Kwentong ROTC

Ganito kita nakilala. ROTC class noon. Freshmen tayo. Pareho tayong nasa Infantry Battalion. 

Exempted ako sa CAT noong high school pero interesado ako sa pag assemble ng riffle. Kaya pagdating ko ng Kolehiyo, habang malayo sa pamilya, nag-enlist ako ng ROTC. 

Pareho tayo ng dorm kaya nagkakasabay din tayo maglakad ng madaling araw papuntang training. Sabay din umuuwi na pawisan at amoy araw. 

Lagi mo ako tinatawanan dahil ilang beses ako nasisigawan sa session. Palibhasa, naging kapitan ka noong CAT mo noong high school kaya basic na sayo ang mga military drills. 

Gusto ko lang naman mag-shooting at mag disassemble ng riffle, sabi ko sayo. Hindi ko trip yung mga martsa at pag-ikot ikot ng kahoy na baril. 

Package deal yan, gago. Libre ako ng Martes ng hapon, turuan kita, yaya mo. 

After one year ng ROTC natin, at nag-iba na tayo ng dormitoryo, hindi na kita nakita. Nag-drop ka na rin pala ng University. Bumalik ng probinsiya. At tumulong sa pamilya sa negosyo niyo sa palengke. 

Di ka na sumagi sa isipan ko hanggang nito lamang ng in-add mo ako sa isang social media platform. Nagmessage ka, Kumusta?

Sumagot ako. Gago, ikaw pala yan. Kumusta?

Mahabang kwentuhan tungkol sa buhay mo at buhay ko. At kung paano naging walang kabuluhan ang mga military drills natin sa ROTC. Binato ko sayo na natalo kita sa pabilisan mag assemble ng riffle sa military science class natin. At hindi mo pa nababayaran ang pustahan nating trenta pesos na fishball, sampung piso na kwekwek, saka isang bote ng mountain dew. 

Kapag mas ligtas na ang panahon, bisitahin kita, sabi mo. Covid pa e.

Musings on public health while on self isolation

I have been telling my friends that in the Philippines, we are always one sickness away from poverty. Despite deliberately saving for emergency needs, and consciously taking good care of our body, when sickness strikes, cash flies in an instant. That is, if you are a working middle class. And there is cash to fly out. 

But if you are poor, you depend on the health and welfare program of the State. You can't avail the best possible care. You can only get what can are given by the brilliant, caring but overworked public health workers. 

Lamy bronze ink, spotify and the f*ed up year

Through contact tracing, the health liaison officer informed me that one staff who I interacted with tested positive. 

I don't have any COVID symptoms (e.g. fever, sore throat, difficulty in breathing and loss of smell and taste). But I am on isolation as a precautionary measure.

The one who tested positive was very apologetic. We followed all the protocols of social distancing at work. So I told him/ her that he doesn't have to say sorry. Nobody in their right mind wants to infect someone else. 

Spotify has been my company lately while in self-isolation. Here are some of the songs that I've been listening to lately.

Shitty shit, shit.

Starting March 15, like many, I have been working from home. I was in Laguna just to spend the weekend with my family, when the lockdown happened. I remember that I only brought my laptop, my headphone, two pairs of jeans, three underwear and three black shirts with me. 

March 15, I became a locally stranded individual. Just a bit lucky that I am in my sister's house in South Luzon. I cant go back to my own home in the Metro. There were no public transportation. And I dont own a car. 

I only came to my workplace in Quezon City twice. The first was two months ago. I needed to get several printed documents. The other one was last Wednesday. I needed to sign some vouchers so that funds can be released and utilized. My brother in law drived for me on those two occasions. 

I have been contacted today by the health liaison officer and has been advised to self isolate for 14 days. One of those who came to me to sign some documents tested positive. I dont have any COVID symptoms but I have high anxiety right now. I might still be an  asymptomatic COVID positive person. And I am staying in the house with two senior citizens. 

So now, on top of my medication that makes me sluggish, I need to self isolate. This year is shitty. I can't see any redemption about this year. And this might spillover in 2021. Lord, have mercy. 

Proof of life

Been on medication for quite a while now. The capsule allows me to sleep eight hours or more at night and walk and think slow during the day. 

Hope you, my friends, are better.