Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Italy were furious with ABS-CBN journalist Karen Davila after the latter mentioned in national television that the Italian Government is giving food stamps to its citizens.

Davila who’s covering the enhanced community quarantine imposed on Luzon was talking about the food security of some countries who got affected by the COVID-19 and she mentioned Italy as one of the examples.

“Sa italy ay binibigyan ng mga vouchers ang mga tao para makapunta sa supermarket at makakuha ng pagkain ng libre,” Davila said.

However, some netizens working in Italy called the attention of Davila and informed her that there’s no food stamps or food being given to them by the government.

“Hoyyy Karen Davila sinong may sabing may libre vouchers dito sa Italy!!!I am from italy and we are in total lockdown but the food we buy it on our own pockets..makabalita ka palpak pa!may maibatikos lang sa gobyerno!nasan ang krebilidad mo!? Mahiya ka!!!! nga,” netizen Sylvia Apolonia said.

“Dito sa Italya kayod marino ang mga filipinos,pati hininga binabayaran dito,tapos ibabalita mo dyan sa Pilipinas may mga boucher ang mga taong naka clockdown dito sa italya,humusay usa ka nga karen lagi kay FAULT tuwing bumubuka ang bibig mo,” netizen Mhay Ayala commented.

“Hoy! Karen davila sa sariling bulsa namin kinukuha ang aming mga pambiling pagkain.. hindi sa government ng italy for your info,” Primz Bruno remarked.

Another netizen tried to ask Davila for clarification on her Instagram.

The journalist then clarified that the voucher is still only a proposal.

“Ma’am, correction. There is a proposed €600 voucher/financial assistance for mothers in Italy (can be used for food) as reported in the New York Times,” Davila told the OFW.

One netizen even made a vlog to debunk Davila.

Kristina’s Vlog, a Filipina working in Italy said that they’re not receiving anything from the Italian government and they’re forced to use their savings to buy basic needs.

“Sana po kapag magbabalita kayo siguraduhin niyo rin na tama yung binabalita niyo kasi wala pong free dito, siguro free lang dito yung tubig kasi may mga fountain dito na pwede kang uminom ng tubig,” she said.

Italy is one of the most affected countries by COVID-19.

As of writing, there are already 26,062 people infected by the said virus in Italy.

A netizen was done with people who are criticizing the government for the bad effects of the community quarantine to the poor people living in Luzon.

Netizen Jeoffrey Lacaba on a Facebook post, slammed the critics of the government and the people complaining about the community quarantine imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that the world is not yet going to end.

According to him, people should not be afraid to lose their lives because of hunger, as the government already vowed to help them to get food and financial support.

He suggested that people may ask their relatives for help if they cannot wait for relief goods from the government.

Lacaba believes that Filipinos could survive the month-long quarantine as some of them could even throw a birthday party and also ready to borrow money just to fund it.

The netizen also said that people should not think of their work for now as getting infected by COVID is more dangerous than being jobless.

He then urged the people to follow the simple request from the government to stay at home for a month to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Before ending his post, Lacaba said that all of them should participate and cooperate in the fight against COVID-19 because all Filipinos are going to benefit from it.

You can read his whole post below:

“ANONG SINASABI NYO NA PAG DI KAYO PUMASOK OR MAG WORK MMTAY KAYO SA GUTOM? 1 MONTH LANG PTAY NA AGAD? YUNG MGA SINASABI NYO NA WAKANG MAKAIN DATI NA SILA WALA MAKAIN, PERO NAKAKASURVIVE SILA..ANO KINAKATAKOT NYO?

1. HINDI PA ITO APOCALYPSE, may gobyerno pa tayo, may kuryente, tubig, open mga groceries, may mabibilhan pa tayo ng pagkain, may hospital, may mga tutlong sa atin, may WIFI at may TV pa nga eh..

2. WALA KA PERA PAMBILI NG FOOD? bakit wala ka ba kamag anak or kapitbahay na pede mo hingan ng tulong?
Bakit pag birthday or okasyon, nakaka gawa ka ng paraan, kahit mangutang ka para lang mairaos yang celebration mo, pero ito basic survival parang di mo kakayanin?
2 -3 days pede ka mag survive na hindi kumakain, for sure sa situation natin ngayon makakakain ka kahit isang beses sa isang araw, sinabi din na sa aalamin ng mga barangay chairman yung mga mawawalan ng pagkain at irereport sa DSWD para mag padala ng pagkain..so ano problema mo?

