We are already well into January but the United States is still counting the votes cast in their November elections. Maybe that is inevitable if you have an opponent like Donald Trump who does not know how to admit defeat despite the evidence from the polls. The newly elected one, that is, the declared winner, Joe Biden, is expected to be sworn in and assume office in about two weeks’ time, but Trump is apparently doing everything possible to reverse the results in his favor. I guess it hurts a lot to lose, much more if you are an incumbent.
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But Americans apparently realized that he had not been doing what they had expected him to do when they voted for him. So why return him to the post for another term of doing nothing? Remember how Hillary Clinton sized up his situation? She said he does not want to lose the job he hasn’t been doing! Astute woman. Somehow I feel that if she had contested him she would also have beaten him. So Joe Biden, the winner now, must watch his steps when he takes over. Hillary could be waiting in the wings if he does not come up to expectations.
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Be prepared for the expected registration to be conducted soon involving all citizens of the country. I understand this is in preparation for the issuance of what is going to be the National I.D., or identification cards for all citizens. Although the process may be cumbersome at the start, I think such I.D.s will be of great help to us Filipino citizens because it could serve as identification for all transactions. Also, the issuance will serve as a census of sorts since everybody will have to be accounted for. Those who refuse to acquire one will find difficulties in dealing with government and other transactions later.
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But there are reports that a lot of Pinoys are not in favor of the National I.D.s. Well, they cannot be forced, but they will find out their disadvantages when they deal with government offices, and even private entities that will be likely to accept such I.D.s on sight than any other they may present. I hope, though, that the process for acquiring them will be made easy, with no red tape whatsoever involved. And then, too, let there be a mechanism to make replacement easy in case a holder loses his or her I.D. Never mind if a minimal fine will be imposed.
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One hopeful sign that the COVID plague may be conquered soon is that preparations for sports events on the international scale are still going on. I heard that athletes involved in the Olympics are now undergoing vaccinations, so it could mean that whether or not the disease has been vanquished by then, the games in Tokyo will go on. It will, indeed, be a big disappointment, not only for athletes, but for sports lovers as well, if such a popular sports activity is cancelled and they are deprived of their enjoyment, that has become accessible now with live TV coverage the whole world can watch.
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Meanwhile, the latest game in the NBA was between the Lakers and the Grizzlies, that ended with a score of 94-92, in favor of the Lakers. My! What a close match! That would surely not be the lead if Kobe Bryant were still around. This time, it was Lebron James who made the difference, I heard. Congrats to the guy, and I hope he can really step into the shoes of Kobe, whose death in a helicopter crash with his daughter last year is still being mourned by fans, including this writer. Kobe was a clean player, he was never a “buaya (crocodile)” in his games.
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Our Pambansang Kamao (National Fist), a.k.a. Manny Pacquiao must have been so enraged at the fate of the flight stewardess, Christine Grace Dacera, whose body was found in a hotel in Manila. Forensic examination reportedly did not show signs of rape, but the parts of her body shown on TV exhibited big dark bruises, indicating that she must have been beaten up by those who were with her. Reports had also noted that she was seen in the company of three persons described to be “gay” or homosexuals. Let us hope that those three will be identified and, if they are not the ones responsible, can give some clues as to who may have done the horrible deed.
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Sometimes we get encouraged by reports that the COVID pandemic is waning, but suddenly news comes out about its viciousness, as in the case of a Zamboanga Congressman who tested positive, and later all his six children also caught the disease. This shows we still cannot be too careful about the possibility of infection, even if the one initially stricken is a close member of the family. All families and households should, therefore, make sure that they know where to go and whom to seek advice from, in case a member exhibits signs of the disease. Remember the Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared!” always.*
