Allow me to share the goodness of God in my life which was again demonstrated during my recent medical battle.
It was January 3, the first day of work for 2022. Complete attendance kami sa office and as usual madaming clients. In the evening of the said date, I received a message from one of my lawyers and she seemed worried. She then called and informed me that she was a close contact of a person positive for COVID 19. She’s already not feeling well and she sought my permission to take a leave the next day.
January 4, the rest of the lawyers and staffs are back at the office doing our usual routine. Late afternoon, my senior staff approached me and said “baka po mag-quarantine din ako”. She then told me that her sister tested positive for COVID 19.
The next day, another lawyer informed me that he was a close contact of her sister-in-law who tested positive for COVID-19 and his family was instructed to go on isolation/quarantine. Worst, another lawyer told me that her husband was exhibiting symptoms of COVID 19 and since she’s a close contact, she needs to isolate.
I was already on panic mode when my male staff told me that he was a close contact of his mom who was exposed to a person positive for COVID 19. Then my other staff told me that her partner was positive for COVID 19 and the LGU of their place ordered them to quarantine.
On January 4, I had my antigen test and it turned out negative. But I was advised to continue my mandatory quarantine and submit myself to RT-PCR test after five (5) days from exposure. That time I was already feeling unwell but I was taking 1000 mg of vitamin C with Zinc and my Goli Nutrition supplement.
On January 6, 2022, the City Health Office conducted contact tracing and since all of us were considered close contacts, the recommendation was for the temporary closure of the office and for all of us to undergo a mandatory quarantine.
I then wrote a letter to our Chief informing her of our situation and to request for a “work from home” arrangement.
As the day progress, I then found out that all of my lawyers already tested positive for COVID-19 and they need to continue and finish their mandatory quarantine.
On January 10, the 6th day of my exposure, I went to a drive-thru swab center for RT-PCR and was told that I need to wait for 48 hours for the result. I was already nursing a fever that time and my body was aching. When I checked my temperature it was 37.8. My throat was already aching and my eyes are watery.
It was already mid-day when the results of my RT-PCR test was emailed to me. I was positive for COVID 19. I immediately informed my housemates about the result. Good thing I already isolated myself since the first day of my exposure and was not exposed to any of them, including my one year old grandson. I was worried because I have diabetes and was really afraid that COVID-19 might affect or worsen my prior medical condition.
So there, I was in isolation for ten (10) days. I consulted our Office Doctor and she prescribed the following medicines:
I had fever for three (3) consecutive days coupled with body pains, headache and aching throat. Good thing my house companions took good care of me—prepared my food, bought my medicines and other needs and prayed for me. I lost my appetite and I only want water and orange juice. I tried taking Ensure and Diabetasol (as meal substitute).
My condition improved on the 5th day. No more fever and body pain but my cough and sore throat was getting worst. The doctor then sent me another prescription for Pecof tablet and Fluimucil. I was already feeling so anxious and depressed. Isolation is no joke!!!
On my 7th day of isolation, my tummy got so upset so I had to take Pocari Sweat to replenish my body. It was so frustrating.
On my 9th day of isolation, I consulted another doctor online (thank you Maxicare). She told me to just continue taking the medicines that were prescribed by the Office Doctor and to finish my quarantine. She also said that taking another RT-PCR test on my 10th or 11th day of quarantine is not advisable since the remnants of the virus might still be in my system.
I had my antigen test last January 22, 2022, and I was already negative for COVID 19. Yehey!
I went back to work January 24, 2022 but I noticed that I easily get tired and there were times when my legs would hurt so bad that I am unable to walk straight. My tummy got weaker and always upset. I still have cough and colds so I continued taking my cough medicines.
As of this writing I am feeling much better and my appetite is back. No more cough and colds. No more headache and body pains. Complete healing is on its way!
Looking back, I can’t thank God enough for His love and mercy. One good thing about the isolation was the fact that I was able to spend more time doing my personal devotion. I enjoyed my prayer time and Bible reading. I felt that even though my body was weak my spirit was getting stronger and closer to God. And wow I had so much fun sleeping 🙂
Thank you to my family who took good care of me, to our Church workers who would constantly check on me every day, to my few/close relatives and church mates who prayed for me, Riza (runner, cook, caregiver), Dra. Angeles, Maxicare online doctors, JM and Nicole, Ate Mila, Nathalie, our Kasambahay, barkada (Neng, Arlene, Kite, Rosemay, Inay Lorina, Gelenie, Dofeng), my bff Ate Etzhel, Kuya Topher (for the food deliveries), my baby girl, Catriona (my quarantine companion), my office mates and friends from the Court.
And to my awesome GOD, the great healer and the best physician….thank you so much for the healing. Thank you for the physical, material and financial provisions. I love you!
To God be all the glory and honor!
I AM HEALED!!!! My GOD is more powerful than COVID-19!!!!
Mom’s 5th year in heaven!
I miss you every day Mommy. Sayang hindi mo na nakita ang apo mo kay JM. I love you forever Mommy ko
妈妈我爱你
I thank GOD for every remembrance of you Daddy. I miss you so much
Love you Daddy ko!
A visit to Cebu City will not be complete if you will not buy “pasalubong” at Taboan Public Market. It has numerous stalls selling the famous dried fish (danggit or spine foot fish) and pusit (dried squid) of Cebu. There are also fresh and dried seafood in different stalls sourced from Bantayan Island. Available “pasalubongs” include dried mangoes, otap and other Cebu specialties. The prices of “pasalubong” here are a lot cheaper than the malls or other shops in the City.
@Taboan Public Market, Aranas Street corner Lakandula Street, Barangay Taboan, Cebu City, Philippines
(Photos were taken in mid-2019; I owned the rights to these photographs, please do not use or copy without my express permission. Thank you)
Media Noche
We ordered from Sweet Nest our favorite Excelente ham. Super paborito ito nang aming pamilya!
