I know I have quoted this before, but some events happening now seem to confirm more than ever the old saying that “It’s an ill wind that blows no good”. Not that I am giving credit to the pandemic that has been wrecking lives and homes, but because of some blessings that we have to acknowledge, could not have come to us this soon, were it not for the present health problem that is affecting, not only our country, but practically the entire world.
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I am referring to yesterday’s headline of this papers “Add’l P200M assured for Bacolod Hospital” and an earlier one on June 28, saying “DUTERTE TO SIGN BILL CREATING BACOLOD CITY HOSPITAL TODAY”. Had it not been for the havoc wrought by this pandemic on our country, and especially on our city, would the approval of that bill have taken place yet? Of course there had been expectations but now this dream is nearing realization, Praise the Lord!
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And if we need to count our blessings further, let us think of what had happened Hongkong, where the newspaper called “The APPLE DAILY” was ordered shut down by the government for allegedly violating the country’s National Security Law! We on the DAILY STAR staff are counting our blessings for having gone this far, without getting entangled with any government “laws”. I am sure our faithful readers remember that last April 12, our “DAILY STAR” marked its 39th birthday!
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And we can take pride in the fact that in all those years, we went through many problems, were threatened by closure due to lack of funds, but managed to go on, through prayers and sheer grit. It was not very clear in the reports how Hongkong’s “APPLE DAILY” had offended the powers-that-be there, but, whatever it was, the government has clamped down on it. Oh, we had our times and threats, too, but because we were always conscious of the rules in this business, we have managed to get this far, shall we say, “unscathed”. And we cross our fingers when we say that.
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On the lighter side, I was delighted to hear that the British people will unveil, any day now, the statue of their beloved Princess Diana. I did not quite catch the area where it is to be installed, but I am pretty sure that will mean another tourist attraction for the country. I still remember what an icon she was, not only for her beauty and fresh-as-a-daisy appeal, but for the fact that she was also humble and, shall we say, long-suffering, more of her royal spouse’s “lifestyle” – to apply a non-libelous word!
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Who will unveil her statue? I hope not her faithless spouse who apparently preferred another woman, although what he saw in her has puzzled the world where people could not understand what he saw in the “other woman” named Camilla, whom nobody could even describe as “good-looking”! I was among those who mourned for Diana, and I know thousands of other romantic people did, too, because Diana, to us, appeared to be the epitome of what a princess should have in looks, appeal and pedigree. But that is all in the past now, may the souls of those gone rest in peace.
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Meanwhile, we should be thankful that, COVID, notwithstanding, we have some advantages that other countries do not have now. Canada, for instance is suffering a heat wave the likes of which they have not experienced before, the Czech Republic was recently hit by a tornado, the United States Pacific Northwest is going through an all-time high temperature, South Africa is under a strict lockdown. The latest shocker was the collapse of a condominium in Florida where some victims have not yet been accounted for. All those events should remind us that we need to pray more and implore Our Father in Heaven to watch over us and spare us those calamities and destructions.
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But a bit of uplifting news is that signs are coming up that the Olympic Games will go on, and that even now, its officials are already preparing the groundwork for it. What a distraction that will be from all the calamities, accidents and other tragedies going on. And even if I don’t know anyone, save, perhaps the athletes and their officials, who may be able to go to the site, that is, in Tokyo, we can count on TV to give us a chance to watch and enjoy, as well as root for our teams!*
