By Anthony A. Araos
There was no hesitation whatsoever on the part of Sto. Domingo Punong Barangay Jovito Valenzuela of Alfonso Lista town when he responded positively to the appeal of his beleaguered constituents for help on the first four or five days of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Along with his officials at the barangay council, Punong Barangay Valenzuela distributed 200 relief packs to residents of this largely farming village. The relief packs contained rice, noodles and canned sardines.
Aware of God’s all-encompassing love for humanity, Punong Barangay Valenzuela quickly went to work thus, wasting no time in response to the people’s plea for help. He needed no instructions from the national or municipal government to provide the much-needed assistance to needy folks during the onset of these “abnormal times.” He immediately acted on the pressing concerns of impoverished residents. For many, it was not just a mounting health crisis. The soaring cases of coronavirus brought forth a crippling food crisis as well. The public market at Barangay Sta. Maria transformed itself practically into a cemetery. It was a ghost town. Hard to believe: Someone told the incredibly stupid vendors to close their stalls. Haven’t it crossed their minds that no less than President Duterte gave no orders for food establishments not to operate during these “emergency times”? For the information of all concerned parties in the public and private sectors, the expanded community quarantine in Luzon plan’s chief architect is President Duterte. Of course, this problem simply boils down to the fact these people have little brains or none at all. In short, simple instructions they can’t follow!
I’m commending Punong Barangay Valenzuela for his humanitarian gesture. He is not only a soft-spoken, dedicated and hardworking public servant. Above all, the Punong Barangay is a kind-hearted and God-fearing person. To my esteemed friend, Punong Barangay Jovito Valenzuela: God bless and Mabuhay!
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I got it from no less than the Punong Barangay himself, the deep frustration and anger of a barangay Sto. Domingo resident who went to Barangay Sta. Maria for an ailing member of his family. But the drugstores at the public market were closed! The public market was closed on a Saturday and a Sunday. But the market was opened from Monday to Friday. It doesn’t make any sense to operate the market on such a schedule. Are you going to tell the person not to get sick on a Saturday and Sunday because the drug stores are closed? Pharmacies should be open 24/7. Closing it for 2 days is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard in my whole life. I love to bring this matter to the attention of the President through an official communication or through the 8888 hotline for an appropriate action. This action is intended to prevent the occurrence of the same in the coming days.
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Isn’t it high time for Barangay Sto. Domingo to have its 2-storey public market at an appropriate site not too far from the municipal hall.
With the public market around, the residents need not travel far from the barangay just to buy their daily needs. Presently, they purchase their food and other items at Barangay Sta. Maria which is about five kilometers away.
The public market can sell their produce such as meat, fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables, rice, corn and dry goods. Take a deep breathe, there are many more produce to sell out there such as livestock feeds.
Thus, it shall generate jobs and increase the incomes of residents. Revenues of the barangay government are likely to go up.
This proposal to construct the Public Market of Barangay Sto. Domingo is timely, practical and do-able. Today, it is worthwhile to start the discussion on the merits and demerits (if any) of this issue. In the long run, it shall clear any misunderstandings of finally putting up a public market in this part of Alfonso Lista.
The proposed public market of Barangay Sto. Domingo undoubtedly shall strengthen the economy of the barangay.
You want projects to transform the life of a resident of this barangay? Surely, a public market of Barangay Sto. Domingo shall have a profound effect on the socio-economic spheres of the barangay. What are the officials of Sto. Domingo Barangay Council waiting for?
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Even just before the end of World War II hostilities between the Allied and Axis powers in the Pacific arena, some American officials were already mapping out plans for a “reparation” program intended to help heavily-damaged countries occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army.
After the defeat and surrender of Japan, the “reparations” program was implemented in the Philippines. The Japanese government paid a hefty amount of money through this program for the rebuilding efforts in the Philippines. While Japan refused to officially apologize for its wrongdoings during the war such as rapes and imprisonment of “comfort women” by their dreaded soldiers, Japan made good on its word to provide “financial assistance” by way of the “reparations” program to unmistakably atone for its “crimes against humanity” and “atrocities” to a hapless people.
