It's been a long time since I wrote something personal on my blog site as lately, I have been posting press releases from different brands. And I would like this one to be as meaningful and helpful as possible for my readers, and so I thought of something everyone can relate to ― how to survive this pandemic during community quarantine. 

I have already lost count of how many days since the Extensive Community Quarantine (ECQ) has been implemented in most regions of our country, and I am honestly running out of ideas on what to do in the coming days if (which I really hope not) this quarantine will be extended further, which probably led me to writing this blog. So as you often hear from YouTube videos, without further ado, let's get started! 

To share with you, I feel so lucky enough to keep my job and continue working at home during this difficult time and that means that 5 days a week, I am spending 8 hours of my day at work. Nevertheless, I still feel the need to do something else for the remaining time of my day. 

So I have come up with a list of things I can share with you, not just to fritter away time but, to make this quarantine a productive one. 

1. Read. Read. Read.

We all know that reading is very beneficial when it comes to our daily lives. Aside from being a good pass time, it will surely help us enhance our vocabulary that we may use in the future. 

Me, I love reading novels! And just before this ECQ started, I have already a list of e-books on my phone that is sitting there waiting to be read. Since I apparently have more time for myself, this would be a perfect opportunity for me to cuddle up with my e-books and spend my time only with them alone. 

2. Exercise and Physical Fitness

I am sure most of you are seeing your friends posting selfies or photos of them after a full body workout, right? Well, there is nothing wrong with that and in fact, it is a good way to make their free time a productive one. And we all share a common knowledge that that aside from staying at home, building a healthier lifestyle for stronger immunity is really needed to fight this COVID-19 pandemic. 

I would suggest as well to keep a healthy diet together with a regular exercise to keep our body immune to this virus. Why not try it if you won't be losing anything? (But body fats of course ☺)

3. Connecting With Good Old Friends.

If you will think about it, this quarantine is giving us all the means to be connected again with our dear friends whom we had no time to bond with back when this "new normal" set up has not yet begun. 

This is a good way to replenish all the good times we had with them, but of course, through video calling or online messaging through mobile or desktop applications. 

4. Experiment on Things that You Feel Doing

Cooking an unknown recipe to you? Playing a new game you just found on the internet? Writing something about what you are feeling now? SAY. NO. MORE. Life has given you the perfect time to do them! 

Experimenting on things that are new to us usually leads to a better result and we'll never know how good we are at something unless we try it without any hesitation. And that is why I am encouraging you to create a list of things you want to accomplish during this ECQ and gradually cross them out of the list. 

If asked what have I learned during this pandemic, I have one definite answer  ― LIFE APPRECIATION. Why would I mention it? It's because...

If you will not be doing the things that you want to do now, then the question is when? Let's take this quarantine as a blessing in disguise and grab the chance to do the things we are afraid of doing, and we'll never know, this may be the time when we discover the greatest twist God has planned for our lives. 

If you have reached this part, thank you so much for the time you spent reading my article and I really hope I was able to somewhat help you with my simple list of things you can do to make this quarantine productive. And know that I am praying for you and your family's health during this difficult time. Stay safe and healthy! ☺

Experts say it will take longer before the world completely heals from the effect of COVID19. As the country prepares to ease up after the almost three months of Enhance Community Quarantine, Hotel Sogo steps up for their version of the hotel industry’s ‘new normal’. 

Hotel Sogo is doing various ways to ensure the safety and security of its guests and employees against the spread of Covid19 virus, once they go back to regular operations. Top on its list will be the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights in disinfecting around its facilities and intensified the process from checking-in to ordering of food to make sure their facilities as So Clean. The ultraviolet (UV) lights are highly effective at disinfection, as its rays are capable of killing bacteria, germs, and viruses.

To prepare its employees in servicing its guests, Hotel Sogo makes sure to protect their employees from the virus by giving them vitamins to boost their immunity and provided personalized PPEs. Hotel Sogo employees have their medical check-ups and Covid19 testing to make sure that their personnel is free from the virus to make sure that the employees and not just the facilities are So Good and ready for their regular operations.

All of this information can be found in Hotel Sogo’s ‘new normal’ video playbook. The video is shared with relevant government agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Tourism (DOT), in the hope that the video could serve as a benchmark of other similar establishments prior to their reopening.

Watch Hotel Sogo’s ‘new normal’ playbook video to know more. 

#SoCleanSoGoodSoSafe #DahilMahalKitaGustoKoSafeKa #HereAtHotelSogo #SalgadoPR

In this time of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ),some of us might have already felt the urge to think of ways we can lend a helping hand. When the opportunity to provide assistance have come knocking on the doors of some ordinary,everyday women like Marielle Solomon, Sarah Jane de la Rosa, Pia Alviola, Melissa Olit, and Angela Lapinosa, they embraced the chance to help and made things happen! They have been voluntarily and wholeheartedly taking on tasks of providing food, of sourcing for relief goods, of creating PPEs, and mobilizing resources for Filipinos in COVID-harm’s way. They didn’t think twice to go out of their comfort zones to share a part of themselves and be a light to others.

