Hopefully, none of our readers is positive for COVID-19. Nonetheless, I suggest that each one of us should think positively — meaning, we should consider ourselves positive for the disease. If that doesn’t make sense, believe me, it’s one effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If we consider ourselves as possible carriers of…
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, April 9, announced that 13 more Filipinos abroad have contracted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the official count of overseas cases to 607. According to the agency, the additional cases are from the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe. The DFA also reported four new fatalities, raising the death…
THE Department of Health on Thursday, April 9, recorded 206 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Philippines, bringing the official count to 4,076. The agency also announced 21 new deaths, raising the death toll to 203. On the other hand, 28 new patients recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of…
President Rodrigo Duterte said he would consider selling government assets as a “ast resort” to generate funds to help address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country. “What is the endgame? We will run out of money. I’ll sell all the property of the government. That Cultural Center of the Philippines, PICC [Philippine International…
AMONG the highest number of casualties in this global public health crisis are on the front lines and since the coronavirus outbreak across the globe began, over 100 doctors and nurses around the world have died. In the 10 states covered by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the reported number is less than…
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Filipino Americans around the country — particularly small business owners and those in the health care field — are trying to navigate how to survive on a daily basis. Fil-Am restaurants, which have been staples in their communities for years and have even garnered awards and mainstream attraction, are…
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…
The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment will be receiving P5 billion in additional funding for programs designed to help formal sector workers affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The aid package for formal sector workers was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases through Resolution No….
ON April 2, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that if an alien failed to maintain lawful status (or went out of status) as a result of his or her attorney messing up and missing a filing deadline or providing wrong advice, there could still be hope or relief for that alien: “When…
FOLLOWING our columns about COVID-19 the past several weeks in this paper since the Wuhan outbreak, we received dozens of questions from our readers, which we have organized, consolidated, and answered below: I am confused, mask or no mask? If you do not have to go out, stay home, which is the safest sanctuary from…
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…
WE are back to work. The Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) updated its list of essential services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and expressly included residential real estate. Since Governor Newsom’s order incorporates this list, the order now includes residential and commercial real estate, including settlement services, as essential services…
The Philippines has temporarily suspended the deployment of health care professionals abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic to guarantee that the country itself has a sufficient number of medical front-liners. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration last week approved the resolution to suspend sending Filipino health care workers abroad until the current crisis is over. Signed by…
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…
The Philippine Department of Health on Tuesday, April 7, reported 104 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, bringing the official count to 3,764. “More than half or more or less 80% [of the cases] were recorded in Metro Manila,” noted Health chief Francisco Duque III. The Davao region and Central Visayas…
The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will be extended until April 30 to further contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, a cabinet official said on Tuesday, April 7. Previously, the quarantine was set to end on April 14. President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for…
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…
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…
SEMANA SANTA. For the first time in my lifetime, my family will not be able to go to church for the mass of the palaspas, stations of the cross, washing of the feet, seven last words, retreats and recollections, salubong, confession, Visita Iglesia, Easter Sunday mass — traditions that we all share as Filipinos and…
THE Walker family never thought having an age range of 3 to 96 under the same roof would be risky. That was before the coronavirus pandemic. Wilma Walker’s now nonagenarian mom moved into her daughter and son-in-law’s home about 15 years ago. Their party of three turned into a household of six when the Walkers’…
by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez WHEN David Vega fell ill with the novel coronavirus in mid-March, fever, chills and nausea left the 27-year-old Indiana medical student curled up in bed for days. After a test confirmed he had COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, his doctor advised Vega to isolate himself at home for an…
Several years ago, I produced a special TV report on the topic, “What would happen if Filipino health care professionals in the U.S. do not report for work?” The point I wanted to make was the vital role that Filipino doctors and nurses, and other health-care professionals, play in America’s health-care system. In the face…
THE COVID-19 Pandemic has changed our lives almost overnight. Not only has it changed our lives in terms of our daily routine, jobs, lifestyle, but also our relationship with our family members under the Stay at Home orders in place in major cities such as Los Angeles, Divorce caused by financial and emotional stress China…
“… And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is LOVE.” THIS Holy Week when the churches are empty because of mandatory shelter-in-place isolation and forced social distancing caused by the Wuhan China coronavirus pandemic that has affected more than 150 countries, it is a good idea to tune…
AFTER battling the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), ABS-CBN actress Iza Calzado candidly shared her experience. During an interview on “Magandang Buhay” on Monday, April 6, she said the symptoms she had were fever, cough and loss of appetite. After she was confined in the hospital, the doctors found that she had also contracted a bacteria called…
