We barely noticed, but photographers, during these times, are also considered in the front line. Their photos, or even those shared by credible media newsrooms, inform and help us understand that the pandemic isn't something to be taken lightly. They use their platforms to disseminate proper protocols in avoiding the spread of the virus, and to amplify an important message through images. 

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Jenevie Estrella, a photographer/filmmaker of Provincial Multimedia Education Center from Tigaon, Camarines Sur, was one of the many who has been affected by this pandemic. With banned gatherings, cancellation of events is at an all-time high, and different projects have been postponed.

 

But while dealing with the situations, Jenevie still chose to volunteer as a facilitator by assisting the passengers of the Balik Probinsya Program of the government. 

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“Since kulang ang manpower, I also volunteered as a frontliner. While documenting and covering events, naging part din ako ng volunteer team ng province,” Jenevie said.  

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To meet the lack of manpower during these uncertain times, Jenevie decided to still be on the front line, “We have the capacity, so why not help kung kaya naman.”  

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Aside from facilitating the quarantine site, along with the others who volunteered, they also had been to upland and coastal areas to give help from the government.  Although there are a lot of changes since the pandemic started, she can still do her work as a photographer and as a frontliner at the same time. 

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“As part of multimedia, work namin is to cover and document events,” Jenevie mentioned.  

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She took advantage of this to fuel some sort of social change. Since every picture had stories to tell, she uses her photographs to convey messages, and document the experiences and process during the distribution of goods to 35 municipalities, two cities with a total of 1,036 barangays in the province of Camarines Sur. 

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For her, being in the front line is not easy because their health is also at risk. 

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Jenevie said that she had already quarantined three times and swab tested twice, “Thank God negative naman always ang result. Super nakaka-stress na gusto mo na lang mag stop mag trabaho dahil dito. Iniisip ko na lang kahit papaano maswerte parin ako kasi may trabaho ako, unlike sa iba na nawalan talaga ng work dahil dito.” 

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Jenevie spent almost four months all alone not being able to go home because of her work. 

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“Since prone kami sa virus, kasi puwede kaming maging carrier nito. Tiniis ko talaga na 'di umuwi sa'min.”  

It was very hard for her to have to spend time alone in her apartment as she goes home from work. Good thing there are several means of communication — she messages and/or video calls her family when she has free time to motivate her. 

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“Family oriented talaga ako kaya super naapektohan ako ng pandemic na ito. Salamat na lang at may social media,” Jenevie exclaimed.   

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The stress and anxiety affect us physically and psychologically. 

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“Sometimes mapaparanoid ka na konting sakit ng ulo or lalamunan, iisipin mo symptoms na agad,” Jenevie stated.  

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But this doesn't stop them from helping and fulfilling their job.

 

Knowing that there are a lot of people who are suffering during these trying times but chose to look on the bright side and help each other, kept her going. Amidst these difficult challenges, courage and unity still remains. 

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