Flying home for the holidays will cost you more this year

By Associated Press/Manila Times

PEOPLE still looking to book trips home to visit family or take a vacation during the holidays need to act fast and prepare for sticker shock.

Airline executives say that based on bookings, they expect huge demand for flights over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Travel experts say the best deals for airfares and hotels are already gone.

  

On social media, plenty of travelers think they are being gouged. It's an understandable sentiment when government data shows that airfares in October were up 43 percent from a year earlier, and US airlines reported a combined profit of more than $2.4 billion in the third quarter.

Part of the reason for high fares is that airlines are still operating fewer flights than in 2019 even though passenger numbers are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.

"Fewer flights and more people looking to head home or take vacation for the holidays means two things: Prices will be higher, and we will see flights sell out for both holidays," says Holly Berg, chief economist for travel-data provider Hopper.

Yulia Parr knows exactly what Berg is talking about. The Annandale, Virginia, woman struggled to find a reasonably priced flight home for her young son, who is spending Thanksgiving with his grandmother in Texas while Parr visits her husband, who is on active military duty in California. She finally found a $250 one-way ticket on Southwest, but it's not until the Tuesday after the holiday.

Parr figures she waited too long to book a flight.

"My husband's kids are flying home for Christmas," she said. "Those tickets were bought long ago, so they're not too bad."

Prices for air travel and lodging usually rise heading into the holidays, and it happened earlier this year. That is leading some travelers in Europe to book shorter trips, according to Axel Hefer, CEO of Germany-based hotel-search company Trivago.

"Hotel prices are up absolutely everywhere," he said. "If you have the same budget or even a lower budget through inflation, and you still want to travel, you just cut out a day."

Hotels are struggling with labor shortages, another cause of higher prices. Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings, which owns travel-search sites including Priceline and Kayak, says one hotelier told him he can't fill all his rooms because he doesn't have enough staff.

Rates for car rentals aren't as crazy as they were during much of 2021, when some popular locations ran out of vehicles. Still, the availability of vehicles is tight because the cost of new cars has prevented rental companies from fully rebuilding fleets that they culled early in the pandemic.

US consumers are facing the highest inflation in 40 years, and there is growing concern about a potential recession. That isn't showing up in travel numbers, however.

The number of travelers going through airport checkpoints has recovered to nearly 95 percent of 2019 traffic, according to Transportation Security Administration figures for October. Travel industry officials say holiday travel might top pre-pandemic levels.

Airlines haven't always done a good job handling the big crowds, even though they have been hiring workers to replace those who left after Covid-19 hit. The rates of canceled and delayed flights rose above pre-pandemic levels this summer, causing airlines to slow down plans to add more flights.

US airlines operated only 84 percent as many US flights as they did in October 2019, and plan about the same percentage in December, according to travel-data firm Cirium. On average, airlines are using bigger planes with more seats this year, which partly offsets the reduction in flights.

"We are definitely seeing a lot of strength for the holidays," Andrew Nocella, United Airlines' chief commercial officer, said on the company's earnings call in October. "We're approaching the Thanksgiving timeframe, and our bookings are incredibly strong."

Airline executives and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg blamed each other for widespread flight problems over the summer. Airline CEOs say that after hiring more pilots and other workers, they are prepared for the holiday mob.

Travel experts offer tips for saving money and avoiding getting stranded by a canceled flight, although the advice hasn't changed much from previous years.

Be flexible about dates and even destinations, although that's not possible when visiting grandma's house. In a recent search, the cheapest flights from Los Angeles to New York around Christmas were on Christmas Eve and returning New Year's Eve.

Look into discount airlines and alternate airports, but know that smaller airlines have fewer options for rebooking passengers after a flight is canceled.

Fly early in the day to lower your risk of a delay or cancellation. "If something goes wrong, it tends to progress throughout the day — it gets to be a domino effect," says Chuck Thackston, general manager of Airlines Reporting Corp., an intermediary between airlines and travel agents.

