Would you still go to the US?

[iSKOph]

The current situation has affected my family in so many ways. Isa na rito is the planned trip to the States.

No, it was not is Sept kundi this coming Christmas pa. But with all these things happening do u think we still should?

Mga tao sa states are very jittery at the moment. Daming false alarms... but some could rightly be just the beginning of a bigger event. There's the fear of germ warfare which started w/ the news that some people in Florida were infected by Anthrax.... and they got it possibly thru the mail! How unprepared can one be.... when u open an envelope it's far from your mind na u'll be infected by Anthrax.....

Flights are now being diverted to different flight paths to avoid the mid east.... long delays... high travel insurance costs... etc....

Is it still worth travelling to the states?

[indigo]

No, not unless I really have to. And I don't foresee that happening in the near future.

Like you said, the present political climate isn't exactly ideal. In fact, it is downright unstable. At times like these, I'd rather stay close to home.

[cong]

Originally posted by indigo
Like you said, the present political climate isn't exactly ideal. In fact, it is downright unstable. At times like these, I'd rather stay close to home.

and that makes the philippines political situation more ideal and stable? i wonder what you call what is it back there.

i wouldnt use "isnt exactly ideal" and "downright unstable" to describe how it is here. if the war worsens, there is nowhere id rather be but here. who can protect its citizens better? this country is living up to its name. we have never been this united. i dont know where you get your adjectives, i sure hope theyre not limited.

try again.

[terry ilaes]

even if the terrorist acts never happened, the US never was a suitable place to live in. their society's fuc.ked up. :vomit:

[cong]

Originally posted by terry ilaes
even if the terrorist acts never happened, the US never was a suitable place to live in. their society's fuc.ked up. :vomit:

hahaha. i just knew you couldnt say anything nice about the u.s.. i wondered on the first sentence. then i read the second one and there! hahahaha.

[terry ilaes]

give me one good reason to move there. money's not everything cong.

[cong]

Originally posted by terry ilaes
give me one good reason to move there. money's not everything cong.

well, can the canadian army protect canada in case canada gets hit?

my point is, in spite of everything thats going on, america is still the safest place.

im not trying to convince you to move here, terryman. im sure youre okay there, your hatred towards americans says it all.

[terry ilaes]

alright fine. but i wasn't talking about that stupid american pride bullsh.it. :vomit: i ws talking about your society in general. admit when it comes to living, canada's still the best. well, you could always ask the UN if you don't believe me. admit it cong your society's pretty much screwed up.

[cong]

Originally posted by terry ilaes
alright fine. but i wasn't talking about that stupid american pride bullsh.it. :vomit: i ws talking about your society in general. admit when it comes to living, canada's still the best. well, you could always ask the UN if you don't believe me. admit it cong your society's pretty much screwed up.

american pride? i mean, can you imagine a country that dont have pride? i.e. canada.

ease up, terryman. i dont know why your blood boils everytime you utter the word america.

well i cant speak for americas society, but i can tell you im pretty screwed up. :lol:

[terry ilaes]

no we don't. we don't holler out the name of our country when we walk the streets in some other country and whatever...

ikaw screwed up? now that's the understatement of the year. :lol:

[cong]

Originally posted by terry ilaes
ikaw screwed up? now that's the understatement of the year. :lol:

hahahahhaha. i know, after posting it, i thought, "damn, i think i just sold myself short.".

[terry ilaes]

sige cong. i'll leave you to your cwashie sa PEx. ;) hehehehe :winknudge:

[SoCarrots]

:sad:

[iSKOph]

i never thought my personal issue would spark some debate between u two (terry ilaes & cong).....

thanks indigo!

we don't really have to go..... at the moment, i suppose it's not really worth it.....

i didn't mean this thread to lead to "US bashing" cong. Nagtatanong lang..... some of u might be in the same predicament....

a lot of conferences, seminars etc.. to be held in the states were postponed indefinitely for obvious reasons.....

disappointment for a lot of people na nagplano at sa mga pupunta.....

[terry ilaes]

huh?! ako bashing? :mecry: sorry sa mga tinamaan. :) lalo na kay socarrots. i could careless about cong. :glee: joke.

[raven23]

Si cong at terry? Read up on them... may MU yang dalawang yan.

