Holiday Cheer

Hello. The year is again coming to a close. I haven't been writing like I used to because a. I am not happy with the political climate these days, and b. I recently bought a new phone, and even though I do not have tech fright, the recent technology challenges me day by day as if it will swallow me whole, knowing my digital knowledge is still so miniscule despite my being abreast with everything. I guess I just find my creativity flowing more by editing video content these days than by writing. Still images remind me of the good old days of photography back in college, where I had to endure the smell of odorous liquid fixer inside my old school's darkroom/photo developing studio, which I think now barely exists as everything these days holds every memory in a small USB stick, which can even contain as many as a terabyte of your life. 

Update. I have been busy working remotely. My small e-commerce business is still thriving, and my feet have been itching to travel these days, but I haven't even renewed my passport yet because I don't feel that the global safety standards as far as traveling with the ongoing pandemic (which the world seems to be already turning a blind eye on just to have a sense of normalcy) are yet ironed out pretty well policy-wise. 

I haven't been reading a lot either and still haven't finished reading John Green's ebook called The Anthropocene because I often get sidetracked when a whiff of creativity kicks in or my cats ask me for kibbles. I have long considered getting an automatic feeder for them.

 And oh, speaking of which, my siblings and I decided to adopt a new kitten last June and July of the same year because we thought our ten-year-old ginger cat needed a friend, and the pup from the same home where the kitten came from was just a bonus. The pup, btw, is a mayhem, lol. With our current situation, we coined a term in the house: "The Cat Team," a.k.a. "The Cattery vs. Team Dog," which now consists of our eleven-year-old dog being the tiniest, a medium-sized one, and our new recruit, who looks like a pup version of those gigantic and fluffy white dogs called Shepadoodles except he's black, which we also coined a made-up breed for Shepadevil because of the amount of chewed items he has contributed to the household so far. Don't get me wrong; he's a very sweet dog for his size and thinks he's still a small puppy even if he's already seven months old. 

Our Calico kitten is a sweetheart though, because her meow will melt your heart whenever she asks for food, and I have been meaning to have one since I saw this huge ad billboard of a calico cat on one of Japan's crossings that went viral over social media. These past eight months of owning a female kitten, my sisters and I realized that our adult ginger cat isn't so bad at all socializing with another cat. We might've judged him sooner that he would not get along with another one of his kind, forgetting that he's neutered, and neutered or spayed cats are often less aggressive. 

Anyhow, our ginger cat turned out phenomenal despite the bites and scratches he accrued from playing with the new kitten in town. We even got worried at one point after his would get infected. Upon further research, we found that bites or nail scratches from another cat often cause puss-filled wounds, and whilst already considering a trip to the vet, we found a last-minute solution in the form of Nanopets (Nano silver), which was an awesome antibacterial for pets when Aozin couldn't seem to make the troubling wound go away. It worked like a charm, although I still suggest always consulting your vet because it's always on a case-by-case basis. 

Anyways, despite the biting cold these days, the holiday season compelled my sister and me to be creative by decking our house for the holidays and coming up with menu items for our Noche Buena and Media Noche. This year, we went for "Winter Woodland" as our holiday decor inspiration. It incorporates a lot of fake snow, icycle baubles, wood decor accents such as deer ornaments, fake milky leaves, and a little bit of gold baubles as well. My sister made her biggest purchases of all time by purchasing dinner plate sets, christmas ornaments, etcetera, whilst I went cheap since I already bought timeless dining cutlery and pieces in the past with my usual mantra of going for gold colors every holiday season so it'll be apt for whatever theme we will come up with, although for next year, I suggested we go for a candy cane holiday theme just for a change and so as to exude a little bit of that childlike charm before our age totally eludes us lol.

As an end note, don't lose that holiday spirit no matter how difficult things are, and always be thankful because the Christmas season isn't really for us as we are celebrating Jesus' birthday and consider ourselves guests. In a nutshell, this season is for us to celebrate life and be grateful for being alive despite all the challenges and adversities life throws at us, so don't be a Grinch. May you and your family have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year! 

