VIRTUAL LIVES

By Franz Edward Mercado & Michaela Sibugan

By Franz Edward Mercado & Michaela Sibugan

The Greatest Thief Of All Time

The Greatest Thief Of All Time

“The Philippines’ COVID-19 cases surpassed one million after the Department of Health reported 8,929 additional cases.”

“The Philippines’ COVID-19 cases surpassed one million after the Department of Health reported 8,929 additional cases.”

The announcement made you shiver as you passed by your television after finishing your nightly tasks. You have never actually watched or listened to the television, but every time you walk past it, it warns that nothing will ever be the same again.

The announcement made you shiver as you passed by your television after finishing your nightly tasks. You have never actually watched or listened to the television, but every time you walk past it, it warns that nothing will ever be the same again.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution, in Article II, Section 1, states that, “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.” As a democratic country, Filipino people have the sovereign power and superiority over our constitution. The right to exercise their sovereignty in establishing an ideal government and choosing rightful leaders to serve them with utmost sincerity is indivisible and cannot be reposed even at any branches of the government it

The 1987 Philippine Constitution, in Article II, Section 1, states that, “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.” As a democratic country, Filipino people have the sovereign power and superiority over our constitution. The right to exercise their sovereignty in establishing an ideal government and choosing rightful leaders to serve them with utmost sincerity is indivisible and cannot be reposed even at any branches of the government it

You get reflective every now and then. You never imagined that the 14th of March 2020 would be the final day of seeing your classmates’ glowing smiles. Feelings of sadness flood in as you participate in online discussions. The voices of your instructors that you used to hear in person had a different melody than those that were broadcasted over the Internet. You ached for the days when learning was not only less arduous but also more enjoyable; you had companions with whom you could relate to as you read your lessons. However, no matter how nostalgic you are for these, nothing will be the same in this “new normal” scenario.

You get reflective every now and then. You never imagined that the 14th of March 2020 would be the final day of seeing your classmates’ glowing smiles. Feelings of sadness flood in as you participate in online discussions. The voices of your instructors that you used to hear in person had a different melody than those that were broadcasted over the Internet. You ached for the days when learning was not only less arduous but also more enjoyable; you had companions with whom you could relate to as you read your lessons. However, no matter how nostalgic you are for these, nothing will be the same in this “new normal” scenario.

Every time you go outside to apparently take a break, you see those blue-tinted face masks that remind of how the virus upended the world, and it feels suffocating. Because convention dictates that you keep your distance from other people, your

Every time you go outside to apparently take a break, you see those blue-tinted face masks that remind of how the virus upended the world, and it feels suffocating. Because convention dictates that you keep your distance from other people, your desire for human touch will never be satiated. However, you don’t have much of a choice. Now that life revolves around a screen, you continue your academic path and go on with an uneasy manner. You feel hollow, like sinking into an abyss while you lived a virtual life. desire for human touch will never be satiated. However, you don’t have much of a choice. Now that life revolves around a screen, you continue your academic path and go on with an uneasy manner. You feel hollow, like sinking into an abyss while you lived a virtual life. ...

History proves that even a single vote -your vote- can sway an entire election. During the 1876 United States Presidential Election, Democrat Samuel Tilden had won the popular vote but lost the election when Republican Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio accumulated a total number of 185 votes compared to Tilden’s 184. The stakes are high and a single vote manage to change the outcome of the election. Still, some people did not see nor acknowledge the importance of exercising their right and privilege to vote. They subscribed in a belief system that they don’t think their vote can make a difference, they believe that the system is rigged, and that there is an involvement of special interest. We should reject this kind of perspective since voting is a civil responsibility that is granted to us once we reach legality.

History proves that even a single vote -your vote- can sway an entire election. During the 1876 United States Presidential Election, Democrat Samuel Tilden had won the popular vote but lost the election when Republican Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio accumulated a total number of 185 votes compared to Tilden’s 184. The stakes are high and a single vote manage to change the outcome of the election. Still, some people did not see nor acknowledge the importance of exercising their right and privilege to vote. They subscribed in a belief system that they don’t think their vote can make a difference, they believe that the system is rigged, and that there is an involvement of special interest. We should reject this kind of perspective since voting is a civil responsibility that is granted to us once we reach legality.

