For almost all dishes be it breakfast, lunch, dinner, or merienda, Filipinos sure love to eat eggs. In fact, growing chickens for the egg industry is one lucrative business venture in the country. 

Aside from being inexpensive, eggs are a good source of high-quality protein, vitamins A, B, D, E, and K, lecithin, and minerals such as copper, zinc, and iron. 

But what should you do with the leftover egg shells? Why not create something beautiful out of them? The next time you eggs, do not throw the egg shells away. Use them to create egg shell mosaics. 

Below are the steps in creating the perfect egg shell mosaic.

Materials

• Egg shells
• Containers 
• Food Coloring 
• Glue
• Art Materials 

Steps: 

1. Wash the egg shells thoroughly. 
2. Pound the egg shells to desired size. 
3. In a bowl of water, add water and food coloring of choice then soak the egg shells. A longer period of soaking leads to deeper colors. 
4. Dry the egg shells. 
5. You may now draw on paper and paste the colored egg shells.

 Read: https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/eggshell-mosaics    

The quarantine has brought out the inner plantita or plantito in Filipinos. In fact, Gugs Pabon, the owner of online store SucculentsPH based in Manila, reports an increase of as much as twice their normal amount of orders since quarantine started. 

Indoor plants are not the only ones getting the spotlight as growing backyard vegetables is also becoming popular. Aside from allowing families to bond, growing food from the backyard is a great way to save on food expenses. 

Coming close to home, Barangay Bulua in Cagayan de Oro City recently distributed seed starters for those intending to grow various vegetables and other produce. (Check out: tinyurl.com/yxrz6fc2) 

Whether you will grow plants for practical use in your backyard or for ornamental use indoors, there are a few things you should be reminded of in growing your own plant babies. 

1. Start small with sturdy plants
   If you are a new plant parent, it is wise to start small with low-maintenance plants. In general, backyard vegetables need keen attention so do research on growing them properly. Ornamental plants, however, have sturdy plants that may thrive even with little attention such as succulents, snake plants, and aloe veras. 
2. Be mindful of your plants’ needs
   Stick to the basics: water, temperature, and light. Before taking in a new plant, be knowledgeable first about their specific needs. Some plants need constant sunlight while others don’t. Some plants absorb water fast while others only need to be watered at least once a week. Some thrive on cooler places while others need a humid environment. 
3. Be a doting plant parent 
   Make sure to check on your plant always. The key is responsibility. Be responsible to remind yourself to water them, when to take them for the sun, and what to do when they get ‘sick’. It takes effort and patience to be able to make your plants bloom. You may use your phone and set alarms so it is easier for you. 
4. Have fun! 
   Have fun along the way. Paint your pots, name your plants, and feature them on social media. You can even  

It is important to be patient when taking care of your plant babies. After all, nothing beats the pride of seeing your plant bloom flowers or being able to cook your harvests. 

Related read here.

The Philippine population has been on quarantine (as determined by the Inter-Agency Task Force) since March 16. In fact, the country has been on quarantine for the longest.

While under quarantine, Filipinos have found a variety of ways to beat boredom. One of such ways is by learning a new language.  

According to Forbes, there has been a surge of interest in language-learning applications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some tips and tricks in learning a new language: 

1. Download language-learning apps.
   One handy way to learn a new language in the modern times is through language-learning applications. Applications such as Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise are some of the applications available. You may also switch your phone language to “force” you to learn.   
    
2. Watch content using the language.
   Get accustomed to the language by watching content from the origin country. Listen to music, watch drama, and read stories to help you speed up fluency. 
    
3. Consistency is key. 
   Make sure to dedicate a few hours a day for focused studying. Practicing a few hours a day is better than practicing for an entire day once a week. Stick to your schedule.
   . 
4. Practice makes perfect. 
   Practice the language by speaking. Speak the language even if you might not feel confident about the grammar - you can just refine this later on. Do not try to memorize as many words as you can. Instead, try to learn everyday phrases and build on from that.
5. Make it fun!
   Find a learning partner so that you can learn together. Language is learned through conversations as well and having a learning partner definitely helps. You may also try downloading language-learning games for children if you are a beginner.

To read an article about learning a new language in detail, please check: 
www.fluentu.com/blog/how-to-learn-a-new-language-fast/

An often overlooked aspect of quarantine life is proper posture. Filipinos who work and study at home often sit for long hours at a time and, with the added comfort of being at home, start to have bad body form. 

The good news though is that one can improve posture with a few simple exercises, according to the Harvard Medical School. 

Balance-specific workouts, which involves loosening up inflexible muscles and improving core muscle strength, bring about noticeable posture changes in just a few weeks. 

It pays to have proper posture since it improves physical balance. A well-maintained sense of balance strengthens one’s abilities in sports and other activities, and in avoiding simple injuries. 

Proper sitting posture must include all of the following:

• Chin should be parallel to the floor 
• Shoulders, hips, and knees should be even heights 
• Feet should be pointing straight ahead. 

Good sitting posture leads to better focus and productivity for the Filipinos in quarantine.

To read more, please check: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-good-posture-matters 

Redentor Baloyos, a resident of Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, has declined the cash subsidy from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) despite being listed as one of the beneficiaries.

As a retired police officer, Baloyos believes that he is not qualified from the program because he is receiving cash assistance through his pension.

During the distribution of cash grants to SAP beneficiaries in their barangay, he immediately returned the money.

"Nakonsensya pod ko kay kahibalo ko daghan pa mas nanginahanglan," Baluyos said. (My conscience cannot take it because I know others need it more than I do.)

