HEARTSIGHT CHRISTINA LLANES MABALOT
Staring Down the Pandemic
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” In other words, the quality of our thinking will determine
the quality of our life. Instead of spending hours looking for bad news about COVID-19 that
would make us worry more, let’s use some time reflecting on our quality of thinking.
I woke up this morning
with a wishful thought that today would be
just another typical day, business as usual.
But the cacophony of noise from the high
level of activity in the house echoed the
reality about our “new normal” living con-
ditions. Our millennials are back home! Our
son, his girlfriend, and our daughter are
outside the bedroom, all absorbed in differ-
ent virtual worlds. The household is under-
going an extreme makeover, it has become
a showroom for technology devices. The
dining room is now a classroom and
the living room a
student lounge.
Hallways, strewn
EP ON
with luggage, and always plugged
chargers, have become obstacle courses
that challenge the navigation abilities of the
blind. Our time zone has switched to the
other side of the hemisphere, turning our
nighttime to day, and vice versa.
The kids’ homecoming used to be anticipat-
ed and fun. It meant vacation, travel, an active
lifestyle, movie binging, unique meal con-
coctions, parlor games, never-ending laugh-
ing, and snacking. But this current situation
is unparalleled. As the COVID-19 has sud-
denly frozen the world, universities have
been locked down indefinitely to minimize
the transmission of the deadly disease.
Quarantined, our family is safer from con-
tracting COVID-19, but domestic issues now
pose a more significant threat. Cabin fever
tops the list of social distancing effects, and
there’s no telling what insane ideas my kids can
hatch when afflicted. Also impending are rifts
in the family stemming from its various mem-
bers getting into one another’s businesses.
Personally, I feel more blind and unpro-
ductive than ever before. I have to limit
touching, which is a significant source of
information for people without sight. The
moment I’m reminded not to touch any part
of my face, suddenly, my nose gets itchy,
my eyes sting, my mouth twitches – and then
my fingers unconsciously scratch other
18 May 2020 • EP Magazine | ep-magazine.com
parts of my hand to relieve dis-
comfort. Ideally, I shouldn’t use
my hands to find and operate
stuff but then, I cannot see. I also
haven’t mastered telekinesis.
A feely-touchy person, I feel
I’m in solitary confinement
when social distancing.
Regardless, I’m thankful I'm
healthy and around family for
a support system.
But what about people with special
needs who have no support while
under the
COVID-19 C OV I D - 1 9
guidelines
for isolation and social distancing?
Consider the following situations. If public
transportation is limited or unavailable, how
would people with disabilities who can't
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS: ”Every time the sun sets, our fears and troubles should descend
with yesterday. Let's open our hearts to this miracle of life, that a “mundane” existence
has the promise of abundance, meaning, and beauty.”
drive travel to pick up medicines and other
essentials? Some individuals who depend
on personal care and assistance are cut off
from their caregivers, and some public
announcements are inaccessible to people
with sensory impairments. Such conse-
quences of the social distancing guidelines
directly affect the survival of people with
special needs. This is not to mention the fact
that the special needs community is a part
of the vulnerable population
who may have a higher risk of
health complications from
COVID-19. Significant con-
cerns may vary in degree and
are dependent on contexts
specific to individuals, house-
holds, communities, and coun-
tries. But one thing is real; our
community is facing a double
whammy. Although our leaders are scram-
bling to manage this overwhelming crisis,
we are a sector that’s easily overlooked. So
ultimately, we should all take responsibility
for the care and protection of the collective
health of our community with special
needs. Offer to pick up food and supplies for
those who are at risk, or those who can’t get
out if you’re planning on grocery shopping.
Email a gift card to someone who’s out of
work. In our technologically advanced era,
we can always be connected even if we are
unable to be physically around people.
Check on friends and family by text, phone,
email, or social media, to give encourage-
ment and support as best we can.
I’m not in a position to give a medical
perspective of the COVID-19, but there are
reliable sites like the Centers for Disease
Control and the Mayo Clinic. With all this
vague information that causes much anxiety
and panic, we need facts, not fear, and sev-
eral of the data, especially in social media, are
hype, not truth. So I recommend not to give
fear-mongering sites any your attention.
I’m positive that this pandemic will end,
but after it fades away, I seriously doubt
some things will go back the way they were.
The way we work, learn, and play, how we
communicate, how we socialize, and shop,
among other things, will be different mov-
ing forward. So I’d like to invite everyone to
reflect in the hope of salvaging these trying
times, rethink the way we live, and get the
most out of this situation.
HOUSECLEANING
The call for housecleaning is worldwide
as a preventative measure for contracting
COVID-19. There’s a lot of information out
there about proper cleaning, but I’d like to
throw in some unique but practical tips.
