OOTD
Outfit of the day?” I realize I can live on three pieces of clothing: T-shirt, shorts and underwear. That has been my OOTD during the lockout period,” says one CEO,usually seen in corporate suits.
One best-dressed lady went through her closet and ended up giving away one-half of her wardrobe. “I realize how vain and materialistic I had been. Now I value only three things: health, health and health.” Her OOTD during lockdown? Housedresses, a.k.a. dusters.
The lockdown makes us discover many things about ourselves — our priorities, our true joys, our inadequacies, our hidden talents. So hidden because we are too busy with work and caring for family.
It affords us the luxury of doing nothing but achieving everything. In the stillness of our minds, we find what we didn’t see before — the better versions of ourselves.
Ben Chan: Staying home made me appreciate my place better. I was able to realize the amount of work my staff would devote to clean the house every day. To make it easy for them I de-cluttered my room and stored those items I thought were unnecessary for the moment, so it would be easy for them to clean my space.
Also, made sure to choose easy clothes, and use light bath towels for quick laundry.
To while away the long hours of the day, I thought I’d be useful in working in the garden, as this is the area that lacked manpower. My daily task was very simple: watering the plants.
The garden fronting the lanai was my place of sanctuary just before sunset. I’m in commune with Mother Nature. It was refreshing to smell the sweet scent of the earth, reminding me of my childhood days in Pasay.
I have also developed some interest in bird watching, as I realized there are so many exotic species of birds cruising this side of the city. I’ve become sensitive to the whistles they make and know exactly where they’ll be at specific times of the day. I also watch them bathe in the pool or gather together in one tree, seemingly conversing with each other.
I love my garden and even if it has become less manicured now, looking at weeds growing in between patches of grass and the plants creates some natural rhythm that is akin to reading poetry.
I guess this lockdown made me more sensitive to nature.
Karen Davila: Life in quarantine is a practice in stillness, gratefulness, and also enjoying the mundane. I always loved to paint as a child and after all these years, it’s the only time I’ve held a paintbrush again. I wish I had the desire to learn how to cook; I think that’s one of the most fulfilling to do at home. If there’s one gift — being with the kids 24/7 — it’s a whole different experience for a working mom like me.
Just mere “presence” is such a gift — DJ and I just being beside our sons David and Lucas while they’re playing, reading or being in the same room with them while doing their online class meetings makes me truly appreciate the value of family. Meals together have become main events and watching Netflix together a shared experience! There’s a unique kind of involvement that being in quarantine has shown me. I used to save so much for travel to build memories with the kids, but the quarantined life forces us to build different kinds of memories.
It’s a time to be attentive to one another, mindful and more patient with each other. The mundane of the minimal has made us closest to each other.
Rico Hizon: I’m enjoying the family bonding with my wife, Melannie, and our 15-year-old son, Migo. We’ve been watching the news (CNN International and CNN Philippines) for the latest updates, movies online, playing online games and just chatting away all day about life and gossip. Haha! I’m now more domesticated, washing dishes, vacuuming the living room and bedroom, mopping the balcony, and preparing basic breakfast, like toast with butter and strawberry jam. Melannie is the cook; she whips up sumptuous meals for lunch and dinner. Migo is the techy guy, so he helps me set up my little studio together with Melannie from Monday to Friday in the living room every night. I have finally learned to do online banking and other stuff online. This whole ECQ has really been a learning experience for the family.
Kevin Tan: I have learned to appreciate the stillness of the ECQ. Everything is so quiet. I feel the world is resting and healing. This time has also allowed me to reconnect with my children. They will always remember this time not as a time of crisis, but a time when Mom and Dad were with them 24/7. This is a beautiful memory I think they will cherish forever.
Rikki and Beng Dee: Our OOTD during lockdown? We wear our daytime PJs and change to night PJs. Repeat the same routine every day! Every day since lockdown is pretty much like any other day. We cook, experiment on dishes, watch Netflix, and most of all, we exercise! The difference is where we spend it — by the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, the bedroom. What this quarantine has taught us is that every day is a blessing to be with family. That is what truly matters.
Mario Katigbak: Since March 15 I have been in lockdown, as in I have not been out of the condo. Luckily for me, my helper is a very good cook — hence I probably gained more than 10 pounds.
I have also been lucky to have a daughter who loves to buy online, so she orders all my grocery needs, medicines and even my vices (vodka and cigarettes) and it’s delivered to my condo.
I am actually a homebody — and people don’t believe this — I enjoy staying at home and just read and watch Netflix... and of course, eat junk!
With the lockdown and Work From Home, it is even more convenient, as I have learned to use apps like Hangout, Team and Zoom. So every afternoon I either Team with Singapore principals, Zoom with my staff and Hangout with my children, and even my siblings and nieces/nephews.
One of the things I have learned is patience, patience, patience… and to trust that this will all end and that we will be better people.
Elena Coyiuto: During this lockdown period, I find it a blessing to be able to stay in the safety of home and find ways to still be productive. It is definitely a huge change from my usually hectic schedule!
I wake up around 8 a.m. and have my glass of hot water and Skyflakes for breakfast before taking a shower. Then I stay under the sun for 30 minutes to get my daily dose of vitamin D. This is where I get to do my bamboo-stick stretching.
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., I go through and post on my @madameinshades Instagram, and chat with my eldest daughter, Stephanie. We update each other about the news in general, my grandkids (whom I miss so much), about fun food finds, and progress made in the various task force fundraisers we formed as a family for frontliners. After which, I spend an hour meeting my office staff over Zoom calls.
My early afternoons are devoted to art, either drawing or painting. I have piano lessons via Zoom three times a week. For exercise, I swim, bike and dance for an hour at least. I enjoy dancing with my daughter Sofia and her 808 Studio online dance classes.
I normally read or watch Netflix after dinner, then I wait till 10 p.m. for my daily chat with my youngest daughter, Mae, who is currently working with McMillan publishing in NYC. I end my day by watching Cuomo’s NYC live briefing and my favorite K-dramas.
