“Vibrant”! That was how the Ambassador of Australia called our City! Weren’t you thrilled to hear that? We may have COVID problems, we may have curfew, but if a foreign dignitary’s impression of ours is that of a “vibrant city”, I think we have reason to rejoice. I am sure our city officials momentarily forgot their worries over the pandemic and other problems they are facing, and as, for me, I suddenly remembered the poem of Leigh Hunt which I liked so much, I memorized it in one sitting!
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So here’s my parody on it that promptly came to my mind after hearing that “vibrant” description from Australian Ambassador Richard Sisson:
Sisson called us “vibrant” when
He visited our city
Time, you thief, who loves to get in
Sweets into your list, put that in:
Say we’re weary, say we’re sad
Say that health and wealth have missed us
Say we’re threatened by a virus
Say we need to go through jabs, but add
We’re “vibrant,” Sisson called us!
Of course I am apologizing to the heirs of poet Leigh Hunt whose cute jingle “Jenny kissed me” was what inspired me.
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Still and all, as the old folks would say, we have much to be thankful for compared to other countries that have been going through such problems as collapsing buildings that have caused a lot of untimely deaths, some of which have not even been accounted for yet. While we give thanks for being spared from such happenings, let us not forget to pray that more survivors will be found, and also for the souls of those who did not make it. Remember the old hymn “Heaven watch the Philippines”? Why don’t we revive it in our schools and Flag rites now?
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Everytime I read or hear about some accidents or calamity with many victims in the United States, I always worry that some Filipinos might be among them. And this was what I felt again upon hearing about that collapsing condominium in Florida. So far, I think not all the victims have been accounted for, but last night I heard that there was one Filipino among those missing. I found myself praying for whoever he was, and that he was only away from his unit when the collapse occurred. Maybe today’s news will have his identity?
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But we in the Philippines still have much to be thankful for, and let us not forget to acknowledge that. In the United States and Canada, people are suffering from severe heat waves, something that they are not used to. That should make us realize that such things are foreign to us and be thankful for our temperate climate. Let us acknowledge that whenever it gets hot, even just electric fans, or handmade folded fans, can relieve us. Let us never forget also, to be thankful for that.
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So President Duterte is due to deliver his State of the Nation Address, or SONA, soon. That is likely to be his last, since he has been stressing that he is not seeking another term. I am inclined to believe that presidents who do not want to linger in power are honest ones, and those who want to hang on until they are driven away are — draw your own conclusion! So far, who are the “wannabes” angling for his post? Dear Lord, please give us an honest man!
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Remember Dr. Anthony Fauci, the original “guru” of the COVID? His recent warning is that the latest variant of the disease could be dangerous to adolescents! Now, parents and school officials must be aware of this and work on the means to keep school children and teenagers safe from this highly transmissible disease. I hope our own Health officials here are also working on this to keep our youngsters safe. This disease is something we have to deal with before and our medical people should strive to be ready with the preventive measures to protect our young ones. I hope they are doing this already.*