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As the country struggles against the pandemic, the solution to combat COVID-19 seems to be the use of plastic and other disposable materials. Jeepneys, tricycles, buses and trains use plastic dividers to promote physical distancing among passengers; and since August 15, The Department of Transportation has mandated the populace to wear—along with face masks—face shields, usually made from plastic, when taking public transportation. Adding to the plastic burden is the deluge of food take outs and merchandise deliveries, deemed the safer option than dining out or going to malls during the pandemic.

 

Inside a jeepney in Bulacan (photo by PM Caisip)

But the Philippines isn’t the only country boosting waste production. In Thailand, home deliveries account for the increase of plastic waste from 1,500 tons to 6,300 tons per day. Last February, China ramped up its daily face mask production to a staggering 116 million daily, resulting in hundreds of tons of used masks in public bins each day.

Hospitals are also generating more waste. According to the Asian Development Bank’s data last April, Metro Manila hospitals, which deal with more than half of the country’s COVID-19 cases, were estimated to produce 280 metric tons of medical waste each day. A similar number was reflected last March in Wuhan hospitals, which produced more than 240 tons of daily waste at the height of the outbreak, compared with 40 tons during ordinary times.

 

Garbage in Misamis Oriental (photo by Manman Dejeto/Greenpeace)

Plastic Pollution

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) states that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, a million plastic drinking bottles were purchased every minute across the globe. Each year, up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide, while 8 million tonnes of the world’s plastic end up in the oceans.

Plastic is widely produced and used because they are durable and don’t break down. Ironically, these traits are also the reason why they’re harmful to us and the environment. According to the UN Environment, most plastic items in the oceans are broken down into tiny particles easily swallowed by marine animals—the same animals that humans eat. Plastic has also found its way into our tap water, increasing our risk for ingesting them. By clogging drainages, plastic facilitates breeding grounds for pests, which give rise to vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria.

 

Plastic in the Philippines

According to a 2015 report released by the Ocean Conservancy, the Philippines ranks third among the world’s top plastic polluters of oceans. 

But efforts to address rampant plastic use has been shelved due to the pandemic. In fact, the Quezon City government is thinking of suspending its ordinance on banning single-use plastic and disposable materials. But Greenpeace Campaigner Marian Ledesma emphasizes that such move can greatly impact an already ailing environment and population. “Single-use plastic is not inherently safer than reusables as it will cause additional public health concerns once discarded,” she says. “As the government gradually allows businesses to reopen, reusable systems and single-use plastic bans must be implemented to ensure the protection of the environment, workers, and consumers.” 

Garbage from South Korea dumped in Misamis Oriental (Photo by Manman Dejeto/Greenpeace)

 

Compounding the nation’s plastic crisis is the illegal waste trade. Since China stopped its waste importation, Southeast Asia has received a deluge of toxic garbage from developed countries. In the last three years, the ASEAN region, notably Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, saw an astounding 171% growth—equivalent to over 2 million tonnes—in plastic waste imports. Data from Greenpeace Southeast Asia shows that from 4,267 tons in 2017, plastic waste imports to the Philippines rose to 11,761 tons in 2018. Most of these came from Japan, the United States, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. 

Last year, the government began shipping back the controversial Canadian garbage, which slipped into the country between 2013 and 2014. The shipments, labeled as recyclable materials, was, in fact, made up of 64% unrecyclable residuals. 

But NGO groups such Ecowaste Coalition and Greenpeace Philippines believe that the uncovered shipments show only the tip of the iceberg of waste that actually enters the country. They have been calling for the government to sanction the Basel Ban Amendment, which bans the import of all waste, including those for recycling. “The ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment (BBA) and the enactment of a total ban on waste imports is crucial, especially at a time when the nation grapples with recovery from a global pandemic that has led to the proliferation of medical and household waste,” Greenpeace Country Director Lea Guerrero said. “Lack of prohibitions on waste imports and poor enforcement of existing regulations leave the country open to future incidents of illegal waste trade, which often results in recipient countries shouldering the health and environmental costs of foreign waste.”

 

Enterprising Pinoys, including Eli/sew/beth, are making and selling reusable face masks

 

Go for Reusable, Not Disposable

A study published in Environmental Science & Technology states that an estimated 129 billion disposable masks and 65 billion disposable gloves are used worldwide each month during the pandemic. 

