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.

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.

Celebrating holy week practices at home during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

A recent correspondence suggested that taking home ashes and launching digital Lenten ashes filters are non-traditional yet creative ways for the Catholic Church to perform the ritual practice in celebrating Ash Wednesday. These creative practices are deemed as necessary so that the Catholic community can celebrate the liturgical celebration while ensuring public health. With this, we propose in this paper practices that can be done during the holy week so that the spread of the coronavirus will be mitigated.

Emphasizing truthfulness in COVID-19 test declarations.

In previous correspondence, it was explained that faking COVID-19 diagnostic tests and vaccination certifications posits serious concerns for matters of ethics and economics. With this, we suggest, in this paper, the importance of giving emphasis to being truthful in declaring their COVID-19 diagnostic test results and vaccination certificates. Also, in being truthful, it is emphasized in this paper that honesty and transparency in regard to the said results and certificates are necessary in ensuring public health and promoting awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

The need for mass testing and the proper post-COVID-19 test behavior in the Philippines.

In a recent article, the researcher asked if people's behavior after receiving negative COVID-19 tests contribute to the spread of the virus. It was discussed that even though testing mitigated the coronavirus spread, false confidence among those who have negative results contributed to the spread of the virus. This article, then, proposes that there is a need for mass testing for new virus variants and a foundation for proper behavior after testing.

Psychospiritual care for parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent article, energy poverty increases the likelihood of depression in parents. The authors responded that this situation must be given attention because parental well-being can influence child development and outcomes. With this, we propose, in this paper, that an avenue that can be done is by providing a psychospiritual care for parents especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in which anxieties among family members arise.

Prevention and planning as important factors in ensuring public health in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent correspondence discussed that in trying times, technology can help be applied toward epidemiology to benefit communities by building a basic surveillance system. This suggested development in Honduras can be utilized in the Philippines to improve the State's handling of health emergencies. With this, this paper accentuates the importance of prevention and planning to ensure public health in the Philippines, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Providing psychosocial support for work-from-home educators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent article discussed the results of mental support for healthcare professionals and mental care during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the report, the researchers suggest that healthcare professionals must be given psychosocial support during and after the pandemic to prevent any long-term consequence. In this correspondence, this paper proposes that psychosocial support must also be given to educators in a work-from-home setup since they are also affected by the stresses that came with the pandemic.

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.

Common good and public service as vital components for government officials in promoting COVID-19 vaccination.

Recent reports show that there is resistance in certain countries in regard with receiving COVID-19 vaccination. Different factors contribute to this resistance. With this, if we are to promote COVID-19 vaccination, government officials must build public trust so that the hesitancy among the citizens will be lessened. Thus, this paper proposes that in building public trust, the true essence of common good and public service must be seen from the officials so that their constituents will trust them with their decisions.