There’s always Hope

Cebu City is going into its fourth month of quarantine de to Covid-19, and just finished two weeks of tough lockdown and yet, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve read that a mayor from Baguio is coming over to train Cebuano’s how to do contact tracing. This is after DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu came here to “help” the city.

The Queen City of the South, the most vibrant city south of Manila, is down on its knees. I am not a Cebuano as I was born and raised in Bohol but I have been living here since 1982 and I have learned to love Cebu and its people. I have planted my roots here and I consider myself one if us. So it wouldn’t seem to be out of place if I ask what is happening to us?

Cebuanos are a proud people. As far as I can remember, the politics of Cebu was always adversarial to anyone sitting in Malacanang for the most part. We are a resilient people and I know that every time Cebu falls, it never fails to stand up and dust off it problems. Remember the Nitang and Ruping?

Today, how far have we have digressed as a people is so alarming. From one of the brightest spots in the country to a pandemic hotspot I’m such a short time, and a bullseye for internet trolls using us as an example of a people who can’t follow rules. It breaks my heart to see my friends from out to town warning their friends not be like us. We have become a poster child for those who can’t and won’t follow instructions. It is indeed a hard fall.

But no matter what happens, I still believe in us. If there is a people that can hurdle this enemy, it’s us. We should believe in us, in ourselves that we can get over this.

Lets stop blaming other people. Lets do our part, stay at home, until orders are lifted for us to come out. Extend your hand if somebody needs it and share what you have. And finally, be kind to people. If you have nothing good to say, don’t say it.

We will get over this.

Here’s some hopeful news from the world of professional cycling- If you have missed it, Slovenia, had its first professional bicycle road race post Covid-19 two Sundays ago. 2019 Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic won the Slovenian National Road championships against a rising star in Tadej Pogacar. If you recall, the 21yo Pogacar came in 3rd place in the Vuelta. Then a week later, it was Pogacar’s turn to take the Slovenian Time Trial Championship at the expense of Roglic. 

Of course, Roglic’s and Pogacar’s win shot them ahead as favorites for the 2020 Tour de France which was moved to August 29. The professional racing calendar will officially start August 1 In Italy and end on October 31, 2020.

How this schedule will work out is still to be determined but it should be an exciting three months for all cycling fans.