Social Distancing as a Recontextualization of Filipino Values and Catholic Religious Practices: A Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This paper investigates Catholic religious practices and Filipino values in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to show that religious practices conducted with proper social distancing help in the development of a renewed understanding of Filipino values without contributing to the spread of the virus. This qualitative study makes use of expository writing and content analysis. First, religious practices before the pandemic marked by maximum social interaction are presented. Then, the paper shows religious practices during the pandemic marked by social distancing. Thirdly, the paper looks into how Filipino values are recontextualized in relation to religious practices despite the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, the researchers claim that those who participate in religious practices with social distancing do not contribute to the transmission of the virus while still developing a renewed understanding of Filipino values.

Cautious and gradual reopening of limited face-to-face classes in Philippine tertiary schools.

In a recent correspondence, the authors suggested that secondary schools must adhere to health protocols and national and international guidelines so that the delivery of face-to-face classes will not risk students' and educators' health. With this, this paper proposes that even in higher education, a well-planned execution of face-to-face classes must be done. Thus, the gradual reopening of face-to-face classes becomes a necessity in order to gain a sense of normalcy in the middle of a pandemic.

Philippine community pantries as a way of helping the marginalized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a previous correspondence, the author tried to establish the crucial relationship of the country's public health with the government officials' economic decisions and actions. Understanding such, we look at the perspective of the handling of the pandemic, in terms of economic decisions and actions, in the Philippines. In the country, complaints from the citizens surfaced because the government failed in providing an appropriate response to the economic imbalance generated by the pandemic. Thus, in this paper, we surveyed the sudden engenderment of community pantries in the Philippines as a way of filling the gaps of the government.

Transparency of the national government as key in promoting the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

A recent correspondence discussed two important attributes of the government officials, namely, public service and common good. These two could possibly help the government in terms of promoting vaccination programs in the Philippines. This paper proposes transparency as the third attribute that could help in gaining trust from the people in promoting vaccination in the country.

Prioritizing the marginalized in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

A recent correspondence pointed out that indigenous people and other ethnic communities should be included in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Indigenous communities carry a unique set of cultural beliefs and traditions that need to be preserved. This paper suggests that, aside from indigenous people, other marginalized sectors should also be included in the vaccine rollout by the government.

Hope as fundamental human response to loss and grief experiences in the time of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes in almost every aspect of human life, including the process of grieving. Due to strict safety measures, the grieving experience of the bereaved becomes more overwhelming and challenging. In this testing time, Gabriel Marcel's ideas on hope can be a fundamental response to loss and grief. In situations wherein despair is experienced, responding with hope can help us cope with the complicated process of grieving.

Building public trust in COVID-19 vaccines through the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Due to the expedited production of the COVID-19 vaccines and other issues related to it, many Filipinos are hesitant to receive the inoculation program set by the government. Because of this, it is crucial to gain public trust for the COVID-19 vaccines. This paper argues that the Catholic Church, being an influential institution in the Philippines, can help in building public trust in COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

An ayuda to the least advantaged: providing a program for those who were hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent article, it was reported that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the economic situation of some countries. It led to some people losing jobs amidst the difficult situation that the pandemic caused. Thus, this paper discusses the need to provide a program for the least advantaged citizens so that they can still experience their basic liberties. The least advantaged citizens, as Rawls deem them, are the ones who lost jobs and incomes were hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solidarity as a companion virtue in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper establishes that there is a need to turn to virtue ethics in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that the virtue of solidarity can be a companion virtue to compassion for medical frontline workers and other individuals involved. Like compassion, the virtue of solidarity is a reminder that everyone is in this crisis together and that each is responsible for all.

'Bating Filipino': contactless greeting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent correspondence, it was explained that cultural values and beliefs must be taken into consideration in flattening the COVID-19 pandemic curve. With this, cultural awareness is suggested as a guide in coming up with more effective health strategies and policies. For this reason, we discussed the intervention made by the Philippine government and how people can make this gesture as a model for other countries in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus.