Meeting with Jason Chan, communications manager for Fondacio Asia
Sabine MALDAGUE: Hello Jason! Thank you for accepting this interview! I hope you are well!
Jason: Thanks, Sabine! Everything is going well for me in the Philippines!
Sabine: I invited you here this morning for a short interview about the situation in the Philippines, and more specifically about Fondacio's situation! So, let's begin! How long have you been quarantined in the Philippines, and how are you managing it?
Jason: We've been in lockdown since March 18th. My family is doing pretty well because we have enough food for now and we have a grocery store nearby! We're all working less, but we're doing pretty well!
Sabine: Can you work while in lockdown?
Jason: Yes, since most of my work is done online on the Fondacio Asia website and our social media channels, I can do everything I did in the office from home!
Sabine: Could you give me a typical example of your daily schedule?
Jason: I try to keep the same working hours and work as regularly as if I were in the office even though no one is there to check my work, but at the same time I can do tasks at home that I would usually do after my day at the office and I try to relax more! I think it's beneficial for me because in addition to doing my work, I can enjoy the company of my family more!
Sabine: Has the lockdown had an impact on Fondacio Asia's schedule?
Jason: We didn't have any major events planned, so there weren't any major cancellations, but it's still a big change for our projects. For example, IFFAsia had to cancel its classes because it can't accommodate outsiders. Young Lives Yangon had to postpone its classes. The Young Lives center in Laos was very lucky because classes ended just before the first cases of Covid-19, and students were sent home before Laos went into lockdown. The Young Lives center in Malaysia had planned to start offering online classes next September, and the lockdown allowed them to start this project a few months earlier.
Sabine: Are you able to continue attending the prayer groups you usually go to?
Jason: Yes, I attend a youth prayer group locally. We were able to schedule two Skype meetings. It's not as good as a physical prayer group, but it's better than nothing!
Sabine: Do you think that confinement can make you grow personally?
Jason: Being in quarantine has given me a lot of opportunities to work on myself! I've had time to work on my plan for the year and evaluate the first few months. It also gives us time to look at our community and see what we can improve or change and what has been positive! Being in quarantine has also given me time to read a book, which I didn't often have time to do before! And it's also given me the opportunity to reach out to people I don't usually talk to, like old school friends, to see how they're doing and catch up!
Sabine: Do you know what you're going to do after the lockdown ends?
Jason: I guess I'll just go back to the office! I don't have any plans yet! I think I'll be the same on the outside, but I hope on the inside I'll be a better person thanks to the work I've done on myself during this time off!
Sabine: Do you have anything to add?
Jason: Yes, I think it's also a good time to reflect on our society! Many privileged people are complaining because they think the complete lockdown is excessive and they want to have the freedom they're used to, but we have to think about all the other people from very poor families. In our YLDCs, there are many young people from very disadvantaged backgrounds. I wonder how they're coping right now because they can't work and therefore don't earn any money! It must be very hard for them! I also want to think about the healthcare workers who are struggling to get to work in hospitals because there's no more public transport. I've heard that some people are doing their best to help them, and I'm very happy about that! We also have to think about the sick people in crowded hospitals who have to be kept in tents because there isn't enough space for them inside the building! In conclusion, I think the crisis offers many perspectives, but we must be able to analyze them and respond to them.
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