Now, here comes the unforgettable wrongdoings of the Chinese government to conceal the extent of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan City of Hubei province. If only China acted appropriately and immediately on this problem, I’m so sure we’d all not be in this mess. Meaning there are no quarantines, lockdowns, persons under investigations (PUIs), persons under monitoring (PUMs) and the like. Lives would have been saved. How many doctors have died? China should pay the family of every deceased doctor for at least Php10M. Don’t you know that the cost of obtaining a medical degree is very expensive?
Today, the COVID-19 worry is a pandemic outbreak! Many are dying each second because there is no known cure or vaccine for the coronavirus disease.
When the COVID-19 health crisis is finally over, China should not only be reprimanded by the world for its behavior. Sanctions (like banning top officials of the People’s Republic of China from visiting countries hit by the coronavirus ailment) are simply not enough. Through another “reparations” program possibly initiated by the United Nations, China should be told and made to pay a huge amount of money to build hospitals and other related facilities. The “reparations” program should also attend to the survivors of other front liners who perished during the COVID-19 crisis.
There is no doubt whatsoever that China acted irresponsibly at the start of the COVID-19 crisis. China’s misdemeanors are well-documented. It should not be allowed to get away from its disgusting behavior even if it is a superpower. No country- big or small- is above the law, most especially in the application of international laws.
Apply the law to any erring member of the global community of countries. Rich or poor states. Big or small nations.
The problem all started in Wuhan, a metropolis of close to 12 million people. The Chinese acted too late to contain the spread of the disease. Now, the coronavirus is a worldwide problem. I’m worried that many individuals have short memories.
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I’m receiving reports that businessmen in Banaue, Kiangan, Lamut and Mayoyao towns have been busy donating relief assistance packs to poor folks in their towns since the outbreak of the coronavirus. I see no reason why moneyed business owners in the other towns of Ifugao should not be doing the same in their underserved communities. This is the best time for them to share a small portion of their wealth.
An organized effort of business leaders in Alfonso Lista town to launch a similar drive in a far-flung barangay should be seen as a step in the right direction. I’m pretty sure it is not going to be difficult for them to raise among themselves a kitty of Php 100,000 to defray the cost of purchasing rice, noodles and canned goods to be distributed to the needy. Then immediately bring a truckload of these “relief assistance packs,” for instance, to Barangay Calupaan- a remote and economically-disadvantaged village.
Calling a meeting of the town’s ten most distinguished businessmen is not difficult, and holding it with the aforementioned item as its sole agenda is neither improbable. It only takes a text message or a two-minute call through one’s cellphone.
Overflowing and blessed, an established Alfonso Lista businessman only gives back a tiny part of his fortune to the poor, displaced workers, out-of-school youth, physically challenged persons or PWDs, farmers, fisher folks, jeepney and tricycle drivers and vendors who all took the brunt of the deleterious effects of the collapse of the economy as a result of the coronavirus. Knowing the meaning and essence of the word “compassion”, you can better show that there is still a special place in your heart for these less fortunate people.
Selling, trading and depositing millions of earnings in the bank are essential actions of a businessman. But no human activity is more important than sharing your blessings to the downtrodden when they need it most.
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Blooper in Ifugao: I saw the following sign at a business establishment: For immediate hiring “sales staffs”
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Each year, Filipinos are observing the Holy Week. Some are even going to Pampanga to watch the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Mind you, true nails are being pinned on the hands of the penitents. No one though is officially recognizing their actions or sacrifices.
Presently, Filipinos are already being crucified as a result of the COVID-19 quarantine. Each Filipino is carrying on his shoulder a very heavy cross connoting the hardships of Jesus Christ during the biblical times. The modern-day cross manifests our daily burden on the lack of food to eat at breakfast, lunch and dinner. In these difficult times, there are a thousand and one worries besetting the average Filipino. Jobs are gone and so are investments.
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For our food delights column: I am presently craving for the halo-halo at Chowking. In its absence I’m simply contented with iced-cold water. Hope you can understand. It’s summer time.
For lunch, I suppose, it’s possible for you to cook adobong kankong (water spinach). Kankong is readily available. It is not expensive. It is easy to cook. It is nutritious. Happy eating! And don’t forget to thank the Lord for all his blessings.
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Finally, here is a thought for our dear readers: “Obesity is a complex and chronic disease that has deeper roots. Most Filipinos know that obesity is a chronic disease.” Mia Fojas, President of the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity– PASOO **
