NEWS
Itching for a road trip? Here are your travel essentials
February 28, 2022 3:53 p.m.
With COVID-19 cases declining, various local government agencies have recommended that Metro Manila’s pandemic restrictions be downgraded to Alert Level 1 this March.
This means traveling, without regard for age and co-morbidities, will now be allowed. Dining in at restaurants, visiting tourist attractions and entertainment venues, and going for staycations are now possible at full on-site capacity. However, owners and organizers should ensure minimum health measures, like proper ventilation, wearing of face masks, and proper handwashing, are implemented.
When this happens, will you be ready to pack your bags and travel up north for a quick weekend getaway? Shake off the cabin fever – prepare for that long overdue road trip and enrich yourself with better countryside views, the fresh air, and local delicacies.
Here’s a quick guide to help you prepare for this much-needed break:
1. Bring your vaccination and booster cards.
To be sure, it is recommended that adults and vaccinated children have their vaccination and booster cards ready for inspection. Depending on where you’re coming from, some local government units (LGU) might check for Negative RT-PCR/Antigen tests. For example, Baguio City still requires this for children aged 12 to 17 years old.
2. Tourist passes
Depending on the LGU, there might be areas that still require tourist passes. Best to check for the latest updates on your destination’s websites before hitting the road.
3. Still observe health protocols
For your safety, especially when you are traveling with family and friends, it would still be recommended to always wear your face masks, observe social distancing, and always disinfect with isopropyl alcohol and disinfectants.
4. Pre-book your accommodations
If you’re planning to stay longer than a day, it is recommended that you confirm accommodation with establishments ahead of time. Check for their requirements and restrictions so you and your travel buddies will be ready. This saves you the hassle of looking for a place to stay when you are already at your destination. With everyone wanting for a break, these hotels and resorts might even be fully booked!
5. Prepare your vehicle
If you are planning to bring your own car, it would be best to have it checked by your suking mechanic. For those of us who stay and work at home, it is recommended to have our vehicles serviced first for good measure. If your car is in tip-top shape, checking for BLOWBAG (brakes, lights, oil, water, battery, air, and gasoline) is a necessity before going on that long drive. Have your back-up water, tools, and early warning device (EWD) on the ready for any incident.
6. Plan your trip
Aside from securing accommodations and preparing your itinerary, it is also important to plan your routes and stopovers. Program your destinations on Waze or Google Maps. For emergencies when travelling north or south, always keep the expressways’ hotline handy. Good thing that there is only one hotline for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), and Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) at 1-35000.
7. Check and reload your Easytrip account
When the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) was mandated by the government in 2020, toll operators like NLEX improved their RFID services to ensure the safety and convenience of motorists. One of these providers, Easytrip Services Corp, continues to uphold this mandate through its improved RFID account management. As the innovation arm of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), MPT Mobility’s Easytrip now offers various services for its registered users under myeasytrip web. Through the myeasytrip Customer Account Management System (CAMS), registered users can now do the ff:
– Check their balance and passages
– Generate their statement of account (SOA)
– Get the latest updates and advisories from Easytrip
– Get a chance to participate and win in different promos
To register your Easytrip RFID or to check if you are already registered, try this link here. Once registered, you can create your myeasytrip CAMS account here.
Reloading is also much easier as most of the Easytrip’s reloading merchants credit the loads in quick-time. For a list of reloading merchants, please check here. If you still don’t have an Easytrip RFID, subscription and sign up are so easy, just click here.
MPT Mobility will soon launch a new mobility-related services app, MPT DriveHub. All of MPT Mobility’s services like Easytrip will be on this app. MPT DriveHub will be available for download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store on March 1.
MPT Mobility president and general manager Raul Ignacio has announced, “The digital solutions our business units will offer are all about improving mobility for Filipinos, addressing a variety of customer needs and providing life conveniences via a digital interface.” This is something to look forward to, especially when planning for trips.
With these reminders, you and your loved ones can surely have a safe and relaxing trip. Always keep yourself healthy and safe travels.
NEWS
Atayde named Siklab’s Trailblazer of the Year awardee
3:49 p.m. December 4, 2024
FOR putting premium on grassroots sports development, Quezon City first district Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde will be honored with the Trailblazer of the Year award in the Nickel Asia Corporation Siklab Youth Sports Awards 2024 on Thursday at the Market! Market! Activity Center, Ayala Malls BGC in Taguig City.
Atayde’s efforts as a prime mover of the Youth Football League (YFL) will be recognized as well as for establishing the D1 basketball and volleyball leagues for the youth in Quezon City’s first district, where tournaments are shown live on Facebook everyday to inspire more kids to get into sports.
The QC District 1 Warriors, the team formed and supported by Atayde, crowned themselves champions of the 2024 CLS Cup in Indonesia last June after beating ACBA Tigers Sydney in the final.
The actor-lawmaker is also a staunch supporter of the QCSEP fencing team of City Councilor Joseph Juico that produced the likes of Paris Olympian Samantha Catantan, while giving life-changing opportunities through the YFL with his uncle YFL president Mike Atayde in discovering and developing 18-and-under talents through the years.
Organized by the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Paralympic Committee-Philippine Olympic Committee Media Group, the Siklab Youth Sports Awards’ Trailblazer of the year plum is awarded to outstanding individuals who promote quality grassroots sports development that created massive impact to the sporting community.
