#32 DE LEON, Inna Elyjah Beatrice C.

Civil Law Review 2

2017-0471 Atty. Crisostomo A. Uribe

LIVING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19.

Since the start of the second semester in law school last January, going home to my province in
Bulacan to see my family seemed like a luxury that my time could not afford. However, weeks of
personal tribulations which greatly affected my academic performance and my well-being pushed me to
decide to take a break from my arduous life in Manila. At that time, I told myself that three days of rest
and bonding with my family will be the best way for me to recharge and regroup. And so, on the
afternoon of March 9, 2020, I decided to go home. Little did I know that those three days will get extend
to three months.
It took a few months since the first case of Coronavirus in the country for the government to act
and decide to place the entire NCR under Enhanced Community Quarantine for a month starting March
12, 2020. Soon after, nearby provinces followed suit. Other countries, like the U.S. and Italy, were
likewise gravely affected. It was then that I knew that we are facing no ordinary crisis. COVID-19 is a
global health crisis that could easily and menacingly affect an exceptionally high proportion of the
population. Suddenly, all my personal troubles seemed irrelevant and far below my concerns.
Weeks into the quarantine, I had episodes of serious anxiety as to how to best deal with the
current situation. I was worrying about the uncertainty of it all. What will happen to the rest of the school
semester? What about the pending requirements and examinations? How will we survive the coming days
with no income and solely depending on our savings? How will my father, who is an OFW, go home? We
are not prepared and equipped for this crisis, but there is no other recourse but to be resilient and
resourceful. Thus, over the course of the lockdown, classes resumed through online meetings, and by the
Lord’s grace we are sustained enough. My father who was supposed to be back here in the country on
April 15, is rescheduled to go home by June. On the surface, the situation may seem to be not as dire for
we are safe inside our homes, we have more control over how and where we spend our time, and more
importantly, we are with our loved ones.
However, outside the confines of our homes are hundreds and thousands of frontliners – doctors,
nurses, medical staff, local officials, security personnel, maintenance staff, among others – who are
risking and consequently losing their lives every day as they fight the invisible war for us. I could not
help but think about them and their families. It must be unbearable for them, any day may or may not be
their last time to see one another. Reality hit closer when friends of mine lost their parents and loved ones
to the virus. The loss and longing they feel is so deep that no amount of comfort can suffice. I also
thought about the less fortunate living in the slums, and the families who lost even their meager daily
wages. How will they survive? Ironic as it may seem, I felt uncomfortable lounging around the house
watching Netflix or trying out new baking recipes. There are people outside who have no means to ride
out this pandemic and need all the help that can be extended to them. I felt the urge to do what I can to
help.
On April 2, 2020, I requested my mother if we can prepare at least 100 packed lunch and snacks
to be given to frontliners nearby. We cooked two different kinds of rice meals and bought various breads
and pastries. By car, we donated to the frontliners we saw in the checkpoints and more importantly, to the
people living by the streets. I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and gratitude when I saw
their faces brighten up when they received my humble donation. I ended that day with a smile, knowing
that somehow, I was able to help, even if it only meant feeding a few people a day’s lunch. I realized that
it truly is the smallest acts of kindness that leave the biggest impact. If each and every one of us could
help in our own little ways, we may be able to ease one another’s burdens and hardships during this crisis,
even just for a moment.
Our fight against the deadly virus is far from over. Worse, the current administration, as always,
prioritized other issues instead of focusing on solutions to purge the virus and easing the predicament of
the Filipino people during this crisis. We are living in hard, uncertain and scary times. This is not the
“new normal” that we are supposed to be living in. While we Filipinos are known for our resiliency, it
does not equate to acquiescing to the less than bare minimum our leaders give us. Thus, we must do what
we can to help heal our country, and help one another survive. May it be through speaking up and fighting
for what should be done, donating, staying home, or simply being kind to others – any form of humanity
and compassion goes a long way. Let us be one another’s hope. This is how we will truly heal as one.