Pinay nurse assaulted in New York dies

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipina nurse in New Jersey who was critically injured after being knocked down by a fleeing thief in Times Square, New York died yesterday, the Philippine Consulate General in New York said.

Oncology nurse Maria Ambrocio died shortly after she was removed from life support, it said.

“We grieve with the rest of the Filipino community over the death of our kababayan, Maria Ambrocio, a 58-year-old health frontliner from Bayonne, New Jersey, who was the latest victim of deranged individuals on the loose in New York City,” the consulate said in a statement.

She had been on life support for the head trauma she sustained on Friday afternoon after she was knocked down by someone who was described as a mentally disturbed homeless man.

Ambrocio was walking with a Filipina near Times Square after visiting the Philippine Consulate General when she was struck by the suspect who was reportedly being chased after grabbing a mobile phone from someone.

A CBC report said Ambrocio was with her closed friend, Emilia Cruz, when the incident happened.

Both nurses at Bayonne Medical Center, Cruz and Ambrocio were in Times Square on Friday afternoon (Saturday in Manila).

Cruz said they had just finished lunch when a man plowed into Ambrocio outside a pizzeria.

Police said the man was being chased after stealing another man’s phone.

Ambrocio fell and cracked her skull when her head hit the pavement.

Police arested the homeless man, 26-year-old Jermaine Foster, who was involved in another theft at a woman’s apartment shortly before the incident in Times Square.

The incident is the latest in the series of violent acts committed by mentally ill individuals against members of the Filipino community in New York City since the start of the year.

“Beginning January, we have seen several of our kababayan, most of them senior citizens, violently assaulted by individuals with mental health issues,” the consulate said.

“We have joined calls for authorities to take the necessary steps, including heightened police visibility, to protect the public after we noted the surge in anti-Asian hate incidents that targeted some of our kababayan,” it said.

The consulate has supported calls for authorities to take the necessary measures to address mental health issues, especially among the homeless.

“We reiterate these calls as we mourn our loss but we also ask ourselves: how many more Maria Ambrocios do we have to mourn before the streets would be made safe again?” it asked.

Pinoys honored

Meanwhile, the stories of pain, courage and resilience of Filipino and Filipino-American frontliners are featured in the 10th Photoville Festival in Brooklyn Park, New York.

The festival, which runs from Sept. 18 to Dec. 1, is part of the exhibit “Friends: Art for Humanity — Reflection from Filipino-American Frontline Healthcare Workers.”

According to the PIX11 TV report, the Friends of the Philippines Society USA – a non-profit group behind the exhibit – said nearly 32 percent of all registered nurses who have died of COVID-19 in the United States were of Filipino descent.

The report said organizers hope that by educating the public about their contributions, it would help end violence against the Asian community.