♡ lots,

 Philly Jeane

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Hello October. It's Been A While

It's 82 days to go before Christmas, my favorite time of the year. These days you feel auspicious to be alive what more celebrate the holiday season with your loved ones because with the Covid virus, it is as if there's a race for humankind to either survive the virus or manage to stay alive given the current economic crisis where people strive to make both ends meet. My eldest sister lost a couple of her friends from law school to the virus and both were only in their mid 40s. Three months ago, we lost an Uncle due to Liver Cirrhosis, not Covid though but the difficulty to have access to healthcare facilities these days is a big factor in prolonging the lifespan of those who are ailing. Even holding an interment these days I heard is a real struggle due to the threat of contagion. As of this writing, my father who lives faraway tested positive for the virus a month after he had his second dose of Pfizer. 

Life truly is unpredictable. The good thing is, my Dad is an asymptomatic carrier and is automatically on home quarantine upon the advise of his doctor while awaiting instructions from the local government unit. He's had a lot of swab tests in the past, a couple of which were pre-surgery requirements and the rest were pre-requisites for out of town travels and he always tested negative until after a month he had his second dose of Pfizer. My Dad has a worldview of an Ostrich in which he denies or refuses to accept the situation which we all facing at the moment, this pandemic. Like an Ostrich, he refuses to believe this virus will hit him because of his 'blood type' as if this made him invincible because of an article he might've read or a myth he might've heard from someone which might've mentioned that there's a certain blood type not susceptible to the virus. All of us, his kids of course strongly refuted, dispelled thus constantly reminded him despite his being way too stubborn that it may or may not be true as everything requires many years of study. He would rather believe a myth than just follow precise and simple health protocols. 

It's been very difficult to explain to our elderly sometimes how deadly this virus is because they always rebut that, if they stay home very often they tend to become frail as oppose to wandering about outside despite the pandemic. My Dad oftentimes refuses to wear his face mask properly nor eluded people to prevent exposure from this virus because he is a 'people person' and feels like the world will crumble upon him if he doesn't have anyone to talk to which is not really fair given the current situation not to mention he is a co-morbid since he is already a senior citizen with health constraints and is someone who must strictly avoid crowds and socializing for as much as possible even if the vast majority of our population had already taken the jab, oh well,  the virus couldn't care less. 

Personally, I haven't been vaccinated because first off, I no longer go out since I work from home and manages all my businesses online. I source all my business needs from packaging materials, crocheting yarns, buttons, stickers etcetera from online shops as well. I purchase groceries items, food that I'm craving for from food delivery apps such Foodpanda (which offers Pandamart or online grocery), Grab delivery etc., avail the help of errand services to purchase medications on my behalf at a minimal fee and last but not least, I have been online shopping since the advent of e-commerce sites so this pandemic did not really affect/deter me that much because I do not really enjoy socializing nor being in a crowded place. I have endured my fair share of stress anyways during my young adult years working for companies, the commute and all the hustle and bustle just to get to work.

Second, the government nor these pharmaceutical companies where these Covid vaccines came from won't be held liable/accountable in the event people will go ill after getting vaccinated may it be chronic or worse, death, since it is still in its clinical trial stage and we are all considered technically as Guinea pigs. Our government is quick to count the number of deaths related to those who weren't vaccinated and scares the hell out of the unvaccinated ones. Truth of the matter is, a lot of people have been dying after they have been vaccinated because the effect is different for every individual. In reality, these vaccines are meant for 'emergency use' therefore our government shouldn't compel everyone to get vaccinated as it is against the law to enforce. I hate to sound like a 'Karen' who's been a meme for an individual who loves to rant and complain but, who will pay for the medical expenses of those who will require hospitalization after getting vaccinated due to its side effects when the vast majority is out of jobs/having not enough source of income due to the never-ending quarantine restrictions? Just a question. 

