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Harriet Tubman has long been associated with her extraordinary work with abolitionist causes and as the Underground Railroad's most famous conductor. Her heroic efforts in personally leading more than 300 persons out of slavery to freedom in the North defined her as the "Moses of her People." She continued her humanitarian activities to aid the poor and aged, and to establish schools for the freed blacks in the South. The two and one-half story, clapboard structure that became the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged was the culmination of a life dedicated to uplifting the plight of those once condemned to servitude. Tubman used her Auburn farm to shelter the needy for decades before the Tubman Home was built in 1908. The institution often faced financial hardship and imminent foreclosure. Beginning in the late 1860s, Tubman sought compensation from the federal government for her work during the Civil War as a nurse, cook and scout. Her application was supported by many prominent Americans, including Secretary of State William Seward, but her case was ultimately rejected because it did not fall under any recognized law. Finally in 1897, Congress enacted a private bill authorizing a small pension for life. When word of her struggle spread, former anti-slavery allies and citizens from Auburn funded the construction of the Harriet Tubman Home, a project Tubman called "her last work." Tubman deeded the property to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who preserved the Home in the years following Tubman's own death there in 1913. Today the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged is maintained as a museum dedicated to preserving the humanitarian vision of its founder.
The Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, a National Historic Landmark, is located at 180-182 South St. in Auburn, NY. The property is open to the public by appointment. Call 315-252-2081 or click here for more information.
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CREW TV brings you closer to the industry's
most influential leaders and thinkers. Click on the videos below to watch the interviews:
The Investor Forum -- it's increasingly the must-attend event for Canadian property owners, with conferences not only in Toronto and Vancouver, but Calgary, Moncton and Montreal. Here are highlights from the March event in Toronto, with more than 500 industry players and investors taking in two days of expert-led sessions and networking. For more information on Investor Forum, hosted by Canadian Real Estate Wealth magazine, click HERE.
Video transcript below:
Jemima Codrington: Investors gathered once again to network and learn from industry experts at the 3rd Annual Investor Forum, Toronto. Canada's leading real estate Conference took place at the Toronto International Centre teaching attendees everything there is to know about building wealth through real estate.
Testimonial: Quite a good opportunity to network with a lot of other professionals and investors and as well to learn from experience of successful real estate investors.
Jemima Codrington: Familiar faces such as the wealthy barber, David Chilton were among the crowd of over 650 delegates, speakers and exhibitors to attend the 2 day conference. Sponsored by Metro Property Group, the Forum covered everything from overseas investing to tax questions to panel discussions about the latest real estate hot spots.
I think events like the Investor Forum here in Toronto really give a chance for the Canadian investor to get out there and network and really educate themselves on property investment. It's a culture of property investment that we just don't have in the US.
So we help you understand that what the costs associated to it, is it working breaking, is it working not breaking your mortgage, maybe you should do a second, maybe you should just position at a differently.
Jemima Codrington: And of course the weekend wouldn't be complete without the Top Investor Awards. [The Lunch] to honour the brightest talents in Canadian investing. And for winners it's the best recognition there is.
This is a huge honour to have won Investor of the Year. I can't thank the Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine enough for giving us this huge honour. It feels like recognition for the time and energy that we put in over the last couple of years to build our business and strive to provide high quality, clean, safe, secure homes for the people throughout the country. Thank you so much.
I just keep on coming back, because there is always something to learn every single year. So guess what, I will see you again next year.
Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Devin P. McComb has joined the firm's Seattle office as a partner in the Real Estate & Land Use practice
Grimsby skyline to be reshaped by tallest buildings in city: two-tower residential complex
Connect Asset Management Challenges the Financial Community to Invest in Downtown Toronto Real Estate for a Good Cause

subset: commoncrawl


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Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
Next one. Video and empty mp3 files shouldn't crash any more.UpdateMedia.gz (1.5 MB)
I want to say thanks to all who are helping me testing this stuff! There was a bug with reading of user defined urls. Should be fixed and in addition flac pictures should work now, too. UpdateMedia.gz (1.5 MB)


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A very common cause of device problem is interruption when the device is switched on and off. To avoid this:
Important: Failure to adhere to the above recommendation might result in permanent damage on the device.
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Le site Néolithique final de Labarthe 2 à Argelos (Pyrénées Atlantiques) : une occupation temporaire ?
; ; Morin-Rivat, Julie et al
in Perrin, Thomas; Sénépart, Ingrid; Thirault, Eric (Eds.) Actes des 9ème Rencontres Méridionales de Préhistoire récente, St-Goerges-de-Didonne (17), 08 et 09 octobre 2010 (2012)
In the Luy de France valley at Labarthe-Argelos (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), a rescue excavation was carried out during spring 2009 on a surface of 2200 m2. The entire Final Neolithic remains were recovered ... [more ▼]
In the Luy de France valley at Labarthe-Argelos (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), a rescue excavation was carried out during spring 2009 on a surface of 2200 m2. The entire Final Neolithic remains were recovered from one single soil unit within the colluvium sequence at bottom of the slope. Nine hearths have been studied (see contribution of B. Nicolle, this volume), the pottery and lithic objects have been positioned in the stratigraphy and a delimitated area with abundant pottery sherds has been identified in close proximity to a small hearth. The pottery assemblage can be assigned to the Final Neolithic sequence of south-western France, within the third millennium. It forms, however, an original facies and contributes to fill an information gap in the Northern Pyrenean region. The lithic artefacts were made on flint and quartzite. Two radiocarbon dates consistent with the data assemblage stemming from the excavation place these occupations between 2600 and 2400 BC cal. The field data attribute Labarthe 2 to a series of small sites exhibiting subtle features not very deeply anchored into the ground that are known in the Bearn and the Landes regions. They are interpreted by a variety of hypotheses: stops during pastoral displacements, crossing points of the valley, places for specific activities (fishing, hunting?), etc. Their location, at the foot of a spur dominating the confluence may also be complementary of a possible settlement on top of the spur. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 217 (11 ULiège)


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Interesting facts about New York
Vibrant, captivating, chaotic, effervescent, entertaining … there are many adjectives to describe New York City. New York attracts business and leisure travellers from across the globe. Fly to New York in style with Cathay Pacific and enjoy impeccable service, innovative cuisine, and personal entertainment systems. Land rested and ready to explore.
New York Highlights
The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Rockefeller Center are usual priorities for first-time visitors. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the sprawling Central Park and relax in the High Line, a park built on a disused railway line. Pay your respects at the National September 11 Memorial. The world-class Metropolitan Museum of Art is a magnet for art aficionados. Experience the city's cultural diversity in locations like Chinatown, Astoria, Harlem, and Little Italy, then see where early immigrants entered the city at Ellis Island. Tour the Bronx and Brooklyn, have fun on Coney Island, and watch a show on Broadway.
New York Travel
The city is well connected by buses and subway; purchase a MetroCard to use public transport. Commuter trains connect the suburbs, and frequent ferry services operate to the islands. The Staten Island ferry is free, and it's a great way to admire the waterfront. Start your trip on the right note when you book your flights to New York City with Cathay Pacific today.


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Gathering family for the holidays isn't what it used to be.
And that's a good thing for Carol Meerschaert, of Paoli, Penn. Ms. Meerschaert is one of eight siblings and has 15 nieces and nephews, some with additional spouses and children. Members of the clan live in California, Washington, D.C., Washington state, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Montana.
For Meerschaert this holiday season, social media is the gift that keeps on giving. Without platforms like Facebook, Skype, and Google +, it would be much harder for the extended brood to stay connected.
"Even if we were all in the same room you would not get the first person accounts of everyone talking at once," Meerschaert says. "I love the photos, links to articles that speak to us, songs, videos, and more that we share online." And just in case she was feeling her familiy wasn't big enough already, she says that Facebook has reconnected her with many of her 48 cousins as well.
And there are so many online options to bring us closer together this year, says Anthony Rotolo, a professor at Syracuse University iSchool in New York. These options range from the more familiar, such as Facebook, to brand new sites such as Path – the exclusively mobile social network designed to be shared only with one's closest friends – and Kondoot, which debuted in the US on Dec. 12 and is a social media tool that allows free, live online broadcasting.
"This year, my family holidays have relied on Skype and Apple's FaceTime to bring far away loved ones to the table," Mr. Rotolo says via e-mail. Social media has been a boon for military families too, he points out, allowing families separated by overseas deployments to stay connected. Anyone who is unable to fly home due to cost or distance "will be able to experience gift-giving [and] Christmas morning with the kids, and even the dinner table through social video technologies like these, or the newer Google Hangouts, for example," he adds.
