California’s coronavirus cases approach 17K level
CALIFORNIA’S number of coronavirus cases is nearing 17,000, as of Wednesday, April 8. The amount of positive cases stands at 16,957, based on figures from the California Health and Human Services Agency. Of those cases, 2,714 are in the hospital and 1,154 are in intensive care units. The leading county with the most cases is…
15 Filipino tycoons among the world’s billionaires
FIFTEEN Filipino tycoons landed on Forbes’ 31st annual ranking of the world’s billionaires, with former Senator and real estate tycoon Manuel Villar leading the pack. Forbes said this year’s roster was made up of 2,095 billionaires across the globe, noting that it was 58 fewer than those recorded in 2019, and 226 fewer than just…
California to add 50,000 new hospital beds
AS California continues to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom said the state is slated to add 50,000 new hospital beds. The state this week has secured 4,613 additional beds at alternate care sites and shuttered hospitals to anticipate the surge in COVID-19 patients, Newsom said during a press briefing on Monday, April…
Over 300 Asians test positive for COVID-19 in LA County
MORE than 300 individuals of Asian descent have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Los Angeles County, according to new data released by the Department of Public Health this week. The latest numbers from the department included a breakdown of cases by race and ethnicity for the first time since the outbreak began in…
LA County expands free testing to anyone with symptoms
Any Los Angeles County resident exhibiting symptoms of the novel coronavirus can now be tested for free, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Monday, April 7. The previous guidelines limited testing to residents over 65 years old, individuals who are immunocompromised, or those who were subjected to a 14-day quarantine because of exposure to a confirmed…
5 Filipinos land on Forbes Asia’s ‘30 Under 30’ list
FIVE Filipinos made it onto Forbes’s “30 Under 30 Asia” list for “challenging conventional wisdom and rewriting the rules for the next generation.” The 2020 roster, released on Thursday, April 2, includes skateboarder Margielyn Didal, The Cacao Project founder Louise Mabulo, PayMongo founder Francis Plaza, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and multimedia artist Breech Asher Harani. “This year’s…
Nevada under ‘stay at home’ order, closures extended to April 30
NEVADA Governor Steve Sisolak this week issued several directives, including a formal “stay at home” order and the extension of nonessential business and school closures until April 30. Announced on Wednesday, April 1, the directive instructs the state’s 3 million residents to not leave their homes unless it’s for necessary activities, such as going to…
Filipino ICU nurse in New York self-isolates by living in a minivan
By Harold Clavite/Contributor AT the end of a long work shift, Filipino nurse Jiggz Tabuclin would make it home in time to put his daughter to bed. But amid the coronavirus outbreak, this is no longer the case. Tabuclin instead parks his minivan outside of the house, then prepares a makeshift bed out of a sleeping…
On Census Day, Fil-Ams are reminded to be counted
With Census Day on April 1, community organizations are reminding Filipino Americans across the country to fill out their questionnaire. April 1, 2020 is significant because respondents will answer based on where they are living on this day. By now, households should have received an invitation with instructions on how to participate in the decennial…
Fil-Am director Dean Devlin’s ‘Almost Paradise’ is the first-ever American TV series shot in the Philippines
The first-ever American TV series filmed entirely in the Philippines debuts on Monday, March 30 on WGN America. “Almost Paradise” is an action-thriller show created, written and produced by award-winning Filipino American filmmaker Dean Devlin. Known for his work on “Independence Day,” “Godzilla, “Leverage,” and “The Librarians,” this is Devlin’s first project involving his Filipino…
The US now has the highest number of coronavirus cases globally, reaching over 100,000
The United States now leads with the highest number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), surpassing China and Italy. The country has 101,657 cases of infection and over 1,500 fatalities and as of Friday, March 27, according to a tracker run by Johns Hopkins University. The top five states with confirmed incidences…
Duterte to self-quarantine as several officials test positive for virus
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will start his self-quarantine over the weekend after several officials tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Malacañang said on Friday, March 27. “PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) will self-quarantine himself on his birthday tomorrow following the advice of the PSG as well as doctors for his protection following his exposure…
California Gov. Newsom announces 90-day mortgage payment relief
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, March 26 announced that financial institutions will provide major financial relief for millions of Californians suffering financially as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. “Millions of California families will be able to take a sigh of relief,” said Newsom. “These new financial protections will provide relief to California families…
LA County closes down beaches
Los Angeles County beaches and beach facilities were closed to the public Friday, March 27 in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. By order of the Health Officer, all beaches, beach facilities and beach accessways will be closed through April 19, when the order expires. Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) crews began…
Lights out for the Earth
It’s difficult to look for any silver lining in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which continues to claim lives around the planet. Environmental advocates, however, cite an obvious consequence of suspending much of transport operations by land, air and sea to prevent the further spread of COVID-19: air quality has become much cleaner. This is…
RECIPE: Roline Casper’s Fresh Lumpia
Reprinted with permission from “The Easy Filipino Cookbook: 100 Classics Made Simple” (Rockridge Press, 2020) Dairy-free, vegetarian PREP TIME: 30 minutes | COOK TIME: 20 minutes | MAKES: 10 lumpia This version of lumpia is fresh, not fried. It is topped with its own special sauce and crushed peanuts. Loaded with vegetables and chickpeas, this…
249 coronavirus cases, 6 deaths in Clark County
Gov. Sisolak restricts malaria drugs for treatment, gatherings of more than 10 CLARK County now has 249 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, March 24, a week after Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced a statewide shutdown of nonessential businesses in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Of the cases reported, 43% are between…