Search

Is the new normal, normal?

Marc Webb
Sep 12, 2020
3 min read

The Philippines and many other countries have had to endure the wrath of COVID-19 for a vast majority of the year, wrecking chaos among society as people feel their legs tremble, hearts race, and minds buffer. With the pandemic came a new normal--a new normal in our lives and in our education. This new normal has steered our education system into an online world where everyone connects virtually, but this new normal is not the new normal for many. The new normal has become pleading for financial help for some such as Michelle and Bryan.

Imagine a life full of chaos and ruckus, a life where you have to leave your own home to be able to focus, a life where constant fighting is heard; this is the life that Michelle Gabriel has lived so far during this pandemic. Michelle, as she prefers to be called for personal reasons, has been one of the many who have been struck the heaviest by the pandemic, with her father experiencing unpredictable predicaments, innocently being accused leading to their home being sold. Just when you would think it couldn’t get worse, a letter was sent demanding for payment or else his imprisonment. With her lolo having prostate cancer, her uncle losing his job, living under the roof of her grandparents with her 3 younger sisters, what could they do?

“Pinagiisipan ko nalang po na mag stop po ako this year,” said Michelle. Though being a student once of a private school, thoughts of having to stop have been constantly flooding her mind. She followed up with “Mas maayos po sa akin ang tumigil this year compared po na makitang nasa jail yung inosente ko pong tatay.” Though she has the desire and determination to continue her studies, she was left with no other option or else her father would be wrongfully imprisoned. With public schools not accepting more transferees, she was forced to stop for now. But even after going through this all, she stays hopeful saying “Hintayin lang po nila ako maging successful and ipapakita ko po talaga justice na deserve ng papa ko.”

During this crisis, it is terrifying, difficult, and worrying to have a relative work in the medical field especially a mother - this is what Bryan has to face. Their hospital had no proper Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ); thus, his mother had originally decided not to work. But after one month, she had to continue working as her family’s situation was worsening. With his 3-year-old laptop not working and his father being unemployed, his mother continued to work and started taking extra shifts as this was the only way to sustain their family.

Seeing his mother working so hard, Bryan had decided to help her. “I started the piso para sa laptop kasi gusto ko pong tulungan si mama sa pag-iipon,” said Bryan. Without a proper laptop that works, studying online for the new normal would be difficult. On top of that, his mother would have to continue working extra shifts, exposing herself to the threat everyone fears. With their mother being their only source of income, Bryan said that “She can’t afford getting infected since nasa highschool palang kaming dalawa ng kapatid ko and she’s the breadwinner ng family namin.”

Not everyone is as privileged as the rest. Just like Michelle and Bryan, many others face family problems and financial problems, and others are constantly battling upfront with a great threat to their health. Many students around the country are requesting your help. If you cannot donate, then share their stories, retweet it, or send positive comments. Do whatever it is you can. Not everyone is as privileged to be able to call the new normal, “normal.” If the new normal speaks of people questioning if they can study or not, pleading for help financially online, finding the nearest signal, and working longer hours or more shifts, can this really be considered the new normal? Sadly, the new normal is a phase no one can run from, but it is a phase that we can face, together.

For monetary donations, you may reach out to them through their Twitter accounts: @mmnemosyneee for “Michelle” and @killuagiven for Bryan.