It’s been five months already since the Enhance Community Quarantine was imposed and most of us are still coping with the changes brought by the pandemic, COVID-19. The world is in chaos because of an invisible enemy at large. Ever since the corona virus outbreak, people lived in fear and paranoia. Day by day, we grew scared of the uncertain possibilities. It is ironic how a tiny microscopic body of organism can take away thousands of lives and bring fear to millions. We entered a cave with no definite end despite not knowing how long it will take us to reach the other side. The uncertainties gave us not even a single clue on how to deal with such challenge. There is no concrete and definite plan on how to defeat this unseen opponent and we are only relying on the work of science and the government’s constant assistance for survival. Everything became vulnerable to change. However, not everyone is ready.
The challenges brought by this crisis not only focused on defeating the invisible enemy but also on defeating our inner demons. Covid 19 not only kills lives but also eats up our sanity. Looking at the bigger picture, the pandemic crippled our economy, the very source of our income. I have known countless tricycle drivers who lost their only source of survival. I have seen heartbreaking moments of frontliners who can’t even hug their own kids and parents who can't even tend the needs of their Covid infected patients. I have heard of doctors and nurses who died trying to protect everyone. I have heard of a good father turning into a criminal for killing their barangay captain just because his hungry family was left out in the government’s financial assistance. The social media swarmed with online sellers offering bids and discounts on face masks and shields. Opportunists lived up with their name and took advantage of the situation as they continuously heighten their prices instead of lending helping hands. They became richer while the unfortunate still thrives to cope with this costly survival. The government has done its purpose and yet progress never seems to move forward. Students are troubled and worried about how to fund their online classes while some selfish institutions still had the guts to increase their tuition fees. Every minute, another casualty is added to the number of deaths. Every second, another digit joins the number of positive cases. Every day, I am left to wonder- when will this end? Why is this pandemic the ultimate subject of the world's daily prayers?
I was no exception. Ever since the occurrence of this problem, I had lived my life in fear; fear that one day, some asymptomatic guests will come knocking at our door. I feared of the possibility that the virus will come unannounced like a thief in the night, reaping our vulnerable lives like wheats. I feared that I will wake up one morning and already feel the instant stab of its symptoms. Covid, as we know it, will only vanish when every single person no longer have them and that reality hits hard. The end is yet to be seen. Everyone feels the same and it’s good to be scared. The brighter side of the situation is - the world healing spiritually. While fear is a constant reminder of the reality that we are in, it also made us worry about distant relatives, care about our own health, share our blessings, and most importantly, bend our knees and ask God’s protection, things that we have eventually forgotten before the outbreak.
Indeed, life is not always about sunshine and rainbows. In order to survive, we all need to cooperate and do as we are told. Let us not be bunches of hard-headed people and follow the protocols for our own safety. Let us not waste the lives taken from our brave frontliners because of trying to protect us. Let us not waste our government’s efforts to keep us away from harm. We can overcome the situation if we work hand in hand, sanitized of course. The future of the world lies on how we behave and cooperate today. We may be experiencing one of the most violent storm in our lives due to COVID-19 today, but never forget that a rainbow only comes after the rain.
Keep safe everyone