How the WE have been coping during the Pandemic (Part 3)

Looking forward to putting up more of these. Not just the youth but open to everyone else as well;
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Being part of a community is being able to be allowed to have their voices heard, lets have a few more~

A few more responses from us:

Justice —

How was last year for you?

Umuna nga biyahek apan Mountain Province ken Kalinga ket syempre permi ti excitement ko. Ti immuna nga nagdagasan mi ket idiay Loc-Ong banda ti Bontoc ta isu ti ayan ti kakabagiak. Idiayak Bontoc nga naamnuan ti kunada nga “hangover” LOL. Ket kalpasan didiay dimmagas kami Sagada, nakitak ti Ambasing nga nayanakan ti Lola baak mi, ken napan naki hike met idiay Sumaguing Cave. Idi nalpas kami idiay Mountain Province ti simmaruno nga lugar nga papanan mi ket Tabuk City diay Kalinga ngem kunak kadagitoy nagannak ko nga haanak nga agawid diay Canada no haanak nga ag pabatek idiay Tinglayan. Nasingpet ti tao kanyami nga nag host ket iyaman ko ken ni Manang Naleen ken ni Apo Whang-Od nga nag batek kanyak. Medio mabuteng ni mama nga apan diay Tinglayan ta tenga’t Tribal war didiay nga panawen, (Butbut vs Betwagan Tribe) ngem kaasi ni Apo nga haan nga napeggad ti dalan. Sakbay napan kami Tabuk, dimmagas kami idiay Lubuagan diay Kalinga Academy ta idiay nga nag eskuela ni Lolok ket napan mi binirok diay report card na, haan mi nabirukan. Idiay ak met lang nga gimmatang ti Wanes ko ta isu ti centro ti panagab-abel ti Kalinga diay Mabilong, Lubuagan. Ket tadta naka danun kami Tabuk City. Idiay ak nga nag amammo kadagidiay amin nga kakabagiak. Ditoy kami met lang nag celebrar ti IIC 13 ket naragsak amin nga immay.

It was my first time travelling to Mountain Province and Kalinga, and obviously I was hella excited. The first place we stopped at was in Loc-Ong located in Bontoc since that’s where my relatives are. It was in Bontoc where I really learned what the term “hangover” means LOL. After we were finished there we stopped by Sagada, I got to see Ambasing the birth place of my Great Grandma and got to hike the famous Sumaguing Cave. When we had finished our itinerary for Mountain Province our next destination was Tabuk City in Kalinga however I told my parents that I wouldn’t go back to Canada without getting a tattoo in Tinglayan. The people who hosted us were very kind and I’m thankful to Manang Naleen and Apo Whang-Od for my tattoos. Mom was a little hesitant to go since it was Tribal War at that time, (Butbut vs Betwagan Tribe) but thank god nothing dangerous happened on our way. Before we headed to Tabuk, we stopped by Lubuagan to visit Kalinga Academy where my grandpa had went to school to get his report card, they couldn’t find it though.... It was also here in Lubuagan I was able to purchase my Kalinga Loincloth since Barangay Mabilong, Lubuagan is the centre for Kalinga weaving. We finally reached Tabuk, and it was here where I met my HUGE family. We also attended IIC 13 and it was a very happy occasion.

And how was it coming back here in the middle of the beginning of the pandemic? What was that like?

Ay gulo gulo gulo! Agnernebiosak permi ta haan ko ammo no makaawidak ditoy Canada. Inaldaw ket sumabali ti linteg ket dumdumngegak ladta ti TV no ania ti plano ti gobyerno. Tadta ti problema ti in announce ni Duterte ket ti last nga aldaw nga ag fly ti International Flights ket March 19..... ti returning flight ko ket March 20.... Anya ngay ti aramidek!? Awan met status ko idiay Filipinas ket agexpire ti Visa  no April 6, 2020 isunga ti inplano mi ti rabii ti March 18 agbiyahe akon apan Manila. Daras talaga ag impake awan urnos basta maawit amin nga kargak okay didiayen. Ti rabii na didiay midnight nagala ni kasinsin ko ti Health Permit ken ni Kapitan ket nag biyahe kami apan Manila. Nag mayat dalan! Awan lugan ken nag talna uray no Lockdown, isu nga 2 hours lang biyahe mi La Union - Manila agasem dayta! Idi addaak idiay NAIA nag diskargaak idiay ket nag pakadaakon ken ni kasinsin ko ta bawal da nga agian idiay. 1am addaak idiay ruar nga agbirbirok ti flight nga agpa Canada. Adda maysa nga flight didiay met lang nga aldaw nga ag pa Vancouver via Japan, $900 CAD ti binayadak ngem desperado ak nga agpa Canada. Ti flight ko ket 9am ket 1am idi ginatang ko diay ticket ko. Idiay NAIA bawal ka summrek until 2 hours before your flight. Isu idiay ak ruwar nga naguray ti 6 HOURS! Awan ti turog ko ta awan met ti agbantay ti kargak. Idi naka unegakon narurudak manen ti maminano da agcheck ti gamit ayuuh kunak gulo ladta ti NAIA. Idi naka tugawak ti plane medio naawanan ti stress ko ket mayat diay panagawidko ditoy.