There are plenty of theories on the best day of the week to book travel. Thackston says it's Sunday because airlines know that's when many price-conscious consumers are shopping, and carriers tailor offerings for them.

For the most part, airlines have dodged the accusations of price-gouging that have swirled around oil companies — which drew another rebuke this week from President Joe Biden — and other industries.

Accountable US, an advocacy group critical of corporations, linked airline delays and cancellations this summer to job cuts during the pandemic and poor treatment of workers. "But generally, we would say the airline industry is not currently at the same level as big food, oil or retail in terms of gross profiteering," says Jeremy Funk, a spokesman for the group.

Brett Snyder, who runs a travel agency and writes the "Cranky Flier" blog about air travel, says prices are high simply because flights are down from 2019 while demand is booming.

"How is it gouging?" Snyder asks. "They don't want to go (take off) with empty seats, but they also don't want to sell everything for a dollar. It's basic economics."

Travelers are sacrificing to hold down the cost of their trips.

Sheena Hale and her daughter, Krysta Pyle, woke up at 3 a.m. and left their northwestern Indiana home an hour later to make a 6:25 a.m. flight in Chicago last week.

"We are exhausted," Hale said after the plane landed in Dallas, where Krysta was taking part in a cheer competition. "We started early because the early flights were much cheaper. Flights are way too expensive."

They're not going anywhere for Christmas.

"We don't have to travel. We're staying home with family," Hale said.

Senate approval of OVP’s P2.3-B budget shows ‘trust’ — VP Sara

by Raymund Antonio

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, Nov. 14, thanked the Senate for approving her office’s P2.3-billion 2023 budget, including the controversial P500 million in confidential funds, emphasizing how the move showed “confidence” and “trust” on the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

(Photo from Inday Sara Duterte via Facebook)

“My deepest gratitude to the members of the Philippine Senate for approving the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President,” she said in a statement. 

Duterte stressed the decision “demonstrates confidence and trust by the honorable senators of the integrity, commitment, and dedication of the OVP to good governance and public service.”

The swift approval from the Senate further “bolsters” the OVP’s “determination to ensure that social services and other government programs and projects reach communities and bring about positive development and provide solutions to the problems of our fellow Filipinos across the country,” the statement read. 

This is especially true for “those who are living in underprivileged communities and those battered by natural calamities and armed conflicts,” Duterte added.

The OVP’s 2023 budget is 300 percent more than the office’s 2022 budget at P702 million.

During the Senate deliberation on Monday, only Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel questioned the OVP’s 2023 budget, particularly its P500-million confidential funds, as well as the alleged “replication” of existing government programs by the OVP. 

The bulk of the OVP budget will be allocated in its social services program or what it called “good governance program.”

Earlier, Vice Presidential spokesman Reynold Munsayac said that the program will cover free rides, “PagbaBAGo” campaign, food trucks, livelihood projects, and medical and burial assistance.

Stocks rise as market turning bullish

by James A. Loyola, MB

The local stock market continued to rise on fresh corporate earnings reports as well as the easing of inflation rate in the US announced last week.

The main index added 67.99 points or 1.08 percent to close at 6,354.76 as Conglomerates led the advance although the Mining and Oil counter retreated. Volume improved to 634 million shares worth P5.65 billion as gainers beat losers 103 to 85 with 39 unchanged. 

PSE

“Philippine shares picked up from last week, continuing their ascent after stellar corporate earnings and growth data encouraged investors to buy into the markt,” said Regina Capital Development Corporation Managing Director Luis Limlingan.

Philstocks Financial Assistant Research Manager Claire Alviar said “The PSEi continued its bullish momentum this Monday, amid good third-quarter earnings, so far, and positive spillover from Wall Street as investors cheered the slowdown of the October inflation rate.”

She noted that, “So far, the sentiment at home is turning bullish. Market participation has improved as well. Moreover, the PSEi’s short-term movement is an uptrend, with the 50-day exponential moving average pointing upwards already.”

