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Watch out for Mayon and Kanlaon!

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Twinkling with Ninfa R. Leonardia

“My pleasure”. It was really a pleasure to hear someone being interviewed on TV make that reply when the host of the program thanked him after the interview. And do you know why? It is because I am always puzzled, if not exactly annoyed, when someone responds to a “Thank you” with another “Thank you”. It always makes me wonder what their first grade teacher, or their elders taught them as the proper response to it. It wouldn’t be so inappropriate if they reply with “Thank You, too”, would it? But if you are the one who feels favored or grateful, naturally, you say “Thank you”, isn’t it?

***

Well maybe customs are changing and that is now as common as saying “Excuse me”. So we have to put up with it and just try to avoid responding that way. Note that this is not only a Pinoy habit, even foreigners  and English speaking ones are doing it also. We hardly hear anyone say “You are welcome” or “Don’t mention it” anymore – maybe they are no longer in fashion? Or maybe kindergarten and elementary school teachers no longer emphasize it to their students, as our did? But sometimes I find myself doing it, too.

***

But let’s focus on the good news now, which is that there are signs that the COVID virus seems to be weakening and cases worldwide seem to be reducing in numbers. It could be the result of the growing numbers being vaccinated, so we hope that more and more will have access to the most successful types being produced. Let us pray that with the availability of vaccines to all countries, COVID will soon be like a bad dream that frightened us in the past.

***

However it is disturbing to note that, as published in the news, only ten percent of our people are willing to be vaccinated. Why so? Do they still not trust what science and medical studies have produced to counter it? There are already places that have reported lessening of cases that they attribute to vaccination. Has our President already undergone it? If he has, I’m sorry I have not heard about it nor seen photos on TV showing him undergo it. Did he wince, or say “Ouch”?

***

But a recent finding  on this COVID, that keeps coming up with new “variants” is that it is a “long hauler”, and I didn’t even know what that meant until a later report explained that the virus can hit you and not show symptoms for a long time, maybe even months! That makes it more frightening, because how can one tell that he or she, or the persons they interact with are already carrying the virus? Knowing that, therefore, is the best reason for undergoing vaccination as soon as possible. This should calm the nerves of those who still fear vaccines.

***

I was happy to hear that in Australia, their Prime Minister was the first to undergo vaccination, and it was made known, and probably shown to the citizenry. Way to go, Mr. Prime Minister, Sir! Lead by example. Has our President already gotten his shot, too? I am just being curious, but has China also produced its own version of a vaccine for the virus born in their country?  If so, are they sharing it with the world? If it has been published, I must have missed it, but I do hope any country that has produced a successful one will be generous enough to share it.

***

I felt like clapping for the pilot when I heard about that United Airlines plane that had developed engine failure shortly after take-off, and debris had already started falling from it, yet the pilot was able to land it safely after already having called “Mayday!” Passengers reportedly heard an explosion that they described to be like a “sonic boom”, yet they all landed safe and sound. They called it a miracle, and I am sure a lot of those on board were praying, but some on land just credited it to the experience of the pilot.

***

And now volcanos are the ones under watch. In the Philippines we have two major ones and aside from Mayon, that is in Albay, the other is our very own Mount Kanlaon that is in our island, Negros. Even as children, we were familiar with Kanlaon because it was always visible, especially on clear days, and even now, we can still see it when outside the city proper where it is not hidden by big and tall buildings. But it does not seem so benign now, and there are warnings to watch out, both for it, and Mayon to throw tantrums. Let us pray and hope that they calm down because we already have too much to look out for.*

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