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Jeez sounds like hell in the phils these days !

No! Sounds about normal to me! Surprised it went that smooth actually! But guess what! The BI has last word as you're boarding and you can still be bumped because of backlog of overbooked people trying to get a seat and they have a priority system but nobody seems to know how it works! Canadians seem to be bumped more then most! Good Luck and be sure to post how it went once you get home! God's Speed!

scouser59 wrote:

Jeez sounds like hell in the phils these days !

Have you ever been to the Philippines?  It really is about what should be expected, I was amused but not surprised.  It was my first trip out of the barangay since 3/13/20.  Gotta get out more.

lasvegan wrote:

they have a priority system but nobody seems to know how it works! Canadians seem to be bumped more then most!

Sounds like a good system to me.  Have to try to remember not to say Aaaa at the end of my sentences.

lol! Yup

I live in bali  indonesia  ,a similar place to the phils but thankfully at the moment ,only a limited lockdown so we can drive around or walk ,now it seems we must wear a mask in some areas ,the beaches are closed which is a "bummer" bcs i miss my snorkling  ,but I should not complain.
There is no extra paperwork in this period ,and the roads are quiet so i can enjoy the peace on my bike

Hi scouser59
Sounds great! I'm very interested in spending a few months a year in Bali! I have never been there so that is possibly wishful thinking! Be nice if you can give out some free advice!

Spent the day trying to find transportation from JFK to PA, struck out.  My usual guy said he cannot legally pick us up at JFK and drive us back before May.  Other online attempts and my sister calling her guy from Reading, PA who gives her rides when she visits PA came up blank.  I tried to get friends to give us a ride, but no one wants to get near NYC or any airplanes right now.  Tried to get some government help/advice, nothing there either.  The State Department told me they are advising all US citizens to not travel internationally, no matter where they are right now.  Gonna try a few more leads tomorrow, but we might be staying into May if I cannot put something together.

[Post under review]

No one in NYC is selling cars.

Best to 'wear' a face mask just in case! (omo)
(I think the PA authorities may have lifted the mandatory use of a face mask...not too sure!!)

manwonder wrote:

Best to 'wear' a face mask just in case! (omo)
(I think the PA authorities may have lifted the mandatory use of a face mask...not too sure!!)

They have not

[Post under review]

mugtech wrote:

manwonder wrote:

Best to 'wear' a face mask just in case! (omo)
(I think the PA authorities may have lifted the mandatory use of a face mask...not too sure!!)

They have not

Ahh yes yr right!!....Philadelphia transit authority changes mask policy after a certain viral video!!

Not sure what's in posts under review but like anyway!

[Post under review]

Came up empty today, decided to push back our flight until June, too many problems.  Never been in the Philippines in May or June, something different.  Royal Caribbean just cancelled all cruises through 6/11/20, probably gonna get pushed back a few more times.  We has a transatlantic cruise Tampa to Amsterdam and then 12 days in the Baltics from 5/2/20 to 5/29/20.  Waiting for my $6,500 refund for the cruise plus our flight from Amsterdam on 5/29/20 was cancelled by the airline.  Cancelled our cruise from Vancouver to Japan and then Singapore 9/4/20 to 9/30/20.  Cancelled a month ago before the final payment date so waiting for another $4,000 In refunds, no flights had been booked.  So at least 7 more weeks of Luzon Lockdown, fighting with Cheapoair to get our flight rescheduled.

Up on Housing Project Hill
Its either fortune or fame
You must pick one or the other
Though neither of them are to be what they claim
And if you're lookin' to get silly
You better go back to from where you came
Because the cops don't need you
And man they expect the same

Now all the authorities
They just stand around and boast
How they blackmailed the sergeant at arms
Into leaving his post
And picking up Angel
Who just arrived here from the coast
Who looked fine at first
But left looking just like a ghost.

I started out on burgundy
But soon hit the harder stuff
Everybody said they'd stand behind me
When the game got rough
But the joke was on me
There was nobody even there to bluff
I'm going back to New York City
I do believe I've had enough

Got them Just Like Tom Thumb Blues today
Hard to believe we will be here 7 more weeks
Bob Dylan turns 79 on May 24.
Guess we will have a party here.

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.

Quite the heroic journey mugtech, well done. You and others have been lucky enough to get out, not me, I was told when I got here on the 15th of March by our Capitan we both had 2 weeks of quarantine and because I was 60 was property bound,,,,,,,,,,, never to be seen again the way things are going, Ben just tod me that Singapore have extended their lockdown until the start of June.

Cheers, Steve.

Well done Manong mugtech!

bigpearl wrote:

Quite the heroic journey mugtech, well done. You and others have been lucky enough to get out, not me, I was told when I got here on the 15th of March by our Capitan we both had 2 weeks of quarantine and because I was 60 was property bound,,,,,,,,,,, never to be seen again the way things are going, Ben just tod me that Singapore have extended their lockdown until the start of June.