Photo sharing apps such as Instagram allow users to show friends what makes home for the holidays special in a creative and beautiful way, says Rotolo. And we shouldn't forget other digital gifts either, he says, from Kindles and iPads to virtual goods like Facebook or Xbox credits, app downloads, and music."Christmas 2012, he notes, " is about sharing online."
Of course, it is possible to have too much of a good thing, points out Laurie Puhn, author of "Fight Less, Love More: 5 Minute Conversations to Change Your Relationship without Blowing Up or Giving In." Particularly when holiday gatherings are full of many generations, Ms. Puhn says it is critical to honor those who are actually present at a gathering. "It's all too easy to become a techno-pest," she says, with people answering cell phones, texting, or just plain fiddling with smart phones instead of being present with friends and family.
Puhn recommends deciding on which technologies will play a part at a gathering in advance, "and conducting a few dry runs." This becomes especially important if only a few of those present are tech-savvy and there may be confusion or a need to explain what's going on. And, if anyone is trying out a new application, that could be particularly disastrous, she says.
"What you really don't want is someone spending an entire dinner fussing with trying to get the new app to work correctly," she says. "This kind of distraction is what I call the new rude."
Careful planning is just what Santa ordered, says Brian Block, from Pierpont Communications in Houston. His first move with any gift giving is to ease the frustration that comes with any learning curve. "If anyone in my family gets or gives a new device, the first thing I am going to do is program it with everything I think they might need or want to use and then show them exactly how to use it," he says.
"We will use social media to keep our family in touch," Mr. block says. But, he adds, he won't let it take over.


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The Details:
Porsche's "there is no substitute" tagline may has just been reaffirmed in Germany. The Porsche 918 Spyder has achieved any automakers dream at the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. An incredible time of just six minutes and 57sec was achieved around the 12.8-mile ring. This shaves 14sec off the previous record. Porsche factory driver Marc Lieb held an average speed of 111.5 mph to accomplish the goal - take that in for a minute.
"We promised a great deal with the 918 Spyder, namely to redefine driving pleasure, efficiency and performance. We have kept our word," said Wolfgang Hatz, member of the Porsche AG Board of Management in charge of Research and Development.
The 3616 lb (unladen with Weissach package) 918 Spyder is powered by three sources: a naturally aspirated 4.6L V8 engine that produces 608hp and 398 lb-ft, 154hp hybrid module on the rear axle and a 127hp electric motor on the front axle. These three powerplants combine to make a total output of 887hp and 590+ lb-ft of torque depending on the power mode, rpm range and gear. When utilizing 7th gear, the maximum torque rating calculated on the crankshaft reaches 940 lb-ft, according to Porsche. A 7-speed PDK gearbox powers this 918 Spyder allowing it to reach 0-62mph in 2.7sec. In electric mode, the 918 Spyder reaches 62mph from 0 in 6.9sec.
"The radical hybridization of the 918 Spyder from the very outset is what made this lap record possible" said Dr. Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project. "The lap time on the Nordschleife is and remains the toughest measure of a super sports car. Posting a time of 6 minutes and 57sec, we achieved a result of which everyone in the development team and at Porsche as a whole is rightly proud."
We wonder how the German automaker will one-up itself next. Whatever it is, we can't wait to see.


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Every wish experience begins with a referral.
We rely on wish referrals from caring individuals to help us reach more kids with critical illnesses every year and grant them a wish that changes lives, forever. The eligibility consideration process is initiated when a wish referral inquiry is submitted to the local chapter. Learn more about who is eligible for a wish, who can refer a child and how the referral process works.
A child with a critical illness who has reached the age of 2½ and is younger than 18 at the time of referral is potentially eligible for a wish.
Potential wish kids, medical professionals, parents, legal guardians and family members with detailed knowledge of the child's current medical condition can initiate the referral process.
The child's imagination is always the driving force in determining, designing and coordinating the wish experience. Wish requests typically fall into one of five categories, but every wish is unique and powerful.
You may use our online inquiry form, or contact your local chapter, to get more information about referring a child who lives in the United States or one of its territories.
Share our online inquiry form with someone who can refer a child who lives in the United States or one of its territories.
Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager
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East Syracuse, NY 13057
Phone : (315) 475-9474
Fax : (315) 475-9476
Program Service Manager
5005 Campuswood Drive
East Syracuse, NY 13057
Phone : (315) 475-9474
Fax : (315) 475-9476
Fibrodysplagia Ossficans Progressiva (FOP)
I wish to meet…'my back up boys'!
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
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Acute Myeloid Leukemia
I wish to have…a hockey rink
Join us at our 2020 Golf Tournaments!
Stay in Touch!
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CapitalCityTickets.com carries a vast selection of Off The Rails Country Music Festival concert tickets at affordable prices. The Off The Rails Country Music Festival will take place at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX on May 6-7.
The Headliners for the Two-Day Festival are:
May 6 – Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore
May 7 – Jason Aldean and Dierks Bentley
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Browse the inventory of tickets for Off The Rails Country Music Festival at CapitalCityTickets.com today and save! https://www.capitalcitytickets.com/Off-The-Rails-Country-Music-Festival-Tickets
Disclaimer: CapitalCityTickets.com is not associated with any artists, teams, venues, organizations, institutions, bands, or artists featured on their website in any way. Also, any names or titles used in this press release are solely for descriptive purposes and do not imply, indicate, or suggest any type of affiliation, partnership, or endorsement.
CapitalCityTickets.com is a reliable online marketplace serving the secondary market with tickets for all major concerts, sports, and theatre events. Online shoppers can take advantage of Promo Code "CITY5" while tickets last.
Check out the discount codes online for all upcoming events. CapitalCityTickets.com keeps low overheads which allow this trusted ticket site to keep prices competitive
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Email: email@example.com
Phone: 1-855-514-5624
Country: United States
Website: http://www.capitalcitytickets.com/Off-The-Rails-Country-Music-Festival-Tickets


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|Find the best surf spots
GPS coordinates not set ! Edit this page and use the map selector to add the surf spot GPS location !
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Wannasurf.com is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this guide. You use this guide at your own risk.
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Your favourites and future surf spot lists
DistanceDay trip
WalkShort walk (5-15 mn)
Easy to find?OK
Public access?Public access
Special access4x4
Alternative name shoaow beach
Wave qualityRegional Classic
ExperienceExperienced surfers
FrequencyVery consistent (150 day/year)
DirectionRight and left
BottomSandy with rock
Normal lengthVery Long (300 to 500 m)
Good day lengthExceptional (>500m)
Good swell directionNorth, South
Good wind directionSouth
Swell sizeStarts working at 1.5m-2m /5ft-6ft and holds up to 4m+ / 12ft
Best tide positionMid and high tide
Best tide movementRising and falling tides
Week crowdEmpty
Week-end crowdEmpty
- Sharks
park your car in private parking lot because it is cheaper and safer.there is no tip to surf well there just cheaking around you all the time for shark.
the spot is beautiful, perfect wave for tube surfer but just beware of the shark.
one worad (perfect)
Author: Anonymous Contributors (1) They surfed this spot ! (0)
No available picture
No video available
|Aucune session
|Aucun voyage
By jamesie , 20-09-2007
shark - lets clear up all this shark debate, there are no small resident sharks as they've all been fished out, there's only big nomadic white pointers
By Anonymous , 29-06-2006
No Sharks - they have all been over fished and there are none left. It is a shame to see such a great creature fished out like that.
By anonymous , 31-01-2006
Liar - There's not much there and its got a 20kph rip. It's a long, messy, windy beach with a lot of fishermen and little worth surfing.
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A Look Ahead at Dell's Earnings
Dell, the PC maker that's still in the process of turning itself into an enterprise IT company, reports quarterly earnings today after the markets close in New York. The consensus view of analysts calls for the company to report a per-share profit of 40 cents on sales of $13.9 billion.
One of those analysts is Chris Whitmore of Deutsche Bank Securities. With demand for personal computers still soft, he expects a tough quarter, where Dell reports sales that come in a little light of the Street view. "We believe the company's top-line results this quarter were impacted by weak PC demand in Consumer, small and medium businesses and the Enterprise, partially offset by relative strength in the Federal and Public [sector] demand," he wrote in a note to clients Wednesday. Also, Europe continues to be weak both for PCs and IT spending as a whole.
The good news, he says, may come in Dell's profit margins. He expects gross margins to be 22 percent, and operating margins to be 6.6 percent, both down a point or two from the year-ago quarter. Dell's long-term strategy is to rely less on low-margin PCs and to boost sales of things that carry a lot of Dell-owned intellectual property. Also, prices on commodity parts like hard drives have come down recently. That will make the top line a mixed bag of bad news and good news. "We expect revenue to miss, but mix to shift towards Dell's higher margin infrastructure products," he wrote.
