OARRCAR about Quarantine

Observation:
Novel Coronavirus (now commonly known as Covid-19) was like a wildfire
because of how fast it spread to other neighboring countries which started from
Wuhan,China. When the Luzon region was placed in a lockdown to contain the
spread of the virus, its like we were trapped inside a jail because we couldn’t get out
and our movements were limited.
According to Social Principles: The Economic Community found at the website
United Methodist Church, majority of the people in the world are trapped in poverty
that in order to get their basic needs such shelter, clothing, food, health care, and other
needs they have to go out of their way to find whatever job they can get. But they
were the ones who were heavily affected by the pandemic crisis as they were laid off
their jobs (temporarily or permanently), they cant open their stalls in the market
because they cant go out, or they don’t qualify for the social amelioration program.

Analysis:
SWOT Analysis:
Strengths:
 With the government’s response, it was recorded that the Philippines has the most
number of testing centers in Southeast Asia with 120 centers - which aided in
achieving the number of 2,978,859 Filipinos who were tested as of September 14,
2020.
 The Department of Budget and Management released funds to the Department of
Social Welfare and Development for the Social Amelioration Program which was
designed to help millions of Filipinos and their families through the Covid-19
crisis which left most of them jobless.
 Despite of the detriment caused by the pandemic, there are some good things that
was brought about by the Quarantine which are: (1) It helped people spend more
time with their families, (2) many developed new skills and partook in new
hobbies to use time like cooking or painting, (3) Filipinos gained the opportunity
to work on their physical health due to exercising at home, and other activities to
stay occupied.

Weaknesses:
 The administration did not nip the crisis in the bud when President Duterte
instead chose to avoid the wrath of China rather than quickly imposing travel ban
f flights from China like Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam. "Mahirap 'yang ano,
sabihin mong [It is hard to say that] you suspend everything because they are not
also suspending theirs and they continue to respect the freedom flights that we
enjoy," Duterte, 29 January 2020 (CNN Philippines)
 As of September 14, 2020, there are 8,618 positive cases and 57 deaths of
several front liners because of the lack of immediate response that resulted in the
surge in positive cases, lack of hospitals and facilities to accommodate patients,
and testing for health workers.

 Although the Social Amelioration Program was supposed to help 18 million low
income households - apparently not every family received cash aids in contrary to
the announcement of House Speaker Alan Cayetano because the DSWD only
 allotted a specific number of families because the forms are limited and due to
slow-paced assistance.
 Because of the late imposition of the community quarantine that caused the
increase in local virus transmission and lax enforcement of guidelines, there are
still 4.6 million Filipinos that are not employed as of July 2020 (Philippines
Statistics Authority).

Opportunities:
 Although vaccines takes years of research and trials before it can be used, there
are a lot of countries racing each other to make a safe and effective vaccine for
SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. According to the chief biosafety expert at the Chinese
Center for Disease Control told the media that a vaccine would be made available
for the world around November or December.
 Another vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 is being developed by Russia
and according to the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the vaccine
would probably be made available around November 2020. And they gave 1,000
Filipinos the opportunity to become participants in the Phase 3 clinical trials of
the vaccine.
 Although not applicable to everyone, the quarantine made working easier for
specific peope who yearns to work at home where they are more comfortable
rather than commuting to work everyday which is tiring and working in a gloomy
office which is taxing to the work environment.

Threats:
 Several regions in the Philippines are still not let out of their community
quarantine and there are still several guidelines being enforced for their safety.
However, there are still numerous civilians who do not follow protocols such as
wearing masks, faec shield or observing proper social distancing - and even going
out to severely crowded places which increases the threat or risk of contracting
the virus.
 There was an international group of 239 scientists advised the World Health
Organization that it would be wise to recognize that coronavirus can spread
throughout the air or become airborne at distances well beyond two meters. They
said that it might not be contained by simple hand washing and social distancing
sufficiently.
 The Philhealth corruption allegation that was exposed during the Covid-19
pandemic opened doors for suspicions that there could be other government
agencies and departments that could be partaking in corruption - and while
there’s a crisis going on, its a serious threat to the Filipino and the Philippines.

Reaction:
Last March, I felt excited when news hit that we were t go home because the
Luzon region was going to be placed under lockdown but then I realized the
implications of the lockdown, I had numerous reactions and feelings:
Uncertainty - How long were we going to be in lockdown?
Anxiety - What’s going to happen about my usual school routine? What if I was
already infected?
Concerned - Lockdown meant we can’t go to most places, so what will happen to
people who have jobs? What about my father who is working overseas?
And even until now, the current pandemic still invokes fear, uncertainty and
confusion because its already nearing 2021 and were still like this - though people
keep saying that this too shall pass because we all have the Lord with us. "Don’t let
your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." - John 14:1

Reflection:
“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.” - Exodus
15:2
We were all just studying, working and doing stuffs we usually do - but it was
abruptly stopped because we had to be in quarantine. It took a toll on all of us - the
economy, education sector, and the health sector. But there’s one thing we have to
always do - remember that our savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ, is always there
holding our hands walking us towards our saving grace. We must pray everyday to
Him to take care of all the people in the world especially those who are dying and
have died from COVID-19 to have a good afterlife because as said in the Social
Principles: The Nurturing Community, “Care for dying persons is part of our
stewardship of the divine gift of life when cure is no longer possible.”

Conclusion:
In the COVID-19 Prayer: God of all, we turn to You written by Bishop Ernest
S.Lyght which can be found in the website of United Methodist Church it said, “God
of faith and science, we turn to you in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, because
we trust You. We trust you because you listen to our prayers. We trust you because
you act in our lives and our history for our welfare. We trust you because we know
you as a God of revelation in faith and science.”
The saying, ‘there’s always gonna be a rainbow after the rain’ applies to us. Why?
Because we follow protocols, we have passionate health workers, we have dedicated
scientists, and we have our savior and redeemer standing beside us. So what are
supposed to do? Like it was said in the prayer, trust. We have to trust God that all of
this will be over someday. And that all we have to do is have faith and believe.

Application:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and
self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Our health (be it physical, mental, emotion or spiritual) right now could be
vulnerable. So something I learned from a relative who is a psychologist that I can
apply with the power I have during this times is to:

(1) Check on other people - help doesn’t need to be extravagant, a simple hi or how
are you to start a conversation with family or a friend is already enough.
(2) Make a donation - there are a lot of people who are in a lot of worse situation
than I am but I’m not also that well off to make such a big donation. But whatever
clothes you’re not wearing, a few groceries or a small monetary amount you could
give people in need will already warm their heart.
(3) Spare a few minutes or hours - though we’re still in quarantine, we still have to
study or continue to work but it may taxing as its different than what were used to. So
to help ourselves and our family, we can spare a few minutes each day to greet each
other, play games, cook foods or watch movies together.
(4) Spread good news and kindness - some people get or receive bad news everyday
(they get laid off their jobs, they don’t have enough money anymore, they received a
bad grade, or their Covid-19 positive). The simple help that we can do is tell them the
wonders Jesus can do through the bible.

Recommendation:
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” - Proverbs 12:25
This is a bible verse I came upon not too long ago and though it may seem simple
holds a lot of weight. Its easy to recommend to my friends - because as short as it is, it
can get what I want to say across. That I know were merely college students right now,
living off our parents and not earning yet, but in the middle of a pandemic there’s still
something we can do to help people.