Typical Filipino (XXXII) - Typisch Philippinisch (XXXII): Children in the Philippines/Kinder auf den Philippinen

 

 

Young children are often raised by an extended family household with various relatives taking on child-rearing responsibilities. Children are often take on responsibility at an early age. Girls especially are expected to help with cooking and household chores and look after younger siblings. This is especially true if the wife in a family is engaged in economic activity.

Filipinos are typically highly indulgent of their children, especially boys, so may well tolerate children’s anti-social behaviour in public. In contrast, public displays of anger towards children, even just overt chastising or reprimanding, are not well regarded. [Source: Canadian Center for Intercultural Learning+++]

Infants are raised by family members. Young children are sent to live with their grandparents or aunts for extended periods. People who live outside the country leave their children with the family for the preschool years. Children are seldom alone in a system in which adults desire company and do not understand the need for privacy. Children have no pressure to become toilet trained or to learn to eat at the table. They are spoon fed or eat from a parent's plate until the age of six. They must learn respect for authority, obedience, and religious faith. Self-esteem is fostered.

In ländlichen Gegenden werden die Kinder zu Hause geboren. Die ganze Familie nimmt an dem Ereignis teil. Nicht allein die Mutter kümmert sich um das Kind, alle anderen Verwandten nehmen irgendwie teil. Das "westliche Kind": kulturelle Unterschiede zu wesentlichen Lebensstilen wurzeln in den Kindheitserfahrungen.

0:55 / 14:27

#davao #philippines #mindanao

First Time in Davao, Largest City in Mindanao, Philippines 🇵🇭

Jason Billam Travel

559K subscribers

4,741 views Nov 12, 2022

I spend some time exploring Davao, the second largest city in the Philippines, and most populated on the island of Mindanao.

Life is Better in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Solem BGC

2.96K subscribers

66,139 views Nov 9, 2022

Here are my honest thoughts what I like about the Philippines and BGC as a foreigner and why I left Europe/Germany and moved here earlier this year #bgc #philippines #bonifacio

Good governance resolves wars – Sara

By Red Mendoza, Sunday Times

Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Imee Marcos visit the Kagan tribe, a Muslim community located in Bacaca, Davao City, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. The tribe’s elders took the opportunity to convey their problems, such as flooding, to Duterte and Marcos, who celebrated her 67th birthday in the community. PHOTO BY ARJOY M. CENIZA

VICE President Sara Duterte stressed the importance of good governance in resolving conflicts such as wars, noting that government officials working with integrity and dedication to public service will allow the public to disengage themselves from violence.

In her speech at the Kusog Mindanaw Conference in Davao City on Friday, Duterte said that Mindanao is now experiencing "peace titme," which would allow the government to address the problems that could be exploited by terror groups to foment anger and incite people to resist the government.

Duterte is the highest Philippine official to attend the group's annual conference.

"Peace is a delicate, fragile beauty. It needs constant attention. In the case of Mindanao, it does not only need our continuous attention; it needs our constant, collective attention," Duterte added.

She described them as "peace doves," who were top government officials such as Cabinet members and ranking military officials who were supportive of their calls to end the war in Mindanao.

"Both presidents are no longer with us, but I believe that some of those who worked with their Peace Doves continue the Mindanao peace advocacy works even today." Duterte added.

She said that while the previous administration of his father, Rodrigo Duterte, had to deal with the radicalized groups behind terrorist attacks in Mindanao, the government had seen zero deployments of soldiers to the island.

Duterte also emphasized that peace should be on top of the Mindanao agenda for the country, noting that the war in the island should be "remembered only to remind us of why we should all work together and commit, protect, and defend peace at all costs."

She also called on every Mindanaoan, like herself, to acknowledge the sacrifices of fellow Mindanaoans who have fought against rebel groups to secure Mindanao and provide safety to the people.

