The Bayanihan spirit is truly alive with this group of unsung heroes. Yes, it's not just one alumnus, but his batchmates and friends all sharing to make this endeavor possible.

It all started when Dr. Mel Anthony Yap Cruz, class valedictorian of CKS high school batch 1996, told his former classmate, Gilbert Chan, the need for hospitals to have aerosol boxes, knowing that the latter's business, GMW Graphics Design Corporation, is into production of signages and other products using acrylic plastics. Doc Mel explained that these were needed by doctors treating or intubating COVID-19 patients to minimize the possibility of them getting infected. The good doctor showed Gilbert what it looks like and without hesitation, the latter immediately produced a few mock prototypes for approval. To solicit support, he then created a group chat which the members later called "CKSC Batch 1996 Kegaws". Soon enough, the group got bigger and bigger and even those who were not batchmates or schoolmates, but who were willing to help out, joined in.

Initial production was 50 aerosol boxes, though to-date more than 200 boxes were already pledged, donated, and delivered to a lot of hospitals, namely FEU-Nicanor Reyes Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Quezon City General Hospital, United Doctors Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital, Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Mary Jhonston Hospital, UST Hospital, Pasay City General Hospital, Metro Rizal Hospital, Manila Doctors Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, San Juan de Dios Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, Bernardino General Hospital, QualiMed San Jose del Monte, San Juan Medical Center, Capitol Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Batangas Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, St Lukes Medical Center - Quezon City, Ospital ng Makati, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Hospital, Dr Jose P. Rizal Memorial Hospital, Victoriano Luna Medical Center - AFPHSC, Nueva Ecija Doctor's Hospital, Medical City (Southern Luzon), Perpetual Help Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Lourdes Hospital (Mandaluyong), Adventist Medical Center Manila, Ortigas Hospital and Health Center, Philippine Children's Medical Center, Epifanio De Los Santos Hospital, Batangas Hospital, Taytay Medical Doctors Hospital, Antipolo City Hospitals, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (Tala - Caloocan), Martin Marasigan District Hospital, Mahal na Virgin Maria District Hospital, Batangas Healthcare Hospital, United Doctors of St. Camillus De Lellis Hospital, St. Patrick Hospital and Medical Center, Golden Gate General Hospital, Metro San Jose Hospital, among others. Batchmate Sean Donnie Dy handled the logistics and transportation of the boxes.

Since aerosol boxes were costly to produce, a lot of batchmates from CKS high school 1996 chipped in to have these items donated to the above-mentioned hospitals, including Marward Carter Ong, Sheryl Lim, Renato Alfante, Emerson Chan, Jennifer Yao, Kristine Lee, Coleen Chua, Sharon Yu, Davidson Teves, Rubylle Diu, Jennifer Uygeehing, Sheryl Lou De Jesus, Byron Co, Sonny Sy, Chatherine dela Cruz, Cynthia Lee, Herbert del Mundo, and Jaclyn Mae Tan, as well as schoolmates Jonathan Galano (1992), Rozenda Sastre (1995), Barrivin Ngo, Kim Yap and Wilbert Su (1997), his brother Wesley Chan (1997) of SirWes Graphics Design, other friends, businessmen, government officials, and civic organizations.

According to Gilbert, the project will continue while there is a need and there are donors willing to help.

To Gilbert, Wesley, and the CKSC Batch 1996 "KEGAWS", continue helping our medical frontliners. Your CKS College family is proud of your samaritan work.

Like most of us, Jonie Junior Chua (張聲豪) of CKS high school batch 2006 knows that the best contribution he can make as a law-abiding citizen during the enhanced community quarantine is to follow what is mandated by government and that is, to stay home and not go out, unless really necessary.

But then even while sheltered at home, Jonie knows he can still help those at the forefront of this battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those in need of some support.

So how was he able to do it?

As President and franchise owner of Meatsumo Corporation, a growing chain of Korean BBQ restaurants, Jonie personally led his kitchen personnel in cooking and providing nearly 800 packed meals to frontliners in Mary Chiles General Hospital, UST Hospital, Mother & Child Hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, and Pasig Doctors Medical Center, duty policemen in San Nicolas, Gandara, Juan Luna precincts and in different checkpoints, all done during the first week of the ECQ. The food were either picked up by the beneficiary institutions, delivered by Jonie's staff, or sent via Lalamove.

