A Day in My Life: Living Under the COVID-19 Pandemic

Disrupted routine.  Restrained movement.  Impersonal/Virtual communication.  These summarize my situation following the pandemic declaration and ECQ imposition.  As the world grapples with a powerfully-mutating disease, I have been riding on a roller coaster of emotions and realizations. 
 
My moments of desolation sporadically intersperse with a conscious, driven effort to dwell in a state of consolation.  Uncertainties and fear abound as I worry over drastic lifestyle adjustments and the duration of such while grieving over daily news of fallen frontliners and patients who were mostly deprived of their last farewell and/or receiving their last rites.  Meanwhile, this trying time proves human fallibility; and sheds truth that mankind’s scramble for recognition, power, wealth are seemingly worthless when what matters most now is safeguarding God’s gift of life - for self-survival or sharing this through saving others.
 
In light of Pope Francis’ message for the world to reconnect, I tend to tie this to the themes of Catholic social teachings by showing solidarity from simple acts of acknowledging our frontline warriors to inclusive participation of multi-ethnicities in medical research/clinical trials.  This pandemic effectively breaks man-made barriers stratified through GDP standing, gender, race and social stature; thus highlights that the very essence of human life/dignity is our responsibility to self in relation to our environment (care for God’s creation) and others (care for the needy and the vulnerable).
 
Richwynn, 16, Batch 2021