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September 1820: Cholera Manila Massacre 

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September 1820: Cholera Manila Massacre 

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Anger-filled natives who discovered that the foreigners had poisoned Pasig river led to a slaughter of foreigners or non-Spanish people during the cholera outbreak in Cavite and Manila. Some have argued that the Spanish colonists were the ones who truly spread the idea because, at the time, they were only observing the natives as they killed foreigners.  Having said that, the disease was employed as a political tool that promoted xenophobic reaction among the indigenous people toward Europeans and Americans, to increase their loyalty to Spaniards (de Viana, 2020).

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19th Century Spanish Manila in Times of Epidemics | Intramuros Administration

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Intramuros Learning Sessions episode no. 13

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The American colonists had to establish their own public health organization as they lacked an efficient public health system similar to what was already established in their own country. But it was focused on the health of American occupants, presumably because to the belief that tropical illnesses were particularly harmful to Americans, and they disregard for how diseases affect Filipinos (Schlesinger, 2014).

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On March 31, 2020, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) enacted Memorandum Circular No. 2020-066 (MC 2020-066). This directive was issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to ensure access to essential resources for persons with disabilities throughout the enhanced community quarantine. Specifically, the MC detailed guidelines for the provision of food (with attention to nutritional needs), medicines, vitamins, and transportation access. It targets DILG officials at multiple levels, as well as provincial, city, and municipal leaders, including those within the BARMM (Haygood-Guste, 2022).

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December 2019: COVID-19 identified in Wuhan, China.

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December 2019: COVID-19 identified in Wuhan, China.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in China is informed of several cases of a pneumonia of unknown etiology (cause) with symptoms including shortness of breath and fever occurring in Wuhan, China. All initial cases seem connected to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market

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January 2020: First COVID-19 Case in the Philippines.

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January 2020: First COVID-19 Case in the Philippines.

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The first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Philippines was confirmed in a 38-year-old Chinese woman who arrived from Wuhan, China. This marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, leading to widespread public health measures.

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March 2020: World Health Organization declares a global pandemic.

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March 2020: World Health Organization declares a global pandemic.

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This official classification signifies the widespread and sustained nature of the virus's transmission across the globe.

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The Worcesters organized platoons of inspectors led by surgeons from the Army Volunteer brigade, which at first, was mainly led by Filipinos, but then combined with Americans as language dispute was evident, resulting in ideal opposition and power dynamics.

In the Southwestern Luzon towns, native inspectors and guards continued surveillance but in supervision of white American patrols. While Filipino scouts, an elite force, mainly consisting of non-Tagalogs, stood guard over quarantine houses.

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As the disease spread rapidly, the government was hesitant in also putting imprisoned citizens in quarantine, as this would be hectic, so they established detention camps. Several such camps were put up in Manila and provincial towns.

Thus, policies during the epidemic became certain, confinement in hospitals were for patients, and in detention camps for contacts.

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Burning of native houses was also an approach taken by the government as in their time, they believed that cholera germ lays in the filth and vermin associated with infected 'native dwellings', which for them, it needed to be destroyed.

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On the other hand, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines implemented a series of comprehensive measures to curb the spread of the virus. Various levels of community quarantine and lockdowns were enforced, strategically restricting movement and gatherings to mitigate transmission.

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COVID-19: Philippines declares national public health emergency

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Concurrently, the government undertook intensive testing and contact tracing initiatives, establishing mass testing centers to promptly identify and isolate infected individuals.

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WHO strengthens support to COVID-19 contact tracing efforts to break chains of transmission in the Philippines

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The World Health Organization (WHO) increases its support to the national government, through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH), with the Contact Tracing Handbook for more than 1,700 local government units (LGUs) to enhance their local COVID-19 contact tracing systems and response strategies. “Contact tracing and management remains one of the most important and effective public health interventions to break the chains of transmission of COVID-19,” said Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines. “The handbook will be an essential tool to support our local government units in ensuring an efficient and effective system for detecting possible cases and limiting the spread of the virus.” Although contact tracing has been around for decades, the increased demand due to COVID-19 has led to an immediate and substantial need for trained workers. To help meet this need and build capacity, WHO has produced and handed over 85,000 contact tracing handbooks to assist the local contact tracing teams in making its implementation more efficient. The handbook was made possible with the collaboration of WHO, DILG, DOH, and the National Task Force against COVID-19, with the technical assistance of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Nursing. Establishing a nationwide contact tracing and management system Given the recent surge in cases, the country is at a critical juncture and needs to ramp up capacity to effectively implement contact tracing and management (CTM) and other response measures. This includes establishing a well-coordinated nationwide CTM system that uniformly and effectively functions across LGU boundaries and includes quality assurance processes on national and sub-national levels. The Handbook will be an essential tool to establish this system as well as support workers to engage and communicate with people and communities and raise awareness, acceptance and support for contact tracing for COVID-19 and future outbreaks and health emergencies. WHO will continue to work closely with the stakeholders to establish the CTM system and provide ongoing support to strengthen local, regional and national capacities to break COVID-19 chains of transmission, protect health, and minimize the social and economic impacts of the virus. Contact tracing for COVID-19: A Handbook for Local Contact Tracing Team WHO Philippine Country Office Focal Person for Contract Tracing:Harold Doroteo, doroteoh@who.int

