a discipline problem
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Manila, 19 July—Four months under lockdown. Can you believe? Cases still steadily going up, hospitals clogged. Just a few days ago, they floated the idea of state forces going house-to-house in search of asymptomatic cases. They have since walked back that suggestion, but I’m not sure that’s the last we’re hearing of it, what with the Anti-Terror Law also coming into force this coming week. It sounds like a bad marriage of old school Tokhang and Covid.
The government is shifting the narrative—the blame—to the people, branding the escalating Covid cases as a discipline problem. Of course. We spent four months under lockdown and it’s still not enough, and now they have the gall to say it’s our fault, when they have not been able to stick to a single case reporting format and now they’re running out of ways to present the situation as if it’s under control.
I’m no doctor, but I’m pretty sure having it under control does not mean a handful of major hospitals in the city announcing that they could no longer accept Covid patients because they are already full.
Also this week, the axe fell quickly upon hundreds of ABS-CBN employees following last Friday’s vote in Congress. Many once familiar units—Sports, Current Affairs most notably—have begun letting their people go. This week’s most harrowing read is from ABS-CBN reporter Chiara Zambrano:
This developed as the President in Jolo talking to soldiers earlier this week claimed that he had already dismantled the oligarchy—a statement that his spokespersons have had to do indescribable somersaults for in order to justify.
Not quite sure what dismantling he’s talking about, because in more or less four years, he has managed to create a new crony all on his own—Dennis Uy, a relatively unknown businessman until he donated to Duterte’s campaign in 2016. (READ: Oligarchs and Cronies)
That said, it’s been a while since I last bought anything from Uy-owned Conti’s and Wendy’s. I may not be much, but we do eat out a lot, so I hope that counts for something lol. Here’s a list of his other companies, for your checklist. Of course, I monitor him mostly for his third telco, DITO, which was rumored to have been the entity interested in the ABS-CBN frequencies, which of course they denied.
I’m not sure how anyone’s preparing for coverage re: upcoming SONA—I’ve heard some government officials going on those pre-SONA forums, like Duque who mistakenly claimed that we’ve already successfully flattened the curve. The lies are more brazen with every day, and I suppose words have lost their meaning.
In any case, this coming week should be a lead up to that—the thought fills me with a kind of muted terror. SONAs are usually times of pride for the administration, and I honestly am very worried about the things he’ll say he’s proud about, come next Monday.
Until then though, we must not exhaust ourselves too much this week because I suppose we’d need all our anger credits that Monday.
So we live in hope.
Media recs (and a few belated words)
🐶 John Wick is actually a feel-good movie that’s perfect for dog lovers.
🔪 A bit about Killing Eve Season 3, which we finished a while back: I’ve been wanting to write about Killing Eve S3, which we found… somewhat underwhelming. For all of Jodie Comer’s brilliance as Villanelle, I found S3 storytelling a bit scattered. Eve had no agency and could literally do nothing right, and it may very well have been a Carolyn season, which you know… why? The ending is a bit of fan service, and granted the storytelling, not quite deserved. Compared to seasons 1 and 2, much much weaker. But then again, perhaps the story they wanted to tell has already been told, and they might as well move on? Still, hopes up for Season 4. (READ: How ‘Killing Eve’ Season 3 killed Eve’s momentum via Variety)
🎶 Did you catch Hamilton? Because it was amazing. I get the hype. The Schuyler Sisters totally steal the show for me, as expected. Renée Elise Goldsberry totally blew me away as Angelica. Strongest segment still is Satisfied. REWIND.
🍎 Speaking of people singing: If you have Apple TV+, there’s a show called Little Voice that’s made of Sara Bareilles songs and it’s fantastic. You should check it out. Here’s the trailer:
Thanks for making it this far.
XO,
K
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