It was only fitting that by the time the novel coronavirus hit someone from Dumaguete (a locality near Dumaguete, to be specific), the World Health Organization had declared CoViD-19 officially a pandemic.
I imagined them gathering over epidemiologic data and said to themselves, “Well, that’s it, it’s a pandemic if it has reached that far.”
Oh, my beloved Dumaguete. The first time it was announced that a Chinese couple with the virus toured our City, the reaction was instantaneous clearing of roads, a cancellation of classes, and pharmacy-clearing of face masks. Heck, I could even park near the entrance of Robinson’s!
Where is that now? This is not new. We have a positive patient. [Patient PH39 died March 15]. I hope I am wrong but it is highly-likely that he passed that virus to someone.
Yet, as I drove through the City, I saw people playing badminton in the park, parking lots were full, there were occasional Dumaguete traffic jams at intersections, the internet cafes were filled with kids after the early stoppage of school.
Social media is full of instructions — STAY HOME. SOCIAL DISTANCING. GOOD HYGIENE. WASH HANDS. FACE MASK. Please listen. Be sensible.
Oh, my beloved Philippines, let us please help ourselves. More words for you that you probably all know by now. HOME QUARANTINE yourself if with SYMPTOMS. Our mortality rate currently stands at 7 percent. Let’s bring it down.
I am a doctor. I gear up everyday with my stethoscope, my pen, and my sneakers. I feel strongly about this because we have been thrust into a war. We go to the trenches everyday, because other diseases don’t stop as well.
I feel strongly about this because there were two brave young women doctors in our ICU (who I treat like daughters), practicing medicine at great risk. To me, you have passed every character test imaginable. (Harrison’s na lang.)
They were joined by an equally-brave nursing staff. We are pulling for you and praying everyday. Wash your hands. I tell you, that while you are in there waging war, it is also a war out here.
Aside from the virus, we are waging a war with other medical problems, and we do not know who is carrying this unseen enemy. The uncertainty is very unsettling.
Along with this, we deal with indifference, apathy, our difference in ideologies between self-preservation and keeping our oath to serve because we are something to the other people in our lives aside from being doctors, nurses or whatever field in the healthcare you serve in.
It is morning now. My eldest daughter is awake, and sees me putting on my face mask and spraying alcohol on my hands for the umpteenth time, and says, “Thank you Dad, for keeping me and Dia safe.”
“I hope so, Dai. Mom and Dad will try to keep you safe always,” I replied.
And I’m off to war, err, work.
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Author’s email: [email protected]