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With that, policies of wearing face masks are recommended as part of personal protective equipment and as a public health measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease, at the same time, Filipinos started to wear and use face shields as an additional protective equipment.

Additionally, the strict enforcement of social distancing measures mandates in public places, played a pivotal role in reducing person-to-person transmission.

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COVID-19 Prevention - Prevent the spread of COVID-19 by practising simple hygiene measures

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The government launched vaccination campaigns, prioritizing high-risk groups to ensure a targeted and efficient immunization process.

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3 mln target quadruple daily vaccination average

Duterte urges Filipinos to get vaccinated

Logistics, vaccine hesitancy have been problems

MANILA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The Philippines launched on Monday an ambitious drive to vaccinate nine million people against COVID-19 in three days, deploying security forces and thousands of volunteers in a programme made urgent by the threats of the Omicron variant.

Though the earlier target, opens new tab of 15 million shots was scaled back, nine million would still be a significant number in a archipelago nation where logistics and vaccine hesitancy are hurdles.

"This is our single biggest push to fast-track vaccination," Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said at a vaccination centre east of the capital Manila.

In several of the 8,000 vaccine sites, where 160,000 volunteers were working, police were helping hundreds of people in queues, while parents brought children to be inoculated.

"This is important to avoid COVID-19 and for us when we do face-to-face classes in the future," said Sean Gerald Valdez, 12, after getting inoculated.

Three million daily vaccinations would be nearly quadruple the national average of 829,000 during November.

Carlito Galvez, the country's vaccination chief, said the new Omicron variant, opens new tab had made the campaign even more important.

"It is better to be prepared for the effects of Omicron," , he told CNN Philippines.

Omicron, which the World Health Organization has described as a "variant of concern", has yet to be detected in the Philippines. Its spread has sparked global travel restrictions and rattled financial markets, opens new tab .

The Philippines has been dealing with one of Asia's worst COVID-19 outbreaks and its vaccine rollout has been slower than many neighbours, with just over a third of its 110 million population inoculated.

Average new daily infections have fallen sharply to 1,644 in November from 18,579 in September, paving the way for a wider economic reopening.

Vaccination rates are uneven, however, with 93% of the capital region's eligible residents inoculated compared with 11% in the poorest parts of the south.

Reporting by Peter Blaza and Jay Ereno; Writing by Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales Editing by Ed Davies and Karishma Singh, Martin Petty

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

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Philippines launches mass vaccination drive on spectre of Omicron

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The Philippines launched on Monday an ambitious drive to vaccinate nine million people against COVID-19 in three days, deploying security forces and thousands of volunteers in a programme made urgent by the threats of the Omicron variant.

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1882: Cholera during the Spanish colonization 

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1882: Cholera during the Spanish colonization 

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In addition to establishing four hospitals for the sick, Spanish colonial authorities also increased the cleaning of public structures, abandoned spaces, and streets. Health officials set fires using tangal, a kind of mangrove bark, and tar near the infection centers because they thought the sickness had a miasmatic origin. The cadavers of the deceased were piled on carts as the burial corps lumbered through the mud of the streets and emerged from the smoke. After a brief service outside the church gates, the deceased were hastily buried and coated in quicklime to block offensive emissions.  The priests, mourners, and laborers who labored to gather the remains put quills filled with camphor in their mouths as a form of personal protection. The outbreak eventually subsided of its own accord (Anderson, 2006).

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Fighting cholera with wholesale disinfection. Courtesy of the Rockefeller Archive Center.

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19th century: The American Response to Cholera in the Philippines

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19th century: The American Response to Cholera in the Philippines

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The American-led 1902–1904 war resulted in about 200,000 deaths, or 3% of overall mortality, according to U.S. Bureau of Census data from 1921; in contrast, partial data from the Spanish-led 1882 campaign reported 76,884 provincial deaths. Worcester believed that Americans were more effective than Spanish in 1882 (Anderson, 2006).

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Despite stringent quarantine protocols enacted to restrict vessels carrying known infectious diseases, a ship arriving from Hong Kong, declared to be infected with cholera, entered the port of Manila. Soon after, the first cases of cholera emerged in the Farola district in Tondo, Manila, a riverside community primarily inhabited by dockworkers, fishermen, and individuals engaged in informal trade activities (Ileto, 2017).