Cheers, Steve.

Sounds like a hard front by El Capitan in your barangay.  After the quarantine I can't see your having to be grounded because you are over 60, although that is the official age here to get all of those senior citizen discounts.  My wife is 66, so both of us would be grounded in your place.  Since we bought  a total of more than a ton of rice to give to family and friends no one will stop us in our barangay.  Seemed like a good way to spend about a third of our stimulus package.  Hope we get the $2,400 soon.  Glad we're not in Singapore.

bigpearl wrote:

Quite the heroic journey mugtech, well done. You and others have been lucky enough to get out, not me, I was told when I got here on the 15th of March by our Capitan we both had 2 weeks of quarantine and because I was 60 was property bound,,,,,,,,,,, never to be seen again the way things are going, Ben just tod me that Singapore have extended their lockdown until the start of June.

Cheers, Steve.

Agreed Steve / & a heroic Journey Mugtech!
Its real bad at home. I really have no clue when I can get back, but have prepared mentally/financially to hunker down here for another 3months. 
The new wave of infections in Singapore was due to lack of attention (now-quarantined) dormitories that house tens of thousands of lowly paid migrant workers....Rest assured questions are being asked/kick ass kind...and strict protocols are being laid out to contain this new wave!
Somehow I still get the feeling that at least where I live, that the locals feel this whole 'ECQ' thingy is a 'joke'; no wonder they may very soon activate 'some form' of 'martial law'/ (ECQ) to ensure some discipline. Just saw the news and the Philippine Army are already in their full battle gear (SBO/Helmet/Rifle) as if its going to WAR againt a virus!
Look out for President Duterte live speech on the 25th Apr (Sat) for his final call on the "extenstion" ECQ/Martial Law!

Thanks

Is the grass greener?

Just read a little post from a Brit who couldn't wait to get out of the RP.  He said he has now been back in the UK for three weeks and it is worse there (at least where he's at) than it was in the RP.

I've now read a few very similar stories over the last few days.  If you've got a place to stay and the money to get you by, it's hard to understand why, at a time like this, anyone would try and leave.  With, of course, the exceptions of an emergency back home.

Tough times only get tougher when you make a panic decision.

TeeJay4103 wrote:

Is the grass greener?

Just read a little post from a Brit who couldn't wait to get out of the RP.  He said he has now been back in the UK for three weeks and it is worse there (at least where he's at) than it was in the RP.

I've now read a few very similar stories over the last few days.  If you've got a place to stay and the money to get you by, it's hard to understand why, at a time like this, anyone would try and leave.  With, of course, the exceptions of an emergency back home.

Tough times only get tougher when you make a panic decision.

Agreed

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.

manwonder wrote:

TeeJay4103 wrote:

Is the grass greener?

Just read a little post from a Brit who couldn't wait to get out of the RP.  He said he has now been back in the UK for three weeks and it is worse there (at least where he's at) than it was in the RP.

I've now read a few very similar stories over the last few days.  If you've got a place to stay and the money to get you by, it's hard to understand why, at a time like this, anyone would try and leave.  With, of course, the exceptions of an emergency back home.

Tough times only get tougher when you make a panic decision.

Agreed

Diddo

mugtech wrote:

bigpearl wrote:

Quite the heroic journey mugtech, well done. You and others have been lucky enough to get out, not me, I was told when I got here on the 15th of March by our Capitan we both had 2 weeks of quarantine and because I was 60 was property bound,,,,,,,,,,, never to be seen again the way things are going, Ben just tod me that Singapore have extended their lockdown until the start of June.

Cheers, Steve.

Sounds like a hard front by El Capitan in your barangay.  After the quarantine I can't see your having to be grounded because you are over 60, although that is the official age here to get all of those senior citizen discounts.  My wife is 66, so both of us would be grounded in your place.  Since we bought  a total of more than a ton of rice to give to family and friends no one will stop us in our barangay.  Seemed like a good way to spend about a third of our stimulus package.  Hope we get the $2,400 soon.  Glad we're not in Singapore.

Well mugtech I am a guest in this country and try dearly to adhere to the laws here no matter differing interpretation of the those laws by the guest/citizen and lol, the law makers. As said in other posts I am coping well, plenty to do here and the second last thing I need is this virus. The first thing I need is to not piss off our Barangay Capitan as other blow ins here have done over the years with arrogance.

Well done with your gift to your community, I'm sure your efforts will be appreciated. All we have done is given our 2 food drops to the locals to share out, donated a DVD player to our local check point as well as snacks from time to time.
I think we have a long way to go with this situation so we all have to be patient.

Cheers, Steve.

TeeJay4103 wrote:

Is the grass greener?

