I’ve never been much of an optimist.
For me the glass has always been half-empty, and that the good old days will always be better than the best that might come.
I always see the bad, and expect the worst case scenario. While everyone is still deliberating about Plan A, the devil’s advocate in me is already thinking about Plan D.
Yes. I worry too much, because I’ve realized that the only thing certain–is uncertainty.
The start of the year (and this decade) has been nothing short of bizarre, and this COVID-19 pandemic just continues to worsen. I honestly don’t think this extended community quarantine will be lifted in two weeks and that this will probably be an even bigger problem in the next several months.
We pray that it won’t. But deep inside, we all know that it will, especially with the “coo-coos” who couldn’t follow protocols and the d*cks who couldn’t stay inside their homes.
The number of positive cases continues to rise making me think if we even have a chance to Flatten the curve. But if for nothing else, at least this Covid-19 has been a big eye opener for everyone.
Because of the lockdown, we all find ourselves equal in this predicament, rich or poor, young and old, male, female and every shade of gender, we all find ourselves isolated and stuck inside our houses. Each one of us is at risk and no amount of money could buy you immunity from the corona virus.
Suddenly, that amazing job you’ve been bragging about no longer feels important in this kind of society. That nice corner office or pricey office table you have is all gone for now, replaced by the dining table or some makeshift desk in your living room.
No one gives a sh*t about how you look anymore and those expensive clothes you’ve bought for OOTDs and makeup sets are now worthless because there’s now place or reason to show them off.
All those expensive furniture and high tech appliances won’t make you feel less alone in your big empty house and that pimped up ride of yours is now just as useful as everyone else’s–all fueled up but nowhere to go.
What we are finally seeing is the importance of the people who really make a difference in our daily lives whose jobs play crucial roles in our society.
The frontliners composed of our health care workers, medical staff and emergency services that are fighting this invisible enemy. But they are not the only ones who risk their lives every single day. What about the market vendors, the supermarket/grocery staff, our farmers, delivery people like those riders from grab and ankas, the garbage collectors, factory workers, security guards warehouse staff, even our bank tellers.
These are the working class people, the underpaid blue collar workers we used to take for granted. They are the ones who endure the terrible public commute every single day, all squished inside the MRT and buses while we look at them from the comfort of our cars.
We are all guilty of looking down on them, thinking what we do is more important than their menial jobs. But during this crisis, they are the ones that actually who keep our society going, maintaining a bit of normalcy in this crazy times.
Could you imagine how worse this would be without them??
This is the time to show your appreciation for what they contribute, to honor and thank them for the amazing job they’re doing despite the danger, despite the risk.
In a different life, I would have probably been a teller, a roving teller to be more exact, the one who rides inside the armored truck, had I accepted the job offer, but I had different dreams.
Now, I couldn’t help but admire these bank personnel for their dedication to their jobs. In a previous post I shared the story of Jessa a BDO staff who is also in the frontline and as I browsed through my feed I saw this other post from Patricia Sealtiel expressing her gratitude.
Her post reads: “Hindi ako masyado ma-post when it comes to this pero I can’t afford to miss the chance not to give honor and appreciation to all of our frontliners—doctors, nurses, volunteers and even those people who work in the bank.
She recalled going to BDO SM Molino Branch for her my usual financing errands and personal needs.
“Parang hindi naman natin kaya na mag stop ang operation ng bangko di ba? We all need money lalo na sa nangyayari sa atin ngayon. We need their services to buy food, pay our bills and for emergencies like this one. The BDO SM Molino branch has highly implemented social distancing for everyone’s safety. Everyone is wearing masks and they have alcohol ready whenever you go in and out of the bank. (ito pa yung moment na nakalimutan ko yung alcohol ko so thank you for providing alcohol for your customers as well) even if their employees wear masks, I can still see the smile in their eyes while assisting me.”
She then praised everyone for their dedication “I sincerely salute and commend them for finding ways to go to work. I can’t imagine being in their own shoes. To think, they have families to go home to, children to attend to. Baka kung ako yan hindi na ako pumasok! They put their lives at risk everytime na lumabas sila. Kaya ano ba naman yung simpleng appreciation and thank you for them.” Sobrang nakaka-proud kayong lahat! Hindi niyo ako binibigo sa tagline niyo. I know you will always FIND WAYS! Thank you to all of you!”
It was a simple yet very heartfelt post. So the next time you interact with any of your bank tellers, or the other people who continue to work despite the unsafe conditions. Thank them. Tell them they are doing a great job and let them know you appreciate what they are doing. And if we do make it out of this COVID-19 pandemic I just hope we too learn to value each other.
I’m still feeling pessimistic though. But I’d be very happy to be proven wrong.
