On March 13, a guy named James Junio went viral after Netizens attacked him for saying that doctors, any health workers shouldn’t be ‘glorified’ for doing their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a deleted post, Junio wrote that the volunteers should be the ones getting praised, not the doctors or health workers since it is part of their duties as medical practitioners.
“Unpopular opinion: Bat nyo gino-glorify yung mga doctor at health worker sa paggawa ng trabaho nila? Eh normal lang na gawin nila yan. They are paid to do that. Purihin nyo yung mga ordinaryong tao na tumutulong at nag volunteer ng walang bayad.”
The tone of his post seemed to be blaming the doctors for the country’s current health situation.
“Kung ginawa nyo sana maayos trabaho nyo at di puro pera nasa isip nyo eh di sana wala tayo sa sitwasyon na to.”
Junio’s post went viral on social media and eventually became the number one trending topic on Twitter.
Not a lot of people supported Junio in his rant.
“In the midst of all of this, of doctors risking their lives for people, idiots still exist to manage to continue doctor shaming. Shame on you, James Junio.
“This is not an unpopular opinion. This is a st*p*d opinion. James Junio, i wish you will not sick coz the people you are insulting are the people who will take care of you. Then you will realize you opinion is very stupid and insensitive
“Argument that has no validation. Yung mga taong pa-woke sa internet na in the middle of COVID19 eto ang inaatupag. Dear James Junio, yung sinasabing mong “do your f***king job, you’re being paid for it” How dare you treat a patient’s life with a remuneration!
“tHeY aRe pAiD tO dO tHat.”
whaaaaaat? you mean their 10k monthly salary ? these people are risking their lives, James Junio! and the least we can do is to appreciate them pero ummm okay mukha talaga silang pera 😒😒😒
James noticed that he was getting slammed for sharing his opinion as he opted to post some clarifications.
He clarified that he wasn’t blaming the doctors for the epidemic, but said that the health experts could have done a better job in handling the situation. He issued a not- so-sincere apology, even saying that most Filipinos do not have the intellectual capacity to understand simple messages.
On March 14, Junio issued a real apology.
James Junio made an apology: https://t.co/gjoYgWFiAp pic.twitter.com/WSiyUx02sE
— ricci (@ricci_richy) March 14, 2020
Junio initially did not realize that his choice of words were condescending toward health experts, and for that he apologized.
“I never meant to downplay your efforts. I’ve been always appreciative with the sacrifice of the doctors and frontliners in the covid-19 pandemic.I voiced out my opinion without recognizing that my choice of words are out of line and for that I’m sorry.”
Junio hopes that people will forgive him for his unnecessary rant.
“I hope that you find in your hearts to forgive me.”
https://www.facebook.com/jamesmichael.junio/posts/3398317750183332
It seems that a lot of people have not gotten over his rant, as many sent Junio private messages to express their thoughts on his controversial posts.
One netizen deems Junio a disgrace to the LGBT community.
I know that rants here on Twitter will never reach James Junio so I sent him a message on FB instead. Yesterday was my sister’s birthday. She passed away last May 2019.
This is for you sissy and to every health worker risking their lives combating the #COVID19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/5UBTr40KRS
— THE JeDi maSter™ 🇵🇭 (@JeDi_maSter0706) March 13, 2020
A fellow LGBT supporter is ashamed that Junio is even part of that community.
https://twitter.com/Izeeeett/status/1238453445805342721?s=20
James Junio
Yes we are paid to do our job as healthcare worker.
But we can ignore our duty and stay at the safety of our home.
Yet we still choose to be a better person by taking care of the sick.
Do not glorify us but do not belittle the essence of our work.
— eve's reflection🙏💙 (@ecdancel) March 13, 2020
Health workers go thru hell doing their duties in exchange for money bec they too need to survive & provide for their families. They risk their lives to save other people.
James Junio, you're downright wrong. Man up & admit you didn't use your brain. That's if you have one. pic.twitter.com/VIyl72XTYp
— vince (@ianimper) March 13, 2020
One netizen actually wants somebody to physically handle Junio.
Dearest Phlebotomists,
Please use guage 19 on this sorry excuse of a person, James Junio. Thanks.
K, bye. pic.twitter.com/fjTelBqS4R
— KΛYΣ🐈⬛ (@antit0xic_) March 13, 2020
One netizen wants to have a heart to heart with the infamous Junio.
https://twitter.com/UGHKimVShiii/status/1238458585337626626?s=20
Mga doctors and nurses, pakitandaan lang po ang pangalan at mukha ni James Junio.