3. HINDI MAG PAPAPASWELDO ANG COMPANY MO KUNG HINDI KA PAPASOK..Eh ano ngayon? bakit? mawawalan ka ba ng trabaho? eh pano pag nahawa ka? at mmtay ka? pano pamilya mo? bibigyan ba sila ng tulong ng company mo? para kanino ka mag tatarabaho? yung customer mo or client mo naka community quarantine, ano gagawin mo sa work, tutunganga? kahit sa factory kapa nga wowork, pag lumala situation ipapahinto rin yan. ang tanong hihintayin mo pa ba na lumala bago ka sumunod?

4. ANO ANG HINDI NYO MAINTINDIHAN SA “STAY AT HOME” may crisis, nag utos ang gobyerno na dapat sa bahay lang muna bakit ayaw natin sumunod? ano mawala sa atin? ipinapakita mo lang na wala kang pagmamahal sa bayan mo, may kalaban ang bayan mo at humihingi sya ng tulong mo, ang gagawin mo lang ay mag stay sa bahay..paano kung mag ka gyera at humingi ng tulong ang bayan mo? eh di mas lalo kana hindi tutulong kasi makikipag barilan kana?

5. MAY GINAGAWA ANG GOBYERNO NATIN, PERO PARA MAGING EFFECTIVE YUN, DAPAT MAG PARTICPATE AT MAG COOPERATE TAYONG LAHAT..PARA KANINO BA LAHAT ITO? SINO BA MAKIKINABANG PAG NATALO NATIN TONG COVID-19 VIRUS? DIBA TAYONG LAHAT DIN? DI KA BA MAKOKONSENYA NA KUNG SAKALI MATALO NATIN TO, AT NAGING COVID FREE ANG PINAS, ISA KA SA MGA WALANG GINAWA KUNDI KUMONTRA AT MAGREKLAMO, PERO TINATAMASA MO ANG RESULTA NG SAKRIPISYO NG IBANG TAO..ANONG KLASENG PAGKATAO MERON KA?”

Yesterday, President Duterte imposed the community quarantine in Luzon, affecting millions of Filipinos.

Some of them even forced to walk to their destination as the government stopped all public transportations to control the movement of the people.

Source: [1]

Vice President Leni Robredo couldn’t stop herself from cursing after she was informed that some netizens are renting vans for the Office of the Vice President.

Robredo denied that they’re hiring vehicles for their free shuttle service program, saying that private organizations already offered their help without any cost.

“We are not hiring vehicles for our free shuttle services tomorrow. This is a malicious Facebook entry which intends to put our office in a bad light,” Robredo said.

“The free shuttle service that we will be offering to medical frontliners is through the kindness and generosity of private organizations, at no cost to the government,” she added.

She described the action as vile, asking how people could do such things during times of crisis.

“Walang sukdulan na kasamaan ang sinuman na nakakaisip pa ng mga ganitong kag*guhan sa panahon ng matinding sakuna,” she said.

According to the circulating Facebook post, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is hiring 300 transport vans for 3,500 a day each vehicle.

The post also told the vehicle owners and drivers to visit the OVP.

They even put “deployment as soon as possible” to attract more interested vehicle owners.

On Tuesday, Robredo announced that they’re going to offer free shuttle service to help the hospital workers.

This is what the announcement reads:

