The Things I've Learned during Quarantine 2020

On March 14, 2020, the president ordered a nation-wide lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Forced to cancel were flights from Manila. Unfortunately, I was one of the locally stranded individuals. I initially thought that this lockdown would only last for a month. Little did I know that we'd still be experiencing the same restrictions up to this date. As air traffic controllers, we still had a lot to do, even if only a few flights were flying in our designated airspaces, and the radar scope was almost empty. 

Today, there are still cargo and rescue flights flying to key domestic destinations of the country. While there's little that we can do about the global pandemic, here are the things I did during community quarantine.

Travel Restrictions for Filipinos during COVID-19 Pandemic

Today, community quarantine and lockdown in some countries have already been lifted, and borders have finally reopened. A few airline companies have mounted flights to major destinations. Some businesses have already opened to cater to the needs of the public. Everyone is gearing towards the new normal. Here are some of the travel requirements if you wish to travel to countries from the Philippines.

PAL July 2020 Cheapest Seats from Manila to USA/Canada

Ever dreamed of visiting the other side of the world? North America has a lot to offer. One can enjoy the beaches and sunsets in Los Angeles, or be amazed by the views of Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The lush landscapes and mild weather in Vancouver can be a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life, or if you're into big cities, be prepared to be enamored by the fast-paced life and the concrete jungle of New York City. Toronto is a mix between the two, making it an ideal city to visit.

Make these dreams into reality as Philippine Airlines is currently having a mid-year sale promo! Book your tickets now! I have the details below.

PAL Mid-Year Sale this 2020!

PAL at NAIA 2

I won't deny that I miss traveling. When everything's back to normal, I know everyone's itching to fly again. Well, I have some good news for you! Philippine Airlines is launching a mid-year sale promo in the coming days. Travelers can surely enjoy the safe skies and safe travels with the Heart of the Filipino.

Montréal Revisited

Montréal wasn't part of my original plan. The day before we went to this city, my good mate Jase surprised me and told me we were going on a road trip. I didn't expect that we would travel for more than 8 hours just to visit the largest city of Québec Province, the French part of Canada. I love this city! The charm is different compared to Toronto, a highly urbanized city filled with modern skyscrapers in downtown and midtown areas. Montréal kept its charm by preserving old buildings in the old downtown. While it's notoriously colder here than in Toronto, it didn't stop us to explore this quaint city of Canada.

Months ago, I downloaded a bunch of LR presets, and I tried some of them. While browsing my Montréal album on my hard drive, I still have tons of unedited and unprocessed photos. Since I have all the time today, these are some of my favorite photos of Montréal.

4 things that are guaranteed to ruin your vacation

There’s nothing more exciting than building up to your annual vacation. You’ve saved for months, you’ve worked hard and you’ve planned every activity, the hotel, and location down to the last minute detail. 

Sadly, not every vacation goes to plan, no matter how well you plan and strategize your days in the sun. Leaving you feeling as if you’ve missed an entire opportunity to relax, enjoy yourself, and make the most out of time away from work and ordinary life. So, it makes sense to make yourself familiar with the most common ways a vacation can be ruined – and do your best to avoid them!

Read on for 4 things that are guaranteed to ruin your vacation.

Eighteen Hours on the Road

Sunrise at Angkor Wat Temple

The longest flight that I took so far was almost sixteen hours. It was last year when I flew nonstop from Manila to Toronto, and it was a dreadful experience. Don't get me wrong, the inflight services were top-notched, and the inflight entertainment system was up-to-date, but sitting for sixteen straight hours can be tough. I have exhausted all the possible things inside the cabin to keep me preoccupied–slept for six hours, watched The Greatest Showman and Crazy Rich Asians twice, and had a skincare routine while everyone's asleep. In a nutshell, I survived, and I think I won't be doing it again for a while. However, I just realized that this experience was nothing compared to what I've gone through when I rode a bus from Saigon to Siem Reap for eighteen hours!

PHOTO SERIES: Toronto Revisited

No, it's not what you think. I bought a new Lightroom presets and tried these for my travel photos, and man, I loved it. I hope you enjoy this photo set! I miss traveling, and this is the closest thing that I can do related to it. Hopefully, when this global pandemic is all over, we can freely travel again without worries.