I, Aksel, give you a look at the surreal reality we suddenly found ourselves in. What was supposed to be a short three-day trip to celebrate our second wedding anniversary on the beautiful island of Siquijor turned into an indefinite stay as the world began to lock down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mood shifted almost overnight. We were staying at a lovely resort, enjoying the island life, when the news broke that the ferries were stopping and the island was being closed off. It’s a strange feeling to realize you can’t just go home whenever you want. Suddenly, our "vacation" became our everyday life, and we had to pivot quickly.
One of our first priorities was finding a more sustainable place to stay. While the resort was great, it wasn't a long-term solution for our budget, especially given the uncertainty about how long we'd be stuck. We managed to find a much cheaper place to stay—about 300 to 400 pesos a night—which helped ease some of the financial stress. We also had to figure out how to get food, as many places were closing. We started going to the local market more often, navigating the implemented "quarantine pass" system.
The atmosphere on the island changed too. Siquijor is usually so welcoming and full of life, but with the lockdown, the streets were quiet, and there was a palpable sense of anxiety. We saw checkpoints popping up and heard the sirens that signaled the curfew hours. It felt like being in a movie, except it was our real life.
Despite the situation, Jessa and I did our best to stay positive. We spent a lot of time walking on the empty beaches—something that would normally be a luxury, but in this context, felt bittersweet. We talked a lot about what this meant for us. We decided that the best thing we could do was keep filming and sharing our experience, even the parts that weren't "perfect."
A major concern for us, which we’ve mentioned in other videos, was Jessa’s health. Being stranded on an island with limited medical resources while she was pregnant added a lot of pressure. We spent a lot of time trying to gather information about local clinics and hospitals, just in case.
This video is a snapshot of that early period of confusion and adaptation. We weren't sure what the next day would bring, but we were determined to make the most of it. We traded our mountain views in Ginatilan for the sea views of Siquijor, and while the circumstances weren't what we chose, we were grateful to at least be safe and together. It was the beginning of a long journey of being stranded, one that tested our patience and our resilience, but also brought us closer as a couple. We were just two people far from home, trying to find our rhythm in a world that had suddenly changed overnight.
