With classes suspended, people working from home and the community quarantine in effect, people are spending more and more time online. The internet has become a lifeline for many—with people relying on it for information and allowing them to stay in touch with loved ones. PLDT Home recognizes this and continues to fulfill its role in enabling Filipino families with connectivity and solutions so they can keep living their lives despite the pandemic. 

But having a strong connection is just one part of it. It’s important to keep in mind basic netiquette as you navigate the internet during this trying time. Just be guided by basic traditional Filipino values like respect, humility and bayanihan as you scroll, click, link and post. 

A little sensitivity goes a long way. The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted so many lives in so many ways, at varying degrees. If your biggest problem is running out things to watch and being bored while quarantined, consider yourself lucky. What’s a minor inconvenience to you is a matter of life and death to someone else. Be considerate. Have compassion for those who are having a harder time than you are and think before posting about trivial complaints.  

Ask yourself, “Is this a good time?” Is this really a good time to post about your major panic-buying haul? Is it ever? Humility is a beautiful virtue, whether there’s an outbreak or none. 

Reach out to the people you love. Offer comfort even from far away. Check in on friends who are living alone—the quarantine must be extra hard on them. Video call your grandparents, they would love to see your face. 

Check your sources. Fake news is as abundant as ever, so you always have to be careful when it comes to choosing what to share with people on social media. No, that video of that woman in the ICU is not Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife. And no, the government isn’t sending helicopters to disinfect your town tonight. Accuracy is essential in a time like this. Make the effort to check and make sure you get your news and updates from reputable sources. In doing so, you maintain your own credibility too. 

Respect other people’s opinions. Heads can run hot during high-stress situations. Realize that not everyone will have the same opinions as you. Having an online discussion is fine, just keep it intelligent, stay calm and don’t let it turn into a fight.

Act with kindness. Don’t do online what you wouldn’t do offline. Calling out people on their mistakes is okay if done out of the desire to help them grow as human beings. But joining an online lynch mob to crucify someone is a totally different thing. 

Take breaks. If you’re feeling stressed out by the endless flood of information, the worrying statistics, the complaints about the government’s actions, negative posts from your social media friends, it’s okay to take a step back and give yourself a chance to relax. Balance is important. 

Think before you click. Is the story you’re about to share actually helpful or will it just install fear in the people who will read it? Share important and interesting updates but also be a source of positivity and hope during difficult times. 

Make a difference with your creativity and talent. Are you a musician? Play a song and bring people joy. Are you a yoga teacher? Hold classes online and help people relax and ground themselves. 

Use your connection for good. Yes, you can participate in bayanihan even from the comfort of your home. Spread word about the different efforts individuals and groups have been doing to help the front liners and those affected by the outbreak and quarantine. Donate, if you are able to. PLDT-Smart Foundation makes it easy to help. Customers of PLDT, Smart, Sun, TNT, Cignal, Caltex, Bayad Center, De Los Santos Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Maynilad and EasyTrip can use their MVP Rewards to make a difference. Your donation through mvprewards.ph or the MVP Rewards app will be used to send care packs to the families of front-line health workers, checkpoint officers, emergency response teams and communities in dire need. You can be generous in a variety of ways.