It’s been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and the tension that comes with staying at home for a prolonged period is taking its toll. We all want to destress, recharge, and relax. But many of us still can’t travel to our dream destinations with lockdowns and border restrictions in place. Heck, visiting our loved ones or going to a nearby shopping mall has become riskier than ever.

Every year, the ice, cold, and snow of winter melt away to make way for spring. At long last, frost is gone, and flowers begin to bloom. Frozen lakes and rivers return to life, with the waters flowing once again. Spring symbolizes better days ahead and new beginnings. In the captivating words of former First Lady of the United States Lady Bird Johnson, “where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

A video of local police and village security barring a food delivery service from bringing in hot lugaw (rice porridge), saying that the dish is not essential, recently went viral and sparked both memes and online debate. One thing we can all agree on, however, is that e-commerce is vital during this pandemic. When many of us would rather stay safe inside our homes, the best thing to do is to order household staples and essentials online.

Staying cooped up for more than a year has its cons. For one, we all can’t wait to travel once again. Whether we want to tick items off our bucket list or revisit our favorite destinations, we can’t wait to get out of the house, period. Global credit card brand American Express attests to what we’ve known all along during this pandemic. In a recent Global Travel Trends Report, they shared that consumers of all generations are willing to give up a month of social media to vacation.

Being the capital of the American state of Mississippi, Jackson is a city full of soul and character. Here, you can find plenty of unique museums, restaurants, and historic attractions such as Mississippi State Capitol, Old Capitol Museum, and Eudora Welty House & Garden. While in Jackson, you can navigate the Pearl River on a kayak and see some wonderful animal species at The Jackson Zoo.

The final days of Holy Week—Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday—are a period of prayer, meditation, and reflection for Christians everywhere. But with the number of COVID-19 cases still on the rise, many families choose to spend Holy Week safe at home. No pilgrimages, churchgoing, or even long weekend beach trips again this year.

Holy Week has begun. For Catholics worldwide, the days counting down to Easter are a week of religious traditions, masses, prayers, and self-reflection. In predominantly Catholic countries such as the Philippines, the week-long observance brings daily life to a standstill. But for the second consecutive year, many Filipinos will have to forego church pilgrimages, summer excursions, and Easter family reunions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Cebu, the Queen City of the South, is regarded as the second major capital of the Philippines. It’s a vibrant, cosmopolitan, and incredibly storied region with so much local flavor. Like many regional cuisines of the Philippines, Cebuano cooking is a reflection of the province’s unique landscape. Cebu City, for instance, has a mountain range to the north and Mactan Island to the south.