This is a music video from the Philippines. “We Heal As One ”
Check this out. It’s nice. ( with English subtitles )
Take care, wherever you are.
Archive for March, 2020
27 Mar
What if ? ? ?
Just thinking ……..
What if this virus permanently establishes itself in our environment and becomes seasonal ? What will happen to the most vulnerable among us ?
No more Thanksgiving and Christmas reunions with our folks ?
My parents already feel like housebound zombies .
This virus should be annihilated, like polio virus. ( although it’s making a comeback )
It does feel like an apocalyptic sci-fi plotline where people who reach a certain age are forced to disappear from society.
Unthinkable.
But, I’m overthinking…..
Please slap me.
24 Mar
Up Close and Personal, Corona Virus
So, it’s been 23 days since our arrival from our Philippine vacation on Feb. 29. I went to work the next day without knowing I could have contracted the virus over there, and not show any symptoms , and therefore , could have infected folks at work., over here in the US. ( Please check out my previous post ) I should have gone on 14 -day quarantine leave before going to work, but protocols were not in place yet regarding this matter. Sorry.
So far, I don’t show any symptoms, and to my great relief, not one of my co- workers has gotten sick, thank goodness. Even my mom, who was with me in the Philippines, and my Dad who didn’t go on vacation , are both A- okay, and they are both in their 60’s, you know. My sister who works in LA is thumbs up, as well. She works with Ca State as toxicologist/microbiologist.
Funny how each country gives community distancing a different name.
China and Italy— Lockdown
US — sheltering – in- place
Philippines — Enhanced country-wide quarantine ( 24 hr. curfew for non-essential travel ) 33 deaths as of March 23, 207 confirmed infection, over 2,000 PUIs ( persons under investigation) , 18 recoveries from critical )
I still go to work. In fact. I work at a dairy manufacturing company as a microbiologist , 7 days a week for 2 weeks now, no days off…… production of milk and other milk products is at maximum. Aside from our own brand, we produce for others , as well ( store brands ) Our milk products export to Taiwan is at maximum, too.
So guys, rest assured, I’m not a walking Corona virus. * bowing head in humility *
It did scare and stress me out for a while.
Oh, by the way, my hands are already very dry and starting to crack due to frequent handwashing and I go to ridiculous lengths to socially distance myself, even in our small laboratory and from my own parents.
- sigh*
I want this to end already.
I’m mentally exhausted.
14 Mar
I’m sorry I haven’t been active on WordPress… I’m totally stressed out because of Corona Virus
Dear readers, my Mom, sister and I arrived in the US ( from the Philippines , amidst a Corona virus outbreak in Asia ) on Feb.29. I have to admit I’ve been rather flippant about the danger of us visiting the country, stupidly feeling invulnerable and immune to any disease, not realizing we could have contracted the virus there, and passed it on to my friends, family and co-workers here in the US. I’m sorry.
We only realized this when my sister who works in LA was requested not to go to work for 3 days. Then , we got a memo and email at work advising workers who have been to countries with outbreak of the virus to take a 14 – day “paid ” quarantine leave. It just so happens that I’ve been back at work for 7 days already, so I asked my supervisor if I still needed to go on a 14 day quarantine. I don’t know why my super thought it wasn’t needed. She just said, ” too late, Ren. ” and she smiled sadly.
That’s when I started stressing out . My sister has been calling us everyday, and we can sense she feels quite appehensive about our health, especially Mom’s. Her age, you know.
Today is the 14th day.
No symptoms.
You cannot imagine how relieved I am. Dang ! !
In fact, today, at work, someone sneezed, and I was the one who visibly freaked out. He laughingly told me ” it’s allergy season, Ren ! ! ! Don’t look at me that way ! ! ! ”
Hmmph ! I gave you a bottle of fancy- looking Tanduay Rhum 15 Years Old from the Philippines. So, don’t give me that ” As if ! ” look, okay ? ?
” sigh”
Anyway,
All’s well that ends well.
Bye !
4 Mar
Hello ! ! I’m back from my Philippine vacation ! No corona virus , he he. Ooops, sorry, bad joke.
I’m back here in good ol’ US of A ! !
And I didn’t bring any Corona Virus from the Philippines ! ! Hah ! !
Though I did get a bit apprehensive coming home. The Philippines had temporarily banned travelers from South Korea from going to the Philippines. My plane was Korea Air, and my trip had a 3 hour layover in Seoul and a change of plane going to the US. ( By the way, Korea Air was almost empty ! ! ! I’m not kidding . ) That was indeed worrisome. FYI, South Korea is # 1 in tourist arrivals in the Philippines, about 2 million a year, not including the large number of South Koreans studying in the Philippines and the huge Korean community living in the country. So, the ban was a huge blow to tourism industry in the Philippines. ( China is #2. USA is #3. ) Of course, the Philippines allowed travelers going to Korea to leave the country…. the question was, would the US allow us to disembark without getting us, all US citizens, quarantined for 14 days on US soil ?
Anyway……
All’s well that ends well. I’m back ! ! ! So happy ! !
Above is photo of Taal Volcano that erupted on Jan. 13, 2020. ( view from Starbucks ) It’s still emitting smoke from the crater.
Volcano on upper right of the photo. That’s me in the photo.
View of the volcano from the restaurant named Balay Dako. . Steam/smoke can be seen emitting from volcano. It’s still on Level 3 alert, but, tourism is the people ‘s # 1 source of livelihood, so yeah, screw it. Business is open.
Delicious food at the restaurant.
This is all for now. This is just to let you know I’M BACK ! !
More about my Philippine vacation later.
Bye ! !
Am a Molecular Microbiology student, love to read books, and I play the violin. 
dreamsending
renxkyoko
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