It was March 16, 2020, the day when the Luzon-wide lockdown was announced to hopefully keep the virus at bay. Before that day I was very active at contributing to Google Maps as a local guide. However, with the restricted movement of people around Luzon and even in our City, doing my passion as a local guide was not possible. The thought of abandoning local guides altogether crossed my mind…however…
A few months ago the restrictions were relaxed, however, the threat of the virus still lingers which incapacitated everyone from doing the things that they do before the pandemic. If there is one thing that I realized, is the importance of a Local Guide especially during the pandemic. With people staying at home, their source of information is online, and as local guides, we can update people in our city or community on certain restaurants or parks that were opened to the public, their new operating hours, and the guidelines being imposed.
Just today, I had to edit my review of the Baguio Christmas Village in order to make it timely. To inform those who would like to visit the Christmas Village that they should register online first before going, among other new guidelines.
At a time when people’s movement is restricted, accurate information can be a very powerful tool, and as local guides, we are able to supply that much-needed information. To help someone by providing accurate information is enough for me to continue what I do as a local guide. So after 9 months…I am back to saying let’s guide!
Welcome back @VincePH ! Connect is still running along with or without Covid so you can always pop in here and not have to put a pause to your Local Guides activity! There have been tons of virtual meet-ups too so do check out what’s going on (by the way, the Meet-up process has changed slightly) and catch up on the announcements section!
And we have an upcoming huge event #CommunityLive2020 which is an unofficial event organised by Connect Moderators for the community!
Very welcome back @VincePH ! Nice to read your story and thank you for sharing. I fully understand that this special time has been tremendous difficult for all of us, it is something the world totally never experienced. However we are here, and with up and downs we are still Local Guides.
Glad the thoughts of abandoning have been left there, so let’s guide and happy guiding .
Welcome back @VincePH and I enjoyed your story with, in many respects, much similarity here and I guess everywhere else in the world, a world heavily impacted by this virus enemy. This has certainly been The year that God forgot!
Welcome back to the community, @VincePH ! I’m happy you decided to continue, and I love the last paragraph that you wrote and completely agree with it. And what we do is even more important now, to help businesses continue and people know the state of everything easily and without having to go out.
By the way, that’s such a nice photo!
Thank you for sharing this and for continue contributing!
Almost 1 year before I logged in again, and I just saw your encouraging words. Unfortunately, after posting this 1 year ago, I felt overwhelmed, I had so much to catch up on since I was told that Connect is active with or without COVID, true enough it is too much to take it that I had to stop trying to catch up for my mental well-being. Congratulations to those who were able to cope up despite the pandemic, unfortunately I am unable to. However, I regret that I was not able to read this 1 year ago, your words are really encouraging. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Unfortunately, I was not able to fulfill this 1 year ago, I just couldn’t catch up. But your encouraging words make me want to try again. Thank you and I regret not having to read this a year ago.
It certainly is! It is also the year we realize things. Thanks so much for the welcome back, unfortunately, I was not able to fulfill it last year because it was just too much to handle since I am just too late to catch up. Taking it easy this year will contribute when I can, I guess that is better for my mental well-being.
Thank you so much for your encouraging word, I also regret to have not seen your comment last year, it was definitely encouraging. Unfortunately, I had to take it easy with LG since it got too overwhelming for me, so much has happened during the pandemic that I cannot catch up. Anyway, I am glad to see how the community has grown, and hope for everyone’s sustained physical and mental well-being.
As a suggestion please don’t forget to tag the person you are responding to in each comment with the @ sign followed by the name here on Connect, like we do for you. In this way the person you are responding to will receive a notification but also the conversation in the post will be more clear.
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