Dr. Jimmy B. Aragon (佘志美) of CKS high school batch 1987 is one of the country's leading endocrinologist, working at the Makati Medical Center since 2003. Makati Medical Center is one of the first hospitals which treated COVID-19 patients in the National Capital Region.

These days, Doc Jimmy is doing rounds of 5 straight days for COVID patients before getting any rest, then go on doing similar rounds again.

Based on his medical observation and experience as an endocrinologist, people with diabetes are more likely to get COVID infection. He didn't realize this until his own patients started getting admitted with pneumonia. During the earlier stages of the outbreak, he got really scared when he checked on a patient without wearing any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), not knowing the patient already had COVID symptoms. Because of it, he had to self-isolate for 14 days to make sure his family won't get infected through him.

Times have changed since then. These days when he reports back to the hospital and check on COVID patients, Makati Medical Center provides adequate PPEs for frontliners. One problem, though, is that supplies are running out fast, especially the N95 masks which are essential protection from the virus.

Doc Jimmy feels exhausted and sweats heavily after his hospital rounds while donning the PPE, but like other doctors, he has no choice since it is a protection gear against getting infected with the virus. But seeing his fellow doctors and nurses wearing those heavy, hot suits for more than 12 hours, even much longer than he does, inspires him to carry on.

Doc Jimmy mentioned that most, if not all, of the healthcare workers "volunteered" to be frontliners, and this reminded him of the volunteerism trait he learned in Chiang Kai Shek College from his Scouting days. It was tempting for him to just ignore the call of duty, especially during the first week of lockdown when there were panic and fear of the unseen enemy. But at the end of the day, the feeling of fulfillment is enough to muster strength to face another day's challenges.

His message to fellow CKSians?

"Healthcare workers are featured as 'heroes' but everyone plays a role in this pandemic. For instance, without the supermarket attendants, how can we buy our food? Even staying home (tough to do especially now with two more weeks extension!) is equally important. By remaining healthy, we help our families and communities stay healthy as well!"

Dr. Jimmy Bautista Aragon, thank you for your service to our country and our fellowmen. Your CKS College family is truly proud of you!

It is truly sad to see in television news that so many people get sick and even perish from the COVID-19 virus, but then there are generous young people like Henry Yang (楊國徽) of CKS high school batch 2011 reminding us that there is also so much good in the world to celebrate.

Through his initiative and donation, their family business, OMNI Electrical and Lighting, is providing all electrical and lighting requirements for 60 Emergency Quarantine Facilities (EQF) being built all over Metro Manila. Beyond that, Henry has literally gone out of his way and used his own network to help source other materials at the most preferential rates, or at no cost at all, needed for the construction of the EQFs.

Emergency Quarantine Facilities are to be used by Persons Under Investigation (PUI) being turned away from the hospitals. These are wood and plastic structures with proper ventilation being built to house a thousand beds for people from all walks life in different communities. To-date, more than 25 EQF structures are under construction and which, upon completion, will be manned by medical frontliners from Bulacan Medical Center, Quezon City General Hospital, the Manila Naval Hospital and Army General Hospital in Taguig City, Antipolo Institute of Technology in Rizal, Ospital ng Muntinlupa in Alabang, the Camp General Aguinaldo Station Hospital and Joint Task Force NCR, and V. Luna General Hospital.

Guiding the construction of these facilities is WTA Architectural and Design Studio, with the support of the Philippine Marines Corp.

Thank you, Henry Yang and Omni for being "Laging On", laging handang tumulong sa bayan sa panahon ng kagipitan. Your CKS College family is truly proud of you!

An orthopedic nurse at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA over the last five years, Roseanne Tansipek Jamero (陳双瑜) of CKS high school batch 2004 used to help patients recover from their knee and hip joint replacements, spine surgeries, and deal with all kinds of fractures. But that was before Covid-19 hit the state of Illinois. In recent times, the hospital has cancelled all elective surgeries, and their facility became an Acute care COVID unit.

Soon enough, patients came really fast. They filled up six rooms in one night, then more came the following days. Hospital policies change everyday regarding the care of COVID patients, adopting to their needs. Currently, these patients are admitted in regular rooms and are put under droplet and contact isolation, where medical personnel are required to wear isolation gown, gloves, surgical mask, and reusable eye shield as protection gears. N95 mask is used only if the patient is undergoing an aerosolized procedure and the medical personnel has to be in the room.

