Sunday, April 11, 2021
100 sanggol, sabay sabay na bininyagan sa Cebu kasabay ng Divine Mercy Sunday
Kasabay ng kapistahan ng Divine Mercy ay isinagawa ang binyagan ng 100 sanggol sa lungsod ng Cebu.
Bahagi rin ito sa unang araw ng triduum o ang tatlong araw na paghahanda para sa ika-500 taon ng kauna-unahang binyag na naganap sa Cebu sa grupo ni Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
Sa Our Lady of Guadalupe Archdiocesan Shrine, bininyagan ni Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma kasama ang iba pang mga obispo ang 100 sanggol.
Sa kanyang homily, inihayag ni Archbishop Palma na isang espesyal na araw ang pagbinyag ng mga sanggol dahil sa kapistahan ng Divine Mercy sa pangalawang linggo ng Pasko sa Pagkabuhay, at ang pagsisimula ng triduum para sa ika-500 taong paggunita sa kauna-unahang binyag na naganap sa bansa.
Ayon kay Palma, sa araw na ito ay dumaloy ang biyaya ng Diyos na sang-ayon sa kaniyang paghahayag kay St. Sr. Faustina na kaniyang buksan ang pinto ng mga biyaya.
Pinapaalala rin ng obispo sa mga magulang ng mga sanggol ang pagpapahalaga sa bagong buhay ng kanilang mga anak bilang mga bagong Kristiyano, na silay maging banal at mga mabubuting mamamayan.
Tinatayang may 300 hanggang 500 tao ang dumalo sa binyagan, kasama na ang mga sanggol, mga magulang, ninong at ninang, at iba pa.
Ayon kay Rev. Fr. Jonathan Rubin, Chair ng 500 YOC, Broadcast and Media Accreditation, may pahintulot ito ng Inter-Agency Task Force at istrikto rin nilang pinatupad ang minimum health protocol.
- ulat ni Vilma Andales
Ex-president Erap sang after extubation - Jinggoy Estrada
Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada thanked longtime family friends during an online healing mass Sunday afternoon for the recovery of his father, former President Joseph Estrada, from COVID-19 infection.
"Now, he has been extubated. His vital signs are ok. He has no fever, no agitation, “ the younger Estrada told the more than 80 mass participants. “His chest x-ray has seemingly improved. He is gradually recovering, but not yet off the woods.”
The most encouraging sign, Estrada added, was a video shared by a nurse on duty showing his father singing.
“He was able to sing one of his favorite songs, “Always You”, last night. We ask for more prayers for him and other families struggling with COVID."
Jinggoy, the former president’s oldest son who is in charge of his father’s medical concerns, shared his pain over making the crucial decision to give doctors permission to intubate him.
“What if I don’t allow it?” he recalled talking to a lady doctor. “He will not last, she said. So I said, do what you have to do since time was crucial. With God’s mercy and guidance, he is recovering.”
Officiating priest Fr. Jerry Orbos invoked the infinite mercy of God for Estrada’s healing and others affected by the pandemic during the mass attended by, among others, former and current government officials Jose Pardo, Leonor Briones, Boots Anson Rodrigo, Edu Manzano, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, June Rufino, Fortune Ledesma, Giselle Sanchez, and the Estrada siblings Jackie and Jude Ejercito and their respective families.
“Let’s pray for a miracle to bring Erap back so he can serve more people,” Orbos said, also calling on the participants “to stay afloat and not to sink in fear, anger and negativity during this time, so we help others”.
Estrada, a former actor who served as President from 1998 until 2001, is turning 84 on April 19. He was last in public service as Mayor of Manila City from 2013 until 2019.
"Bless our country... Aand we also pray for government na magmalasakit sa taumbayan at this time, “ Orbos added.
Manzano, who initiated the gathering, was referred by Orbos as the glue that brought the participants together in the rare event.
Manzano also prayed for the healing of Orbos who is battling cancer.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/21/ex-president-erap-sang-after-extubation-jinggoy-estrada
Pulse oximeter yes, oxygen tank optional: What are COVID-19 home care essentials?
What are the essential medical equipment for home care in the time of COVID-19?
According to Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Jonas del Rosario, the essential medical equipment for monitoring COVID-19 at home are a thermometer, blood pressure monitor or gauge, and pulse oximeter, which measures a person's oxygen level.
