Doubts. Fears. These are the common things that a champion would feel as soon as he steps his right foot up in the arena of valor. All eyes – eyes of judgment and fury, are fixed on him as he faces his perennial rival. He swings his sword. He missed. Screeching sound of metal resonates around the place. How can I fight an enemy I cannot see? He asked himself. He was struck and he fell. There was a long stretch of silence. But he stood up. In his sword he prayed, he will not lose; his fight has just begun.

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During the onset of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in our country, we witnessed how people fell from deep anxiety in fear of getting the lethal virus. In a blink of an eye, everything has changed. Streets that used to be crowded now became empty. The things we perceived as normal feel totally different now, and hospitals that once used to be a commonplace became a battleground of horror.

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Our elders once told us that legends laud an aria about the heroism of our yesterday’s heroes. But today, legends will tell our children that warriors don’t wear silver plates on their body anymore; but are dressed in white suits and scrubs to face an imperceptible enemy. 

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From the scripture of telltales and stories, we will read the tales of new heroes -  a journey of two PUPian frontliners who bravely faced the terrors of becoming real warriors in this time of crisis.

 

WITHIN THE EPICENTER OF THE PANDEMIC

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In the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, a young warrior strives hard to continue aiding people in need of help. Rosemarie Baculot, a 21-year old graduate of BS Nutrition and Dietetics in PUP Manila, serves as a healthcare worker in the dietary department. She worked as an office staff of Vice Mayor Honey Lacuña in the Manila City Hall first before coming to the Ospital ng Maynila. 

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Her journey of working in the health sector started last September and despite being neither a doctor nor a nurse who handles patients contracted by the coronavirus, she experiences all the struggles too of being a frontliner during these trying times. She encountered new challenges in her career as she faces the trials of this pandemic.

 

“We've encountered big waves, from the extended duty hours, to lack of transportation, to being exposed to many risks and also not having enough and appropriate care from the government,” Rosemarie said.

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The crisis has caused lockdowns on major hit cities of the virus, including Metro Manila as the epicenter of this catastrophe. Because of this, many aspects of the economy are immobilized involving transportation.

 

And this has become one of the major trials that Rosemarie has to surpass to fulfill her duties in the society.

 

Every day, Rosemarie rides her bicycle to go to Ospital ng Maynila for several hours. She crosses thousands of meters from her house to get to the hospital that takes away a lot of her energy. Morning burdens plus the scorching heat of the sun already exhaust her, yet, it was only the beginning of her day. 

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Fatigue. This was Rosemarie’s main antagonist. Aside from the 10 hours shift she has to complete in her day, the fearful judgment she receives from her community fuels the stress she bears every single day.

 

Sometimes, she is mistakenly perceived as a virus carrier in her neighborhood because she works in a hospital—a stigma not only happening to Rosemarie but to every healthcare worker in our country since this pandemic started. Nevertheless, this does not stop her from providing her fellow Manileños proper health care. 

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Despite the exhaustion and discrimination that she receives from her job, she's still standing strong on what she does. Besides, her family inspires and supports her to continue her chosen endeavor in life. It also makes her happy whenever she gives nutritional counseling. She believes that even the smallest things that make us happy help us to stay positive during the tenacious dilemma we face today, and that we owe to the people who support us to have faith in a brighter future.

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Rosemarie won’t walk in another path, she said. She’ll continue to wear her white uniform, and carry out what must young warriors do—to persist with the fight against our common unseen enemy.

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“This pandemic has heightened uncertainty over employment, finances and of course physical and mental health. So for me, it’s not a good time to give up on something because of fear. We need to deal with these uncontrollable circumstances and face it with faith and confidence,” Rosemarie said.

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WORKING IN A HEALTH CENTER FACILITY

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Manila is not the only city that was a major hit of the disease, it was scattered all throughout our country most especially in the Metro. Aiding our Filipino people is not only limited in the main hospitals, assistance is also provided in the health center facilities in the nearby cities.

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After graduating with a bachelor degree in BS Nutrition and Dietetics in PUP Manila, Clarise Joy Villalon started her career in the health sector in October 2019. It was her dream to work in a hospital as she completed her pre-medicine degree but when the COVID-19 happened, working in the public health sector became her craft and even though it was not in the original list of her goals, it made her feel fulfilled. 

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Currently, Clarise works at the Moonwalk Health Center in Parañaque City. She was assigned to a community-based operation by the Department of Health. In the health center, they cater patients with symptoms of the disease and schedule them for a swab test in COVID-19 swabbing centers. 

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Once the patients’ swab test results turn out positive, they run contact tracing of the patients’ previous interactions. Aside the COVID control initiatives, they also come across with other health concerns in the area like campaigns about polio which had been a prevalent issue last 2019. 

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Just like any other front liners, Clarise had also experienced challenges that test her faith as a healthcare worker amidst the pandemic crisis. She rides her bike or worse, walks on some days just to go to the health center since public transportation is immobilized due to lockdown restrictions. 

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Another hurdle for her is having to wear PPEs on a hot day in an unventilated area just to provide basic health services for her fellow Filipino people. Nonetheless, all of these struggles do not hinder her from continuing her passion. Sometimes, a single smile from her patients will already ease the work pressure she has to endure throughout her day. 

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“It’s always to provide for my family and when patients tell you how grateful they are that you helped them is enough to be motivated,” Clarise said when asked about the persons who make her inspired to continue the work she has to accomplish. 

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“I know it is my calling to work for the public health sector and the fear of getting the virus is always there but the eagerness to work in the health sector has always been greater,” she added.

 

STIGMA AGAINST OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

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Eyes of judgment, and eyes of fury – these eyes stare at our front liners including Clarise and Rosemarie as they fight against our invisible enemy. It’s a form of irony that we hail their names but look at them with so many misconceptions about the virus. Clarise, at one time while entering her house, overheard her neighbor telling his child to stay away from her because she might carry the virus on her sleeves. This stigma against our front liners must stop. Our misconceptions about treating the coronavirus must be corrected. Remember, no person in his right mind will call help on our healthcare workers at the same time be disgusted at their presence. We can’t salute our heroes while casting stones at them.

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The journey of Clarise and Rosemarie toward their dream of becoming healthcare professionals in the time of COVID-19 pandemic reflects the tales of young warriors’ beginning of teaching themselves to be champions. 

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Doubts. Fears. They all started with those emotions. Doubts of living the future, fears of the uncertainties. But like what most champions do, they hold onto their swords and pray with their weapon – a weapon of hope. They might miss. They might lose. But still, they step their right foot up and continue the battle without the assurance of victory. 

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After all, their fight has just begun. Their journey just started.

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And they believe they will win.

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