This concern has prompted over 130 global health experts—including scientists, academics, doctors, and authorities on public health and food packaging safety— to sign a statement that assures the public that reusables, when coupled with basic hygiene, are safe during the pandemic. In an interview with Greenpeace Philippines, Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health stated that the pandemic waste has led to widespread environmental contamination, as well as increased public health risk. “Inequitable access to PPE (personal protective equipment) and to information about how to stay safe has contributed to the disproportionate rates of infection in poor and minority communities. If medical masks are prioritized for healthcare workers, the general public can use cloth masks as a safe, cost-effective alternative.”

Though health and safety is a pressing issue during the pandemic, outbreaks have long been linked to environmental degradation. By lessening our waste during these challenging times, we also lessen our risk for sickness. As Dr. Renzo Guinto, a physician and public health expert on health, climate change, and the environment, stated in an interview, “Protecting the public’s health must include maintaining the cleanliness of our home, the Earth. We don’t need to choose one over the other – we can protect ourselves from COVID-19 while protecting the environment.”

At 4 p.m. today, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 5,277 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 202,361 in the country. Of these newly-reported cases, 82% or 4,350 were chronicled between August 13 and August 26.

 

TOP PLACES WITH NEWLY-REPORTED CASES

The National Capital Region (NCR), being the epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak in the country, tops the list with 3,157 new cases followed by Laguna (403), Negros Occidental (304), Rizal (237), and Cavite (228).

DOH saw a relative increase of local transmission in Negros Occidental, which made it to the list of top places with newly-reported cases for 2 consecutive days.

ACTIVE CASES, RECOVERIES, AND DEATHS

With DOH’s mass recovery scheme, the country’s number of recoveries breached the 100,000 mark.
Today, 1,131 new patients have recovered, while 99 have died, bringing the total to 133,460 recovered patients and 3,137 deaths. Meanwhile, DOH’s data showed that there are 65,764 active cases in the country.

DOH added that 80 duplicates were removed from the previous total case count. Of these, 58 recovered cases have been removed as the numbers underwent validation.

 

CASE FATALITY RATE, CASE DOUBLING TIME, AND NUMBER OF TESTS

Despite the evident increase in the number of cases, DOH remained firm in its stand that the country is handling the pandemic well.
In its latest bulletin, DOH highlighted the cases fatality rate – defined as the proportion of people who died from COVID-19 among individuals diagnosed with the disease – as faring better at 1.55% compared to the global case fatality rate of 3.37%.

With the case doubling time or the number of days it takes for cases to double, the country is said to be faring better with 9.97 days compared to the 1.55 days back March 15, 2020, which marked the start of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

To date, a total of 2,245,872 individuals have been tested.

Most of us are aware of menopause, a stage in a woman’s life when her menstruation stops. A woman is said to have reached menopause when she has not had a period for one year.

However, many of us are not aware of perimenopause, the transition to menopause. Perimenopause can happen as early as 10 years before menopause, and its symptoms vary from person to person. The most common symptoms are as follows:

 

• irregular periods
• hot flashes
• night sweats
• mood swings
• weight gain
• decreased fertility
• sleep problem
• dry skin
• decreased sex drive

 

Perimenopause usually begins at 40 years old. Not all women experience its symptoms, which are brought about by the decline in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels. However, those who do find perimenopause symptoms difficult to deal with. An article published by the Harvard Medical School even dubs perimenopause as “the rocky road to menopause”. Thankfully, there are ways to lessen the discomfort brought about by the many changes in a woman’s body during this stage.

 

Find out more in this report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLBgQObx4b0

Tsukuba, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, takes its name from Mount Tsukuba, famous for its double peaks. But the city is also popular for the Tsukuba Science City, Japan’s center of research and development first developed in the 1960s. Here, one can find the nation’s top research institutes and two national universities dedicated to various scientific fields such as mechanical engineering, chemical research, and robotics. Tsukuba has also provided both local and foreign governments with data on earthquake safety, environmental degradation and plant genetics among others. With a population of under 300,000, Tsukuba is home to both research facilities and sprawling nature—as well as Julius Santillan, a Filipino engineer.

 

Julius and a friend at the peak of Mt. Tsukuba

 

I was born and bred in Silay City, Negros Occidental—simple life, simple dreams. My father wanted me and my brothers to be engineers because he liked the idea of having the title “engineer” attached to our names. As the eldest of four boys, I felt obliged to fulfill his dream.

