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Upon the urgent plea of exhausted health workers due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, the government has reverted Metro Manila as well as Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from August 4 to August 18. With the halt of public transport in these areas and the high risk of viral transmission, working from home—for some—is not just an option but a necessity. 

According to a global study conducted by Lenovo this year, seven out of ten employees have personally invested in tech equipment that allows them to work from home, and that 63% feel they are more productive now than they were in the office. More than 70% think that even after social distancing measures are lifted, their work-from-home status will be extended—an arrangement that was encouraged long before COVID-19 to address Metro Manila’s perpetual traffic.

 

Yas in a panel discussion (photo by Dante Gagelonia)

But for Yas Mapua-Tang, Executive Director of Probe Media Foundation, the shift from her pre-pandemic schedule was a huge adjustment. “Before the pandemic, I would go to the office, attend work meetings, conduct training workshops, and travel out of town at least once a month. I would sit in traffic for hours—which I would use to work, read or do crafts.”

Jona (center) during a shoot

Jona Cham-Lago who works in video production is used to a packed routine. “Our family’s normal weekday routine before the pandemic consisted of waking up at around 5 a.m. My husband and I would bring our kids either to their grandmother or school before we go to work. I go out on shoots usually within Metro Manila and occasionally out of town for a few days.”

Data (left) earning her doctoral degree in the Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design (RCID) program at Clemson University in South Carolina, USA

As a faculty member of the Department of Broadcast Communication in the University of Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Data Tolentino-Canlas was always on her toes. “I’d get up at 6 am for my therapy (for an injured knee) and rush to UP for my class after lunch. My classes would end either at 4 p.m. or 7 p.m. I go home, prepare dinner and work, finishing up at around 11 p.m.”

 

Adrian in his workstation

 

Adrian Tecson, who runs four advertising-related companies, including a video production company and a creative consultancy group, is used to going to the office every day, overseeing shoots and attending meetings. “I enjoyed being on the go and doing a lot of things,” he shares.

When the pandemic came, these dynamic individuals were forced to stay put. As they worked from home, they discovered having something in abundance, something which they felt they used to chase—time.

 

Passion Projects

Yas crocheting a colorful blanket

With time on her hands, Yas decided to pursue a childhood hobby—crocheting. “My grandmother was an avid crafter and she loved to crochet. I recall sitting on her lap, her arms around mine, holding my hands and showing me how to hold a hook and do a chain stitch. She taught me to make doilies, dresses for my dolls, and other things to play with. As I grew up, I would crochet less. In my adult years, from college to marriage and being a mom, I hardly picked up a hook.”

 

Jona baking her favorite chocolate chip cookies

 

For Jona, who disliked cooking, baking was a hobby that consisted of following one recipe for chocolate chip cookies. But all that changed when the pandemic came. “I don’t know if it’s the extra time or the anxiety, but I got a little obsessed with chocolate chip cookies during the lockdown, which led to me trying different cookie recipes.” She proudly adds, “In the last four months, I’ve baked several versions of chocolate chip cookies, chocolate banana bread, revel bars, a chocolate cake with ganache frosting from scratch, chocolate crinkles and different kinds of muffins. I even tried making my own strawberry jam, which turned out really, really good!”

Data in her flourishing container garden

As early as last year, Data and her husband have been filling their garage with succulents. But due to negligence, the plants died. “This time, we tried to do container gardening. From our kitchen scraps, we grew vegetables. Then we started getting cuttings from friends, or gathering them from vacant lots. Before we knew it, we had turmeric, kangkong, calamansi, bell peppers, sili and kamote.”

 

Adrian’s harvest of basil and dill, and his tools for hydroponics

Hydroponics has always appealed to Adrian’s techie side, which was why he started it in his balcony during quarantine. “I watched a YouTube video, which got me buying my first hydroponics kit. It’s like a styrofoam box with holes and styro cups at the top  where you put the seedlings. I started with some dill and basil then I joined a Facebook group, where I learned to make hydroponic pots from tubes and soft drink bottles. I bought shelves and other stuff like PH meters and nutrient solutions to propagate my plants.”

Such displays of productivity speak of resiliency according to psychologist Roselle G. Teodosio, owner of IntegraVita Wellness Center. “People who have picked up new skills or went back to their old hobbies are better off, mentally speaking,” she says. “A new activity or hobby has an effect on a person’s self-confidence, self-esteem and overall wellness. Being productive boosts these traits, lowering stress levels.  This would also distract them from the pandemic.”

 

Finding fulfillment

Crocheted Christmas lanterns

 

Yas crocheted a baby blanket for her nephew.

