Oh My!

Gosh I was quite alarmed yesterday morning when I came in from gardening and Josef told me he had fever. I get anxious when a member of the family is not well. At first, it was a slight one but last night it reached 37.9 centigrade. He took Biogesic and had patches of Kool Fever. Jovy’s cousin sent an oximeter yesterday.

It’s a good thing they have a 24-hour online doctors at JP Morgan so they had an e-consult. His fever has to be observed for 24 hours before they will suggest swabbing for possible Covid infection. Thank God, his temperature went back to normal early this morning.

Maybe he was just tired because the other day after his shift from work, he went to BGC (Bonifacio Global City) where their office is located and had some transactions at the bank. I even asked him if he could drop by Bank of PI later to withdraw some cash for me. All my transactions nowadays are in the form of cash. Since the pandemic, I stopped using my credit card for online transactions. Utility payments which I have enrolled previously before I left Bank of PI twenty one years ago are still made online, I still check my account balance online too.

Going back to this Covid alarm, I am still wary of it. Until now, they have only vaccinated about a million of our population, 770,000 of that had completed the second jab. Vaccination in our town for senior citizens has stopped because there is no available vaccine. I still blame this government for the “oh so slow” response to this pandemic. They’re not that concerned about the people. I wonder where the billions they borrowed supposedly for Covid had gone to. People have to make their own initiative of putting up community pantries to help our fellow citizens – seniors, jobless, stay at home heads of families with no work, jeepney drivers who can’t go to work.

Oh my, Covid is really alarming. Be safe everyone.

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She Has Grown

I was playing with Cookie the other day. She gave me a kiss when she went out of their room. Although she is only eight-month old, she is more affectionate than Oreo. The latter is now so independent and territorial. As for Cookie, even if the door is slightly open, she would not enter unless you call her. I took a few shots of her and compared to some of her photos when we brought her home at more than a month. She was so tiny then and was not used to puppy food. She eventually learned to enjoy taking a bath whereas a few months ago, she was afraid of the water.

At 8.5 kilos she is far too heavier than Oreo at 5.5 kilos.

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This is how she looks now compared to her picture when we brought her home (on the first photo).

They say that dogs are the most loyal friends. I watched a video some days ago. The dog was watching the niche/tomb of the man who recently died. He was his friend and caretaker.

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It’s Her 92nd

Mom had her 92nd birthday yesterday. We had a simple lunch but we forgot to order a birthday cake early. Just ordered some food online because I just prepared a kilo of spaghetti. As always, anything new to her taste is always yummy.

Compared to years ago, she no longer remembers it was her birthday. She made me write her date of birth on a piece of paper and she doesn’t even know that it is now 2021. Her mind is focused on when she turned 88 years old. So if you ask how old she is, she always says 88…haha.

I took a few shots. She didn’t even want to pose in front of a camera. Reluctant smile 🙂

I am grateful that despite her age, she’s healthy. Thank you Lord for another year of blessing for my mom. I posted another photo on Facebook featuring the two of us and it garnered a lot of likes and 274 birthday wishes and greetings. What a joy🎂🌻🧁

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Community Pantry

It started with one unselfish soul who thought of helping those jeepney drivers who lost their jobs since the start of the pandemic. Some of them are totally jobless now.

A kind soul put up some items on a makeshift table – veggies, rice, canned goods, condiments and other goods and several sacks of sweet potatoes were donated by some farmers from Tarlac province. It is not just a cart of produce but a powerful gesture that has come out during this pandemic when so many Filipinos don’t have the means to feed themselves and their families. Neighbors brought their own donations.

The concept started four days ago and many community pantries had sprung up in various neighborhood. The idea is simple, you can get what you need for free.

It goes by the tenet, Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan” which simply means “give whatever you can, take only what you need”.

Even the fishermen have donated their fresh catch to help. Here are just a few of those who put up their pantries in their own community.

Kindness begets kindness. If ordinary citizens can do this, why not those in power? It is spreading sunshine into other people’s lives regardless of the weather.