Jonie also turned over 600 pieces of face shields to different hospitals from inventory stocks of his company, Ingco Philippines, where he is Chairman and concurrent Chief Executive Officer. As additional information, Ingco Philippines was main sponsor of PhilConstruct, the biggest annual construction exposition and show in the Philippines, last November 2019.

On the first two days of the community quarantine, Jonie also mobilized his Ingco pickup vans to disinfect roads and buildings in Manila; his personnel equipped with Kawasaki backpack sprayers, supported by pump and misting machines, and powered by generators. In an interview, Jonie stated that he will continue doing this service on schedule basis, while the preparation and distribution of packed meals will be done every other day.

Prior to the pandemic, Jonie founded United Brothers Association, Inc., which he and his friends organized in 2009 with the objective of doing outreach programs for orphanages, home for the aged, and other institutions serving less fortunate people, at least on a quarterly basis every year. Quoting him: "That's the least I could do, share my blessings to others."

Jonie is also President of the Philippine Chinese Golden Wild Dragon Lion Dance Group, Inc.

Thank you, Jonie. Your CKS College family takes pride in your many good deeds.

Another unsung hero in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic is a junior medical intern at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital and, on rotation basis, at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center. However, when the initial community quarantine was announced by President Duterte, he was among those pulled out from hospital service, being a medical student who is yet to graduate by June 2020. Disappointed yet accepting the reality that he cannot be in the hospital frontline and also knowing the difficulties and struggles of medical practitioners in our healthcare system, he thought of other means to help.

That's when he thought of contacting and collaborating with his CKS high school batch officers, from whom he elicited positive responses. They initially generated ninety thousand pesos from batchmates, which they used to buy Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for hospital frontliners. They also got the support of restaurants like King Bee, Dimsum Place, and 8 Spoons Catering & Events in Quezon City, which donated packed meals for 800 people from 10 different hospitals, and which also pledged more meals in the days and weeks to come.

Transacting with possible donors are conducted by the involved batchmates thru mobile phone calls and messengers of different social media platforms to comply with social distancing measures, and our junior medical intern took charge of delivering the donations to beneficiary hospitals.

Beyond medical frontliners, the group is reaching out to the less-privileged members of the community, for whom they have prepared 1800 noodle packs and 3000 eggs, ready for distribution in the next few days.

To-date, 1000 packed meals and 1430 bottled water were already distributed to different hospitals. And more are on its way, including 8000 face masks, 60 gallons of alcohol, 1020 face shields, 14000 head caps, 450 pairs of nitrile gloves, and 50 acrylic boxes up for distribution to 7 hospitals.

After reading the story of his exploits, it's time to reveal our young hero and his own version of Justice League. Meet our future singing doctor, Dean Kyle Ang (洪鈺焜), and his CKS high school class of 2012 batchmates Lenore Hailey Keh, Franz Tan, Arielle Uy, and Karl Derrick Guevarra, 2013 schoolmates Kylie Olano and her JKWM group of friends.

Thank you, Dean Kyle and CKS High School Batch 2012. Keep up the Bayanihan spirit!

One concern raised by citizens with the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon island is peace and order. People are afraid that with less mobility, coupled by the temporary loss of jobs and income, and limited access to supplies of basic needs, violence and chaos might result.

To ensure that this does not happen and that the ECQ is properly implemented while making life for the general population comfortable and peaceful, another CKS alumna takes on the frontline. It's Airwoman 2nd Class Karen Bernice C. Columna (陳仁仁) to the rescue. 

Air Transport Industry Frontliners On-Duty

Dean Kyle Ang (洪鈺焜) & CKS HS Batch 2012

Dr. Stephanie Mae O Ang (洪菀喻)

Dr. Jimmy B. Aragon (佘志美)

Mr. Ian Mark F. Arevalo

Dr. Irish Michelle Tan-Becina (陳美雪)

Dr. Lawrence Phoa Belo (潘偉雄)

Dr. Jan Bendric Co Borbe ( 陳有德)

Dr. Rica C. Ching (莊少婷) & Anthony James S. Cu, RN (洪汶澤)

Dr. Eric Chua (蔡炳輝)

Mr. Fai T. Chua (施輝庭)

