Praying, interacting through chats in social media platforms, watching the news, watching TV programs and films. — Chari Katigbag, homemaker
I have not stopped working, even from home. This is another instance for government-mandated bankruptcy, without any offers for offsetting financial relief. — Victor Vicente Dean Sinco, president, Foundation University
1) Monitoring the news; 2) asking for updates from family, friends and staff and making sure they have food and other necessities; 3) lots of prayer and introspection; 4) working at home; 5) cooking more creative meals; 6) reading and watching Netflix; 7) organizing/bagging stuff for giving away later on. — Marissa Ngan-Dames, CEO, DTC Events
I try to keep a routine: 1) chores; 2) working from home; conducting online classes with my students through a Google classroom; 3) physical exercise; 4) watching Netflix; 5) prayer time with family after dinner. — Jade Dawn Amor, Psychology professor, St. Paul University Dumaguete
To be honest, the first few days were spent doing “nothing”. I slept in, watched Netflix shows, put aside work. But being indoors for more than 48 hours, you develop an aversion to dust. General cleaning started yesterday. If I don’t get distracted today, we might be able to clean everything and purge. Reality is sinking in though: bills still need to be paid, and resources will run low, as businesses are closed. On the upside, we have begun to pray together at night, and share with the kids what this virus is bringing to humanity. We cling on to the Lord’s promises, and hope a lot of good can come from this. — Caroline Iris Tirambulo-Armogenia, proprietor, Alima Cafe
I’m making a website of best practices by local government units against COVID-19, and reaching out to various LGUs so they can use it as reference material. It’s called “Pinas COVID 19 Response” that can be accessed on https://sites.google.com/view/covid19ph/lgus-vs-covid-19 I’m volunteering to help local konsehals around the country to draft the necessary ordinances needed to fight Covid19. — Atty. Golda Benjamin
As a street/documentary photographer who’s used to going out and taking photos everyday, it’s been really hard for me to adjust. I’m doing my part by staying at home, keeping myself healthy, and just going through my body of work – trying to edit, post process, and organize my current photo projects. — Urich Calumpang, visual artist
Working from home. Praying. Cooking (and I don’t cook!). Praying. Baking. Praying. Re-watching The West Wing, Game of Thrones, The Newsroom. Praying. Stay home everyone, and stay safe. — Atty. Cristine Cuisia-Remollo
I still go to the office everyday, and attend to emergency crisis management sessions of the City and NOCCI. — John Villegas, executive director, Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry
As a faculty of the SU College of Nursing, I am making most of this time to check papers and exams. Also, as one of the board of directors of the Philippine Nurses Association-Negros Oriental, we are helping make some face shields for the frontliners. Most of all, this is a good time to reflect and pray for God’s love and protection. It’s also family time! — Theorose June Quilnet-Bustillo, Nursing professor
Cleaning my cabinets, and getting rid of pre-loved clothes that can still be useful to other people. — Maritess Tantengco-Tenorio, homemaker
I continue to run uphill at least 8 kilometers every morning, to keep myself healthy and strong. — Atty. Arthur Tolcidas, City Secretary, Dumaguete City Council
The unexpected lockdown/isolation has forced the cancellation of a lot of ‘important’ engagements and commitments. But seeing how the world is struggling to contain the virus, I have realized that the all-too-often ‘important’ commitments are nothing in the face of life-threatening conditions. The first week of my isolation has been spent in deep prayer for everyone, while reflecting whether my pursuits have truly been serving my life purpose. — Rev. Fr. Thadeu Enrique Balongag, Board member, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines
The quarantine is allowing me to catch up on reading, writing, and playing the guitar. Hubby Cobbie and I are able to watch again the news and online movies together. But my heart goes out to the daily wage earners, and the informal sectors. I hope state and private-led mechanisms to support their livelihood are ensured. — Dessa Quesada-Palm, artistic director, Youth Advocates through Theater Arts (YATTA)
I don’t feel that I’m on qurantine/isolation now. There is still work during the day. At least we get a month worth of rest from Court hearings and deadlines. And for the most part, social distancing only minimized my night-outs and mall ratting. And when I’m at home at night, I get to spend time with the wife watching movies. — Atty. Mark Trayvilla
I have been quite productive while on quarantine, especially since I am also taking a break from Facebook for the Lenten Season. So far, I have researched on cleaning with bleach, and have created homemade hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and sanitizing mats, and have asked my seamstress to make washable facemasks. I made a lot of extras for family and friends, and will also be donating to the local hospitals. I am also enjoying time with my husband and kids, walking around the subdivision, watching movies, eating meals, and praying together, baking, and singing on videoke. Even when we’re not doing anything, or are doing our own things in different parts of the house (me, catching up on work or watching a Kdrama — I just discovered I like them!), it still feels nice being home at the same time, not just at night. — Atty. Pristine Ramona Martinez-Raymond
