'Fighting Filipinos' Film to Be Finished in New Mexico

Post-production on the documentary “Legacy of the Fighting Filipinos” will take place in Albuquerque in April through November, the New Mexico State Film Office announced (See Inquirer.net for story)..

Tony Winner Clint Ramos Wins $50K USA Fellowship

Clint Ramos

Clint Ramos

Filipino American set and costume designer Clint Ramos has been named a United States Artists (USA) Fellow for 2020. He is one of 50 fellows selected for the year by United States Artists, a national arts funding organization. (See Inquirer.net)

Filipina Is First COVID-19 Fatality in Los Angeles County

Filipina from Orlando.jpg

A Filipina from Orlando, Florida became the first coronavirus fatality in Los Angeles County, where she was visiting relatives after a trip to Thailand, the Philippines and long layover in South Korea (See Inquirer.net for story).

PH Gives Foreigners Days to Leave N. Luzon

 Thousands of foreign travelers need to leave the northern Philippines by Friday or they will be stranded in the region, which has been placed under quarantine because of a growing number of coronavirus infections, officials said Tuesday (See Yahoo News for story).

Filipino Diplomat in New York Tests Positive for COVID-19

Philippine Consul NY.jpg

NEW YORK – A staff member of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations has tested positive for coronavirus, Mission Charge D’affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative Kira Danganan-Azucena confirmed in a message to UN colleagues Thursday, March 12 (See Inquirer.net for story).

Filipino scientists invent low-cost COVID-19 testing kit

Dr. Raul Destura

Dr. Raul Destura

Biotechnology expert Dr. Raul Destura and his team of University of the Philippines invented a low-cost coronavirus testing kit as soon as signs of the coming pandemic became apparent (See ABS-CBN News for story).

Jollibee Loses $2.3 Billion in U.S. Gamble -- Bloomberg

Jollibee owner Tony Tan Caktiong

Jollibee owner Tony Tan Caktiong

Jollibee Foods Corp. set out on an expansion in the U.S., spending $540 million buying Smashburger and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co. Even as the two money-losing chains turn out to be a drag on earnings, the coronavirus outbreak is now threatening to hit its sales (See Bloomberg for story).

Duterte Declares State of Public Health Emergency Due to COVID-19

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a proclamation declaring a state of public health emergency due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat (See Inquirer.net for story).