Wala naman akong sinabing may gawin kayo. Pakitandaan lang. https://t.co/7Ohb7aknKm
— 🍉Demontitang Aczar mrsunlawyer @Spoutible @mas.to (@mrsunlawyer) March 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/chloe_rosales/status/1238455024092450818?s=20
https://twitter.com/covid19raw/status/1238452283572023296?s=20
https://twitter.com/ElginReiMD/status/1238433628662550528?s=20
People of the Philippines decided to hate James Junio. Trending si kuya for being an insensitive asshole. He embarrassed not only himself but his entire family. What a shame!
— miss choa (@choahaeyeo) March 13, 2020
Caring for the sick is indeed our calling, but bashing us for doing our job was never yours.
God bless you, James Junio.
— Gerard Zed Ayaay (@GerardZed) March 13, 2020
What that idiot James Junio can't understand is our frontliners are already going way above their job description even if most of them are paid meagerly. The praises given is our way of showing our gratitude for their sacrifices
To our frontliners, we see you and we are grateful.— Hawkey 🦉 (@hawkey_ish) March 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/kylegamboaa/status/1238482352885522438?s=20
In response to Mr. James Junio’s unpopular opinion against healthcare workers. 💉#HeathCareProviders 💉 pic.twitter.com/c60AdvH7vC
— Hafiz 🇬🇧 (@08Yow) March 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/for_yunhori/status/1238459526015156224?s=20
On Thursday March 12, President Duterte praised Xi Jinping for promising to provide assistance to the Philippines regarding the pandemic.
“You know President Xi Jinping for all of his goodness to us, wrote me a letter and said that he is willing to help. All we have to do is to ask,” said Duterte during a televised briefing.
“Maybe there will be time if things deteriorate that I have to call on China to help. He said that they have managed the crisis very well in his country and he is very much willing to help kung kailangan (if needed).”
Duterte sounded really grateful that Jinping would do something this nice for the Philippines.
“So to the Chinese government, the people, especially to President Xi Jinping, thank you for the consoling words and maybe I hope it would not reach to that point, but maybe we will need your help. Salamat po (Thank you).”
After President Dutere praised Jinping and Bong Go, Netizens pointed out that he did not show gratitude toward the health workers of the country, the people who are risking their lives by exposing themselves to possible patients of the virus.
Netizens went online and did what Duterte was supposed to do.
Duterte mentioning and praising Bong Go for doing his job while on the other hand , doctors, health officers and even lgus are doing their best at 24/7 cleansing and sanitizing everywhere, a little shoutout to them Mr. Pres. for they are JUST DOING their jobs.
— Dear CPA📧 (@cpadiaries) March 12, 2020
To all healthcare professionals, frontliners, & other public servants working tirelessly,
kahit hindi kayo binigyang pansin ni Duterte (not even a thank you), your noble deeds will not go unappreciated.
We wanna express our sincere thank you for your service- MARAMING SALAMAT!
— Quattro (@alfie_iv) March 12, 2020
The fact that Duterte took a minute to give Bong Go’s ego a boner instead of thanking the UP scientists who developed the COVID-19 testing kit is an insult to Filipino ingenuity
— Javi Vilchez (@Javiercrombie) March 12, 2020
https://twitter.com/chescagonzales_/status/1238116754653466625?s=20
https://twitter.com/mmbrnrd/status/1238110511423619072?s=20
Dahil hindi na-highlight ni Duterte kanina, tayo na mismo ang magpapasalamat:
Salamat sa ating mga doktor.
Salamat sa ating mga nurses.
Salamat sa lahat ng frontliners.
Salamat sa lahat ng buong oras na naglilingkod sa kalagitnaan ng ganitong sakuna.Tunay na bayani.
— Carwyn (@CarwynCandila_) March 12, 2020
Celebrities also thanked health workers and shared their thoughts on the current situation.
Instead of thanking China,I’d like to thank our health workers who have been at the frontlines against COVID-19.
You have been working tirelessly in the name of public health & safety. You are the real heroes,& I am thankful for your service to our people. Marami pong salamat!
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) March 12, 2020
Thank you to all the health workers, scientists, reporters, and cleaners for trying to keep the country safe and healthy 👍🏻
— Luis Manzano (@luckymanzano) March 12, 2020
As of today, there are a total of 98 cases of COVID-19 in the country.