RAO Subic Office will be closed on the following Philippine and/or U.S. Holidays below:

• August 21, 2022 - Ninoy Aquino Day

• September 5, 2022 - U.S. Labor Day
• September 16, 2022 - National Heroes Day

Commencing 01 January 2023 RAO dues will be $96.00 per year. This is a standard flat rate, There will be no partial payments accepted. We prefer dollars or dollar instruments we also except Philippine pesos depending on the exchange rate. Due to Philippine banking restrictions no money orders can be accepted.

An effort to give millions of veterans easier access to health and disability benefits suffered another surprising setback Wednesday on the Senate floor when supporters couldn’t muster the 60 votes needed to limit debate.

The 55-42 procedural vote on cloture derailed, at least temporarily, a sweeping expansion of veterans benefits that appeared to be heading to President Joe Biden’s desk this week.

The vote marked the second time the bipartisan legislation hit an unexpected snag. The bill had to be revised — and receive a second vote in both chambers — to remove an obscure tax provision that raised a constitutional concern in the House. The House passed the revised version two weeks ago on a 342-88 vote and the Senate planned to pass it this week.

Click here to read more.

As high inflation saddles Americans with an extra financial burden, some states are helping out with one-time stimulus rebates to offset the pain of higher prices.

The Labor Department reported earlier this month that the consumer price index rose 9.1% in June from a year ago, marking the fastest pace of inflation since November 1981. The CPI is a broad measure of the price for everyday goods, including gasoline, groceries and rents.

Click here to read more.

Mission BBQ FREE sandwich for Korean War Veterans on July 27 in honor of Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.

Baseball Hall of Fame $19 admission for Veterans. Free admission for active and retired career military.

Tiffany 10% off engagement rings and wedding bands. The engagement discount is available in the U.S. only.

Click here to read more.

WASHINGTON, DC — Based on Veteran feedback and VA Secretary Denis McDonough’s commitment to ensuring timely access to care, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched an improved Access to Care website that now offers a simplified, user-friendly experience to make it easier for Veterans to make informed decisions as they plan their health care appointments.

Effective July 19, Veterans and the public will be able to see Veteran experience information for care delivered through VA facilities and will have a clearer view of average wait times, with more detailed information on available health care services and specialties.

Click here to read more.

As many likely have heard, the decision to remove Retirees and families, from the Authorized Patron List for FPO/APO privileges has been postponed until sometime between now and 31 Dec 2022. This may have been a result of our “Write/Call” effort to our Representatives, Senators and Committee members. However, the postponement is not a solution to maintain the privilege. It only “kicks the can down the road”. It also coincidentally places the decision to be made after the November elections. Positive action is required before we decide who will be representing us on this issue after the elections. Although the “Write/Call campaign may have been successful in delaying the decision, it has not received commitments from our representatives on congressional action to preserve this privilege. Shamefully many responses from them are Luke warm. Many replied “Thank you for contacting me, I enjoy hearing from my constituents, here’s how you can get my Newsletter”, quite obviously a programmed response, and is totally irresponsible and unacceptable. We must now double and triple our efforts, to ensure they realize the importance to us of our FPO/APO, privilege.

Click here to read more.

As previously mentioned, the V.A. Regional Office and counselors for claims, and the Out Patient Clinic will be providing an Outreach for veterans seeking assistance with claims and clinic questions and flu shots. This is the only shot which will be given. They will not be able to give vaccinations. The venue will be at the Arizona Resorts, on 14 July, from 12:00 to 1600, and July 15 from 08:00 to 11:00. Attendees should enter the resort through the main side door from the parking lot and register at the desk immediately to the left. Once registered, proceed to the waiting area which will be in the restaurant. Your name will be called when a counselor is available to assist you. Please note: This visit only has personnel from V.A. They will not be able to entertain Passport, Visa, or other services provided by either ACS or Social Security. All attendees are reminded to be mindful of Covid protocols as they will be strictly enforced. PWD's with canes, crutches, wheel chairs, walkers, will receive head of the line privilege. Please read this notice fully before responding with questions, as subjects not regarding VA will not be responded to. Thank you for your considerations.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila will have limited services and no routine consular appointments on June 30, 2022. Regular operations will resume on Friday, July 1, 2022, following the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the National Museum of the Philippines. There will be inauguration-related road closures and checkpoints near the embassy, and in other areas of Manila throughout the week that are posted on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority website. Motorists should consider alternative routes during this period. For consular-related emergencies, please call +63 (2) 5301-2000 or email the American Citizen Services Unit at ACSInfoManila@state.gov.

Click here to read more.

VA News Release

VA adopts Login.gov for a unified Veteran sign-in experience
06/28/2022 10:59 AM EDT

By creating an account on Login.gov, Veterans can now use the same login and password to access a growing list of federal government websites, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Personnel Management and Small Business Administration to deliver a secure and streamlined identity verification experience.

Take the PTSD Test, some will likely be surprised at their score, many won't. Either way, reach out for help, you are not alone!

Click here to read more.

For the past few days I’ve had a thought bouncing around in my head in writing an open letter to my fellow Vets, but have been unable to find the time. Then I realized this is something that needs to be shared and I needed to make time! So here goes.

