1

Significant Life Experiences of Healthcare Workers in Olongapo City During the Start of

COVID-19 Outbreak

Kristavin Danielle V. Fabunan

Louise Alyssa Eunice V. Chan

Ferie Joseph D. Manalad Jr.

Richelle Alwina R. Caseja

Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan

Joanne Thea G. Ragadio

Carlo Jose G. Gaza

Researchers

In partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the subject

Practical Research 1

DENNIS G. SUMAWAY

Research Adviser

July 8, 2022
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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis prompted a drastic paradigm shift in healthcare workers' lives,

resulting in strenuous and overwhelming challenges in their daily fight against this illness. The

study "Significant Life Experiences of Healthcare Workers in Olongapo City During the Start of

COVID-19" is a phenomenological qualitative study that analyzed the significance of Filipino

healthcare workers' duty on the forefront of community quarantine facilities during the pandemic.

Furthermore, the objective of this study is to discover about the perspectives and experiences of

healthcare workers at the inception of the outbreak as well. Through purposive critical sampling

and comprehensive interviews, 6 healthcare personnel in Olongapo City participated in this study,

which sought to profoundly comprehend and articulate their lived experiences while working in

their various facilities. The content analysis of the depth interviews led to the construction of four

emergent themes, namely, ‘Withstanding COVID-19 Battles,’ ‘A Sense of Upheaval,’ ‘The

Unbearable Weight of Being a Hero,’ and ‘Surviving through adaptation.’ The changes, difficulties

and challenges, and ways of adaptation to the new normal were described, including the

psychological effects (fear, stress, anxiety, etc.), modifications in the workplace, discomfort

wearing of Personal Protective Equipment while executing their job, and adaptive mechanisms.

The results show that working on the front line left the healthcare workers exhausted, put them at

risk and forced them to be the first to survive a devastating situation. The Department of Health

the Philippines can use the themes and data in this study to help identify the areas necessary for

development and improvement in the health sectors of the country.

Keywords: significant life experiences, healthcare workers, Olongapo City, COVID-19

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Acknowledgement

The researchers would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the following people who

provided the assistance needed, contributed idea, and offered guided and support that led to the

successful completion of this research:

To Regional Science High School III, especially Sir Roderick A. Tadeo PhD Principal IV,

for permitting the researchers in the pursuit and accomplishment of this study.

To the hands-on Practical Research I adviser, Mr. Dennis Sumaway, who taught many

lessons that served as the foundation for making this research project, bestowed his support, and

gave his utmost effort in ensuring the quality of the study which played a big role in its completion.

To Ms. Lea Ann L. Pitogo-Alegre, for the validation of our research instrument, for the

provision of suggestions and recommendations in ensuring the quality of the research instrument

utilized.

To the panel of examiners, Ms. Kimberly Miraflor, Ms. Lea Ann L. Pitogo-Alegre and

especially Mr. Zaldy Jose M. Lazara Jr., for sharing his knowledge, advice, and notions in

improving the work of the researchers.

To the main participants which are the selected healthcare workers in the City of Olongapo

who worked especially at the emergence of COVID 19, for their voluntary participation despite

their tight schedules and workload that paved the way for gathering essential information necessary

to accomplish the objectives of this research.

To the families and relatives of the participants for extending their support in the conduct

of this research by being the mediators between researchers and participants and for assisting their

parents throughout the interview process.

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To the parents and families of the researchers, for the assistance they have provided their

children, may it be motivational or financial.

And most of all, to our Almighty Father, for His guidance, grace, and always leading them

with His hands into the right direction making this whole study possible and successful.
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Declaration of Intellectual Honesty

The study entitled Significant Life Experiences of Healthcare Workers in Olongapo

City During the Start of COVID-19 Outbreak was written in full honesty and transparency to

avoid falsification and deceitful statements. The researchers guarantee that no portion or part of

this study was copied, replicated, or plagiarized from any source without proper citation or credit.

It is assured that the research has never been submitted in any form to another subject or academic

institution of any course whatsoever.

The Researchers:

Kristavin Danielle V. Fabunan

Louise Alyssa Eunice V. Chan

Ferie Joseph D. Manalad Jr.

Richelle Alwina R. Caseja

Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan

Joanne Thea G. Ragadio

Carlo Jose G. Gaza

Signed: July 4, 2022

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Approval Sheet

This research paper entitled “SIGNIFICANT LIFE EXPERIENCES OF

HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN OLONGAPO CITY DURING THE START OF
COVID-19 OUTBREAK” has been prepared and submitted by Kristavin Danielle V.
Fabunan, Louise Alyssa Eunice V. Chan, Ferie Joseph D. Manalad Jr., Richelle Alwina R.
Caseja, Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan, Joanne Thea G. Ragadio, Carlo Jose G. Gaza who are
hereby recommended for oral examination.

DENNIS G. SUMAWAY
Research Adviser

Approved by the Committee of Oral Examiners

ZALDY JOSE M. LAZARA JR.

SST - I
Member

KIMBERLY D. MIRAFLOR
SHST - III
Member

LEA ANN ALEGRE

SHSMT - I
Chairman

Accepted as a final requirement for the subject Practical Research

(Qualitative Research)

June 29, 2022 RODERICK A TADEO, PhD

Date of Oral Examination Principal IV

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Table of Contents

Title Page ......................................................................................................................................... i

Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................ii
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................iii
Declaration of Intellectual Honesty .................................................................................................v
Approval Sheet ...............................................................................................................................vi
Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................................vii
List of Figures ..............................................................................................................................viii
List of Tables...................................................................................................................................ix
List of Appendices ...........................................................................................................................x

INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study ...........................................................................................................1
Statement of the Problem ...........................................................................................................6
Conceptual Framework .............................................................................................................7
Scope of the Study .....................................................................................................................8
Delimitations of the Study .........................................................................................................8
Significance of the Study ...........................................................................................................9
Definition of Terms .................................................................................................................10

LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................................................11

METHODOLOGY
Research Design ......................................................................................................................21
Research Setting ......................................................................................................................21
Sampling Method ....................................................................................................................22
Research Participants ..............................................................................................................22
Research Instrument ................................................................................................................22
Data Collection Procedure .......................................................................................................23
Data Analysis ..........................................................................................................................24

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS ................................................................................................26

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION .........................................................................41

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................48

APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................57
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List of Figures

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework ...................................................................................................7

Figure 2. The Four Emergent Themes ..........................................................................................26
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List of Tables
Table 1. Thematic Analysis for Experiences of Healthcare Workers while Working at the
Emergence of COVID-19 ................................................................................................27
Table 2. Thematic Analysis for Major Alterations felt by Healthcare Workers .............................32
Table 3. Thematic Analysis for Difficulties and Challenges Faced by the Healthcare
Workers ..........................................................................................................................34
Table 4. Thematic Analysis for Adjustments to Cope with Severe Changes ..................................38
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List of Appendices
Appendix A. Research Instrument ................................................................................................57
Appendix B. Validation Letter ......................................................................................................60
Appendix C. Letter of Approval ...................................................................................................62
Appendix D. Consent Form ..........................................................................................................64
Appendix E. Transcription of the Interview .................................................................................70
Appendix F. Group of Codes, Categories, and Themes .............................................................236
Appendix G. Curriculum Vitae ...................................................................................................284
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Significant Life Experiences of Healthcare Workers in Olongapo City During the Start of

COVID-19 Outbreak

CHAPTER I

Background of the Study

The increase in COVID-19 cases has shown a significant impact on people's livelihoods,

physical and mental health, and economies worldwide. As the virus threatens the health of

humanity, it was the healthcare workers who were expected to respond immediately. Studies

investigating the experiences of healthcare professionals during the pandemic have been conducted

ever since the outbreak began. However, there is little to no research on the healthcare workers of

Olongapo City. Moreover, it is thought that the healthcare professionals' experiences during the

pandemic will contribute to enhance the country's healthcare system.

Coronaviruses are a broad group of viruses that may cause everything from a typical cold

to more serious illnesses. A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new coronavirus strain that has never

been seen previously in humans. The new coronavirus named "COVID-19" was designated a

public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros

Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the 30th of January 2020. There was a rapid increase in the number of

cases outside China last March 2020, and because of that, the WHO Director-General announced

that the outbreak could be characterized as a pandemic (World Health Organization, 2022).

Millions of people have died because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the

global economy and had secondary effects on livelihoods, education, and mental health throughout

the world. Although no country or economic category has been immune to the pandemic's direct

effects, marginalized populations have been particularly vulnerable to the pandemic's secondary
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effects, which include public health measures, such as extended lockdowns (Harvard University,

2022). When people all over the world began to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in

mid-2020, health care access in the Philippines remained stable, albeit there were still obstacles

for health care personnel, particularly in the early stages (Fallesen, 2021). In the beginning of the

outbreak of COVID-19 in Hubei, China, the healthcare system of the whole world was

overwhelmed. Physicians and nurses who had no infectious disease expertise were recruited to

provide care to patients with COVID-19 (Lui et al., 2020). Not only for ongoing and safe patient

care, but also for outbreak management, health and safety are essential. However, during the severe

acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks,

health-care providers caring for patients were under extreme stress due to the high risk of infection,

stigmatization, understaffing, uncertainty, and comprehensive support was a top priority both

during and after the outbreaks (Lee, 2018).

As of October 2021, there are a total of about 188 thousand healthcare workers in the

Philippines, and 59 million worldwide (Statista Research Department, 2022). Healthcare workers

are the ones who provide care and services to the ill and ailing. They could be doctors, nurses,

aids, laboratory technicians, and others that help in the medical field (Joseph & Joseph, 2016).

Most of the nation’s healthcare workers are currently battling frontline with the COVID-19

pandemic (Anderson et al., 2021). They encountered a surge of critically ill patients, and at the

same time, managed a change of environment, referring to them having to work in maxed out

healthcare facilities, wherein they were given an overwhelming amount of work in a limited

amount of time (Brett et al., 2021).

Working in the time of crisis, added an exceptional amount of stress to what was already a

so-called stressful work environment. Thus, making them susceptible to mental health problems.
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Studies have shown that frontline healthcare workers, dealing with patients related to COVID-19,

are at high risk of experiencing mental health problems, specifically: anxiety; depression;

insomnia; and stress (Liu et al., 2020). In addition to that, it was shown that psychological distress

has been widespread to them throughout the duration of the pandemic (Brett et al., 2021).

Despite having the world's tightest and longest lockdown, COVID-19 cases seem to climb

in the Philippines. On August 1, 2020, the nation recorded over 5,000 positive cases, the highest

number since the outbreak began in February 2020. (Biana & Joaquin, 2020). Healthcare

practitioners were confronted with a sudden influx of critically ill patients while simultaneously

needing to establish a 'surge' setting to meet the requisite continuous enhanced capacity. Healthcare

workers were effectively presented with a persistent massive circumstance, laboring in hospitals

that were functioning at or over safe occupancy and intensity levels for a significant length of time

(Grailey et al., 2021).

In the biggest call yet from clinical specialists to contain the infection, 80 groups addressing

80,000 doctors and 1,000,000 attendants, said the Philippines was losing the battle against COVID-

19 and cautioned of a breakdown of the medical care framework from taking off contaminations

without more tight controls. During the year 2020, healthcare laborers, including microbiologists,

irresistible illness and general wellbeing specialists, pediatricians, and medical caretakers, required

a fourteen-day lockdown in Manila and areas south of it until mid-August (Morales, 2020).

