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2020-05-04
On my walk I noticed the words, "virus hoax" written across the bike trail and on utility boxes. I wonder if they really think that the virus is a hoax?
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2020-05-16
My family hires a photographer once a year to take our family portraits. This year I could not find a photographer due to Covid. I dusted off my good camera and me and my family went to some lavender fields. We took turns taking photos of each-other. I joked that I would Photoshop my husband into one of them but I honestly don't know how to do that and make it look ok still. Our Christmas photo this year will have to be some sort of collage.
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2020
This political cartoon is a commentary on the rights people are willing to fight for. A lot of right wing people were willing to protest and fight against social-distance measures and masks. But not willing to fight for the right to live by minority communities.
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2020-05-20
I like to make collages. I made this one this morning. Masks are our new normal. It is hard to imagine life without them. The Girl With the White Mask was made using digital collage.
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2020-07-03
This meme sums it up. No one knows what to expect next. Everyone is tired and frustrated. Murder ducks. Enough said.
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2020-07-03
This pretty much sums up the year 2020. It is the worst. Pandemic, job losses, quarantine, death, murder hornets, isolation, dust clouds from Siberia, protests, police brutality, disruptions of all we know.
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2020
This inspirational message is making its way around. Suicide rates are high right now. People are frustrated. This message asks if this is a time of transformation? A chance to start anew.
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2020-07-03
The drawing depicts Lady Liberty in between a crowd of protesters and a crowd of police. Liberty thinks she somehow is no longer in America. The police are in riot gear, the protesters are wearing masks.
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2020-07-03
When the early BLM protests during the pandemic led to some instances of looting we saw it on the news and the BLM movement was blamed. However, it is common for rich executives and bankers to get away with much larger crimes.
Picture depicts a young masked man stealing a TV, across the street from an older man wearing a suit leaving a bank stealing a large bag of money. The older man says to the younger man, "amateur".
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2020-05-01
People protest against say at home orders.
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2020-04-28
There is a lot of mask shaming and mask non-compliance going on right now. This drawing speaks to the sacrifice of rights for the greater good.
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2020-07-03
"It's nothing to be concerned about, however.
A woman sitting in a silver sedan at the Cornwall Bingo Centre parking lot has gotten a bingo, notifying staff with a short honk."
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2020-05-22
A mural somewhere in Toronto which features 3 female figures lounging in an apartment along with the words "STAY HOME"
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2020-07-03
Article discussing the closure of the popular Wasaga Beach following holiday crowds over Canada Day.
"The public’s 'blatant disregard' for the rules of social distancing has resulted in Wasaga Beach laying out a plan to shut down the majority of the main beach area by July 9."
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2020-06-30
Announcement by the West End Museum in Boston that they have received funding from the National Endowment of the Humanities through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The post discusses what the museum hopes to do with these funds, and how the funds will support them and their staff during the pandemic. As museums struggle to remain financially solvent through closures, grants and other funds have become a vital lifeline. This is especially true for small institutions that lack the large funds of major institutions.
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2020-04-08
When the community quarantine kicked in, our outdoor media partner, HDI Admix, had a problem. They had all these massive LEDs as part of their inventory, but there's no one to see them with everyone staying home. What we did was reinvent a mass media touchpoint and turn it into a highly targeted one. We used the massive LEDs as a platform to share a message of strength to the only ones who'll be able to see the LEDs, the frontliners. We reimagined them as modern day superheroes fighting the battle against this pandemic. And these short videos aired in over 20 LED sites in Metro Manila for the remainder of ECQ, aside from being shared on social media.
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2020-03-16
The images were all taken in the morning of March 16, the first working day after the community quarantine was announced. Lots of people were shocked at the sudden scarcity of public vehicles, since they had to comply with physical distancing rules. This caused people to find various ways to get to their places of employment or for some (like me), just went back home. I waited three hours for a bus to take me from Coastal Mall to Philcoa in QC, but can't find any. I was supposed to go to my place of work at UP Diliman to fetch as much documents as I can before I start working from home. Tried waiting for a bus at PITX but seeing the long queues outside, I decided to tell my supervisor that I can't make it because of the public transport situation, then flagged down a minibus back to my home in Cavite. Then the conductor told me that I have to wear a mask, else I would have to get off. Luckily I had one. Later when I arrived home (note: I did not pass through the supposed-to-be checkpoints to and from Cavite), I saw at the news that the government was surprised that this would happen, as if they never expected that reduced passenger capacity due to physical distancing measures would cause longer waiting times for commuters. Similar chaos for commuters later that day (now returning to their homes from work) would happen since they had to get home before the start of the stricter ECQ at midnight of March 17. This lack of foresight and preparation in implementing rules and mitigation measures, as well as the difficulties of the people would be seen a lot later during the ECQ up to this day.
