Cheaper Medicines, Death of an Icon, and GMA dines for P1M

So much has happened these past few weeks. I have started writing again,after purging myself of my emotional baggage. But it seems that even if I am able to resolve inner conflicts, those that I cannot control start to aggravate me again.

First, there is the "cheaper" medicines act which our president GMA has so openly bragged that it will help millions of filipinos because some medicine brands will be sold at half price. Take note of the word "some". It has been passed into law and should take effect on the 15th of August. Three days ago, my mother ran out of her maintenance medication for her diabetes and hypertension. Even with her senior citizen discount, the bill came up to close to P5,000 for half a months' supply of medicine. While waiting for the pharmacist to fill up my order, I glanced on the list of medicines that would be "discounted". None of my mothers' medicines are in the list or have ever been part of her medication. I asked the pharmacist about the anti-asthma meds because according to the news there should be anti-asthma meds included. The pharmacist replied that they will only discount whatever is on the list. So this means that the cheaper medicines act will not be of any help to me, who has asthma, or my mother who is a basket case of ailments.

Which comes to my second topic, death of an icon. Cory Aquino died on August 1. She has been diagnosed with colon cancer and has fought a brave fight. I have never been a Cory fan, but the outpouring of support from millions of filipinos during her wake made me realize how much the filipinos loved her. It also made me compare her with the present administration and those that succeeded her. I can say that Cory was indeed a president who thought of the people first before thinking of her own needs. How I can say this is because she embodied a filipino trait that I have not seen with other presidents which is a strong faith in God. During the wake, I could emphatize with Cory's children as they saw their mother being overwhelmed by pain. Then their comment that their mother's treatment was so expensive, an ordinary filipino could not afford it. This statement is so true and brings me to my first topic of the cheaper medicines act.

The cheaper medicines act include some anti-cancer medication. But even oncologists or cancer doctors have stated that these discounted medicines are of little benefit to cancer patients. Because these are only part of the protocol. They do not include those that are regularly given or given in combination with the medicines that have been discounted. Those that have been discounted are the anti cancer medicines that are already cheap. I should know because my mother's chemotherapy session costs P200,000 per session.

Which brings me to my last topic, GMA's infamous million peso dinner. She was in NY the week that Cory died, part of her state or working visit to the United States. While the whole country mourned for an icon of democracy, GMA was dining at Le Cirque restaurant in NY which is one of the expensive restaurants in NY. The NY Post reported that the bill came to $20,000. That is close to a million in pesos. So while people die from not being able to afford medicine, she is spending a million for just one night. It does not matter if its her personal money or that the entourage split the bill. Where is your "delikadesa" madame Arroyo? This is a time of recession where people are losing jobs, going homeless and dying of hunger. The greed of Mrs Arroyo becomes more and more transparent and she even bragged during her SONA that if its' being extravagant, other politicians lifestyles should be checked and not hers.

So this has been a whirlwind of events, from brief elation that medicine costs will go down (only to find out that it will not help), to grief and loss over the death of an icon of democracy, to the greed that is so prevalent in our government. Mrs Arroyo I used to believe in you. Now I can see your greed and it disgusts me.