“Not because I am not greatly affected, does it mean that others aren’t as well.

” This
line sums up my reflection during the pandemic. While COVID-19 does not discriminate
because anyone may be infected with it regardless of demographics, this pandemic has surely
amplified the socioeconomic inequality in our country.

Some people, like me, can afford to stay at home and still be able to live comfortably
with all their needs and wants. But, some cannot afford to do the same. When the community
quarantine started, I made an effort to keep myself updated on the latest news regarding COVID-
19 in the country as well as on the global scale. However, as the positive cases rose to great
numbers along with the news of people losing their battle with the disease, people losing their
jobs, and people struggling to finance their daily living, I found that it took a toll on my mental
health. With this, I refrained from reading and listening to the news. However, I somehow felt
guilty since I realized how privileged I am to be able to do so – to escape from reality. Many
people cannot afford such luxury such as those who has contracted the virus, their friends and
family, and the frontliners. This unfortunate reality allowed me to realize how fortunate I am and
reminded me not to turn a blind eye to the reality that many people do not enjoy the same
comfort as I do. As a way of helping these people, I contributed to the outreach program
organized by our family which aims to give back to our community in the province.

Despite all of the negativities brought about by this pandemic, good things still came my
way. The unexpected free time that I spent at home helped me reflect on myself and strengthen
my bond with my family. But, the greatest positive effect of this pandemic to my life is that I
have gone back to praying the rosary daily and to attending masses every Sunday.