QUO VADIS, NOEL?

Your employer? No, he’s disappeared. Malacañang? A senator, your congressman? Your mayor and barangay captain? No— he can’t even get a bus ride home. Philhealth? Sorry no, they’re busy spending billions on IT and other urgencies. DOH? Out of the question, they’re figuring out what to do after Aug. 18.

- Wala Lang Dr. Jaime Laya

So jobless construction worker Noel R., in the prime of life at age 33, lies prone on Plaza Miranda’s hot pavement, appealing to the Black Nazarene, unseen but hopefully listening behind Quiapo church’s locked gates. Surely interceding for him and for the OFWs (a.k.a. unsung heroes) crammed into Rizal Memorial, is the penniless woman who died of starvation while waiting for a bus ride home to her small children in Bicol.

Covid-19, Wuhan Virus, Corona Veerus, Kung Flu—whatever you call it, is causing havoc in health, family and work life, schooling, and practically everything else, everywhere.

Many have died, more are infected, hospitals are overloaded and who knows when or how all these will end. St Luke’s QC and BGC, Makati Medical, Chinese General, are at full capacity. Ospital ng Maynila is closing down for now. Doctors, nurses and auxiliary personnel— not enough of them to begin with—are burnt out, sick, or dead.

A restaurant owner friend gave up. He just couldn’t continue paying rent, cooks, waiters, janitors, security and feed his family with no income going on five months now. Construction is on hold, leaving Noel and thousands others jobless. OFWs and cruise ship employees are returning. With public transport out, the employed can’t get to work. Hardworking jeepney and tricycle drivers are on street corners, begging.

And don’t forget the millions of children whose learning may depend on computers they can buy only if they and their families don’t eat.