Joanna Marie O. Santos
December 27, 2022

 

As the breeze gets colder, the heart gets warmer, and the wallet gets thinner. There is much to look forward to in this year's holiday season. With Fewer restrictions and more ways to enjoy the outdoors, it is truly a breath of fresh air (while we are wearing our masks on) as we want ourselves together with our family outside. No more confusing quarantine levels and acronyms, pesky face shields, and physical limitations. As the country opens its economy and moves on from the pandemic fever, here are the things we are happy about post-pandemic and the things we should never worry about anymore and forget!

 

Top 5 Comebacks After Pandemic Restrictions That We're Happy About

 

Traveling 

 

You were no more watching and manifesting a travel escapade in the four corners of your room. Local tourism is booming as it has fewer restrictions for locals and foreigners in the country. You could experience the sweet strawberries in the north with Baguio City. Or go island hopping at the Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan or go beach viewing in the still majestic Boracay in Aklan. With the new regulations on traveling and tourism, the goal of the LGUs is to gather as much population for their area as possible. 

 

 

You could also pack your luggage, buy tickets, and go abroad, as foreign countries offer stricter Visa applications for tourism after the pandemic. No more quarantining for two weeks, but note that every country still has regulations on handling foreign tourists; make sure to research a lot to avoid problems abroad.

 

Eating Outside 

 

 

Gone were the days of doing a DIY food hack you found online, like Dalgona Coffee or Sushi bake. Diversify your palette once again in cafe hopping in the Metro. You could try new dishes with a post-pandemic appeal to its consumers. The beauty of eating outside is that restaurants and food locations offer an atmosphere that could not be replicated indoors in the hope of bringing a new food experience while dining inside.

 

Social Gatherings

 

 

Review your wishlist and Ninong and Ninang because large gatherings during post-pandemic is now possible! No more virtual celebrations of holidays or occasions; you can now hug and "beso" freely with your friends and relatives. Prepare your excuse for your "Marites" Tita, that will always comment on your personal lives. Other than reminiscing about the past, it is good to meet people once again, especially with the two-year gap that happened. It is still best to create new happy memories while it lasts.

 

Concerts

 

 

Fans are going crazy over all the concerts that have been approved this year and in the upcoming year! The stans have anticipated these concerts for years, especially during the pandemic, and all they want to do is to scream and join their favorite artists on stage as they sing and dance. From Korean pop artists and groups, western singers having a world tour in the country, and a reunion of an old classic band, the concert scene in the philippine is promising for Filipino fans. Although prices are soaring, supporters are willing to stake everything just to be part of a new experience in live performing.

 

Mass Transportation

 

 

Although the situation on public transportation is not as promising as we would expect, Filipinos are still awed as we go back to normal commuting. From the communal stories in the jeepneys, the love stories made on the LRTs, and the Music video vibes on the bus as you sit at the window seat listening to Regine Velasquez's Tuwing Umuulan while raining, Filipinos still love commuting for its unique experiences and a chance to cooperate with others. 

 

Top Things 5 That Should Stay in Lockdown Forever

 

Aside from the comebacks of the year that we are all manifesting for months, there are things that should be left behind, like a toxic relationship you have had. Here are the things that should stay on lockdown Forever!

 

Face Shields

 

 

From its irritating feel on the face, fogging, inconvenience, and many, many more. This piece of the past should be put in a chest and buried underground. Not only was it proven to be not helpful in stopping the spread of the virus, but it also added to the amount of plastic being accumulated over the past years with no visible benefits to the economy. Not to mention we held onto this product long enough that people outside the country are making fun of us by putting it on our faces the whole time.

 

Gate Passes and Barangay Passes

 

Unnecessary passes that caused inconvenience should never make a comeback! These passes cost a lot, especially for travelers, not to mention people in command are profiteering on these too much. These also include the need for the constant presence of the vaccination ID; although it is highly needed and logical, carrying a large piece of paper stuck in your ID lace is an absolute convenience. 

 

Image from MindaNews

 

The limitation of travelers per household was also a bummer during the pandemic; no one could get out besides a person-in-charge of the house, and could only buy products in limitation because of fewer people to handle goods. Also, some establishments tend to restrict people from coming inside their store or halting people with no papers to present, making it a hassle to go outside, especially when you forget your passes. 

 

Panic Buying and Empty Grocery Shelves

 

The vivid panic buying brought memories of the past. The people were so scared and unknowledgeable at the same time that they hoarded gallons and gallons of alcohol, only to be stacked inside their homes for months. It was also a saddening experience because of the people who could not afford food and necessities then. It was indeed the survival of the fittest and the richest where hoarders could get much, offering less for others. We'd hoped that this inequality could never happen again, gladly some LGUs triumphed in helping the public by providing food assistance and allowances for them to use, especially when the pandemic hit and the economy was struggling. 

 

Medical Supply Scalpers

 

PPE, Masks, and alcohol, the holy trinity of the pandemic and were heavily hoarded by the public that the medical front liners, such as nurses and doctors who were in the field to handle patients, were left unguarded because of the short supply of their medical items. It was sad to see that the people who save lives are the people we stripped of the chance to be safe and free. 

 

Curfews

 

Gone were the nights of empty streets and loud sirens as if we were in the purge just to notify the neighborhood of the strict curfew implementations. Although restrictive during the time, it is proven helpful to contain people inside their homes, making them less susceptible to sickness. But the restriction also caused a lot of inconveniences, especially for the people who work at night, who need special passes to go outside, or individuals who just went outside for necessities such as food and medical supplies.

 

Although the world is less restrictive and less strict to our movements in society, it does not mean that it is not less safe; the pandemic is still in our hands, while it is more controlled due to the vaccination and welfare efforts of the public, we should still put our guards up all the time for safety so that the worries of the past lockdown will remain in the past and never to be experienced once again.