In preparation for their travel back to the Philippines in May, Edmund and Oyen had Covid testing to make sure they would be fine. My husband couldn’t stand the thought that he could be positive when tested upon landing in NAIA, and would therefore be brought to a government facility. Napi-freak out sya everytime this possibility entered his mind.
Getting an appointment for a swab test here in May / June was very easy and no waiting. You could call today and go tomorrow morning. No line. And best of all, the swab tests which would normally costs P8,000 in Manila here is free.
I didn’t go with them because of two reasons– I was scared to undergo the swab test because I heard it was painful. Sinasaluksok daw yung loob ng ilong, natakot tuloy ako. Some said they had nosebleed. Secondly, I was afraid to know the result. Baka lumabas positive ako then I would hike up the mountains and live there forever, I was depressed that time so my imaginations were wild.
Edmund and Oyen’s tests were negative. I breathed easy because if they were negative that meant me too.
They are again trying to hop on a plane to go home to Manila soon so they went back for another round of swab tests. The appointment scheduling was longer this time and they were asked to go to another city for the tests. They had it last Friday morning and until now there are no results yet.
I was supposed to go with them but I had an important Zoom meeting on that same date and time.
I went on Monday morning instead. Edmund drove for me, guiding me, explaining what to expect, coaching me what to do. He is a pro having undergone the test twice.
Makeshift facility beside a hospital
There was a three-car wait and I was shaking while waiting. I was freaking out. Feeling ko para akong nag le-labor. My husband couldn’t understand why I should be nervous. Hindi naman daw masakit.
When the nurse (presumably) came to my window side, she asked if I have symptoms. When I replied no symptoms she asked why I wanted to get tested. Wala lang, mabuti na yung alam ko. I don’t want to be asymptomatic and go around town sprinkling people with the ugly virus.
Today I received a text message from the health center.
Yehey negative ako, negative ako, yeh yeh Vonnel.
My husband says if I am negative that means he and Oyen are too.
Congrats Miss Annie! I wish matapos na tong Wuhan virus na to.
salamat.
Masakit ba Miss Annie? i will do a swab test din, because someone in our village tested positive, I came to a weekend market where he happen to be there, so just to be sure, i quarantine myself and set an appt for swab test, pero aligaga ako kasi sabi iba masakit.
Hi Abby, Hindi masakit. I was given the cotton bud and I was the one who placed it inside my nose so I was able to control how far up I could tolerate. It only lasted for a total of two minutes max.
Congrats, nothing better than peace of mind
Hi Annie, so you don’t have to have the COVID 19 testing again when you get in the Phils? Is there still the 2 weeks quarantine in the Phils for US citizens?
So the authorities in the Phils is not going to require you to have the Covid-19 testing again when you arrive Philippines?
So the authorities in the Phils is not going to require you to have the Covid-19 testing again when you arrive Philippines?
How about the 14 day quarantine…does Phils still have that for a foreigner?
Hi,
Every passenger arriving in the Philippines is required to have mandatory swab testing at the airport. In some case the hotels offer a package that includes swab testing. You should have a hotel booking and transportation to bring you from the airport to the hotel of your choice but accredited with DOH. Some received the results within 12 hours, some in 2 days. If you are negative from the swab test, you will be allowed to go home.
We are having swab tests just to be sure that when we go home we are negative of covid.