Im writing this letter to say thank you to all my clients, friends and suppliers who have supported our shop throughout the pandemic. As ECQ has dawned upon us during mid March, I was very anxious on what I was facing and the future my company had, including my staff. Approaching ECQ, there was this eerie feeling that something was going on and there were less and less people on the road. The country was held motionless but knowing myself I was too curious to stay at home and traversed the roads on a motorcycle to check the shop, and visit my employees at Katipunan. During those days I found myself sending assistance to my staff using Cebuana, send items at LBC and at the same time still paying my obligations on long lines at the banks. I would would wake up at 6:30am go to the riverpark, go home, have breakfast and do my obligations.
I remember a morning phone call transaction with Von, napaupo nalang ako sa bench ng church, sa kawalan, sa kaba, na kung ano ang mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw at lingo. That no amount of economic and marketing wizardry can save me now. Wala.
For some reason I fancied driving my old Corolla. I’d bring it anywhere in Marikina, to the Church, at the banks, to go for a jog at the park or to simply drive around. Amazed of an old piece, now perfectly working.
By 4pm I was facing the television, feeling weird, body not used to such, mind still restless, but truly helpless given the setting. During the last week of March I made a decision to activate my QC staff and do work at the QC Shop since we were limited to that area. The checkpoints were very strict, especially that of Batasan (to this day!). So if we had scheduled work in QC, I would usually sleep at my wife’s house in QC so as to avoid the checkpoints from Marikina. Not for its long lines since back then it wasnt, but because of the Police’s too much questioning. So from Marikina, the strictest checkpoint is via Batasan, the ones in Tomana and Tanong/Riverbanks were weak. The checkpoint at Tomana was heigtened during the end of March because someone was tested positive.
I remember a morning phone call transaction with Von, napaupo nalang ako sa bench ng church, sa kawalan, sa kaba, na kung ano ang mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw at lingo. That no amount of economic and marketing wizardry can save me now. Wala.
For some reason I fancied driving my old Corolla. I’d bring it anywhere in Marikina, to the Church, at the banks, to go for a jog at the park or to simply drive around. Amazed of an old piece, now perfectly working.
By 4pm I was facing the television, feeling weird, body not used to such, mind still restless, but truly helpless given the setting. During the last week of March I made a decision to activate my QC staff and do work at the QC Shop since we were limited to that area. The checkpoints were very strict, especially that of Batasan (to this day!). So if we had scheduled work in QC, I would usually sleep at my wife’s house in QC so as to avoid the checkpoints from Marikina. Not for its long lines since back then it wasnt, but because of the Police’s too much questioning. So from Marikina, the strictest checkpoint is via Batasan, the ones in Tomana and Tanong/Riverbanks were weak. The checkpoint at Tomana was heigtened during the end of March because someone was tested positive.
The sales we have during March were limited to nurses, doctors, the police and other front liners. We even had clients from the Dep. Of National Defense who during those times spilled some beans to us as to what the future has in store. Our sales were enough to pay the bills, enough to pay and support my staff and their families and to pay partial to our big supplier. I had to give and pay from the little that I had primarily because I didn’t want to ruin friendship and reputation. That with all my might, with all this shop’s network and clientbase, I was able to, miraculously, come up with a partial sum to cut through the big payable, somehow. Nakakahiya kse, kaya pinilit ko, sinagad ko.
Driving was a breeze of course, there were no checkpoints from QC to Paranaque via Edsa, not until the 1st or 2nd week of April. The checkpoint at Paranque, right after the SKyway exit was a pain. But we got through, thankfully so as we can attend to clients at our Sucat Branch. When we had work at Paranaque I had to cover the client’s car with our van as not to attact unnecessary attention from the local officials. We had to finish at 4pm since my staff’s curfew were at 5pm. During these days we were scrappy with every bit of sale we can find. We were very lucky to gather sales online. It felt like 2007 again, back when the company only met with clients and sent packages nationwide. The parts weren’t big, but were significant enough to make us stay afloat. Till April 15th Paranaque was a ghost town, I even made deliveries to BF Homes. Magulo lang yan sa entrace ng gate nila and the available food stores and banks, but beyond that it was pretty peaceful. Traffic doon sa maliit nila na Palengke till 1pm.
Every afternoon as we came from Sucat, we were greeted by a magnificent view of Laguna lake as we swooped and entered the Skyway and as we were traversing the long open road, a scenic view of Makati, with the clear blue skies crown the tall buildings. There was no pollution, no haze. Our minutes at Skyway and its peace and tranquility gave us time to reflect. Everyday we embraced it, we appreciated such view from our van, knowing that in a month or so, everthing would go back to normal again. It is only during this time, can we experience the Philippines as a country we would wish it to be. Clear skies, no pollution, less cars on the road. Hindi maingay, malamig ang ulo ng tao.
