Carlton Chronicles, A Week After

At this time my host country is still on lock down, while back home, the government has also implemented an enhanced community quarantine. They may call it differently but it is the same banana, and the purpose is to stop the bug from spreading.

For an introvert like me, this is like a dream come true. But for some whose livelihood is their family’s only lifeline it is a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. While our government scrambles to implement the quarantine, who are we to judge?

My typical lockdown days starts with waking up at around 5AM. At eto naman ang pinaka hindi ko maintindihan. On a regular day, halos magmakaawa ka sa alarm clock, but today where you have the luxury to do so your body just wakes you up while most are still on slumber. It must be the age. Right Kuri?

Pagkatapos ng mahaba habang pagtatalo ng katawan at isip, time to gather oneself and welcome the new day with a rosary and bible reading for the day.  Sa panahong halos wala kang magawa at restricted ang galaw, this is an occasion to reconnect with our faith after all in this battle where we cannot see the bullets, what better way to prepare ourselves than enhance our faith.

After breakfast, this is where my home office begins. Though business slowed down it doesn’t mean operations should too. We have to make the most of our time and be productive. Every crisis is an opening to shine. Sabi nga ni Madam Samirah – Kung naka work from home ka, try to be as productive as you can to minimize disruption. Do not take this as a privilege to enjoy and relax, baka pagbalik mo, work from home ka na forever.

Lunch is normally take-out food or that sotanghon instant noodle soup I was able to buy before the lock down was announced. Ohh how I dream of steaming hot rice with ginataang monggo nga may langka kag sinugba nga lamayo with sinamak nga makahang.

Just like any overseas Filipinos working abroad, what makes this harder is the fact that you are far from your family. Nonetheless, this is also a chance to have more time conversing with our loved ones through various platforms available in this interconnected world. Hopefully this crisis will enhance or mend relationships.

A popular post online makes sense. It says, the corona virus has gifted us something we have been lamenting to be lack of, TIME.

A time to spend with aging parents, play with kids, read a book, to reflect and think about life, dreams and passion; and most of all to build or rebuild our relationship with God.

Now we have the gift of time, to reset. To realize what really matters most.