By Manuel L. Morato
I just found out that my columns in People’s Journal were not being printed since about the 20th of March for many newspapers that have evidently closed due to the lockdown. Instead, my office sends to my friends who had themselves listed in my office requesting for my columns sent to them; and they, in turn, resend to their friends whom I do not know.
No newspapers are available, nor are being delivered to my residence. There are no deliveries at all. My only consolation is that my columns in People’s Journal also appears in the Philippine Business News (thephilbiznews.com) worldwide.
Be that as it may, I continue to write my columns for my twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays) commitment with the People’s Journal wherein I’ve been writing since 1994 when I left the Philippine Star after Betty Go Belmonte passed away. Betty was the one who invited me to be one of the columnists of Philippine Star for seven years in 1987, but when she passed away, I also gave up writing for Philippine Star in 1994, because Betty was no longer around.
I accepted her invitation to be one of her columnists for seven years without any payment. I told her: Betty, I am doing this for you; do not pay me; give whatever I am was supposed to receive per column to those employees who put my columns to bed.
But when Betty passed away, I was then in Spain visiting my nieces. For that reason, I was unable to attend her burial. May she rest in peace. Betty was my staunch defender and what had happened to us now would not have happened were she alive.
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To ABS-CBN, thanks for clipping out that portion in your advisory that same evening my column was released on Facebook. The portion I thought was wrong was taken out from that Advisory wherein it said that only those affected by the virus must wear the mask, and those who were not yet affected need not wear the mask.
I noticed it and I was bothered by it for it did not make sense. But when I saw what they did in the Czech Republic were wearing the mask the moment somebody steps out of the house was declared by the government, the contamination started going down. How I wish President Duterte would also make the wearing of masks compulsory for it was proven in the Czech Republic that it was the solution to control the Coronavirus or Covid 19 from spreading. From then on, the spreading of the virus started dwindling instead of increasing. It’s also practiced in Slovakia. But there are those who cannot afford it. They must be helped.
Before it becomes compulsory, the local government must first provide the masks. Nabibili naman sa Kamuning Market gawa ng mga sastre. And in other markets as well. Maski homemade daw na masks can give protection.
That’s what I call a common-sense solution once the Coronavirus became airborne; and even before it was declared, the President of the Czech Republic declared the wearing of mask compulsory to all. Amazingly, the communities responded positively.
Why can’t we not do it here? It’s a simple solution that made sense. The “bayanihan” spirit of the citizenry made it successful when communities started making masks for free to as many as they could make. The women started making them, distributed to the people for free.
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Read my column last Tuesday entitled: “An appeal to ABS-CBN.” The same evening, Monday it was released by my office on social media, that portion I was questioning was not there anymore. But I still will make a request for showing a group of 5 or 6 people with only one wearing the mask.
Could ABS-CBN be more consistent? Any person shown in that advisory must always wear the mask to drive the message stronger. Hindi naman kailangan makita ang mga mukha nong mga tao. This is one time we care less to see whether the people they show in the advisory are ugly o medyo may itsura. The hell with that. Just drive in the correct message for all to wear the mask. Period. Mayroon ngang binabagayan takpan nila ang kanilang pagmumukha.
I saw the President wearing a mask on TV last Wednesday. That, I am sure, sent a strong message.
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Baguio City is lucky under the leadership of former General Benjamin Magalong, now Mayor of Baguio City. Through “conformity testing” and “contact tracing,” they are able to control the spread of the Coronavirus/Covid 19.
For what I gathered, there are 17 persons affected by the Coronavirus and only one died, an elderly man with tuberculosis which the Coronavirus might have accelerated and contributed to said elderly person to pass away; 12 recovered and 4 still under treatment.
Compared to other cities, Baguio leadership under Mayor Magalong at the helm has done well in controlling the spread of the Coronavirus/Covid 19. Baguio is safe.
Oftentimes, common sense, true concern and commitment do wonders for the people.
Congratulations Mayor!
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com