Some friends and relatives had been teasing me, “Why is your Star no longer shining everyday as it used to?” At first I was nonplused to find the words to counter them, but last night, I was able to answer one “questioner” that even the stars in the sky sometimes get hidden by clouds, so, for us human beings the “clouds” are the human ailments that we cannot avoid, no matter how we try to enforce ourselves with all sorts of vitamins and medications.
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In my case I could not understand what hit me that seemed worse than any other ailments from childhood to “senior-hood” had descended on me. I was fortunate, though, that I was in the car with my sister-in-law, Elsa, and my caregiver Nalda when I began to feel as if I could no longer breathe, and they brought me forthwith to the hospital. Still, I never thought it was something to worry about, even while I was being stuck with needles and attached to an oxygen tank because I couldn’t manage to breathe freely.
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Thank God for the prayers of my family and friends, I was able to hurdle that despite the4 fact that some doctors only questioned me from the doorway and who could blame them, with the COVID having already started to do its worst in our city. So I am very grateful to my relatives and friends who prayed for me so that I was able to “check out” after three – or was it four? – days. It was only when I insisted on seeing the reports with the diagnosis and found out that. Thanks be to the Lord, and my favorite saints, together with those of my loving family and friends, I was “released” after three, or was it four? – days.
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And they, as well as I myself, were all relieved that I was not a COVID victim, but of pneumonia! But life is not just “as usual” for me now. I now go to sleep with an oxygen tank by my bed, and two caregivers, experienced ones, who know how to anticipate my whims and crankiness at times. By way of this column, therefore, I wish to thank all of those loving relatives and friends who called me up and assured of their prayers for my complete recovery. But up to this moment, I am still under “solitary confinement” and those who love me and care for me just wave to me from the doorway of my room. But such attention, I am sure was what gave me the courage to try to get well.
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Of course my caregivers frown when they see me typing out my columns but I assure them that this is part of my therapy. It keeps me thinking all day about what I should write about, and through this one, I thank with all my heart those who very thoughtfully send me fruits and other goodies that my worry is whether I have gained weight, but could not weigh myself for fear that the results would frighten me! I think this isolation has made a coward of me, too!
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I said I would avoid listening or watching news reports, but I was not able to evade the item that announced a big increase in oil prices. I wonder how those oil-rich ones could justify the increases when it seems people are not traveling as much as they used to in fear of COVID infection. Isn’t it unGodly of them to hike prices and take advantage of the pandemic to further enrich themselves? When, oh when, will the Philippines also strike oil in one of its provinces, towns or cities? Then we could thumb our noses at those countries with the oil wells!
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I think people will stop concentrating on COVID now that election season is nearing. I hear that Manny Pacquiao has announced – maybe even filed his certificate of candidacy. Oh, I also know people who think it is a laughable story, but who knows? For me, the one thing I am sure of is that he will be an honest leader. Others think he is “presumido” to think he can be president, but who knows? He may bring something fresh into the office and that is honesty and sincerity. If I get to meet him these days, I’d probably tell him “Go for it, Manny, knock ‘em out!”
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Good news for workers is the one about a proposed reduction in the amount that is supposed to go to the Social Security System, or SSS. If approved, that will be a very humane approach to the problems of workers these days. But I understand it is just a proposal, and may need another law passed before it can take effect. I wish, though that a survey will be made first to see what the workers’ view on it is. Maybe they can pass a law giving the worker a choice if they agree to the deductions? Sometimes I think of those deductions when people complain. I think of a mother coaxing a child to take bitter medicine and telling him or her “This is for your own good”!*
