Marietta Subong a.k.a. Pokwang (Image: Instagram.com/@itspokwang27)
Actress and comedienne Pokwang slammed the anti-Chinese sentiment that has made a headway on social media following the confirmation of novel coronavirus’ first case in the Philippines. The virus, also called nCoV, originated in China and is a cousin of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). It can reportedly be transmitted through coughing, sneezing and close contact with an infected person.
Pokwang (real name: Marietta Subong) reposted an open letter apologizing to Chinese tourists and citizens in the country for the discrimination that they are experiencing, on her Instagram yesterday, Jan. 31.
“MAS PINAGPAPALA ANG NAGPAPAKUMBABA PEACE [EVERYONE] (The humble are more blessed. Peace, everyone),” the comedienne commented in her post.
The letter, issued by “Netizens of the Philippines,” read: “To all Chinese [tourists] or [citizens:] We apologize for the harsh words and the rejection we have made you feel.”
“The Philippines and [its] people are scared not because of you, but because we are a poor country that will suffer if ever it occurs in our land,” it added.
The letter stressed that most Filipinos “do not have money even to afford to eat [three] meals a day.”
“We pray for the healing of everyone in your country [especially] the children and for the benefit of everybody… #PrayforWuhanChina #PrayforChinese #PrayforPhilippines,” the letter ended.
It has been shared and reposted by many netizens on social media, and has gotten mixed reactions from Filipinos.
In what has been called an attempt to redeem themselves, two men, apparently Chinese, were spotted giving away free face masks to pedestrians in front of the PBCOM building in Makati.
A 38-year-old Chinese woman is the first confirmed case of the deadly virus in the country, as disclosed on Jan. 30 by the Department of Health. She is currently isolated at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
The novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of at least 213 people and infected at least 9,692 in China alone. The World Health Organization has declared a global emergency over the outbreak. /ra
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