At 25, against great expectations and wishes, I decided to get married. The impact of losing the sole person who would've been the family's breadwinner was immense, yes, but most immense for my stepdad who was already well into his senior years.

He did not speak to me for three years. Until one day, a few days after Lia turned one, my mother phoned me to say he wanted us to spend a couple of days in a beach in Bataan with them - just like we used to. No ill words were spat, not one mention of the past. We happily shared meals, jests, sunsets. And Lia. This small bubble of light, like a trawl thrown into his sea, scooping away all litter and old life, leaving his seabed without a speck.

It was the last time we saw him alive.

After he passed away, I asked his driver, whom he worked closely with for more than a decade, if what I did depressed him. I don't know why I made such a futile inquiry. Perhaps, we all want a home for questions we couldn't bare to ask when the time called for them to be asked.

"Deeply. He was not the same after that," he replied.

I imagine him sitting motionless and somber by the window, sweeping the curtain with his fingers for light. There are times that image tempts me into feeling guilty. But each time I do, I try to remember the day he accompanied us home from the beach. I was afraid our disheveled 45-square meter pocket of low-cost housing - a far cry from his spacious, upmarket home in San Juan - would disappoint him.

He examined it from roof to ground, smiled, and said, "Your house is beautiful. It is." Then, he took one long, final look at Lia and gave her a gentle pat. “She is beautiful. You did a good job.”

With protocols and restrictions limiting public transportation, government-registered tourist vans are now offering regular trips to common provincial destinations. Extending an online booking service through http://booktouristvan.com, pre-booking to ride the trip is a requirement.

The online platform is powered by Biyaheroes and it aids van operators with a comprehensive system for contact tracing and inventory oversight. Passengers can experience paperless transactions, various payment options, and sure seats. Face masks are also given as freebies.

Here’s a list of all available tourist van trips so far together with their corresponding fares:

• SM Mall of Asia to Cabanatuan and vice versa (P550/person/way all-in)
• SM Mall of Asia to SM Rosales and vice versa (P770/person/way all-in)
• SM Mall of Asia to Clark or Dau and vice versa (P450/person/way all-in)
• Baguio to Dau and vice versa (P660/person/way all-in)
• Baguio to Clark (P660/person/way all-in)

Note: If you’ll be coming from Clark going to Baguio, you can go to Dau Terminal to board. Dau terminal is just a few minutes away from Clark International Airport.

Visit http://booktouristvan.com for all the available time schedules. 

Current travel requirements

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Additional Baguio travel requirements

Returning as a resident and/or visiting a relative? Register at eGov: Baguio is required.

Please note that there may be multiple travel requirements for each destination on national and provincial levels that may change from time to time. Kindly check the requirement of your respective LGUs before finalizing your trip.

Payment options

Emotional support animals are wonderful companions for people suffering from severe anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Though ESAs are not service animals, they do have some legal rights. For example, as long as you have a legitimate ESA letter, your animal can fly with you due to the Aircraft Carrier Access Act.

With this legislation, traveling with an ESA has become an easier process. However, your ESA is still a living, breathing animal with needs and feelings. Though an ESA is meant to provide comfort and security, it is also important to ensure their comfort as they fly.

So, if you’re getting ready to travel with your ESA, here are five tips to make the journey easier for both of you.

1 - Give the Airline Advanced Notice

You and your animal may be covered by the ACAA (with a valid letter), but you still need to give the airline a heads up well in advance. The crew needs to prep your seating area to give space for your animal, although most often they will have to stay in your lap if they’re small enough.

Most airlines have their own requirements as well and discussing these in advance will help you be more prepared.

2 – Bring a Comfortable Leash/Harness

Your ESA will need to be on a leash during your flight, so getting them a comfortable leash and collar - or better yet, a harness - should be a priority. Harnesses put less strain on their necks, but lighter collars and leashes are good, too. The strain shouldn’t be much of a problem if your ESA is well-trained.

Even if you aren’t traveling by plane, having a secure but comfortable harness will be the best for long rides. It’s easier to leave on the harness, even if you’re in your own car. Then you can clip on the leash and be ready to go any time.

3 - Eat, Play, Potty

No matter what method of travel you choose, you should make sure your pet has had the following beforehand:

• A meal

• Water

• Playtime

• Bathroom visits a couple of hours before you depart

It’s easier when traveling in your own car to stop for breaks, but for flights or train rides, your ESA will be stuck in one place for much longer. It’s almost impossible to give your animal food or water on a plane or train.

Most airports and likely train stations will have relief areas for ESAs and service animals, but it’s still best to try to take care of it before.

4 - Pack the Essentials

You absolutely need your ESA letter above all else, but what about for your animal? You have your leash and harness, but you should also bring a bed or blanket for their comfort. A travel carrier is also not a bad idea, especially for smaller pets. You should also bring clean up supplies, just in case.

5 - Arrive Early

This mainly applies to plane and train travel, but having your ESA usually means you have pre-boarding access. Arrive early so you can take advantage of that. You won’t have to fight through as many people to get to your seat with your animal, which is better for the both of you.

Conclusion

Traveling with your ESA is not too different from traveling with a pet. Your animal will have a few more “freedoms,” like the ability to remain with you in your seat, but it’s still a living creature in your care. Take care of their comfort so you can rest easy during your trip!