Nag-prepare naman ng macaroni salad ang aking Baby boy JM (in loving memory of Mommy na laging naghahanda ng macaroni salad kapag New year’s eve). We then ordered a basket of fruits from a church mate and platters of sushi and maki, vegetable salad and baby back ribs from Hiramitsu Restaurant (Thanks so much my pinsan, Criscel and her husband, Edgar)
Happy Christian New Year!!!! Thank you LORD!!!!
12/31/2021 @ Casa De Familia Joaquin
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) amended the interim guidelines on the use of leave credits for absences due COVID-19 quarantine and/or treatment.
In CSC Resolution No. 2101122 dated 31 December 2021, circularized through CSC Memorandum Circular No. 2, s. 2022 dated 18 January 2022, absence from work for every instance of the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment for government workers who are “infected or identified as close contacts of a suspect, probable, and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 while in the performance of their official functions, (onsite or WFH arrangement)” shall be considered as excused absence. They may be required to adopt a work-from-home arrangement depending on the nature of their work pursuant to the guidelines on alternative work arrangements contained in CSC M.C. No. 18, s. 2020.
Previously, this provision only applied to public health workers or PHWs.
The CSC says there is a need to consider the predicament of government workers aside from PHWs who are repeatedly exposed to COVID-19 in performing their official duties due to face-to-face interaction with clients and co-workers, or due to community transmission.
Excused absences
Excused absence refers to the period when a government worker is not required to report for work due to required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment, and/or announcement of work suspension, but are entitled to pay.
The required quarantine period refers to the prevailing number of days required for a person to undergo quarantine, or separation and restriction of movement while waiting for swab tests results or if the person will become sick. The isolation period, on the other hand, refers to the separation of a person who is sick with a contagious disease for purposes of treatment and monitoring.
Absences incurred from undergoing the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment after official travel from countries with or without localized COVID-19 transmissions or from local areas under community quarantine are considered excused absences. For personal travel, only the required quarantine period may be excused, while the isolation and/or treatment period shall be charged against leave credits.
Absence from work for every instance of the required quarantine period for government workers who are “infected or identified as close contacts of a suspect, probable, and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 due to personal activities” shall also be considered as excused absence. In both categories, the employees may also be required to adopt a work-from-home arrangement while they are awaiting swab test results or completing the required quarantine period. However, in the event that they become sick, the period of their isolation and/or treatment shall be considered sick leave and charged against their leave credits.
Charge to leave credits
Absences incurred from undergoing the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment after personal international travel without approved travel authority before or after the declaration of a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 shall be charged against leave credits.
Absences incurred from undergoing the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment due to personal activities in violation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases’ protocols, shall also be charged against leave credits.
Per the Omnibus Rules on Leave, in the event when employees have exhausted their sick leave credits, the vacation leave credits shall be used instead. If the vacation leave credits are also exhausted, the employees may apply for sick leave of absence without pay.
Return to work
Employees returning to work should submit to their human resource management office or officer (HRMO) their application for leave, and applicable documents such as:
- certificate issued by government or private physician that the employee has submitted himself or herself for monitoring;
- certificate of completion of quarantine issued by the local quarantine or health official;
- medical certificate clearing the employee to report back to work and medical records showing COVID-19 treatment;
- copy of RT-PCR result for those infected or identified as close contacts of a suspect, probable, and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 during performance of their official functions;
- copy of barangay contact tracing form for those infected or identified as close contacts of a suspect, probable, and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 due to personal activities; and
- applicable travel documents such as travel authority, office order, certificate of appearance, laboratory test results, waiver, depending on whether the travel was local or international.
Responsibility of head of agency and HR
It is the responsibility of office heads to ensure that efficiency and productivity work standards are met, and that delivery of public service is not prejudiced during the required quarantine, isolation, and/or treatment of concerned officials and employees.
The agency heads through the HRMOs shall monitor the implementation of the use of leave credits for absences due to quarantine, isolation, and/or treatment relative to COVID-19 based on the guidelines.
Super paborito ko ito!!!
Premium, tender beef chunks slow cooked to perfection!
So sarap!
Ala carte P175.00
Boxed meal with drink P185.00
@Bonchon Waltermart Sta Maria, Bulacan
This was before COVID-19 pa, during a break in our 49th Prejud activity at Cebu City.
Beverly Hills Subdivision, Cebu City, Philippines
Our noche buena
Cochinillo from Les Chateau
Merry Christmas from my family to yours 🙂
Wish it could be easy
Why is life so messy?
Why is pain a part of us?
There are days I feel like
Nothing ever goes right
Sometimes it just hurts so much
But you’re here
You’re real
I know I can trust you
Even when it hurts
Even when it’s hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to you
‘Cause I know that you are
Lover of my soul, healer of my scars
You steady my heart
You steady my heart
I’m not gonna worry
I know that you’ve got me
Right inside the palm of your hand (palm of your hand)
Each and every moment
What’s good and what gets broken
Happens just the way you plan
You’re here
You’re real
I know I can trust you
Even when it hurts
Even when it’s hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to you
‘Cause I know that you are
Lover of my soul, healer of my scars
You steady my heart
You steady my heart
And I will run to you
I’ll find refuge in your arms
And I will sing to you
‘Cause of everything you are
You steady my heart
You steady my heart
Even when it hurts
Even when it’s hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to you
‘Cause I know that you are
Lover of my soul, healer of my scars
You steady my heart
You steady my heart
I’m not gonna worry
I know that you’ve got me
Right inside the palm of your hand
Oh My Kwento!!!! 