Category Archives: Health & Medicine

Government, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, Social Media, The Media

Philippine President Duterte Takes A Leave Of Absence

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img_9471DAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Davao Bureau) – There’s maternity leave, and paternity leave.  In the Philippines, there is also a lolo leave (grandfather leave.)

Today, President Duterte took a leave of absence, his first since assuming office last July, to visit his new-born grandson.

Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte gave birth to a baby boy on Thursday, according to a photo posted by her husband, lawyer Mans Carpio, on Instagram.
Stonefish, the couple’s third child, was born at 12:56 p.m. Duterte was pregnant with triplets but lost two to miscarriage.

The proud lolo was seen all smiles as he visited the nursery.

It wasn’t clear whether the presidents’ leave of absence was with or without pay.

Knowing the president though, that lolo leave probably lasted just a couple of hours and he is now back at work.

Congratulations to the proud grandpa!

Government, Health & Medicine, Immigration, International

New Requirement For Filipino Nurses Entering The United States

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(Photo: BBC)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – No one knows exactly how many Filipino nurses are working in the United States. But if the state of California is a window to America, then the answer is: a lot.

It is estimated that 20% all the registered nurses in California are Filipino, a considerably large percentage since Filipinos number only 2.3 million (officially 1.2 million) out of a state population of 38 million.

What is the future of Filipino nurses seeking employment in the U.S., given President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policy and his campaign against both legal and illegal immigration?

Well, there’s good news and bad news.

First the good news:

The Trump administration, realizing the high demand for nurses in the United States, has not closed to door to extending immigrant visas specifically to Filipinos.  As more and more baby boomers age, requiring skilled nursing services in and out of clinics and hospitals, America definitely needs more licensed nurses.

The bad news:

In addition to passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in order to be able to work in the U.S., Filipino nurses applying for immigrant visas must either prove that they intend to marry a U.S. citizen within six months of their arrival in America or that they are already engaged to be married to a U.S. citizen. (Donald Trump sees this as consistent with his America First policy.)

Acceptable documentation could include email correspondence between the visa applicant nurse and his or her U.S. citizen partner explicitly showing a romantic relationship.

More points will be awarded to nurse applicants who can show an engagement ring received by mail from the U.S. citizen partner.

For now, and until the Trump administration voids same-sex marriage in the U.S., same-sex partner relationships will be recognized in the visa application process.

 

 

Government, Health & Medicine, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics, Social Media

Senator Leila De Lima Denies Fake News That She Is Suffering From Asthma

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img_9238MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Three criminal cases have just been filed by the Department of Justice against Senator Leila De Lima for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP).

Anticipating her arrest shortly, the feisty senator declared in a news conference that she is not guilty of any of the charges and that she will not escape, hide, ask for hospital arrest or request for a wheelchair or wear a neck brace (similar to that of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before her release from hospital arrest.)

Now a fake news item on social media claims that De Lima is suffering from asthma and that, according to her doctor, she won’t be able to endure conditions in an enclosed jail cell.

The senator categorically denied that she was suffering from the common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties.

“I’m in perfect health,” she declared.

“Besides, if I had asthma or can’t endure conditions in enclosed places, how then was I able to endure hours on end inside the kubols of certain inmates at NBP?” She was referring to allegations that as Justice Secretary during the previous administration, she was often seen spending a lot of time inside the jail cells of convicted drug lords at NBP.)

The Adobo Chronicles is inclined to believe her.