Marielle Solomon is a marketing professional who currently spends most of her time around volunteers like herself in Siargao Community Kitchen to ease the plight of families in the island whose source of income have been affected by COVID-19.

At present, they have provided over 4,000 food packs, staying true to the belief that community starts with sharing. Through her efforts, Marielle is just one of the women who bring the light to the island of Siargao. Student Sarah Jane de la Rosa’s light has truly radiated throughout the Metro. She has proven that being a differently abled person is not and will never be a hindrance if you put your heart in the service of a solid cause. A volunteer at the Barangay Holy Spirit Person with Disabilities Association, Sarah who is afflicted with cerebral palsy, ably leads her team as their President inproviding relief packages in the area.As of today, the association has provided much needed help to more than 1,000 PWD’s and their families.

Project Love PPE and Masks has produced and donated over 1,500 masks and 600 PPEs in various hospitals. This initiative is the brainchild of Pia Alviola, a Fashion Designer based in Makati City, who has found a way to bring the light among our healthcare front liners the best way she knows how, through her skills, and her desire to not only provide a source of incomefor her team of seamstresses and tailors, but also to be an instrument of providing protection in these times.

In Puerto Princesa, Melissa Olit, the founder of Chef Aiza’s Community has seen to it that her community in Palawan is given the proper nutrition and sustenance they need. From front liners to students, and even to hard working construction workers stranded on the island, Melissa has made sure the food she prepares, and delivers are sourced from local farmers to sustain their livelihood. Over the course of bringing light to front liners and local farmers, her group has already served more than 5,000 food packs.

Through a drive called RICEaboveCOVID, Angela Lapinosa, one of the lead organizers of the initiative, has illuminated the city of Cebu with her generosity and service. At the Cebu Institute of Technology, Angela is known as a student leader. But for the two hundred beneficiaries of the cause she represents, Angela is one to remember only with the kindest of words. The young ones also acknowledge her as someone who has shed light into their lives and has given them hope for being the project manager of “Para Kay Baby”, a project under RICEaboveCOVID that has allocated 100 relief goods to the families of infants and children in her town.

These five extraordinary women have truly become light bearers in their communities for serving as volunteers who through their service and heart, have greatly contributed to the common good. Like these women, Skin White has always believed that anyone can#BeTheLight especially in times of uncertainty. Every effort no matter how small, can have a considerable amount of good especially to those who are in need. Let us continue inspiring and encouraging these women by supporting their causes, as we too can be the light in our own ways.

Here are ways to reach Marielle, Sarah, Pia, Melissa and Angela as we make these challenging times lighter! Siargao Community Kitchen - +63 939 883 4033 | visit their Siargao Community Kitchen on Instagram and Facebook page Barangay Holy Spirit Person with Disabilities Association - Sarah de la Rosa Project Love PPE and Masks - Pia Alviola Chef Aiza’s Community - Melissa Olit, Community Kitchen’s page , or Chef Aiza's Community on InstagramRICEaboveCOVID – Cebuano Youth Ambassadors, Inc. Lapinosa

Users can buy all their essential and non-essential goods from the safety of their own home.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, announced today that it will resume full operations and fulfillment of all orders nationwide -- including non-essential goods like beauty products, fashion, and many more. Cash on Delivery will also be available for all items.

Martin Yu, Associate Director of Shopee Philippines, said: “We’re glad to announce that Shopee will be resuming full operations and nationwide fulfillment for all goods and services. Aside from essential goods, our Filipino users can now have access to non-essential goods from different categories like fashion, beauty, and many more. We are also working closely with our brands, sellers, and partners to ensure that we continue to provide our users with greater convenience and value during this period and beyond Covid-19.”

Shopee will also continue to serve its users with their essential needs with the recently launched 5.5 Shopee Mart Sale. Running until May 5, Shopee offers deals as low as ₱5 and a Free Shipping with P0 minimum spend on essential products including food, personal hygiene, health supplies, and many more.

In addition, Shopee will be offering discounts up to 90% off on fashion items with the Shopee Bazaar Sale.

Visit https://shopee.ph/5-5 for more information.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

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About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is a platform tailored for the region, providing customers with an easy, secure and fast online shopping experience through strong payment and logistical support. Shopee aims to continually enhance its platform and become the region’s e-commerce destination of choice.

Shopee has a wide selection of product categories ranging from consumer electronics to home & living, health & beauty, baby & toys, fashion and fitness equipment.

Shopee, a Sea company, was first launched in Singapore in 2015, and has since expanded its reach to Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Sea is a leader in digital entertainment, e-commerce and digital financial services across Southeast Asia. Sea's mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology, and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol SE.