EVERYONE is looking forward to the time when life will normalize—maybe not as in the carefree lifestyle before the pandemic but normal enough to be able to do the basic things in ordinary life. We asked some friends what are in their “to do” lists when things more or less return to normal.
Seda Ayala Center Cebu general manager Gwen dela Cruz says first on her list is to go to church and offer a thanksgiving mass. Then she will find time to take a road trip to see and appreciate the wonders of nature once again after having been cooped up indoors for months. Along the way, Gwen says she hopes to buy things from countryside vendors and thus help spur the economy in her own little way. Finally, she will go to the salon for the long-awaited body pampering.
Meanwhile, Gwen’s colleague, sales and marketing director Frances Dominique Alfafara has the same priority of going to church, and also having a salon session for the complete “body works.” In addition, Frances hopes to visit her family in Cagayan de Oro, and her husband’s family in Tacloban.
Lady of leisure Joy Uy can’t wait to go to her favorite beauty salon when it’s safe to do so. She looks forward to a relaxing time there after a long absence. An interlude at the beach till sunset is next in line in her “to-do” list. She misses watching the sun go down in the setting of sea and sand. And one more thing—she hopes to travel with friends again.
Tonette Carcel Señerpida of Tcarcel Events Planning has a lot of things on her plate because of debuts and weddings she has to take care of. When things settle down, her priorities include meeting with her clients so they can reassess and reschedule the planned celebrations; visit the chosen venues for reservations and a final look-see; go to the bank to update her Events passbook for deposits, refunds and all else that has to do with her business. And just like all the women we talked with, she would spend time getting the customary “feminine treats” at the beauty salon.
Golden Prince Hotel big boss Benny Que has long prepared for more normal times with his Golden Prince Cares program which supports economic activity in the community, particularly neighborhood establishments under the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) group. He has been at the forefront of helping farmers sell their products and this is what he will continue to do post-Covid-19—to promote agriculture by supporting urban gardening and backyard farming. He will also involve himself in assisting local government units bring business solutions for the community to be able to survive.
Fashion designer Philip Rodriguez has been feeling a bit sentimental during these lonely days of lockdown. He misses his dear departed parents and says the first chance he gets he will have Holy Mass offered at the grave of his parents in Cempark. Island-hopping with family is next on his agenda. Then he will focus on his business and upgrade his fashion outlet at the mall to the “new normal.”
Jacinto “Jing” Ramos (editorial consultant of Southwall magazine) who is an art enthusiast and an artist at heart dreams of organizing a small art exhibit for Fred Elizalde Jr. here in Cebu and in Bacolod when things normalize. Secondly, he will work on a catalogue for a private art collector, and then off he goes for a two-week vacation in Ubud, that quaint little place in the outskirts of Bali, Indonesia.
When Covid-19 simmers down, marketing and branding consultant Ryan Archival Villaflores says he will still be on his guard and will mostly be staying home at his all-white retreat-by-the-sea in Amara. However, he intends to go on long drives on breezy nights to the countryside up north as well as down south listening to music that warms the heart without the bother of checkpoints. But of course, he wants to interact with his closest friends over a drink or two at their favorite al fresco haunts...but still with the proper distancing and safety gear. Ryan believes that one can never be too careful.
Hopefully we will see better times sooner than soon so all these “to-do’s” will come to pass.