In time, he expects Dell's enterprise business to add $1 a share each year in per-share profits, some of which will come from the recently closed Quest Software acquisition, which at $2.4 billion is expected to add somewhere in the ballpark of a quarter billion dollars in annual revenue, but to dilute EPS by about two cents to three cents this quarter.


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NIIT Cloud Scholarships 2011
NIIT Cloud Scholarships 2011
Programme Highlights :
One year paid industry internship. CVs of NIIT Cloud Scholars shared with top I.T companies. Lateral entry to Semesters 3 & 4 of the B.Sc (I.T), B.Sc (I.T.I.M) degree awarded by Kuvempu University, Karnataka.
Scholarship Highlights :
Selection Process : Merit - based scholarship of up to Rs.45,000/- based on Class XII results, NIIT Cloud Scholarships Test and Personal Interview. Eligibility - Students pursuing Class XII marksheet and an application fee of Rs.50/-
Test date 18th September 2011
Call 1800 102 6448 (Airtel) / 1800 180 6448 (BSNL) or visit to www.niit.com/cloud
For more information visit : http://www.niit.com/


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Editor's Picks
Can we cancel Pride?
Pride 2013 – supposed to be helmed by Quezon City-backed Quezon City Pride Council – was to continue highlighting what LGBT Filipinos have achieved, and still need to work on. But with its cancellation only two weeks before the annual Pride march is to be held, it highlighted instead the need for LGBT Filipinos to rely only on themselves when pushing for their issues.
On November 23, at 2.32PM, the Quezon City Pride Council (QCPC) announced – through a post on its Facebook account – that it is cancelling its so-called "World Pride Festival".
As it stated:
"In conjunction with the national call in aid for the typhoon victims in the central Philippines, the Quezon City Government is canceling all celebrations, which includes the World Pride Parade on December 7… and hereby re-align its budget allocation and manpower to help the victims of typhoon Yolanda. We apologize deeply to the entire LGBT community and our allies for a short notice, and appeal to the entire community to join us in alleviating the needs of our affected countrymen."
The shortness of the notice is worth highlighting here.
Pride-related events are usually held in Metro Manila on the first Saturday of December. In the past (since 1999), all Pride-related events in Metro Manila were organized by the Task Force Pride (TFP), an organization that was actually formed by the LGBT community itself for this very purpose.
When QCPC became more active this year, it – in fact – also planned to hold a Pride March on December 7, thereby and inadvertently competing with TFP.
It was not surprising that, considering that QCPC was backed by the local government unit (LGU) of Quezon City, TFP eventually folded as far as running Pride-related events for 2013 was concerned. As early as July 23, TFP already announced that it is NOT hosting Pride for 2013.
To wit:
"TFP Philippines announces that it has decided not to host the annual Metro Manila Pride March for December 2013. This is in support of the planned Quezon City Pride March by the Quezon City Pride Council."
TFP added that "Quezon City Pride March is the culmination of the QC government's efforts in promoting equality for LGBT people. TFP applauds this pioneering endeavor and hopes to see other cities in Metro Manila create their own programs to end discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation."
With QCPC inadvertently downing TFP, misconceptions dominated – for instance, there was the initial assumption that the efforts of QCPC were the same as the efforts of TFP; and the confusion on the focus of QCPC, as the group also tapped non-QC LGBT organizations.
TFP repeatedly re-iterated its support of QCPC's efforts, highlighting that the two are not the same.
On October 19, it released a statement of support, which was also given as "the reason why TFP announced that it will not host a Metro Manila Pride March in 2013."
And then again, on November 8, it announced that "it is with a heavy heart that TFP is announcing the cancellation of the 2013 Metro Manila Pride celebration", adding that "should the Metro Manila LGBTs wish to celebrate Pride as a community, the position to lead TFP is open to those who would like to initiate that endeavor."
And then QCPC decided to cancel its Pride.
Meaning, if there are people (i.e. not QCPC) who are still keen to organize an event, they will only have two weeks to come up with alternative plans.
And so the question needs to be asked: Can Pride be canceled?
Here's my take.
Helping the victims of Yolanda is a no-brainer; it is, in fact, what's conscionable.
However, one need not be sacrificed for the other to happen.
Helping should be done, yes; but Pride should also be held (LGBT organizations are showing how celebrating can be a tool to help).
Because, in truth, we don't live in vacuums.
So much needs to be marked in the lives of LGBT Filipinos.
We've had successes.
QCPC's formation is, in itself, worth celebrating (considering that Quezon City still does not have an anti-discrimination ordinance).
Ladlad Caraga Inc. is hosting the 1st LGBT Pride March in Butuan and Caraga this December.
The election of members of the LGBT community in public posts (e.g. Ms Jhane Dela Cruz as the first transgender village chief of Barangay Iba in Hagonoy, Bulacan).
Yet there remain challenges.
The absence of an anti-discrimination law.
The growing rate of HIV infection among men who have sex with men.
The under-reporting of LGBT-related hate crimes in various parts of the Philippines.
And all these need to be highlighted.
Pride has been serving to do this, exactly – i.e. highlight what we have done, and what we still need to do.
And this is why Pride is important.
So important that no government unit should dictate it for us.
It should be the community itself that does that.
And so the task now falls on LGBT Filipinos themselves to gather to highlight Pride.
Editor's Picks
Anti-discrimination ordinance passes final reading in Zamboanga City; awaits mayor's signature
Zamboanga joins the growing number of local government units that now has an anti-discrimination ordinance.
The rainbow rises in Zamboanga City.
The 1st class highly urbanized city in the Zamboanga Peninsula of the Philippines, Zamboanga, joins the growing number of local government units (LGUs) that now has an anti-discrimination ordinance (ADO).
As helmed by Hon. Lilibeth Macrohon Nuño, the ADO passed the third and final reading at the Sangguniang Panglunsod of the City of Zamboanga on October 6.
The ADO is actually not only specific to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Instead, it is a more comprehensive ADO that also prohibits discrimination based on race, color, civil and social status, language, religion, national or social origin, culture and ethnicity, property, birth or age, disability and health status, creed and ideological beliefs, and physical appearance.
The ADO now goes to the desk of Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar for signing.
As the sixth most populous and third largest city by land area in the Philippines, Zamboanga has a population of 861,799 people (as of 2015). The ADO was pushed by local LGBTQIA organization, Mujer-LGBT Organization Inc.
Editor's Picks
Covid-19 and the freelancer's dilemma
The Philippines is home to a "vibrant gig economy", with an estimated 1.5 million freelancers in the country. But Covid-19 responses actually do not include them, so what happens to them now?
Kate is a visual artist. She resigned from her day job to pursue her passion two years ago. Painting and creating origami, her income mainly came from the sales of her artworks; supplemented by home-based art classes to elementary and high school students.
Nicole is a freelance makeup artist. Her clients varied from celebrities to socialites to brides and debutantes… and everything in between. Nicole used to earn a minimum of P3,000 per client, with the amount increasing depending on the type of service being offered.
Lumina is a drag artist, a common face in dance clubs and in events. Aside from her "talent fee", she also used to get "tips" from customers.
But when the Covid-19 related Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) took effect in Luzon starting last March 17, their capacity to earn a living was also put on hold. And people like them – a.k.a. "freelancers" – are many.
In May 2019, PayPal (the payment system company) reported that the Philippines is home to a "vibrant gig economy", with an estimated 1.5 million freelancers in the country. In fact, this is a segment that is fast becoming an influential part of the Filipino workforce and a key engine driving the growth of the country's economy.
The terms used to refer to them may vary – e.g. In October 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that of the 73,528,000 population in the Philippines, ages 15 years and over, 95.5% are employed. And 25% of them are "self-employed workers". Freelancers also fall under PSA's categorization.
And ECQ has been devastating to these Filipinos.
"The current lockdown left us, freelance workers, in a complete halt — events and shows were cancelled. It technically made us jobless since we do not have the option of working from home," Lumina said.
Like Lumina, Kate said freelancer workers are "so tied to the situation."
"Even if I want to sell my work or earn a living, I cannot do anything right now," Kate added.
What gov't support?
There are supposed to be government support for workers affected by the ECQ.
In a statement released last March 17, for instance, the Department of Labor and Employment stated that they "may be able to address the pressing needs of the rest of the affected workers in the quarantined areas."
DOLE developed the following mitigating measures: "Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program" (CAMP), "Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers" (TUPAD), and "DOLE-AKAP for OFWs".
CAMP will serve "affected workers regardless of status (i.e. permanent, probationary, or contractual), those employed in private establishments whose operations are affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic." TUPAD "aims to contribute to poverty reduction and inclusive growth." The program is "a community based (municipality/barangay) package of assistance that provides temporary wage employment." And the DOLE-AKAP specifically caters to overseas Filipino workers who have been displaced due to the imposition of lockdown or community quarantine, or have been infected with the disease.
