EARTH IS HEALING: The Benefits of Having a Quarantine

These photos prove how our city and nature are resting during quarantine.

While we are all affected and scared by the coronavirus pandemic these days, the nature is taking advantage to relax. Thanks to the quarantines implemented not only here in the Philippines but in the whole world (mostly those countries that were affected by the pandemic).

However, I personally do not treat COVID-19 as a blessing in disguise. It killed thousands of people all over the globe. Businesses and markets shut down. Many people don't know where to get food. But on the other side, our nature is having a great rest - in a positive way - because of it.

So here I list some of the 'benefits' while we are under quarantine:

Cities get empty roads and cleaner air

Empty road Bonifacio Global City BGC, Taguig

Business districts in Metro Manila eventually became 'ghost cities' because of the lockdown - BGC, Ortigas and Makati CBD to name a few. Since people are forced to stay at home, the usual busy days in these places are replaced by empty roads, empty parks, empty restaurants (although there are still open) and empty offices.

READ: BGC became a 'ghost city' during metro-quarantine

All kinds of public transportation are also banned. There's no way you can go to these cities unless you have your own vehicle in which you are not allowed to have passengers, too.

I love walking around these however, the government strictly implements curfew and no one is allowed (except for those frontliners and working for food services, hospitals, pharmacies, enforcement and the like) to go out without having a valid reason - to buy food, medical supplies, or go to a bank.

Some office workers arranged "work from home" to follow the rules and to continue to earn money of course.

Mountains can be seen from the metro

Sierra Madre mountain ranges now visible to Metro Manila

I've seen a lot of aerial photos on social media showing the cities in NCR but this one amazed me more - a view of Sierra Madre from Manila.

According to Wikipedia, "Sierra Madre is the longest mountain range in the Philippines. Running in the north-south direction from the province of Cagayan to the north and Quezon to the south, the mountains form the eastern backbone of Luzon Island, the largest island of the archipelago. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east."

This part of the mountain range is located somewhere in Rizal Province which is just next to the metro. So with a clear sky and a smog-less atmosphere, you will definitely get this view from afar. The image above was said to be captured from Pasig City.

Its rareness really surprised many of us. You might also laugh to see people saying that they don't even know there's a mountain nearby.

Again, thanks to quarantine that we are able to experience this.

Seasides are getting clearer

MOA Seaside shows off turquoise Manila Bay

Last but not the least, a picture taken from Seaside Mall of Asia shows an aquamarine Manila Bay. People are wowed to see this on social media and even doubted its truthfulness.

While many believe that someone has just edited or photoshopped this, I somewhat disagree and just appreciate its beauty now.

Is it clean? That I don't know. But as you can see, we've never seen that kind of waters in the Bay for the longest time. You may not even born yet when it was virgin from pollution.

Which one is your favorite? Have you also noticed other transformations that these? Let me know in the comments. :)

For now, we must all appreciate the clearer sky, cleaner air and wider road we are having in Metro Manila because of the quarantine. Most importantly, we hope to stop the spread of the coronavirus by following our quarantine guidelines.