By Benjie Alejandro

Fellow readers, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently joked after being hospitalized, saying: “Rumors of my death are highly exaggerated.” Lighthearted as the remark may be, the message is clear: even the President gets tired, falls ill, and needs rest. Humanity does not exempt anyone, not even those in the highest office of government.

Yet we cannot ignore the stark difference between the President’s experience and that of ordinary Filipinos. At the first sign of discomfort, he was immediately brought to a prestigious hospital, with access to the best doctors and modern equipment. Meanwhile, the ordinary worker often hesitates to seek medical help for fear of expenses. Many line up for hours in public hospitals, waiting to be examined, relying instead on cheap medicine or home remedies.

And here lies the irony: ordinary people must go to their congressman or legislator to secure a “Guaranteed Letter” (GL) just to be assured of medical assistance, while top officials are guaranteed immediate care even without a letter. The contrast could not be more glaring.

So while we see that the President is also human—subject to fatigue and illness—we must ask: when will ordinary Filipinos experience the same speed and quality of medical service? The President’s illness is a reminder that health is a wealth that should be equally shared. Swift treatment and proper care should not remain privileges reserved for the powerful and the wealthy.

This is where the call to action comes in: if the government truly wishes to show compassion for the people, it must begin with equality in health. Every Filipino—worker, farmer, student, or professional—deserves medical service that is fast, decent, and affordable. In the end, the real strength of the nation rests not only on the health of its leaders, but on the well-being of its people.