This rented cubicle is kitchen and all types of rooms for a teacher in Manila

The COVID-19 pandemic did not only teach this teacher the necessity of avoiding the outdoors, and refraining from meeting with her students face-to-face, but also a skill in functional, minimalist "room engineering" —everything she needs is just arm's reach away from her chair.

In this photo taken on September 30, 2020, English Teacher Pauline Marasigan-Romero is talking to her pupils from Rafael Palma Elementary School during their online orientation in preparation for their distance learning.

On October 4, public school classes are set to begin for the School Year 2020-2021, which would have otherwise started in June. —with a report from Danny Pata/LBG, GMA News