I will not be surprised if the year 2021 will go down in history as the Year of the Various Vaccines. The past few weeks, and I think the coming ones as well, carried more news about vaccines than of civil wars and uprisings. Which is not surprising, because what everyone is hoping and praying for is the discovery of a vaccine that could totally put an end to this new virus that has been decimating populations and disturbing the normal lives of people all over the world.
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Yes, vaccines have been produced, but it seems none has been proven yet to be the one that will put an end to the spread of this new virus that came from China and given the exotic name of “Coronavirus”. Whoever thought that name up must have some prophetic gift, because it truly lived up to the name by becoming a scourge, or a crown of thorns to mankind. I think we should all pray for the enlightenment of our medical people and our scientists, to be able to produce one that could drive it away forever.
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What I am thinking of now is the way vaccines had been invented to save humanity from scourges that had attacked before, like smallpox, which has virtually become unknown to this generation. Even tuberculosis has been banished by treatments when it used to be regarded as a lingering death sentence. Of course there is now a light at the so-called “end of the tunnel”, which comes from the AstraZeneca and the Sinovac, which the world is hoping to deal with this pandemic, the way vaccines invented in the past had dealt with other plagues.
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But I believe that we all need to pray ardently for the banishment of this new scourge that is coming in what scientists call “variants” that seem to make their appearances one after the other. After the UK variant, we now hear of the South African variant which, judging from its name, must have come from that area. But sometimes we are distracted by reports warning against this or that treatment, so we need more assurances from our Health Department and our leaders so that we can develop trust in the vaccines and medications being produced.
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But let us not be complacent in doing what we can to avoid contraction or infection by this new virus. It is truly no respecter of rank or position. Among the latest V.I.P.s to be victimized is Martin Romualdez, a congressman from the prestigious Visayan clan from which our former first lady, Imelda Marcos, also came. And despite its advances in both science and medicines, 14 states of the U.S.A. have been reported to be severely affected. Is it true that the Philippines has hit the biggest mark of COVID cases in Asia?
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Various countries are considering plans for reviving their economy after this pandemic has, hopefully, been conquered. The European Union is considering providing free transportation to people to enable them to travel and create a business atmosphere that would improve their economy, particularly, in industry. This is the time when what the whole world needs are leaders who are not only resourceful, but also imaginative in their approaches towards the revival of their government units. If we do not have them yet, let us pray that some will come up soon.
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There are forecasts, however, that a travel boom will be experienced worldwide when this pandemic has passed away. Well, a lot of people must have been bored sitting and twiddling their thumbs at home, especially the healthy ones, for whom summer months are leisure travel months, too. That is why transport companies are preparing themselves for this expected “travel boom”. But such travelers must make sure the places they visit are totally free of any COVID traces!
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Yesterday, March 18, was the birthday of former President Fidel V. Ramos, one of the most admired and productive presidents our country ever had. I am not saying this because my middle name is Ramos, but because he and his wife, Ming, who is an Ilongga, were very protective towards me during those state visits of his to several countries, which I was fortunate enough to join. “Tito Fidel” is now 93, but you wouldn’t believe that, seeing how active he still is. He and my uncle Toti Ramos, also call each other “Primo”. He is also one President whose name was never tainted by scandals, and one we can be proud of. May God bless you, Mr. President and give you more years in reward for all you have done for our country!*