If there’s one thing Asian residences are
known for, it's the rule that shoes aren’t
allowed inside the house. Bold Asians even
have a sign saying, “Thank you for taking off
your shoes.” For most of us, it’s an unspoken
rule. If broken, we cringe as visitors drag
their apparently septic shoes inside our
sanitized homes. Footwear used outdoors
should be left at the entrance area.
Residents use slippers, which are strictly
indoors. This practice may seem inconve-
nient but would help in keeping the house
more hygienic. The only exceptions are for
people with special needs using mobility
aids. What better time to adapt this practice
than now?
Work on becoming your best version of a
minimalist. While most people, myself
included, can’t be minimalists in the full
sense of the word, we certainly have para-
phernalia we think are treasures that are
really trash. Purposeless objects, impracti-
cal decorations, or embellishments are the
most dust-gatherers. They can aggravate
allergies that could lead to infections.
Detach yourself from stuff, dispose, and de-
clutter. You might also need to consider
switching from paper to digital for all trans-
actions, including reading. This way, you’re
protecting your household from possible
health hazards while helping sustain the
environment.
CATHARSIS
Often overlooked is the fact that people
also need to go through mental, emotional,
and physical cleansing. Man is a three-part
being; body, mind, and emotions. The
cleaning out of our three components can
result in total wellness. Through the years,
toxins have accumulated in our bodies, so
we need to eradicate these health hazards.
Although the processes for detoxification
may seem simple enough, they are easier
said than done. Consulting our healthcare
providers for a natural detox diet or proce-
dure should always be the first step. After
cleaning out our physical bodies, I advise
practicing good habits for eating right, resting
well, moving more, working smart, and play-
ing enjoyably for optimum physical health.
Mental cleansing is key to an overall
change in the way we live, because if we
can change our minds, we can improve our
life. The book of Proverbs says, “As a man
thinks in his heart, so is he.” In other words,
the quality of our thinking will determine
the quality of our life. Instead of spending
hours looking for bad news about COVID-19
that would make us worry more, let’s use
some time reflecting on our quality of
thinking. Do we have a negative mindset, a
hopeless outlook, or a grumbling, com-
plaining attitude? Are we resistant to
change? Do we want to improve? These are
examples of questions we can ask ourselves
to start a mental detox.
Emotional wellness is as essential as
physical and mental. Medical science has
proven that most illnesses are related to
emotional problems. In fact, stress is called
the mother of all diseases. Unresolved emo-
tional issues make us susceptible to infec-
tions. While in isolation, let’s do a heart-
check to address negative feelings that have
been festering in our spirit.
Cleaning out our body, mind, and emo-
tions may not be a panacea for the COVID-
19 pandemic. Still, the process can boost
our immunity against diseases. Assuming
an active part in our healthcare is our best
line of defense against the COVID-19.
Before this pandemic, I felt bored with
my same ol’ daily routine and wished that
there’d be advancement and a little excite-
ment in my life. I never thought that a bit of
change, a microscopic virus can ravage the
world permanently, as it sets its crown of ill-
ness and death on people and economies.
So here we are, horrified of the global pan-
demic, kicked out of our comfort zone to be
imprisoned in our own homes. I get the
message, be careful what you wish. You
might regret it when granted.
Subsequently, we’re forced to think of the
present, and not so much of the future. If
everyone in the family is healthy, and at
least one person holds a home-based job,
we feel blessed. During this time, a simple
meal would be a feast. A lot of toilet paper
and hand sanitizers would make us look
prosperous. An Instagram post reads,
“When everything feels uncertain, what’s
essential becomes clear.” We're thrown
back to the basics consisting of family,
health, food, and shelter. The importance of
life is what really matters.
The certainty of the rising sun is an indi-
cator of a new beginning, of another
chance, a clean slate. And, every time the
sun sets, our fears and troubles should
descend with yesterday. Let’s open our
hearts to this miracle of life, that a “mun-
dane” existence has the promise of abun-
dance, meaning, and beauty, if only we
receive the gift of every new day. So I look
up to our Maker and promise that I will
never again call another day mundane. •
HEARTSIGHT
Christina Llanes Mabalot is physically blind from
aniridia, but has a vision. She enjoys touching
people’s lives to bring out the best in them.
“Heartsight” explains her ability to see with her
heart. Christina earned her B.A. degree and
Masters in Education from the University of the
Philippines, Diliman, specializing in Early
Intervention for the Blind. She later received
Educational Leadership training through the
Hilton-Perkins International Program in
Massachusetts, then worked as consultant for
programs for the VI Helen Keller International.
She has championed Inclusive Education, Early
Intervention, Capability Building and Disability
Sensitivity programs. She was twice a winner in
the International Speech contests of the
Toastmasters International (District 75) and has
been a professional inspirational and
motivational speaker. Christina is blissfully married
to Silver Mabalot, also physically impaired, her
partner in advancing noble causes. Their
children are Paulo and Jem, who has aniridia.
Visit leadershiptovision.com
ep-magazine.com | EP Magazine • May 2020 19