“The OVP will deploy six air-conditioned bus units on Wednesday for the round trips that will start at 6 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the following routes:
ROUTE 1: RITM Alabang — Magallanes SLEX MRT (via Osmeña Highway, via Quirino Ave.) — Taft Ave. LRT — PGH / UP-NIH — Lawton LRT — Carriedo LRT — Recto LRT — Tayuman LRT — Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center
ROUTE 2: Heritage Hotel EDSA ext (via Roxas Blvd., via Quirino Ave.) — Taft Ave. LRT — PGH / UP-NIH — Manila City Hall (via Quiapo) — UST Hospital — UDMC (via Welcome Rotonda, via Quezon Ave.) — Phil. Orthopedic Center (Banawe, via Araneta Ave. — EDSA Quezon Ave. MRT
ROUTE 3: SM MOA Globe EDSA — EDSA Taft LRT / MRT — Magallanes MRT — Guadalupe MRT — Shaw MRT — Cubao MRT / LRT2 (via Aurora Blvd., via C5 ext.) — QMMC (via C5 / Marcos Highway) — Santolan LRT2 — Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Cainta
ROUTE 4: EDSA ext. / Macapagal Ave. — EDSA Taft LRT / MRT — Magallanes MRT — Shaw MRT — Cubao MRT / LRT2 — East Ave. Medical Center — Phil. Heart Center — Lung Center of the Phils. (via Quezon Memorial Circle) — VMMC (via EDSA) — Monumento LRT
ROUTE 5: SM Fairview (via Commonwealth Ave, via Quezon Memorial Circle) — East Ave. Medical Center — Phil. Heart Center — Lung Center of the Phils. (via Agham Road, via Quezon Ave.) — Phil. Orthopedic Center — UDMC (Welcome Rotonda, via España) — UST Hospital — Lawton LRT
ROUTE 6: Balintawak LRT — Quezon Ave. MRT — GMA – Kamuning MRT — Cubao MRT — Santolan–Annapolis MRT — Ortigas MRT — EDSA cor. Kalayaan Ave. — Ayala MRT — Magallanes MRT — Heritage Hotel EDSA ext.”

Three business tycoons heeded President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to help the employees being affected by the community quarantine in Metro Manila and Luzon.

San Miguel Corporation’s Ramon Ang, Fernando Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific-Salim Group Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Ang, Ayala, and Pangilinan published their separate statements after President Duterte on a televised address asked the business tycoons to take care of their employees that might be absent for one month because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ang’s San Miguel Corporation said that they’re already assured the government of enough supply to feed the Filipinos amid the OUTBREAK.

They’re also planning to use one of their plants to make alcohol sanitizers that they’re going to give for free.

“We will provide essential services such as food, water, power, petrol products, and beverages to everyone,” Ang stated.

Ang said all employees of SMC would continue to get paid despite the quarantine and any form of work discontinuation.

This is also the same with Ayala, announcing that employees of their company are going be paid during the month-long quarantine period in Luzon.

They prepared a P2.4-B COVID-19 emergency response package consisting of “wages, bonuses, leave conversions and loan deferment” for its employees.

The group also said that they’re not going to charge their tenant who is affected by the closing of Ayala-owned malls.

Ayala is also going to distribute its mid-year bonuses earlier starting on March 17.

Meanwhile, Manny V. Pangilinan said that their employees should not worry because they’re going to receive salary despite being absent due to community quarantine.

“Heeding the President’s call tonight for business – large or small – to rise to the challenge posed by Covid 19, the MVP Group is one with the President in coping with this virus. We are helping our employees by maintaining their salaries and benefits during the crisis. We have asked them to Work from Home.” Pangilinan said.

Heeding the President’s call tonight for business – large or small – to rise to the challenge posed by Covid 19, the MVP Group is one with the President in coping with this virus. We are helping our employees by maintaining their salaries and benefits during the crisis.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) March 16, 2020

They’re also planning to give the 13th-month pay in full for PLDT, Smart and Meralco employees.

We are also taking the following measures to ensure the well-being of our employees:

1) Advance 13th month pay in full for Pldt, Smart, and Meralco employees

2) Continuation of salaries and benefits of all employees.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) March 17, 2020

Malacanang is not yet releasing a statement on the recent move of the tycoons.

It can be remembered that President Duterte criticized Pangilinan and Ayala over a water deal between the government, Maynilad and Manila Water.

However, it seems that the President and the tycoons agreed to have a ceasefire to focus on helping the people affected by COVID-19.

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile debunked the fake news circulating about him amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.

On a Facebook post, Enrile informed his followers and critics on social media that he’s still alive and healthy. The 96-year-old lawyer and politician also denied that he got infected by COVID-19.

“Well, I am sorry to disappoint the rumormongers. I am still alive, and I do not have COVID 19. Thank God!! Enjoy your silliness, rumormongers. You might get what you are wishing for me. I will pray for your soul and health,” Enrile said.

Rumors about his condition circulated during the COVID-19 outbreak, however, most of them are just joking about the former Senator as he already became the symbol of immortality among Filipino netizens.

Netizens even made memes and jokes about Enrile’s unusual immune system.

“BREAKING NEWS: Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile tested positive for COVID-19. Doctors say the virus is in critical condition,” @whenjontweets said.

