I got a bit of a scare when I saw this:

Then I saw on one of the local internet forums that the closures would be for the entire WEEK! I didn’t exactly panic, but I did take a gander at my pantry shelves and fridge to see if I could go an entire week without access to a grocery store. It was a little iffy, especially if the restaurants were going to be closed (I’m still doing take-out a couple of times a week as well). So, in an effort to be prudent I messaged my driver to take me on a shopping excursion. While awaiting his arrival, I was able to confirm that the closures will only occur on the referenced Sundays.

Anyway, it was off to SM supermarket in Olongapo to stock up.

The good news is I am resupplied and hopefully have enough to carry me over to the end of the month. I really don’t want to go through that SM experience again. I’m going to try and be optimistic that come May I’ll be able to once again enjoy the Royal shopping experience.

On the other hand, President Duterte seems to be leaning more towards fascism if this news report is to be believed:

Well, I’m nothing if not disciplined! That’s why it is essential that I achieve my daily step goal. Plus, according to this article, it is much more dangerous to stay indoors.

…while the study “does not rule out outdoor transmission of the virus,” it notes that “among our 7,324 identified cases in China with sufficient descriptions, only one outdoor outbreak involving two cases occurred.”

This study, if true, could raise important questions about the wisdom of closing public parks in urban areas, particularly those urban areas in which large groups of people live in substandard buildings.

Oh, the article mentions “wisdom”. Never mind. I’m not sure which is more inept; the measures to stop the spread of the Wuhan virus or the sheeple who blindly follow them.

A quick update on the “Gomans” situation. I stopped by yesterday afternoon to pay my tab from Wednesday and see what the outcome of the Barangay visit might be. I came in from the long way about on the beach. The first thing I noticed was no customers were seated in the outdoor patio area. Still, I was warmly greeted by my waitress friend Babette and the manager. They told me that they intended to take care of their good customers like me, but I had to keep it a secret. No problem. Bottom line, no more open drinking but I can still order take-out. Alrighty then.

I headed on up the beach to my Speakeasy and halfway there ran into another foreigner. He told me that he’d just left the Speakeasy because the police were outside. Damn. I waited a while, then headed over to see what had happened. Nothing really. The police were visiting the establishment next door. So, I still have a place to go. For now at least.

But not on Sunday!