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Hey, I’m Back

Can’t believe that for exactly eleven days, I haven’t written anything here. I think I lost my muse. No other reason but being so engrossed reading. And when you haven’t blogged for a while, it is quite hard to start again.

Last night, I finished my 49th read. Lately, I was so engrossed in thrillers and historical fiction. I recently followed a series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Remember the character Pendergast? That is if you are familiar with their books.

I miss writing on a PC. It’s been a while. Since this tab would not let me see my dashboard, I wonder how many posts I’ve done so far. The last time I looked several months ago, it already reached more than 3,000 posts on this blog alone. It always asks me to log in but when I do, I could not get to the site.

Vaccinations for senior citizens have just started this week. Per barangay, alphabetical listings too per database they have of all senior citizens in our town. I’ll probably get vaccinated next week. They told us we’ll have the Astra Zeneca vaccine. Has anyone of you been vaccinated with this?

It is mom’s 92nd birthday on April 20, that’s next week. I asked Fr. Pao if he could include her in his prayers. I attended an online mass which he presided early this morning.

Have a blessed week ahead. Keep safe my friends.

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Monday Blues

Good morning.

It’s Monday octave of Easter. I watched the 6am mass online.

Nissa has been so cautious of our health since she contacted Covid more than three weeks ago. She bought us this UV Sterilization Lamp. It says it kills bacteria and viruses up to 99% preventing them from becoming infectious. We need to buy 2 AAA batteries for the remote control so we haven’t used it yet.

She also bought an extra set for them to use at home.

This is how it looks like when it is assembled.

The other day, I received another package from her, two sets of air purifier for Josef and me. I wear mine every day except when taking a bath and going to bed at night. It’s a necklace.

At the rate this government is addressing the pandemic, it may take another year more before they could vaccinate us. Some towns have already begun but here in our town, only the frontliners are done with it. Senior citizens are next in line but they don’t have enough vaccines yet.

We are back to square one. More positive cases are being reported now compared to a year ago. Same people handling everything. I wonder why despite the clamor to change those people and instead appoint medical practioners and those in related field of science, the man at the realm insists on appointing retired military and police personnel. He can’t even get his acts together except extending this lockdown.

Oh so sorry for these rants. I am just frustrated that they always blame the people not following protocols when it is the lack of concrete plans at their end which is the problem. They don’t even have financial aid to augment a family’s needs. They have to go out to earn a living to support their families. I also wonder where the billions of pesos this goverment borrowed supposedly to address the Covid problem went to.

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Resurrection Sunday

Rejoice and be glad. He has risen.

Quite busy answering phone calls and messages. Will get back later.

A blessed and happy Easter to you all.

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It’s Good Friday

I no longer remember how many times I blogged about Good Friday since I started at WordPress.

We used to have our Visita Iglesia on Good Friday. We visit seven churches in other towns and pray the Fourteen Stations of the Cross. In the afternoon, we watch The Seven Last Words. They are inspiring reflections of how Jesus died on the cross. For the second time now, celebrations of Lent and Holy Week are quiet affairs. I miss the procession in our town usually held very early on a Good Friday morning. It is a blessing though that we get to watch everything online.

It is so quiet here now except for the ocassional noise of cars passing by our subdivision. I took the opportunity to update our Catholic page and two Catholic groups of which I am an admin.

I remember a post I wrote nine years ago today. The message was sent by a close friend on a Good Friday.

These are reflections of an old man who donated blood one Good Friday.

“I gave blood, Christ gave His long ago; I gave a pint, He gave it all. My needle was short and sharp, His nails were large and dull. My cot was soft and restful, His cross was rough and hard. My med techs were kind and gentle, the soldiers were cruel and mean. The crowd applauded my sacrifice, those who passed by reviled Him. Mine was type A positive, His was positive for all. Mine, at best, will prolong life for a while, His without doubt will save us for all eternity”.

A blessed Good Friday to all.

BTW, it’s St. Pope John Paul II’s 16th death anniversary today.

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