Covid-19, A Blessing in Disguise: My Personal Reflection

In this time of chaos, we can’t help but be frightened; especially to an enemy we cannot see. Covid-19 has affected hundreds of countries and already took thousands of lives worldwide. The WHO, DOH, and our government are all doing their very best to fight the enemy, so let us all please cooperate and unite with them in this battle.

The worst thing to do is to panic. Fear is common during these difficult times, but overwhelming fear often overpowers our senses, affects our decision-making - thus resulting to irrational, unreasonable, and yes, most of the time foolish thoughts and actions.

So please…

Do not panic buy - alcohol, sanitizers, food, etc. Seriously, when you’re at home quarantine for the next 2-3 weeks, will you be able to consume 1 liter of alcohol/sanitizer a day (or even a week)? Unless you will be distributing and giving it out to others, do not hoard please, and only buy what you need.

The problem with us humans is that we seem to lose our trust (and faith) - not just in the government, but even in our fellow human beings.

Even if the government tells us not to worry - and that we will not run out of supplies in the market, and that they will be providing food packs to every Filipino family for survival, etc. etc., we find it difficult to believe and trust that these will be fulfilled, because of too many promises and pledges in the past, that were never kept nor delivered.

So it is with our fellow men - it is as if we have lost our trust in one another; that’s why most people have this thinking that they will run out of food stocks, toiletries, etc. so they’ll go ahead and panic buy to make sure they will not be the ones left with nothing. Sad…but that’s the reality these days.

But in this time of emergency and pandemic, sometimes ‘trust’ is the only thing that we can do (and give) - especially to those people who are in charged. And keep reminding ourselves, we are not the ones fighting each other.

And every time I see our stubborn kababayans neglecting our President’s orders, I can’t help but compare them to those children who disobey and disrespect their parents. As their children, there are things that our parents forbid us to do - that most of the time we fail to understand why; which eventually angers us and even leads to rebellion.

No one is perfect - that’s for sure, just as no parent is. But a parent who scolds, preaches, and disciplines his child, is a parent that cares for and loves his child. And even though they may not be right all the time, let us understand that their intention is always for our good. Yes it’s true that we cannot choose our parents, but just so, you may not agree with them at times, but in the end, you should show respect and do your part as a good child.

Why don’t we do the same to the President? Whether you voted for him or not, as a Filipino and being him as the president of our country, let us all cooperate and do our share because we may have different point of views, but his only desire is for the good of everyone.

PS. Not DDS nor Yellowtards, but I’m pro-human, pro-life. Let us not make the enemy further spread among us while we do all the criticisms, ignoring all protocols, and unreasonably exercising your f***ng rights. There’s a time (and place) for all that b******it, and NOW is definitely not the right one.

So what’s the best thing to do?

OBEY.

Obey what authorities mandated us to do. During this period of enhanced community quarantine, let us obey and cooperate, for this is for our own good.

TRUST.

Trust that the ECQ is one effective measure to slowdown the spread of the virus, so that less people will get infected, hospitals will not be congested, so that we’ll not eventually run out of front liners to help us all mitigate and in due course end this outbreak.

Let’s trust that our government officials are all doing their best to help with our survival, especially those most in need of food and medical attention.

BE SELFLESS.

In times when you know your neighbors are hungry, you might want to share and provide some food to help them survive the day especially that the government’s actions are on delay. This may be a small thing for you but it is a great blessing, especially for those with little hungry mouths to feed.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1

TAKE A REST. SLOW DOWN AND RELAX.

Are you always tired and exhausted at work? This is the best chance to relax and take a rest. No need to put the alarms on. Binge watch on Netflix, be a couch potato just for once. But hopefully, with each passing day, you can do something productive somehow.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME.

Now that you have more time at home, make the most out of it. If you are with your loved ones, spend quality time with them. Play with your kids, home school them maybe, watch movies together, etc. This may also be a great time to enjoy some intimate moments with your better half. No partner? No problem, he/she may just be a video chat away, this might be the perfect time to check on them, how they’re doing, remind them to stay home, keep safe, etc. Who knows how many promising love stories are blossoming now amidst the corona outbreak? Maybe yours will be one of them. ;)

REIGNITE YOUR PASSION.

