Waiting….  

News reports are on waiting mode regarding the latest COVID variant. So far, what is known about Omicron is that those infected have exhibited mild symptoms. The spread does not seem to be as fast or as wide as the Delta variant. For now.

It is a wait-and-see game. Omicron has been reported in several countries, the US, Japan, some countries of Europe. And counting.

As of this writing, gratefully, there is no confirmed report of any Omicron case in the Philippines. Not yet. DOH Secretary Duque is sure the variant will enter the country. When? In time.

Vaccine manufacturers are announcing Omicron-fighting vaccines being developed now. The world is eager to know which of the present/available vaccines can fight the latest variant and best protect people?

Meanwhile, everyone is encouraged to be vaccinated. The higher the percentage of vaccinated in the population, the better for all.

It is also waiting time for final results about the recently concluded three-day VAX campaign. Was the target met for the whole nation and for each city, town, province?

A number of cities have also proudly announced going beyond their target. Extension of the VAX period has been reported for certain areas.

More vaccinations can translate into better protection for individuals and all others.

Of course, constant and correct compliance with health protocols is also a continuing prayer. The consequences of more relaxed alert status throughout the country are also being awaited.

Will the present trend of lowered COVID cases, positivity rate, and hospital occupancy be sustained or will the coming days see a resurgence and spike in COVID cases?

We stay in hope as we await further news and development about the effective stemming of COVID and variants.

Will our people learn to be responsible in doing their share to contain the virus, protect themselves and others as well?

Will government be able to strike an effective balance in health and economic policies related to COVID?

Abangan. Let us wait and see.

It is also a waiting game as well for the ongoing political campaign period in this country. The name of the game observed last week was urong-sulong with candidates withdrawing from the positions they registered for.

Presidential aspirant Bato had earlier withdrew his presidential candidacy. Another Duterte crony/alalay, Bong Go, has publicly announced his withdrawal as a candidate for president but he has yet to formally/officially withdraw his candidacy.

Will Bong stay or go? Will he withdraw finally or, just as his party is saying, will he be prevailed upon not to withdraw?

Is his withdrawal for real or not? If not, why this wait-and-see game?

Will another Bong, the dictator’s junior, stay as a candidate or will he be disqualified? Will the increasing number of disqualification cases filed against him prosper or not?

Will Comelec also disqualify Marcos Jr. or not? If he is disqualified, what will happen next? Will the appeal go all the way to the Supreme Court? How will the SC decide?

Or if not disqualified, then will the Marcos Jr. and Duterte daughter tandem proceed?

Will Duterte officially endorse this tandem or as he had done so, will he continue to speak against his daughter’s teammate and endorse someone else for president?

Are the families of Marcos, GMA, Estrada really genuinely endorsing the Duterte daughter as their candidate, or will they drop her soon as they have no more use for her or her father?

If the daughter is dropped, what happens to Duterte and his dynasty?

Aside from and beyond Duterte, who else among other present contenders for president and vice president will stay or withdraw?

During this waiting period, are Filipino voters aware they are being played/manipulated by certain scheming politicians?

Abangan.