Pinay Heroine Mildred Perez Comes Home from Hongkong — Honest Pinay OFW Says, "The Choice Is God or the Money But I Chose God!"

7 July 2009

A Filipina of unparalleled character comes home.  Pinay heroine Mildred Perez, the honest OFW who returned to its owner a considerable sum of money while scrounging for trash in Hongkong, is now back in the Philippines.  

This is the post I made about Mildred Perez a month ago, Celebrating Pinay Heroine Mildred Perez — Who Among Our 2010 Presidentiables Measures Up to the Decency of This Honest Pinay OFW? 

In returning the money, this is what Mildred has to say, "The choice is God or the money, but I chose God ..."

More on Mildred Perez's joyous homecoming in this Good News segment report by Ruth Cabal of 24 Oras courtesy of GMANews.tv:

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

This is how I ended my last post on Mildred Perez and I just want to say it again:

I know that Mildred Perez will become an iconic figure of our time,  a woman who typifies the best in every Filipina, who continues to battle the odds and comes out on top not in terms of earthly riches or worldly power but in the infinitely greater measure of basic decency, human dignity and unequaled respect in the eyes of her fellow Filipinos. 

We  can teach our children to aspire for high things such as becoming President of the Philippines, or Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or a Senator of the Republic or we can teach them to aspire for something much better, something that will make them truly blessed — to have character, decency, faith and courage like that of a Filipina named Mildred Perez.   

Mildred Perez's life and shining example is one unending praise to God.

   

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Celebrating Pinay Heroine Mildred Perez — Who Among Our 2010 Presidentiables Measures Up to the Decency of This Honest Pinay OFW?

7 June 2009

A lowly Pinay OFW who showed remarkable honesty in returning to its owner a considerable sum of money while scrounging in a Hongkong trash bin should serve as a standard in choosing our country's next leaders come 2010. 

Based on this Inquirer article, she found and returned $176,000 in cash (in denomination of $1,000) and four checks" of various amounts. She found the money stuffed in a small packet in a garbage bin on the corner of Pottinger Street and Des Voeux Road on May 29 and returned it the following day after contacting the owner.

 

This Pinay heroine is Mildred Perez, a native of Sitio Anao, Barangay Aliaga in Bambang, Nueva Viscaya who was forced to resort to scrounging in Hongkong after her employer reportedly assaulted her sexually. She filed a case against her alleged assailant which left her without a job (Hongkong law prohibits Perez from taking up employment during the pendency of her case) forcing her to resort to scrounging to sustain herself while pursuing her legal case in Hongkong. 

Here is Mildred's heart-warming story of honesty and integrity and faith and courage told in these GMA 7 video reports via GMAnews.tv: 

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Mildred's honesty and that of her tricycle driver husband Eddie who himself reportedly returned  a bag containing P20,000 to a passenger (please see this GMAnews.tv article), have not gone unrewarded. Nueva Vizcaya Congressman Carlos Padilla said that Congress has passed House Resolution 1212 commending Mildred Perez.  The same GMAnews.tv article says: 

Padilla, who helped raised some money, confirmed that a P100,000 financial support for Mildred’s family is now ready on top of the P50,000, which will be coming from the provincial government and additional financial support from Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma of Bambang town.

Eddie was also offered a job at the provincial office of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Mildred is now waiting for the schedule of her trip back to the country with the help of the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong

I know that Mildred Perez will become an iconic figure of our time,  a woman who typifies the best in every Filipina, who continues to battle the odds and comes out on top not in terms of earthly riches or worldly power but in the infinitely greater measure of basic decency, human dignity and unequaled respect in the eyes of her fellow Filipinos. 

We  can teach our children to aspire for high things such as becoming President of the Philippines, or Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or a Senator of the Republic or we can teach them to aspire for something much better, something that will make them truly blessed — to have character, decency, faith and courage like that of a Filipina named Mildred Perez.    

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Leslie Carr Videos of Metro Park H1N1 Quarantine

THE LESLIE CARR H1N1 GLOBAL WATCH

9 May 2009

The H1N1 quarantine at Hongkong's now historic Metro Park Hotel was lifted yesterday and Leslie Carr and nearly 300 other guests and hotel staff are now free to resume and enjoy their rudely interrupted lives.  

These are the eleven (11) Leslie Carr videos available at youtube.com.

I wish Leslie Carr and his fellow Metro Park "alumni" the best!

