Four years ago tomorrow, on March 15, 2020, countries around the world implemented lockdowns in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, a virus that had first claimed victims in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

A lockdown was ordered by then President Rodrigo Duterte, after the first recorded case in the country with a Chinese national on Jan. 30, 2020, and the first local transmission reported on March 7, 2020. There were several types of lockdowns – the enhanced, modified and general community quarantine – each carrying specific restrictions dictated by the number of reported cases in an area. The term “lockdown” was later replaced by “alert level.”

Filipinos' way of life changed, starting from the stay-at-home restrictions with schools, offices and business establishments ordered closed, and public transportation stopped. Wearing a face mask, social distancing and frequent handwashing became routine. Streets were empty except for ambulances and private vehicles of those who had travel documents from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

After the lifting of the public health emergency on May 5, 2022, the Philippines had reported 4,115,202 coronavirus cases and recorded 66,453 coronavirus deaths since the epidemic began, according to the WHO data.

Covid-19 vaccination in the Philippines started in March 2021. As of March 16, 2023, around 79.2 million people were fully vaccinated.

Thousands of quarantine or isolation facilities were constructed around the country, most of them in Metro Manila, while existing buildings – schools, hotels, sports venues – were repurposed to house Covid patients.

Amid the atmosphere of anxiety and fear, people turned to each other. The bayanihan spirit emerged in barangays around the country where neighbors helped residents who were in isolation, doing errands like buying their food and medicines. Strangers dropped off food in front of gates wrapped by a yellow police ribbon indicating there was an infected person in the house.

The most significant act of kindness was the creation of a community pantry by Patricia Non, then only 26 years old. She put up a sign saying “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan (Give what you can, take what you need)” above a bamboo cart filled with vegetables and food products, on Maginhawa Street in Quezon City, on April 14, 2021. The goods were offered for free to those who came.

The initiative attracted more acts of kindness and generous people and companies sent food products and vegetables. A ripple effect was created and community pantries appeared in many neighborhoods across the country.

On May 5, 2023, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General announced that Covid-19 “is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).”

Today, four years later, much of what became routine during the pandemic are still being practiced. Wearing face masks is voluntarily done by persons who have cold symptoms. Many people now observe social distance when engaging in conversation. Handwashing is encouraged by open wash areas in public places. It is now common to hear talk about boosting immunity through exercise, rest and healthy diet.

We have learned two vital lessons from the pandemic. Health is wealth; and kindness is what makes the world a better place.