DOLE reiterated that the only qualified beneficiaries are the underemployed, self-employed and displaced marginalized workers. To help these people, "employment" is offered – i.e. the nature of work shall be the disinfection or sanitation of their houses and its immediate vicinity, and the duration will be limited to 10 days. The person will be receiving 100% of the prevailing highest minimum wage in the region.
Another government body eyeing to supposedly help is the Social Security System (SSS), where employees of small businesses may apply to be considered for the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) Program.
To add, the government agency is also geared up to pay some 30,000 to 60,000 workers projected to be unemployed due to possible layoffs or closures of Covid-19 affected private companies.
Some arts-focused institutions like the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) also developed their own "disaster-triggered funding mechanism" to help address the "lack of support from the government." In FDCP's case, the program aims to help displaced freelance audio-visual workers—from talents, to production staff and technical crew members.
But note how all efforts are mum on freelance workers.
Making ends meet
And so many are left to do something they never did – i.e. rely on others just to survice.
In the case of Nicole, she relies solely on what her barangay provides: relief goods and minimal ayuda.
"Sobrang hirap ng sitwasyon ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako kukuha ng panggastos. 'Yung ipon ko paubos na, tapos kailangan ko pa magbayad ng renta sa bahay at ibang bills (The situation now is very hard. I don't know where to get money to spend. My savings are almost gone, and yet I still have to pay for my rent and the bills)," she said.
Lumina, for her part, is "lucky" because she still lives with her family, and "they have been providing for my basic needs since the lockdown started."
Her luck isn't necessarily shared by many – e.g. Human Rights Watch earlier reported that "added family stresses related to the Covid-19 crisis – including job loss, isolation, excessive confinement, and anxieties over health and finances – heighten the risk of violence in the home… The United Nations secretary-general has reported a 'horrifying' global surge in domestic-based violence linked to Covid-19, and calls to helplines in some countries have reportedly doubled."
To add: "In a household of six members, I think the goods that we are receiving from the government is not enough," Lumina said, hoping that "every freelance worker also receive benefits from the government that would in a way cover the earnings that we lost."
Bleak future?
In 2017, when PayPal conducted a survey of over 500 freelancers in the Philippines, the results showed that the country had a "very optimistic freelancer market", with 86% of freelancers claiming they anticipate future growth in their businesses. In fact, at that time, 23% of the respondents said their business is growing steadily, while 46% said their business is stable.
But Covid-19 turned everything upside-down for many.
There are rays of hope.
A Toptal survey, for instance, pointed out that 90% of companies depend on freelancers to augment their professional workforce, and – get this – 76% of surveyed executives intend to increase use of independent professionals to provide expertise either to supplement full-time talent or to access skills and experiences they lack in their workforce.
This may be particularly true to those whose works do not involve face-to-face engagement (e.g. graphics design, BPOs).
And so for the likes of Kate, Nicole and Lumina — and many other freelance workers for that matter, whose works rely on being with people — the way to get through now is to just to make do with what they can grasp on… while trapped inside and hoping for a better future, where reliance (including in a non-responsive government) is not in the picture…
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Keeping the faith at the time of COVID-19
Many ask where God is at the time of #Covid19, including #LGBTQIA people who – prior to this – already experienced difficulties because of their #SOGIESC, and now have a hard time with their expression of faith. But #LGBTQIA faith leaders say that this is as good a time as any to also highlight humanity and, yes, the rainbow #pride.
LGBTQIA people are "no strangers to isolation, hardships and the stress of being alone," said Bb. Kakay M. Pamaran, Director for Field Education of the Union Theological Seminary Philippines. And while stressing that she is, in no way, trying to "romanticize this, but I think of all people, we know what this level of isolation feels like because we've been there… many of us have been there."
Bb. Pamaran was referring to the isolation/stress of being alone and hardships brought about by Covid-19, with many countries – the Philippines included – forcing people to stay indoors, else risk getting infected. The World Health Organization (WHO), itself, acknowledged that "as the coronavirus pandemic rapidly sweeps across the world, it is inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among certain groups in particular…"
There are those whose (religious) faith is getting them through; but there are also those who, in times like this, start questioning their faith. This includes LGBTQIA people whose lives, as it is, are often marked by religious persecution. And so for those of faith and who belong to the rainbow family… how does one keep the faith at the time of Covid-19?
"When people are afraid, they turn to God," Bb. Pamaran said. "And the church, for the longest time, has been God's mouthpiece."
She, therefore, believes that "the church has a huge responsibility where this is concerned."
This April, the WHO released "Practical considerations and recommendations for religious leaders and faith-based communities in the context of COVID-19", which eyes to provide "practical guidance and recommendations to support the special role of religious leaders, faith-based organizations, and faith communities in COVID-19 education, preparedness, and response."
WHO's practical recommendations include: discouraging non-essential physical gatherings and, instead, organizing virtual gatherings through live-streaming, TV, radio, social media, et cetera; regulating the number and flow of people entering, attending or departing worship spaces to ensure safe distancing; management of pilgrim sites to respect physical distancing; and actual isolation of those who get ill/develop Covid-19 symptoms.
As stated by the WHO: Faith-based organizations (FBOs) "are a primary source of support, comfort, guidance, and direct health care and social service, for the communities they serve. Religious leaders of faith-based organizations and communities of faith can share health information to protect their own members and wider communities, which may be more likely to be accepted than from other sources. They can provide pastoral and spiritual support during public health emergencies and other health challenges and can advocate for the needs of vulnerable populations."
Bb. Pamaran agrees – to an extent.
"It is very important, it is imperative for church leaders (and) faith-based organizations (FBOs) to deal with Covid-19 in factual, scientific ways," she said. This is because "the things you say in the pulpit or all of the platforms that are available to you must always be based on scientific, medical evidence. And you have to exhaust all possible efforts to do your research because people tend to believe whoever is speaking behind the pulpit."
Bb. Pamaran added that "people turn to superstition if scientific answers are not available. So as faith-based leaders, it is our responsibility to fuse rationality and factual scientific inquiry in these desperate (concerns)."
According to Rev. Alfred Candid M. Jaropillo, Administrative Minister of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)-Ekklesia in R. Mapa St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Covid-19 is an "eye-opener for us that human as we are, we are finite beings, and we don't have the control of life."
But Rev. Jaropillo added that this ought to make people see that "people have contributions to the suffering of life, and the suffering of Mother Earth."
As FYI: In 2015, the Pew Research Center (PRC) noted that about 5% of the 2014 Religious Landscape Study's 35,000-plus respondents identified themselves as members of the LGB population. And of that group, a big 59% said they are religiously affiliated. But only 48% of them reported belonging to a Christian faith group, compared with 71% of the general public.
Meaning: Although many members of the LGBTQIA community may feel that most major faiths are unwelcoming to them, a majority of them are still religiously affiliated (though not necessarily as Christian, but also as part of smaller, non-Christian denominations).
Bb. Pamaran noted that LGBTQIA people may not be going to churches because these are unwelcoming, or "they just don't go to church because they gave up on church altogether. It was difficult for LGBTQIA people to express their faith pre-Covid-19; and now with Covid-19, it would be harder for them, I would imagine."
Rev. Jaropillo added that it is, therefore, the church's role to "open its doors… in ministering to people who need God the most: the vulnerable, poor, women, children, the displaced…"
There are, of course, open and affirming (or ONA, the term used by the United Church of Christ/UCC) churches and/or faith-based organizations, or those that affirm the "full inclusion of LGBTQIA and non-binary persons in the church's life and ministry."
And they are just as affected by Covid-19.
According to Bishop Regen Luna of the Catholic Diocese of One Spirit Philippines, which is based in the Province of Cavite, the mandate to socially distance meant they had to (temporarily) close, so "Covid-19 had a big impact on us."
Among others, they had to forego masses, Bible studies, weddings, baptism, et cetera.
"Ayaw din namin magkahawahan (We also do not one to infect each other)," he said.
Added Rev. Joseph San Jose, Administrative Pastor of the Open Table Metropolitan Community Church: In the context that we're a small church, "we don't have as much of the resources, the facilities that other churches have."
For instance, the Roman Catholic Church and bigger Protestant churches can broadcast live their masses/worships, "we are unable to do that."
The composition of the church membership is also proving to be a challenge, geographically speaking. Rev. San Jose, for instance, is in Laguna (approximately 100.3km from Mandaluyong, where the church is located); and members are from the City of Taguig, Quezon City, et cetera. "This is an issue with the Covid-19 lockdowns (that limit mobility of people)," he said.
