MAKATI CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Makati Bureau) – For the longest time, Filipino middle class citizens living in exclusive and other subdivisions have been complaining about not being included in the government’s social amelioration and relief programs relating to the COVID-19 crisis.

But that’s changing.

Today, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) announced that beginning next week,  subdivision residents will receive their relief packages consisting of imported grocery items, cash up to $500 dollars, a new iPhone and other items including designer face masks.

DSWD told The Adobo Chronicles that this move will hopefully help all Filipinos cope with the pandemic the country and the rest of the world are facing.

One for all, all for one.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Sometimes, it takes a crisis of pandemic proportions for the greatest of enemies to come together as one, joining fists to fight even an invisible enemy like COVID-19.

Today, in an unusual show of solidarity, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo did a fist bump, signifying their resolve to make amends and to work closely together — well, with a little bit of social distancing — to lead the island nation towards being coronavirus-free.

The fist bump happened online — Duterte in Malacanang and Robredo at the Boracay Mansion — serenaded by the who’s who in Pinoy music singing the theme song, “We Heal As One.”

Both Duterte and Robredo also announced they were both quarantining themselves, promising that neither of them will issue any public statement or press release until the country is certified COVID-free by the World Health Organization.

Let the healing begin.