What is the first thing you want to do after lockdown?
Margie Moran: I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stay home for another 10 days to play safe.
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan: I want to go to our farm in Alfonso with the family. Eat bulalo in Tagaytay. Makakain man lang sa labas. And if travel is doable, we want to take a trip abroad. Sharon wants Korea. She has a new K-drama crush — I think it’s that guy in Crash Landing on You.
Tessie Sy-Coson: I’m not going anywhere. I will still just stay home. I really don’t go anywhere, except to the bank.
Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda: I want to go to my little farm to harvest some organic vegetables, to share my produce or simply commune with nature. I also want to go by the sea to inhale fresh air and revel in its natural wonder. Of course, when safe, I intend to go home to Antique, my beloved province where the mountains meet the sea, to check on all my projects and see my people.
Nedy Tantoco: I will watch the shows I’ve missed on Broadway, such as Hamilton. I will view them on YouTube, which I didn’t have time to do during lockdown because I was busy working from home, and looking after my father, who is 99 and lives right next to me.
Mariana Zobel- Aboitiz: Go for a really long walk! See what’s out there!
F. Sionil Jose: Every morning when I wake up, I thank the Lord for this precious bonus of another day. I rarely go to church, but on this day (of freedom), I will, to reaffirm my gratitude to the Lord and my dear caregiver, my wife; then to the shop to cuddle the new books that have arrived.
Sec. Mark Villar: I will visit an art gallery and check on what’s new. I miss this. Seeing the artworks up close is so different from just seeing them in photos.
Robina Gokongwei-Pe: I will go to my chiropractor. My joints are all stuck. I might be mistaken for a senior citizen when I go out and the police will send me back home.
Hans Sy: I guess the first thing I’ll do is visit my mother, whom I haven’t seen for a month. I have never stayed home this long. Thankfully, the lockdown has made me lose 10 pounds; I think this is a preview of what I will do during retirement.
Bryan Lim: I will rush to the malls because I’m so excited to see our stores open again. And, oh, I need a haircut.
Em Villar: Since we have no cook, I learned to cook Indian and Persian dishes during the lockdown. I will let my family try them when we have a joint birthday celebration for my sister, my mom and I.
Jun De Leon: Be one with my breath underwater with a deep gratitude for the best gift of life — oxygen.
Gaita Fores: I will visit my mother and hug her! I haven’t seen her since March 16. And also, I wish I could travel again and visit my favorite food cities.
Chris Tiu: If on my own, I’ll hit the gym. Need the blood rush and the endorphins. Not to mention I need to burn all the calories gained, bring back the lost muscle and cardiovascular endurance during the ECQ period.
I’ll go to the golf course because I’ve been watching too many Tiger Woods videos and I’m itching to try new things with my swing.
Maybe will try to hit the beach with my family to get some sunlight and fresh air. We need vitamin D for increased immunity and sanity, hehe.
Gang Badoy-Capati: When I wake up, I will go see my mom for breakfast in my childhood home! To hold her hand and hug her if she’ll let me. She has Alzheimer’s, which, for the first time, I appreciate, because if she had all her alertness about her she’d be a frontliner in her own way, and we wouldn’t be able to stop her. And then to Vets in Practice for my dog’s checkup. I need to make sure he’s well despite being only with humans 24/7. And then at night, I’ll demand for Black Cows to perform, bring my older brothers with me to get drunk on whisky and drown in Steely Dan.
Felix Ang: I will go for a round of golf and some sunshine at Manila Golf Club. Then I will go to a good sushi bar — Ogawa!
Sofia Zobel-Elizalde: Go to our farm in Calatagan, Batangas, and relax, get some fresh air.
Xandra Ramos-Padilla: I would like to re-experience the simple joys I took for granted, like taking my kids to Starbucks, browsing a bookstore, getting a haircut — but this time, hopefully, in a more mindful way. I would also like to visit my Lola Coring, because the last I saw her was the weekend before the lockdown.
Sen. Sonny Angara: I’d like to say hello to my mom and greet her a belated happy birthday. I also want to shoot a basketball. Miss the feeling.
Sheila Romero: I hope that the Adoration Chapel will be open. Praising God that our family and employees are safe is first on the agenda. Next stop will be Koop Studio for a haircut!
Lourd de Veyra: Walk my dogs and let them crap in the UP lagoon area. Then run away as fast as we can when campus security arrives. Then eat fishballs somewhere else. May isa pa: Go to a bookstore and buy absolutely nothing.
Donnie Tantoco: I will visit Lolo Benny in person for the first time since lockdown. He is 99 and to avoid exposing him, we communicate with him via Zoom or FaceTime. I will also visit my eight-month-old granddaughter Yani.