To Roseanne, the whole situation is not only physically draining, but mentally challenging at the same time. She feels vulnerable and exposed while taking care of these patients without proper PPE. And she is stressed, anxious, and worried since she has two kids under 4 years of age. These days, she misses her children much; she can’t even sleep with them in the same room until she is sure that she feels okay after a draining 12-hour shift at work.

Roseanne poured her heart out in a simple message to those reading her story: "Remember that we are all in this together. We owe it to one another to pay attention to each other, to advise one another, to check on one another, and be kind to one another. Stay at home. It is the best thing you can do for all the healthcare workers risking their lives to fight this pandemic."

You are a "Florence Nightingale" of our times, Roseanne Tansipek Jamero. Your CKS College family is truly proud of you!

CKS College has not heard much from our next frontliner since she graduated from high school in 1998. But as this feature story is written, we are truly proud of her accomplishments, having earned two masters degrees related to health services (Master in Public Health and Master of Hospital Administration) and having been promoted from the ranks to become one of the prominent medical technologists in Caloocan City.

Mary Grace Tan-Santillan, RMT, MPH, MHA (陳麗華) of CKS high school batch 1998 is currently Medical Technologist IV at the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium in Tala, Caloocan, where she has been in service since 2011.

Like many other medical frontliners, the fear for her own health and that of her family is not stopping her from fulfilling her professional oath and responsibility to her countrymen. That, despite the fact that it is her job to take blood samples from COVID-19 patients and test them. And the stress doubles up since they do not have enough PPEs in their facility, being a government hospital.

But she said CKS College has taught her well when she was young, learning such values as integrity, perseverance, and stewardship. These values helped her to continue doing service to the populace, especially during this pandemic crisis.

"Everyone of us has a substantial part in this pandemic situation, in your own little yet significant way, be of help to your fellow countrymen who are in need.", she reminded.

Thank you, Mary Grace, and continue shining through the dark clouds of COVID-19.

Chelsea Mae Y. Sy (施琪美) of CKS high school batch 2012 is a clinical pharmacist at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and she has been working there since 2017. Her job is to countercheck the appropriateness of medications prescribed to patients. One current limitation, though, in so far as the Covid-19 virus is concerned is that since it is a new virus, there are very limited data on medications that could help patients of the said virus to recover.

While her job does not entail direct contact with COVID-19 patients, PUIs or PUMs, she still takes all necessary precautionary measures to ensure she doesn't get infected with the virus.

As a CKSian alumna, Chelsea values compassion and selflessness as traits deeply instilled on her by the alma mater. She believes that this is, indeed, the time when the Filipino people need health workers like her. So despite being worried about getting sick with the virus, she has diligently report to work daily and has sworn not to leave her co-workers behind in battling this virus.

And like other alumni, she finds pride that CKSians are one with the nation in fighting this battle, whether as a frontliner or as a supporter. "I'm so elated to see many of us doing our share during this crisis. You all never fail to amaze me. Thank you!", she said.

Well, Chelsea, you also never fail to amaze us. Thank you and keep up the good work!

There's no better way to celebrate one's big day than to do good to others. And that's exactly how Daniel O. Cruz (王男立) of Grade 8-B is spending the money that is supposed to be used for his birthday celebration, by helping others in need.

Daniel will be 14 years old this coming April 12. But instead of having a lavish food feast with his family, he suggested to his parents, Philippine Basketball Association player Jervy Cruz of North Port Batang Pier team and Catherine Ong Cruz (王嘉緻), that the money be spent instead to feed street dwellers and military frontliners in Manila.

Just like most of us, Daniel and his parents are on home quarantine. At home, they have been seeing on television how hardworking our frotnliners are andat the same time, how many fellow Filipinos are deprived of decent meals due to loss of income. He then voiced out the idea to his dad and mom, who were very supportive of it.

And so last April 8, more than 200 packed meals, composed of rice with adobo and pancit canton, were distributed by the Cruz family to beggars, street people, and checkpoint personnels along Espana and Quezon Avenues. These were personal delivered by the father, Jervy, who has the quarantine pass to go out.

While it might just be one meal for the recipients, but little help like this, if done collectively, can make a big difference.

Advance happy birthday, Daniel and thank you for your selfless act. Your CKSian spirit truly shines!