Year-Enders

A schoolmate of mine died because of Covid-19. He was well-off and could have afforded the best possible treatment there is. As far as we know, he is a healthy person.

So it irks me when people, supposedly educated people at that, teachers even, scoff that Covid-19 ain't real. Or that it's just like TB or the flu. Or that Covid-19 should not be blamed, you don't die of Covid-19 but of whatever disease you already have.  Don't these people get it? Those people with co-morbities would still have been alive if it not for Covid-19. Covid-19 basically pushed them off the cliff. 

The thing is, you never know if you will be a mild case or a fatality. And if you don't get a yearly comprehensive physical, it could be too late before you learn that you have an underlying condition.

Being healthy also does not guarantee that you'd be asymptomatic or a mild case.

Taking a swab test alone is not a walk in the park. My brother relates that our frontliner cousin already had a swab test twice. Cousin says one time he has to stop himself sneezing that his face was beet red after the swabbing. 

Already it seems that other people are gonna break protocol and mass gather these holidays. The last few weeks saw a lot of people out shopping, a lot not observing social distancing or correct mask/face shield wearing. Some people in our neighborhood have already been doing rowdy revelries since October, karaoke sessions and liquor-drinking parties. Sometimes disregarding curfew. Obviously, the party-goers are not related by blood. A recent one involved a series of fireworks at midnight which was really, really inconsiderate. There were cheers of happy birthday after. Their voices were that loud that they can be heard several houses away. I have an inkling of who had this party: the same people who had been honking their car's horn in front of other peoples' houses at a time when everyone else is sleeping just so their help would open their gate. Supposedly, one of their own works for an administration senator. 

What curfew?

Pasabuys: Revlon Flex Keratina Shampoo and SYOSS Revive 7 Conditioner Reviews

Pasabuy is a play on the Filipino word "pasabay", which means to come with or to have someone include something for you. The pandemic forced people to stay indoors. When the lockdown / community quarantines started, aside from essential personnel, only one person per household was allowed outside the house and just to buy necessities. Only private and essential vehicles were allowed on the roads. Because of this people would either ask someone they knew who's going to the grocery to also buy for them. Realizing they could earn from this, some people would then either charge a handling fee as they call it or mark up the items they were asked to buy.  Pasabuy was born and coined.

When a co-worker ended up at SnR, she offered to pick up stuff for everyone as a lot of items were on sale. People joked that most of us would end up smelling the same since we got similar shampoos and conditioners. This had happened previously when we purchased the same fabric conditioners from another co-teacher.

Since Revlon is a well-known brand which usually delivers, I said yes to a bottle of Flex Keratina Anticaspa Shampoo. Well two since they were buy one get one. The 650ml bottle which could have used a pump given the size, was P240. That's basically half the price of a commercial shampoo in the Philippines like Dove and Sunsilk.

Uncertainty is Certain

We've been experiencing covid news fatigue. While I still check the daily statistics in our city, I stopped paying attention to the nationwide tally. They seem to be manipulating the numbers to suit whatever narrative they wish to feed the citizenry. (There was a time when the new cases per day was pegged at 200+ for so long. Now, 3000 + is the new 200+.) It's harder to do that at the local level since you're working with a smaller population, where someone with knowledge could blab should a case go unreported. 

Biking is 'in'. Even for kids and teens.

The Philippines seems to be set on becoming the Guiness Book of World Records' country with the longest time on lockdown. I sometimes think that that was their only plan, ride out the pandemic by making people stay indoors. We're on GCQ now but the meaning/specific guidelines of each CQs are lost to us especially as it seems that those guidelines are not set in stone. We went to MECQ last month and yet tricycles still plied the roads. Went back to GCQ but local businesses remained closed on Sundays until just recently. What remains clear is that no matter the CQ, the virus is still around. 

Avon Heaven Scent Splash Cologne: Sunshine Yellow and Fresh Squeeze

Finally emptied these two, Avon Heaven Scent Sunshine Yellow and Fresh Squeeze Splash Colognes. I know they have new label designs since April last year but what can I say, fragrances last for quite a while with me because I stockpile and use them alternately. Also, because of covid-19, I haven't been going out much. Except for when I feel like smelling a particular fragrance, I don't usually wear colognes or perfumes at home. I'm okay with scented lotions and bath products.  

Between my previous translucent bottle of Sunshine Yellow and this, my second bottle ever, I can vouch that the smell has remained the same and am hoping that this is also true with the new label.

