PH detects 618 more Omicron variant cases

File photo

By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO, SunStar Manila

THE country has detected 618 more cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), pushing the total tally to 1,153, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, January 27, 2022.

The 618 newly detected Omicron cases were among the 677 samples that underwent the latest genome sequencing.

The DOH said the “stealth Omicron” or the BA.2 sub-lineage, which was first detected in the country in December 2021, was found to be the majority of Omicron cases in the latest batch.

Of the 618 additional Omicron cases, 497 were local cases, while 121 were returning overseas Filipinos.

A total of 13 cases were still active, two had died, 560 were tagged as recovered and 43 were still being verified.

Of the local cases, 238 were in Metro Manila, 71 in Calabarzon, 30 in Ilocos Region and Western Visayas, 27 in Central Luzon, 20 in Central Visayas and 19 in Cagayan Valley.

Thirteen cases were also detected in Cordillera Administrative Region, 10 in Davao Region, six in Soccsksargen, two in Bicol Region, and one each in Mimaropa and Northern Mindanao.

Earlier, the DOH said five individuals who were infected with the Omicron variant have died.

It said all of the five fatalities had comorbidities. One of them was partially vaccinated, one was unvaccinated, while the vaccination status of the three were still being verified.

The country is experiencing another surge in Covid-19 cases believed to be driven by the Omicron variant.

On Monday, January 24, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Covid-related deaths are increasing amid the Omicron-driven surge, with an average of 25 deaths per day. (SunStar Philippines)

PLGU-DdO holds health forum on Omicron Variant

 

More than four hundred (400) public school teachers in Davao de Oro took part in the recently conducted health forum on Covid-19 Omicron variant by PLGU-Davao de Oro in collaboration with the   PIA XI (Philippine Information Agency) held via online platform last January 25, 2022.

The new omicron variant has spread rapidly and ripped communities since its emergence, but experts say it’s less severe in nature as hospitalizations and mortality rate is lower than the previous surges, but shouldn’t be underestimated as viruses replicate and mutates fast.

Dr. Kathryn Uy Roa, Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases for Public Health encouraged the public to get their booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to safeguard one’s health from the mutations of the Covid-19 virus.

Governor Tyron Uy also attended the forum and informed the public of his condition after getting infected with the virus. The governor also maximized online platforms to continue serving the public while in isolation and stressed that the only solution to the crisis is to get vaccinated.

Overall, the online health forum reached a thousand views and engagements from online viewers of the province’s official Facebook Pages. PLGU-DdO and PIA plan to reach out to the Women’s Sector as the country prepares for the vaccination of the pediatric population aged 5-11 years old. (JA, PAO-IPRD)

Giving our all

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THIS, I believe, is what Christ is telling us when he said, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?...The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”  (cfr. Mk 4,21-25)

Of course, with due consideration to the necessity of prudence, discretion and naturalness in our earthly affairs, we should realize that we have to give our all in serving God and everybody else. That is the law that should govern our whole life. It can only mean that we are truly motivated by love which in the end is the very essence and purpose of our humanity, if we are to become God’s image and likeness as we are meant to be.

Let’s remember Christ’s words that encourage us to be generous, “Without cost you have received. Without cost you are to give.” (Mt 10,8) If we put these words into deeds, we would be reflecting the very love and life of God who has given us everything, including the Son to become man as an expiation for all our sins. We should not be afraid to give our all to God and to others, regardless of the sacrifices that would be involved.

  Thus, in Christ’s commissioning of his disciples that should include all of us, his believers and followers, he encourages us not to worry so much about what to have or what to bring. “Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.”

We need to develop a keen sense of generosity and self-giving that is also a result of detachment. Let’s never forget that whatever we have comes from God who wants us to work for the common good. Thus, we hear St. Paul saying, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor 4,7) Whatever we have should be shared with others—of course, in a certain way proper to God’s moral law for us.

