Filipinos in Italy turn to social media to cope with COVID-19 pandemic

Mye Mulingtapang, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Mar 16 2020 01:22 PM
Currently, on a nationwide lockdown, Italy is second-hardest-hit by COVID-19 after China. Mye Mulingtapang, ABS-CBN News
MILAN, Italy – The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) maybe the worst public health crisis in a generation with 153,517 cases and 5,735 deaths in 143 countries and territories as of March 15, according to the World Health Organization. 
In Italy, there are 24,747 total cases at the moment, of whom 20,603 people are positive for the virus and 2,335 recovered.
The number rises every day but the Filipino spirit is never broken. The strength and resilience of Filipinos are undeniable.
Overseas Pinoys in Italy turn to social media to fight boredom as the country is placed under dramatic total lockdown since March 11. To ease COVID-19 pandemic fears, Filipinos post their videos online and other creative ways of battling the outbreak.
Drew Ramos has less fear of being infected with the virus and said his blood pressure might increase due to overeating instead.
"Parang foodtrip naman everyday. May breakfast, may meryenda, may lunch, may dinner tapos midnight snacks. Feeling ko, magpo-positive ako sa high blood," said Ramos.
(Everyday is almost always foodtrip. There's breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner and midnight snacks. I feel my blood pressure will shoot up.)
Staying true to the Italian aperitif habit, Leilani Mendoza decided to meditate and enjoy the tranquility of the locked down city by staying on her balcony with a glass of red wine, salami, and cheese.
"As circumstances beyond our thought hit us, I decided to have a date with myself; as I don't want to miss this almost spring breeze," shared Mendoza.
Flor de Jesus shared jokingly she now enjoys three meals a day which she did not have the privilege of because of heavy workload as a cleaner working more than eight hours a day before the pandemic struck Italy.
"Three times a day ako nakakain sa tamang oras, may meryenda pa in between meals," said de Jesus.
(I can eat three times a day at the proper time, with snacks in between meals.)
As schools and universities remain closed until April 3, Filipino migrant children made colorful drawings with the hashtag "andratuttobene," which means everything will be all right.
Nora Albuera has more bonding moments with her four-year-old daughter. She tells her daughter they will be able to go to church as soon as the pandemic is over.
The COVID-19 outbreak in Italy has put limits on some Filipinos' public life. TikTok helps many teenagers cope with the long holiday period. Even the WHO has recently created an account to share valuable information with the public.
For Sarah Mae Carillo, Tiktok is a form of escape from stress and anxiety.
"It gives me so much positive vibes against sa negativity na dala ng COVID-19," said Carillo.
(It gives me so much positive vibes against the negativity brought by COVID-19.)
Overseas Filipinos in Italy carry on with their lives despite the uncertainty, fears of losing their jobs and mounting bills. 
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle also appealed to the Catholic faithful around the world to find the silver lining in the crisis, and to continue the obligation of praying, fasting and extending help to those in need.

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