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.

Not all our unsung heroes in this battle against the COVID-19 pandemic are medical practitioners, some are amongst us who see volunteer service as a way of life, and that's how we describe CKS high school batch 1984 alumnus Nelson Guevarra (施超權).

Known as "the action man of the Chinese-Filipino community", Nelson is the epitome of a servant to his country and his fellowmen. He has organized and conducted many projects for the community and of course, for his beloved alma mater, CKS College. Giving credit where it is due, he was instrumental in requesting the city government of Manila under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso to open the NAWASA passage from Alvarado to Sanchez Streets, one way for vehicles, thus easing the heavy traffic experienced by CKSians and nearby residents especially during school hours.

Prior to the implementation of the community quarantine, Nelson spearheaded a week-long flushing operation using high pressure water from fire trucks, infused with chlorine solutions, in different Chinese-Filipino schools, religious temples, and other frequently visited locations within Metro Manila, with CKS College being the first beneficiary of the project. This activity was made possible through coordination with various fire volunteer groups, among them Brixton Hills Fire Prevention Association under another alumnus, Enrico Bien Ah, Tutuban Prime and Tutuban Fire Volunteer Associations under the Association of Philippine Volunteer Brigades, Incorporated with its past president, Vincent Chan, and Lance See, also an alumnus.

And when the enhanced community quarantine was enforced by the national government, Nelson could have just stayed at the comforts of his home like most of us but instead, he led a massive packing operation of 250,000 sets of rice and food packs donated by various individuals, groups, and business entities under the umbrella of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Incorporated, where he is the External Affairs Committee Chairman. To fast-track the packing operation, he mobilized the officers and members of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary where he holds the rank of Commodore. With his swift action, the packs were made immediately available for distribution to frontliners in hospitals, police precincts, military outposts, barangays, and other strategic areas nationwide.

Thank you, Mr. PGFlex Umbra. Your CKS College family is proud of your selfless undertakings!

Video LINK

Our feature stories on CKSians, who are unsung heroes in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic during these times of enhanced community quarantine, take us to the country's top hospital for persons afflicted with respiratory diseases, the Lung Center of the Philippines.

Currently, the Lung Center of the Philippines provides free services to people with either confirmed positive or showing signs of the symptoms of COVID-19 and it has dedicated one full wing (with 40 beds) specifically for such patients.

One of the key frontliners in the Lung Center of the Philippines is an alumna from CKS high school batch 2005, pulmonary doctor Monica Madera-Roberts, M.D. (陳敏巧).

Being one of the few senior fellows at the pulmonary section of the Lung Center of the Philippines, her life has changed dramatically since the advent of this pandemic. She is now a lead doctor in screening patients who have symptoms at the makeshift emergency rooms of the hospital, and she also gives advice on home quarantine in cases of mild symptoms. As to patients who are elderly and with comorbidites, she do COVID kit testing for them and if indicated, admits and manages the patients.

According to Doc Monica, there are now roughly 40 patients under monitoring, whether positive cases or Persons Under Investigation (PUI), in the Lung Center of the Philippines and being a senior fellow, she handles the more toxic cases, including those intubated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

We actually asked Doc Monica how she feels about the whole situation to which she replied: "I'm actually more afraid for my parents than for myself, the fear of being infected from my exposure to the virus. But being a doctor, we swore an oath to save lives; so as doctors, this is our calling. I just pray that I wont get infected and that I'll be okay so that I can help more patients."

True to your words, Dr. Monica Madera-Roberts, we salute you on your bravery to fulfill your sworn duty. Keep safe always.

Your entire CKS College family is truly proud of you!