Throughout everyday life, everything has stories and they all have differences, hence the famous quote, “Life is unpredictable and you never know what is coming next,” like how the streets of Pureza in Manila were suddenly wrapped in silence.

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On an ordinary day in the busy streets of Pureza, people who parade these side roads are the students and workers running for their errands, and the only thing that makes this place alive are the noises from tricycles’ horns that serve like an alarm clock every morning. But when the abrupt tragedy of the pandemic crisis took place, all of these suddenly turned, causing a major change in the lives of many people.

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Arnel Tacson, a Broadcast Communication student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Communication (PUP-COC) who lives near Pureza, immediately noticed the change in the area, and decided to document and take pictures of this event.

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“Para sa akin, isa kasing mahalagang memories ‘yung kada larawan na makukuhanan ko lalo pa ngayong pandemic, I mean may COVID-19. Then, gusto ko maikwento sa mga next generation ‘yung mga naging struggle ng mga tao, at nagawa ng iba para makatulong.”

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He stated that capturing these images makes excited and sad at the same time: excited for the reason that he’ll be able to contribute and share his work, and sad since now that all people are required to wear face masks, he cannot see the emotion of his subject and its ability to pass on the positiveness through genuine smiles. 

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“Pero naisip ko na ‘di naman ito panghabang-buhay at babalik din sa normal ang lahat na may natutunan ang bawat isa which is ‘yung magkaroon ng pake para sa ibang tao.”

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Despite these unexpected happenings, staying connected with his friends virtually has been really important during the lockdown. Through these conversations, we Filipinos, just like Arnel, still tend to look for the brighter side of the story that even with all the unfavorable circumstances happened, we are still able to find hope and receive it as a lesson for the better future.

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Anonas Street - College of Communication

“Habang kinukuhanan ko ng larawan ang aking sintang paaralan, kasabay nito ay ang mga alaala nuong may physical classes pa, 'yung ingay na umaabot sa kalsada, tawanan, sayawan at iba't-iba pang gawain noong normal pa ang lahat.”

 

 

Anonas Street

“Ito 'yung lugar na madalas naming daanan sa tuwing kami'y pupunta sa PUP Main Campus. Dati rati'y hindi ako nawawalan ng kasabay papunta rito ngunit kasabay nga ng takot na dala ng pandemya, nakakalungkot masaksihan habang kinukuhanan ko ng larawan ang dating daan na nagsisilbing kwentuhan kasama ng aking mga kaibigan upang maging pampawi ng pagod ay binalot na rin ng lungkot.”

 

 

Teresa Street

“Ito ‘yung lugar kung saan labas pasok ang mga estudyante patungong PUP kaya na rin madalas traffic dito dahil sa dami ng mga taong dumaraan araw-araw. Pero simula nang magkaroon ng pandemic, maraming mga establishment dito ang mas pinili na lamang magsarado dahil sa kawalan ng mga taong bibili. Ang dating Teresa na buhay na buhay ay unti-unting binalot ng katahimikan.”

 

 

Ramon Magsaysay Blvd.

“Noong unang implementation pa lang ng lockdown, ramdam ko na ‘yung pagkatahimik ng paligid dito, ‘yung dating maingay na busina ng mga jeep, bus at truck na dumaraan dito ay unti unting nawala dahil na rin sa iba't ibang implementation na pinatupad.”

 

 

Pureza Street

“Ito 'yung lugar na bumubuhay sa maraming estudyante at mga manggagawang nakatira malapit dito. Dati rati'y dama mo 'yung siksikan at haba ng pila sa maraming kainan dito ngunit ngayon ay kasabay ng pagsasarado ng maraming establishment ay ang pagkawala rin ng mga tao rito.”