In my last article, I queried why does time fly very swiftly? A friend of mine and some students tried to answer the question. Brilliant, they say that time flies so swiftly because watches are smaller today compared to watches in the past. But seriously, they told me that it is the news of the day that makes time flies fast. Why so?
Let us take this January. It passed by so swiftly because of the events that are on the news. Everyone was a little wary of peace – breakdown in the international scene. When the US “assassinated” an alleged warlord of Iran in a foreign soil. This news was on air for weeks and we were vigilant on the moves that Iran would take against the US. It was good for the issue that was immediately covered by the eruption of Taal Volcano. We woke up with all the ashes in Luzon and feared that it might reach us in Negros. We were wary of the situation of our relatives in Luzon who were greatly affected by the said natural calamity. We watched and waited and by the grace of God, the “big one” did not happen. This gave ample time for our brethren to prepare well. Australia’s great outdoors got hit by a rapid bush fire and the news about it was covered and the world forgot about it. China came out with news of an epidemic of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) but was immediately taken over by the death of one of the greatest heroes of the basketball court – Kobe Bryant. All the fears were allayed and the cloak of sadness among the fans overcame the fears.
Soon, we forgot all about Taal and Kobe. February came in and the news of a pandemic and epidemic are spreading like wildfire. Everyone feared the “death sentence” carried by the coronavirus. Reports of contamination and death came out. Soon, reports about the virus from all corners of the globe came in. World Health Organization (WHO) declared it already as a disease, thus called Covid-19. As of today, everyone is waiting for the news every day and the statistics of death and contamination. Other pressing issues on the globe are cloaked by this pandemic.
Anyway, conflicts in many parts of the world are building up. Conflicts in tribes, families, governments, and nations are everywhere. The internet is very fast in reporting these events. It seems that there is no day without “unpeace”. Locally, we became calloused of the rise of local criminality and murders abound locally. It seems that we do not fear these but we are more afraid of the news about covid-19 in Negros. Thanks to God, as of this writing, Negros Occidental is still Covid-19 free.
Last week, the fear was again allayed and almost went off. The issue on the ABS-CBN franchise and all its fanfare overtook everything. People were allegedly angered by the rumors of the non-renewal to a supposed closure of one of the biggest media network in the country. This speeded –up time for most Filipinos was looking forward to the March 20 deadline. The days of February and March just fly away swiftly for “the end is near” and what will happen in the end? Abangan ang susunod na kabanata (wait for the next episode). The arguments of suppression of press freedom and business ethics are interplaying in this useless and non-essential battle.
Now, we have to live where we are and savor the time. The future will always come as it is, we do not have control over it. So let us watch, listen, surf and read the news as they come and leave the present moment.
Pope St. John Paul II, pray for us.