Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines reveals three things: Firstly, it reveals the government’s lack of preparation to Tight a pandemic because of the ill state of the healthcare system in the country as evidenced in its lack of budget, healthcare personnel and poor healthcare facilities. Secondly, it also reveals the centurylong moral antagonism that had polarized the country into the “moral we” who project themselves in good moral standing by following laws and policies and the “immoral them” who are judged to be hard headed, deTiant to policies and guidelines imposed by the government and therefore, a threat to the security of the public. Thirdly, there is a movement toward agonism, a kind of space that brings the different voices and sentiments together in an atmosphere of respect and openness regardless of class standing, ideologies and morality in order to respond to the challenge of COVID-19. This paper will argue that the ethics of care as shown by President Duterte in his latest address to the nation rather than moral politics advanced by the elite members of the society can provide a solid base for social solidarity as the country struggles to Tight the imminent threats of COVID-19.