I know that the topic of the day will be the State of the Nation Address delivered by the President yesterday, so I don’t think I will dwell much on the matter. Suffice it to say that I was not disappointed that he adlibbed for most of the time, but well, I also agree that he did speak from his heart. Anyway, the SONA delivery was rare, rather, exceptional, in that it had the least in attendance of probably all the others delivered before it.

Last Saturday, I was idly playing with the TV remote and came upon the program of Bacoleño host Richard Enriquez, playing the popular old hit “What a Wonderful World” being sung by the late lovable comedian Dolphy. My first thought was, how appropriate indeed! I mean for Dolphy, who made everybody laugh and be happy with his jokes and quips, to be reminding us now of what a wonderful world we have! Mixed with my sadness at missing Dolphy, was the irony of the situation. Can anyone now declare even with tongue in cheek, that we are in a wonderful world?

But we should be very glad and give thanks to God for saving us from a President like the one the United States has at this time. Can you imagine President Duterte saying that it is only because there is so much testing that there are many cases in his country? Well, that was what was reported of the American leader, believe it or not. Until now, he seems to be belittle the dangers of the virus. Has anybody read or heard about him ordering experiments on various drugs and treatments for the disease that has already cost the lives of thousands of his people?
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I have heard some people wonder why our own President has hardly been heard from, either commenting, or giving advices, or informing us of steps being taken by the Palace to curb the transmission of this virus. But maybe he believes in the saying that “Discretion is the better part of valor”. Since he is lawyer by profession and in no way a medical expert, he has kept his opinions to himself. But the Americans have the misfortune now of having a garrulous president, but who elected him anyway?
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But we should pray for our fellow Pinoys in Cebu where many cases of the COVID-19 have been recorded. Could it be because many overseas workers have landed there on their way home to their native provinces in Mindanao? I recall, though, that even COVID suspected cases from Manila had made a stopover there. hence the inevitability of infections. This COVID is a very vicious enemy, because it can reportedly stay in the air or in surfaces for several minutes before losing its venom. You don’t even have to be in the same area, or near a victim to get it yourself.
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But what is this we hear about an investigation on the Philhealth? Seems a senator has gotten wind of some monkey business there that is proposed to be investigated. What a time for the Health agency to get into trouble! Now, when all its attention, interests and efforts should be centered on the health of the people, it still finds time to become suspect for monkey business? I hope it is not true, as that would be very shocking, It could be among the sins that cry to heaven for vengeance! I noted that it was Sonny Angara who caught a whiff of this. Ah, Sonny is his dad’s son, indeed. My dear friend Ed Angara would be proud of his boy.
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I am amused at the comments of our readers on items mentioned in this column about U.S. President Trump. Of course he is not my president, but who wouldn’t be interested in the head of such a great country? I do agree with the comment from CNN that his coming opponent in this election is not Joe Biden, but the coronavirus. I wonder, though, why CNN seems to be focused on him and his slips. Has he been crossing their paths? But President Trump has reason to be concerned, although he may not show it. The polls have not been kind to him.
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Meanwhile, we in the Philippines still cannot be complacent as far as this virus is concerned. As of yesterday, the total number of cases here was 9,391,763, with 631,164 dead and recoveries 9,396,763. In the United States, California is said to have the highest number of COVID cases. That should worry a lot of Filipinos because that is the state where, I think, we have the most Pinoys working or actually residing. And not only Filipinos, because it is also a melting pot of various races.
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What a pity that we learned about the comet that appeared in our country only recently. I am sure only a few Filipinos were aware of it, although the lucky ones had taken pictures that showed them quite clearly later. But the old folks have a belief that the appearance of a comet is a bad omen! Please, Lord, don’t let this one mean an omen of something worse than the virus we are facing now! Let’s not be superstitious, but me, I am praying very hard that this one brings good signs. How much more problems after the coronavirus can we take?*

Will this be the answer? A very encouraging news yesterday was that the United States Government has struck a deal with the medical company Pfizer for them to produce a vaccine against the pandemic that is decimating world populations by the thousands, with its victims falling also by the thousands daily. And who knows how many more there are in in distant places not accessible to the media, that has been faithfully following up the statistics on it? The deal is said to cost a whopping $1.95 BILLION, but what is that to a multi-billion (maybe more) economy like the U.S.?

What is the understatement of the year? I almost fell from my seat when I heard it reported on TV that American President Donald Trump has issued the statement that “The pandemic is bad!” Bad? I suppose he couldn’t say that it is “badder” or “worser” than any plague that ever hit mankind? But maybe he had to say something quotable when his people are apparently not every happy at the way he is responding to this problem. At least his choice of words will keep them busy criticizing it for a while.

While the whole world is stricken with fear of the raging pandemic brought by the coronavirus, the United Arab Emirates had gone on with its plans for space exploration to the planet Mars in behalf of the Arab world! Perhaps they are planning to move over there if they find it habitable? But surely there would be viruses waiting there, the air, if it is present, must pure and fresh. The cost must be astronomic, too, but then they could thumb their noses at the United States and China, and show the world who is who!

Is it true? A news report on TV said that local government units, or LGUs are 98 percent ready for classes to open. Anong say ng parents and teachers – are they ready, too? No doubt about it, I am sure children and students are more than ready, most of them having experienced boredom during the past months. No-class days used to be welcomed and enjoyed a lot by students but not no-class, but stay-at-home days! Well, they should realize by now that you can’t have everything.

Number One. That’s what we are now. But it is nothing to be proud of or even happy about and should, in fact, alarm us all. The latest report on TV yesterday said that the Philippines now has the most number of COVID-19 cases in the ASEAN which, is, of course the Association of Southeast Asian Nations! And as if that is not more than enough to worry about, there is also the Anti-Terrorism Law that seems to frighten, rather than assure our people of being safe and secure.

Somebody recently quoted on TV that “Sports can create hope where once there was despair.” I hope that is true, and that our young people will look to engaging in sports as their way of evading the scourge of our generation, this incomprehensible COVID-19. Of course we know that its name was given by medical personalities who probably combined the name of the coronavirus and the word disease, and attached to it the year it surfaced. And we also know that it first showed up in China that has been silent about its effects ever since it developed into a pandemic.

Let’s wait for it with bated breaths. I am referring to the SONA, or State of the Nation Address, that President Duterte will deliver on July 27. That is about 10 days from now. How does our President view the state of our country now? What does he think of his having the problem or misfortune to be in power when this horrible plague came to disturb, not the peace, but the health condition of people worldwide?