This year 2021 is the dawn of the second decade of the UN WIHW and ‘mark the inaugural day of the UN International Day of Human Fraternity on February 4.’ Due to lockdowns and general community quarantine (GCQ) status in several places, we cannot gather nor travel to celebrate nor do activities together. We are restricted to stay at home. Even so, alone or with family members, we can still offer our positive thoughts  and prayers for harmony and peace, support the vision of the UN WIHW through letters of support and videos, affirm the goodness in people, create art, green a sacred space, plant a garden, spruce up a peace garden, offer chants, or prayers for global healing and wellbeing to rise above the global pandemic-coronavirus-together. We connect spiritually with like-minded allies and fellow supporters of the WIHW to express our prayers and intentions even if done virtually.

Sadly, on February 1, 2021, in the barangay where I live, we have the first case of death due to covid19. In my heart, as with the rest of my townmates, we offer our prayers for the repose of an uncle who passed away because of the virulent virus infection. We continue to witness our love for God and love of neighbor as an expression of our spirituality.