Welcome, It's 2022!

Volume 3, Issue No. 22

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America and beyond . . . . . .

 

 Our latest as of Monday, January 3, 2022 

~ "The zodiac sign Tiger is a symbol of strength, exorcising evils, and braveness," according to the Chinese calendar. Yes, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. We have a thousand and one reasons to celebrate the New Year notwithstanding the pandemic that is still with us. Our personal and professional circumstances differ but there is a universal understanding of what a new season means. For us here, it's the most-awaited arrival of a relative from the homeland, that's one. Another is the promise of a bright and new tomorrow. 

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2022 IS YEAR OF THE TIGER

Reasons To Be Happy This New Year 

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." - Helen Keller

TORONTO - Midway through a modest dinner four-and-a-hours before midnight came the news via email to her iPhone: the COVID test proved negative.

The young Angela had been randomly selected for an onsite COVID testing as she breezed through immigration and customs at Pearson International Airport where she disembarked two days earlier from a fourteen-and-a-half-hour long flight from Manila to continue her studies in Toronto.

The casual picking of arriving international passengers has been on since the partial lifting of travel restrictions to enter Canada as a way of controlling the spread of the coronavirus. Qualified fully vaccinated travelers from the Philippines are allowed entry with restrictions.

Official COVID data as of January 2, 2022, shows that Canada (population: 38,067,903) has 2.22 million total cases and 30,339 deaths. In comparison, the Philippines (population: 111,046,913) has 2.84 million cases and 51,373 deaths. The United States (population: 332,915,073) has 54.9 million total cases and 824,000 deaths. Of the 7.9 billion people worldwide, there are 289 million total cases and 5.44 million deaths.

With this background, it stands to reason why strict health protocols are implemented in border crossings and airports. The rapid spread of the omicron variant makes everything extremely necessary.

Since her late-night arrival on December 29, the family began implementing its own health protocols inside the house, e.g. isolation in her assigned room for at least three days, the use of the bathroom, wearing of mask whenever she ventured out, except when eating or drinking, physical distancing, frequent washing of hands, etc. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N83XHl_cmBU).

At dinner of fried chicken, pancit palabok, potato salad, and fries, Angela sat farthest from the head of the table which I usually occupy since by age I'm the most vulnerable to a potential carrier.

Well into that inexpensive feast, her phone buzzed. We had to excuse her for checking who was calling. For a few seconds, her anxious look changed to one of joyful countenance.

"Negative! The COVID test (at the airport) came out negative," she announced jubilantly.

It had been nearly 48 hours since health authorities told her the results would be available within that time frame. And when the clock ticked close to the deadline still unsure of the outcome, we became apprehensive.

Now, upon hearing the word "negative" we broke into applause and shouts of "hooray". Suddenly it dispelled all the trepidation. The jitters vanished in an instant. The exultation went on for about two minutes - "cheers, cheers" we roared.

"Negative" means easing house rules. We can now take off the masks and resume our usual activities without having to worry about COVID within the home. That alone is cause for celebration. (Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb0JUZnAZfQ).

What a way to welcome the New Year!. It's the Year of the Tiger, the zodiac sign in the Chinese calendar that symbolizes strength and courage that drives out evil.

We rejoice in the thought that the Year 2022 will be a lot better than the Year 2021. The past year had been fraught with many challenges. The biggest that has largely been untamed for the third year now is the coronavirus.

Soon after we learned Angela is free from risks of coronavirus, we gradually relaxed and watched the countdown in New York's Times Square beamed live on television. The last 10 seconds to midnight was uproarious. But in the quiet of our neighbourhood in North York, our own countdown was unrestrained.

Not too many people waited for the once-a-year change from old to new, it appeared. Didn't matter though. We have our reasons for being festive. (Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved).