We gotta get out of this place if it's the last thing we ever do

daenr wrote:

why you want to get to know your barangay, Steve? I’ve always avoided them unless cannot. No matter what you give them, they are not ever your friends. The hidden ‘gang' in your barangay is much safer, and that may or may not incl. the barangay people.

I agree to some extent (especially in the provinces)...lucky we do have a reasonably fair Captain....but the other chaps (hidden gangs...yes I can relate to this!)....best is to keep your head down especially if you are an expat!

daenr wrote:

why you want to get to know your barangay, Steve? I’ve always avoided them unless cannot. No matter what you give them, they are not ever your friends. The hidden ‘gang' in your barangay is much safer, and that may or may not incl. the barangay people.

I assume you are talking to me? Perhaps wrong? Why not "quote off "so all are on the same page.

Cheers, Steve.

Been getting emails from US State Department about sweeper flights to NAIA, then to LAX.  Too many "ifs" for me to be comfortable taking a chance.  Is the flight still on, with Philippines banning international air travel?

What would happen if  we take the sweeper flight to Manila, then the LAX flight is cancelled?  Where to stay, what to eat?

Hotels filling up with OFW quarantined, expected to loosen up in about 10 days.  The reason stated for no incoming or outgoing I international flights was because of no more quarantine rooms.  Supposed to ease up in a week.  If you are looking to head back to USA east coast you might want to wait until June when the NAIA to JFK non-stop flights are scheduled to start again.   There are thousands of Filipinos on ships sitting in Manila Bay waiting for their 14 days at sea quarantines to end, not known if they may have to spend another 14 days quarantined in Manila or if any other nationalities will be allowed off the ships.

I really don't know if the grass still remains greener on the other side!
(Thats provided you have no emergency/medical needs!)
Think I'll wait it out till September & relook at my options!

Just Saying!

Henry Weinhard's Orange Cream Gourmet Soda......you from Oregon?
Henry Weinhard's was only sold in Oregon and then some in Northern California!
Burnside Henry!! Powell Bookstore! Home!!

Hostess says to passenger:  Tea or coffee?

Passenger says:  Coffee.

Hostess say:  Wrong, it's tea.

TOM HANKS JOKES THAT A COVID-19 VACCINE SHOULD BE CALLED 'HANK-CCINE'!

Munchie wrote:

Hostess says to passenger:  Tea or coffee?

Passenger says:  Coffee.

Hostess say:  Wrong, it's tea.

I'll have the Lysol please.
Some important person on TV says it will destroy the virus in me.

W9XR wrote:

mugtech wrote:

Another one of those Luzon Lockdown days, actually getting more restrictive.
               We went to Vigan again today, got our passes from the barangay captain, but he refused to sign on the back of the passes that we wanted to go to the Vigan Public Market.  Got there at 9:40 AM and only waited in line for five minutes and then we were told that only one member from the household could enter the city.  Asked the head honcho when this policy started and he said April 6.  Told him we had the same kind of passes on April 17, was no problem.  He just repeated that it is the policy, only one family member at a time.  And he added that senior citizens are advised to stay home.  My wife got out of the van and the following dialog in Ilocano did not sound pleasent.  In English she told him I needed to buy food with my credit card and help her carry the groceries.
               So I got out of the van and nephew Glenn and my wife went to do the shopping while  I hung out with the polis.   I walked back across the bridge over the river at the entrance to Vigan and found a shade tree at the edge of the river where there were cooling winds.  After 20 minutes I walked back across the bridge and started to edge my way up the road towards the last obstacle, more officers and the guy taking everyone's temperature.   There was a water store on the way and I held the door open for a guy on a tricycle who was returning many empty big water bottles.  Then a new guy came on to take temperatures and 5 people on bikes came up to be tested so I stepped on the street and got behind them.  Showed the guy my pass, he asked where I was going and I just said "Food" so he let me pass at about 10:15 AM.
             First went to Two Brothers store a few blocks into town.  There were about 25 people in line waiting to get in.  Half way down the block was another Two Brothers entrance, told them I was there to exchange money, only 4 people in line in front of me.  Got 5,050 pesos for $100 and walked 2 blocks to Jollibee.  Ordered a yum burger and fries for 75 pesos, had to wait outside observing 2 meter distancing.  15 minutes later I had my food, ate it while I walked back to the bridge to wait for my ride.  Got picked up again at 11:30 AM by our van and we returned home to unload everything my wife had purchased.  Then we returned to the JTS Superstore in Bantay, right next to Vigan but no stops for passes and questioning.
              Our stop at JTS was too typical of events here on a normal day.  We wanted to order 20 bags of 25 kilos of rice for family and friends back in Manueva.  The price of 1,001 pesos per bag was $20 for 55 lbs of Cagayan rice, local product.  We spoke to someone in the rice section and they said they would take care of it for us.  So we stood in line for 30 minutes as 12 of the 16 lines were doing business.  After I used my credit card and got my receipt we waited another 30 minutes  until 3 guys came out pushing hand trucks with the 20 bags of rice and loaded them into the van for us.  When we got home the locals helped unload all the rice.  Evidently I have made my last trip to Vigan during the Luzon Lockdown.  Only 7 more weeks of this.

