years of age and a daughter 5 years of age.

I was working for a swiss company mainly in Asia. Due to company closing lost the income (before Covid)

Having four additional kids in the house aged 8-14. All family from Navotas. My wife and me couldn’t bring ‘em back before the lock down and honestly we didn’t want to. They even didn’t wanna go back to Navotas. So we kept and keep them Rascals.

Focused first on family and our first own house before I focused on a new job. Maybe wrong strategy but for sure wrong timing. Only myself to blame.

So I’m not rich at all. I fight every day for a survival.

We filled in for the Cash out support but haven’t had a big hope to getting anything. As we didn’t

One day the Rice brigade, as I like to call them, walked by our house and they been on the way to pass by. My wife and me said nothing. Our neighbours intervened and than we got 4 kilo of Rice. Thanks to our neighbours. Heads up.


Beside that I haven’t made any bad experience during the lock down or MECQ. Soon GCQ. But that means nothing to us. Nothing will change for us on Monday June 1st

Hope you are all fine. Stay save, healthy and never give up. As I do. Bavarians never give up.

ExPogi wrote:

Have heart the same but nothing I could manifest to. So its hard to say, but feeling a bit left out due to the circumstance beeing a foreigner.

Not by our neighbours.

They even one day intervened to the rice delivery brigade. The brigade wanted to walk by our place but neighbours explained that we have stranded kids from Navotas in our place and we dont have a lot left anymore.

The stranded kids are all family. We just couldnt bring ‘em back from Laguna to Navotas and they might be even better with us anyhow.

Stay save and stay healthy all of you

Hi
It is a very strange thing going on in the Phil's now, that some places deliver food to locals only and others to everyone! I am a foreigner and live in a good condo complex. I have Filipinos staying with me from our neighborhood since quarantine as i know they couldn't make it without leaving this area to travel home to Bohol! The Rice patrol delivers to my place without knowing others are here! The food quality is excellent! If rice is to be distributed it should not because you are local or foreign but based on need! The Filipino's here give what we get to their needy relatives as they can!

Well, here in Ormoc City it is the last day of our lockdown, so tomorrow it will be nice to be able to go out and about without fear.  We are fortunate in that the mayor stopped ferry traffic and put police checkpoints at city limits to contain CV19. Also banned alcohol sales, except tuba.

Been reading, playing cards, and streaming movies and binge-watching Game of Thrones. 

Actually I am thankful to be here with my wife.  Some times I feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming.  Previous relationships, if we had spent 24/7/180 days together, there would have been some arguments for sure.

I had been following the CV19 outbreak and have been following Peak Prosperity on YT, and they seem to have very good information, not the BS WHO, CDC, and MSM have been peddling. 

I am overdue seeing my endocrinologist in Cebu, and not sure when it will be safe to return.  I miss some of the shopping in Cebu, and especially miss not being able to have things shipped.

Once my wife gets her US Visa, we need to go back to US cochlear implant surgery.  How long, I am not sure, but I feel more at peace here with her and her family than if I was by my lonesome back in the US.

The rioting and looting going on no longer looks like my home country any more. When I return, it will probably be as a visitor. The Philippines is my home now.

[Post under review]

jeez w9xr

you left out 2020 Minneapolis George Floyd Riot
still going on last night

lasvegan wrote:

jeez w9xr

you left out 2020 Minneapolis George Floyd Riot
still going on last night

And I am sure the riots were fueled by the covid-19 restrictions placed on most everyone, as the expats  here know how that can be, locked down for weeks.

Living in the province as an Expat does have its distinct advantages.
I'm in no hurry to go home, unless some Oil & Gas MNC has a job offer for me.

Let's keep it straight manwonder, you are home. 😀

Jackson4 wrote:

Let's keep it straight manwonder, you are home. 😀

Just have this urge to stash away a few more SGD (USD prefered) to be sure!!

moonunit0103 wrote:

Well, here in Ormoc City it is the last day of our lockdown, so tomorrow it will be nice to be able to go out and about without fear.  We are fortunate in that the mayor stopped ferry traffic and put police checkpoints at city limits to contain CV19. Also banned alcohol sales, except tuba.