I studied at the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP)-Visayas, which had a Japanese Language Program. Our teacher, who was Filipina and studied in Japan, encouraged us to apply for a “Monbusho” Scholarship, an academic scholarship offered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. So, I did and got in.

In 1998, I flew to Japan to study. Here I met Caryn, a fellow scholar and Filipino, who eventually became my wife. In a foreign land, we studied, eventually worked and raised our two sons.

 

Photo of Julius featured in a Japanese newspaper

 

Journeying in Japan

After three years of studying in Osaka, I moved to Tokyo to work as an engineer for laser equipment used in eye surgeries among other applications. After a year and a half, I was outsourced in Tsukuba to work on semiconductors so sensitive that I had to wear a suit inside what they called the “super clean room.” This is a room with a strictly-controlled environment that keeps harmful particles (for the semiconductors) at a minimum level. Presently, I’m working for Osaka University but our research allows us to remain here in Tsukuba.

During the first few years working in Tsukuba, my family then was living near Disneyland Tokyo and I’d shuttle back and forth for work. But in 2011, the huge earthquake came and I got stranded in Tsukuba. At that time, Caryn and the kids were in the Philippines on holiday (fortunately) but we decided to relocate to Tsukuba so we could all be together whatever happened. I also thought the good distance from the sea was a plus since we’ll be away from tsunami waves—if ever.

 

Actual rocket displayed at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Tsukuba

 

Tsukuba, City of Paradox

Walking around in Tsukuba is a bit confusing in the sense that expansive high-end laboratories are sandwiched by sprawling rice fields and vegetable farms. If you want to see a place with both farmlands and robots, this is the place.

 

Signages in Tsukuba

 

In this science city with so many research labs, you’ll meet a lot of PhDs (Doctors of Philosophy). Researchers from all over Japan often find work in Tsukuba, which was why the government built a direct train line from here to Tokyo. Tsukuba is a young city with well-thought out city planning. It is very family-friendly (with parks, bike roads, etc.) so it’s only natural that researchers bring their families to make their home here. As a result, more schools were put up here—high-level elementary and high schools that rank in the whole of Japan. In fact, some Tokyo residents bring their kids to Tsukuba for schooling.

Autumn in Matsuhiro Park

Doho Park

But unlike in Tokyo where supermarkets are a stone’s throw away from my apartment, I have to walk around 10 minutes to buy food—the faster way than taking the bus, which arrives only every 30 minutes. But the parks here are heaven. We’d just go down the apartment and instantly land in the park. There are so many parks here; each community has one. And most of these parks are connected by paths for pedestrians and bikes. If we want to go to the city center, it takes about 25 minutes of walking. But we pass by three parks so the kids get to play in between.

Another interesting tidbit about Tsukuba is it’s hailed as “The Pastry Capital of Japan.” In my neighborhood alone, there are around four bakeries (French, German, Danish, and a Japanese one selling baumkuchen, a traditional German cake). If you want to go on a pastry food tour, it’s best to travel by bike or car as the cafes and bakeries are far from each other. The establishments in Tsukuba, including malls, are usually huge because there’s so much space here.

French bakeshop

Sweet offerings

 

Away from Family

Caryn and my two boys moved back to the Philippines in 2016 because my eldest son needed therapy. He wasn’t responding well to Japanese teachers, but he was cooperative with his Filipino teachers. So, my wife and I decided it would be best for them to live there, and just visit me once or twice a year.

 

Traditional house

 

Springtime near Ninomiya Park

At first, it was difficult. Tsukuba is a quiet city. Around 10 pm, it’s dead silent here. No industrial noise, no construction— just the hum of electricity in the apartment. It’s so quiet, I hear the buzz of dragonflies outside my window. I can hear myself think—which was scary at first but is not so bad when I got used to it. Although sometimes, thoughts don’t let me sleep.

I try not think too much about being alone. My parents raised me to always make do with what I have. To cope, I decided to further my studies. The Tsukuba University nearby has a program that allowed me to work while studying. In a year, I completed my papers and got my PhD.

 

Spring in Matsushiro Park

 

The parks, which were my sons’ playground, became my thinking spots. I like reflecting on my present situation and my past self, and marveling at how far I’ve gone.

I’ve also learned to cook. Before, I relied on Caryn to make all the dishes. Now, I’m getting acquainted with ingredients and spices. I’m confident enough to share my cooking when we have potluck parties with other Filipinos.