Claims over the public authority's mismanagement of COVID-19 crisis funding have

pushed troubled Filipino medical workers to the tipping point. With appropriate gears, protesters

assembled before the Department of Health on September 1, 2021 to request the release of unpaid

financial compensations, as well as an expansion in state funding to utilize more palliative care
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laborers. Filipino medical services laborers are persistently understaffed, unpaid, and exhausted

(Treston, 2021).

The study “The experiences of health-care providers during the COVID-19 crisis in China:

a qualitative study” researches the challenges faced by healthcare workers in China (Liu et al.,

2020). The difference in location and environment between the study conducted by Liu et al., in

2020 and the study being conducted poses a gap in which the results may vary.

In a health system weakened by decades of neglect, Philippine medical workers face

deplorable remuneration and open antagonism (Santos, 2020). According to the survey conducted

by the new morning consult 2021, during the COVID-19 outbreak, 18% workers departed, and

another 12% were laid off. Thirty-one percent of health-care employees who have remained on the

job during the pandemic have pondered leaving. Moreover, 79% of healthcare workers, the

national workforce shortage has impacted them and their workplace. The fundamental cause of

health-care staff shortages, as per a registered nurse and the union's president, is that clinicians are

departing due to low pay, burnout, and COVID-19 safety concerns (Burger, 2021).

Another core factor here is that during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Mental Health America

(2020) has seen an increase in the number of people suffering from anxiety, depression, loneliness,

and other mental health issues. From June to September 2020, Mental Health America held a

survey to hear about healthcare workers' experiences during COVID-19. The following are the

findings of the responses obtained from the 1,119 healthcare workers surveyed: 93% of healthcare

workers experienced stress, 86% reported anxiety, 77% indicated frustration, 76% claimed

exhaustion and burnout, and 75% reported being overwhelmed. Seventy-six percent of healthcare

professionals with children were concerned about exposing their kid to COVID-19, almost half

were concerned about exposing their spouse or partner, and 47% were concerned about exposing
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an elderly family member. Emotional stress was the most commonly stated reason for changes in

how healthcare workers felt in the preceding three months (82%), followed by difficulty sleeping

(70%), physical exhaustion (68%), and work-related anxiety (63%). More than half experience

appetite fluctuations (57%), physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches (56%),

doubting career path (55%), compassion fatigue (52%), and heightened awareness or attention to

being exposed (52%). Nurses had a greater COVID-19 exposure (41%), and they were more likely

to be exhausted (67%) than other healthcare workers (63%). Thirty-nine percent of healthcare

workers did not believe they had adequate emotional support. Nurses had an even lower likelihood

of receiving emotional support (45%).

The World Health Organization 2020 is urging governments and healthcare leaders to

address ongoing concerns about the health and safety of healthcare workers. As a result, it is

necessary to be aware of the specific needs of healthcare workers and to implement psychological

intervention programs focusing on crisis and post-trauma care, as well as administrative and

organizational changes, in order to have a well-organized and high-quality health system that can

sustain itself and respond effectively in the face of a crisis (Carbajal et al., 2020).

We chose this topic due to our concern of the havoc that the COVID-19 pandemic brought,

especially to those healthcare workers who have taken the frontline despite not having a security

of safety and a concrete plan on how to handle the virus, at the emergence of this crisis.

Additionally, the topic of COVID-19 is very timely as the pandemic is continuously felt and

recurrent, still bringing several variants in different countries. Furthermore, we selected this study

because of the evident struggles of the healthcare workers and medical practitioners to cope with

their lives being the frontliners at the emergence of this pandemic. Hence, the main objective of
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this research is to unveil and discover the life experiences of healthcare workers in Olongapo City

at the emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Statement of the Problem

Generally, this study intends to unveil the Significant Life Experiences of Healthcare

Workers in Olongapo City during the Start of COVID-19 Outbreak.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the experiences of healthcare workers while working at the emergence of

COVID-19 outbreak?

2. What significant changes did the healthcare workers encounter in their workplace?

3. What are the difficulties and challenges faced by healthcare workers?

4. How did the healthcare workers adapt to the drastic changes brought by the COVID-19

outbreak?
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Conceptual Framework

Adapting to the drastic changes

Difficulties Challenges

Experiences while working at the emergence of COVID-19 outbreak

Changes encountered in
their workplace

Healthcare Workers in Olongapo City

Figure 1

The theoretical framework resembles the form of a hospital which represents the facility in

which the healthcare workers are situated. The foundation of the hospital represents the forces of

the healthcare workers. Healthcare workers are a crucial aspect of a hospital since they hold a vast

role in influencing the future. The walls of the hospital serve as the experiences of the healthcare

workers which is a significant element in a healthcare worker’s life. Within the walls of the hospital

are several windows which are multiple viewing areas of every infrastructure, this represents the

different perspectives on the difficulties and circumstances that the healthcare workers

encountered at the emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak. The doorways and openings are the
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changes since they are symbolic structures with enormous significance in the life of a healthcare

worker. Moving through difficulties or challenges, entering new places and prospects, leaving

grief, loss, or a shattered heart - doors and openings give a point of transition to change. In every

hospital, a cross emblem is always seen which signifies hope. This symbol represents the

adaptation of people to the drastic changes happening and the way we respond to the changing

circumstances. Those who choose to adapt to change are those who can still see hope even after

an unwanted situation.

The framework is presented in this manner to demonstrate how imperishable hospitals

should be built. The framework shows how its components are, that they are all interconnected

and how they need to coexist. All of these factors are needed in order to find answers for the

research study.

Scope of the Study

This research study particularly focused on interviewing healthcare workers that are

working from both private and public hospitals. Additionally, we selected hospitals that are in

Olongapo City only since it is a convenient location for researchers. The proponents interviewed

the participants with questions that are related to their experiences solely during the emergence or

at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. The onset of the pandemic was marked by the first three

months of lockdown in Olongapo City. Lastly, the duration of this study was conducted in April

to June 2022.

Delimitation of the Study

This phenomenological study explored and described the lived experiences of healthcare

workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study was delimited in scope since only a total of 6

participants in Olongapo City were interviewed. Another limitation was the possibility of selection
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bias and uneven distribution of healthcare workers based on gender and expertise. Furthermore,

this study will focus on understanding the lived experiences of healthcare workers, specifically the

changes that occurred, difficulties faced and ways of adapting. Lastly, the interview was conducted

years after the peak of COVID-19 cases in Olongapo and responses might have been different if it

was done during the initial and peak cases of COVID-19.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to investigate the lived experiences of the Healthcare Workers in Olongapo

City during the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study, if proven to be efficient, will benefit

the following sectors:

Healthcare workers. The data from the study may be used as a basis for how they can

improve patient care and health services.

Department of Health. Information such as outcomes of treatment, patterns of care,

healthcare costs, and use may be valuable for healthcare policies.

Hospitals of Olongapo City. This study can provide interventions in Olongapo City

hospitals to fulfill health care prerequisites and promote the prioritization of health.

Residents of Olongapo City. It can raise awareness among the residents of Olongapo City

about the experiences of Healthcare Workers and may provide a further understanding of the

events happening in the life of a healthcare worker.

Future Researchers. This study can benefit future researchers by imparting new

knowledge and information based on the data gathered. The results of this study can be used as a

reference for later studies related to the life of healthcare workers.

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Definition of Terms

This section of the research paper contains all the substantive terms together with the

definition on how they are utilized operationally.

Adaptation. Adaptation is the process occurring to all living things, specifically humans, to

become better to its environment in order to survive.

COVID-19. Coronavirus disease is a viral infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which

brought an unfavorable event to the lives of many, specifically to the healthcare workers.

COVID- 19 Outbreak. It is defined as the occurrence of COVID-19 cases in excess of normal

expectancy.

Difficulties and Challenges. Instances or events that people find hard to deal with, manage, or

overcome.

Drastic Changes. A severe or sudden change that has caused negative impacts.

Healthcare Workers. A healthcare worker is anyone who provides support and treatment to the

sick and afflicted.

Lived Experiences. This refers to the depiction of a healthcare worker’s experiences and

decisions, as well as the knowledge gained from their experiences and choices.

Significant Life Experiences. Important experiences of people that lead healthcare workers

toward their expected goals and support a cohesive life narrative.

Workplace. A location where work is done, a place of employment.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This section of research contains the overview of the related literature and studies that

broads previous knowledge sharing after thorough and comprehensive search we’ve done.

COVID-19

As the number of mortalities caused by COVID-19 continue to increase each day, the

pandemic still continues to give an effect to every aspect of the lifestyle of the global population.

The appearance of COVID-19 has impacted economies and caused unprecedented circumstances

to healthcare systems around the world. Around the globe, most of the population was ordered to

stay inside their homes as a result of the lockdowns, and as of the end of March 2021,

approximately three million individuals have died. This outbreak has awakened people globally to

the broken and overextended health systems in several parts of the world (Cuffari, n.d.).

In a study conducted by Acquaye et al. (2021), COVID-19 has given emphasis on the

environmental folly of the ‘extract-produce-use-dump’ economic model of material and energy

flows. Short-term regulations implemented to adapt with the seriousness of the outbreak are most

likely considered unsustainable models in the near future. Moreover, a number of global effects

were tackled in the paper. One of which is how the pandemic has twisted the world’s operating

assumptions, showing the slight absence of the dominant economic model to acknowledge crises

(Pinner et al., 2020). Some of the interventions being implemented by governments around the

world have flattened the COVID-19 curve to some extent. This helped prevent the healthcare

systems from being completely overwhelmed, although at the time the proponents were writing

the paper, a number of new cases were still being reported in different parts of the world.
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Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers were already experiencing work exhaustion prior to the COVID-19

outbreak, and the current pandemic has exacerbated the situation. Based on the article, the

Philippine government ignored the ‘medical groups' demand. Some government officials even said

that a lockdown is no longer necessary since Metro Manila will be a “living experiment,” and that

healthcare workers should “simply do better jobs.” The government's insensitivity neglects the

compassion and dignity of the frontliners who are under pressure and are only seeking respite from

the recent deluge of COVID-19 cases (Biana & Joaquin, 2020). “Even if we do everything else

properly, if we don't prioritize safeguarding health workers, many people will die because the

health professional who could have saved their lives is unwell,” said WHO Director-General

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Experiences

In this battle with an unseen foe, healthcare professionals are a critical and significant

workforce in the war against this pandemic sickness since they act as key frontliners at both the

patient's bedside and in communities for 24 hours, seven days a week (24/7). From screening to

hospitalization and supervision after release, they have the most interaction with suspected or

confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Despite the well-known and courageous efforts to combat this global crisis, healthcare

workers have reported facing many intrinsic and extrinsic experiences and issues in and out of the

workplace, according to Sadang (2020). In the day-to-day fight against COVID-19, healthcare

workers have been known to endure sorrow, anxiety, stress, burnout, and even work-related

bullying. As a result of the pressure and stress, healthcare workers experienced fatigue, isolation,

sleep disorders, and mental despair. Due to a lack of knowledge, environmental changes, and fear
 13

of infection by themselves and their family members, healthcare personnel are experiencing

anxiety attacks as well as frustration. (Razu et al., 2021).

