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The phrase “when it rains, it pours” has taken a positive meaning in current developments in the Philippines. Our Covid-19 data are improving significantly while recent economic figures suggest the business reopening in the Philippines is a success. All these numbers point to a healthier nation and a robust economy in the coming months.

It is nice to see people going out again. I saw families roaming our malls again, friends chatting over coffee. Strangely, I have missed the cacophony of noises of people talking and coffee machines whirring. After months of “captivity” because of lockdowns, people are understandably excited to go out of their houses again. Daily coronavirus cases have been on the decline and the government has lowered the alert levels on restrictions. And of course, it is the Christmas season.

As we started making a significant dent in active Covid-19 cases in the country, here comes the news that a mutated coronavirus variant called Omicron may lead to new surges in global infection. Many countries, including the Philippines, quickly moved to tighten border control and even imposed bans on foreign travelers as a preemptive response, which is understandable.