Three more special awards will be presented to Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio as this year’s Sports Idol, longtime sports manager Agapito “Terry” Capistrano as Godfather of the Year and noted youth sports supporter Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong’’ Go as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A total of 80 youth and junior athletes from 37 sports will be recognized in the fourth edition of the awards night supported by Nickel Asia Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MVP Sports Foundation, CEL Logistics, Go For Gold, Barley + WHEATGRASS Entrepro, Pacquiao Coffee, Milo, San Miguel Corporation, PLDT and powered by Smart.
World junior champions Tachiana Mangin of taekwondo, weightlifters Angeline Colonia and Lovely Inan headline the Young Heroes Awards together with 2024 US Junior Girls champion Rianne Mikhaela Malixi of golf and wushu’s Alexander Gabriel Delos Reyes.
Joining them are Asian junior gymnastics gold medalist Karl Eldrew Yulo, world youth champion Isabella Butler of ju-jitsu, Asian age-group swimming gold medalist Jamesray Mishael Ajido and table tennis youth champion Kheith Rhynne Cruz.
Muay thai world champions Janbrix Ramiscal and Lyre Anie Ngina, chess Olympiad gold medalist Ruelle Canino will likewise be honored in the Super Kids Award category.
Three-time jiu-jitsu world champion Aleia Aielle Aguilar, Palarong Pambansa multiple gold medalists Albert Jose Amaro II (seven golds) of swimming, Mitchloni Dinauanao and Francis Dave Sombal (five golds each) of dancesports will banner the Rising Stars Award category.
Also leading the list are world youth muay champion Royeth Rosa, fencers Yuna Canlas, Willa Galvez, Hagia Del Castillo and Nicol Amethyst Canlas along with golfers Francesca Nicole Gaisano Gan, Geoffrey Drew Ong Tan, swimmer Behrouz Mohammad Mojdeh and figure skater Dawn Jasmine Gothong.
Thirty awardees have been lined up in the Youth Heroes Award including Ana Bhianca Espenilla (athletics), John Andre Aguja (cycling), JR Pandi (badminton), Brandon Sanchez (baseball), Kieffer Alas (basketball), Marc Dylan Custodio (bowling), Nick Anjelo Payla (boxing) and Naina Dominique Tagle (archery), Gavin Moses Bangayan Ti (obstacle course racing), Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh (swimming), Jonathan Reyes (squash), Jeniva Consigna (sambo) and Joseph Godbout (modern pentathlon).
Meanwhile, Ella Olaso (wrestling), Danielle Escolano (bowling), Xian Baguhin (boxing) Elaiza Yulo (gymnastics), Sebastien Mañalac (karate), Julia Claret Bintulan (karate), Zyche Mae Cruz Jizmundo (pencak silat), Shai Nitura (volleyball), Mariam Grace Balisme (wrestling), Paul Sondrei Capinig (wrestling), Andreas Lucho Aguilar (wrestling), Johanna Jeiel Barbero (wushu), Mark John Lazo (wushu), Carlstein Jade Dulay (sailing), Josa Gonzales (sailing), Marvin Mandac (cycling) and Thirdy Mana-ay (cycling) complete the roster for the Super Kids accolade.
NEWS
Shop local at DTI’s Christmas Village Fair in SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall
3:36 p.m. December 4, 2024
Celebrate the holidays at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bagong Pilipinas Christmas Village Fair at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Halls 2 and 3, happening from November 30 to December 4.
Discover unique gifts, festive treats, and handcrafted treasures created by talented local entrepreneurs. Shop local and make this Christmas truly special!
NEWS
9 Dynasty Cares helps typhoon victims in Kawit, Cavite
3:15 p.m. December 4, 2024
A GROUP of businessmen from Asia that provides entertainment across the continent including the Philippines donated a total of P3 million worth of relief goods last week to the recent typhoon victims in the province of Kawit, Cavite.
The 9 Dynasty Group, headed by its representative Derris Wong, together with his crew, met at least 1,000 affected families at the Barangay Santa Isabel in Kawit and provided them each with canned goods, bed sheets, noodles, rice, and other relief goods.
“At 9 Dynasty, we believe that in times like these, being there for one another is what matters most,” Derris said.
“Typhoons are merciless. So, we, here at the 9 Dynasty Group through our 9 Dynasty Cares program has spearheaded the donation drive for the typhoon victims.”
The residents of Cavite recently experienced the devastating impact of Typhoon Carina, and Tropical Storm Kristine last October, affecting their livelihood, while many people especially in Kawit were displaced due to heavy flooding in most areas.
Derris said in his speech during the donation activity at the barangay complex that they want the people to realize that there is still hope after every storm.
“We are here together to rebuild lives and transform this adversity into a story of hope,” he said.
“To help, we are providing ₱3 million in aid to support families with essential supplies and to rebuild homes, ensuring everyone has a safe place to stay before the holidays. We are here to let you know that you are not alone,” Derris added.
Aside from the 9 Dynasty Group, the donation drive was attended and coordinated by Santa Isabel Barangay Captain Avelino “Tamby” Fallago, his secretary Josephine Memije and VAWC personnel Remie Santonil.
“We are incredibly grateful and happy to 9 Dynasty Group’s generous act,” Fallago said on behalf of his constituents.
Atayde named Siklab’s Trailblazer of the Year awardee
Shop local at DTI’s Christmas Village Fair in SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall
9 Dynasty Cares helps typhoon victims in Kawit, Cavite