BREAKING NEWS: Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile tested positive for COVID-19. Doctors say the virus is in critical condition.

— Jon (@whenjontweets) March 17, 2020

A netizen even listed the outbreaks survived by Enrile for 96 years.

Netizens cannot be blamed for suspecting Enrile as an immortal being as he still tried to return to the Senate at 95-years-old and even went outside to campaign.

Enrile in an interview shared his secret to longevity, revealing that he’s eating ‘saluyot’ and other vegetable dishes to keep his health in good condition.

He also said that he’s not having a diet and still eating oily foods like chicharon.

However, the veteran politician said that he’s controlling the amount of rice he’s eating.

“I don’t eat rice in the evening when I already ate rice in the morning and at noon. I eat not more than a cup (per meal),” Enrile said.

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte warned Iglesia ni Cristo after she got informed that the religious sect is not following the executive order that she signed as a measure to fight COVID-19.

Duterte signed the executive order no. 10, which includes the suspension of all religious activities in Davao City.

The irritated Mayor on a statement reminded that the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo are could also be infected by the virus even if they continue to go inside their church to worship.

“We already told you through an executive order that all religious ceremonies should be suspended. I want to remind members of Iglesia Ni Cristo that praying inside the church will not save you from the virus. It will not prevent you from getting infected and from getting sick,” ani Duterte.

The presidential daughter warned that if INC ignores her request, she’s going to do any legal move to force them to obey the executive order.

“If we cannot appeal to INC to suspend their activities, then we are exploring what we can do on the legal side,”

Duterte then asked the members of Iglesia ni Cristo to avoid doing their religious activities for a while.

Iglesia Ni Cristo members are known for always attending their ceremonies every week.

“I ask our brothers and sisters from the INC in Davao to please stop attending your ceremonies,” Duterte said.

Even on social media, some INC members said that no one could stop them from attending their worship.

But some of them said that they’re following the social distancing measures.

“Walang anuman o sinoman, maka pipigil sa aming paglilingkod sa Diyos! Tuloy tuloy parin kami sa aming pagsamba sa gitna man ng pangamba na mga lumalaganap na sakit!
Kami ay mga Iglesia Ni Cristo!” Kriztoffer Kantoz said.

“INC has always been very supportive of the Government programs as long as it does not interfere with our faith, especially our freedom of worship,” Wally Cuarto stated.

“Kung may masamang mangyari sa amin tulad ng digmaan, baha, salot o taggutom, haharap kami sa TEMPLONG ITO upang humingi ng tulong sa iyo sapagkat dito ka sinasamba, tatawag kami sa iyo, papakinggan mo kami at ililigtas sa panahon ng aming kagipitan. (2 Cronica 20:9) BMBB” he added.

Iglesia ni Cristo is not yet releasing a statement on the request of the Davao City Mayor.

Despite the dangers of being infected by COVID-19, President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the boundary of Valenzuela-Meycauayan along MacArthur highway to check the condition of the stranded commuters who were caught by the start of the community quarantine of Luzon.

In a video posted by GMA News, Duterte was shown arriving without wearing a face mask, and his only protection against COVID-19 are the members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) who are ensuring that no one is going to get near the President.

Duterte went there to order the military and the police to let the stranded people pass the checkpoint.

According to some reports, some workers became stranded since 12 AM, the time when the Luzon community quarantine became effective.

Sa utos ng pangulo, pinadaan ng mga pulis at sundalo ang mga taong naabutan ng lockdown | via @JonathanAndal_ pic.twitter.com/918zf8i0us

— GMA News (@gmanews) March 16, 2020

Around 1:30 AM, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian also went to the checkpoint to ask the Meycauayan Chief of Police to let the people stranded to go home.

However, it seems that the Mayor failed to convince the cops.

Thousands of passengers are still stranded in different places in Metro Manila because of the community quarantine in Luzon.

According to the recent order of the government, all mass transportation in Luzon should stop during the quarantine period, that’s why many passengers who are residing in provinces but working in Metro Manila were trapped inside the nation’s capital.

Aside from stopping mass transportation, the government also ordered all establishments to close down except banks, hospitals, groceries, pharmacies and other businesses that providing the basic needs to the people.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development was also ordered to distribute food assistance to residents in Luzon who will be most affected by the quarantine.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) saying that they’re not going to accept President Rodrigo Duterte’s ceasefire offer as they still need to study it.

