May Pasok Ba o Wala : Where To Go Online To Check If Classes Are Suspended?

The Philippines is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means that it's one of the countries that's constantly visited by typhoons and thunderstorms, and it also happens to be one of the nations in the world that has the one most holidays.

For these reasons, it's understandable why "May Pasok Ba" or "Are There Classes?" is one of the most uttered questions by students before going to school every year, especially during rainy season.

Actually, it's also one of the questions that I get from some of my blog readers on social media every time there's a typhoon or heavy rains over some parts of the country. I guess many of them see me as an older brother that can be asked about these things -- even if I often talk about technology and gadgets. And really, it's all good. I appreciate the trust.

If you're one of those who've sent me that question, here are some things that you can do online to answer "May Pasok Ba o Wala?" whenever uncertainty hovers the air about class suspension because of inclement morning weather.

1. Visit your school or university's Facebook page and see if there's an announcement about suspension of classes. Here are quick links to the Official Facebook Pages some of the leading educational institutions in the countries (in no particular order):

Ateneo de Manila University AdMU
University of the Philippines UP Diliman Campus
University of Santo Tomas UST
Far Eastern University FEU
De La Salle Univesity - Main DLSU
Adamson University AdU
University of the East UE
National University NU
Polytechnic University of the Philippines PUP
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde DLSCSB
Jose Rizal University JRU
Mapúa University formerly Mapua Institute of Technology
Philippine Christian University
San Beda University
San Sebastian College - Recoletos
University of Perpetual Help System DALTA
Lyceum of the Philippines University
Trinity University of Asia
Centro Escolar University CEU
St Paul University Manila
New Era University
St. Scholastica's College Manila
Philippine Normal University
Santa Isabel College
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Don Bosco Technical College
Unibersidad de Manila
La Consolacion University Philippines
University of Asia and The Pacific UAP
Colegio de San Agustin CSA
Chaing Kai Shek College
Philippine Academy of Sakya
Bulacan State University
Saint Louis University Baguio City
University of Baguio
University of the Cordilleras
University of Cebu
University of San Jose Recoletos
University of San Carlos USC
Silliman University
Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan
Ateneo de Davao University

Kindly mention your school or university and its official Facebook account in the comments section below if it's not included in the initial list and I will surely add it. Thanks!

2. You may also check the official Twitter account of your university -- because there are some institutions that are more active on Twitter than on FB.

3. Go to the official Facebook Page of your local government unit. Often, the LGU of a city declares class suspension for specific levels in times of typhoon or natural calamity. You can double check this by going to your school's FB Page.

4. Department of Education DepED and the Commission on Higher Education CHED are also very active on Facebook and Twitter. And sometimes (not always), they also announce on their own pages when classes are suspended. You may follow these institutions here:

Department of Education Philippines
Commission on Higher Education

In September 2011, the Department of Education announced these specific rules on the suspension of classes in cases of typhoons and other calamities based on weather bulletins of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA:

Classes in Pre-School and Kindergarten in all public and private schools will be automatically suspended with PAGASA Storm Signal Number 1.

Classes in Pre-School, Kindergarten, Elementary, and High School - including Senior High School - in all public and private schools will be automatically suspended with PAGASA Storm Signal Number 2.

Classes in all Levels are automatically suspended with PAGASA Storm Signal Number 3.

Localized suspension or cancellation of classes in both public and private elementary and secondary schools may be implemented by the school principal, thes division superintendent, or LGU officials in the absence of Storm signal warnings declared by PAGASA.

PAGASA DOST is very active on Twitter -- so you might want to follow the agency there as well.

5. Social Media has made everyone more connected and - in many ways - closer to each other. If you are friends with school officials, teachers, and professors on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram - and they appear open to answer questions on the site, respectfully ask them if classes are suspended. Do this only if there's still no official announcement on your school's official Pages and the rains just won't stop. Once you get official word "kung may pasok ba o wala", dutifully cascade the information to your friends and schoolmates on the said social networking sites.

Alright! Those are my tips for now. If you have other suggestions on how to get first hand information "kung may pasok ba o wala" during times of typhoon or heavy habagat rains among other weather disturbances and natural calamities in the Philippines, kindly write them down in our comments section below or message them to me on my social media accounts. Take care everyone! Stay safe!