4 siblings on their own as ma dies, pa isolated

CEBU, Philippines — Four young siblings are left alone in their house in Minglanilla after their mother died of hypokalemia and their father is currently in isolation after being considered as a person under monitoring for COVID-19.

The father, truck driver Junjie Bercero, lost his wife a day after being rushed to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center last May 9.

His wife was buried right away at a public cemetery in Carreta, Cebu City. She died of hypokalemia, a condition in which the level of potassium in the blood becomes very low.

The kids ages, 14, 9, 5 and 1 year and seven months old, weren't able to pay their last respects to their mother since they are under the 24-hour curfew and not allowed to cross borders under the community quarantine period.

For Bercero, nothing could be more painful than losing his wife to an illness and being away from his kids. Yet hard as it may be, he has no choice but to comply with the local government guidelines during the community quarantine, as well as for the safety of his children.

Councilor Roy Nacario explained that the local government of Minglanilla strictly imposes such restrictions, especially for someone who had been to Cebu City and the one who attended to his wife at the hospital.

“Considered man siyang PUM maski pag wa pa gi-Covid iyang asawa. Gi-test na pud ni siya pero wala pay result,” Nacario told The FREEMAN.

Bercero will have to comply with the 14-day quarantine in the municipality’s quarantine facility

Nacario said that although they do not have relatives with them, they are much safer if they stay home than be brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) since the latter is also busy attending to other important matters.

“Mas safe sila sa ilaha. Naa ray mga silingan, lutoan silag pagkaon, gi-check sila kanunay. Naa ra man pud ko sa duol. Ang kapitan naa ra pud,” said Nacario.

Among the bunch of good neighbors who took turns in looking after the kids was Nacario himself.

 “Maayo gyud ang Ginoo, kay daghan mang ni-tabang. Pagkaon pud nila, dili man sila maglisod, daghan mang nanghatag ug pagkaon, mga duwaan. Purya buyag, pusot-pusot pud ron ang nitabang. Karon pud, naa na pud ko diri nagda aning mga toys para sa mga bata,” said Nacario.

The said family, who is currently residing under Purok Kalubihan, Sitio Panaghiusa-Dos in Barangay Tunghaan, is originally from Ozamiz City, but moved to Cebu in hopes of looking for greener pastures, according to the eldest of four kids, Marjun.

Though still in pain with the loss of their mother, Marjun is also keeping himself strong, stepping up as the “head of the family” in the meantime.

Marjun said he is just so thankful that they have neighbors who treat them like family as well as generous donors who gave them food to eat and toys to play and some money for other needs such as milk and diapers.

 “Namatay among mama kay nagsakit. Naa na gyud toy sakit daan. Kami lang sa diri ron. Daghan man pud mig silingan nitabang ug mga tawo na wa mi kaila,” said Marjun.

Marjun and his nine year-old sister, Kathlyn, take turns in taking care of their younger siblings, especially the youngest who is still a baby.

They may have lost their mom, but they are hopeful that they will be able to make it through all the obstacles. They are also praying that their father will be given a clean bill of health, away from the virus soon.

“Okay ra man mi diri. Daghan mang tawo diri sa among dapit. Naa ra puy nagbantay-bantay namo. Huwat lang mi kung kanus-a mauli among papa,” said Marjun, an incoming Grade 10 student.   JMD (FREEMAN)