By Lesly Guevarra
The sun was about to rise, then it started to rain.
The much-awaited vaccine had finally arrived in the Philippines. People got their hopes up for better days ahead. But after only a few weeks, the country faced an unexpected surge of COVID-19 cases.
“Akala ko po kapag may vaccine na magiging okay na lahat. Akala ko po pwede na kami pumasok ulit sa eskwelahan,” said Juris Dizon, a 6th grade student.
(I thought that once we have the vaccines, everything will be okay. I thought we could go back to school again)
On February 28, 2021, the Philippines received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses. Known as “doses of hope”, millions of Filipinos held on to the government’s promise that they would end the pandemic and that everything would go back to normal.
The young mind of a 6th grade student also believed that the vaccine is a one-shot solution to the problem. But to his and everyone else’s disappointment, it wasn’t.
“Pero nung napanood ko po sa balita na dumarami ulit yung nagkaka-COVID, naisip ko na matagal pa siguro talaga bago kami makapasok ulit,” said Juris.
(But, when I saw the news of increasing COVID cases, I realized that it would take time before we could go back to school again)
On May 28, Friday, the Philippines recorded 8,748 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total to 1,209,154, according to the Department of Health (DOH). It is the highest reported daily count after the 9,000 new infections on May 1. Meanwhile, the death toll is now at 22,064.
To ensure the continuity of education amid the pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) opened the school year on October 5, 2020. Hence, students had no choice but to continue despite the sudden changes in the learning system.
“Mahirap po talaga ngayon. Mahirap intindihin yung modules ng mag-isa dahil wala naman po si Ma’am para magpaliwanag ng mga lesson.” Juris said.
(The situation now is really difficult. It’s hard to understand the modules without a teacher to explain each lesson)
“Gusto ko na rin po talaga mag face-to-face sana. Mas madali po kasi matuto sa eskwelahan,” he added.
(I really want to go to face-to-face classes again. It is easier to learn in school)
The vaccines have arrived. But as it is rolling out painfully slowly and COVID-19 cases are continuously increasing, whether the situation will truly get better is still anyone’s guess.
Aside from students, workers were the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the government decided to put the country under strict community quarantines, businesses were forced to shut down, leaving thousands jobless.
“May bakuna na nga, pero iilan pa lang ang nababakunahan. Malabo pang bumalik sa normal ang lahat,” Jayzer Fernando relented, a cook at a canteen in Makati City.
(There is already a vaccine, but only a few are being vaccinated. Getting everything back to normal is still far from reach)
He was forced to go back to his hometown when their canteen closed because of the pandemic.
“Mag-iisang taon na rin akong walang trabaho. Wala na rin akong maitustos sa pangangailangan ng pamilya ko,” he added.
(I have been unemployed for almost a year now. I could no longer provide for my family’s needs)
Jayzer is now working part-time in construction sites to at least provide for his family’s daily expenses.
“Sana nga mabakunahan na lahat para naman makabalik na rin kami sa trabaho,” Jayzer said.
(I hope everyone gets vaccinated so that we can go back to work)
As of May 25, a total of 4,495,375 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide according to the data from the National Task Force (NTF) and DOH. Of this number, 3,466,314 were given as the first doses, while 1,029,061 as second doses.
The country now has over 1 million people fully vaccinated out of its roughly 110 million total population.
It has been a year since the President first imposed community quarantines, but schools remain closed, and previously laid-off workers are still scrambling to make ends meet.
While COVID-19 infections balloon, new variants of the virus are being detected and Filipinos are forced to stay in their homes.The Philippines today seems no different than it was a year ago, even with the arrival of vaccines.
Filipinos desperately pinned their hopes on the vaccines. They waited for it, as the government said, but vaccines alone cannot end the COVID-19 pandemic. A full does of good governance is just as essential.
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