ESPRESSO MORNINGS

By Joe Zaldarriaga

Mr. Joe Zaldarriaga, fondly called “Manong Joe”, is a distinguished figure in the country’s corporate communications landscape. Holding the position of Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications at Manila Electric Company (Meralco), he has orchestrated unparalleled success for the utility company, winning accolades for their brand of service communications.
Under his guidance, Meralco achieved unprecedented milestones, clinching a historic 3-peat Company of the Year title at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, scoring the only PR Team of the Year trophy bestowed at the Anvil Awards, and securing numerous honors at international and local communication awards.
Manong Joe’s leadership also extends as a respected member of the Board of Trustees for the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), concurrent with his role as Chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) where he also served as its President.
Manong Joe is a distinguished awardee of the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation from the University of Manila, owing to his years in public service as a communications professional. He shares his insights through columns in renowned publications, including The Philippine Star’s The Z Factor, and Philippine News Agency’s ESPRESSO MORNINGS.

Covid-19 is once again making international headlines as densely populated Hong Kong and Singapore report a surge in infections over the past weeks —raising public health concerns across the region about pandemic preparedness.

Here in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) has allayed fears of another surge of Covid-19 cases, noting that it sees no cause for alarm. As of May 3, 2025, the DOH said it has observed an 87 percent decrease in cases and fatalities from 2024 with 1,774 cases reported this year compared to 14,074 cases last year.

The current Covid-19 case fatality rate also remains relatively low at 1.13 percent. The DOH has also observed a “slight decrease in reported cases over the past three to four weeks,” indicating that current transmission levels remain manageable.

Despite the reassuring figures, the rising number of infections in neighboring countries serves as a timely reminder of the persistent risk posed by Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses and the need for everyone —especially for the elderly and immunocompromised— to get their jabs updated especially against the flu and other respiratory illnesses.

As the rainy season nears, getting vaccinated is an important and potentially life-saving step especially since the upcoming season is typically associated with spikes in respiratory illnesses such as the common cold, influenza, and pneumonia. This seasonal pattern underscores the critical importance of getting vaccinated —not only to protect oneself from Covid-19, but also to guard against other potentially serious infections that thrive in colder, damper conditions.

In addition to vaccinations, the DOH continues to emphasize simple yet effective preventive measures that the public should observe. These include wearing face masks in healthcare facilities, staying home when sick, covering one’s mouth when coughing and sneezing, regular washing of hands with soap and water, and seeking early consultation for symptoms.

These measures are not limited to preventing the spread of Covid-19 but also applies to other diseases.

As a 61-year-old, I am personally aware of how critical it is to be cautious of one’s health. Aging naturally brings changes to our immune system, making older adults more susceptible to infections and health complications. There is no shame in being cautious —on the contrary, exercising caution is an effective way to protect ourselves, and safeguard our loved ones and the larger community.

The best defense, particularly for our most vulnerable, is prevention. This means getting booster shots and just as importantly seasonal flu vaccines and other age-appropriate immunizations. I also extend this call to those caring for elderly relatives and immunocompromised family members: encourage them to see their doctors or barangay health workers to get their vaccines updated.

Beyond these preventive measures, let us proactively take steps to boost our immune systems through healthy eating practices, regular exercise, enough rest, and stress management. Prevention becomes more effective when everyone does their part in making informed, health-conscious decisions.

Let’s not wait until our hospitals begin to fill up again. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us how rapidly situations can escalate when precautions are ignored. We cannot afford another lockdown. We have already seen how overwhelmed healthcare systems can become, how quickly lives can be disrupted, and how challenging it is to recover from a health crisis of such magnitude.

The rainy season is fast approaching, and it wouldn’t hurt if we become more cautious against common colds and illnesses. We are not powerless over our health, and we also have the power to help protect our most vulnerable.

Because prevention, as we’ve all learned the hard way, is always better than cure.