Mr. Jonie Junior Chua (張聲豪)

Dr. Regina Lim Chua (蔡金金)

CKS HS Batch 1986 "Splendor"

CKS HS Batch 1995

CKS HS Batch 1996 "KEGAWS"

Jacklynn Angela Co, RN (施慧靈)

AW2C Karen Bernice C. Columna (陳仁仁)

Mr. Daniel O. Cruz (王男立)

Dr. Sharlene A. Dizon (楊雅玲)

Dr. Marvinson S. Fajardo (施明顺)

Dr. Zharlah Gulmatico-Flores (蔡慧蓮)

Dr. Jean Alexis C. Go (吳瑩蓮)

Ms. Lenina Ryce S. Guerra (蔡宜君)

Mr. Nelson Guevarra (施超權)

Mr. Nathaniel L. Hui

Kariton ng Pag-asa

Dr. Richard Koa Lim (林俊荣)

Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho

Roseanne Tansipek Jamero, RN (陳双瑜)

Dr. Janine Abigail Lim (林清湄)

Patrick Henry Sy Liquete, RN (曾添榮)

Dr. Kevin Aldrich Rillon Melchor (陳啟民)

ASN Ria Joy J. Nabalan (王麗安)

Roland Emerson Nuevas, R.N. (屠美順)

Ms. Kylie Olano (施愷俐), Ms. Jenna Fan (范绵绵), Ms. Wynette Lorenzo (黃妹妹), & Ms. Mariniell Co (許惠敏)

Jamaica Jungco Ong, RN (許愛茹)

Jenelyn K. Ong, RN (蘇裳)

Mr. Joshua S. Ramirez (米樹牙)

Ms. Rafaelle Angelica A. Raspado (李玉鑽)

Dr. Monica Madera-Roberts (陳敏巧)

Sharlyn Samson-Roque, RN (王美仁)

Dr. Jacqueline Racelis Salagubang (張寶蓮), Ms. Riza Alyanna K. Racelis (張美麗), & Dr. Jan Ray C. Amargo (柯德志)

Ms. Mary Grace Tan-Santillan (陳麗華)

Mr. Kevin Robert L. So (莊啟明)

Ms. Cely Sy (蔡琳琳)

Family of Mr. Enrico Sy (施能斌) (Tat Sing Group) & Mr. Kelvin C. Chan (陳垠誠)

Dr. Mark Lester Santos Sy (李輝鏞)

Ms. Chelsea Mae Y. Sy (施琪美)

Dr. Ann Willainne G. Tan (陳媚媚)

Dr. Jayne Sari D. Tan (黃清渟) & Dr. Tracy Jill C. Ng (陳香梅)

Dr. Susanna Tan (蔡欣美)

Matthew Uy (許澤囡), RN

Ms. Sharmaine Denise D. Uy (黃小媚)

Mr. Weldon C. Valenzuela (莊峻龍)

Dr. Kerry Kate Wang (王英俊)

Dr. Marvin Ellis Uy Wee (黄智毅) & Mikee Elaine Uy Wee (黃淳郁)

Mr. Henry Yang (楊國徽)

Dr. Hanle Yap (葉罕利)

Having just passed the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine conducted by the Philippine College of Physicians early this month and while still awaiting deployment to Bacoor, Cavite as Medical Officer IV of the Department of Health, Ann Willainne G. Tan, M.D. (陳媚媚) of CKS high school batch 2005 cannot find it in herself to just sit down and do nothing as the entire Luzon island goes into enhanced community quarantine.

Doc Ann decided to express her gratitude to the hospital where she took internship, the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig, by organizing a donation drive for food and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and by offering her voluntary service, if and when called to duty.

Dr. Tan initially solicited food packs for the said hospital's frontliners and she got positive response from the Vikings Luxury Buffet of SM Megamall. She also generated 100 pieces of N95 masks, 10 boxes of surgical gloves, and 10 full sets of PPEs for the doctors and nurses, all through her initiative, as she went on a door-to-door solicitation with residents of Barangay Pineda, also in Pasig City, and other friends.

Though such volunteerism is not unexpected from someone like Doc Ann, being a volunteer girl scout troop leader during her pre-med college days, CKS College still thank her and hope that her deeds inspire fellow CKSians to do their share in this battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.