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Recent health and economic indicators make me cautiously optimistic about our recovery. I say cautiously because the pandemic still lingers in many countries including the Philippines, yet optimistic because the lifting of some economic restrictions will allow more Filipinos to earn a living.

Buried in all the political noises surrounding the pre-election skirmishes among those seeking elective positions in 2022 was President Rodrigo Duterte’s participation in the 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. The Summit was held from Oct. 26 to 28 under the leadership of Brunei Darussalam with the theme, “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper.”

The Philippines, in a general sense, is in a quandary about how fast it should reopen the economy now that more and more Filipinos have been vaccinated. Many sectors are divided on the issue. But one thing is clear: the economy cannot be hostage forever to the virus.