These days my
Viber groups aren't pinging as crazily as they were a few weeks ago. Part of it's because, from my vantage point at least, we've managed to figure out how "the movement of all cargo must be unhampered" should work out. Part of it's also because this enhanced community quarantine is already in its fifth week, and we've gotten used to the idea that the streets are less busy, and that we need a piece of paper to prove that we can be out and about to do the grocery run.
So now, the question is along the lines of, "what is the new normal?" What do we do to make sure the disruption we experienced these past few weeks - a necessary disruption, I must add, considering how COVID-19 is a health crisis our country is never in a position to face head-on - doesn't happen again?
I've been thinking of that from the beginning of the quarantine myself. Would there be less public events? A sucky situation for me, considering my living relies somewhat heavily on these events. Someone out there will evangelize on behalf of face-to-face meetings:
emails are fine, but handshakes will always be better! I imagine someone who reads a lot of
Monocle would argue. But then, Filipinos are more reactionary. Right now, going to
any public event is a no-no, and that mindset would likely extend to a few months after the quarantine is lifted, partly because of legitimate health fears, but mostly because they don't want to go through Manila traffic again.
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3 April, Friday
It wasn't designed as one, but for some reason the new
Animal Crossing acts like an MMORPG. Sure, it does not need the Internet for you to play it, but it unfolds in real time, and there are events and special things that happen depending on what date you're in, at least unless you've been time-travelling, in which case I frown on you for life, or until I forget about it, whichever comes first.
It's April, which means it's almost Bunny Day, a cute-ified version of Easter with the focus on Easter eggs (chocolate, not candy) and an annoying bunny (which is heavily implied to be another villager in a costume) that speaks in rhyme. For the past couple of days - and until the 12th, actual Easter Sunday, because of course - we'll find more eggs in our island, whether buried in the ground, growing on trees, flying in the air, or swimming in the sea. I know. It's weird. But then again, this is a video game, and we live with a peppy bear and an octopus that has fleas, for some reason, so suspension of disbelief is beyond required.
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27 March, Friday
Already I've seen people talk about having cabin fever because they haven't gotten out of their houses for two weeks. I'm not sure about that. But then again, my flat has this big window that overlooks the city.
Don't get me wrong. It's not a big flat. It's just a big window, and out of it I can see Vico Sotto... well, his office... his office building.
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