So, as a way to prevent the virus from spreading, avoid going out and opt with anything contactless. Go for cashless payments for as much as possible as there are tons of ways to pay cashless these days anyways since this pandemic isn't waning over in the not so distant future and getting vaccinated isn't our immunity neither.  If you're thinking that things will be back to normal after you get vaccinated, think again as this mindset is causing the spread furthermore. It is dangerous to cease from wearing face masks just because you have been vaccinated. The companies who developed these vaccines never guaranteed it will ward off the virus hence will just lessen the symptoms once it hits the person. Remember, Covid-19 is a highly contagious virus which spares no one. You either win or lose from it. As for me, I am content with being a homebody. I feel less anxious because in our household/bubble, we observe strict health measures. We always wear face masks whenever someone comes home and no contact until the family member changed clothes or washed off and discarded any disposable things worn outside specifically face masks. We also opt with online shopping versus a trip to the supermarket or malls because we do not know how many Christmases and New Years will come and go before this pandemic ends so we just better stay safe and strong. 

The holiday season is here, you can pretty much buy all Christmas ornaments online and so as presents for your family. We have been celebrating the holiday season since the start of the pandemic without other people from outside our bubble because it is possible. I have nothing against getting vaccinated because to each his own, it's just that I am personally not ready for its side effects as I am a co-morbid myself. Am I open to get vaccinated? Yes, but I am willing to wait it out first until it is truly safe.

Happy holidays in advance. Stay safe, healthy and be always in the know. Can't wait for better days when all this pandemic is over.

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Let's Talk About Mental Health

Happy Easter! I know it's been a while since my last blog post (which was last February). The pandemic just reached its one year mark last month and after a few months of breather for our healthcare workers, we're back to square one while other countries are living as normal and I mean normal without the need to wear face mask whenever they go out let alone a face shield. It's sad that our country's mortality rate has gone up and the number of Covid cases even doubled compared last year so how are we supposed to recover from this? 

My appeal to everyone, since looking at the situation right now, this pandemic is far from over (even if we already have covid vaccines available in our country) let's continue being vigilant in fighting the virus by observing proper health protocols at all times and please stay at home for as much as possible especially if you're job does not require you to go to the office. If you have means, use delivery apps and online banking/wire money transfers to your convenience. In this way, you are helping food delivery/errand riders provide for their families. They are risking their safety as well to make both ends meet and connect people to practically everything that they need. 

And, if you are one of those who have been vaccinated, I think, to be on the safe side, to go on quarantine because I heard and read from the news that there have been quite a number of people who never had covid-19 suddenly becomes positive after being vaccinated. I know it's not scientifically proven but it's a fact. I also learned that these vaccines have covid bacteria in them because how is a vaccine supposed to fight something if it does not have a single component of the virus. It's like opposite poles attract and same poles repel to simply put right? Which means how can the covid vaccine fight covid if it doesn't have a part of it to repel the virus. According to experts, they are not live bacteria, still, covid bacteria is covid bacteria or something like that in my understanding. And, to have immunity against the virus, it's either you have contracted the virus once or you already have covid vaccine in your system. Alright, 'nuff said. 

Anyhow, I don't want to delve too much on pessimism on an Easter Sunday such as today because there are so many things that are way beyond our control except strictly adhering to safety health protocols. Economically, we rely on the government since the movement of all sectors relies in them. I know a lot have already suffered from 'cabin fever syndrome' since last year, but, let's bear in mind that some have already gone to the beach and traveled out of town during the past months therefore, with the again resurgence of covid cases, things have gotten somewhat normal somehow except nothing was ever normal again from the get go. Moving on, so, how do we take care of our mental health then? (In random order). 

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Yuletide Is Coming.

We're a stone throw away from Christmas and boy you can already feel the breeze this early. 

I'm done shopping for presents because I hate last minute anything what more cramming! I started shopping for prezzies as early as end of September, sorted them all out and kept them in our storage room so all I have to do days before Christmas is to wrap all my presents.  