Just read a little post from a Brit who couldn't wait to get out of the RP.  He said he has now been back in the UK for three weeks and it is worse there (at least where he's at) than it was in the RP.

I've now read a few very similar stories over the last few days.  If you've got a place to stay and the money to get you by, it's hard to understand why, at a time like this, anyone would try and leave.  With, of course, the exceptions of an emergency back home.

Tough times only get tougher when you make a panic decision.

For me there is no real hurry, why we moved our departure back to June.  My balikbayan stamp is good until October.  All my mail back home is being forwarded to a box at the UPS store, just advanced box rental an additional 3 months through July.  Do not know if the post office will keep forwarding our mail longer than 6 months, cannot get an answer online.  Have enlisted a neighbor to start checking our mailbox next week, saving our mail for us.  Will have to up the amount I paid to them to clear our pavement of snow.  Other things are piling up, including checks sent to me by cc companies and Nationwide Insurance.  Our real estate taxes are now over due, not paying until June will incur some 10% penalties.  These are first world problems I realize, gonna cost me a few hundred dollars.  I do think life would be a little easier in PA, could walk to Giant Supermarket every day,  special senior citizen hour at 6AM, no paperwork involved.  Also have blood work and doctor appointments already having to be rescheduled.  Tv about the same, WiFi better in PA.  Have two great nephews I have never seen, be nice to talk to brother and sister instead of email.  Will see how it looks in 6 weeks.

mugtech wrote:

I do think life would be a little easier in PA, could walk to Giant Supermarket every day

Ah Yes Supermarket in PA,
(1) Enjoy a Idaho baked potato with sour cream & butter for me.
(2) Enjoy a Philly Cheese Steak for me.
(3) Enjoy a few Coors Beer for me.
(4) Enjoy a Rye Bagels with cream cheese for me.

(5) ENJOY A TRIP TO TRADER JOE'S FOR ME
(5A) Trader Joe's Vegetable Juice
(5B) Trader Joe's Cocktail Sauce
(5C) Trader Joe's Pumpernickel Pretzels
(5D) Trader Joe's New York Style Cheese Cake
(5F) Trader Joe's Mango Bars
(5G) Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
(5H) The hot women who shop at Trader Joe's

W9XR wrote:

mugtech wrote:

I do think life would be a little easier in PA, could walk to Giant Supermarket every day

Ah Yes Supermarket in PA,
(1) Enjoy a Idaho baked potato with sour cream & butter for me.
(2) Enjoy a Philly Cheese Steak for me.
(3) Enjoy a few Coors Beer for me.
(4) Enjoy a Rye Bagels with cream cheese for me.

(5) ENJOY A TRIP TO TRADER JOE'S FOR ME
(5A) Trader Joe's Vegetable Juice
(5B) Trader Joe's Cocktail Sauce
(5C) Trader Joe's Pumpernickel Pretzels
(5D) Trader Joe's New York Style Cheese Cake
(5F) Trader Joe's Mango Bars
(5G) Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
(5H) The hot women who shop at Trader Joe's

Don't eat sour creme, cheese steaks, rye bagels
Don't drink any beer
Don't go to Trader Joe's

Any other requests?

TeeJay4103 wrote:

Is the grass greener?

The grass is greener on the other guys grave.

mugtech wrote:

Don't eat sour creme, cheese steaks, rye bagels
Don't drink any beer
Don't go to Trader Joe's

Any other requests?

Henry Weinhard's Orange Cream Gourmet Soda

I miss that. I like its taste and entertainment value. Ice-cold. The way I drink it is first  slowly pour it in a tall glass. No ice.  Top half becomes foamy. I drink it slowly. Get a foam moustache. When I finish drinking it, I scoop out the extra foam with a spoon so as not to waste anything.

I hit the panic button last month. It had cost USD 2,400. I hope I'll get my money back from PAL.
I'll have coffee with 1 cream & 1 sugar please.
My neighbor, the Jones's, their grass is greener. I think they use Scott's.

Jackson4 wrote:

I hit the panic button last month. It had cost USD 2,400. I hope I'll get my money back from PAL.

If the flight is still cancelled when it's time to leave, consult your charge card company. I have a feeling PAL won't be your pal, when they use your money to keep a float.

W9XR wrote:

Jackson4 wrote:

I hit the panic button last month. It had cost USD 2,400. I hope I'll get my money back from PAL.

If the flight is still cancelled when it's time to leave, consult your charge card company. I have a feeling PAL won't be your pal, when they use your money to keep a float.

They let me move to 6/9/20 after cancelling our 4/21/20 flight.  Worth a try.

it;s always been like this, unless you’ve high-up friends who will do you a favour and expect some kind of reward for being so ‘nice,'

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.

Sounds like you are fairly new here. Sounds routine to me.