Thanks for sharing with us your first hand experience.

Very good, thanks!

lasvegan wrote:

Henry Weinhard's Orange Cream Gourmet Soda......you from Oregon?
Henry Weinhard's was only sold in Oregon and then some in Northern California!
Burnside Henry!! Powell Bookstore! Home!!

Henry... My favorite when I was stationed in Washington! We had them also there!

Jackson4 wrote:

I'll have the Lysol please.
Some important person on TV says it will destroy the virus in me.

I thought the Iranians are always shouting DEATH to this "Important Person", but 700 of them took his advise and drank wood alcohol and died.

moonunit0103 wrote:

Been getting emails from US State Department about sweeper flights to NAIA, then to LAX.  Too many "ifs" for me to be comfortable taking a chance.  Is the flight still on, with Philippines banning international air travel?

What would happen if  we take the sweeper flight to Manila, then the LAX flight is cancelled?  Where to stay, what to eat?

On the NAIA page for flights yesterday (Friday)  they had listed flights PR102 and PR112 PAL into LAX as cancelled from terminal 2.  However, flight PR5126 to JFK was listed as having flown that morning and flight PR5112 was listed as having flown to LAX that afternoon.  Neither one listed a terminal number, so perhaps they were the specials set up by the government and the US Embassy.  None on the schedules for today or tomorrow.

moonunit0103 wrote:

Been getting emails from US State Department about sweeper flights to NAIA, then to LAX.  Too many "ifs" for me to be comfortable taking a chance.  Is the flight still on, with Philippines banning international air travel?

What would happen if  we take the sweeper flight to Manila, then the LAX flight is cancelled?  Where to stay, what to eat?

Got another email from the embassy, more sweeper flights leading up to a PAL flight from NAIA to SF and/or LAX on 5/21/20.  The sweeper flights cost $200 each and must land less than 24 hours before the flight to California, while the seats on the flight to California cost $1,200 each and everything must be done through PAL.  We only paid $800 for our tickets on 6/9/20 to JFK and that already was higher than usual, $1,200 to the west coast is a rip off.  Perhaps they are practicing distancing on the flight to LAX.

The $1200 ticket to SFO/LAX doesn't include at least $300 in extra fees!

Well Campers.. I would do a jig in a pink tutu for Ice Cold IBC Root Beer... or their Cream soda. But then again a feast from Bugerville, with Tillamook cheese and a Marionberries Milkshake. But as I am camp'd out here in Niger... can't complain to much. 

Looking to head home to the PI's/Cavite after Christmas....

Diver -Paul wrote:

Well Campers.. Ice Cold IBC Root Beer,
Tillamook cheese

About a year ago, S&R had both the IRC Root Beer & Tillamook Cheese & Ice Cream, never seen it again.
I like their Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

By the time waiting for checkout, then Grab to arrive and the trip home the ice cream had melted beyond repair.

