Catanduanes State University
Laboratory Schools
Virac, Catanduanes
S.Y. 2019-2020
CONTEMPORARY ARTS
Activity 2: Informal Essay
12-Canary
Grace Ann A. Tablizo
Hey! Stop being so stupid
Before we get to the real thing, let’s get to know this virus who caused all of us to just sit
our butts at home and what’s really happening outside. Well, according to the World Health
Organization, the virus started as pneumonia outbreak with unknown cause reported in Wuhan,
China and then was later on recognized to be a new coronavirus. The disease is now known as
coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It only started as an outbreak and developed into a global
pandemic disease by March 2020 as it reached several countries all over the world. The
Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 71 new cases of COVID-19 last March 26 in the
country bringing the total number of cases to 707. Up to date, there has been a total of 28
patients who have been cleared of COVID-19 and 45 recorded deaths. Netizens keep on insisting
that the sudden increase in number of COVID-19 cases in the country was because the virus
keeps on spreading and the government wasn’t doing anything to stop it, well in fact, the spike of
cases were basically due to our country’s increased capacity to test the subjected patients is what
I think. Since March 16, Luzon has been on enhanced community quarantine to prevent the
further spread of the disease including of course the Bicol region where we live in, obviously.
As for the island of Catanduanes, right now is in a state of lockdown or should I say
“modified” lockdown. From what I’ve read in the latest advisory from the office of the governor,
here are the guidelines in the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in the
province: curfew for 24 hours, only one member in the household who were issued a quarantine
pass are allowed to go outside in order to access basic necessities, all barangays must have
checkpoints in all entry and exit points, liquor ban, social distancing, and cargoes are still able to
go back and forth between the mainland and our province to ensure the stability of supplies in
the province. Unsurprisingly, of course, classes in all levels are suspended and that’s why we’re
doing these quarantine school activities and honestly, I’m not a fan of it. Naturally, because I’m
more happy to just binge-watch animes than do all these activities and in the first place, I’m not a
fan of the “suspension” itself. Sure, suspension of classes used to be the “salvation” of students
especially with all the deadlines and midterms partying at once and it’s supposed to be fun for
some however what’s happening right now is a totally different case and it’s not something to be
happy about with all these craps happening around the world.
As I have said, craps are all over the place and so is people’s stupidity. First of all, Local
Government Units (LGUs) and our precious frontliners are on heavy duty every single day to
implement properly the enhanced community quarantine to prevent every possible spreading of
the virus in the country are bravely testing, curing, and talking to potential carriers but still
people really has to be so stupid to actually think that the virus is a joke and just casually walk
like Catriona. What they’re thinking, I can’t comprehend. Let’s just take for example those
balibayans who came back to our island, instead of doing self-quarantine they were there, in
VTC, McDonalds, Center Mall, Jollibee or wherever hell they went because “Hey I have lots of
money lemme treat you”. COVID-19 be like “Am I a joke to you?” Is it really that hard to not be
able to go out of your room? Because if you value your family, your love ones, you will follow
the guidelines and do self-quarantine. After this hell, you can go out, you can scream your heart
out, you can even strip naked and run outside if you want but for now can you just stay put and
do what you have to do for God’s sake. Do self-quarantine. Think of your safety, think of
everyone’s safety. Those times when I saw people who should’ve been on self-quarantine and
just casually walking in our neighborhood, I’m slowly losing faith in humanity. Oh, who am I
kidding? I started losing hope before this virus came to life anyway.
Okay, back to our topic, what’s more are those corrupt politicians who’s leisurely lying
on their big pot of gold yet they are tested for the virus. My point is, testing should be prioritize
to our frontliners and those who are more vulnerable and not those fat ass pigs. Our country
don’t have enough testing kits for everyone to be tested. Not a single country can pull off that.
That’s why we have to be wiser. I don’t mean that those politicians are not important citizen of
this country, although this may be true but that’s not point, as I have noted we have to prioritize
our frontliners and the vulnerable ones. Mass testing doesn’t mean every single citizen should be
tested, again it means the frontliners and the vulnerable ones. Why am I saying this over and
over again? Ahh, it’s because it has to be pointed out.
Equally important, one question, why are our health workers who’re practically
sacrificing their own safety being discriminated? Oh my gosh! Are you people for real? Those
people who you’re discriminating are basically our hope to salvage us from this mess. So, why?
At this point, there are already nine doctors who died because of the virus and several nurses are
on quarantine because despite the danger behind COVID-19 they still stand firm to fight it and
help patients to recover. They can’t even be with their family. We’re so lucky we’re with our
family yet some of us really have to do such things. It’s incomprehensible. It’s so saddening.
Instead of saying such barbaric remarks we must show our support to them. Motivate them.
Donations. Thank them. These simple things can make them happy.
So much for being hopeful.
If only people were smart enough.
Okay! Let’s stop being pessimistic and look at the brighter side of life. By brighter side I
meant stop stressing out so much just because we can’t leave the house. I, for example, just
watch animes and communicate with my friends using my social media accounts to beat the
boredom and stress. It is normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or angry during a crisis.
Talking to people you trust can help. Contact your friends and family. Don’t use smoking,
alcohol or other drugs to deal with your emotions. Limit worry and agitation by lessening the
time you and your family spend watching or listening to media coverage that you perceive as
upsetting. If you must stay at home, maintain a healthy lifestyle - including proper diet, sleep,
exercise and social contacts with loved ones at home and by email and phone with other family
and friends. Get the facts. Gather information that will help you accurately determine your risk
so that you can take reasonable precautions. Find a credible source you can trust such as WHO
website or, a local or state public health agency. Draw on skills you have used in the past that
have helped you to manage previous life’s adversities and use those skills to help you manage
your emotions during the challenging time of this outbreak. And most importantly, observe
proper hygiene, people. Wash your hands frequently. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. If
you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. And please stay at home.
References
Advice for public. (2020, March 18). Retrieved from Who.int:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Radyo Pilipinas Catanduanes. (2020, March). Retrieved from Facebook.com:
https://web.facebook.com/radyopilipinascatanduanes/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Sabillo, K. (2020, March 25). Philippines' COVID-19 cases top 600. Retrieved from ABS-CBN
News: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/25/20/doh-announces-84-new-covid-19-cases-
6-more-recoveries-3-new-deaths-total-at-636
WHO supports the Philippine government in COVID-19 response. (2020, February 13).
Retrieved from Who.int: https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-
stories/detail/who-supports-the-philippine-government-in-covid-19-response
