No masses but churches are open
I just learned that Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, at a presscon last Tuesday afternoon, decided that the archdiocese will suspend all Holy Masses in all the churches, including all other religious events like Via Crusis and processions starting March 18, 2020. This was the response of the Cebu Archdiocese to ensure the health and safety of everybody. But all churches would remain open for anyone who wants to visit or pray inside the Church.
This is something that I dread would happen to Cebu, especially when I got a map of the Philippines last March 17 that showed that in the Visayas, only Negros Oriental had the COVID-19 while the rest were free from the virus. But the map also showed how badly affected the National Capital Region (NCR) has been. In Mindanao, only Lanao and Davao de Oro has been affected. Meanwhile, in Luzon outside of the NCR, only Abra was affected. This report, which was based on residency, came from the Department of Health.
As a practicing Catholic, I still believe that going to Mass would not affect the people of God, especially when they partake in Holy Communion. But then who are we to question the decision by the Cebu Archdiocese? Mind you, in Italy, a helicopter bearing the Statute of Fatima and the Blessed Sacrament flew over many of its cities to bless Italy. I also saw a priest walking in the deserted sidewalk of an Italian town bringing the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament blessing many people.
So far, the Philippines have 12 deaths, 127 active cases and only three have recovered. At this point, we can only respect what the Cebu Archdiocese has decided. I would have thought that they would do what the Church in Borongan, Samar has done by implementing what we call social distancing” by placing markers three feet away from each parishioners.
At this juncture, allow me to announce that MyTV Channel 30 would embark for the very first time a TV version of the Seven Last Words (Siete Palabras) of our Lord Jesus Christ as we already got the confirmation of seven priests who would join this historic event. To be perfectly honest about it, this was decided a few days before the Cebu Archdiocese decided to stop all religious events even at the height of the Holy Week. We can assure you that this TV version of the Siete Palabras will be a solemn one and would be connected to YouTube, our Facebook Page and streamed live so that Catholics all over the world would see what we Cebuanos are doing during these trying times.
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We also heard a few days ago that Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri was found positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but remains asymptomatic. Sen. Zubiri announced in his social media account: “It is with sadness that I announce that I am positive for COVID-19. I had a test taken last Friday while on self-quarantine, and this afternoon, I received a call from (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque on my condition.” He continued saying, “My heart sank with what he had said, but I’m uplifted with the fact that I am asymptomatic and have no fever or cough nor am I weak or have any headaches.”
With this announcement, the DOH ought to find out how he was infected or with how many people he shook hands with. This is the only way we can find out if we thoroughly checked the number of people who met the senator. Meanwhile, it is also imperative that the other senators should also be checked if they too have been infected. Thankfully, Sen. Zubiri has decided to go on a self-quarantine. Let’s hope and prayer for his fast recovery.
Meanwhile, I read on Facebook Central Visayas Regional Director Vic Caindec's statement on the “no backrider” policy of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as safety measure against the spread of COVID-19 in the country. This means that backriding on bikes and motorcycle taxis or habal-habal motorcycles are no longer allowed as DOTr issued guidelines on social distancing and community quarantine. Personal use of motorcycles is allowed as long as it follows social distancing measures required by the Department of Health (DOH). This means that motorcycle taxis in Central Visayas have been temporarily suspended, effective last Monday, March 16, 2020. Thank you, LTO, for helping these people.
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