Happy 1st COVID Anniversary!

 This week marks the first year since I have been hit with COVID-19. It brought a roller coaster of emotions to me and my family. To recall this humbling journey, I created a journal of events:

September 17 (Friday): last day of reporting at the office. Colleague already feeling ill with symptoms of COVID. Put my guard down in the past few days. 

September 19 (Sunday):  Started feeling week late in the afternoon. Back pain and slight fever (37.8). Took paracetamol and used Salonpas. Put myself into isolation

September 20: No backpain but coughing already. Not much coughing but there is a constant tickle in the throat. Fever went down. Coughing more frequently in the evening. 

September 21: No coughing but sneezing with white transparent phlegm. Temperature goes down to 36 in the morning but goes up in the evening. No sense of smell but there is still sense of taste. Started drinking lots of medicines and did a suob. 

September 22: Clogged nose in the morning with white phlegm. In the evening, temperature rose to 37.8 but still no sense of smell. Taste is OK. Back is aching a bit

September 23: Chilled at night and temperature reached 39 degrees. Temperature rises by noon then goes down in the afternoon then up again in the evening. Clogged nose still but can smell a bit. Sense of taste is OK. 

September 24: Went to Parkway in the morning to have an RT PCR test. Had a quick trip to the drugstore and grocery. I was able to pull through the trip but was very weak already. Temperature reached 39 by 1 pm. Results came at 2pm: POSITIVE!  Slept and took medicine. Same old symptoms at night

September 25: Normal smell back before lunch. Slight smell but gets stronger throughout the day. Fever after lunch only but subsided in the afternoon. Slept straight for 8 unlike before. 

September 26: Back to normal. Lowest temperature is 35.2 and highest is at 36. Not reaching 37 or 38 anymore. Slept well in the night before. Oxygen is at 95. Did not slept well this evening. Fall asleep 3:30am

September 27: Temperature reaches 35 level for the first time consistently. No symptoms re-appearing anymore. 2nd straight day of no fever. Slept well. 

September 28 to October 3: No symptoms and normal temperature. 

October 4: Went to HSO to bid farewell.

October 11: Reported back to office. 

February 2021: Parenthood 3.0, Home Improvement and Buzz Growing Up

 February 2021 is a re-introduction to parenthood again. For the third time. Majority of the brunt in taking care of the kids was taken by my wife despite the being newly operated. 

For the first few days of Buzz, he sleeps most the time in the morning until early evening. He wakes up every 2-3 hours around 11pm until 6am. Paputol na tulog. While everybody in the home is asleep, my wife and Buzz are both awake. Both are sleeping in the morning while Bubu, Yza and I are busy making noise as soon as the sun rises. There were moments were tempers are exploding because of difficulties in balancing work, home chores and child rearing. Once the pattern our baby's sleeping was established, then we got an idea of what kind of routine we will have in the next 12 months. 

One of the foremost agenda in our brief stay in our Tarlac home is to do some house renovations. Since the side of our house leading to the cooking and kitchen area, all sorts of insects and animals can just go in and out. Summer in Tarlac can also be punishing due to extreme temperature so a roof would be a great help. 

I contracted a team of all-around construction team which has expertise in roofing, steelworks, electrical installations and carpentry. Day 1 is schedule on February 3, my 39th birthday. Construction supplies arrived a day before and family evacuated to the home of a generous neighbor. Based on the plan, the construction team will work on the following sequence: 1. build a firewall next to the neighbors house, 2. build wall foundations, 3. attach the tubular steel at roof, 4. set the wiring, outlets and switches, 5. lay the insulation foam, 6. attach the hardiflex sheet, 7. smoothen the wall cement, 8. attach the door and 9. other minor home renovations (CR damages, kitchen sink tubes). 

