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Save our people, Lord!

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Twinkling with Ninfa R. Leonardia

By the time you get to read this, the United States will already have a new president. Donald Trump will have folded up his tent, figuratively, and departed from the White House, the American seat of power. Well, he had tried all kinds of tricks to retain the position, but the American voters rejected him, in favor of Joseph R. Biden, who was scheduled to be sworn in last night – in Philippine time, that is. All day yesterday CNN concentrated on the nearing transfer of power and leadership, and so must have the whole world, including the Philippines.

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Of course Filipinos are greatly interested in what is happening in the U.S. Not only do we have thousands, maybe even millions, of our kababayans, or countrymen and women, now living and progressing there, but we do owe that country a lot for nurturing us after the Spanish rule, and taught us what democracy is about. Now they have a new president, and the change must be a great relief to its citizens after what seemed to be a lackluster leadership.

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Now let us watch out and see how Joseph R. Biden, a.k.a. “Joe”, will lead that great country that has been a model for many. Our own country, the Philippines, owes much to the U.S., especially as far as freedom and democracy are concerned. Not only did it nurture us and tutored us in the advantages of democracy, it also welcomed millions of our people who migrated there and granted them citizenship. And I have yet to hear of Pinoys there who were discriminated against. In fact many of them are now holding top positions in the companies they are working for.

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I am not naming names because that could be bragging, but my nieces, cousins and nephews who have migrated there were immediately hired for managerial positions because they came equipped with college or masteral degrees, and with honors at that. At first they told me that their native officemates seemed  to resent them, but changed their minds when they found out that they were all degree holders, while most of the other workers were only high school graduates or hadn’t finished college! Peachy, daughter of my brother, Pros, very cute and morena, is now one of such employees holding managerial positions.

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But yesterday’s news concentrated on the scheduled inauguration of Jose Biden and one can imagine how Donald Trump is feeling after having been rejected in the polls by his fellow citizens. But what is causing concern among his people is that he is pardoning a lot of convicts and commuting the sentences of some. What does he hope to gain by that? Will those felons campaign for his return to the presidency? And he released the list of those he is granting such benefit on his last day as president! Can his successor still do something about that?

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Meanwhile, Americans seem to be proud of the fast that they have elected a woman as  vice president. Not only a female, but one the media describes as “colored” as well. But from her appearance, Kamala Harris looks as fair as any one of pure American blood. But U.S. media seems to be proud in describing her as such to show that there is no more discrimination there. Makes me wonder – do they also refer to Filipinos living or working there, some having acquired acquired citizenship already, as “colored”? I think I will ask my relatives there how they are referred to, despite the fact that they are all fair-skinned.

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Why was the airport in Kalibo locked down? Has the COVID virus been brought to that city by some passengers? So it is still no time to let our guards down as far as the pandemic is concerned. Don’t blame your local leaders if they seem to be over-reacting to this new but very dangerous disease. They are only trying to protect you from a very infectious disease that any family member who gets it can easily pass it on to his household.

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At last! After weeks of hoping and praying that our country could avail of the vaccine against COVID, the good news is that the one ordered by our Health Department, is now expected to arrive in the third and fourth quarters of this year. That is still a long way to go, but perhaps some steps could be taken to speed up its delivery. Our vaccine “czar”, Carlito Galvez, was seen on TV yesterday confirming this. Seems they have also solved the temperature problem. The first to be expected is the Sinovac but negotiations are also on for acquisition of Moderna. Let them come soon, Lord, save our people!*

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