We have been reminded of this need to cultivate generosity in the gospel. “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions,” Christ said. (Lk 12,15) 

We are told not to lay up treasures for oneself but rather to be rich toward God, that is, to be generous with God and with everybody else. Avarice, hoarding, simply pursuing our self-interest and personal welfare are actually inhuman, let alone, unchristian.

It’s also good for us to remember that there is such a thing as “universal destination of earthly goods.” That’s an official part of our Christian doctrine. “In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race.” (CCC 2402)

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

FRIENDS IN TIMES OF COVID

Among the several waves of change we surfed through the last two years, the one that wiped out many sand castles was a tidal wave that impacted friendships. Many, of course, survived and built endurance. But whether dissolved with distance or evolved and redefined, the impact of COVID on friendships has been undeniable.

While some people may have always found it challenging to make friends, many found the task even more daunting during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to limited social interaction. Even as the world continues to reopen very slowly, increases in remote work mean that people's social lives look considerably different.

During times of stress and change, however, it's still possible to engage with others and build friendships—it just may look a bit different than you're used to. More importantly should be to keep friendships within these times. But this seems for many of us to be very difficult even online and especially by social networking.

When making the effort to create new or rebuild older friendships, it's worth taking the time to think about what you need out of a friendship. For instance, if you believe that you need shared equity values with others to develop a bond of friendship, then that may be easier to find in an activist space.

If you find that you like to have shared interests and hobbies it might be helpful to meet others who are already involved in the things you enjoy. It is important to note that friendships require consent from all parties and it often takes time to develop trust with new people.

We need the support of our friends, but it can be tough to stay close when you can't meet up in person. There are always some ways to nourish your friendships during the era of safer-at-home. Sue Scheff is the author of Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate. She recently penned a story on Psychology Today on the unraveling of friendships during this time. “We have seen the unraveling of friendships during Covid-19 when people don’t agree on masks or whether they should be getting a hair-cut or going to restaurants,” she says. “The truth is, everyone has their own comfort level, we need to respect it, and if we don’t agree with it, we are witnessing (what was once close relationships) now crumble.” Sad to say but very true...!

There's also the additional layer of trust (or mistrust) that gets heaped on top of the current situation. According to a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology in August 2021, it turns out more people are lying in the current era. For their own reasons, some friends might conceal that they have been feeling ill or that they have widened their "pandemic pod" to others who are not practicing safe social distancing. While it may seem like it's not a big deal, the truth is, lying about your behavior or how you feel can endanger the lives of the friends you care the most about.

I never ever talked about myself on social networks if I really felt bad or sick. But one thing I found out during the last year: more and more "friends" left or remain mute on social networks. Maybe, because I didn't join the open circle of bad and negative daily posts. Or these friends are like me: I am still trying to look on the bright side of the street - even times like now.

Assistance needed for sick workers on home quarantine

by Manila Bulletin

The past few days saw a surge in the number of new COVID-19 cases. In fact, last Jan. 15, 2022, new cases reached 39,004, marking a grim milestone since the start of the pandemic. This surge was attributed to the Omicron variant — now becoming the dominant strain — which is more transmissible, even three to five times potent than Delta. This was evidenced by a high household transmission rate, where one infected individual could lead to infecting everyone at home.

Though the World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that the Omicron is still “dangerous” and may still cause death, data has revealed that this variant appears to be less threatening especially among the vaccinated. Thus, a majority of the infected were able to recover through home isolation, utilizing home remedies that ease the virus’ symptoms.

With this scenario, a majority of the workforce who were infected were in self-imposed home quarantine. Depending on the number of days and pursuant to their company’s policies, this has affected their take-home pay, which negatively impacts their capability to pay rent, electricity, and even for medicines. A lot of them have acceded to the government’s call to self-isolate but how are they now, especially if they are on a “no-work, no-pay” basis?