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Briton Leslie Carr Set to Check Out of Metro Park H1N1 Quarantine Anytime Today

8 May 2009 10:27am

THE LESLIE CARR H1N1 GLOBAL WATCH

Pauline Chiu of CNN reporting live from Hongkong less than an hour ago says that they are awaiting the release of Briton Leslie Carr along with some 300 hundred other hotel guests and staff held under quarantine for nearly a week now because of the H1N1 flu virus.  Pauline reported seeing Hongkong medical authorities entering the hotel to conduct a final checkup on the quarantine subjects.  Once this checkup is completed, the guests and staff will be permitted outside the hotel, free at last after a week of isolation.

Pauline Chiu talked with Leslie Carr several days ago and here is that video clip:

I'm hoping Leslie Carr's ordeal ends today as well as those of three Filipino nationals who are reported to have been included among those quarantined.

 

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Viva Los Mexicanos! Viva Mexico! Mexican Pride Projected as AeroMexico Fetches H1N1 Quarantined Mexican Nationals from Shanghai, Beijing and Hongkong

7 May 2009

To beleaguered Mexicans quarantined because of the H1N1 flu virus in parts of China, there is nothing like the site of that big AeroMexico jumbo jet which fetched them for a return flight to Mexico.

Battered but unbowed, the nation of Mexico sent a message to the world by sending that AeroMexico flight to Shanghai, Beijing and China that it will not bear what it sees as discriminatory treatment of its nationals.  

I watched the video clips several times yesterday and I can't help but feel proud as well for our Mexican kinsmen from across the Pacific. Mexico and the Philippines share a common Hispanic history and culture both countries having come under Spanish rule for hundreds of years.

That AeroMexico flight brought back proud memories of Cinco de Mayo, the sensational victory by a "ragtag band" of Mexicans against a numerically-superior French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  Here is Cinco de Mayo in the words of US President Barack Obama as narrated to us by Jackie May:

And here are Barack Obama’s remarks at a White House Cinco de Mayo event:

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello.  Gracias.

AUDIENCE:  Bienvenidos.

THE PRESIDENT:  Bienvenidos.  Welcome to Cinco de Cuatro — (laughter) — Cinco de Mayo at the White House.  We are a day early, but we always like to get a head start here at the Obama White House.

Cinco de Mayo marks a singular moment in Mexican history.  Nearly 150 years ago, a ragtag band of soldiers and citizens, badly outnumbered and facing impossible odds, held their ground on a muddy hill to defend their nation from what was at the time the most fearsome fighting force in the world.  That decisive victory at what became known as the Battle of Puebla ignited a pride in country and culture that Mexican Americans feel to this day.

And tomorrow, on both sides of our border, we’ll pay tribute to our shared heritage by celebrating with friends and family, with love and laughter.  We’ll remember that America is a richer and more vibrant place thanks to the contributions of Mexican Americans — (applause) –

The full text of President Obama's remarks on Cinco de Mayo is at Jackie May's Minor Matters.

Viva Mexico!  Viva Los Mexicanos!

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DOH Monitoring Two Suspected Instances of H1N1 Virus in Cebu, Southern Philippines

6 May 2009

The Department of Health in Cebu has placed under quarantine two persons after they exhibited signs of possible contained by the inluenza A(H1N1) virus.

The first instance is that of a man who came back from Ireland with his wife, transiting through Hongkong. He registered a fever and was visibly weak.  His wife went along with him for the quarantine.  

The second instance is a British woman who reportedly went to the hospital voluntarily after she began to experience flu symptoms. She's been in Cebu for quite a while and had been to Mexico with her husband before that. 

Both patients are under observation at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Respiratory swab samples taken from the patients have been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila to determine if they are H1N1 infected. 

Interviewed early today at Unang Balita by GMA 7's Arnold Clavio,  DOH Secretary  Francisco Duque III said they'll try to have the test results, which normally come out after 24 to 48 hours, and said that they'll try to have it before the day is over. 

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

This is the related video clip from ABS-CBN by kyte.tv.  It appears from this report by Jing Castañeda that the RITM can only test for H1N1 infection by deduction meaning that if the flu is not the regular influenza A or B strains, they can deduce or infer that the infection is probably A(H1N1):

You will also note that part of the report deals with Leslie Carr, the British businessman presently quarantined at the Metro Park Hotel in Hongkong with some three hundred others. He is the feature of two of my posts so far.  With him at the Metro Park are three Pinoys who are also kept under the same conditions in what is by now undoubtedly the biggest H1N1 quarantine facility in the world.

end

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Quarantined Briton Leslie Carr in Hongkong Acquires Overnight Celebrity Status Because of H1N1 Swine Flu Virus

THE LESLIE CARR H1N1 GLOBAL WATCH

5 May 2009

For a guy who's supposed to be enduring a "Brit's Hotel Hell," as Sky News puts it, Leslie Carr I'd say is one lucky Brit!