Kaye Tinga: Like most people, my world has been reduced to the four walls of my house. And yes, I understand this is my sanctuary and where I am safest. But I am ready to see the world again, especially the sea where I can see the endless horizon, and life once again has no limits. So, as soon as the lockdown is lifted, I’m off to the beach.
Cheryl Tiu: I absolutely cannot wait to travel to Korea. I’ve never been! Over the lockdown period, I’ve discovered the world of K-dramas, starting with Crash Landing on You to Itaewon Class to Hyena, and I can’t wait to visit and learn more about their culture.
Paolo Ballesteros: Drive around, hehe. Na-miss ko na mag-drive. I love driving kaya hindi ako nagda-driver. Meet up with friends at makipaginuman, hehe.
Rowena Tomeldan: I will visit my aging relatives — my dad, 85, and my aunt, 80 — whom I take care of from a distance. I worry about them every day.
Rajo Laurel: Hug my mom. I haven’t seen my family in 45 days. That’s really a challenge for me, as I used to see them every day. We all work together, so that’s been one of my biggest setbacks.
Happy Ongpauco-Tiu: First thing I’ll do is visit my dad and have a family feast together with my siblings! Haven’t seen him and my siblings in a while, so I miss them so much. Would love to celebrate life’s blessings with them.
Cecile Zamora (Chuvaness): Gonna see Chiyo Tagami for my hair. We already made a plan. I’m client number 2. Client number 1 is Chiyo, who will get a hair dye from her girl. Chiyo said one must not dye their own hair.
G. Toengi: What I miss the most is traveling and going to the beach (Pacific Ocean). First thing we as a family will do is hit up the beaches in Southern California. And seriously, we miss sushi!
Sheree Roxas Chua: Run! I usually run 10K on Sundays. But maybe this time, I will run towards a parlor for a haircut.
Thirdy Ravena: Definitely going to the beach after this, most likely in La Union.
Yong Nieva: First thing is to settle wages with our restaurant employees. Our advocacy AGREA’s MoveFood Initiative is a business model unfolding right before our eyes! We realized we need to help develop more sustainable farms closer to urban areas.
Michelline Syjuco: Actually, I’ve really been craving the steak rice, burger and milkshake at Nokal in Poblacion, so that’s the first place I’m hitting! Haha. Been on keto for two weeks now, and by the time lockdown ends, I believe I’ll be entitled to a cheat day!
Apples Aberin: The first thing I’ll do as soon as I’m able is to visit my mom and give her a big, tight hug. That’s if she will allow me! She’s been really great at social distancing and I’m grateful for that!
Pinky Webb: The first thing I’ll do is visit my family, whom I haven’t seen in six weeks — kiss, hug them and share a meal. And right after that, a trip to the beach!
Ely Buendia: If possible, my family plans to hold a service and finally cremate our dear cat Percy, so we can take him home.
Kiefer Ravena: Golf! Miss ko na mag-golf. Especially lockdown tayo, it will be nice to just walk around and enjoy nature.
Jun Sabayton: Puntahan ’yung halfway house sa Metro Manila. Na-miss ko na ’yung camera ko naiwan dun, mga libro, mga plaka. Iniisip ko din mag-volunteer pa rin sa mga NGOs na naka-focus sa environment, or baka dun sa mga scientists natin sa Philippine Genome Center kung kailangan nila ng mga video or photos, para mas madali nila maiparating ang mensahe nila sa mga tao, pagkuha ng mga grants para mga research nila, or equipment para dito sa (fight against) COVID. O kahit mag-janitor or magtimpla ng kape sa kanila kung ano man pwedeng maitulong. At pahabol pala: lalagok ng malamig na malamig na serbesa.
Maxine Syjuco: I could really use a good drink. The first place I’ll go is the nearest deli to stock up on wine. Then I’ll make my way to the art supplies shop to hoard rolls of canvas and art materials.
Gloc-9: Do some recording since the studio’s in QC and Bulacan ako nakatira. I will go biking din.
Ana Lorenzana De Ocampo: I will take an out-of-town trip with my loved ones and enjoy the outdoors.
Pepito Albert: I will go to the parlor for two days — for manicure, pedicure, haircut, hair coloring, etc. Will two days be enough?
Jazz Nicolas, Itchyworms: I really wanna go swimming. Although I still don’t know if it’ll be safe to swim once the lockdown is lifted. I’m sure the fear will still be there. I hope everyone will be scared to swim, so I’ll be the only one in the pool. Also: Mendokoro Ramenba!
Mikey Amistoso, Ciudad: I miss finishing new music and collaborating with my bandmates physically. I enjoy these multi-screen videos, but they’re tedious to make! Food-wise, for me it’s pizza and Samgyupsal.
