LAST week, about women. This week, a jump to the Baguio lockdown.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte just days ago announced a Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine. He was, of course, doing so because Covid-19 was announced by the WHO on March 11 as a pandemic. Thinking globally, acting locally.
Acting even more locally, our Baguio City government led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong on March 16 itself quickly instituted first, a 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew, later making it a 24-hour curfew. Also, only one person per household is allowed out, and only to get necessities like food and meds. Our streets are looking really quiet, and call me what you want, but I like it that way.
Just last week, I was telling our laundress as we walked down Session Road as evening came on that when I was growing up, the same road would already be practically empty as any evening came on. She actually had a difficult time imagining what on earth I was talking about.
I was talking about a road that was more road than it was people. By 5 p.m. in the 1960s, most any shop on Session Road was closed. Now, only Northlander closes at that time, or 6 p.m. these days, I think. One hour later, their grudging nod to the 21st century, and I love it.
They are one among a very few throwbacks to a Baguio of decades ago. I think Northlander may have been known as Session Hardware a long time ago, and have been in the same spot since forever. I also think that one day, we should honor the establishments such as theirs, who have withstood time and change and actually still stand as they always have, somehow. Of course, I am informed that hardware and construction shop operations were also suspended just the other night from this writing.
So, Baguio is in quarantine mode. Only banks, markets, groceries, and utility offices are open. Those in private vehicles and motorcycles are allowed on the streets, as are those on foot. Each barangay has operating procedures for rides to and from town. Being a senior, my movements are prohibited. However, I can hardly wait to get to town and see peace and quiet, without the frenetic crowds. To show the laundress, too.
Personal scene preferences aside, let us all appreciate the scientific wisdom of this lockdown, which we are informed should actually be six, not four weeks. It is there not just for the transmission of Covid-19 to slow down if not, God willing, halt. It is also there so that those who have it are surfaced and treated.
Now that the Baguio General Hospital has just received some Covid-19 text kits, methinks though that the surfacing may be a bit of a shock, but we pray not so.
Also, think of this as some sort of a fast for Baguio. Like we go on when we take just water for three days, or only fruit for five, or go on a green fast for a week, or such. For the city, no nothing for a month. We will be healthier for it.
Lastly, for some of us, our prayers for a Baguio shut down have been answered in part. We ought to see a rehab after, and our prayers would then have been answered totally.