Moreover, Sadang (2020) mentions that the government's financial and logistical support

is insufficient, particularly in terms of personal protective equipment, putting health workers at

risk of infection; this has formed uncertainty, panic, and fear among front-line health workers

throughout the crisis. Furthermore, as the front line of response during a pandemic, health workers

are frequently confronted with personal problems, such as the peril of becoming afflicted and

unknowingly transmitting the illness to someone's family members, as well as psychological

difficulties, such as stigma and prohibitions on the healthcare worker's freedom within a

community, due to the vulnerabilities of the work.

Changes

Healthcare workers are one of the most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Changes in

the work environment, attitude, practices, and personal life of healthcare workers have been made

due to the pandemic. Positive and negative changes were felt by healthcare workers in the medical

field. A sense of solidarity was observed by the healthcare workers among colleagues.

Additionally, the help through free access to hotel rooms near hospitals is given for healthcare

workers to avoid contact with their families. Although there are positive changes in the work

environment; anxiety, fear, and worries are still concerning the minds of the healthcare workers

(Goff et al., 2022).

With the emergence of the pandemic, new terms and information surfaced that would pose

a change to the public and especially to healthcare workers. According to the research “Changes

in healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic”

although healthcare workers are knowledgeable about the COVID-19, the amount and uncertainty
 14

of new information cause anxiety. In the study, it is shown that there is an improvement in hygiene

practices in correspondence with the announcement of the outbreak. Moreover, the declaration of

COVID-19 as a pandemic brought more anxiety to healthcare workers. Thus, the research suggests

providing mental health support and maintaining a healthy psychological status for all healthcare

workers.

Difficulties and Challenges

Challenges raised by poor governance cannot be overlooked when it comes to the problems

encountered by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The amount of personal

protective equipment issued by the government was inadequate for healthcare workers, and were

primarily untrained on how to utilize it. This resulted in an alarming rate of infection among the

medical workforce (Razu et al., 2021).

As the Philippines expects to implement an innovative set of quarantine protocols in the

first half of August 2020, 60 medical associations have requested a moment and asked the national

government to return the Philippine capital, Metro Manila, to a tightened enhanced community

quarantine because the nation's capital healthcare system has attained a critical level (Biana &

Joaquin, 2020).

Allegations of mishandling of COVID-19 emergency funds by the government have

pushed disgruntled Filipino healthcare workers to the breaking point. Protesters gathered in front

of the Department of Health on September 1st, wearing safety gear, to demand the release of

overdue compensation as well as a rise in state money to engage additional palliative care staff.

Healthcare employees in the Philippines are chronically understaffed, underpaid, and overworked

(Treston, 2021).
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Adaptation

As the pandemic wreaks havoc on, it is becoming evident that healthcare workers all across

the world are remarkably similar. The passion and love for their profession is what keeps the

healthcare workers going, but they are also human beings who are experiencing a range of

emotions, including dread that no one–inside or outside the hospital–can shake (Ramirez, 2021).

The research entitled “Adapting to the unexpected: Problematic work situations and

resilience strategies in healthcare institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave” Based

on the current findings, two viable strategies of strengthening meso-level resilience are proposed.

First, a more systematic approach to safety and risk prevention strategies among support workers

would increase risk awareness, improve access to PPE, reinforce coping methods, and demonstrate

that they play an important part in a healthcare institution's adaptive responses. Second, the

pandemic throws substantial demands on senior and middle-level executives, as well as teams and

workers, in terms of communication skills, cooperation, decision making, dispute resolution, and

emotional burdens. Institutions might assist managers enhance their communication skills,

transparency, empathy, and team management by offering resources. Reinforcement of managerial

and communication skills might help to alleviate employees' sentiments of ignorance, ambiguity,

injustice, or exhaustion. Employees might also benefit from support procedures in the areas of

teamwork, decision-making, cooperation, dispute resolution, and emotional support. More

broadly, this would strengthen the resilience of healthcare workers as persons in the face of the

numerous problems that lie ahead (Juvet et al., 2021).

COVID-19 outbreak has brought unimaginable distraught to everyone affected by the

disease, and particularly to the healthcare workers providing medical assistance. Due to the

ongoing battle with COVID-19, the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers has been
 16

exhausted. Hence, the importance of supporting and maintaining the mental health of healthcare

workers (Marzo et al., 2021).

International Study

A recent qualitative research by Liu, et al, (2020), tackles the experiences of the health-

care workers in Hubei China during the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Because the comprehension of the infection and anticipation and control measures is not

enough, in excess of 3000 clinical staff were tainted in Hubei, 40% of whom were contaminated

in hospitals. 18 Health-care suppliers experienced relentless anxiety toward disease because of the

infectious idea of the infection, obscure transmission modes, close contact with patients, and

disease happening to their associates.

This study shows how intensive work exhausts health-care workers physically and

emotionally. It aims to uncover the need for immediate support to protect the well-being of the

health-care workers. Regular and intensive training for health-care workers are important to

advance readiness and viability in crisis management. A limit of this study was that all members

were evaluated by phone, since Wuhan was in lockdown and the creators couldn't go to emergency

clinics.

In the findings of this research, the data analysis shows three theme categories. The first

was “being completely answerable for patients’ prosperity — ‘this is my obligation.” Medical

services suppliers chipped in and made an honest effort to give care to patients. Attendants played

a pivotal part in furnishing escalated care and helping with exercises of everyday living. The

subsequent classification was “difficulties of working at COVID-19 wards.” Medical services

suppliers were tested by working in an absolutely new setting, weariness because of weighty

responsibilities and defensive stuff, the apprehension about becoming tainted and contaminating
 17

others, feeling frail to deal with patients’ circumstances, and overseeing connections experiencing

the same thing. The third class was “versatility in the midst of difficulties.” Medical care suppliers

recognized many social help and utilized self-administration methodologies to adapt to everything

going on. They accomplished greatness from this novel experience (Liu et a.l, 2020).

Another research from Indonesia was conducted by Tosepu et al. (2021) as the quantity of

cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia keeps on rising aiming to explore the life of health care workers

in battling the pandemic. Online semi-organized interviews were done in April 2020 among

thirteen members who were purposely chosen. Eight topics arose out of data analysis, including

absence of individual defensive hardware, absence of reference medical clinics and restricted

offices, managing patients with obscure status, having a stressed outlook on getting contaminated

or being a wellspring of viral transmission, being imaginative, too lengthy shift and weakness,

surrendering to God, and government issues.

On the other hand, a study in London conducted by Grailey et al. (2021) describes the

encounters of the 49 staff working with the emergency and care departments. The analysis of this

study, discussing the experiences of the participants while working during COVID-19 prompted

the development of five key subjects, remembering ‘mental impacts’ and ‘changes for group

elements’. A few mental impacts were portrayed, including the presence of mental pain and

experiences into the etiology of moral injury. Expanding on these topics, a guide of key changes

emerging because of the pandemic was created, featuring possible chances to offer designated

help. Interviews were done following the requirement of social distancing and remain at home

requests were led practically by means of the Microsoft Teams stage. The sound was recorded

utilizing a handheld sound recording gadget and accordingly interpreted with all private

recognizing data eliminated.

 18

We concluded that dealing with the front line of a pandemic can have critical implications

for medical care workers, seriously endangering them of mental pain and moral injury, as well as

influencing group elements. Their research aims for the topics and subjective information from

this research will help to assist with distinguishing areas for the management support to an

individual or group of health care workers (Grailey et al., 2021).

Local Study

According to locally conducted study of Sadang (2020) entitled “The Lived Experience of

Filipino Nurses’ Work in COVID-19 Quarantine Facilities: A Descriptive Phenomenological

Study,” the pandemic of COVID-19 caused an abrupt paradigm change in nurses’ lives in

healthcare systems, resulting in stressful and overwhelming problems in their daily combat against

this sickness. During this pandemic health crisis, this descriptive phenomenological investigation

looked at the meaning of Filipino nurses’ labor on the frontlines of community quarantine centers.

A total of 12 nurses took part in this study, which included purposive and snowball sampling, as

well as in-depth questioning, to better understand and describe their lived experiences while

working at their different hospitals.

This qualitative study took a descriptive phenomenological technique. Husserl's

phenomenological philosophy has been widely utilized to explain human phenomena as they are

experienced or lived by humans, and it entails direct investigation, analysis, and description of the

phenomena in order to provide the most intuitive presentation possible.

This study included 12 participants who worked as front-line workers in Lanao del Sur

Province's community quarantine facilities (CQF) and were recruited through purposive and

snowball sampling (Sadang, 2020). According to Purposive sampling 101: Alchemer blog (2021),

Purposive sampling, also known as judgmental, selective, or subjective sampling, is a type of non-
 19

probability sampling in which researchers choose from the general public to take part in their polls

driven by individual views. This survey sampling strategy necessitates previous understanding of

the study's goal for researchers to appropriately choose and approach eligible people for surveys.

It is used to reach a certain group of people, as all survey participants are chosen because they

meet a specific profile. On the other hand, researchers utilize snowball sampling to create a pool

of respondents for a research project by referring people who share a common interest from

researchers with the target audience. Chain sampling, or chain referral sampling, is another term

for it (Frey, 2018).

Researchers analyzed results by using Colaizzi’s Method which includes 7 steps namely:

(1) familiarizing oneself with the interview transcript in order to comprehend the broad concepts

of the participants; (2) emphasizing important words and phrases from the participants' experiences

as vital clues in order to identify them; (3) constructing interpretations from crucial remarks by

listening to the audio tape in parts and in its entirety while reading the transcript; (4) grouping and

coding signals that have the same meaning; (5) drawing on the extensive accounts of the ANP

diploma students' experiences to generate topics; (6) synthesizing extensive descriptions and

substantiating them with literature to produce the essential structure of participants' experiences;

and (7) obtaining confirmation of the analytical results by presenting them to the participants

(Wirihana et al, 2018).

Work as self-sacrifice (with three sub-themes), Work as self-fulfillment (with two sub-

themes), and Work as a psychological battle (with two sub-themes) resulted from the data analysis

of the transcribed verbatim replies utilizing Colaizzi's technique. In the face of limited or

unavailable resources, the nurses exhibited great professional efforts and sacrifices in combating
 20

this issue. As a result, extensive assistance is required to ensure their well-being so that they may

continue their heroic work in combatting and eliminating this sickness in our various communities.

Since their research was conducted with nurses from community quarantine facilities, it's

crucial to keep in mind that nurses in other settings may have had a different experience working

during the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, owing to time constraints, data collection was

completed as quickly as possible, which may have hampered a better understanding of the

phenomena under investigation.

The researcher’s conclusion is that the participants in their study had the following

experiences: the numerous demands, the physical and mental challenges they face at work and at

home, a scarcity of sufficient human resources, and during this hard scenario, they were drained

by bad administrative tactics and government assistance, which caused them anxiety, worry, and

dread (Sadang, 2020).