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2020-06-20
Personal insights and experiences during the quarantine period in Cebu.
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2020-04-04
Giving support to our frontliners
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2020-06-23
Being an LSI in Cebu City is one of the most discriminating feelings one could have. Not being a resident in this city and being banned from going home, where do LSIs place themselves?
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2020-06-02
When Cebu City was downgraded to GCQ from ECQ on June 1, 2020, most businesses required their workers to report back to work. In this article, I share my personal experience on how difficult it was for a commuter like me to wade through the challenges of the lack of public transportation during a pandemic.
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2020-06-01
Sharing my experience during quarantine lockdown
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2020-06-28
Namatay yung tito ko during the pandemic. Pinayagang mauwi yung bangkay dahil di naman ito covid related, pero request niya na i-cremate siya. Dinala siya sa bahay para makita ng lahat sa huling pagkakataon. Isa-isa kung lumapit at di maaring magkalapit.
Ang pinaka masakit pa dito, di man lang kami magkayakapan para magluksa para sa namayapa naming kapamilya. Ang eksena, umiiyak kami ng magkahiwalay sa loob ng iisang bahay dahil ilan sa mga kamag-anak ay dating positive sa virus at kasalukuyang naka-quarantine.
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2020-03-12
It's my poem about my family's experience under, and fear of, this pandemic -- specifically during my fifteenth wedding anniversary when we watched on TV news the Philippine president's official announcement of the imposition of the lockdown in Metro Manila.
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2020-07-02
A photograph demonstrating how public transport authorities have attempted to mitigate the risk of passengers contracting COVID-19.
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2020-07-02
As COVID-19 case numbers accelerated in Kansas in the summer of 2020, Governor Laura Kelly issued this executive order declaring that Kansans must wear masks in public spaces, especially in places where the 6-foot distance rule was not possible, beginning on Friday, July 3, 2020. However, this order proved empty, since it allowed for local county authorities to enforce it, with several counties, including Sedgwick, which is home to the state's largest city, Wichita, to either opt out of the order entirely, or declare it a "strong recommendation." This document reflects the partisan politics that stymied Kansas's COVID-19 response efforts, as Democratic Governor Kelly eventually relinquished her statewide executive authority to direct the anti-virus effort in favor of a decentralized, locally-driven patchwork response favored by the state GOP, which had earlier passed legislation to curb her executive powers and threatened lawsuits against what they perceived to be a gross over-reach of executive power.
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2020-07-01
Yesterday I found out via Facebook that someone who works in the Leander city offices has test positive for Covid-19. The city sent everyone home and closed the building to deep clean. Later in the evening I learned that the city will be holding their biweekly city council meeting tonight, in person! To make matters worse we are in the early voting period for several runoff elections and the room where the city holds the city council meeting is also the room where we vote. I personally find this infuriating and unconscionable when other options are available.
I was already thinking that my husband and I should go to two separate locations to vote thinking that the chances of us both being exposed are less if we go to different locations. This would hopefully leave one of us healthy to take care of our son.
While people across the nation have been advocating for mail in voting Texas has taken a firm stand on the issue and said no. The only people that can request a mail in ballot are those over 65 or a person with a disability.
While I plan to vote in the general election come hell or high water, I’m not sure if the runoff is worth the risk. No one should have to choose between voting and their health.
Here is a local news article that explains the situation. https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/leander-closes-pat-bryson-municipal-hall-after-employee-tests-positive-for-covid-19-early-voting-still-allowed/
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2020-07-01
Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I received two text messages which appear to come from Austin, Texas officials warning me of the increase spread of coronavirus in the area and encouraging me to take precations. They also encouraged people staying home and enjoying the upcoming fourth of July holiday with only their household members. After receiving these two text messages, in both English and Spanish, I also received a phone call with a recorded message expressing similar things. It should also be noted that I do not live in Austin or Travis County. I'm in the suburb of Leander in Williamson County.