Just to answer your question, yes, I'd still go to the States. In fact, as soon as I can renew my passport (I already have a visa), I'm hoping to be able to spend Christmas in New York. Our office there is like, two blocks away from what once was the WTC.

Though I do share some of terry's sentiments -- somehow I don't see myself actually living in the US. Like Baz Lurmann says, "Live in New York once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in San Fransisco once, but leave before it makes you soft."

Just me. :shrug2:

[tr|n|ty]

hmm canada a better society than the US? uh. jeez hell no. How about some Degrassi High back at cha. Jeez..for whatever it's worth, I think all of human society has gone down the drain, there's really no safe place on the face of the freakin earth. May it be US or Good ol Canada or even freakin Sweden.

as for going to the US...well, If you let yourself be consumed with fear and do not lead your normal life, the enemy won. I've spent most of my time in the US for the past 4 years and yes, i do miss my friends and family in the Philippines, but the US has given me so much oppurtunities that a person my age in the Philippines will never get. Though there are issues of job security and high costs of living, there are so many other things that make up for it. Right after the WTC crash, my friends and I went out..we had to free ourselves of the fear. The tragedy is all the more reason to live your life to the fullest...you will never know when the end will come anyways. Anthrax, Bombs, Crashing planes are something that makes you stronger not make you a hermit. I hope you guys realize that despite of all the fear, we do have to lead our lives once again...and besides, if you let yourself stay in the Philippines for a long time...you're going to go insane. You'll never realize your potential outside what is familiar and what seems to be safe.

[iSKOph]

Originally posted by raven23
Si cong at terry? Read up on them... may MU yang dalawang yan.

Just to answer your question, yes, I'd still go to the States. In fact, as soon as I can renew my passport (I already have a visa), I'm hoping to be able to spend Christmas in New York. Our office there is like, two blocks away from what once was the WTC.

Though I do share some of terry's sentiments -- somehow I don't see myself actually living in the US. Like Baz Lurmann says, "Live in New York once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in San Fransisco once, but leave before it makes you soft."

Just me. :shrug2:

i wish u well bro!

where did Baz Lurmann quoted that? - out of topic, i know!

have u been back to NYC since? any expectations pare?

[raven23]

Originally posted by iSKOph
i wish u well bro!

where did Baz Lurmann quoted that? - out of topic, i know!

have u been back to NYC since? any expectations pare? Thanks, dude.

That's a (misquoted) line from Baz Luhrmann's song Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/3435/sunscreen.html).

Actually, I haven't been to New York -- it's my new job that has an office right smack in the middle of Manhattan. Which is probably why I'm excited or at the very least, unfazed by what has happened.

tr|n|ty's right. If we let ourselves be ruled by fear, then the terrorists won. We'll never find new cheese if we don't leave Cheese Station C.

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?" - Spencer Johnson, M.D., Who Moved My Cheese (http://www.whomovedmycheese.com/).

[iSKOph]

lahat naman ng bagay desisyon lang....

the future is bit more uncertain nowadays pero i'm not withdrawing naman from the rest of the world.... neither am i living life like there's no tomorrow.....

wala naman sa 'tin nakasisigurado kung anong mangyayari bukas but we still plan.... at the moment it just doesn't seem safe enough for us to leave.... i'm not saying we won't be going to the states ever..... di nga lang ngayon..... i'm not letting fear rule me.... it just doesn't seem wise at the moment...

when u go on holidays ang gusto mo lang is to have fun and be able to relax, free your mind from most of life's worries.... i don't think that will happen kung umalis kami ngayon at the height of this 'war'.....

salamat sa inyo raven23 & tr|n|ty..... some of the things i've read were also my thoughts.. isinulat n'yo lang

as w/ everything syempre tinitingnan ko naman the pros and cons of the decision i'll make.....

i suppose, hintayin ko lang for things to cool down a bit..... save more annual leave para mas mahaba bakasyon.....

[terry ilaes]

Originally posted by tr|n|ty
hmm canada a better society than the US? uh. jeez hell no. How about some Degrassi High back at cha. Jeez..for whatever it's worth, I think all of human society has gone down the drain, there's really no safe place on the face of the freakin earth. May it be US or Good ol Canada or even freakin Sweden.


degrassi high? :rotfl: isn't that one of those save by the bell imitations. :lol: hehehe read up on the UN stats. we've been on top since they started their evaluations. i think its been 11 years already. :glee:

raven23, :lol: MU ka jan loko! :lol: diba ikaw follower ni cong. :lol: anyway, move ka na lang dito.

