Abe Were Good Friends Dine

At the very beginning of the quarantine announcement in the Metro Manila, 16th of March 2020...I do not remember myself and any member of the family going out to dine.

Who would do that? Knowing that part of the announcement was we are all encouraged to stay home to stop the spread of the virus.

The month of July when the status of Metro Manila was changed to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), this gave recommendations to some businesses to operate including dining in a restaurant.

First time to visit the place. I don't know maybe before we even enjoyed going out and dining in a restaurant, surprisingly we do not know anything about "Abe" restaurant. 

Thank you to a good friend Sir Samu who invited me to have dinner with him after a very satifying coffee at the Starbucks. 

We visited Abe at Trinoma. 

Getting inside fascinates me for it gave me a cozy feeling of the place. 

I interviewed a waitress/cashier that the restaurant has a 100-seating capacity which opens daily, from 10:00am to 7:00pm.

But that was the set-up before the time that the pandemic isn't here in the Philippines. 

By asking, I found out that their working schedules were adjusted. From the current set-up from 16 people manning the restaurant in operations daily, now they have two more people left the waitress/cashier and the floor manager. 

I am not sure how many people are left in the kitchen but certainly it was also reduced. 

Like in the case of the waitress/cashier only work for a week schedule and then another staff will occupy her duty until most of them had their rotations. 

A better work set-up than no work at all. 

Looking closer at the menu, they have many options to choose from. 

From small dishes menus to dessert. 

I gave the liberty to Sir Samu, after we both sign the small paper for customer's contact tracing. 

On their small dishes menu we had... 

"Sinuteng Baby Squid" that has laurel leaf many garlics and sauteed with olive oil. 

A small price to pay of... 

P280

We had another fish dish 

that belongs to a "Hearty Soup Dishes" 

PRESENTING... 

"Sinagang na Boneless Bangus Fillet with ripe guava." 

A flavorful hot soup with the taste of real guava, a serving good for 2-3 people at

P510 only. 

On more of Abe Favorites dishes... 

Also part of the menu is the "Crispy Pork Adobo ni Lola Ising." 

Well, I do not know her personally but I think its her personal dish recipe. 

This is very similar to crispy pata. 

Hot and crispy when served to us.

The special saucel blends well with it along with atsara. 

A bit pricy but worth it sold at... 

P510.

And just like listening to a music, to have some balance and harmony from a fresh harvest menu, here comes... 

"Gule Magalang." 

You know its fresh when you finally tasted the veggies which includes kangkong, kalabasa, green chili peppper, ampalaya and okra. 

At the amazing deal of your money worth only P310. 

All of these menus with your favorite

hot rice. I ordered for another extra rice for this battle. 

The quality of food plus how they carefully serve it with care. 

Most of it were in a white plates, wrapped with plastics and that includes the utensils we used. 

If there's one thing I will look for here is just an ambiance of music and nothing more. 

For Abe gave us, Sir Samu and I... a memorable dining experience. 

For one, I am highly recommending it with my family. 

Hope that I can bring them soon here. 

Secondly, with friends and relatives too. 

And lastly, I now understand why this still remains standing even though the pandemic strikes. 

'

Til our next visit! 🙌

Swab Test Result is...

It was all over the news and at the social media platform that last 8th of July 

Hon. Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City was tested positive for COVID-19. 

I tried absorbing the news as someone who knew how to handle it. 

Meaning, I wanted to confront it thinking that everything is still under control. Particularly thinking of the spread of the virus in the QC GOVT that I am now currently and actively working as an employee. 

But I was thinking at the time, I'm going  home with my family. 

What if I have the virus? 

And that I do not know entirely about having it? 🤔

That particular feeling now pushed me to do one major step and that is to administer a swab test. 

The same day, around noon, I along with a co-worker went to QC X (ideally known by many before as the museum that houses interactive artifacts. Before it was recently converted to a COVID-19 testing facility.) 

One medtech staff did an initial interview with me. 

Asking basic information such as my full name, age, birthday, address, mobile number, designation, from what department I was with. 

Along with some very important information particularly done for contact tracing like... 

If I knew someone who has COVID-19? 

Being so honest about giving beneficial information, I said I was with Mayor Belmonte during the opening of the Emergency Room at the Philippine Heart Center last 3rd of July 2020.

Other related information asked... 

Do I have fever and dry cough and tiredness recently? 

If also I experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discolouration of fingers or toes to the list?

 

From these questions...I said no. 

After I was done with all the information they needed...it was a signal then to me that I was now ready for the Swab test. 

