PANDEMIC’S BOREDOM MURDERER

Tilling the ground with doubt and expertise, placing the little rounded-shape thing on the
hole, covered it with the soil, put three stakes on its side and watered it- known to be a popular
routine after more than six months on the pandemic.
People live in a pause right now as the COVID-19 rocks in fear on every parts of the
world. Restrictions became surviving kit in one’s life: observe social distancing, self-isolating,
wear mask. Today, people live in limited environment with limited tasks and experiences. Life is
enclosed to the four corners of what we called “home” which resulted to profound moments of
boredom: COVID-boredom. How do people deal with it?
In the Philippines, Facebook evidently exposes Filipinos’ increasing inclination to
gardening. Posts from across the country contain notions about plant collection and the use of
plants in some interior decorations. The trend generated new terms such as “plantdemic” (a
blended or made-up word that combines meaning of both words) of plant and pandemic-
meaning a worldwide spread interests in gardening as well as nurturing plants inside one’s
household and additionally includes the terms “plantitos” and “plantitas” (gender-specific words
derived from Spanish-Filipino words uncle and aunties)- refers to persons who discovered their
green thumb while stuck at home, posting photos of their plants whether for business or just a
décor.
Obsession from plants started from the craze of various succulents and cacti until
reaching to a more exotic and rare plants during the pandemic. Popular varieties of indoor plants
such as spider plants and peace lilies acacias doubled the demands from consumers despite rising
of its prices. Other plants such as monstera- a houseplant which in year 2018 costs Php 800 is
now sold to be as much as Php 15 000 while an anthurium clarinervium cost Php 18 000 from
Php 500. Filipinos regardless of hindrances (the price and space) pursue gardening with
enthusiasm as it made them realized that there is an existing option to kill one’s boredom brought
by locking up at home. COVID-boredom which may lead to a more serious problem in one’s
mental health can actually aided by the trending practices of cultivation and contemplation of
flower and ornamental plants. Gardening indeed surpassed its commonality and proven to be
therapeutic.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which are deeply
impressed to the changes in people’s attitude towards gardening lately worries as it also fueled
the plant poachers to be on their feet. These traders target exotic and rare plants, most likely the
endangered species like pitcher plants, alocasias, begonias and orchids as its prices doubled even
quadrupled in this pandemic. Selling wild plants from mountains and forest violates Republic
Act. No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 and gives
penalty of imprisonment (6-12 years) and fined of Php 100,000 to P1 million. Gardening’s fame
on killing boredom has been revoked by the stealers. Please be guarded! One must ask: Are you
a plant poacher?
Charlene Mae P. Calonge
BSEd 3-A