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LOCKDOWN:

THE PHILIPPINES’ RESPONSE
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TO COVID- 9
provide me with new Christian friends. Many of my
prayers were selfish, like Thomas doubting Jesus
rose again without seeing the nail marks through
His hands (John 20:24-29). Through it all, God had a REPORTING FROM CEBU CITY, PH
plan, and He answered my prayer in His own time. 4
and a supportive church community and ministry O

When I transferred to UW-Stout, God generously
n January 30, 2020, the Philippines Department of
Health reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19
provided me with a Christian roommate (who
quickly became my best friend), Christian mentors,
in the country with a 38-year-old female Chinese
th
national. On March 7 , the first local transmission of
1
th
through Street Level and Believers City Church. With the virus was confirmed. As of April 13 , the Philippines has
2
research, I was able to wrap my head around some reported 4,932 confirmed cases, 242 recoveries, and 315 deaths.
previously unanswered questions, and I trusted God
with the rest. More importantly, God softened my The epicenter of the outbreak is situated in Metro Manila, the
heart toward Him. Now I can say with confidence nation’s capital and home to about 12 million people. To try to
that He has saved me. contain the spread of the virus and flatten the curve, President
Rodrigo Duterte declared an “enhanced quarantine” on March
th
God taught me to listen more closely to others and 15 to seal the city from all land, air,
His answers. They may not be in the time frame I and sea travel. What was once the
wanted or what I expected, but they are good, busiest city throughout the nation’s
nevertheless. I began serving God again through 7,641 islands has now become a ghost
Burning Dog Radio at Believers City Church. This town as school, work, and public
time it is more out of joy and less out of obligation. transport is suspended and residents
Recently, He has been teaching me to be bolder in are forced to stay at home.
sharing my faith with others. He gave me the
opportunity to be more involved at Street Level and The nation’s fifth-most populated city,
share my testimony with people in a large group Cebu City, isn’t immune. On March
th
again and one-on-one. 13 , Mayor Edgardo Labella suspended classes for students in all
levels and encouraged social distancing. In a matter of only 14
A major teaching point that He has been making days, Cebu City went from a slow crawl to a screeching halt, as a
clear to me lately is to trust Him completely with my month-long “enhanced community quarantine” was
career, education, and future. I received a job offer implemented. The city’s borders have been sealed, all public
for after graduation, prayed to God asking Him if it transport stopped, nonessential businesses closed, and families
is where He wants me, and accepted it. I have been ordered to stay at home. Only one person per household may go
in prayer about finding the right church near my out for groceries or other essentials, provided they have a
new job, but if that if it is not where God wants me, government-issued pass to do so.
that He would make it evident. With the
coronavirus outbreak, there was uncertainty as to Many Filipinos fear death—not from catching the virus, but from
whether my training program would be cancelled or hunger and anxiety. While social distancing is key in controlling
if I could graduate. I had a surprising amount of the spread, for a nation made up of daily wage earners and large
peace knowing God would take care of my true families cramped in one-room “homes,” staying indoors is nearly
needs regardless of the outcome. He has already impossible. “My savings can only hold up for a week. I hope the
given me salvation. I am still able to take the classes groceries from the government are delivered. If not, we’ll have
I need to graduate online. The recruiter emailed me nothing to eat,” said one public transport driver. Another citizen
back a week ago that my training program will be was asked if he was afraid of catching coronavirus, to which he
moved from June to September. However, no replied, “Afraid? Yes, we are afraid of the virus, but I think hunger
3
matter what will happen, I know that God is good all and insanity will kill us first before we die from the virus.”
the time.

1
https://www.who.int/philippines/emergencies/covid-19-in-the-philippines
2 https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV
3
https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/m7qwbx/poor-filipinos-affected-coronavirus-lockdown
4
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/255126-coronavirus-cases-philippines-maps-charts-data
WORD ON THE STREET MAGAZINE 7