It was a MESS! I was super nervous because I didn’t know if I was able to return to Canada. Everyday the laws would change and I would just listen to the TV to see what the government plans were. Now the problem was Duterte had announced that all international flights would stop on March 19, my booked return flight was March 20.... What am I going to do now!?!?! I had no status in the Philippines and my Visa was going to expire on April 6, 2020 that’s why we planned on the night of March 18 I would head to Manila. It was a rush to pack no organizing at all just stuff everything I can carry and I was good with that. At midnight my cousin got a health permit from our Barangay Kapitan and we headed off bound for Manila. That road was great, there were no cars and it was super calming considering it was Lockdown and our travel only took 2 hours La Union - Manila crazy amazing isn’ it!

When we got to NAIA we unloaded my things and I said goodbye to my cousin as they weren’t allowed to stay. At 1am I’m outside the airport looking for any flights to Canada. There was one flight that same day bound for Vancouver via Japan and cost $900 CAD but i payed for it since I was desperate to get back to Canada. My flight was at 9am and I bought my ticket at 1am. In NAIA you aren’t allowed to enter the Airport until 2 hours before your flight so I had to wait outside for 6 HOURS! I had no sleep since nobody else was there to watch my stuff. When I got inside I was even more annoyed with how many checkpoints there were and I was like man NAIA is still a hella mess. When I was seated on the plane my stressed self calmed down and my flight was smooth coming back.

*****

Audrey —

How was last year for you?

There is no one word to describe the past year! It’s been challenging as I had to adapt to new norms of the world going through a pandemic and also guiding my 4 year old son how to do the same. However, it wasn’t all bad, we were blessed with a beautiful girl and she’s brought joy to the whole family during stressful times. We’ve managed to bond and spend time together as a family, as well as learning how to support each other. Although the past year has been at times lonely and isolating, I still consider myself blessed that none of us were ill and we’ve all managed to stay in good physical health.

Raising a baby is a challenge on its own without a pandemic in the midst! Having to juggle a 4 year old and newborn is a circus  The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” cannot be more true, but it’s hard reality when that village is cut off. It was difficult making the choice to cut support coming from our community and parents but we did it for the safety of our family. As a parent, I grieved for my youngest child’s first year of life. She wasn’t able to meet her family, go to any gatherings, or receive any blessings (traditional or spiritual) from anyone. Simple things that I took for granted, such as pictures with Santa, really hit hard for me that she couldn’t have that. I realize that these are minuscule problems and people are facing the same pandemic as me. I just had envisioned a different beginning for her. At the end of the day, she is thriving in our household and I’m dedicated to giving her the best childhood I can. 

And as if that wasn’t a challenge enough, raising a curiously intelligent boy was also hard. I felt that everything I had taught him to be a kind human had been undone. 

Share your toys, now don’t share your toys! Friendly hugs and high fives are now distanced by 2 meters. His goofy hockey player smile is hidden behind a mask. It’s undoing and reteaching him how to interact with others, when really I just want him to be able to play on the playground with his friends.

*****

Orchid —

How was last year for you?

Last year was definitely not the year I had expected. It’s crazy how quickly everything changed in March, especially with so much going on in my life and at school before the lockdown. I realize now how much I took for granted in that first part of the year. Despite all the stress of school, my life was pretty good. I was spending everyday with my friends, going to dance practices, eating out - all things that became a struggle to do during the pandemic, and even until now. The time alone, although very depressing, allowed me a lot of time to reflect and grow, and I feel like I have such a healthier mindset and perspective on life and towards myself than I did before 2020. I think the hardest part of it was going back to school in September for a school year that was supposed to be the most fun and memorable, and being met with not even the bare minimum of what senior year is paraded to be. I’m graduating soon and I’m still in mourning of what could’ve been, all the experiences I could have had if it weren’t for Covid. But at the same time I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the time I had with myself due to lockdown, and I’ve never felt this good about myself and secure with who I am till now. It’s hard to define how 2020 was for me, it was neither totally bad or totally good, but I know that it was just an obstacle that I and the whole world had and still do need to overcome. And with so many people getting vaccinated and restrictions slowly getting lifted, I’m really hopeful that we’re beginning to do that.

