Valor vs Viciousness: Heroes’ Warfare Against The Virus

Who knew that our peaceful, normal life would turn into a scary disturbing fantasy like the things that happen in our favorite sci-fi movies? But instead of aliens that seek domination in the Earth or zombies with an insatiable hunger, the foe is as invisible as the chilling air it brought, which is the COVID-19. Something so small was able to infect and take out millions of lives that changed the world in the span of its two years of disturbance. As civilians prayed for the day we go back to normal, we had bold soldiers that went on to battle courageously the invisible enemy.

These soldiers, though, weren’t the typical soldiers who carried out guns, but rather it’s the health frontliners who combated the virus. But the thing is that they fought the virus by not fighting it directly, but rather built defense to avoid attacks from the deadly disease. Among these soldiers is the head of contact tracing in Pasay City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Miko Llorca.

“Actually, at first wala akong idea jan [epidemiology]. Kasi nag-start naman ako sa Pasay [noong] 2013 palang kaso casual employee ako nun, so health center nurse. And then na-regular ako 2015, sinabi nila sakin since yung original namin na surveillance nurse, na-promote so wala ng kapalit.” Llorca told in an online press conference held Sunday morning. “Medyo exciting ‘to kasi nga diba parang case detecting, parang imbestigador kami ng mga sakit so na-hook ako dun.” he added. He also admitted that although they saw the approach of the enemy, they never expected how deadly and impactful it would be not just in the Philippines, but in the entire planet.

Their job as contact tracers includes checking ill civilians whether they’re confirmed victims of COVID. After finding the confirmed cases, they go to the close contacts of that victim and find out if they contract the virus too, and they do tests that they do for free. This technique helps them to detect hidden cases easily. And when the day is done, they report back to mayors to spread the info, and then the day comes and they do the same thing again and again.

Being the contact tracing head, his work slowly envelops his life as he gets updates and reports regarding infection issues. The notification sound from his walkie-talkie gradually acts as an alarm for it to wake him up before dawn comes because of the calls he receives 24/7. Being the leader of a battalion, he’s also responsible for keeping up with his team’s physical and emotional health. They never had a chance to eat together due to guidelines, not even being allowed to speak while eating. They also make sure they are keeping up emotionally by checking themselves up. That with the personal protective equipment (PPE) they use as uniforms and walk-in shields didn’t stop them from doing their fullest to trace the virus.

Their fight with COVID didn’t stop their fight with their personal lives, remembering that beneath the protective gears they wore for work are still human beings. As a human and a nurse, Llorca can’t prevent himself from being bothered as he shared a tale of a family that COVID ruined. Recently, COVID victimized a couple who is expecting a new member of their family. An angel was born and just after four days, the creator took him back unbeknownst to the child’s parents. The moment of realization kicked in that these parents saw their baby for the first and only time enclosed in a small coffin.

As COVID had these soldiers in a chokehold, the leader had put his top priority in saving people. He focused on it very steadily that he left his personal life unnoticed. It was then when he found out that his father, who he hasn’t seen since the pandemic hit, had a stroke. He found out that his father was reaching up to him as he called his cell 3 times. “Inabutan ko nalang sya, comatose na sya. Isa siguro yun sa tumatak sakin sa trabaho. Do not take for granted yung calls or tawag or messages ng family, hindi natin alam mamaya na yun na pala yung last,” he stated.

With these huge conflicts, with the dilemma of underpaid health soldiers even though their lives are on the line, he still remembered his purpose of saving the civilians from the blasts of COVID. He admitted being offered a spot abroad with higher pay and benefits, but even with insufficient manpower and insufficient pay, he declined the offer because his team and the Filipinos were his utmost priority. 

The big plot twist of all this is that these health fighters don’t think of themselves as the real soldiers. “Actually, kumbaga hindi namin kino-consider na frontliners [kami]. Parang kumbaga nasa backline, basically kami na yung last line of defense. We consider the public, or you guys, or everyone, raising this pandemic as frontliners kasi tayo naman talaga yung exposed dito, yung everyday na hinaharap natin and all. Tapos yung fact na nagkasakit na sila and all, dun na kami papasok. ‘Di ba parang ‘di naman yun frontline, back end na kami, last line of defense. Ganoon ko siya iniisip,” said Llorca. 

The general public never really looked at themselves as the real fighters, thinking they were just the civilians that the heroes were meant to save. Frontliners or not, it’s important that the people know their full potential, and Llorca’s statement justified that we can be heroes too. We can help and collaborate with them by knowing the dangers of COVID-19, vaccinating, following the community guidelines imposed by the contact tracers, and advising everyone to do the same. Heroes joining forces with heroes bring unity and certainty that we can put this infinity war to end.