I went cheap this year because I don't think it'll be 'just' considering the strife everyone has endured because of the pandemic. All I want is just to simply celebrate the holiday season this year having those who lost everything, jobs, homes, loved ones in mind. We have to be extra sensitive with what we post over social media these days because everyone has been through enough and flaunting all the grand things isn't even an option. 

I shopped all my presents online given this pandemic, just bits and bobs pretty much and all of them arrived successfully thank God. I know shopping online isn't really deemed 100% safe because items via mail can be contaminated by the virus as well so I make sure to disinfect my parcels as soon as i receive them and air dry outdoors just to feel safe then still wash my hands with a germicidal soap. It's pretty tedious really but the sole reason why I shop online more these days is to avoid the crowd. Anyways, going back, there are heaps of great finds online from cosmetics to Christmas decors, you name it, they got it.  

I made sure to save up my earnings and shopped wisely this year because this is not an ordinary year since many have suffered a great deal and our economy isn't doing so good neither. To celebrate this yuletide season, my sibs and I still managed to deck our halls for the holiday season not to mention it's also our way of coping amidst all the lament this year has brought about. We decorated our old tree from ages ago and just shopped for new hanging ornaments for it since we change our holiday theme yearly. We went for Scandi Christmas this year and our color scheme comprises of Rose gold, Silver, Champagne Gold, to add our own touch we tossed in some yellow gold and White (for the winter vibe). For our table setting, we went for Rose gold mostly and just purchased disposable cutleries (which we will not use by the way since they're single use plastics, just for photo op purposes and we will just use our existing silver wares instead lol).

We also decided to keep our budget per present at a really minimal/reasonable in short cheap cost because it's the thought that counts anyway. Sissy and I also bought Rose gold foil letter balloons and curtains to ornate our buffet table. We also decided not to cook for Noche Buena (Xmas) and Media Noche (NYE) and will just order vegan cooked food via GrabFood because we found out that this vegan resto in town now offers vegan food to go which was such a relief since prepping and cooking for holiday dinner can be physically taxing to the point you already lose your appetite from cooking exhaustion lol.

Anyhow, still stay safe. I know things will never return to normal from a hindsight therefore, we have to be the one to adapt to change and try to find our own bliss. There's always hope every time we wake up in the morning so try to look for happiness from small things. If owning a rescue animal will be helpful to your mental health why not? As for me, I always try to find reasons to be grateful because dwelling on the negativities won't be helpful for anyone these days. Learn to make things work by having a positive outlook and suit yourself with what's within your reach. 

As for me, the last quarter of the year will always be my favorite season. It'll always be the most wonderful time of the year. I always have great memories of the yuletide season as a child. My advise? Avoid being a grinch! Stay safe! 

How I prep for the holidays, check out this video 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

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Oh Snap

I still can't seem to believe how our world has changed in an instant like a switch has been toggled and here we are, nothing's ever the same because of the pandemic. 

Our medical force is heaving all over the world from overwork just to keep everyone alive with little to no sleep gravely sacrificing their own health and relationship with their families through social distancing and excessive gruelling working hours required from them to heal the ailing. If the current situation has turned physically and mentality taxing then be their guest.

The solution may sound easy yet seemed farfetched from reality due to budget constraints, mass testing. The University of the Philippines has a solution to this, a cheaper way to mass test however, the government would rather patronize outsourced ones from other countries which puts more strain on the country's empty budget. We are wallowing in debt prior to the pandemic so just imagine now how poverty stricken countries will recover from this? Many businesses had declared insolvency, massive lost their jobs and the worst, many lives were lost and people are dying of hunger. When is this strife ever gonna end? 

My appeal to mankind, let's not make the situation more painstaking as it already is by keeping ourselves safe through wearing of face masks and now, a face shield whenever necessary, not to mention being hygienic as it's totally out of the question. We are facing a war which only God knows how long it'd last. 

2020 is a totally unforgetable prelude to a new milleniun as a lot of unimaginable things we wish to just bury in the past emerged not to mention the recent blast in Lebanon. My heart and prayers goes out to the families of those who suffered. 

