Words by Jhanine Caoile
Graphics by Justin Tan
Just before the year started, we all looked forward to the year 2020. We all had great dreams and expectations for a new decade ahead of us. However, disasters and calamities continued to come at us one after another. Even during the first three months of the year, Mother Earth had already succumbed to a number of environmental disasters which included the bushfires in Australia; the flash floods in Indonesia; the earthquakes in Puerto Rico, Turkey, and the Caribbean; the locusts swarm in East Africa; the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines; and countless more. However, another calamity that stands out in the said list is the recent outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus.
The Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) has been declared as a global pandemic. This infectious disease first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and eventually spread throughout various other local areas and foreign countries as the new year progressed. Considering that the virus only spread through water droplets from any COVID-19 carrier, the disease quickly transferred from one person to another. Because of the increasing speed of infection, countries all around the world declared community quarantine. The said lockdown procedure prohibits people from leaving their homes unless it is needed. Some of us don’t get to see how the situation actually is like outside of our own safety bubbles. A fraction of our whole population consists of front liners continuing to fight in the great battle against the virus despite the risk of infection.
Because of this virus, many of us have missed at least one once in a lifetime event. Be it your graduation, your debut, your wedding, your ball/prom, or even an important business opportunity, this would be incomparable to the things that our modern heroes are giving up for our sake these days. In honor of their hard work, commitment, dedication, and sacrifice, here is just a short list of just some of them.
10. Health Workers & Medical Professionals
First, we shall never forget the bravest and most selfless warriors of today’s battle. Thanks to our pharmacists, we are still able to purchase and consume our regular medications daily. Thanks to our nurses, doctors, paramedics, and scientists, fractions of the infected COVID-19 patients have recovered or are currently recovering from this disease. Amidst their great efforts to serve us, a huge number of our health workers still do not receive the proper accommodation with regard to transportation to their respective hospitals because of the current ban in public transportation in the Philippines. Aside from this, they still continue to diligently cure COVID-19 patients whilst dealing with the major lack of technological, and protective equipment on a daily basis. Some of our dear health workers have even lost their own lives while serving at their job. Because you continue to sacrifice your own lives whilst saving ours each and every day, we thank you!
9. Food Providers & Vendors
Thanks to our food providers and vendors, our communities still enjoy access to fresh produce and livestock. Our farmers and fishermen continue to make a living — to harvest and gather food for further distribution. Our market vendors continue to become the bridge between the providers and the people. Without their help, we would not be able to enjoy high-quality meat, fruits, and vegetables. Even in times of need, some vendors and providers opt to keep their selling price at the original rate or even give out their stocks for free. Because of your endless dedication to feeding the tummies of the Filipino population, we thank you!
8. Grocery Employees
Thanks to the grocery employees of our local supermarkets, we are able to efficiently purchase our basic necessities. They are more than willing to show up at work even if they’re more at risk to catch the virus. When the supply dwindles, they never fail to surprise us with a restocked shelf the next day. Because of your endless supply of toilet paper and alcohol, we thank you!
7. Delivery Men – Riders & Truck Drivers
Thanks to our delivery men, we get to conveniently order the food we need. Aside from our favorite snacks, we are also fortunate enough to effortlessly make our online purchases for groceries, medicines, and other basic necessities despite the current lockdown. A great number of our riders have become victims of fake booking and the like, but they still continue to report for work daily. They also do this for us to have an easier time. Because you’re always on your feet to bring us the things that we urgently need, we thank you!
6. Cleaners – Janitors & Garbage Collectors
Our cleaners hold one of the most important jobs in our community yet they are both underpaid and undervalued. Without our janitors, germs and bacteria will continue to thrive on surfaces in both public areas and private institutions, thus further spreading the disease. Thanks to our garbage collectors, the trash we make every day gets cleared out from our own respective communities. Because of your promising skills in keeping our surroundings squeaky clean, we thank you!
5. Security Personnel – Military, Police, & Security Guards
Our military and police continue to work at checkpoints in order to ensure that no further leakage of the virus may occur within local cities and provinces. Our security guards continue to protect both public and private establishments such as supermarkets, condominiums, subdivisions, drugstores, and the like from people who may carry the virus into these areas. Many of our security personnel continue to work under the scorching heat even without eating or sleeping prior to their respective shifts. Because of their continuous service to protect the general public, we thank you!
4. Media Personnel – News Reporters, Journalists, Cameramen, Technicians
Our media personnel continue to keep us updated with what is currently happening in the outside world when we comfortably sit in the safety of our homes. At this point of strife and tragedy, news reporters, cameramen, technicians, and journalists serve as the bridge between ourselves and the world around us. Because you undeniably keep us well informed of the latest updates on a daily basis, we thank you!
3. Bank & Insurance Personnel
Our hardworking bank and insurance personnel continue to attend us to our financial needs and accommodations. Because you never fail to give us the financial assistance that we need most especially in these types of situations, we thank you!
2. Government workers
Local government units have been stepping up to further contain the spread of COVID-19. From repacking relief goods and other groceries to its distribution, government workers implement relief programs and strict regulations. LGUs have also continued to disinfect their respective cities/ provinces and have pushed for COVID-19 testing in order to further delay the spread of the disease. Local government units under Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Mayor Vico Sotto, and their respective teams have become extremely helpful in distributing food to the people in their respective cities through the improvisations they have made for their modern market. Marikina City mayor and his team have also pushed to establish a facility for Coronavirus testing for their city. Because you continue to step up to your respective roles and have proven your passion to serve the Filipino people, we thank you!
1. You!
There are so many people we should thank for making their own sacrifices for us on a daily basis. Most of us do not usually realise this, due to the lack of awareness of our surroundings and its current state, considering we are enkindled in the safety of our own homes. Let us take a moment to appreciate the efforts and sacrifices these people offer for our betterment and safety. Although their own welfare is put on stake, they continue to serve us despite the current circumstances our world is dealing with nowadays.
In order to give back to our modern heroes, we should do our own part in taking a load off their backs. Many of us are producing our own home-made PPEs, face shields/ masks, and acrylic boxes, while some are hosting their own donation projects or fundraisers. Despite all the monetary or material donations, one may offer, staying at our own homes for a couple of weeks would possibly be the simplest sacrifice we can make as of the moment. By cooperating and becoming a part of this collaborative initiative to finally overcome COVID-19, we can also play the role of a modern hero alongside all our front liners today!
Who is your quarantine hero? Let us know in the comments below.