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2020-07-01
With everyone trying to maintain social distancing to prevent the transmission of covid-19 during the heat of summer one thing has become very expensive, swimming pools. While inflatable back yard kiddie pools like the one pictured usually cost about $25 this one, and numerous others that look the same, are going for five times that on Amazon. Getting a pool isn't only extremely expensive in the inflatable variety, the same is true for larger above ground and inground pools. Our neighbor ordered an above ground pool back in late April or early May. The company delayed shipping for weeks and finally canceled the order because they couldn't fill it. At my house we decided to have an inground pool built. Though we started the process in early May the pool isn't scheduled to be finished until early October because the demand for pools to be built is enormous. Our builder told us they usually get about 120 inquires per month and in May they received over 600.
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2020-07-01
As covid cases explode across the U.S., especially in the southern and western portions of the country, young people in Tuscaloosa, Alabama are doing something unthinkable. They are hosting covid parties. While authorities thought this was a rumor upon first being notified, further investigation showed it was really happening. Unlike previous generations who held "chicken pox parties" in an effort to expose their children to the disease while they were young and less likely to suffer complications (prior to a vaccine being available) the covid parties do not appear to have any purpose other than entertainment. People are hosting parties and inviting people known to have the disease. Everyone then puts money in a pot and the first person to come down with covid gets the pot.
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2020-06-16
Austin, the capital of Texas is offering hotel accommodations at no cost to allow people to isolate themselves if they have covid or are waiting on test results.
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2020-06-06
We live in a small town. Our city of Moriarty NM has a population of about 1800 people, and the town next to us, Edgewood NM has close to 6100 people. This is a town that you can hide your true feelings because you're not around a lot of people, especially people of different backgrounds and nationalities. On June 6th, 2020 our local High school kids put together a peaceful protest to speak up against police brutality and racial injustice. They had been personally affected by this because they are of different nationalities, or are close friends with people who have been racially profiled before. They went through the proper channels, speaking with the local police department and securing a protest permit. When the Facebook page was created, it spread like wildfire, and the people who have hidden their hatred in this small town for so many years were now outraged at the thought. My daughter, Faith Ridenour was apart of the group setting up this protest. She and her friends were proud to speak out and we were proud of her for raising her voice but that pride turned into fear real quick when we started seeing the things our community members were saying about them on Facebook. A page called, "Torrance County Bulletin Board" posted the event and the comments were frightening, "Stand in my way and I will run you over" said one community member, and another chimed in with, "We will be there to clean up the mess after you take them down." I commented on every post I could to let them know that these are kids from our High school standing up for injustice. I begged people to remember that they're young and our next generation and we must lift them up and allow them to have voices or we are doomed as a society. I was immediately responded to with, "If you play with the big dogs, you will get hurt." Because of the hatred that was being spread online, my husband and I were in fear of our daughter's life and chose to stand out there with her. In one of the pictures, you will see our daughter standing with her sign, and my husband standing behind her to protect her. As a mother, it made me proud to see my daughter standing up for her fellow man, and my husband standing behind her to keep her safe. As an American, I was devastated at the idea that we have not grown from racism and are still against people who will stand up to it. As we arrived on the day of the protest we quickly saw the opposition. The picture attached only shows one of them with their automatic weapon, but the truth is, all of them were armed. As our kids shouted "Use your voice, black lives matter" the other side of the street shouted back, "All lives matter." Keeping in mind that this is all happening during the Covid-19 pandemic, our protestors wore masks to keep everyone safe, where the "All lives matter" group, did not. I found that to be pretty ironic. I am proud of these kids who stood up to adults. I am proud to know them and lift them up, and I believe our future will be better because of this generation.
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2020-06-04
As the pandemic spread, schools shut down and were forced to send students home. Some of these students were international, and as borders closed and travel was regulated, these students had difficultly figuring out their next steps. Schools are just now trying to figure out what to do in the fall, and it's even more difficult once again for the international students. ICE doesn't yet have a clear plan or regulation in place for fall so all of that information is still up in the air.
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2020-03-01
A thread of tweets from local reporter Amanda Pfeffer. The first is a video of the small crowd on The Hill and then a series of photographs in which protesters are holding signs.
