Honoring our Teachers

I consider teaching the noblest of professions, and teachers -- especially those in Philippine public schools who have to trek miles, endure low wages and overcome a serious lack of supplies -- as real heroes. This week we are featuring the recipients of the first "Guro to Pangulo" awardees of the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation. These ten teachers have been recognized for their dedication and commitment to their profession. They were chosen from public schools named after the second president of the Philippine republic, who was himself a public school teacher before he became a politician and statesman. Positively Filipino Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino, whose husband is a presidential nephew, reports.

From Cotabato City, fashion designer Pepe Quitco talks about his passion for inaul, the handwoven fabric native to Maguindanao, and showcases his creations that display its beauty and versatility. Serina Aidasani focuses on this talented couturier who has chosen to remain in his home city while creating fabulous clothes.

In President Obama's last State of the Union address last night, he underscored American leadership in the international fight against the ebola epidemic in Africa. Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, a Filipino American environmental scientist, was at the forefront of developing a process of eliminating contaminated Ebola-treatment waste, a necessary step in stopping the spread of the deadly virus. Read Again this exclusive and compelling report of Dr. Emmanuel, "My Battle with Ebola."

Our Video of the Week: popular musician Apl.de.Ap pitches for the Philippines as great travel destination in this new video from the Department of Tourism.

And our Happy Home Cook recipe is Binacol na Manok, chicken stewed in coconut water, a popular Ilonggo dish. 

Heroes in the Fight Against Ebola

We depart from our usual dose of weekly stories to bring you an exclusive, first person account on the war on Ebola in West Africa from my friend, Dr. Jorge Emmanuel. Jorge spent the months of November and December 2014 in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. As the chief technical adviser to the United Nations (UN) on medical waste, he was requested to go to Africa to develop guidelines for dealing with Ebola-infected waste and train hospital staff and waste-disposal workers on its safe management.

Jorge’s account is not only very informative on symptoms, statistics and scenarios (political, social, economical, medical) for every country affected, but also very emotional and powerful as he meets children who are suddenly orphaned, patients arriving in wheelbarrows, pilots paying for gas from their own pockets in order to fly aid workers, local and foreign medical workers, including Filipinos.

There are many heroes in the fight to contain and eradicate Ebola in the region, from the doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers to the funeral staffers and waste-disposal workers. We can only imagine what it was like for those who died, for those who risked their lives and for those who survived only to find out they have no family left. I personally want to thank all of them for their courage and bravery.

And to my friend, Jorge, thank you for what you are and what you do. I am so proud of you, my fellow Pinoy. When we see each other next, I will gladly shake your hand. No need for an elbow bump.