Our lives are in our own hands

IT helps people to remember simple basic rules when they are expressed in simple, direct statements like “Mask. Hugas. Iwas.”

When the government began the gradual process of reviving the economy early in October, it was joined by the private sector with an “Ingat Angat Tayong Lahat Campaign” featuring competing brands side by side in commercials to encourage people to start eating out and shop around, but always observing minimum health and safety protocols.

Several government officials joined in the launching of the campaign, including presidential spokesman Harry Roque who noted that the government had already launched its “Ingat Buhay para sa Hanapbuhay” with similar goals. He added that President Duterte had just appeared in a commercial to promote the message “Mask. Hugas. Iwas.”

This week, the Health Professionals Alliance against COVID-19 (HPAAC) launched its “APAT Dapat” campaign – with APAT standing for good Air circulation in meeting rooms, Physical distancing, Always wear a face mask, and Time for meetings limited to 30 minutes or less during the holiday season.

“We hope to see our civil servants welcoming the new year reinvigorated and with a healthy body and mind so we can serve the Filipino public at our best,” Civil Service Commission Chairperson Alicia de la Rosa Bala said as she echoed HPAAC’s call to observe the “APAT Dapat” if gatherings cannot be avoided.

These last few days of the year have been marked by traditional gatherings of the season – the Simbang Gabi and the Christmas Eve mass, families sharing Christmas Eve meals. The government allowed these, but with limitations, thus saving this season for this largely Christian nation.

But through all these gatherings, we must never forget that the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us and our only answer to it at this time is personal protection with face masks and face shields, keeping one’s distance from another person, and constant washing of one’s hands.

There is a new and more deadly strain of the virus that has emerged in England, causing many countries to close their borders to travelers from that country. The strain has now reached Singapore and we hope we can keep it out. We also hope we will soon have the vaccines we need to develop immunity from COVID-19 among our people.

Thus, “Mask, Hugas, Iwas.” and “APAT Dapat.” In these last few days of the year and in the next few months of the new year, we will be holding our health and our lives in our own hands.