Nora Sorino.

ILIGAN City -- Like most of our local officials here, we the constituents were in "denial" mode. That is as far as this present scourge of Covid-19 is concerned. "That's only in Wuhan, China, in the Hubei province," we say.

So we sit back and relax.

But by and by it was already in our backyard. And it was the city of Cagayan de Oro that first alerted us on it.

So, well, it was time for action. This is no longer a "thriller" which we see on some channels. "Thrill is fun," says that channel.

It is no longer fun for us. The city with all its people is now "cast of characters" in this "thriller" of a lifetime.

We had experienced "Sendong" in late 2011. Early on when it was still about to come, we too were in denial mode. Mindanao, especially in this part do not suffer from typhoons or floods.

But we did. And since then, we had accepted our fate. That we too could suffer such fate with plenty of fatalities including the missing.

But a virus? Only them. "Them" includes everybody but us here in this part of the world.

But alas! It's here with us and the rest of the world. Is this now an "Apocalypse?"You know, that thing about the end of the world.

"Iligan is now in 'praning' mode," I said to Tito, a friend who came over to inquire about publications ( at least we' re glad there are still inquiries like this, meaning the business is not completely on a standstill).

"But not only in this city but the whole country, I mean the world." The word "praning" of course is street lingo for "panic to the point of craziness." (That's just my understanding anyway, hi hi).

"You're correct, I replied. " And then there's that order by PRRD about 'enhanced community quarantine.' "

"Hmm," Tito said and began to cough. I ignored it as he looked at me shyly maybe thinking Covid l9 thoughts. But I coughed too and we were in equal footing so we just smiled at each other.

"You know what?" I said. "An official of TUCP said about this latest move of the government called 'enhanced community quarantine' that he is really 'shocked'. " TUCP to note is Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. " I continued: " He said the government should have published that persons who came in contact with this particular Covid l9 positive should come out and come to some designated health office. "

I stalled a few seconds and then continued what the TUCP official said that the government should not have hidden the identities of those who were found to be positive for Covid l9. With that, contact tracing should not have been that difficult.

For some time we could not say anything to that. Well, who really can say how things like these would pan out?

Especially if it's a real-life thriller. For this does not all depend on the writer or director like in a movie!

"This all depends on everybody," Tito said.

"Amen to that." I agreed.