My story on how I survived COVID-19 and leaped to run and stay fit.
A couple of months ago, I got sick with COVID-19 and was diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
My confinement and isolation for 31 days were so painful and intensely lonely that I experienced extreme depression. I could not help but cry for fear that I would not make it and orphan my two kids.
But as they say, mother knows best. My mother encouraged me to be strong for my kids and the rest of my family. This fueled me to reframe my thinking by removing negativity out of my mind and by embracing positivity with many drives to fight back and recover fast.
This journey made me realize that our health seems more valuable only after we lose it. I also realized that I got sick because my health was never my priority at that time. I was just so busy that I forgot to take care of myself—not sleeping well, eating unhealthy food, too much caffeine, less water intake, rarely exercising, etc. These lessons shifted my focus toward my full recovery. I started doing yoga exercises, ate right, and followed my doctor’s advice until I was fully cured and cleared from COVID-19.
My traumatic health experience and the opportunity for a second life are clear reminders for me to always take care of myself first before taking care of others. For me, being healthy is a must. I want to be happy, live longer for my children, and serve the community better.
In order to be fit, I did a lot of physical activities like morning walks, running, and yoga sessions. I tried any exercise that would strengthen my lungs, and I saw that running fits really helps.
Incidentally, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) launched a virtual race for a regenerative future, so without hesitation, I signed up. I chose the longest run, 180 km, even though I am a newbie. This way, I would be motivated to run and be fit. I started running short distances at first, and I began to feel good when I added another kilometer to my runs. My goal was to complete the virtual race. Hence, I ran at least 6 km every day. Even at times that my knee is hurting, it doesn’t stop me from running. I just kept ongoing. I finished the virtual race nine days earlier than the required period, and as a newbie, I felt really proud of myself. Those short runs at the beginning of my recovery were to become the foundations of who I am now.
I continue to run even after the race. In fact, I joined and completed another virtual run at 80 km. I am practically running three times a week to stay healthy. For me, having a healthy lifestyle is one way towards a path to being regenerative.
Norreen G. Bautista is the head of EDC’s CSR department in Negros Island.
The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is a pioneer in generating 100% clean, renewable, and reliable power as an electricity supplier in the Philippines for over 40 years. With power plants all over Visayas and Mindanao, the company is one of the biggest producers of geothermal energy in Asia and is expanding its reach in the international market, allowing it to offer customers affordable energy rates. EDC also strives to provide the best customer service it can to all its clients by having helpful salespeople and easy to understand contracts. Because of all of this, it is poised to become the premier supplier of electricity for the Philippines’ Green Energy Option Program. EDC takes its mission as a renewable energy provider seriously and goes beyond sustainability by investing in programs that enhance the environment and empower its partner communities, thereby fostering regenerative development. The company has also been working toward being carbon-neutral by improving its energy efficiency, as well as implementing various greening projects to ensure that its mission to provide future generations with a better life remains intact.