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Burning of the cholera-stricken lighthouse neighborhood of the Tondo district, Manila, 1902, by the health authorities. Photo by Arnaldo Dumindin

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The entire Farola district had been ravaged by fire. This served as a turning point in the increasing conflict between the natives and the colonizers.

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Cholera detention barracks, San Lazaro (RG 350-P-E42, NARA).

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March 1902: Hospitals and Detention camps

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March 1902: Hospitals and Detention camps

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All cholera cases and contacts were moved to hospitals for isolation . Although there were two detention facilities and nine hospitals including the San Lazaro Hospital, they were insufficient for the growing number of cases. In 4 out of 5 cases, the patients died , and the surviving family members never saw them again (Anderson, 2006).

In order to avoid the terrifying thought of being admitted to the hospital and the destruction of their houses and belongings; many Filipino families chose to hide their cholera victims, which allowed the disease to spread. Additionally, further concealment resulted from the burning of bodies (Anderson, 2006).

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Malvar claimed that the limited supply of foods as well as reconcentration in zones in the country compelled him to give up. Thus, cultivation of the rice fields and reopening of rice-trade networks began in order to address the poverty and malnutrition that the natives are facing (Ileto, 2017).

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In response to concerns regarding the effectiveness and ethical implications of burning houses to contain the spread of cholera, Bell issued revised directives stipulating that such measures should no longer be employed when only isolated cases were present or when the outbreak had demonstrably subsided in specific locations (Ileto, 2017).

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U.S. sanitary inspectors (RG 350-P-E41.3, NARA).

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Commissioner L.M. Mause spoke with Filipino physicians. The board of Health accepted the suggestions of Filipino doctors.

Removing the land quarantine.

The discontinuation of mandatory treatment and isolation.

The free provision of cholera medications.

Removal of sanitary inspectors who lack a medical degree some of them are American clerks, schoolteachers, policemen and ex-soldiers.

(Harrison & MacPherson, 2007).

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The incidence of cholera cases and associated mortality rates in southwestern Luzon demonstrated a significant decrease (Ileto, 2017).

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Board of health declared that the Philippines is Cholera Free

But this declaration was premature because in 1905, new cases were reported.

(Harrison & MacPherson, 2007).

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After cholera cases were confirmed on March 20, 1902, Worcester ordered the closure of all wells, set up free-distilled-water stations throughout the city, and asked the armed forces to patrol the Mariquina River, Manila's water supply, with assault weapons (Schlesinger, 2014).

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Culturally insensitive preventive health measures 

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Culturally insensitive preventive health measures 

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In response to the cholera outbreak, the American administration implemented aggressive public health measures involving the identification and forced quarantine of suspected cases within detention camps. Additionally, they pursued a strategy of targeted destruction, burning nipa houses deemed high-risk, while wealthier homes were subjected to disinfectant procedures (Tan, 2020).

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People left Manila as a result, and the epidemic quickly spread to the other regions of the Philippines.  The Board of Health was required to distribute itself throughout the nation. By that time, the American colonial government had learnt from its mistakes and had stopped burning down houses and allowed home quarantine in place of detention facilities (Tan, 2020).

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January 2021: Mass vaccination campaigns begin.

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January 2021: Mass vaccination campaigns begin.

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The Philippines begins its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, marking a significant step in combating the pandemic. The initial vaccines were administered to healthcare workers, symbolizing the start of the country's fight against COVID-19 through vaccination.

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Dispute in the economy during Cholera War

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Dispute in the economy during Cholera War

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During the battle between General J. Franklin Bel and Captain Malvar, the native commerce in Laguna Lake was stopped, which significantly limited the supply route to the guerrilla camps and prevented the spread of cholera.

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All transportation and trade restrictions in the area were removed three days after Malvar's surrender, but the cholera compelled the ports to stay closed so local health boards could organize and take the necessary safeguards.

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It was unrealistic to expect the residents of San Pablo to forget the hardships they endured during the reconcentration so fast. There was an even greater density of people, which greatly increased the risk of illness and made a mockery of sanitation. Nobody was abandoned outdoors to tend to the ricefields. San Pablo's typical crop was only one-twentieth of the need even in the years before the conflict. Nearly all of its rice was purchased from nearby towns thanks to the copra trade's income. The reconcentration drastically reduced this revenue. The quarantine, the ban on lake transportation in June, and other cholera restrictions hindered the copra trade when it resumed in late April. The locals temporarily survived on rice assistance.

