PASAPORTE, Cazzandra Angela A.

BA Political Science 2 PSMC 114 AB2A

Read the “Allegory of the Cave” of Plato. Then, research a current event or
situation where you can compare or apply the events and characters of the allegory.
Compare at least five events or characters. An example is provided below for your
reference.

Example: Event/Situation: On the issue of the effectiveness of IATF/DOH in dealing with

COVID-19.
1. Escaped prisoner (character from the Allegory) - He represents Dr. Anthony
Leachon who was a consultant of IATF. He exposed DOH’s weaknesses and
misgivings in handling the pandemic. While he had some valid points, the people did not
believe him and he was expelled from IATF.  
Event/Situation: Imposing of travel ban when the first Covid19 positive case in the
country was confirmed.

1. Escaped prisoner (a character from the Allegory) – He represents the

Filipino citizens who have expressed themselves on social media, calling
for a travel ban on flights from main land China starting on January 30,
2020. This was when the first Covid19 positive case in the country was
confirmed. While the Filipinos were demanding for travel ban, in a speech
for the 69th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development, President Duterte said that the country’s problem at
that moment was drugs.
2. Prisoners left in the cave – He represents the secretary of the
Department of Health, Francis Duque. When asked by Deputy Speaker
Loren Legarda during the House of Representatives’ question hour if
banning flights from China will be considered, he answered that it is taken
into consideration but “…the concerned country – China in this case –
might question why we’re not doing the same for all other countries that
have reported cases of the new coronavirus. ”
3. Prisoners left in the cave – He represents the Philippine president,
Rodrigo R. Duterte, who like Duque, was also not in favour of the travel
ban. For him "Mahirap 'yang ano, sabihin mong [It is hard to say that] you
suspend everything because they are not also suspending theirs and they
continue to respect the freedom flights that we enjoy," despite the
outbreak that started there.
4. Prisoners left in the cave – He represents Salvador Panelo, the
presidential spokesperson. He stated that the virus has not reached an
alarming level for the country to take drastic measures such as banning
flights from China.
5. Escaping the cave (event from the Allegory) – The measures and how
the government acted to the Covid19 opened the eyes of the Filipinos to
how incompetent and selfish the Philippine government can be. The delay
of travel ban served as a window of opportunity for the rise of the positive
cases. The actions they took allowed the global pandemic to sweep
through our nation.
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