I was again able to work with several concerned citizens here in Cebu City, most notably the foreigners and ex-pats who pooled any of their existing resources and supplies to give for for the needy. There’s obviously a lot of logistical challenges we’ve met along the way and of course the threats of police/military apprehension worries us throughout the day.

- 12 canned goods (sardines, corned beef and beef loaf)
- 6 packs of Pancit Canton
- 6 packs of Instant Noodles
- 5 kilo rice
- 3 face masks
- 1 bottle of alcohol
- 12 sachet of Bear Brand Sakto
- 1 pack of Dried Fish
- 1 pack of monggo beans
- 5 packs of Vitamin C Juice Drink
When I finally bid my goodbyes and walked my way home. I noticed a sharp pain in my chest and then a cold chilly feeling on my skin. I though it may have been just over-fatigue or as a result of heavy sweating after driving the trisikads back and forth from the high-way.
When I arrive home, I started feeling feverish and unwell but then the fever is just too low to be alarmed of so I drank over-the-counter medicines as I though its just nothing.
A day or two passes by, everything is normal. I did not feel anything. And then on the third day. Everything changes. At approximately 12:00 AM as I was working around some documents – I started feeling feverish but this time its so high at 40 C. I also felt pain all over my body and the general feeling of weakness and shortness of breath.
I did tried drinking over-the-counter medications to manage the fever but it kept coming back anyways. So I have to do the ”Toob” or ”steam inhalation” to try and make myself feel better. As much as there’s no science backing it up but it somehow worked the first time. I was sweating all over my body and my temperature immediately dropped back to normal. My fever is gone and so does the feeling of weakness and body pains.
I went to our local-brgy health center and finally got myself tested. I was told a day after that I am positive for COVID-19 and that I appeared to be asymptomatic as I am not displaying any of the symptoms (or so they thought as Toob cured it). They want to put me on isolation in the isolation center but I asked to remain locked up at home and be isolated there as I have work and would need the tiniest amount of income I could get to keep my family fed.
Luckily, they acceded to my request and since then up to the time of writing – I am locked up at home and slowly recovering from COVID-19 infection. I knew I got this during the supply run and its price I have to pay for going the extra mile in helping people and make sure that their families won’t starve under the lockdown.
Whenever I think about the pain, the shortness of breath and fever. I think about those happy faces and the sounds of giggling children eagerly drinking the Vitamin C juice drinks that came along with the boxes. And then, all too suddenly – the feeling of pain and fear subsides. I feel euphoric to the highest degree that somehow I’ve helped a lot of people and in my own little way eased their sufferings.
If you want to help us give more food packs to the locked-up inhabitants of Cebu City. Please feel free to send me an email juanlunacebu@gmail.com
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid