Mabuhay from Manila

Rostum J. Baustista

We are on enhanced community quarantine, at least in the whole island of Luzon for two days now.  A euphonious term for “lockdown” any which way one looks at it.

Hello to all our Friends in Hawaii! Mabuhay from Manila!

Just like in any other places on the planet now, we are on red alert level 2 because of the health emergency, worsening to pandemic and now turning to panic for many.  The authorities have been always calming down the people here but access to movement, food and family from elsewhere is getting a bit hard.  Good thing the internet world is still working without any cyber virus.  Otherwise, panic would really envelope the whole international community.

We are on enhanced community quarantine, at least in the whole island of Luzon for two days now.  A euphonious term for “lockdown” any which way one looks at it.

NO public transportation here.  The whole outside world has come to a halt here in the Philippines.  Groceries diminishing supplies because of the artificial shortage brought about by panic-buying.  Alcohol depleted in almost all the groceries counter. Delivery of food supplies from the province is getting tight.  We have yesterday’s bad news of an avian flu inflicting poultry farms in Nueva Ecija, some 100 kms away from Manila, that necessitated the forced killing of quail birds, which will surely affect the supply of quail eggs which has become a staple for sidewalk food for many Filipinos called “kwek-kwek”, that funny looking small eggs wrapped in orange-colored liquid dough and fried until cooked, dip in sweet and sour sauce, taste good and full of protein, now will become restricted for a while. Really felt bad because am a fun and fond of eating these small eggs.  At least, the duck egg called “balut” is still on sale.

Increasing number of deaths, am sure, many have not reached yet the health authorities for reporting; a lot is scared of being infected, affected and impacted by this virulent virus in the recent past.

We hope and pray that USA would be just fine like the Philippines.

Until then, keep safe.  Will keep you posted.