Semantics

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

When someone mentions “Black Saturday,” the memory that comes to mind isn’t exactly religious in nature.

It’s about a dark-skinned childhood friend, who I greeted a “Happy Birthday” after a mutual friend told me it was her natal day. I had no idea I was being duped and the supposed birthday celebrator wasn’t amused either.

That was years ago, but memories have a way of coming up when you’ve been cooped up in the house for almost a month now. I remember Black Saturdays past when my sisters and I and our families would gather in our home province, and we would eat out in a nice restaurant. 

That seems so long ago now.

In a little while, I will go online for the Easter Vigil mass. I am ticking off all the Lenten traditions this year, some of which we did not even observe in the past – like the Easter Vigil mass.

It gives me a sense of comfort. I do not like to watch TV or Netflix for any extended amount of time. I find myself picking up the same book and starting on the same paragraph. I keep tuned to the news and the numbers just keep going up.

It doesn’t matter that it’s Black Saturday. There is no Lenten break for COVID-19. Today, the Department of Health (DoH) counts 233 new cases, bringing the country total to 4,428.

The DoH also re-classified COVID-19 cases into “suspect”, “probable” and “confirmed” today. There’s speculation that the re-classification is made because the health department is going to start mass testing, and the persons under monitoring (under the old classification) will not be included.

Oh wait. It’s not mass testing. It’s supposed to be called extended testing because it’s really just a continuation of the testing that the DoH is making, but more will be done now that there are more accredited subnational laboratories nationwide.

Semantics.  It reminds me of the effort made early on to distinguish between a lockdown and an enhanced community quarantine, when it’s really one and the same thing.

I should know. I’m under both.

DoH update: As of 4 p.m. of April 11, 2020, the Philippines has reported 4,428 confirmed corona virus cases, including 157 recoveries and 247 deaths.

Good Friday

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

It is Good Friday and everything is the same, and isn’t.

The few times we’d stayed in Manila during Holy Week, we’d always been amazed at how little traffic there is on Good Friday. Now, there isn’t ANY. And not just some stores are closed. EVERYTHING is closed.

For as long as I can remember, we would always pause to pray at 3 p.m., the hour that the Lord is said to have given up His spirit to the Father. Mommy would have the family pray the Holy Rosary.

When we all got married and had our own families, we’d take the Lenten break to bond as a family, usually at the beach. Whatever it was we were doing, we would pause for a prayer.

Now, I have the whole family attend Mass online. 

We actually welcome it. Okay, maybe not daughter, who is probably wondering why a prayer won’t suffice. But she doesn’t ask why. She is pretty much aware that things have changed and that now, more than ever, we need to pray.

 (CNS photo/Vatican Media) 

The Vatican has asked priests around the world to recite a new prayer during this year’s Good Friday liturgy, and we find it said during the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord held by the Manila Cathedral online.

The Good Friday prayer prays for “all those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, that God the Father may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families and salvation to all the victims who have died.”

After a moment of silent prayer, the priest asks God to “look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children who suffer because of this pandemic; relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, welcome into your peace those who have died and, throughout this time of tribulation, grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Amen.

DoH update: As of 4 p.m. of April 10, 2020, the Philippines has reported 4,195 confirmed corona virus cases, including 140 recoveries and 221 deaths.

Holy Thursday

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

It took some convincing but late yesterday afternoon, hubby said yes.

We are not doing the Way of the Cross virtually. We are going to do it much like we have done years past but we will forego the seven churches. Instead, we will pray before 14 stations I have set up inside and outside the house.

“Really? Daddy said yes?” daughter asks, watching me closely. She always tells me I am a bad liar.

She sighs when I confirm it. She is a teenager. She much prefers sitting down and praying in front of a monitor.

It takes some effort, I must admit. But we’ve practically been glued to news outlets every day or Netflix or whatever keeps us busy. I wanted us out of that mode. The days might flow one into the other during this lockdown, but I wanted to jolt us out of it and into prayer because after all, IT IS LENT.

For as long as I can remember, we’ve always done the Visita Iglesia. When I was growing up in Cebu, we prayed two stations per church so we visited seven churches. To a child, it was, in parts, fun, but I remember that it was more an obligation, even drudgery. I couldn’t count quickly enough to seven.

I don’t remember exactly when I changed. I do know that through the years, God became less this Being I was obliged to visit every Sunday in Church, and more my personal savior. I found myself talking to Him more and more, and being thankful.

I am also blessed to have married a man who shares my faith and observes the Lenten tradition.  So now, we are doing the Way of the Cross as closely to the real experience as possible.

What's nice is that we don't have to deal with traffic inside and outside the Church or parking problems. We’re just going to hop from station to station printed on paper, which I've stuck on the walls in various parts of the house until we come full circle to our small altar.

And we will pray. Most importantly, we will pray.

Grant healing and speedy recovery for those who are sick, protection and strength for our frontliners, enlightenment for those who are searching for the cure, and the safety and peace of your people. We ask these prayers with trust and humility. Amen.¹

DoH update: As of 4 p.m. of April 9, 2020, the Philippines has reported 4,076 confirmed corona virus cases, including 124 recoveries and 203 deaths.

 ¹Closing prayer, A Way of the Cross in the Time of a Pandemic