Written by Jeo A
The pandemic has undoubtedly produced one big storm for us all. Some people are safe and sound in their homes, while others are working all day to provide for their families, with the risk of contracting the virus being ever-present. This just goes to show that we Filipinos, and those around the world, are currently in the same storm, but not in the same boat. We are all facing one big problem or storm, which is the pandemic and the recent typhoons that struck our country. However, we are not in the same boat or situation, wherein some people (as mentioned earlier) are and still safe and sound in their homes, not fazed at all by the current situation or state of their country. On the other hand, others are sick and dying from the virus, going to their offices or workplaces outside their homes and risking their lives for their families.
Artwork by Gaby M
These current problems have produced different kinds of situations for people, hence the metaphor “Same storm, different boat.” This has been a common theme or description of the current pandemic and the recent typhoons in our country, which means that there is one central problem that connects us all, but we each have our own situations and ways to cope, which either make it easier or harder to deal with that problem.
The pandemic has made me realize how lucky I have been in these tough times because my current situation could be much much worse. It has made me feel lucky because I am safe inside my house from contracting the virus, although not a hundred-percent safe because I have family members going out of the house to work, which does put fear in me because they may have contracted it and are carriers of the virus.
Artwork by Gaby M
The recent comings of Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses have shown once again how we are all in the same storm (literally) but in a different boat. There were a few blackouts of power and electricity, but that was pretty much it for my situation, but it was nowhere near the gravity of some peoples’ situations caused by these typhoons. There are people who have lost their lives, lost their homes, and belongings, and it made me feel extremely blessed that I have not been affected as much. At the same time, I should not judge, not at all, because I would not like it had it been the other way around; people judging me for my situation just because it is far worse than what they are experiencing. I have been guilty in the past, wishing for the cancellation of classes due to typhoons, without knowing that there are people suffering out there.
Artwork by Gaby M
This whole pandemic has made me more considerate towards the situations of others. Despite people having “better” situations than others, it should not remove the initiative to help out those in need, especially those risking their lives, such as the frontliners. We should help out those who are less fortunate, for we would want them to do the same should the tides turn. In the end, we need to count our blessings and be truly grateful for them, for it could be taken from us at any moment.