Balikbayan’s death spoils village fiesta

ROXAS, Isabela — The death of a balikbayan from Canada last Thursday has spoiled preparations for the fiesta celebration of a barangay here because of word that he could have died of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The death of "PB," who had had severe cold, cough and high fever, has prompted Mayor Benedict Calderon Jr. to ask officials of Barangay Muñoz West to call off their fiesta celebration this week.

PB arrived from Canada early last week and was scheduled for a medical check-up at the regional hospital in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

News about PB’s death has triggered panic among residents of Barangay Muñoz West, some of whom have left the village for fear of contracting the SARS virus.

Calderon has requested the Tuguegarao-based regional office of the Department of Health to send experts to determine whether PB died of SARS.

"We don’t want to take chances that’s why we want to make sure that Barangay Muñoz West is SARS-free before any festivity is held," he said.

PB’s relatives, who had had contact with him, have reportedly expressed their willingness to be quarantined. But they insisted that PB died due to cardiac arrest, not SARS.

"Saan nga pudno ti ibagbaga da (What they’re saying is untrue)," said one Manang Lorna, a cousin of PB. — Lito Salatan