Schools in Verdant Glow during the Pandemic

During the pandemic, establishments and institutions are not in full operation due to safety distancing protocols to avoid the spread of COVID-19 virus and people are required to stay at home and they are doing work-from-home scenario in their jobs. On the other hand, a Facebook post once said "Nature is healing" during the pandemic. 

Yellow cosmos scattered around the school campus during the pandemic.

Due to skeletal workforce duties done by the teachers which are scheduled according to their assigned day, schools are quiet, yet people come to get modules and other school records, while observing social distancing protocols. It is not the typical noisy ambiance during school days, where children are playing around the campus, and even making fun of plants by picking flowers, sketching on trunks, or hitting the leaves. Therefore, plants are in verdant bloom which can be seen in the abundance of flowers and fruits around the campus during the lockdown season.

A runway with cosmos plants

Quite interesting that the school has a breath of fresh air during the pandemic because of the quiet ambiance and the lush, green glow of the trees and plants in the campus. Flowers are blooming everywhere, pineapples and lemons are growing which can be harvested anytime, and the growth of seedlings and small shrubs everywhere.

Here are the other photos of plants and flowers taken in the campus during the lockdown season. This was taken while having workplace duties in school.

Yellowbells in full bloom.

A row of pineapples in a plantbox.

Unriped fruits in bloom including a lemon (left) and a pineapple (right).

A vibrant yellow cosmos.

An interesting light purple flower and I want to know its name.

Yellow gumamela

Red gumamela

Photos were taken during report in duty from September 2020 to February 2021

Eruption, Lockdowns, New Normal: A Glimpse of 2020

This year will be the most challenging, full of struggles, and an emotional rollercoaster.

Our school was covered with ashfall from Taal.

January 2020. Taal Volcano was erupted that spewed ashes across CALABARZON, Metro Manila, and some parts of Central Luzon and Ilocos Region. We witnessed the ashfall in Cavite, where our family decided to evacuate on the evening of January 12, 2020, as we had our two to three days stay in Manila. In fact, ashes were covered the towns in our province, particularly Tagaytay, as well with the lakeshore towns in Batangas which are adjacent to the Taal Crater. After the eruption, households and institutions decided to clean the ashfall in their properties, as well with donation drives are operated for the casualties of the Taal eruption. In addition, schools accepted students who will sit in for a while in order to continue their education.

March - June 2020. Lockdown was declared across the country due to quarantine measures against COVID-19 pandemic. For the past three months, Luzon was declared under Enhanced Community Quarantine. In other words, classes and work operations are suspended. Children and senior citizens are not allowed to go outside. Only medical frontliners, security personnel, police officers, army, select government officials, fast food staff, and vendors are allowed to go to work, and only quarantine pass holders are allowed to go outside their houses. Wearing of face masks and face shields are mandatory. Don't forget to observe proper sanitation such as washing your hands with alcohol. Do not forget to observe social distancing. Travel ban is also implemented in different parts of the country. However, companies were closed and many people became unemployed, relying on the support given by their local government. It is the most challenging period for some people because they are worried on how to gain income, as well with problems arise in their families.

June 2020 - December 2020. Lockdown was gradually lifted during June 2020. Welcome to the New Normal. However, cases are increasing, equivalent to huge number of recoveries. Companies are returned to operation, and travel ban is lifted. Education comes to new normal - whether it is online or modular. Work from home is the new set-up. Virtual communication through online is the new trend. Online marketing, selling, and payment is the new mode of business. News can be easily accessed online, as well with numerous opinions are flashed in various social media platforms. Do not forget to observe social distancing, wear face masks and face shields. Numerous typhoons passed our country that leave casualties. However, resiliency, optimism, and enthusiasm remain the same, despite of these challenges.

Everyone of us wants to go back to the old normal. We want face-to-face classes. We want to go outside without wearing face masks and face shields. We are looking forward with the most efficient vaccine against COVID 19. We don't want to have another variant of corona virus. We want to live freely without fears and worries. 

Despite of the struggles of the year, be grateful because of the lessons that we gained, we discover more about ourselves, develop new skills, and giving importance to the people around us. I also learned the importance of resiliency in times of challenges, being thankful with all the things that we have, especially the life that have given to us, and the awareness of what is happening around us and having a stand that we need to speak out and show conviction to the world.

Happy New Year! Have a safe and healthy 2021 :)