Bangon Magazine (Reyes)

toc 03 Outdoor/Indoor Snapshots 05 The pandemic that shook the world Info+ 07 Tweets that matter Entertainment 09 Lockdown buddies: AYMT Technology 11 On the pursuit of flattening the curve Explainer 13 Thanks, Frontliners Literary







The PANDEMIC THAT SHOOK THE WORLD This year opened our eyes to the possibility of a ‘new normal’. Peaking global interest and concern is the rapid spread of a disease – a pandemic that flashed before our eyes. COVID-19 challenged and braced humanity to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. With alerts on high, the community on lockdown, and heroes on the frontlines, this pandemic defined humanity in the brink of breakdown. Here is an overview of the pandemic that shook the world. We’ve had numerous cases of widespread diseases wreaking respiratory complications in several parts of the world. Numerous viral epidemics such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002 to 2003, and H1N1 influenza in 2009 sent waves of media attention and panic to the world in the previous decades. However the birth of this pandemic was reported to occur at Wuhan, the largest metropolitan area in China’s Hubei province. This was put into the books of WHO Country Office in China, on the sad day of December 31, 2019.

An unsatisfying exodus An intelligent response is to embrace new normal standards and co-exist on a world built The Chinese Center for Disease Control and on online interactions and social distancing Prevention (CDC) and local CDCs organized measures, all for the sake of health and safety. an intensive outbreak investigation program. The etymology of this illness is now attributed Globally, as of May 23 2020, there have been to a novel virus belonging to the coronavirus 5,103,006 confirmed cases of COVID-19, (CoV) family. On February 11, 2020, the including 333,401 deaths, reported to WHO. WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom The seriousness of this global pandemic has Ghebreyesus, announced that the disease been long established and the repercussions of caused by this new CoV was a “COVID-19,” unpreparedness led to the vulnerability of most which is the acronym of “coronavirus disease countries, including ours. With heightened alert 2019”. and plans to alleviate the situation are at hand, a new challenge awaits humanity as we all work to In the Philippines, the transmission spread like wildfire as the country’s borders remain “flatten the curve. imprudent. This led to exposing the country’s Proper mitigation and quick response inability to handle major outbreaks such as to the issue serves as a beneficial COVID-19. The narrative of how the first countermeasure to flatten the curve patient in the country is shared on a case report and defeat the pandemic. This must be by Edrada et al. for the Tropical Medicine and mirrored by countries suffering from a Health journal, “Both patients were previously growing statistic of an healthy Chinese nationals on vacation in the infected population. Philippines travelling as a couple during January 2020. Patient 1, a 39-year-old female, had Proverbs of hope symptoms of cough and sore throat and was admitted to San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on In light of recent events, some countries January 25. exhibited laudable response to the pandemic. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, Physical examination was unremarkable. spared none of the serious implications to her Influenza B, human coronavirus 229E, constituents by revealing that COVID-19 would Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella infect up to 70% of the population. “It’s serious,” pneumoniae were detected by PCR on initial she said, “take it seriously.” Tsai Ing-wen of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NPS/OPS) Taiwan acted upon it quickly, by introducing swabs. 124 safety measures coupled with decisive leadership, it managed to maintain the death Revelations of a pandemic toll in her country to a mere number of 6. She furthered her aid by sending 10 million masks to On March 11, 2020, the World Health other countries battling the disease. Talk about Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak excellent women leadership. a pandemic. Data from China have indicated that older adults, particularly those with serious Proper mitigation and quick response to the underlying hotdog health conditions, are at issue serves as a beneficial countermeasure to higher risk for severe COVID-19–associated flatten the curve and defeat the pandemic. This illness and death than are younger persons. must be mirrored by countries suffering from a growing statistic of an infected population. Punzalan (2020) stated that as the Coronavirus As this pandemic continue to burden millions Disease-2019 (Covid-19) continue to send of lives globally, it is up to the leaders and the waves to millions worldwide, a number noted citizens to work accordingly in battling unseen that this economic impact is comparable to the forces, with devastation wreaking havocs that is biggest catastrophes of the past, from the 2008- hard to unnoticed. 2009 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) to the Great Depression almost eight decades ago. References: Cascella, M., Rajnik, M., Cuomo, A., Dulebohn, S. C., & Di Napoli, R. (2020). Features, evaluation and treatment coronavirus (COVID-19). In Statpearls [internet]. StatPearls Publishing. Edrada, E. M., Lopez, E. B., Villarama, J. B., Salva Villarama, E. P., Dagoc, B. F., Smith, C., ... & Balinas, E. G. M. (2020). First COVID-19 infections in the Philippines: a case report. Tropical medicine and health, 48, 1-7. COVID, C., & Team, R. (2020). Severe outcomes among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)—United States, February 12–March 16, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 69(12), 343-346. Punzalan, J. P. B. (n.d.). Heading toward the “new normal”: Insights on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic from a risk and strategic management perspective.

TWEETS THAT MATTER With majority of the population staying indoors, online presence has never been more active. Previous months listed memorable social media interactions as netizens of all ages try to make their own time worthwhile by contributing to entertain, to inform, or to engage in an intelligent dis- course about the pandemic. Nonetheless, most of these skirmishes and thought-provokers occur in the world’s favourite bird app – Twitter. Call for support As the nation is put under a stir of confusion brought by late-night press conferences and inco- herent details sent to the masses. Some netizens took matters to their hands by calling for needed solutions, rather than untimely controversies and backlashes. From ridicule statements calling for an increase in the health worker’s compensations, to a call for a much-awaited mass testing (one that kept the nation baffled on April 14), the social media community of pleading Filipinos took to Twitter their loudest calls. Unfortunately, appeals fell on deaf ears as mass testing is still not a reality and some plans are left untouched.

