Essentials for the "New Normal"

This is the third time the Enhanced Community Quarantine or ECQ has been extended in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. We have named it "Season 3 of ECQ" to make it sound less stressful.

Everyone seems to be calling this "the New Normal," but honestly, I cringe when I hear people mentioning that term. This thing isn't normal at all!  Public transportation has been suspended and since I don't own a car, I have to walk 1.6 miles to get to the supermarket. Walking back home with two heavy bags of groceries is not easy. So I decided to buy myself a trolley.

This is a big help for when I need to go to the wet market for meat, fish and vegetables. The wet market is only half a mile from home, so that's easy peasy for me. For the first few weeks of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, I also used this trolley when I needed to get stuff from the supermarket. However, this trolley can only carry about 55 pounds (25 kilograms), and if I bought items that would weigh more, then I would still have to carry another bag over my shoulders.

Although it has been my family's goal to live frugally during this uncertain time, I took out part of my savings and bought a bike.

Yes, I did. And I named it "Quarantino." I made sure that the bike I bought was sturdy but light weight. It did cost me quite a bit of money, but now, it is easier for me to get the stuff I need, when I need it.

My bike is a Clifton 27.5 rim, alloy frame, Shimano 21 speed mountain bike, and I am glad that I chose this model. I can just shift gears to adjust to the inclination of the road to make pedaling easy. I now can go to the supermarket, get the groceries I need, stuff it in my backpack and ride home. It is good exercise too, so it is a win-win for me.

I also added a bike rack rear carrier if in case my groceries won't fit in my back pack. I just put them in a reusable bag, strap it down, and off I go!

I have no idea if there will be a "Season 4" of this Enhanced Community Quarantine. Hopefully not. But if we do get another extension, I am ready for it.

When You Really Should Stand Your Ground

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Are you one of those people who like to avoid conflicts? That is excellent because it means you should manage to live your life without raising your stress levels too often. However, there are some instances in which you should always make a stand and dig your heels in to ensure you get justice. Standing up for yourself at the right times is vital in this society because nobody else is going to do it for you. If you don’t make a stand and highlight your rights, there is a chance the offender will continue their actions and affect many other people. So, sometimes you have to be brave and shout until the world hears. 

When doctors make mistakes 

Doctors and surgeons make mistakes all the time that lead to pain and heartache for their patients. If that ever happens to you or something you love, it is imperative that you take the professionals to court and make a malpractice claim. Malpractice cases can take a long time to reach their conclusion, and so you will need the backing of an experienced lawyer with an excellent track record. Do not accept the first compensation offer you receive, and make sure you keep fighting until the judge awards a suitable package for your upset. Failure to do that could mean the doctor or surgeon goes on to hurt other people. 

When law enforcement officers lie

Everyone agrees that we need law and order in our society so we can function and play our roles unhindered. However, there are some instances in which police officers break the rules, and video evidence of those instances is becoming commonplace online. If you see that someone in your community is being framed by a less than ethical law enforcement officer, it is vital that you speak up and let the world know the truth. That is essential not only for the individual concerned but also for the culture in which police officers operate. The public cannot stand by and allow a few bad apples to ruin the bunch. 

When you see bullying in any form

Bullying can occur in many different ways, and it’s not always children who find themselves on the receiving end. You might encounter harassment at work, and you might even see someone attempting to take advantage of a senior at some point. If that ever happens, it is your duty to highlight the issue and do something about it. Do not ignore the person and allow them to get bullied by someone who does not have their best interests at heart. Alert the authorities or step in and say something at the time. 

It is critical that everyone learns to stand their ground in the situations mentioned in this post. If people turn a blind eye to injustice, the case will persist and worsen as time progresses. So, you need to nip those actions in the bud the second you notice them. Encourage your friends and all the people you love to do the same thing. If people follow that advice, the world we live in will improve.