Episode 3: Remaining abroad as the safer option

Episode 3 of "Ang Tibay ng mga Pilipino" continues the discussion of comparing the healthcare systems of the Philippines to other countries, in this instance Canada, but also touches on the issue of xenophobia that has risen with the racial attributions of COVID-19. The two college students in this episode also primarily discuss their reasons of staying abroad to finish their freshman year instead of returning home once their university closed.

Matthew Cole and Sabine Villaroman, both freshman students at the University of British Columbia, share that Canada has been very effective in flattening the curve. Since Canada is a developed country, they emphasize that they do have more resources and access to test kits to conduct accurate surveillance and preventive measures. Because of these elements, they felt safer staying abroad to finish the school year rather than going home. Moreover, the universal healthcare that Canada is so known for is especially important during the pandemic and is paying off to provide for the people most in need. They attribute these successes to Canada's healthcare and legislative structure, able to tackle on a pandemic of this size.

Regardless of status, income, employment, or age, all Canadians have access to universal healthcare, which is known for its efficiency and unrestricted organization. However, the citizens do pay a lot of money for taxes and premiums that are necessary to ensure that healthcare remains free for the public.

"If I was to compare it using one word, it would be that Canada is more organized than the Philippines. Essentially, the Philippines is locking down and their efforts are probably greater than Canada... Given the combination of the density of the Philippines and economic status, it's obviously a lot tougher there." - Matthew Cole

They shared that Canada did implement social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Since the citizens complied immediately, there was no need for the government to go to the extremes of the United States and Philippines of instituting a lockdown. Canada is one of the few model countries to exemplify that it is indeed possible to impede the virus without having to resort to extreme or authoritarian measures.

Another issue that was discussed and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic is xenophobia, borne through the racialization of disease. The racialization of disease is a phenomenon that has existed throughout the past centuries, with Ebola in 2014, MERS in 2012, SARS in 2003, and even the yellow fever epidemic in 1793. These attacks have fueled a racialized contagion of fear that detrimentally promote prejudice towards marginazlied communities. President Trump's actions of calling the disease the "China virus" rather than its official name further provokes these racist notions, since a world leader is setting a harmful example.

"She kept shouting racist things, and I tried to intervene to make her stop but then she shouted racist things at me, mostly about how we [Asians] are taking all the jobs and are not welcome here." - Matthew Cole talking about a xenophobic incident he experienced.

Both students emphasize that these minority communities cannot back down to segregation and must stop it to the best of their abilities. Even though a utopia of a racist-free society may never be achieved, they have faith in the current and succeeding generations to be the instigator of change since there are many activists and programs designed to raise awareness for these issues. They speak to the Filipinos' landmark familial and hospitable nature and strong faith that will enable the Filipinos to endure and survive through the pandemic, no matter where they may be in the world.