I have been monitoring the Report of SLPC President Sandy Belarmino re COVID 19 in my beloved San Pablo City and I am delighted to learn that we can achieve the “low risk” category anytime soon. Thanks to the City Health Office headed by Dr. James Lee Ho and his staff for a job well done, but the people must strictly follow the minimum health protocols prescribed by the Department of Justice lest there will be an upsurge in the number of infected people.
Christmas is fast approaching and we cannot afford another lockdown much more than spending the holiday season in a quarantine facility separated from our loved ones. You ought to think seriously about it. This pandemic is no joke. It is real and has brought deaths and exhaustion of family resources to many people of the world. At this point in time, your desire to attend parties, reunions and other mass gatherings must be stalled. There will be ample time to do that once this pandemic is over.
Bear in mind that the government, local and national, are doing its best to provide us with vaccines while the front liners are risking their lives to take care of those who are already infected. Imagine the colossal damage to our economy caused by this pandemic on top of the billions already spent by the government to address this plague and all that is being asked from us is simple obedience to health protocols! Can’t we not do that?
Let us not be attracted by the light like the moth nor be tempted by the sounds of revelries and festivities lest we end up in the ICU of some hospitals or in a crematorium. I may sound morbid but that is the reality nowadays. If we value life, we shall obey the health officials so we can enjoy all the holidays in the coming years. If we are healthy and alive, we can: see our children graduate from learning institutions; guide them in whatever endeavor they desire; enjoy the sight of our grandchildren sharing the food we cook; teach them how to pray, braid their hair and a lot more.
We were taught and I agree that patience is a virtue. From childhood to adulthood, we are oftentimes confronted by tough challenges in the family, in school, at work and even at play but because it is in our innate character as a Filipino to be resolute and strong, we survived the tests of time. This pandemic is an assault to our fortitude and resilience as a people. At the outset many have died because vaccine for this novel virus has not yet been invented and produced but God is good. In a span of one and a half years of waiting, vaccines from different countries arrived and millions had been inoculated.
Now that we are on our way to being free from this contagion, let us all follow the health protocols without being told. Let us convince our unvaccinated relatives and friends to register and submit themselves to vaccination after all, it is free. Who knows, by December we can already celebrate a very merry Christmas with our family and friends.
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
