Randy David | PUBLIC LIVES Something extraordinary caught my attention the other night while watching the closing graphics of the CNN weather report. It was a map showing the quality of the air for each country in our part of the world. There, in light blue, signifying purity, was the figure “1” for the Philippines. I took a quick glance … Read more
Every government likes to think of itself as the all-seeing arbiter of what needs to be done to protect the people from a catastrophe like the coronavirus pandemic. But even in the most tightly managed societies, this capacity for control and overarching wisdom is illusory. It is no match to the inherent predisposition of society’s … Read more
Sometimes the simplest things in life seem so complicated that people have to cite statistics to prove a point. For example: That while death and illness can occur at any point in the course of life, the risk of dying from any disease rises with old age. With COVID-19, the risk of dying for older … Read more
It must be very hard for President Duterte to find himself having to make a decision on an issue where the slightest miscalculation could lead to catastrophic consequences, and with no one to blame. Like autocrats whose experience at ruling has mostly been carved in premodern settings, Mr. Duterte trusts too much in his own … Read more
As we enter the sixth week of the Luzon-wide lockdown, not a few observers have urged the loosening of the drastic quarantine measures that have been put in place to control the spread of the coronavirus. But many, not seeing a strong enough reason for its imposition, have simply gone ahead to break quarantine rules. … Read more
Although there was already much talk during the day that the lockdown over Luzon to stop the spread of the coronavirus might be extended till the end of April, President Duterte’s late-night speech last Monday failed to confirm it. He was “inclined,” he said, but he could not say it categorically. The following morning, Secretary … Read more
The prescribed response to every scientific report has always been to ask for the proof, doubt every finding, and question every conclusion. Science would not advance if agreement were won by force or reputation, rather than by evidence. We expect nothing less from the scientific community regarding this new virus that has led governments to … Read more
One man’s risk could be another person’s danger. At no other time is this truism clearer than today, as we respond to the complexities of the coronavirus pandemic. Responsibility demands that all of us consciously weigh the effects of our actions not only upon ourselves or our immediate families, but on the countless anonymous others … Read more
If what is meant to be communicated is the need to observe a certain amount of physical distance (e.g., 1 meter) from other individuals in order to lessen the likelihood of transmitting an infectious disease, a less confusing term might have been more appropriate. For example: “safe distancing” or “hygienic distancing” or “protective distancing.” Long … Read more
What were the people in charge of Malacañang’s communications office thinking last Thursday evening when they made President Duterte announce the lockdown of Metro Manila — with uniformed police generals seated behind him? Clearly, it was their way of saying this is henceforth a peace and order issue. Indeed, Mr. Duterte said so himself at … Read more