In the top left image the signs read, "WEARING A MASK IS A SIGN OF SUBMISSION" and "SOCIAL DISTANCING IS FOR ROBOTS!" behind the couple is a sign reading "THE CANADIAN REVOLUTION" and the woman's tank top reads "HUGS OVER MASKS"
In the top right image a woman dressed in scrubs and a stethoscope holds up a flag with letters applied to it which read, "STOP FRAUD ABORT COVID / VACCINES SCAM [?] / RECOVERY RATE 99.9% / DEATH RATE 0.03%"
The bottom left image shows a chalk drawing which reads "BLACK LIVES MATTER" with an illegible Instagram handle underneath it.
The bottom right image shows a chalk drawing which reads "CANADA DAY CELEBRATES STOLEN LANDS &..."
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2020-07-01
"Hundreds of people were on the beach and the surrounding area Wednesday afternoon and evening. One officer on scene told CTV News that at one point, there were close to 3,500 people in the area.
"Witnesses say there was very little physical distancing."
"Just after 8:00 p.m., police were called to the Mooney's Bay area, where they started turning cars and residents away. Around 10:00 p.m., the City requested the site be closed immediately, citing health concerns and disorder issues."
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2020-07-01
"As Dominion carillonneur Andrea McCrady played her 30-minute afternoon Canada Day concert on the Peace Tower’s 53 bells, pounding out The Log Driver’s Waltz, a megaphoned preacher (of sorts) was standing on the ledge of the Centennial flame urging listeners to 'repent and be converted,' while refusing to budge for tourists hoping for a clear selfie shot ('I was here first,' he rebuffed one visitor in Old Testament style). At the same time, an array of organized speakers addressed the crowd, warning of people like George Soros and 'so-called medical experts.'
"'Our plan,” said one, 'is to infect as many people as we can with the truth.'"
A news article describing events in Ottawa on Canada Day. Usually the streets, and particularly Parliament Hill are packed with thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of revelers as the Capital city is the centrepiece for celebrations across the country. The article discusses people going for walks and picnics but also protesting a variety of issues on The Hill; everything from Black Lives Matter to "5G Kills" or stating that wearing a mask is a violation of rights.
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2020-06-21
I am a member of the Manila Street Astronomers, a volunteer organization that brings astronomy to the public. Usually we hold free telescope viewings of the moon and other heavenly bodies in malls and other public places. Due to quarantine restrictions, we could not carry out our outreach projects. But we really missed bringing astronomy to the public. So when the partial solar eclipse occurred on June 21, 2020, we did a live broadcast of the partial solar eclipse. We had fun doing it and, based on the rave reviews we have been getting, so has the audience. It was fulfilling sharing our astronomy knowledge to the public, to remind ourselves and others amidst the disturbing things happening on earth that there is a bigger universe out there.
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2020-03-18
Someone suggested to me that I make a blog of ideas to keep kids entertained during lockdown. So I started this blog and promoted it among my friends and relatives. It did not get a wide following, but I got plenty of grateful comments from parents who needed ideas on how to keep their kids busy during lockdown. Every time I received those comments, I felt happy that I was able to help others even in a very small way.
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2020-04-07
I created these hand cut paper arts during the covid-19 pandemic.
Both my artworks are inspirations that we, all will get through this pandemic.
-My first artwork I created back in April 2020. The world and the holding hands symbolizes hope that we will pass through this pandemic as we all unite as one.
-My second artwork [in photo] I created in June 2020 is another inspiration hope and courage to believe that despite this trying time, there's an end to it. That we shall not lose hope and still try look at the brighter side of things and know that there are more beauty than the ugliness this pandemic has brought in our world.
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2020-06-19
I took it when I attended the mass at the National Shrine of Sacred Heart in Makati and after one of my marketing and the 1st time to go back in DIVISORIA since March is the abundance of blessings even in this crisis when I took a picture of it when I arrived home.
If it is my last day due to pandemic I would go to Church to celebrate for the last time the Eucharist and thank God for this amazing, beautiful and blessed life. Moreover, thanksgiving does not end inside the Church it continues in the table of my family to continue to thank God for the blessings amidst this crisis. Walking the CAMINO the Way the road made these things happened even if no public transportation.
