Duterte’s Iloilo-based consultant talks sense

By Alex P. Vidal

“No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.” – Isaac Asimov

SELDOM can we hear Jane Javellana, President Duterte’s presidential consultant for Western Visayas, talk in the media, but when she does she talks with sense.

And she delivers.

Take for instance Ms. Javellana’s appeal to all chief local executives (governors and the Iloilo City mayor) in Region 6 to unify their efforts in maintaining the status of Panay Island as coronavirus-free.

As soon as she made the suggestion that there should be a “one executive order imposing community quarantine” to be issued by the mayor of Iloilo City and the governors of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, and Capiz, both Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. and Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas were in a joint press conference in Iloilo City announcing they have signed executive orders (EOs) regulating the entry of the people to the borders of Iloilo.

This was followed also on March 15 by the governors of the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, and Antique who issued EOs limiting the movement of people in and out of their respective borders.

To complete the cast, Bacolod City and Negros Occidental followed suit.

 

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According to Consultant Javellana, “It would be easier for the alignment in the strict implementation of quarantine procedures and guidelines for air, sea, and land transportation and passengers” if there would be one EO signed by all the local chief executives in Western Visayas.

“This way,” she added, “the procedures will be manageable and may impact in the disease prevention of the entire island of Panay. One EO and one task force to handle all inquiries and PRs.”

Ms. Javellana’s point of view was not only relevant but also necessary and should be “the right thing to do” for all the concerned local chief executives now that our main concern is primarily to protect the health and welfare of the Ilonggos.

By the way, what will happen now to the Paraw Regatta 2020 Festival, which has been rescheduled from March to April 1 now that beginning April 1 Panay Island will be under an island-wide quarantine in an effort to shield it from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

 

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CORONAVIRUS, MEDICAL SCIENCE, RELIGION. Now that the coronavirus has decimated thousands of human beings in every corner of the globe with such horrific magnitude, our religion can’t exempt us from the pandemic.

The intended casualty is “to whom it may concern.”

Even the atheist is infected. A priest, a head of state, a first lady, a lawmaker, a Hollywood couple, a plain son-of-a-bitch, a spiritual impostor, a bank executive, a doctor, or an innocent elderly who is only counting the lizards at home.

It’s the province of medical science. It’s all about our immune system. Religion is a misnomer here.

Religion has been an enormous multiplier of tribal suspicion and hatred, with members of each group talking of the other in precisely the tones of the bigot.

The Christians eat defiled pig meat and they and Jews swill poisonous alcohol. Buddhist and Muslim Sri Lankans blamed the wine-oriented Christmas celebrations of 2004 for the immediately following tsunami. Catholics are dirty and have too many children.

Muslims breed like rabbits and wipe their bottoms with the wrong hand. Jews have lice in their beards and seek the blood of Christians to add flavor and zest to their Passover matzos. And so it goes on.

 

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Let me share this “Prayer to Mary during Coronavirus Pandemic” by Pope Francis taken from the Vatican News:

O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.

You, Salvation of Your People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)