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survival
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2020-04-20
Dis-ease: Poetry in the Period of the Pandemic
Not a "story" in the traditional sense, these are a collection of poems that nonetheless implicitly serve as narrative/tell the story of how an aspiring writer uses the time to harness all the stress, turn it from distress into eustress to de-stress, and thereby find a strategy for survival through creative expression. In each poem, as annotation, the direct connection to COVID is described. -
2020-04-15
Twelve Families
It was almost a month since the last one that I went out, to run for errands in a nearby grocery store. Upon passing by, I saw this sign in front of a gate going to a narrow pathway. On ordinary days, it is not noticeable because of the vendors that stayed to earn their living in a busy place like Baclaran, but knowing how many families were actually living in a small space is an alarming situation in the midst of a pandemic caused by a virus that can easily be transmitted from an infected individual through close contact. The ability to survive is [also a] continuous struggle during these times, as the pandemic limits the movement of people, including the capacity to work. Many people lost their jobs that were the source of their living, and has been dependent on the subsidies given by the government, either by cash or in-kind. But for most, it is not enough. The pandemic is teaching us how to be resourceful and resilient on what is available, just to meet our needs. It also pushes other people and the government to extend their help, with the efforts and hopes that one day, we may be able to help one another without prejudice, or loyalty that may only benefit a few. In these times, these twelve families were some of those who are calling out for help.