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During the Cholera War, this economic conflict was visible due to a lack of trade and rice production in certain sections of the country that were severely besieged by military forces. Both aspects were stopped by a variety of causes, including the severe closure of the port of trade, which also helped to slow the spread of cholera, and the production of rice, which may have contributed to Malvar's surrender.

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As a result of the pandemic, research indicates that the real GDP shrank by 9.6% in 2020 year over year, marking the largest yearly loss since the Philippine Statistical Agency (PSA) began gathering data on annual growth rates in 1946 (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 2021).

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Economic losses from COVID-19 cases in the Philippines: a dynamic model of health and economic policy trade-offs - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications

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Humanities and Social Sciences Communications - Economic losses from COVID-19 cases in the Philippines: a dynamic model of health and economic policy trade-offs

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Due to the severe impact COVID-19 has had on rural livelihoods. The main issues facing impoverished communities in the Philippines were loss of income and employment possibilities. Furthermore, while low income opportunities and wage reductions were already problems, the epidemic had made them far worse. Communities also emphasized ongoing problems with nutrition, hygiene, and health as well as an inadequate food supply.

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House panel tackles COVID-19 impact on Philippine economy (Part 2)

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Construction (56%) and public transportation (52%) saw the highest percentage of job losses in August 2020. Informal workers, including hairdressers, laundry workers, and employees of small canteens, as well as those in "sari-sari" stores, markets, and street vendors, also experienced cumulative job losses. Significant employment losses in the farming industry have apparently occurred in 61% of small-scale farms and 70% of formal agriculture communities.

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Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant and varied economic impact on the Philippines. The tight lockdown put in place to stop the virus's spread had a detrimental effect on a number of industries, including the GDP, which shrank in 2020 and was the nation's first recession in decades. Widespread job losses and income reductions had a substantial impact on the employment environment, especially in sectors like retail, hospitality, and tourism. Government, corporations, and the general people would need to work together in order to reconstruct and adjust to the post-pandemic economic environment in order to achieve economic recovery.

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How COVID-19 impacted vulnerable communities in the Philippines

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How COVID-19 impacted vulnerable communities in the Philippines

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All levels of society can be affected by the disease. However, low-income or marginalized communities are the most affected, as they are not just battling against the disease but also their susceptibility to job loss, food insecurity, and housing instability. It is stated that among the lowest classes, some of the causes of the epidemic's "malignancy" include poverty, malnutrition, and a lack of sanitation (Ileto, 2017).

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Folk belief vs. State of the public health

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Folk belief vs. State of the public health

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Furthermore, the cholera epidemic opens the natives to the vision of medicine and science. However, the effectiveness of medical interventions was not readily accepted by the natives during that time as they were driven by their supertitious beliefs. Thus, the preventive measures implemented by the Americans were utterly futile, since they failed to understand the culture of the country (Ileto, 2017).

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The Bureau of Education established a comprehensive approach to public health education by incorporating health and sanitation into the school curriculum. By the 1920s, the aforementioned subjects had become fundamental parts of education, which was further supported by the emergence of nurses who not only educated students but also visited homes to teach parents about proper sanitation and hygiene practices. The Bureau also distributed educational materials such as "School News Review" in addition to supplemental scientific and health literacy publications. Beyond the classroom, the effort was demonstrated by the hand-washing facilities and sanitary restrooms provided in schools, as well as the inclusion of sports, athletics, and gardening in the curriculum to foster students' overall wellbeing (Anderson, 2006).

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In today's time, the cholera epidemic has become an eye-opener for Filipinos when it comes to the importance of implementing preventive health measures to reduce the cases of certain diseases. This is certainly evident in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wherein, public health interventions such as community quarantines, disinfection initiatives, and educational campaigns are not new since they were already introduced by the Americans way back in the 19th century (Acevedo, 2021).

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As surveillance persisted in the Cholera Outbreak in the Philippines during 1961, several attempts of strict isolation and quarantine were implemented. As the government declared quarantine, this approach will play a part of the broader objective of containing the disease.

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April 2020: Metro Manila and other Provinces under ECQ 

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April 2020: Metro Manila and other Provinces under ECQ 

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The ECQ required a stop of academic activities in schools and universities, restrictions on public gatherings, and reduced operational capacity in government offices. Furthermore, restrictions were placed on non-essential economic ventures, public transit networks were subject to restrictions, and social distancing guidelines were enforced alongside with orders to stay at home (Hapal, 2021).

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Metro Manila to be placed on lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak

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April 2, 2020: Memorandum Circular No. 2020-068 

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April 2, 2020: Memorandum Circular No. 2020-068 

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The Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-068 on April 2, 2020. This circular directed all relevant local government units (LGUs) to suspend all administrative demolition and eviction activities for the duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and State of National Emergency. Furthermore, it stipulated that, in exceptional circumstances where demolition might be deemed unavoidable, the LGUs are obligated to offer displaced families shelter and necessary assistance.