The city government of Cagayan de Oro lauds his honesty and encouraged others to follow suit so they could extend the cash aid to other families who need it more.

“Hinaot daghan pa unta ang sama ni Mr. Baloyos nga nay kasing-kasing ug pagbati sa uban,” said City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a. (We hope that there are more people like Mr Baloyos who has the heart and empathy for others.)

According to DSWD guidelines on SAP, a pensioner is not qualified for the cash aid. The agency has released earlier the list of qualified beneficiaries on their respective media channels.

Barangay Gusa Captain Marlo Tabac also reported that two others returned their SAP subsidy, namely, Efren Demata and Dalia Rosalie.

Both the barangay and city government officials were moved by these events.

April 18, 2020 - Gikompirma ni Mayor Oscar Moreno sa gipatigayon nga ika-31 nga press conference alang sa COVID-19 nga aduna’y usa ka Person Under Investigation (PUI) nga lumulupyo sa Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro ang namatay.

Padayon pa nga gihulatan ang swab test sa pasyente kung kini positibo ba o dili sa COVID-19.

Sa laing bahin, aduna’y duha (2) ka pasyente nga positibo sa COVID-19 ang kamulo na nga ginatambalan sa Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

Kasamatangan nga duna’y onse (11) nga positibo nga kaso ang natala sa Northern Mindanao. Usa sa ila ang namatay gumikan sa COVID-19.

Dubbed as the Olympic in the field of student journalism, to participate in the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) is probably one of the ultimate goals of anyone involved in the basic ed school paper. So when my student won in the regional competition and qualified to compete in the national stint in Tuguegarao City, I was beyond ecstatic as coach!

A silly congratulatory tarp made by my closest friends.

First off, this was the first time for both my student to compete in the NSPC, and my first time as coach. The competition was originally slated on February 17-21 but was moved to a later date on March 9- 13 as precaution the COVID-19 pandemic. This move may have caused some inconvenience among many of the participants, including us, but it did not dampen our spirits.   

It was March 8 when we finally arrived in Tuguegarao City. Still, the students carried their passion to win and represent Region 10 in the prestigious event.

But unlike any other NSPC, a lot of precautionary measures were made to ensure everyone's safety.

 A frame for my much awaited certificate of completion.

For one, the event’s committee decided to forgo the traditional opening parade. Prior to the pandemic hitting the country, over 4000 participants from across all regions in the Philippines march around the host city in an opening parade. This year, a simple opening ceremony was held, and participants were limited to only 50 for each region. This is a rather disappointing adjustment to the program as all the delegates look forward to seeing their potential competitions.

The next five days of the event have seen more and more precautionary measures for all delegates. All of us were required to log in and out from our billeting schools and were encouraged to just stay in our quarters except during schedules of our individual competitions. For young and adventurous people like most of us, this was quite unfortunate, albeit understandable. Nothing could be worse than this. Or so we thought…

Final group photo with my roommates and classroom adviser at Libag Elementary School.

On March 12, President Duterte announced the lockdown of the whole Metro to commence on the 15^th and to end a month after.

Every one of us who were from outside the city were anxious of the possibility of getting stranded in the metro for a month. No one was prepared for this – financially, emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. Many of us scrambled of getting our flights rebooked. My student and I were just lucky to book another ticket from Manila via Davao to CdeO; this came with a hefty price tag though.

Official IDs for NSPC 2020

A day before the scheduled lockdown, we arrived from Tuguegarao City to NAIA Terminal 3 for our flight back home. The airport that time was abuzz with people trying to get to their destinations before the lockdown. The scene in the airport was like a movie – long queues everywhere, irate passengers, and cancelled flights here and there.

We were able to finally leave Manila that morning. Unfortunately some of our fellow delegate from Cagayan de Oro were not. Desperate time calls for desperate measures as some of them were left with the choice of going home by land which would take days(!). It may be tiring but far better than being stranded in the Metro for a month.

Me with the best sports writer in the region.

Upon our arrival in Laguindingan, we were all brought to the DepEd Division Office for an orientation. All of us were now listed as Person Under Monitoring (PUM) and are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine. We were offered a school for all of us to stay for the time being, but others opt to just stay at home, in the comfort of their family.

My student, with his family decided to have his 14-day self-quarantine in their apartment somewhere in Carmen. I, on the other hand, rented a pensionne house in Divisoria. I made this decision so as not to worry anyone in our household.  But being put on a self-quarantine was no walk in the sand. It was an ordeal to be stuck all alone in a room for two weeks! Fortunately, I received an enormous amount of virtual support from my family, friends and colleagues. Thanks to our modern times and technology, I participated in the never-ending meme wars and TikTok revolution on social media. These, along with the constant monitoring of Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) of Brgy. 5 and DepEd officials. And of course, the people behind food delivery services.

Our final group photo with my roommates and classroom adviser at Libag Elementary School.

The 14-day self-quarantine went by fast and receiving our certificate of completion was just surprisingly satisfying.

So much have happened in our quest to participate in a national competition. This one’s definitely for the books. 

Dr. David Mendoza, assistant regional director of DOH 10, explained that we should not panic since the virus can only be transmitted through droplets by coughing and sneezing therefore strongly urged public to observed social distancing, personal hygiene, proper cough etiquette and hand washing.

He further said that if the COVID positive patient dies, the virus will also die.

City Councilor Romeo Calizo urged parents to impose discipline to their children and follow the order of the city government to stay at home.