To wrap up this writing, I just wish everything will be back to normal again but our healthcare experts cannot do it alone nor our government. Please stay home for as much as possible because we have no choice really but to accept the current situation as being adaptive is good for mental health.

I know it's tedious to wash our hands all the time, disinfect everything, stay away from crowds for as much as possible. Don't risk everyone in your household 'just because' you're not a homebody person all your life. Don't be an Ostrich (not that I hate Ostriches in fact I find them amusing because they run fast!) except one of an Ostrich's traits is refusal to face reality, that they would rather bury their head than face the truth. This is not the time to deny what's visible to eye, let's accept and learn to get by with heaps of help from up above.

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Tofu never caused a pandemic.

Hi. So, how are you holding up these days? As for me, I think I have done gazillion things since the lockdown started. I may have fret in the beginning but moved on pretty easily putting my personal feelings aside. Why? Because I’m not really a people person and being homebody has given me solace not to mention that ‘not going out’ isn’t really considered a problem for me because I operate my business from the confides of my humble abode aside from the world has bigger problems than mine. 

The home lockdown has helped in my opinion but, did not really fully eradicate the problem as the virus is still stealthily lurking in someone, somewhere. It’s like preventing a jar filled with water to the brim which will still overflows anyway until the water gush out and yes, I meant the virus, it's impossible to contain just prevent the spread. It’s like fighting a war against something or someone wearing an invisible cloak like that of Harry Potters. I’m trying to be humorous but the truth of the matter is, the current situation is gravely serious because a lot of people will resort to violence and unimaginable acts if this whole thing will continue with an impending economic crisis which we already have even prior to this pandemic. 

I quit my office job many years ago not knowing this pandemic would strike in the not so distant future which was tough at first but considering the current situation, i was thankful I did because the strife of the workforce is real. Imagine how will anyone put food on the plate if everyone’s out of job with less to no aid from our government? The situation is really, really at its worst. Everything is just in disarray with infuriating corrupt officials who still manage to steal money from the people during these trying times. And, those who received aid from the government splurge their money away and wail when their funds are depleted then resorts back to the blame game again. Sometimes, this whole thing makes me think how did we even get this far?

Moving on, I’m just glad all non-essential businesses are operational again. The pandemic hampered even online businesses which was a bummer since I have an online business myself and I felt the blow, it was bad, it was really bad but like everyone else we have to stand up and keep fighting because help is not always on the way. I was ecstatic when the IATF included non-essential businesses to operate again and was so squeamish to go back to work (operate my online business again) since I can’t dilly dally baby as there are bills to pay and utility companies just pushed back the due dates and not really waived them because it’s always business as usual. With the business back on the track I was able to shop for materials again i source from textile shops that are essential for my business to operate. I prefer to shop more online these days instead of visiting physical shops because it’s always better safe than sorry, Covid-19 isn’t something to be taken lightly, never. 

During the two months of home quarantine I was able to fully restock my online shop with the very little raw materials (yarns, etc) I have left prior to the lockdown. However, I went haggard from relaxed when my shop went online again due to the influx of orders! I was thankful to God because people seemed excited to shop again and as a result has helped small (online) industries to get back up. 

As for me, my simple joys include purchasing cat supplies and more cotton yarns for my business just to veer me away from reality every once in a while. I recently bought a cat litter scooper and packs of wheat grass for thy kitty to munch on when they grow out and become a ‘cat salad.’ I think my green thumb is only at 60% having kept a cacti alive for a couple of years so I was quite apprehensive after I purchased wheat seedlings online but to my delight it grew in 4 days under very minimal supervision yey! I just tossed some on the seeds in a small pot and bury them underneath the potting soil which came with it and voila! I’ve seen sprouts on the 4th day. I felt a sense of accomplishment really.

