As soon as I turned on the TV yesterday, the headline struck me: “President Trump tests positive for coronavirus”! What? The President of the United States had no immunity against the most fearsome virus to ever hit the world? Alas, this one has no respect for rank or material possessions. Remember it had , as one of its earliest victims, the head of the United Kingdom who, luckily, survived it. Now we have to wait and see how President Trump and his medical specialist will deal with this.
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This virus is truly one crown (corona) that nobody wants to wear, but does not select its victims. The most prominent lucky survivor is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, who was among the earliest victims, but who lived to tell his story. It seems as if this virus likes to pick prominent people for its victims, but that isn’t quite a fact since only the prominent ones get in the news. Who can tell how many among the impoverished sector, have also succumbed to it?
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So there is still nothing we can do except follow as closely as possible all the “protocols” imposed by those who are in the profession dealing with such maladies and pray that both a cure and vaccine will be available to counter it at the soonest possible time. This is a malady that does not discriminate, it strikes both rich and poor, prominent and insignificant. But one thing I am sure of is that most people noticed is that President Trump is one of the obstinate ones who refused to wear a face mask that, simple as it may be, must have saved thousands, even millions from infection already.
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Some people say is it was “fake news” about President Trump, but wasn’t it earlier known that his wife, Melania, had already been stricken? Even if we do not know them personally, and have nothing to do with their government, still we have ties with their leader and his wife, and with their country as well. I don’t know if anybody dared to tell Mr. Trump “I told you so” to his face, because he was notorious for ignoring the simple precaution of wearing a face mask. For all we know, he might have infected others, too, before his own case was confirmed.
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I have not yet heard the latest about the developments in the House of Representatives where two of its members had reportedly made their own agreement for term-sharing supposed to take effect October 14. Under the agreement, Congressmen Alan Peter Cayetano, now the House Speaker, had made a deal with Rep. Lord Velasco that they will halve the speakership between them. Now that day is nearing, other members of the House apparently are not in favor, as who would be? The leadership was chosen by the body, and not even the winner can hand it over to one he alone picks!
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The President has refused to rule on the matter. Being a lawyer and an experienced politician, he knows about complications that may arise, considering that the two contenders, rather, the two who made the agreement between themselves, were going for a position that the entire House had voted on for its leadership. As of this writing, I do not know if the matter had been settled, but the latest on it is that the house membership is apparently bent on keeping Cayetano as speaker. Even if he insists on resigning to keep his word, will the members pick Velasco? But this could be past by now, the case may have been settled already.
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Sometimes I get silly thoughts, such as, how will the American candidates conduct their campaigns especially now that the election is just about a month away? Will there be handshaking, hugging, kissing of babies? I recall that when Trump held his rally there was even no physical distancing. And will Trump himself be well enough to go and cast his vote by then? I think Joe Biden is a decent man and would not be wishing ill of his opponent. I’m just curious, and I suppose many others are, too.
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If I seem to be meandering at times, blame it on my “isolation” that has lasted for almost seven months now. I think I was the first “Worker from home (WFH) since this pandemic began. So my new first-floor room is now bedroom, dining room, office, dressing room, pantry, and reception room – with physical distancing, of course. But I am very, very grateful to my dearest friends and family who keep my freezer full with fruits and goodies that it is such a trial to avoid getting fat. Not that I’m complaining!*
