The quarantine chronicles: Week 11
Iwrite this on the first of June. What a year it has been so far! We were locked in for a good half of it, but we still cannot confidently say that we have successfully combatted the enemy. Today is the first day of General Community Quarantine (GCQ) here in NCR which means leniency in the restrictions and rules that have been enforced in the past three months. Today happens to be my dad’s 75th birth anniversary – yet another milestone celebrated amidst crisis, in quarantine. Meanwhile, in the United States, violence and protests have broken out as a call for justice, and against racism. Suffice to say, a mix of emotions comes about not only for my family and myself, but for the whole world today.
In the same way that there was a mix of reactions when we were locked in last March, it was the same flurry of mixed emotions that sprung as GCQ was implemented. Proof yet again that human beings are, by nature, resistant to change. We have gotten used to our lives indoors, that all of a sudden, the lifting of stringent protocols has caused somewhat of a panic in some of us. Perhaps it is still the continuous rising of cases, but the fear is valid. After all, most of us did our share in adhering to the strict enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules the past few months.
And while there are those who are now choosing to be extra vigilant, there are others who ran out the door at the green light, and are just ready to get going. Whatever the case may be, I think it is a prudent reminder to us all to do our share – it is now our civic duty to wear a mask when we are outdoors; not only to protect ourselves, but others as well. In the same way that we should choose to still stay at home as much as possible, and only go out when the necessity calls. The virus, we must remember, is still lingering and has not disappeared. And as hopeful as we all are, it may never be eradicated completely without a vaccine. It is now a matter of doing our share in protecting ourselves and others.
It also happens to be my dad’s 75th birth anniversary today. A milestone we were supposed to celebrate abroad, but because of the current pandemic, that plan quickly changed, as did many others. But that is not to say that we do not celebrate the man that he is in our lives.
While adhering to quarantine rules, we are still able to celebrate amongst our nearest and dearest (albeit in batches) and it is a reminder once again that the abundance of blessings does not come in quantity, but in quality. It is who, and not how many of them we spend such milestones with that matters most. At the end of the day, the gift of good health and true love from those who play a most important part in our lives is what counts.
Over on the other side of the world, my heart goes out to the United States, which, amidst the pandemic, is simultaneously experiencing violent acts of protests crying out for justice against racism, and the merciless and inhumane killing of Floyd by a policeman. I share in the disappointment and the sadness. My heart bleeds knowing that in this day and age, discrimination still exists. In a world where hope moves mountains, and that is so in need of kindness and compassion, I can only pray for a peaceful resolve to what could have been avoided. And while this brutal act in no way should be condoned, we also must not be quick to generalize and stereotype all police officers to be of the same nature. When in fact, based on personal experience, a lot of them are more than helpful and risk their lives at the front lines every day.
As we move on towards the new normal, let us not forget that in order to adapt quickly and adjust efficiently, we need to embrace change. On top of that, we must bring along with us the lessons in insight and wisdom that have enlightened us during the lockdown period. More likely than not, these will be instrumental in helping us see the world for what it is now, and help us thread along the “new normal” until it becomes the norm. Now is all about looking forward, while remembering what the past has taught us. Onward and upward. We are all in this together.