Volume 7, Issue No. 41
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /
. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . .
Our latest as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
~ Not much is said about the contribution of one outstanding Filipino doctor - Dr. Eileen de Villa - in containing the spread of coronavirus in Toronto, Canada's largest city, from the time of its discovery in late 2019 to May 2023 when the World Health Organization declared an end to international concern. A lawsuit against the province, the city and health authorities prompts this essay based on personal experience as a Toronto resident and journalist. Even as skeptics were spreading disinformation about vaccines, most of us, at the very least, should be grateful for this physician's concern for our health and safety. It's no exaggeration to say that because of her, many Torontonians survived the pandemic. At that time, she was the City's COVID Czar and continues to be the community's lifesaver.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DR. EILEEN DE VILLA
A Physician's Concern Saved
the Community from COVID
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” ― John F. Kennedy
TORONTO - An ongoing trial of a business owner who defied COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 has one of four respondents Dr. Eileen de Villa in her capacity as Toronto's Medical Officer of Health.
Daughter of two prominent Filipino physicians, she's well known in the Filipino community like her parents for their active involvement in community affairs. Her mom is cardiologist Dr. Maria Antonina "Nenette" de Villa, and her late dad, Dr. Guillermo "Jun" de Villa, was an obstetrician/gynecologist.
In May 2024, a year after conquering COVID-19, Dr. Eileen announced she would resign her position effective Dec. 31, 2024, to devote time to her family. In an interview with this reporter the following month, she responded to critics of her decision to control the spread of COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gicm7LdB8xI).
"The kinds of things . . . undertaken were always done with the best interests of the people of Toronto, thinking about their health and what would improve it and protect it the most," she explained then.
The litigation initiated by Adam Skelly, owner of Adamson barbecue in Etobicoke, revolves around constitutional issues that the province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, the City's Board of Health, and Dr. de Villa allegedly violated. It continues this week at the Superior Court of Ontario on University Ave.
Setting aside the politics, the legalities and the pros and cons of the lawsuit, I'd say that the health protocols Dr. de Villa had instituted and managed in the city helped a lot of people, myself included, in overcoming COVID-19.
Until now, questions were raised against the effectiveness of the vaccines and whether they were necessary in the face of rising number of cases and deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Despite some skepticism, vaccination "remains the most effective intervention for preventing severe outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death," according to Public Health Ontario.
Because I believe in science, I had no qualms getting vaccinated with either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. In fact, I was one of the early residents who had to queue for hours to get my first vaccine in 2019.
Millions of Canadians have survived the COVID-19 pandemic due to availability of newly-developed vaccines and the unrelenting recommendation by health authorities to be immunized against the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus.
As of April 2024, with a population of 38.39 million, Canada registered 4,946,090 cases of COVID-19 out of which 59,034 died, and 4,881,312 recovered. City-wide statistics for Toronto were not available as of this writing.
Compared that with the US (population: 334.8 million) where opposition to vaccines was robust, there were 111.82 million cases, 1.219 million deaths, and 109,814,428 recovered.
As a Toronto resident, I followed strictly the health bulletins coming out of Toronto Public Health Office, the largest public health agency in Canada which Dr. de Villa headed from 2017 to 2024 and had 2,486 employees operating under a $344,596,400 budget.
To me her edict was an expression of love, care, and concern for a family bigger than hers. Never for a moment did I doubt her sincerity in making sure everyone stayed healthy.
Knowing she's a medical professional and not a politician, a mother, and a Filipino was very comforting. That much trust and confidence I had, still have, for her, which I feel were enough to get one by, especially in moments of crises like the pandemic. That last description tells a lot because every Filipino equates to family values that put a premium on love and care.
I can't thank Dr. de Villa enough for her compelling advisories. And that gratitude is shared by family and friends who benefitted from her guidance and stayed healthy throughout the pandemic and beyond.
The lawsuit currently in litigation has prompted me to revisit Dr. de Villa's activities, primarily as the City's Medical Officer of Health, and as a member of the Filipino community. (Related video: Toronto Officials Urge Residents to Get Vaccinated). She's very much supportive of the arts. (Related video: Six-Day Art Show by Filipino Artists at Toronto City Hall).
Her dad was instrumental in organizing the non-profit Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) in 2000 and became its first chairman. Her mom is very much involved too. Yet their role in FCT has not been accorded the respect it deserves. It escapes me why there's not even a bio sketch of Dr. Guillermo "Jun" de Villa, Dr. Eileen's father, in the FCT website.
Instead, we see a bunch of what may be called "Johnny-come-latelyis" or what the dictionary says are "what you'd call someone who shows up late and then acts as if they're expert on whatever situation is at hand." Just to be clear, I don't mean to disrespect the three individuals FCT pays tribute to. And also, I don't mean this to be a brief against its current officials either.
However, it's a pity how FCT has devolved in recent years once it got millions of dollars from the sale of its old building. To get an idea why that is, just watch the videos below and read the articles listed here.
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