Which one will the fountain bless? Remember that popular hit long ago that one heard from every street corner where there were jukeboxes? It came from the song, and the movie with the same title of “Three Coins in the Fountain”. Now that seems applicable to the various vaccines intended to halt the deadly march of the coronavirus illness that has so rapidly reached out to several countries worldwide. The problem is in the hands of the Health officials, who cannot seem to decide yet which one to adopt for our people.
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But we are not the only ones hesitant to accept it, or them. Even those in their countries of origin are also hesitant, apparently waiting for others to try them first before they will accept them. So our medical people are at an impasse, in trying to convince their patients that “This is for your own good!” I heard, though, that in our country, our people are just waiting for the Food and Drug Administration to give the go-signal, but as of this writing, I don’t know yet if it had done so already . Let’s cross our fingers.
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In the United States, the reports say that mostly black people are the ones who are hesitant to undergo vaccination. Maybe they are thinking that as the experimentations and tests had been made with white people as the guinea pigs, such vaccines may not be suitable for them. It may take a lot of convincing to get them all to go through it, and some brave souls must lead by example so that fearful ones will submit. In the meantime, has our own country already acquired the vaccine, and for how many? Last I heard the supply would be limited.
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Aside from the pandemic, the world is also being battered by climate disturbances, and among the latest to hit was a typhoon named “Yasa” that has battered the exotic Fiji Island. By the way, we have a friend and member of the Negros Press Club named Dolly Yasa. I haven’t met her for some time now, has she immigrated,or was I the one incommunicado only? I believe, though, that these days, that is the safest thing to be. Time enough for socializing when this pandemic has been conquered, meanwhile, let’s keep to social distancing!
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By the way, the outgoing American president, Donald Trump is said to be pardoning people right and left. I guess that refers to convicts or criminals who have gone against the law, but to whom he may have owed favors in the course of his career. Or perhaps from whom he is still hoping to boost his chances once he decides to run for president again. Apparently, he has accepted reality – or does he intend to use them for some sinister purposes? You never can tell how political minds work.
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I learned something very interesting the other day on TV. It said that that great invention that is the cellphone was introduced at the World Exposition in Osaka, Japan. Why, that was the time when my sister Perla and I joined some of our senior relatives and friends on a tour of Japan through a cruise ship that was very pleasant and enjoyable. Since we were the youngest, we were over-protected and pampered by the group that included the late former Schools Superintendent of Negros Occidental FructuosoYanson, our “TioyTusong”, his wife Elisa, or “Mansing” to us, Justice Guillermo Villasor and his wife the former Milagros Araneta, former beauty and brains of Bacolod, and four others.
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At the time our only thought was to see places, gape of wonderful exhibits, and experiment with the food, as well as the amenities offered. We roamed all day and returned to our boat – liner, they called it – that was owned by a Filipino businessman – who obviously had instructed his crew to take care of us. And he was also happy, because, everyday, I send report on our progress back home. And we never had any idea that the world of communications was going to be revolutionized after that!
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Meanwhile, has our Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, yet made up its mind about which of the available vaccines against the deadly coronavirus pandemic will be adopted by our country? I understand there are four now available, the Pfizer, Moderna, Novac, and another one called “JS”, or was that “JT”? Whichever – I hope we will have the chance to have them available and make our own choices, soon. Cross your fingers, and wish!*
