Bauko and Work

Whew! I resumed work at Bauko last week and a day after that there was a lock down due to Corona virus. I’ve been reporting at the clinic during the past however today I was asked to go to the municipal gym to help in issuing Health Declaration Form for those individuals going outside the municipality.

An hour after starting, the senior nurses from the clinic showed me their cloth masks and told me to go get one at MDRRMO, I was thinking does it have filter and does it offer same protection as the 3-ply disposable masks? But since they told me to go and get one for me even if I am wearing one, I went without thinking which I regretted after. When I went there they asked me who is going to use it? I answered “me” and was asked “what about the one you are wearing? there is no stock”. Oh my I was embarrassed and thought, what was I doing there and just told them “sorry, they just told me to come and get here that is why I came”. 

You know what it felt like, why can't people a little bit nicer when they say no? I know, it didn’t come to mind that there is a shortage of masks for health care workers especially the frontliners. I like the design but then cloth masks according to study won’t offer that much protection against corona virus, surgical masks and N95 still works 50% better as it adheres to FDA guidelines. However, according to another study any type of general mask use will likely decrease viral exposure and infection risk on a population level. It is always best to wear whatever protection that could minimize exposure to virus and bacteria.

Come lunch time, we went to eat and after eating I told one of the senior nurses that I’ll go back to the clinic. I then took the trail, a short cut going down to the highway, to my dismay it wasn’t that far. I wanted to have a long walk to at least smell the scent of pine trees however, I just ended up walking in the highway under the strong heat of the sun. Some cars stopped and the drivers asked me if I want to ride but I declined and told them laughing “it is ok, I need to burn some fats”.

I just took some amateur photos along the way and was thankful I am in this part of the country while most people in the city where I used to work are worried with space and crowd, here in the countryside I am not worried about it.  The mountain reminds me of how we used to go to the mountain when I was young to plant peanuts, corn and other crops. Wondering if my kids would ever love the idea of doing it, seem kids nowadays doesn’t have any idea of how hard it is to go to the farm so that a family could have something to eat.

Bauko is the biggest municipality here in Mountain Province, though the capital is Bontoc where I am from. Bauko is more progressive as compared to some municipalities of Mountain Province, it is also the point of entry to this province. The biggest hospital is also located here in Bauko, so it is quite challenging to the LGU sector. We have Persons Under Investigation and Persons Under Monitoring but we don’t have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 here in Mountain Province that is why we are taking extra precautions to avoid positive cases.

Anyway, came home after with a mild headache perhaps from walking thinking I will still do my laundry however, the caretaker of the house where I am renting, whom I call “mother Dalin” washed my clothes already. I don’t know if I’d be delighted or embarrassed but then I just consoled myself with the thought that she likes me and is glad I am there with her. I thanked her and told her she doesn’t have to do it.

I then took off my clothes, washed and wore an oversized polo and indulged myself with the local rice wine I bought last week at the market here… Aaahhh the feeling, oversized polo, braless and wine, I love privacy…My overweight body feels so sexy.. a sexy pharmacist...

Ahhh I need more wine...