How i combat COVID disruption and prevent depression

While many of my friends are complaining about their businesses and professions being disrupted, I have chosen to combat disruption by becoming busy and productive. While some associates and colleagues are hovering on depression, I have chosen to embrace the new normal and surf over the waves of changes.

First of all, I finalized the setting up of my office at home, put up all my law books and installed all the furniture and hardware for a total law office operation. I upgraded my wi-fi connection and purchased online a one-year Zoom subscription. My son who took his oath as a member of the Bar last year, is assisting me in the research and preparation of pleadings, appeals, position papers, and legal opinions. And so, practicing law from home is our new normal and we are gliding over the new protocols of the law practice. The chief justice is our neighbor and I am happy to note that the Supreme Court has amended the rules to allow virtual appearances, The High Court also adjusted the reglementary periods in order to accommodate delayed filing of appeals and petitions for reliefs.

Then, we embarked on an intensive research and writing of law books. From February to June, we have completed six books both for Law schools and for business and law practice, as well as for HR and business management. With my son as my co-author, I have written a thousand-page hardbound royal blue book entitled “How to Terminate Employees Legally and with Honor and Dignity”. This is accompanied with a blazing red thousand-page hardbound volume “How to Handle Illegal Dismissal Cases”. Secretary Bebot Bello, a friend and chairman Gerry Nograles, also a friend, favored us with their forewords. These are now out for sale by Central Books.

We also wrote three volumes for the Bar candidates, a yellow hardbound “Ultimate Bar Review Compendium”, a tangerine softbound “Pre-Week Bar Reviewer” and a light blue “Ultimate Guide 88 Hours Before the Bar Exams”. These contain all the essential principles and landmark decisions on labor issues, from recruitment to retirement. These books contain the effective Bar techniques and secret tips for passing and even topping the Bar. The last volume is also a thousand-page handbook for management lawyers, union leaders, arbiters, commissioners, and drafters of labor decisions. We are proud to have produced six books in less than five months. We have Law students helping us encode. They are paid a thousand pesos a day and they work from home.

On top of all these, I conduct webinars for training centers and for private companies and groups either for a minimal fee or for free as my service to others. I also conduct summer classes via zoom for UE Law where I have no less than 46 students all excited to learn each day. I also have semestral classes in Labor Standards Law for San Beda Law Alabang, also via digital platform. Still, I write my daily column in this paper, and I do my duties as husband, father, and grandfather. I do some gardening and a little exercise. My wife and I also attend Friday prayer and spiritual sharing meetings via Zoom. What I miss is my church service as lay minister and attending my Knights of Columbus and Rotary meetings.

What matters most is that I do enjoy the lockdown. I turn a negative thing into a very productive and happy experience. I have no time for depression. I am never bored or lonely. I am too busy for such useless things.