Mass vaccination against the COVID is scheduled to start in the Philippines in March. That’s more than two months away! What will the statistics be on cases, and especially on mortalities by then? Isn’t that like telling a drowning person that help is coming, but you are still looking for a banca and a man to row it towards you? I also hear that the vaccine the Philippines is eyeing is from Pfizer. Well, that is a reputable name in medicine,but if it doesn’t get here soon enough, what will the records be saying?
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But we have to count our blessings, despite such discouraging news. At least we are not facing a snow storm like what New York is experiencing now. Although we do get some unexpected rain now and then, that is nothing compared to what New Yorkers will be going through. I am really worried about my relatives and friends there who must be wishing they had come home before all these weather tantrums began. So let us not complain when some rain spoils our plans – think what more we would be suffering if our climate also included snow and worse, snow storms!
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The word of the week for me is “Honorable”. That is because I heard a discussion on TV, about how freely people use it as a title, even for the most undeserving people. The report came from the United States, where we have patterned many of our practices, so even the most dishonest and undeserving officials are automatically given the “Honorable” title. But I am sure I have not yet heard of any official convicted for some dishonest act tagged as “Honorable” after their sentencing!
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But what is this we hear about a deal for the acquisition of a vaccine from Pfizer worth 10 million doses that didn’t push through because it was “botched”? So far, I have not read or seen an explanation for this, but it seems like a grievous matter, indeed. All our people are practically cowering in fear of infection from this new virus that has attacked mankind, and a chance to deal with it is gone because the negotiations were “botched”? Anong say ni President Duterte? I wish that had been published, too.
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But I admire former first lady Hillary Clinton for speaking out her opinion after outgoing president Donald Trump kept moaning about having been cheated and claiming that he lost his bid for reelection because the voting was “rigged”. What did Ma’am Hillary say? “He is angry at losing a job he isn’t even doing”. But Trump must have something else on his mind. His son Hunter is hinted at being involved in some shenanigan that the media has apparently not fully exposed yet. So it is not only the sins of the father, they are also pouncing on the sins of the son.
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En garde! That is what our officials should tell the military after the Communist Party of the Philippines declared that it is not observing any ceasefire this season. Well, what can our government expect? For us all, this is the Christmas season, supposed to be a time of peace and goodwill, but these people do not believe in God, much less Christmas, so any ceasefire our military may declare will be a one-sided one. And not only soldiers must be on guard, people in the hinterlands must also look out for raids and other atrocities, even if it is Christmas.
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Why haven’t we got the vaccine supposed to have been purchased in October yet? The Secretary of Health has explained that by saying that he had signed for it but so many countries had signed up before us, so you might say, we are on the waiting list now. Let us just hope that our turn will come soon, and before infections have spread so widely, they can no longer be contained. But I know Filipinos are a prayerful people and what money cannot procure, their prayers will.
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What is this I heard on TV that face shields are not effective against the COVID? I would think so, too, which is why, I note that most people wear them in addition to their masks. Not only that the shield leaves the area around your face exposed and if it is true that this virus can enter your nose and your eyes, then these are open territory for any virus flying around! No wonder hospital workers now look like zombies, with all their coverings, you would not recognize those who took care of you when, luckily, you recover, and meet them in the streets. So the best thing to do is to cover yourself and avoid those who don’t care.”*
