PAGBABAGO Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid What indeed is terrifying to septuagenarians and octogenarians like me, is that we are losing some of our colleagues, not to old age but to the dreaded COVID-19. When we open our Facebook pages, it seems like notes of condolences and prayers are beginning to catch up with congratulatory messages on birthday and wedding anniversaries. The same with wakes on Zoom. Kailan pa ba ito matatapos?  Helpless and hopeless, we read reports about the surge, and tents being installed because Metro Manila and nearby hospitals have reached full capacity.  Many get treated or are recovering at home. Which is why we cannot trust current statistics on number of cases, mild or serious, or deaths because of the absence of accurate documentation on the out-of hospital cases. Earlier this year, we lost my good friend and kumadre, Domini Torrevillas, columnist of Philippine Star, and a fierce advocate of human rights. I miss Domini as we had shared many memories together, supported each other during good or not too pleasant times. Last Monday, Manila Bulletin publisher and editor-in chief, Crispulo Icban Jr. wrote 30.  He was an icon in the field of journalism and highly-respected by his peers. A former Press Secretary during the time of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former UP professor, he was a graduate of Syracuse University and was a Nieman fellow at Harvard.  I know he is  “hands on” as he goes over every opinion piece. He once told me that he tries to achieve balance in the paper through choice of columnists with varying “ideologies.” He will be greatly missed by his former students, staff, fellow journalists and many whose lives he had touched. "Then there is the multi-talented Nestor Torre, Inquirer's entertainment editor, theater director, and writer, a friend from as early as the mid-60's when he directed some of our educational TV scripts for the Ateneo-Maryknoll-Metropolitan Educational Television Project. We were then fresh from graduate studies in the US. We connected even while I was based abroad and later, we found ourselves sitting as jury on TV awards. Farewell Nes, till we meet again." There are others – educator and Philippine Women’s University President, Amelou Benitez Reyes, a women’s rights advocate, educator and writer Mario Miclat, and Rollie Quintos, a leading light in development circles, and brother of peace advocate Ging Deles and journalist Melinda de Jesus.

“Maritime bullying” – this aptly describes how China continues to treat our country. And this behavior had worsened over these past years. Is this how it regards the love and respect shown by President Duterte, a sentiment that had not been reciprocated. Julian Felipe, after whom the Reef had been named, and composer of Lupang Hinirang, our National Anthem, must now be railing at this persistent violation of our sovereignty. Today, hundreds of Sino vessels have been illegally parked within the Reef which China claims is part of its Nansha Islands. “Umalis na kayo dyan,” the otherwise calm and collected Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana tells China’s maritime militia, in his strongest words. Foreign Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin is considering filing another diplomatic protest over China’s incursions. But  Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. says China is joining us in fighting COVID-19 by providing us with vaccines. 1Sambayan, Senators Drilon, Hontiveros, and Lacson expressed need for a united front, seek alliances among our allies in the Asia-Pacific, the ASEAN, and the West,  The latter can band together and maintain a balance of power in the region,” they noted. Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario suggests formally bringing China’s refusal to move out of the West Philippine Sea to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and to explore various  options with the United Nations. We have said this before – that we must continue to assert our sovereignty.  This time we are saying this as an action that is needed of all Filipinos if they love this country and its people.  Our fisherfolk are hungry. Our farmers are hungry. Millions of our countrymen are out of work as many businesses have shut down. Our children are malnourished and stunted. The latter poses a great danger to our country’s survival.  We need every square meter of land, every nautical mile of our Exclusive Economic Zone. We need to regain our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, to claim what is rightfully ours. My email, [email protected]