“Taking care of the sick and elderly is something very Filipino, and I am grateful to God for myself and my wife being Filipinos”
THE spate of killings in Davao City after Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte declared war on illegal drugs is reminiscent of the so-called infamous “Death Squad,” when Rodrigo Duterte, former President, was then mayor of the city.
What is happening in Davao City after now Mayor “Baste” Duterte declared war on illegal drugs with the spate of killings of alleged drug pushers may not be “death squads,” but why, Santa Banana, is there a sudden spate of killings?
The police claimed the killings were the result of shootouts when the alleged illegal drugs pushers shot back at the police! Isn’t this a familiar claim?
In the first place, the police should be aware of the existence of criminals in their jurisdiction.
At this point, I am reminded of what my late good friend Jimmy Barbers used to say, “ The police know everything happening in a place they control.”
Truly it would be a stupid policeman who does not know what is happening in his territory, my gulay!
The mayor should not be faulted for declaring war on illegal drugs.
He must have gotten it from his father.
But, isn’t it the normal thing to do for a police force to restore peace and order, including getting rid of pushers of illegal drugs?
Why, Santa Banana, declare war on illegal drugs?
The very fact that several members of the Davao City police force have been relieved and are being investigated for the spate of killings raises a lot of questions like, why the spate of killings in Davao City after its mayor declared war on illegal drugs?
This demands a serious investigation of another war on drugs by a Duterte.
We had enough of EJK killings in the six-year incumbency of the former president.
Santa Banana, I hate to imagine a city mayor declaring war on illegal drugs and all the members of the police force killing suspected pushers, my gulay!
Caring for the Sick, Elderly
There’s one thing about Filipino families I admire. Normally, that is.
When the aged or the elderly, like parents, get sick, and if the family doesn’t have the means to have them hospitalized, the family takes care of them.
This is typically Asian, when parents get old, a member of the family, like a daughter, is chosen to take care of them, unlike in the West, particularly the United States, when parents age or become elderly.
The parents or the elderly are usually taken to a “home for the aged’’ or to a senior citizens facility.
I once asked my son who is an American citizen and living with his wife and family where he and wife will go when they become elderly.
He told me he and his wife expect to go to a retirement home because their children won’t be able to take care of them, unlike in the Philippines, where it is quite easy to hire caregivers for those who can afford.
And if they do not have caregivers, members of the family usually take turns to care for them.
My wife and I, at age 92 and myself at almost 97, are now living with my daughter, but we have caregivers.
There are now quite a few homes for the aged in the Philippines, but not yet enough.
Taking care of the sick and elderly is something very Filipino, and I am grateful to God for myself and my wife being Filipinos.
It is for this reason why lawmakers should make it a priority to provide more benefits for seniors and elderly.
More power to them. I am still healthy and sound, and so is my wife, but, at our age, we need caring. Thank God, we are Filipinos!