Additionally, the circular mandated LGUs to establish temporary housing facilities for homeless individuals and families within their jurisdictions. The LGUs were also instructed to provide these individuals with appropriate financial aid, relief supplies, and other essential services (Haygood-Guste, 2022).

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In order to control outbreaks, the government implemented a highly securitized approach, prioritizing the use of military and police power to uphold social order and force adherence to public health regulations (Hapal, 2021). According to Maru (2020), as cited by Hapal (2021), this response has been described as overly authoritarian or solely "police-centric,"  given that failure to comply with the implemented measures was subjected to punitive action (Hapal, 2021).

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The Philippines was one of the nations that endured losses during the COVID-19 epidemic, along with numerous other nations that were placed under lockdown and quarantine. Furthermore, as of right now, business revivals are continuing and recovering from the impact of the epidemic. Almost everything was impacted for one of the longest COVID-19 lockdowns in history, including businesses, jobs, and education. On March 16, 2020, the island of Luzon, which is home to 53.3 million people, including 12.8 million in the capital, was placed under the first community quarantine, as it is known locally. The orders were to stay at home. Since then, the other islands in the Philippine archipelago have implemented community quarantine orders of various degrees of severity (See, 2021).

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COVID-19 leads to significant job losses in the Philippines

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According to reports, COVID-19 caused the loss of about 7.3 million employment in the Philippines. The nation's unemployment rate is at an all-time high as a result of businesses closing to assist stop the pandemic (Teo, 2020). In addition, the report also emphasized that millions of employment have been negatively impacted, as Luzon makes up 73% of the Philippines' GDP and is home to 56% of the nation's population. In January 2020, the unemployment rate was 5.3%; in April 2019, it was 5.1%.

Travel and Tourism Industry was also affected, according to Ward and McComb, the pandemic caused a domino effect in the tourism supply chain that has a negative effect on livelihoods in the fishing, farming, creative industries, and other service sectors (2020).

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MANILA (PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - About 4.5 million Filipinos have lost their jobs this year, with the unemployment rate at 10.4 per cent - the highest in 15 years, the government reported, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown shuttering thousands of businesses.

But as quarantine restrictions gradually eased and the economy reopened to allow workers to return to their jobs, the jobless rate also eased to 8.7 per cent in October, National Statistician Dennis Mapa told a press conference on Thursday (Dec 3). He cited from the latest preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics Authority's quarterly labour force survey (LFS).

Labour groups, however, found no reason to celebrate, calling the supposed decline in unemployment an "illusion".

The unemployment rate in October - the highest across all the October LFS rounds since the Philippines adopted its current definition of employment in 2005 - was equivalent to 3.8 million Filipinos in the labour force who were jobless.

The jobless rate in October was below the 10 per cent rate in July, which was equivalent to 4.6 million Filipinos without jobs, and April's rate of 17.6 per cent (or 7.2 million jobless Filipinos).

The Philippines imposed the enhanced community quarantine, or ECQ, in areas with high Covid-19 cases from mid-March to May, which stopped 75 per cent of the economy.

For comparison, the unemployment rate in October last year was 4.6 per cent, or two million jobless.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua attributed the jobs recovery in October to "the reopening of the economy".

Mr Chua, who heads the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), noted in a statement that a string of four typhoons plus the onset of a projected prolonged wet season had inflicted "significant employment loss in agriculture".

"In the latter half of October, the country was hit by Typhoons Nika, Ofel, Pepito and Quinta, which contributed to the reduction of agriculture employment by 1.1 million, or about 70 per cent of the 1.5 million jobs lost between July and October.

"Workers in the provinces also faced difficulty in returning to work given inter-province transport restrictions, and contributed to the 0.5-million loss in the industry sector," Mr Neda said.

Labour groups were not impressed by the improving data.

The "minimal" increase in the number of workers who have returned to work pales beside the "millions" of workers who lost their jobs in the continuing layoffs, according to Defend Jobs Philippines spokesperson Christian Magsoy.

"A mere 800,000 revived jobs... do not give us reason to celebrate," Mr Magsoy said.

The Centre of United and Progressive Workers, or Sentro, described the easing of the unemployment rate as "a complete illusion."

It said the drop could be "largely explained by the fact that at least 2.2 million workers were considered as out of the labour force."

Sentro also said the number of those employed in agriculture and manufacturing declined, while those employed in the services sector were mostly workers of family-run farms or businesses.

In the Philippine parliament, Representative Joey Salceda said the latest unemployment figures should "signal the urgent need" for one final round of stimulus measures, or Bayanihan 3.

