Mahirap Maging Mahirap: How are the poor coping with COVID-19?

Mahirap Maging Mahirap: How are the poor coping with COVID-19?

Kwentong Kalusugan sa Komunidad ukol sa COVID-19 (KKK-COVID19)
Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC), Ateneo de Manila University
Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao, Inc. (UGAT) 


UGAT thanks everyone who joined its first-ever webinar, where four anthropologists talked about the impacts of Covid-19 and the resulting quarantine on the urban poor.

Here is an infographic prepared by Ateneo de Manila University student Kay Atienza, who joined the webinar and got inspired to design this visual aid free of charge.

The speakers of the webinar facilitated by Dr. Mary Racelis of the Institute of Philippine Culture discussed topics related to the experiences of Filipinos during the enhanced community quarantine, with a focus on the plight of the urban poor.

Dr. Maria Carinnes Alejandria of the University of Santo Tomas discussed the struggles of the residents in BASECO compound in Manila, particularly those involved in the garlic industry.

Dr. Josh San Pedro of the Coalition for People's Health shed light on the struggles of disseminating COVID-related information to the public as reflected in his work as a physician-anthropologist in Quezon City.

Dr. Gideon Lasco of University of the Philippines Diliman highlighted the most vulnerable sectors of the society during COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the point that the pandemic can be viewed as "syndemic". The issues arising during ECQ should not be divorced from the apparent disparities brought by different social, economic, and political contexts.

Watch the video here