LE 4B.

“His/Her Experiences During the Pandemic Time”

By: Ashbel Benedict Gonzales
Name: Ashbel Benedict C. Gonzales
Age: 19
Address: National Highway, Purok Masinadyahon, Brgy. Dancalan, Ilog, Negros
Occidental 6109
Gender: Heterosexual
Hobbies: Watching TV shows, travelling

His Personal Experience During the Pandemic Time:

According to him, it all started when the government first implemented Enhanced
Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila that was the time that series of events escalated
quickly because after a few weeks of the declaration of ECQ in Metro Manila, Negros
Occidental and other provinces had undergone Enhanced Community Quarantine. It was April 1,
2020 when ECQ was implemented and it was initially scheduled to end at April 14, 2020. When
ECQ started, his family stayed at home and temporarily closed their business since everybody
are required to stay at home. During the ECQ, he watched many Netflix shows and Thai dramas
as well in order to fulfill my entertainment needs. The rest of his family including him watch TV
and Netflix shows as well. Thankfully the LGU of our municipality gave us relief goods that
contain canned sardines and 5 kilos of rice every week. They waited until April 14, 2020 but
unfortunately, the governor of Negros Occidental extended the duration of the Enhanced
Community Quarantine until April 30, 2020. Almost every day, they ate sardines and made fish
balls with sardines as the main ingredient. From the beginning of the ECQ until the last day of
ECQ, he watched numerous Thai Series and Netflix shows. Every time he watched the news, he
felt anxious about the current situation and he keep asking his self when will this pandemic end.
May 1, 2020, the ECQ was lifted and the entire province was placed to General Community
Quarantine (GCQ) which is a more relaxed community quarantine classification. On the first day
of GCQ, he immediately went to the barber shop because his hair was too long. They opened
their store after a month of closure due to the ECQ and the sales performance of our store was
never the same as the pre-pandemic period which gave his family financial difficulties.
Everybody are affected by this pandemic; He saw many business establishments in our area
permanently closed their doors due to the effects of this pandemic which resulted to the loss of
jobs of many hardworking employees of different establishments. Every time he went out, he
observed that health protocols must be strictly observed in order to mitigate the spread of the
virus which includes proper wearing of face masks, observing physical distancing and regular
sanitizing of hands. On June 25, 2020, his brother celebrated his birthday while he is watching
the virtual graduation of his school. This pandemic has only brought sadness to everybody. He
felt super sad because he didn’t have to chance to march in school for the graduation ceremony.
It also affected his studies as well since face-to-face classes were suspended until further notice.
It’s very sad for me because he don’t have the chance to experience the life of a 1 st year student
in the university, he cannot experience meeting his classmates, bonding with them and learning
with them within the same classroom. He only met his classmates virtually since his school is
currently conducting online classes.