Coronavirus Disease 19 was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

The symptoms of this disease include fever, difficulty in breathing, cough, and invasive
lesions on both lungs of the patients (Song, 2020). The government have taken
mandatory actions such as wearing of face masks, restrictions on travel, social and
physical distancing and community quarantines. It was in January 2020 that the World
Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak as a health emergency
that requires international concern. Thus, the current COVID-19 pandemic, as a health
crisis, affects all segments of the population.

Basic education is among the sectors heavily affected as schools were enforced
to close. Just like everyone, students were confined in their homes but education has to
continue. So, in the Philippines, schools offered multiple learning delivery modalities,
with blended learning and distance learning as major options to safeguard the health,
safety and welfare of not only of all the learners but also of teachers, and school
personnel. With these new modalities, parents have become learning facilitators.
Teachers and learners have to learn new skills to deliver online classes. Despite these
efforts, UNICEF (2021) reported the consequences of this event that includes lack of
gadgets for distance learning, lack of support among young children in using the
technology, lessons which are mostly beyond parents’ level of education, poor learning
environment, pressure to do household chores, or being forced to work.

In 2019, the Philippines was one of the fastest growing economies in the world
(Mendoza, 2021). However, the economic status of the country has also faced
challenges amidst the pandemic. As a tourist destination, flight cancellations and
lockdowns have brought Philippine tourism to its downfall. Likewise, several micro,
small and medium businesses have to close due to income losses. On the bright side,
BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) or commonly known as “call centers” have
extended their work hours in remote work set-up. Looking ahead, now that the
restrictive policies are lifted, and confidence is restored by mass vaccination, the
economy is on its way to recovery.

Today, face to face classes have resumed and economy is becoming strong
enough to recover. Yet, the reality remains that we will have to live with the virus
because it will not easily go away.

References:

Song, F., Shi. N., Shan, F., et al. (2020). Emerging coronavirus 2019-nCoV pneumonia.
Radiology. 2020:200274. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2020200274.

UNICEF. (2021). Filipino children continue missing education opportunities in another

year of school closure. Press Release. Philippines.

Mendoza, R. U. (2021). The Philippine economy under the pandemic: From Asian tiger
to sick man again? Press Release. Brookings.