Diver Paul your going to miss a lot of good things you're use to. Idaho potato with sour cream, five guys hamburgers, in-out-burgers and fat burgers,

Yup Burgerville in Wilsonville! Or West Linn or on the hill in Oregon City! LOL!! Hung out at the one in Monmouth going to college! LOL
Marionberry shake is as good as it gets! Yummy!

Fatburger is almost history! Most closed couple years ago! By far my favorite!

Well Campers I use to hang out at the one in Aloha.. this was many years ago...    pushing  more to the 31 years mark. But if you world travelers ever get stuck in Kabul (long story) head for the  Darya Village Hotel. I swear the Burger they made their put 5 Guys to shame.. real bacon, buns toasted with mayonnaise and Corona Beer.    

But I do shop in S&R when I am at home in DasMas... but will hunker down up in Abra as the House is finished up there and I like the laid back northern province living.

PS: I lean toward the smoked Cheddar and Monterey jack myself

Awesome! Aloha is nice! Had a few shakes there!

lasvegan wrote:

Henry Weinhard's Orange Cream Gourmet Soda......you from Oregon?
Henry Weinhard's was only sold in Oregon and then some in Northern California!
Burnside Henry!! Powell Bookstore! Home!!

I'm from SF, CA. I got Henry Weinhard's from a local supermarket. Can't remember if it was from Safeway or Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

Last year, I found Stewart's Orange and Cream Soda at S&R. I wasn't happy with it. It wasn't on sale, and it wasn't about to expire soon. But it was kinda flat.

FilAmericanMom wrote:

Can't remember if it was from Safeway or Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

Last year, I found Stewart's Orange and Cream Soda at S&R. I wasn't happy with it. It wasn't on sale, and it wasn't about to expire soon.

S&R has a lot of stuff ready to expire, I think they buy that stuff from Sam's Club or Costco when Sams/Costco want to dump old stock.

Ah, Trader Joe's my favorite store. . . . While in the states sent over six jars of Speculoos Cookie Butter. Other favorites from Joe's: Cocktail Sauce, Dill Pickle Potato Chips, Pumpernickel Pretzels, Mango Ice Cream Bars, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Low Sodium Garden Patch Vegetable Juice (then I mix it with Lea & Perrins  Worcestershire Sauce & Louisiana Hot Sauce).

I don't shop at Whole Paycheck Foods often, not enough parking and besides I felt inferior not driving a Humvee, BMW or Mercedes. . . . I felt poor parking my wife's RX330.

W9XR wrote:

FilAmericanMom wrote:

Can't remember if it was from Safeway or Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

Last year, I found Stewart's Orange and Cream Soda at S&R. I wasn't happy with it. It wasn't on sale, and it wasn't about to expire soon.

S&R has a lot of stuff ready to expire, I think they buy that stuff from Sam's Club or Costco when Sams/Costco want to dump old stock.

Ah, Trader Joe's my favorite store. . . . While in the states sent over six jars of Speculoos Cookie Butter. Other favorites from Joe's: Cocktail Sauce, Dill Pickle Potato Chips, Pumpernickel Pretzels, Mango Ice Cream Bars, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Low Sodium Garden Patch Vegetable Juice (then I mix it with Lea & Perrins  Worcestershire Sauce & Louisiana Hot Sauce).

I don't shop at Whole Paycheck Foods often, not enough parking and besides I felt inferior not driving a Humvee, BMW or Mercedes. . . . I felt poor parking my wife's RX330.

Ah, the two-buck chuck wines from Trader Joe´s... And who said that having good taste is expensive?

W9XR wrote:

I don't shop at Whole Paycheck Foods often, not enough parking and besides I felt inferior not driving a Humvee, BMW or Mercedes. . . . I felt poor parking my wife's RX330.

LOL. For me, it was the Bugaboos and Peg Peregos. I felt like my Graco stroller had no place in that store.

Howdy Campers and Fellow ExPats,
  As to my brew of choice in order and that are easy to find in my lil slice of Heaven:

#1 Ice Cold Corona
#2 Capt. Morgan.. chilled and on the rocks
#3 San Miguel Light

Not much of a soda drinker.. but bring on the Java Juice any time 

I know that the Covid aka: Kung Flu will run it's course and God only knows the $$ impact it'll have on the PI's and our respected home countries. The better half is ok and is our son with good comms each day.