Then work has started on the February 3. Before the work starts, I discussed with the team leader on what must be done and how the outcome would look like. The work then started while I do my programming work. From time-to-time, the team would inquire on the angling and positioning of structures and amenities. It has been a pleasure for me to be really hands-on in the whole construction and renovation process. Not only that I am able to monitor the budget, I am also learning basic carpentry stuff along the way.  First day is over and it is time to celebrate my birthday on my own. It took the  6 days for the team to finish the whole renovation process. Voila, a new office for me, a wall protection against uninvited guests and roof to protect us from extreme summer temperature. Total damage is 65,000 pesos. 

We still got two more weeks in Tarlac before the family decides to go back to Baguio City. Buzz is growing fast and weighing heavier. We celebrated his 1st month with a simple lunch and a ceremonial cake. HE had his first actual clinic visit on February 17. Pediatrician told us that he is as big as a 2 month old baby. The second vaccination was administer to Buzz and endorsements have been made for the continuation of his consultation in Baguio City. My wife then went to consult her OB-GYNE most especially the recurring high blood pressure. 

Adjustment to new routine - Checked, Home renovation - Checked, Checks-ups - checked. On to fixing the paper for our return trip to Baguio. 

January 2021: A momentous month!

The entry of 2021 was met with full of hope, anticipation but not without fears and worries. I must say that the first quarter of 2021 is a special one. A silver lining in the middle of a global pandemic.

December 2020: 

After staying in Baguio for 5.5 months, the family decided to go home. Family arrived in our Tarlac City home last December 27 to spend the new year and prepare for the birth of our 3rd child. It was not a strict as it was when travelling from one province to another. Our hard-to-get travel requirements were not even checked at the borders of Tarlac. Travel was breeze and we arrived in Tarlac around noon. The whole afternoon was spent cleaning our house from usual dust and few dead rats brought by some pesky cat. We had a new year celebration that was short yet sweet. Expecting a new year hoping for a COVID vaccine. 

January 2021: 

The first two weeks of January was dedicated with the preparations for the birth of Buzz. My wife has to go through almost weekly consultations with her OB-GYNE. The pregnancy is quite different from the other ones since she is having consistent high blood pressure. It was well managed though by our brilliant doctors. 

January 10 happens to be the 4th birthday of Bubu, our lovable, hyper-active and pesky pre-schooler. Pandemic birthday celebrations style: at home, food is cooked or delivered, no going out in malls, toys bought and delivered by online shops. He was a happy kid regardless. 

The week of January 11-16 is the "calm before the storm" week. I was scheduled to present a paper in an international conference in line for my doctorate and the much awaited delivery day of my wife scheduled on January 18. We decided to have a one-day staycation in La Maja Rica hotel. 

The 7th International Conference on Computing and Data Engineering (ICCDE 2021) has accepted my paper entitled "BlockNCD App: A Rule-Based Decision Support System for Non-Communicable Disease Risk Assessment" for presentation. This would be my 4th conference presentation since October. It was a breezy Saturday afternoon when the presentation happened. It was smooth-sailing presentation and even got the best speaker for our session. 

I was about to treat the family with a sumptuous McDonalds snack when my wife's blood pressure shoots up. Upon consulting her doctor, we immediately ran to the hospital. It will be an emergency caesarian delivery in the evening of the same day! 

The moment has come.

At Central Luzon Doctors Hospital, we were asked to proceed to the emergency room for some initial protocol checkups. First thing that the nurse asked was the COVID 19 test result. I fetched it from the laboratory while my wife being attended to. My heart was pounding as I am about to open the result, and voila, NEGATIVE for COVID 19. 

As I returned to the emergency room, a variety of electronic medical devices are already attached to my wife. We had a brief pep-talk and reminded her not to be afraid as the pregnancy journey will be over in few hours. I was asked by the nurse to proceed to the admitting section to get a room. At the admitting section, we were offered a private room on the CLDH new building which I immediately reserved. When I returned to the emergency room, my wife is being carted out to the operating room. I proceed to our assigned room to wait for the delivery to be over. 

