It’s been a year now since condo living in Manila is both a privilege and an unfortunate event as we succumb to isolation. Regardless, it's been quite some time since we got to go out of our protective bubbles, but every day gets better- and it will only get better.
With the de-escalation of Metro Manila’s alert status last November 5, 2021- is the metro truly ready for alert level 2?
In a statement to media released last week Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the move to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 2 beginning Friday, November 5. Alert Level 2 means more relaxed quarantine restrictions as well as more businesses permitted to resume operations.
According to the initial guidelines of the IATF on the alert level system, the following establishments or activities are allowed to operate at a maximum of 50 percent on-site or venue capacity (except for those in areas under a granular lockdown):
- Indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and cultural shows and exhibits
- Indoor venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, events (MICE)
- Indoor entertainment venues with live performers such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, and cinemas
- amusement parks or theme parks, fairs (perhaps), kid amusement venues such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie ride places
- Indoor recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues
- Indoor limited face to face or in-person classes, examinations, and other education-related activities at all levels
- Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments
- In-person religious gatherings
- Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19
- Social events such as, but not limited to, concerts and parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers, and gatherings at residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household
- Indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries
- Indoor sports courts or venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas or other indoor leisure centers or facilities, and swimming pools
- Personal care services which include beauty salons, beauty parlors, medical aesthetic clinics, cosmetic or derma clinics, make-up salons, nail spas, reflexology, aesthetics, wellness, and holistic centers, and other similar establishments; acupuncture and electrocautery establishments, and massage therapy including sports therapy establishments
Given the new alert level restrictions and guidelines, is the metro operationally ready and prepared to ease and facilitate the huge movement of people? As of November 11, 2021 -The NCR has fully vaccinated 80 percent of its population, with 96 percent having received the first dose. The high vaccination rate in Manila will help prevent a surge in cases and the chance of resurgence is low because many individuals are now protected. Reopening of businesses must be calibrated to prevent a possible rebound of cases as a result of increased mobility as people will tend to go out more.
Not ready to go out yet? There are still plenty of things you can do in the comfort and safety of your own home.
Stream the day away
Binge-watching took on a whole new meaning during the first lockdown, and streaming services like Netflix are still one of your primary sources for entertainment. You’ve never had such a good excuse to plonk yourself down in front of the TV and watch a marathon of shows without the need to feel guilty.
Embrace your intellect with a book or two
If you were already an avid reader before the first lockdown, then we salute you. And even if you hardly picked up a book during the first two, it’s never too late to get your bookworm on. Get cozy and curl up with a good read that will help you escape for a couple of hours.
Become an artiste
We’ve all got inner creative hiding away somewhere, and a lockdown is a perfect opportunity to bring it out. Doing some painting is one of the best things to do in lockdown to stimulate your mind while trying something different. Buy a few brushes, grab some paper, and have at it
Learn to play an instrument
How about going one step further than a playlist and learning how to play an instrument? There are plenty of virtual classes online where you can pass the time of lockdown by playing a few strings on the guitar. Who knows? You might!
Shake ‘n’ bake
Everyone seemed to channel their inner baker during the first lockdown, with social media accounts filled with pics of tasty treats. And there’s no reason to stop the trend during the next one. Get your apron out, turn up the oven dial and start baking.
Feel the burn
While the gym might be a more preferential destination to get in shape, there’s still plenty you can do in your apartment to burn those calories. Exercising is one of the best things to do in lockdown, so find a YouTube video and get squatting, start jumping, and just about anything else that helps break a sweat.
Podcast
An increasing number of people are becoming content creators these days, and now is the perfect time to join in. Setting up a podcast is pretty straightforward, and you can pass the time of lockdown while telling unique stories, either by yourself or by inviting friends on as guests.
Treat yourself
We all promise ourselves that we’re going to take up a ton of new hobbies, become master chefs and be our best selves during the lockdown. But it’s also ok to simply indulge every now and then. So put your feet up, find your favorite movie and order a takeaway. You deserve it.
Attend virtual events
Being stuck indoors doesn’t mean you can’t network, and there are tons of online events where you can rub virtual shoulders with others. Whether it’s in your professional field or an area that piques your interest, a virtual networking event is a great way to interact with new people and open up more opportunities. Quintain Living residents benefit from a monthly virtual events programme from wine tasting, paint & prosecco, and cooking clubs.
Lockdowns are tough on all of us, even if restrictions are already being lifted, it is still important to put yourself and your family’s safety first, so it’s important to remember that you don’t need to go out yet and fear missing out with all of the stuff happening out there in the world. Go at your own pace, don’t feel pressured to try things, and just do you, because that’s one of the best things to do in lockdown.
Thinking of investing in condominiums? Check out the offerings of Vista Residences.
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. that offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Ortigas, Baguio, Cebu, and CDO that are strategically located within major cities, in close proximity to premium universities, transit oriented locations and developed business districts.
At Vista Residences, unit owners can take advantage of the property’s centrality. The properties of Vista Residences are strategically located near the country’s premium universities and CBDs, making them an attractive investment for both local and foreign investors.
Living in Vista Residences enables you to enjoy convenience, where everything is pretty much within walking distance or a few minutes away from the property; comfort because the project features and amenities are designed to deliver comfort at all times, which makes condo living a worthy investment; security that is 24/7 and CCTV monitoring, which makes the residents safe and secure within the property.
In line with Vista Residences’ thrust to offer convenience among its residents, it also features an AllDay Convenience Store and Coffee Project in all its projects.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
