For the past year, we have been living in one of the strangest times this generation has ever experienced. It almost feels as if we are part of a dystopian society where the streets are empty and the life that once filled the streets is now replaced with a shadow of what used to be.
It is bizarre how much has changed over the span of one year—it has even given a new face to the culture of human interaction as we know it. Due to the protocols we follow to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there is constantly a space that drives us away from striking a conversation with a friendly stranger or giving a warm hug when someone needs it. These were things—little things—that we used to look forward to but are now unable to do.
The quarantine kept people tightly in their homes for the most part of 2020. People only went outdoors when necessary—usually for grocery shopping or small errands—but these trips were quick and weary, as everyone feared falling ill to a disease so contagious. It wasn’t the same having to stay six meters apart from people and having to be extra conscious of where we went and what or who we touched.
Bonifacio High Street, a popular stop at Bonifacio Global City, used to be filled with people skateboarding, walking their dogs, or having a cup of coffee. Fondly called High Street, the area was bustling with many families and barkadas—a crowd favorite.
Over the period of quarantine, it was empty and quiet. The lively city life that was once enjoyed by many Filipinos now simmered to dimmed lights and closed doors. People outdoors became a rare sighting.
Slowly, the quiet streets began to fill with people enjoying the breeze of a Sunday afternoon. The same closed doors opened themselves up to curious customers and hungry diners, months after being on lockdown.
Going outdoors started to become a norm here in High Street, where people would visit the city to have a picnic or to spend quality time with an old friend.
While the use of face masks and social distancing provide a barrier between people, it remains a bittersweet feeling to long for interaction with a loved one face-to-face once more. These small windows of normalcy certainly make us feel like we’ve traveled back to a time when the pandemic did not exist.
One can only hope that soon, we will be able to feel the warmth of an embrace, or the glimmer of an unmasked smile. Perhaps we will not take these small things for granted when the time comes.
For now, we’ll settle with what we can do in the present, and hope for a better tomorrow—a better normal.