My Songs for the Year 2020

This year made listening to songs extra meaningful.  Well, how could it not? when most of us are quarantined to eternity for the most part of the year..with the usual normal activities put on hold.  Nothing keeps us company more than the songs and music we listened to, danced to, sung along to. And how this year still proved that musicians hearts and spirits will continue to thrive, pandemic or not. 

And here are the songs on my playlist this year, the balm to a toxic year, providing inspiration to melancholy or simply reflecting our emotions as needed. 

Thank you once again to the artists, the singers, performers, for your music, your passion, your creativity shared to millions of us. Some of these will go on to become classic hits that we will always listen to years from now, to make us smile once again or sigh or swoon long after the covid era has come and gone: 

Dance Monkey - Tones & I;

Like That - Doja Cat

STUCK WITH U - Justin Bieber & Ariana Grande

NO TIME TO DIE - Billie Eilish

SAY SO - Doja Cat

death bed (coffee for your head) - Powfu, 7) Beabadoobee

Break My Heart - Dua Lipa

Flower - Yoon Mi-Rae

Dynamite - BTS

 I Give You My Heart - IU

Better Weather - Leila Alcasid

Run - Joji

Disco Man - Remi Wolf

 Supalonely - BENEE, Gus Dapperton

 Be Kind - Halsey

Summer Feelings - Lennon Stella (Feat. Charlie Puth)

How You Like That - BLACKPINK

Roses- SAInt JHN

Higa - Arthur Nery

my future - Billie Eilish

Imahe - Magnus Haven

Illicit Affairs - Taylor Swift

KLWKN-Music Hero

Wake Up - Elaine

In Silence - Janet Suhh

Blueberry Eyes - Max (ft, Suga of BTS)

Ice Cream - BlackPink

Birthday - Disclosure, Kehlani, Syd

Positions - Ariana Grande

Kapalaran - Bea Lorenzo

At My Worst - Pink $weat

Ulap - Rob Deniel

Life Goes On - BTS

My Watchlist 2020 - Thank you for Keeping us sane

ah, 2020, one of the worst years the earth has seen for quite a while, at least for our generation, and this lifetime. 

Despite its many challenges, notably the series of lockdown and seeming unlimited quarantine in effect in the Philippines, there were some bright spots and bits of inspiration thrown our way.  Some of these include the movies, shows that have kept us company throughout our quarantined days. When most of us are left with no choice but to stay at home, to Netflix and chill as they say, or simply lounge in front of the TV (at least outside of TikTok activities & my usual socmed hours) - we have these entertainment, something to look forward to daily or weekly or every other day - to ward off boredom and also help us focus on important stuff by providing us with worthy diversion. That after coming off our binge-watch or after viewing these films, these shows, sporting events, our spirits are renewed and we benefit from a fresh perspective while at same time taking our minds away from the negative events.

Personally, here are those that were part of my watchlist this year. I am thankful for their production, for the entertainment, the inspiration and pure creativity, & passion and dedication of athletes that made this pandemic & catastrophic year somewhat tolerable:

1) CRASH LANDING ON YOU 

2) IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY

3) THE PLATFORM

4) THE OLD GUARD

5) EXTRACTION

6) HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR

7) START-UP

8) TACO CHRONICLES

9) YOU - SEASON 2

10) MONEY HEIST - SEASON 4

11) ENOLA HOLMES

12) ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

13) LOVE WEDDING REPEAT

14) ON VODKA, BEERS AND REGRETS

15) #ALIVE

16) REBECCA

17) THE SLEEPOVER

18) NARCOS MEXICO SEASON 2

19) SERGIO

20) HINDI TAYO PWEDE

21) THE WORLD OF THE MARRIED

22) THE LAST DANCE

23) STREET FOOD ASIA

24) STREET FOOD LATIN AMERICA

25) THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

26) HI, BYE MAMA

27) US AGAIN

28) UGLY DELICIOUS 

29) THROUGH NIGHT AND DAY

30) THE CALL

31) CHRISTMAS DROP

32) CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES 2

33) NBA BUBBLE GAMES

34) PBA (especially GINEBRA)BUBBLE GAMES

35) GINEBRA PBA FINALS GAMES (JANUARY & DEC 2020)

Untested but Recovered

Now it can be told. I may have been infected by Covid-19 back in April but went untested and now already recovered. 

Sore throat and mild fever

It was back in March 30th when my throat started to feel clogged like I swallowed a bulb of garlic. I just got home from the office where I am still reporting for work while the rest of our household are under mandatory community quarantine imposed by government. After walking home (public transports were already banned then) and bathing, pain in my throat intensified like the beginning of a nasty cold. 

