Upside Down

In the Philippines, the Corona Virus disease had a slow start. Considering the number of Chinese tourists who come to the country on a daily basis, this was actually surprising. But when it blew up last Month, it surely put the country in a twist. Today is April 22 and by my count, I haven’t traveled for work or went to the office for at least 40 days. I used to go around the different cities in Visayas and Mindanao at least twice a month, sometimes weekly as my work demands. I cannot say I miss the trips because it was quite lonely. But I am just wondering if there is such thing as “going back to normal”after this.

The whole world has turned upside down in the sense that what we used to consider just another day has been redefined. We no longer have our regular trips to the mall, coffee shops, restaurants, gyms, church, spas and beauty clinics. Gone are the days when visiting a friend’s house can be done on a whim. Now, going to the supermarket has to be scheduled, financial resources considered and budgeting solely for food and utilities. We are spending quality time with our family, sharing meals, praying together and reconnecting after a very long time. I can honestly say this is the only time I have cooked for my parents and am doing so almost daily. I also got the chance to finally make the recipes I have found online and even made my own pasta!

I am not saying the #stayathome thing is bad. It does have it’s advantages although at the back of my mind is the small piece of doubt regarding the state of my employment. I am still a bit scared that when the time this Enhanced Community Quarantine is lifted, I might no longer have a job to return to. But I guess, this is when faith steps in. Faith that things will work out in the end and hope that God has never left our side for a moment. I am holding on to the belief that even if everything is not as it used to be, we will come out of this alive. We will emerge better people and more grateful than ever that we actually survived this pandemic.

This is our new work meeting. Doesn’t matter what you wear, as long as you join.

Because barber shops and salons are closed, no choice but to do your own haircut. Since it’s summer in the Philippines, shaving it all off makes a lot of sense.

Thanks to the latest Korean dramas, Korean coffee is making waves, too. (P.S. I did that!)

Crash Landing on You Fever! Yes, I caved in and watched Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin fall in love and slept at 5am just to finish the entire show!

Home workouts are made of these: Spotify, Kettlebell and yoga mat.

When you need to share Ethyl Alcohol to friends in order to meet up.