Life Discourse 05.19.2020: My MECQ Dayout

Disclaimer: This is a series of random microblogs created on my Facebook profile during the start and peak of the Enhanced Community Quarantine from March 16 - May 31, 2020. This represents my personal feelings and thoughts on issues that affected me the most. Pardon the grammar & poor sentence construction.

Picture Credit: NoyPi Geeks

So my boss and I decided to meet today in the office for the sole purpose of checking the building about their preparation for the eventual transition to GCQ.

I rented my carpool driver for four hours and asked him to shuttle me from my house to the office and back. These were my observations:

On the way to the office, we avoided areas in Mandaluyong (i.e. Hulo) which was closed to outsiders because of the number of infections. There is a checkpoint at the end of the bridge going to Makati. We had to show our identification cards and told them we had to attend a facilities inspection and meeting.

All the hotels in Makati Avenue were closed, restaurants and fast food joints are open (mostly for take out) banks and convenience stores such as 7/11. There is no heavy traffic going to the office.

The building admin marked the areas where the tenant's employee will stand on the corridor and elevators. Yes, all the elevators were fixed. No isolation area for those identified as having high fever (maybe because there is no Office Admin available but they need to prepare for one - just in case).

Our office neighbor, Avega (HMO provider) was open and running since the start of the ECQ. They provided dormitories, shuttle service and their needs for all employees (including their security guards, messengers and janitorial staff) so that they continue working during the pandemic. I am stunned, really, considering that they kept their operations going and with little time for preparation (or should I say they were getting hints that it was going to happen so they prepared ahead of time).

After the meeting, we went to Megamall to buy JCo donuts (for someone craving for one here at home). Unlike the days prior to the pandemic, where people rushed to the malls like mad cows, the area was peaceful and few people are around Megamall. I was supposed to enter the mall but decided not to - the stuff I need to buy can wait.

I am hoping that we can still behave and follow the rules so that the restrictions relaxes but still observe precautions such as physical distancing and proper hygiene.

Keep safe and sane folks.