When I found out that our place would be placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine, I felt anxious and scared for my family especially since I am with my aging parents who are in their 70s. So many worries came to mind. Since the school year had not yet ended, I asked myself: What will happen to my school work? What about the final examination of my students? And how will I compute the final grade of my students?

Despite these concerns, this lockdown made me discover many things. Among others, I learned to be more patient while lining up at the grocery, waiting for school work submission, conducting online and remedial classes for my students, and keeping myself updated on news and advisories.

A new normal in times of abnormal scenarios

Both of my parents got sick when the pandemic started. In this period, I need to be with them and care for them, buying their medicines and supplies. I’m facing many emotional struggles at this time but one thing I realized: I need to entrust everything to God’s hands and stay healthy and fit so that I can see things from a better perspective, even though working at home is more challenging.

What else do I do during this pandemic? I make it a point to stay connected to my students, conduct online classes, and be always updated on school announcements through group chats. So I can finish different work tasks. I tried my best to reconnect myself to my nucleo1 through regular online meetings to uplift my spirit, stay connected through social media about the activities of the Movement, participate in online Masses as if I am in church, do the household chores like cleaning and disinfecting different areas at home, and extend help to relatives and friends.

One time, a cousin of mine who lives in a neighboring town asked for financial help. Since I cannot go to her because of the strict checkpoints, I sent an amount via a money transfer app. Then my parents and I were fortunate to receive ayuda (food assistance) from the barangay (village) officials: 3 kilos of rice and 4 cans of sardines. We saved this for future use.

On the day my parents celebrated their wedding anniversary and my brother, the anniversary of his priestly ordination, we prepared a simple lunch for the family. When my brother-priest saw the ayuda, he told my mother: “If some people are in need, we must share these goods to them.” My mom, who is also in the Focolare, remembered a family who had rented our old house and whose breadwinner is in a “no work, no pay” status.

I volunteered to call the father and later shared the grocery items and some food that we had at home.

In this lockdown, I miss receiving the Eucharist. One day, while doing some errands, I passed by our parish church. My heart sank when I saw the cathedral closed. A man approached me and asked for some money to buy some food. I saw that he was carrying a small pack of rice. I gave him whatever I had in my wallet and proceeded to the closed doors of the church. I found myself crying while praying. That time I felt a great longing to hear Mass and receive communion.

I entrusted to God the frontliners: the doctors, nurses, police, supermarket workers, farmers, as well the elderly, those who are sick and those who died because of the pandemic. I realize that I don’t have time to get bored because there are so many things to do, many chances to love.

Every day is a test of patience and self-care, giving more value to our physical and mental health. There’s a lot of time for reflection and prayer.

The COVID-19 crisis continues to be a challenging experience, yet it has made me realize important life lessons. I learned to spend more time with family and loved ones, to be more prayerful, and more socially aware, more sensitive to others’ needs. Truly, as Chiara Lubich and her companions realized during World War II: everything passes away; only God and His love remains.

Genfer Gonzales

1 A small group of Volunteers, a branch of the Focolare Movement composed of men and women from different social categories and professions who freely and radically follow God, living out the Gospel in their daily life.