Tuesday, May 19, 2020

How To Be Happy Outdoors While Staying Covid-Free


The first day when Modified ECQ was put in place, multitudes of people flocked to the streets and malls to see what's happening. Some say they terribly missed SM malls. A few of them were out to gladly report for work for the needed income. And most of them seemed totally unmindful about the deadly virus. In short, a lot of them wanted to enjoy the limited freedom made available. [Picture above from this site].

Parang me mga ka-ocho nga akong nakita sa news e. Isa ka ba dun? Hehe.

We can't blame people aching to go out after being locked down at home for some 3 months, more or less. But what we worry about is the probability of them ending up with the virus and spreading it all over, especially in their homes and barangays. Mas nakakatakot pag asymptomatic carrier ka. You will be spreading the virus without anyone knowing it.

But we all have the right to be happy. But then, this right might be the very thing that would get us in trouble and end up in the ICU or crematorium--not to mention the scary second wave scenario. So, how do we do it? How do we become happy outdoors again while staying Covid free? To many of us, happiness is roaming around or traveling. Sa totoo lang, happiness to Pinoys is malling and shopping. 

Pero wag naman tayong mamasyal ngayon or gumala-gala lang. Alis lang tayo ng bahay pag kelangan talaga. Yung pag-gala me katuturan at urgent talaga. Paano bang gumala ng di napepeligro ng Covid 19? Pwede kaya ito?

Here are some vital tips, aside from wearing masks, observing social distancing and always washing your hands:

1. Avoid crowds. Kung pupunta ka sa SM, piliin mo yung rutang hindi ma-tao. Medyo loner muna tayo. Umiwas sa mga tao. Better if you can walk to it. From Munoz to SM is only 15 minutes or less. Mag-payong ka. Magdala ka ng bottled water but DO NOT drink when exposed to the public or amid crowds. Choose a place where you are isolated and drink quickly there. DON'T touch the mouth of the bottle with your hands.

2. Don't touch. Kahit ano, don't touch hangga't maaari. Not even your face--lalo na your eyes, nose or lips. Don't touch handrails, doors, door knobs, or anything with your bare hands. So always bring tissue paper with you and use that to hold things, if you need to hold them--lalo na pag sasakay sa jeep or tricycle, or bababa. And always bring a small bottled and sprayable alcohol to clean your hands with, lalo na pag inaabot mo ang sukli. 

But even with hands sprayed with alcohol, don't touch your face.

3. Less Talk. If not necessary, don't talk with anyone. Remember, the virus can only travel if released from the mouth. When people talk they release tiny vapors from their mouths, and these vapors can float and travel some distance. So it's safe if we talk less with people. Bawal muna chikahan at chismisan. Yung chismis bawal talaga yan. Ayaw ni Lord. We can respond with a nod, a shake of the head, with eye movements or with hand signals. 

If you have to talk, maintain distance. NEVER go near to anyone. If you can't hear them, place a hand on your ear to signify that you can't hear them. 

4. Less Aircon. Avoid places with full air-conditioning. The virus travels better in enclosed places with air-conditioning. So big, super cool malls are not recommendable, really. Well, they have significantly reduced their air-cons na rin yata. Opt for small shops with few people inside. If you have to go to a big mall, choose less cooler places. And don't stay there too long. Bawal tambay. Tumambay ka sa bahay nyo. Unlimited.

5. Breathe well. Some experts say it's not healthy to have a mask on for long hours, definitely not the whole day. You might inhale your own carbon dioxide and that could be fatal. If you have to take a break to breathe deeply, get out of enclosed and air-conditioned places and breathe deeply outside where no one else is around. Make sure no one is within 20 feet from where you are. It's risky to inhale deeply where a guy 20 feet or less away just sneezed or coughed. 

6. Walk. Walk, walk, walk as long as this option is possible. It's safer to walk than ride in buses, jeeps or tricycle. Definitely not in cabs or grabs. Know were shortcut routes are, but always be mindful of safety. Don't take paths that are dark and prone to crimes. Iwas sa riding in tendem. Stay in major routes but avoid crowds. And don't walk on really hot times of the day to avoid heatstroke. 

7. PRAY. Last but not least, always ask God's covering and protection. The safest place on earth is in God's hands. So pray before you leave home, pray as you're out there, and pray when you get back home (pray that God disinfect you). To make sure your prayers are heard by God, you have to have a close relationship with HIM. How? Confess your sins to him, repent of them and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, fully surrendering your life and life plans to him everyday. 

Suggestion lang naman yan. Kung iba paniniwala mo, OK lang. No problem. Stick with your belief. I respect that.

When Back Home

Now, when you're back home from the outside world, do this. Stay in a secluded part of your house, like your garage or porch or just at the main door, and rest there for a while. Don't touch anything and leave your shoes OUTSIDE for disinfecting later. Have everyone hide (hide talaga hehe) or stay away from you. After a 15-minute rest, go straight to the bathroom and bathe. 

