General Christmas quarantine

By the end of this week, it will be the time that we yearly remember our dear departed. Candles will be lit and flowers bought for those we have loved and lost.

The Undas season has felt not much different from most of the weeks we have had under quarantine — the streets quiet, the mood somber and ourselves more prayerful than ever.

This time, though, it will not be filled with reports of traffic and queues, as government has prohibited the observance of the season for souls and saints, closing “all cemeteries, memorial parks and columbariums in the country from 29 October to 4 November.”

Social distancing, already getting difficult to practice in everyday life, would be next to impossible, the way we are during these occasions. Even the handwashing-and-mask plus shield routine could be neglected.

It’s sad to contemplate our “ber” months leading up to the holiday season being so restricted still. Many of us had prayed it would be over by now, with the world conquering the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On the contrary, the health risks remain, and this has caused many local government leaders to push for the general community quarantine (GCQ) restrictions until the end of this year.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC), made up of the mayors of the 16 cities and a municipality in the National Capital Region (NCR), had called for this GCQ stay last week.

The MMC announced, however, that it would recommend to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) shorter curfew hours (from 12 to 4 a.m.) except in Navotas City (where curfew remains from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.) whose mayor had requested it.

Meanwhile, the City of Manila said the annual procession of the Black Nazarene in early January 2021 will not be pushing through until it is safer to gather in large groups.

And how about those summer travel plans? The Tourism sector is gung-ho about boosting the whole value chain by opening up some destinations and offering drop-down prices, but who’s snapping these up at the moment?

For Pinoys whose holiday season had always been filled with these prospects of relaxation and merrymaking, it will be one blue Christmas, indeed.

Still, there are ways government is allowing us to resurrect that Christmas spirit nowadays.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said malls can have WiFi and air conditioning on once again to encourage shoppers to hang around longer in malls, hopefully spend time and money dining and shopping. Even some movie houses had opened, though it’s still a risk to stay too long in places with recirculated air.

It only makes it more confusing for people to be encouraged to go out like that, yet also be warned that the COVID-19 cases in the country keeps ever-increasing, placing the Philippines in the top 10 countries with most infections.

Mall hours may also be extended, but since businesses have either closed or downsized, it will be difficult to rev the economy this way. Also, the people’s spending habits have changed over these past months, and likely their priorities as well.

If there is one thing this pandemic has taught us, other than importance of family, it is the value of saving for the rainy days.

Government, understandably at a quandary about encouraging economic activity or dealing with the health issues, needs to get its priorities straight.

Enough of the politicking and gunning for elective positions; enough of those selfish, corrupt ways. To “heal as one,” we should all be on the same page — even if it means making sacrifices together to reach our common goals quicker.

Government, then, may turn lenient with income- generating activities to boost the flagging economy, adjust the age limits and time periods for quarantine and even allow increased mall hours, but it should be ready with two things at least.

First, it should have the ability to address a possible spike in infections — enough medical support and facilities to handle the sick, as well the funds to deal with the humongous costs.

Second, it should have support aspects in place, like enough transport means for people to go about their days under eased restrictions.

Otherwise, it won’t just be a blue Christmas, but a very stressful one, too.

“To ‘heal as one,’ we should all be on the same page — even if it means making sacrifices together to reach our common goals quicker.

“It’s sad to contemplate our ‘ber’ months leading up to the holiday season being so restricted still.