Philippines Independence Day Recollection and Covid19

Today, June 12, 2021, the Philippines celebrate its Independence Day. A tribute to all heroes and to a nation liberated from Spain in history. This also includes our liberation from numerous colonizers like the Japanese and the Americans.

While we salute all our unsung heroes who died and fought for liberty, at the back of my mind how are we as a nation now? Yes, we are thriving and fighting – a word from the poor and the middle class. It seems that we bear all the weight of economic turmoil, inflation and double to triple taxation. However, when Covid19 made havoc everywhere in the world, the third world and the mighty nations, the rich and the poor, stood equally suffering for independence of this disease. As this famous phrase goes, "we are on this together."

Reading on some articles online, are we being colonized silently by China’s upheaval over economic dominance? I’m not an economist so I don’t have much opinion about that. But as a medical frontline worker, are we just going to blame anyone and everyone of such fate? Aren’t we more capable of fighting this pandemic on the best way we know how - by being united to pin it down.

Right now, repeating history, we battle not for our nation’s sovereignty from strong national oppressors, leaders might have great contribution to help but the greatest force comes from us. Let us work hard in making a difference, let us cooperate and be proactive with the government in the solution they know on hand. For now, the vaccine is our only hope for herd immunity and the latter is our only chance of getting back our independence – the independence to travel again, the independence to experience a normal school, the independence to work in a regular set-up, and the independence to enjoy company with the people around us. The life that we used to enjoy before this pandemic started - independence from the Covid19 scare and the fear it brings.

Perhaps we could no longer eradicate Covid19 from the face of this earth, but we can only pray that God will bring out amazing technology, bright minds and sincere hearts to explore medications and treatment strategies to adjunct the vaccines, making both processes effective in combatting Covid19. Well, there is nothing impossible with prayers, only God knows how to rise up multitudes of believers to pray without ceasing and make all these come to pass. In His time.

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

To end this Philippine Independence day recollection I am sharing this verse to remind us that from ourselves we can bring healing into our lands.

Anyway, yesterday was a bright sunny day in this part of world and I love doing discreet street photography with my mobile phone, enhance it with post processing to accentuate the common subject in this context. I don't do street photography often, just now because the flags everywhere are so uplifting to see. The last time I did photography in this genre was last 2017 Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk.

For a week now, I can see the Philippine flag waving everywhere, proud and loud on the streets of this city, its a beauty that we seldom see nowadays. Students would see this often in the school ground, but now no more while classes are shifted at home, on the computer. Employees used to see the Philippine flag every Monday before commencing for work, but now we don't. The ordinary makeshift workers in the streets will only see the flag waved gracefully when Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao marched courageously before a boxing match.

I love how this day tickles our spirit of nationalism, it is a rare moment to enjoy. Most often, we only talk about ourselves, our life, our failures, our worries and our success. NOW, it's time to boost our roots, and be proud to be Pinoy. 🇵🇭

Happy Independence Day, kabayan!

Photos are all MINE.

#PhilippineIndepenceDay #Covid19