To All Frontliners: God Is With You

By: Bro. Cordero (Josiah Pascual)

Amid this Covid-19 pandemic, most people, even government officials, realized how important it is to invest in healthcare. The crisis the pandemic caused has made people deeply appreciate the hard work and devotion of all the people standing on this battle’s frontline: health workers, local government employees, volunteers, firefighters, policemen, soldiers, and especially the nurses and doctors who are in face-to-face contact with infected people.

While most people are in the safety of their homes, the frontliners go out to fight Covid-19. They left their beloved families at home to fight for the betterment of many, even for people they do not know and have no relation with. By this, we can witness how selfless these people are for choosing this type of profession.

Firefighters, soldiers and policemen are deployed 24/7 to different checkpoint locations and outposts, doing their best to keep everything in order. They endure not only the long hours of duty and the scorching heat during the day but also the stubbornness of misinformed people choosing not to follow the safety precautions imposed by their government.

(Left) Police Staff Sergeant Andrew San Diego with his fellow police officers, at a local checkpoint in San Juan City, Philippines

(Right) Patrolman Ronald Aries Espiritu with his fellow police officer, at a local checkpoint in Mindoro, Philippines

(Right) Patrolman Jose Mizraim Zabat together with his fellow police officers, at San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines

(Right) Police Executive Master Sargeant Armel Espiritu and fellow police officers, at a local checkpoint in Mindoro, Philippines

Jail Officer 1 Ivy Marie Montoya at a local prison in Mindoro, Philippines

Fire Officer 1 Marielle Joy Lucero with fellow Fire Officer at a local checkpoint in Mindoro, Philippines

(Right) Joey Altavano, Manila, Fire Volunteer, Emergency Medical Technician at Tondo, Manila

(Left) Mary Rose Rodriguez and Nadine Montoya, with police officers at a local checkpoint in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Health workers, local government officials and employees, and volunteers, stay in outposts and checkpoints, knocking doors of houses to give aid to people, and packing relief goods which shall be distributed to barely supply the daily needs of thousands of homes. Instead of staying safe in their homes, they chose to help the other frontliners and also risk their lives for the safety of many.

(in green) Alex Villanueva and fellow Angeles City Local Government employees repacking relief goods

(Left) Keziah Mae Villanueva and other Angeles City Local Government employees delivering relief goods

(Third) Ruel Guintu with fellow Angeles City Local Government employees

(2nd at the back) Barangay Tanod Manuel Costales and (front right) Health Worker Kristine Cudal, with other Local Government employees and volunteers of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija

Marilyn Costales and other health workers at a local checkpoint at Bongabon, Nueva Ecija

(Second from left) Barangay Captain Abel Salonga and fellow officials of Barangay Centro 2, Orani, Bataan, spearheading relief operations

(In Black) Barangay Captain Bernardo Pinili with fellow Barangay officials at a local checkpoint at Barangay Calaguiman, Samal, Bataan

Barangay Captain Rodolfo De Guzman at a local checkpoint at Barangay Puksuan, Orani, Bataan

Barangay Captain Hector Forbes heading the relief operations at Barangay Sta. Lucia, Samal, Bataan

Councilor Carlota Santos and Councilor Dina Capistrano of Barangay Wawa, Orani, Bataan preparing lunch for fellow frontliners

(In blue) Midwife Leonora Fernandez and co-workers at Orani Disctrict Hospital, Bataan

(Two on the right) Health Workers Lida Arliz and Josephine Salandanan, together with fellow Health Worker of Barangay Mandama, Hermosa, Bataan

(Right) Sarah Enriques and fellow volunteers repacking relief goods at Balanga, Bataan

Mariel Toledo and fellow volunteers, at a checkpoint in Barangay San Juan, Balagtas, Bulacan

Monica Sobresida and fellow employees of Local Government of San Pedro Laguna, repacking relief goods.

Medical personnel like doctors and nurses are in hospitals doing their best to treat their virus-infected patients with the utmost care for their fast recovery. They are also stressing to look for a cure to speed up the healing process of infected patients and for vaccines to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Medical Laboratory Scientist Nicolai Ingrid Lumbres at Parkview Warsaw Medical Complex, Indiana, USA

(Right) Angelbert Baydal and fellow nurses at Al Amiri Hospital, Kuwait

(Center) Mishaleel Mendez with fellow nurses at Premier Medical Center, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija

(Sitting) Shalom Carlos and fellow nurses at Sacred Heart Hospital of Malolos, Bulacan

Beulah Acot and fellow midwife, Alpha Ria Acot, at EGA Prenatal Clinic and Birthing Home, Subic, Zambales

(Center) Debareh Abadiano and fellow nurses at Tondo Medical Center

Alyssa May Sarmiento and fellow nurses at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Medical Center, San Fernando, Pampanga

Fidel Vicente and fellow nurses at Bongabon District Hospital, Nueva Ecija

Company Nurse Joanna Fei Santos and fellow nurses at CGI Philippines, Mckinley, Taguig

(Left) Ysa Mesias and fellow nurses at Chinese General Hospital

Covid-19 particles are spheres with a diameter of approximately 0.125 microns. It is so tiny it is invisible to the naked eye. As of May 5, 2020, this invisible killer already has taken the lives of more than two hundred fifty-seven thousand people all over the world. It is so lethal that the victim is not able to know he is under attack until he shows symptoms of the infection. All frontliners have extremely high possibilities to be exposed to Covid-19. That is why many of them choose not to go home and endure being not with their loved ones. They are sacrificing their health, laying their lives on the line, and acting selflessly to save the world from this pandemic.

Volunteer Josiel Quindara handing relief goods at Angeles City, Pampanga

Barangay Councilor Caroline Lumapak handing relief goods at Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City, Pampanga

Barangay Captain Reynaldo Gueco distributing relief goods at Barangay Malabanias, Angeles, Pampanga

Some of them already died in the line of duty. Reports show policemen and soldiers infected while manning their posts. Some nurses and doctors lost their life due to Covid-19 while trying to save their own patient’s life. Despite the extreme threat Covid-19 imposes on everyone, frontliners are still reporting for duty, not because they want to be hailed as heroes, but because it’s the call of duty.

So, to all the frontliners, you deserve all the possible support we can give. Being locked in our homes, the best and most effective support we can do for you is to include you in our prayers. Let us come to God and pray to cheer you up and uplift your spirit. May you be given the confidence in overcoming this pandemic. Prayers will surely give you hope that all these dark days will come to an end.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”– Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Despite this fact that you are fighting an invisible enemy, you should not forget the truth that there is one invisible God who will always be with you. He will protect you and help you fight this battle. We know that your duty on hand is very stressful and exhausting for you, and it may make you anxious. However, we encourage you to have a little time each day to come to God and pray.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:25 NIV

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

God will be with you every step of the way. He will help you in fighting this battle and in overcoming your body’s limitations. So we ask, please do not lose hope for we have a God whom nothing and no one stand against.

There is always time for everything. God uses the right people at the right time to show His unending love for the world. That is why God will always help and protect all of you frontliners. In this crisis the world is facing, the love of God will shine throughout the globe and you will be in the middle of it.

We are hoping all the best for you. We are praying for this pandemic to end. All of you are greatly appreciated. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. For us, you are putting your life on the line. You are putting your health at risk. You are sacrificing your time that is supposed to be spent for your family.

May the good Lord bless you and keep you.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31 NIV