Michelle: There’s this weird, funny feeling we have when something’s not quite right. We really can’t put a finger to what it is but it’s like a cloud that hovers above us. That funny feeling in the pit of our stomach can turn out to be a bad feeling. When asked to explain something that is difficult to explain, some say “ambot” or “kuan.” With our current situation and the different reactions about the confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, sometimes it’s just so hard to fathom why it’s so difficult for some who are supposed to make the right decisions to protect and secure our people to make an informed judgment call. Ambot! Kuan kaayo!
DJ: Those perceived as intelligent may unfortunately lack common sense. Maybe they need a reality check or a kick in the butt to be able to see things more clearly. Those pretending that everything is under control are not in control of the situation. Maybe they hope eventually everything will fall into place. Ambot lang! But what if it doesn’t? Ambot!
M: This led me to think of words we use to describe our feelings. Sometimes we can’t express what we feel so we look for a word that’s nearly appropriate to describe the many, turbulent emotions that we’re going through. Some people just choose to keep silent because they don’t know how to best convey what they feel. I know there’s nothing worse than being assuming. An old Department of Health infomercial articulated it best when it proclaimed “Marami na ang namatay sa maling akala.” And as a friend would say “D House is not DAHOM.”
DJ: What’s really unique to us Filipinos is that even in difficult circumstances, we still find some humor in the situation. I think humor, in most of us, inherently rests in our unconscious. What keep us quiet though are the things that truly matter to us. When I think of my family, I get to be serious. When I think of people I truly care for, I’m more silent. When I think of our people being unnecessarily exposed to the risks, be it a virus or any other threat, I think we cannot just be told “don’t panic.” There should be a clear, tangible, proactive and coordinated response so we do not place ourselves in harm’s way. It cannot be just “kuan” to fight the “kuan.”
M: “You say it best when you say nothing at all.” There are times we have to keep quiet, but now is the time to speak out! We cannot not care. It cannot be ambot lang! We have to take our leaders into account when things are not quite right. These changing and challenging times call for a decisive, appropriate response that should take into account the welfare of the general public. A serious issue needs to be seriously looked into. One cannot always be finding the light at the end of the tunnel or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Sometimes, we have to send a strong message that we should be the priority. Sure, let’s not panic and try to take a positive stance. There is a time and place to make light of a situation. Now is not the time. As the song goes, let’s not “send in the clowns.”