Been reading, playing cards, and streaming movies and binge-watching Game of Thrones. 

Actually I am thankful to be here with my wife.  Some times I feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming.  Previous relationships, if we had spent 24/7/180 days together, there would have been some arguments for sure.

I had been following the CV19 outbreak and have been following Peak Prosperity on YT, and they seem to have very good information, not the BS WHO, CDC, and MSM have been peddling. 

I am overdue seeing my endocrinologist in Cebu, and not sure when it will be safe to return.  I miss some of the shopping in Cebu, and especially miss not being able to have things shipped.

Once my wife gets her US Visa, we need to go back to US cochlear implant surgery.  How long, I am not sure, but I feel more at peace here with her and her family than if I was by my lonesome back in the US.

The rioting and looting going on no longer looks like my home country any more. When I return, it will probably be as a visitor. The Philippines is my home now.

I agree with you. I feel that the US everytime is becoming more and more strange and not the same as my country I always called home . These police cowards! I´m so ashamed of what they did to George Floyd.

With body and, dashcams, and cameras on every smartphone, you would have thought the bad cops would have known better than to act that way.

But, there are also numerous cases where White people have also been killed by cops for no reason.

Looting, burning, vandalizing are not an acceptable response. Neither is blocking public roads

ExPogi wrote:

Bavarians never give up.

Yes neither do we Singaporeans...we just got to stay +ve / Live within ones
means / Take nothing for granted / Plan for the future...Good times don't last forever neither do Bad Times.
In Good times I was a Manager both in US / Swiss MNC's & drove a German BMW 6 series.
In Bad times like now I am a farmer + an odd job man on my own land + try to do things on my own and drive a Japan Scrap/Phils Imported Multicab.
STAY STRONG!

manwonder wrote:

ExPogi wrote:

Bavarians never give up.

Yes neither do we Singaporeans...we just got to stay +ve / Live within ones
means / Take nothing for granted / Plan for the future...Good times don't last forever neither do Bad Times.
In Good times I was a Manager both in US / Swiss MNC's & drove a German BMW 6 series.
In Bad times like now I am a farmer + an odd job man on my own land + try to do things on my own and drive a Japan Scrap/Phils Imported Multicab.
STAY STRONG!

I used to have several BMWs. What year was yours?

I had a 1983 633CSi, a 1987 635CSi L6, a 1989 750iL, and a 1998 Z3.  The new ones are too hard to work on. 

I am about 6'2”. Is there enough room in a multicab for a guy my size?

moonunit0103 wrote:

manwonder wrote:

ExPogi wrote:

Bavarians never give up.

Yes neither do we Singaporeans...we just got to stay +ve / Live within ones
means / Take nothing for granted / Plan for the future...Good times don't last forever neither do Bad Times.
In Good times I was a Manager both in US / Swiss MNC's & drove a German BMW 6 series.
In Bad times like now I am a farmer + an odd job man on my own land + try to do things on my own and drive a Japan Scrap/Phils Imported Multicab.
STAY STRONG!

I used to have several BMWs. What year was yours?

I had a 1983 633CSi, a 1987 635CSi L6, a 1989 750iL, and a 1998 Z3.  The new ones are too hard to work on. 

I am about 6'2”. Is there enough room in a multicab for a guy my size?

Mine was a 2008 bmw 630i....268bhp/200kw (RH drive / 2 door sports coupe)....brilliant car/never had any major problems...It still is in my carpark awaiting to be sold (no buyer as yet!)..infact I even advertised it on this very forum / in Singapore.
I'm 6'/80kgs...& I do just about fit into the multicab...but the seats are flushed to the rear body (no seat adjustments).
No power steering/No Power Windows/No aircon/I fitted an Amplifier & Blast the sound when I going at its top speed of 50km/h!

