It's undeniable that the pandemic impacted the way we live—and will continue to do so
“Things won’t ever be the same, and that’s okay.” These words are emblazoned over an acrylic neon, rainbow-coloured artwork by Musica Puertoriqueña Puerto Rican multimedia artist Leo Antonio, aka @Soleoado. A quick scroll down their Instagram feed leads to many similar sentiments—a collective echo of how the world has significantly transformed in the past few years.
Strict lockdowns globally in March 2020 shut people off from their loved ones, with drastic health and safety precautions instituted as an urgent and dramatic response to a Covid-19 explosion. The world as we knew it ceased to exist. And as many struggled to make sense of this new landscape with deadly risks and limited freedoms, one couldn’t help but be reminded of the poignant words of Charles Darwin: “It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
More than two years later, thanks to the heroic achievements of the medical community and the sheer communal willpower of humanity, the world is finally re-emerging. And although life is starting to feel familiar once again, it’s undeniable that the pandemic impacted the way we live—and will continue to do so.
Undoubtedly, the primary concern for everyone was keeping physical health, as well as mental wellbeing, in check. My brother, Miguel, was one of the country’s first one hundred official cases of Covid. When I heard the news, I remember breaking down and sobbing. I felt fearful, alone and helpless; these sentiments are shared by many. Isolation, lockdown, restriction of movement, economic turbulence and financial losses culminated in palpable global anxiety. “All of these things can have adverse effects on our mental and emotional wellbeing,” shares psychiatrist Dr Rene Samaniego in a past interview with Tatler. “This is what we would refer to as the ‘psychological sequelae of the pandemic’ which may persist for years even after it ends.”
Many individuals took the forced slowdown as an opportunity to get healthy and fit. “Immunity” became a common buzzword as people desperately tried to strengthen their physical defences against the virus. But more importantly, it became apparent that we had to focus on our mental health and keep our stress and anxiety levels at bay. Data.ai reports that health, fitness and meditation apps generated 2.5 billion downloads in 2021, and these numbers continue to rise this year. Notably, Calm and Headspace top the charts and are expanding their offerings. On a personal note, I take my ten-minute Daily Calm practice seriously; until today, amid Manila’s oppressive traffic, I find solace in that short but effective quiet zone. Simply put, people learnt how to stop and take a breath and continue enjoying the benefits of this mindful living.
The mindfulness movement is intertwined with the strong desire to live closer to nature. I’ll never forget how grateful I felt to have an open terrace filled with plants in the middle of our concrete jungle. With limited movement and Covid swelling in urban centres, one of the biggest trends was people vacating cities, leaving cramped condos for suburban communities. “Some people have realised that they’re not as dependent on the city as they thought,” explains Gippy Tantoco, CEO of Silverback Real Estate. “They looked to the suburbs for better air, more space, unique amenities, access to beaches and farms, and a slower pace of life. The pandemic made the real-estate market grow horizontally, meaning houses with gardens or larger pieces of land and beach properties.”
Some took it even further and moved to the rural provinces, seeking refuge by the sea or countryside. “I was tired of being stuck at home throughout the consecutive lockdowns,” shares interior designer Nina Santamaria of Grupo Santamaria. “I’ve been going regularly to La Union since 2008 mainly to surf; then, several apartment units became available due to international travel restrictions. In December 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I decided to sign a lease. I’ve been there for a year and a half now.”
For Santamaria, it was the right decision; what started at first as a reflection of the slow and immersive travel movement became a significant lifestyle change. Thanks to La Union’s coastal location, vibrant community and accessibility from Manila by car, it is no surprise that many are relocating there. “Sunsets are a celebrated daily event, and neighbours, babies and dogs march out to watch the sun go down by the time the clock hits 5 pm. The sense of old-fashioned community long deemed missing from urban villages is alive and well in La Union. We’re usually out there with our folding chairs, coffees or cold beers. Hospitals, schools, gas stations, restaurants and churches are all within ten minutes. Who wouldn’t want to stay here for good with this kind of life and location?”
For a small business owner like Santamaria, being able to work remotely was key to her move. Facilitated by the internet, one of the most impactful changes has been the Work-from-Home model. Relying on platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet and MS Teams, people managed to stay in touch with friends and family and be productive in the workspace. Even those employed by more established corporations adapted to this practice and, proving to be an efficient way of working, many have adopted hybrid operations even after restrictions have been lifted.
Take the example of Sofie Borromeo Alvarez, Smart Infinity’s brand head. She closed her independent fashion line during the pandemic to focus on raising her daughter, Manuela, before deciding to return to the corporate world in early 2021. However, Alvarez had one condition: she would only work from home. “I was transparent about the work flexibility required during the interview process, and it was a lovely surprise to learn that Smart would accommodate this,” shares Alvarez.
“The benefits are tremendous as I can carry on bringing Manuela to school and her afternoon sports activities without interruption. What is great about modern connectivity is that I can attend meetings from both my laptop and my mobile phone. Working from home has made what seemed impossible possible. This helps make every day more efficient and effective, considering my maternal duties and the industry in which I am employed.”
Technology is the great enabler for change, propelling the global population into a hyper-connected world, where everything is at the tip of our fingers and curated to our liking. We saw a boom in the streaming market, with platforms like Netflix, Viu, and HBO Max overtaking traditional cable TV. Ari Cu, former country manager of Viu and now COO of Kumu explains that data-driven content allows for a more personalised entertainment experience. “Streaming platforms can use data to drive the decisions on which content to produce and how much of it. This is how we learnt that there was an interest in Korean dramas and capitalised on this with Viu.” The fact that it is also on-demand and mobile has contributed to this growth.
Kumu, live streaming and social media’s love child, became a national phenomenon and is taking the world by storm. “The appeal of live streaming is in its ability to create authentic connections,” says Cu. “During the lockdown, there were no concerts or ways for fans to engage with their favourite artists; live streaming brought fans closer to them. That feeling runs deep and strong when an artist thanks fans in real-time. Livestreaming is here to stay because people will be coming back for that authentic connection to their idols and their community.”
Read also: The Founder of the Philippines’ Fastest-Growing Social Media App on How to Conquer Adversity
