Quarantine Diary: Paloma Urquijo Zobel in Batangas, Philippines

• Where are you quarantined and since when?

I was very lucky to get the chance to come to my farm in Batangas a few days before lockdown in mid-March and have been here since.

• What has been your best quarantine activity?

Honestly, I think the best discovery from this time has been engaging my teams in creative ways and restructuring our business plan to focus on what is really important these days. We have strengthened relationships with artisanal communities and are in the process of localising our operations even more. It's been a wake up call in every sense but it has also given me the ability to pause and rebuild.

For entertainment, I thought The Last Dance was spectacular and a must see. Even if you are not a sports fan, it's a great depiction of a viral sensation that shaped our culture before social media etc.

• Where are you quarantined and since when?

I was very lucky to get the chance to come to my farm in Batangas a few days before lockdown in mid-March and have been here since.

• What has been your best quarantine activity?

Honestly, I think the best discovery from this time has been engaging my teams in creative ways and restructuring our business plan to focus on what is really important these days. We have strengthened relationships with artisanal communities and are in the process of localising our operations even more. It's been a wake up call in every sense but it has also given me the ability to pause and rebuild.

For entertainment, I thought The Last Dance was spectacular and a must see. Even if you are not a sports fan, it's a great depiction of a viral sensation that shaped our culture before social media etc.

• What fun things are you doing online to stay connected to your family, friends and teams?

I speak to my teams every day and even play Animal Crossing with some of them on Nintendo Switch. We have a little PIOPIO studio in the game where we make PIOPIO clothes that players can download to dress their characters.

• Helping from home: are you supporting any particular nonprofit or relief efforts?

At PIOPIO, we set up an artisan relief fund with the goal of sending basic essentials and groceries to a different artisanal community every week. 15% of every purchase from PIOPIO goes towards this fund. We have been supplying around 30 artisans a week with a relief package.

We have also collaborated with TELA to produce masks where 100% of the proceeds go towards PPE, which are donated to hospitals around Manila.

• What fun things are you doing online to stay connected to your family, friends and teams?

I speak to my teams every day and even play Animal Crossing with some of them on Nintendo Switch. We have a little PIOPIO studio in the game where we make PIOPIO clothes that players can download to dress their characters.

• Helping from home: are you supporting any particular nonprofit or relief efforts?

At PIOPIO, we set up an artisan relief fund with the goal of sending basic essentials and groceries to a different artisanal community every week. 15% of every purchase from PIOPIO goes towards this fund. We have been supplying around 30 artisans a week with a relief package.

We have also collaborated with TELA to produce masks where 100% of the proceeds go towards PPE, which are donated to hospitals around Manila.

• How do you stay positive and keep calm?

We have launched a few DIY kits on our website which I like to do to keep calm. A lot of arts and crafts and tie dying. Also, Melissa Wood health classes.

• Complete the sentence:

Being in quarantine has given me a new appreciation for slowing down.

• What's the first thing you want to do post-quarantine?

Dance with my friends

• How do you stay positive and keep calm?

We have launched a few DIY kits on our website which I like to do to keep calm. A lot of arts and crafts and tie dying. Also, Melissa Wood health classes.

• Complete the sentence:

Being in quarantine has given me a new appreciation for slowing down.

• What's the first thing you want to do post-quarantine?

Dance with my friends