MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – We’re approaching nine months since the Philippine government imposed a community quarantine as part of the national strategy to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Most likely, some form of quarantine will continue to be imposed for many months more, practically putting to waste a full year in the lives of Filipinos.

But fret no more.

Upon recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an Executive Order authorizing all Filipino citizens to legally deduct one year from their ages in order to compensate for lost time. For example, a 45-year-old Filipino celebrating a birthday this year will remain 45, instead of 46.

The E.O. orders the Philippine Statistics Office (PSO) to tweak its computerized program so that Filipinos’ birth dates will be advanced one year.

Filipinos welcomed this move by the IATF and the President.

Make sure that your birthday cakes will have one less candle this year!