MOND GUTIERREZ

Iasked my dad and he told me that he hasn’t seen anything like this in his lifetime. This is a first for all of us, and the changes in our day to day lives have been drastic. I’ve been able to find creative ways to be social, to stay fit and to keep my mind occupied in the midst of a global health crisis, as most people have. If anything, it’s allowed me to reset my priorities and put everything into perspective. It’s allowed me to spend time on personal creative projects that I’ve put on hold and reconnect with friends and family on a deeper level.

I think this is a huge wake-up call not just for me but for the rest of the world. Everything that would stress me out before pales in comparison now that we are facing a pandemic. It’s made me rethink what’s important in life, and what deserves my energy. Taking care of my health, and looking out for those I care about are now on top of my list. The biggest lesson here is: take care of yourself, so you can take care of those you love.—MG

“FILIPINOS ARE RESILIENT. WE HAVE FACED MANY BATTLES BEFORE, WHETHER THEY’RE CHALLENGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY POLITICS OR MOTHER NATURE, WE’VE MANAGED TO COME TOGETHER AND FACE EVERYTHING WITH OPTIMISM ”