I’VE been receiving messages inquiring about how to get vaccinated against Covid-19. My reply is consistent: Register with your barangay, with safedavao, and with whatever other group is offering. That’s what I did, by the way. I registered with the barangay, safedavao, and Red Cross and grabbed the first opportunity that came my way.
Some would grumble, demanding that the vaccination process should make it easy for all. But realize that there are more than 1.6-million Dabawenyos of which around 63 percent are of working age. Do your math, that means a big chunk of the population are for vaccination. Imagine, when people expect to be texted for updates because they say, it’s so confusing to monitor what is posted on Facebook, who’s going to do the texting? I could only wish that all those ranting will volunteer for a day to join the text brigade just to get the feel of it. Others are insisting that there should be a separate Facebook page for vaccine updates as if there are available hands.
On the positive side, I see how many friends have quickly adapted, turned to new ventures or jazzed up what they have to stay afloat in this uncertain period, not just waiting for the new normal to unfold.
The past year and four months taught us that the new normal that was such a buzzword last year meant returning to the normal of 2019 with a few adjustments here and there. The past year and four months taught us that our perceptions and convictions pre-lockdown may be all obsolete by the time we emerge from this.
Interestingly, those who did not raise a squeak and just wore a mask from Day One to figure out how to evolve their enterprise or programs are the ones who continue to thrive, maybe at a lesser scale given the limitations imposed by the pandemic, but still above mere survival mode.
They’re the ones who tested the powers of the Internet and upto what extent they could innovate. These people looked beyond trivial inconveniences of constricted mobilization and physical market reach and sought out what really matters: surviving and thriving through the pandemic.
The fact is, this is a first time for all of us -- government, private sector, civil society, families.
The least we can do is to make things easier by just observing the protocols, keeping ourselves updated on the important things like vaccination schedules and announcements, and then focus on what is essential. This means pondering on what is really essential to you, your family, and life in general.
Keep safe, keep your distance, stay healthy, but most of all, do not expect things to be served to you. There are no accidents and mistakes in this Universe, even Covid. There are only lessons. Learn the lessons and march on. The first lesson being: This world is not for those who cannot adapt, adopt, and innovate at a snap of a finger. Cheers! saestremera@gmail.com