"Ang normal [oxygen level] po kasi ay 95 percent and above. Sa amin pong algorithm, 'pag ang oxygen niyo ay less than 92 percent kailangan niyo na pong pumuntang emergency room o magpaadmit na po," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(The normal oxygen level is 95 percent and above. In our algorithm, if your oxygen is less than 92 percent, you need to go to the emergency room or be admitted in a hospital.)
On the other hand, he said an oxygen tank is optional for COVID-19 home care since these are expensive. He said he has received reports that some villages have standby oxygen tanks just in case residents need it.
"Kung kaya mo bumili, opo (If you can afford it, yes)," he said.
Sales of oxygen tanks have increased as Filipinos said they fear not getting admitted into hospitals if they contract coronavirus. The Department of Health urged the public to use the device with medical supervision and warned that hospitals' supply may be depleted.
The country's largest COVID-19 referral hospital will launch its own teleconsultation COVID Gabay Program to help COVID-19 patients in home care, del Rosario added.
"Hopefully mabawasan din 'yung kanilang tsansa makapaghawa o madagdagan ang transmission natin," he said.
(Hopefully we will also lessen their chance to infect others or increase virus transmission.)
The public must be informed and must trust their doctors to follow the appropriate care they need, said Aileen Espina of the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC).
"Hindi natin mapipigilan ang mga tao na tumakbo sa ospital...
it’s not really yung sintomas na nararamdaman natin but rather yung takot na baka ano mangyari sakin pag nasa bahay lang," she said.
(We can't stop people from going to the hospital...it's not really because of the symptoms they feel but the fear of what might happen if they're at home.)
"Ang gagawin talaga natin is mapaintindi sa ating mga kababayan saan sila pwede maka-access ng serbisyong kalusugan na appropriate sa kanilang karamdaman...this kind of care need not be in a hospital setting, it can be accessed sa telepono, through the internet."
(We need to make them understand where they can access health care appropriate to their needs...this kind of need not be in a hospital setting, it can be accessed through the phone, through the internet.)
Taal Volcano emits 'very weak' steam-laden plumes
Taal Volcano's main crater had a "very weak emission" of steam-laden plumes that rose 5 meters in the past 24 hours, Phivolcs said Sunday.
It also recorded 216 volcanic earthquakes, with 177 volcanic tremors lasting up to 32 minutes, state seismologists said in its 8 a.m. Taal Volcano bulletin.
The volcano remains under alert level 2, the second-lowest in a 5-step system, which warns of probable magmatic activity that may or may not lead to an eruption.
Phivolcs advised that entry into the Taal Volcano Island, Taal’s permanent danger zone, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, and occupancy and boating on Taal Lake remained strictly prohibited.
Towns surrounding the lake have been advised to continuously assess and strengthen their preparedness in case of renewed unrest.
The volcano, which sits on an island surrounded by a lake in Batangas province, had a steam-driven eruption on Jan. 12, 2020, triggering an ash fall that reached parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The eruption displaced more than 700,000 people in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite and Laguna was pegged at P3.4 billion, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/21/taal-volcano-emits-very-weak-steam-laden-plumes
Duterte's spokesman feeling better after receiving COVID-19 treatment
President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman on Sunday said he was feeling "better" after receiving COVID-19 treatment and is well enough to do his press briefings.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday said he was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) after a fresh bout with COVID-19.
"I am better after only one vial of remdesivir and steroids. I came in at the right time since pneumonia was caught early on. Doctors won't discharge me though until 4 more vials of remdesivir which means I will be confined until Thursday," he said in a statement.
"But I do feel normal already on my 3rd day of confinement, enough to do my thrice a week briefings. Will check into a TTMF (temporary treatment facility) on Friday to complete my 14 days of isolation. Thanks again for all your well wishes and prayers."
Roque first announced he tested positive for the coronavirus on March 15. He was found negative for the disease 10 days later. It was unclear when he again contracted the virus, or whether he was suffering from further effects of his earlier illness.
The official was the fifth member of Duterte's Cabinet to contract the illness.
The Philippines on Saturday logged 12,674 more COVID-19 cases, its second-highest single day tally so far, bringing the total to 853,209.
It is forecast to reach 1 million virus cases by the end of the month, according to independent research group OCTA which has recommended the extension of strict lockdown in NCR Plus bubble to further slow down the growth of infections.
