Navigating with confidence in the COVID-19 Pandemic

My friends and family would identify me as a "tough momma". I have fallen down and hit the ground many times over but I always managed to get back up each time.

I would always pick myself up and go ahead in life like nothing happened. But I was not prepared for this corona virus.



When President Duterte announced the NCR lockdown effective March 15 to April 12, 2020, I was dumbfounded.



Adversity sets in

While community quarantine is inevitable during crisis like COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of things worried me. I had difficulty sleeping. I would wake up in the wee hours of the morning to check on my daughter. My heart shatters into pieces not knowing what the future holds for my only child.

My mind is always racing with these thoughts:

What are the chances of bringing COVID-19 home during my grocery runs? I could be an asymptomatic carrier.

Will the government efforts succeed in tamping down COVID-19?

Did they gather facts accurately about the virus and taken steps to help improve the situation?

Does the government understand the severity of this COVID-19 crisis and its long-term implications on the economy?

How far are the legislators in solving for now and in planning for what's next?



Quarantine, Lockdown, Isolation

The outbreak had thrown me off course so bad that I'm not sure if I will ever make it back, much less move forward in life.

Everything was on a standstill. Like everyone else, I was hit by a bullet train of 4, 5 or more problems at once.

Will my savings suffice throughout the prolonged paralysis of everyday life? Will there be enough food supply for everyone? How do I cope with stress and beat the odds?

In an instant, my troubles now run in packs. I feel locked in a conflict so big I that I don’t know how to get out of it. I never imagined life would put me in chokeholds at this magnitude! COVID-19 makes life uncertain!


Self-regulation through Moments of Distress

When life sends me down a different path, I step up as captain and steer my ship around.

I am the Captain of my Ship, I am the master of my Soul. I am in the driving seat of my life. I determine my own future with every decision I make.

It is in my will to allow things that would affect my perspectives.
I have the power within me to draw the map of my own life by the way I live.

I may have no control over these overwhelming COVID-19 circumstances but I can control how I respond to it.

I am the Captain of my ship and God is my Anchor. I maybe stuck in a rut of stagnation, but I won't give up. There is no room for me in a pity pot. I need to get out of a slump.

Optimism is a choice. My child depends on me. I will be here to guide her all throughout and we will make it through this madness together.

Attitude is a choice. Children often pick up on what we moms do or say. Hence, I need to put on the super-mom cape and set a good example for my growing girl. I want to be a strong role model who raises a resilient woman.  And  I will live to see the day she starts making her way confidently into the world alone.

I may have to live with this paranoia for months but I have the power in me to interpret the situations I am in. By focusing on something I can control, I am empowered to mitigate my anxiety and tackle small problems ahead of me.

Hope Shapes my Future

No matter how difficult my life is right now, I find solace in God’s Word. His Promise sustains me.

There is no precedent for this COVID-19 pandemic. Like everyone else, I am doing the best I can by helping others in my own little way. I share stories of sacrifice and everyday heroes to counter-balance the heaviness. Sharing hopeful information keeps me distracted from what is going on in the outside world.

I salute the many private organizations and kind-hearted individuals who stepped up and heeded the "Bayanihan" call.  It is amazing grace how they prioritize other people's needs when they are struggling on their own. Small acts of kindness is a gift that every human being can afford to give in these troubled times.  A good deed has that rippling effect that heals humanity.

I am grateful that I am given the chance to work from home and to  be able to buy the basic things for my kid.

In my little corner of the world, there is hope. And I am looking forward to see my daughter's eyes light up on Christmas Day.

This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia’s “Write to Ignite Blogging Project”. The initiative is a response to the need of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crisis. Igniting and championing the human spirit, “Write to Ignite Blog Project” aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities to inspire the nation to rise and move forward amidst the difficult situation. 

This project is made possible by ComCo Southeast Asia, co-presented by Eastern Communications and sponsored by Electrolux, Jobstreet and Teleperformance.