Disclaimer: The article you’ll be reading intends no harm to anyone. However, if you are a DDS, skip this. This will surely hit you. Bye, Felicia!
I bet you’re reading this article either because (1) you are not a DDS, or (2) you are a DDS but you want to bash my content (since you are used to it), or (3) you are a DDS and you did not read and understand my disclaimer (Sizt, reading comprehension!).
The enhanced community quarantine has brought us to a plethora of discussions which is usually set on social media. It went from timely arguments like the poor response of the government in containing the novel coronavirus, as well as the bizarre issue on Filipino’s low reading comprehension and how it manifests in these trying times. Both topics might be not quite the same, but these are all driven by dissimilar political views of the public. Debates and disputes between the critics and the DDS or the Die-hard Duterte Supporters (mostly composed of paid trolls) are almost boundless. The heated discussion often boils down to nonsense arguments that buzz off from the real issue. They often resort to ad hominem attacks that cheapen the debate. One of the most worn-out defense especially by the DDS when they run out of sound and valid argument is the low reading comprehension of Filipinos especially in consuming information related to the existing health crisis and discerning whether the said information is fake or not. Unfortunately, these are also the same people who follow Mocha Uson, a fake-news peddler.
“Bobo [dumb]” is what they often describe to the critics (“dilawan” or “left” in their own language) of their Tatay Digong. But who do you think is the true “bobo?” Who do you think needs to practice fact-checking before sharing information on social media? Who do you think needs to enhance their reading comprehension? Well, I bet you know the answer.
Just to prove a point, here are some reactions of DDS on some issues which attest how poor their “reading comprehension” is:
#SolusyongMedikalHindiMilitar
DDS be like: “Ano gusto niyo, doktor ang magbabantay sa check point tapos military ang gagamot sa hospital? Mga bobo!”
What it actually means: #SolusyongMedikalHindiMilitar is a call for the government to boost their support to health workers by making sure that necessary medical supplies are available to cure those infected and to contain the virus. At the same time, it is also a demand to provide the necessary protective equipment for military personnel who maintain “peace and order” in the communities to prevent them from contracting the virus.
Venezuela and Valenzuela
News headline: “Sa Venezuela, tuloy ang prusisyon ng Nazarene of St. Paul kahit may nationwide quarantine na ipinatutupad doon dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic.”
DDS be like: “SINABI NG WAG KAYONG LALABAS NG BAHAY EH. Makukulit din ‘tong mga pinoy na ‘to eh. Hahawaan nito pa kami kaka-prosisyon niyo dyan sa Valenzuela? Mga dilawan ba kayo para magprosisyon??”
What the news actually tells us: The news report shows people in Venezuela, a country located in South America, continuing to hold religious procession despite the nationwide lockdown in their country caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Some netizens, DDS in particular, were overwhelmed by their emotions which led them to think that Venezuela and Valenzuela City are the same. Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, on his Twitter post, said “Hindi ko alam na ako na din pala ang pinuno ng bansa na Venezuela.”
Google donates Google Ads
News headline: Google donates $5M in ad credits to Philippine govt’s COVID-19 information efforts
DDS be like: “Salamat Google! Malaking tulong ‘yan kay Pangulong Duterte para masugpo ang COVID-19. *crying emoji*”
What the news actually tells us: The $5 Million worth of ad credits donated by Google is not actual cash which is contrary to what some assumed. In support of the Philippines, Google allows the government to advertise materials related to COVID-19 awareness for free up to the extent of the said amount. This aims to disseminate information to a wider audience. There were no cash donations involved.
Now, tell me who lacks “reading comprehension?”
Anyway, the pandemic we are facing right now did not just validate how poor our healthcare system is. It did not simply demonstrate how incompetent our government is in handling urgent matters and perhaps how incapable they are in leading this country. This health crisis also lay bare our political differences that attest to how divisive our nation is caused by the shortcomings of our crooked government. And more than anything else, it revealed those who need immediate educational intervention.
The current global pandemic brings to light those who are blinded by the erroneous beliefs of their political idols and those who truly care for the nation and its people.
COVID-19 shows the best and, most of the time, the worst in us.