I had a quick field trip outside of CLDH to look for something to eat. I am walking at the street where everything has started for me in Tarlac in 2009, the hospital drive. Old stores are gone, new eateries and barbecue stands are dominating the sidewalks. Busy street despite the threat of COVID 19. Got some lumpiang shanghai and isaw. I am back at the round 8:00pm. 

I was called by the nursery and said that wife has already delivered safely and successfully. Thank you God! Instructions have been given by the nurse on what are needed in the nursery. She also reminded me of the post-operation activities such as no food intake for some few hours, lying position and medications that must be taken. I immediately proceeded to the nursery to glimpse at our newborn child.

Weighing 3.5 kilos, welcome to the world Alexander Isaac D. Perez. Around 12MN, my wife was already brought to the room for post-op recovery. For the next two days, it was a series of visits from our doctors. We were advised that as soon as things are progressing from my wife's end, we can go back home. This is a normal safety precaution hospital are doing to prevent COVID 19 spread. 

Come January 18 or just two days after the birth and delivery, we were fetch by a friend's car and already at home. Ate Yza and Kuya Bubu were too excited to see Baby Buzz. 

 

COVID Lockdown stories: Escape from Baguio

Last March 16, 2020, Pres. Duterte declared an enhanced community quarantine for the whole Luzon region. In other words, a lockdown between cities, provinces and towns. I was at work when I heard the news and couldn't immediately leave Baguio since it was around 7pm already. Victory bus liner have halted its operations and it will just be a matter of hours before the other bus liners do the same. On my way home around 10pm, the FX taxi driver told me there are few buses already in Gov. Pack. Upon arriving home, my wife and I have decided to stay in Baguio until the quarantine has been lifted in April 14.

The following day, no FX taxi and jeepneys can be found on the terminals. People in our condominium compound are beginning to do mass exodus through private vehicles. The family decided to stay and I immediately went to CAAA supermarket. I started walking until the Upper Gate and was able to fetched a colorum taxi to go to the supermarket. CAAA is full packed with people panic buying with stuffs from foods, beverages, tissues, meat, etc. I only got the essential stuff with Bubu's milk being the most essential. Then onto to the long journey back to our place, a 3 km upward trek in the outskirts of Camp 7. Stores near the Bakakeng Norte jeepney are already closing as early as 2:00 pm. 

At the evening of the March  17, a quick of FB search of van rentals in Baguio City led me to a certain group. I hurriedly contacted them on the same night but did not received any reply. In the morning of March 18, my wife's 37th birthday, I called the van rental owner and luckily got a reply. The owner is sending a driver to our place by 10am. We hurriedly pack our stuff, ate breakfast, fixed the clearances from the condominium admin. As soon as our driver, Kuya Jose, arrives, we dumped all our stuff in the van and bid a good bye to the North Cambridge condominium. 

First stop is at the Baguio City Hall to secure travel pass. You will know that many attempting to get out of Baguio City as there is no parking lot and many people are in line. One office will provide one form for each passenger where personal info and health conditions will be declared. A second line at the lobby of the city hall is intended for interview prior to the approval and issuance of the travel. Luckily, Kuya Jose knows somebody in the office and was able quickly secure the travel passes. 

Next stop is McDonalds behind the city hall for some take-out lunch. Now, off to Tarlac. First checkpoint is near the exit of Marcos Highway. The military personnel had a quick glance on our travel pass then it is a go. Second stop is in Pugo, La Union where the vehicles are being stopped by PNP personnel. Inspections on the number of passengers were made, temperatures were checked and travel clearances inspected. Third stop happened in Pozzorubio, Pangasinan with almost the same thing happening like in the 2nd stop. It was an hour an a half travel in SCTEX before we made our exit in Capas where we met the last PNP checkpoint. 