One of the government’s responses to assist the infected workers in home confinement is through the Social Security System (SSS). In a statement, the SSS clarified that members who cannot work due to sickness or injury and are confined, either in a hospital or at home for at least four days, could avail of the sickness benefit. Aside from employed members, SSS also grants sickness benefits to self-employed, voluntary, and OFW members.

The statement added that COVID-infected members in home confinement can “qualify under the program if they have paid at least three monthly contributions within the last 12 months before the semester of sickness or injury and are confined either in a hospital or at home for at least four days.”

This is welcome news for employed members. But they “should have used all their current company sick leave with pay and notified their employer about their sickness.” On the other hand, self-employed, voluntary, and OFW members and those separated from employment must notify SSS directly.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also called on the private sector to assist their employees who are sick. In an advisory, the department “urged employers, in consultation with their employees, to adopt and implement an appropriate paid isolation and quarantine leave program on top of existing leave benefits under the company policy, Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Labor Code, and special laws.” It added that the “paid isolation and quarantine leaves shall be without prejudice to other benefits provided by the SSS and the Employees’ Compensation Commission.”

These are all welcome developments to assist the majority of workers who were sick these past few days. But going back to our question earlier, how about workers in the informal sector? The contractual workers? Or those who have no SSS membership?

The government, in its pursuit to provide a convenient life for all, must now make it up to the sick who risked a few days’ worth of income just to stay at home. After all, when these workers were well, they moved the wheels of the economy for the benefit of all. The government now owes them the best response.

Octa: Cebu City remains at ‘very high risk’ for Covid-19

(File photo)

By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO

CEBU City, one of the major cities in the country, remains at “very high risk” for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and cases “could be peaking there soon,” Octa Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Wednesday, January 26, 2022.

David said Cebu City’s seven-day average cases increased from 325 from January 12 to 18 to 722 from January 19 to 25, while its one-week average daily attack rate (Adar) rose from 31 to 69.

Its seven-day positivity rate also went up from 36 percent from January 12 to 18 to 40 percent the following week.

However, the reproduction number in the city, which refers to the number of people being infected by one case, declined from 4.64 to 2.99, but is still on “very high risk” classification.

Octa also noted the increase in the healthcare utilization from 45 percent from January 12 to 18 to 68 percent from January 19 to 25.

The intensive care unit occupancy in Cebu City also went up by over 100 percent or from 28 percent to 42 percent.

As of January 25, Cebu City has a total of 5,961 active Covid-19 cases, or at least 2.4 percent of the country's total active cases, according to the Department of Health.

A total of 50,525 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the city, with 1,440 deaths. (SunStar Philippines)

How would you describe the life in the early Filipino settlements in terms of food?

Josh

World History and Economics Professor | M.A

Pigs, Chicken, Goat, Bananas, Coconut, big fish

According to Antonio Pigafetta, who was Ferdinand Magellan's secretary and accountant, who also wrote a book about the business expedition, the indios would consistently sell pigs, chickens, goat, bananas, coconut and at times big fish to the Europeans. Do note that the indios were described by Pigafetta as skilled merchants and good bargainers. This means that the indios would have known better to sell the visiting ships for fish, something the sailors would have been eating during the voyage. The Indios were assertive in selling pigs, chicken, banas, coconuts. The method of cookery continues to be studied by scholars but one dish Pigafetta mentioned was “Pork in it's gravy".

The early Filipino settlements would have used the same produce. The indios would have kept eating the same food while Spanish settlers would have brought with them methods of cookery from Europe BUT using what is locally available -pigs, chicken, goat, banana, coconut. As such, the Pochero might have been invented by the settlers as it used Spanish cooking methods of garlic and onions but with bananas that do not exist in Spain. Or it could have been a dish from the Americas as they have bananas plus Pochero is made with tomatoes, which only exist in the Americas. Many dishes developed from Spanish ideas, such as the Longanisa developing from Chorizo, Kinilaw from Ceviche, Bulalo from Osso Bucco, Sinigang from Basque Fisherman's Soup, etc.