I picked up Leslie's story yesterday at around 9:20am after putting up a post asking people to continue praying for former Philippine Cory Aquino who was scheduled to undergo operation at midday yesterday.  Then, I went to work on other things.

By mid-afternoon, I noticed that people from around the world were picking up the Leslie Carr post as line after line of my Feedjit widget displayed "Briton Leslie Carr ..."  About 2 out of every 3 readers; I don't have many readers but I can recognize a trend when I see one. I knew we had something major here. 

Overnight, this Briton has acquired celebrity status.  If he can strike a deal with a publisher right now then come up with his book on or about the time he emerges out of quarantine on Friday from Hongkong's H1N1 Hilton (whoa!),  then, he's got it made!  Leslie Carr, runaway best-selling author.  The title of his book?  Take your pick?

"Held Against My Will ... But Slowly Liking It!";

"I Survived the H1N1 Flu Virus Quarantine in Hongkong!"  

"A Briton in Hongkong's H1N1 Hilton!"

The subtitle "A Rare Inside Look at Hongkong's Hotel H1N1 Quarantine" by Leslie Carr.

Then, from businessman, Leslie Carr will have another impressive appendage to his resume —inspirational speaker, a survivor of the H1N1 virus quarantine.

In all seriousness, Leslie Carr's story begins with shock, utter disbelief and dismay ... is settling down into some comfort and familiarity and eventually, hopefully, will end in triumph ... not only for Leslie Carr and the thousands of people who are now following his ordeal ... a triumph for the people of Hongkong, a key battleground in the fight against SARS, of China ... all of Asia including my country the Philippines which is a next-door neighbor.

From where I sit, I can only pray that nothing goes wrong where Leslie Carr is.   

Who knows?! Leslie might even get knighted after surviving this experience!  Sir Leslie Carr, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, anyone?!  

This is one of the latest Leslie Carr video clips:

When I return, I'll try to better organize my presentation of the ongoing Leslie Carr H1N1 Global Watch. 

 

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Briton Leslie Carr Blogs About Hongkong Hotel H1N1 Swine Flu Virus Quarantine

4 May 2009

Leslie Carr, a British businessman, is one of around 300 people kept under quarantine in a Hongkong hotel by the authorities because of the swine flu H1N1 virus.

Leslie Carr writes about his surreal misadventure, sort of being in the right place, at the wrong time:

I arrived in Hong Kong on April 24 and checked into the Metro Park Hotel. I then continued my journey to Shenzhen, Xiamen, and on May 1, I returned to Hong Kong.

I checked myself back into the Metro Park Hotel to stay overnight as I was leaving to fly back to the UK on the 2nd.

But this was not to be.....

After I checked-in I decided to do a last-minute shopping trip. Three hours later I returned back to my hotel only to find the street was paved with police control vehicles and offices.

My hotel was sealed off with police tape and I had to fight my way through to speak with one office and question what was going on, only to be informed that there had been a case of swine flu and the building was contaminated by a guest from Mexico.

I was asked to follow the officer to the quarantine area where I was met by the quarantine staff all dressed in full-protective clothing.

They proceeded to asked many questions of my travel arrangements whilst in China. I then had the situation explained to me.

I was then told to see the doctor where they issued me Tamiflu drugs which I am to take for the next 10 days.

I was informed I will have to remain in quarantine for seven days - a legal requirement in Hong Kong.

The rest of his story, courtesy of Sky News, is here.  

Hongkong authorities ordered the quarantine after a 25-year old Mexican checked into the Metro Park hotel and later on became sick with the H1N1 flu.  The case of this Mexican tourist was the first confirmed infection in Asia. 

  

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Swine Flu Just Under 2 Flight Hours Away from Manila as Hongkong Confirms First Case of the H1N1 Virus

1 May 2009

The H1N1 virus also known as the swine flu virus is now less than a mere two flight hours away from the Philippines as Hongkong declares its first confirmed case of the infection. The patient is a 25-year-old Mexican man visiting Hongkong.  This is also the first confirmed case of swine flu virus infection in Asia.

With this development, the stakes are raised higher for the Philippines. Take the case of thermal scanning at the country's international airports. This is our first line of defense in blocking the entry of the swine flu virus.

An incoming passenger who already has the swine flu virus will be detected by the thermal scanners only if he or she is already showing symptoms of the virus which in this case is fever. That same infected person will not be detected by the thermal scanners if his infection is still in the incubation stage.  After passing the airport detection process, he or she will then be able to mingle with the general population. Only after exhibiting symptoms of the infection will he then become a suspected carrier of the infection, tested, observed and confirmed.  By that time, the infection he has caused could already be widespread.

 

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