Interesting Times

By: Veronica Leighton

 

Don’t we have interesting current topics to talk about on this March issue as we live in interesting times. Coronavirus, pandemics, panic-buying, quarantines (self and demand), global lockdowns, no Disneyland, no parties/dances, NBA championship game and flights suspensions, school closings, business closings, church closings, restos/bars closings, businesses/ offices closings, vacations cancelled, no parades and cultural events, stock market volatility, oil wars that we haven’t seen for a generation. The long-lasting effects are also very interesting to anticipate, but lives must go on and we may have to bear the brunt to experience the ebbs and flows of the tide as human beings. Together with these bad news is the dangerous rise of racism and hatred, as our editorialist Joe Mauricio addressed to on this page. To say the least, let’s hope and pray that the U.S. won’t have the same bleak outcome like Italy, the country where lots of Coronavirus horror stories are coming out lately.

As you can glean on many of our columnists’ topics who have touched on the crucial and cruel Coronavirus’ devastating effects globally, we are not to lose hope. No one can reach the end of the rainbow, but just looking at the magnificent colors of the rainbow gives us hope. The most important thing to do amidst this chaos is to take care of yourself, be watchful of your health and your family’s health, follow health protocols religiously, and pray to God to save the people of the world. Personally and professionally speaking, we have actually cut down on some important media coverages and meetings and interviews cancellations are what we have been experiencing in both Via Times and CPRTV media platforms due to the present crisis. We have actually self-quarantined ourselves to help stop this maddening virus, but didn’t stop in meeting our deadline. Thanks to the technology of the Internet, our media work didn’t stop in spite of, as there’s no business like the media business. It’s because we live in interesting times let’s classify this as another March Madness, in a different concept or level.

Another very interesting community/civic topic and worth everyone’s while is the Census 2020 that happens every decade in this country. We urge our community and every single soul that reads and runs across the Census 2020 announcements to take time and to have everyone in the family fill out the census form as the law requires every citizen to do. There’s nothing to fear as there are more ways to gain in filling out the census form than lose anything. It is very important to be counted–whether you are working, unemployed, homeless, retired, businesspeople or not, professionals or not, students, veterans, etc. There are various announcements, advertisements and editorial support that explains the importance of filling out the census form. Every Chicagoan needs to be counted, so that our community/city/state receive the funding they deserve for housing, education, hospitals and healthcare, as well as, more power in the form of political representation.

The U.S. Census Bureau has begun mailing information to every household in the country with more information, including a unique Census I.D., to fill out their census online. The website to complete your census online is: https://my2020census.gov/. If you do not receive information from the U.S. Census Bureau you can still complete the census by calling 1-844- 330-2020.

March 8 is the month that we celebrate the International Women’s Day, and many women that are making a change or impact for their contributions to their communities are recognized by some groups or organizations all over the world. I am particularly honored and thankful to the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago (headed by Consul General Gina Jamoralin) for recognizing three women in the Midwest that include yours truly, together with Attorney Aurora Austriaco and Mae Flores. Please read page 5, Veronica’s Vibes.

Via Times, as a community publication that thrives, is proud to recognize the contributions of its most talented, dedicated, conscientious, and community-conscious women contributors and columnists on this special day recognizing women who have made a difference. VT women contributors actually outnumber our male contributors, and they do a great job in expressing and connecting themselves towards their readers/followers. Together with their male counterparts, they all love what we do for the community that we serve through your favorite publication, the Via Times through the years.

We hope you are staying well and healthy! Together with concerned VT staffers, we are letting our readers and friends know that we have been closely monitoring the situation with COVID-19, every hour on the hour (our new ethos), and we will keep you updated in our next April issue. ###