Messages from Manila

By: Bob Boyer

 

On March 17 I received an email from a close friend in the Philippines, a retired UP-Diliman professor. A couple of days later I received a Facebook message from his wife, an artist, also a close friend. They—their nicknames are Butch and Beng—live in Manila and consider themselves fortunate in having University Housing (a perk in place of money). Both messages came as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic started being felt there.

I’ve decided to share their messages. I had intended to include some recent coronavirus and Covid-19 statistics from the Philippine press. Instead, I recommend two very useful articles: “PH coronavirus cases rise to 3,094, death toll at 144,” by Lian Buan in “Rappler,” April 4, 2020; and “Robredo backs lockdown extension,” by Frances Mangosing in “Inquirer.Net,” April 5, 2020. Statistics alone, of course, don’t show the human faces most affected. My friends’ messages, I believe, will help to do so, Butch’s fi rst.

“Hi all—just a quick hello from Butch and Beng, to let you know that we’re okay so far and staying at home (except for short trips to the grocery, the pharmacy, and the ATM). Manila and indeed the whole big island of Luzon are in lockdown, although we’re free to go in limited numbers to the aforementioned places. There are long queues in the supermarkets, but there’s still lots of food (though alcohol, sanitizers, and face masks have long evaporated). We have enough on standby for a couple of weeks; no one here is in a true panic mode, because at least we in the middle still have some options and limited mobility. Still, someone with a personal connection to me has already died (from local transmission); her husband also has Covid-19. Our cardiologist who attended to a Covid patient is now in critical condition himself, so this is hitting home.

“As always, the poor have been hit the hardest, especially for those on a “no work, no pay” basis—some are walking 10 or even more kilometers to their workplaces and then back home because all public transportation has stopped and there are huge traffi c jams at the “borders” between Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces for private vehicles trying to get through (some for good reason, like medical and bank workers). The government is talking about safety nets and bringing food to the poorest, but it’s going to take a while to put these in place—you see people crying on TV, taxi and jeepney drivers running the blockade and piling on passengers (despite all the advice about social distancing) because they need money to buy food and their passengers need to get to work.

“I guess it’s not much different from many other parts of the world now—and if your life hasn’t changed yet, it soon will. Thank God at least for the Internet, which keeps us in touch with everybody else . . . .”

The rest of Butch’s message is about family matters. Beng’s Facebook Message, which arrived a few days later, is equally touching; I quote it in full.

“Butch and I like others are trying our best to manage our funds until the situation normalizes. “We have been helping some individuals here and there with whatever we can share. We are retirees and the only regular fund we can depend on is the monthly pension I receive (my small pension from SSS) and our savings. We would like very much to share what little we have and whenever an opportunity presents itself. A few days ago we saw a man sitting on the sidewalk selling star apples he must have picked from trees growing around the campus. We bought 2 plastic bags without getting the change. The man was so happy and my heart felt light for doing something to help him. This afternoon, Butch and I walked to the gulayan and bought some vegetable. A forlorn and sad looking old man approached us asking for help. We readily gave the 200 that we had. He was very surprised and his face lit up. How I wish I could give more. Later as we walked home, I cried thinking of others who have very little and who have nothing to hang on and cling to. I can only pray for miracles to happen . . . and soon oh, Lord.”

Both messages flesh out the statistical picture. The pandemic is affecting the poor and the homeless the most; they don’t have the financial means—or the space for social distancing—to avoid the virus or to cope with its devastating effects; also at added risk are the members of the medical professions and their helpers who are treating those afflicted with Covid-19. On a hopeful note, both messages demonstrate how we are joining one another, within and beyond borders, helping by connecting.

Bob Boyer welcomes your feedback at Robert.boyer@snc.edu.