"You have all the reasons to be proud of the tremendous job that you have done for Mindanao and your fellow Mindanaoans," she said.

Kusog Mindanaw is a Mindanao-wide organization that is established as a platform for discussion and development partnerships in the island.

Singer-actress Aubrey Caraan discovers songwriting in ‘Sana’

by Punch Liwanag, MB

After a long stint acting in movies and TV, Aubrey Caraan returns to her first love, music.

The singer-actress is back with a brand new single titled “Sana.”

Aubrey co-wrote this surging, mid-tempo R&B flavored pop track with Sean Cedro. 

It is her first foray into songwriting.

She related, “It’s my first time to co-write. And Sean (Cedro) convinced me to try it. It was hard at first but eventually I was able to enjoy the process.”

Aubrey eventually learned so many things.

“Mahirap pala kung ilalagay mo sa lyrics yung nararamdaman mo. Hindi pala dapat siya literal. Dapat may meaning, may puso, may bigat (ang mga lyrics). Dun ako nahirapan, but once we knew the direction of where the song wanted to go, it became a smoother writing process for me.” 

Aubrey added that “Sana” is “about wishful love, it’s about a dream that you want to become a reality, and it’s also about hope.”

And what does she hope and dream for?

“I’ve been doing this for a long time now, I started as a music artist, even before I acted in movies, sana I have a long career doing these things, especially music.”

“Ang meron kasi sa music na hindi ko mahahanap sa iba is yung puso,” said Aubrey of what keeps her coming back to music.

“Sa music kasi nag-ko connect lahat. I mean, different songs mean different things to me, some songs give me hope, gives me happiness, or relieves my stress. Iba talaga ang nabibigay sa kin ng music, Aubrey explains.

“That’s why I keep on pushing on doing this. It gives me so much and music does really help me in many ways as a person.” 

“I’m definitely going to write some more. I really enjoyed doing it and for me, I feel good singing my own song. It feels different.”

“I feel proud singing my own song.”

Aubrey Caraan will release her official music video for “Sana” (directed by Raymond Fabian and featuring Jairus Aquino) on YouTube, today, November 11.

ROUSED TO ANGER?

Anger. A day rarely goes by without us feeling angry. It is not necessary to cite examples. Sometimes, it's just a minor reason like we hate the fly at the wall. Sometimes anger has important reasons. 

Anger seems to become the main part of our daily life. That's why it is really important to talk (again?) about this phenomenon. As I said, anger is one of the most basic emotions. Everyone can really get angry. If someone told you, he won't get angry, better don't believe him.

Anger is a terrible feeling of being against something or someone. It can be my neighbor, because he is still (!) burning poisonous plastic and rubber garbage. Many of us get angry observing some politicians during those days worldwide.

Anger is a hostile emotion that sets people against one and another, or even against themselves. By its nature, anger involves opposition, hostility, hatred and dislike. Anger, however, is simpler to define than to identify. Emotions of antagonism can take a wider variety of faces. Expressions of anger range from the overt, in-your-face brand of open hostility to the cold indifference of a silent individual.

Anger at the workplace is becoming very common nowadays.

One of my good friends works as a stewardess. Imagine yourself 35,000 feet up, pushing a trolley down a narrow aisle surrounded by restless passengers. A toddler is blocking your path, his parents not immediately visible. A passenger is irritated that he can no longer pay cash for an in-flight meal, another is demanding to be allowed past to use the toilet. And your job is to meet all of their needs with the same show of friendly willingness. For a cabin crew member, this is when emotional labor kicks in at work.

A term first coined by sociologist Arlie Hochschild, it’s the work we do to regulate our emotions to create “a publicly visible facial and bodily display within the workplace”.

At times, anger can be felt like an inner fire. It hits you in the gut. You see red and feel hot and maybe sweaty. Your stomach gives you problems, our blood pressure rises, and breathing rate increases. Not only neighbors or politicians are the reason for anger. The silent withdrawal and lack of understanding and innumerable shortcomings of a partner or in the family are often an indication that one is angrily punishing the other for not doing things his or her way.

