Hoping for the best, expecting the worst

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of this writing: 230

This is only my 4th day of being confined at home (since I still went to work last Monday) and I’m already getting anxious.

My unease had nothing to do with boredom or restlessness but more about starting to dread the whole uncertainty of it. See, unless you are among the filthy rich who can afford not to work for the rest of your life, you’d be stupid to think of this worldwide health crisis as a momentary “sweet escape”. It’s arrogant to assume that this will not affect you one way or another.

When this is over

When this quarantine’s over, I will ─

 - Go to mass.

It makes me feel guilty how before all this, I don’t go to church on Sundays anymore. The reason being my utter distaste at some of the clergy’s strong, rather inappropriate stance on politics and current events and not because I have gone agnostic or anything.

- Travel.

I don’t care if it’s in or outside the country, but I will. It’s only now I appreciate how fun it is to be actually out there.

Quarantined

Metro Manila started a 30-day “community quarantine” midnight of Sunday, March 15, 2020 to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

An empty street as viewed from my bedroom window 

The initial quarantine involves a ban on land, domestic air and sea travel in and out of NCR. Police and military personnel were deployed to manage peace and order. No one can leave or enter the region except health personnel, authorized government officials and workers that provide basic necessities and food preparation services.

Classes in all levels are suspended for a month. Malls, public places and most business establishments are closed until further notice, while church services and masses are also suspended for the meantime. Curfews were enforced by many cities in Metro Manila.

But then since the first announcement, many have scampered to supermarkets that shelves had been emptied when panicked shoppers bought alcohol, toilet paper, canned goods, meat products, bread, etc. by the bulk. Bus stations suddenly had an influx of passengers racing to go home to their provinces to avoid the lockdown.

It’s just like Christmas rush all over again, only that the atmosphere is far from happy.