"For a genuine social solidarity
in the face of illness, negligence, and discontentment"
At first, this writer seemed to be inspired by Romans 4:18 telling to have "hope against hope", and in this time of crisis may say that the writer, along with thousands of concerned folks are challenged to show this to everyone, being at first vulnerable and as much as possible need to take precautions.
But despite this challenge would say that being a concerned folk doesn't stop to find a way to support the people, be it through direct service or through prayer, all enough to find a way to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 virus, and to show solidarity with the masses. Of cooperating with health workers, doctors, and even with the concerned members in the government.
And to think that people felt the averse impact of the enforced "enhanced community quarantine", with its checkpoints and even confusing announcements from the authorities, it is expected to show solidarity and oneness-for they're not far away from everyone; and to seek truth from facts for in this time of crisis this doesn't stop from pushing another agenda such as from the order itself-that sometimes even at the expense of everyone's lives and freedoms.
Using the situation for an orderist agenda?
Pardon or the reader if this note may gone political, but to see politicians especially in the administration taking this situation as means to advance their agenda may say that they are really letting their hands itchy for something. For as President Duterte said that those who will violate the strict quarantine rules could get arrested, but while most Filipinos are concerned about this epidemic and want to cooperate with the authorities, these people at the same time have other problems that requires them to go out, most of which are for work or to buy the necessary needs in this time of crisis.
And the act that the task force's statements actually pushed people more into panic mode, it really worsened the situation be it about going home after work, or trying to buy the necessary need before the curfew sets. Most of them did even wait for a public transport to come while scrupulous drivers taketh it as an opportunity to raise their fares against them.
And as for the administration's supporters? They either thinking that "the end justifies the means" if not telling everyone to "set aside political differences" to avert this crisis; but ironically they themselves as supporters justify their idol's actions instead of pushing the need for solidarity especially to the vulnerable irregardless of their positions. That instead of urging their idol president with an organised response to this threat they chose to support the regime's "enhanced community quarantine", which in fact a "lockdown" that's causing further grave economic hardships on the people, without any provision for financial insurance during the one-month period. Worse, with the confusion brought by the people it has aggravated the problem rather than creating a better solution.
And the act that the task force's statements actually pushed people more into panic mode, it really worsened the situation be it about going home after work, or trying to buy the necessary need before the curfew sets. Most of them did even wait for a public transport to come while scrupulous drivers taketh it as an opportunity to raise their fares against them.
And as for the administration's supporters? They either thinking that "the end justifies the means" if not telling everyone to "set aside political differences" to avert this crisis; but ironically they themselves as supporters justify their idol's actions instead of pushing the need for solidarity especially to the vulnerable irregardless of their positions. That instead of urging their idol president with an organised response to this threat they chose to support the regime's "enhanced community quarantine", which in fact a "lockdown" that's causing further grave economic hardships on the people, without any provision for financial insurance during the one-month period. Worse, with the confusion brought by the people it has aggravated the problem rather than creating a better solution.
It is unsurprising, for with the regime's police mentality and its militarist tendency would say that it opted to treat it as a "peace and order" more than a health situation with its checkpoints within the National Capital Region and other provinces surrounding which have prevented people from going to their workplaces nor to buy their needs, worse, seeing false announcements which further sow confusion even more to a really concerned populace.
The lockdown and checkpoints, along with confused statements are part of Duterte's Orderist agenda. That instead of owning up its failure to ensure basic supplies or by stopping flights between Philippines and China to contain this issue, this situation is rather interpreted by the regime more of imposing his will no matter it aggravates the situation.
Worse, along with the still grave state of the country's public health infrastructure brought by severe lack in state funding, the inability of the regime to provide a correct response to this public health crisis thoroughly exposes the negligence of the system, not just in this COVID-19, but also in other diseases like Tuberculosis, Dengue, even Polio. The so-called "Malasakit Centres" sponsored by the Government cannot suffice the matter either, while the Filipinos themselves had enough of slow-paced bureaucratic nonsense.
Calling for immediate needs,
including the need for solidarity
in this time of epidemic crisis
As of this present time, what the people actually needs is immediate mass scanning especially for the vulnerable, and adequate relief and health services, together with enough funds for health workers in the frontlines and for adequate hospital facilities to address this epidemic.
But behind this call for immediate needs there is more than that, for in these long days of uncertainty, confusion, and want, let those who are concerned be a sign of hope. And may their solidarity be contagious than the virus itself, to lift up their spirits and reverse this gloomy mood brought about in these negligent times.
Thus, hope that may the concerned folks truly bring solidarity, be in the marketplaces, distribution centres, and in the factories, in the hospitals and in the makeshift clinics, and even amongst concerned government officials who taketh time in continuing their service to the people, and in seeking truth from facts in order to uncover the negligence their fellow officials brought to the country, as everyone awaits for the vaccines which more than just making immune from illness and untimely death, but perhaps to live more and work hard in their communities.