March 29, 2024

In his poem, “Mending Wall,” the great American poet Robert Frost declared that, “Good fences make good neighbors.”
In these abnormal times of the Covid-19 pandemic, instead of literal fences, we have borders where individuals without the proper health documents are prevented from entering a certain place to halt the spread of the deadly virus.
This scenario is observed worldwidewhich reminds this near-sighted Ibaloy writer of a zombie or plague movie.There are some countries, though,that have decided to remove all restrictions – just live with the virus and throw caution to the wind. Are they doing the right thing in doing so?
Only time will tell. The balancing act of protecting people’s health and the economy is truly a tricky matter for leaders to weigh on. I don’t want to be in their shoes right now. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.
Anyway, in our beloved city of vanishing pine trees and Ibaloys, hundreds of travelers have already been turned away at its borders by police and other concerned authorities for not having or lacking the needed health documents.
Even operators of colorum vehicles have been apprehended. Again, this is to stop the spread of the virus. Kudos to our gallant men and women who protect our borders. Mabuhay to our health and other frontliners in this ongoing battle with an invisible enemy at the risk of their own personal safety.
They are the heroes of our time. I just hope and pray that with our national fiesta, the elections, being just around the corner, the sacrifices of these heroes are not drowned out by the false promises and pambobola or bulatsings of some politicians whose tribes or political dynasties should decrease or altogether vanish. So there.
To echo Mayor Benjie Magalong: Let us all continue to heal as one by continuing to practice minimum pblic health standards since we are all stakeholders when it comes to our health and that of our loved ones. We should not rely on government alone to do everything for us. October, being Scouting Month, let us all be reminded to be laging handa. Cheers!


Here’s “Camouflaged” by Kim McCrea: “In all chaotic beauty lies a wounded work of art./ Beautiful but torn, wreaking havoc on my heart./
Camouflaged by insecurities, blinded by it all./ I love the way you sit there and barely notice me at all.”


Let’s end with a prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank you that you are the source of all true joy in life. Your word says that everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. Please help me to receive all the good gifts you give me with thanksgiving and gratitude in my heart. You have loved me and have freed me from my sins by Jesus’ blood. To you be glory and dominion forever and ever. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.”