APPRECIATION

 

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Is there really a need to be present at all times?

 

Social media is a platform for entertainment, news, and information including the latest trends. In fact, it has already been there long before the pandemic, but while not everyone is into social media, there are people who got hooked up to these digital platforms either gradually or instantly. 

 

The last two years that the world was under the Covid crisis, the public was somehow lured to further depend on digital media not just for news and information, and entertainment but also for banking, government transactions, and deliveries, among others. And the various levels of quarantine restrictions that the country had been put into, the higher dependence of the people have become. Thus, limiting the mobility of the public outside their homes, as an attempt to control the spread of the infection indeed added to the significant challenges experienced by many.

 

The eventual unavailability of freedom to move, wearing of face masks, and social distancing have started to build chaos, anxiety, stress, and fear to many. Hence, for some people, the need to connect, to be relevant, and to sustain day-to-day life is by being present and available online has become part of the new normal. While there are people who channel their boredom to reading, cooking, yoga, and dancing, there are those who resort to social media for diversion.   The extroverts would likely prefer to be visible and join the wagon of Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, Twitter, and Whatsapp.

 

However, unknown to many of these friendly platforms it also has a consequence. As you strive to make a niche, the pressure also grows. The more people you convince to spend their minutes with you, there is  corresponding responsibility attached to it, which must be observed. And this holds true even for people who grew up in the limelight such as the daughter of beauty queen and actress Gloria Diaz, member of the IT Girls Isabelle Daza who is a model, actress, vlogger, and social media influencer yet eventually developed a problem in coping with stress.

 

So, what's the reason for stating this? That it is okay to use and be associated with these platforms for as long as you are entertained. But the moment you feel something is wrong, perhaps it would be better to take a break, rest yourself and revisit the reason why you are in the circle of digital media. Because in anything that a man does, the pressure comes in, the moment you put pressure on what you do. So be kind to yourself. Just enjoy the moment and do good and appreciate the beauty that comes with the moment rather than worries about something that does not really exist.

 

 

 

 

​PURPOSE

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Indeed, not everyone in this life is given second or multiple chances in life itself or in personal circumstances. As there are people who when poked by tragedy or sickness eventually succumbed to death. But there are people who were blessed and gifted with extra life to live.

But to those granted to live a little longer, what could have they done with their life extension? I posed this question because today, exactly five years ago I almost lost my life because of a stroke. Fortunately, a doctor in the family convinced me to go to the hospital before my condition got worse as I was hesitant at that time due to financial considerations. That day, I thought I fell asleep for a whole week but apparently, it was an eight-hour or so to t perhaps allowed me to rest my mind and body from all the troubles of the world. That was when I woke up with a slight physical condition that I still carry to this day I felt very light and relaxed.

Moving forward from that tragedy, and this goes also to all those who woke up from comatose, those who go through crucial surgeries, those who were stabbed multiple times, as well as those thrown from the creeks and bridges yet survived to live, were the extra life given to you were put to good use especially for the benefit of other people? 

I remember Fr. Jerry Orbos SVD, in one of his Sunday homilies and reflections, he discussed the Four Loves in every man's life. These according to him is the love for the human body, possession, family and friends, and the soul. Fr. Jerry explained that no matter how you cared for your body including the amount of body treatment and wellness you give to it when you die, your skin would eventually die. As for the human possession, such as achievement, work and money would also be left behind and passed on to others when you are gone. And while your family, friends, and loved ones profess their unconditional love they could only take care and attend your funeral ceremony but will not die with you. Lastly, and often the neglected kind of love is the love for the soul that goes with everyone who perishes from this lifetime. 

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So in general, men are called by the church to share their precious time and be of service to other people while time still available as this is God’s way of nourishing our spirits.

And as Fr. Anton CT Pascual MDM, puts it in his homily earlier today, serving God also allows man to know his true self. The same reason that men are called to worship Him in the church is that God wants men to see Him as their purpose. Fr. Anton likewise talked about how God wants everyone to belong to His family through church. This is precisely the reason why people are called to attend a mass on Sunday, to join Him in a fellowship. He said God wants you to grow in spiritual maturity. He wants men to be better than what they are today than yesterday because no one is sent in this life to be greedy and to sow violence but rather to live an attitude of Christ.  He said God also wants men to be of service to others. Because organized service if put together with other efforts becomes a ministry, a ministry of charity, to provide assistance for the needy. 

And so is my purpose, that I have realized upon waking up from that long sleep, that I can use the skill in writing to ask you to communicate with Him, to include God in your life, and to be a service to others through this blog writing. Because in this post-truth era, men are often caught up in chaos due to misinformation, fake news, and revisionism. Thus, we need to keep God at the center of everyone’s lives for peace. 

How about you, have you found your purpose?

 

 

MEDICAL FRONTLINERS

Personally, I would like to commend the perseverance and commitment of Filipinos particularly those in the frontline services. Because if not for your sacrifices the businesses and industries in the country will not thrive today.

 

Selflessly, the frontline workers put behind their personal issues and fears in order to continue to perform their duty amidst the threat of the pandemic. And these are all for the love of their family and the community they serve. The motivations that these frontline services keep surely is effective as they continue to hold up to the challenges of time, in helping the demand of the nation during its most trying times.

 

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But while the current period has presented modern-day icons, there is no denying that these people from the frontline industries are also suffering from Covid fatigue, and some of them started to lose empathy to people. 

 

This writer is fortunate to have a cousin who is a doctor, her husband is an emergency nurse, and have met a good neurologist long before the pandemic, as well as friends from the public health sector who managed to maintain good relations with others despite their own personal battle. Admittedly, due to lack of medical manpower, despite testing positive of Covid there were doctors who despite testing positive but found asymptomatic were asked to continue to provide service to patients via teleconsultation. 

 

However, while these actions are truly commendable, the government must ensure that the mental and  psychological well-being of health workers are taken care of, as some of them have started to show sign of loosing empathy, understanding and consideration for people who seek medical assistance. Thus, it is my understanding that it is improper to hear a doctor say, "Wala na akong magagawa sa stroke mo dahil matagal na iyon at new record na kami. Ang kailangan mo ay magpa-test", another doctor said, "Bahala kayo kung ayaw ninyong gawin ang sinasabi ko, basta ang sinasabi ko lang sana magawa ito before the end of the month". 

 

This is not to cast judgment on these doctors, I would assume that if such doctors are given sufficient rest and debriefing they would be able to stand up to the challenges of this health crisis. And would be able to come up with a more diplomatic approach to patients attending the teleconsultation. In case people are forgetting, those seeking medical help mostly, are patients with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, heart ailment, stroke survivors, and a lot more others. Therefore,  they must be accorded with consideration. 

 

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Perhaps, they opted for a consultation to ensure their health's safety as they would not have to leave the comforts of their home. That they would avoid going out to undergo medical tests at nearby hospitals and clinics for fear of infection because the enemy has no face. 

 

I would like to think that the incident I cited as an example was an isolated incident, but while isolated this is a symptom that health workers also need attention that is detrimental in the country's overall fight against the Covid pandemic. As such, this issue would hopefully land in the attention of the Department of Health or any agency that would merit the welfare of those in the health and medical services. This way, the people could be assured that the attention these doctors and nurses provide the public is indeed for the protection and not to take away lives.