Isolation Diaries #4: Not the positivity I’d like

Yup, a home test kit said I’m positive. Now, before you say I shouldn’t have spent on that, let me just reiterate that I am still waiting for the Pasig City Public Information Office or the CESU to contact me for the RT-PCR test which is the more definitive test. All this home test kit is telling me is that I need to stay isolated for at least 10 days even if my symptoms go away before that.

I’m calling this my fling with Mr. O — yup, it felt hot and heavy for a while (and not in a good way), but it has to end. And it’s totally because it’s him, not me. hehehe.

We’ve stocked up on Difflam lozenges and Camilosan throat spray. At this point, I don’t need paracetamol anymore. It’s the nuclear war in my throat that has to end. I’m hoping these reinforcements will stop the bombings and give me peace. This has to work now. Aside from spending on it, strawberry-flavored Difflam (the only one available) tastes awful.

So, on this fourth day of my fling with Mr. O, I am often greeted by the vision of our sentient clouds at my door. That’s Pogi on the stool, and Bacon on the floor. Don’t let Bacon’s seemingly calm demeanor fool you. Bacon had successfully infiltrated my cave earlier, hence the gate was put in place along with the stool (formerly known as a delivery portal, now a.k.a. Pogi’s new throne to be near mommy). When the feline populace is active, the delivery of supplies to my cave of recuperation becomes a grand production with Kimi playing carry-as-many-cats-as-I-can while Ester clears the stool for my supplies. Kimi cannot stop playing until I have retrieved said supplies.

And Kimi has started showing symptoms as of today. This means that only the pets have been spared so far. The poor babies will need to cope without human harassment for quite a while.

Understanding the bigger picture of responsible investing

Understanding the bigger picture of responsible investing

AXA Philippines, in partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) recently organized the “Road to Net-Zero: The look inside China’s quest to champion climate action” forum, hosted and moderated by Zaid Alrifai, Head of Architas Asia. Architas is a global asset manager under the AXA Group that manages investments on behalf of institutional and retail clients. This is the last installment of a three-part webinar series that advocates responsible investing.

Clockwise from top left: Aidan Yao, Senior Emerging Asia Economist of AXA Investment Managers; Zaid Alrifai, Head of Architas Asia; and Dexter Agcaoili, AXA Philippines Investment Solutions Director.

During this Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) webinar, Aidan Yao, Senior Emerging Asia Economist of AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) talked about how achieving the Paris Accord’s aim for carbon-neutrality can be a challenge without the immediate action of countries with high carbon dioxide emissions.

The good news is that China, the top carbon emitter, last year announced the country’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality before 2060. Their first step is to flatten the emission curve from now until 2030. Then, the transition from the peak of carbon emission to net-zero emission by the end of 2060. This undertaking comes with the need to reallocate resources from some parts of the economy and society.

“In China, green bonds helped to finance wide areas of industries that are consistent towards carbon neutrality such as the renewables, the electric vehicles, batteries, green building, and water conservation,” Yao said. Green bonds finance new or existing projects that benefit the environment and foster net-zero emissions.

China’s burgeoning green bonds market presents enormous investment opportunities for companies like AXA who have been following the principles of ESG.

As a long long-term global investor, AXA has a duty to act in the best interest of its policyholders and stakeholders. With the help of its global fund managers, Architas and AXA IM, AXA is committed to aligning its investments with the principles of ESG and integrating these factors in its investment decisions that over time would influence positive change in the companies it invests in.

As responsible investors, AXA aims to reach 25 billion euros in green investments by 2023, reduce its own carbon footprint of AXA’s general account by 20 percent by 2025. As an insurer, it is also developing insurance products that cater specifically to the needs of the vulnerable population. As an organization, it will promote awareness on climate change and the knowledge on ESG through training and further education of its employees and stakeholders.

Through the recent webinars, AXA and the ECCP hope to provide an informative platform where local investors can equip themselves with the knowledge needed to become more responsible in their investment decisions and for the fund managers to be their partners and effectively guide them through the whole process.

For more information on Responsible Investing topics, visit https://www.axa-im.com/responsible-investing or https://www.architas.com/responsible-investing/.

Isolation Diaries #3: Dreamscapes

Isolation Diaries #3: Dreamscapes

I had another dream last night and it woke me up with palpitations.

We were playing a game. In it, one has to make a list of answers to a category. At the end of 2 minutes, you share answers. If your answer isn’t on their list, you get a point. Our category was: kalokang reasons sa sick calls. My answers as I woke up:

  1. na-CPR ako
  2. nakalulon ng battery
  3. nilalagnat pero nasa mall
  4. takot mag-zoom dahil may covid

hehehe… I didn’t make that up. That’s a real dream.

Isolation Diaries #2

Isolation Diaries #2

I woke up at 5 am because there seems to be a nuclear war on the left side of my throat. The battle has been producing coughing fits and clear phlegm.

I also had a weird dream. My sister was dancing a very suggestive lesbian dance to the old jingle of Ancona Chicken — “Ancona chicken dressed so fine, oh Ancona mine, Ancona chicken dressed so fine, Ancona turn around…” Sorry sis, please blame the nuclear war in my throat for that.

On the upside, my first entry in this Omicron Saga gathered a number of prayers, healing vibes, and well wishes. I am grateful, you guys, but the struggle is real and still going… so we fight on!

Waking up this early helped me discover that the sentient clouds (the fearsome felines) have restored to actually knocking at my door. The scratching is quickly followed by a soft meow. My poor babies, I miss you too!

Isolation Diaries #1

Isolation Diaries #1

It’s day 3 actually. I was just feeling very bad yesterday– headache, itchy throat, malaise, and the dreaded fever.

Day 1

Day 1 started with headaches, an itchy throat, and a feeling that I had a fever but my temp was only 36.7. So I put up a brave face and attended the online review classes. No session in the afternoon meant I had a chance to rest. That night I had a restless sleep. I kept waking up because I was audibly groaning.

Day 2

Day 2 was the day I got my fever, only 37.8 but my body felt heavy. I still attended the online review class but I nodded off on occasion because I could not keep it up anymore. I also had no appetite at all.

I tried calling the Pasig health hotlines but only got “The number you have dialed is now unattended.” Well, it was a Sunday…

That second night was still restless and I was still groaning.

Day 3

Day 3: No more fever and the feeling of fever inside was almost gone. I even had an appetite. BUT, my throat was getting worse– the itch is now pain on the left side. At least I know my body is fighting whatever this is. I’m also sneezing; yes, even with the purifier on all the time. Again, I tried the Pasig hotlines, and I got the same recorded message. So I sought help from the ever-helpful Bunny Manera, the village homeowners association president. She’s helping get through to the CESO. Thanks, Bunny!

Apparently, a few friends and my brother are down too. I searched for an affordable antigen test kit and found a cousin that sells them. I’m getting my order tomorrow. Hopefully, it will say it’s negative!!!

So it has been a couple of days since I’ve hugged, cuddled, and harassed the cats. Today, apparently, they have been missing me… or my room, whatever. So they’ve been setting vigil outside my door, trying to come into my room. Tonight, #Pogiandheknowsit, planted himself on the stool we use for my food and stuff from outside. When I opened the door, he looked at me plaintively with those sky blue eyes and meowed his soulful meow. I could only reply with, “Sorry, baby boy. I can’t let you in. I’m sick.” To which he replied with another sad meow, squinting slowly at me. He even reached out a paw towards the small opening I made at the door. Sigh…

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