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Did you see the Christmas Star?

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Twinkling with Ninfa R. Leonardia

How many more days till Christmas? I thought I had gotten over that mentality when I grew up, but, I guess, like many adults, the excitement and expectation of this day never leaves our hearts and minds. So it is just a day more  before we celebrate the grandest birthday of all – the birthday of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the savior of Mankind. And on this particular Christmas Day, let us join in prayer, not only for ourselves, but for all mankind to be saved, both from our misdeeds, but also from this plague that has hit mankind in this century.

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Because it looks as if, instead of abating, the malady is worsening in some parts of the world, confounding even our most talented medical people. But let us be grateful for the discovery of vaccines that have proven successful in some countries, and hope they will be available to our entire population soon. It has been a long time since the world was visited by a malady such as this COVID, that makes me think of the story of Pandora, who opened a mysterious box to release a malady that confounded mankind for a long time. Let us pray and hope that the vaccines being discovered will be effective for the whole world.

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But a scary  report that has come out recently is that a new variant of this COVID has appeared in the United Kingdom that is said to be spreading rapidly and the Health Secretary of the country confirmed that it is getting “out of control”. Let us pray that it does not mutate, and spread,  and that infected people do not travel and spread the virus to other countries. One cannot take matters like the  spreading of this still unconquered virus lightly,  because it has confounded some of the best medical minds abroad, too.

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I wish we were as wealthy as the United States that has reportedly earmarked a cool $900 BILLION as aid for the unemployed and those whose businesses have been shut down, as well as for health care workers. The amount was supposed to be given out yesterday – $600 for each adult and child! When can our own country afford to give out aid like that? It could only be wishful thinking, without a hope for  realization. In countries like ours, each one strikes for his own! Only faith and grit keep us going.

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Meanwhile, it is time to double our prayers and supplications to the Child Jesus for our liberation from this COVID pandemic that seems to be enveloping the world. Just when I thought its victims were abating, news came out that there are now 7.5 million COVID victims worldwide. And those were last week’s figures, so unless a miracle has taken place because it is Christmas, the numbers may have increased, rather than decreased. Let us not forget to plead with the Child  Jesus on His birthday, to grant us the gift of protection from it.

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But perhaps we should  be thankful that cases in our city, province and country are not as numerous as those in other countries, especially the cold ones. Governments  are now imposing such heavy restrictions that residents, as well as citizens of countries like the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia are fleeing from their countries because of the very tight restrictions imposed in the attempt to stop the transmission of the disease. I wonder where they go to and be  assured of freedom from it?

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I haven’t gotten any new about the plans of our country to acquire the vaccine against the COVID. I heard that the President is willing to meet the amount its acquisition would require. So when can we avail of it? I hope not until it is too late! I heard, though, that Pfizer is the desired one. Let’s prod them to hurry up with it before our population is decimated. Of the two vaccines believed to be the top choices – Pfizer and Moderna – which one does our Health officials prefer? By the way, it is true that  our top official there is about to get his walking papers?

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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star … Are you among the lucky ones who were able to see the Christmas Star in our sky on Saturday night? I think that is the same star that had guided the Three Kings to the manger where the Child Jesus was born. I’m sorry to have missed it, but no astrologer had given us notice that it would be seen. That could have been a once-in-a-lifetime blessing!*

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