When the world turned grievous, they stayed courageous. In a battle against unseen enemies, they remained fierce warriors. In the matter of death, they opted to be heroes.

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) did not alter their profession, yet it defined their characters.

No amount could ever equate to the immense sacrifice of putting one’s own life in chaos. COVID-19 has existed for over year now in both literal and figurative contexts, and these people we called “frontliners” have been shielding us against an enemy that steals lives.

The Philippines saw its first case of the coronavirus disease in the first few weeks of 2020. 

Beginning with a 38-year old woman from Wuhan, China who travelled in the country, the cases had arisen to hundreds, and thousands. Now, there are about half a million COVID-19 patients in the Philippines and since the virus entered, the frontliners have been restless and yet, they have never stopped to follow their sworn oath of saving lives.

Admire, Recognize, Applaud

We have recently interviewed five people from different fields and professions. In normal times, others might have less appreciated their work.  

In the eyes of the many, they are ordinary, unremarkable or workers who just do a job for a living. In some instances, they are being degraded and today they even felt discriminated against as they have been frequently exposed to suspected COVID-19 patients. 

“Nursing is caring”

This has been instilled to the 26-year-old Ambulance Nurse, Jay Bederio  when he became a licensed nurse.

It must be a serious agony for most people to encounter even a single suspicious virus’ carrier. However, it was the everyday life of Nurse Jay since the beginning of the pandemic. Together with his team, they are fetching not less than seven patients a day. He said it was the hardest task he had in six years in the medical field.  

“In our modern age, this is the first time we are experiencing a pandemic. We can’t easily know who is infected of COVID-19. ”

A few days after COVID-19 started to spread, one of his colleagues tested positive. Nurses like him have no other option but to strictly abide by the safety protocol.

 “We made an oath; we must give care to people, whatever sickness they have.”

Discrimination among frontliners especially in the medical field has been so rampant. But Jay shared how patients have been outcasted too. In front of his eyes were some of the proofs of the stigma that in some cases makes their situation more distressful.

“I had one experience when we needed to send the patient from Quezon City to Pasig City, and the patient’s house was surrounded with tapes like what the police usually use when there’s crime in the place.”

“All of us are heroes, as long as we offer help”

Patrolman Richard Alejandro has been living with this ideology since he selected a more physically and emotionally challenging profession. 

From being an educator, he entered the Philippine National Police (PNP) four years ago. His dedication did not diminish even in the midst of an ambush that took place in the beginning of his career. Alejandro in his years in the service had fully accepted that his life could be at risk as he vowed to serve and protect.

“I thought it’s easy to be a police officer. I thought it’s a job that focuses on academic credentials, but when the training came, I finally realized that it’s a difficult job, but then I learned to appreciate the profession.”

The Policeman had verbalised those dangers he had, yet this pandemic appears to be the toughest. He might not be working in hospitals or any medical institutions but his job to promote safety and security during the community quarantine exposes him to many people.  

“While there is COVID-19, I was assigned to a checkpoint. It’s difficult because I can’t see who my enemy is.”

Alejandro has been agitated to perform his task in the areas between the boundaries of Metro Manila and Rizal Province.

“The very first day of quarantine was the hardest. People were surprised that we’re not letting them pass easily and sometimes people don’t treat us seriously. There are people who are really hard to please. We do some considerations for the sake of humanity, but we still give them warnings.”

At the end of the day, he thinks of his family. He was truly hesitant to go home as he might already be a carrier. Alejandro worries more after learning that one of his teammates was infected. As of December 2020, the PNP Health Service recorded eight thousand policemen infected by the virus and almost thirty of them died.

“When there’s no electricity, it will be hard to inform the public about this crisis”

In almost a decade as a lineman, the 35-years-old Mardy Ramos of the First Laguna Electric Cooperative (FLECO) is too much aware of the importance of his willed destiny.

 Throughout​ the course of the interview, Ramos repeated several times the danger that he faced and endured on his duty. The countless accidents he experienced and surpassed has sharpened his skills, yet he knows that it’s not an assurance of a hundred percent safety.

 “It’s very dangerous because I am dealing with electricity and I need to go up to the post. I once got an electric shock.”

In usual situations, a lineman like Ramos is rarely being noticed. The spread of the pandemic, however, paves a little recognition to their undeniably essential work. While almost everybody stays and works in the comfort of their abode, our linemen assure the presence of power supply.

In times of this kind of crisis, it would impossible for people to afford losing power supply that provides information, communication and access to internet.

“I have been working for over 10 years, so I am already used to the danger of my job but this time is different, Covid-19 is another danger.”

No matter how hard the experiences he had, Ramos revealed he was frightened but did not come to a point of leaving his job. His commitment to help bring light to houses was magnified into setting a glow to the darkest segment of lives.  

“At first we’re really scared, we don’t know if we can be infected or not as we are dealing with trash for our work”

In sixteen years of being a metro street sweeper, Cristina Estolas was never this afraid of spending her eight hours duty in the street.

While people working in Metro Manila suddenly disappear in the height of COVID-19, street cleaners like Estolas did not pause doing her task. While everyone rushed to the groceries and drug store to avail disinfectant spray and vitamins, she proceeded to her job of collecting trash and maintaining the cleanliness of her assigned street. Estolas must be the bravest senior citizen.

The uncertainties in the street brought about by accidents have been a constant scene for her. There is still anxiousness and feeling of nervousness. But it did not compare to how she worries about COVID-19 as she knows how vulnerable she was to obtain it and how it could turn severe.

However, her day of absence means multiplication of mess in the street.

“When we don’t do our job everyday, there will be more trash in the community and it will be more risky for the people.”

Her years sustaining the cleanliness of various areas in Pasig City have been a summary of fulfilment, happy days and some displeasure. She works with honour but not everyone gives enough credits for her work.

“Some people would say that if they don’t make trash, we don’t have any work. Sometimes, people can really be too disrespectful.”

The pandemic highlighted the importance of jobs such as those of Estola’s. And a cleaner is precisely one of the most needed professions.

“We have no choice but to work, we just do some protection measures, we are provided with masks and disinfectants.”

“The most fulfilling part of this job is the happiness and seeing the reactions of people who are you helping with”

Pasig City Youth Council Jan Esquivel had even understood the significance of leadership and the principles behind the service when the virus eventually spread over Metro Manila.

The four thousand households that are unceasingly needed to be informed, fed and taken care of has been the centre of Esquivel’s focus for almost a year now. He was elected for two years and he, himself could tell the miles of difference in serving in a normal and crisis period.

“It’s hard to do personal communication, but we’re trying to know what the community really needs.

Esquivel haw developed a sense of sensitivity to be in his constituent’s shoes to realize their predicaments. On the occasions that people complain, he and his colleagues boost online communication, and try to comprehend and accommodate. 

“We really need to prove when you label yourself as a frontliner, you have to be on the front, leading for people, and even you sacrifice your own time and effort to fulfil your duty.”

His leadership that has been tested by the pandemic is also a good validation of himself. Esquivel attested that real leadership means not to be served, but to serve. 

Frontliners do not have capes, swords or any magical weapons. Our frontliners neither fly nor transform. We called them heroes not for their novels and terrific strengths. Our frontliners could be heroes for their hearts that do not lose, does not give-up, and does not run-out of love.

Written by Ricca Joice Adrada

Watch the stories of our Heroes in Pandemic.