CRITICS DURING CRISIS

During this public health emergency and crisis, I support the enhanced community quarantine imposed by our Government.  We are in our most trying time and everybody’s help is very crucial.  Like what I believed from the start, full cooperation must be given to the President and my stand to support the government remains the same.   I don’t dispute presenting company identification cards, more so I don’t mind if there are militaries visibility in the streets performing the special task given to them.  But I do not, and I will not blame if some people cannot stay at home despite the plea of the government.  If there is way not to go out, why not, who would like to get virus anyway?  But these are the no work-no pay-no eat people, they’re the people who need to work now in order to eat now, they are the ones who are nothing and they are forced to go out and work to make ends meet.  If only the government has been ready enough to provide them their basic needs, you will not seem them in the street and absolutely the government has all the means to repress them in the street.  Unlike those privileged, those who can afford to sit well in their couch and can survive the 14 days without pay, and those who have medical leave to still receive pay; I feel sad for them accusing undisciplined and disobedient these poor people who need to earn a living.  You are lucky you do not have to undergo what they have to.

Can we set aside our differences, refrain from degrading the good performance of others just because non-ally like Mayor Vico of Pasig, ceasefire in exposing new issues or rumors such as about the Cardinal, stop criticizing those public officials in self quarantine and instead focus in fighting the crisis?  It feels sad to see in this crisis the divisiveness of Filipinos.  Politicking, camp wars, and propagandist versus propagandists still exist.  Paid trolls and fake news continue to spread hate against each other.  Please do not be insensitive and inappropriate to say no one will die in hunger for one month.   Do not say only in the Philippines to see people in the street amid of community quarantine (or lockdown).  And do not call them worst citizens after comparing to citizens of China, Italy, South Korea, Iran, Spain, Germany, France and US.  You do not compare apple to orange.  These rich countries are tested in giving back to their people, have been serving their citizens long time before, and they give the best for their people.  Their people are not complaining and are not going out to streets because they have already tested and trusted their government will provide their needs as always.  They are not complaining because their government is doing everything done correctly since from imposing travel ban just after the COVID-19 outbreak.  And besides, these countries are doing the right measures anyway.  These citizens have already built trust long before so in times of emergency like this, you will see the effect of the mutual understanding between the state and the people.

TRUST – this is the word.  If only the Filipinos were taken care long before, if only the government can give people their basic needs at least every other day within the 14 days, then people will listen and will give it all up to government, and we are like the citizens of these countries.  The marginalized Filipinos are taking the risk to go out not only for foods but more they need to pay rentals, loans, electricity, water and other dues.  Can the government appeal these to businessmen to stop or at least during this time of real emergency?  I know the government is doing all the best they can and I feel happy to hear some private companies are donating their resources to help fighting this crisis.  and let's pray the frontliners.  Although I am not certain how far the government can sustain this big challenge and how long will it take the public to panic buy.  If this red alert situation can not slow down the soonest possible, I wish the time will not come when people will need to search convenient stores and houses to loot to fill their empty stomach.  That is why I am praying for all Filipinos to finally united to prudently combat COVID-19.  We can criticize while we are cooperating because it needs to have someone to speak up or call out in order the Government to know some mistakes and immediately correct them to better address the situation and I think this is important in this process.
#COVID-19