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t me to be more sensitive with delivering communication towards the older people in the village, as they are most likely cannot understand the way I spoke and use words that my environment affects me.No, I wasn’t feeling lonely, I rather feel alone, you cannot see people that you talk to face to face. You only see vehicles park for long days, then comes to weeks. That was so scary to me.<blockquote id="32e7">There was military patrolling the street. Fricken me out of ambulance sirens and military patrolling around the city with loud noises like in Afghanistan. Well, sort of but not exactly.</blockquote><figure id="afcf"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*RyV3Zii5K2L1iRya31kkCw.jpeg"><figcaption>This was the view from the balcony of my apartment in Davao taken during a lockdown. On normal days, this street is full of passersby</figcaption></figure>I have waited from March to August of 2020 to be able to fly back to Singapore. Finally, my wait was over, I could take a flight from Davao to Manila and from Manila to Singapore. I have to wait 2 days at Manila airport to wait for the next flight. I was frightened of getting covid, but I want to go home.The problem of Flying out from the PhilippinesThe hassle of getting a travel clearance which was necessary was an issue. Each person that getting out of Davao City must comply with some documentation such as a proof of home address clearance and medical certificate to testify you are free of covid. Everyone wants to go home to the provincial side of Davao. No clearance, no travel.The wait to go to the barangay (town council) with people waiting in line under the sun will surely make you sick. So I start to wait in line at 5 am that I can be first to get served. Sometimes the office open and sometimes not. I had to queue 2 days in a row.<h1 id="30f6">Fit to fly</h1>Having the town council certificate clearance you will then go to the certified medical staff which is assigned by the City Mayor to give you a Medical Certificate that you are fit to fly.<figure id="0ed6"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*rSrQ8AbrCR9WCBwbjQmHRg.jpeg"><figcaption>At that time, it is a must to wear face shields. My stressful face I could not imagine. Months of not sleeping well, I was about to really die.</figcaption></figure>Now, finally getting out of Davao city to go home to Singapore.Before I could fly, the briefing was necessary and I was told to wear face shields. The Philippines is humid, the mask and face shields were killing me.The plane ticket was at a high price but I just bought

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it as I really need to go back as much as I possibly can. The earthquake was getting worse. Once a day or one in a week. This shaken me.The flight wasn’t full. There was only one person in each row as I noticed.I arrived in Manila and checked in at the hotel airport.<h1 id="712c">14 Days Quarantine in Singapore.</h1>I finally arrived in Singapore. The immigration officer pick me up and guided me to the car quickly with 2 of the person on the same flight as mine.We were checked in at 5 star Hyatt Hotel so quickly not to get acquaintances with others. We pass through the back of the hotel.During quarantine, we have treated well with food 3 meals a day plus snacks and lots of bottled water.14 days Hyatt Hotel accommodation was free. But as you may know, nothing is free in Singapore. In my assumption, my tax will be much higher later. We all paid tax handsomely without fail or you go to jail.<h1 id="14f6">How I end up in Austria</h1>My husband was lockdown in Malaysia Johor Bahru. He does not like the idea of being quarantined when entering Singapore. We decided that we need to go to Austria which he thinks is safe for us to be during this pandemic.As I mention, I am a Filipina with residency in Singapore. I do still need to get a visa in order to enter Austria even I am a wife of an Austrian for 15 years now. Most of the time we live in Singapore and Malaysia.After getting out 14 days in quarantine, I process my visa. Another issue arises. I need a covid 19 insurance coverage to enter Austria.Because I travel often, we have a family travel insurance coverage that was purchase with a well-known insurance company in Singapore many years ago.Coronavirus is out of coverage with the existing insurance. Oh ya right! Now what? We have to find another insurance company to cover me with covid 19.We found one from Austria. We got lucky. It took another 30 days to get the visa including document preparation. Getting a visa for Austria needs to be submitted and apply to Austrian Embassy Indonesia.Finally, I met my husband in Doha. He flew from Johor and I flew from Singapore.We are now in Austria. We hike the beautiful mountain nearby. At the time of this writing, Austria still on lockdown but not so tight as we can go to buy food at the grocery. It is mention that by March 2021, the lockdown will be over.I wish to bring you the real-life story of this journey. The coronavirus life brought us sadness.How about you? What is your story? Please connect with me..Love,Elvie</article></body>

What Coronavirus And Earthquake Taught Me

Lockdown in Mindanao due to coronavirus, and earthquakes that come at night like a Dracula. When the fear of death seems right next to you and ready to drag you down. A nightmare of 5 long months seems a decade.

In new years day of January 2020, I flew to Davao to see our small apartment which got damaged by an earthquake in December of 2019.

This is our apartment in Davao. The entire unit was badly damaged

Davao City is in Mindanao, the Southern part of the Philippines.

The coronavirus attack Davao City and lockdown starts on 20 March 2020. I have not been away from home this long. I live in Singapore and it is my resident currently.

As I was ready to head back, there was no flight. Almost everything in Davao city stops. I have no choice but to stay foot.

