ON MARCH 23, 2020, I posted on this column the first part of this letter.
Today, almost 10 months into the pandemic, I’m republishing the whole letter for three reasons:
1.) It’s my birthday week, and I celebrate my genius to say the things as I’ve said them because for most people, the message of my letter remains relevant and kickass.
2.) Although the vaccine has started to be rolled out in many parts of the world, it will be a while before everyone can be vaccinated, if at all. Thus, the need to keep our guards up even as most people have started to feel the “Covid fatigue.”
3.) In hindsight, many people think that 2020 was a terrible year because they didn’t do anything right. They relied on traditional or conventional ways to survive, and tradition failed them.
In truth, except for the travels and the casual sex that I missed as a widowed gay man, 2020 was a good year for me. I published five (!) books. I became a Facebook sensation, and have redefined my voice to speak to a new generation of readers who have crowned me #ThePSN of Philippine Literature. I really think that this letter shaped the greater part of my 2020. So, in case you missed out last year, here’s hoping you will get something out of this for 2021. —You are welcome!
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Dear Coronavirus,
You can go to hell.
I am not going to give you my fear. I am not going to be defined by you. I am not going to stock on toilet paper, and hoard all bottled water from the store. I am not going to panic. I will continue to breathe. I will continue to sing, and dance in the shower.
Sure, I’ll probably skip going to mass. Skip going to the cinemas. But I’ll have Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video. And I can definitely pray in the privacy of my room.
Seriously, I am not afraid of you. You, stupid virus! I can die tomorrow, and I’m okay with that. I have made my peace with the world. I have done quite enough good deeds in this lifetime. Planted trees, wrote books, visited prisons.
I have lived a wonderful life. Truly amazing. Ate everything, traveled some, knew people. Even sky jumped, and swam with the sharks. Enjoyed every moment of it. The falling in love, the breakups, the reconciliations. The final breakups, and ultimate goodbyes. I loved living each day as if it were my last.
I loved aggressively. Enjoyed sex positively. Smelled the flowers, watched the sunsets. Held hands, kissed people, hugged them. Flirted, and winked at every cute one.
I’m really okay. You, stupid virus! I’m only scared because you also threaten my loved ones. You are a stupid, stupid virus. You should really burn in hell. Why would you even think of killing the people I love?
I mean, you can kill all the bad people. You can start with bad leaders, and greedy politicians. Ruthless business people, and small time hustlers. And the terrible people who spread fear over the Internet. And those who senselessly share information they are not even sure are correct.
I mean, you can kill those who, instead of protecting themselves and others, are just trolling the Internet feeding, and feeding on, people’s fear. And for what? To make miserable, anxious, and fearful company? If they really care, shouldn’t they just stick to, and teach, the basics? Actually, I wish that all people who don’t wash their hands with soap and water get the virus now. That will teach them a good lesson.
I think that those who don’t cover their mouth and nose when they cough and sneeze should just die. I think that people who insist on going out to crowded places for no important reason should just inhale the virus, and drop dead. I mean, seriously!
I really love my family, fans, friends, and relatives. But if they are still ignorant about handwashing, social distancing, and protective precautions at this time, I think they should just die. We could really use less stupid people in the world right now. Less stupid people, less spread of the virus. That banana thing going all over the Internet — that’s bullshit! Eat everything. Eat healthy. Eat normal, eat usual.
We all know the natural rich sources of Vitamin C, and the immune boosters. Sure, mega dose of Vitamin C when people can afford it. But water, water, water!
You are a dry throat virus. When you settle on people’s dry throats, may you be flushed by sips of water every 15 minutes. May you be flushed into their stomachs, and be destroyed by stomach acids.
I really don’t care when the vaccine will be ready. I really don’t care when the cure will be discovered. As a gay man, I have lived with the HIV scare for decades now. The idea of HIV infection can scare the sex out of me. Even if my prospective sexy partner is so damn hot. Even if I use PreP and condoms.
So, no, I’m not scared of you. You, stupid corona virus shit. You are just a virus. I will try to protect myself, and my loved ones. Act as if I’m already infected. I will cover my mouth and nose when I cough and sneeze. I will wear masks if I start coughing and sneezing. I will dispose of my masks, and tissues, and napkins correctly, and safely. I will refrain from touching my mouth, eyes, nose, and face. And obviously, the front side of my mask, which collects your kind.
I will stay away from sick people, or people with symptoms. I will stay away at least six feet from people in the same room, if that is possible. I will monitor myself for fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. And submit myself to the hospital for x-ray and other tests when having unrelieved dry cough and breathing problems. But if I stay healthy, and have a healthy partner, we’ll both take a shower, and continue to have sex. I mean, if these were the end times, I’d like to die making love. And making omelets, if I still wake up in the morning.
You see, stupid virus, you are just a virus. And we have a life. We may lockdown. We may quarantine. But in our homes, we can still read books. Watch movies. Sing karaoke. And pray! Sure, no big gatherings. But a family with no symptoms and significant travel history can still pray together, and have karaoke or movie night together.
See? We have a life. And we will not give you our fear. We will survive. And if we don’t, if I don’t, at least, we will fight living, not paralyzed with fear. And we will die fighting. But we will fight with all signs of life: still eating, singing, loving, praying. And breathing. Calmly. And lovingly. Lovingly!/PN
