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

• August 21, 2021 (Tuesday) - Ninoy Aquino Day (PHL)
• August 30, 2021 (Monday) - Heroes Day (U.S.)

• September 6, 2021 (Monday) - U.S. Labor Day (U.S.)

Click here to view and to download the RAO Subic Calendar for this year 2021.

Yesterday, RAO SUBIC BAY, again assisted 6 van loads of Veterans and Domestic Partners to travel to the VAOPC, for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

This brings our participation to almost 350 assisted. Have received nothing but great comments and thank you’s. We want to say thank you for blessing us by allowing us to assist. VAOPC has announced the intent to continue the Vaccinations during the recently imposed ECQ restrictions in Manila, but are keeping an eye on how the restrictions may effect the program. We hope for an update in the very near future. Again Kudo’s to the leadership of Dan and Elizabeth for the great meticulous planning and administration of the plan, and we applaud the OPC staff for their hard work and dedication.

A huge shout out to Olive and her team for many long and arduous hours in the scheduling.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) recently issued resolutions affecting quarantine classifications and other regulations.

Click here to read more.

"Alien spouses, children, parents of Pinoys need not present entry exemption doc starting Aug. 1" - BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that starting Aug. 1, its officers at the ports will no longer require the presentation of an entry exemption document (EED) from foreign spouses, children and parents of Filipino citizens who are traveling to the Philippines as tourists to visit their kin here.

Click here to read more.

Yesterday, we sent another large group in a 13 van, caravan to VA for Vaccine. We're nearing more than 300 assisted in getting their J&J. Already beginning plans for 31 July of Vets and Domestic Partners, Contact us for scheduling of vanpool and shots. Received many reports from vets and spouses of how well VA planned and executed the entire administration of the shots were, and the extreme professionalism the VA staff presented. Great job, Dan, and Elizabeth, and huge Kudo's to Olive, and the unsung heroes of the staff!

Quick COVID-19 Vaccine Updates:
VA Manila will be offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccine appointments tomorrow, Saturday, July 24 from 10A to 1P. Please do not arrive before 9:30A, and all individuals seeking a vaccine must arrive by 1P. Late arrivals will not be able to be accommodated.

Click here to read more.

Kids should stay home for now.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) recalled its resolution allowing children aged five and above outdoors due to the threat of the Delta variant of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Click here to read more.

Those of you who are entitled to an annual clothing allowance from VA may not be aware that the VA OPC Manila no longer has a Prosthetic Department. You should submit your paperwork to the email address or fax listed below:

In response to your inquiry, clothing allowances will be processed from this email group: vhapthprostheticclothinallowance@va.gov.

Please take note of it for future reference.

• vhapthprostheticclothinallowance@va.gov

• 646/132 P-A
• 1010 Delafield Road ~ Pittsburgh, PA 15215
• (412) 822-3728 ~ Fax (412)822-3736

Don’t know how many of you guys use PNB Bank but I was just hit with a scam. A Text message said there has been a log on attempt on my online account and I needed to click the link to secure my account.

The click takes you to a page that asks for your user name and password to log in.

Don’t do it if you have PNB account.

I don’t have a PNB account so I felt pretty safe in clicking the link but it’s just a scam to get your user name and password. Careful men there are people who lay awake all night trying to think of ways to get your money.

VA is now scheduling Spouses/Domestic Partners (think fiancée, live-in, common law spouse) RAO is currently working on scheduling for appt and van for the 24th of July. Van cost Php 1,800. Call Jack at 2222314 for assist or info. OR come into RAO for assist.

Coronavirus patients taking statins prior to hospitalization substantially reduced their odds of in-hospital death and severe COVID-19, researchers found, confirming earlier findings. Statin drugs are frequently used to lower blood cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Click here to read more.

As of today, July 15, 2021, all Veterans and spouses of Veterans in the Philippines are eligible to receive a COVID-19 Vaccine from VA Manila. VA Manila is not yet able to accommodate caregivers with COVID-19 Vaccines. We also are not able to provide an estimated date when this may be possible. We appreciate your continued patience.

Click here to read more.

RAO Subic Bay, is feeling extremely blessed to have played a small role in cooperation with the VAOPC Manila, in the administration of the J&J vaccine to 84 of our Veterans yesterday,. Please note this was but a small portion of the 300+ veterans who were vaccinated yesterday. We got to witness a team of devoted professionals at work, carrying out a well thought out, organized and planned event. Through the tireless efforts of Dan, Elizabeth and in particular “Superwoman” Olive in scheduling, our Vets went through an almost flawless process. Not to be lost in the high volume of attendees is the fabulous efforts of the entire OPC staff in directing the traffic in the clinic and administering the vaccines. Our Vets arrived in 13 vans (heck of a caravan) around 0930 and departed the clinic homeward bound around 11:30. Vanfulls of vets were highly appreciative and commenting on the process and remarks such as “best trip to Manila EVER” were very common. Contrary to the criticism and remarks by a few folks who felt they should be consulted on the plan and thought they had a better idea in the early stages of the planning process, yesterdays experience showed that it was long in planning and deeply thought out. It didn’t suddenly appear out of the blue in the past few weeks. Thankfully we had the Professionals on the job! With the rapidity of the Veterans being administered the Vaccine, in my mind it is imagined that vaccination of Spouses and Caretakers could occur sooner than thought. With that possibility in my mind NOW is the time to register them by following the instructions in Dan’s email update in June.

Click here to get signed up to get a Covid-19 Vaccine at VA.

Click here to view the photos provided by Jeff Robinson.

With all the craziness thats going on in the world, I came across this piece and thought we could all use a smile. Hopefully none of our brothers will find it controversial and accept it in the vain it is offered, you know man... its humor.

MANILA – Fully vaccinated individuals need not present swab test results if they want to travel within the Philippines, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) said on Sunday.

Key portions of this announcement; "vaccine must be listed in Phil EUA vaccines or WHO listing", (WHO has also listed the Pfizer/BioNTech, Astrazeneca-SK Bio, Serum Institute of India, Janssen and Moderna vaccines for emergency use.) "This, however, is subject to the presentation of a Covid-19 domestic vaccination card" It appears the international vaccination card is not acceptable for this resolution. I'm sure there will be more to come on this.

In cooperation with VFW post 2485, RAO Subic Bay has requested and been granted authorization from VAOPC Manila, to submit information for Angeles Veterans, who are in need of transportation to Manila OPC for the scheduling of the J&J vaccine. Angeles Veterans can provide the below information to VFW Post 2485 via Email at Post2485VFW@yahoo.com, Via phone at 045310083 and messenger on VFW2485 FB. RAO Subic will submit the info to VA and advise VFW Post 2485 of the confirmed schedule for the veteran. At that time, the RAO will contact the Veteran and schedule the Van transportation. Veterans may also receive a call from VA to confirm. This will assist the VA and our brothers by incorporating a lot of calls in one. VA is receiving a huge amount of calls as one can find if they try to call them. Please be advised this service is not for those who are not in need of transportation.

• Legal name
• Last 4 ssn
• Date of birth
• Valid phone number

MANILA, Philippines — The government's pandemic task on Wednesday released a list of "green" or low-risk countries and jurisdictions from which fully vaccinated travelers to the Philippines can undergo a shorter quarantine period of seven days.

All individuals qualified for the seven-day quarantine are required to undergo an RT-PCR test on their fifth day of the quarantine in a government-accredited facility, with their day of arrival already counted as the first day, the task force previously said.

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.