LA 1 Module 1

Narrative on COVID 19: Local History

Name: Patricia Nicole S. Padre

Course and Section: BS Architecture Section M
Class Schedule: WF 1:00- 2:30 PM

Narrative on COVID 19: Binan, Laguna

When we talk about worldwide scale pandemics that has wrecked humanity, we
often take a peek inside our history books to read about the experiences and
understand the travesties that befell those who came before us. Eons before modern
medicine and modern drugs, humans didn’t have the knowledge and technology we
have available today to combat a considerable number of illnesses. We as a society
have made a huge impact in the sciences due to the advancement, we’ve achieved
within the last 100 years thanks to the work of scientists. But with the improvement
we’ve made, humans have been far too complacent that we’re ready to fight off any sort
of diseases we’ll be faced with. That’s why, no one was ready when one of the worst
pandemics hit us.

We entered the ‘New Roaring 20s’ (Thomas, C., 2020) with bright hopes; most of
us were getting ready to ‘seize the year’, only to be left `in despair and disappointment.
Since 1720 until 1920, four disease outbreaks have hit us (Mysterious World, 2020). Not
for the first time after 100 years, another pandemic has devastated humanity.

With a total of 424,297 cases in the Philippines reported the DoH (De Vera, A,.
2020) during the writing of this paper, The City of Biñan isn’t spared of the disease
ravaging the entire world. Below is a timeline of what has happened to Biñan these past
eight months.

The first case of Covid 19 in Laguna province’s Biñan City was reported on
March 23, 2020, who’s a 58-year-old Filipino female with no known travel history to
countries hit by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2. According to the report, she
started experiencing symptoms of the disease on March 7 and was only confirmed
afflicted of the virus on Monday, March 23. Galvez, D., (2020). Soon after that, the
second case of Covid 19 was confirmed on March 24, 2020, who’s a 42-year-old female
resident of Barangay Canlalay with no travel history who started manifesting symptoms
on March 8 and was tested positive for COVID-19 on March 24 (MSN website, 2020).
Cases started to rise all over the country, but on March 28, 2020 The entire province of
Laguna, south of Metro Manila, has been placed under total lockdown under Gov. Ramil
Hernandez’ jurisdiction with a total of 23 people having Covid (CNN Philippines Staff,
2020).

Just three days after the lockdown, on March 31, 2020 a total of 7 cases and
reports of 2 new cases were added to the official roster of Biñan’s Covid patients. The
6th case being a 73-year-old male with a travel history and his symptoms began on
March 18, while the 7th case is a 35-year-old male from Barangay San Jose with no
travel history and their symptoms began on March 22 while he was confirmed positive
on March 31 (MSN Website, 2020). 

On April 1, 2020, some positive news graced the citizens of Biñan with the first
Covid-19 patient nursed to health and was discharged on March 29, 2020. However,
with the positive news, came the report of 8 cases of COVID-19 (Odong, C., 2020). A
few months after, on July 27, 2020 City Government named 5 districts as critical zone
areas and implemented a strict Home quarantine in the areas under these critical zones
(Deña, C, 2020). 

August 6, 2020 was graced with good news again as the city government has
introduced a new mobile app to boost contact-tracing efforts and help curb the spread of
coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Fast forward a few months, on October 14, 2020 a
total of 69 active patients, with 2 new confirmed cases and 1,644 recoveries were
reported on the Facebook page of Biñan City Information Office. While a few weeks
after this on November 17, 2020 there are total of 30 active patients with 1,814 patient
recoveries according to the post on Facebook by the City Health Office 1 - Binan
Laguna. With a follow up on, November 23, 2020 a total of 28 active cases with 4
confirmed new cases and 1,836 recoveries and November 24, 2020 A total of 26 active
cases with 1 new active case and 1,839 recoveries were posted on the Biñan City
Information Office Facebook page.

The entire year has nothing but an entire roller coaster ride of emotions being
thrown about whichever direction. We’ve seen the worst that the world has to offer in
the year 2020. We’ve not only lost loved ones; we’ve also lost time and any sense of
normalcy that we’ve had. Our entire world has been thrown off kilter; there are things we
can never go back to after all of this is over. We’ve lost too much and there isn’t any ray
of light outside our windows. Winter has come, and has enveloped the world in its
darkness.

