THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC

By Bayawanon

Nature is now getting back at mankind, there is global warming because man is cutting off the trees in the forests and establishes factories that pollute the air and the environment. COVID 19 virus came into existence because man eats bats and pangolins which produce the said virus. The global warming and the COVID 19 pandemic that man experiences nowadays are just the product of the former's abuse against nature.

Now, GOD is not letting these unfortunate things happen as a punishment against his sons and daughters (mankind) for he is good, clearly, it is nature that gets back at mankind as I've stated above. Granting that GOD lets these unfortunate things happen but he is not intending to punish us, he is just trying to fathom how patient we are in the midst of natural calamities and pandemic, and he is simply using these happenings for us to be PURIFIED.

The COVID 19 pandemic is an avenue for GOD in order for us to call his name, ask his forgiveness, ask his DIVINE GUIDANCE, and ask his succor. We should not let this pandemic pass by without being closer to GOD because this is the most opportune time for us to be nearer to him. If we cannot go to the churches for us to pray because of the virus, then we should open the bible, read the same and meditate from it. If we cannot go to worship places to praise GOD, then we may hear his good news by way of the online masses or we may pray the rosary at home with our family.

It is true that the pandemic is very damaging to people's health and to the world's economy but somehow it makes us more closer as people since we now have enough time to call each other, has enough time with our respective families and has enough time with GOD.

We should not just look at the dark side of this pandemic but we must also try to discover its bright side which would make us strong in one of the most trying times of our generation.

PLAYING FAVORITES?

President Rodrigo Duterte has told everyone that he had successfully dismantled an oligarch specifically the Lopezes by way of the closure of the ABS-CBN. As can be remembered from his platforms of government when he was still running for the presidency, he promised to get rid of oligarchy and to dismantle the same, sad to say he has dismantled an oligarch who was/is a dissenter to his administration and not an ally. If he is true to his promise in dismantling the oligarchs, then he should dismantle all of them and not the Lopezes only. He must stop playing favorites.

The Villars, Cojuangcos, and Dennis Uy are oligarchs, right? So why is it that he is not pressing them to the full when they are oligarchs? Why is he not giving them some headaches? Is it because they are friends or they have helped him win the presidency? Is it not that his statement in dismantling oligarchy in the Philippines was sweeping? Why is he now playing favorites by giving problems to his oligarch-enemies and by giving favors to his oligarch friends?

The first oligarch to fall under the Duterte presidency was Roberto Ongpin, a former Marcos crony who used to be the biggest shareholder of the biggest online gaming even before the Chinese POGOs came into popularity. Ongpin was shamed by Duterte via national television broadcast for being an oligarch, and without any delay, the former divested from the said online gaming business and sold his shares to a Duterte ally by the name of Gregorio "Greggy" Araneta also an oligarch and a son in law of former President Ferdinand Marcos. This example is actually evidence that the president is getting rid of an oligarch in favor of another oligarch.

Why is he giving favors to his political backers like Sen. Koko Pimentel and his police big whigs like Maj. Gen. Debold Senas who were not sued for violating COVID 19 quarantine protocols but orders the arrest of ordinary people who violate the quarantine protocol. Is justice selective under his watch or is he just playing favoritism?

Does his battle cry TAPANG and MALASAKIT only selective to the extent that he is only courageous and strict (MATAPANG) against his opponents and gives comfort (MAY MALASAKIT) only to his supporters?

Is this the only leadership style the president can offer to the table? Pressure his opponents and dissenters and give comfort to his loyalists and friends? If that is so, then I would conclude that the people who have elected him four years ago had actually erroneously chosen him to lead the country, whose fertile soil and natural beauty was defended by our fallen heroes in the battlefields against the foreign invaders many years ago.