Briones: Taking a break

I’m still reeling from the news. Part of me can’t believe that Cebu City is back on enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), while another part of me is not really surprised.

I have to admit, when I first found out I felt like someone had pulled the rug out from under me. But who was I kidding? The warning signs had always been there. I just refused to acknowledge them because, well, I’m an optimist.

And I still am. Sort of.

The recent development has made me see the glass half empty. But then again, I am looking at rum and not water inside. That’s good enough reason to celebrate.

Of course, I’ll have to observe social distancing and wear a mask and whatnot. And I can’t have more than 10 guests or authorities will arrest me and my fellow partygoers for mass gathering.

I certainly don’t want that raining on my parade. But you get the picture.

I know I’m making light of an otherwise very serious situation, but that’s how I cope with a problem I have no control of. I mean, it’s really out of my hands so I might as well sit back and try to make myself comfortable.

And no. I refuse to play the blame game, thank you. For one, it’s unfair to Mayor Edgardo Labella.

I have not been a big fan of his since this health crisis began (remember the ill-advised liquor ban?), but I truly believe he has been doing his best under the circumstances.

Really.

Second, the decision to return the city to ECQ was never his. I’ll only be barking up the wrong tree. And I’m not even a dog.

Although I should have known something was amiss last Sunday, June 14, 2020.

Labella was reported as saying he was confident the city would not revert to ECQ and would remain on general community quarantine. I had no reason to doubt him since I, too, believed the same.

But here’s what he said on the matter. Exactly.

“Because of the rate of recovery that we have and also the mortality rate, which is much lower than the national, (and) the recovery rate, which is much higher than the national, I think I am confident that we can get the GCQ status.”

Thinking and being are two different things, but that’s all water under the bridge now.

So people, give the mayor a break. Better yet, mayor, have a break. Here, have some of my KitKat.