I know it’s superficial, but we need a sense of superficiality (if ever such word exists) these days, simple joys from simple, inexpensive things to clear our minds and keep our mental state healthy, a diversion. I repurposed my DIY Macramé wall hanging decors which have been literally ‘wall flowers’ for the past few years, cooked more, baked more, tons of movie marathons, crochet more whilst my sibs made tons of Dalgona drinks and focused on house-cleaning, dog-grooming, thought about repainting the house etc. 

My recommendation? Find an inexpensive hobby, watch informative documentaries, grow a pocket garden, DIY things, try a new diet and above all, focus on your physical and mental health by eating more green and leafy vegetables. Remember, Tofu never caused a pandemic. 

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Pandemic

It’s been 3 weeks or so since the mandatory enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was implemented to prevent covid-19 from further spreading and so far, I can say it has helped a lot otherwise the mortality rate in our country would’ve been doubled if not tripled considering the small population of our local health workers, not so well-equipped hospitals and not enough test kits to handle this pandemic. If this is a war against zombies, we would’ve lost the battle right off the bat. I don’t think any country per se is prepared for a battle against any pandemic especially if the virus spreads like wildfire. You never know when and how nor who has it until the death toll is alarming enough. In the case of covid-19, it stays in the air through droplets from those who have already contracted the virus by sneezing or coughing. It can also be spread by touching contaminated surfaces/things etcetera. 

The thing is, some carriers do not know they have it until they test positive since there are individuals who are ‘asymptomatic’ (showing no symptoms) and it could’ve been easier if the symptoms are obvious. I also read that, the asymptomatic ones are much more difficult to treat because when the body shows the symptoms as in the case of the symptomatic ones, it means that the human body is building antibodies to fight the infection according to experts aside from knowing what’s wrong with the patient makes it easier for our healthcare experts to gauge how severe it is. Thus explains why some of the ‘possible’ covid-19 carriers are released from heath facilities and will just be contacted back after their test result returned positive which is way more dangerous since there’s a bigger possibility for them to spread the virus from the time they were sent home until the test result is in and shows that the patient is positive for covid-19. In South Korea, it only takes within 24 hours for them to know whether the person is covid positive or not which means they will NOT let go of the person until the result is in which I am hoping will be the case here in the Philippines as well to better manage the situation. I'm also glad that more test kits will be available soon.

As of the moment, I think the biggest dilemma boils down to survival. How are we going to survive/ fend for our families/survive home confinement without an income? No work, no pay, no wage no funds to buy goods and avail pretty much anything. Business owners/companies are now compelled to waive rental fees and utility bills for the obvious reason but not all employers have the audacity to give their employees aid/assistance in times like these if they also ceased operating as a result of the lockdown. Everything moves in an economy obviously, may it be big corporations or small-medium business as both requires manpower and without one means loss of revenue. As for the aftermath, not enough money to keep the business going means no funds to pull employee wages from to simply put. Companies will also have no choice but to downsize which would gravely impact small workers while keeping the high ranking ones at bay. 

So, what’s my point? The government should be more vigilant in extensing assistance to the vast majority before starving individuals resort to violence for having no income to sustain their families as the saying goes ‘desperate measures call for desperate times.’ I am ecstatic for the quick response of some local government units, for being swift in food packs distribution and cash assistance. I understand most of them are doing the best that they can to address the crisis although I can’t help but feel disappointed with most of them because we’re already in the third week of the ECQ yet some districts, cities/towns have not received any aid from their local government units yet which makes me think, how come aspiring politicians during the previous elections were able to scour every district’s nook and cranny before yet is taking too long (almost a month) to provide assistance to their localities during these trying times when their help is needed the most? Where have all the local funds gone? 

On the other hand, I would like to salute and extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to all our Frontliners--doctors, nurses, scientists, maintenance people, cleaners, security guards, supermarket employees, police & military force, people from the food delivery service/industry, garbage collectors, volunteers, NGOs and the media people for braving the roads, streets and hospitals considering it is a dangerous battlefield out there and the enemies are unseen. 