[terry ilaes]

raven23 fears good! their eyes have been cloaked by their pride for awhile now. just look at their reactions. nagulat sila diba? as if they're safe from everything. :rolleyes: tama si trinity, walang safe place dito. meyron lang yung mas safe. hehehe

[terry ilaes]

anyway, i'll answer the thread topic.

i'd still visit the states. i was actually going to visit philedelphia two weeks ago but i had a more important business to attend. sometime before the end of the year, i may even visit NY for the first time. then join my buddies in NJ. :)

[indigo]

I didn't think it would incite such debate either, iSKOph. :)

As for me, I still maintain my earlier position. You said it yourself, iSKOph: the idea behind a vacation is to be able to relax. Now, how can you do that when the whole world is in a turmoil and the U.S. is at the center of it all? I'm not saying never, either; only until this matter is settled.

to cong: I was referring to the global/international political climate, and not the U.S. in particular. I don't doubt that the U.S. is the best place right now for U.S. citizens/immigrants and people who have a working visa and are presently employed. Like you said, they protect their own. But as for tourists...I wouldn't want to be caught in the crossfire.

[iSKOph]

Originally posted by indigo
I didn't think it would incite such debate either, iSKOph. :)

As for me, I still maintain my earlier position. You said it yourself, iSKOph: the idea behind a vacation is to be able to relax. Now, how can you do that when the whole world is in a turmoil and the U.S. is at the center of it all? I'm not saying never, either; only until this matter is settled.

to cong: I was referring to the global/international political climate, and not the U.S. in particular. I don't doubt that the U.S. is the best place right now for U.S. citizens/immigrants and people who have a working visa and are presently employed. Like you said, they protect their own. But as for tourists...I wouldn't want to be caught in the crossfire.

one good point u brought up indigo 'yong tungkol sa non-US citizens.... how much mention did they get in the news... it's a fact na the world trade centre houses a lot of non-US companies with non-US citizen staff.... they're not less important than Americans, pero parang ganon.....

another worry siguro 'bout going to the US is the fact that non US citizens are treated with much suspicion.... 'heard bout what happened w/ Joel Lamangan? It was in Canada actually but the thing is it's open season for anyone looking 'arab like'.....

i have no idea how the US immig'n deals w/ passengers from Manila now pero very cautious sila siguro dahil isa ang Pinas among other ASEAN nations na suspected of harbouring terrorists......

[twentysix]

Not while the exchange rate's unstable.

[twentysix]

Not while the exchange rate's unstable

[rors]

not that i'm planning to, but if i were, i'd still go.

[audra]

i'm going the other way around - that is, uuwi ng pinas ng december. I'm feeling a bit apprehensive to travel, sa totoo lang. Baka makisabay ang mga terorista sa eroplanong sasakyan ko. Ang hirap pa, Pinas naman isn't the best place to be pag may masamang nangyari. Sabi nga ni cong, (as far as im concerned din) US is living up to its name lalo ngayon.

Kaya lang, like what most of you said, it couldn't possibly be all that bad. I could just as easily die crossing the street right out of my house y'know. anyways.

hopefully maayos na lahat. ang gulo eh. :(

[audra]

yo WTF is wrong with Pex? The posts and its time are getting screwed up?

[cong]

Originally posted by iSKOph
i never thought my personal issue would spark some debate between u two (terry ilaes & cong).....

an exchange of opinions is what its all about. okay lang yun.

i didn't mean this thread to lead to "US bashing" cong. Nagtatanong lang..... some of u might be in the same predicament....

dont worry about it, bash away. i couldnt care less. if you look closely, natawa nga lang ako kay terry eh.

[cong]

Originally posted by raven23
Si cong at terry? Read up on them... may MU yang dalawang yan.

hahaha. nawala nga si nobody eh.

[cong]

you guys, eto na lang. the world is religiously divided. there will always be fanatics who will hold their religion hostage to justify their radical actions. the muslims dont like the jews. that said, where in the world can see a jew, a christian, and a muslim hand in hand? here lang, in these united states. thats what makes this society great. if youre outside looking in, course you wont like it. because we have so good here.

anyways.

