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I reckon anyone who is kind to dogs (and most animals) is a good human being.

 

That reminds me of chapter 2 of my story. When I left Robinsons I wanted to go past downtown to Neva's Pizza. I don't like to catch a trike at Robinsons as I find they gouge foreigners for higher prices so i walked out the side entrance and caught one on the street by Citi Hardware.

I asked if he was going near Neva's Pizza. He had one other passenger and said "sure" so I hopped in. When we got there, I figured it would be 10 from Robinsons to downtown and another 10 from downtown to Neva's Pizza. So I was going to give him 20. Then I saw that it was already after dark and I had read that fares are double at night so I pulled out 2 20's and gave them to him.

His reply: "No sir, you have given too much. 20 pesos is enough thank you." And he returned one of the 20s. Goes to show how one trike driver is so much different than another.

 

I have been liveing and driveing here for about 16 months now and comeing from the wide open spces of Australia it was quite a lot of adjustment...........yes it is crazy driveing here like most asian countries but I have accepted that and really take my time and be aware of the lunatics both local and foreign...............I drive down from Liptong/Valencia a couple of times a week for shopping and eating out in resturants and usually find a shade park in Robinsons to prk my little suzuki van and catch a motor taxi into town if need to go into town and as a few people have mentioned here is that no amount of complaining will change the attitudes and conditions...........so I guess it is either adapt and accept or go back where we come from.

 

Had breakfast at Casablanca a few days ago. Gunther is indeed back in Austria and has been for awhile, return date currently unknown. Met the new chef, Jan, from northern Germany. Menu is somewhat new, also simpler due to difficulty of getting anything onto this island, food is better than ever. Highly recommended again.

 

Please be careful when you make travel plans, and make sure you are eligible to enter the Philippines on arrival.
Newspaper articles may not be the best source for such information.
The Dutch embassy in Manila sent me an email yesterday detailing the new rules:

Quote
Op 16 juli heeft de overheid aangekondigd dat per 1 augustus de regels voor toegang tot de Filipijnen aangepast zullen worden. Vanaf 1 augustus mogen naast mensen met de Filipijnse nationaliteit, hun buitenlandse partners en kinderen en houders van een diplomatiek visum ook mensen met een lange termijn immigratievisum het land binnen.

Dit houdt in dat houders van een immigratievisum ook weer het land in mogen. Immigratievisums vallen onder sectie 13 van de Filipijnse visum code (en worden aangeduid als 13A t/m 13G). Ook mensen met een RA7919 en EO324 visum worden gezien als immigranten.

Helaas vallen non-immigrant visums niet onder de versoepeling die op 1 augustus in gaat. Non-immigrant visums vallen onder sectie 9 van de Filipijnse visum code (het gaat hier om visum types 9A t/m 9D, 9F en 9G; houders van een 9E visum mogen wel het land in). Ook vallen speciale visums zoals SVEG, SIRV, SNIV, SEVOBU, SRRV en 47a2 visums niet onder de versoepeling.

Voor reizigers die voor zaken in de Filipijnen moeten zijn of als non-immigrant in de Filipijnen verblijven, is het mogelijk om op basis van uitzondering toegang te krijgen tot de Filipijnen. Deze toegang moet worden aangevraagd via het voor de sector verantwoordelijke departement of overheidsorganisatie. Voor de meeste bedrijven is dit het Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). De aanvraag moet worden ingediend bij DTI, of voor de sector relevante overheidsinstelling, door de werkgever of het uitnodigende Filipijnse bedrijf of organisatie.

De ambassade blijft zich, gezamenlijk met de EU en andere ambassades, inzetten om de toegang tot de Filipijnen weer mogelijk te maken zodat ook houders van andere type visums weer het land in kunnen komen.

Nederlandse Ambassade Manilla
/UnQuote

Translation:

On July 16, the government announced that from August 1, rules for access to the Philippines will be adjusted. From August 1, aside from people with Philippine nationality, their foreign partners and children and holders of a diplomatic visa, others will also be allowed to enter the country with a long-term immigration visa.

This means that holders of an immigration visa can also return to the country. Immigration visas are subject to section 13 of the Philippine Visa Code (and are designated as 13A through 13G). People with a RA7919 and EO324 visa are also seen as immigrants.