A vaccine will come about in due course (the eternal optimist) but we're well stocked just in case the FUBAR Ferries run amok. Being here in the boonies of Niger is a blessing of sorts... keep the faith kiddies.  I hope you all who wanted to pop smoke on the sweeper flights got out alright...

Nuff said and it's coffee time yet again with the temp outside a brisk 110 F..woohoo 

PS: out of East Texas.. least wise 16 some odd years ago

Greetings all. Cool thread. I've been hanging out in Florida waiting to be able to join my wife in Cagayan de Oro. I can get to Manila but not from there to CDO. Just noticed domestic flights have been pushed out 2 more weeks, to June 1.

I'm not going to travel until I know for sure the domestic flights are flying. But is that the only thing I should worry about? Will I need to quarantine in Manila for 14 days? Anything else I should know?

I'm a US citizen with a 13a permanent resident visa. I do need to go to the BI office at some point to pick up my ACR-I card (completed the application before I left in Feb. with a travel waiver) - but I think that can wait. I'm 64 but will probably be 65 by the time this winds down.

Thanks!
-- Rich

Monday, May 11, that these procedures from the Department of Health will be followed:

After arrival, the Bureau of Quarantine will orient all Filipinos and foreigners. Passengers will then go to a "one-stop shop" to fill out pertinent documents.
After this, swabs for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests will be taken. Filipinos and foreigners will then be brought to a facility for quarantine for about 2 to 5 days, where they will be monitored while waiting for test results.
Once results are available, individuals who tested positive will be referred to hospitals for treatment or will be made to complete longer quarantine.
If results are negative, individuals will be released and ferried by either the Department of Transportation or their respective local government units to their planned destinations.

lasvegan wrote:

Monday, May 11, that these procedures from the Department of Health will be followed:

After arrival, the Bureau of Quarantine will orient all Filipinos and foreigners. Passengers will then go to a "one-stop shop" to fill out pertinent documents.
After this, swabs for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests will be taken. Filipinos and foreigners will then be brought to a facility for quarantine for about 2 to 5 days, where they will be monitored while waiting for test results.
Once results are available, individuals who tested positive will be referred to hospitals for treatment or will be made to complete longer quarantine.
If results are negative, individuals will be released and ferried by either the Department of Transportation or their respective local government units to their planned destinations.

Thanks, LV - very helpful. Is there a website where these announcements are posted that I can monitor?

If you go to the US embassy website and sign up through the STEP program you can choose to have daily or weekly emails sent to you telling you and giving you links to most everything you need to know plus they will know how to find you in an emergency!


ACSManilaMascot@state.gov

lasvegan wrote:

Monday, May 11, that these procedures from the Department of Health will be followed:

After arrival, the Bureau of Quarantine will orient all Filipinos and foreigners. Passengers will then go to a "one-stop shop" to fill out pertinent documents.
After this, swabs for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests will be taken. Filipinos and foreigners will then be brought to a facility for quarantine for about 2 to 5 days, where they will be monitored while waiting for test results.
Once results are available, individuals who tested positive will be referred to hospitals for treatment or will be made to complete longer quarantine.
If results are negative, individuals will be released and ferried by either the Department of Transportation or their respective local government units to their planned destinations.

.
It sounded similar to the history of 19th century Ellis Island.

lasvegan wrote:

If you go to the US embassy website and sign up through the STEP program you can choose to have daily or weekly emails sent to you telling you and giving you links to most everything you need to know plus they will know how to find you in an emergency!


ACSManilaMascot@state.gov

Thanks again. I signed up and subscribed on their website:  https://step.state.gov/STEP/Pages/Common/Subscribe.aspx

lasvegan wrote:

Yup Burgerville in Wilsonville! Or West Linn or on the hill in Oregon City! LOL!! Hung out at the one in Monmouth going to college! LOL
Marionberry shake is as good as it gets! Yummy!

