Stephanie Ricablanca
Listen, believe it or not, you have the power to eradicate COVID-19.
I get it. A majority of the people all over the world feel paralyzed brought about by the horrendous effects of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The effects of this fear varies from person to person. Some, although terrified, still manage to cope in their own ways. However, there is also an alarming number of people who could not cope and eventually abandon all hope and start to despair.
As someone who took it upon herself to be a leader amidst this dark time, I would like to remind everyone especially those who are disheartened and demoralized by this pandemic to hold on, to find strength in each other, to remember that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and to know that even they have the power to end this suffering.
"Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean."
This quotation from German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is really something that we all should be applying now in our daily lives-figuratively and literally. Nix the despondency and redirect our time and attention onto something useful that we all can do instead of worrying which would not really help anyone. Wear a mask. Maintain social distance. Drink Vitamin C. Stay at home. These are all simple things we have the power to do in order to eradicate COVID-19. We should all just have the discipline to remember and keep on doing them.
One small effort against COVID-19, no matter how small, but when done by each and everyone of us and grouped altogether, will cause a huge impact to ending the pandemic. Every effort we make makes a difference so don't you dare give up your hope. We all still have a fight we have yet to win.
I promise to do my part.
Promise to do yours.
Stephanie Ricablanca is the Philippine representative of the 46th Miss Globe pageant. As an Equal Health Care Rights Advocate, she is using her platform to remind everyone, especially Filipinos, that we each have the power to flatten the curve.