We've must get vaccinated

 

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has turned into a global human tragedy and economic devastation. Governments have implemented lockdown measures, blocked international travel, and enforced other public containment measures to mitigate the virus morbidity and mortality. As of today, no drug has the power to fight the infection and bring normalcy to the utter chaos. This leaves us with only one choice namely an effective and safe vaccine that shall be manufactured as soon as possible and available to all countries and populations affected by the pandemic at an affordable price. There has been an unprecedented fast track path taken in Research & Development by the World community for developing an effective and safe vaccine. Platform technology has been exploited to develop candidate vaccines in a matter of days to weeks, and as of now, 108 such vaccines are available. Six of these vaccines have entered clinical trials. As clinical trials are “rate-limiting” and “time-consuming”, many innovative methods are in practice for a fast track. These include parallel phase I-II trials and obtaining efficacy data from phase IIb trials. Human “challenge experiments” to confirm efficacy in humans is under serious consideration. The availability of the COVID-19 vaccine has become a race against time in the middle of death and devastation. There is an atmosphere of tremendous hype around the COVID-19 vaccine, and developers are using every moment to make claims, which remain unverified. However, concerns are raised about a rush to deploy a COVID-19 vaccine. Applying “Quick fix” and “short cuts” can lead to errors with disastrous consequences

Binatbatan Festival: A Culture that will never be forgotten

Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival of the Arts was formally opened on May 1, 2014 (Labor Day) in a ceremony in front of the marker of Isabelo De Los Reyes, the father of Philippine Labor Union Movement. Guest of Honor for the event is Poland Ambassador to the Philippines Mr. Adam Jelonek, who also lead the launching of the Vigan Tourism Code. The Trade and Food Fair along Florentino St and the “Tara na sa Vigan” exhibit at the Vigan Culture and Trade Center were also opened on the same day.

To entice more tourists the city government lined up other activities to celebrate the event. Among these are the Bancathon and Fishing Competition at Playa de Oro, Brgy. Mindoro which was held on May 1. A Dog Show and Free Anti Rabies Vaccination was also held at Mira Hills Fil-Spanish Friendship Park on May 2 followed by the Kalesa Parade and Contest on the afternoon. Traditional Games were also played between the Bisikleta Antigua Ylocos Klub (BAYK) and the City Organization of Vigan Employees in front of the City Hills on May 3. The main event which is the Binatbatan Street Dancing Contest was held on the same day where the Ilocos Sur National High School emerged as the grand prize winner in the open category and the Pangada – Cabaroan Elementary School in Category A, both received P100,000.00 each as cash prize.

A Santa Cruzan with Miss Philippines – Earth candidates was staged on the parade route on May 4, following their Gala Night and Presentation at the Vigan Convention Center. Competitions for the Carabao Painting and Pasagad Dressing, Boklan Art and Tile Mosaic Contest were undertaken on May 5 and in the evening Miss Philippines – Earth Cultural Dress Competition was held at the Vigan Convention Center.

Semana Santa 2021

 This is a time that we need to pray together like never before. Jesus Christ himself had to go with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with them. Even though the disciples could not pray but their presence meant a lot during that hour of prayer. 

We are faced with circumstances more or less the same as those in Australia. More the same because of the interruption of the spiritual life of the church. Less the same because of the different health services and the availability. 

As we celebrate this Holy Week, homes have been turned into prayer rooms / houses. Families are having worship services at home. The physical, link between Christians has been disrupted and people are trying to adapt to the service of family members. More messages are being passed through social media between the church members and their worship leaders. Some are having streamed services and sermons. In some parishes, like the cathedral church, are having daily programs where message and sermons are streamed either live or recorded to the Christians who receive them through Facebook, or You Tube. 

For the rural parishes more is done in homes and the leaders pray in the church where they program that one person goes per day. In all these people try to follow the restrictions from the authorities as much as possible. 

This kind of system/services has affected other church services like pastoral visits, because of social distancing, and offerings. 

On the other hand, the Corona Virus pandemic has given a new meaning to family togetherness. The home worship has brought family members more closely and bonded. Talents and gifts are being exposed and exercised. Without this some talents might have not been exercised. 

The Holy and Easter week has awoken the reality and importance of prayer in people’s lives. The diocese has impressed upon the clergy to be in touch with the Christians at this time of the pandemic. Easter Sunday services were done online in our urban churches but rural churches were done at homes.  

With the reality of social distancing, lockdown and the fear that comes with the fear of contracting the virus people seem to become more unsocial, not like before where one could welcome someone from a far town very enthusiastically. Remember this is a time when those who have been working or studying away from home could join their families to celebrate Easter together. This pandemic has brought a massive change to this family socialization. 

May the Lord God bless you abundantly and protect you and your family as you strive to stay safe during this pandemic time.  

Women are powerful and beautiful entity of the world

Various women groups and historians successfully lobbied for national recognition that came in February, 1980 when President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. Succeeding Presidents continued to proclaim National Women’s History Week in March until Congress pass Public Law 100-9 in 1987 that designated March as National Women’s History Month.

Edie Ignacio Neumiller is the Kaua‘i commissioner to the Hawai‘i State Committee on the Status of Women, and Regina Carvalho chairs the Kaua‘i Committee on the Status of Women who will celebrate the theme of “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced” that, in 2020, marked the 100th anniversary on women winning the right to vote.

In 1869, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony founded the National Woman Suffrage Association that fought for a universal suffrage amendment to the United States Constitution. That fight lasted until Aug. 18, 1920 when the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote.

The Council Certificate also states that March 8, 2021 is recognized as International Women’s Day, a day set aside annually around the world to celebrate social, economic, cultural, and political advancement for women.

March 8 also serves as a call to action for gender equity.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is “Choose to Challenge, in which a challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge comes change.

“We can all choose to challenge, and call out gender bias and inequality, we can all choose to seek to and celebrate women’s achievements, and we collectively can all help create an inclusive world,” states the Certificate. “From challenge comes change, so let us all choose to challenge.”