Ha ha I lived a mile up the hill from the West Linn (Marylhurst) Burgerville until 2 years ago. Was in there at least once a week. OMG I miss their food.

  and lest we forget... drum roll if you please..
Seasonal Walla Walla Sweet Onion Rings and the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Cheeseburger

Found an internet cafe today in Vegan that was open.  About 3 blocks from 2 Brothers, it had ten slow computers and at 11 AM I was the only customer.  Got to print out a copy of our 6/9/20 flight from NAIA to JFK and also a "To whom it may concern" letter I got from the US Embassy.  The letter says we are US Citizens traveling to the airport to be repatriated and per some agreement we should be allowed to do so.  Now all we need is a letter from Santa right before we leave saying we have been quarantined for more than 2 weeks.  The cafe charged me a total of 19 pesos for the computer time and the two color prints.  Gave him 30 pesos, called it a day.
               Took our 7,100 peso electric bill right to the electric company, got in the senior line, only two people in front of us.  We paid with a credit card last month, but the guy said we need cash this month.  No reason given.  Wife gave a handbag to the girl at Vertex, now open, who got our tv service going last week, stopped and got chicken to go and headed home.  Who knows what, if anything, will change in June.

mugtech wrote:

Found an internet cafe today in Vegan that was open.  About 3 blocks from 2 Brothers, it had ten slow computers and at 11 AM I was the only customer.  Got to print out a copy of our 6/9/20 flight from NAIA to JFK and also a "To whom it may concern" letter I got from the US Embassy.  The letter says we are US Citizens traveling to the airport to be repatriated and per some agreement we should be allowed to do so.  Now all we need is a letter from Santa right before we leave saying we have been quarantined for more than 2 weeks.  The cafe charged me a total of 19 pesos for the computer time and the two color prints.  Gave him 30 pesos, called it a day.
               Took our 7,100 peso electric bill right to the electric company, got in the senior line, only two people in front of us.  We paid with a credit card last month, but the guy said we need cash this month.  No reason given.  Wife gave a handbag to the girl at Vertex, now open, who got our tv service going last week, stopped and got chicken to go and headed home.  Who knows what, if anything, will change in June.

FYI carry a copy of your itinerary and tickets if you printed them and you won't need the Embassy letter! I spoke with a person at BI and they said that is considered essential travel and you will be allowed through checkpoints! The letter is just asking for there help and clearly says that you need to comply with all policies and rules in force at the time! If you are being dropped off at tje airport by a friend or hired car they will need a copy for their return trip!

lasvegan wrote:

FYI carry a copy of your itinerary and tickets if you printed them and you won't need the Embassy letter! I spoke with a person at BI and they said that is considered essential travel and you will be allowed through checkpoints! The letter is just asking for there help and clearly says that you need to comply with all policies and rules in force at the time! If you are being dropped off at tje airport by a friend or hired car they will need a copy for their return trip!

This is my understanding also, but it can't hurt to have any extra papers from the US Embassy plus their letter to me saying they want me to report to them anyone who causes us problems in our quest.

Yup!

Got an email telling me our 6/9/20 flight NAIA to JFK has been rescheduled to 6/18/20.  I had looked at the PAL website last week and it had every flight listed as sold out except 6/11 and 6/18, but there is a good chance that as in the past sold out means cancelled.

PAL just cancelled international flights from NAIA for 6/10, 6/11 And 6/12.  They claim that because of stresses in the quarantine program only 600 international people are allowed to land at NAIA every day.  That is 600 total across all airlines.  PAL is now only scheduling flights to JFK on Thursdays through July.  Our 6/18 flight is now listed as sold out
              PAL announced that one flight from the US to NAIA will be landing instead in Cebu tomorrow.  The passengers will be tested and put in hotels at their own expense until the results are known, probably 2 or 3 days.  Those testing negative will be flown to NAIA for free.
               Meanwhile our limo guy in PA told me he cannot pick us up on 6/18 because in his vehicle he cannot prove that he will be at least 6 feet away from both of us at all times.  Time to start looking for a ride.