Baguio is calling

The other day, I dreamed that I went to Baguio with my family. And then I woke up and remembered that due to the pandemic, unnecessary travel is not allowed. 

So since I cannot go to Baguio now, allow me to reminisce. 

I was a university student when I first went to Baguio. I remember that Baguio was just a side trip at that time. It was the last stop after going to Ilocos. And I think we sped walk along Session Road just so I can say that I've been there. It's like being a contestant on  The Amazing Race, and I didn't have time to enjoy the view because I have to do my task fast. 

As a member of the workforce, I was able to go back to the City of Pines four more times. There's always something fun to do in Baguio. It's just that the place is quite far from Laguna. About a decade ago, buses do not have their own comfort rooms. So long-distance travel meant learning to hold your pee or not drinking a lot so there's no need to pee until you get to a pit stop. Thankfully, some buses now have comfort rooms so there's no problem if you have a sudden urge to pee. 

Although I still believe that it is very far, the new expressway somehow makes the trip easier. When you get to SCTEx, it's only a few more hours before you get to Baguio.

A piece of advice though. Make sure that the bus is still along the expressway when you use the toilet. It can be challenging to use the toilet when the bus is already on the national road because of the frequent need to step on the breaks.

I'm going to leave the first part of my post with this photo from Baguio City Guide:

(Watch out for Part 2!)

Pandemic Diaries. Entry #1

I know that I am quite late in the game, by writing my stories about the pandemic at this time. But any stories about this extraordinary event are worth writing about. This is something the next generation can learn from.

The lockdown was announced in late March 2020. Sectors that were affected were students, workers, and even travelers. It was indeed a difficult situation for almost everyone.

For university students, the school year was not yet over. Some of them were still in their dormitories, and have nowhere to go. The parents can't even send an allowance because they lost their income. The proposed solution is to conduct online classes, but not everyone has access to the internet.

Work, for most, was suspended. And for workers who are under the "no work, no pay" classification, this created a problem. They have no salary, and yet, they still have to eat and pay for their utilities. to be fair, some companies released the 13th-month pay earlier. And some companies allowed the "work from home" scheme.

Utility companies also extended the payment period without penalty. Even landlords and other lessors did not require payment during the quarantine period.

It is also important to look back at the sacrifices of the frontliners. The hospitals admitted those who are sick with COVID. Patients recuperated, and there were some who did not make it. This is also the same case for health workers who got sick.

As of today, this is the latest tally from the Department of Health :