It’s been more than a year since the first lock down in Philippines and worldwide was implemented.
A year after the first lockdown was announced, NCR and its nearby provinces are back again into the Community Quarantine after a surge in the incidence of Covid-19 infected individuals reached an all-time high of more than 15,000 new cases in a day. The good news though is, vaccination is now ongoing for those with comorbidities, health workers and front liners.
Many OFWs abroad were not able to come home or have put off going for annual vacation because who would want to spend the first few days of their vacation in a quarantine facility? It’s not just logical and many of us are only allowed 30 days’ vacation which we would all prefer to spend every day with our family. Why should we also risk being infected while on vacation when you are not even sure if you could be accommodated in a hospital if you get severe Covid 19 virus? And your health insurance coverage is not valid when you are in your home country.
We might all be wondering how our kabayans are coping with the pandemic. Sure, we could watch the news but at times it’s mostly negative news and our heart sank thinking of our poor kabayans suffering in the Philippines. Although, we Filipinos are actually known to be resilient people and this global pandemic just showed that even if we are lacking in a lot of things, we still managed to adapt and rise to the occasion.
The rise of community pantries
Lately, some well-meaning and helpful citizens have put up community pantries where anyone can take supplies that they need for free while others can also donate or share what they are willing to share. What was started at Maginhawa Street in Teachers’ Village (in QC) was replicated in many other areas and still growing.
They say that this is your kabayan’s response to the government’s lack of support to those who are greatly affected by the pandemic or the absence of good governance. But let us look at this as the Filipino’s way of showing humanity, hospitality and generosity. This just shows that during trying times, we Filipinos are still capable of reaching out a helping hand to those less fortunate. The pandemic brought out our sense of bayanihan that even if they are strangers, we don’t see them as such; we see a kabayan who needs our help.
As an OFW and is more fortunate than some of your kabayans, you may want to donate or add to these community pantries in your locality thru your family or relative. It is an opportunity to model charity, helpfulness and coming to the aid of your countrymen when they need it to your children. Be a channel of blessing and what you have shared will return to you twofold.
The implementation of self-learning modules
In order to avoid or at least mitigate the spread of virus among students, the Department of Education has implemented Self-Learning Modules in primary school and secondary schools. The aim is noble, it will address the situation and resources of the educational needs of the students in this time of health crisis.
But, is it effective? The linked article sums up all the things that this SLM has gone wrong. Some parents that I know are the ones doing their children’s modules. The busy ones let their kasambahays help their children. Our educational system is already flawed before the pandemic. This virus made it worse. Expect for an even lower quality of learning in the succeeding years if this goes on God knows till when.
You would not want your children to lag behind in their education. As an OFW, you witness the need to have competitive skills and good education that is at par with other nationalities. Make an effort to encourage your children to remain diligent in their studies. After all, one of the reasons you are an OFW is to give your children a better quality of education that they deserve. Use this as a way to bond with your kids. Help them with their coursework not do it for them. If you do their work for them, how do you think they will be able to cope when everything is back to normal? You might think that you are helping them by doing their assignments and quizzes for them but in fact what you are doing is hindering them to be self-reliant.
The growth of online stores
Everything now can be bought online! This pandemic has awakened the entrepreneurial spirit of many Filipinos (like we said earlier, we are resilient). Anything that can be sold under the sun are now peddled online. Since we are all advised to stay at home (which we really should), going to malls just exposes us to the virus because we don’t know who the carrier could be. Besides, most restaurants and stores are closed anyway and ordering online has become more convenient and accessible.
For entrepreneurs, it was also easier as there is no need to spend money on the construction of a brick-and-mortar store, or no paying of monthly space rent, and you do business in the comfort of your own home (and in your pambahay clothes). The two online marketplace platforms of Lazada and Shopee have replaced the then indomitable SM supermalls. The best thing about this is that even the small players such as your neighbours are now selling online and delivers as well and could compete with other established brands. The rise of online community markets in villages has also tapped on the business acumen of the residents. The virus had indeed changed the business landscape.
If you know of a business that your husband or wife and children back home can manage themselves to sell online, then a little encouragement from you might help them set it up. It would be win-win. This could be a start of something profitable and sustainable. Initial capitalization from mom or dad abroad is available. Also, if you would be doing a little shopping of your own, consider buying from small businesses to support them instead of buying from big brands. You have no idea whether your purchase is the lifeline they need to keep their business open for another day.
The proliferation of plantitos and plantitas
The sudden and unexpected available time during the lockdown have made these titos and titas with green thumbs found their calling once again. They need to channel their energies and innate interest in botany into something worthwhile. Planting and house beautification provide instant gratification. Taking care of these plants is also meditative and therapeutic. Not only that, there are plants that purify the air we breathe, keep the mosquitos away, relieve skin conditions, etc. During this time when all you could hear about is the progress of the pandemic and the devastation it havocs to humanity, looking at these greeneries is a welcome respite.
With the awakening of the plantitos and plantitas in everyone is also the growing business of selling plants, planters, garden soil and other gardening needs. It also created of jobs for delivery services.
Do not be surprised when you come home and see your house turned into nursery. You might want to join the business bandwagon by selling what is in demand these days to plant enthusiasts. If your family back home started dabbling in growing and selling plants, you could still help even if you are abroad. You could be the social media manager and look after the FB page of your business. Put to good use your creativity and digital marketing skills to support your family’s entrepreneurial pursuit.
Work from home
One of the best things brought by the pandemic is allowing workers to do their job in the comfort of their own home. It saves many employees the everyday hassles and stress of commuting (not to mention gas or public transportation money). It saves hours of prep to go to work which can then be spend on more important things such as exercise and cooking healthy meals at home. It also allows the kabayan breadwinners to save some cash from fares, meals at work and other incidental expenses when working at offices. This set up embodies the sought after improved work-life balance. Although we have to be really careful to set the boundaries. Even if you are working from home, only work until the hours you are paid. Don’t blur the line of your personal and professional life. One thing you could do to establish this is to have a workstation where you could only work and all parts of your home is strictly for rest and relaxation.
For OFWs whose wives and husbands at home are lucky enough to be in this kind of arrangement, it means more time with the children and better temperament.
This pandemic is not all about bad things that happened. On matters that we do not have control over, we just have to look closely and try and find some good things.
Hi, I'm Cecille. I have been an OFW in KSA for 13 long years. I have been there, done that. I'd say I was lucky because for most of those years, my family was with me. I'd like to share in this blog what makes those years worthwhile, the lessons I learned and bits and pieces of info that may pique your interest as bagong bayani.