PAGBABAGO Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid Perhaps one feeling that all of us share during these past six months of quarantine is that it is difficult to be locked down for a long period of time. The lack of opportunity to move around freely, to see friends and family more often, to travel, and to seek a variety of experiences that involve direct contact with people, had affected us in various ways. The need to connect, to relate, to share joys or frustrations with others is a natural feeling that comes with being human. And when it is limited or hindered, we try to seek various substitutes. Thanks to modern technology like Skype, Zoom, Facebook, telephone calls, and email, we are able to discover a way of sharing our thoughts and experiences. No more family weekly barbecues or outings for a while, social activities which COVID-19 disrupted. In our new normal, I find solace in online meditation and prayer as well as telephone conversations with my son and occasional exchange of email with my grandsons. And for almost three months during the lockdown, having my sister with me, and support in the form of groceries and other basic needs from my son, nephews, and nieces helped ease the transition. Facebook exchange with friends and sharing deeper thoughts and insights beyond “likes,” and Netflix and YouTube with its wealth of historical dramas, documentaries, concerts, virtual tours to libraries and museums help. But more than new knowledge gained, I feel that I now have deeper insights about life and the world we live in. But I long for the old days, almost 40 years of my lifetime when I used to travel and work with some of the most marginalized communities in countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the country where I was involved in development programs on communication for population, education, upland and fisheries resources management, among others. It involved interactions with various political actors — from top policy makers to the community level, but mostly with village communities of farmers, fisherfolk,and indigenous people. One project was situated in a civil war environment, adding to more complexities beyond that provided by ethnic and racial factors. But the days of crossing rivers, climbing mountains, and living dangerously, are over. Going back to now, the question I ask myself is “What lesson did I learn about human interaction beyond theory and by engaging with various cultures? That interaction, or connecting, is an essential component in the life of society and of life itself. In the hierarchy of needs, it is next to food, sleep, and shelter. And most would agree that it is what establishes mutual trust and makes life purposeful. Medical experts say, when we connect, we secrete oxytocin, a hormone which is present in nursing mothers and children, lovers, and friendships. It mediates the release of “feel good” hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. We experience lower blood pressure, lower inflammation, and fewer feelings of depression and sadness. Thus, social connection is a central force in mental and physical health. If for sometime, we will have to practice social distancing, how can we strike a balance between this and the need to bond with our fellow human beings? Social bonding is an integral part of our culture which puts primacy on the power of the human touch, or the hug. And the power of poetry, too. When my sister Lynn was with me, we would often recite poetry after dinner time. She never ceases to amaze me with her uncanny ability to remember old songs and English poetry as well. She is a lawyer but she can recite poems from Keats, Allan Poe, Tennyson, Shakespeare. If I can do the same thing, it is no surprise having majored in literature during my undergraduate years. Let me now end with the first paragraph of a poem by a 13th century Iranian poet, Sa’adiSharazi (“Bani Adam” or Child of Adam) which is quite appropriate for our times. It is inscribed in a carpet installed at a meeting room of the United Nations building in New York. This is a favorite translation: Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain,  The name of human you cannot retain.  My email, [email protected]