FENOMENAL 2O2O

AYUDAHAN KONTRA COVID

by Zacharee Quezon-Masamayor

The onslaught of the Coronavirus Disease or COVID-19 shook the whole world to engage in massive medical warfare. Within weeks from the time, it was declared a pandemic, it had reached most countries, putting everybody’s lives at stake. Quelling the crisis soon became a priority, with numerous actions taken by world leaders and social welfare groups.

Here in the Philippines, efforts to lessen the pandemic’s impact have been done all the way to the grassroots, in local government units or LGUs. The Inter-Agency Task Force or IATF noted that LGUs know their respective areas better, which is why they should come up with their own crisis management strategies, in addition to those implemented by the national government.

This, of course, wasn’t a task the government could do alone. Here in Zamboanga City, schools were quick to join in the fight against COVID. Ateneo de Zamboanga University offered its Lantaka Campus to be a COVID isolation facility run by the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. Western Mindanao State University offered sites in their campus to be training venues for Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams and donated gallons of alcohol produced by their chemistry department. Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College donated face shields and personal protective equipment or PPEs. Universidad de Zamboanga donated swabbing booths to speed up the collection of swab samples. Just in time for Eid’l Fitr, the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School donated food packs to less fortunate families in the city.

Several businesses and companies also generously made donations to the city’s resources. Among those that gave food packs and supplies were Coca Cola Bottlers Inc. Zamboanga, Virginia Foods Inc., Asia United Bank, Nebraska Zamboanga – Del Monte, Bake’s Field Enterprises, Mega Fishing Sardines, Victory Shipping, Welmar Marketing Inc., Cakes!, Blugre Coffee, and BPI Business Center – Zamboanga. San Miguel Mills Inc., meanwhile, donated over 1000 sacks of flour for bakeries and pastry shop owners in the city.

On the other hand, other businesses, foundations, and organizations donated equipment such as PPEs, face masks, and face shields mostly for health workers and frontliners. These included 2M Construction and Enterprises, Mindanao Communicators Network, Metro Pacific Investment Foundation, MVP Foundation, Shields for Heroes PH, Tzu Chi Foundation, the Chinese Consulate of Davao City, Alagaan ang Sambayanang Pilipino Inc. (ASAP Inc.), Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Filipino Chinese Friendship Association, Progressive Mason Club, Amity Club, and Lin Tek Keng Association. San Miguel Foundation most recently donated 10 canisters of disinfectant powder to the City Government.

These are just some out of many other groups and businesses that took part in the war against the pandemic. These groups are true acts of Pro Deo et Patria, as they stood up to their social responsibilities and selflessly shared their resources to those who needed them.

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Perpetual Pride and Honor

by Wisey John Democrito

Adverse ceaselessness times caused by a rapid-spreading and highly contagious coronavirus cut across the whole of humanity.

There is no aspect of human life that is exempted from the terrible curse that lurks at every corner and crevice where people from Asia-Pacific to Europe and Africa converge. On the sameness of occasions, every human activity has been affected sadly for countless days now.

In the meantime, as we face the pandemic with intake measures to alleviate or mitigate the hardships written upon us, we continue to raise our hopes that sooner or later the cure will set us free from COVID-19 which shall be made available for all of us. Minimal transitions are being implemented in our communities to the “New Normal,” using technology and digital platforms to emerge ourselves.

Even the destructive coronavirus pandemic did not hinder the brave cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Masidlawin” or Mandirigmang Isinilang na may Dangal at Lakas Upang maging Tanglaw ng Inang Bayan Class of 2020 and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) “Mandayug” Class of 2020 to fulfill their dreams to serve and protect the nation, as they commence their 4-year stay inside the academy via zoom and live video coverage while their campuses remained on lockdown, a strange occasion leaving their families watching them via mobile phones and laptops at home across the archipelago.

Three Zamboangueños managed to land on top of their PMA and PNPA batch, a divine offering to Ciudad de Zamboanga as one of the cities with rising numbers of COVID-19 positives that somehow lifted their hopes and positivity. Two Zamboangeñas who landed on top of the PNPA Mandayug Class of 2020 are Fire Cadet Lei Anne Banico Palermo, from Upper Calarian who is Top 1 and will join the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Police Cadet Zandra Gutierrez Tabar, from Curuan who is Top 3 and will join the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Palermo is the youngest daughter of Ret. Army 2Lt. Norberto Palermo and Ret. Nurse Lilia Palermo. According to an interview, Mr. Palermo is proud and honored by his daughter’s achievement and would have loved to attend the commencement exercises in Camp Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite if not for the dominating health crisis. Palermo added that they did not expect their daughter to join the academy until she reached second year in Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

On the other hand, Tabar is the eldest daughter of Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Roselie Tabar who are into private business. In an interview with Mrs. Roselie, she said that they did not expect Zandra to be part of the Top 10 Cadets considering there are 227 of them in the Mandayug Class of 2020, adding that Zandra wanted to become a soldier since she was a child.

Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the lead premier Military Institution in the country, also has a Zamboangueño in their list of Top 10 cadets for “Masidlawin” ( Mandirigmang Isinilang na may Dangal at Lakas Upang maging Tanglaw ng Inang Bayan) Class of 2020. Their batch dubbed as the “loneliest batch” to graduate in Borromeo Field in Baguio City.

Cadet First Class Jefferson Yamson Salazar landed as Top 3 of his class, a young moro and son of an industrious driver from Santa Catalina. Salazar said in an interview that the 2013 Zamboanga Siege pushed him to enter the academy, recalling that he was 4th year in BS Physics at Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) when it happened and experienced the life of an evacuee.

Different stories, experiences and inspirations that brought them on the respective pedestal where they are right now. Stories filled with sacrifice and fulfillment, experiences packed with memories of joy and sorrow, inspirations carried by love, commitment and trust.

Perseverance, patience, and resiliency are the compelling needs of the moment, true manifestations of what the Filipinos are showing amidst tragic situations. Let not COVID-19 dampen the integrity of our Pride and Honor.