These days, I have plenty of time to watch the world go by from my window. Due to COVID-19, I’ll be spending at least 14 days in self-quarantine in a makeshift bedroom outside our home, while my parents and dogs stay inside. Like many others navigating this pandemic, we’re all staying home indefinitely, avoiding direct contact with other people—even our own family members.
Table of Contents
- Why did I take this extreme measure?
- Why did you travel outside the Philippines in the first place?
- What do you feel now that you are back in the Philippines?
- Are you okay? Do you have any symptoms?
- How are you supposed to live while on self-quarantine for 14 days?
- What did you learn from this experience?
Why did I take this extreme measure?
Seven days ago, I arrived in Manila after a 6-day trip to Sydney, Australia. Although I hadn’t traveled to high-risk countries like China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, or Japan, I chose to self-quarantine as an extra precaution. I’m not particularly worried about contracting the virus myself, given its relatively low mortality rate. Plus, I’m young and fortunate to have health insurance from work that covers COVID-19 and related illnesses.
What concerns me more is the risk to others—especially my parents, who are both seniors. This highly contagious virus can be far more debilitating and even fatal for them. I also worry about the immunocompromised, the elderly, and small children I might unknowingly expose if I happen to be an asymptomatic carrier.
Why did you travel outside the Philippines in the first place?
I know I shouldn’t have traveled outside the Philippines in the first place. I admit—I was one of those people who underestimated COVID-19. Believing in a false sense of security, thinking that since the country had only reported three confirmed cases since January 30, we had successfully contained the virus and would remain resilient.
But on March 5, the Philippines received a grim reminder that the virus was already here. Although there were no newly confirmed local cases at the time, two people who had traveled from the Philippines to Australia and Taiwan tested positive. If there was no known local transmission, how did this happen? In the following days, the Department of Health (DOH) began reporting additional COVID-19 cases.
By March 11, the day of our scheduled departure to Sydney, the total number of confirmed cases had climbed to 33, with clear evidence of local transmission. I should have canceled the trip—but I didn’t. When we arrived at our hostel in Sydney on March 12, the receptionist informed us that the World Health Organization (WHO) had officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
That same night, President Rodrigo Duterte announced a lockdown in Metro Manila, set to begin on March 15, to contain the virus’s spread. I was supposed to fly to New Zealand on March 16 and return to the Philippines on March 31, but with everything happening so fast, I didn’t know what to do. In the end, I made the painful decision to cut my trip short and fly back home on March 17. It broke my heart—it was a dream I had to give up.
What do you feel now that you are back in the Philippines?
Fear. I now live with the constant anxiety of what if? What if symptoms appear today, tomorrow, or on the 14th day? Am I an asymptomatic carrier? What if I’ve unknowingly passed the virus to someone close to me. Or even to a stranger? The uncertainty is overwhelming.
Regret. I regret taking my social responsibility for granted. I regret prioritizing my own desires without fully considering the potential harm I could cause to others. Looking back, I wish I had made better choices—not just for myself, but for the people around me.
Are you okay? Do you have any symptoms?
It’s too early for me to say that I am okay. COVID-19 has an incubation period of 1-14 days, most commonly around 5 days, after exposure, according to the WHO. So even if I feel fine right now and in the next few days, I still have to wait for a full 14 days to make sure nothing develops within that period.
These symptoms may appear after exposure:
- Fever
- Dry Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing
- Chest paid
While I do not have any physical symptoms right now, it is my mental state that I am most worried about. A day before my flight back to Manila, I was on the verge of panic. With the public transportation being suspended in Metro Manila, we have no idea how can we get out of the airport. Many Balikbayans in the airport were stranded too. The free transportation provided by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) takes passengers to Clark only. We had no other choice but to ask my friend’s parents to pick us up and take me back home to San Mateo, Rizal.
How are you supposed to live while on self-quarantine for 14 days?
The first question that came to my mind before self-quarantine was how can I get food that will last for at least 14 days? Considering that food deliveries and public transportation are suspended, my only option is to ask my mother to get groceries for me. Imagine food rations at prisons. That’s how it is. My mother prepares and cooks the food. Once she is done, she will fill my bowl with rice and ulam, with of course, disposable plastic gloves. I am responsible to wash my own plates and utensils.
What did you learn from this experience?
The most important thing I learned from this experience is never exchange peace of mind for temporary happiness. Even if I have dreamt for it for so long. Saved money for months. The thought of checking this off my bucket list. The excitement of being in New Zealand – I still should have not taken this trip.
Before this trip, I went through the process of applying for an Australian visa, which is quite straightforward if you meet the requirements. If you’re planning to visit Australia in the future, check out my guide on how to apply for an Australia visa to help you through the process.