It was eerily silent in Tarlac City where the only people you see are the barangay personnel and the policemen. It was a big sigh of relief once we stopped in front of our beloved house. After unloading our stuff from the van, I paid Kuya Jose of the agreed rate plus some tip. He needs to get back to Baguio before 9pm as border might closing. 

The usual perks of going back home like buying strawberries, eating at our favorite fastfood chain and taking countryside pictures. Nothing comforts more than being in the confines of your home, sanctuary and safe zone. It is also helpful to have an understanding employer. This is just the start of an impending pandemic. Nobody knows what will happen in the next days, weeks, months or even years. 

October 2019 event

October 2019 marks my one year of working with Zintouch and stay in Baguio. I could have already passed as a registered voter here! With the family in tow, many memorable events were seen during this month. They say October is a lull month before the big Christmas in December.

Went to the beach in San Juan, La Union with boss and family:

  

Alisha finished 2nd on 1st grading in school: 

 

Regular Sunday festivities in Session Road: 

 

Trick or Treats: 

 

NBA 2019-2020 Season Opening:

 

DIT Seminar on Moodle:

  

Thank you October 2019 for all the good memories that will lasts for a lifetime.

NBA 2019-2020 Game day 1

Toronto Raptors stumped New Orleans Pelicans (130-122)
Best player: Fred Van Vleet (34 pts, 7 ast)

LA Clippers clip LA Lakers (112-102)

Best player: Kawhi Leonard (30 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts)

2019 NBA Finals 2nd Round

By the end of April 2019, the 1st round of 2019 playoffs has already been cleared. 1, 2, 3 and 4 ranked teams in both East and West My picks to emerge from the match-ups are as follows: 

East:

(1) Bucks versus (4) Celtics: Two green clad teams that are evenly matched and qualified to represent the East at the NBA Finals. Bucks in 7

(2) Raptors versus (6) Sixers: The last playoffs match-up between these two teams was in 2001 (Iverson vs Carter). Kawhi's long term presence in Toronto is dependent on the Raptors playoff performance. Sixers has to validate the completeness of the process by making it deep in the playoffs. Raptors in 7. 

West:

(1) Warriors versus (4) Rockets: Rockets almost eliminated the Warriors last year. Warriors will try to build the case a dynasty by winning it all this year and possibly, keep KD. The true WCF on a West semis match-up. Warriors in 6.

(2) Nuggets versus (3) Blazers: Blazers are tired of 1st round exits while Nuggets are not expected to be here more so, being the #2 team in the West. Blazers in 6. 

2019 NBA Playoffs 1st Round

In keeping up with tradition since 2007 of writing commentaries about NBA playoffs (circa Kobe and Lakers versus Big 3's and Celtics days), here is the quite late post about the NBA Playoffs, the 2019 edition. To recap, the first round ended this way:

East:
(1) Milwaukee Bucks obliterating (8) Detroit Pistons at 4-0: Antetokounmpo show why he is a leading MVP favorite. Blake Griffin playing gutsy despite an injury but ended up short.

(2) Toronto Raptors destroying (7) Orlando Magic at 4-1: Kawhi Leonard with the strong help from Pascal Siakam dominated the series. Magic was lucky to get one win with a buzzer beater from DJ Augustin in Game 1

(3) Philadelphia 76ers deflating (6) Brooklyn Nets at 4-1: It was a gutsy performance by D'Angelo Russel and young, up and comer Nets against a star studded Sixers. Talent trumps gutsiness.

(4) Boston Celtics steamrolling (5) at 4-0: Indiana Pacers. Perceived as the closest series pre-playoffs, Celtics have shown what they are built for. With superstar in Pacers line-up, Celtics showed dominance throughout the series.

West: 
(1) Golden State Warriors struggled to beat (8) LA Clippers at 4-2. The mighty Warriors struggled to beat the spirited Clippers in a game of grit of grind. It takes great performances from KD to finally take out the Clippers

(2) Denver Nuggets takes out (7) San Antonio Spurs at 4-7. The traditional power Spurs has been beaten by the young, up and comer Nuggets in a highly entertaining, grueling 7 game series.

