As the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted the educational system in the Philippines, and the government declared that there would be no face-to-face classes for this year, teachers have to start finding solutions to reach their students, hand out assignments, manage their classroom, communicate with students, and so on.

For face-to-face interaction, there's Zoom, or Skype. But what about lessons, and class management? Luckily, there's a free application from Google, called Google Classroom.

Google Classroom helps both  teachers and students to communicate, and can be used to organize and manage assignments, for collaboration between students and between teachers, and for distance learning.

Here's what teachers can do with Google classroom:

1) Teacher's can add announcements and lesson materials.

2) Add and schedule assignments.

3) Grade submitted assignments.

4) Manage students and their progression.

Setting up Google Classroom is very easy.

1) Teachers can sign-up and log-in using your Google account and add students one-by-one.

2) Teachers can create their first class

by clicking "plus" button in the right upper corner. 

3) Once Teachers have created their class, they can invite students. Teacher's can also let students go to classroom.google.com and click "join class".

Now your online class is ready! There also several applications that you can integrate with Google Classroom to make online learning fun and convenient. For face to face interaction, your class can use Google Meet, a video conferencing too. You can also take quizzes or watch educational videos with appropriate applications. The possibilities are endless!

So, let's make most out of home schooling until the Covid-19 vaccine is discovered and the pandemic blows over. Soon, you'll be able to go back to classes like you used to and you'll appreciate how learning is more fun with social interaction.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made the lives of students in the Philippines, miserable. The government has banned face-to-face learning until a vaccine for the virus is found.

So, the Department of Education has come up with a plan to start the school year without face-to-face learning. For schools and universities, online learning via a teleconferencing app is the way to go. And Zoom is the recommended app to use in order for teachers and students to interact with each other, at the comfort of their own home.

​​​​Zoom is a video-conferencing application that allows people to have face to face meetings with many people online. By using your computer, or your mobile phone, you'll be able to connect to your teachers and your classmates, and attend classes.

So, how do you join Zoom If you are using a mobile device? Search for Zoom in the Apple App Store if you are using an iPhone, or Google Play Store, if you are using an Android phone. Install and download the Zoom App. 

If you are using a computer, you can access Zoom using a browser. You can also download the Zoom program and install it to your computer.

If you have your meeting ID and password given by the meeting host, click 'Join Meeting'. 

Allow Zoom to access your phone's camera and audio. Then click 'Join with Video'. If you are shy or taking a class in your pajamas, click 'Join without Video'. You can customize your profile to show your best photo.

Here's a tip so that you wouldn't be late for your Zoom class. Click the Zoom meeting link minutes before your class schedule. Follow the instructions to join computer audio and mute your microphone. Only Unmute when you are required to talk. Most of the time, your instructor should be recording the session so you and your classmates can watch it later.

This year may be a challenging time for both students and teachers. But learning must continue, and people are discovering new tools to interact and to share every day.

Resigned anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith has named Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque as the "godfather" of the alleged mafia in PhilHealth.

According to Keiths allegation, Duque has direct influence and oversight being the chairman the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism. He also claimed that that it was also Duque who approved all the appointments of "almost all of the members of the mafia."

On August 4, the former anti-fraud officer of the PhilHealth, Thorrsson Montes Keith, told senators that executives of the embattled agency may have pocketed around P15 billion through fraudulent schemes., which was denied by the officers, including the embattled Duque.

Duque is also in the middle of criticism because of the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Latest data from the Health Department showed that COVID-19 infections in the Philippines have spiked to nearly 170,000, the highest  in the Southeast Asia region.

The daily record high infections and continuous spike, as well as the protests from healthcare professionals prompted the President Duterte to impose a stricter quarantine policy for two weeks.

But who really is Francisco Duque?

Duque was born on February 13, 1957. He is a Filipino physician, and government official serving as Secretary of Health since 2017 in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte, a position he had previously held from 2005 to 2010 under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 

In June 2001, President Arroyo appointed Duque as President & CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. As President of PhilHealth, he initiated PhilHealth's Plan 500 which fast tracked the enrollment of 500,000 urban poor beneficiaries into the National Health Insurance Plan in one year. It ballooned 8 million beneficiaries by the end of his term and it has become one of President Arroyo's most hyped achievements.

His connections to the so called "Philhealth Mafia" and the healthcare situation in the country has increased the calls for his resignation, not just from ordinary citizens, but also from healthcare professionals, Congressmen and Senators as well. 

Amid mounting backlash, Duque said he takes “full responsibility” for his actions and decisions with regards to the country's COVID-19 response, but he denied having any involvement in the Philhealth 15 billion pesos scam.

The year 2020 was supposed to be a year of optimism for the Philippine pharmaceutical industry. Planning managers from Multinational and local companies painted a bright future for the industry and every strategy was laid down to the sales force during their respective national business conferences. Then Covid-19 happened.

As we continue to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, we also must deal with other diseases that cannot be ignored, like diabetes and heart disease. And doctors still feel the need to stay informed by pharma companies, when it comes to their choice of treatment.

During the lockdown, pharmaceutical companies are those among the few essential industries that are allowed to operate. Sure, deliveries of medical products were not hampered by the pandemic, and sales operations were done by phone and electronic means. But what about promotions?

With the majority of the personnel in sales and face to face interaction were limited, how did pharma companies reached the eyes and ears of their intended customers?

Here are some official and unofficial activities Medreps did during lockdown:

Text Messages - Sure it seems rude and unprofessional, but it is also the cheapest means to get your message across. Whatever way you look at it, and even in the guise of a friendly message, promoting via text message, or even reminding them about your products, only reserve to those who developed a real friendship with their clients.

Phone Calls - The same with text messages, but at least, phone calls are way better than promoting your products via text messages. Yet, the same with text messages, phone calls are reserved for people with established friendships. 

Video Conferencing - Product managers from MNC loved these. It uses technology to promote your brands in the guise of a CME (continuing medical education). Of course, food is delivered to the doctor's house or office, and professional fees are paid to the top specialist speaker.

Food deliveries - Medreps had been doing food deliveries like, since forever. But now, they get the services of a food delivery service provider. Even though there are no brand stickers on the food packaging, there will always be a "THANK YOU TO FRONTLINERS" caption then the company logo.

Servicing - This is reserved for those few brave and bold Medreps. Yung mga walang takot sa Covid-19.

Groceries - Because doctors had no time getting groceries on their own, especially if they are on duty, and some Medreps are willing to go the extra mile. But Medreps don't need to do this on their own, there are a lot of delivery services out there that do this for you. 

Pharmacy Visits - What can you do if you can't visit the doctors? Pharmacy visits had become crucial during the lockdown because it allows you to determine how doctors prescribe. It also ensures that stocks are ordered and replenished. 

These are just a few of the things Medrep did and are still doing. Did you do anything special to communicate your brands? How different will be our industry many months from now? What changes do you think will affect our industry? What permanent shifts will we see in the future?