It was very enlightening to hear that the Department of Health had very good words about the way Bacolod City has been administering the “roll-out” of vaccines in the city. And, unlike in some places where people seem to be hesitant about undergoing the “shots” that could protect them from this pandemic, our people are, in fact, eager to undergo it. I believe this will mean a reduction in infections, and, not only that, but also mortalities.
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How come that there are reports of communities that are still hesitant, and even refusing to get vaccinated? In this day and age, one would think our citizenry are knowledgeable enough about the advantage of vaccinations and other medical procedures that can protect them from serious diseases, and especially those that could reach epidemic proportions, or, in the case of the coronavirus, a scourge, even pandemic, of worldwide reach. At least Bacolod residents are accepting this preventive measures, which is why even the Health Department has noted, and appreciate it!
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What I am still hoping and praying for is that this vaccination campaign will not be limited only to cities and big towns, but will also be made available to barangays and puroks all over the land. Remember the old epidemics that occurred in the past that had caused a lot of deaths because there had been no vaccines against them then. Now that science and medicine have discovered and produced treatments that can prevent people from infection, let us not hesitate to undergo them as they could mean protection, not only for ourselves, but for people we love, our families and friends.
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Yesterday, I came upon an interview with Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on TV, and suddenly it occurred to me that this is one person who could be a potential bet for president. But, even before he could be questioned about it, he emphasized that he does not have any plans for the presidency, and would rather retire , or perhaps seek another term as senator. Now, that must have made listeners really think of him as a potential president. With all the positions he has held in government, from the military to politics. Lacson has never been involved, nor had any scandal ever been attached to his record.
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When I saw the report about the United States leaving Afghanistan, and the reaction of its people to it, I also remembered how a lot of Filipinos were dismayed when the United States declared us independent. Oh, perhaps majority of our countrymen were happy, thinking about the freedom they would enjoy, left to their own devices. Who was the official, was it then President Manuel Quezon, who was quoted as saying that “I would rather have a Philippines run like hell by Filipinos, than one run like heaven by the Americans”?
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For several years after that “freedom” came, our country went through a lot of problems, among them graft and corruption that the officials couldn’t seem to control, and with some of them even involved. Some were blaming Quezon who could have managed to see the “heaven” he had imagined, but he did not live long enough to see to that. And so we went through many years under questionable leaderships. Hope arose when Ramon Magsaysay became president, but a plane crash ended his term prematurely, and our hopes of a “clean and honest government” seemed to die with him.
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But what is the latest on the Olympic Games? Will it go on despite the pandemic, or will it be cancelled? Many countries are reportedly prepared for it, and its officials are ready to hold it, but is it true that Tokyo, the site for this year’s competitions is not keen on it? Nevertheless, competing countries are said to have been preparing for it, and are ready to proceed to Tokyo, in case they proceed. I guess that if all the officials, participants and staff have been fully vaccinated, there would be no reason to cancel or even postpone it. Sports fans who don’t want to miss the excitement can always watch on TV.
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Have you also heard that there are some people, possibly from Davao, who are pushing for a Duterte-Duterte tandem in the next election? This was after President Digong himself disclosed that he is no longer interested in reelection and would rather return to his home in Davao. Now his daughter, Sara, is herself an experienced public official and some wags are proposing that that father and daughter both run for office, this time, with Sara as president and her daddy as vice president!
Puede ba ‘yan? But the President himself has disclosed that he has warned Inday Sara not to seek the office. Then who? Eenie-meenie minee mooo?*