How To Beat COVID-19

It has been months now since the COVID-19 virus has spread throughout the world. It has affected the lives of everyone and the global economy. What makes it more difficult is that it is so new and we don't fully understand the virus yet and we need more data in order to come up with an effective treatment or vaccine against it. For the medical and pharmaceutical fields, it is a race against time.

So what can we do as ordinary citizens to beat this virus? Foremost, we must listen to what our health authorities say. If they are saying to stay at home, then by all means, please do so.

The most basic thing to do is to observe proper hygiene and treat everything you touch and person you meet to be infected with the virus.

Observing proper handwashing technique is very important. We all have seen illustrations and even videos on how to properly do it. It is important to thoroughly wash the hands including the wrists with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, rinse and thoroughly dry. Then sanitize hands with a disinfectant like 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Avoid touching your face especially in public places with unwashed hands. 

Should you sneeze or cough, use your elbow to cover your mouth.

Wear a mask when going out, especially when going to public places.

Keep a 1,5 - 2 meter distance to the person next to you, especially when in public areas. Avoid physical contact like shaking hands. 

Most of all, stay at home when you don't need to go outside to buy groceries or medicines or to see the doctor. This could definitely help save lives.

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4 Cost-Saving Tips for International Traveling

International travel offers cultural enrichment, delicious food and drinks, incredible historical settings, and a sense of adventure and exploration like no other. The cost of such an adventure can quickly add up but don't let that stop you from booking one. Here are some cost saving tips to consider when planning your next vacation overseas.

Reconsider Your Departure City

Flying from a large international airport, such as Newark in New Jersey, LAX in California, or George Bush in Texas, can cut airline ticket costs when traveling internationally. You may be able to skip an additional stop or layover if you leave from a large city's international airport that is within a couple of hours of your home.

Book Airport Transportation

After you book your ticket from a departure city, do some research about that airport's various services. For example, it is more economical to book Houston airport transportation services than to park a car at either of the city's airports. This may not save a whole lot of money in the long run, but the money you save would definitely pay for a few meals or museum tickets in a new country.

Fly Round Trip

If you are starting your trip in London, England, then you should also finish in London, England. When traveling internationally, plan your trip soin a circle, meaning you start and end your trip in the same place. This way you book a round trip ticket, which will always save you money. From there, take trains, buses, or domestic budget flights to travel to different cities or countries.

Decide What's Important

Divide your vacation budget into categories, such as eating, touring, sleeping, and traveling, and then decide what percentage of your budget you want to put in each category. This way you can plan to spend your hard earned money at Michelin star restaurants rather than five star hotels. You can book second class train tickets and have more money for private tours of museums. Decide what you want, plan a budget, and then stick to it.

International travel is expensive, but there are several ways to save money here and there. Most importantly, have a great trip.

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Livewires 97 Fundraising for the Frontliners of Southern Philippines

The Corona virus has befallen the entire globe. Everyone is affected, nobody is exempted - no matter what color, religion, race or age group you may be, the virus comes undetected to infect you. Especially vulnerable are the senior citizens, the elder sector of our community aged 60 and above and those whose immune systems are compromised due to pre-existing illnesses like asthma, diabetes, kidney failure, and heart diseases to name a few. 

Many developed countries have a high number of positive cases of Covid-19 patients. Despite the advanced and good healthcare system and facility, some of them are not able to catch up with the pandemic, like in the case of Italy and even Spain. 

For third world countries like my home country, the Philippines, if the virus and contamination gets out of control, then it could really, really be critical for everyone. That is why the government in my country has ordered an enhanced community quarantine, and even extended it until the 30th of April because that is the only way that we can slow down the spread of the virus. This is to give precious time to our healthcare facilities to manage and handle the critical cases, to avoid the crowding of patients in our already full hospitals and to allow time for our scientists and researchers to find a cure. 

In my home country, especially in Southern Philippines, PPEs or personal protective equipment are very difficult to procure. Our frontliners are in dire need of them, because supplies have run out, and without them, they are placing their lives at a very great risk. Aware of this situation, our high school batch called Livewires 97 have initiated a fundraising campaign to help procure these essential PPEs and distribute them to hospitals handling COVID-19 cases like the SPMC (Southern Philippine Medical Center) and DMSFH (Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital) in Davao City, Royeca Hospital in General Santos City and DRMC (Davao Regional Medical Center) in Tagum City.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our donors from the day we started our fundraiser.

As of 6PM of April 6 Philippine time, we were able to raise a whopping Php 604,711.23! From all of us from our batch, we are very grateful for you support for our frontliners. Indeed, no amount is too small as your help can go a very long way. If you want to know more about our fundraiser, please feel free to visit us at our official website: www.livewires97.org or visit our Facebook page for updates at facebook.com/livewires97PisaySMC.

Thank you again to everyone with a generous heart. May God bless you and keep you and your family safe and healthy! 

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Tips for Your Next Florida Vacation

Florida is one of the most popular destinations in the country. It's home to beautiful beaches, amazing culture and some incredible amusement parks. You're bound to have a good time on your trip no matter what, but here are a few details you should plan in advance to ensure you get the most out of your vacation. 

Where to Stay

The first thing you'll need to decide is where in Florida you want to go. If you're looking for a family trip to the amusement parks, you'll likely want to stay in Orlando. Here you can choose from hotels, rentals or resort properties. Beach towns usually have plenty of rentals available depending on what you're looking for. They do book up way in advance during the warmer months, so be sure to plan ahead. 

How to Get There

Many people drive long distances to get to Florida in order to have their car with them, but that isn't always feasible. If you live a long way away, consider flying instead. You can get a Florida towncar service Orlando to take you to your hotel and take a care service to places that aren't within walking distance. Renting a car is always an option as well. 

What to Do

You won't have to worry about being bored on your Florida vacation, but you will need to choose what activities you can fit into your trip. If you're there for a beach trip, you'll likely spend most of your days on the beach, but look into the area where you've chosen to stay for some great night activities as well. There is also plenty of shopping and local culture to see during the day if you need a break from the sand and water for a bit. 

Although planning a trip can seem somewhat tedious, you'll be happy you did the work in advance. If you get all the details worked out beforehand, all you'll have to worry about doing once you're on vacation is enjoying yourself to the fullest. 

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