Since we do not have hearings, I am making the most of my time by resolving pending incidents, and deciding cases. The quarantine time gives me more time to devote to difficult cases with voluminous documentary evidence that go back to the Spanish times. We anticipate a very heavy work load once regular office resumes, so it’s important that I won’t have any pending work anymore by then. — Judge Dinah Tabada-Chu
Our family has created a daily schedule from breakfast to bedtime that helps organize the day into structured study-work time, as well as creative, exercise, and chill times. It helps remind us to stay active, and enjoy the extra time together as a family. — Amy Villanueva, proprietor, Kawayan Collective, Dauin
Since I can’t leave my house, I usually start my day with food delivered by Grab, or I open canned goods, because open restaurants are scarce. Play cards with my brother, and then find time to do a physical workout at home, watch a movie everyday, and study in the evenings. — Greo Alano, Law student, University of San Carlos
Reading and re-reading my old time favorite books. Watching movies and TV series in my laptop. And doing dance exercise to stretch my body. Also, keeping up with the latest news both local and international, and broadcasting it via chat group with friends and family. — Virginia Stack in Valencia, Negros Oriental
I’m busy with laundry, cooking, cleaning, FB’ng. Mostly the latter. — Celia Acedo, Media Studies/Mass Communication faculty, Silliman University
I do office work from home. But I have also found more time to pray, read the Bible, and reflect and discern what God wants us to do in these difficult time. — Ruben Bokingo, director, SU Office of Alumni Affairs
I am doing the following, not necessarily in this order: 1) I monitor the WHO website for updates and latest studies on COVID-19, then I share the information on my Facebook account, but more so to my family and friends. My forte is finding good and science-based information to be shared; 2) I am almost done in reading the book about Jane Goodall, one of my favorite anthropologists and inspirations in life; 3) I am cleaning our bookshelves; 4) I cook our food everyday, enjoying cooking so much more like never before; 4) I just finished the three short series of Netflix’s Anne with an E (from Anne of Green Gables’ books). — Merci Ferrer, environment advocate
The Department of Education is implementing the four-day work scheme for all non-teaching personnel in all public schools, and it’s a welcome development for us in the civil service. During the day where we get to work from home, it is also an essential time to bond with our family members. We also get updates on COVID-19 from relevant news sources, and emphasize each one in the household to always practice proper hygiene. — Claudio Sun Jr., Hermenigilda F. Gloria Memorial High School
I do some gardening. I fertilized the plants this morning. Since I am not allowed to stress myself due to health limitations, there’s really nothing much to do that is productive. In fact, for me, this home quarantine is bad for my health because we tend to eat more. Maayo pa sa una, maglaag ko sa mall kay I can walk and walk with my cane, or holding on to the shopping trolley, or just window shopping without eating (no snacks gyud, and I can postpone my main meal). Funny, but that’s how my life is now. There are so many things to be done but I can not stress myself kuno. I can sweep the house, and do some dusting, but must not do things that require a lot of bending or carrying heavy objects (things that I used to do). — Maria Milagros Utzurrum, homemaker
Padayon lang sa akong trabaho: maglimpyo sa balay ug yard, laba, mamisbis sa tanom; moguwa lang mopalit sa groceries ug tambal or mobayad sa bills; mag text, tan-awg TV, tulog. — Wenlyn Catacutan, kasambahay
For the entire day, I’ve been working on the call for donations for the frontliners at the SU Medical Center. We had learned about their dire need at SUMC (and possibly other hospitals) for more supplies, and someone suggested that the SAAI help sibya the need to Silliman alumni all over the world through the SAAI Facebook page, and friends. Now there is an ongoing call for donations for: medical personal protective equipment packs, headcaps, surgical masks, face shields, 70 percent alcohol, surgical gloves, and shoe covers. Or you may deposit your monetary donations to SUMCFI through RCBC. Any other questions can be directed to SUMCFI via their hotlines on 0961-524-6466 and 0915-566-9887. — Linda Bañas-Alvarez, PRO and director for Mindanao, Silliman Alumni Association Inc.
Quality time together with my hubby [Vice Mayor Alan Gel] and kids, watching movies on Netflix, experimenting on new recipes, and/or just driving around. — Marife Ligon-Cordova, president, Liga ng mga Kagawad ng Dumaguete
