THE DARK, PANDEMIC DAYS

Today I recall how the pandemic's dark shadow loomed over our world, casting an unsettling silence. Lockdowns confined everyone to their homes, as if the very walls could shield us from the virus's deadly grasp. Yet, amidst this eerie stillness, a small band of warriors emerged – the skeleton force of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

I was among them, reporting to the office, venturing out to assist farmers, and traversing the deserted landscape. Our mission was to ensure food security, to be the lifeline between the farms and the tables. But with every step, every interaction, the risk of infection loomed large.

In those desperate times, I found myself in close proximity to the afflicted. The virus's specter haunted me, its presence palpable in every cough, every sneeze, every labored breath. Quarantine's isolation enveloped me, a solitary confinement that tested my resolve.

The swab test's agonizing wait seemed eternal, the uncertainty gnawing at my soul. Negative, the result finally came, but the experience had already left its indelible mark. The pandemic's cruel hand had touched me, leaving scars that would remain long after the silence was broken.

In retrospect, those dark days were a poignant reminder of our shared humanity. We, the skeleton force, had stood as sentinels, guarding the gates of food security. Our struggles, though forgotten by time, remain etched in the recesses of our hearts – a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Even now, as the world slowly awakens from its pandemic slumber, the silence still echoes within me. A haunting reminder of the lives lost, the struggles faced, and the resilience forged in the crucible of adversity.