"Dodong: A Frontliner Comes Home"

“Kinabuhi namong mga frontliner barato ra. Kon mamatay mi ingnan lang mi og – Thank You for your service. Mao ra na ang among kinabuhi.” (Our lives as front liners are cheap. If we die, they will only tell us – thank you for your service. That is our life.)

These were the words uttered by Dodong (alias), a 21-year-old Emergency Medical Technician or EMT of a prominent Emergency Medical Service (EMS) organization in Cebu City.

Back when Dodong was just a mischievous kid in high school, he received a dreadful call from home.

He was in shock as he was informed that his mother experienced a stroke!

Crying as he hurriedly made his way home, Dodong arrived at their house, and saw that a group of emergency medical technicians were by his mother’s side, carefully aiding her.

What astonished him was that the EMTs did not even ask for any payment.

It turns out that the services of the EMS organization were all for free.

He never forgot that fateful day.

“Mao tu ang naka inspire nako og maayo. Unya kani sang naay mangayo ug tabang silingan sauna unya wala koy alamag anang medical so mao tu naganahan ko mu sulod pagka-EMT aron makatabang ko sa uban.” (That was what inspired me the most. Besides that, my neighbors also used to ask for help and I had no medical knowledge. I wanted to become an EMT so that I could help others.)

It was in the year 2019 that Dodong decided to join the same organization that saved his mother’s life.

Although he was not paid a high salary as an EMT, he was contented with the fact that he was able to whole-heartedly help those in need and exercise his passion for service as he responded to multiple fire alerts, and accidents.

He shared that he once responded to an emergency call of a family who lived in a foul dumpsite.

A woman was about to give birth but could not afford to be admitted to a hospital which is why the family had called the EMS instead.

Dodong had to help this woman give birth in an ambulance.

He said, “kahinumdum pa ko, paggawas sa bata, kusog kaayo siya ug hilak. Gamatoy kaayo, iyahang ulo masulod ra gayud sa akong kamot,” (I still remember when the baby came out, his cry was so loud. His head was so tiny that it fit perfectly inside the palm of my hand) as he recalled the unforgettable memory.

All seemed to go well for the young Dodong until, the COVID-19 pandemic arose, claiming thousands of lives.

When the virus had reached Cebu, he decided to not come home and instead, stay in the EMS station, in fear that he might contract the deadly virus while he continues to work and possibly endanger the lives of his family.

Dodong’s family had yearned for him to come home for months. It was indeed a dark and terrifying time for everyone, but he was brave and his burning passion for service grew even stronger.

There were days when he would get tired from the long shifts, wearing the hot PPEs for hours, and at times would even feel sick.

What made it even worse was that more and more medical workers were getting infected by the virus and people were starting to discriminate against frontliners.

Nevertheless, Dodong persisted, as he stated, “naa pirme sa akong hunahuna, wala nani atrasan. Para sa mga taw nga nanginahanglan ug tabang ug naghuwat sa amoa, paabot lang kay padulong nami” (It’s always on my mind that there is no turning back from this now. To all the people that are in need, just wait for us, we are on our way to help.)

After months of serving in the EMS, transporting, and aiding both COVID and non-COVID patients every day and every night, Dodong was swabbed and tested for COVID-19.

Fortunately, he tested negative, and felt his heart jump out in joy as he was notified of the results.

He immediately contacted his family, told them about the great news, and finally went home after six months of being away from them.

Dodong said that during the pandemic, he realized that the lives of frontliners are considered cheap and if they die, all they get is the word – Thank you.

But even so, he said, “ni padayun ko ug fight because of my family, and my girlfriend. But most especially, sa people na nanginahanglan namong mga EMT” (I continued to fight because of my family, and my girlfriend. But most especially, because of the people who need us, EMTs).

Dodong’s pure heart is forever dedicated to service even when some people underappreciate him and his fellow frontliners.