June
• June 12, 2021 (Saturday) - Philippine Independence Day (PH)

July
• July 4, 2021 (Sunday) - U.S. Independence Day (U.S.)

RAO Subic Calendar 2021

A celebration of life for Marine Steve is scheduled on Wednesday 16 June at 12 PM at the Arizona Resort, located in Barrio Baretto. Friends and Brothers will be invited to share their memories. A huge Thank you to Wayne Beir, for providing the venue and snacks.

In a previous post I inadvertently stated for those who have not yet done their 2021 taxes..." This was an obvious typo, and should have stated tax year 2020, but apparently I missed it in my proof reading. I'm strongly repentant for not doing my due diligence and I am sincerely sorry to those who are easily confused in these times of confusing media in our world today. I will strive to check my posts more stringently in the future. Fortunately I didn't get arrested and placed in Facebook jail, haha.

RAO Subic Bay will be closed tomorrow, June 11, 2021 (Saturday) for sanitizing. Sorry for the late notice.

As previously reported we lost Marine Steve Piechocky this week. There is no word from the family yet reharding a ceremony and if there is the participation will be limited by Clark Veterans Cemetery. Yjere is considereation of a short ceremony for this coming June 16, 2021 (Wednesday) at the Arizona to celebrate his life and for friends and Brothers to share their memories. If you have interest in this, please contact Jack, thank you.

In case you have been procrastinating on getting your 2021 taxes done, next friday is the last scheduled day at the RAO for Ken Kimura. If this applies to you, you should let us know you are coming, thanks.

Today we received the news that one of our most beloved “Brothers” had received his final orders to MCB Heaven. Steve Piechocky has reported to the Ultimate Commander in Chief.

The loss of a Brother always hits hard, but this one is particularly hard to accept. Steve was a one of a kind. Always ready with his quick wit to make you laugh, or words of wisdom or guidance to help you find your way. He dedicated his life to his fellow veterans and to the Philippines kids. There was never any doubt that when you were in his presence, you were talking to a Marines Marine. Never has a man shown more pride in his earning the title MARINE, which he did repeatedly on active duty and his life thereafter. We should feel sorry for those Marines in heaven who may not be completely squared way, as they are in for a bunch hell, when he gets settled in.

Reminiscing about Steve and what he meant to all of us, 2 passages come to mind. First from Teddy Kennedy’s eulogy to his brother Robert, and then a quote from President Ronald Reagan.

“My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it,” he said. “Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world. As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him.”

He paused, regaining his composure to quote Bobby a final time: “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.”

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” It seems he had Steve in mind when he made that quote, as Steve never had that problem.

Steve will be sorely missed, but his legacy will live on in all of us. To his family and brothers we offer our love and condolences for this great loss, and ask God to comfort all.

We encourage all of his brothers to wear the EGA today in recognition of his life.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that aliens holding the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) issued by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) are now allowed to enter the country.

In an advisory, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that following the most recent Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), upon recommendation of the Department of Tourism (DOT), those holding SRRVs are now allowed to enter the country without an entry exemption document.

Click here to read more.

Opens inbound restrictions for persons who have been fully vaccinated in the Philippines (please read that sentence again, fully vaccinated in the Philippines.) Upon the recommendation of the Department of Tourism, foreign nationals holding Special Resident Retiree’s Visa shall be allowed to enter the country without need of an entry exemption document. For this purpose, Paragraph C of IATF Resolution No. 100 issued on February 18, 2021, is amended to reenter.

Click here to read more.

Metro Manila and four nearby provinces will remain under General Community Quarantine for the entire June, President Rodrigo Duterte announced late Monday night.

Some of our members are running into problems getting meds now that VA is closed down. A member has forwarded the below info regarding a Dr friend of his who is interested in helping our vets. The member has known him for years and vouches for him enthusiastically!

The RAO does not know him and can't endorse but if you need help give him a try and see.

DANIEL SALVADOR L. REDOÑA, MD

Ophthalmologist-Natural Medicine

09281952272

Clinic Address: JH ORIENTAL MEDICAL CLINIC Blk 48 Lot 10 Friendship Highway Bgy Cutcut, Angeles City 2009 Pampanga

Making Subic Experience Awesome! SubicGo.com is a tourism portal designed for local and international tourists visiting the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

SubicGo

GREAT NEWS!
Its official, as of today 16 August 2018, Ace/Baypointe is authorized to accept Tricare patients under the Preferred Provider category. You will have to check with the HMO office to ensure your Dr. is also on the Preferred Provider list. There are currently 31 Dr's who are, but check to be sure or you will have to pay the Dr's fees.

