Perspectives

The reality of the situation is, that our lives will never be the same.

I've been trying to not listening to the long and winding speeches of politicians and certain other policy makers on Covid 19 over the past month. I think I've had to do that for my own sanity.

People have been chatting about reopening economies, and returning to work. In certain parts of the US, some have taken to the streets in protest of prolonged lock downs.

In the Philippines, the government has hinted at imposing a total lock down should people refuse to adhere to pleas to stay home, and practice good hygiene and social distancing.

Once lock downs are eased, and once mass testing becomes commonplace, and once businesses reopen, how will we all end up living our lives? Remember how you used to kill time at your local mall? Or have dimsum at your favorite hawker center? Or share cups of coffee and cronuts with your friends at your nearest Tim Hortons branch? How those things happen may very well be changed- forever.

Staying home all the time. That's a bona fide challenge. It doesn't matter how "social" you were pre-lock down. Staying home all the time can leave some in a constantly hypnagogic state. Sleepy, thoughts and consciousness fluttering. The ideal situation for some would be to try their best to be "productive"- with their schedules being awash with business calls, online certification courses, and reading several books per week.

Truth is, people need not try too hard. So much of modern life shutting down all at once doesn't happen very often. We might as well be responsible and make the best of the situation- whatever "best" means. We need not pressure ourselves to be "perfect" during this quarantine period. You don't need to be a CEO once this is all said and done. You just need to be a better version of yourself.

I am assuming that what I feel now is a new feeling for many people- especially for individuals from my generation and those from younger ones. We live in a world wherein it has become dangerous to go out without a mask and hand sanitizer. Think about that for a while. It's one thing for that to happen in the 1st world. They have better healthcare systems there. In those countries, they probably have wider roads, and are gifted with populations that are not all that dense. In the developing world, its a different story. In the 3rd world, there is a very real possibility that a trip to the grocery could be fatal- simply because a virus that's been set loose thrives in places where systems don't exist or don't matter, and in places where your government is a mess. That's the way the bread bakes, people.

There are so many perspectives one can analyze in the midst of a pandemic. It is worrisome that even after over a month on enhanced community quarantine, there remain certain aspects of life that feel like they haven't moved an inch. Regression. That's the soup of the day.

It's become day-to-day now.

MC

Pandemic- What is Happening?

I haven't posted anything on this blog since the Coronavirus pandemic started. This is one of those "where were you when" moments in history. This isn't the same as countries going into war against one another, nor is it tantamount to the end of civilization as we know it, but it is a cause for worry. The every day Joe worries about what he and his family have to eat, and whether he will still have a job when he wakes up the next day. Most people don't have tons of cash on reserve, so, best to be prepared. It doesn't help that the rendering of services c/o of the government is inconsistent at best.

I never thought that I'd ever experience something like this in my lifetime. In truth, no one thinks he/she will ever witness countries and economies being brought to a standstill anyway. That isn't something on anyone's usual to do list.

To date, there are just a little over 3,000 confirmed Coronavirus cases in the Philippines. My suspicion is that this number will continue to rise as testing becomes more readily available and as things (hopefully) become more organized.

Who knows where this will go. I could go into the nitty gritty of how this government and that government has failed or succeeded in implementing different Covid 19 mitigation programs, but I don't think I want to ruin my Sunday morning. I'll leave the policy making to the policy makers. I won't be aloof, though.

Let's all stick together and win this battle as one.

MC