COVID of 2020

The year of the twins…fast forward to March 2020.

Maybe the instinct of self-preservation is harder to combat than any other unseen enemy. I was

scared to tears everyday of those days that I had to hold the railings of the jeepney, plying the Sta. Ana-

Padre Faura route, in order to get inside it and then also pass the money from other passengers to the

driver. And most of all, only a maximum of four (4) passengers were wearing their respective face mask

during those times. Oh, and not to mention that not once have I encountered coughing or sneezing

passengers, wearing no mask, nor using a hanky. If only I could run for my life and jump out of the

moving jeepney.

The clock is ticking …

On March 11, 2020, the Senate announced a scheduled recess starting March 14, 2020.

On March 11, 2020, a patient in Manila Doctors Hospital who tested positive for COVID-19

passed away around noon due to severe pneumonia.

On March 12, 2020, the president of the Philippines announced a partial lockdown in Metro

Manila beginning midnight of March 15, 2020. Still on March 12, 2020, Manila Doctors Hospital

confirmed two (2) patients positive for coronavirus.

 On March 15, 2020, Sta. Ana Hospital confirmed admission of one patient positive for COVID-19.

On March 15, 2020, the Manila Public Information Office announced that the city council has passed a

resolution putting Manila under a state of calamity.

On March 16, 2020, I still saw myself riding a jeepney.

Why is the judiciary still so silent about all these? Haven’t they heard that novel coronavirus is

deadly? Haven’t the Justices noticed that our offices are surrounded by three hospitals? That a patient

already died in Manila Doctors Hospital? Are they trying to play it heroes and heroines?