After bathing, collect your used clothes and put them straight to your laundry basin. Let it soak there with water and soap for 10 to 15 minutes then wash. Don't let used clothes loiter in the dirty clothes basket for long. Baka me Covid yun kumalat pa. Wash them immediately. Then spray your shoes well with alcohol, especially the soles, and let them dry in a place far from people in your home. 

Pag ganito ugali natin araw-araw, pede tayong mag-saya at magpunta sa mga lugar na kelangan natin puntahan talaga. Pero the best option is STAY HOME pa rin. Wag gumala ng walang importanteng dahilan. 


Taglish Section

Monday, May 18, 2020

Papapasukin Ba Natin Mga Anak Natin?


Madaming magulang ngayon ang undecided. Gusto nila pag-aralin mga anak nila pero pano yan, me Covid 19? Nakakatakot, di ba? Di sila maka-decide. At ayaw muna nilang enroll mga anak nila tutal August pa naman ang target month. Pagiisipan muna nila mabuti. At yan ang tamang gawin. Isip-isip tayo.

Photo by Mic Oller from Pexels.

Pero ano nga ba? Pag-aaralin ba natin mga anak natin? 

Sabi naman ng karamihan, OK lang mag start ang classes pag me approved nang vaccine o gamot. Para safe nga naman mga bata. Pero kelan ba yang vaccine na yan? Puro lang sila sabi na ginagawa na at malapit nang magawa. OK, pero kelan nga? Hindi pwedeng puro istorya lang. Hindi ka mapapagaling sa Covid ng istorya lang. At sino unang susubok nyan? Mga anak natin? Safe ba yang vaccine na yan?

Sana pag-isipan din ito ng mga kinauukulan. Pag pinapasok nila sa school mga bata at nagka Covid sila, ano ba magagawa ng mga kinauukulan? Wala---basta iiyakan lang nila at sasabihang "hero" daw. Siguro sasagutin ang pang cremate. Yun lang. Hindi yan ang assurance na kelangan ng mga parents. We need to be assured that our kids will be safe at school.

Home Schooling

OK, meron daw home schooling. Alam nyo ba to? Boto ako dito. Hindi na kelangan lumabas mga bata para mag school. Sa bahay nalang--if they have internet connection and PC or smartphones. Kaya dapat me ka-akibat na pa-utang yan para makabili ng PC at magka-internet connection yung mga wala pa. At pa-bayaran sa kanila ng hulugan. Sino magpapa-utang? Yung schools na siguro or government. Sila na rin sisingil. Sana pwede through SSS loan. Something like that.

Maganda ang online schooling. Meron din classroom yan, recitation, quiz, long test at periodical exams. at lahat yan sa bahay lang. Pwede ding me "field trip" at projects. At siguro konting programs. Lahat online. O di ba safe? Mababantayan pa mismo ng mga magulang.

Kaya boto ako dito. 

At malamang, mas mura ang matrikula, kasi bawas na ang gastos sa field trip. Tapos pwedeng babaan na ang singil sa iba---tulad ng graduation fee at miscellaneous (sa mga private schools).  Bawaas din sa gastos sa school bus or pamasahe. Bawas din sa baon. Ang dagdag bayarin lang e yung kunsumo ng kuryente sa bahay. Konti lang naman--internet lang, PC, ilaw at electric fan. 

The Big One

E di ba takot din tayo sa sinasabing "The Big One"? Yung sinasabi ng mga experto na malakas at malawakang LINDOL daw na pwede o baka tumama sa Metro Manila kundi sa buong Pilipinas. "Daw" palang ha, hindi pa sure ito. Baka lang "daw" mangyari dahil sa indications ng mga "faults" sa ilalim ng lupa. 

(Wag nawa mangyari, sa awa ni Lord), pero kung sakaling magka-gayon nga, at least nasa bahay mga anak natin, kasama natin. Nakakatakot kasi yung andun sila sa school building o nasa kalye naglalakad pag biglang tumama yung Big One. Pero pag-dasal natin na wag na. Pwede namang ipaki-usap ke Lord yan.

Training Online

At mas maganda kasi maging bihasa na ang mga bata sa internet at online. Kasi sa trend na dinulot ng Covid, mas kelangan ng mga companies ang mga empleyadong sanay sa internet at PC. Magiging laganap na ang online jobs at businesses. Baka mawala na sa sirkulasyon ang mga traditional jobs na papasok ka pa at ma-tra-traffic. Mas magha-hire sila ng mga taong internet literate o yung bihasa na sa computer at internet.

Kaya OK na OK ang online schooling for elementary, high school at college. Bukod sa safe na, mas advantage pa para sa mga anak natin.Yun nga lang, kelangan natin mag-invest ng internet connection at magandang computer. Kung 3 anak mo, tatlong computers or laptop bibilin mo. Medyo mabigat. Kaya nga sana me credit plan ang schools para dito, or ang gubyerno. 