What’s changed the most that you’ve noticed last year? Personal and external?

Personally, I feel like my confidence and mindset has changed the most. I feel like I’ve become a lot more positive in the way I see my problems, goals and just life in general. In terms of confidence, I just worry a lot less about how people view me and turn that focus onto myself and how I feel about myself rather than the perspective of others. Externally, I think all that’s really changed is my relationships. Throughout quarantine, my bonds with my friends and family became a lot stronger and I just feel way more connected to them than I did before.

What’s something you wish happened last year that didn’t? Or what did you have planned for last year that didn’t?

I wish that I could’ve used more of my time in quarantine to practice my hobbies like piano or learn a new one because there’s a lot of skills that I’d like to know how to do.

Would you want to talk about what you’d want to do after highschool since you’re graduating?

I’m jus planning on going into journalism and hope to he able to write about and bring light to issues in the world, especially with black and indigenous peoples here in canada.

*****

Junelia —

January 2020, I remember hearing news about Covid-19 and I never took it seriously because I thought it will never come to a point where it will be a Pandemic. Months after, the World Health Organization officially declared the pandemic. Stores were closed, schools getting transitioned to online classes, businesses were slowly shutting down and many people lost their job including my mother and my younger brother. It was very stressful because despite the pandemic, we still have lots of bills to pay. I am one of those lucky employees who didn’t lose their job during the pandemic but I struggled a lot. I had to walk to work to have less contact with people on the transit because of fear. The fear that I will get sick and get my family sick specially that my mom is very high risk of Covid. I was given a chance to work as a Medic but I had to decline because I live with my mom.

No matter how hard we followed the health protocol, we had an outbreak at work and I’m one of the staff who tested positive. I had to isolate in my own room for 3 weeks. I’m lucky that I’m one of those people who were prepared and I also got my own oxygen tank at home. I couldn’t talk to my family members and couldn’t go out either to get a fresh air even though I struggled to breath. I am still thankful that my family never got sick. I spent most of my time in my bedroom looking at pictures and videos on my phone. It was hard because it made me miss socializing with people more. I missed hearing the gongs being played on our regular Sunday BIBAK workshops. We always gather and have dinner with friends after the workshops. I miss going to school and talk with random strangers at work.

After recovery, I had to go back straight to work because I was an essential workers and we are very understaffed due to people slowly getting sick. We had to work more than 8 hours a day. It was very challenging to go back work with more new health protocols to follow that makes our job twice as harder but at the same time I am happy that I still get paid to pay our bills. I eventually cope with dealing with the additional stress that the pandemic gave. From managing time, to practicing more self care and educating people more about Covid-19 and how it affects the mental health. It made me realize that I have to take care of myself first for me to he able to help others. I know that I’m not the only one who worries a lot about getting family and friends sick. We have to have the courage to go and find someone to talk about it. When the world opens up again, I wouldn’t hold back, because you never know what can happen again. I have to live in the moment.

*****

Aunty Beth —

Aunty how was last your for you?

Hahaha yes anak I’ll explain: ti feeling ko ngay. Kunak no dytoy pandemic ket just for a while ngem saan met

No more social gathering specially BIBAK and Cordillera where we met our kailyan to express iliw jay pilipinas.

What were some of the changes that occurred for you po as well as your family last year? And how have those changes affected you?

Becoming more vigilant/concerned, feeling nervous if I hear a news, (thinking about) how my family is. The social life is not there anymore but it gives you more time to your family/love ones.

What are somethings you wish happened last year? Or somethings you had planned that has not?

BIBAK youth had stop what they are doing and lots of projects to be done like garage sales, caroling, karaoke/dancing no more.

QQQ

In the next little while we will be going back to “normal”, normal gatherings, normal interactions in the face to face. What are some of the changes that have occurred that have changed our behaviour and mindset?

Thank you all to those who have since submitted and reached out to share their words and feelings.

We hope to share more of these

Agyamanak ~~~~