Need for donations Evident in the recent Taal Volcanic Eruption, tweets can move mountains in calling for voluntary work and donations. With an undersupply in necessary PPEs, some answered via Twitter to organize donation drives. With a casual ‘twitter do your thing’ magic, some reports of donations encouraged numerous organizations and concerned individuals to go on donating themselves. It can be through financial assistance, shelter, and food, the netizens got the frontliner’s back covered in these trying times. Stories and gratitude Raising social awareness has never been more important. With ignorance and the spread of fake news a never-ending peril for the masses, one must be well acquainted with the trustworthy media organizations bearing news of fact steering away from fallacy. An incredible opportunity to thank the frontliners has been laid on the platform, melting our hearts and filling our hopes with gratitude to these individuals on the field risking their lives.

LOCKDOWN APPS YOU MIGHT NEED LOCKDOWN LOCKDOWN LOCKDOWN BUDDIES BUDDIES BUDDIES Time really does fly when in quarantine. Fortunately to those who have access to their smartphones, a lot can be done in a day. Famously enough, it has been common these days to end the day unsatisfied, riddled with a feeling of emptiness as one had not accomplished even a mere task for the whole day. If you have your phone with you right now, I invite you to discover these apps that can surely wash away those quarantine blues and help you lead a more productive, indoor lifestyle. Free up some memory and get ready to install.

APP No. 1 Health Pal Wellness If your goal is to achieve a healthier lifestyle, you better have a pal to accompany you in this journey. From calorie intake to updating your water consumption, Health Pal is here to aid you. Treat this app like a personal ally in attaining personal health goals and surely you are on the path towards a happier life. Keep your notifications on for Health Pal especially during this pandemic, after all friends gotta stick together, right? APP No. 2 Boosted and Forest Productivity These award-winning apps are your gateway into achieving full productivity at home. Boosted, an app dedicated to setting short-term goals and pushing you to achieve as many as the goals you have set, proved itself as a worthy app in breaking away from cramming during this quarantine. Find yourself fully attached with your phone? Much so that it has interfered with your daily routine and tasks at hand? Fret not for forest will save your day. APP No. 3 News, RC143 and WHO Knowledge ‘Lamang ang may alam,’ as the famous line from GMA goes, information can go a long way especially in these uncertain times. What better way to keep you informed than stacking up on apps from news organizations you trust? Add the WHO official app on the sides and the RC143 tracker by Red Cross, you are armed and ready for the battle against misinformation.

While the nation is lagging behind the aim to change the course of this pandemic, the number of infected individuals however, is consistently skyrocketing. Until effective implementation of safety measures without bias are ensured, the pursuit of flattening the curve might conclude on a satisfying note. This challenge calls for intelligent decision-making and strengthened policies that aim to flatten the curve and energize the Philippine economy amidst many months of abnormality. A move considered righteous by the IATF, seeks to implement new ECQ - Zero movement regardless of age and present health status CRITICAL ZONE (CZR) - Minimal economic activity except for utility services and economic sector - No transportation services except for utility services - Suspension of physical classes GCQ - Limited movement to services and work - Operation of government offices and industries up to maximum of 75% workforce - Limited transporting services to support necessary services BUFFER ZONE (BZ) - Flexibe learning arrangements We walked into this pandemic with strict protocols and heightened police presence in ECQ. Months later, a new variation of this protocol allow for some movement as long as it entails proper coordination with the respective authorities. ON THE PU FLATTENING

MODIFIED - Limited movement within zone for obtaining essential services & work ECQ - Operation of selected manufacturing and and processing plants CONTAINMENT ZONE (CZ) up to maximum of 50% of workers - Limited transportation services for essential goods and services - Suspension of physical classes MODIFIED GCQ - Permissive socio-economic activities with minimum public health standards. OUTSIDE BUFFER ZONE (OBZ) In order to boost economic activities, GCQ and MECQ permits the workforce to move around their zones of employment. Nonetheless, it pays to understand the precepts of the guidelines in order to establish a safer community working its way to a robust economy. There’s never a quick fix to magnanimous problems like this pandemic situation. Despite pressing loopholes, it must be carefully and religiously mitigated for the sooner betterment of the community. Everyone must be well acquainted with the policies and must be ready to comply as quarantine protocols are swiftly executed. Still, let me leave an interesting thought that salvation draweth nigh, if we kids stay sa bahay. References: https://pcoo.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Spox-Final-Briefing-Deck_13May2020.pdf Edrada, E. M., Lopez, E. B., Villarama, J. B., Salva Villarama, E. P., Dagoc, B. F., Smith, C., ... & Balinas, E. G. M. (2020). First COVID-19 infections in the Philippines: a case report. Tropical medicine and health, 48, 1-7. Punzalan, J. P. B. (n.d.). Heading toward the “new normal”: Insights on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic from a risk and strategic management perspective. URSUIT OF G THE CURVE



Salamat frontliners, salamat mga magulang, salamat mga guro, salamat sa mga maglalako, salamat sa mga ina, salamat sa mga online sellers, salamat sa mga journalists, salamat sa mga lolo at lola, salamat sa mga ama, salamat sa mga kapitbahay, salamat sa mga bata, salamat sa mga kapatid, salamat sa mga deliverers, salamat sa mga pinsan, salamat tito at tita, salamat bayan, salamat mga bayani, salamat Pilipinas, manatiling ligtas, mabuhay para sa bukas.