To my fellow veterans, whether you identify as a jar head, doggie, squid, flyboy or coastie, I’m talking to you. For the past 8 years I’ve been directly involved in the handling of likely over 400 veteran deaths or hospitalizations. Each one is a different story and some have been very convoluted. Two recent events have driven me to reach out to you all. Due to laws, I am unable to include full details and names, but many will recognize them by their stories. The gist of the following involves PTSD, and alcohol.

Click here to read more.

Retired U S Navy Veteran. He is currently at The Medical City Clark Hospital and is need of 6 bags (units) of type A+ blood. Please disseminate fullest. Please proceed to the laboratory to donate. Thank you in advance.

Mike Murphy a Marine brother is in urgent need of doations for B+ blood. He is to undergo surgery for head injuries sufferd from being struck by a car. Please go toi Baypoint to donate if you or a family member is eligible to do so. Please do not respond to this msg as Baypointe is the POC on this call out, thank you.

Dad you made me who I am, and gave me a name to be proud of. I hope I have carried on your legacy. I miss and love you every day!

Your Family Name
You got it from your father
It was all he had to give
So it's yours to use and cherish
For as long as you may live

If you lost the watch he gave you
It can always be replaced;
But a black mark on your name
Can never be erased

It was clean the day you took it
And a worthy name to bear
When he got it from his father
There was no dishonor there

So make sure you guard it wisely
After all is said and done
You'll be glad the name is spotless
When you give it to your son

One of the effects of the discontinuance will be the difficulty it will place on our being able to vote in the Nov elections this year. Most retiree's use FPO to request and submit their absentee ballots. All states have their own rules on how early you can vote or request a ballot. FPO permits us to do that in a timely fashion. Loss of FPO will effect this. It seems coincidental that the loss of FPO privilege, falls just before most states permit early voting. Using the local mail can result in your vote not getting back to your state in time to be counted. You can request your ballot right now in most states, but the actual mailing of a completed one varies by state, and again most states eligibility starts after the loss of the FPO privilege. I get the feeling some may call this voter suppression. Please see the link attached for your states laws and act now. Make your vote count!

Heads-Up!!

Almost every account is being cloned.

Your picture and your name are used to create a "new" Facebook Account. (They don't need your password to do this).

They want your friends to add them to their accounts.

Your friends will think that it's you and accept your request.

From that point on they can write what they want under your name.

I have NO plans to open a new account!!

PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT A NEW FRIEND REQUEST FROM ME.

(Copied)
ctto

We just confirmed today with the IMCOM Pacific Postal Office that based on newly published DoDI 4525.09, Military Postal Service, that retirees, widows, Red Cross, and others will be losing their overseas mail privileges on 24 August 2022. This was an Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) unilateral decision.

The impact this will have on the non-SOFA military retiree and widow population is enormous. Some Government mail and checks cannot be mailed to foreign addresses. TRICARE medication received in the mail will not be received. Absentee ballots cannot be mailed, and so forth.

Click here to read more.

While sitting here working on the FPO fiasco and 3 death cases, I get a message from a Sr relative of a reently deceased. We had shipped her loved ones remains recently and she wanted to tell me of her experience regarding the tracking of the paskakge thru USPS. She had went to the USPS tracking site and input the #. It came back with a response of not available yet and gave a number to call for more info. USPS # is 18002211811, she called and to her very obvious surprise, she heard a recording. So ok not such a big surprise, but it was the recording that caught her by surprise, it was a audio of a porn video. I investigated as I thought maybe USPS had been hacked, but no, she had accidentally mis dialed 221-1811. OOOPS!!!!!!!!!

We have all received this news with much chagrin and trepidation. And as always lots of rumors attached. After much research and input from some unnamed friends, here is a possible way forward on the subject. History-----A change was published to the Navy Order covering FPO services. That change does not identify the discontinuation. However in a supplemental message to the change, sent to MPO offices, a proposal does outline that Retirees will lose FPO privileges along with a few other groups. (Ironic that Warriors are placed in the same group as Enemy POWS). The message outlines that we will be excluded from the list of approved patrons. There are committees who are being tasked with providing impact statements and recommendations as we speak. From what we can find this is not a done deal, but is imminent. I am sure all of the service organizations are in the process of forming Plan B's should this become reality but our options are limited. That is why it is extremely important that we as Veterans have our voice heard and heard very very LOUD! I encourage every Veteran and family member, and friends. forward a message to their elected officials to make them aware of this travesty and demand action to prevent it from happening. A simple way to do this is to FAX them. Attached I have included a draft letter that some may use, or please feel free to create your own. The most important part is for all to write reps from your state, not just your party ones, but all. Additionally, writing to the Veterans Affairs Committee may have a lot of impact. It is also very important that all Veterans Services Organizations join in this campaign. On a little more private note, The Retired Activity Office in Subic Bay, will begin offering free Fax services for this purpose, come tell us your name and state and we will prepare your letter for fax to all your states congressional reps. I enjoin other Vet Service Orgs to provide the same if possible. This is not the time for a wait and see attitude, we must act NOW! “EXPAT does not mean no longer a Patriot!”

Click here to read more.

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.