Footages from the lights-on ceremonies at the Bacolod Public Plaza by the city government last Monday, December 13, showed a huge crowd, although far from the 15,000 claimed by their press release if you based it on drone shots they shared. Still, there were thousands of people crowding around as if Bacolod has become Covid-free.
It was in stark contrast from what went on at the Capitol Lagoon by the provincial government that also switched on their lights’ display and even had fireworks to celebrate the Christmas Season and also the birthday celebration of Gov. Bong Lacson.
Tables and chairs at the Lagoon were arranged with physical distancing in mind and although it cannot be denied that at some point, people took off their masks to eat, there was obvious thought from the organizers to ensure minimum health protocols were still observed.
Of course, Negros Occidental is still on Alert Level 2 while Bacolod has been downgraded to Level 1. Still, as per the IATF guidelines, under Level 1, it states that while operation or work can be undertaken at full on-site venue or seating capacity, it must still be “consistent with minimum public health standards.”
Which means, facemasks at all times and physical distancing must be followed. But clearly, the second one was ignored by the organizers at the Public Plaza. It was quite ironic that the heads of our Emergency Operation Center – Em Ang and Dr. Chris Sorongon, did not have any say on the matter and were there as well to be part of the ceremony that actually became a political rally of sorts.
One netizen commented that such was an “insult” to our medical frontliners who, to this day, are hardly getting any breathing space as they are always reminded to be on alert for another upsurge in cases. Officials must be reminded that while we have a high vaccination rate, and kudos to the EOC for that, we are not out of the woods and we still have daily cases reported.
I would not want to dampen the Christmas spirit because from the footages, the Public Plaza and the Capitol Lagoon look great and the bright lights give a feeling of optimism that hopefully, we are on our way out from this pandemic. But, while we may have good figures to show in terms of vaccination and infection, the threat of other variants is still real and we must continue to take all precautions that we will not have a repeat of last September’s surge in deaths and cases.
The mood at the provincial capitol was festive after Gov. Bong announced that all employees will get a P65,000 year-end bonus. That’s across the board, which means even the lowest ranking employee will get the same amount received by their bosses. That will surely make their Christmas brighter!
I will not begrudge government employees this generous gift because they have been, at least most of them especially those who were part of the disaster and pandemic team, deserving of it.
I hope our health frontliners will not be forgotten as well as they are the ones that literally risked their lives and that of their families in ensuring the health and well-being of those that were stricken by Covid.
Back to the Public Plaza, it was not surprising anymore to see congressional candidate, Dan Atayde, besides Mayor Bing Leonardia. That was a clear endorsement already and I wonder how incumbent Cong. Greg Gasataya will react to this.
Lines are now being drawn and the big question is whether this will push Greg to join forces with the other mayoralty candidate, Albee Benitez. Damn if you do, damn if you don’t, I guess.
Mayor Bing is playing the upper hand by goading Greg to make that move and if he does, the mayor will use this as ammunition to rally those who are defying him and continue to support the congressman.
If on the other hand, Greg will still stay neutral as he vowed to do at the start of this campaign even if he is clearly being played at, then it will be his loss because it will show that he cannot let go of GP’s brand of politics.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for Greg as he was a media colleague, a classmate of my younger sister and outside of the personal, I can say Greg has done a good job as our representative. He has lobbied and worked hard for our own city hospital and must be recognized for his effort. He has done a lot for the sugar industry as well and although that is more the turf of the province since we have very little sugar land in the city, I am sure industry leaders will look back on how he has helped them.
But perhaps the holidays is not the time to make such a drastic move. However, Greg has to do some serious thinking and make a decision sooner or later because clearly, there are no neutral grounds in this kind of politics.*