A Tourist’s Quick Guide to Surviving Philippine Travel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Visiting a new region for the first time is one of the most fun and exciting experiences a traveler can have. People who enjoy seeing the world live for the sights, sounds, smells, culture, and overall atmosphere of a new place. With that being said, it is also important to know exactly what you can expect from a vacation to one of these unfamiliar territories as well, as laws, customs, and guidelines can vary greatly even from one local destination to the other.

So for those who are getting ready to embark on their first trip to the Philippines (or even if it is your home away from home) here are a few must-know tips to make sure you get the most enjoyment possible out of your experience:

Research and Obtain Proper Travel Documentation

While this is true of any getaway you might be taking to a foreign destination, it is especially important when visiting the Philippines or any other country in Southeast Asia. The reason is because the paperwork and documentation requirements change very frequently and what was necessary to have six months ago may no longer be required, or something that wasn’t needed previously may now be non-negotiable.


Try to Adjust to the Time Difference Beforehand

This is crucial to enjoying as much of your trip as possible, especially the first few days. This flight can be as long as 19 hours from certain parts of North America, and it can wreak havoc on a person’s body in the form of jet lag or a lingering travel hangover. If you have the luxury of lounging around for a few days before your plane leaves, try to get on local time so when you actually get there the shock to your system will be greatly diminished.


Pack Accordingly

This includes making sure you have plenty of travel toiletries and stomach medicines. While it isn’t uncommon for people to experience intestinal discomfort from eating bad food, often times the food is just fine and it’s the tourists who simply aren’t accustomed to exotic foods and spices. Either way, you will want to make sure you have plenty of the main medicines covered such as Pepto, Imodium, and Tums.

Additionally, make sure you bring the proper clothing. Many areas in this region are very conservative, especially the religious locations where temples, mosques, and churches are located. Make sure you have attire that covers the shoulders and knees when visiting these places.


Purchase Travel Insurance

This is one mistake a lot of first-time travelers make. But the fact is that medical care and hospitals aren’t around every corner like they may be in other places. If you have an issue in a jungle or remote area, you could be facing a several hundred-mile airlift to a medical facility. You aren’t simply swiping your credit card for that bill.


Plan a Diverse Itinerary

Make sure you give yourself the opportunity to really soak up and enjoy all that this unique location has to offer. Get around to the different regions in the area. Some people end up focusing all their attention on one type of attraction and end up missing out on a variety of wonderful experiences. Make sure that you get a little taste of everything this beautiful country has to offer.

Registration for the 2019 NASA International Space Apps Challenge now open

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Now in its 8th year, NASA Space Apps is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. NASA Space Apps 2018 included over 18,000 participants at more than 200 events in 75 countries.

Since its inception in 2012, NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge has become the world’s largest global hackathon, engaging thousands of citizens across the globe to use NASA’s open data to build innovative solutions to challenges we face on Earth and in space.

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge (or Space Apps) is an international hackathon that will take place over a 48-hour period in cities around the globe between October 18 and 20, 2019. The event embraces collaborative problem solving with a goal of producing open-source solutions to challenges we currently face on Earth and in space.

In the Philippines, it is the fourth time for this event to take place again in Manila on October 18 to 20, 2019. "I am thrilled and excited to continue the tradition of inviting students and professionals, beginners and veterans from the Philippines to join this prestigious global hackathon by NASA," software developer Michael Lance M. Domagas said. "In fact, a Pinoy team winning globally last year makes Filipinos inspired to use these technologies in helping the society we live in, especially now that a law has been passed creating the Philippine Space Agency," he added.

The Pinoy winning team who developed an app seeking to use scientific data to benefit fishermen, even without Internet connection, is being incubated at Animo Labs, the technology business incubator of De La Salle University in partnership with DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development. "Animo Labs looks forward to see these kinds of projects being developed by Filipinos with the help of NASA data and resources, and we are happy to host it again at De La Salle University," Animo Labs Executive Director Mr. Federico C. Gonzalez said.


Register here: https://spaceapps.splashthat.com/


Deadline of registration is on Monday, October 7, 2019 11:59 PM


For more information, please contact nasaspaceappsph@gmail.com


#SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH

National Library Holds 2nd Librarian’s Convention

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With over seventy participating librarians in attendance, the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) opens the 2nd Convention of Provincial Librarians in the Philippines and Leadership Training-Workshop held Wednesday (Aug. 14) at the NLP Building in Kalaw, Manila.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Harold E. Clavite who spoke during the event cited the importance of revitalizing Republic Act 7743, which seeks to establish congressional, city, and municipal libraries and barangay reading centers throughout the Philippines.

“Through the help of this law, libraries and learning hubs will be more accessible to the public,” Clavite said.

“In assistance to NLP, the PIA will continue to promote the importance of libraries as one of the most credible repositories of information and knowledge,” Clavite added.

Organized through the Public Libraries Division of the NLP, the three day training workshop is intended to equip librarians with the necessary problem-solving and leadership skills to better lead their respective institutions.

Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Francisco R. Cruz of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) cited the importance of libraries and other learning institutions in achieving the goals of Ambisyon Natin 2014 which aims to lay a strong foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust society, and a globally-competitive economy toward a “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay para sa Lahat.”

"Napakahalaga ng mga nagagawa ng ating mga library at librarians to achieve what is reflected in the Philippine Development Plan and the Ambisyon 2040" Cruz said.

“We also enjoined the local government units to cultivate the knowledge sharing culture and collaborative knowledge management among their fellow LGU and societal organizations.” Cruz said while sharing the DILG’s efforts in establishing libraries nationwide.

The DILG, pursuant to Section 17 (b) (1) of the Local Government Code of 1991 and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-208, urged local government officials to establish barangay reading centers that would be linked to the country's first public e-library.

Based on the Memorandum Circular, the LGUs should provide the barangays with innovative education tools through the e-library (www.elib.gov.ph).

The e-library has access to the union catalogues of the National Library, University of the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, and Commission on Higher Education.

E-library also includes Filipiniana materials, theses, dissertations, researches, on-line resources, and subscription to electronic databases.

Barangay folks, especially the students, can have the access to the most comprehensive libraries in the Philippines and the world with more than 8,000 records consisting of Philippine materials and 29,000 full-text journals.



NLP Director Cesar Guilbert Q. Adriano said 2ND Convention of Provincial Librarians in the Philippines and Leadership Training-Workshop is very timely as it coincided with the 132nd founding anniversary of the National Library. (PIA InfoComm)