Usapang CQ

Marcial Reyes, RN, dreamt of becoming a lawyer but after 10 years in politics, he grew tired of wheeling-dealing of corruption that comes with power. Suddenly, he saw an ad that his alma mater is offering nursing courses. Begrudglingly, he tried it and after four years, he set foot in the US. Last March, he contracted the dreaded COVID-19 virus. His wife, a frontliner too, and their five-year old son, were tested positive as well. He shares to Usapang CQ the anguish of having the disease, and a seeming out-of-body experience he had while he was intubated and in the ICU. Health policy specialist Dr. Marilyn Lorenzo, meanwhile, provided a macro overview of the risks the Filipino nurses were taking in this global pandemic. Is it correct for the government to stop the deployment of Filipino nurses overseas? Find out what's the take of Dr. Lorenzo and Reyes about this controversial temporary ban.

Gulf Migration specialist Froilan Malit Jr. talks with Malou Talosig-Bartolome on how it was like to be a son of an OFW, and how he struggled since childhood, selling sampaguita flowers til 2am. When he was petitioned by his mother in the US, he dreamt of being able to study in Columbia University. Although discouraged by his mom due to financial reasons, he fought his way to be able to get an Ivy League education and had to take on student loans in order to survive. As a way of giving back, he specialised on migration in the Middle East