My COVID-19 Diary: Narratives in the Time of Pandemic
This website’s newest feature is titled My COVID-19 Diary: Narratives in the Time of Pandemic. While there are difficulties and uncertainties during this period, it also provides unexpected opportunities for creative writing. Hence, this diary is a compendium of blogs, essays, memoirs, and short stories during this unusual time. Below is a table/matrix that summarizes the uploaded and upcoming narratives.| Topic | Title | Summary | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health | Beyond 10,000 Daily Foot Steps: A Positive Health Consequence of COVID-19? | If one walks 10,000 steps per day, that person could be burning enough calories to lose weight. After trying this technique for 123 days – from 13 January 2020 to 14 May 2020 – I have attained a daily average of 10,050 steps. The consequence: I lost 6 kilos! I intend to maintain this daily average and combine it with a healthier diet. Hopefully, I shall lose more unwanted weights by the end of this COVID-19 pandemic. | • Uploaded on 2 June 2020 (20th Total; 1st COVID-19 Diary) | |
| 2 | Adventures & Thrills | My Guardian Angel’s List of Blessings: Part 1: Close Encounter Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic | While Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought disruption in our family and work, it has also provided ample time to reflect on our lives while working from and/or staying at home. One afternoon, my guardian angel visited me unannounced while I was feeling depressed for being a failure in my twilight years. To argue that I was wrong, he handed me a list of my 10 incredible blessings. I am sharing my close encounter with him, and the eventual gentleman’s deal that we have agreed at. | • Uploaded on 16 September 2020 (21st Total; 2nd COVID-19 Diary) | |
| 3 | Misfortunes & Sad Moments | On Being Fast Versus Being Rich:A Brief Discourse On Being Respectful to Strangers | Don Vito Corleone, the central character of The Godfather (1969 Book of Mario Puzo), reminded his underlings to be respectful of the strangers that they meet. In this context, an arrogant guy ‘outmaneuvered’ an unassuming lady to get the lone parking slot at an elite Sports Club in Metro Manila, Philippines. Find out what she did to his brand-new Mercedes Benz. | • Uploaded on 30 September 2020 (22nd Total; 3rd COVID-19 Diary) | |
| 4 | Health & Wellness | On Long Walk, Massage, Banana and Lemon: Can Pleasures be Either Free or Cheap? | Life’s pleasures are often associated with exuberant monetary costs. While true to a certain extent, we could still experience some of life’s simple pleasures even if we are not wealthy. Leisurely long walk is absolutely free, yet it contributes tremendously to our health and human well-being. As shared here, the total cost of PhP138 (US$2.75) is relatively cheap for the following enjoyable services and/or foodstuff items: 30 minutes of electric chair massage; caramelized fried banana with water; and freshly-chilled lemonade. | • Uploaded on 14 October 2020 (23rd Total; 4th COVID-19 Diary) | |
| 5 | Family, Friends & Relationships | On ‘Overruling’ Oriental Wives and their ‘Surrendering’ Husbands: Close Encounters in the Midst of Pandemic | The traditional dominance of Oriental husbands seems to be fading fast. Their wives are now demanding not only parallel gender status but equal rights and opportunities as well. Moreover, Oriental wives at times may go overboard to either ‘overrule’ their husbands’ wishes – or enjoin them to ‘surrender’ to their whims. In this context, I am sharing two close encounters of my brother-in-law and myself with our wives in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic. | • Uploaded on 28 October 2020 (24th Total; 5th COVID-19 Diary) | |
| 6 | Family, Friends & Relationships | On 200+ Birthday Anniversary Greeters: Who Enlivened my Last ‘Junior’ Year Celebration | When I celebrated my 59th birthday anniversary last 24 January 2021, I was ecstatic when 200+ co-workers, family members, friends, professional associates, relatives, and students greeted me. Although the majority came from the Philippines, some 50 well-wishers were from overseas. They conveyed their greetings through emails, face-to-face greetings, messenger, phone calls, and text notes. Their messages revolved around these themes: health, happiness, longevity, safety, and success. I sincerely thank them for making my last year as a ‘junior’ truly memorable – as I will become a ‘senior’ by 2022! | • Uploaded on 3 February 2021 (6th COVID-19 Diary) | |
| 7 | Family, Friends & Relationships | On Airport Pick-Up and Dining Out of Children: Relationship Indicators with Overseas Friends? | What kind of hospitable gestures would your intimate foreign friends extend to your children when they visit their home countries? Given that context question, I am sharing two stories about three overseas friends who went out of their way not only to pick my children at the airports – but dined them out as well. The first incident involving my eldest son, Mikhail Robert, happened in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The second circumstance was about my only daughter Zarina Hannah in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | • Uploaded on 24 February 2021 (7th COVID-19 Diary) |