I have been seeing this procedure from many social media platform. 

Sometimes not taking it seriously, the attack was misleading people or sometimes being humorous. 

There was two people around who did the swab test. 

They were both dressed properly with PPE's, gloves, face mask, face shield...protected from head to foot. 

I was then given an instruction as to what the whole procedure and what to do when some particular situation like sneezing happens. 

The procedure was called

a nasopharyngeal swab. 

A method for collecting a clinical test sample of nasal secretions from the back of the nose and throat.

It involves inserting a 6-inch long swab (like a long Q-tip) into the cavity between the nose and mouth for at least 3 seconds and rotating it several times. The swabbing is then repeated on the other side of the nose to make sure enough material is collected.

There was a hand gesture I was told about.  If and when I was about to sneeze. 

This was from racing your left hand. 

I was about to sneeze and gave a hand signal to them, but was also signalled that the process was about to finish. 

I just strongly bare the process. 

Thinking that it was all-over, another procedure was done. 

At this time, a throat swab. 

I was then told to open my mouth but relaxing my tongue. 

The procedure was similar to a child having a throat check. 

It also lasted for about three seconds. 

I never remember that I was told about how many days before the result will be released. 

A frequently asked question, I personally throw one staff. 

And I was told after...three days. 

Under this procedure, the protocol now is to complete the 14 days quarantine at home. 

I was home for days waiting patiently for the result. 

Not until today that I received a call from unknown number. 

Upon answering it was from City Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Unit

(CESU). 

CESU: Hi is this (verifying for my name). 

ME: Yes. Speaking. 

CESU: Sir were you told about the swab test result? 

(But was coming from a tone, that made my heart beats faster).

ME: No. I haven't received any call or text. 

Do you have the result?

CESU: Sir, you are NEGATIVE. 

ME: OMG! 

I was nervous your tone was misleading. 

We end the coversation by aking CESU how will I have the copy of the result. 

After sending them a message an email were sent to me showing.... 

(See photo below). 

I just said... 

Thank you Lord! 🙏

Red Cross Accidental Medical Reinbursement Perks

It was the night of 17th of November 2019, when my eldest Althea was accidentally had a cat scratch.

We never had any prior knowledge on how to confront this. 

My wife was very much bothered about our daughter's welfare we went to the Navotas City Hospital but referred to San Lazaro Hospital after that.

We were then advised to go to Navotas again for the city recently erected a building that handles cases for animal bites and related situations.

But just got unlucky when we were told that the anti-rabies ran out of supply.

It goes without saying that we will shoulder all the expenses. 

Two of these medicines "Equirab" and "Speeda" are two Anti-Rabies essentials that has to be vaccinated to her. 

Unfortunately, it carries a special brand name and that it was expensive. 

The very least we did was shoulder the expenses. 

But from asking, we heard about the so called "accidental medical reinbursement" from Red Cross which luckily Althea was a member. 

We began filing the needed receipts and other requirements including her Red Cross Identification Card 21st of December 2019.

We submitted the requirements in one of their Red Cross offices in Navotas. 

From there, we were told that they will be contacting us when the check is ready. 

I was quite doubtful about not hearing from Red Cross after April 2020.

But we were told that it will took several months for them to process everything entirely. 

Reason to this was it will also includes all the reinbursement from other parts of the Philippines. 

But 14th of July my wife and I received a text notification from Red Cross Navotas City Chapter. And informed us that the check now was ready for release. 

I went to Caloocan City Chapter where it was ready for release. 

The check was under the name of my daughter. 

I just presented my ID and my eldest. 

I went right away for check encashment at the bank where they deposited the money. 

I thought everything will went well. 

But upon my personal visit, they never allowed me to encash the check because it wasn't my name that was listed there. 

I approached the Assistant Vice-President of the bank (Bank of the Philippines), and after hearing me out. The bank's VP told me to at least bring important documents for verification like my daughter's  birth certificate or a passport maybe. 

But these suggestions came in after I reiterated that under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) minors are not allowed to go out. 

And I remember also that the bank teller was suggesting and the VP to ask Red Cross Caloocan Chapter to do another check under my name. 

Which I never accepted as a second-best option. 

First, more time will be added just for the waiting. 

I couldn't wait longer for we need the money and that we waited long enough for the check release. 

Second, I will be spending money for this. 

And lastly, Navotas City will be placed under a City-Wide Lockdown that will begin on the 16th of July. 

I looked for my eldest birth certificate and found it. 

But this added burdens like for instance a  commute travel expenses, time, and energy. 