Every country's healthcare personnel and medical practitioners are vital assets, especially

during pandemics. Not just for continuous and safe patient care, but also for outbreak control, their

health and safety are necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an abrupt change in the life of

healthcare workers, resulting in stressful and overwhelming obstacles in their daily fight against

the virus. Given the importance of healthcare professionals' involvement in the battle against the

COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to explore their various perspectives on this new challenge

brought by COVID-19.
 21

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the procedures and methods that describe the steps taken to achieve

the set study objectives. The steps concerned include the research design, setting of the study,

methods and techniques of the study, population and sample of the study, research instruments,

data collection procedure, and data analysis.

Research Design

The research study “Significant Life Experiences of Healthcare Workers in Olongapo City

during the Start of COVID-19” is a qualitative research. The goal of this study is to learn about

the perspectives of healthcare personnel during the outset of the pandemic. The research study was

designed in the form of a phenomenological study, which investigates and analyzes a certain

phenomenon in depth. The study focused on a particularly visible phenomenon: the experiences

of healthcare personnel during the start of the outbreak. This allowed a thorough and precise

understanding of healthcare professionals’ experiences at the start of the COVID-19.

Research Setting

Olongapo City, a city in the Philippines. People may rely on several hospital centers to

cater to medical emergencies or monthly appointments with their specialists. As healthcare is still

one of the most essential areas of human existence, private and public hospitals in Olongapo City

that provide high-quality healthcare services were designated as the location from which

healthcare workers were chosen. The interview, however, was taken at the respective houses using

online communication methods such as Zoom Meeting.

 22

Sampling Method

Purposive critical sampling was used to identify participants for this study. It was a non-

probability sampling strategy that enabled researchers to concentrate on the population of interest.

Additionally, it was a sampling technique in which researchers purposefully selected healthcare

workers from public and private hospitals who worked during the commencement of the COVID-

19 outbreak. As a result, it provided the best answers to the study questions by gathering the most

meaningful information from the best-selected participants.

Research Participants

In a qualitative study, lived experiences are most crucial, which is why selecting the right

participants is important. Six healthcare professionals were among the study's participants. A

nurse, a radiological technologist, a medical technologist, and three doctors, to be exact. We

handled the selection of the participants through purposive critical sampling. Participants in this

study are all healthcare personnel who worked during the outbreak of the pandemic, pursuant to

the reviewed research questions. This is why age and particular health professions were not taken

into account, as the study merely needed any health worker who worked during the onset of the

pandemic.

Research Instrument

We designed interview questions as the primary data collection instrument in order to

capture the necessary information in the safest possible manner. We employed organized

interviews in particular. A number of questions and prompts were prepared which were then asked

to each interviewee, however interviewers are allowed to ask follow-up inquiries that are not

included in the questionnaire. This kind of interview was utilized in the study because it enables

us to acquire more specific information without feeling inconvenienced. Since the pandemic
 23

prevented us from physically meeting the healthcare workers, the interviews were undertaken

through online platforms to ensure the safety of everyone involved. The research adviser

thoroughly analyzed the complete questionnaire, including the themes and structure of the

interview, and if authorized, it was validated by another research teacher. The first topic focuses

on the experiences of healthcare workers during the onset of the outbreak, as well as why those

workers continue to choose to remain in the workforce despite the challenges they confront.

Questions on the difficulty of being a healthcare professional in the face of a pandemic follows.

Participants’ experiences with changes and adversity were addressed. Furthermore, with the start

of the conflict in COVID-19, healthcare professionals’ work adjustments were emphasized in the

last subject.

Data Collection Procedure

Before we gather data from the participants, it is important to verify that the questionnaire

is valid and reviewed by the research adviser. A letter of approval was given to the school heads

to ask permission to conduct the study and collect information from different public and private

health workers in Olongapo City. Before the actual interview, a consent form was given to the

chosen participants to confirm their permission to participate in the study.

Following all of the foregoing preparations, we conducted an online interview to gather

data, which will begin with a brief explanation to the nature and aim of the study to the selected

healthcare workers.

The actual data collection started through a series of virtual interviews utilizing Zoom

Meeting as the online platform, asking the selected healthcare workers about their experiences,

difficulties and challenges, changes in their workplace, and how they adapted to the current

situation while under their working conditions at the emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak.
 24

The aforementioned interviews are of the structured sort, in which participants will be led

through a dialogue to acquire information using a sequence of standardized and predefined

questions. The interview was structured according to the topic sequence of the questionnaire to

allow the respondents to clarify questions if necessary. Video recording was used to document all

interviews.

The data from recorded interviews was transcribed and translated to make data

categorization easier based on the respondents' experiences, which led to the insights.

Since the interviews were videotaped and transcribed, fully interpreting the participants’

responses was hassle-free. After transcribing the video recordings, the transcribed responses were

forwarded to the participants for member checking. Then, after receiving the feedback from the

participants, we began arranging the material gathered from the interviews based on the most

pertinent and substantive responses to the study questions. Before analyzing the structured data,

we gave codes to the responses.

Data Analysis

The collected data is kept entirely confidential and was only used for this study. The

collected data was thoroughly analyzed using the 4 point method. For a more detailed description

of the process of data analysis, we started with transcribing the raw data that was collected from

the interviews, followed by member checking. After that, the validated data underwent coding and

thematic analysis. Lastly, we used Lincoln and Guba’s four criteria to determine the

trustworthiness of the study.

Transcription. After the data was gathered, it underwent the process of transcription. The

assigned researchers of the study reviewed the interview recordings to detailedly encode the

responses of the participants.

 25

Member Checks. We sent the collected and transcribed results to the participants through

Facebook messenger. They were encouraged to examine and understand the transcribed data

before providing their opinions and confirming the data's authenticity.

Coding. The transcribed data which underwent member checks was subjected for coding

and thematic analysis. We utilized coding for classifying codes. This categorization can help us to

know the emerging themes from the data collected from the participants. We were able to come

up with the study's thematic results through the use of pragmatic-discourse analysis and thematic

analysis. The data analysis of the study was aided by Google Sheets used for coding and analysis

of data to elaborate and organize the results.

Trustworthiness of Data. The trustworthiness criteria proposed by Lincoln and Guba were

used as a reference to secure the rigorousness of the study. Stated in the criteria are credibility,

transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Throughout the study, we ensured credibility by

conducting peer debriefing, which involves constant consultation with a group of experts and

researchers who could help strengthen the study. Moreover, transferability was ensured by strictly

following the scope and delimitations of the study with a detailed description of its methods and

techniques, participants, and setting. The researchers also ensured the study's dependability by

using relevant ideas and related literature that served as pillars of the foundation of the study.

Lastly, confirmability were ensured by securing the raw data and materials that served as

justification for the results of the investigation (King & Stahl, n.d.).
 26

CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Chapter IV of this paper emphasizes the emergent themes from the statements of the

research participants during the data collection. The findings of the data classified from the four

sets of thematic analysis are thoroughly analyzed in this chapter, while the discussion section

interprets the findings and offers the relevance of the findings.

The Four Emergent Themes

Withstanding
COVID-19 Battles

Experiences of The Unbearable

A Sense of
Healthcare Weight of Being a
Upheaval
Workers of Hero
Olongapo City at

Surviving Through
Adaptation

Figure 2

“Withstanding COVID-19 Battles” refers to the experiences of the healthcare workers upon the

start of the outbreak. It pertains to the reactions and reasons that made them hold on to their sworn

job. The healthcare workers chose to remain and resist which made a huge impact in the country

to combat the pandemic.

 27

“A Sense of Upheaval” refers to the modifications that occurred in the workplace which have

brought a drastic impact on the lives of the healthcare workers during the time of battling with

COVID-19. It entails the new protocols implemented inside the hospital that includes modifying

the procedures being performed on all kinds of patients. Furthermore, the sudden changes put an

enormous strain on the burden of all healthcare workers.

“The Unbearable Weight of Being a Hero” refers to the difficulties and challenges experienced

by the healthcare workers in the emergence of the pandemic. It tackles the occurrences while

working during the surge of COVID-19 with respect to their suffering, sacrifices, and instances

they found hard to overcome.

“Surviving through adaptation” refers to the actions done by the healthcare workers in order to

overcome the COVID-19 crisis. It involves the beliefs and principles of medical workers which

they have applied through the process of adaptation. Moreover, it also pertains to the support

received by the healthcare workers and their suggestions on the current pandemic.

Table 1. Thematic Analysis for Experiences of Healthcare Workers while Working at the

Emergence of COVID-19

Categories Themes

Initial Reaction to the Outbreak

Work Experiences Withstanding COVID-19 Battles

Ways to Combat COVID-19

Call of Duty

COVID-19 has posed challenges to health systems throughout the world, particularly the

health workforce, which is a critical pillar for health system resilience. As a result, studying health
 28

care workers' experiences and demands during pandemics might help to influence efforts to

strengthen health system resilience (Chemali et al., 2022).

Six healthcare professionals who were interviewed claim that the utterances of fear, shock,

and frightened aptly represent their initial reaction during the outbreak. One participant stated

that, “I fear for my safety as well as the safety of my family.” According to the data gathered, the

health professionals’ fears were not about their own health and safety or contracting the COVID-

19 virus, rather, they were more concerned for the lives of patients, family members, their fellow

citizens in general, and even for colleagues who worked outside the coronavirus ward. On the other

hand, current research in Hubei, China indicates that more than 3,000 medical personnel contracted

COVID-19 during the early stages of the disease, which alarmed healthcare professionals (Liu et

al., 2020). Due to the virus’s high level of contagiousness, healthcare professionals reported

ongoing dread. Fear was further exacerbated by a lack of sufficient training and understanding in

emergency catastrophe rescue and COVID-19 (Labrague & de Los Santos, 2020).

The frontliners in this study were worn out in the initial stages of the pandemic, due to the

sheer influx of patients. To fulfill staffing shortages, healthcare professionals had to provide care

for more patients than usual and adapt to rigorous shift schedules. Healthcare professionals had

more work to do and had to put in more overtime tending for seriously ill patients. Eighty-seven

percent of participants in a study by Ardebili et al. (2021) claimed that the workload they faced in

the early days of the pandemic was burdensome. The result of this excessive workload manifested

in a very high volume of patients, difficulty using safety equipment, an increase in the quantity of

severe cases, and significant fatality rates.

Those in the medical field who have dealt with proven cases or seen individuals pass away

from this condition typically feel higher psychological pressure. These psychological experiences
 29

from their respective work duties explicitly impact their health as care providers, indicating an

intrinsic part that must be grasped and be cognizant of during pandemic or any crisis. As asserted

by one of the participants, “You handle COVID, cases that are proven or it is really documented,

positive tests, you will still be scared.” While doing their duties and caring for patients who were

suffering from COVID-19 disease, nurses in this crisis have encountered mental health problems

such anxiety, depression, insomnia, and stress (Sadang, 2021).

Research by Tosepu et al. (2021) suggests that the majority of respondents indicated that

they most commonly contended with an unclear status that put them at risk of infection. Most of

their patients were reluctant to share their history, particularly during contact tracing, because they

had little or no knowledge about this condition. Some people would even control these nurses by

using intimidating language and deeds. As one of the participants stressed, “Really hard. We have

a lot of patients who are not really telling the truth about their symptoms.” Patients should

reciprocate with the same duty, which is to cooperate with and not endanger health professionals,

especially when these practitioners are on the front lines of combating a pandemic. Healthcare

workers’ principal purpose is to aid patients and not cause them harm, so patients ought to have

this responsibility (Zolkefli, 2020).

