Adela petitioned family to Canada

ALCALA, Pangasinan — Her name will go down in history as the first "probable" victim of atypical pneumonia in the Philippines, but, to her family, nursing attendant Adela Catalon will forever be remembered as a woman with a very big heart.

Catalon worked as a nursing attendant at an old folks’ home in Toronto, Canada for the last 15 years. She returned to the Philippines on April 5 to search for an oncologist for her father.

Dr. Yadao Baldomero, Catalon’s third cousin, told The STAR Catalon signed a petition for the immigration to Canada of the Baldomero family.

Catalon also provided the support required for the processing of the Baldomeros’ application to migrate to Canada.

"We are still hoping that we will push through with the plan (to immigrate). If not, then it’s okay," Baldomero said.

While Catalon is seen by some people as a "super-SARS spreader" because she came into close and casual contact with many people while searching for an oncologist, she is a "very good person," Baldomero said.

"You see, I’m already her third-degree cousin, yet she is giving us very big help," Baldomero said, adding that Catalon is very close to her United States-based sister, Flordeliza Fink, who vacationed in Canada with Catalon each year.

It was also learned that Catalon, the third in a brood of four, bought houses and lots for two of her siblings in Barangay Vacante in this town.

Catalon attended the graduation of her niece, Cherry Catalon Corpuz, in Alcala shortly after she arrived. She was to support Corpuz’s college education.

Catalon did not undergo the self-quarantine recommended by the government for all arriving balikbayans from SARS-affected areas to prevent the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the country.

Before she completed her quest, Catalon rapidly developed pneumonia-like symptoms and was rushed to a hospital in Villasis town.

She was later transferred to the San Lazaro Hospital (SLH) in Manila after the personnel at the town hospital flagged her as a probable SARS case.

Catalon died on April 14 and her remains were immediately returned to her hometown in a sealed casket for immediate burial.

Her father died Tuesday from an intra-abdominal tumor after developing a fever that did not abate. He was also a probable SARS case, though Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said his fever may have been caused by the cancer that ravaged his body.

For all her generosity and goodwill, Catalon experienced posthumous rejection when panic spread after news broke that she may have been infected with SARS and that she may have infected 600 people, guests at a wedding in Moncada, Tarlac where she stood as a sponsor.

Department of Health Central Luzon assistant director and epidemiologist Eric Tayag said Monday that health officials have contacted 400 of the 600 wedding guests and advised them to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Tayag said the quarantine period ended Sunday and none of the people the DOH put under quarantine developed SARS symptoms. The DOH is in the process of getting in touch with the other 200 wedding guests so they can be given proper medical attention if necessary.

"I pity her," Baldomero said of Catalon. "Her body arrived here at 11 p.m. and the DOH people wanted it brought straight to the cemetery."

Catalon’s remains stayed on the road near the homes of her relatives in Vacante for a few hours before burial, Baldomero said. The barangay folk reacted negatively to the presence of Catalon’s casket because they were afraid they would be infected with the coronavirus despite her sealed casket.