Haven’t played your guitar lately? Been too busy to make new sketches? Can’t remember the last time you cooked or baked for your kids/family? This is the perfect time to do them all. You have plenty of time now, take things slow, and start doing the things that you’re passionate about - the things that you used to love - …again.

TRY NEW THINGS.

Already bored? Why not try things you’ve never done before? Learn how to cook, bake, and maybe prepare simple dishes. In these uncertain times when resources are limited, why not experiment with new dishes using only the available ingredients at your home; it might not end up well - taste-wise, but hopefully it will be a fun experience for you.

There are also tons of online courses and tutorials you can find online - YouTube, Udemy, and even our very own TESDA site offer lots of online courses for free. So, don’t spend too much time binge watching TV series and Kdrama. A few hours of learning new things would be beneficial to you too.

DE-CLUTTER.

No excuses. You’ve got plenty of time now to clean and de-clutter. Consider it also as a form of workout especially these days that you’re stuck at home, probably with limited movements as compared to your typical daily routine. Not only you’ll shed off some sweat, you’ll also shed all the dust and clutter off your home; it’s like hitting two birds with one stone. Wouldn't it be nicer to hang out at a home that is clean and tidy?

PRAY.

With the busy lifestyle that most of us have, that some might be too occupied to even say a prayer every morning, this is the best time to pray intimately - to raise all our concerns, fears, and plead to the Almighty Father. Let us pray not only for ourselves, but also for others - those that are currently infected and fighting for their lives, and those that are risking their lives and helping us all win this battle. Let us also not forget to pray for our leaders so that God will continue to guide and protect them as we combat the pandemic that only He knows when will end.

What COVID-19 made us realize?

That... No one is invincible.

Not even the rich, not even the most powerful. In fact, some studies reveal that even those who are in good shape and those with strong immune system can be carrier and pass on the virus to someone else; the asymptomatic ones might not realize it but can put many lives at risk, so please take extra precautions; keep your hands/body clean, observe proper hygiene, and stay at home. The virus chooses no one. It doesn’t matter what your nationality is, or whether you’re rich or poor, anyone can get infected. No one is exempted.

That... Money is not the root of all evil, greed is.

In these times when many people are more afraid of starving than dying from the virus, may the hearts of those who are more privileged be stirred to help those that in need most. Don't always rely on the government. This is not the time to criticize and quantify flaws and shortcomings. Take action first and help those that need urgent aid and relief. In times like this, the basic thing that most of our fellow Filipinos need is food security, for their day-to-day survival. If you have more than enough for yourself, use your money (fame, power, connection, etc.) - to help others; and certainly, the grace will return to you tenfold.

...whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

That... The basics in life are the most important.

This pandemic made us realize that the basics in life are often the most neglected. Our body and health being abused because of too much work. Our families and loved ones not given enough attention because we’re too busy making a living. Setting aside our own happiness and passion - preparing for the ‘future’. Being too occupied today getting ready for "tomorrow", without realizing what you are missing every single day.

And with what’s happening today, we are reminded to take things slow. That our health and well being are more important than our job or career. That money can’t buy love, happiness, contentment. And that we can’t turn back time, regretting the things that should have been done before or should have been done differently. Now is the perfect time to focus on the positive, and stop worrying on things you don’t have control with. This might be a blessing in disguise after all… as people are given more time to stay at home, relax, and relinquish all the worries and fear. While our Mother Earth is slowly healing too, less human activity means less pollution and a healthier livable planet for all of us.

That... We must enjoy life today. Because yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is never promised.

Make every moment with your loved ones a memorable one. If you are currently locked-down at your home together with them, then take this as an opportunity to enjoy each one’s company. You are among the lucky ones who are fortunate and blessed to be united with their family during these difficult times. Some families are miles apart, and some don’t even have someone to call their ‘family or friend.’ Let us pray for them, that may they be spared from any difficulties, and that may God protect them always especially nowadays.

That... Sacrifice is part of life.

To our loved ones who are now our heroes, being front liners working together to fight the enemy, we learn to appreciate them now more than ever. Their chosen job, career, and profession is what keeps us alive and still surviving. They’re putting their own health and lives at risk for our good sake, so the least we can do is to cooperate, do our share, and make their jobs even a lil bit easier by not adding to the statistics.

After all, we are fighting the same battle here. Let’s work on this together, and pray that this pandemic will end soon.