No one was prepared for this pandemic, last 2019 when this first came out in China. We were just watching it on the news and never have I thought it would become global and would reach our country, the Philippines. Now we are all affected by it. 2020 was really a devastating year for all of us. Our lives stopped and we were all confined to our own homes. For many months we just stayed at home. Doing things that we have never done before. Going to all the parts of the house which what I've seen on you tube and facebook that we never care to go like going to the attic, some to the roofs... haha. Because before the pandemic all of us were busy doing many things. In short, we always say we have no time. But when you are confined and like imprisoned in a way, you have plenty of time. During the lockdown many have discovered their passions. A lot of people became plant lovers that's why the term plantito and plantita's came to be. Plantito (literally translated as plant uncle) meaning a male person who loves collecting, tending and growing plants and the opposite Plantita (plant aunt) is the female version of it. You can see a lot of plants being sold online. Specially when the celebrities showed their own plant collections. It really marked the birth of all the plant lovers. The online selling was a blast. People go to the internet for all their needs. Buying everything online. That's when a lot of online stores have their delivery riders as well. Like Lalamove, Lalafood, Food Panda, Order mo, Grab, online groceries among others which were not really popular before. We relied on them for all our needs. So much has really changed. But we are still grateful because there is internet. Imagine if there was none. What could happen to us. I for one am grateful that the internet was created. I think it was a blessing in disguise so that the people of todays generation can thrive during this Covid-19 pandemic. We should be thankful for all the people who contributed to the birth of the internet.
RE-BIRTH OF ONESELF
Having said that, A lot of new skills were born during this pandemic. People had the time to really know their passion, to discover their hidden talents, to know what they are capable of and wants to add more and further their learnings about their passions and to add new skills. A lot of people discovered that they have the gift of growing plants, that's what I mentioned earlier about the term Plantito's and Plantita's here in my country.
My brother, Avery Jan
Is my third sibling, He ranks fourth in the family from me since I am the eldest of eight children. He is now a Plantito who grows plants and makes bonsai plants which he developed further during the lockdown. He is now selling his beautiful creations and it has become a source of livelihood for his family as well. He even has celebrity clients who bought from his collections. He never knew he could become a bonsai enthusiast because before the pandemic he used to work on a cruise ship abroad for many years but because of the pandemic their company shut down so all of them were sent home. He has four kids to feed. This new found passion, the newly acquired skills has become a life saver to his family. Here are some of his bonsai creations. These are bougainvillea's which are really a fad now to a lot of people. I didn't know there were a lot of bougainvillea collectors or enthusiasts. Well, maybe because my brother's bonsai bougie (this is their short term for the bougainvillea's) are special. My brother finds them in the forests near their place. He looks for very old bougies and then cultivates them and makes them into bonsai. Here are some of his bonsai's.
Before photos and during cultivation, you can see that they are just wood or trunks. Then my brother takes care of them until it will bear leaves and eventually will blossom. He has many other plants as well. He likes collecting those plants that are rare and hard to find.
After a few months look at those trees budding. Aren't they beautiful.
This one you would not believe it but he was able to sell this bougainvillea for Two Hundred Fifty Thousand pesos roughly around Four thousand Nine Hundred plus dollars. This tree, he found inside the forest which a lot of people said that it is dead already because for many years they never saw a leaf coming out of it. There was no sign of life. But, my brother did not listen to them. He brought it home, cared for it, gave it some fertilizers and some vitamins and with added TLC, he proved them wrong. He was able to grow the plant and made it come to life again. He really has gifted hands when it comes to plants. He has a green thumb as they say. He has found his passion and it is with the plants. A skill which truly blesses them now since he still has no work.
Here are some of his plant collections which he also sells. I don't know their names but my brother knows so much about their names, their origins, what they need like much water or just a little or even sunlight or shade. He really learned a lot based from his hands on experience. A skill he acquired when he became a plantito. Well, he has a lot of plants but I am just showing you some of them.
Aside from making his bougie bonsai's he also plants vegetables and corn because they have a big parcel of land. He became a farmer during the pandemic which he never knew he would do because he has been living abroad. Now, I think he is happier because he get to spend time with his family. See his children grow while tending to his plants as well.
Adding to his farm life, since their land has a river, He planted some water lilies and made a pond so he raised some catfish and mudfish just for their own consumption also for their neighbors since he is a giver, a generous person. He likes sharing what he has to other people. So, they never ran out of food during the pandemic or the lock down last year. They were sharing each other's harvest in their neighborhood.
Look at these lovely water lily flowers. He really acquired a lot of new skills during this pandemic.
My Sister, Austhalia
My next feature is my sister, Austhalia. She is our youngest. She used to work before but when she got pregnant she started learning how to crochet and little did she know this can help her a lot. During the pandemic she created crocheted tops which she then post for orders. Here are some of her creations as well. She made quite a few already. Teenagers and moms alike places their orders for them to wear on the summer time. See this pretty girl here. She even had a photo shoot flaunting the crocheted top.
She models her own creations and post them on facebook. She was very happy when there were inquiries on her creations. So, she gladly accepted their orders.
She makes crocheted earrings as well. Teenagers usually love wearing them. Since it's pandemic people carries alcohol wherever they go, it is a must-have now. So, she designed an alcohol holder which is really very cute and handy. She also made these for her giveaway's on her son's Christening or Baptism just last May 02 of this year.
Then a mother ordered a baby dress for her baby which she wore during her Christening too. Look at this cute bundle of joy with her crocheted headband and shoes.
Aside from crocheting she also makes the best home made Chili and garlic oil sauce . If she doesn't have orders on her crochet she makes her chili-garlic oil which is a blast to many of her friends and also online. Some would order as make their giveaways for the company gatherings. She wants to earn money to help her husband who is a band guitarist which during the pandemic has no work so they both helped in the preparation of her chili garlic oil.
Aside from making chili garlic oil sauce she also makes her special Puto cheese. Puto is a familiar rice cake that's usually eaten as a snack or merienda, or paired with other Filipino food favorites such as dinuguan (pork blood stew) or pancit.
The classic puto is made with rice flour but this easy puto version is one you can make at home: you can use all-purpose flour. This version (one of the most common, too) is topped with cheddar cheese but you can also top it with bacon or salted egg. The flavor and toppings are endless!
You also don't need fancy equipment to cook this kakanin. It's simply steamed; you can even use a rice cooker to make these fluffy rice cake.
All of these skills really came in handy during this trying times. It helped a lot for their families since no job is available. I think when problem really arises it tends to bring out the best in people. This is what you call human survival instinct. In order to survive you must think of ways other than what you now know. You have to be creative and diligent and also be resourceful because no one can help you but yourself. It is also very fulfilling to be able to overcome adversities from your own labor and not from other people. We all have our God-given talents it's just a matter of looking from the inside and assessing what you are passionate about and pursue them, Try not to procrastinate your advancement, your progress, your future because all of this we do for our loved ones.
How about you my dear readers what special skills or talents have you developed or acquired during this trying times. Me, personally I learned to write. I love writing before but that was so long ago but this pandemic awakened my sleeping passion. I am new to blogging but I am really interested in sharing my life stories to other people in a way maybe I can give insights or advice or maybe they will learn something from my posts. I still have a long way to go since I just started posting last month.
I hope you enjoyed reading my article and learned something from it. Value your time with your family. Spend time with them as mush as possible.
as always,
love joie
Exactly. We all need to adapt. But hopefully, this pandemic would end as soon as possible