I made it to the Philippines!

[John & Rose 7,239]

It was an interesting journey.  It does work though.  There are a few things I've learned that I would like to share.  

 

My quarantine is 7 days because they do not accept the CDC card from US citizens.  I got my shots done at Walmart because they offer a QR code so the vaccinations are verifiable. They didnt care.  My wife had the same card and it was accepted.  Her quarantine is 5 days, mine is 7.  She said she will stay with me anyway.  That may be because the Hotel is nice and our view is of the US Embassy compound and Manila Bay.  

 

I forgot our Marriage certificate so they were refusing to allow me to board in Guam.  There was another American former Philippine citizen who was also stopped because he didnt bring his naturalization certificate he got over 30 years ago.  He also didnt have his old passport.  Not sure what happened with him.  Last we saw he was told to find a hotel and try to get the paperwork.  Now back to us, luckily I had my laptop with me on this trip since I will be working remotely.  I had a photo of the certificate on it and we found it 4 minutes before the plane pushed off.  We were the last to board but we made it.

 

It was as to be expected at the airport but it was obvious they are trying to make it all flow better.  One interesting thing was they gave all passengers face shields in Guam before boarding.  We were told to wear them always in the Philippines.  The first thing that happens when you get off the plane is you walk by the temperature scanners and they require that the shields be removed.  So that was the last time we had them on.  Many of the Coast Guard and Red Cross have face shields on but just on their heads not over their faces.  The vast majority didnt wear them at all.  

 

They never checked our marriage license at NAIA and entry was smooth.  The fact that CDC was fine for her and not me is just another indication that they have some work to do on their process.  

 

She forgot her ROC NOA1 to extend her green card but my son sent a scan of it.  I assume it wont be a problem as the pending removal should show up when they check her green card at arrival.

 

BOQ can allow delivery of food to the quarantine hotel if you send a letter to the front desk requesting it for allergy or health reasons.  It has to be approved by the Hotel and the Coast Guard.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

29 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

It was an interesting journey.  It does work though.  There are a few things I've learned that I would like to share.  

 

My quarantine is 7 days because they do not accept the CDC card from US citizens.  I got my shots done at Walmart because they offer a QR code so the vaccinations are verifiable. They didnt care.  My wife had the same card and it was accepted.  Her quarantine is 5 days, mine is 7.  She said she will stay with me anyway.  That may be because the Hotel is nice and our view is of the US Embassy compound and Manila Bay.  

 

I forgot our Marriage certificate so they were refusing to allow me to board in Guam.  There was another American former Philippine citizen who was also stopped because he didnt bring his naturalization certificate he got over 30 years ago.  He also didnt have his old passport.  Not sure what happened with him.  Last we saw he was told to find a hotel and try to get the paperwork.  Now back to us, luckily I had my laptop with me on this trip since I will be working remotely.  I had a photo of the certificate on it and we found it 4 minutes before the plane pushed off.  We were the last to board but we made it.

 

It was as to be expected at the airport but it was obvious they are trying to make it all flow better.  One interesting thing was they gave all passengers face shields in Guam before boarding.  We were told to wear them always in the Philippines.  The first thing that happens when you get off the plane is you walk by the temperature scanners and they require that the shields be removed.  So that was the last time we had them on.  Many of the Coast Guard and Red Cross have face shields on but just on their heads not over their faces.  The vast majority didnt wear them at all.  

 

They never checked our marriage license at NAIA and entry was smooth.  The fact that CDC was fine for her and not me is just another indication that they have some work to do on their process.  

 

She forgot her ROC NOA1 to extend her green card but my son sent a scan of it.  I assume it wont be a problem as the pending removal should show up when they check her green card at arrival.

 

BOQ can allow delivery of food to the quarantine hotel if you send a letter to the front desk requesting it for allergy or health reasons.  It has to be approved by the Hotel and the Coast Guard.

Glad to hear and have fun

[seekingthetruth 1,248]

Have fun!  What hotel are you at?  I might need to book a night at a hotel near the embassy soon.

 

How did you end up in Guam?  That is unusual routing these days.  Very common in the old days when they did island hopping.

[John & Rose 7,239]

Bay View Park Hotel. It is almost on top of the Embassy. 
 

Routing was weird because when we booked the regulars were not up to full speed. We did Chicago to Honolulu to Guam to Manila. We go back like normal through Japan. 
 

We spoke to a guy who works in Guam and goes to Hawaii often. He has never seen it like this. The plane was completely full. I will never do that route again. I am hoping for EVA or Cathay Pacific to get back to our regular transportation. This hotel is directly across Roxas Blvd from the Embassy. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 hour ago, seekingthetruth said:

Have fun!  What hotel are you at?  I might need to book a night at a hotel near the embassy soon.

 

How did you end up in Guam?  That is unusual routing these days.  Very common in the old days when they did island hopping.

Here is the view from our room.  You can really get much closer...  That is the Embassy (White buildings)  across the street.