Bb. Pamaran said that, largely, faith expressions involve corporate worship/gathering in one space. "Without that, faith expressions… significantly change."
But Bb. Pamaran wants people to draw something from this experience.
"It is also a good demonstration to non-LGBTQIA persons that this kind of isolation… is the normal for LGBTQIA persons even without Covid-19 as far as going to church is concerned, and in belonging in church communities," she said.
For Bishop Luna, the pandemic is (similarly) showcasing the resilience of LGBTQIA churches.
"Sanay na kami sa hirap (We're used to hardships)," he said, adding that they now know how to "stretch the budget to sustain a small church." This is even if their main source of income (i.e. donations, for holding of sacraments like baptism, marriage/weddings, et cetera) is affected by the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Covid-19, on its own, isn't the only problem; just as problematic are its effects on other issues.
In the case of Bishop Luna's church-goers, for instance, "we have members who are also living with HIV." Issues re access to life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) medicines have been reported on; particularly affecting those who have no access to treatment hubs/facilities, again because of immobility.
Rev. San Jose admitted that it's a "personal struggle as a pastor" not being able to help out, particularly at a time when people are asking what churches are doing to help the needy. But "with our situation, it's almost impossible for us to mobilize in the same way that other churches (have been mobilizing)."
Covid-19 introduced a "new normal" even to FBOs – here, largely dictated by going online.
Union Theological Seminary, for one, introduced online courses. Metropolitan Community Church hosts webinars and online conversations. Catholic Diocese of One Spirit Philippines has online services – though, as Bishop Luna said, holding sacraments (e.g. weddings) are still not done this way (thus the rescheduling of pre-booked events to next year). Meanwhile, Open Table Metropolitan Community Church's Rev. San Jose records sermon/homily for Sunday online "gatherings"; which is also the time when members videoconference to discuss their faith and, yes, Covid-19.
"I think that's going to be the trend," said Bb. Pamaran. "This is going to be how we facilitate conversations moving forward."
Rev. Jaropillo – whose UCCP-Ekklesia also has worship services – said that while churches now also use technology in ministering to people, "we don't stop there. Aside from virtual worship services, we concretize the love of God through relief operations. We address two things: the liturgical/spiritual ministry through virtual worship services, and the physical need of people. Churches should have a holistic approach (to this)."
"It's best to respond with creativity," Bb. Pamaran said.
At the time of Covid-19, Rev. Jaropillo said that "it's very natural to doubt and it's human to question one's faith: 'Natutulog ba ang Diyos (Is God asleep)?' But I believe I don't need to defend God. God understands the doubts of the people nowadays. So as a church, we need to journey with these people who are in doubt, especially at times of crises like now."
Bishop Luna agrees.
"Some people ask why God would let something like this happen," he said, adding that while these questions are unnecessary, that they are asked at all is "natural"/understandable. But he said that times like this offer lessons from God, and people should listen. "We believe in a loving God… We believe that God is teaching us – e.g. how to look after the environment, health, and respect of other creatures. We've forgotten these. We also live fast lives; we don't even think it can end in a blink of an eye."
For Rev. San Jose, it may be worth echoing what Pope Francis said when asked by a child why there's human suffering. "Sometimes we just don't know. It is what it is. There is a mystery of suffering and pain. And it would be very arrogant for us to try to answer very difficult and almost no-answer questions. The progressive faith compels us not to ask where God is, but to ask where we are and what we are doing at this time to be the channel of God's love, comfort, hope for ourselves and for others."
For Bb. Pamaran: "It's a common question to ask where God is in all these. But perhaps it's the best time to ask where humanity is in all these. It is the best time to look into our humanity and our creativity, our innovative imaginations to pull through this."
To LGBTQIA people of faith, Bishop Luna calls for prayers – "unified prayers" – while spending time with loved ones, and looking after oneself (e.g. mental health).
"Ibigay natin laat ng ito sa Panginoon (Surrender everything to God)," Bishop Luna said, adding: "We believe that this, too, shall pass."
LGBTQIA people are resilient, continuing to face hardships in life. "We can survive this, too," he said, "and pass this with flying colors."
It is also the resilience of the LGBTQIA people that Rev. Jaropillo wants to highlight. That LGBTQIA people find joy/laugh even in dark times is something that can be shared to cheer up communities. "Continue to shine as a rainbow, to inspire other people."
Covid-19, said Rev. San Jose, is also a good time for the LGBTQIA people to reflect on social justice. "There is a need for us to be more active in engaging in the issues faced by the country, by our community," he said. "There is really a great need to organize and mobilize."
"No sector of people understands isolation more than the LGBTQIA community. We can imagine, we can grasp the loneliness and isolation that Covid-19 brings. And so try to remember how you pulled through all these years, and then try to help others do the same," said Bb. Pamaran.
In the end, "now more than ever, the world needs color; the world needs our color. So be that… for yourself and for others," Bb. Pamaran ended.
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Being trans at the time of Covid-19 lockdown
#LGBT Filipinos still face legal impediments re their #SOGIESC, so many of the gov't responses related to #Covid19 exclude them. For #trans community members, interconnected issues include losing livelihood considering many belong to informal sectors, limited access to hormonal medications that could adversely affect mental/emotional/psychological health, and general forced invisibility that excludes them from gov't support.
At the moment, LGBTQIA people are (often) excluded in government assistance related to Covid-19, said Magdalena Robinson, CEO of the Cebu United Rainbow LGBTIQ+ Sector Inc. There are various (and many of them interrelated) reasons why this is so – e.g. because marriage equality is not recognized in the Philippines, many LGBTQIA Filipinos live alone ("For example, they just rent rooms") or perhaps couples live together yet are just considered as board mates, so they are not considered to belong to "homes"/"households". "That's a difficulty (that affects) access to the assistance of the government."
It is the intersection/inter-connection of issues that – in truth – define the experience of transgender Filipinos in particular as they try to survive the Covid-19 lockdown.
To start, there's the issue with accessing hormonal medications.
As noted by Jhen Latorre of the Pioneer FTM (Pioneer Filipino Trans men Movement), members of the transpinoy/trans men community already noted issues re accessing testosterone (hormonal medications). Not only because the stocks are limited, ordering is challenging, but also "mahirap ang shipping (we also encounter issues with shipping)." This is even more so for those in provinces.
Robinson added that many trans people access hormonal medications from the black market. For example, some local suppliers buy from Thailand. But there are now issues with stocks, affected by the lockdown that limits mobility of goods (from overseas, as well as locally).
Now, this is worth highlighting: According to Kate Montecarlo Cordova, founding chairperson of the Association of Transgender People in the Philippines, "people have a hard time understanding the health impact of hormones to trans people."
Cordova said that many people now "think that taking hormones is just a luxury; that we just want it, and it's not even needed."
She added that often neglected in this line of conversation are the biological/physical, economic/financial, and psychological/emotional impacts of not having these hormonal medications – e.g. there are trans women who work as entertainers, and not having access to the needed meds could affect their physicality, which could affect their means of living.
In the end, "these are all interrelated," Cordova said. "There are intersectionalities."
Obviously this touches on the continuing "forced invisibility" of trans people in the Philippines particularly when talking legally – e.g. the country still doesn't have gender recognition law, and basically misgenders trans people by legally pigeonholing them according to their assigned sex at birth.
According to Latorre, at least in his group, most of their members have jobs that: 1. allow them to work at home, and 2. still give them regular salaries even during the Covid-19 lockdown.
But there are also those who are affected by "no work, no pay," he said. So these people now only rely from the support of family members."
Shane R. Parreno, chairperson of the Transpinays of Antipolo Organization, said that the percentage of members of the trans community who hold regular jobs remains low.
Local figures continue to be limited on this, but at least in the US, 29% of trans people live in poverty, compared to 14% of the general population; and trans people experience unemployment at three times the rate of the general population, with 30% of trans people reporting being fired, denied a promotion, or experiencing mistreatment in the workplace due to their gender identity in the past 12 months.
For Parreno, may trans Filipinos – and LGBTQIA community members, for that matter – are informal workers, e.g. hairdressers, make-up artists/cosmetologists, and tailors/seamstresses. And with "everybody affected by the lockdown, those working in these fields/areas do not have clients, so they do not earn," she said.
Robinson stressed the same point: There are trans women who work in the beauty industry, fashion industry, et cetera who do not have income now. "So we hope they will not be left out (in the giving of needed support from the government during the pandemic)."
Latorre – who has two kids, but who also did not qualify in the government's definition of "household" to be given support – said that even before, LGBTQIA families have always been set aside.
And because "there are trans people who are the breadwinners," Parreno said, "I hope that their SOGIESC won't be reason for them not to be included in (government support)."
There's also the difficulty in getting medical care.