And oh by the way, please resist the urge to repeat the bad news bears (you know the ones who have their names stenciled on the back of their bar stool) who are spreading rumors about ACE BAYPOINTE and Medical City Clark suspending FMP due to non payment. IT DIDNT HAPPEN! Medical city Ortigas did due to non payment by FMP. Come to find out they gave FMP the wrong mailing address to which FMP mailed the payments. All is fixed now and they have withdrawn the suspension.Â

Old saying better to be quiet and be thought a fool, than opening mouth and leave no doubt.

I have taken the opportunity to compile a list of what Drs, and Specialties AT ACE BAYPOINTE, to the best of my knowledge are also certified as preferred providers. The hospital is in the process of adding to this list. As you all are aware this list changes without notice, so before getting treatment it would be to your benefit to check with the hospital HMO office to ensure the Dr you will receive treatment from is in fact still certified as preferred. The HMO can be reached at 047-250-6070 ext 283 or 507.

Name Name	Specialization Specialization	Gender Gender
Ablang, Alberto Mariano, MD	Pediatrics, Critical Care	Male
Ablang, Marietta, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Female
Aguila, Beverly, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Female
Aguila, Beverly, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Female
Aguilar, Rodrigo	Gastronology/Int Med	Male
Alconga, Rudy	Pediatrics	Male
Bernal, Gerald, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Male
Bongco, Jesusa	Anesthesiology	Female
Bongco, Rosario	Endocrinology	Male
Bustamante, Rodrick	Anesthesiology	Male
Calapatia, David, MD	Family Medicine	Male
Cepeda, Armando, MD	Surgery, General	Male
Cepeda, Monette, MD	Neurology	Female
De Castro, Felicisimo, MD	Ophthalmology	Male
De Castro, Ma. Gloria, MD	Obstetrics & Gynecology	Female
Dela Cruz, Anthony, MD	Internal Medicine, Diabetology; Occupational Health	Male
Dela Paz, Emmanuel, MD	Orthopedics	Male
DeLeon, Roberto	Gen Surgery	Male
Edejer, Karl Erjon, MD	Anesthesiology	Male
Guevara, Luis, MD	Radiology	Male
Hipolito, Charina	Internal Medicine, Pulmonology	Female
Mallari, Lourdes	ENT Ear, Nose,Throat	Female
Mangahas, Rolan	Opthamology	Male
Manuel, Jesse Jewel, MD	Surgery, Orthopedic	Male
Mendoza, Arturo, Jr., MD	Surgery, General (Laparoscopic)	Male
Ocampo, Armida, MD	Internal Medicine, Pulmonology	Female
Pasqual, Jeanette	Orthopedics	Male
Rojo, Margaret, MD	Anesthesiology	Female
Santos, Wilfredo, MD	Surgery, General ; Surgery, Oncology	Male
Soriano, Maria Agnes, MD	Internal Medicine, Diabetology	Female
Tablan, Apolonario Jr	Urology	Male
Velchez, Carlos	Hematology/Int Med	Male
Hipolito, Charina	Internal Medicine, Pulmonology	Female
Villareal, Paolo, MD	Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology	Male

FMP/Tricare

We continue to see vets who are receiving EOB's and checks for treatment at Medical City and Baypointe (ACE). Please be aware you should not cash these checks. They should be given to the hospitals. Should you cash the check a few things can happen, 1st FMP or Tricare may demand repayment, if you don't they can notify the IRS and either a garnishment or 1099 will be received and they get their money in the end possibly including interest. It can also be placed on your credit report. Secondly, you may be refused future treatment at the hospitals as you have an outstanding balance. Worst of all we may lose the hospitals as providers for FMP or Tricare. Sure wouldn't want to be the guy who causes all your fellow vets to lose that, they might be a little pissed when they find out it was you! You know how quickly word spreads around here!

Videos

Just want to draw your attention to some very useful videos being offered for free through va by psycharmor. View their catalog at PsychoArmor Institute.

Urgent Update: Reimbursment Checks:

It appears there is a malfunction with both TRICARE and FMP regarding reimbursement checks. They incorrectly recently have been sending the checks to the veteran vice the provider. Both have been notified this is the incorrect way to handle these checks! If you receive a check for a claim that was filed by the Hospital, please do not cash it. The hospitals participation was negotiated so that the hospital would receive payment. If they do not we will lose their services. The payment must be taken to the hospital and signed over to them to be encashed.

Special thank you to police station 6 Barrio Baretto for notification of recently deceased American Citizen! Their handling of situation was extremely professional, thanks SPO De Leon.