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!

Another young medical frontliner braving these trying times is Dr. Janine Abigail Lim (林清湄) of CKS high school batch 2007, an Obstetrics and Gynecology senior resident at the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center.

While Doc Janine is into OB-Gyne, she was pulled out from this field to help provide care for COVID patients since there are not enough healthcare workers attending to the rising number of cases. She is part of a team composed of doctors with different specializations, with shifting of one week for quarantine in-between.

Like other medical frontliners, she has been extra-meticulous with her hygiene and patient care, just to ensure that she is properly sanitized before and after every patient consultation.

Doc Janine has nothing but gratitude to her alma mater, CKS College, for providing many opportunities, both as a student and as a girl scout leader then, to use her talents to help others, which she still practices to these days. She also takes pride in being a CKSian, with many fellow alumni sharing and helping medical frontliners and the more needy members of the community through selfless donations of food, PPEs, medicines, and even doing volunteer work. To her, this is the true CKSC spirit.

You are an unsung hero in this battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Doc Janine. Your CKS College family is truly proud of you!

Ian Mark F. Arevalo is not only a Junior High School and MYP teacher, he is also an elected Kagawad of Barangay 349 in Manila. But beyond just taking care of his constituents' needs, Sir Ian got himself involved in undertakings outside of his Barangay.

He donated food and masks for medical frontliners of three government hospitals in Manila. He also distributed cloth masks for senior citizens in Sta. Cruz area, and conducted a mobile feeding program for street dwellers in Avenida and Taft Avenue. He did all these not because he had much resources, but because he knew how it was to have nothing.

He recalled the time when his father was confined to the hospital, he had the chance to mingle with medical frontliners, and that's when he realized how challenging their jobs are. And since they were once a blessing to our family, he felt it was time to repay their kindness through his own simple means.

With the help of his family, friends, and some former students, he was able to reach out to 29 medical frontliners in the Philippine General Hospital, 49 dialysis nurses and 126 patients in Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital, 100 doctors in Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, 100 medical frontliners in San Lazaro Hospital, and 100 street dwellers along Rizal and Taft Avenues.

Sir Ian reminded his students to be helpful in these times: "Our little efforts can make a big change. Never stop being dedicated to our school's mission-vision, which is "committed to nation-building and international concern." Let us show to the world and our community that CKSCares."