Diary
Life in the Philippines
Quarantine
If Only I Could Throw a Dinner Party This Weekend
Intimate dinners. Nothing huge. Just a small group of close friends at home, enjoying scintillating conversations over a delicious home cooked meal with lots of laughter. A month ago, one never would have guessed that a dinner party will be a luxury during this pandemic season.
A month ago, we had family from France over, here at home enjoying the European school break. I now realize it was actually all in perfect timing, because France will close its borders this week.
Virtual Dinner Party
Lately, we indulge more in virtual dinner/ lunch parties (a simple meal, nothing fancy) with family across the globe and in different time zones during this community quarantine. A laptop or smart phone on the dining table, the shared moments with family help fight isolation and worry that COVID-19 has brought on. Empty supermarket shelves posted online and job loss fuel the anxiety, as we all cope with the new normal.
Current Situation
Our islands and borders have been shut since last week, both air and sea travel throughout Visayas in the Philippines. All restaurants have a 9pm curfew. Most of which have stopped accepting dine-ins and are only catering to Home Deliveries and Take-Away. There are checkpoints and police vehicles at night catching violators. So far, we are quite fortunate that people are not hoarding. Everyone buys just what they need.
Hotels are no longer accepting guests except the ones who are already checked-in and they are asked to report anyone who checks out and moves around. There are many foreign and local tourists who are happily stranded here as airline companies canceled their flights. Hotels are expected to provide a sanitary station at the entrance of the premises for guests and staff.
We also cannot enter the city, situated 3 hours away, unless it is for medical purposes or emergencies. We, locals, won't be allowed through checkpoints. There are still outgoing international flights for those countries with open borders and these passengers are allowed through checkpoints when they present their tickets.
There is a rumor of a liquor ban due to supermarkets and stores refusing to sell alcohol. Apparently, according to the Municipality bulletin, there is no such thing but they will consider it if and when rules aren't followed.
A roving vehicle with speaker does special announcements to inform residents.
Today, we are on a 24 hour curfew or lock down. Senior Citizens and Students (from college and below) are not allowed to leave their homes. Only 1 representative per household is allowed to do market and grocery runs and they are required to bring a proper ID with them.
Update: Just in. No snorkeling and swimming allowed. Scuba Diving can only proceed when there is an instructor with a maximum of 5 student divers.
Honestly, I appreciate the efforts the government is doing to keep everyone safe and these measures don't really sound as bad as you may have read it. Our family has always lived in isolation anyway so nothing much have changed for us.
Yet, if only. If Only I could throw a dinner party this weekend. I look forward to that time.
If you were to host a virtual dinner party, what would you serve?
What would you talk about and with whom?
Have a Blissful Sunday everyone!
Love & light,
Arni
4 comments
We're under total lockdown and curfew too. But it is better like that, because it at least gives us some chance to beat the virus. Experts from Wuhan arrived here yesterday to give us their secrets as we are China's probably only friend in Europe LOL so hope they help us. We have a dictator ourselves so he won't bother with constitutional rights much like others in Western Europe, he'll just lock us up in our houses if he feels like it :) Hope we all survive, stay safe, this too shall pass and if it does not at least we will be young and pretty zombies.
ReplyDeleteThat is really interesting to know, Dezzy. Great to know your country is getting a good wealth of information. May there be breakthroughs throughout the world. Keep safe and hope we all get through this unscathed. Hahaha, I like that- "young and pretty zombies" :))
DeleteWe had a dinner party only a week ago and it feels like such a long time ago now. I'm glad you all are staying safe. We are officially "sheltering in place" as of tonight
ReplyDeleteIt does feel like it was so long ago. Take care, hope everyone stays well where you are and I pray that this passes soon.
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