NOT ONLY THE WORLD, BUT IT ALTERED YOU AS WELL

NOT ONLY THE WORLD, BUT IT ALTERED YOU AS WELL

For countless times, various community quarantine categories were updated and applied in your area, and you’ve already lost track of time. Because of the pandemic, your mind and body are already set on your newly created habit every time you wake up.

We should also be mindful who to vote. As a voter, it is our responsibility to choose a leader that is good for the country. Do not rely on survey ratings from suspicious institutions, do some research and avoid on the spot voting, be a rational voter, and above all understand that democracy is not about freedom, but of accountability. The impact of flipping an election can drastically paved our country’s future into either prosperity or eternal suffering. The repercussions of our decisions during the 2016 election are very relevant and widely depicts how our vote can save lives if we just treat the election seriously.

We should also be mindful who to vote. As a voter, it is our responsibility to choose a leader that is good for the country. Do not rely on survey ratings from suspicious institutions, do some research and avoid on the spot voting, be a rational voter, and above all understand that democracy is not about freedom, but of accountability. The impact of flipping an election can drastically paved our country’s future into either prosperity or eternal suffering. The repercussions of our decisions during the 2016 election are very relevant and widely depicts how our vote can save lives if we just treat the election seriously.

For countless times, various community quarantine categories were updated and applied in your area, and you’ve already lost track of time. Because of the pandemic, your mind and body are already set on your newly created habit every time you wake up.

One of your routines has remained consistent throughout quarantine, and that’s being a wanderer on all social networking platforms. Aside from your typical tasks, you spend most of your time browsing through your feeds. You spend a lot of time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and, of course, Tiktok. There was not much choice. Perhaps you developed these as a way to keep yourself sane due to the solitude.

One of your routines has remained consistent throughout quarantine, and that’s being a wanderer on all social networking platforms. Aside from your typical tasks, you spend most of your time browsing through your feeds. You spend a lot of time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and, of course, Tiktok. There was not much choice. Perhaps you developed these as a way to keep yourself sane due to the solitude.

As time passed, people began to express their frustration with the seclusion and yearned for how things

As time passed, people began to express their frustration with the seclusion and yearned for how things used to be. Everything suddenly shifted when the life you once dreamed where you do nothing for a day came true. Everything was done virtually, the interactions happened between screens and we were gradually introduced to the new normal setting; a setting that we once thought of as a blessing but turned out to be a curse.

LEARNING WAS NEVER THIS NERVE-RACKING

Along with the destruction the virus had on human health, it also wreaked havoc on education, forcing schools and universities to switch to asynchronous and virtual learning in order to keep up with the new normal. Uncertainty, intrigue, and worry greeted the start of the new school year. Failure was gnawing because you are not used to this type of situation. You also craved the presence of your friends and classmates, whose faces are now represented by pixels. You did not have much of a choice. Perhaps you are bound by a scholarship agreement, or you are determined to finish on time. Whatever the case may be, you must continue your academic journey, despite the unusual circumstances. It was a huge adjustment for you but it was highly anticipated.

Over the years, the Philippine government under different administrations, had already accumulated countless controversies and questionable actions. The ignorance and pride of politicians have became a lingering trait of the government which become evident in this trying times. The strategy of our government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is directly proportional to the total number of positive cases and death that keeps on increasing everyday. As early as December 2019, WHO already announced a scare of potential pandemic giving heads up to nearby countries. The current Administration, being complacent and friendly, ensured the people that there is nothing to be afraid of and even proclaimed that the virus will just pass away. A year later, death toll ravaged throughout the country, the healthcare system is at its limit, front liners are exhausted due to the still inflating number of cases, and the needs of the Filipino people are no longer met due to economic failure.

All the concerns raised only amount to minimum effort and despite the chaos, corruption is still rampant which highly speaks of the greed of the politicians. The government is just playing along their manipulative responses to gain sympathy without considering that the numbers flash on screen are numerical facts and speaks about their failures to ensure the safety of the Filipino people. The Head of the State even suggested to make use of gasoline as a way to combat the virus and was later claimed that he was just joking.

You built up grit and clung to your life goals in preparation for the new learning approach, but indifference was creeping up on you unconsciously. The image of waiting for your professor in your classroom transports you back in time, as you now sit in your bedroom chair, waiting for the link to enter your Google Meet discussion. You wanted to learn, but it seemed like roadblocks kept appearing, one of which was an unreliable internet connection. Even though you had your modules with you to read, you struggled because your learning style was not the same as everyone else’s.

