Author: James Gonzales

When Will Boracay Open Up to Foreign Tourists?

James Gonzales Uncategorized
When Will Boracay Open Up to Foreign Tourists?

With over 36,000 kilometers of coastline and thousands of beaches spread over the archipelago, the Philippines has rightly gained a reputation as a beach lover’s paradise. The balmy, tropical weather, plethora of white sand beaches, and beautiful waters of the Pacific make it an island destination unlike any other. It’s no surprise, then, why tourism made up 12.7% of the Philippines’ GDP in 2020.

And if you’re looking for a bit more variety, there’s something out there for everyone. For example, we’ve previously written about the ’10 Best Surfing Sites in the Philippines’, including internationally renowned surf spot Siargao. The country is also home to awe-inspiring sights like the black sand beaches of Albay and the karst towers of Northern Palawan.

However, if there’s one place that comes to mind when you talk about idyllic vacation spots in the Philippines, it’s Boracay Island. A cornerstone of Philippine tourism, Panay News reported a whopping 2 million tourists visited the island in 2019 alone. Its pristine waters, fine white sand, and lively nightlife have made it the premiere beach destination in the country. But how is it holding up in the age of COVID-19?

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COVID-19 and Transportation in the Philippines

James Gonzales Politics, Business
COVID-19 and Transportation in the Philippines

Since the appearance of the first case of COVID-19 on Philippine shores, the country has seen a rapid shift in attitudes and cultural norms. The presence of a pandemic has created a need for increased health and safety measures across the country, many of which have changed the fabric of Philippine society completely.

We’ve previously discussed the beginning and impact of COVID-19 in previous articles on this site. We had a brief introduction to the novel coronavirus in our article titled ‘The Worst Pandemics to Ever Hit the Philippines’. As the spread of the virus progressed all over the world, norms around working have changed, as you’ll find in our article ’30 Tips for Professionals Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic’. And finally, post-Enhanced Community Quarantine, we’ve taken a look at COVID-19’s impact on the Philippines’ tourism industry.

We’re only just beginning to understand the breadth of the impact of the virus on our daily lives. On the whole, the Philippines has begun working towards a return to normalcy, but there are some things that have turned out different. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at one of these changes: what COVID-19 has done to the transportation sector in the Philippines.

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How COVID-19 Is Affecting the Tourism Industry in the Philippines

James Gonzales Travel, Trending
How COVID-19 Is Affecting the Tourism Industry in the Philippines

The past few months have seen a number of unprecedented changes in nearly every aspect of our lives. The ways we socialize, eat, go to work, travel, and more are all nearly unrecognizable when compared to our lifestyles six months ago, and we’re only beginning to scratch the surface. The effects of the global pandemic COVID-19 are far reaching, and are likely to be felt years and years into the future.

We’ve touched on the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in a previous article titled ‘The Worst Pandemics to Ever Hit the Philippines’. In that article, we gave a brief overview of the timeline of the pandemic in the Philippines. In the months since, COVID-19 has prompted a complete overhaul of Philippine society, which remains under the world’s longest lockdown as reported by The Telegraph.

While we struggle to comprehend the depths of the pandemic’s impact on the Philippine economy, lifestyle, and education, there are certain sectors that have been harder hit than others. One of these sectors is, predictably, travel and tourism. Since flights first began slowing down and then stopping completely at the beginning of 2020, the industry has had to completely restructure. Here’s a look at just how the Philippine tourism industry has changed, and what it could look like in the future.

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Cultivating a Queer-Friendly Culture in the Workplace

James Gonzales Business, Lifestyle
Cultivating a Queer-Friendly Culture in the Workplace

Though it is still a hard pill to swallow, we have to address the fact that discrimination continues to be a way of life for a lot of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) employees. A well-written piece by GLAAD’s Michaela Krejcova explains that over 40% of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals have gone through employment harassment and mistreatment at some point in their professional lives. We have not even mentioned the 90% of transgender people who have experienced the same ordeal – if not worse. In essence, this is not only bad for LGBTQ workers, but also bad for companies as a whole.

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The Physical and Mental Benefits of Yoga for Sprinters

James Gonzales Lifestyle
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Yoga for Sprinters

Putting together the right training regimen is absolutely essential to an athlete’s success. While many runners may be under the impression that sprints are the best way to get faster, a diversified training plan is actually more helpful in the long run. Running isn’t just about speed— it’s about developing and understanding the complex relationship between muscle groups, hormones, and signals in your body and mind, and using that information and training to optimize your body.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Start Doing Yoga Today

James Gonzales Lifestyle
5 Reasons Why You Should Start Doing Yoga Today

There are several ways for a body to get fit, and many of them don’t have to take place in a gym. Things like jogging, walking, cycling, and hiking are among the most popular activities to do outdoors. They are just some of the many ways that an individual looking to get fit and healthy can do so without having to sweat it out using free weights and a treadmill.

When it comes to popular exercise alternatives, however, there’s always one that makes the list: yoga. A mix of meditation, breathing exercises, and physical postures, yoga has been making waves in the country over the past few decades. According to Forbes, the practice has continued to gain popularity in the States, with over 14% of U.S. adults reporting that they practice yoga in 2017. That’s up 4% compared with 2012’s numbers, which had only 10% of U.S. adults practicing yoga, and the numbers are only growing. If you’ve never done a child’s pose in your life and have been meaning to try it out, then here are five good reasons why you should start doing yoga today.

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30 Tips for Professionals Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

James Gonzales Business, Lifestyle, Trending
30 Tips for Professionals Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Thanks to a host of different factors— changing norms, better technology, and, yes, a worldwide crisis— jobs where you can work from home have increased in number. It used to be that work was something you did in an office, but a changing culture is beginning to disprove that.

In 2018, a report by Freelancers Union and Upwork found that there were over 56.7 million freelancers in the United States, a number that increased by 3.7 million in the previous five years. And in recent months, concerns like the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures have contributed to a meteoric rise in people working from home.

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The Worst Pandemics to Ever Hit the Philippines

James Gonzales Trending, History
The Worst Pandemics to Ever Hit the Philippines

The last few months have seen an unexpected upending of the modern way of life. Countries all over the world have been instituting quarantine and lockdown efforts in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, now named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO). COVID-19, first described as a “pneumonia of unknown origin,” was first discovered in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China in late December 2019.

After its spread through mainland China and other countries, it was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO on January 30, 2020. By March 11, WHO declared it was a pandemic, urging countries to ramp up their responses to the virus in order to curb the spread. As of April 3, 2020, COVID-19 has infected over 1 million people worldwide, causing 53,238 deaths, affecting 204 countries and territories.

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Learning About Indonesia’s Ancient Culture in the Tana Toraja

James Gonzales History, Travel
Learning About Indonesia’s Ancient Culture in the Tana Toraja

Traveling is an opportunity to visit areas that are off the beaten path. With access to different areas in the world steadily growing thanks to improvements in transport and tourism, more people have the opportunity now to explore hidden gems. More than just seeing the sights or checking out the most Instagrammable spots, travelers should use the experience to enrich themselves and learn more about a place’s history and culture.

Previously on the blog, we’ve talked about ’10 Famous Mountains in the Philippines‘. Today, let’s dive into one of the richest cultures in Indonesia, Tana Toraja.

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