I was at the bank around 9:00 am and went back the same day around 1:30 pm. 

I was even hold for a while outside for when they checked my temperature it rises to 37.

But that was because we were all outside under the scorching heat of the sun. 

But being so sure about the process because the goal was to get the money that very day...I invited my daughter to join me. 

But I rented a car, because I never wanted her to do a public commute with me. There's so much risk specially now that the COVID-19 pandemic is still around. 

While I was dealing with all the process, I asked my eldest to just stay inside the car. 

It was then a very idea that I asked her to join me. I was not expecting that upon presenting the requirements they wanted me to submit...at the end they need my daughter's signature on the check. 

But I have a strong intuition on this, I just came out of the bank and asked for her signature. I was very happy after the successful struggles. 

The money we waited so long will be used for paying an apartment rental and food expenses. 

Thank you Red Cross! ❤️

Back To Work Under GCQ!

Quezon City Hall, Quezon City

The last time I was here before was something unforgettable.
Why? That very day the "Enhanced Community Quarantine" (ECQ) was announced in Metro Manila, 16th of March 2020.
Which paralized the public transportation and adviced people to stay home excluding frontliners to help curb the spread of Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic.

From that announcement, the following day I never reported for work.

Days came in, weeks and months passed by.
I had an invitation for work with the condition of having a transporation arrangements provided by the QC Government. But the location for the pick up for me was far from impossible.
No public transportation, and that I don't have also any means to commute.

Not until after 30th of June when the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) is raised in Metro Manila...this gave me the very opportunity to go back to work again!

Message sent by the QC Gov't Admin asking to report for work 1st of July 2020 (Wed) 

Quite sure about the public commute condition outside, I still pushed myself reporting for duty.

I started my journey going to QC from Navotas City aroun 8:30 am.
Walked from home 'til I reached C4 where there are available buses.
Thinking of having a free ride bus provided by the Navotas City Government but I think my timing isn' t perfect.

The first ride I took will only bring me to Monumento, where it will pick up new set of commuters. From there, the walking started again going to MCU.

Along the way, found jeepney drivers with their signages asking for help from any amount you can share. Tsk...tsk.😢

The bus route here will bring me all the way to Quezon Avenue where I will be taking my chances if there are routes now going to Quezon City Hall.
But was so reluctant and quite so unsure, I alighted at the SM North instead.
But that was I believe a very lousy decision...there was no public transportation available.

I can't hide the feeling  when I passed by SM North over pass...I missed going there.
But of course, not at this time.
I waited for 4 months from the ECQ...I can still wait until possible transmission  of COVID-19 is over.

Remembered myself having a hard time lifting my bike just to cross the other side of the bridge.
9th of June I went to the office but took the bike going there.
And it wasn't so easy. The risks, the danger bothered me after having successfully went home that very day! 🚲

Running late for my first day at work, I took a taxi ride.
Well, the entire trip gave me an P85.00 fare but since I heard the story of the taxi driver who was bothered about a P1000 boundary...I never asked for my
P15. 00 change.

Around 10:16am I was finally at the office.

That very morning I was asked to sign a contract and from there personally I have seen what's the name of my designation.
But don't get me wrong, I know what I applied for but was told during the interview that they will be replacing the name because the job that I will fill in will be comprising so many areas of responsibilities.
Of course, the salary that I will be getting.
One rule when you became a government employee...don't expect a higher one.
Well, I think it was just a normal thing that I felt this.
Mainly because, my entire career life was working at many private firms.

After a few minutes, no orientation done yet, I was sent from a coverage with a photographer and a cameraman.

It was also within the QC Hall. I will be giving details on this for I am not so sure if I will be coming ahead disclosing this very information.

Interviewed two people but not a recorded one. I just jot down details I will used for story leads.

The very same day, we had another shoot.
The venue was just at the Philippine Heart Center.
The city Mayor was around Hon. Joy Belmonte and helped with the ribbon cutting of the emergency room designated for the COVID-19 patients.

We stayed a little longer here.
The weather was hot and sunny at the time.
Too many people but most of us were very aware about social distancing and were protected with our worn facial masks.

Finally the day was over.
A bit bothered about going home.
It was my first day at work and I don't memorize yet the situation of public commute.
But one co-worker called me around 5:00 pm and was offered a transportation service from work.
I am but so happy at that very moment.
At least with this commute, I can assure that I can now go home and skip walking or asking where to find a ride going home.

But I was offered a ride from QC hall to Trinoma.
That's find with me, a familiar location will now give me an easy access going home