ANG SIMBOLO NG KINABUKASAN

THE ARAULLO HIGH SCHOOL EMERGENCY QUARANTINE FACILITY

By: JCI Manila

March 15, 2020- a day when the Philippines joined the rest of the world in their current quarantined status; a day when all the anxiety, confusion, and chaos started for a good percentage of the Philippine populace; a day when Covid-19 came to the forefront of headlines where it remains until today.

A month and a half later, the pandemic had worsened and many parts of the country were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), including the National Capital Region. Confirmed and unconfirmed cases and deaths continued to rise daily. Our hospitals were getting overwhelmed. Our economy was beginning to bleed, with many people losing their livelihoods. Debates raged on social media on what actions to take. The situation was fast turning into a nightmare, confronting both the public and private sector. Amidst this chaos, many leaders, at both the national and local government levels, began devising solutions to address the increasing problems brought about by the pandemic. One of these leaders, one of the most recognizable faces in the Phillipine policital arena, called upon JCI Manila for help. Last April 27, 2020, Hon. Francisco “Iskd’ Moreno Domagoso, Mayor of the City of Manila, called a meeting

with the Department of Education, the Department of Health and our JCI Philippines local chapter, JCI MANILA, which was represented by JCIM 2020 LO President John Baustista, JCIM EVP Chriz Liao, JCIM VP Vince Capistrano, JCIM Special Projects Director Rurik Padiernos, JCIM Araullo Quarantine Facility Project Chairman Andre Bernardo with Cochairs Anton Laborte and Mark Pizarro. Others notably present in the meeting were Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, Manila City Engineer, Engr. Armand Andres, Manila Health Officer, Dr. Arnold Pangan, Division of City Schools-Manila Superintendent, Dr. Maria Lim, and Manila Center for Infectious Disease Control Director, Dr. Grace Padilla.

JCI Manila was requested to build a 42bed quarantine facility that will be used to house Persons under investigation (PUI) and Persons under Monitoring (PUM) of the City of Manila to help augment the city’s quarantine capacity of its hospitals. It was a daunting task but JCI Manila was up to the challenge. We got to work right away.

We contacted Greca Architecture to design a layout for us, patterned after a previously approved DOH design. After three days of meticulously planning the facility design, material sourcing (Thank you to our corporate partner, Fil-am Hardware for opening their warehouse since most suppliers were closed), logistics (checkpoints at many places across the city), cost projections (as everything had to be financed by JCI Manila and our sponsors) and many more concerns, we were able to get the required approvals from the City of Manila, the Department of Education and the Department of Health by April 30, 2020.

On May 1, 2020, we broke ground in Araullo High School for the facility construction with a 50-man work force coming from our corporate partners, GRUPP, Inc., IIPI Flooring and CrossLink Electrical and Const. Corp. By May 14, 2020, a day before our deadline, the turnover was attended by Mayor Isko, Vice Mayor Honey and supported by JCI Philippines which was represented by National President Mark David.

We had to work under crisis-level stress, under timepressure as we needed to deliver the facility within 14 days, and within budget because of limited funds,

all the while complying with the specifications required by the City of Manila, the Department of Education and the Department of Health. It was a roller coaster of emotions for the Project Committee leading up to the turnover. From anxiety, fatigue, weariness and tension to joy, relief, camaraderie and fullfilment. Looking back, we would not have changed a thing. We did all of that while laughing, having fun and building a bond that will probably last our whole lives.

Indeed, The Araullo High School Emergency Quarantine Facillity was a legendary project for JCI Manila which will be remembered for a long time. In completing this project, the local organization showed its commitment to contribute to nation building,especially during these difficult times of the corona virus pandemic. It showed that its always ready to heed the call for help wherever and whenever needed. NO VIRUS CAN STOP JCI MANILA.

We hope that this project will serve as an inspiration to others, especially to the younger generation and to the future members of JCI. It is also our hope that our very own sons and daughters would someday look at the photos and videos of this project and feel proud and inspired to do more. We hope that this project has paved a way for a better future.

More than our personal satisfaction at having completed this project, we hope that this facility will help save a lot of lives. As I write this, we have received a report that our facility is already full of PUis that needed to be quarantined. THERE IS NOTHING MORE REWARDING THAN SAVING A LIFE.

By May 31, 2020, our facility has served as the prototype for 7 more quarantine facilities in the City of Manila. As of this writing, 5 of the 7 facilities are already functioning for the Manila Center for Infectious Disease Control. Our Araullo High School Emergency Quarantine Facility has been referred to by Mayor Isko as a “Simbolo ng Kinabukasan’’ (A Symbol of Hope). Amidst all the dark negativity and chaos everywhere, JCI Manila became a shining light. We ask each and everyone to help keep the spirit of Araullo High School Emergency Quarantine Facility alive - The spirit of always striving to BE MORE. Be more kind. Be more patient. Be more helpful. Be more respectful. Be more loving. Be more understanding. Be more of a leader. Be more of a full-blooded Jaycee. Be more of yourselves.

To God be the glory!•