THE orange hair who sits as the president of the United States has plunged the world into an economic turmoil of unprecedented proportions. Southeast Asian nations like the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are the worst hit in Asia, since we do not have oil. The Philippines sources 90 percent of its oil requirements mostly from the Middle East. And those barrels of oil are not moving to our shores, with the Strait of Hormuz blocked by the Iranians.
When times are tough, trust the Filipinos to tighten their belts. We have survived world wars and local insurgencies, bad governance and natural disasters.
Former Fidel Ramos administration official Rafael Alunan III posted the thoughts running in his mind regarding this economic downturn.
He said food insufficiency would be a big problem, with global, regional and local supply chains disrupted. “This early, to avoid panic, national and local governments should mandate that every open space in barangay, residential and business communities nationwide, including buildings of any kind, be devoted to planting basic commodities,” he said. Aside from these plots of land, he said large, unoccupied estates should be allowed for the use of large conglomerates to augment livestock (beef, pig, carabao, goat, chicken) and abattoir resources. The same should be done for empty village spaces and subdivision lots.
What can be planted? Herbs, fruit-bearing trees and vegetables for starters. Fishponds could also be set up for every residential community and aquaponics for family use. Food preservation and stockpiling are a must for everyone’s survival. I remember that in Pampanga, our neighbors would ferment fish, shrimps and small crabs that used to be abundant in the rivers. Excess tomatoes, and even kamias and sampaloc were turned into dessert.
Alunan also said we should avail of the services of agricultural experts and suppliers to provide expertise and assistance.
Water insufficiency should also be addressed. We always have floods and heavy rains, but we have not yet learned to harness it for our long-term needs. “Water impounding is essential for human consumption, irrigation, cooking, cleaning and greening purposes. Every local government should comply with legal mandates and executive orders in this regard.”
We can survive on one meal a day for some time, but we won’t survive without water for more than a week. That is why there is an urgent need for water catchment systems for the home and water we impound for the community as part of the plans.
We should also take care of our bodies. A healthy immune system is essential if we are to prevent sickness. It minimizes medical costs. The old adage still holds true: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We need regular checkups, lifestyle changes, exercise and less stress if we are to have bodies that are like shields against sickness.
“We also have in our families and communities people at risk, suffering from serious illnesses, disabilities and aging problems. Caregiving and stockpiling medicines and supplies must be our top priority for them.” My doctor always tells me to buy generic medicines, which he also does. They are much cheaper and have the same formulation as the more expensive branded ones.
Those who have excess cash should set aside funds for their survival and then some to help those who are in need. As for myself, I have decided to cut down on my foreign travel, even my domestic ones. Faced with a choice between a round-trip ticket to Thailand for P8,000 (Cebu-Manila round trip) and a round-trip domestic ticket for P15,000, one should easily pick the first option. Hotels in Bangkok are also much cheaper and better than the ones in Manila.
I have also moved to a condo unit near my place of work so I can just walk, saving money I used to spend for my taxi and Grab or InDrive rides. More and more, I am cooking my own food, buying them from the nearby public market and not the supermarkets. When I eat out, I eat less in the fancy places and more in the neighborhood “carinderias” to help the local economy.
I have also accepted more book projects, employing students as encoders and researchers. I sew back missing buttons, and mend torn shirts and socks. I buy from “ukay-ukay” stalls and thrift shops. I visit Booksale and secondhand book stores, or buy discounted books from the big bookstore chains. At the height of Covid-19, I offered tutorial services in English, literature and creative writing. I might do that, again, after I finish my K-12 textbook contract.
I have learned to accept that the days will be hotter and more humid, so we open the windows of the classroom, bring fans to class, and take the option of Zoom classes as soon as they are offered by the university. And along the way, I look outside and see the clouds, swollen and heavy, sailing in a sky as uncertain as our days.
Danton Remoto’s latest books are “Green Roses: Gay Stories” and “How to Read and Write Better” from Central Books. His books with Penguin SEA include “Boys’ Love,” “Riverrun” and “The Heart of Summer: Stories and Tales.” They are on sale at Fully Booked and National Bookstore.
