Go to Metro Manila during the MGCQ via JAC Liner Bus in Biñan

UPDATE: There are now jeepneys coming from Calamba up to Olivarez in Biñan. JAC Liner buses going to Ayala are also available at the JAC Liner Balibago Terminal in the early mornings.

One of my major problem during this pandemic is the lack of public transportation. Since the beginning of community quarantine last March I relied on my bike for transportation when I go out to buy our basic needs.

Now that our place my placed under General Community Quarantine, the company where I work obliged its employees to join the skeleton work force two weeks per month. My problem, again, is public transportation. In Santa Rosa City, jeepneys are now allowed to ply the streets but bus travel to Metro Manila is still absent. 

Good thing that JAC Liner has available trips from Biñan to Ayala Makati. The only problem is how to go their bus terminal in Biñan. Well, after one week of commuting, here's how I commuted:

(Note: these commuting tips are only applicable for those coming from Cabuyao and Santa Rosa, Laguna) 

1. Coming from Cabuyao, go to TACOPHIL or MERALCO, which is along the highway near Roseville Subdivision.

2. Ride a jeepney going to the Caltex station near the Santa Rosa - Biñan boundary in Tagapo.  

3. Go down at the Biñan-Santa Rosa boundary, which is near a Caltex station. Walk to Biñan side of the boundary and ride a tricycle to JAC Liner Terminal. Special trip to the bus terminal is 50 to 60 pesos. 

That's the easiest way to go JAC Liner Terminal in Biñan. Let us hope that the government will allow more bus routes in the coming weeks.

For additional info, here is the route and bus stops of Biñan - Ayala Makati trip of JAC Liner. 

The fare is 68 pesos to Ayala Makati and the trip is from 5 AM to 8 PM daily.

There are buses that go directly to Ayala Makati and then to the JAC Liner terminal at Buendia-Taft Avenue.

There are also Ube Express P2P buses in front of Robinsons Mall in Tagapo. Their trip is to SM Mall of Asia but they will pass by NAIA first. The fare of the P2P bus is more expensive than the regular provincial bus.

Vist JAC Liner's Facebook page for more info on their bus trips.

How to Access DepEd Commons using Cellphone

The bad situation of COVID-19 in our country brings fears to many parents all around the country. Many parents do not want their child to get the virus in schools. Many parents asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to stop the school year. Many parents are thinking of trying online education or homeschooling for their children.

As preparation for hybrid learning, or a mix of online and face-to-face education, DepEd launched the DepEd Commons.

DepEd Commons is an online platform to support the continuous delivery of basic education to Filipino learners. This platform was worksheets, books, and other tools that can be used by parents for teaching their kids or by students who wanted to self-study.

DepEd Commons can be accessed via PC, tablet or mobile phone (cellphone).  The good news is that accessing the DepEd Commons is free and will not use the Internet data of your cellphone. The free access is applicable for Globe, Smart, Sun, TNT, and TM users.

This is how to access DepEd Commons using your cellphone:

1. Open your cellphone’s Internet browser (Chrome, Opera etc.) and type in this address: https://commons.deped.gov.ph. You can also click here to access DepEd Commons.

2. Scroll down and fill up the following information: (1) Type of School (public or private), (2) Name of School, (3) Type of User (Student or Teacher), (4) Name, and (4) Email.

It actually doesn’t matter what information you put. Just choose any school type and any school. You can also choose any type of user. I actually placed by pen name (false name) and false email address and DepEd Commons granted me access.

3. On the next page, select the Grade Level of your student

DepEd Commons has online tools for all grade levels, including kindergarten and senior high school. My children are still in Kindergarten so I chose Kindergarten.

Sadly, the learning tools for Kindergarten in DepEd Commons is only for Filipino Subject and only for a few letters of the ABAKADA.

4. Choose the subject or learning tools that you want

I choose the tools or learnings on “Titik Ii, Oo, at Ee” and the result is 13 learning activities or pagsasanay. Unfortunately, choosing one of the pagsasanay will bring you to a website that is outside of DepEd Commons. You will incur or use your Internet data to access the said website.

Click OK if you want to proceed. 

The link brought me to a quiz page.

The quiz page can be used by parents in teaching their children. This quiz, for instance, will help me test our kindergarten kids  ABAKADA.

So that is how parents can access DepEd commons using their cellphones.

I was disappointed with DepEd Commons because the learning tools available are very few and not that useful for parents who want to teach their children. Let us hope that DepEd will upload more learning tools, especially now that they are pushing for the opening of classes in August even if COVID-19 pandemic is still raging in our country.

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How to Apply for Pag-IBIG Calamity Loan Online 2020

It is almost two months since the government declared the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) lockdown and many of us are experiencing difficulties in our life. Many of us, particularly the no-work-no-pay workers, have no more money to buy food and other daily needs. The sad part is that many of us did not receive any help from DSWD or DOLE. In this of great need, many of us had no choice but to apply for loans. One of the loans that we can apply for is the CALAMITY FUND of Pag-IBIG Fund.

Due to the threat of COVID-19 or Wuhan coronavirus, Pag-IBIG Fund made the application processes for calamity loan all online. Here are the 3 easy steps to apply for Pag-IBIG Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL) or Calamity Loan using your e-mail:

1. FILL OUT or accomplish the Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL) or Calamity Loan Application Form. You can download the forms at the Pag-IBIG Fund website by clicking these links:

Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL) Application Form

Calamity Loan Application Form

Answer the form using Adobe Acrobat or other PDF reader software like Foxit Reader. Save the form after answering it. You do not need to print or sign the form.

2. SAVE the filled-up MPL Application Form or Calamity Loan Form as PDF file.

3. SEND via email to your company HR, authorized company representative or Fund Coordinator the following:

• PDF file of MPL application form or Calamity Loan Form
• Photo of one (1) valid ID
• Photos of the front and back portions of your Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus, or LandBank or DBP Cashcard the 

You are done with your Pag-IBIG Multi-Purpose Loan or Calamity Loan application once you do the FILL OUT, SAVE, and SEND. Your employer or your company will do the rest of the process. All you have to do now is to follow-up with your employer or company if they already submitted your loan application to Pag-IBIG Fund.

For additional information, here are the e-mail addresses of Pag-IBIG Fund where your employer should send your Multi-Purpose Loan of Calamity Loan application.

If you have questions or complaints about Pag-IBIG Multi-Purpose Loan or Calamity Loan, please contact Pag-IBIG Fund via email at contactus@pagibigfund.gov.ph or through the Pag-IBIG Fund Facebook page.

The images used in this website came from the Pag-IBIG Facebook page. 

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