Nearly 10,000 Inmates Freed as Virus Hits PH Jails

Nearly 10,000 prison inmates have been released in the Philippines as the country races to halt coronavirus infections in its overcrowded jails, a Supreme Court official said Saturday (See Inquirer.net for story).

Cremation Traumatises Virus-Hit PH

Families of coronavirus victims in the Philippines are being denied traditional death rites in favour of hurried, impersonal cremations, with virus restrictions often meaning they are forbidden a last look at their loved ones (See Yahoo News for story).

PH Halts In-Bound Passenger Flights for a Week

The Philippines halted all inbound passenger flights for a week to free up space in quarantine centers filled with thousands of migrant workers who have come home during the coronavirus pandemic (See Yahoo News for story).

Pope Promotes Cardinal Tagle to Cardinal-Bishop

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has promoted Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to cardinal-bishops, the highest category a prelate can belong to apart from being the pope himself (See VivaPinas.com for story)

Fil-Am High Schooler Accepted to All 8 Ivy League Schools

Craig McFarland

A Filipino American student at Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville has been accepted to all eight Ivy League schools. Craig McFarland, who has a 4.98 grade point average and never got a “B” on his high school report card (See Inquirer.net for story).

PH Sells $2.35B of Bonds for Pandemic Fight

The Philippines raised $2.35 billion in a bond sale, becoming the latest emerging nation to pay up for funds as governments seek to shield their economies from the coronavirus pandemic (See Yahoo News for story).

PH Coronavirus Updates

· 7,958 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Philippines, 530 who died, and 975 who recovered 

· 1,604 Filipinos abroad who have tested positive, 189who died, 996 undergoing treatment, and 419 who recovered 

1,366 medical frontliners have tested positive: 493doctors, 507 nurses, 74 nursing assistants, 47medical technologists, and 28 radiologic technologists, 11 midwives, 11 respiratory therapists, 165 “other healthcare workers,” such as dentists, barangay health workers, and administrative aides. Of these frontliners, 29 have died,  22 of them doctors (See Rappler for longer story).

Taiwan Refuses to Deport OFW Critical of Duterte

Elanel Egot Ordidor

Taiwan has rejected the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) moves to deport an overseas Filipino worker over social media posts critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying the Philippines must first consult with Taiwan before taking any drastic action (See Rappler for story).