Author: Rossane Ramos

Maine Mendoza has started an online fundraiser called “DoNation Drive” for Filipino workers affected by the lockdown in Luzon due to COVID-19. The TV host-actress announced she is launching the drive to help in her own little way. She said that the proceeds will be received by “workers who live on a day-to-day basis.” “We are all required to stay at home, but some people, especially our frontliners, whether be it in the government, food and medical industry have been trying their best to fulfill their duty as our modern heroes in these difficult times,” she said in a short article. …

Hollywood actor Daniel Dae Kim, best known for his work in Lost and Hawaii 5-0, announced on Friday that he tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).  From his home in Hawaii, he announced via Instagram that he contracted the disease while filming for the medical drama New Amsterdam in New York City. Ironically, he said, he plays a doctor who is recruited to help during a flu pandemic.  Once they halted production for the series, he went back home to his family in Hawaii. He said it was important to mention that before his plane landed, Daniel began feeling some…

National Artist for Music Ryan “Mr. C” Cayabyab launched an online concert series featuring top local artists to raise funds for the “most vulnerable sector of our society,” those whose livelihoods are affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  “Sila yung nag-ta-trabaho araw araw para lang may mahain sa kanilang hapag-kainan and minarapat namin na dapat magtulong tulong kami gawin itong FB Live concert,” he explained. The online concert series, Bayanihan, Musikahan, will kick off on March 23 featuring different local artists performing in their homes. Some of the local artists involved in the movement are: Martin Nievera, Lea Salonga, Zsa…

Itziar Ituño Martínez, best known as Lisbon or Inspector Raquel Murillo of Netflix series Money Heist, disclosed on Wednesday that she tested positive for the coronavirus.  “Today, we have received confirmation of the epidemiological test. It’s coronavirus,” she said in an Instagram post.  Martínez added that she will be quarantined for 15 days.  She assured her followers that her case is mild. “My case is mild and I’m fine but it’s very very contagious for people who are weaker,” she said.  As of March 18, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed over 190,000 cases all over the world.

He’s not a doctor or a nurse but this janitor is a proud frontliner, working for the Filipino people amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  In his now viral post, Carl Tibang took pride in his work as a janitor for a hospital in Marikina.  “Hindi po ako doctor, hindi rin po nurse, I am just a janitor, but proud to be part of what they call ‘prontliner’,” he said.  As of writing, his post has collected 51k shares, 104k reacts and 5.7k comments.  In an interview with the STAR, Tibang said he works in the hospital from 1 to 10…

In the box-office hit film Hello, Love, Goodbye, Kathryn Bernardo played Joy, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) forced to make ends meet as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. Instead of pursuing her ambitions as a nurse in Canada, Joy was forced to settle with a job that barely puts food on her family’s table.  This scene resurfaced online after the coronavirus pandemic caused President Rodrigo Duterte to declare an enhanced community quarantine for the entirety of Luzon. The quarantine entails a halt in transportation, limiting the movements of “no work no pay” employees in the country. “This represents the…

Pop-punk band Boys Like Girls postponed the Asia and Australia leg of their tour. The group was supposed to perform the entirety of their self-debut album from 2006.  “Sad to say, unfortunately due to the COVID-19 spread, we have to reschedule our Asia/Australia tour dates. We wanted to play so badly for you, but also we want to keep everyone safe and healthy,” they said on Facebook.  They assured that new dates for their shows will be released soon.  The band was supposed to perform at the New Frontier Theater on April 16 and 17, 2020.  On Monday, President Rodrigo…

Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, international artists continue to put a smile on their fans’ faces through online concerts. Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin kicked off #TogetherAtHome with a mini gig on his Instagram live. In his 30-minute set, he sang acoustic renditions of Trouble, A Sky Full of Stars and a David Bowie cover. His livestream was uploaded on the band’s social media account right after his set. “I was supposed to be with the band Coldplay today, from which I come but we’re stuck in different countries. We can’t play together. So, I thought, it would be nice for…

Kapamilya star Angel Locsin called out on Twitter an individual who tried to sell her face masks for a steep price of P1,500.  “Sa nagbebenta sa akin ng mask na nakalaan para sa mga frontliners natin P1,500, MAKONSENSIYA HO KAYO,” she wrote.  According to Department of Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, the suggested retail price for surgical face masks range from P8 to P12 per piece.  Angel, a known philanthropist, also asked for the contact details of sellers with “impervious disposable gown wrap around and splash shield face masks” in a following tweet.  On Monday, the actress urged the Philippine government…

Netizens slammed Vanessa Hudgens after a clip of her stating that people’s death during the coronavirus pandemic is inevitable went viral.  The 27-second clip was from the actress-singer’s now deleted Instagram live.  “It’s a virus. I get it, like, I respect it but at the same time, like, even if everybody gets it like yeah, people are gonna die which is terrible but like, inevitable? I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this right now,” she said on the video.  A Twitter user said “people like Vanessa Hudgens” fail to understand that there are people out there struggling to…