How to be resilient in the midst of the many crises happening in the country?
People often say, “when it rains, it pours”. And during these last almost six (6) months, our country, the Philippines is at the crossroads of surviving enormous challenges.
Since nobody is spared from these catastrophic eventualities, everybody has to do his part, even in the smallest way, to help address the various difficulties we are confronted with.
The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Shall we depend solely on the programs of the government agencies or shall we take collective responsibility as Filipino citizens as well. Obviously, we are all responsible by exercising discipline in preventing the virus from spreading through strict observance of the health protocol.
As of this writing, we have over 183,000 COVID-19 cases, ranking the highest in Southeast Asia and continuously rising. If the virus is not contained, this pandemic will pull us down to our knees physically, mentally, socially and economically. There is an estimated 3.3 million workers who are jobless and a great number of companies are going bankrupt.
Frontliners, most particularly the health-providers are exhausted, many sick people and their families are at loss finding the cure in almost fully booked hospitals. The fibers of the community (families) are separated and many are pushed to hunger and poverty due to job losses.
More so, the fund of the Philippine Health Insurance (PHILHEALTH) has been corrupted. It was estimated to last only for one year when before the pandemic it was foreseen for ten years. The case is now being investigated in the Senate.
Overseas Filipino workers who are returning are stranded at the airports, waiting for their chance to go to their respective families. The same with locally stranded individuals from the metropolis who want to go to their respective home-towns mainly because of the absence of job opportunities in Metro Manila.
To add to this, this is also the period when storms are hitting the archipelago. It is predicted by the PAG-ASA (weather bureau) that we will have nine (9) typhoons until the end of 2020. Are the frequently hit areas prepared for this calamity? Are the people aware of the places they have to run to to save their lives and properties?
We all know that the aftermath of the storms are tremendous destructions. These are caused by strong winds and heavy rains which also result in flooding and thus landslides in many low areas of the mountain sides.
Then with the rescue teams, the typhoon victims are brought in to the heavily crowded evacuation centers thus worsening the struggle against COVID-19.
The earth is also shaking in the Visayan region. Buildings, houses and infrastructure have collapsed as a result of an earthquake. Nobody expected this to happen at this time. Could people have been given prompt due notice that the earthquake is going to happen? And that a Tsunami may follow afterwards destroying everything near the sea shores? Are local government-units prepared for this?
The earthquake signals another concern that we have to face. And this is the activity of the four (4) volcanoes found in Taal, Legaspi, Sorsogon and Negros. Experiences in the past volcanic-eruptions destroyed livelihood of the farmers in terms of agricultural products and animal livestock. The
devastation was unimaginable.
Conclusion
What country in the world has this stamina to survive these chaotic situations all at the same time? It is only the Philippines. And the Filipinos should be admired for their resilience, courage, unity and strong faith in the Almighty.
The unwavering hope and the everlasting love for the family and country make the Filipinos stand strong together. We may know that calamities will come to an end, but concerning COVID-19 it cannot be predicted when this will pass.