Recognizing that trans people may need to see medical professionals (e.g. when transitioning), Latorre also isn't aware of clinics that are now open for them to access. This issue is ongoing, however, and is apparent even when there's no lockdown, since there remain few – if any – trans-specific medical practitioners in the Philippines, perhaps even more particularly in provinces.
"Sana di na magtagal ito ng sobra (I hope the lockdown doesn't last long)," Latorre said, because "alam ko din naman na kailangan pa din to see a doctor lalo na sa too-serious na matters (I recognize that there is still need to see a doctor, particularly for very serious matters)."
For Latorre, "nakakatulong ang organization (trans organizations help)." For instance, members of trans organizations can give tips re transitioning, or – if meds are needed – they can "lend" supplies.
In Cebu in central Philippines, Robinson said that transpinays asked their networks on where to get supplies. And when supplies are really hard to get, "we just advise them on the alternatives – e.g. maybe there are fruits that have high estrogen or anti-androgen properties."
Some food that are estrogen-rich, and help lower testosterone levels include: soy products like edamame, tofu, soy milk and miso; spearmint and peppermint; licorice root; vegetable oils; flaxseed; and certain types of nuts.
"We give out this information so we have alternatives for them," said Robinson, adding that those who received the information are "advised to share the same to their contacts."
For Robinson, "everyone is experiencing difficulties," she said, so "we have to support each other, fix each other's crown."
Latorre also has a practical recommendation: Since trans people are at home during the lockdown, they may want to use this to find time to talk to their families. "Baka ito na ang oras to open up (Maybe this is a good time to open up)," he said.
Cordova said that the lockdown highlights that "it's about time that we comfort each other. We can't expect our government, or other people to comfort us."
Meanwhile, Parreno has practical recommendations.
"Let's support our government – e.g. when it says for us to stay home, stay home. Talagang malaki ang impact nito (This has a big impact)," she said. "Ipakita natin… na hindi tayo pasaway (Let's show others we're not troublesome)."
And in the end, "let's pray that this will end soon para magkita-kita na tayo ulit, maka-rampa na tayo ulit (so we can see each other again, and wander/jaunt again)."
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Living with HIV at the time of Covid-19 lockdown
To date, there is still no evidence that the risk of infection of #COVID19 is different among persons living with #HIV. But the #lockdown is worsening the situation of many PLHIVs – e.g. in accessing their life-saving medicines, loss of income/livelihood, exclusion in government responses, depression, et cetera.
"Nakakadagdag ng takot (Covid-19 adds to the fear) of persons living with HIV," said Anthony Louie David, a Filipino living with HIV.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "at present there is no evidence that the risk of infection or complications of COVID-19 is different among PLHIVs who are clinically and immunologically stable on antiretroviral treatment when compared with the general population." WHO added that "it is unknown if the immunosuppression of HIV will put a person at greater risk for COVID-19."
However, "until more is known, additional precautions for all people with advanced HIV or poorly controlled HIV, should be employed." This is because "PLHIVs with advanced disease, those with low CD4 and high viral load and those who are not taking antiretroviral treatment have an increased risk of infections and related complications in general."
And so for David, because those with weaker immune systems are at higher risk of getting infected with Covid-19, "andoon yung takot (the fear is there)."
Rogeselle Burdeos Monton, also a PLHIV and the research and development officer of the Culture and Arts Managers of the Philippines, said that there's that "worry within yourself" that because one is immunocompromised, "you might end up being infected with another virus."
The fear – not just the lockdown – has been limiting.
David, for instance, hasn't been out of his house for weeks now – e.g. other family members have to do the groceries for him.
David is also troubled that his supply of life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) medicines is about to run out. "My treatment hub is in the City of Manila, and I am now in Biñan City, Laguna (approximately 31 kilometers away)."
Living in a different local government unit (LGU) is also an issue because people from outside Metro Manila (where his treatment hub is) are barred from entering Metro Manila.
At least for Moses Myro Ayuha, another person living with HIV, "luckily, I have supplies until May." But Ayuha said that there are "blood brothers" who are really having difficulty in accessing their ARVs.
The Department of Health (DOH) tried to remedy this issue.
In March, DOH released an advisory that recognizes that "this current situation poses challenges in accessing life-saving medications… which may result in treatment interruption", so it is mandating treatment facilities to "exhaust all possible methods to ensure reliable access to PLHIVs to treatment without having to risk increased exposure to Covid-19 when accessing their medicines."
Meaning: PLHIVs can get their supplies (while the lockdown is ongoing) in other hubs that are nearest to them; or have their ARVs delivered to them, among others.
Monton's hub delivered his ARVs for him… but he had to pay for the courier/shipping fee on his own, which may be an issue for those who do not have money to do so.
Monton also noted that there are also confusions – e.g. the process of accessing ARVs in hubs not yours, with policies supposedly announced by the DOH causing confusion instead of clarity.
And so Monton said that some end up "borrowing meds."
David noted how non-government organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) are stepping up. For instance, there are those that deliver the ARVs to those who can't leave their houses – e.g. #AwraSafely has some guide for PLHIVs during the time of Covid-19.
Helping is also done to those who have lost their means of living – e.g. the AIDS Society of the Philippines (ASP) gives out some amount to HIV-positive mothers and/or their kids, as well as healthcare providers who are rendering HIV-related services during the Covid-19 lockdown period.
This is particularly helpful to those "na walang kakayanang bumili ng pagkain nila ngayong may lockdown dahil wala ring trabaho ngayon," David said.
Sadly – and this is worth highlighting – many of the existing solutions are available for PLHIVs in metropolitan areas, such as Metro Manila, where many NGOs and CBOs operate. Outside of Metro Manila, in the provinces, already problematic access to ARVs are worsened by the Covid-19 lockdown. Monton knows of a PLHIV in Laguna, for instance, who had to spend an entire day just to get through a series of checkpoints to access the nearest treatment hub to him; and then when he got there, "siguro nagmakaawa (maybe he begged) just to be given ARVs."
Like the rest of the population, the livelihood of PLHIVs are just-as-affected by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Ayuha, for one, said that – at least where he's staying, a halfway house for PLHIVs – they now rely on donations of food packs. "Nakakaraos din (We get by somehow)," he said.
But Ayuha said that "I am unable to do (what I usually do daily)," including giving HIV-related lectures (while working for non-government organizations). "Nabago talaga dahil di ka nga makalabas (This really changed because you can't go out)."
David is the same; with his income usually sourced from giving HIV-related talks. And with gatherings cancelled because of the lockdown, "walang maasahan kundi pamilya ko lang (I only rely on my family)."
Monton, meanwhile, is a freelance worker, so his earnings are also affected. He may be luckier than most because he has savings; but he knows of other PLHIVs who – even now – are already worrying where to source the money for the incoming months' bills (e.g. rent, utilities, et cetera).
Monton actually hopes that that the government's financial support be made more inclusive. "When it comes to evaluating people who are currently financially challenged." At the end of the day, he added, even PLHIVs are "also tax-payers."
David said that there are other issues affecting PLHIVs now highlighted by Covid-19 – e.g. depression. To deal with this, he recommends "keeping yourself busy."
So David said: "Better your immune system because Covid-19 isn't just going to be here now. Even without the lockdown, Covid-19 will still be there. So gain strength so that when the lockdown is lifted and we're finally allowed to go out, we know we'd still be safe because we've properly prepared."
Monton gives three practical tips.
First, with being idle affecting mental health, along with the fear of getting Covid-19 and accessing ARVs, "learn how to divert your attention," he said. "Your fears are valid, but focus on your well-being as a PLHIV."
Second, take precautions – e.g. wear face mask when going out, disinfect particularly before touching the face, et cetera.
And third, "magdasal (pray)," he said. Maybe not even because one is religious, but for "peace of mind… somehow it helps."
For Ayuha, "PLHIVs should take precautionary measures… particularly if they go out." Practically, "wear mask," he said, though more importantly, "better your immune system… and huwag praning (stop panicking)."
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LGBTQIA people as Covid-19's hidden victims forced to choose between risking infection or starving
How Covid-19 – and the eventual lockdowns – is impacting the livelihood of LGBTQIA people.
Choosing to go out while the world is panicking over Covid-19 is "scary," said Bella Abac, a freelance hairdresser/make-up artist from the City of Bacoor in the Province of Cavite. Though she knows she may be putting herself at risk of getting infected by the dreaded novel coronavirus 2019, "kailangan ko naman ay budget… kasi ito yung source of income ko (I need earn… because this is my source of income)."
The government – e.g. the barangay – gave some support; in Abac's case, a few kilos of rice, noodles and canned goods. But since the Covid-19 lockdown is expected to last for weeks, this is obviously not going to be enough. And so putting one at risk (and others at risk, for that matter) becomes a necessity to survive.
