Self-Discipline and Public Discipline

Our recent experience since the stay home policy has been implemented to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our county has given us to opportunity to think and reflect on our attitude in discipline as a people. Indeed, just after the Duterte Administration announced through its erudite spokesperson Harry Roque that the country is already under the General Quarantine policy, many of our countrymen went out to the streets, malls and other edifices without the required face masks and without observing the mandated social distancing. Thus, in a live press briefing in Malacanang, the President was compelled to announce that he would not hesitate to again place some parts of the country under Modified Quarantine if some of our people would persist in their attitude. As correctly pointed out by a former Philippine President “sa ika uunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan.” It is however, consoling to note that during the said briefing DILG Secretary Año suggested that the Quarantine policy, General or Modified, may be implemented on a barangay level, to be monitored by the local mayors. I believe that this policy is more practical and easily implementable, but premised upon the competence and efficiency of local officials to govern their constituents. Our recent experience when the entire Southern Luzon was placed under lockdown would tell us how hard it was to be under “house arrest” for quite a period of time as one battles away his wits with boredom. However, it has led us to find our own ways of dealing with this boredom, by establishing our respective daily routine at home, including I am sure, means of keeping our immune system strong against the virus. This kind of self-discipline should likewise extend to following the rules of health protocols and demonstrating the public discipline necessary to help our country in dealing with this pandemic.

TRIVIA:

Even this early, this writer looks forward to the probability that come June, the regular meeting of the Knights of Rizal which falls on the 2nd Saturday of June shall be held, and the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly, which also falls on the 3rd Sunday of the same month. With social distancing? Perhaps so. and it will definitely be a new experience!

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“I PREFER TO CRITICIZE THINGS FROM A POSITION OF IGNORANCE.” ALAN MORE

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE: “YOU WHOM I HAVE CALLED MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN AND WILL NOT CAST OFF - FEAR NOT I AM WITH YOU.” ISAIAH 41;9