On a statement, NDFP’s chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison said that they’re skeptical with Duterte’s offer, saying that they’re receiving reports that the increasing presence of military and police amid the community quarantine period in Luzon may also be used against them and not just against COVID-19.

He cited that Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to finish off the New People’s Army before his term ends as one of the reasons why they’re being careful of accepting the President’s offer.

However, Sison said that they can still be convinced to have a temporary peace with the government forces if Duterte is going to offer the ceasefire formally.

“But if he is really serious with his offer to have a ceasefire with the NDFP he must make a formal offer through the GRP (Government of the Republic Philippines) negotiating panel to the NDFP negotiating panel,” Sison said.

“The offer will be seriously studied by the NDFP and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). It will be related not only to the common fight against Covid-19 but also to the resumption of the peace negotiations,” he added.

Sison also expected that the NDFP is going to demand something to the Philippine government like lessening their spending to their military.

“In my view, the NDFP will certainly demand that the GRP realign government spending from excessive military spending and from rampant corruption in order to pursue genuine land reform and national industrialization and expand social services, especially public health and education,” he said.

“The NDFP will demand that the public funds be poured into the effort to fight Covid-19 so that there will be adequate health workers, facilities, equipment and medicines for the purpose,” he added.

He said that while they’re still not accepting the ceasefire offer of the President, NPA should still be on alert and ready themselves from possible offensive from the AFP.

On Monday, President Duterte made the said offer, explaining that NPA should help the government in fighting COVID-19.

“Ceasefire muna tayo. Mas mabuti pang tumulong muna kayo. I will repay you with a good heart,” he said.

OPM artist Jim Paredes urged ABS-CBN to air educational children shows after the broadcasting network announced that they’re going to suspend teleserye productions and live shows because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paredes made the said suggestion via Twitter, requesting that shows like Sineskwela, Hiraya Manawari and Bayani should make a comeback on television.

“Dear @ABSCBNNews #AbsCbn baka pwede naman na magre-run din kayo sa free TV nung mga educational TV shows ninyo. Nasa bahay lang mga bata. One month of Sineskwela, Hiraya, Bayani will do them good,” Paredes said.

The said shows educated children during the 90s and received numerous awards.

ABS-CBN owned Knowledge Channel then responded to Paredes request, informing the artist that they’re already airing the said shows every day.

“Hi, sir! Sa Knowledge Channel po ay patuloy ipinapalabas ang mga shows na ito araw-araw. At ngayon pong mas madalas nasa bahay ang mga bata, maganda kung mapapanood nila ang ating favorite 90’s educational shows. Available rin po ito sa aming Youtube channel,” Knowledge Channel told Paredes.

Hi, sir! Sa Knowledge Channel po ay patuloy ipinapalabas ang mga shows na ito araw-araw. At ngayon pong mas madalas nasa bahay ang mga bata, maganda kung mapapanood nila ang ating favorite 90’s educational shows. ?

Available rin po ito sa aming Youtube channel. ?

— Knowledge Channel (@kchonline) March 16, 2020

Paredes followers also agree with the artist’s suggestion.

“I will agree to this. Ung every morning un ang mppnuod kesa mga drama na about sa kabit at panloloko,” netizen @DaLonelyDragon said.

I will agree to this. Ung every morning un ang mppnuod kesa mga drama na about sa kabit at panloloko.

— NoOneLoveMe (@DaLonelyDragon) March 15, 2020

“I agree. Given the class suspensions + the move of TV networks to put all live telecasts / program tapings on hold, children and young adults now have an opportunity to watch those EDUCATIONAL TV SHOWS of old that taught actual VALUES and KNOWLEDGE,” netizen @kikorustia remarked.

I agree. Given the class suspensions + the move of TV networks to put all live telecasts / program tapings on hold, children and young adults now have an opportunity to watch those EDUCATIONAL TV SHOWS of old that taught actual VALUES and KNOWLEDGE.@ABSCBNChannel2 @gmanetwork

— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) March 15, 2020

On March 15, ABS-CBN suspended the staging of live entertainment shows and tapings of teleseryes to protect their employees from being infected by COVID-19.

However, they assured that they’re still going to continue their broadcast operations to update the public.

Televiewers are going to expect to watch replays.

“We thank our Kapamilya viewers for their understanding and continued support.” the network said.