According to Ging Cristobal, project coordinator for Asia & Pacific Islands Region of OutRight Action International: "'Yung Covid-19, napakalaki ng pinsala sa lahat (Covid-19 did big damage do everyone)" though even more so to minority sectors like the LGBTQIA community.
To start, there's the damage done to livelihood, she said. Many LGBTQIA people still experience discrimination that force them to engage in informal sectors; "ibig sabihin nito, sila ay hairdresser, staff sa grocery, eatery, palengke… at alam natin na ito ay 'No work, No pay.' Mas pagtuunan natin ng pansin yung mga marginalized sectors (this means that these people are hairdressers, staff in groceries or eateries or markets… and they don't earn if they don't work. We should give attention to those in the marginalized sectors)."
The economic impact of Covid-19 is now being discussed, including in the Philippines. In February, for instance, Statista.com, for instance, reported that about 75% of Filipinos perceived that the Covid-19 outbreak would affect the international economy, while 65% believed the national economy of the Philippines would be affected.
In fact, as of early March 2020, the global pandemic already contracted a decline of 2.4% in US's GDP. Specific to the Philippines, the World Bank still sees the country's economy to grow by 3% at best, contracting 0.5% at worst in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But really, it is still too early to see how big an impact Covid-19 will have on the economy.
What abounds now, instead, are anecdotal evidence of the difficulties experienced because of the pandemic, and the lockdowns implemented to monitor/control the same.
For Elden Lopena, owner of Top Touch Beauty Salon in Cotabato City, we should be thankful that we're not as of yet as affected by other bigger countries; but "sana matapos na ito para di na masyado magtagal ang hirap (hopefully this ends soon so the hardships don't last long)".
Lopena lamented that as an owner of a salon, "meron din akong mga tauhan (I also have staff)" and he needs to help them with their daily needs, even as he worries where to source money for would-be expenses for his business (e.g. rental, utilities). Therefore, closing – even temporarily – has a big impact.
Maureen Mejia Chan, owner of Salon de Maureen in Makati City, estimates that she'd lose over P100,000 because of the lockdown, and so "hindi ko alam ano ang gagawin ko (I don't know what I'd do)."
The difficulty is more pronounced for those who earn daily wages, said Ms Garner delos Reyes Lagare, salon owner/hair and make-up artist/PMU artist and instructor. "Ang nakaka-awa ay yung mga taong walang ipon (It's sadder for people without savings)" because they don't have the capacity to buy basic needs (e.g. food, milk for babies, medicines, etc).
Workers in informal sectors – as noted by Cristobal – worry day to day.
Vinz Calvin (a.k.a. Lumina), a drag queen, said that with venues where they perform closed (for three weeks now), they haven't been earning at all.
To earn, some become more creative.
"Some drag queens, they hold shows online," Vinz Calvin said. The viewers give "tips" by sending these to remittance centers/apps.
The "creativity" assumes, however, that everyone affected by lockdown has access to the same internet (and speed) services, which isn't the case. Globe Telecom, for instance, urges subscribers to be 'conscientious' with internet use while most Filipinos are working from home, highlighting the impact of the demand on the connections/availability of connections.
Like Abac, who used to occasionally take risks by still services clients out of necessity, Lopena said that he knows of others who also do home service.
"Kung makakalabas… lalabas (If we can go out of our houses, we do so to serve clients)," he said, so that "kahit papaano makakatulong din sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin (so it helps in daily expenses)."
But fear (of getting infected or infecting others) is limiting this now, on top of the need to comply with the lockdowns, else risk getting arrested. And so many are basically left to be hungry.
For Cristobal, the Covid-19 lockdown also has an unwanted effects.
There's the surfacing of anti-LGBTQIA practices – e.g. in Quezon City, a lesbian couple complained that they did not receive goods from the local government because they were not considered "household"/"family". The city is fortunate enough to have an existing anti-discrimination ordinance (ADO) that prohibits discrimination of LGBTQIA people within the city, so that the issue of the lesbian couple was resolved; but other local government units (LGUs) also in lockdown do not have ADOs.
It also puts members of the LGBTQIA community to be in situations/locations where they are at risk of getting abused – e.g. students, for instance, are now forced to be at home for the whole day, even if family members may not be accepting of them, or are even abusive of them.
Chan said that she heard of the support the government is supposed to give to small- and medium-sized businesses, like her salon. If true, she said it could help because "it's difficult for businesspeople who are at a loss on where yo source the fund to continue financing their businesses."
But Chan is among those at a loss on how to access/avail of this said support.
Vinz Calvin added that, in the case of drag queens for instance, who are also workers in the entertainment industry, "we're not even sure if we qualify to ask for government support." And this is even if this support is just-as-needed by them.
For some, giving help is becoming normal (in lieu of relying on government help). Lopena, for instance, said that "yung naitabi naming salapi, tinutulungan na rin namin sila (we use our savings to help our staff)."
But for Lopena, "yung hingi ng mamamayan kasi, yung pagkain… sana mabigyan sila ng tamang ayuda (what people are asking for, including food… hopefully the government can help them with that)."
The sentiment was shared by Lagare who said that getting help is ideal, though currently, the promised help is not reaching to target populations. "Kaya nakaka-awa talaga yung walang ipon sa ganitong panahon (Those who do not have savings are disadvantaged at times like this)."
And so Abac said that government should prioritize those who are in dire need of support. She added, though, that "yung iba naman na kaya namang makabili, huwag na daing nang daing kasi ang government ay kumikilos naman (those who can afford to buy, stop simply complaining because the government is acting anyway)."
Eventually, said Vinz Calvin, people should learn to be more prepared.
"Hopefully something like this doesn't happens again, but in case it does, at least we have savings to use," he said.
But while everyone is affected, LGBTQIA people should be very mindful, said Cristobal.
"Itong mga darating na panahon ay hindi ko alam kung mas magiging mabuti na ang kalagayan o mas (sasama) pa. Pero kahit sana anong mangyari, hindi tayo laging iniiwan (I don't know if things will get better of worse. But whatever happens, LGBTQIA people shouldn't be left behind)," Cristobal ended.
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They're baaaaack! The Rolling Stones, Rock 'n' Roll's longest running major act, is hitting the road again, for the umpteenth time. The Rolling Stones North American tour of 18 shows was kicked off in New York.
Now celebrating 50 years as a performing act, the Rolling Stones have played to the biggest audiences in Rock 'n' Roll, including a Brazil show attended by more than a million spectators. (Photo: Mark Seliger)
If you can make it, do yourself a favor and see the "Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band of All Time" while you can. But if you can't get to the shows, here's an overview of some of the band's best performances on video, all of which show why this group has consistently been the most exciting live act in all of Rock music.
Song: "I'm All Right"
Year: 1964
DVD: The T.A.M.I. Show
Why It's A Classic: James Brown and Mick Jagger compete to see who rules the stage.
The Performance: A classic Rock 'n' Roll movie, The T.A.M.I. Show brought together a huge number of top performers. In a moment of heated backstage drama, the Stones were chosen to close the show—a decision that didn't please master showman James Brown, who taunted the band: "I'm gonna make you Rollin' Stones wish you'd never left England." Brown's set is absolutely amazing; he later claimed he never danced faster in his life. He dances with a vengeance.
Not-so-friendly rivals? Jagger had to figure out a way to out-perform James Brown, the greatest showman of the 1960s.
The Stones followed with five songs, finishing with this simple early rave-up. About two minutes in, Jagger settles the song down (despite the full-throttle screams of what sounds like a million teenage girls), then builds it back up, bit by bit. "I'm all right…" he sings over and over, changing the inflections and increasing the intensity each of the 15 times he sings the lyric. Finally, he's screaming it.
Three songs and a riot: The crazy early days, when Rock stars had to run for their lives.
Pretty soon, Jagger's moving his head as wildly as the maracas he's shaking. Mayhem ensues and the crowd goes nuts. Jagger couldn't out-dance James Brown, but he out-performed him all the same. This performance demonstrates the thrilling frenzy the band could generate live. The Stones' early shows were all the same, according to deadpan drummer Charlie Watts: "Three songs and then a riot would break out."
Song: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
Year: 1966
DVD: The Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Rolling Stones
Why It's A Classic: The band's top track, back when the song was still creating a sensation.
The Performance: It's a riff that still stops you in your tracks. The opening guitar growl that announces "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is one of the most identifiable and iconic pieces of popular music. The breakthrough song went to Number One (the band's first) during the boiling hot summer of 1965. It's all here: the famous fuzz-tone guitar, the snarling attitude, the amazing lyrics—which poke fun at American advertising.
The shot heard 'round the world. 1965′s "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" became the group's breakthrough hit.