Nature Beauty Collagen and Glutathione Perfect Magic Peeling Cream and Shady Seller Practices

Here's another product I got from a roving seller before lockdown.

I had been meaning to get my hands on a peeling gel/cream after trying out Sophie Martin Paris Tomato Natural Antioxidant Peeling. Since Nature Beauty Collagen and Glutathione Perfect Magic Peeling Cream works the same way (The seller applied some of the product on my arm and rubbed it in. Sure enough, clumps of debris began forming. Mind you, as I've explained extensively in the Sophie Martin Tomato Peeling post last January, peeling gels/cream that produce clumps are physical, like scrubs, not chemical exfoliants in spite of the torrent of extracts they spew at you. They're not magic. ), I got easily duped into buying a tube.

Milea All Organics Tea Tree and Aloe Vera Antibacterial Soap

Before lockdown, I purchased a lot of stuff from roving sellers. Not only was it convenient, but some sellers tend to offer free taste and freebies and unlike buying online, I get to see, smell and feel the actual product. In the new normal, I am not so sure roving sellers will be permitted into work premises as easily as before. Heck, I'm not so sure there will be roving sellers of beauty products anymore. But then, maybe a coworker who's into buy and sell will branch into beauty stuff.

From ECQ to MECQ to GCQ to MGCQ

It felt like Hunger Games, complete with a siren at 12 noon then 8PM during enhanced community quarantine or ECQ and modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ. Then there's the televised announcement of the fallen aka the day's total number of cases usually at 4PM. Donation drives were launched for PPEs and food for frontliners, and mass testing.

During ECQ and MECQ when only essential work was allowed, LGUs used funds to provide households with relief goods, usually rice, noodles and sardines. Who knew lumpiang sardinas tastes good.

Life During Lockdown Due to Covid-19

I am terrified.

I haven't been sleeping well, worrying. Especially since there are three senior citizens in our household, all of whom have co-morbidities, one of whom has a mental illness and needs to go to the hospital monthly, at the very least.

We get our daily dose of Vitamin D at our rooftop.

My sissy and I have been quite diligent, taking necessary precautions to keep the family safe. The problem is the senior citizens in our household think they are invincible. Even at a supermarket in Malhacan, I have observed some senior citizens talking in groups, never mind if they don't know each other, just met each other at the queue. Good-bye social distancing. I hate the queues there, cutting into the line is rampant so it's imperative for one to be there at 6AM, even if the supermarket opens at 9AM then, 8AM now.

Garnier Light Products

Currently, my weekday morning skincare routine involves Garnier Light Complete White Speed Brightening Foam, Garnier Light Complete White Speed Whitening Serum Cream with SPF19 and Garnier Light Brightening Eye Roll On. No toner, no extra sunscreen. No extra step. I've been going minimal so I have more time for stuff.

Garnier caught my attention when, upon arriving in the Philippines, they had this commercial showing a model holding over her face a strip of paper with varying skin tones, dark to light. One is supposed to become two shades fairer within several days of product use. At stores, their Light Complete Day Cream came with a similar strip. Suddenly, their competitors were adopting their marketing strategy.

Aficionado Bath and Body Spray: Fancy

Aficionado is better known nationwide as that company which offers inspired-by EDTs. But a closer look at their kiosks found in most malls across the country would tell you that they also carry original fragrances (EDTs, bath and body sprays and colognes) and celebrity scents from collabs with local artists from the entertainment industry. They even have room and linen sprays and personal care items like hand sanitizers.

Sophie Martin Paris Tomato Natural Antioxidant Peeling Review

When a seller who came by the workplace pointed to it as their most popular product when asked, even sharing anecdotes of return customers who swear that it's effective, I got me a quirky tomato-shaped container of Sophie Martin Paris Tomato Natural Antioxidant Peeling. During colder days I tend to get dry flaky patches around my lips and nose. I wanted to do some exfoliating before moisturizing. Get the flakes off rather than pick at it, which I often do, but shouldn't, absent-mindedly.

Do not confuse this with Tony Moly's Tomatox Magic White Massage Pack. It's not a substitute or a dupe. Their similarity ends with the containers. Sophie Martin Paris Tomato Natural Antioxidant Peeling works like a peeling gel (not a peeling mask ala Daiso Charcoal Mask). Tony Moly Tomatox Magic White Massage Pack is a rinse-off mask you massage unto your face. Sophie Martin's is a thin white cream with red beads whereas the Tony Moly's is thick and sticky.