AS CITIES and provinces closed their borders to stop the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, some people found themselves stranded far away from home.

For runner-turned-triathlete Joland Olmilla, it’s a bittersweet situation as he is is stuck in Leyte with his girlfriend, Daisy Ilagan, after ships suspended operations in connection with the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Olmilla arrived in Palompon, Leyte on March 11, 2020, and had planned to return to Cebu this week. But with the ECQ, he doesn’t know when he can return home.

“I’m OK and I can still train here. The good thing is I’m with my inspiration,” the former duathlon national team member said, referring to his girlfriend of more than two years.

Being stranded is not stopping Olmilla from swimming, biking and running. He even made an improvised bike roller so he could train indoors. With the beach a stone’s throw away, an open water swim training is not a problem.

“I can’t do bike and run since we’re not allowed to go around the streets. I’ll just focus on my swim, I think it’s my opportunity already to improve on my weakness, which is swimming,” he said.

Olmilla frequently visits Leyte whenever there’s no competition or training. He visits his girlfriend once or twice a month and stays there for at least a week.

“I’m not use to training here but I have to do it since I think I’ll be stranded here for weeks or whenever the ECQ will be lifted and boats will be allowed to travel again,” he said.

It looks like Olmilla has found a second home in Leyte.

“I’ll focus on what I can do on my training when I’m here,” he said.

The ECQ has restricted land, air and sea travel in the Queen City of the South.

Cebu City’s ECQ took effect on Saturday, March 28. By Monday, March 30, the rest of Cebu Province will be in a state of ECQ.