In the study conducted by Hoernke et al. (2021), the healthcare workers who were

interviewed stated that wearing PPE was exhausting and uncomfortable, which made it harder to

provide care. For older healthcare workers with underlying diseases as well as nurses who spent

the majority of their shifts wearing PPE, the impacts were more severe. Tight masks resulted in

facial pain, bruising, rashes, dry skin, breathing problems, headaches, and irritation. In fact, one

participant added, “If you only have PPEs in a minute, when you come out, you will be bathed in

sweat and you will not have to do it once. You will have to do it thrice, four times. Depending on
 30

the number of patients who are required to take a swab.” Pursuant to the research done by Padros

et al. (2020), there have been instances of personnel sweating during lengthy hours while wearing

PPE, along with challenges accessing water and the restroom while wearing equipment.

Another common denominator of their experiences in working during the outbreak

involves testing positive in the virus. A significant number of COVID positives were made up of

healthcare personnel, potentially as a result of their extended duty-hour encounters with patients

(4-6 hours per day) and interactions with coworkers. The majority of the HCW 262 (67 percent)

reported symptoms, with fever, myalgia, and severe headache being the most common ones (Priya,

et al., 2022). Five out of the six participants reported acquiring the aforementioned disease. One

of the participants recalled, “The first night, my whole body ached and I felt like I'm weak, that's

the first one. I lost my sense of smell for maybe three weeks with no smell.” Moreover, one

participant also reached a critical level, while another contracted the virus despite having received

all of her vaccinations and boosters.

To address the situation, several organizational techniques were established. The most

prevalent were the uses of protective equipment, training, and protocol implementation. One of

the participants explained, “In terms of training, we devised ways to continue. We had conferences

through zoom then, we just maximized the cardiac patients that came to us.” Another noted that

“There is proper protective equipment before handling patients.” Contrary to the responses

provided, the majority of participants had expressed concerns about PPE's effectiveness and use.

The majority of them disclosed that there was a severe lack of fundamental PPE in their individual

quarantine facilities, which was crucial for preventing the spread of this disease and safeguarding

them against contracting the virus. The majority of study participants also mentioned that PPE

made them feel uncomfortable, had an adverse effect on the interaction between patients and
 31

healthcare professionals, and made them feel alienated while undergoing treatment. Moreover, one

participant said, “There were still no clear protocols on testing, who to screen, who to isolate. It

was chaotic. We were quite confused on what to do and how we will manage our patients.” All of

them expressed skepticism about how the crisis will be handled. They all agreed that the healthcare

system was unprepared for an outbreak of this severity.

Based on the data obtained above, it is clear that a lack of resources and the absence of

proper protocols was a frequently mentioned obstacle by participants in this study. According to a

recent study, since the disease is new and prior knowledge is limited, the WHO and government

rules are constantly changing. As a result, physicians were unsure on the best course of action.

Coordination failure was common across several administrative divisions in each facility where

the participants worked, creating a chaotic environment. As an outcome, both doctors and patients

were unclear about the practices required to preserve safety, increasing the risk of infection (Razu

et al., 2021).

Many healthcare professionals found purpose in their work even during the most difficult

times. Working in this challenging environment was regarded as the calling of their duty and

chosen profession by healthcare professionals in this study. According to one of the participants

interviewed, “Even if you are sick but have responsibilities, you will never go on sick leave, so I

still do administrative work and have to keep an eye on what my juniors are doing.” Another

participant added that “We still prioritize, of course, our duty to serve the people” Although they

were not new to serving their country as healthcare professionals, the crisis has helped them

appreciate the value and purpose of their chosen career. This finding is similar to the results of a

qualitative study in China, where nurses believed that during times like the COVID-19 crisis, when

people and their patients needed their help and services the most, they were bound by duty and
 32

their professional oath as healthcare providers on the front lines to save lives and protect the

community's health. The COVID-19 pandemic has also generated possibilities for nurses all

around the world to be more valued, and has boosted nursing morale (Sadang, 2020).

Table 2. Thematic Analysis for Major Alterations felt by Healthcare Workers

Categories Theme

Protocol Implementation

Modification in Workplace A Sense of Upheaval

Patient Cases

Overburden

The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed the hospital systems around the world

(McCabe et al., 2020). The healthcare workers in Olongapo City were able to experience the severe

strain first-hand, most of which were the modifications in their workplace and to their personal

lives. In addition, many of them shared the adjustments that have to be done in order to manage

the havoc caused by the pandemic.

Hospitals are powerless against the spread of Covid infection 2019, both for patients and

healthcare workers (Tarantini et al., 2020). Due to this, most of the hospitals in Olongapo City

have implemented new protocols prioritizing the safety of the patients as well as the health of all

healthcare workers. The hospital areas were also changed in order to separate the COVID patients

from non-COVID patients. There were also restrictions implemented to avoid the contraction of

the virus. For example, the other healthcare workers from departments not related to COVID-19

were restricted to stall to other departments.

Albeit important, wearing face masks, face shields, and social distancing hinders

communication. Communication is highly affected by the current pandemic, making interactions

 33

difficult and, at times, unsafe for patients and healthcare workers. Due to this, many would stray

away from the hospitals, and healthcare workers experience difficulty connecting with patients

since verbal and non-verbal communication is limited (Marra et al., 2020).

An article from Deloitte expressed that in numerous ways, the COVID pandemic is entirely

against the system that medical services frameworks that are usually followed over the years. The

pandemic caused a hard time, especially in communication between the healthcare workers and

their patients. There were times when the healthcare workers were having a hard time hearing or

talking to their patients. Also, since the risk is high when you are encountering a COVID patient

during the surge, there were a lot of alterations done by different hospitals in Olongapo City. Social

distancing between patients and their colleagues were observed by the healthcare workers. A

participant stated that, “It's like you're afraid of getting too close, so I'm really just raising my

voice.” In addition, most of the procedures performed by the crews were changed. In this way,

they were to reduce the spread while treating those who are infected by the virus.

According to the Department of Health in the Australian Government, all healthcare

workers were obliged to wear multiple layers of PPEs just to lessen the risk of contracting the

virus. This includes the gown, surgical masks, filter respirator, gloves, goggles, glasses, and face

shield. So, each of them has gone through the dilemma of wearing PPEs while working long hours.

Burnout caused by long working hours among healthcare workers has commanded

considerable attention in recent years (Lin, 2021). The healthcare workers stated that during the

start of the pandemic, there has been an increase in work hours. One of them said, “Quality of

work is still the same, but the rotation of the workforce has had major changes.” Furthermore,

some also stated that the workload was doubled during the emergence of the pandemic since
 34

several healthcare workers decided to quit their job and their duties have to be manned by the other

workers.

Other than that, there were changes in the number of patient cases handled by some

specialists. In some instances, they were not able to handle patients that are aligned with their

specialization since COVID patients became their priority. Also, they were able to treat patients

who were not from the province. One participant said that, “We also have patients from other

places, also carrying it so they are handled by those in the COVID-19 area”

Facing these drastic changes was so sudden that even the hospitals were unprepared.

However, they were obliged to create alterations to be done in order to provide intensive care for

those who need it.

Table 3. Thematic Analysis for Difficulties and Challenges Faced by the Healthcare Workers

Themes
Categories

Challenges in the Workplace

Contraction of COVID-19
The Unbearable Weight of Being a Hero
Unjust Treatment

Grievances

Job Burnout

The pandemic has caused increasing challenges and difficulties for healthcare

professionals globally (Arif et al., 2021). During their service, participants encountered contraction

of the virus, increase of workload, changes in the management, psychological anguish, difficulty

in using personal protective equipment (PPE), discrimination, hindrance in interaction and job
 35

burnout. Due to situational and organizational circumstances, the “masked heroes” had trouble

handling these unbearable occurrences.

Since the coronavirus outbreak in December 2019, people have been dealing with an

unprecedented pandemic that has fundamentally altered hospital workplaces, patient interactions,

and patient management. New challenges had surfaced and were faced by the healthcare workers.

At that time, healthcare workers were still scared of the situation because it was unknown and new

in their field, like what P1, “Any person too, anyone were afraid of the unknown, that's the human

nature” They had encountered various patients, cases, and occurrences in the workplace every

single day that had overwhelmed them. As the pandemic came out of the blue, the healthcare

workers were shocked by the constantly increasing difficulties and challenges they had to face.

“There are difficulties everyday, difficult patients, difficult situations right? So there is a lot,” said

P5. Moreover, the PPEs presented certain challenges for the healthcare personnel when doing tasks

at work. The participants claimed that they experienced discomfort when using PPEs since it was

hard to breathe and they were unable to move around freely. Due to the time and effort required to

remove their PPE, which must subsequently be disposed of, some workers find it difficult to even

eat or go to the bathroom. As stated in the study of Bhargava, et al. (2020), the proper disposal of

PPE post procedure is very important. In some instances, they had to utilize sign language in order

to understand one another because talking with the patients was tough for them at the time. There

are occasional issues including skin allergies or dermatitis brought on by the synthetic material in

the PPE kit, the face shield impinging on the neck during intubation, nasal pain, pain at the pinna's

base, and slippery shoe coverings. The healthcare professionals have vigorously addressed and

resolved these issues using a variety of techniques (Agarwal et al., 2020).

Being infected by COVID-19 was one of the several problems that the healthcare workers
 36

faced during the surge of the pandemic, and although some were lucky enough to be safe and

uninfected, dozens have fallen ill with the said virus, and more were quarantined due to exposure

(Bernstein et al., 2020). According to some participants, after experiencing being infected by the

virus, they were skeptical to go back to work because they were afraid of possibly infecting others,

getting infected again, being isolated, or the incoming unfair treatment and discrimination from

the people around them. As stated in a study by Cawcutt et al. (2020), fear has been mainstream

with the pandemic. Healthcare workers are not immune to the anxiety and fear that may arise

because of the occurrence, and in fact, studies have shown that they have higher rates of fear

compared to others. Furthermore, some participants have shared that because they had experienced

being COVID-19 critical patients, they had trouble going back to the hospital to work, but despite

the fear, they still chose to stay in this field as they said this was their “call of duty.” Unfortunately,

behind all their sacrifices and sufferings to care for their patients, there are still many reports that

demonstrate instances where they were being evicted from their own homes, refused rides on buses

and other modes of transportation, thrown and splashed with different liquids, and kicked out of

restaurants and establishments because some people were afraid of coming in contact with them

and getting infected by the disease caused by coronavirus (VOA News, 2020). Similar to that the

participants have mentioned how people would be grossed out when they see healthcare workers

in public. They have experienced receiving stares, and murmurs from the people near them, which

added to the anxiety and fear that the virus brought.