(3) Portland Trailblazers knocks out (6) Oklahoma City Thunder at 4-1: In a what was foreseen a very close series as both teams banner 2 all-stars each with a decent support crew. But it's Dame Time! The buzzer beater in Game 5 to close the series is will be played in future playoff video promotions in the years to come.

(4) Houston Rockets passes through (5) Utah Jazz at 4-1: James Harden is simply unstoppable in most of the series except Game 3 where he posted the worst shooting percentage by a starter in playoffs history. A complete Rockets team is scary.

Second Round Match-Ups:
East:
(1) Bucks versus (4) Celtics: A dogfight for a 1st round rematch last year
(2) Raptors versus (3) Sixers: A traditional East power versus a team that completed the process

West:
(1) Warriors versus (4) Rockets: The real Western Conference finals
(2) Nuggets versus (3) Blazers: Two first round whipping teams making progress this year

Earthquake everywhere

We were on jeepney going to Tarlac City public market on late April afternoon when we notice a commotion among the crowd in the sidewalks. My initial thought was that somebody is fighting against somebody and has called the attention of the people. Until somebody rode the jeep and has murmured "lakas ng lindol". Since we are on a moving vehicle, we missed that frightened feeling on being shook up by an earthquake.

It was an intensity 6.2 earthquake with Castillejos, Zambales as its epicenter. The shake was strongly felt in Central Luzon and Metro Manila. Moments later, postings such as tensed urban workers, shaking buildings, condo pools massively dripping and people running away from beach have emerged and dominated social media. But it was Porac, Pampanga that took the nation's attention with the destruction of Chunzon Supermarket and burying many of people under its ground. 

The following day, another earthquake with an intensity of 5.2 hit Eastern Samar. It brought back the memories of 2013 when Bohol got hit by a devastating earthquake and the tidal wave brought by Typhoon Yolanda on the very same region. And on for the 3rd consecutive day, a weaker earthquake but still can be felt earthquake was experienced in Mindanao. No casualties for both the Visayas and Mindanao earthquakes reported compared to the one in Luzon (particularly Pampanga). 

My normal reaction is review my family' emergency plan when another earthquake hits. It is fortunate that our house is just in front of an open ground, a grassy farm with no nearby vulnerable structures. Apart from that, the classic "duck, cover and hold under the table" is part of the plan in case running towards the farm is not possible. The Red Cross has shared tips on preparedness before, during and after an earthquake: 

Before:

• Assembling emergency preparedness kit
• Creating household evacuation plan
• Keeping emergency numbers of fire department, rescue, EMS, police, medical personnel
• Check household from falling objects
• Purchase battery operated radio and flashlight including battery supplies

During:

• Drop, cover and hold
• Stay indoors until shaking stop before exiting home
• If you smell gas, get out the house and move away as fast as possible
• If outdoor, go a clear spot and drop to the ground
• Try to get away as far as possible from buildings
• If you are in mountains or near unstable slopes, be alert of falling rocks and debris
• If in a vehicle, pull a stop to a clear location and wait for the shaking to stop

After:

• Check yourself for injuries and get first aid help if possible before trying to help others
• After an earthquake, expect and prepare for another aftershocks, landslides or even tsunamis.
• If you are at home, look quickly for damage in and around home and get everyone out if it is unsafe.
• Listen to a portable radio for updated emergency information and instructions
• Pay attention to you and how your loved ones handle stress
• Clean up spilled medications, bleach, gasoline and other flamable liquids immediately
• When cleaning home, wear protective gears when cleaning home

Nobody wants an earthquake or any calamity for that matter. But since this Acts of God are natural and would come unexpectedly most of the time, being prepared and informed mitigates potential damages and lost. Lastly, do not panic otherwise, all preparation will be thrown out of the window.