"Ya no recuerdo ni el agua que cae del río, de la montaña de sueños que he compartío'. Si canto de duelo no nos morimo', de la pena al pensar en lo que no fuimo'. Ya no recuerdo cómo era, ahora me encuentro de cuerpo entero. Y cuando miro pa' atrás y las luces me ciegan, me muevo lejos de aquí..."

I was stupefied upon hearing Fuel Fandango feat. Juancho Marqués's latest single titled "Nuevo Mundo" which translates to "The New World". Despite of my wobbly non fluent Spanish since taking the course last May, but I have been getting myself used to music with Spanish lyrics, or watch films in Spanish - to better train and accustom myself more.

"Ya no recuerdo ni el agua que cae del río, de la montaña de sueños que he compartío" = I don't even remember the water that falls from the river, from the mountain of dreams that I have shared.

Yes, I have forgotten the shapes of raindrops falling onto the windshield of the online transportation car I took, or how it felt like to ride on the MRT during rush hours to go downtown and meet with my friends. This seemingly endless uncertainty had definitely suffocated my head and heart.

Total Lockdown and the Pile of Things to Pay

Per 14th September, Jakarta's Governor Anies Baswedan finally reinforce total lockdown (PSBB) again. Jakarta residents must return to the early phase of this lockdown - which if my memory served well, was initiated in April. As an employee who has returned to WFH since early August, this is nothing new to me. The challenge remains to thinking more new ideas; what can I do to remain sane and productive. But how about those who are not as lucky as I am? What will happen with business owners at the malls/markets?

Since the reapplication of total lockdown was brought to public, my Twitter and Instagram feeds were filled with so many posts containing restlessness of various business owners. Those who previously took some "breathe" during the lockdown relaxation stage or Transitional Lockdown (PSBB).

They said, that the reduced allowed amount of people to dine in (for restauranteurs or food business owners) have caused them loses. Meanwhile the landlords (either the malls or in commercial buildings) did not apply any relief upon the rent to be paid. According to them, both the regional and central administrations have not set policies about those issues as well.

Survival is the Only Option

We all could not do anything else but to survive. You're hit as you go forward, you're also hit when you go backwards, just like of of Warkop DKI's old movies titles. Everyone races to run the fasted in adapting with the new world, thanks to this COVID-19. Even major businesses like the Boga Group, which most of food products I used to enjoy in various restaurants, must modify their products into frozen food or only cater for take away orders. The taste will change, but this is one of their ways to adapt so that the company could continue to operate; for there are so many of their employees depend lives upon our orders.

Many popular accounts in Twitter or Instagram started to "open their stalls" in providing free promotions for all business owners, especially small and medium ones (UMKM) just to support and "make ways" to find buyers or expand customers.

Some other brands conduct rather similar things, such as Treasury with the campaign titled #BangunHarapan or #BuildHope. Starting from encouraging everyone who remains responsible in their financial lives amid the Pandemic, to the opening their comment section in Instagram accounts for anyone who is running food and beverage business to be promoted.

New World and the Marathon

We cannot run anywhere from this condition, from where we stand right now. The best of this resistance is to defend in the best possible way; with every capability that we got. The year 2020 is truly a marathon event for every citizen of this ever-getting-older world.

The regular rhythm, the cool and sane heads, the biggest of hears, the long breaths, the prayers recited every time, as also the hopes endlessly clipped - are our strengthening stones.

Survive, endure and getting past all of this together. We need to keep sending support and help while we can; nurture and look after. It's not impossible that the vaccine could be completed soon and God provides mercy for everything we have done and wipes away all the bad things happening around us.

As humans, let's try not to forget about being the complete human beings and only depends on miracles alone. Because as the late Rendra said...

Yes, because life itself is a struggle from implementation of words.

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