Every afternoon as we came from Sucat, we were greeted by a magnificent view of Laguna lake as we swooped and entered the Skyway and as we were traversing the long open road, a scenic view of Makati, with the clear blue skies crown the tall buildings. There was no pollution, no haze. Our minutes at Skyway and its peace and tranquility gave us time to reflect. Everyday we embraced it, we appreciated such view from our van, knowing that in a month or so, everthing would go back to normal again. It is only during this time, can we experience the Philippines as a country we would wish it to be. Clear skies, no pollution, less cars on the road. Hindi maingay, malamig ang ulo ng tao.
Sidenote: My go to route kapag rush mode yung tipong kailangan ko mag back to back North to South is Mindanao Ave, Luzon Ave, Katipunan, Libis, c5 then up Kalayaan, up the bridge to Makati CBD, left at Makati avenue, then right at Arnaiz and head your way to Skyway entry then exit Paranaque. I did this to avoid the strict checkpoint at Magallanes. One checkpoint 30 mins travel time. Ang sarap.
By God’s grace we were given accomoation by our clients who maybe sensed our sincerity to serve them. From Makati, to Caloocan, clients arranged entraces to us, guards and Police paved way to us and into their homes so as we can do the work swiftly and be back at QC just in time to meet the earlier curfew back then. Makati was beautiful, during the last week of March till the 2n week of April, you can appreciate Makati’s Maze like ins and outs, its buildings glittered in the sunlight. I would often take pictures from the front windshield during stops, if there were any since most stoplights were deactivated. One client gave us direct access to a whole building floor to do our work and testing.
Caloocan was in complete contrast but had its own charm. We had a three day work combination and when tasks were done during the end of each day my staff and I would often hang out with the Brgy Officials and Bantays, also go in and out the eskenitas, kwentuhan at tawanan to the max with the locals, a warm feeling of solidarity and hope, simpleng mga buhay, simpleng mga pangarap, maraming reklamo sa gobyerno, at takot sila sa presidente. They talk about the president and his actions as if he was part of a teleserye. For 3 days we considered Caloocan our home, we had no checkpoints from the shop to 5th avenue, we started work there at 11:00am and ended at 4pm.
Jerome my staff and I gave away food packs every month end, we usually stationed at Banawe and Araneta Ave, it was our simple way of giving back, na kahit paano na ang biyaya na bigay sa amin mashare naman namin sa mas nangangailangan.
Caloocan was in complete contrast but had its own charm. We had a three day work combination and when tasks were done during the end of each day my staff and I would often hang out with the Brgy Officials and Bantays, also go in and out the eskenitas, kwentuhan at tawanan to the max with the locals, a warm feeling of solidarity and hope, simpleng mga buhay, simpleng mga pangarap, maraming reklamo sa gobyerno, at takot sila sa presidente. They talk about the president and his actions as if he was part of a teleserye. For 3 days we considered Caloocan our home, we had no checkpoints from the shop to 5th avenue, we started work there at 11:00am and ended at 4pm.
Jerome my staff and I gave away food packs every month end, we usually stationed at Banawe and Araneta Ave, it was our simple way of giving back, na kahit paano na ang biyaya na bigay sa amin mashare naman namin sa mas nangangailangan.
Since my wife Tania held office at BGC, we had access to it during the weekends since she had WFH. As expected, food places were open, the cats ruled and shempre yung natumbang display ng isang health and beauty shop ay ganun pa din. Surprisingly BGC to me was lifeless because through it was a perfectly skulpted urban jungle, it only vividly showed promise and vigor when there were cars and people are present. Wala yung total effect kung baga. Ok lang nakapag milk tea naman kame, by 4pm pala wala na pearls, and they had limited flavors. By 5pm, stores are closed and wala ka na magagawa kung di umuwi.
Sidenote: Thank you thank you! To my friends and clients who offered help and access during our workdays. Your powers are greatly appreciated pero kilala niyo naman ako. Only when severely needed ika nga. :) thank you also to our doctor and nurse friends, salamat for keeping us healthy.
Sidenote: Thank you thank you! To my friends and clients who offered help and access during our workdays. Your powers are greatly appreciated pero kilala niyo naman ako. Only when severely needed ika nga. :) thank you also to our doctor and nurse friends, salamat for keeping us healthy.