I hope you don't get a speeding ticket!! LOL!! I drive 1968 FIAT Dino Coupe! Which is really a Ferrai 2000. With a Bertone body both made in Modena Ferrari factory on same assembly line at same time lol! 172 mph straight six! Gave up my Beamers which don't handle half as good as the Dino! .........just saying

Can you even drive over 50 kph in Singapore? It is ridiculous to own a car over there, right? Once you get past Johor Bahru, Malaysian cops would be very happy to find you violating traffic laws.

Are the Covid-19 restrictions easing?

Jackson4 wrote:

Can you even drive over 50 kph in Singapore? It is ridiculous to own a car over there, right? Once you get past Johor Bahru, Malaysian cops would be very happy to find you violating traffic laws.

Singapore u can go @ 80-90km/h max
NO STUNTS allowed...A "Digital Camera" on practically every lamp post (Yes owning a car is RIDICULOUSLY
expensive..thats with a captital R)..I test the bmw on YES the malaysian highways thats where I've maxed out many of my cars. Lucky was stopped only once by the m'sian cops & since I can speak Malay...I managed to bxxxe myself out of a sticky situation!
All Singaporean racers do cross the causeway and head to the Sepang Track where you can officially race.

lasvegan wrote:

I hope you don't get a speeding ticket!! LOL!! I drive 1968 FIAT Dino Coupe! Which is really a Ferrai 2000. With a Bertone body both made in Modena Ferrari factory on same assembly line at same time lol! 172 mph straight six! Gave up my Beamers which don't handle half as good as the Dino! .........just saying

Yes the lovely straight 6....understand the brand new mercedes models are getting them fitted too!

As of I’m from Bavaria and I have had several BMW (Bayrische Motoren Werke) ... Bacarian Motor Factory... dont forget the other Bavrian Beand. Have had several of these too.... AUDI. BETTER THAN BMW

ExPogi wrote:

As of I’m from Bavaria and I have had several BMW (Bayrische Motoren Werke) ... Bacarian Motor Factory... dont forget the other Bavrian Beand. Have had several of these too.... AUDI. BETTER THAN BMW

Did they use to make the planes in the '40s?

Wow - we can have a 6-Series fan club, haha.. those big coupes were gorgeous. In the 90's I drove a 1983 635CSi, which was a grey-market import from Germany - more sports-oriented with the bigger engine, 5 speed, leather Recaro seats and not much for emissions. Unfortunately all the HVAC controls, trip computer and instruments were labelled in German, haha.. but I figured it out eventually. A wonderful fast road car, not to mention a magnet for women. Now I keep an Audi here in the States, but still ride a BMW motorcycle.. love German machinery.

AS FOR THE TOPIC AT-HAND:

Restrictions are being relaxed in Cebu City on 6/1 to GCQ (General Community Quarantine), instead of the current stricter ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine). This GCQ is what many of those in the non-major urban areas have been under already. The difference is not that great with those under 21 and over 60 still supposed to remain home unless going out for essential services. Malls will be re-opening for some shops but not leisure-related. Basically some business and transportation will be allowed to resume (Jeepneys with plastic barriers), however I believe hotels and tourism-related activities will remain closed.

pnwcyclist wrote:

Wow - we can have a 6-Series fan club, haha.. those big coupes were gorgeous. In the 90's I drove a 1983 635CSi, which was a grey-market import from Germany - more sports-oriented with the bigger engine, 5 speed, leather Recaro seats and not much for emissions. Unfortunately all the HVAC controls, trip computer and instruments were labelled in German, haha.. but I figured it out eventually. A wonderful fast road car, not to mention a magnet for women. Now I keep an Audi here in the States, but still ride a BMW motorcycle.. love German machinery.

AS FOR THE TOPIC AT-HAND:

Restrictions are being relaxed in Cebu City on 6/1 to GCQ (General Community Quarantine), instead of the current stricter ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine). This GCQ is what many of those in the non-major urban areas have been under already. The difference is not that great with those under 21 and over 60 still supposed to remain home unless going out for essential services. Malls will be re-opening for some shops but not leisure-related. Basically some business and transportation will be allowed to resume (Jeepneys with plastic barriers), however I believe hotels and tourism-related activities will remain closed.