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Philippines suffers worst job losses in 15 years due to Covid-19 and lockdown

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MANILA (PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - About 4.5 million Filipinos have lost their jobs this year, with the unemployment rate at 10.4 per cent - the highest in 15 years, the government reported, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown shuttering thousands of businesses.

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The pandemic had a negative impact on education as well. Schools closed for a while during the lockdown, but they reopened after an extended community quarantine was put in place. It was still insufficient, though, because there was a clear no to holding in-person classes. As a result, they introduced blended learning using online and modular classes. They had no idea that backlash against the poor families in some parts of the Philippines existed.

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Filipino children continue missing education opportunities in another year of school closure

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Together with four other countries, the Philippines has kept its schools closed nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic

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According to GMA reports, Filipino students have internet access at home while only 3.74% own cellphones that can connect to the internet. Moreover, only 5% of students have internet access that is stable enough for online learning activities (Ornedo, 2020).

This notion of distance learning by which online classes and modular-based education had been an evidence of anti-poor. Furthermore, as the country was not ready for a lockdown and a pandemic, contingency plans for education was not made, as a result, a halt on education for many individuals, children or not, was prevalent in the country.

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Magsambol (2021) reports that Cheska Avenido, a recent senior high school graduate, expressed her difficulty with the remote learning setting in an interview with Rappler Talk. Cheska is just one of the several students in the nation who have struggled with distant learning.

Thus, students struggled with remote learning due to a variety of external circumstances, including socioeconomic status, the device being used, the internet connection, the signal, and other things. It was also a struggle with focus. In addition to the financial strain that comes with distance learning, children's mental health has suffered. In addition, parents struggled with issues like where to get money to buy internet access or support their kids in reading or completing homework when the parents couldn't read. This is seen in urban poor families and families in need of financial aid. It was difficult for the teachers as well at the same time. Everyone was unprepared for this setup, and switching from in-person to online learning was a culture shock for many, particularly for those who struggle with technology.

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Every morning, Adelaide Dolar would ask a favor: could she charge her mobile phone at her neighbor's house? She didn't have electricity at home, and her children needed her gadget for online class work. She did this for the whole duration of the school year 2020-2021.

The pandemic made it difficult for financially struggling families like hers to fulfill their children's needs for distance learning, the 43-year-old vendor from Batangas province told Rappler in an interview on Sunday, July 18.

Despite this, she made sure that her children would not miss school the past year, when the government enforced a remote setup due to pandemic lockdowns.

Her three children - all basic education students - were enrolled under the modular learning system. The eldest, who was in Grade 10, needed to occasionally attend online classes. The younger ones, however, couldn't just answer the modules distributed by the school; they also needed to watch video lessons uploaded on YouTube or do research for their classes.

With a meager income of P300 ($5.91) a day from selling afternoon snacks to her neighbors, Dolar had to budget this amount between their meals and an allotment of mobile datafor her children's online classes.

"If they have online classes, I need to have P200 for internet 'load.' If my eldest son needs to attend a Google meet, I need to buy internet load worth P50 per hour. Of course, there's also research that needs to be done, so the P50 load won't be enough - that's why we're spending P200 for it. It will be registered for three days," she said.

To make a living, Dolar and her husband sell snacks every afternoon in their neighborhood. Her husband has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, so he cannot help that much with household finances. Dolar also does laundry services just to get by.

Not good for mental health

Aside from the financial burden brought by remote education, Dolar said that her children's mental health had been affected. Without teachers explaining the lessons to students, she had to change her morning routine so she could guide and motivate her children to answer their learning modules. That delayed her preparation of food she would sell in the afternoon.

"They're looking for the [in-person] school. They said in-person classes are better. They miss their interaction with their classmates. They are unmotivated to study. What will happen next school year? Will we be in this kind of situation again?" Dolar asked.

"They were culture-shocked. They are not used to this kind of situation. They're hoping to interact with their teachers and their classmates," she added.

In a recent video interview released by the Ateneo School of Government, Professor Carmel Abao said that aside from the issue of accessibility, remote learning also had an impact on students' mental health.

"There's an issue on the impact of this kind of learning on mental health. I still think that this is not advisable. Our kids are not made for this kind of isolation. Even if you do perform well in online learning, it's different if you're able to see, feel, and talk with your classmates," she said.

Students didn't learn as much

In a Rappler Talk interview on Friday, July 16, senior high school graduate Cheska Avenido said she found the remote learning setup really difficult.

"Besides the adjustment under the new modes of learning, sometimes we ask ourselves if studying during a pandemic is still worth it, because there are a lot of uncertainties," she said.

Dolar shared that sentiment, saying her children didn't learn that much in the remote setup, as she could not teach them properly. Though Dolar graduated with a degree in computer science, she wasn't able to practice any related profession.