[solace]

I'm torn right now. I inquired about getting an MA from a couple of NY universities last August/early Sept. Well, after the WTC incident, I put all MA plans on hold. Never really got to thinking about it until this week, when my catalogs and brochures and application forms came in. *sigh*

I'm just thinking long-term...after my MA, I see myself staying in the US already. :hmm: I know that the Philippines isn't any safer than the US (and vice versa)...but I really think I need to give this much thought.

Going to the US for a vacation -- no problem, yes I'd still go. But studying and settling long-term, I'm still thinking about it -- but not ruling it out.

[tr|n|ty]

n0b0dy is a busy bee with work kaya missing in action :p

[tr|n|ty]

welll, long term..i'm not set either. I think that there's a lot of oppurtunities here in the US.. though i'd love to raise my kids in the Philippines but neither do i think that Philippine Upper Middle Class society is all that great Let's see..i'm giving myself a few years..and besides, it's a great experience to be in a very open, competitive, world class and albeit, cut throat way of life... i'm sure if i do decide to come back home to settle down, i can share the things that i've learned and experienced here in the US to the Philippines.

[maxinegirl]

yes, i still would. i'm set to leave early next year. ofcourse i'm a bit apprehensive, and i'm thinking that if things get worse and something bad really happens, then it sure would be sucky to be far away from my family and friends. but as i was telling my friend earlier tonight, if it's your time to go, then you gotta go!

[iSKOph]

Originally posted by cong
you guys, eto na lang. the world is religiously divided. there will always be fanatics who will hold their religion hostage to justify their radical actions. the muslims dont like the jews. that said, where in the world can see a jew, a christian, and a muslim hand in hand? here lang, in these united states. thats what makes this society great. if youre outside looking in, course you wont like it. because we have so good here.

anyways.

[b]cong[/] bro, Australia is a pretty good contender in that category (jew, christian, muslm, etc.. hand in hand)....

[dudung]

I've got plans to travel to the West Coast (San Fo., L.A. Vegas) early next year for a holiday. If current situation doesn't "get better" I might just cancel my trip. Though if the airfare (or the package tour) becomes outrageously cheap, then I might just take the risk. :)

[iSKOph]

Originally posted by dudung
I've got plans to travel to the West Coast (San Fo., L.A. Vegas) early next year for a holiday. If current situation doesn't "get better" I might just cancel my trip. Though if the airfare (or the package tour) becomes outrageously cheap, then I might just take the risk. :)

dilemma nga 'yon bro.... pero cheap airfare ba is worth all the worries pagdating mo ng states? the Anthrax scare is getting worse... although wala pang hundreds and infected pero daming disruptions......

[grail98]

my family will still push through in going to the US, we'll be spending christmas in LA, new year in orlando and the week after in manhattan.
although we are apprehensive of all those threats, life should still go on. we'll just exercise a little bit of caution.

[iSKOph]

Originally posted by grail98
my family will still push through in going to the US, we'll be spending christmas in LA, new year in orlando and the week after in manhattan.
although we are apprehensive of all those threats, life should still go on. we'll just exercise a little bit of caution.

i wish u well!

[cong]

Originally posted by iSKOph


[b]cong[/] bro, Australia is a pretty good contender in that category (jew, christian, muslm, etc.. hand in hand)....

oo nga. my bad. thanks.

[MMiINNTT]

hay kakalungkot talaga after what happened sa u.s. kasi my mom and i were suppose to go there next year summer.... ayun di na daw kami pupunta... delikado daw...

[melysah]

yah i would... :imu:

[iSKOph]

To encourage people to fly, people on tv are making comments about the fact that it's never been safer to fly than now dahil sa dami ng checks na ginagawa.... having plain clothes air marshalls on board... etc....

i was watching NBC news a few days ago and they featured the wife of one of those who died on board one of the planes that crashed on Sep 11.... she's pregnant and she was about to board a flight departing from Newark.... this they think would convince more people to fly again.....

what do u think of this move? and the comment that it's never been safer?

[melrosegirl]

I'd go....but my mom is a little bit paranoid. We are planning to go sana this November.

My dad flies to LA or SFO at least twice a month and I think there's nothing to be worried about. But siguro I won't take any US airline... PAL na lang! :)

[iSKOph]

Originally posted by melrosegirl
I'd go....but my mom is a little bit paranoid. We are planning to go sana this November.

