The sun was out today! Yahoo – something to be thankful for despite the onslaught of more bad news – 700+ deaths in New York, now on the cusp of overtaking the total CoVid19 cases of Italy, the stock market becoming unstable again and the US recording the highest deaths in a single day.

US is #1 indeed! I wonder what the current administration is thnking at the moment? Or should I even wonder? Based on its pronouncements and actions with some young guy of 37 years old ‘managing’ the backdoor ops, with zero knowledge in science and public policy, should I even wonder?

The US is #1 – in death, in the number of people sick – and the last among Western countries in making testing available to the general population. In the meantime, the person leading the country keeps on firing the people who’re supposed to help solve this problem.

Make America Great Again! Yes… we are so great we have more dead people, more sick people, not enough equipment, no masks, no plan. What in the world have we done?!? #Merica is the laughing stock of the world with its massive incompetence laid bare in real time. Just like someone’s reality show – empty, meaningless, stupid. Compounding this reality show is the report that gun sales have gone up since the shelter-in-place order has been implemented. I suppose these people with so much firepower would like to shoot the virus or are they also planning to shoot their fellow countrymen and declare victory against their own kind instead of against the virus? I don’t know anymore. I didn’t understand the logic of hoarding toilet paper, I don’t even dare to understand the correlation between guns and viral pandemic. Maybe their guns will insulate them from the virus. Who the heck knows?

Let’s just change the topic. I can’t solve the country’s ills. I’m thankful that I live in a state that values science, the environment, and its diverse population. I live in an area that has a competent, functioning government for the people and of the people. Truth be told, I only listen to what Governor Gavin Newsom is saying together with the 6 Bay Area county health officers’ recommendations. I trust their pronouncements more than any other in these trying times.

I received good news towards the end of the day at least. Some friends and I raised funds towards buying PPEs for the frontlines at a hospital in the Philippine capital. We met our target to buy 100 PPEs in just 3 days! Today as well, I received an email saying that my donation for masks through a #MakeMasks initiative by a local business owner in Seattle, WA has been fulfilled. I bought 5 masks and donated the equivalent number to those in need. Not only was I supporting a small business owner, I was also helping make masks readily available for those who can’t make or afford one. Win-win. If we have the means, no matter how small, let’s spread our blessing to others.

The Holy Week has started for the Catholic religion. Whether we’re Catholics or not, let’s take this time to reflect on our current lives and our ways of thinking in relation to this pandemic, shall we?

Let’s all aim to have our eyes wide open and help make the world a better place irrespective of beliefs and boundaries.