Kwento Ni Toto: Pandemic

Surviving The Pandemic with BAHALA NA!

Toto 11:08:00 PM

It has been over a year now, and we're still in this pandemic. All are still uncertain until the vaccination is complete though there are still uncertainties we can only hope for the best.

The year in this pandemic has become a survivor series for me. I don't have a full-time job, and my only source of income for my family is blogging and content creation. Since the start of the pandemic, opportunities have become scarce. I'm always looking forward to those little projects that could at least bring food to the table. It has been like a daily task in the survivor series where participants need to win in the challenges to gain rewards. The difference is perhaps the extinguishing of light. If I lose, I can go home but in this pandemic, losing is not an option. But this doesn't stop me because I believe that my faith can pull me through. Work without faith is nothing, and faith without work is the same. As the saying goes, "Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga! ([literal translation] when there is perseverance, there is stew.)"

Surviving with a grain of mustard seed

Our faith is one of the many driving factors that kept us all in tune and alive. Having faith, as small as a grain of mustard seed, is powerful enough to move mountains. This phrase is one of the many lines in the Bible that kept me moving forward. It may sound too good and impossible for some, but it has been our binding factor to the one, the creator.

If you have seen the movie God's Not Dead, there were two pastors in the film, where their faith, even though they are already Christian Pastors, is tested. Pastor Roland believes in the goodness and grace of the Lord, while Pastor Dave is full of worries. That's why throughout the story, they were negative and positive poles. In our lives, we always face tests and trials.

A test of faith and things happen for a reason

I see the pandemic as a test of faith! It is a question of how big or how small my faith is. A question that applies to everyone, to every individual who's having second thoughts about life. That's why a question of "How many of the prayers become answered prayers?" Well, in my lifetime, I believe all fulfilled prayers, except for those petty ones.

I remember the story shared by our pastor about a Christian who believes that God will actually save him (as in literally God will save him, as what he thought of). It is a test of faith, and it is about knowing God's way of providing things that we need.

A big storm came, and it is flooding already. Mang Jose, the faithful one, is now on his house's first floor when the Tanods passed by, telling everyone to go to the shelter and leave everything. Being devoted, he said, "don't worry, my God will save me." The flood is now on the second floor of the house. A rubber boat passes and encourages him to come with them, but Mang Jose replied, "don't worry, my God will save me." When the flood reached the edge of the roof, Mang Jose is already sitting on top of the house. A helicopter came, throws down a rope, and asked him to get on board the chopper. Still faithfully stubborn, he replied, "don't worry, my God will save me." Then the flood goes higher and higher until Mang Jose drowned.

In heaven, Mang Jose complains to God why He didn't save him. God replied, "I did help you, but you kept ignoring them." Mang Jose thinking and asked, "When was it, Lord?" God explains, "I did send the Tanods, the rubber boat, and the helicopter to pick you up, but you ignored them all."

This pandemic God gave a lot of help to our family, and it came from different avenues. May it be from an individual or a group of people who want to help.

The shield and the sword, making the impossible possible

An unceasing Prayer, a mustard seed faith, and plenty of work are what kept us moving in these trying times. No job, no income, and not enough finances, imagine what we've strived through the lockdowns and quarantines. I really couldn't imagine how we go through the year, but thankfully God is the shield and sword that covered our family from the pandemic and led us to opportunities to help us get through the rough days. We are not yet through with the pandemic, but the blessings are overflowing. We are grateful for all these blessings.

My wife and I would always say, "bahala na. (whatever will be, will be)" To other people, this term connotes negative, but it is a faithful trait of us all Filipinos. We're letting go and giving it all to God. We're not lazy, because after all, we have tried every possible way before we lay all down to Lord. From selling things online to being a redistributor of goods, delivering it to other people despite the scare of COVID-19. For us, we can do all things, but God leads us to every possible thing.

So, Dear Toto,

As we continue our lives in this pandemic, let us continue to have that Pinoy work attitude (being 'masipag'[hardworking]) and a mustard seed size of faith, then let God do all the rest.

So, BAHALA NA (Whatever will be, will be)!

Truly yours,

Yourself

This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia's "Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2: Dear Survivor". The initiative continues to respond to the need of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crisis. The initiative aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities to inspire the nation to rise and move forward amidst the difficult situation. The "Write to Ignite Blogging Project" Season 2 is made possible by ComCo Southeast Asia, with Eastern Communications and Jobstreet as co-presenters, and with Air Asia and Xiaomi as major sponsors.