'Lockdowned' at home

Being on lockdown doesn't have to be boring, not if you keep yourself occupied. If you've pretty much completed all of Netflix, you can change up your routine and look for other things to do. You can let those creative juices flowing.

 

You can learn how these aspiring models are coping with being cooped-up at home.

 

"The first thing that starts my day is through a prayer. I do jogging and walking 3 times a week. I do household chores then if I have time I used to play guitar and make some dance covers daily. And my day ends with a workout because I don't have time to do it in the morning or afternoon," said Arnel Corbita, 19, who was the grand finalist of Mr. Teen ICM Cycle 3 2017. He was also Mister BISU Calape 2019 and Mister  BISU SCUAA 2019.

 

Jack Green, 17, from Loon town, said that the extended lockdown he cannot help it not to be concerned about our surroundings.

 

"I’m doing well that’s why I always start my day by praying to God and then doing the household chores like fixing the bed, cooking, cleaning the house and still ending the day with a prayer," said Jack who was 4th runner-up in Mr and Miss UB Personality 2019, 1st runner-up in Mr. Loon Campus Personality and Top 6 in Mr Teen ICM Cycle 3 2017.

 

Sean Rey Tupas admitted he gets bored for the same routine at home.

 

"I admit that sometimes it gets boring because I fell for the same routine every single day. But it's okay as long as I'm breathing, then it's fine with me. The fact is, I know everyone of us gets bored due to this pandemic but what I mean is we just have to stay positive, stay safe and follow what the government tells us to do," said the 20-year-old Mr. UB Personality 2018.

 

John Anthony Migallon, 18, said the lockdown gives him more time with his family.

 

"Since lockdown, I did learn a lot of things by simply taking my time more useful specially in surfing the internet and exploring social media. I just spend a lot of time with my family," said John who became 2nd runner-up in Mr Teen ICM Cycle 4 2019.

 

Aside from your barber, what do you miss most about the “outside” world?
Arnel: The most thing that I miss in the outside world is playing basketball because  I like to play basketball the most and it gives enjoyment and happiness to me. And if I can't play basketball my day is not complete.
Jack: I miss hanging out with my friends and co- models and enjoying life like how it used to be.
Sean: Everything! I miss how normal it was before.
John:  A lot of things!  But for me, what I've missed the most is traveling. I am this kind of person that I wanted to travel anywhere and anytime even I don't have intentions on where to go. I just want to meet a lot of people and seeing a lot of beautiful places.

 

How do you protect yourself from COVID-19?
Arnel: I protect myself by always washing my hands and put disinfectant regularly. Every time I go outside I used to wear face mask and If I'm back home I wash my hands before I touch every part of my face and body.

Jack:  I protect myself from COVID-19 by staying at home as much as I can, washing my hands often, and following the directions of our local health authority. It’s really necessary for us to keep our hands clean all the time, keeping a safe distance and wearing mask every time we go outside.

Sean: Aside from wearing a face mask, washing my hands, observe social distancing, follow everything what the government says etc, I also make sure that I'm physically fit that's why I do my home workout everyday and balance my diet. And I also haven't go outside our house yet starting the very first day of quarantine. I don't even know how the outside world looks like.

John: We always make this as a habit to disinfect ourselves and as well the things that we brought from the outside. Since three of my siblings are nurses,  they always taught us on how to be responsible of everything, from ourselves and also when entering our house. I always take my vitamins...and I drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.

 

How do you envision post-COVID life?
Arnel: I see bad because it stops us on what we usually do but in the good side is it teaches to be more responsible and always observe cleanliness in our body. And I believe is the most important--to stay at home and spend some time with our family.

Jack: For a typical Filipino, it would be challenging since it's the time to make up for all the losses brought by the crisis. But eventually, we are strong, God-centered individuals who live by faith that God would always provide. Eventually, we can get through it.

Sean: Like they say, this is now the "New Normal". I'll be expecting that some people might be struggling because we're not used to this situation. Some people have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 so it means they don't have money and if they don't have money, then they don’t have something to eat or to sustain their needs. But there many ways to solve that problem. Like for instance, if we don't have something to eat because we don't have money, we can also do alternatives like planting and harvesting and more. I'll be expecting that it's not that fun and enjoyable as it was before. As many of us shelter in place with no end in sight, all we can do is to imagine how life will resume, even if the unfamiliar and unpredictable behavior of the virus has made it difficult to know with any certainty. What matter the most is to make sure that we're safe, we survive, have faith in God and keep moving forward.

John: For me, we really don't know what life is. Like I mean, we don't know the future world or future generation. But for me it will serve as a memory that the next generation will be more fighter and more knowledgeable if only if this pandemic would happen again.

 

* * *
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.