Looking back at 2020

By Joshua Corcuera

 

Yun na ‘yon? This question would, perhaps, best represent this 2020 from a personal perspective. The fact that I have been locked inside my home, for the most part of the year, explains this expression I felt. It is obvious that the year was filled with negative events, from the coronavirus pandemic to the ensuing economic recession and so on. For this article, I would look back at the notable events this 2020, the lessons we can learn from our experiences for this year, and what’s in store for 2021.

 

First, health

Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic is the most well-known issue for the year — and for good reason. The pandemic changed the way humans carry out their daily lives for the most part of the year. Many employees work from home, students attend classes online, travel restrictions are in place, and so on. A public health crisis of this scale rarely happens. As a matter of fact, the 2020 pandemic is often compared to the influenza pandemic which occurred more than a century ago. It is very likely that preventive measures — wearing face masks, physical distancing, and staying home as much as possible — would continue until the early part of next year, at least. For me, this crisis revealed the importance of science in dealing with the problems we face. Without science, putting an end to the pandemic would be virtually impossible. Henceforth, supporting scientists in the Philippines is something we must prioritize besides recognizing their efforts to address humanity’s worries.

 

Next, wealth 

Due to the severe restrictions on movement carried out by the government to try stopping the spread of the coronavirus, the economy is directly affected. The Philippine economy suffered a sharp drop this year with a double-digit fall in the second and third quarters. Millions lost their jobs at some point as economic activity came to a halt. Without jobs, many people lost a vital source of income to make ends meet. Although most — if not all — countries suffered from slower economic growth compared to the past, some countries still managed to grow such as Vietnam. At the same time, our western neighbor managed to get rid of the coronavirus early despite being similar in terms of population and sharing a border with China — the origin of the coronavirus. This shows that a healthy population is needed for an economy to thrive. Moreover, providing quality health care to the masses in times of normalcy is essential to help society be productive.

 

Nature’s wrath 

During the latter part of the year, several strong storms ravaged the country, especially Luzon. Typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses have all caused severe destruction in the country’s northern major island. Billions of pesos in damages were recorded to infrastructure and agriculture which severely affected the livelihoods of those directly affected. Worse, recovery is still a long and arduous task especially considering the economic and health struggles the country is facing. Despite the strength of these typhoons, they are not going to be the last. In fact, the world must brace for stronger storms as a result of human-caused climate change. This must serve as a reminder that we must do our part in taking care of the environment. Otherwise, we are putting our only home in bad shape which would consequently threaten our well-being. Even our little actions would have a significant effect on the environment. For this reason, we must be genuinely responsible for what happens in nature.

 

In the Philippines, the bitter divisions 

This year also had its share of controversies leading to bitter divisions in society. To be specific, government legislation such as the Anti-Terror Law faced severe backlash from people, or in social media at least. The shutdown of ABS-CBN, a major news network seen to be critical of the government, also caused public ire to the-powers-that-be. As it has always been, political disagreements are normal and healthy discussions must be welcomed and promoted. However, when supposedly universal values — such as press freedom and freedom of expression — are under attack, it is very alarming that there are some people who allow such values to be threatened. We must remind ourselves that these ideals are essential to move forward as a nation and that such freedoms must be protected, preserved, cherished, and enjoyed by everyone — including minorities who are often oppressed in recent years.

 

Around the world, protests and movements 

The social divisions are not unique to the Philippines. It is important to remember that social movements are occurring around the world even amid the pandemic. In America, the death of George Floyd caused millions to go out to the streets to protest against police brutality and advocate for reforms to end racial injustice. In neighboring Thailand, people — especially young Thais — are speaking up against the monarchy even if it could land them to prison. While in Eastern Europe’s Belarus, hundreds of thousands protested against a dictator who won an allegedly fraudulent election. It is devastatingly clear that the masses can make themselves heard and that leaders must listen to them. Moreover, protests abroad show that speaking up can result in change.

 

For next year, hope

Altogether, 2020 is filled with a lot of events — mostly negative to be candid. Despite this, there are notable lessons to be learned which can help us prevent negative events from happening again in the future. From listening to science and taking care of the environment, to the importance of protests and the need of securing a healthy population, this year managed to teach lessons which we must learn and accept to prevent experiencing a terrible future. Many people are optimistic of the promises brought by 2021, though we should not be overconfident. The coronavirus is still spreading rapidly and restrictions on movement — though relaxed — are still in place. Still, there is a glimpse of hope thanks to advancements made by scientists in an attempt to find a vaccine and a cure to end the pandemic. So, would there be hope for a better life in 2021? For me, yes would be the more reasonable answer.