By: Jobert Mendoza
Enhance Community Quarantine , General Community Quarantine , MGCQ, this is what the major cities in the Philippines have been encountering since March 2020. The restriction in movement , as well as the health protocols implemented , affect the socio economic behaviors of Filipinos.
With many aspects of daily life done virtually our country have indeed accepted the challenge of the New Normal but what is New Normal really meant to Filipinos?
Change the Spirit of Bayanihan
Nowadays, Filipino consumers put a premium on safety and convenience. This is why we can observe a significant rise in the number of online marketplaces and delivery services. With a few clicks, anyone can get their items delivered right at their doorstep. However, change in the modes of transaction is not the only aspect affected by the crisis. This shift has also paved the way for the spirit of bayanihan to thrive in the digital age.
Bayanihan is a FIlipino value which pertains to having a spirit of unity and cooperation. At a young age, Filipinos are taught that bayanihan is innate and unique to the Philippine culture. In olden times, it has been portrayed through people working together to lift a house.
The spirit of bayanihan in the digital age manifested through FIlipinos showing preference for products and services that help fellow Filipinos survive the pandemic. We see more microbusinesses emerging online. A quick look at your list of social media connections and you will see friends and acquaintances venturing into selling goods– from beloved family recipes to sanitation products such as alcohol, face masks and face shields. The increase in the number of microbusinesses can be seen as a result of an increase in demand-People are buying, so people started selling more. We have seen people rally behind Benguet farmers who had to throw away their produce and delivery drivers who struggle with cancelled orders. Online groups have been created to help support these causes and help link them to customers willing to purchase their products.
“The spirit of bayanihan in the digital age manifested through FIlipinos showing preference for products and services that help fellow Filipinos to survive the pandemic”
The Filipino New Normal
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged our way of life, thus, it prompted all of us to adapt and create a new normal. But what is the new normal? Is it just the transition of life into a virtual mode? Is it having everything we need with a few clicks? No. The Filipino New Normal is more than that.
The Filipino New Normal takes advantage of the opportunities offered by technology. But more than that, the Filipino New Normal embodies the spirit of bayanihan that is innate in all of us. The Filipino New Normal consciously chooses to make decisions that would uplift others. The Filipino New Normal encourages the growth of Social Enterprises so that they continue to identify innovative solutions to ensure that no one is left behind.
The COVID-19 pandemic indeed made our sky the darkest, but it is in the darkest nights wherein brightest stars shine.
Pieces of Me 