Intrepid Nurses
/Filipino nurses have long been celebrated around the world—not just for their skills, but also for their heart. As Ban Ki-moon once said, “Filipino nurses are known worldwide for their compassion and dedication.” That reputation didn’t happen overnight. It’s been built over generations of care, grit, and quiet sacrifice.
For many in the Filipino diaspora—whether you grew up hearing stories from titas who worked double shifts abroad or saw relatives leave for opportunities overseas—our lead story this week hits close to home. Over the past few decades, thousands of Filipino nurses have pursued careers abroad, drawn by better pay and working conditions. It’s a point of pride, showing how valued they are globally—but it also comes with a cost, as families are separated and the Philippines itself feels their absence.
What’s often overlooked is that this global journey started much earlier than most people think.
Back in 1914, a group of Filipino nurses traveled all the way to France during World War I. These weren’t just any nurses—they were pioneers. Some had trained at the newly established Philippine General Hospital, while others were educated even earlier by French religious orders like the Daughters of Charity and the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres.
Imagine the leap that took: young Filipina women, traveling halfway across the world, stepping into war zones far from home. They worked in brutal conditions—overcrowded camps, limited supplies, and the constant presence of death. Yet they pressed on, tending to wounded soldiers who saw them as both unfamiliar and lifesaving.
Filipino American historian Alex Fabros captures this history powerfully, sharing a line from one nurse’s diary: “Europe is cold and wounded and it looks to us brown women for warmth.” It’s a striking image—one that still resonates today, especially for diaspora communities who understand what it means to care for others in places far from home.
That’s why this story, “Hands That Healed the World: First Filipina Nurses in Europe,” matters. It’s not just history—it’s a reminder. Of where we’ve been, of the sacrifices made long before us, and of the humanity that continues to define Filipino nurses everywhere.
This Week’s Stories
Hands That Healed the World: First Filipina Nurses in Europe by Alex S. Fabros, Jr.
FilAms Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 77 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco
Federico Dominguez, Painter of Folklore by Rey E. de la Cruz
Tribute to a Master Gardener by Georgina Reyes Encanto
[Partner] Remembrances along the River by Jon Melegrito
[Read It Again]
My Family and the 1939 Filipino Brussels Sprouts Strike by Richard Tenaza
From Spain to Delano—The Radical Roots of Farm Workers Unions by David Bacon
[Video of the Week] The Ultimate Filipino Summer Desserts Guide
In The Know
He Bought a Business for $22,000 and Scaled It to 235 Locations. This Simple Strategy Made His Employees Millionaires.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/building-a-business/he-bought-a-business-for-22000-and-scaled-it-to-235-locations-this-simple-strategy-made-his-employees-millionaires
LOOK: You Can Now Walk from Intramuros to Quiapo and Ermita via This Riverside Path
[OPINION] On the Toboso encounter, Alyssa Alano, and the question of justice
From US to Toboso: The bloody journey of Fil-Am activist Lyle Prijoles
