THE TEST OF COVID-19

Omar Navarro Dimarucot

The author is Head Teacher I at Sta. Lutgarda E/S, Macabebe West District

The ancient Wisdom of Lao-Tse mentions of such 9 tests a gentleman would need to pass with flying colors. He first "sends a man to a distant mission in order to test his loyalty. He then employs him nearby in order to observe his manners. He gives him a lot to do in order to judge his ability. He suddenly puts a question to him in order to test his knowledge and makes a commitment with him under difficult circumstances to test his ability to live up to his word. He trusts him with money in order to test his heart, and announces to him the coming of a crisis to test his integrity. He makes him drunk in order to see the inside of his character, and puts him in female company to see his attitude towards women..., (in the end) a fool will always reveal himself."

In our modern times, we have easily summarized such test of character in what we say and not do. How we are with our best days and our worst. How we treat people of high and lows. How we are in our public and in our private lives. More so, this global Covid-19 pandemic defined us in ways we didn't imagine. To test our loyalty, it brought us to our knees.

For our manners, we all learned to do our part at home.

For abilities, we realized we can't do it alone.

For knowledge, we adapted zoom and grab.

For commitment, we are more attached to our phones like never before.

For our monies, we are now using up all our savings.

For our hearts desire, we now know less is more.

For our integrity under fire, politicking destroys not only the economy but also our health.

For our character, we discovered two kinds of people, either fulsome or full of oneself.

For our attitude towards each other, we're actually more connected than ever before.

And yet it doesn't end here. It will all make sense until the end of the story. In the meantime, each and every journey will always be a mixture of joys and struggles. You can't be what you want to be at the instant, but you can always be a little more of what you are every day. The audaciously sensible one will be revealed in the end.

--oOo-

The author is Project Development Officer 1 / Division Youth Formation

Coordinator, DepEd Schools Division of Tarlac Province