Yas reveals that crocheting helped her deal with the death of her grandmother years ago.  “Holding the hook and yarn in my hand and going through the stitches made me recall the love, comfort, and safety I felt while sitting on her lap. To this day, I still picture my grandmother when I crochet and I try to infuse the same love and happiness in all my projects.” Her passion projects also helped manage her emotions during the pandemic. “Like many others I was anxious, afraid, and distraught. In the first few months of COVID-19, I didn’t pick up a hook at all. But I eventually came to terms with the uncertainties of the situation. I looked at my colorful yarn stash and I began to make a simple granny square. Then, the granny square got bigger. Eventually I had enough to make a whole blanket.  I think there is more positive energy at home, which allows me to create more, including a baby blanket for my sister-in-law who just gave birth. 

 

Jona’s chocolate ganache cake

 

Homemade revel bars

For Jona, the process of following a recipe and measuring out ingredients calmed her. “When I am baking, I am fully immersed in what I am doing. There is something reassuring about knowing that I will get a cookie or a muffin or a cake at the end of the required baking period.” This semblance of control has helped keep her anxiety in check. “I can at least control what goes in my mixing bowl and what comes out of my oven. The fact that I see the results so quickly also makes that part of me that craves instant gratification very happy.”

 

Data tending to her garden

 

Thriving malunggay

Data finds tending to her small garden therapeutic. “It’s nice to see something grow. It becomes a metaphor for you, that despite the conditions you’re in, you grow—or try to grow. Another obvious benefit is we have something to eat. I can eat as much greens as I want thanks to my garden.” To get a full view of her garden, Data has positioned her desk near the window. “It’s an encouraging view. When I’m tired, I go outside and stand among my plants. I cut some stems and talk to my plants.”

Adrian’s daughter is also into hydroponics.

 

Adrian’s DIY setup

Adrian enjoys the same benefits from his hydroponic garden. “At this time of uncertainty when you don’t see progress, you look at your plants and there’s growth. There’s hope. It has really changed my perspective a lot. I don’t need to leave the house all the time and I get to spend time with the kids.  This is a coping mechanism that lets me focus more on myself and my family. This is something you can control to a certain extent but you also need faith. You also need to trust God and nature.”  

 

The pressure to be productive

Though productivity is a laudable trait during the pandemic, Teodosio clarifies that a person’s level of productivity depends on several factors. “One is his economic security.  If a person is still able to work, then his productivity level may not be as affected compared to someone with no job security. Second is physical health. People who regularly exercise tend to be more productive.  The more physically active a person is, the more he is able to handle stress.  Third is mental health.  A person who has a history of anxiety or depression is more likely to have a relapse.  In this case, when people are asked to distance themselves from others, the tendency is to feel isolated and disconnected.  Even people who have never experienced mental conditions may feel these two most common problems, and may feel confused and scared.”

 

Because the pandemic is unforeseen, Teodosio believes that making space for grief and being unproductive is valid, even necessary. “There is an added pressure, most especially from social media, to make the most out of the situation, kind of like making lemonade out of lemons.  This can make people more frustrated with themselves, when they can’t seem to find their own “niche.” Also, people are afraid to show their fear, lest they be labeled as negative or a pessimist.  But it is actually okay to feel not okay, to admit that one feels fear, that one is afraid, that one cannot function well since there is really an uncertainty during this time.  It is also very natural to grieve. Grief would mean an end to something, not just death of a person.  It is an end to a friendship, an end to a relationship, an end to a dream and most of all, an end to a lifestyle, a life one had known.”   

 

Yas admits that she seesaws between productivity and lack of activity. “I believe that we need to listen to ourselves and acknowledge our emotions, then act in a way that is appropriate, whether it is doing nothing or doing something.” Jona agrees. “I’ve learned to give myself time to be sad. I don’t force myself to ‘be positive’ or ‘look on the bright side’ when I get overwhelmed. Instead I try to embrace the helplessness and the sadness and let it run its course.”

 

In the meantime, Data sees gardening as her reward. “Even if I have deadlines, I tend to my plants. Someone told me that it’s good to reward yourself even if you haven’t been productive.” 

 

Teodioso says it’s important to feel the emotions, to slow down and be unproductive.  “There is nothing wrong with being positive or creative or even productive.  But sometimes, we have to give ourselves space to feel bad. This is a normal reaction to what’s happening in the world.  This might be the way for them to accept the reality and in that acceptance, embrace it and adapt to it.”

 

Prolonged unproductiveness

But what happens when the unproductive period becomes prolonged? Teodosio states that this may lead to feelings of failure, anxiety, anger, loneliness, emptiness and other negative emotions.  “These are signs of anxiety and depression.  It is not healthy anymore when this unproductiveness lead to the inability to function.” 

