Allergy and Immunology Forging Ahead in 2021 Convention

Allergy and Immunology Forging Ahead in 2021

 Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Inc.

19th Annual (Virtual) Convention September 2 to 4, 2021

Chronicles of an MD: The COVID-19 Journey
Dr Jonas Del Rosario, Spokesperson of the Philippine General Hospital

Response to the lecture by Dr. Abercio V. Rotor, Ph.D.

On behalf of Dr Arturo B Rotor clan, I wish to greet all of you in this convention, and to Dr Jonas Del Rosario who shares not only his insights but real experience with COVID-19, he himself a survivor of the pandemic, and one bereft of his loved ones to the same disease.

Our guest and speaker, Dr Del Rosario does not only belong to a new breed of heroes in our fight against COVID-19, but as a chronicler, one who writes directly from the battlefield, so to speak, putting substance to details, organization, compassion and objectivity.

Dr Del Rosario challenges us to deepen our resolve to fight and win over the deadly pandemic. In a TV interview, he endorses four advocates that are like pillars of defence, namely.

1. Know the enemy with scientific basis,
2. Conquer fear, never lose hope,
3. Keep the Bayanihan spirit  alive, and
4. Let’s take care of one another, which the core value of humanity

Let me reflect on the following scenarios, and allay fears of a runaway pandemic.

1. Let’s heed Nature’s call. Good health is primordial. Let’s preserve the integrity of our environment, particularly against all forms of pollution.

2. COVID-19 is a wake up call to world order. Institutions are being challenged – family, government, church , school, and not the least, the medical profession. It is a wake up call to the UN, EU, ASEAN, G7, and other leagues of nations.

3. The humbling effect of COVID-19 on man’s lofty dreams, warns us of the biblical Tower of Babel Syndrome. Thus there is need to redefine the meaning of The Good Life, and True Happiness. We must look deeper into the meaning of Progress.

4. There is no panacea, no single cure.  Collective effort is the key to win the battle. The pandemic is a global concern, no one is spared, irrespective of economic status, race, faith, ideology. “The world’s a stage and each one of us has a role to play,” says a great dramatist. 

5. We must deeply reflect on man’s relationship with his Creator – We cannot play God through science and philosophy and theology, and other fields.

Our search for the meaning of life, is first of all, look inward for the inner and better person which resides in each and every one of us. It is The Little Prince in a book of the same title.

The resilience of mankind to crisis has been tested before, in fact throughout history, Let us not let our world enter into a Neo-Dark Age in postmodern times.

These are the times that try men’s soul – the soul that elevates us as humans – Homo sapiens. The defining moments of our lives is when we fight for a cause – a cause that others may live, and that our world become a better place to live in. We are going to win this battle, with a new breed of heroes rising among us, from us and with us. And, "walang iwanan."

Let us rally behind the theme of this convention, and behind our speaker – Dr Jonas Del Rosario, who is not only spokesperson of the Philippine General Hospital, but of all of us pitted against the biggest battle - the very survival of the human race.

Again, thank you, and may we all find meaning in whatever we do to curb the devastating effects of COVID-19. ~