Being a frontliner

The video of a nursing attendant who was denied entry to the sitio where she rents a room in Barangay Labangon has made rounds on social media. It was audible that she was discriminated, saying that she should just buy her own condominium unit. This went on despite the woman pleading to be allowed to enter so she can rest. Word was that she was able to enter with the help of the Cebu City Police Office. The barangay said that the people assigned in the entrance of the sitio were scared with all that's going on. Well, who isn't?

I know a lot of friends at the frontline of this fight who haven’t returned to their homes. They rented rooms near their hospital so as not to contaminate their homes or if they found it too impractical to walk or bike to work now with the absence of public transport. Many times I comforted them, telling them to stay strong despite their urge to go home and be with their family. While the rest of the world is under quarantine at home with their families, there are those who are risking their lives to finish this battle.

Not only medical personnel are at the forefront, but also those who are still asked to work such as grocery workers, guards, janitors, and members of the media. Believe me, it isn’t easy to still report to work and cross borders. When I go home, I haven’t been welcomed by open arms since the start of the outbreak. There is a mandate to keep distance even inside our house. I make the recourse to my furry pets who run no risk of being infected, although I know I am keeping myself clean and safe despite traveling to work every day.

How many times do we have to stress that we don't need hate at this time? We all understand that there is fear hounding us because of the uncertainty that this virus is bringing, but this doesn’t give us an excuse to be inhumane to others. We should learn to embrace each other and celebrate the humanity we all have. Even those with the virus and are about to finish their quarantine are scared as they go back to the community.

Here is what we should all remember, if we lose all those in the frontline because of our persistent discrimination then who will be our heroes? If all the frontliners refuse to go to work fearing how they will be treated, then how will we go about with this quarantine? Instead, we must boost their morale and thank them for all that they are doing. Their job may not pay as much as other jobs, but they surely are making a difference in this time of the coronavirus.