Inside your head, a slew of questions loomed enormous. You are well aware that this is not what you planned. The fact that the program you chose has a lot of hands-on exercises that cannot be delivered virtually irritates you, as does the fact that the virus stole your chance to become adept and learn essential skills for your future career. Moreover, the fact that the virus is causing the country’s unemployment rate to rise is enough to ruffle your feathers, and you are haunted by the prospect of your uncertain future.

You have to deal with your everyday household tasks in addition to the pile of assessments that have been assigned to you. You fought to balance your commitments to the point that your body’s fuel and drive were completely depleted. You are feeling overloaded and emotionally drained, and you are worried that you will not be able to keep up with the continual demands. You had become a robot rather than a human. It feels like you are being programmed to perform a complex sequence of activities and are being controlled day by day; a never-ending loop from which you cannot seem to break free.

People’s cry for help echoes throughout the social media and even on the street yet the government only resorts to more oppressive policies and laws. One of the national dispute in the country is the ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy which hindered the said media network the right to broadcast. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease-and-desist order demanding the network to stop all of its free TV and radio broadcasting. International press and media advocacy groups deemed the refusal of Congress to renew the franchise as a direct attack on the country’s democracy and press freedom. President Duterte criticized ABS-CBN due to his personal claims that the network is biased and covers unfavorable news against him during his presidential campaign in the 2016 Philippine presidential election. He repeatedly voiced out his stands against the renewal of the network’s congressional franchise. This move had a direct negative impact to the economy not only of the tax the network is paying but it also resulted to thousands of Filipino people losing their jobs.

In an attempt to save the failing economy, the Department of Education pushed the online class and modular based learning platform to let students continue their study. Despite their appeal to not put pressure on students, this method failed to ensure that the capacity of our internet connection meets the needed stability towards effective learning hence the negative outcome. The officials disclose the issue and would not even recognize student suicide cases as well as the number of related accident in finding signal just to attend the classes. The constant pressure, stress, and expectations have the capacity to deteriorate students mental health. The officials need reminder that every students has the right to be educated in a system that does not exploit them in saving the economy of the country.

The list of casualties can go on for miles since the execution of war on drugs, extrajudicial killing, Scarborough shoal issue, and a lot more. All of these happened because we voted public officials who would rather put there personal issues at the top of the list than serving the people who put them on the position to make a change. Had we known that their actions would cause thousands of death, we would’ve chosen a better leader. In a country which is govern by political dynasty and fanaticism, we need to thrive and practice our right to suffrage because your vote can save millions of lives. The supreme and absolute power lies on your hands. As early as today, sign up at your local Comelec, exercise your civic duty, and furthermore, involved yourself in ensuring that everyone votes wisely for a new and ideal government.

COVID-19 TAKES ITS TOLL

Not only young children and teenagers, but also teachers, were affected by the abrupt change to virtual classes. The impact of the pandemic and virtual classes, on the other hand, may have prompted new changes in your mental health or worsened existing mental health conditions. It has been mentally draining for you because your brain cannot assimilate the way it used to. You are worried about staying on top of your studies; you are having difficulties concentrating or staying focused at home; and getting the extra educational help you need to succeed has become a challenge. Some may have been fine with this arrangement since it suited their learning style and they were privileged, but even though we are currently on the same sea, we are undeniably not on the same boat.

Now that the country has over a million cases, and the number is growing by the day, you grow tired of everything, of your new daily routine. The number will continue to rise as some become complacent, others become irresponsible, and vaccination distribution is not yet widespread since government authorities are struggling and perplexed with their budget allocation priorities. With pressures coming from all directions, you wanted anything to lighten your load, something to take your mind off what you were feeling; but the current scenario prevents you from doing so.

COVID-19 caught us off guard, and despite our best efforts, we never really got used to being in this situation. We are being pushed into a corner, and our only option is to swallow everything the situation spoon-feeds us. We did not have much of a choice because we are still wanting to get back to normal as soon as possible. Despite everyone’s best attempts to reclaim what we have lost - a world free of a deadly intangible opponent - our progress is gradual and we are still a long way from the horizon. What we believed would be a term-long distance learning program turned into a year-long one, and we could not tell when we would be able to return to normal. Because we never really had a choice, and all we could do now is wait and do our part to get out of the virtual world in which we are currently stuck.

