Playing Pool with the Pandemic

CONCEPT PHOTO

COMMUNITY

words by: MDPN. JOHN EUCLID P. PARREÑO D/C FRANZESCA MARI B. BAUTISTA

photos by: MDPN. RENZE JOSHUA L. ABELO

It was a typical day. There were students dressed in summer white uniforms walking to and from the school, some queuing up to print assignments, some eating their lunch, and some playing pool.

Inside a certain bilyaran, every pool table was surrounded by a lot of students carrying cue sticks. One table was occupied by James, a Grade 11 student listed in a top section, and his friends who were still able to find time to play despite being preoccupied with the upcoming exams and deadlines. Until one of them shouted, “Yey, wala klase! (Yey! classes are suspended!)”

They checked their phones; the school principal announced that classes will be suspended for two weeks. This put a smile on their faces because they had more time to play billiards.

Alas, little did they know that the joy they felt at that moment was temporary. Little did they know that that was their last day of striking pool balls into pockets. Little did they know that that announcement wasn’t merely for a suspension of class—it was for the suspension of their “normal” student life.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the students. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate of 17.6% in April 2020 was a record high for the country. The economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in 7.2 million unemployed Filipinos.

Among those affected were the business owners inside the subdivision. Students returned to their hometowns, leaving them without a source of income. Karinderyas, computer shops, boarding houses, and bilyarans were forced to close down. Hence, they tried to compensate for their loss of income by exploring other business opportunities.

COVID-19 turned the busy atmosphere of the Seafront Subdivision into a ghost town. It’s as if in a game of billiards, the pandemic was the cue ball that pocketed multiple businesses in a single strike.

The Pool Balls

Manang Diday owned the karinderya where James always ate at. However, when the pandemic struck, she had to close down and resort to online selling.

“Ga-live ako permi sa Facebook kay diyan ako nagabaligya ka mga bayo ka mga bata, mga bistida kag mga bag karang lockdown. Syempre may ma ginansiya gidman ko sa muni nga ubra pay lain gid ya akon nga income sa karinderya ko katu. (I sold baby clothes, dresses, and bags via Facebook live during the lockdown. Although I earned money at that time, it still cannot reach the amount I was generating back when I was operating a karinderya.)” said Manang Diday.

Meanwhile, Manong Borj, the owner of James’ favorite bilyaran, started to breed guppies. He was tipped off by his friend that it was easy money, so he decided to pursue it.

According to Manong Borj, “Dasig malang mag hanggod kag duro ang mga guppy. Galab-ot na gani linibo kis-a depende sa kalidad. (Guppies are fast growers and fast breeders. They can even sell for thousands depending on their quality.)”

“Garing maski karilingaw gidman magpaduro kaja kannada, nahidlaw man ko sang mga tinion nga duro estudyante sa sulod ka akon bilyaran. Kapin pa hindi man matupungan ka pagbaligya ka isda ya kwarta nga mabuol ko sa shop ko katu. (Even though I liked breeding guppies, I missed the times when my billiard shop was full of students having fun. In addition, the money I earned from selling guppies was still nothing compared to what I used to earn before,)” he added. However, not everyone was as lucky as them. The pandemic hit the seafront community so badly that it crippled most businesses.

Madam Jonalyn, James’ landlady, had to suffer losses as her empty three-story boarding house had left her purse parched for two years. Aside from that, the places where computer shops were situated are now empty and abandoned.

Fortunately, by November 2021 the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has reported an improvement in the Philippine labor market. It was also at this time that the face-to-face classes reopened.

The New Normal

The “new normal” made him realize that Filipinos are truly resilient; one way or another they will find a way to live amidst adversities.

Students started to return to the subdivision for the first time in two years. The gradual rise in the number of students who returned to Seafront to attend limited face-to-face classes was a go signal for the businesses inside the subdivision to reopen.

Karinderyas were popping out left and right, new computer shop franchises were being set, and bilyarans reopened. Albeit limited, the continuous face-to-face classes meant income for vendors like Manang Diday and Manong Borj who now came back to selling food and handling cues to students.

“Syempre nami gid nga nakadaha daha na ko liwat, duwa man ka tuig nga hulat daan. Maski pirahan pa ka bulan bag-o mabawi ya akon kaperdihan, mas mayad gid daya kaysa sa online selling. (I am so glad I am able to cook and serve again after almost two years. Although it will take months to fully catch up with my losses, this is so much better than online selling,)” said Manang Diday.

Manong Borj, on the other hand, said that “Gamay dulang ya mga kilala ko nga gasulod di, nag graduate dun tu guro iban. Sige lang, mas mayad dun ja makakita mga bag-uhanon kaysa mapaduro dulang ko ka guppy asta sa urihi. (I only recognize a few faces here, most of my previous customers probably graduated already. But, at least, I’m happy to see new faces filling up my billiard shop rather than breeding guppies for the rest of my life.)”

Meanwhile, James was able to see students in karinderyas, computer shops, and bilyarans —an experience he never thought would come again. The “new normal” made him realize that Filipinos are truly resilient; one way or another they will find a way to live amidst adversities.

“Waay na ko naghandum daad nga makita ko pa ja. Masadya gid ko kay maski paano ma-experiece ko pa mangabuhi di imaw ka mga kilala ko bag-o ko mag graduate, magkaon sa karan-an ni Nang Diday kag maghampang sa bilyaran ni Nong Borj. Hindi man gali tam-an ka kalain jang “new normal”. (I never thought I would see this once more. I am just so happy I can experience living in this subdivision with my friends before I graduate, eating in Manang Diday’s karinderya, and playing in Manong Borj’s bilyaran. This “new normal” seems to be working out better than I thought it would),” James said.

After two years, he was able to play billiards with his friends again. However, this time around, James’ game was much more meaningful.

Like the cue ball, the pandemic pocketed all businesses in a single strike.

Fortunately, students are now back to pick up pool balls that have fallen. They are the reason the game is still going – they are what keeps the Seafront subdivision thriving.