These days, fear has become a familiar emotion. Things might seem desperate but it has always been a matter of perspective that has pulled the Filipino through tough crises time and again. We’re living in difficult times which is why it’s important now, more than ever, to practice the art of gratitude and to look at the bright side. There are a lot of things to be thankful for and you don’t even need to look hard enough.
Delivery services
Maraming salamat din sa mga riders (food panda, grab, etc.) Gave a tip and the rider was so happy. Kulang pa yan sa tulong niyo.
— Jasper P (@kaibigangmulto) March 28, 2020
Food delivery service in the Philippines has evolved over the past few years. Say what you want to say about Filipinos being “too lazy nowadays” for wanting everything to be as convenient as possible but these services have saved many a person’s time and effort that could’ve been spent working during pre-COVID days. And now, it’s saving us from being hungry, helping deliver food and other items to people in need, and sparing senior citizens from going outside the house to do simple errands.
Of course, we’re also grateful to the drivers who are risking their health to do their job and help people in need. Friendly reminder, don’t be an ass and cancel orders. Also, make sure to tip them!
Online payment services
Here’s another convenience we wouldn’t be taking advantage of had this coronavirus happened 5 years ago: online banking and mobile payment. It’s so much easier to stay home and transact, pay bills, and transfer money. You won’t have to rely on banking hours or brave the outside world and catch the virus from an innocent-looking ATM.
Hardworking frontliners
This gives you an idea of how many layers of protection doctors need to keep themselves safe everyday from the Coronavirus.pic.twitter.com/U6o4b084Vu
— Andrew Bloch (@AndrewBloch) March 29, 2020
We’re deeply grateful for every single health worker on the frontlines battling this crisis head-on. They are fearless, they’re risking their lives, and they won’t back down from the challenge of helping whoever walks through those hospital doors in need. Most of our health workers function on no sleep, food, and lack of equipment but we see them fighting every day. They truly deserve more than the government can give at the moment.
Frontliners aren’t only the doctors and the nurses, they’re also policemen, soldiers, guards, staff, janitors, kagawads, reporters, and even supermarket and grocery employees all without which we wouldn’t have a functioning society if they didn’t wake up every day to man the posts.
Bayanihan isn’t dead
There are also regular Filipinos and celebrities working hand in hand to supply food to the hard-hit marginalized communities who are struggling to put food on the table. There’s never a shortage of kindness in this country and the fact that there are still people willing to go above and beyond to help their fellow countrymen is moving.
Technology that has eased communication burdens
The enhanced community quarantine is not an easy thing to do for anyone, even introverts can attest to that. We’re a fun-loving bunch of people and we love socializing which is why being locked inside our homes quickly became a sad sentence. But thanks to the ever-evolving technology, all the people we miss are just one instant message or video call away. Did you know you can even conduct watch parties for movie dates? We’re content with seeing them virtually (and getting virtual hugs and love) for now.
Since the majority of employees are working from home, we’re should also be grateful for the multiple options for video meetings. Imagine if these didn’t exist, we’d have a harder time trying to conduct those weekly company assessment reports.
Unpolluted cities and clear skies
The coronavirus is a horrible thing that has caused death to thousands of people all over the world but at the same time, the lockdowns and ban of public transportation all over the world have helped nature even just a little bit. In Metro Manila, the Sierra Madre Mountain Range could be seen as clear as day. Mt. Samat Shrine in Bataan can be photographed from Quezon City which is roughly 50 km across Manila Bay. The smog that we’re used to as part of daily urban living is now amazingly gone, leaving clear skies and unpolluted air in its place. In fact, for the first time in a long time, the Metro Manila Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached as low as 12 AQI which means Good Air Quality that poses no risk to humans.
Filipinos are united in voicing their rights to a better government
If you’re going to tweet about a political figure please add #Halalan2022 because covid receipts.
— Ad People Of Manila (@AdPeopleOfMNL) March 25, 2020
AFTER THIS LOCKDOWN, STORM THROUGH THE DOORS OF YOUR LOCAL MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS AND REGISTER FOR #Halalan2022 ! LET’S PROVE THOSE DIMWITTED BASTARDS THAT WE WILL NOT BE FUCKED AROUND ANYMORE. KABATAAN NAMAN.
— sato (@perillomjp) March 24, 2020
Social media has been a hotbed of debate and criticism since the beginning of the year and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Every day people are rallying for change and hounding officials to show concrete plans to defend the country. Sure, there are opposing sides when it comes to political views but there has never been a time where Pinoys are more united in anything. Case in point, calling out Senator Koko Pimentel’s brainless actions.
Needless to say, when we survive this pandemic, incompetent leaders will get what they deserve. #Halalan2022 will hopefully be flooded with right-minded people who will make their votes count this time.
The chance to live and see another day
We’ve seen posts of coronavirus survivors and how they got well from the horrible ordeal of contracting a disease that made it difficult for them to breathe so much they were on the brink of death. We’re grateful that we get to wake up every day, lungs intact, and just spend the day with family. Every day that we open our eyes and we aren’t ill is surely a blessing.
One thing that COVID-19 has taught us is that as humans, we aren’t in control of our lives at all. Our veil of security could be easily ripped to the point where we’re left to our knees, fearing for our lives or the lives of our loved ones. Be grateful for every day you spend slouching around the house, sharing memes. Spend time in prayer for all the frontliners and for this pandemic. We all need it now more than ever.
What are you grateful for today?