"I think they're learning, but learning with teachers is far way better. Sometimes, I find it really hard to understand their lessons. Face-to-face classes is still the best way to go," Dolar said.

Aside from the school system being unprepared for the shift, remote education also posed a major challenge for students who did not have anyone to facilitate learning at home, or whose parents were not capable of guiding them due to lack of knowledge. (READ: Parents bear the brunt of distance learning as classes shift online)

Dolar said that, most times, she was the one attending her children's online classes, especially in mathematics, so she could explain the concepts to them when answering their modules.

An online survey conducted by the multisectoral group Movement for Safe, Equitable, Quality and Relevant Education (SEQuRE) found that 86.7% of students under modular learning, 66% under online learning, and 74% under blended learning said they "learned less" under the alternative modes of learning compared with the traditional face-to-face setup.

The survey also found that only 5.4% under the blended learning, 5.7% under modular learning, and 9.1% under online learning "learned more."

The survey was conducted from June 25 to July 12 among 1,278 teachers, 1,299 Grades 4 to 12 students, and 3,172 parents.

Teachers' Dignity Coalition chairperson Benjo Basas said in a Rappler interview that, while the teachers would always do their best to teach students under any circumstance, they didn't have any control on how students would respond.

"Either of those modalities, whether online or modular, it was difficult to learn. It's difficult for the students. It's also difficult for the teachers because we're not trained for this system," he said.

In March, senators questioned a report from the Department of Education (DepEd) that said 99% of public school students obtained a passing grade in the first quarter of the school year (October-December 2020).

The lawmakers were baffled by the high passing rate because many students struggled with distance learning. They cited instances when it was the parents or household members who ended up answering the exercises in the learning modules.

Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said it was likely that teachers were being considerate and therefore gave students high passing rates.

When pandemic is over, Basas said, teachers would have a tougher job because the students will need to catch up on the level of learning that corresponds to their grade or class.

"We have a lot of catching up to do because we're promoting students to the next level even though we're unsure if they do actually learn. But then we cannot do something about it because we're asked to be considerate since we're in a pandemic," he said.

Erroneous modules, not enough gadgets

Education advocates have said that the pandemic highlighted the gaps in the Philippine education system. This was evident in the erroneous learning modules distributed to public school students during the pandemic.

"Painful" grammatical errors, wrong math equations, and depictions of gender stereotypes alarmed a public already worried over the quality of education that over 24 million students were receiving during the pandemic.

Aside from learning module blunders, Ateneo's Abao said the pandemic exposed the "cracks" in the country's education system.

"If the problem before the pandemic was the lack of classrooms, the problem now is the lack of computers. We have a problem with the quantity and quality which were magnified by the pandemic," she said.

Better than academic freeze

Still, there were those who appreciated that the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education were able to go ahead with the school year amid the pandemic.

Dolar said that, even though the implementation was flawed, distance learning was still better than having an academic break. (READ: School time out during a pandemic? Pros and cons of an academic break)

"They have nothing to do at home, that's why it's okay to have distance learning. But we hope that they can improve the implementation and provide support to parents, teachers, and students," she said.

Professor Jayeel Cornelio, director of Ateneo de Manila University's development studies program, said that while remote education provided an opportunity for those in the academe to be creative, it would not be as effective if not all had equal access to the tools needed for the digital shift.

"As a professor, [remote education for me] is a good. We take advantage of every platform available, but the question is - who is winning and losing here? The reality is that if you come from an elite private school, you can easily cope with it. But we cannot say that flexible learning is the way to go for small private schools and state universities," he said.

Students and teachers remain safe from the virus while they continue learning from their homes. Despite the challenges brought by remote learning, senior high school graduate Avenido said she still felt unsafe to return to face-to-face classes.

"I'd be comfortable to return to face-to-face classes if the government finds better solutions to our pandemic problems. If they can find ways to contain virus spread and ramp up vaccination, it's the only way I will feel safe to join face-to-face classes," she said.

Over a year into the pandemic, the Philippines is still struggling to contain the deadly virus that has so far infected more than 1.5 million and has killed over 26,000 of its population. The country is bracing for a possible surge in infections, as the threat of a more virulent Delta variant looms.

Finding local solutions

Regina Sibal, lead convenor of education advocacy group Aral Pilipinas, said that, aside from the slow response, the government's top-down approach in its policy making was another barrier in the reopening of schools. She said that the government should not be implementing a "blanket rule" across the country.

"Our remote learning now is for all schools and no provision is given to other areas that are able to do face-to-face classes. Disparity in education access has been more pronounced now, especially in marginalized areas that lack resources," she said.