Music is also an outlet. I compose songs to express myself since I’m not the best in verbally communicating my feelings. I play the guitar, the cajon and bass. I’m also in a band with Pinoys I’ve interacted with—former students, teachers and co-volunteers at the Japanese embassy. At present, we get to collaborate through the internet.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science

 

Tsukuba and the Pandemic

The pandemic impacted my already limited social life. When Caryn was here, our home was a haven for Pinoy students who wanted a piece of home. My wife would cook for them, and I’d entertain them with jokes. When my family went back to the Philippines, I maintained those friendships, but because of the pandemic, I don’t get to see our friends anymore. Now, my conversations are only with my boss, our engineer, and the people who man the supermarket and convenience store near my apartment!

Seriously though, living in Tsukuba has its advantages during the pandemic. There’s so much space here, so people can practice physical distancing without effort. It’s not like Tokyo where you have to hunch your shoulders to avoid bumping into people. Here, we have abundant personal space. You can walk for several minutes without seeing anyone (I don’t know if that’s a good thing). The parks are so huge, you’ll have no problem finding solitary spaces.

We only have a few cases but since Tsukuba is connected to Tokyo, the place with the greatest number of infections at this time, everyone is cautious. The Japanese government encourages its citizens to install a contact tracing app in their smartphones. If you spend more than 10 minutes talking to someone, your phones leave a record through Bluetooth communication. When the person you’ve talked to tests positive for COVID-19 and registers it through the app, it will contact people he’s interacted with and recommends that they also get tested.

 

Restaurants remain open during this pandemic though takeouts are highly encouraged.

 

Home away from Home

After 22 years of living in Japan, I’ve fully adjusted to the culture. Though the Philippines will always be home to me, Japan has also provided me a nest that gives me comfort. There’s no more language barrier for me. Nihongo may be simple, but also very nuanced. Sometimes, the Japanese don’t say things directly. I’ve learned to read between their lines to understand what they’re not saying but saying—if you know what I mean.

 

Summertime on the bike path near the Tsukuba International Conference Center

 

Although I’ve adjusted here, I’d still like to retire in the Philippines. It’s where my family lives, the place I’m most comfortable in.

But for now, I accept my life’s paradox, just like how Tsukuba is a city of both rural farmlands and pioneering scientific breakthroughs. In order to better provide for my family, I need to be away from them. It’s a story all overseas Filipinos share, and an unfolding story, which, I hope and believe, will end happily.

 

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports came in that warm weather slowed down the spread of the deadly virus. But this was proven a fallacy as countries such as the Philippines still experienced a steady increase of COVID-19 cases during its hot and dry season.

In fact, the opposite might be true. According to Scientific American, research suggests that the continued rise of global temperatures may boost the risk of pandemics. 

 

Monkeys in Malaysia dig for trash left behind by tourists (Photo by Han Choo from Greenpeace)

 

Dynamics between humans and animals

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) states that 75% of infectious diseases including the new ones are zoonotic in nature, which means they emerged from animals. Examples include the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), avian influenza (bird flu), and the H1N1 (swine flu).

To adapt to climate change—a major cause of which is deforestation—wildlife species may change their behavior and migrate to new locations closer to humans. At the same time, humans have been foraging deeper into the forests and oceans to meet the demand of its growing population. Both these factors, including the culture of wildlife markets, facilitate a closer interaction between humans and animal carriers, increasing the possibility of epidemics.

In 2013 to 2016, West Africa experienced its worst outbreak of Ebola infecting more than 28,000 and killing 11,310 people. A majority of the 17,000 Ebola survivors experienced post-recovery symptoms that required medical attention for months or even years.

 

A bat in flight over West Papua (photo by Jumasyanto Sukarno of Greenpeace)

 

According to the Earth Institute of Columbia University, the Ebola virus can live in animals for a prolonged period of time without harming them. Yet humans who acquire the virus through contact with an infected animal may experience a deluge of symptoms: fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches, which may lead to the decreased function of the liver and kidneys, resulting to both internal and external bleeding, and eventually, death.

Some experts believe that climate change may have contributed to the Ebola outbreak. Extreme weather events, particularly heavy rainfall following the dry season, produced abundant fruit eaten by bats, the suspected Ebola virus carriers. The large gathering of bats might have increased the chance of humans interacting with them. As climate change threatens food security, people were also likely to explore other food sources including bushmeat like bats, enhancing the likelihood of disease transmission from animals to humans.