This February 13, 1966, performance on the hugely popular Ed Sullivan Show did more to introduce this band to American audiences than any other. You can tell the band isn't lip-synching by guitarist Keith Richards' harmony singing and the extreme fuzz-tone effect box he was clicking on and off with his boot for the beginning riff and the chorus. See why "Satisfaction" is still the Rolling Stones' signature song, and why "Rolling Stone" magazine selected the song as the second-greatest Rock song of all time.
Song: "Midnight Rambler"
Year: 1972
DVD: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones
Why It's A Classic: Over-the-top showmanship meets gut-bucket Blues in a brutal live version filmed during the band's peak.
The Performance: By 1972, there was little debate about which was the best Rock 'n' Roll band in the world. Any doubts were steamrolled over when video footage from the Stones' 1972 tour was collected in this 1974 film. The band is in amazing condition and this tour probably represents its peak as a touring unit. Performances like these are why people started calling the Stones the best band in Rock 'n' Roll.
By 1972, the Stones were peaking, as Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones clearly proves.
Perennial live favorite "Midnight Rambler" is given a particularly aggressive workout, showcasing the interplay between singer Jagger and drummer Watts. This performance from Fort Worth, Texas, shows the sheer musical power that the Stones can generate, especially when they stretch out on a number, as they do on this 11-minute version, which is almost double the length of the original album cut. Seeing is believing. See it and you will believe…and you will be exhausted.
Song: "Shattered"
Year: 1978
DVD: Some Girls: Live in Texas '78 (Bonus Feature)
Why It's A Classic: An early Stones comeback that charted all the other comebacks still to come.
The Performance: By 1978, a lot of Rock fans were giving up on the band, which suffered some creative ups and downs during the 70s. The Stones responded by embracing the two breakout musical genres of the era…Disco and Punk. The album that addressed both styles, as well as the band's usual roots Rock 'n' Roll, was called Some Girls. It remains the band's biggest selling album and is now generally considered a modern masterpiece and perhaps the band's final masterwork.
The Stones hit Saturday Night Live like a "crossfire hurricane" back in 1978.
The studio audience at Saturday Night Live was primed to see the band in action on October 7, 1978, and the Stones brought the heat. During a manic, dizzying three-song set, the band showed itself to be in fierce condition and taking no prisoners. When the Stones careen into "Shattered" (the pumping final track from Some Girls), the band uses its go-for-broke power to push the set to its logical conclusion. By the end, Jagger is hopping about wildly, like a lab monkey that's grown addicted to mild electric shocks. This sizzling performance was proof positive that you could never count out the Rolling Stones…and you still never can.
Song: "Happy"
Year: 1991
DVD: Live: At the Max
Why It's A Classic: Keith pushes it to the limit and demonstrates why he's a guitar riff-master.
The Performance: Keith Richards is more than just the Stones' primary rhythm guitarist. He's also the co-writer of some of the greatest Rock standards of all time, an occasional vocalist and one of music's most colorful and funniest characters—kind of a mix of a cowboy and pirate. (True: Johnny Depp based his Jack Sparrow on his friend Richards, who even played Sparrow's father in 2007's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.)
Part cowboy, part pirate…all Rocker. Keith Richards "runs the kitchen" for the mighty Stones.
"Happy" is Richards' personal statement, and what an outlaw anthem it is: "I never kept a dollar past sunset," he brags. "It always burned a hole in my pants." About two minutes in he casually yells, "Let's get out, Ronnie," to Ron Wood (the Stones' other guitarist), signaling that it's time to bring the song home. Which Richards then proceeds to do, with about a minute of blistering lead guitar that demonstrates his ingenuity as one of Rock's greatest guitar gunslingers.
Still Rolling, Still Ruling
Part of why the Rolling Stones are great is because they still reflect their earliest influences, but another part has to do with the band's ability to sound fresh. Through its ongoing work with producer Don Was, the Rolling Stones are able to use their mastery of music production skills to keep them at the top of the music business.
Learning music production can help put you at the top of the pop charts, too. But where do you learn music production on the same tools that the pros use? Look no further than Digital Media Academy, which offers cutting-edge music camps for the digital age. DMA's Digital Audio, Music & Beat Production camp will teach you how to create your own rhythms for Rock, Hip-Hop, Dance, Electronica, Dubstep and other types of music. Plus, campers get to develop bass lines and use MIDI keyboards to make their own tracks. Look out, Mick. The kids are gunning for you.


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Taught on November 17, 1989
Yogi Bhajan taught hundreds of short tips and tools out of the tradition of Kundalini Yoga to help us live to our highest potential. This one is a great communication technique.
When Yogi Bhajan taught this mudra, he said, "There are certain techniques that can help you - without a cost. For example, whenever you do not know how to communicate something that is bothering you and you have to go to a meeting to talk."
Press the pad of the thumb firmly onto the nail of the Mercury (pinky) finger for about one minute. When we press the pad of the thumb onto the nail of the Mercury finger, it is called locking the Mercury finger. "By locking with the pinky (Mercury finger), you develop the inner strength to communicate anywhere with anyone, under any circumstances. Or read the thoughts thereafter."
Just press your little finger for about a minute.
Then change the mudra and touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the Mercury (pinky) finger. "It is a total physiological situation. And when you will touch this (the two tips together) and sit, it means your mercury (communication energy) has to be dominating along with your ego. There is no reason that you should not carry the day."
This technique was taught to help us when we don't know how to communicate something that is bothering us. It works equally well when we are trying to communicate some creative work and we are blocked.
"Your entire sense of communication shall come on your command. For that, you don't have to have initiation, you don't have to belong to anybody, and you will carry the day. It is a reality that when your ego (thumb) will press on the Mercury finger, it is just telling the horse, 'Baby, let us gallop."'Your entire sense of communication shall come on your command.
[Available in Infinity and Me]
© 3HO. This kriya is courtesy of YB Teachings, LLC. Used with permission.


text:
Jacket Legend 3.0 for women
Jacket Legend is one of the top jackets in our cross-country skiing collection and is developed for moderate to high intensity training in colder weather. Preferred by elite athletes who value technical functionality and mobility, Legend is made with the highest quality wind and water resistant 3-layer softshell material on the front and on the sleeves. Welded seams reduce friction and all seams are taped. Brushed material on the inside of the neck, as well as chin protection optimizes comfort. Bionic Finish Eco® provides additional durability and weather resistance. Strategically placed stretch panels under the sleeves and on the back keep freedom of movement and ventilation high. There are two hand pockets and a zipper as well as reflective details for increased visibility in low light.
- Breathable
- Water Resistance
- Wind Resistance
Technical features
- Tsubasa High Quality fabric
- Bionic Finish Eco®
- Miti stretch panels
- High quality taping Welded seams
- YKK Zippers
- 2 sidepockets
- 1 chestpocket
- Soft edge Collar
- Soft brushed chinguard
- Low profile cuff
- 1 hand adjuster at bottom
- Comfortable powerstretch sleeve ending
- Do not use fabric softener.
- Wash with similar colors.
- Close all zips before washing.
100% Polyester
87% Polyester
13% Elastane
92% Polyester
8% Elastane
International orders:
You may be charged import duties by your country. Please note that we are not responsible for those charges, nor can we predict if your order will be subject to import duties. Please consult your local customs office for more information. Orders within Europe will be shipped from Sweden.
Delivery time:
We strive to pack and ship your order as soon as possible. Standard delivery time within Nordic countries is 3-5 business days.
Standard delivery time for orders to the rest of Europe is 8-10 business days. Delays in shipping may occur due to customs processing in some countries.
Dæhlie currently offers free return worldwide. Please take care of the return sticker that will give you free return, in case you need to return items in your order.
You have the right to return items within 14 days for a refund. Items must be in unused condition, with tags attached. Please ship with a secure packing with the return form enclosed.
Dæhlie Team Wear products can not be returned, as these products are made to order.
After we receive your package, your refund will be processed within 7 business days and credited back to your credit card.
If you would like to change size or color, please return the product to us and we will refund the amount back to your card. You may place a new order when you wish to.
Products purchased with discount in a campaign period can be returned for a refund, but not exchanged.
Return Instructions:
Enclose the return note with your parcel and return via Post Nord (Nordic countries) or UPS. Use the return sticker to get free return. Our return addresses are:
Norway: Active Brands AS, c/o Exporama Senteret AS, Kragerudveien 50, 2013 Skjetten.
Europe: Active Brands AS, C/O DHL, Viaredsvägen 18, 50464 Borås, Sweden
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Dæhlie 365
With our jacket guide we help you find the right jacket. We have divided our jackets into heart rate zones from 1-5 based on activity. Read through the guide to find your heart rate zone and we'll show you the jackets for your use.Read more
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