How can the world attain peace among all the nations belonging to it when signs of reconciliation and understanding between some rouse enmity in others? The latest reports say that Israel and the United Arab Republic have come to friendly terms. But before the entire world even learned about it and rejoice over it, news also came out that Palestine is displeased by the development, and what this displeasure could lead to is something that may not ensure improved relationships among them.
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With the vicious coronavirus still raging worldwide, and with governments and their medical and scientific minds still unable to find a total cure or even just a vaccine to protect those still not infected, all we need is a war among two powerful countries which could later involve others who may take sides. What miracle should we pray for that will remove the hostility that continues to exist between countries and people? These are, indeed, times of great trials for the entire humankind.
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What do Filipinos think about the idea of mailed-in votes? That is a system where voters need not go to the polling places to write down their candidates’ name, but fill up their ballots and send them through their post offices. I understand that they had used that system before, but will they agree to it this time? Me, I strongly doubt that such a method of electing our officials will ever be adopted by our country, because I believe Pinoys are more inventive and cunning in such matters. Of course I am not generalizing, but think back on elections past – was there ever one where candidates all accepted their losses, without claiming he or she was cheated?
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These days, the Americans are focused on their coming elections and the incumbent, Donald Trump, must be losing sleep thinking of strategies to win another term. That is perhaps, why, even if he is the president of the United States, one of the hardest hit countries by this coronavirus that China has gifted the world with, he has not been heard much, commenting on it, or what his government is doing to ensure that a medicine, or at least, a vaccine is developed, and provide funding for it. Doesn’t he realize that this issue could make or break him?
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I like the statement of former First Lady Hillary Clinton, who was quoted as saying that “If Trump loses, he won’t go silently into the night”. Dear Mrs. Clinton, you are a person after my own heart with figures of speech like that. For indeed, Trump will not easily accept defeat and will probably use all means from charges of improprieties to any possible, and even a recount. So, as Madame Clinton has said, he will in no way act like the Arab in that poem who “folded his tent… and silently faded away”. I have changed the actual tenses, sorry, for the sake of relevance.
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By the way what you have heard about the medicine called Lianhux Quing that is said to have been concocted in China and is effective against the COVID? Has any other country adopted it already? And how many cases in China has it cured so far? I heard it is already available in several countries including the Philippines. But are our doctors ready to prescribe it for their patients? I wonder, though, why there continue to be many fatalities from the disease in our country, but the number of recoveries are also encouraging. Are the medical people not sharing their methods of treatment as well as the medicines they prescribe?
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So much problems of the world. Yesterday I had a wonderful respite from it all when our international “host with the most” a.k.a. Edouard Lacson Garcia, a very dear family friend and columnist of the DAILY STAR, treated me and Bamboo Tonogbanua to lunch at his residence. Oh, I don’t know how to describe the epicurean treat Edouard prepared for us, but competing with the meal were the tales of his experiences as a globetrotter, and as a citizen of France as well! Oh Bamboo and I could only sigh with envy at his descriptions of the places he had gone to and the people he met.
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Our meal took about two hours, but later Edouard took us for a paseo around the city and how I wish I could keep the windows of the car open so people could see me riding in a BMW. Anyway, the best “dessert” for me – after the mouthwatering ones – was that he has agreed to resume his column in the DAILY STAR that had been missed by so many. So you better start now, Edouard, please, and don’t make a liar of me! Ah, and most of all, thanks again for the lovely meal that, like all the ones you have hosted are all memorable in every way!*