I have to admit that Tania and I went to Subic since it was her birthday. I wanted to please her through a road trip which she would fervently enjoy. This was I think 3rd week April. Hanggang dun nalang hindi ko na ikkwento as we might get in trouble.
By the 3rd week of April till the days of May, by God’s grace we were blessed by transactions. Though not big as were were used to during the normal days, I was very thankful because through that I can support my staff and a least pay my obligations and supplier. It also helped me get in the groove of work s if I was getting ready for what’s to come June. Ayaw ko mabigla, I hate the feeling of working right after, say a backpack trip to Indonesia.
For almost 10 weeks, I was outside.
Doing work, witnessing the change in peoples attitudes, the flow of traffic, the changes in the long lines at the checkpoints, the weakpoints as I also call it, yung mga tanga na driver nung mid April, I tell you I witnessed 2-3 accidents in a day maybe because people arent used to that speed and less traffic. The proliferation of riders, stoplights being activated again, supermarkets who had extremely long lines and changes to their schedules as well as banks. Back then, the peak of which people were out was morning mga 8-10am. By 3-4 pm tahimik na yan, pauwi na sila from maybe the supermarket or palengke, or drugstore or the banks that often close at 1pm or 2pm. Last week of April to May magulo na, more and more people were out, clearly they have tested the waters and found ways to be out. Challenged the rules and trying their best to live their life again. Yes there was traffic at QC, but beyond QC maluwag pa din.
For almost 10 weeks, I was outside.
Doing work, witnessing the change in peoples attitudes, the flow of traffic, the changes in the long lines at the checkpoints, the weakpoints as I also call it, yung mga tanga na driver nung mid April, I tell you I witnessed 2-3 accidents in a day maybe because people arent used to that speed and less traffic. The proliferation of riders, stoplights being activated again, supermarkets who had extremely long lines and changes to their schedules as well as banks. Back then, the peak of which people were out was morning mga 8-10am. By 3-4 pm tahimik na yan, pauwi na sila from maybe the supermarket or palengke, or drugstore or the banks that often close at 1pm or 2pm. Last week of April to May magulo na, more and more people were out, clearly they have tested the waters and found ways to be out. Challenged the rules and trying their best to live their life again. Yes there was traffic at QC, but beyond QC maluwag pa din.
Sidenote: Nagdrive ako ng manual na van for almost 3 months. Everyday ko sinusundo si Aris and Jerome sa lugar nil sa Katipunan at 930am, sobrang stricto ng checkpoint sa Brgy nila. Because entrace to Ateneo is not allowed, I would often drop by and pray at the OLA Church in Marikina before picking them up. It took us 20 -30 mins driving via Luzon Ave/Congressional till the last week of April, by May I have shifted to for the longer route via Qave/Edsa then right at North Ave/Trinoma. Congressional Ave was a pain even before May started problem area talaga siya.
Sidenote: Ang dami ko naging Facemask, meron pa ako Bane type mask, but sa bandang huli babagsak ka din sa surgical mask because those damn masks make you breath harder especially pag marami ka ginagawa. Nagkaroon ako USA Made na N95 Mask, a 3M copy mask from China, an original 3M mask, minsan twalya pag nakakalimitan.
Sidenote: Things accomplished: new pebbles for the garden, fully detailed cars, books read and completed. As well as comics, old consoles made active again. Discovered art (again) and fell with love with constructing beats. Tania learned how to drive a motorcycle, rediscovered Marikina’s beauty, witnessed sunrise and sunset numerous times via the riverpark, went to Cebuana 25 times. I kept Netflix movies and series at a minimum, of course everyone watched the Last Dance and kept everyone’s Facebook debating skills active and sharp.
Sidenote: Things accomplished: new pebbles for the garden, fully detailed cars, books read and completed. As well as comics, old consoles made active again. Discovered art (again) and fell with love with constructing beats. Tania learned how to drive a motorcycle, rediscovered Marikina’s beauty, witnessed sunrise and sunset numerous times via the riverpark, went to Cebuana 25 times. I kept Netflix movies and series at a minimum, of course everyone watched the Last Dance and kept everyone’s Facebook debating skills active and sharp.
I can say that I saw everthing. From March 15 to May 29, I saw change, I witnessed, I embraced life and appreciated the beauty this metro can offer only possible through a pandemic such as this. For almost 3 months, we were given a taste of “what if”. A life we can only have imagined, mga detalye, oras na dati naman ay wala ka, being able to bond with your parents or kids, having time to reflect, take on tasks, discover talents, expand creativity, cook dishes and so much more.
Tania and I would dare ourselves to go to Tagaytay to test and witness an upcoming storm.
We are the type.
We are the type.
End.