 

Deforestation of Gran Chaco, South America’s second largest forest next to the Amazon (photo by Martin Katz of Greenpeace)

 

How nature protects us from diseases

Ebola was widespread in Sierra Leone, which, according to United Nations Guinea, lost 96% of its forests in the 1920s. Meanwhile, Biology Professor and Greenpeace volunteer Lia Patsavoudi stresses the importance of natural habitats in acting as barriers between humans and wildlife. Thriving ecosystems facilitate a rich and diverse animal population, creating a “dilution effect”. Patsavoudi explains, “This is because the higher the species variation, the lower the density of potential hosts for a virus. Species variation decreases the number of highly-susceptible populations in a species, which lowers the probability of transfer to humans.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms the link between climate change and disease transmission. Malaria, in particular, is sensitive to long-term climate change with increased humidity and monsoon rains boosting breeding and survival among mosquitoes. Human actions such as improper waste disposal, intensified agricultural activities and the use of crop insecticides, and urban crowding can result in disease outbreaks.

 

Source: WHO

 

As the world holds its breath for a COVID-19 vaccine and citizens practice the safety measures of washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing and staying home, the deeper solution to pandemics remains to be environmental protection. 

We, humans, are prone to forget that we are never separate from our environment; we are an essential part of its degradation—and most importantly, of its conservation, which has always been the key to our survival.

 

According to Johns Hopkins University, over 19 million people have contracted COVID-19 as of August 9, 2020.  The Philippines has a total of 129,913  confirmed cases—of which 59,970 are active, 2,270 are deaths, and 67,673 are recoveries.  

Each day, the Department of Health holds press briefings and closely works with a task force that has worked diligently since its creation. The Philippines now ranks number 1 in testing capacity in Southeast Asia for confirmed and active cases.  

With our increase in testing capacity, full health campaign for combatting COVID-19, and a cooperative nation wearing masks, what else is missing?  Given these measures, the Philippines should be having less cases.  

Getting the Fundamentals Right 

Filipinos seem to be overwhelmed with the deluge of instructions as well as misinformation and disinformation. Though the Department of Health(DOH) is endorsed as the official source of local data, and the World Health Organization for global data, there are just to many well-meaning people who forward unverified information.

DOH sought a new endorser, the popular actor, Alden Richards, to proclaim its new campaign—BIDA Solusyon. It’s a catchy phrase, playing on the Filipino word bida, which means “the lead star”. BIDA Solusyon, which wittingly sounds like “Be the Solution”, shows in part animation how to combat COVID-19. BIDA serves as an acronym for four steps: 

 

BBawal walang mask. 

IIsanitize ang mga kamay; iwas-hawak sa mga bagay.

D Dumistansiya ng isang metro.

AAlamin ang totoong impormasyon.

 

The messaging is light and friendly, and easy to digest.  

 

Gaps in the Messaging

But the acronym, though clever, seems to be missing a step in achieving ”minimum health standards”. Before wearing a mask, one should wash hands properly with soap and water, scrubbing them for at least 20 seconds as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before rinsing. When one uses dirty and infected hands to put on the mask, the preventive measure becomes ineffective.

The public’s proper and consistent compliance spells the difference between life and death. But with this massive campaign on handwashing and hand sanitizing, there is also a need to consider areas with no running water and basic facilities for sanitation. How can people wash their hands with water and soap when there’s no water to begin with?

 

Masking the Problem

The WHO has already approved cloth masks as basic protection. This cannot be emphasized enough: masks need to be worn at all times outside the home, especially when one is in an enclosed space with other people.  

Proper use of the mask means having the nose and face covered and securing it under the chin. Make sure the sides of your face are covered, but also check if you’re breathing easily. Don’t let it rest on your chin or forehead as contact with exposed skin may result in a contaminated mask.

After using a disposable mask, remove it from behind and discard it in a closed bin. Make sure to wash cloth masks after use. And most importantly, wash hands with soap and water after using masks. 

The words to remember when wearing masks are properly, correctly, and consistently.

 

Utilizing TV for Information 

According to Digital 2019, a report from Hootsuite and We are Social, 76 million Filipinos are internet users, all of them on social media. But our internet speed remains at a dismal 19 mbps, a tenth of Singapore’s fixed connection speed of 190.9. Also, there are still areas in the Philippines without proper internet infrastructure and poor cellular signal.

