tuesday issue august 11, 2020
By Loreto Tinitigan
SA ikalawang labas ng kolumn ko sa loob ng linggong ito at ika-labing-isang araw nang pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, patuloy parin ang aking pakikiisa sa pagkilala sa kahalagahan at paggamit sa ating sariling wika bilang pagpupugay at bilang isang tunay na Pilipino.
Ipinag-utos ni Mayor Inday Sara sa lahat ng empliyado ng gobyerno sa siyudad ang maging halimbawa sa lahat ng mamamayan ng siyudad sa pagsunod sa ipinag-uutos na pag-iingat sa kalusugan (health protocols) habang nasa pampublikong pangasiwaan o kahit saan upang hindi makahawa o magkasakit ng delikadong COVID-19.
Ang kautusan ay kasunod ng pagkakasigaw ng alkalde ng siyudad sa isang empliyado ng siyudad habang ito’y pababa ng city hall na walang suot na takip sa mukha (face mask) noon nakaraang lingo.
Dahil dito, ipina-utos din niyang pagmultahin ng P20 ang lahat ng empliyado na mahuling hindi sumusunod sa kautusan nang pag-iingat sa kalusugan.
“Ang galit ko sa mga tao ay hindi ko na palalampasin, lalu’t higit sa mga empliyado sa gobyerno dahil sila ang dapat maging huwaran at pamarisan ng publiko sa pagsunod sa pag-iingat sa kalusugan,” pahayag pa ng alkalde.
Napakaliit ng P20 na kaparusahan kung ikukumpara sa lantarang pagsuway na ito ng empliyado. Alam ito ni Mayor Inday Sara, pero hindi ang halaga ang pinag—uusapan dito kung hindi para ipakita kung paano ang pagdisiplina sa isang tao.
Kung ako ang alkalde, kamao at hindi masasakit na salita lamang ang tinanggap niya sa akin! Dah.
-o0o-
The source of my daily subsistence came from two government insurance agencies-the SSS and GSIS as a pensione, an honorarium for writing columns and ad commissions from the TIMES, and a monthly dollar remittance from my children abroad. The big chunk of this remittance goes to pay for our bank obligations, and the remaining balance to savings accounts.
Because of this, some friends say I’m living in luxury as I’m also residing in a high-end community with 24-hour security guards and a clean environment. “Nakakainggit ka, Loreto,” a veteran respected fellow from the media once texted me.
Well, maybe, but honestly speaking, I’m not. I’m still that same young adventurer of 60 years ago who came to this city for a better life to escape the hard life of living in Imperial Manila.
While I may say I almost reached the good life for me and my children and secured my retirement years, I’m still thinking of others’ lives, especially the poor souls – the daily earners – drivers, street vendors and lowly workers that continue to struggle and defied government safety protocols for them to stay at home to avoid getting infected with the deadly coronavirus.
“Sir, paano mga anak ko kung hindi kami lalabas para mag hanap-buhay. Saan kami kukuha ng pang araw-araw na pagkain?” a disgruntled family man asked me. “Hindi man kami mamatay sa sakit, patay naman kami sa gutom!” he continued.
And this may be the reason why Mayor Inday Sara lifted the FM pass and curfew hours effective August 3 for the people to move freely without being restricted while the threat of coronavirus continues lingering on us while the number of infection continues. She also promised to lift the liquor banned at the end of this month to help business establishments to recover from their losses and give back employment to unemployed constituents.
The city chief executive is doing everything to lessen the fear and suffering of the people, including the business sector due to this deadly disease. She may be wishing that she will be like a comic hero Superwoman so that she can wipe out the virus in just a single blew or a punch!
But she’s not and cannot be a superhero. She is only Inday Sara.
Yet, there are still people who continued to ignore and undermanned her effort to make the economy back on its feet and her constituents living a normal life. This city employee who didn’t follow the simple instruction on safety protocol she confronted at the steps of City Hall as mentioned above should not only be fined with measly P20 but deserves a punch in the face.