It’s one of these ordinary days that I feel like doing nothing but be at my phone the whole day, while still in my pajamas. When all of a sudden,

“Chubby bunny!” shouted my friend, with laughter bursting inside this two-storey apartment. Our mouths were full of marshmallows, holding on for dear life. If only you could see our faces; we laughed so hard, and one of us even peed! Gross, but you could tell it was really funny!

I guess, it’s still gonna be a good day today. I went to the kitchen to get myself a meal.

“Hello guys, welcome to our home!” One of my roomies was recording herself while our other board-mate was cleaning. “Here’s our most pisan pisan na boardmate, Ralph!” she introduced, and continued on her mini-vlog. I was just there watching them. I didn’t notice that I was actually smiling because of that simple, but, genuine moment.

After I had gotten myself full, I had a shower to freshen up myself. When I finished changing, I grabbed my phone quickly.

“ML ta, custom game.” My friends asked to play Mobile Legends, inviting the boyfies to play along. Of course, we were noisy, trashtalking in-game, and just boasting playfully during the clash. It was chaotic, but kinda wanna do it again! After the game, we went outside for a walk. We bought Aice ice cream at the famous Chicken Diggers karenderya, then stopped by Angel’s Burger to buy our favorite footlong sandwich. We were satisfied! We headed right back to the apartment.

It was a cloudy afternoon and I thought of staying outside for awhile…

“Sukol!” A few minutes later, we found ourselves playing ‘sukol’ and ‘tumba-balay’ on the street, with our neighbors wondering what we’re up to, they looked like they were enjoying too!

I was thirsty, and so, I had to get ice-cold water from the fridge.

“Let’s do karaoke.” A friend invited. Without secondthoughts, we left straight-away! We had rounds of picking nothing pajamas. bursting full of marshmallows, could see peed! Gross, the kitchen roomies was just smiling up myself. pandemic. recordings, and explored it. All and captured yet… one Who would’ve waited for this ended first. times, his camera. Our difference. just enjoy story bi.” friends would current moment, right at this posted in our written in memories people, relive the actually go never-ending, just endings, or these stories past’s purest archive. the songs, and we danced and sang like it’s the best day of our lives! We had our own concert at the karaoke. It was a blast!

The night’s here already, and so I had to eat for dinner.

“We need to study, it’s already exam week.” One of us reminded. We opened our notes and reviewers, did a few schoolworks. Finding ourselves a comfortable corner we can study at. We were scattered all around the room. Finally, we were in silence.

It’s already late, around 3am. Wow, the day ended fast… and I’m still on my phone, scrolling through my Instagram Archive. For a while, I thought everything was still real, I was reliving some scenarios through those photos and videos. I was a bit frustrated because all of those were just mere memories at the back of my mind.

I’ve been doing this almost every day, while living in quarantine. I’m longing for the life I had in my previous social media stories, but it’s somehow therapeutic to look back. I was getting dizzy staring at my phone the whole day. So, I just slept the night away. The next morning, I woke up to a lot of notifications waiting for me.

I woke up to a lot of notifications waiting for me.

“On this day…” I viewed this particular notif.

It was an album that I compiled with photos and clips before all of this happened – the life before the pandemic. There were lots of group pictures, archived recordings, and the like. The album seemed different when I explored it. All files were still there, with what I’ve recorded and captured in 2019 to early 2020s, every detail was retained, yet… one person in there couldn’t be with us anymore. Who would’ve thought we’d lose one along the way? We all waited for this quarantine life to end, but it was one life story that ended first. The only memories we have of him are the good times, his smiles, and him doing crazy things caught on camera. Our days were different, and I mean, a really big difference.

“Stop taking so much photos and videos, just enjoy the moment while it’s still here! Tama nana nga story bi.” I’ve heard it possibly a million times – some of my friends would always remind me to actually live in the current moment, when everything was normal, until… we went right at this moment.

All we have now are archived stories – posted in our social media, even synced on our galleries, but also written in our hearts, and kept at the back of our minds. These memories we had are priceless; we can always miss the people, relive the moments, reminisce the feelings, but we can never actually go back.

There are still a lot of stories to tell, never-ending, just like how we want every story to be – have the best endings, or never ending at all. Up ‘till this day, I still watch these stories over again, it’s because; I keep holding onto the past’s purest stories – the ones that I wanna take out from the archive.

by Freddie Laureano Jr. &