At this time, the government has to fully utilize its TV and radio broadcast channels to disseminate information on health, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. To retool and upskill citizens, trainings from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and even first aid, can be broadcast through mass media—with testing and accreditation to be done in barangays.

 

Going Analogue

The DOH recently launched an app for contact tracing. Upon a recent audit, the country’s new contact trace czar Benjamin Magalong found the contact tracing system of cities and barangays lacking.

But even in our own homes, we can employ our own simple system with just  a piece of paper and a pen. By dividing the paper into columns of Date, Time, Venue, Activity and People We’ve Interacted with, we can maintain a contact trace system in our household, making it easier for authorities to respond should one be confirmed positive for COVID-19.  

 

Getting the Basics Down Pat

Going back to basics, getting the fundamentals right is a simple exercise that we can all do.  Ask yourself today—did you wash your hands properly?  Did you wear your mask properly? 

Perhaps our leaders can also ask themselves—is everyone equipped with running water to ensure their health and safety? What is the best way to disseminate information? Does everyone have a home to seek refuge in while the deadly virus roams freely outside? Before we run, we need to first walk. Before we can help save lives,  we must be able to help ourselves first.

The COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us lessons the hard way, but with proper planning, we don’t need to learn them the hard way.  

 

 

Donna May Lina

9 August 2020

 

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:

 

 

 

Whenever veteran broadcast journalist Kathy San Gabriel appears on television, she looks sensational—not a hair out of place, make up on point, and always appropriately dressed for the occasion. Throughout the course of her more than 20 years in the industry, she has always been vigilant about delivering fair and accurate news, never veering toward the sensationalistic side of reporting.

 

Kathy covering former President Benigno Aquino III’s state of the nation address in 2015

This comes as no surprise from someone who grew up watching Cheche Lazaro on The Probe Team, and Loren Legarda on Pep Talk. Kathy reveals that she’s always dreamed of being a journalist, which was why she took up Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. 

After graduating, she took her first step in fulfilling her dream. “I started my career as a journalist in Sarimanok News Network, which we now know as ANC. My first job was to do the top-of-the-hour newsbreaks from 12 midnight to 5 a.m. I was eventually transferred to the day shift and did some reportorial work as well. I was then asked to do primetime newsbreaks on Channel 2, became part of their pool of reporters, and was given a 30-minute newscast on DZMM.”

After taking a break from 2004 to 2005 because of her pregnancy, Kathy went back doing the news for state-run network, PTV. After 11 years, she transferred to Panahon TV as a senior reporter. In 2019, she received the Dangal ng Baliwag, an award given to ten outstanding individuals who excelled in their respective fields, and hailed from Baliwag, Bulacan.

To get to know more about Kathy’s journey, Panahon TV asked her a few questions.

 

Kathy’s photo of Pope Francis during his state visit to the Philippines in 2015

 

What are your most memorable coverages?

Impeachment trials of former President Joseph Estrada and former Chief Justice Renato Corona, Pope Francis’s state and apostolic visit to our country, several SONAs, and Typhoon Yolanda. For me, the highlights of my career include working with broadcasting pillars like Frankie Evangelista and Angelo Castro, and veteran journalists like Angelo Palmones and Freddie Abando. I learned a lot from them.

Kathy interviewing apl.de.ap in Tacloban as part of Typhoon Yolanda relief efforts in 2013

 

What are the challenges of being a broadcast journalist?

I think the main challenge that all journalists are facing now is the attack on press freedom. That is why journalists and other members of the media need to hold the line. Another challenge is disinformation. “Fake news” is something that we have to fight on a daily basis. We journalists need to uphold the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, and impartiality now more than ever. 

What have you learned from being a senior reporter at Panahon TV?

I’ve learned a lot about feature reporting and segment production, and also about the environment. This niche is entirely new to me since I spent two decades doing hard news and current events. 

 

Kathy reporting about the effects of Taal’s eruption earlier this year

 

You have an upcoming Panahon TV webinar, Journalism 101, designed to teach the basics of journalism. How are you feeling about it?

This is something new for me, so I’m excited to be a part of it. I hope that some, if not most, of our participants will continue along the path to being a journalist. I hope that they’ll turn out to be some of the good ones. 

What do you hope participants will learn about journalism?

I always say this when I give talks— if you’re in journalism for the glamour, then you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Being a journalist is hard work. It’s being accountable to your audience. 

How important is journalism now during the pandemic?

