Bishop: People need ‘Good News’ vs lockdown depression

MANILA, Philippines —  Nearing a year since the country has been placed in various degrees of community quarantine, Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said all the more do people need to hear the Good News of the Lord to help prevent lockdown depression.

In his homily yesterday, Pabillo said people need to continue hearing the Good News, especially at this time when the country has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns since March 2020, which forced people to stay home and millions lost their livelihood.

But more than the need to have money, food on the table and other material things, Pabillo said “what the people need is to have meaning in their lives… The months went by so fast. It is now February. What have I accomplished. What happened to me in January.

“More so now, during this time of pandemic, we are now raising the question, in the midst of the uncertainties that we face – what is the meaning of our lives. And because of this many people have become depressed,” he added.

The Manila prelate said the Lord sent his only son Jesus Christ to show that He cared, and for everyone to feel that he or she is important. Jesus does not only bring the Good News – He is the Good News.

Wherever Jesus went to preach, He wanted more people to know about the Good News. “In all His works, He is saying ‘Do not lose hope. The Lord loves us. There is a solution to all our problems. Our life is worth it.’ God himself cares for us in Christ Jesus. We need the Good News now, the Good News that Jesus brings,” added Pabillo.

As for Catholics, it is part of their mission to bring the sinners or those possessed with bad spirits closer to Jesus because “Jesus is the only Savior.”

He also reminded the faithful that praying is important in the mission. “So even if there is a pandemic and we cannot leave our homes, we can say ‘yes’ to the mission. We can all pray for the missionaries and for the spread of the Good News. We all can pray for people who are losing meaning in their lives, people who are suffering from sickness and material needs.”

Testing ‘double standard’

Sen. Imee Marcos has called out what she described as government’s “double standard” in enforcing pandemic control measures, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) allowed state employees to skip testing and quarantines in local government units (LGUs) where they arrive on official business.

She warned the special treatment of national government officials will make it more difficult for LGUs to control the spread of COVID-19, and discourage the cooperation of the general public.

“This is outrageous and dangerous. Why should anyone, least of all government employees who should be exemplars, be exempted from quarantine and health protocols?” Marcos said over the weekend.

“It defies logic, to say the least. Exempting government officials and employees from testing and quarantines ‘in the line of duty’ won’t sit well with ordinary people,” she added.

The LGUs know best the situation on the ground and the testing and quarantine protocols that each LGU has put in place should be respected, Marcos continued.

She said IATF officials may need to take time off to “get enough sleep and relax” as “work makes you prone to a burnout.”

The senator urged the IATF to abide by its rallying cry to “test, trace and treat” while the government’s vaccination program could not yet begin on a large scale, citing the uncertainty of the global vaccine supply.

“Vaccine manufacturers have been falling short of their promised production output, forcing the European Union to consider export controls. Countries where pharmaceutical firms have made commitments to the Philippine government will want to ensure the health and safety of their citizens first,” she warned. – Paolo Romero