The Setback and the Comeback

 (by Montesa G. Caoyonan, DSWD Regional Office VI)

Have you ever been quarantined as a Person Under Monitoring (PUM) or as a Person Under Investigation (PUI) during this pandemic? What did you do? How did you cope?

For Carl Myson Dulla, his entire quarantine period was beyond boring and unproductive. He underwent quarantine protocols as a Person Under Monitoring (PUM) in a facility after attending a work-related meeting in Manila at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Carl, an Indigenous Peoples focal of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program under DSWD-6, tried to cope with his boredom by engaging in social media and doing tasks over a work-from-home arrangement. But time seemed to have slowed further as it took a while before the results of his swabtest were released. Those 20 days he spent at the facility became the longest and most agonizing period for him who was naturally workaholic, confident, and extroverted.

As a PUM, Carl experienced discrimination which left a deep scar in his heart. Fortunately, he has supportive friends, and co-workers who kept on encouraging him and expressed faith in his potentials and capabilities. They encouraged Carl to persevere and cope with the “new normal”.

They say, the comeback is always stronger than the setback but for Carl, his comeback found him stronger and tougher. He started instituting innovations in the Agency using primarily information technology as a platform. He facilitated a series of webinars such as the Youth Action for Indigenous Movement (Y-AIM), a leadership and community organizing program participated by 35 IPs regionwide. He also initiated a monthly Pantawid Wellness program which involves 35 personnel. The program has a self-care and employees’ welfare agenda inorder for DSWD personnel to continue delivering services to the public notwithstanding this health crisis. 

In these challenging times, everyone needs to cope and to keep pace with the demands not only of their workplace but also of the “new normal.” Having gone through a difficult period during this pandemic, Carl has learned to handle the challenges confronting him in order to remain productive. Having triumphed over boredom, stigma, and loneliness during his quarantine, he understands how essential it is to reach out to others and remain connected. And essentially, he now does these by making use of technology. “The world isn’t perfect, and some days it wears you down. You can either accept that, and face it, and be a help to others instead of a hindrance.” says the bestselling author, Chloe Neill. Looking back, Carl believes that having been quarantined and discriminated against as a PUM only made him better, stronger, and even more unstoppable.

The SETBACK: 
Carl has always been outgoing and vivacious-- until he was quarantined as a PUM

The COMEBACK:
Carl speaking in the Youth Action for Indigenous Movement’s (Y-AIM) July 10-11- Y-AIM Leadership Webinar Series. On the topics, Resiliency in Leadership and Community Organizing and the Youth Role’s in their Community. Two international speakers were also invited to highlight Cultural Conservation as part of the World IP Day Celebration this September.

(CARL MYSON DULLA is a PDO II and the Focal Person of Indigenous Peoples, DSWD FO VI)