Trade between Mexico and Philippines would have been established so tomatoes, potatoes, corn and many Mexixan produce would have been introduced.

Note that culinary did not exist prior to 1900s when Auguste Escoffier formalised cookery. Although Culinarians trace the origin of cookery to 1400s to the Medici Queen who brought her cooks to France, dishes did not develop yet to fine dining. In the prehispánic society, Pigafetta did not observe that the indios named their dishes. By 1800s however, dishes in the Philippines had names.

Without refrigeration, animals would have been kept as long as possible before eating. In prehispánic days, Pigafetta noted that the households had pigs but did not seem to touch them, Pigafetta theorised that they were taxes for the Rajah because the palace had nightly banquets of pork. Chicken grew fast and in abundance so the households would have eaten chicken more often than pig. Pigafetta also noted that every household had a vegetable garden. My theory is that the song “Bahay Kubo" is prehispanic in origin or perhaps written in early Filipino settlement days due to the heavy use of banjos or guitar.

For sure, prehispánic society to early Filipino settlements ate a lot of vegetables. Lack of refrigeration was a factor. The Adobo also exist in other Spanish colonies in Americas and in Spain maybe. However, they differ in ingredients based on what is locally available. In Mexico, their Adobo uses paprika and chili while in Philippines is soy sauce. Adobo in all colonies and Spain uses vinegar. As such, it is yet to be known if Adobo is a colonial introduction. Filipino Adobo has no cousin in other Southeast Asian countries. It is however similar in taste to Taiwanese braised beef. In most probability, Adobo is a method of preserving food and would have been a European introduction. The winters of Europe forced them to preserve meats for the winters such as smoked ham, air dried ham, sausage, and even anchovies. In the tropical Philippines, food was abundant all year round, thus food preservation unnecessary.

Eventually, Philippines imported Spanish wines, olives, chorizo, etc.

RT-PCR, antigen tests not needed In getting health card from CHO

 

By Maya Padillo, EDGE Davao -January 26, 2022 10:00 am

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed on Monday that a negative reverse transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or a negative antigen test to get health cards from the City Health Office (CHO) are no longer required.

The mayor said the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force has agreed to lift the requirement for negative RT-PCR or antigen test that has been required by the city since September 2021 through Resolution No. 35-A of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force to ensure the health safety of the workforce in every establishment.

The mayor said this after a netizen appealed to her during the Special Hours with Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

“It was agreed upon na tanggalon na ang testing dinha sa pagkuha og health card nato. Wala na ang RT-PCR test or antigen test na required kung magkuha ka og health card or magrenew ka og health card dinhi sa City Government of Davao, sa City Health Office,” the mayor said.

The mayor said such a requirement is no longer needed due to the limited capacity of the city to provide free tests. “Ang reason is because daghan sila kaayo and there are not enough tests na libre gikan sa City Government of Davao nga mo-cover sa tanang magkuha og health card. The purpose of this is surveillance so gi-shift nato kani na surveillance didto nalang mismo sa establishments depending on the capacity or the allotted test for the surveillance. Mao na ang reason. And the third reason is that it has been reported nga ginapasa sa mga employers diha sa ilang mga empleyado ang cost sa testing nila para makakuha sila og health card,” she said.

A health card is one of the requirements that job applicants must provide to the employers. Mayor Sara added that the responsibility of the surveillance should be shouldered by the employers because it is their interest that will be heavily affected if the number of cases will spread among the workforce.

“Employers should be responsible enough nga naa sila’y surveillance sa mga employees nila nga dunay symptoms. Because kung pasagdan nila ni muabot ang panahon nga tanan na magkasakit and it would really affect their business. So, it is very important, gina-highlight nato sa tanan nato nga businesses nga duna’y regular surveillance testing to avoid the situation nga wala na’y empleyado, na ma-lockdown mo because sa kadaghan sa cases,” Mayor Sara said.

