Not even the Olympics. That is how vicious this COVID pandemic has been behaving all over the world. The only consolation we have now is that, for the very first time, our country has won a gold medal, thanks to the petite Hidilyn Diaz, who astounded runners from the usual winning countries’ runners by outrunning their champions. Dear Hidilyn! She will come home to, not only honors and congratulations, but material prizes as well. I hear that one of her “prizes” from her fellow Filipinos is a condominium unit!
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I am sure that will be a great incentive for other athletes to try their best, not only to make it to the Olympics, but also to bring home gold medals. As in the case of Hidilyn, her compatriots will not be able to do enough to show their gratitude for the honor she has brought the country. Let us all hope and pray that her feat will help bring out the talents, Olympic type ones, in other Pinoys and Pinays, to show the world of sports that we can compete with the best!
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But there were tragedies at the initial gathering of athletes in Tokyo, too. The last report I heard said there were at least 111 COVID cases linked to the gathering in Tokyo for the games. What a pity for them, because, for sure all of them had been training with all their might to qualify, and merit medals for our country. Well, let us be appreciative of Hidilyn’s feat that she exhibited on the earliest days of the international competitions. We must let her know how proud we are of her, and what an incentive she is giving other athletes here, to whom an Olympic gold had seemed an impossible dream before!
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But it is quite disheartening to hear reports that a lot of the competitors have been sent home because they had tested positive for the COVID. But we should have been warned, because it had also been reported that Tokyo had recorded the highest number of new COVID cases since January. So only the most determined and most intrepid athletes and their officials must have proceeded to Tokyo, despite the risk. If the games are still going on, let us pray that participants, as well as officials will be spared from infection!
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What sins is this generation paying for that so many countries are being hit by calamities that we had only heard about in Biblical times? Several countries are being inundated by floods that have claimed so many lives. On the other hand, others have to contend with wildfires, with most of them in the United States. Tokyo, the host of the latest Olympics has been declared to be in a state of emergency. I suppose that aside for natural calamities, diseases like the newly discovered Coronavirus-induced or now nicknamed as COVID, is also reaping victims!
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Some people may be wondering why the Olympic games had to go on despite the threat of a pandemic. I understand the reason for that is the matter of sponsorships, with several countries, and probably private individuals, like billionaires and millionaires, have been tapped for sponsorships, and the organizers can no longer return their funds, so, as in the lingo of performers, “The show must go on”. And I bet, the athletes will play, even if the stands are empty. Anyway, they know that the eye of the world, which us what television has become, will provide them opportunity to watch and enjoy the games.
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Well, it’s still a matter of opinion, or shall we say, political leanings, but there have been so many varied reactions to the President’s SONA, or State of the Nation Address, which some jokesters even tagged as a “JONA” or Joke of the Nation Address! Some claim it was just a recycled version of his previous one, but I guess, virtually the same things happened, or were achieved, in the ensuing year, which is why they were mentioned again. But let’s not be too harsh on our President. Me, I have the feeling that he will tell those who claim to be tired of him, that he is also tired of his job! So it’s just “Even Stevens” as gamblers like to say.
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Did you know that the weights that Hidilyn Diaz lifted at the Olympics consisted of 237 kilos? Yes, that was what her cousin, Corporal Alexander Diaz, Jr. had revealed to querulous sportswriters! Oh my goodness! What solid muscles Hidilyn must have! “Kasi, tomboy-tomboy daw sia when we were children,” he added. I guess that no longer matters to her family, who are also reaping the rewards of her ability.*