But just as the seasons pass, winter will come and go. Spring will cover us in her
warmth once again, and, just as those who came before us, our world will keep on
turning. Honoring those who fell, we will learn from this mistake, and living up to the
legacy that they have left for us to continue.

References:
(2020, March 16). What is a pandemic and how many has he world experienced?.
Retrieved November 26, 2020 from https://www.msn.com/en-
us/health/medical/what-is-a-pandemic-and-how-many-has-the-world-
experienced/ar-BB113C5x
(2020, March 24). Biñan, Laguna confirms 2nd COVID-19 case. Retrieved November
26, 2020 from https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/localnews/bi%C3%B1an-
laguna-confirms-2nd-covid-19-case/ar-BB11CohA
(2020, March 31). Biñan reports 2 new COVID-19 cases, total now 7. Retrieved
November 26, 2020 from https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/localnews/bi
%C3%B1an-reports-2-new-covid-19-cases-total-now-7/ar-BB11WZgz
Biñan City Information Office. (2020, November 23). Biñan COVID-19 Bulletin | As of
7PM, November 23, 2020 [photos]. Retrieved November 26, 2020 from
https://www.facebook.com/CIOBinan/photos/pcb.3795005247210264/379500516
3876939/
Biñan City Information Office. (2020, November 24). Biñan COVID-19 Bulletin |
November 24, 2020 Huwag maging kampante Biñanense! Patuloy na sumunod
sa minimum health standards na ipinapatupad sa ating lungsod. [photos].
Retrieved November 26, 2020 from
https://www.facebook.com/CIOBinan/photos/pcb.3797653703612085/379765364
0278758/
Biñan City Information Office. (2020, October 14). GOOD NEWS | Biñan COVID-19
active cases are continuously decreasing for the last ten days. | October 14,
2020 [photos]. Retrieved November 26, 2020 from
https://www.facebook.com/CIOBinan/photos/pcb.3683680985009358/368368083
5009373/
City Health Office 1 - Binan Laguna. (2020, November 17). Biñan COVID-19 dashboard
| November 11, 2020 | For real time updates, visit: https://binan.gov.ph/binan-
city-covid-19-update/ [photos]. Retrieved November 26, 2020 from
https://www.facebook.com/CHOBinanLaguna/photos/a.377535705955855/13111
54699260613/
CNN Philippines Staff, (2020, March 28). Laguna under 'total lockdown' amid rising
COVID-19 cases. Retrieved November 26, 2020 from
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2020/3/28/laguna-total-lockdown-covid-
19.html
De Vera, A., (2020, November 26). 1,392 new COVID cases reported by DoH.
Retrieved November 26, 2020 from https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/26/1392-new-
covid-cases-reported-by-doh/
Deña, C., (2020, August, 6). Biñan launches COVID-19 contact tracing mobile app.
Retrieved November 26, 2020 from https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/06/binan-
launches-covid-19-contact-tracing-mobile-app/
Deña, C., (2020, July 27). Biñan records 527 COVID-19 cases, almost a quarter of
Laguna’s total; areas in 5 barangays under critical zone. Retrieved November 26,
2020 from https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/27/binan-records-527-covid-19-cases-
almost-a-quarter-of-lagunas-total-areas-in-5-barangays-under-critical-zone/
Galvez, D., (2020, March 23). Biñan City records first person infected with COVID-19.
Retrieved November 26, 2020 from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1247056/binan-
city-records-first-person-infected-with-covid-19
Mysterious World, (2020, March 27). 1720, 1820, 1920 and now 2020 - Why pandemics
have threatened humanity every 100 years. Retrieved November 26, 2020 from
https://www.amazingworldreality.com/2020/03/1720-1820-1920-and-now-2020-
why.html
Odong, C., (2020, April 1). COVID patients recover in Biñan City. Retrieved November
26, 2020 from https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1037625
Thomas, C., (2020, January 2). The New Roaring Twenties: How Are the 1920s and
2020s Similar? Retrieved November 26, 2020 from
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/new-roaring-twenties-how-are-1920s-and-
2020s-similar-110516