I am no stranger to sore throats having suffered continuously from allergic rhinitis and the usual bouts of tonsilitis yet that pain is somewhat different as if there's a wound inside my tonsils. I'm aware of the kind of virus that covid-19 is and how it usually attacks the infected person's body from the throat so I took the necessary precautions - gargling w/antibacterial solution, apart from taking warm lemon ginger tea w/spoonful of Manuka honey throughout the day, all while consciously keeping safe distance from my niece and my brother and sister who live with me. We already prepared for the onslaught of the virus by stocking up on the vitamin c (Blackmores Bio-C to be exact) and other anti-infection essentials apart from the health and safety precautions like washing hands thoroughly, sanitizing and all that jazz, so somehow I know I'm geared to face any contamination. 

But I must also mention that prior to the government's announcement of total lockdown that initially begun on March 15th, I was already experiencing on and off fever that begun in late February then another round of fever with chills in mid-March so I feel that my immune system is compromised.

Extreme headache

On the next day, March 31st, woke up to a massive headache that I attributed to migraine. Thankfully, we work from home every other day during those weeks from March 16th while Enhanced Community Quarantine is in effect in our city, and I'm not required at the office that day while I suffered from one of my worst migraines in recent years. 

I was already feeling a bit weak and just stayed in bed while intermittently answering work emails and viber group chat. I still can perform some of these tasks even with a migraine because of my higher pain threshold being allergic to painkillers. I noticed this time though that the headache seems different as typically I have migraine attacks during my period and I am not on my period then. Also,  my regular migraine headaches last a maximum of only 10 hours or less after I sleep on it. But on that instance, my head throbbed painfully the whole day and extended unto the next day, Wednesday, April 1st. 

Two days of migraine is not normal for me with pain extending to both sides of the back of my head above the nape almost covering the entire head.  The following day, pain went down to my left cheek like a sinusitis. It is quite unbearable like someone is punching you on your cheek. That sinus pain lasted for a day and then gradually subsided the next day. When the pain went away with only mild tiredness left that's when I experienced loss of both my sense of taste and smell. 

Lost sense of smell and taste 

The lost taste and smell lasted for more than a week. I realized then that that it could probably be covid-19 as that is the first time I had anosmia. It was a very disturbing feeling especially when I tried to eat and couldn't taste a single thing. Even coffee seems just like drinking warm water. All i did was feel the texture of each bite just to imagine the taste. Extremely infuriating and alarming is the lost smell that even if I put soap or shampoo in my nose I couldn't smell it. And the fear that I may have lost both senses completely and permanently. I consulted online w/a doctor from the DOH and after asking me questions I was advised that my symptoms may indeed be covid-19, (that I may be PUI), but since I do not experience difficulty breathing and no fever, I was just asked to monitor and contact them if my condition worsens. That was fine as I have no plans of admitting myself into a hospital with health workers and emergency rooms already overwhelmed by severe cases and I don't want to add to that. I must say however that even without fever I find looking around that everything seems to be in sepia color. You know that feeling of looking around you and the world appears in faded color of brownish hue, like you're walking inside an old film. As if I was high with fever although my temperature was normal. I do feel  mild dehydration and my lips were dry for many days so I continue to hydrate w/Gatorade or Pocari Sweat plus lots of water. 

Night times also seem to be the hardest when anxiety levels were at a high fearing that I may no longer wake up as my breathing becomes more labored close to bedtime. There was also a feeling throughout my ordeal as if  someone has a heavy hand clamped down on my chest. Those were so far the only  worst symptoms I can recall aside from the massive headaches, sinus pain and loss of taste and smell. 

I just worked on managing these symptoms - overloaded myself w/ vitamins especially vitamin C, lots of fresh fruits, continuous daily regimen of lemon ginger tea and rested early. I normally sleep past midnight but on those two weeks or so of having that weird condition, I slept earlier than my usual bed time (while praying that I wake up the next day). 

I also continued eating, not skipping any meals, even if I cannot taste the food, just to maintain my daily nutrients. Somehow, I feel that my walk to and from office (wearing mask of course and with limited contact to others, usually at more than one meter) helped in the form of exercise and I got a good dose of vitamin D from direct exposure to morning sunlight. That may have helped me cope well the condition. 

Looking back on those days when pandemic was first announced by the WHO, it may be safe to say I'm one of the lucky ones to have survived the onslaught of the virus in my system, although not sure if there's any health complications later on. Others aren't as fortunate. It is always best to continue being vigilant against this virus, even if we don't get tested yet be aware that we are always exposed to it. To maintain health and safety precautions, with or without a vaccine, quarantined or not. 

I may have been infected, untested, recovered, but I have learned that our health and those around us should never be neglected and safety measures not taken for granted. 

And through it all it is best to keep the faith and be grateful to God that we continue to wake up and breathe easy. When somewhere, someone may have just breathed their last.