Journalism is more important than ever during a pandemic. We are inundated on social media with unverified information on COVID-19. It is the duty of journalists to provide the public with accurate information, which can mean life and death.

 

To register for Panahon TV’s webinar, Journalism 101 with Kathy San Gabriel, click on this link: https://bit.ly/2X6oV9p

 

In terms of area, Alaska is the largest state of the United States of America. Located in the country’s extreme northwest, Alaska’s capital city is Juneau, known for its rich wildlife. Hundreds of bird species, and black and grizzly bears occupy its forests; while its waters are home to humpback whales and orcas, as well as wild trout, halibut and salmon, making Juneau a famous fishing destination. In summer time, between May and September, thousands of cruise-ship passengers make a stop in this picturesque city. Here, we find Chris Mariano, who’s been living in Juneau for three years. She shares with us stories about her new home.

 

Chris Mariano, a Juneau resident since 2017

The first thing I noticed when the plane touched down at the Juneau International Airport was how bright it was. It was already 9:30 p.m., but the sun was still in the sky, blurred and subdued right as it was about to set. It was the last day of May in 2017, and the first day of the rest of my life. At that moment, it hit me that I was in a radically different country.

Right outside the boarding gates, the huge glass window showed the parking lot with a breathtaking background of towering snow-tinged mountains. The view was pretty as a postcard, except that it was big and real. I had to pause and breathe, Wow. 

My family had been living in Juneau for 15 years, and they’d told me what life in Juneau was like. I thought I knew what to expect, but it turned out that everything was still going to be a big adjustment for me. Still, after more than a decade, I had my family with me—and with them, I felt that I could face anything.

Auke Lake

 

Left behind

If I had been a minor at the time my family’s immigration application was approved, I could’ve gone with them to the U.S. But by then, I was already 26, and no longer considered a dependent. They called this “aging out,” when the children turned 21 before their green cards were processed. My parents and three sisters flew to Alaska to make their home there. I had to wait before a separate petition could be filed for me. It would take years.

At first, being left behind wasn’t too hard for me because I lived in a compound with relatives, so I still enjoyed a sense of family. I worked in advertising, which was both exciting and hectic, and I felt like I was moving up in the world. But when the holidays came, my relatives would go to their in-laws, and I’d make my own plans. I spent one Christmas with friends, volunteering for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. After we had spent the day with a young girl and her family at a theme park , my friends had to go to a family reunion. Although they invited me—maybe out of politeness, maybe pity—I went home alone.

But as I got older, I realized that I couldn’t be a part of my family’s milestones. One of my sisters got married and I wasn’t able to attend her wedding. Another sister graduated high school, then college. Eventually, I would have two nieces and a nephew that I would only see once in a while. I saw my family growing older in 2D through my computer screen. That was when it began to hit me that none of us were getting any younger, and I was missing out on so many things.

In the blink of an eye, 15 years had already passed. So when my petition was finally approved, I was ready to go and join my family.

 

Juneau sunset

Delightful Juneau

My trip to Alaska to live there was my first time in the States. My first impression of Alaska was really good. I spent my first few weeks going around Juneau and visiting other places in Southeast Alaska. Everyone told me that I was lucky that we were having a good summer then. But since I was still adjusting to the weather, I wore jackets throughout the season.

Juneau is the state capital and has about 36,000 people, but it’s still rural in a lot of ways. We only have strip malls and the roads are narrow. It’s halfway between a small town and a city, and it’s a great place to ease myself into living in a different country. The people are nice, and there’s a huge Filipino community here. There’s a bust of Jose Rizal sitting in a small spot downtown called Manila Square. When I walk the street, I see a lot of Filipinos, and on the bus, some strangers would offer me a seat because I’m Filipino. I would chat with them and discover what a small place Juneau really is, like how this woman I’m talking to turns out to be the aunt of my friend’s husband and so on. Simple things like that have made Juneau a nice place for me to live in. 

 

Mountain trail during the summer

Frozen bridge during the winter

 

Adjusting to Alaska 

The biggest adjustment I had to make was getting used to northern summers. I know that the extreme north have it worse with their 24 hours of sunlight, but as someone from the Philippines, it bothers me that it never gets completely dark here at night during the summer. When I see sunlight, I automatically think that I have to be active and productive. 