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by John & Rose

[seekingthetruth 1,248]

5 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Here is the view from our room.  You can really get much closer...  That is the Embassy (White buildings)  across the street.

 

I will take a look.  We need to get my daughter's U.S. passport renewed and if the appointment is early morning (most likely) I will book a room, and that would be perfect.  If you happen to notice, does the hotel have parking for guests?

 

I suppose your real reason for booking there is so you can run over to the Dolomite White Sand Beach!  After quarantine, of course! 

[John & Rose 7,239]

10 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

I will take a look.  We need to get my daughter's U.S. passport renewed and if the appointment is early morning (most likely) I will book a room, and that would be perfect.  If you happen to notice, does the hotel have parking for guests?

 

I suppose your real reason for booking there is so you can run over to the Dolomite White Sand Beach!  After quarantine, of course! 

Actually there is a bar in Hotel H20 just south of the Embassy.  That is where my wife and I had our first date.  It is a beautiful outdoor bar that overlooks the bay.  There is a lot right outside.  I will ask the desk if there is parking available.  My guess is yes but I will confirm.

Edited November 8, 2021 by John & Rose

[seekingthetruth 1,248]

44 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Actually there is a bar in Hotel H20 just south of the Embassy.  That is where my wife and I had our first date.  It is a beautiful outdoor bar that overlooks the bay.  There is a lot right outside.  I will ask the desk if there is parking available.  My guess is yes but I will confirm.

H2O is the other one I was thinking about because we have been wanting to do a night there.  A few months ago it was not open to the public yet.  I would like to take the kids to the Manila Ocean Park too.

[John & Rose 7,239]

29 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

H2O is the other one I was thinking about because we have been wanting to do a night there.  A few months ago it was not open to the public yet.  I would like to take the kids to the Manila Ocean Park too.

H2O is where I always stayed on visits before. It is awesome but a little pricy. Well worth it if you have kids. They will love the fish tank walls. I believe the ocean park is back open now but with limited numbers of guests. Great choice of restaurants there too. Overall probably still my favorite place to stay. 

[Adventine 3,209]

Glad that you made it! Have a nice trip.

[RO_AH 1,662]

18 hours ago, John & Rose said:

I forgot our Marriage certificate so they were refusing to allow me to board in Guam.  

Guam? Did you fly United? I never showed my marriage certificate once. I had my 9a visa but forgot to bring my certificate just in case so I was lucky.

 

18 hours ago, John & Rose said:

It was as to be expected at the airport but it was obvious they are trying to make it all flow better.  One interesting thing was they gave all passengers face shields in Guam before boarding.  We were told to wear them always in the Philippines.

I was in the PAL terminal and honestly that was the fastest I ever exited. I wish it was like that on normal conditions. A few weeks ago when I was there I think shields were only really required in Manila. However 80%-90% wore them as visors. I know I did. On flights in and out of PH you are supposed to wear a shield and mask. Most people had theirs off shortly after take off.

[Kby175 115]

That sounds about the norm lately, they accept the Filipino spouses CDC card but the foreign national exact same card is not accepted.  Treated like you are unvaccinated sadly, I am fully expecting to suffer the same fate of the 7 day quarantine unless they drop it.  Hopefully your time passes quickly but glad to hear you made it to the Philippines, let us know how long it takes for the covid test and how fast the results come back.  I will be there in two weeks myself.  

[John & Rose 7,239]

3 hours ago, RO_AH said:

Guam? Did you fly United? I never showed my marriage certificate once. I had my 9a visa but forgot to bring my certificate just in case so I was lucky.

 

I was in the PAL terminal and honestly that was the fastest I ever exited. I wish it was like that on normal conditions. A few weeks ago when I was there I think shields were only really required in Manila. However 80%-90% wore them as visors. I know I did. On flights in and out of PH you are supposed to wear a shield and mask. Most people had theirs off shortly after take off.

Yep it was United. I didn’t have the 9a. They said my wife was sponsoring me so SHE had to prove we were married. Like I said, that was in Guam. NAIA didn’t even ask. 
 

Lots of visors very few shields. As soon as I entered the plane the flight attendant said we didn’t have to wear them. So we wore them only down the ramp and onto the plane. Nothing after that. We will see what it is like in Manila once we get our freedom. 
 

So far quarantine isn’t bad. My wife and I never really get the chance to just be alone and she is OCD with cleaning so it is relaxing for both of us simply because there is nothing to do. Once she hits Manila it will be a mile a minute until we leave. This is her first time to see her grandson and Philippines family in 2 years. She sent 2 balikbayan boxes and loaded 2 of our 4 suitcases with gifts. Lol

[njde1988 8]

The wif

[njde1988 8]

The wife and I will traveling back the the Philippines in March of 2022.  Hopefully, the covid restriction will conclude before our arrival.  My question is, it will be my wife, infant child and me all traveling together.  Would be able to quarentine together on one hotel room.  Also thinking of flying into Cebu for a better experience...any thoughts.  Our final drstination will be to Mindanao.