Unfortunately, non-immigrant visas are not covered by the easing that will take effect on August 1. Non-immigrant visas are subject to section 9 of the Philippine Visa Code (this concerns visa types 9A to 9D, 9F and 9G; holders of a 9E visa are allowed to enter the country). Also, special visas such as SVEG, SIRV, SNIV, SEVOBU, SRRV and 47a2 visas are not covered by the relaxation.

For travelers who need to be in the Philippines on business or who reside in the Philippines as a non-immigrant, it is possible to access the Philippines on an exceptional basis. This access must be requested through the department or government organization responsible for the sector. For most companies, this is the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The application must be made to DTI, or industry relevant government agency, by the employer or the inviting Philippine company or organization.

The embassy remains committed, together with the EU and other embassies, to restore access to the Philippines so that holders of other visa types can also return to the country.

Dutch Embassy Manila

My take from this:
1. If married to a Filipina: better make sure you have your 13a visa before traveling out of the country. The "1 year balikbayan stamp" probably won't work.
2. SRRV: no
3. Any tourist type visa: no way

 

Hope you find a place where you are happy. Sacrifices definately have to be made living here. If one can rise above that and live out of town it can be comfortable for some of us.

 

The evidence you cite for other viruses (such as dengue, Zika, HIV and yellow fever) is based on IN VITRO studies and I assume you know the difference between IN VIVO and IN VITRO.

Furthermore: The drug you promote "has been shown to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures. [This means IN VITRO]. However, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies suggest that achieving the plasma concentrations necessary for the antiviral efficacy detected in vitro would require administration of doses up to 100-fold higher [this means IN VIVO] than those approved for use in humans."

Even the very well-respected Lancet says this drug "inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro at concentrations not readily achievable with currently approved doses [this means IN VIVO]. There is limited evidence to support its clinical use in COVID-19 patients".

I hope you understand the significance of in vitro and in vivo and the concern relating to the one hundred fold safe-level usage in vivo. I am sure everyone here, without a single exception, would welcome the use of any SAFE drug to help the world in the fight against Covid-19 and if further (currently ongoing) studies prove it can be used safely in vivo with the desired effect then no-one is going to contradict you. If it proves safe and requires sticking an egg size piece up my rectum then I will accept it - no-one is disputing your desire to find a treatment but the evidence is definitely NOT there yet. When some evidence states a drug is effective (usually by in vitro studies) and other evidence states the dosage required is dangerous in vivo then science has to go with the safety aspect and not the effectiveness (even if it is 100% effective in vitro).

 

Hi Garbonzo,

I lived in Sydney most of my life and when I was on a high income that was fine but when I decided to retire at 55 years old, the cost of living in Sydney made life very difficult. Financially, a lot of the cost/benefit of moving will be determined if you are self funded or if you are on a government pension. I am self funded and being a non resident of Australia is beneficial on the taxes that I pay there - note that my accountant specifies that I must not own any property in Australia to have that benefit. As to healthcare be aware that Medicare continues for you for 5 years after you become a non-resident and if I needed to, could easily change my status back to a resident and take benefit of the health system (but go back to paying local marginal taxes and the medicare levy which I don't pay as a non resident). As to USD 3,000 per month I live on similar here in Valencia, rent an expensive (for here) home, have a partner and send my "step" daughter to a private school. I live far better here than I could do for that money in Sydney. I think it is important though that you have a pool either for a quick trip back to Oz or for emergency medical here. I have skin cancer and have to return back to Sydney every 4 months (used to be every 3 months) for treatment. I see a series of doctors when I return and each of them tell me that my general health is far better and they think that is because of the change of lifestyle - moving away from the high stress that is Sydney.

But that was all about money, as hinted by Shawn, two people and three opinions - so emotionally you should try it out for some time and see if it suits - for me this is easily the best decision I have made (in 2015), for others it has been a nightmare. Good luck with your decision and if you want more detailed accounting/legal information you can PM me - I have spent lots of time with accountants, solicitors and financial advisers/estate planners before and since coming here. For me, the biggest confirmation came from my 27 year old daughter who, like me unfortunately is particularly critical of everything in her life and after visiting for the first time over the past Xmas and New Year said - "I have finally understood why you left Australia - it's so chilled here."

 

You are new here I see this is your 7th post to the forum.
Maybe you could introduce yourself by telling us a bit about yourself, like what's wrong with you.