Philippines to hire 14,000 additional contact tracers for Metro Manila
The labor department will hire 14,000 additional contact tracers for Metro Manila, an official said Sunday.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has agreed to increase the number of contact tracers from 5,000 to augment the capital region's forces in a meeting with Manila mayors Saturday, said Benhur Abalos, chairman of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
"This is worth P213 million para dito sa Kalakhang Maynila (for Metro Manila). This is for a period of 3 months, very intensified na talaga po (our contact tracing has intensified)," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
The agency earlier said it would "hopefully" start next week the hiring of contact-tracers, who will get paid at the rate of the minimum wage in their regions.
Applicants must have basic knowledge in using a phone and the internet. Online training for contact-tracers will be held over one or two days, during which they will start receiving their pay, said Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla, head of the department's Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns.
Those who are interested in the job opportunity should go to the labor department's nearest satellite offices or call the DOLE Hotline 1349 or telephone number 8404-3336, she added.
The Philippines' contact-tracing strategy for COVID-19 remains far from ideal, Malacañang said in March, a year since the World Health Organization declared the respiratory disease a pandemic.
Aileen Espina, national director of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, likened the different contact tracing applications to an "archipelago" that do not interact or share information with each other.
"Sana magkaroon ng tulay (I hope there can be a bridge)... a way to bridge these islands of information systems," she said.
"The earlier we’re able to identify 'yung mga kaso at ma-isolate sila, ma-identify sino ang close contact nila at ma-quarantine natin kaagad, (we) are able to cut the chain of transmission.)
The Philippines on Saturday logged 12,674 more COVID-19 cases, its second-highest single day tally so far, bringing the total to 853,209.
It is forecast to reach 1 million virus cases by the end of the month, according to independent research group OCTA which has recommended the extension of strict lockdown in NCR Plus bubble to further slow down the growth of infections.
'Para na itong Yolanda': Doctor compares COVID-19 pandemic to 1-yr super typhoon
The country's healthcare system is not yet ready for NCR Plus to ease its quarantine level, medical frontliners said Sunday.
Malacañang earlier said government was considering easing the bubble of virus epicenter Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal into modified enhanced community quarantine after 2 weeks of strict lockdown.
The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 calls for "long term solutions" such as coordinated digital contact tracing, said member Aileen Espina, who is also national director of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians.
"It’s not a question of kakayanin, kahit naman 'yung nakaraang 2 linggo, we were nearing collapse of our healthcare system. Para na itong naging Yolanda sa tindi. This is beyond the capacity of healthcare system to respond to the current situation," she told ABS-CBN News.
(It’s not a question of whether we can do it, the past 2 weeks, we were nearing collapse of our healthcare system. It's like Typhoon Yolanda.)
"At least 'yung Yolanda noon sa'min sa Tacloban after 5 hours tapos na siya, ito 1 taon na paulit-ulit na...bababa 'yung kaso, magrerelax tayo hindi natin inaayos yung root cause ng pagdami ng kaso."
(At least Yolanda was done after 5 hours, this has been ongoing for a year...cases will decrease then we will relax without identifying the root cause of increase in infections.)
The country's contact tracing applications are like an "archipelago," Espina said.
"Sana magkaroon ng tulay (I hope there can be a bridge)... a way to bridge these islands of information systems," she said.
"The earlier we’re able to identify 'yung mga kaso at ma-isolate sila, ma-identify sino ang close contact nila at ma-quarantine natin kaagad, (we) are able to cut the chain of transmission.)
(The earlier we’re able to identify the cases and isolate them, identify their close contacts and quarantine them, (we) are able to cut the chain of transmission.)
Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Jonas del Rosario also said the country's healthcare system does not yet have the capacity to handle COVID cases if the quarantine level of NCR Plus is eased.
The country's largest COVID-19 referral hospital has 244 virus patients out of its 255 beds or at 94 percent capacity as of Saturday, Del Rosario said.
"Ang aming ICU (intensive care unit) ay puno, maraming nasa waitlist at hirap ang mga tao makapasok sa ospital," he said.
(Our ICU is full, many are on the waitlist and are having trouble getting admitted.)
"I think hindi pa kaya, kung babasehan natin ang healthcare capacity. Dahil ung magluwag maaaring ma-overwhelm pa lalo."
The hospital has closed 2 non-COVID wards to get more health workers, Del Rosario added.
"'Di naman pwede isang nurse, 10 pasyenteng severe. Habang mas bumibigat ang sitwasyon nila, mas kailangan tutukan kaya mas maraming tao ang kailangan," he said.
(One nurse cannot take care of 10 severe patients. As their situation worsens, we need to monitor them closely so we need more staff.)