GLIMPSES ON SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES - No. 17
By Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired
Toronto-Canada
Sept. 6, 2021
"PAGONG" PACE: A survey conducted by Social Weather Station(SWS) showed that 50% or one in every 2 adult Filipinos believe that the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the Philippines is slow. Conducted in June 2021, the poll results released recently showed that fifty percent of the 1,200 respondents believe that the pace of vaccination is either "somewhat slow" or "too slow" while 45 % said the pace was "alright". 57% of the respondents from Metro Manila considered the jabbing pace are "slow", followed by those in the rest of Luzon (55 percent), the Visayas (51 percent), and Mindanao (33 percent).
In respect of vaccine accessibility and availability, 68% percent said they either have “very easy” or “somewhat easy” access to a vaccination site, some three percent found it difficult, with the remaining 29 percent saying there is no vaccination site in their area. In Southeast Asia, the Philippine government's COVID-19 chief implementer said the country "now ranks second among its Southeast Asian neighbors and 23rd in the world in terms of administered COVID-19 jabs.". As of August 15,2021, almost 28 million vaccines have been administered nationwide. Ganoon pa man,talagang napa-kabagal pa rin. Sa 105 milyong populasyon ngayon ng bansang Fiipinas ay wala pang 25 porciento ang na-bakunahan sa kasalukuyan. Saan napupunta ang maraming donasyong pera at gamot ng ibang bansa at ano ang ginagawa sa pag-aangkat para sa bakunahan? Susmarya!
STANDARDIZING "ADOBO": Still, the undeclared national dish, Adobo, a very popular food which among Filipinos are fond of cooking and eating as our "pambansang ulam' has been in the debate spotlight lately. The "national argument" started when the Bureau of Philippine Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry tasked a technical committee to develop Philippine national standard on popular Filipino food like Adobo, among others, taking “into consideration the variations in cooking techniques and ingredients observed in all regions of the country.” The justification of the task is to “standardize the basic cooking technique for Philippine Adobo that will help ordinary citizens, foodies, and food businesses determine and maintain the authentic Filipino Adobo taste.”
To cook Adobo means simply coming up with a “baseline recipe” as a guide. However, there are many variations in terms of ingredients used and methods of cooking Adobo. “That is just so that we would have a basic traditional recipe when you promote it abroad as part of “creative industry exports” and help "generate international awareness of the country's food and gastronomy spark interest in authentic Filipino cuisine. In Spanish, Adobo means ‘sauce’ or ‘seasoning. Filipino adobo is usually stewed chicken, pork, or a combination of both portions of meats dipped and cooked in soy sauce and vinegar and eaten on top of steamed rice. For instance, there will be a Filipino Adobo in many parts of the country using mixed vinegar and soy sauce while others, use only vinegar or only salt to taste.
Others love to eat left-over Adobo, which is reheated as the next day’s meal again. The reheated pork and chicken meat become even looser and juicier. There is no one, single method or for that matter, the seasoning and ingredients like bay leaves, peppers, onions, and garlic of cooking adobo.Sa akin lamang, kahit anong panghalong karne, pampalasa at sistema ng pag-luluto, ang Adobo ay Adobo at isang napakasarap na ulam na habang tumatagal ay lalong sumasarap kainin. Hindi ba?!?
DEVELOPMENT AID: In a "News Release" on August 11, 2021, the Canadian government's International Development Ministry announced that Canada "will support 7 new projects in the Philippines and provide $18.9 million over the next 5 years, that is $3.78 million per year or Php 143.64 M / year." The News Release stated that "Canada is committed to helping countries combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to supporting their economic recovery and resilience. The government of Canada noted that the "Philippines continues to face high COVID-19 rates, and a range of restrictions affecting livelihoods and access to education and health care."
Thus, the "initiatives focus mainly on the country’s COVID-19 pandemic economic response, improving access to education, empowering women and girls and improving their access to health care, and assisting people living in underdeveloped areas on Mindanao." Further, the projects "will be implemented in partnership with Canadian, local, and international multilateral non-governmental organizations and in close coordination with the Philippine government." Since 1986, Canada has provided more than $800 million in development assistance to the Philippines. Sana naman, ang maraming magandang pagtulong na ito noon at ngayon ay nakakarating at nagagamit para sa totong kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. (By: Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired)