MANILA, Philippines – One daughter penned a heartbreaking note for her mom, the first Pinoy to die of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines. What’s so sad is that fake news and rumors would soon spread about her as well as her husband who also tested positive of the condition.
In a post on Facebook, Liza Paqueo shared how her mother, Nida Cortes Paqueo (PH35), spent the last days of her life in isolation, without her family and friends around her. What’s worse, she would die alone and was cremated without any of her family being able to see her for one last time.
Her husband, Dr. Vicente Paqueo (PH34), was also in isolation at the time. Naturally, he was ‘in deep grief’ after learning about the passing of his wife, the woman he had spent the past 47 years with – the love of his life. According to Liza, she and her brothers are in the United States but even if they were back home, they still can’t visit their parents because no one is allowed to be with them.
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But it greatly saddened the family even more when rumors circulated about their parents – and private information was freely shared on social media. With so much wrong information being shared around, Liza decided to post their side of the story to regain her parents’ honor and to quell the rumors.
Here’s the full text of Liza’s post:
(PLEASE SHARE)
Dearest family and friends:
A few hours ago, my beautiful mother, Nida, was cremated. She died alone without her loving family and friends around her. She was cremated, alone, without ceremony or tribute. My father is alone as well. He is at a Manila hospital, in stable condition and in quarantine. But he is in deep grief over the loss of his wife of 47 years--the love of his life.
My brothers and I are together here in the United States, but we are not allowed to visit my dad. We are not allowed to manage and advocate for him. It has been painful not just for my nuclear family but for all our extended relatives and friends who love my parents and cherished my mom.
To compound the grief and pain, rumors and malicious misinformation have circulated on social media about my parents. This has all resulted in panic, violence, threats and stigmatization of our family and loved ones. Disclosure of private information has circulated as well.
My post yesterday on her death was a tribute to her life and an announcement of her passing. On behalf of our Paqueo/Cortes/Kostreci families, we would now like to issue this statement:
- My mother Nida Cortes Paqueo died shortly after her 67th birthday. She was healthy and fit. She went into the hospital on March 5 with localized pneumonia.
- A couple of days later, my father was admitted into the hospital.
- On March 11 local time (March 10 US time), my mother passed away. On March 11, we also received the news that she had COVID-19. My father also has tested positive for COVID-19.
- My brothers and I are here in the US.
- All family and friends who have been exposed to my parents are in isolation and quarantine.
- The Department of Health is now working with the hospitals and my father on epidemiological protocols around this infection.
- My parents are in Manila. In fact, they have not been to their hometown of Surigao City in several months.
- In addition, they have not traveled anywhere domestically or internationally. They have not been to Siargao, Singapore, Australia, etc.
- No one knows how they contracted COVID-19, but Manila is a crowded, internationally mix city of 13 million people. Speculations as to where they got it from is unknown, and we are leaving that to the Department of Health.
- If you have been around my parents between February 29 (when my mother first reported symptoms) and her death on March 11, then we encourage you to self-isolate for 14 days. And if you have a fever and a cough, please report to the Department of Health. It is the responsible thing to do. There is no stigma with this disease.
**** It is DANGEROUS, counterproductive, libelous, and ignorant to spread false information that could result in harm to our family and friends. BUT it can also be dangerous to public health and welfare. Please stay calm. If you have questions, contact me.*****
Our family has been in constant communication with infectious disease specialist, medical professionals and with each other to be socially and medically responsible. If you have any questions or fears, please do not hesitate to ask us questions.
HOWEVER, please do respect our family during this extremely painful time. We want to concentrate our energy and our prayers on our father's recovery (sadly from afar) and not on quelling damaging and dangerous rumors and threats.
We ask for your continued love, support, healing energy and prayers for my father and for our extended community.
Thank you. Maraming Salamat.