Today is one of those times for everyone to keep an open mind and totally eradicate the hate and discrimination towards our healthcare workers and covid-19 patients. Remember, nobody wants to contract the virus nor purposely spread them NOT unless the person is already aware he/she is a possible Covid carrier PUI/PUM (people under investigation/monitoring) yet still wandered about posing harm to the rest of the people they come in contact with then that’s a totally different story not to mention those individuals who purposely lie to the doctors and nurses assisting them regarding their actual health condition and travel history. Please bear in mind, being truthful will help save tens, if not hundreds, thousands of lives. Covid-19 is a pandemic and it has already claimed over 88,000 lives all over the world. It pains me to watch the news and hear the stories of covid-19 survivors with family members who suffered the same yet lost the battle. Coronavirus is deadly and harrowing therefore shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you feel like you can’t be of any help, that’s not true because staying home will help tremendously in preventing the virus from further spreading and so as social distancing and maintaining proper hygiene.

I personally admit this whole situation is taking sometime for me to get used to. My anxiety level is heightened whenever I’m back home from the supermarket to stock up on essential goods/food supplies and I know I’m not alone as this pandemic has made almost everyone paranoid they may have contracted the virus whenever they feel soreness in their throats, runny nose, a cough etcetera. My simple trip to the supermarket before has now turned into a tedious process. I now need to leave whatever footwear I used outside, spritz Isopropyl alcohol to my entire clothes, wash my hands thoroughly if not take a bath a.s.a.p or wash the clothes I wore that day to avoid contaminating the house or be the carrier of the virus. I mean, that’s just really selfish to not be careful these days especially if you have immunocompromised family members, senior citizens, pregnant or children at home. I just find it very stressful if you have a stubborn family member at home who does not comply with these anti-covid measures. Say for instance my Dad, a senior citizen and a diabetic, who seems to be having a problem (heard of Cabin Syndrome?) with this whole home quarantine measures that’s being strictly implemented by the government. He constantly insists on going out and come up with all excuses just to be out of the house despite my siblings and I’s strong resolve to keep him safe at home. All senior citizens are susceptible to the virus what more someone who’s diabetic. Both my Dad and I have auto-immune conditions (Diabetes and myself, a Hypothyroid) therefore our immune systems would be highly compromised once exposed to the virus and I would never take the chance nor any of the family members.

If one becomes a PUI/PUM in our country nowadays you can either call the covid hotline for them to isolate the issue first, whether or not you will be considered a PUI/PUM.* If the person obviously exhibits covid symptoms, your local unit/Barangay/district will be contacted and an ambulance will be dispatched with health workers aboard, all geared in PPEs (the full body suit they use in hospitals) along with a military personnel (I learned) from a family friend who personally saw one of their neighbors was picked up by an ambulance from their abode. So, just imagine how alarming and scary it is but that’s the protocol. If you prefer to take a family member to a hospital because you thought he/she might have covid, you cannot go directly to the ER (emergency room) because you have to go through their 'triage' process first and there are tent set-up outside all hospitals nowadays based on what I have observed. If you really care about your family, then avoid going outside unless it's really necessary or it's an emergency because the word 'emergency' sounds different nowadays as everybody relates your emergency pretty much to covid. Don't jeopardize everyone in your household because as far as I know, the moment one family member is tested positive for covid then everyone in your household will be on 'home quarantine' for a couple of weeks and somebody else will have to run errands for the rest of your family and you wouldn't want that neither. 

Another thing is, let’s not ostracize anyone who’s covid-19 positive because like what I said, nobody wants to be one. I’ve been seeing a lot of these hostilities lately which makes me lose my faith in humanity sometimes. If this would go on then more and more people would rather conceal their real situation rather than seek help fearing they would be put in a difficult situation which may even endanger many lives. 

*PUI when he or she is exhibiting the coronavirus symptoms, has traveled in the past 14 days to areas with issued travel restriction, and has a history of exposure to COVID-19. PUM, on the other hand, is not showing any coronavirus symptoms but has a travel history to areas with issued travel restriction or a history of exposure to the novel virus. (Derived from GMAnews)

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