Almost bought one. Loved the dog legged shifter. My 1983 633CSi was Henna Red, which is close to Daytona Orange, and had Racing Dynamics suspension.  Fun car.

No. They (BMW) haven’t produced planes in the 40’s That was Messerschmitt than. They produced in the late 50’s a microcar or so called Cabin Scooter. Cute little 3 wheeled bubble

ExPogi wrote:

No. They (BMW) haven’t produced planes in the 40’s That was Messerschmitt than. They produced in the late 50’s a microcar or so called Cabin Scooter. Cute little 3 wheeled bubble

Isetta was the name of the car.

Had the Audi TT (2005) model before the 6er..It too was a gem of a car
The one that has an auto spoiler lift at speeds above 80km/h...with that you can't fool traffic cops!

The Isetta was built by BMW. The Messerschmitt KR20 looks a bit different. But both are microcars

Hello everyone,

In 227 posts we went from coronavirus to BMW and the Messerschmitt

On a more serious note, please stay on topic

I hope everybody is fine, take care.

Regards.

Loïc
Expat.com Team

Sure Loic...will do!
Shud have
Been More Wiser (oops...BMW)

On a brighter note and not dangling my goollies nor have an ego about fast European cars, owned plenty. I can honestly say that being locked up, though tiresome at times has allowed us to focus on things at hand and achieve things here quicker than last year,,,,,,, the old norm? The new norm is the reality and while many countries are opening up I will sit at home and hopefully live another 10 or 20 years.

Cheers, Steve.

Meanwhile there are still no domestic flights because of Covid 19.  Why can't a plane fly from Laoag to NAIA?   Would make my attempt to leave on 6/18/20 much easier.  It is as if the sky's are being patrolled by ME262's, the first combat jet fighters.

Can anyone here answer why is the Phils allowing Flight's from Wuhan to come here ?? I thought everything was locked down ??

Royal Air Charter 417 landed in Manila from Wuhan Saturday May 30 2020 9:16 am I have a screen shot of it as well

Fixed1to wrote:

Can anyone here answer why is the Phils allowing Flight's from Wuhan to come here ?? I thought everything was locked down ??

Welcome to Expat.com with your first post.  Other flights returning OFW's have also been landing, but one must be a citizen or have perm res status or you will be denied.

Gee
Forgot! What was topic?

Answering a question is not loosing the topic. So back to the topic without BMW and Audi. Why Calamba has lifted the liquor ban but Cabuyao doesn’t

Because LGU the way now

lasvegan wrote:

Gee
Forgot! What was topic?

ExPogi wrote:

Answering a question is not loosing the topic. So back to the topic without BMW and Audi. Why Calamba has lifted the liquor ban but Cabuyao doesn’t

You want to drive me crazy, right? 

In  fact staying on topic will be able to make it better, by giving information about the situation in the philippines (about coronavirus, of course), a newcomer won't have to search through all the off-topics posts. 

I always (more or less) imagine I'm a newcomer on this website and seeing so much off-topics will not bring me to comment on the topic itself. 

Of course, off topic can be fun, distracting and such but if I'm looking for info about COVID-19 and expatriation in the Philippines, I will see posts about BMW and liquors... Not really what I could expect.

So please, if you don't do it for me, do it for the newcomers.

I really hope you understand my point of view.

Wishing you all a great day.

Regards.

Loïc
Expat.com Team

Jeezz Loic you really are a nice guy! Yes your job can be a PR nightmare but you are good at it! Yup it is fun to poke and jab at censorship which is not really what you are doing! Very hard to stay on topic once someone says something and your brain lights up and your fingers start dancing through the keys! LOL  then 10 guys add a comment! But your point is well taken! Keep us on topic man! good for the newcomers!

Thanx and for the record it was the same topic... Corona virus Phils...