To deal with this situation, Teodosio recommends the following steps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re one of those feeling anxious or depressed, don’t hesitate to reach out to the following:

 

 

 

Metro Manila’s first few days under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) saw a deluge of commuters being stranded with no sufficient public transportation. But the urban commuter’s burden has long been an issue even before the pandemic.

Caryn, a resident of Tondo in Manila, recalls a particular incident that stood out in her more than twenty years of commuting. “Once, I was in Pasig when the MRT broke down and we were advised to take the bus across the street. I was so surprised to find out there wasn’t a bus stop. There were no lines—it was a free-for-all kind of thing.  People grabbed the railing and pulled themselves up onto the bus, while the conductor kept yelling for people to hurry up because the traffic enforcers were coming.”

 Aloy, who’s been commuting since she was twelve and is now a mom, has a collection of horror commuter’s stories. “Around 2003, I was sitting in a taxi in the middle of traffic, painfully aware that I was missing my friend’s wedding to which I was supposed to be the lector. In 2005, when MRT was getting more crowded, I remember being forced to press against a total stranger—male, as luck would have it. In 2016, I was stuck in one of those triple whammy carmageddon nights of floods, mall sale and payday. I was forced to stay over at a friend’s home until 11 p.m. before I could go home to my family, which included a breastfeeding baby. I think about all the time traffic has stolen from me and my family, and I find it unacceptable.”

 

Biker wears a face shield attached to his helmet (Photo by Jire Carreon)

 

Hitting the road

In 2010, the World Bank noted an increase in energy consumption from the Philippines’ transport division, making up about 37% of the country’s total energy consumption—most of it coming from road transportation. 

But with the declaration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) two months ago, people were discouraged from leaving their homes and public transportation was banned, resulting in empty roads. With essential businesses such as hospitals, pharmacies and food markets continuing operations, employees and consumers who didn’t own cars rode bicycles or walked. 

Danielle Guillen, an urban transport planner and professorial lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s School of Urban and Regional Planning and Asian Institute of Tourism, makes this observation: “I think the ECQ showed that active transport is doable in Metro Manila if there are few motorized vehicles on the road. The ECQ really brought back the road space for people. Active transport (biking and walking) is only doable if we have enough road spaces that are connected, safe, and green shared with pedestrians and cyclists. Aside from the hard infrastructure that includes people-friendly designs, the soft infrastructure should be there. This means building the culture where motorists respect pedestrians and cyclists like what we see in most developed countries. This would mean embedding prioritizing transport ethics in our educational and motor vehicle registration systems.”

Bike and pedestrian paths in Tsukuba, Japan (photo by Caryn Santillan)

 

Parked bikes in Amsterdam, Netherlands (photo by Johan Marten)

 

How other countries do it

During the quarantine, biking and walking for most people was a novelty. But in other countries, such forms of active transport have always been the norm.

Caryn, who lived in Japan for more than a decade, shares that Tokyo train stations provide overnight parking lots for bicycles so employees could bike from the station to their offices in the morning. “Active transport is very much integrated into their way of life. Very early on, kids are taught to walk to school. They were allowed to use a bicycle to commute when they were old enough. Some bicycles are fitted with attachments for transporting one to two preschoolers, or have baskets for groceries. The bikes have safety features, and need to be registered at the local ward office.”

For seven years, Aloy lived in the Netherlands, where active transport is the default lifestyle with children learning to bike as early as two years old. “Some families even have different kinds of bikes—the everyday, inexpensive one for daily trips to work, errands or visiting friends; and the fancier, sturdier bikes for long-distance weekend trips. There are cargo bikes for carrying your little ones, and e-bikes for older members whose knees are getting weaker.” Because of this, rush hour in the Netherlands looks a lot different from Manila’s carmageddon. “Rush hour in the Netherlands is a swarm of bikes. Bike infrastructure is everywhere. In any party or gathering, I’m guessing that more than 80% of the people came in bikes.”

 

Caryn in Tokyo, Japan

 

But in both Japan and the Netherlands, bikes are not the only kings of the road. In Japan, non-bikers like Caryn find it a breeze to walk. “Since most sidewalks are wide and clean, walking in Tokyo wasn’t a hardship—even in heels! When we moved to Tsukuba, which is about an hour away from Tokyo on the express train, I usually walked. It takes around 20 minutes for me and my kids to walk to the city center, but the pedestrian and bike paths are clean and very picturesque.”

 

Aloy and Bram rode a cargo bike during their 2011 wedding in Netherlands

 

Aloy shares how the Dutch view walking, not just a means to get somewhere, but also a leisurely social activity. “It helps that there are so many parks. I feel that Dutch cities disincentivize car ownership by keeping roads small, maintaining high taxes on cars, taxis and parking fees, and maintaining bike paths with real barriers and bike stoplights.”

