Social Division, Discontinuity, and Disconnection during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In this essay, I talk about the division, discontinuity, and disconnection brought by the pandemic in the context of the Philippines. I highlight the division between poor and privileged Filipinos through a critique of the Philippine government’s Social Amelioration Program, look at discontinuity in education as I reflect on what it means and implies, and pursue an argument concerning disconnection as I comment on infringements on social and mainstream media by the Philippine government. This range of issues has been brought into sharper focus by the pandemic and I will ground my arguments on personal narrative, experience, and observations.