Sibal said that what government should be doing now is to provide local communities with guidelines on finding solutions specific to their areas and situations. (READ: Empower LGUs to make decisions on school opening - advocacy group)

President Rodrigo Duterte turned down several times calls for face-to-face classes due to the threat of the pandemic.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, however, was hopeful the DepEd would get the go signal to start limited face-to-face classes in some 100 schools it had identified. She was banking on the vaccination of teachers and the planned inoculation of students.

The DepEd had said that it was preparing for "the delivery of quality education no matter what the circumstances will be in the coming months."

Public schools in the country will start classes for school year 2021-2022 on September 13, while private schools can start as early as June since they closed the past school year earlier.

"Enhanced" blended distance learning will continue to be implemented. But will the government make it right for millions of students this time around? - Rappler.com

Editors' Note: All Filipino quotes were translated into English.

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Distance learning in the Philippines: A year of hits and misses

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Parents, teachers, and the education department agree: Allow face-to-face classes in areas where it is safe to do so

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It was clear from a comparison and contrast of the COVID-19 virus and the Cholera War pandemics that certain strategies were similar but the policies were different. We believe that a major contributing aspect to the conclusion reached was the course of time. Both outbreaks led to improvements in public health infrastructure. The COVID-19 response showcased more global collaboration, highlighting the importance of a coordinated effort in managing pandemics.

Challenges faced included healthcare system strain, economic disruptions, and the need for rapid vaccine development. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of early detection, global cooperation, and adaptable public health strategies. The cholera epidemic and COVID-19 occurred over a very long period of period; during that time, a number of events had already occurred, and influence from other nations also affected how the pandemic was handled today. From the major occurrences, to the government's reaction, to public health initiatives, to the effects on society and the financial instability brought on by the two pandemics during the year, everything in the same place.

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In light of the ongoing war at the time, the government's response to the cholera outbreak was often limited to local initiatives rather than a coordinated worldwide effort. Coordinated responses were further restricted by inadequate communication and transportation technology. Containment efforts were mostly implemented by impacted areas or countries, so there was limited global cooperation.

In contrast, there was global coordination in the government's response to COVID-19. Prompt information exchange and cooperative efforts were made easier by improved communication technologies and increasing international cooperation. As a result of countries coming together to create cohesive policies and realizing the pandemic's global implications, lockdowns and travel restrictions were widely implemented. Important lessons from past epidemics, such as cholera, probably influenced the current focus on teamwork in the face of a common global health emergency.

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When it comes to public health measures, the response to cholera was primarily centered on enhancing sanitation and implementing local strategies such as quarantine and confinement. In contrast, it did not encompass a comprehensive range of measures seen in contemporary times, including practices like social distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccination, which have become integral components of the response to more recent health challenges such as COVID-19. The evolving understanding of infectious diseases over time has led to a broader and more diversified toolkit in addressing public health crises, hence, covid-19 had more resources in terms of policies in local and global health measures implemented.

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At the same time, cholera war mortality rates without treatment were much greater than those of COVID-19 which has vaccinations, which caused considerable fear among the public. During the cholera outbreak, there were more obvious consequences such as trade interruptions and the provision of rice aid. On the other hand, COVID-19's implications went beyond death rates and included overburdened healthcare systems, economic downturns, and severe impact on education.

Furthermore, both the cholera epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic exposed underlying issues of poverty within the country which creates a cycle of vulnerability to future crises and health emergencies.

When it comes to education, cholera opens enhancements in terms of establishing health and sanitation in the curriculum, which until now have been used and applied by the students. COVID-19, on the other hand, had a major shift in terms of modes of learning, such as online and modular learning. Students have no choice but to adopt the “new normal.” Thus, individuals who do not have the means to access the internet have been utterly left behind.

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Finally, in terms of economic disruption, trade disruptions were the main cause of the cholera war's disruptions. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic had a more broad impact, resulting in a major economic recession marked by huge job losses and closures of businesses. This had a major influence on the Philippine economy.

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To conclude, pandemics arise in particular social and historical situations. Cholera has long been a threat, emphasizing the significance for preventive health measures in the nation. Meanwhile, COVID-19 is a new pandemic that calls for adaptation in a world that is technologically advanced.    However, pandemics disproportionately impact underprivileged populations, exacerbating already-existing inequalities in access to resources, economic stability, and health consequences. Also, development of remote work models, changes in customer behavior, as well as potential long-term adjustments to specific sectors of the economy (such as tourism and hospitality).

Furthermore, with what happened during the cholera epidemic and covid-19 pandemic , it goes to show that health crisis can definitely lead to societal challenges that are detrimental to the country. Thus, there is a need to enhance and strengthen the foundation of healthcare system for it is not just entirely about treating the illness but also fostering economic growth, and building a more resilient and equitable society.