Vergeire likens COVID-19 situation to nat'l hero Jose Rizal's exile

The hardship of Filipinos amid the lockdown due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was similar to the difficulties faced by National Hero Jose Rizal when he was exiled, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

"Katulad ng ating Pambansang Bayani... si Gat Jose Rizal, na ipinatapon at napahiwalay sa lahat ng mahal niya sa buhay ng walang kasiguruhan kung hanggang kailan, tayo ay humaharap sa parehong sitwasyon sa pandemyang ito," said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire as the country celebrated Rizal's 159th birth anniversary.

"Karamihan sa atin ay nakakaranas ng pagkabalisa dulot ng walang kasiguruhang sitwasyon o pagkahiwalay sa mahal natin sa buhay dahil mahigit nating ipinatutupad ang quarantine measures," Vergeire added during the live briefing.

Vergeire reminded the public to remain cautious and follow countermeasures against COVID-19, even as authorities slowly implemented less stringent measures.

"Itong mga pinagdaraanan nating lahat ay nauunawaan po namin dito sa Kagawaran ng Kalusugan. Kaya naman po inuulit namin na na kailangan laging alerto at huwag maging kampante lalo't wala pa hong bakuna," she said.

The undersecretary said the DOH was also looking to improve the mental and psychological health of the people, adding that it was time to be united and empathetic.

"Wala nang mas naayon pang panahon kung hindi ngayon upang magkaisa at magkaroon ng malalim na pag kakaunawaan at malasakit sa isa't isa habang patuloy nating nilalabanan ang COVID-19 at haharapin ang new normal," Vergeire said.

"We can all be the solution," she added.

The Philippines reported a total of 28,459 COVID-19 cases with 7,378 recoveries and 1,130 fatalities. — DVM, GMA News