 

Australia coach says PH women's team 'showed a lot of fighting spirit'

by Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin

Photo from AFC

Australia coach Tony Gustavsson believes the Philippines is a team that should not be taken lightly following their Group B match in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Mumbai, India.

The Swedish-born mentor gave rave reviews to the way the Pinay booters, handled by his predecessor Alen Stajcic, performed in Monday’s match that ended with Australia prevailing 4-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena.

 

“I’m really impressed with where they are, and I think some teams need to watch out for them in this tournament,” Gustavsson said in the post-match press conference.

Despite being heavy underdogs, the Filipinas kept the game scoreless in the first half before the Aussie squad known as the Matildas unleashed their top form with star striker Sam Kerr breaking the ice in the 51st minute.

An own goal by the Philippines’ Dominque Randle plus scores from Emily van Egmond and Mary Fowler cemented Australia’s place in the quarterfinals with six points through two matches.

“They were really well organized,” said Gustavsson. “You can see that they spent a lot of time together. They probably had a very long prep time compared to some of the other teams in the tournament. They’re organized almost like a club team.

“But also, they showed a lot of fighting spirit. They didn’t shy away from a tackle, and they made it a tough game for us. I’m really impressed.”

The defeat didn’t put a big dent in the Philippines’ chances of securing a quarterfinals berth despite drawing level with Thailand at three points each.

The Pinay squad needs to draw or win against Group B cellar-dweller Indonesia on Thursday in Pune to finish second and advance to the quarters against the top team in Group C.

The top two squads in Group B advance to the last eight while the team that finishes third must be among the two best from the three groups in order to reach the next phase of the continental competition which is also a qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The parable of the sower

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

WHAT lessons does the parable of the sower (cfr. Mk 4,1-20) teach us? I suppose there are many. But one of them, for sure, is that we have to be prudent in our efforts to do a lot of good in our life, and that this virtue of prudence in the end is a matter of carefully listening and following the will of God. 

That, in a sense, is the formula for a prodigious harvest at the end of our life, a harvest that goes beyond our natural limits, since it is a harvest that can give us some supernatural reward, nothing less than being united with God for all eternity in heaven!

We have to be clear about what is to be and to do good. Nowadays, we have all sorts of ideas about what can be considered good that in the end are actually not or at best a good that does not go all the way. Being and doing good is nothing other than being with God and doing the will of God. (cfr. James 1,17; Ps 16,2)

We should make the necessary effort to know God’s will thoroughly and abidingly, and to do that as promptly as possible. We have to understand that to be with God is to do his will. To be part of God’s family is to do his will. (cfr. Mt 12,50)

To be sure, this will require periods of study of our Christian faith, and the many other practices of piety that can truly help us to be in God’s presence all throughout the day even as we immerse in our mundane and temporal affairs. Such effort should give rise to many virtues, and prudence should be one of them.

In that parable of the sower, we are told about the many grounds the seed, which represents the word and the will of God, fell. We have to see to it that that seed falls on the proper ground which means that we, first of all, should put ourselves in the proper if not the best condition to follow God’s will.

We have to be wary of the danger of being carried away by some worldly forces, both the good and the bad ones, the favorable and the unfavorable ones, that would take us away from God. 

And in the world today, this danger is not only present in a passive way, but is active in affecting us. We should try our best not to be swept away by them, confused and lost. And again, this is a matter of being with God, strengthening our faith, hope and charity.

In this regard we cannot overemphasize the need to spend time for prayer and contemplation in a way that would help us keep a deeply spiritual and supernatural bearing. God should be the center and focus of our life. Everything that happens in our life should be referred to him, no matter how technical and temporal in nature only.

We should never forget that God is in everything and that everything has to be referred to him. Yes, even the devil and all forms of evil should be referred to God, because only then can we deal with them properly.

With this kind of prudence, we can expect, as the parable explains, a prodigious fruitfulness and harvest at the end of our life that leads us to our eternal life with God in heaven.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com