Anyway, magandang investment ito. Hindi lang ito basta gastos--ito ay investment. Mag invest tayo para sa future ng mga bata. Tutal, and computer o laptop, pag maingat na gagamitin, pwedeng mag-tagal ng 3 o 5 taon. Ito ngang PC ko 10 years na OK pa rin. Me mga sakit na sya pero OK pa naman. Magandang investment, di ba? Madami na akong kinita dito sa 10 years, hehe.

Kaya pag-handaan nyo na ang online schooling ng mga anak nyo habang August pa ang pasukan (me sabi-sabi January daw). Oo nga pala, ang Ok na internet connection ay Converge. Ililipat ko itong sakin sa Converge kasi sabi ng kapitbahay ko OK daw. Wala masyadong sakit ng ulo di tulad ng iba. Puro sakit ng ulo binibigay sakin. Super BAGAL pa.

So, excited na ba kayo? I'm sure excited mga anak natin sa online home schooling, mga ka-ocho!

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Kahit GCQ Pa Yan, Mas Masarap sa Bahay Ka Lang


Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. o modified ECQ. Ibig sabihin ECQ na me konting pagka-iba para ang mga establishments na kelangan ng gumana e gumana na. Yung mga essential services o mga serbisyong kelangan talaga natin. Gaya ng ilang sangay ng gubyerno o mga kainin o grocery. [Picture above from this site].

Pero ngayon, doble ingat dapat. Kasi mas dadami ang mga taong nasa labas at ma-e-expose sa karamihan. Kaya mas malaki ang chance na magka-hawaan (wag naman sana). Kaya kung di ka naman kelangan lumabas, stay home ka na lang uli. Wag ka mamasyal sa mall o kung saan man.

Maliwanag ha.

Ang GCQ Ay Hindi Magic

Hindi ibig sabihin wala nang virus. Komo modified ECQ o kaya GCQ na, nawala nang bigla yung virus. Hindi ganon. Ano yun, magic? Pinayagan lang ng government maka-labas ang ilang tao para gumana ulit economy natin at maging available na ulit ang mga importanteng establishments. Yun lang yon. Hindi ito panahon ng galaan o istambayan ulit sa kalye o mag-mall.

Minsan me nakita akong picture ng mga tao, andami nila sa mall, para bumili ng milk tea ata yon. Yung iba para bumili ng donut. Mabubuhay ka ng walang milk tea at donut. OK lang kung bibili ka ng gamot o grocery items. Pero milk tea? Gumawa ka nalang sa bahay nyo. Mas healthy pa.

Pano Gumawa ng Milk Tea sa Bahay

Meron kang tea bag? Kahit anong klase o brand. Ibabad mo sa kumulong tubig for 3 minutes. Lagay mo yung tubig sa baso at lagyan ng gatas at asukal (mas maganda brown). Lagyan ng malamig na tubig at yelo. Alugin. Ayun! Me milk tea kana. Kitam? Gusto mo lagyan mo ng mga prutas--saging, apple, avocado, sinigwelas o caimito. Try mo caimito, kaka-iba yon. Pag di mo trip lasa, tapos mo.

Pano Gumawa ng Donut sa Bahay

Kung me pandesal ka o tasty? Bili ka lang dyan sa kanto (dapat me quarantine pass ka ha). Butasan mo sa gitna. Pahiran mo ng honey, butter na me asukal o peanut butter. O kaya strawberry jam. Kahit anung meron ka dyan. Pwede nang donut yan, kesa magka-Covid pag lumabas ka. Para donut lang magkaka-Covid ka pa. Di ba kalokohan? O kaya Sky Flakes or Fita tapos toppings mo sardinas o Century Tuna. Mas masarap kaya sa pizza yan.

Mamasyal Online

You don't really need to go out to roam around. Nood ka lang ng videos sa FB or Youtube. Sure ko madaming die-hard na mag se-selfie sa malls at parke pag GCQ or vi-video ang pagliliwaliw nila. Panoorin mo nalang, safe ka pa, imbis na lalabas ka at expose mo pa sarili mo sa Covid. Ako nga panay ang pasyal nitong lockdown. Nanood lang ako ng past trips ko sa Youtube or yung Youtube ng iba. Or yung Biyahe ni Drew or yung PINASarap ni Cara David. OK na yon!

Wag ng mag-inarte. Para wag ma-karne-norte. Anu yung karne-norte? Di ba me isang joke na ang tawag nung isang lalaki sa Covid 19, "Corn Beef 19"? E di karne-norte. Gets mo?

Seriously, mas deliakdo lumabas ngayon dahil mas madaming tao ang makaka-halubilo mo sa daan. Mas mahirap mag social distancing, lalo na karamihan ng mga nagliliwaliw at pasaway mga hindi nag-o-observe ng social distancing at magagalit pa pag pinansin mo. Ayaw din mag mask. Just imagine sila mga kasama mo. Kaya stay home ka nalang.

Tutal yan daw ang new normal--stay home. Pag "new normal" yan na ang kalakaran mula ngayon.