Aside from enabling Filipinos to easily clock in the recommended daily ten thousand steps to maintain good health, active transport also allows commuters greater mobility amid the pandemic. “It is the only means for us to really practice social distancing,” Guillen shares. “Walking is the very first mode of mobility that we could really control. Next is cycling, considered an advanced form of walking. If we have a really good walkway or cycling path infrastructure and space, we can easily estimate if we are two meters away from the others.”

 

Beyond walking and cycling

Aside from active transport, Guillen acknowledges the need for community public transportation that’s both safe and eco-friendly during the pandemic. “Other forms of public transportation would be busses and trains—as long as the social distancing and related health protocols are enforced. For short-distance trips, single-passenger pedicabs and tricycles are an option. However, it is important to note that the old jeepney does not really meet the public transport utility vehicle design standards. The government’s PUV(Public Utility Vehicle) modernization goal, if I understood it correctly, is to really update in terms of design and make the service meet service-level standards. With the pandemic, design and service should now consider social distancing and related health protocols.”

Even beyond the pandemic, Caryn wishes that the Philippine public transport will be a great equalizer like in Japan. “Train passengers are a mix of teenagers, suited businessmen, mommies pushing baby strollers, kimono-clad old ladies, and women in formal evening wear and fur coats,” recalls Caryn. “There are facilities for the disabled—elevators for wheelchairs, tactile paving, braille signs, and audio announcements (in different languages) for the visually impaired. And I greatly admire the pride instilled in their public transport employees. They all know they are part of an important system that helps the city run. They do their job competently and treat passengers respectfully.” 

Aloy describes the Netherlands’ public transport system as a “well-oiled machine. When it falls out of schedule with a delayed train, you can hear the deep, deep disappointment rumbling through the crowd, because they are so used to efficiency. I was once on a train where the conductor apologized over the public system that we were arriving five minutes early at the destination.”

 

Bike placards (photo by Agay Llanera)

 

Wishlist for Manila’s public transportation

There is no doubt that the surge of private vehicles in Manila’s roads compound traffic. But why are urban Filipinos so car-centric? Guillen explains, “I think this a product of our long history where building highways was prioritized over the rails, as well as the culture that somehow equate car with economic development. Advertisements to market new vehicles could also play a role. Moreover, there is also the sad reality that public transport and options for active mobility are quite limited. To improve the existing public transport system, there should be enough supply during peak hours and off-peak hours. The system should also consider the active transport component of the whole mobility experience.”

 

A volunteer assisting bikers during the pandemic (Photo by Jire Carreon)

 

Aside from proper bus stops that are strictly followed, Caryn hopes for more waiting areas for commuters, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). “Imagine waiting for a bus under the midday heat or while it’s raining! Also, now that more people are using bicycles, bicycle theft has become a big issue. Establishments should provide secure parking racks— and wider, safer, well-lit sidewalks please, with no vendors taking up the space where people ought to pass. Most of all, I wish we would follow through with urban transport plans despite the changes in administration.”

Aloy wishes for a public transport system that allows commuters to enjoy their travel. “I try to imagine what commuting looks like to a 3-year-old— all 95 centimeters— and it must be frightening. As sociable as we Filipinos are, living in Metro Manila has not made it easy to meet up with friends. If I wanted to enjoy an after-work dinner with a small circle of friends, very few would agree to make it. The city and its transport system simply don’t allow for those connections to be nurtured.”

For Guillen, a country’s public transport system reflects the values of its government and its people. “A country with an exemplary public transportation system means it is a country that truly cares, prioritizing people’s inclusive mobility in the overall system. It is a truly democratic country that provides options to its people on choosing one that truly meets the environment, climate change, and health concerns.”

 

Now that the government has imposed an enhanced community quarantine until April 14, 2020, parents may be worrying about keeping their kids entertained and stimulated at home.  The good news is, there are many fun and creative options to keep those tiny hands and growing minds busy. 

 

Here are some suggestions: 

 

 

 

 https://www.facebook.com/kuya.robert

 

 https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/

 

 

 

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/easy-recipes-for-kids-to-make-by-themselves/

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/Z5VMThf0sM4 

https://youtu.be/5XCQfYsFa3Q

 

 

 

 https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/chores-for-children

 

 

 

 

 

 

       http://en.childrenslibrary.org

 

 

 

https://www.dltk-kids.com/type/printable_jigsaw_puzzles.htm

 

 

 

https://www.education.com/worksheets/

https://www.jumpstart.com/parents/worksheets

 

There are also online tutorials here: 

https://www.khanacademy.org

https://www.ck12.org/student/