Finding courage; In the time of pandemic, life is full of heroism

BY PANAY NEWS TEAM

THE COVID-19 pandemic brought about many challenges as we saw it change the world forever. For some Ilonggos, these challenges did not become only that, mere challenges. They became opportunities to be courageous in the darkest of times. These are their stories.

Health responder

For Kenneth Z. Sobremisana, a registered nurse who heads New Lucena, Iloilo’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), resilience is a must, especially that his kasimanwas are “relying on [them].”

In an interview with Panay News, Sobremisana shares that long before the start of the pandemic, he and his team, composed of around 20 responders, already had routinary activities anchored on building resilient communities.

“I am personally assured on the preparedness and response plans in place in New Lucena even before the onset of the pandemic,” says Sobremisana, who has been managing the MDRRMO for five years now.

Sobremisana recalls that when COVID-19 breached the country, the first thing they did was study the epidemiology of SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Aside from the information fed to them by the national government, the MDRRMO of New Lucena also referred to studies in other countries.  

“Our staff conducted research. We had reports. We wanted to be fully prepared,” says Sobremisana, adding that in dealing with the unknown, knowledge is most essential.

Sobremisana also shares that he made sure their responders were equipped with the necessary protective gears. Ample supply of immune system-boosting medicines was also provided to them.

New Lucena’s first case was an asymptomatic case. However, come August 2021, more and more symptomatic cases emerged, a fraction of them became pandemic casualties.

“That was serious. But we did not let that discourage us. The town’s Operations Center operated 24/7. Our team did not sleep until we made sure our patients are admitted in the hospital and got the treatment they needed,” says Sobremisana.

But try as they might, their office could not help everyone.

“We also experienced hours of waiting in line outside hospitals only for the patient to be rejected. The best we could do was to provide them with oxygen and monitor their oxygen saturation,” says Sobremisana.

Sobremisana also experienced witnessing the death of some of his kasimanwas.

“It was disheartening that even after all our efforts, we still cannot save them. Our capacity was limited. If only we could do more, we would,” says Sobremisana.

He also laments the discrimination his team got from some people. Their staff have to stay in their office out of fear of infecting their family members.

Despite all these, Sobremisana stresses that what made them push forward was their fellow New Lucenanhons. “Our team pushed for the elevation of the level of response. The barangays also helped in procuring medical oxygen tanks to ensure that we can aptly help those who are rejected admission in hospitals,” he says.

Not all are sob stories, though. Sobremisana shares that there are many patients who survived the dreaded disease even by home treatment and isolation.

Sobremisana now continues to encourage his kasimanwas to observe health safety protocols. “Let’s remain vigilant. We must stay educated,” he said.

For the community and their families

Equally commendable are Ilonggos who, despite the COVID-19 scare, go out of their houses to serve the community, at the same time making a living for their families.

Novilla Jabian, a resident of Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz district, is a job hire of the Iloilo City Government. She is among those assigned for the beautification program of the city.

Jabian tells Panay News that she grateful that she is able to keep her job despite the pandemic.

According to Jabian, she and her fellow job hires have to adapt to the changes brought about by COVID-19. In the early part of the pandemic, they would wear face masks and face shields outside.

Jabian also makes sure that she has alcohol with her.  Every time she gets home, she sees to it that she is able to disinfect.

When vaccines became available, Jabian did not hesitate to have herself vaccinated.

“I followed all the health protocols, wearing of facemask, and for a time, wearing of face shield, plus observing social distancing,” says Jabian, adding that while she is doing her part for the community, she is also helping her family survive.

Garbage collector Arnel Alojado of Barangay Sooc, Mandurriao district shares the same sentiment. He has been a garbage collector for 20 years already, working with J.S. Layson.

Alojado says he acknowledges the risk of being infected by COVID-19 in his job. But this has not stopped him to continue working so he can put food on their table. Like Jabian, he is also thankful that he never contracted the virus.

“I am extra-careful and I always pray that I won’t get the virus,” says Alojado.

Ernie Garniso of Barangay Mansaya, Lapuz agrees with Alojado, that the best way to prevent contracting the virus is to be extra-careful.

Garniso, a traffic aide for more than 30 years now, shares that aside from following minimum health protocols, eating healthy and having enough sleep also helps boost his immune system.

“I am thankful that I never got sick because of the virus even after two years. I am very careful, from then up to now,” said Garniso.

For security guard Joey Serrano of Cabatuan, Iloilo, the pandemic has made his job more difficult.

He tells Panay News that being exposed outside, he runs the risk of infecting his family. But having no choice, Serrano said he continued to work to provide for them.

Thankfully, he, too, has never contracted the virus.

Right now he continues to take necessary precautions in his job, hoping and praying that the pandemic soon ends./PN