 Back to the workplace: unhelpful attitudes such as ‘I’m not good enough’ may lead to thinking patterns in the workplace such as ‘No-one else is working as hard as I seem to be’ or ‘I must do a perfect job’, and can initiate and maintain high levels of workplace anxiety.

When research into emotional labor first began, it focused on the service industry with the underlying presumption that the more client or customer interaction you had, the more emotional labor was needed.

However, more recently psychologists have expanded their focus to other professions and found burnout can relate more closely to how employees manage their emotions during interactions, rather than the volume of interactions themselves. Perhaps just only today you turned to a colleague to convey interest in what they said, or had to work hard not to rise to criticism. It may have been that biting your lip rather than expressing feeling hurt was particularly demanding of your inner resource.

But in some cases maintaining the façade can become too much, and the toll is cumulative. 

In another friend's last position, the “customer was king”.  She was working in a shopping mall. Many times, she got a tirade of abuse from several customers. “When I explained what happened to my senior, I was told I must have said or done something to warrant this response… I was then told I should go and apologize.” Yes, that's how it is!

As I stated earlier: Minor things could become the start of anger. Over the years, handling the stress caused by suppressing one's emotions became much harder. Small things seemed huge, we easily dreaded going to work and  anxiety escalated. 

Across the globe, employees in many professions are expected to embrace a work culture that requires the outward display of particular emotions – these can include ambition, aggression and a hunger for success.

The way we handle emotional labor can be categorized in two ways – surface acting and deep acting.

A few years ago, the New York Times wrote a “lengthy piece about the “Amazon Way”, describing very specific and exacting behaviour the retail company required of its employees and the effects, both positive and negative, that this had on some of them. While some appeared to thrive in the environment, others struggled with constant pressure to show the correct corporate face.

“How we cope with high levels of emotional labour likely has its origins in childhood experience, which shapes the attitudes we develop about ourselves, others and the world,” says clinical and occupational psychologist Lucy Leonard.  

“Unhelpful attitudes such as ‘I’m not good enough’ may lead to thinking patterns in the workplace such as ‘No-one else is working as hard as I seem to be’ or ‘I must do a perfect job”, and can initiate and maintain high levels of workplace anxiety,” says Leonard.  

Workers are often expected to provide good service to people expressing anger or anxiety – and may have to do this while feeling frustrated, worried or offended themselves.

Take the example of a particularly tough phone call. If you are surface acting you respond to the caller by altering your outward expression, saying the appropriate things, listening while keeping your actual feelings entirely intact. With deep acting you make a deliberate effort to change your real feelings to tap in to what the person is saying – you may not agree with the manner of it but appreciate the aim.

Both could be thought of as just being polite but the latter approach – trying to emotionally connect with another person’s point of view – is associated with a lower risk of burnout. Good thing: many offices over the last decade have created recreational or rest spaces in a bid to mitigate employee stress.

When things get tough, you might be very lucky  talking to colleagues to unload. “It’s the saying it out loud that allows me to test and validate my own reaction. I can then go back to the person concerned,” one of my former officemates in Germany explained many years ago.

Those who report regularly having to display emotions at work that conflict with their own feelings are more likely to experience emotional exhaustion

Remaining true to your feelings appears to be key – numerous studies show those who report regularly having to display emotions at work that conflict with their own feelings are more likely to experience emotional exhaustion.

Of course, everybody needs to be professional at work and handling difficult clients and colleagues is often just part of the job. But what’s clear is that putting yourself in their shoes and trying to understand their position is ultimately of greater benefit to your own well-being than voicing sentiments that, deep down, you don’t believe.

Where it is possible, workers should be truly empathetic, be aware of the impact the interaction is having on them and try to communicate in an authentic way. Easy to say, yes, I know. But let's give it a try!