Dr. Vicente had been the resource person at the Senate Committee meeting on Basic Education, Arts and Culture last March 5. He is the reason why Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, and Senator Bong Revilla Jr. have placed themselves under self-quarantine.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
In a post on Facebook, Liza Paqueo shared how her mother, Nida Cortes Paqueo (PH35), spent the last days of her life in isolation, without her family and friends around her. What’s worse, she would die alone and was cremated without any of her family being able to see her for one last time.
Her husband, Dr. Vicente Paqueo (PH34), was also in isolation at the time. Naturally, he was ‘in deep grief’ after learning about the passing of his wife, the woman he had spent the past 47 years with – the love of his life. According to Liza, she and her brothers are in the United States but even if they were back home, they still can’t visit their parents because no one is allowed to be with them.
RELATED STORIES
But it greatly saddened the family even more when rumors circulated about their parents – and private information was freely shared on social media. With so much wrong information being shared around, Liza decided to post their side of the story to regain her parents’ honor and to quell the rumors.
 |
| Photo credit: Liza Paqueo / Facebook |
(PLEASE SHARE)
Dearest family and friends:
A few hours ago, my beautiful mother, Nida, was cremated. She died alone without her loving family and friends around her. She was cremated, alone, without ceremony or tribute. My father is alone as well. He is at a Manila hospital, in stable condition and in quarantine. But he is in deep grief over the loss of his wife of 47 years--the love of his life.
My brothers and I are together here in the United States, but we are not allowed to visit my dad. We are not allowed to manage and advocate for him. It has been painful not just for my nuclear family but for all our extended relatives and friends who love my parents and cherished my mom.
To compound the grief and pain, rumors and malicious misinformation have circulated on social media about my parents. This has all resulted in panic, violence, threats and stigmatization of our family and loved ones. Disclosure of private information has circulated as well.
My post yesterday on her death was a tribute to her life and an announcement of her passing. On behalf of our Paqueo/Cortes/Kostreci families, we would now like to issue this statement:
- My mother Nida Cortes Paqueo died shortly after her 67th birthday. She was healthy and fit. She went into the hospital on March 5 with localized pneumonia.
- A couple of days later, my father was admitted into the hospital.
- On March 11 local time (March 10 US time), my mother passed away. On March 11, we also received the news that she had COVID-19. My father also has tested positive for COVID-19.
- My brothers and I are here in the US.
- All family and friends who have been exposed to my parents are in isolation and quarantine.
- The Department of Health is now working with the hospitals and my father on epidemiological protocols around this infection.
- My parents are in Manila. In fact, they have not been to their hometown of Surigao City in several months.
- In addition, they have not traveled anywhere domestically or internationally. They have not been to Siargao, Singapore, Australia, etc.
- No one knows how they contracted COVID-19, but Manila is a crowded, internationally mix city of 13 million people. Speculations as to where they got it from is unknown, and we are leaving that to the Department of Health.
- If you have been around my parents between February 29 (when my mother first reported symptoms) and her death on March 11, then we encourage you to self-isolate for 14 days. And if you have a fever and a cough, please report to the Department of Health. It is the responsible thing to do. There is no stigma with this disease.
**** It is DANGEROUS, counterproductive, libelous, and ignorant to spread false information that could result in harm to our family and friends. BUT it can also be dangerous to public health and welfare. Please stay calm. If you have questions, contact me.*****
Our family has been in constant communication with infectious disease specialist, medical professionals and with each other to be socially and medically responsible. If you have any questions or fears, please do not hesitate to ask us questions.
HOWEVER, please do respect our family during this extremely painful time. We want to concentrate our energy and our prayers on our father's recovery (sadly from afar) and not on quelling damaging and dangerous rumors and threats.
We ask for your continued love, support, healing energy and prayers for my father and for our extended community.
Thank you. Maraming Salamat.
 |
| Photo credit: Esquire / Liza Paqueo |
Dr. Vicente had been the resource person at the Senate Committee meeting on Basic Education, Arts and Culture last March 5. He is the reason why Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, and Senator Bong Revilla Jr. have placed themselves under self-quarantine.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
