It is finally time to bid goodbye to the season of excessive flower bouquets, stuffed toys, and floating hearts. While the pandemic may have barred us from seeing others for another month, a few of us still managed to pull strings and make the most of this season of love and giving. But instead of butterflies, this year came fluttering with other unexpected things that added flavor to an otherwise bland month of love.
Here’s a look back at events that made headlines this February.
1. Mayor Isko Moreno approves UST’s bid for face-to-face classes
(Photo by Aliah Danseco/TomasinoWeb)
Without a vaccine rolled out to the public, the uncertainties towards conducting face-to-face classes only grew. But on February 3, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno gave the green light to the university to conduct limited face-to-face classes for its medical and health allied courses. He also stated that other universities are welcome to apply for the same grant. Along with UST, the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and Centro Escolar University (CEU) have also been allowed by the City of Manila to resume face-to-face classes.
Earlier this month, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Commission on Higher (CHEd) Education also released a joint memorandum stating the guidelines that higher educational institutions must comply with when resuming face-to-face classes. This includes limiting face-to-face delivery for specialized laboratory courses and hospital-based clerkships and internships. Stringent measures such as proper hand hygiene and wearing face masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment must also be practiced by the students, faculty members, and school staff.
2. Taylor Swift releases own version of Love Story
Photo courtesy of Taylor Swift
Just when we thought that the back-to-back release of ‘folklore’ and ‘evermore’ saved us from the drought of good music, we were wrong. On February 11, Taylor Swift woke up and chose violence once again.
After her deal ended with her long-time label, Swift revealed that she would be re-recording her old music as she now holds ownership for her masters. True to her words, the 31-year-old singer released a re-recorded version of her 2008 classic ‘Love Story’ that made her a household name.
Swift’s modern version still held the same nostalgic feelings of experiencing love for the first time. ‘Love Story (Taylor’s Version)’ was musically faithful to her original, proving just how immaculate Swift’s vocals are even after all these years.
The re-recorded version of her second studio album ‘Fearless’ will be dropped on April 9. Swift announced that the upcoming version will include 26 songs, with 6 never before released tracks. And yes, get your tissues out because it includes a 10-minute recording of ‘All Too Well.’
3. Kris Aquino resurfaces on social media as a meme
Screengrab from ABS-CBN News
With everyone still grappling with the effects of the pandemic, netizens have yet again found another source of entertainment to fulfill their joys and express their frustration.
Earlier this month, a new meme featuring Kris Aquino saying ‘Because?’ made rounds on social media. The actress even joined in on the fun and asked her followers on Instagram to send her questions she can answer using the meme.
While the post that sparked the trend is yet to be found, the ‘Because?’ meme actually originated from the actress’s interview with Kim Chiu on her 2014 talk show, ‘Kris TV.’ When Chiu was asked to express her gratitude to her fans, she couldn’t help but tear up. Aquino then asked the actress to explain why she was emotional, giving birth to the iconic meme.
4. Moira dela Torre breaks more hearts with ‘Paubaya’
5. Screengrab from the ‘Paubaya’ official music videoDue to the pandemic, this year’s celebration Valentine’s day was different, with most of us spending it with our loved ones at home and with our friends online. However you may have chosen to spend it, one thing’s for sure: you found yourself having an existential crisis at 10 pm because of ‘Paubaya.’
As if things couldn’t get lonelier on February 14, singer-songwriter Moira dela Torre surprisingly dropped her latest single, ‘Paubaya,’ through a music video featuring real-life exes Joshua Garcia and Julia Barreto. Collectively known as JoshLia, the pair broke hearts all over the internet through a heartbreaking tale of two lovers who end up separating at the altar, with the bride (Julia) leaving the groom (Joshua).
In true internet fashion, netizens did not pass up the opportunity to create memes from the dialogue between the couple, which helped us to somehow escape the hollow sadness and heartbreak the MV brought.
Since its release, the music video has garnered more than 21 million views.
Relieve the story of heartbreak, forgiveness, and acceptance in ‘Paubaya’ here.
