WITNESSING THE BEGINNING OF A DYSTOPIAN WORLD: THE ENCHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE IN NAGA CITY (ECQ DIARIES: MARCH 19, 2020)
On March 19, 2020, I went out that day to run an errand (bank transaction) for a friend and to buy something in the market. It was just Day 3 of Enchanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Naga City.
I took these photos along Panganiban Drive, Plaza Quince Martires and at the Naga City People’s Mall (public market). All I see were empty streets and lesser people outside. People were wearing face masks and strict check points are all over the city. People can only go out when needed like buying food, groceries, medicines or if you need to make banking transactions like deposit or withdrawals. Stay at home as much as possible and avoid going out is now our new mantra with the coronavirus disease scare.
It was as if I was able to witness the beginning of a dystopian world as the pandemic takes its effect since the implementation of ECQ. I never really thought that the things I though only happens in the books I’ve read or movies I’ve watched can become a reality. Although there is that possibility, I never actually that it would be sooner or that I will be able to witness it. We didn’t see it coming.
Since that moment, I knew that this might not end soon and that our country will take time to heal and rise up from the effects of the pandemic. Since then, it was fear that ruled in our hearts and in our minds as we try to survive and continue living. Our world is in a pause as if even the Earth stood still. Who knows how this will end or that when it will end or who survives, but one thing is for sure, we will all strive to keep going and survive. We will try to cope up with the new normal or whatever is left of us.
