Why did the Philippines join ASEAN?

Dayang C Marikit

My Quora account is mainly focused on promoting and educating people about the pre-colonial period.

The Philippines was actually the one who proposed ASEAN to its neighbors.

• The concept originated as “Maphilindo” which stands for (Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia)… This started as a way to reinvigorate their historical connections prior to Western colonization.

• However due to some anomalies on the part of the Philippines and Indonesia, this concept fell apart. The Philippines and Indonesia were trying to halt the formation of Malaysia and they plotted to divide the island of Borneo among themselves.
• After their failed attempt at creating “Maphilindo”… Filipino lawmakers later proposed the concept of (ASEAN) to our neighbors, but this time the concept included all of mainland and maritime Southeast Asia.

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So the answer to your question is… (The Philippines joined ASEAN because Filipino lawmakers were the ones who proposed it to our neighbors.)

Philippines accepts COVID-19 vax certificates of more countries

 Image from the website of the city government of Davao.

BY Helen Flores - The Philippine Star 

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the COVID-19 vaccination certificates of more countries and territories since reopening the country to foreign tourists last Feb. 10.

Acting presidential spokesman and IATF co-chairman Karlo Nograles said the country recognizes the vaccination certificates of Argentina, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Azerbaijan, Macau SAR and Syria.

He said this is in addition to other countries/territories/jurisdictions whose proofs of vaccination the IATF has already approved for recognition in the Philippines.

Nograles said the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s One-Stop-Shop and Bureau of Immigration (BI) are directed to recognize all proofs of vaccination approved by the IATF.

Earlier, Nograles said all foreign nationals traveling to the Philippines for business and tourism may enter the country without visas as long as they are fully vaccinated and present the required COVID-19 proof of inoculation and testing documents.

He also expressed confidence that the updated protocols would not lead to a spike in infections as long as all health protocols are observed.

Flight crew protocols

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has adjusted quarantine protocols for flight and cabin crew members returning to the Philippines, including those with layovers in the country, to mitigate personnel shortages and avoid significant disruptions to workforce and operations.

Under the adjusted protocols issued by CAAP in its Memorandum Circulars 06-2022 and 07-2022 last Feb. 7, flight and crew members are no longer required to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine, but shall self-monitor for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Transportation must be arranged by the air operator between the aircraft and the crew’s hotel rooms, if needed, while ensuring the observance of physical distancing and other health protocols.

At accommodation, only one crew member will be allowed to stay per hotel room and contact with other crew members is prohibited. Use of hotel common areas is also not allowed.

Suspected COVID-19 positive crew members and those experiencing symptoms during layover or in transit are mandated to immediately report to the air operator and seek medical assessment for monitoring.

They shall be repatriated by appropriate mode of transportation to their residence.

For crew members who have been found COVID-19 negative through evaluation in accordance with procedures, the air operator may arrange transportation to their residence.

CAAP requires air operators to ensure compliance with the relevant public health regulations, policies and established measures.

CAAP director-general Jim Sydiongco said the protocols have been established in response to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade’s directive to address the current insufficiency of manpower faced by local air operators due to the possibility of flight crew being exposed to COVID-19 positive individuals requiring quarantine. – Richmond Mercurio

It’s possible to love our enemies

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

MAKE no mistake about this. We are clearly commanded by Christ to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who mistreat us, etc. (cfr. Lk 6,27-38)

That may sound impossible to do, given the way we are, humanly speaking. But it really is not. God’s grace will always be available. Thus, what may appear impossible to us becomes possible and doable. When we find ourselves in situations where we have to contend with some enemies or conflicts, let’s remember that the first thing to do is to go to Christ, to ask for grace, to make our identification with him even tighter.

Especially during this election season when we are seeing a lot of fault-finding, insulting, mocking, and all other forms of negativity, we need to strengthen our belief in this one particular injunction Christ gave us—to love our enemies. This is one golden opportunity for us to become like Christ, as we ought to be, since he is the pattern of humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity.

This obviously will require a lot of virtues—humility, patience, magnanimity, fortitude, to mention a few. We have to learn how to discipline our emotions and passions, and to be most careful with what we say. We have to be quick to purify our thoughts and intentions whenever some negative elements enter into them.

Let’s remember that the greatest evil and the worst injustice have already been committed, and that is the killing of Christ by man. But such evil and injustice did not elicit another evil reaction from Christ. On the contrary, he offered forgiveness. We do not correct a wrong with another wrong. As one saint would put it, we have to drown evil with an abundance of good.

During this election season, we can have our own choices. We can be partisan. But it does not entitle us to fall into lack of charity against those who may disagree with our choices. Thus, I think it is preferable that we study all the issues quietly, and make our decisions quietly as well. There is no need to create a lot of noise which can only be toxic to everyone.

Let’s always remember what was said at the end of the gospel cited above. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

It’s very gratifying to note that Christ clearly promised that if we follow this commandment of his, we will be rewarded much more than what we appear to have sacrificed for the sake of this commandment. Yes, God cannot be outdone in generosity.

Let us brace ourselves to face this challenge of becoming true Christians. Let’s make our Christianity really work, especially in difficult moments. Christ never abandons us, and he is willing to go through the experience with us. We just have to do our part, that is, to go to him, and follow him as best that we can.

Indeed, loving enemies is a sure mark of a true Christian!

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com