Aside from coronavirus, Davao city suffers intermittent earthquakes. Earthquakes attack mostly in the evening at 12 midnight or 2 am. The time when most normal people can enjoy a good sleep. I could remember it occurs many times in a week and I am most fearful when the ceiling lights swinging like a disco room. Drinking wine glasses plunges and cracks inside the cabinet.

I have a ready bag to go and placed by the main door of the apartment, in case I need to run out and if the entire building will collapse or security guards calls for evacuation.

Coronavirus and earthquake change the way I look at life.

It taught me that money is not that important. We cannot bring money when we die. If we have just enough to live a normal life, it is enough.

It taught me to help the poor especially the young children. During coronavirus and earthquake, many people in Davao lost their homes and no jobs available as everything close down. Many people in the Philippines survive from getting jobs on a daily basis.

Me, behind the children with a white hat. I went to the village where a family lost their homes due to an earthquake just before the coronavirus. I give away toys to these children hoping to make them happy

It taught me to start planting vegetables and flowers to feel relax.

It taught me to be more sensitive with delivering communication towards the older people in the village, as they are most likely cannot understand the way I spoke and use words that my environment affects me.

No, I wasn’t feeling lonely, I rather feel alone, you cannot see people that you talk to face to face. You only see vehicles park for long days, then comes to weeks. That was so scary to me.

There was military patrolling the street. Fricken me out of ambulance sirens and military patrolling around the city with loud noises like in Afghanistan. Well, sort of but not exactly.

This was the view from the balcony of my apartment in Davao taken during a lockdown. On normal days, this street is full of passersby

I have waited from March to August of 2020 to be able to fly back to Singapore. Finally, my wait was over, I could take a flight from Davao to Manila and from Manila to Singapore. I have to wait 2 days at Manila airport to wait for the next flight. I was frightened of getting covid, but I want to go home.

The problem of Flying out from the Philippines

The hassle of getting a travel clearance which was necessary was an issue. Each person that getting out of Davao City must comply with some documentation such as a proof of home address clearance and medical certificate to testify you are free of covid. Everyone wants to go home to the provincial side of Davao. No clearance, no travel.

The wait to go to the barangay (town council) with people waiting in line under the sun will surely make you sick. So I start to wait in line at 5 am that I can be first to get served. Sometimes the office open and sometimes not. I had to queue 2 days in a row.

Fit to fly

Having the town council certificate clearance you will then go to the certified medical staff which is assigned by the City Mayor to give you a Medical Certificate that you are fit to fly.

At that time, it is a must to wear face shields. My stressful face I could not imagine. Months of not sleeping well, I was about to really die.

Now, finally getting out of Davao city to go home to Singapore.

Before I could fly, the briefing was necessary and I was told to wear face shields. The Philippines is humid, the mask and face shields were killing me.

The plane ticket was at a high price but I just bought it as I really need to go back as much as I possibly can. The earthquake was getting worse. Once a day or one in a week. This shaken me.

The flight wasn’t full. There was only one person in each row as I noticed.

I arrived in Manila and checked in at the hotel airport.

14 Days Quarantine in Singapore.

I finally arrived in Singapore. The immigration officer pick me up and guided me to the car quickly with 2 of the person on the same flight as mine.

We were checked in at 5 star Hyatt Hotel so quickly not to get acquaintances with others. We pass through the back of the hotel.

During quarantine, we have treated well with food 3 meals a day plus snacks and lots of bottled water.

14 days Hyatt Hotel accommodation was free. But as you may know, nothing is free in Singapore. In my assumption, my tax will be much higher later. We all paid tax handsomely without fail or you go to jail.

How I end up in Austria

My husband was lockdown in Malaysia Johor Bahru. He does not like the idea of being quarantined when entering Singapore. We decided that we need to go to Austria which he thinks is safe for us to be during this pandemic.

As I mention, I am a Filipina with residency in Singapore. I do still need to get a visa in order to enter Austria even I am a wife of an Austrian for 15 years now. Most of the time we live in Singapore and Malaysia.

After getting out 14 days in quarantine, I process my visa. Another issue arises. I need a covid 19 insurance coverage to enter Austria.

Because I travel often, we have a family travel insurance coverage that was purchase with a well-known insurance company in Singapore many years ago.

Coronavirus is out of coverage with the existing insurance. Oh ya right! Now what? We have to find another insurance company to cover me with covid 19.

We found one from Austria. We got lucky. It took another 30 days to get the visa including document preparation. Getting a visa for Austria needs to be submitted and apply to Austrian Embassy Indonesia.

Finally, I met my husband in Doha. He flew from Johor and I flew from Singapore.

We are now in Austria. We hike the beautiful mountain nearby. At the time of this writing, Austria still on lockdown but not so tight as we can go to buy food at the grocery. It is mention that by March 2021, the lockdown will be over.

I wish to bring you the real-life story of this journey. The coronavirus life brought us sadness.

How about you? What is your story? Please connect with me..

Love,

Elvie