Due to the presence of many latent and unreported cases, PPE is necessary for medical

workers in the present pandemic, regardless of whether dead bodies or samples prove positive for

COVID-19. A healthcare worker can be effectively protected against contaminated materials

including blood, bodily fluids, respiratory secretions, and aerosols by using appropriate PPE to
 37

cover their skin, eyes, face, nose, mouth, hands, feet, and other portions of their body (Bhargava

et al., 2022). However, P6 mentioned that, “They don't see the lack of necessity in things like

ppes..we are forced to wear the PPEs with damage which should not be the case.” There are some

hospitals that have only few resources for protection because of the lack of budget and supply from

the government. The new coronavirus and other infectious diseases are putting lives at risk,

according to the World Health Organization, which has issued a warning about the severe and

growing disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment caused by rising demand,

panic buying, hoarding, and improper use. Bhargava et al. (2020) added that the shortage of PPE

was proven to be a tremendous challenge in the current pandemic. Due to many problems brought

by the pandemic, the healthcare workers had gone through different mental problems too. In

relation to COVID-19, prior research found that among healthcare professionals in China, the

prevalence of anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression was 44.6 percent, 34.0 percent, and 50.4

percent, respectively. In contrast, the prevalence of anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression among

healthcare professionals in Italy was 19.80%, 8.27%, 24.73%, and 49.38%, respectively (Dai et

al., 2021). One of the factors contributing to other healthcare professionals’ mental health issues

is their frustration of not being able to see their families right away because of the quantity of work

they have to get done at work. Another factor that may have affected their mental health was the

grief they felt after losing a loved one but were unable to see them since they were quarantined, or

tied in their workplace.

Burnout among healthcare workers is a major concern in the midst of the pandemic, and it

must be addressed for sustainable healthcare delivery. This so-called burnout is related to the

workers’ intentions to leave their current professions, which would eventually lead to a chaotic

result of the potential collapse of the healthcare system (Hagiya, 2021). In the now occurring
 38

period of global pandemic, healthcare workers are more exposed to physical and mental

exhaustion, summarized as burnout, for the torment of difficult decisions, the pain of losing

patients and colleagues, and the risk of infection, for themselves and their loved ones (Bodini,

2021). The aforementioned burnout of healthcare workers was caused by the new emerging

problems that were too heavy for them to handle. Not only that, but also the fatigue from working

nonstop had caused them to think of even quitting and leaving their jobs.

Table 4. Thematic Analysis for Adjustments to Cope with Severe Changes

Categories Theme

Support System
Surviving through Adaptation
Adapting to Change

Investment in Healthcare System

According to the study by Cheng et al. (2014), those who are reared in a collectivist society,

such as the Philippines, have more coping flexibility and psychological adjustment. In order to

survive, we need to adapt; a participant says, “Every living thing needs to adapt, adaptation is

modification, and modification is moving on.”

Razu et al. (2021) stated that support from family and coworkers was also a key coping

strategy. The healthcare professionals had regular conversations with coworkers while maintaining

social distance and tried to aid one another at work. This supportive setting was beneficial in

reducing their mental stress. This statement was justified by a participant saying, “ if you have

support from your batch, from your family, you won’t feel depressed; family support is the most

valuable of all challenges that you will face in life.” In the Handbook of Religion and Health by

Koenig et al. (2012), religious beliefs and practices can assist people in dealing with adversities

such as physical diseases. In addition to this, the participants in the study conducted by Razu et al.
 39

(2021) said that their faith in God kept themselves calm. “We really need to believe in our God

and we really need to appreciate even the simplest things,” as stated by a participant. In addition

to this, another participant said that “Like you hold on to that, everything will be alright because

God is always in control.”

As the saying goes, ‘change is inevitable, the only constant thing in this world.’ These

alterations emphasize the need for adaptation (Reupert, 2020). One of the participants mentioned

the need to move forward, “We really don't have to dwell with those scenarios. So you need to

move on.” Adaptability develops our ability to deal with change, no matter how severe it is. That

is why adapting to change is necessary not only in times of pandemic but especially when we are

dealing with several dilemmas in life. A participant said, “We need to adapt to what the opportunity

gives us, at that time” Additionally, another participant stated, “The importance of adapting, of

course you’ll have to be dynamic.”

In times of resiliency, one characteristic of a human person stands out–and that is optimism.

In the study of Perez et al. (2021), optimism is a protective factor against the psychological impact

of COVID-19 pandemic through its effects on perceived stress and infection stress anticipation.

This is evidently supported by the statements of participants in this study. “The most important

lesson is you really need to be positive,” one of the participants stated. Furthermore, a participant

said that, “You just have to be resilient and be optimistic, you should be a positive thinker; You

should not be easily dismayed; be optimistic and have a positive outlook in life. I think we are

seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Changing and developing a system that suits best for the current situation especially in the

medical field are parts of adapting. According to Seposo (2019), the Philippine healthcare system

has advanced, notably in terms of improved health outcomes, higher health finance, and expanded
 40

access to health services. At this time of pandemic, these improvements shall continually be

implemented and enhanced. This is also the recommendation of one of the participants, “Improve

the quality of healthcare services and facilities here, not only in Olongapo and Zambales but the

whole country, Philippines.”

COVID-19 is already part of everyone’s life and the only thing we should do is to accept

this and follow all the protocols and measures implemented by healthcare officials and government

employees for the benefit and safety of all Filipinos. This is supported by a participant saying,

“Continue the vaccinations.” Lastly, another participant stated that, “We need to adapt and we

need to accept that we are in the new normal na right now. Covid will always be there.”
 41

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY OF RESULTS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS

The final section of the study offers a summary of the data interpretation, as well as the

conclusion drawn from the study’s findings. Moreover, Chapter V contains the outcomes of the

interviews and the recommendations that we addressed.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

The summary of results provides a brief overview of the themes we identified based on the

responses of the participants, as well as answers to the study's research questions.

1. The findings of this study reveal the six healthcare professionals’ lived experiences as they

battled with the emergence of COVID-19. The words used to describe their immediate

reaction to the outbreak were fear, shock, and frightened. Many healthcare workers made

the decision to quit their jobs as a result of the dread they experienced during the outbreak.

To fulfill staffing shortages, healthcare professionals had more work to do and had to put

in more overtime tending for seriously ill patients. Due to their extended work hours, out

of the six participants that were interviewed, five had tested positive in the virus. The

majority of the participants also disclosed that each facility where they worked had a

chaotic environment due to a lack of resources and frequent coordination breakdowns. As

a consequence, the danger of infection increased since both doctors and patients were

unsure of the procedures needed to maintain safety. In spite of fighting in a war without

weapons, many healthcare professionals found purpose in their work even during the most

difficult times as it is their sworn job.

2. The data entails the urgent need for the healthcare system and medical workers to change

certain policies and practices to handle the sudden impact of the COVID-19 crisis. As a
 42

result, healthcare workers are forced to adjust to the changes brought by the pandemic.

There are four categories discussed as the significant changes, namely the protocols

implemented, the modifications in the workplace, the patient cases and the burden faced

by the healthcare workers. Implemented protocols include the requirement of wearing

PPEs and the precautionary measures that were taken. There was an implication of routine

swabbing to assure that the healthcare workers are free from the virus before and after their

work hours. Both private and public hospitals were not exempted in rearranging their

hospital areas and creating new hospital plans to ensure the safety of all patients. However,

these changes affected the work hours of the employees. The long work hours brought

changes to their workloads and some resulted in the employees quitting their job. In

addition, dealing with the COVID-19 patients became the priority and the admission of

non-COVID patients decreased.

3. Healthcare workers, known as the “masked heroes” had experienced an unbearable weight

of difficulties and challenges as they are the ones who initially responded to the pandemic

caused by the coronavirus, the data obtained for this research question focuses on those.

According to the data gathered, Olongapo City's healthcare workers experienced an

increase in workload, changes in the management of the city’s various hospitals, and

psychological distress that made their jobs even more difficult. One of the major challenges

faced by healthcare workers was the contraction of COVID-19 virus, which resulted in

discrimination both inside and outside of the workplace. Healthcare professionals in other

institutions where wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for all

employees had trouble utilizing it, which made it harder for them to interact with patients

and co-workers. Many healthcare staff felt job burnout as a result of the mental anguish
 43

and discrimination they endured while doing their work, in addition to that, other

employees had several thoughts of quitting their jobs or leaving the workplace since they

could no longer handle the burden of the pandemic. But despite that, they still continued

serving the people as this was their calling and responsibility as a healthcare worker.

4. The havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 to the healthcare workers was irrevocable and one

main theme emerged from the data collected, ‘Surviving through Adaptation.’ Healthcare

workers felt the need to adapt to changes in spite of encountering obstacles not only in their

workplace but in their personal lives as well. Three categories of adaptive mechanisms

transpired in the conducted thematic analysis. These are support systems, adapting to

change, and investment in healthcare systems especially in the Philippines. Their support

system involves familial comfort, and encouragement from friends and coworkers. It also

entails their belief system especially when it comes to their faith in God. Strengthening

their faith and trusting in the Lord eased their anxiety, worries, and discomfort, according

to the participants. Adapting to changes include applying their moral principles in life,

particularly believing the impermanence of these COVID-19 crises. Optimism is their

fundamental coping strategy and all participants mentioned that it is essential to move

forward. Aside from these personal coping mechanisms utilized by healthcare workers, it

is also essential for people to invest in improving the healthcare system in the Philippines

primarily in remote areas. This is to ensure the provision of economical and quality

healthcare for all Filipinos.

 44

CONCLUSION

In accordance with the study, the results discussed are limited to the 6 interviewed

healthcare workers in Olongapo City. After the conducted interview, the following were

discovered:

1. As the study’s participants experienced, the rigorous demands, the physical and emotional

barriers inside and outside of the workplace, and the scarcity of sufficient human resources

during this tumultuous time left them exhausted and gave rise to anxiety, worry, and panic.

Most of the participants were infected with the COVID-19 pandemic’s early stages due to

the lack of knowledge about the virus and inadequate control measures. Due to the virus’s

contagiousness, healthcare professionals continually dread infection during the outbreak.

Staff and equipment shortages were prevalent and attributed to an upsurge in workload. In

addition, lack of PPEs, concern about procuring the virus, social marginalization, and poor

management contributed further to putting the healthcare professionals experiencing

adversity.

2. Healthcare workers are forced to change accustomed behaviors and practices in their

profession. The work environment and obeying strict protocols are the most altered aspects

the healthcare workers have felt. A fluctuation in patients has been observed within

hospitals; often, patients are too afraid, or an influx of COVID-19 cases is admitted to

hospitals. Overwhelming workloads result from a reduction in medical workers: who must

be compensated by the remaining workforce. To cope with the pandemic and continue to

provide care for the public, healthcare workers have undergone an immense change both

at their workplace and within themselves.

 45

3. The healthcare providers from Olongapo City faced a variety of challenges while executing

their jobs, including discomfort when using PPEs, trouble in performing the job, and

communicating with patients due to the numerous protective gears on their bodies. Several

challenges and modifications in the workplace like the additional work hours, more

workload, new restrictions and new routines were faced by the healthcare workers as well.

One major dilemma faced by the workers was contracting COVID-19, and receiving unfair

treatment. As a result, they could become emotionally and physically exhausted, which can

lead to having thoughts of quitting their jobs as it was already too much for them to handle.

