LIFE seems to have paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Paused, but not stopped—people engaged in businesses, making do with whatever leeway the lockdown has afforded them, making sure that they and the people they work with are safe.
Businesswoman Elena Young of Wander Lanes Travel Co., Ginza Restaurant and other companies said: “I just stay home, always praying the rosary and the chaplet. Before, I used to go to Oakridge Chapel and hear mass every 12:15 noon daily. During this pandemic, I hear mass online through EWTN.”
Ginza Restaurant was closed for a while and when the lockdown eased a bit, she said: “A month ago, we already accepted orders for take-out only. The restaurant is not really doing very well. We only hired eight people instead of the whole staff this time.”
For Wander Lanes Travel, her staff works from home but they do not have bookings. “We just have to follow up all the refunds due to cancelled flights, but it takes time for the airlines to refund.”
Elena is the newly elected president of Zonta Club of Cebu 2. For this she conducts virtual meetings with the board of trustees via Zoom.
Educator Marivic Bathan is president of Children’s Paradise Montessori School (CPMS), as well as president of the Mandaue Association of Private Schools administrators Inc. Her school, she said, “thrives in this pandemic.”
“Just after the suspension of classes, CPMS was able to immediately shift to long-distance learning to complete the school year 2019-2020 through its individualized Home Program. Teachers provided a home program for each child which was provided for every parent to implement at home,” Marivic said.
“For nine weeks, CPMS teachers were able to collaborate with the parents who, without question, took on the role of being co-teachers to their children. The nine-week experience of virtual classes and distance learning was CPMS’ pilot run of its Individualized Hope Program, which will be implemented in the school year 2020-2021.”
It is no wonder then that CPMS was the first school from the Mandaue City Division to hold its first ever Online Graduation last June 6.
“The children deserve to celebrate such milestones in their lives even in the midst of the pandemic.”
Karl de Pio is director of Global Carrier Philippines, which is one of the companies allowed to remain open during the lockdown.
“Business has been quite challenging for the past couple of months, but I’m still grateful that we are able to operate during this time. In order to continuously serve our clients, we have been adopting work from home and other schemes. We are doing this in order to protect our hardworking employees as well,” Karl shared.
“I’m doing my part by following the rules imposed by the government. I only go out if I have to, and I wear a face mask and practice social distancing. One of the challenges through this pandemic is the motivation to do anything productive. Without any engaging outlets such as playing basketball and being able to go to the gym, it makes you not want to do anything at all. But I try to push myself by eating healthy as much as possible and doing yoga every day. I’m glad that I’m able to spend quality time with my family as well. We’re doing all these things a little different than before, but I’m sure we’ll find our way back to ourselves.”
“The pandemic has changed how we work, learn and play,” Karl added. “Everything we have taken for granted over the years is now being called to question. But I choose to be hopeful that despite the situation we are all in at this moment; our government can still help us through this.”