FT
Contributor
The last three guests were to leave Asia Divers/El Galleon today. From the first sign of trouble on March 13th, an announcement that ferries and public boats would be stopped at noon on the 14th, echoing the shutdown of domestic flights, official news went from bad to insane with head-spinning speed. With contradictory diktats from so many levels, that changed every few hours, it began to seem impossible either to stay or to go. Tense negotiations over three days resulted in protocols that got all guests to the airport, in the small groups allowed, past health officials, armed and jumpy coast guards, the Metro Manila lockdown roadblock, and pandemonium at NAIA.
If any of you weren’t getting prompt answers to your emails about future reservations, it’s because Allan, Rhuby and Alli were calling every connection they could employ to get 50 of us out, while figuring out how they can keep their staff safe and supported in a town where diving is now forbidden, imports of food restricted, bars and restaurants closed, and no tourist dollars will be coming in for the foreseeable.
The week of diving we did have was fabulous.
photo credit: Calvin Piggott
If any of you weren’t getting prompt answers to your emails about future reservations, it’s because Allan, Rhuby and Alli were calling every connection they could employ to get 50 of us out, while figuring out how they can keep their staff safe and supported in a town where diving is now forbidden, imports of food restricted, bars and restaurants closed, and no tourist dollars will be coming in for the foreseeable.
The week of diving we did have was fabulous.
photo credit: Calvin Piggott