Genesis Jimenez, 20, Student, Dagupan City

This pandemic is draining. I don’t feel like I have a safe space anymore in my own home. Home is no longer a place for me to feel comfortable, to rest, and to bond with the family. Home now is my workplace and school. I feel so restless. It’s come to a point that I dread waking up, and sleep is the best gift to come by, even if it’s 4 to 5 hours, or a quick nap. I also started using social media a lot less, during a time where we need it more than ever to be kept posted especially on health-related alerts. I guess that’s ironic… We’re put on lockdown for health and safety, but quarantine has only brought about more risks and concerns – taking a toll on mental health, affecting relationships, and putting us all on “survival mode”. It’s a privilege to have a space where you can isolate yourself from others and to reduce the risk of being a spreader.  Disconnected I think would be the best word to describe how the pandemic is affecting me right now.
As a student, I feel helpless that I can’t take a break from learning to prioritize work and health. Being able to perform well even during a pandemic is a major achievement, and to be able to keep pursuing your education is another privilege during this time. But this pandemic is also affecting my learning process. I’m hardly learning at all. I’m going to school just for compliance.. Being in a classroom is a lot different from sitting at home and waiting for an online lecture to stream continuously while you’re getting some rest after a long night at work. (Jerick Pasiliao)

 

Mart Allan Alfred Austria, 25, Seminarian, San Carlos City

The pandemic has affected me in many ways. Online classes and various applications are now utilized more than ever as educational institutions ensure that the school year would push through. The pandemic made a tremendous impact on the teaching-learning process and introduced a different way of delivering instructions apart from the traditional classroom setting.
It also affected my everyday living. I cannot leave my house without having my mask on. I also become very conscious with my health. I always make sure that I take my vitamins every day and avoiding large crowds is a number one rule every time I go out.

I hope that government officials would set aside their political agendas for now and focus more on our country’s covid response programs. I hope politicians will realize that in times like this, people’s lives matter the most. (Jerick Pasiliao)

 

Arnie Villanueva, 20, Student, Binmaley

The spread of the disease has caused great damage not only to the health of the people but also gradually affected the quality of life. One of them is that the traditional delivery of quality education to students has undergone a major change due to the pandemic.

Unlike before we see our teachers, we are happy to be with our friends and classmates and we participate in programs that give us a good connection to others and improve our skills in the actual process, now we rely on technology to do these.

It has made it difficult to meet the needs of the home, adding to the costs of this very expensive type of education…others had to stop studying because they do not can afford the cost of modern education brought by the pandemic. Those who can still afford spend on internet surfing, just to get into the online class. And that is one of the painful experiences of students during this time.

I agree that a lockdown is important to deal with the disease. While it can result in economic downturn, but it is also one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of Covid. . But to do this, the government should do all to to support our people’s needs.  People will not follow the policy if their families are hungry. But we must also unite and be disciplined. (Jerick Pasiliao)

 

Peter De Vera, driver, 48, Bonuan, Dagupan City—Kaming mga driver, halos kalahati pa sa amin ang hindi nakabalik sa trabaho. Marami pa ang nakaburo sa bahay, naghihintay na lang sa ayuda ng gobyerno na kalimitan ay sa mga may kapit lang sa city hall ang nabibiyayaan.

Mayron nang Five Star bus papuntang Alaminos. Pero wala pang bus ang bumabiyahe papuntang Manila. Balita ko ayaw pa ng mayor dito na ang mga bus katulad ng Victory, Solid North at Five Star ang maghahatid ng pasahero sa Maynila. Bakit kaya?

Tignan nyo, dati puno ng tao ang Jollibee. Ngayon, mabibilang mo na lang ang nasa loob. Sa Dunkin’ Donut, aywan ko kung may pumapasok diyan maghapon. Sa McDo naman, yong sa take-home lang ang may pila pero sa loob, mabuti na lang kung may sampung tao.

Sa mga kainan na anila ay magbubukas sa ipinapatayong gusali sa De Venecia Expressway, paano nila mababawi ang kanilang puhunan sa madaling panahon kung matagal pang magbukas ang ekonomya?

Nakakatawid kami sa gutom kahit papano sa pamamagitan ng pag-extra sa pagmamaneho at paglalako ng isaw-Isaw tuwing  hapon hanggang gabi malapit sa highway. (Leonardo Micua)

 

ANALYN FERRER, 30, San Carlos City – The COVID-19 pandemic forced me to return to my mother’s house in Binmaley to help on family expenses.

My husband lost his job as a delivery man for an LPG store in Lingayen due to poor sales while I have to work as house helper and laundrywoman to provide for the family.

My family has not benefitted from the Social Amelioration Program and I hope the government carefully evaluates the recipients of its cash assistance programs intended for the poor because the people who really need help, like us, were left out. (Eva Visperas)

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