Today is the end of June, which means that if we count the months of April, May and June, we have been on lockdown quarantine for three full months. But if I recall, our lockdown began around March 27, so add three more days to the three months that we’ve been on lockdown. I had my daughter check this story and apparently most countries like Italy or Spain, which had the worse pandemic cases only locked down for two months. Mind you, for most of those months, the fatality rate for Cebu City was hovering on 12 deaths. Until we shifted to a General Community Quarantine (GCQ), then things skyrocketed. As of last Sunday, the total deaths in Cebu City have gone so high to 158 fatalities. Honestly, I really
could not understand why this is happening to us, except that President Rodrigo Duterte was correct in his assessment that we Cebuanos are hardheaded. Gahi ug ulo, which many netizens rebuked saying that such a remark was insulting to Cebuanos. Shame on you guys for your false pride!
But like it or not, the President was right on the dot! Just last Sunday, when the PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) arrived to help enforce our ECQ, we learned that there was a religious procession in Alumnus, Barangay San Nicholas at the very wrong time. The photos show that there were dancers most of them wearing masks while the onlookers didn’t wear masks or had social distancing. How could this have happened at a time when our churches were closed?? Isn’t this the best example of showing to the President that we Cebuanos are hardheaded? I’m glad that the city would be investigating this incident, the only one we ever saw in the last three months. If you looked at the photos of the dancing participants, they must have practiced their dancing somewhere and yes, surely the parish priest must have known of this event, including the barangay officials. I already heard that these barangay officials gave their excuse that they didn’t know that this procession was being planned. Come now, this procession must be the biggest event in Alumnus those officials should have known about it but pretended otherwise. Sounds like someone had to lie!
Also at the same time, my good friend, professional photographer Michael Jo, took photos of an activity in a port in Mactan with people not observing social distancing and many where even swimming. Okay, so Mactan is now under GCQ, but it is still important for people to wear masks and observe social distancing. After all, we are still under community quarantine!
Actually, as of May 3, 2020, Italy was the world’s longest lockdown but the next day, it eased back on this, so by May 28, Manila was the longest lockdown in the world. However, Cebu City apparently took over Manila as the world’s longest lockdown. Let’s hope that things would improve in Cebu City in the next few days or weeks.
* * *
Due to our three-month-long lockdown, we’ve already forgotten the important things that happened last year, and unfortunately we have already forgotten that on the evening of last June 27, 2019, defeated Mayor Tomas Osmena called on construction workers to “renovate” the Mayor’s Office, but when the workers arrived, new instructions were given by the mayor to remove everything from walls, ceilings, including the floor tiles and yes the toilet bowl. This has never happened to Cebu City before. This incident was headline news by our local media and even the national media as the former mayor accepted to be interviewed by a Manila-based radio station. Of course that was a year ago, when former Mayor Osmeña didn’t come out in the public to explain himself. Honestly, I don’t know how far the investigation on this case has gone, but I’m sure this is a case that is in our courts. But thinking that the public has forgotten this issue, the former mayor is now on social media demanding the resignation of people like Sec. Michael Dino. But no sir, we haven’t forgotten this!
* * *
I read from a June 28, 2020 report by Rev. Mhar Vincent R. Baili Viee, Postulator of the Process of Canonization of the Servant of God Archbishop Teofilo B. Camomot, D.D. that the Congregation of the Causes of Saints approved the positio of Arch. Camomot. A positio is like a thesis that proves that the candidate lived a life of heroic virtues. This is one more step for Arch. Camomot to be declared Venerable. I’m one who prays for Arch. Camomot everyday. Let’s hope for the best.