Mag-mask ka. Mag-social distancing. Maghugas ng kamay.

Ito yung mga na-ingrain na paraan sa atin nung may pandemya para iwas infection. 

Nung nagkaroon na ng vaccines - amid the fact that there were varying degrees of vaccine availability, access at vaccine hesitancy - it's irrefutable na may konkretong paraan na to prevent the severe effects of COVID-19. 

Pero there's no vaccine against racism - against scapegoating, where people of a different race or ethnicity are conveniently blamed for what's ultimately the consquences of greed, crimes against nature and weak governance.

This became more evident again when the migrant domestic worker got sick in Bergamo. 

"Ingat na lang tayo ng sobra, 'My," sabi ni Yeri sa tinuran na niyang nanay after her own mother died a couple of years ago. Yung tumayo na niyang nanay ay matalik na kaibigan ng kanyang nasirang ina at dating leader ng isang organisasyon sa Italy na nagsusulong ng migrant workers' rights.

"Ganun na nga. Pero remember that we shouldn't keep our heads low ha, or hang our heads in shame. Wear our masks but don't hang our heads in shame - hindi tayo ang sakit," sambit nito sa kanya habang papasok sila sa isang grocery store sa Rome.

Tahimik silang namimili ng may marinig silang scuffle, tapos sigaw. 

"You Asian , go home!" 

Napalingon sina Yeri.

They saw a group of young men going after an old Filipina in an aisle close to them.