A 60-year-old grandmother from Linden, New Jersey began sewing face masks for her family and friends from the comfort of her home a couple of weeks ago when she realized that even hospital supplies for such masks were beginning to dwindle. Shirley Asunto — more famously known in the community as Tita Shirley, the mother…
THE LATEST data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that at least 9,000 frontline health workers in the United States have contracted COVID-19 and 27 of them have died. This preliminary data from the CDC reveals that nearly three-quarters of these infections are women and the median age is 42. This week,…
LEILA Benitez-McCollum, Philippine television and radio legend, passed away on April 8 due to complications from the coronavirus disease. Her niece, Vivian Talambiras Cruz, an active leader in the Fil-Am community, told the Asian Journal that she spoke with Benitez the night before she died. “She was a bit lethargic and spoke about going to…
With health care workers fighting on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, several Filipino American restaurants and groups are expressing their appreciation by delivering meals and other essential supplies. Kabisera, a cafe in Manhattan’s East Village, has been doing “coffee runs” — serving caffeinated beverages and merienda (snacks) — for the past 10 days…
OVER 300 Filipino workers from Miami, Florida returned to the Philippines on Wednesday, April 15 as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ repatriation program. The latest batch of 354 seafarers came from cruise ships operated by Carnival Cruises and composed of 76 crew members of MV Ecstasy, 104 of MV Dream, 49 of MV…
MEDICAL workers are urged to stay in the Philippines as the country continues to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday, April 13. The president appealed to health care professionals to remain in the country because of the shortage of personnel, but admitted that he cannot blame them if…
PHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, April 14, called for the cooperation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has killed thousands of people and forced the lockdowns of major cities globally. “To effectively overcome the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN must collaborate and coordinate…
California to work in conjunction with other states to reopen the West Coast CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom this week unveiled a framework for reopening the state’s economy and society. Though he provided no exact timeline (the statewide stay at home extends through May 3), Newsom said that he would base his decision to reopen on…
THE curve is starting to flatten. A major factor that has reduced the viral spread, the infections, and hospitalizations is people’s final compliance with the behavioral modification recommended by the medical authorities, which is encapsulated in this acronym: Cover face to scratch, sneeze or cough Omit non-essential travels Voluntary quarantine Intensive hand washing Distancing is…
ON April 13, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it will exercise more flexibility for non-immigrants who must depart the U.S. by a certain date, but are now facing “immigration-related challenges as a direct result of the COVID-pandemic.” DHS is aware that certain nonimmigrants must depart the U.S. before their authorized period of…
As the world navigates through a turbulent time, popular fast-food chain Jollibee wants to bring some joy to customers who are staying safe at home. With the brand’s dining rooms temporarily closed, Jollibee has invited customers to enjoy their Jollibee favorites via drive-through across select locations, call and pick-up, and take-out. Now, the public can…
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Island Pacific has made the health and safety of its customers, employees, and community its top priority. Island Pacific Supermarket has launched its “Stay Home, Stay Safe” campaign by becoming the first Filipino supermarket chain to provide online shopping with same-day grocery delivery in the United States. By shopping at Island…
Nurse Divina “Debbie” Accad had cared for veterans for over 25 years and was set to retire in April. But after contracting the novel coronavirus, she spent her final 11 days on a ventilator — and didn’t survive past March. She joined a growing list of health care professionals working on the front lines of…
Daisy Doronila had a different perspective than most who worked at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, a New Jersey lockup 11 miles from Manhattan. It was a place where the veteran nurse could put her Catholic faith into action, showing kindness to marginalized people. “There would be people there for the most heinous crimes,” said…
Through the CARES Act, “most American adults” are promised financial aid, but this currently leaves out many undocumented individuals For most Americans, financial stability was the primary concern following the massive shelter-in-place orders and the shutdown of multiple industries amid the coronavirus pandemic. Following massive layoffs and workers receiving little to no paid leave, the…
The Philippines has the most number of novel coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia with over 5,000 reports, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The country’s Department of Health announced 291 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 14, bringing the official count of infected individuals to 5,223. After the Philippines, Malaysia trails…
Some 400 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived back in the Philippines on Tuesday, April 14, totaling over 14,600 Filipinos who have been repatriated by the Department of Foreign Affairs since the novel coronavirus outbreak began. On the 15th straight day of repatriation efforts, two batches arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the nation’s capital:…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of a P50.8-billion wage subsidy for middle-income workers affected by the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday, April 14. During the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting on Monday night, Duterte reportedly approved the Small Business Relief Program to help 3.4 million…
County announces 40 new deaths, 670 new cases AS a way to promote transparency and accuracy regarding information about the coronavirus pandemic, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a pair of new websites this week designed to dispel myths about the city’s actions and keep Angelenos readily informed. The first website is a collection of daily…
Several United States senators recently slammed China’s actions in the South China Sea as the world focuses on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The most recent actions by the Asian country include the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese coast guard vessel near Paracel Islands earlier this month and the deployment of…
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin AT a breakfast after mass at the Holy Family Church during a school fundraiser in Glendale California one beautiful fall morning years ago, a statuesque, well groomed lady holding her breakfast tray asked my…
In a season five episode of NBC sitcom “Superstore,” Cloud 9 employees Mateo (Nico Santos) and Marcus (Jon Barinholtz) get into a heated argument in Tagalog, surprising many Filipino viewers to hear the language on American television. Mateo: “Tarantado ka talaga!” Marcus: “Narinig ko ‘yon, gago!” Mateo: “Kapal ng mukha mo, alam kong ikaw kumuha…
TOTAL AUTHORITY is what President Donald Trump now claims in relaxing the social distancing and other safety measures in place and in pushing to reopen the United States for business on May 1, despite the statement of health officials that this is premature, and that the United States isn’t there yet. Why? Trump wants and…
A Filipino American father of three from the Inland Empire was laid to rest on Wednesday, April 15, a week after succumbing to complications related to the novel coronavirus. Jorel Alfonso, 38, died of COVID-19 on April 7, according to his family. A resident of Eastvale in Riverside County, he is survived by his wife…
In response to small businesses affected by COVID-19, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has created the Small Business Recovery Loan Program, administered by the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). The Small Business Recovery Loan Program provides easy to access, timely, and sufficient financial relief to small businesses that are most impacted by…
Nearly 14,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been repatriated back to the Philippines amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday, April 13. The latest numbers from the agency total 13,368, with the majority being seafarers. On Monday afternoon, 668 new sailors arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport….
This current moment has been described as many things: a chance for self-reflection, a practice of selflessness, a collective meditative mental health reset. And, it is most certainly all those things. But it is also a case study in entrepreneurial spirit and how maintaining a sense of community — even during a period of physical…
The Philippines reportedly has a “low” number confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases compared to other countries, according to claims by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. The country’s ratio of COVID-19 infection is two for every one million of the population, the secretary said on Thursday, April 9. “‘Pagka ihahambing po natin ang bilang ng mga…