5. NASA’s Perseverance rover finally lands on Mars
Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
After almost seven months and 292.5 million miles of journeying, NASA’s Perseverance rover safely landed on the surface of the red planet on February 18. Perseverance is the fifth Mars rover crafted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The mission, which will take about one Mars year (around 687 Earth days), is mainly targeted to explore the past habitability of the planet. The Perseverance rover is built with various scientific instruments that will enable it to collect core samples or Martian rock and soil, which will be brought back to Earth by a future mission for further analysis. It is also expected to determine the planet’s geological characteristics, the chemistry of its terrain, and even its climate. The rover will also be rolled out to take panoramic images of the planet that more than 10 million Earthlings signed up a boarding pass for.
But this won’t easily give a definitive answer to the debate whether life can be supported on the planet. It may give clues, but we’d have to wait a few more years and Mars missions. For now, we can let our mind roam free in the panoramic view of the rover’s landing site.
6. Shootout between PNP and PDEA leaves 4 dead
Photo courtesy of Mark Demayo/ABS-CBN News
On February 24, a misencounter between the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) near a mall in Quezon City left two police officers and two anti-drug agents dead in its trail.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana stated that they will investigate the incident and asserted that what occurred will not affect the operational relationship and coordination between the PNP and PDEA against illegal drugs.
At a press conference in Camp Crame, PDEA chief Wilkins Villanueva called the encounter “the saddest day in the history of drug law enforcement.” He then stated that they will cooperate in the joint investigation between PNP and PDEA to make sense of what transpired. PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas also clarified that both the agents and officers were on a legitimate anti-drugs operation.
Spokesperson Harry Roque, however, stated that President Rodrigo Duterte will ask the Congress and the Senate to delay their investigations on the case to give way for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to impartially and properly probe on the matter.
7. The 35th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Cellona/ABS-CBN News
This year marked the 35th anniversary of the historic revolution that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and restored the country’s democracy. To commemorate the collective efforts of millions of Filipinos, several groups and organizations took part in protests and activities. Together, they emphasized the downsides of historical revisionism and the importance of freedom and democracy, especially in today’s day and age.
At the People Power Monument in EDSA, a flag raising and wreath laying ceremony was spearheaded by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. A mass conducted by papal nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown then followed at the EDSA Shrine. Catholics were among the millions that flocked EDSA 35 years ago, led by former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.
Along with keeping justice and democracy alive, former President Fidel V. Ramos urged the Filipino people that “the revolution is not over and remains unfinished until every Filipino enjoys the freedoms and rights embodied in our Constitution.” He further called on the people to continue remembering the value of nationalism and the revolutionary spirit of the holiday we celebrate each year.
8. President Duterte signs COVID-19 vaccine indemnification law
Photo courtesy of Daily Tribune
It has been over a year since the first case of the novel coronavirus was confirmed in the country. However, rather than feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, we may be looking at a ray of hope against the invisible enemy that turned our lives upside down.
Among the current vaccine candidates, the Philippines is expected to receive 525,600 doses of AstraZeneca and 600,000 doses of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine. These are part of the targeted 44 million doses of COVAX that would potentially protect 20% of the Philippine population from the viral threat.
Initially, 117,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine were expected to arrive mid-February. However, this was delayed due to the lack of an indemnity deal. On February 27, President Duterte signed the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021. This law allocates P500 million as an indemnity fund that would cover compensation for vaccine recipients that might suffer from adverse reactions following its inoculation.
This week, WHO Country Representative Rabrindra Abeyasinghe confirmed that about 5.2 to 9.2 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine have been approved for emergency medical use in the Philippines.
The said vaccine was reported to have an efficacy rate of 63.09%, with new research showing that a delayed administration of the second shot may boost its efficacy.
Within the 28 short days of February, we’ve gone through hell and back. But somehow, small victories and joys have made their way in between our collective sufferings and frustrations due to the current situation. In one way or another, these tales of nostalgia and hope help relieve our burdens and give us a reason to fight through another day in isolation.
As we enter a year since the Luzon lockdown, may we look at tomorrow with a beam of hope and burning desire to call for change to materialize within our country. There is no obvious guarantee that this would happen overnight. So, we should take this time to reconnect with our surroundings and allow ourselves to think critically about societal issues that affect everyone’s lives. Otherwise, anomalies and misdirected leadership would no longer be the root causes of unsolved problems, but rather our social indifference.
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