I feel anxious about the loss of face-to-face community life during the pandemic because we cannot have gatherings, which used to make us really happy, or go home for vacation. It affects me much as it has disrupted normal life. This pandemic has also affected thousands of people and is slowing down the global economy. May God bless us.
— Jonalyn Casuela
I feel stressful as we have lost our freedom to socialise, to communicate without wearing mask or without fear that we will be infected. We may also be anxious because we do not know if the people we meet on the streets or public transport are virus carriers. Plans for holidays have to be put on hold.
As a person who works at the food and beverage business, I do not know how we can survive the whole thing. This is one of the most affected business at this time and I have no job for almost eight months. Bills are piling up and I receive only a small amount from government subsidy. Hopefully this pandemic will end soon.
— Alexander Equilos
We all know that face-to-face communication is far better than online. Communicating with a mask can also create problems. Sometimes we do not know what others say or mean when they speak with a mask. Our mobility has become severely restricted as we minimise our social gathering and practise social distancing everywhere. We don’t know when we can see our loved ones back home. The Covid-19 coronavirus has completely changed our lives in an instant.
— Aiza Gumunot
Touch deprivation. It is an essential psychological need of a person. No words can explain things that only a hug can give. Pandemic brought us a new era in which we struggle not just with the disease but with the hunger for freedom. As a medical frontliner, I cannot help but dragging my feet as I enter a ward with Covid-19 patients. But I think the people outside do not care as they think we can endure everything. I need to be touched by the ocean breeze, enjoy the delightful sand and the powerful waters. I want to be with my husband drinking cocktails while watching the sunset. Above all, I want to know when this will end as life is too short!
— Michelle Hill
I felt sad because of the pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine. I think it will last for a long time. We have not seen our relatives and friends back home for so long. No one likes the ongoing pandemic. So I just think about the positive side of quarantine time like spending a lot of time with my family. I have to be productive while at home to alleviate excessive thinking. Besides, we have a baby at home. The first month of quarantine we had a hard time because it was difficult to find essentials for the baby. Everyone was panic buying.
I also felt scared because my husband is a frontliner. I always pray that he would not be infected by the Covid-19 virus.
We are very affected by the pandemic. All of us! But we have to work to provide for our needs.
— Joyce Porwelo
We feel very unhappy about the loss of face-to-face community life during the pandemic. There is a feeling of uncertainty, fear and stress everywhere. It is a big discomfort not to socialise with others regularly. I miss the bonding I have with my brothers and sisters in Christ in the church on Sundays. We cannot meet to share valuable times. Although the situation makes me feel vulnerable to an invisible enemy, I learned the importance of self-care and social responsibility. The immediate positive effect of the pandemic is that I hold tighter to God, lift every burden to him and I pray harder that God may heal the world from this pandemic.
— Judith Tolentino