4. The healthcare workers have shown their resiliency in the midst of the major upheavals

that occurred in their workplaces. This current situation has forced them to accept the

change, abide by the new protocols and develop an adaptive mechanism in order to

properly execute their job. Although psychological distress was inevitable while working,

and their well-being were compromised, they managed to pursue optimism and continued

to fulfill their duties as a healthcare worker. their after-work hours were also their way of

finding rest and peace with their family and loved-ones. With all of these, it can be deduced

that despite the adversities and challenges, healthcare workers survived the changes by

being able to find ways to set new goals and focus on what they can control to reduce risks

and negativities.

RECOMMENDATIONS

After the interview, we realized a few points that may be beneficial from this study, the

following are the recommendations that we came up with:

1. When asked for recommendations, we emphasized the significance of investing in the

country's healthcare system. It was extensively stated that the pandemic had prompted
 46

quick system adjustments, many of which would normally take a considerable time to

enact. In order for healthcare employees to stay and serve the country, the government must

prioritize funding and benefits. We believed that modification in the system should be

maintained and that improvements should not be reversed.

2. The Department of Health should do everything possible to address the concerns of front-

line healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals must be compensated and rewarded

in addition to having readily accessible personal protective equipment at all levels, since

they are critical in controlling and managing the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes

strategies to prevent funding from being diverted and the key to ending the pandemic.

3. This phenomenological study revealed the lessons learned from prior pandemics to

effectively support frontline healthcare workers. It is critical to better understand the

experiences, needs, and preferences of the healthcare workforce, particularly frontline

healthcare workers whose voices have not previously been adequately heard. The hospital

system must create clinical guidelines for supporting this workforce. This guideline should

be prepared in collaboration and consultation with healthcare workers.

4. It is perceptible from this study and a number of existing studies that when healthcare

systems are not prepared to handle an infectious disease outbreak, training, education, and

enhanced communication are essential. The knowledge and abilities of healthcare workers

were boosted temporarily through intensive training. To ensure that medical teams are

properly equipped to handle public health emergencies, ongoing medical education and

training are necessary.

5. Future studies should explore the various perspectives of healthcare professionals from

other locations who also worked at the surge of the pandemic in order to get more
 47

information for that matter. To reach a broad area of the study, it is also possible to obtain

the insights of other healthcare professionals such as aides, hospital housekeepers, helpers,

laboratory technicians, or even medical waste handlers.

 48

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Context. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 27(6), 144–147.

https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2020.27.6.13
 57

APPENDICES

Appendix A

Research Instrument

1. What are the experiences of healthcare workers while working at the emergence of

COVID-19 outbreak?

a. What was your initial reaction when you heard about the COVID-19 outbreak in the

Philippines?

b. Have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?

c. How did you manage to protect your physical safety while providing care for COVID-19

patients?

d. Did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 while

working as a frontliner?

e. Overall, how can you describe your experience as a frontliner during the surge of the

pandemic?

2. What significant changes did the healthcare workers encounter in their workplace?

a. What are the changes that have happened in the workplace? (If hindi inanswer try to give

examples)

b. How does the workforce change during the times of pandemic?

c. How was your experience while wearing PPEs in performing your job?

d. How did you change the way you interact with your patients now that there are restrictions

on communication?

e. Do the changes in your workplace have an impact on you as a healthcare professional?

How so?
 58

3. What are the difficulties and challenges faced by healthcare workers?

a. Are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak?

b. What can you say about the hours you spent in the workplace? As well as your workload?

c. Have you experienced workplace discrimination during the start of pandemic? How did

this affect you as a professional?

d. How did the pandemic affect your :

e. What has been the most challenging aspect of working as a frontliner or while handling a

COVID-19 patient?

4. How did the healthcare workers adapt to the drastic changes brought by the COVID-19

outbreak?

a. What are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic?

b. Among the trials you faced at work, how did you overcome them?

c. In the challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have

learned personally or even in your profession?

d. Is adapting to change in times of pandemic necessary? Why or Why not? What are its

importance?

e. What recommendations do you have for public health preparation to end this pandemic?

FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS:

1. How did you feel in handling patients with COVID-19?

2. Have you interacted / encountered a colleague who handles COVID-19 patients?

3. What symptoms have you experienced?

4. How long is the duration of these symptoms?

 59

5. What were the precautionary measures you’ve done?

6. How many health professionals decided to leave their jobs?

7. Did you encounter a scarcity of PPE?

8. Have you ever received low wages and unfair benefits?

9. Have you ever felt that the grievances of medical professionals were not heard?

10. Is there a moment when you had a really difficult time doing your job and considered
quitting because of the pandemic's exhaustion?
 60

Appendix B

Validation Letter
 61

✔
 62

Appendix C

Letter of Approval
63
 64

Appendix D

Consent Form
65
66
67
68
69
 70

Appendix E

Transcription of the Interview

Transcript of Interview with Participant 1

Location : Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 6, 2022, 8:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Transcriber: Richelle Alwina R. Caseja and Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

M: Firstly, may we know your name and your current medical profession that you are doing, Doc?
P1: Okay.. I am a.. *************.... I am an orthopedic surgeon and currently the chief of
hospital of James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City.
M1: Okay po.. Thank you sir. At this juncture let us now proceed to the interview proper…
I1: Uhmm aa.. (background noise) okay so let’s start the interview proper. Are you ready po, Doc?
P1: (Pauses) Yah
I1: Ok. aaa.. First question.. (background noise) What was your initial reaction when you heard
about the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P1: Uhmmm.. During that time.. *pauses* we all know that this new.. Ahhh… that’s why they..
They aahh called it a novel disease… And the presentation was a very (inaudible) at that time.. It
took a lot of (pauses) the lives of many persons especially during the initial.. Initial outbreak.. So
aaahh.. My initial reaction then was uhh frightened? I am frightened.... with what I’m seeing,
especially the hospital. Secondly,.. (pauses) ano bang pinakamagandang word doon? … I am uhh
shocked . It was the last time that I saw a lot of people with that kind of scenario was during a…
thousand a… (paused) 2013. When there was a leptospirosis sa hospital at that time. It was a —
the leptospirosis outbreak was manageable… for the main reason that (background noise) we were
not hard on the frontliners.. or we are not restricted to give treatment to those patients but right
now because of that COVID-19… It was a very infectious virus so I am shocked and frightened at
that time.
I1: Soo.. ayun nga po noh? Based po sa sinabi nyo (background noise) kung natakot po ung mga
tao syempre mas doble po ‘yung takot sa mga doktor dahil ahh– ‘yun nga po bago po “novel” hindi
pa po alam kung paano gagamutin (background noise) and hindi pa naman natin alam kung ano
‘yung mga solusyon na pwede nating i-undertake para mabigyan ng lunas ‘yung mga pasyente
natin na nahawaan ng Covid 19. Soo, (background noise) for the next question po – have you tried
handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 po?
P1: Personally.. I.. I haven’t (stuttered) . I didn't have any direct handling or experience of handling
patients with COVID-19.. Because my specialty is a.. I’m an orthopedic surgeon.. I need to do
operations.. At that time we had deferred or canceled most of the surgeries there… because the
presentation was — most of the statistics at that time especially during the initial outbreak.. There
 71

were a lot of surgeons and anesthesiologists who died, especially in Manila.. So because of that
personally,,, ako. I have restricted myself from doing surgeries. May mga kwento.. Shempre at the
head of the agency.. I’m involved in the operations especially at that time very very involved with
the operations…. in a formulating the protocols, making on the frontliners especially in the hospital
to a —- strictly complied with that…. Pero ung personally handling patients with COVID-19 …
hindi… I haven’t experienced that.
I1: Ayun nga po.. If you haven’t experienced po.. Have you encountered or interacted with a
colleague who handles COVID-19 patients? How did you feel about it po?
P1: Ah syempre… (paused) Being the head of agency I really need to master on… I really need to
give them or provide them those logistics that will make them comfortable.. Make at least — lessen
their sense of a… Parang ‘yung natatakot… They need to lessen those… So, uhm ginagawa natin
is constant communications with them especially those — that a really handling … personally
handling a COVID-19 patients, especially those doctors and nurses at the ER triage.. those patients,
those frontliners that are.. doing their work to the isolation area… I — siguro I am one of those
who had a lot of zoom meetings with them. Just to uplift their spirits, make them feel comfortable,
at least lessen their — mental anguish.. shempre natatakot yan eh.. But being a frontliner we are
pushed to show to perform well — the duties.. So ayun nga ‘yung ginawa ko noon just (stuttered)
remind them that I am there although I am not directly handling but I am really on top of the
operations.
I1: Ayun nga po noh, kahit hindi po kayo naghandle ng COVID-19 patients (background noise)
may mga instances pa rin po na … kailangan nyo pa rin pong protektahan ‘yung physical safety
n’yo… So tanong lang po namin na — how did you manage to protect your physical safety while
working during the outbreak po?
P1: Okay.. Ah.. ang ginawa ko number 1.. Syempre we need to modify all things especially those
that you usually do with pandemically. Binago natin ‘yun. Number 1 - I need to exercise. Number
2 - I took a lot of supplements, especially vitamins. Ah 3 - mga I became more cautious especially
with interacting with people. 4 – talagang ano complying with the initial protocols that the DOH
has given to us..
I1: Ayun po diba.. Minsan napapabalita na kahit gaano pa tayo kaingat hindi natin alam kung saan
talaga ‘yung virus na kalaban natin. So, did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms po
(background noise) or tested positive for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P1: Yah!... Yah.. I do.. I became positive also. I contracted COVID-19 during the late — that was
I think last quarter of 2021. I contracted that disease. Kaya lang ang maganda doon it was the time
of omicron na less… less ang ano epekto nito… So I’m really thankful to God even though I
contracted that ang symptoms ko lang ay very minimal and vaccinated na kasi ako at that time..
Hindi na sya gaano nakakatakot.
I1: May we know po what symptoms po did you experienced? And how long is the duration?
P1: Ano lang… Body malaise.. Medyo nanghina ako sa first day pero binombahan natin ng vitamin
c, prayers then the next day wala na. I just completed the protocol then after that I returned to work.
 72

