(BATANG MAYNILA By Mayor Isko Moreno               These days, Chinese nationals and even Chinese-Filipinos are bearing the brunt of the dreaded 2019 novel corona virus’. On countless occasions, chat groups and media platform, we hear, see and watch rumors, purported news and videos that tend to bash the Chinese race, practically blaming them for the spread of the said illness. I have virtually appealed for a stop to all the ongoing discrimination against our Chinese brothers and sisters. Subjecting them to insults, harsh words and other forms of offensive acts will not help the current situation any. As of this writing, the total number of people affected by the said virus in Wuhan, China has breached the 28,000 mark and counting. Total deaths, sadly, has climbed up to more than 600. Wuhan had been locked down and many lives have been displaced, including those of our very own overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who either cannot come home as yet or cannot return to their work abroad. No one had wanted any of this to happen, not even the Chinese, who are the most affected by situation which was declared by the World Health Organization, no less, as a global health emergency. Yes, there are hateful cases involving Chinese nationals such as the one involving on Zhou Ziyi, the one who got arrested after speeding away from a Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau enforcer who was flagging him down for violation of the number coding scheme. Zhou rammed several vehicles as he escaped the enforcer pursuing him and only stopped when the enforcer’s motorcycle got caught under the suspect’s car. The suspect then resisted arrest, spat on the uniformed cop apprehending him and then was found in possession of shabu, even as his woman companion said he was on drugs. This, we should treat as an isolated incident and not a justification to hate the so-called yellow race. Amid the recent incessant bashing being received by Chinese nationals, I cannot sit idly by and watch, knowing that I can try to do something in order to somehow ease the discrimination. I made my stand on the issue clear enough when I spoke at the commemoration of the 75th year of the Battle for Manila held at the Manila City Hall's Freedom Triangle on Monday last week. There is no question that there is a lot of uncertainty, paranoia and fear hovering above everyone’s heads but this is no reason to blame one nation and make a sweeping, negative generalization of one single race. It's quite unfair. History will tell us that in the Battle for Manila alone, the role played by Chinese soldiers is highly laudable. They dedicated their very own lives to fight side by side with the Americans to liberate Manila during the war era. It is but unfair to continue judging other nationalities because any virus outbreak can happen anywhere. So please, let us stop the hate. Let us avoid unnecessary discriminatory statements. Don't use words that may offend certain nationalities because it is definitely not helping. It may be worth mentioning too that since news of the first suspected case in the Philippines broke out, we in Manila had been continuously receiving thousands upon thousands of face masks and even temperature scanning devices to aid in the city government’s efforts to prevent anyone from contracting the virus. The ones making the donations, mind you, are the members of the Chinese-Filipino community themselves. They are actually the first to respond and show volunteerism without asking for anything in return. Despite the negative remarks being hurled their way and the unnecessary association with the virus, the Chinese-Filipinos brushed all these aside and extended help, by providing face masks by the thousands, just when there is a reported shortage in supply. Let us unite in facing these current challenges. This is the time when we can prove to our fallen heroes and soldiers that Filipinos are indeed, ‘worth dying for.' At least to all the residents of Manila, I am appealing against passing any judgement on other nations or races because this is not the kind of people Manilans are--- we are made of better stuff. We are a city of love and hospitality and we should remain as such. *** Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first! *** For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account--- ‘Isko Moreno Domagoso.’