One time, I was finishing up my day at 2 a.m. and each time I looked out the window, it would already be light out. They call this civil twilight, that period before sunrise and after sunset when it would still be light outside. Even though the light isn’t particularly bright, I still couldn’t sleep. I’ve always been sensitive to light. I have to use thick curtains and eye masks to be able to sleep.

Walking across the frozen Mendenhall Lake

 

I like the winter better, when the opposite happens—the nights are long and the days are short. There were times that I’d wake up at 8:30 a.m., and it would still feel like dawn, or when I’d end my workdays at 4 p.m. when it would be completely dark.

In terms of weather, June is supposed to be the driest month so that’s the time we go out and travel. It’s very pleasant, and never gets too hot. But for the most part of the year, Alaska has rainy weather—much more rain than I’ve ever had in the Philippines.

Orca sighting

 

Wild beauty

When it’s sunny, Juneau is really beautiful. Sometimes, when I’m riding the bus, I look out the window and just appreciate the place. It’s found in the Tongass National Forest, which is the largest U.S. national forest, and the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world.  

At the end of our street, there’s a gorgeous mountain, which I can see it from my bedroom window. Our home is about 35 minutes from the Mendenhall Glacier on foot, so during pre-pandemic summers, I would take a walk there almost every afternoon. During my work breaks, I would often invite a work colleague to walk around the downtown area. One of my favorite places is a cemetery just a few blocks from our office. It’s built on a hill and is the resting spot for the founders of Juneau. When I have time a little more time during my lunch break, a friend and I can even manage a short hike. On hikes, it’s common etiquette to greet and make eye contact with the people you meet on the trail. It’s a great safety measure too, since they may be the last people you see before you meet an accident or get lost. After the hike, I would return to the office, feeling energized and ready to tackle work.

Black and brown bears are known to make an occasional appearance in Juneau. That’s why everyone is mandated to lock up their food and garbage. Bears that are attracted to your neighborhood because of improperly disposed garbage can become ongoing threats and nuisances, and threats like them would have to be put down. Many Alaskans are used to bears. If one wandered into your neighborhood, you would know better than to approach it; if you saw one on a trail, you would keep your distance and make as much as noise as possible to drive it away.

 

Northern lights (photo by CJ Mariano)

 

Alaska is famous for the northern lights, and we would see this even as far south as Juneau. They feel otherworldly, these bright dancing lights that come in waves and streams. Sometimes you get different colors, like whites and green and purples. I’ve been lucky enough to see them from my bedroom window, and a few times, I’ve seen come and go for about an hour.

 

COVID-19 in Juneau

What I really like about my job as an employee of the state’s Department of Education is that I get to travel in different parts of Alaska. But the pandemic put a stop to this, and I now work from home.

Currently, we have less than 20 active cases in Juneau. Although we’re not mandated to wear masks, we’re strongly encouraged to do so. When you take a stroll downtown, you’ll see half of the people wearing masks, although there are not a lot of people strolling downtown to begin with. Some restaurants are open for dine-in, but others have removed some tables to allow for more social distancing. At home, my family takes a lot of precautions. We always mask up and keep our masks by the door. We sanitize our groceries and wipe surfaces. We even sanitize our mail.

 

One can board a sea plane to explore other parts of southeast Alaska.

I suppose it helps that living in Juneau means embracing the outdoors. There are not a lot of cramped buildings where people would have difficulties keeping their distance. It also helps that it is relatively isolated. Among the U.S. capitals, Juneau is the only one that doesn’t have roads connecting it to the rest of the state; it’s been socially distancing even before social distancing was a thing. 

In a way, this isolation is both a pro and a con: harder to get in, but equally harder to get out. Going places is one of the things I miss the most about the Philippines. There, I could easily go from Manila to Antipolo when I felt like it. Or when I’m in Aklan, where my parents are from, I could take a van and a boat ride just to meet up with friends in Boracay. I actually miss Manila traffic because that’s when I get to think. Before the pandemic, I’d take the long bus route home so I could stay on the road longer, but now I rarely leave the house. With my current work-from-home situation, I have no bus rides but I still have plenty of time to think. It makes me feel a little helpless to be here and away from my friends and relatives back home, because they seem so much further now more than ever. 

But each day, it is enough to look out the window to where the mountains tuck us in, keeping us in place. It is enough to look across the dinner table to the people that keep me rooted. Here, they have a saying that goes, “You get to Juneau—by air, by sea, or by birth.” I got here by air, but I’m with my family now, and I have the rest of my life to look forward to.