In an earlier article under this column, I tackled the issue about 2019 Novel nCoV echoing findings by researchers for Filipinos strictly warning them from eating wild animals such as Bats! As these animals meat has been reported to be “host” of the now infamous COVD-2019, erstwhile known as nCoronavirus!
In this column and having been doing intently readings about Advisories from concerned government agencies based on verified findings by researchers, I wish to quote Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s advise to Filipinos “. . . to do their part in strengthening their immune system . . . (by eating) native nutritious fruits and vegetables that are known to help the body fight off diseases. Let us try to consume more to boost our health . . .more so now , with the outbreak of the 2019 nCoV”. This is so, while we await the results of the medical researchers, of the world, trying to discover treatment protocol and vaccine against the deadly virus.
Thus, Vitamin C rich fruits (orange and guava families, etc.,) and veggies like malunggay leaves that contain 27% Vitamin A and 22 percent Vitamin C, which is equivalent to eating 7 pieces of orange. Among the Vitamin C rich farm crops include papaya, strawberries, bell pepper, broccoli, and citrus fruits (calamansi and dayap). Vitamin C is top in the list of immune boosters as it has anti-viral and anti-bacterial compounds. Other immune boosters are Garlic, because of its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; honey also has antibacterial properties for cold, flu, and sore throat; Lagundi (one of the NRCP-funded researches), has been scientifically proven to be effective against cough, colds, and fever; Asthma plant or “tawa-tawa” is rich in Vitamin A, potassium, calcium, and Vitamin C, especially proven for upper respiratory system and increasing the blood plantlet count; and, Serpentina known for its anti-viral and antibiotic compounds, therefore, recommended to treat cough and colds as well as expectorant helping prompt release of mucus lodged in the respiratory system.
If only for the vegetables- and fruits-eating rural population of the Philippines, I can speak of the upland barangays population of Burauen, Leyte, whose diet are mainly backyard vegetables, e.g. malunggay, sweet potato tops, eggplant, stringbeans, etc ., freshwater fish and shellfish and occasional taste of meat, they/we could be the lest vulnerables from the 2019 nCoV threat. This, plus the fact that they are mostly farmers whose bodies are exposed to rigors of farming, make the Burawanons able to resist respiratory infecting diseases.
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The threat of the dreaded 2019 novel corona virus still persists despite measures implemented by government to contain its further spread. The delayed action of government to ban travels from places in China where the virus emanated. Latest reports bare an increasing number of deaths and the number of persons infected by the virus. The situation is alarming as people still continue to travel from China to various destinations around the globe. The reported ban on travel from the place where the virus emanated later came out as fake news as air transportation officials admitted that flights from those places still continues as the ban was merely on passengers who are found to have symptoms. It raised peoples to detest the clear deception about the travel ban.
Amid the unabated movement of people from the affected areas in China, people remain at risk from getting infected. The increasing number of deaths is a clear indication that the virus is still prevalent in places where infected persons had stayed for some time. The initial government action was to trace the location of persons where came in contact with the infected person so that they could be placed in confinement and be treated for any ailment that might be considered as symptomatic of the virus. Another concern is the fact that the virus does not show symptoms but merely manifests for other illnesses than that caused by the virus. This brings us to possibilities that the person under investigation may be infected and be a carrier of the virus without experiencing sickness due to virus infection.
No cure has yet been found for the virus that had reportedly killed 1,770 persons since the virus outbreak. The fatalities is truly alarming considering that the victims could have carried and transmitted the virus to persons they came in contact with. This concern is real and puts every person to be responsible and be on guard by following preventive tips issued by health authorities. People might as well heed various advisories from reliable sources, mainly those who are experts or authorities on the medical field. The search for cure is still being pursued by those in the medical field.
Without any cure in sight in the near future, people have no better option than pray for God’s protection and healing. For those who have faith, only God has the power over all the most deadly viruses and illnesses that afflict mankind. We need the grace from God to be protected from the virus and healing for those who had been infected. The virus is unseen and people have no way to evade its path. The possibility of getting infected still remains despite all efforts to protect people from getting sick.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

The allegations of a new racket involving payouts to immigration officers at the NAIA airport by syndicates to facilitate the entry of foreigners to work in POGO’s only showed that there is corruption in the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Immigration personnel are facilitating entry of Chinese nationals most of whom are believed to have been recruited to work at on-line gambling firms.
Recently, 5 officials of the BI were relieved from their posts after an investigation on the so called “pastillas scheme” where Immigration officers are allegedly accepting bribes from Chinese nationals.
What is obvious is the anomalous entry of foreign visitors. The illegal entrants must be caught together with whoever facilitated the entry and punishment must be imposed. An on-going Senate probe has unearthed an alleged racket involving the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens. The real reason for their entry is not tourism, but employment in the POGO industry. It is alleged that corrupt immigration personnel charge P5,000 for a special work permit (SWP) for a POGO employee.
In the Senate inquiry, an average of P10,000 is paid by each Chinese worker for easy entry. The payment is made allegedly to BI personnel. The payoffs were handed over apparently to BI personnel. The payoffs were handed over apparently to BI personnel and rolled up “pastillas” style at the NAIA airport.
Allegations against these Immigration personnel who allegedly received bribes to facilitate the entry of POGO workers must be proven. The management must look at the bigger picture, all that might be connected to this alleged scheme.
The BI Commissioner must immediately investigate to determine and identify the persons involved in the scheme and file charges against them. The National Bureau of Immigration (NBI) should look into the alleged malpractice of immigration officials at the airports. Complaints should be filed against immigration personnel involved in this scheme.

To be exact President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has barely about 2 years and 3 months in office to end his 6-year term as duly elected President of the Republic of the Philippines.
He has done something good for the country but not much to satisfy the desires of the Filipnos, based on his promises. The ugly illegal drug menace still is a daily occurrence nationwide and graft and corruption remains a way of life to powerful and influential government officials.
Worse, drug lords are still around and still undrtgoing their unlawful drug operations while corrupt high government officials remain in office.
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One of the most painful incidents under this administration is extra judicial killings that remain a black and bloody image of the administration. Government records was revealed few months ago saying that some 14,000 innocent individuals lost their lives in the campaign against illegal drugs. Human rights records even reported more than what government revealed.
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What is worse that up to now is no cases have been filed against the perpetrators of the extrajudicial killings. Suspects in this nauseating crime are mostly members of the Philippine National Police. So many families of the victims up to this moment remain sad, frustrated and angry because real justice has evaded them.
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No one has been charged of the extrajudicial killings. It is therefore a MUST for President Duterte to revisit these crimes and invoke real justice to put the criminals behind bars. And government should give financial assistance especially to families whose heads are some of those who got killed.
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President Duterte should do this now before Senator Antonio Trillanes makes his move regarding this, as he promised he will. When? We know not!!!