They say that everything is political but we all hoped that it would not be so in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed thousands in our country and affected hundreds of thousands more.
Yet, every day we read stories of how this administration, both national and local, have embroiled politics in dealing with the pandemic from meting sanctions or lack thereof to those who violate the minimum health standards imposed.
If you are a who’s who, you either get a slap on the wrist or even excused from violating the laws. But woe to a nobody and either you get picked up, penalized or shamed, depending on your ranking in society.
You have Gen. Debolt Sinas who famously became the Mananita King and was rewarded the top post in the Philippine National Police. I do wonder what the morale of the PNP is nowadays. Do they even feel a bit of shame to be under the helm of such a man or did it empower them more to commit violations knowing they can get away with it?
We know we cannot generalize the police force and I know of plenty good ones in uniform. But somehow, we have been given enough reasons to be doubtful and not to rely on them much in protecting our rights.
We’ve seen controversial mass gatherings in the news lately. First, it was TV host Raymond Guiterrez that defied protocols when he celebrated his birthday. That event led to the closure of La Picara Manila in Taguig.
If that wasn’t a fair warning, flamboyant eventologist Tim Yap followed it with his own grand birthday celebration at Camp John Hay in Baguio City with no less than City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and his wife in attendance.
By the way, an eventologist is simply another term for an event producer but Yap, being up there in the social circles likes to brand himself as that.
I suppose the inspiration of that party was the Bling Empire on Netflix which shows outrageous celebrations of the filthy rich who throw parties with Gucci bags as mere party favors.
A video of Yap’s party went viral with him entering the grounds dressed as a prince on board a white horse being led by Igorot natives. It was ugly and downright pretentious. People partying sans masks were uploaded but alas, even Mayor Magalong defended the partygoers by saying they merely got caught up in the excitement and the dancing.
Although he vowed to have the incident investigated due to public pressure, the assurance of Magalong to Yap “not to worry” sends a message that this too, like other mega parties of the who’s who will be swept under the rug.
We have had the same incidents here, the most recent of which is the foam party in a local beach resort here. The city ordered an investigation and we have yet to hear if sanctions will be meted.
And then we have the vaccine issue. An opinion write-up by Iris Gonzales in the Philippine Star last week was very telling of how anyone who is anyone can already get vaccinated even without any approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Iris wrote that she knows someone who got vaccinated and is quite relieved that she’s now free from masks and face shields. This is of course wrong because we must continue to follow health protocols even if we get the vaccine since there is no evidence that we can’t ever be infected, what with the virus developing into other strains.
“She is among a privileged crowd who rolled up their sleeves for the vaccine. Some of them are tycoons, businessmen, friends of businessmen, government officials and, if Teresita Ang See is correct, even Chinese workers in the country, including those in the POGO industry,” Gonzales wrote.
This is all so wrong in many levels especially when millions of people continue to believe the pronouncements of the president that the poor will be prioritized in terms of vaccination.
Bah! Of course, this is next to the who’s who, the bodyguards, the soldiers and their families, and whoever is close to the powers-that-be.
As with anything else in this country, whoever has the moolah gets away with everything. The silver lining in all these is that if getting vaccinated becomes popular, it will be easier to advocate for mass vaccination.
I am for immediate vaccination but I have many friends who are not sold to the idea until further studies are published. It does not help that there are a lot of fake news as to alleged fatal side effects that scare them.
Legally, vaccines are not supposed to be in the market yet, thus it is not surprising to hear that a black market for vaccines is thriving in Metro Manila, fetching as much as P20,000 for two doses.
For those who can afford it and wants to have peace of mind as they go on with their lives, P20,000 is a pittance. But for those who cannot afford, it will take months, maybe even a year or so, before they can avail of the vaccine.
Gonzales was on point when she said that sadly, it is still every man for himself in our country. And that remains our reality.*