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2020-05-29
These are my blog posts as I mused upon the COVID-19 pandemic. From when the virus started spreading, to quarantine thoughts, to looking at it in the context as an environmentalist, and dealing with the new normal.
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2020-03-21
Social distancing, self-quarantine, community lock down have all taken a toll on people's mental health one way or another.
I wrote this short piece to remind people to connect with each other in a more meaningful way, at least virtually for now, and reach out to those who may be feeling alone.
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2020-05-01
What does it mean to labor? To toil, particularly in these times? And what happens now when one is suddenly denied this?
With businesses closing left and right and people losing their jobs due to the pandemic, I wrote this reflective piece to commemorate Labor Day in these unusual times.
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2020-07-01
My kids and I have not left our street since March due to the continual rise in cases. Despite an all time high and no desire to venture out, my Girl Scout troop needed their cookie prizes and the materials for our end of the year, virtual “Bridging” ceremony. I decided to drop the items on the girls’ doorsteps, wearing a mask, and not actually ring a doorbell but instead text from the safety of my car. Basically, run out, run back to the car. To do so, I enlisted my mom (who lives with us) to drive to lessen the variables for infection. Realizing my kids might want to see the world outside our street, I allowed them to ride in the car. I figured the risk was minimal because I was coming into contact with no one. Both kids have been keeping “quarantine” journals and I found their reflections interesting. My daughter was agitated that so many people we saw were not wearing masks. When we went out, our area had just been re-opened, despite a continual rise in cases. Our state has seen an 80% increase over the last two weeks and, as of today, is re-closing “indoor businesses.” My son, on the other hand, seemed relieved to see that McDonald’s still existed and had an open sign. He told us he was happy everything was “in order.” It makes me wonder what he thought was happening beyond our street. I did stop to take one picture, of our local playground. I was so surprised that every park we passed had the playgrounds roped off. It makes sense, but was eerie to see. I don’t foresee us venturing out again soon.
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2020-07-01
Anyone who follows me on social media knows I am pretty open about everything. I talk openly about my disabilities, my activism, and my health struggles. One of those is my allergic asthma which seems to increase in severity each year due to climate change and this year, bored neighbors over mowing their lawns. As an avid outdoors person having a severe allergy to grass pollen is a major bummer but last year I found a way to enjoy the outdoors without dying. It's cheap, it's more effective than most of my medications, and it comes in cool colors; a mask! For two pollen seasons, I have happily worn and talked about the wonders of wearing a mask and the freedom they give me to live my life. So for the life of me, I cannot understand why anti-maskers I know personally have chosen to privately message me their memes about the dangers of masks. I can only sit back and laugh at their complaints and fearmongering. I'm not the only one who has worn a mask in the US long before the pandemic but our very existence debunks the beliefs of anti-maskers. No one cared about our oxygen levels when we wore masks due to the fires in California or Montana. I got odd looks from people on hiking trails but no one feared for my safety. I can only laugh and carry on at this point because it's just silly.
Photograph shows the first vog mask I owned. I was so happy to get it because I had been wearing disposable masks before and I wanted to environmentally friendly. I posted this on all my social media accounts.
Meme was privately messaged to me through facebook messenger. For ethical reasons I did not include the original sender. This person is well aware that I wear masks on a daily basis long before the pandemic.
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2020-03-28
My son and I grocery shopping at Trader Joe's in Castro Valley - everyone knows the drill, you find the marker on the ground to tell you where to stand so you're 6 feet behind the person in front of you. You wear your mask. The line goes fairly quickly, and I've never heard anyone act entitled or complain. (note: I submitted this but I think the photo didn't attach)
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2020-07-01
you can't have it both ways
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2020-06-30
MEMORIALS AND RACE
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2020-06-28
people disaffected with America
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2020-05-12
Since March, Boston's Lawyers for Civil Rights worked to improve the situations of immigrants held in detention centers. "In a powerful order, a federal court in Boston ruled strongly in favor of immigrants detained by ICE at Bristol County. The court ruled that the Bristol County Sheriff and ICE likely have acted unconstitutionally and shown deliberate indifference to the substantial risk of serious harm posed by COVID-19 to the detainees in their care." This success shows how civil rights lawyers were correct in fighting to improve the situations for immigrants. The lawsuit led to the release of more than 50 detainees.