My dad flies to LA or SFO at least twice a month and I think there's nothing to be worried about. But siguro I won't take any US airline... PAL na lang! :)

PAL suddenly seem safer.... :)

It's hard trying to continue on like nothing happened kasi something definitely did..... the event was big enuff to affect the entire world.....

desisyon nga lang.... either you move on or...... we'll postpone it na lang till early next year.....

[EXUP BRO]

The FBI has stated that the likelihood of another terrorist attack in the US is 100%. Couple that with the whole anthrax situation and the US is not really the ideal place to vacation right now.
If you don't have to be here, please stay safe, and stay in the philippines.

[melrosegirl]

Originally posted by iSKOph


PAL suddenly seem safer.... :)



para sa akin, safe naman talaga ang PAL eversince. They have the best trained pilots. They undergo training every 6 months. (international pilots...not sure about domestic pilots). Maraming retired pilots ang kinukuha ng ibang airlines para maging instructor nila.

[:Þ]

Originally posted by iSKOph
Is it still worth travelling to the states?

Did you know that this is the SAFEST TIME IN HISTORY to travel in U.S.? You will be handsearched from head to toe, all papers inspected, and every safety measures implemented. Now THAT is safe.

Did you also know that it is easier to win a lottery than to actually die of Anthrax? Both cutaneous and inhalation anthracis can be cured by Cipro on early stages.

[iSKOph]

Originally posted by :Þ


Did you know that this is the SAFEST TIME IN HISTORY to travel in U.S.? You will be handsearched from head to toe, all papers inspected, and every safety measures implemented. Now THAT is safe.

Did you also know that it is easier to win a lottery than to actually die of Anthrax? Both cutaneous and inhalation anthracis can be cured by Cipro on early stages.

U're probably right! But the thing i'm most worried about is the suspicion they place on 'arab' looking people.... i'm not saying i look arab.... siguro in some ways.... pero all these 'safety measures' would probably make my holiday less enjoyable.... kaya postpone lang..... we would still go..... di lang ngayon....

[melrosegirl]

it's safe to postpone your travel plans but the tickets are so cheap now...who can resist it? I heard na pati domestic ticket prices went down and Las Vegas is not crowded these days....

for those with a limited budget (like me), now is the best time to travel... :D

hmmm.....mahaba pa rin kaya ang pila sa Disneyland?...hmmm.....

[KiTTY2babe]

A month from now, I'm back to the US. Hope to get there in one piece!

[Mickey2000]

Well,I'm here in US a couple of months,and i can only say one thing,US is a good place to visit and to work,but not a good place to stay for good...

[El_don_Tiburon]

just think of the great opportunities u have here in the states, plus easy to earn lots of dough, plus u can buy ur own car, house, anything here in the states are sooo convenient.. states may be boring for some people who havent live here for a long time or especially if u dont have friends here, but it is a great place to live also... let me give u a tip, start hanging out with ur cousins at ur age level, if u have some here, then get to know their friends then dats how u build up friends here.... its gonna be fine although at first few months u will be home sick then once u start working or school u'll be adjusted to the system here and ur going to like it.... then when ur settled here u will go home to phil. just for a vacation and it feels sooo goooood.... trust me i come home once or twice a year and i loved it! but i dont think i will be able to stay or live in phil. for a years, not unless i win the lottery here, hehehe!

[EXUP BRO]

The FBI has not been able to find out yet who is mailing the anthrax laced letters.
In New York, a 63 year old nurse, died of exposure to anthrax, and the FBI is baffled by this since she does not really have any media or political affiliation and they are still puzzled as to how she was exposed to anthrax.
In the West Coast, security has been beefed up for all major bridges, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Oakland Bay Bridge because of terrorist threats to blow them up.
At O'Hare International airport in Chicago, four security officers were fired after a passenger carrying various weapons such as knives and stun guns was successfully passed through all security checkpoints without the weapons being detected.
The entire country is on alert right now, and if you do have US travel plans, you might want to take extra precautions. Otherwise, stay safe with your loved ones in the philippines.

[iSKOph]

the news of another plane crash in NY does not help in bringing back the confidence of the people in flying....

the event may be totally unrelated to the other attacks... purely caused by mechanical failure or any other non-terrorist reason pero somehow it's still unsettling....

we'll still go to the US.... di nga lang sa lalong madaling panahon...