Politics aside, we should commend the current leadership for its swift and decisive action to mitigate the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the lives of ordinary Filipinos. It should be pointed out that the Philippines is one of the countries to come up with an economic and social package to reverse the spread of the virus and mitigate its savage effects on our country’s economy and its hapless people. We should equally give credit to both the Executive and Legislative branches of our government for putting their act together to approve the financial stimulus package dubbed the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” (Republic Act 11469).
A major piece of legislation with far-reaching impact and magnitude, the measure was approved in both Houses of Congress in record time. This will soften the economic blow of the pandemic that has disrupted our economy, broke down the country’s supply chain, halted business operations, canceled schools, suspended production of nonessential products and services, stopped all forms of transportation, and displaced millions of workers particularly from the informal sector. It’s been said, and few would disagree, that no devastation has brought such untold sufferings to our total population since the Second World War.
The US has approved ahead of us a similar financial stimulus package otherwise known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES). It’s not just a battle of acronyms or names—Bayanihan vs. CARES. It’s also a contest of immediate and effective implementation. Both laws cover various aspects and they are not just limited to financial dole outs to individuals and business. It’s remarkable that our government has already started distributing the financial subsidy to 18 million low-income families for two months barely nine days after the passage of the law, which the US has not done up to now. The cash distribution, which ranges from P5,000 to P8,000 depending on the place where the beneficiary resides, started in the cities of Parañaque and Manila. The delivery of the subsidies for the rest of the regions outside Metro Manila will immediately follow. A total of P200 billion cash assistance will be given out to poor households around the country. Many of their breadwinners were displaced from work and the loss of income resulted in a decrease in consumption, which fuels our economy. Hopefully the cash subsidies in the hands of consumers will provide them purchasing power to drive up our economy. Expectedly, it will spur more business activities. Demand for essential goods will increase.
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What’s in a name? As the immortal line in Shakespeare’s play, “Romeo and Juliet” declares, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Although Romeo was from the rival family of Montague, Juliet still fell head over heels for the former defying her family in the process. Today, the most dreaded name is “Covid-19.” Long after this pandemic is gone, our generation that has been devastated by it will not bury it in oblivion. This horrible event will be recorded in our history books; it will be chronicled in the annals of mankind and it will be immortalized in movies and stories. Covid-19 will be spoken of in the same breathe as the Black Death and the Cholera epidemic. Covid-19 instills fear in most people and it is a term that they would rather erase from our vocabulary. In Mexico, Grupo Modelo, a top beer brewing company, has decided to temporarily stop the production of its top-selling beer, the Corona beer. For many years, its Corona beer has lorded over the profitable beer market south of the US border. But now the coincidental name of the beer to the virus has discouraged customers to patronize the brand. Its withdrawal from the market was decided because of the Covid-19 outbreak. Corona beer is sold in the US where it is popular among the Latino-Americans but its local and foreign sales may be affected by the raging pandemic. Interestingly, in other parts of the world, some people do not find the term atrocious. For instance, in Hanoi, an enterprising burger shop has launched ‘Corona Burger’ to spike the sales of its hamburger products. The burger bun is shaped like the virus. It was done to cheer up people amid the anxiety and fears associated with Covid-19. In the Philippines, it was reported that several newly born babies were named Covid. Leave it to the Filipinos when it comes to humor and ingenuity. But poor children! They will grow up to remind us of the scourge that devastated the entire world in 2020. Parents should not christen their kids with Covid. It will be as odious as naming your child “Hitler” or “Attila.”
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Tip for 2020 Bar Examination in Civil Law (Persons and Family Relations): What is the difference between a “Lockdown” and a “Quarantine”?
Suggested answer: When an angry wife refuses to allow the husband to enter the house, that is a “Lockdown.” When a jealous wife refuses to allow the husband to leave the house, that is a “Quarantine.”
1 comment
Help will be distributed to needy family. When ? People cannot wait 2 weeks to eat.