I1: Ah okay po. Base po sa sinabi ‘nyo po nung nauna is inuplift nyo po ‘yung spirits ng mga
katrabaho ninyo and nakaramdam po kayo ng takot shempre dahil sa pandemyang ito. Overall po,
how can you describe your experience as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P1: It was really an eye-opening. Rude awakening kumbaga diba? Sometimes we – we take for
granted the simple things. Kasi pag — yung nangyari kasi sa pandemic I’ve lost a lot of friends.
Doon naman ung mahihit ka e. Doon sa malapit sa puso mo. Pag mayroong isang tao na malapit
sayo, kakilala mo bago namatay dahil sa COVID-19 soo ayun that really — life is too short. We
really need to appreciate all things, especially the simplest ones. We usually take it for granted.
Secondly, the family. Shempre iisipin mo rin yun — yung family mo… Mostly ang experience
dito is a — valuing life yun ang ano natin experience natin. We really need to appreciate all. We
need to distress wala dapat stress because we are at that time we are all stress because of the
pandemic… Hindi nga natin alam kung anong solusyon d’yan diba?
I1: (nods in agreement)
P1: Puro shotgun ang ginawa d’yan e. Shotgun treatment ang ginawa natin d’yan until such time
na nakita talaga kung ano siya pero talaga… it was really an eye-opener, rude awakening to really
appreciate life.
I1: Ayun nga po noh? Sabi n’yo nga po siguro itong pandemya na ‘to sa atin isang makasaysayang
experience. Minulat tayo para pahalagahan (background noise) ‘yung mga taong nasa paligid natin
and siguro as a healthcare worker ang sakit para sa part natin na nakikita natin ‘yung colleagues
natin na nahihirapan… na nawalan ng buhay pero hanga po kami sa dedikasyon ninyo sa trabaho
niyo.. and with that I wanna give the floor to Alexa to continue this interview..
I2: Good evening po! Can you hear me well po?
P1: Yes, clearly.
I2: Moving on to the part 2 of our questions po. You may grab some water po noh encased na
nauuhaw po kayo..
P1: Hindi.. Sanay ako sa ganyan (laughs)
I2: Ah okay po.. (smiles) So for our first question po. What are the changes that have happened in
the workplace?
P1: Most… striking part or most important change that we had or we implemented in hospital
protocols… We had — change the workflow… kasi we have dedicated a lot of partners there in
the treatment of the COVID-19 patients so hinati-hati natin. Dati ang flow lang is kahit saan.
Ngayon it has to be unidirectional. Secondly, binukod-bukod natin ‘yung hospital. Have you –
have you been in the James?
I2: Ahhh.. (stuttered) Uhmm.. before pandemic po.
P1: Okay… Pag nakita mo kasi ung James Gordon diba may main building ‘yun? Then the two
buildings at the (inaudible) What we did is a we… we designated those two buildings to the main
building to be (background noises) at the COVID-19 wards.. So iniba natin ‘yung workflow… Uni
(stuttered) Unidirectional. Nag-designate tayo ng mga… mga wards for COVID-19 — then ung
inside ano natin… Uhmm.. like for example ‘yung mga (inaudible) laboratories, aahh pharmacy,
the radiology department — we change the workflow there.. na hindi na sila pupunta kundi nilabas
 73

na natin lahat. ‘Yun ang number 1. We really designated a lot of wards for a … the treatment of
COVID-19.. Kumbaga yung workplace binago namin because of COVID-19.
I2: So,talaga pong nabago ano? ‘Yung hospital system dahil nga po sa pandemya
P1: Mhmm (nods in agreement) Nabago?
I2: Opo. Moving on to our second question po, how does the workforce change during the times
of pandemic?
P1: Ah syempre.. We really need to adapt also, diba?
I2: Mhmmm
P1: Makikita mo nga d’yan how dedicated. How professional the frontliners of James L. Gordon
at that time… makikita mo. aHH.. Even though they are really afraid of that disease (pauses) they
still uhmm muster themselves to provide.. That.. the utmost treatment that ahh any COVID-19
patients must have. Pangalawa, ‘yun nga they really need to adhere to the protocols like for
example ung mga wearing of PPE’s talagang nakita natin yan. I already.. I also experienced that.
Ahh.. kita mo dati di ka naman nag aahh (pauses) nagsusuot ng protective equipments now we are
obliged.
I2: Yes po
P1: Secondly, pwede kang pumunta kahit saan… doon sa hospital ngayon hindi na ang daming
restricted areas.. So aahh yung workforce talaga.. Yung work– workforce lalong tumapang. Nakita
ko ‘yung takot pero napalitan ng tapang… Kasi we really need to do that. Nobody will do that.. If
we (stutter) surrendered to that one. Being aaahh… frontliner… aaahh who had ahh.. Promise. To
uphold those ahh.. And to perform those duties despite the situation… doon ko nakita.. Na
tumapang at naging very very professional ang frontliners ng James.
I2: mMHHM okay po. May I ask lang din po noh? Uhm alam naman po natin na after gruamduate
magtatrabaho saglit dito sa Pilipinas then aalis din para magtrabaho sa ibang bansa… Mas marami
po bang healthcare workers ang umalis during the outbreak kaysa po sa panahon na walang pang
virus?
P1: Ahhh sa James L. Gordon… Kasi I’m having a.. 472 strong —
I2: WOW (smiles)
P1: Workforce… noh? (smiles) 400 yan — plus. Pag sinama mo ang doctor, aabot kami ng 600
I2: Wow ang dami po
P1: Ayon… kasi ang.. ang hospital.. I’m handling the largest workforce in the city. (inaudible)
Soo.. talagang ano… ahhh.. Naiba.. Ha.. Naiba talaga uhhh.. Nakakatakot pero… ahh cannot be..
Kailangang harapin natin..
I2: Uhmm.. Nabanggit n’yo po kanina na.. Nagsuot po kayo ng PPE’s hindi po ba? Sa third
question po natin.. Namin.. How was your experiences while wearing PPE’s in performing your
job?
P1: Nako (background noise) (inaudible) Have you seen a.. (stuttered) protective equipment?
I2: Sa.. news po pero not.. Not personally na ano..
P1: Ah ohh mainit ‘yon. You’ll be covered from head.. Literally from head to toe ahh diba? (noise)
(distracted)
 74

I2: So very …
P1: Ano diba.. Aircon.. Aircon tayo hindi naman aircon ‘dun eh. Talagang makikita mo ah..
Mahirap.. Talagang I experienced.. I’ve already wore PPE twice talagang pumasok ako para mag
ah.. What do you call that? … (paused) makita ung scenario… So they well ahh.. Have also the …
the parang leadership ang example kumbaga… (interrupted)
I2: Yes po..
P1: I am with them… So ahh.. Ginawa ko ‘yun.. Napakainit. Ang init. Napaka… Ahhh.. Ang
malupit pa neto.. Ahh. those .. – Ako kasi sandalian lang eh. Sandali lang ako.. I took the ano..
Ahh.. the ppe 2 hours to 3 hours… pero ‘yung ating mga frontliners especially from duty they
wearing that continuously for 12 hours… and they were forbidden noh?.. Forbidden to eat … and
they are also forbidden to pee… to urinate. Tingnan mo nga naman ‘yung ano.. Kaya nga ang
nangyayari.. (inaudible) totoo ‘yun. Literal ‘yun. ‘Yung iba sa amin o mostly… nakapampers…
Nakapampers.. (interrupted)
I2: Nabalita nga po.. Nabalita nga po ‘yan noh? Na… before or during bawal po silang kumain or
uminom ng water kasi bawal po silang umihi.
P1: Hindi… Alam mo kung bakit bawal? …
I2: Bakit po? (laughs)
P1: Kasi during at that time… ang PPE mahal.. At konti lang.. (paused)
I2: Ow ahh…
P1: Hindi pwede na kapag naihi ka… Papalit ka uli ng PPE… hindi ganon. Ahhh.. Hindi ganon.
Secondly, there’s an increased contraction.. Shempre .. of ahh … of a particular disease.. That you
may contract… diba? .. at tsaka may protocol d’yan. Kung paano ahh.. Mag-wear. Very, very strict
yan ha… Hindi ikaw ang nagsusuot.. Kundi ikaw ang sinusuotan. Ang PPE.. Hindi katulad kapag
ahh.. Surgery.. I’m a surgeon.. Soo uhmm ako nga sinusuotan.. Kaya lang manipis. Hindi katulad
neto.. From head .. Literally from head to toe. Talagang nakasara lahat ang ahh – ang ahhh — wala
na ngang makikita kasi naka goggles na.. Naka N-95.. Then naka ganun yan.. Naka-suit ka eh…
Bago naka-gloves. Then ah… Ah.. (pause) what do you call that?? Uhmm ung sa food.. Ahh…
protector? Literally you are ah.. sealed.. sealeld.. Yung iba pa nga tine-tape pa e.. Para..
I2: Para.. Like.. protected po talaga..
P1: Yahh.. kasi at that time ang tinitingnan… nila e.. Uhm (cuts)
I2: So very uncomfortable po talaga ano?
P1: Very.. Very much… If you are.. (stutter) experienced wearing PPE ha… Ahh.. you will not..
Ahh .. hindi mo na iisipin na may second time.. Ayaw mo na (laughs)
I2: Ahh Doc how many layers po kaya ng PPE’s ang kailangang suotin?
P1: Ang.. ang.. (paused) Ang PPE kasi dapat.. Nakadamit ka.. Secondly, isusuot na sayo ‘yun.
Only one layer lang naman.. But ahhh very very.. Thick .. Kung alam mo ung kapote? ‘Yung usual
na kapote?
I2: Opo..
 75

P1: Ganun kakapal.. Kaya ah.. Tingnan mo nalang yung init diba.. Especially here in the
Philippines. Especially James Gordon.. We’re not a centralized aircon.. So look at the suffering of
the.. Frontliners.. Kung paano nila pinagtatyagaan ‘yun just to perform their duties..
I2: Oo nga po… Grabe po.. Okay.. Moving on po.. To the.. For our next question.. How did you
change the way you interact with your patients now that there are restrictions on communication?
P1: (pause) Number 1 is a… ahh face to face.. yung face to face were postponed at that time
because nga ahh… they concluded that ah… you can contracted... If you’re not protected. For
example, wala kang mask.. yung distance.. ‘Yun ..’yun ‘yun.. How you interact with people. Dati..
ano kasi ako e.. Mahango ako.. Malambing kasi ako e.. Kahit sinong taong kausap ko..
Hinahawakan ko.. Nagbebeso-beso ako… Pero nung nag-pandemic natanggal lahat ‘yun…
because of the.. Thee (pause) the situation that.. Ahh also that you are free of contracting that..
Baka mamatay ka e..diba? So ‘yun.. Yung ang nabago.. Yung face to face… ung humahawak ka.
Ako eh beso-beso ako e — kahit sino.. Mostly ang niyayakap ko pa nga e mahihirap na pumupunta
sa hospital… (interrupted)
I2: (inaudible) Edi po.. For assurance po noh?
P1: So nawala ‘yun noh..
I2: Mhmm.. Yes po.. So kapag uhmm.. Ano pong ginagawa n’yo kapag hindi na po talaga kayo
magkaintindihan dahil po sa restrictions?
P1: Ah hindii.. Paanong hindi magkaintindihan.. Kasi what we did is.. We were mandated to —
To strictly adhere with the protocols.. What are the protocols?? – Ah wearing face mask, PPE’s,
social distancing… Oo ‘yun ang nawala. Shempre kailangan pa rin natin ahh.. Gampanan yung
trabaho natin.. So we resolved.. The … several processes.. Ano ‘yun? Nagkaron kami ng
telekonsulta — hindi na face-to-face… tatawag kana lang then i-cocontact ka sa ahh (paused)
pamamagitan ng telepono. Pangalawa, .. ahh.. I perform and do a lot of meetings in the hospital..
Ganun kasi ako e.. Haa.. I ah.. – I usually talked with them na parang ano.. Town Hall meeting..
Ngayon zoom meeting na.. With what we are doing right now.. Ngayon hindi ko pa alam to e..
(background noise) Ngayon we’re still do it… Even though nasa maluwag na stage na tayo.. But
the.. Ahhh protocols still need to be obeyed.. It is not different pa rin ahhh (stuttered) So we really
need to ah… (inaudible) so patuloy pa rin yung interaction dati… face to face… ngayon ‘yun ang
mga nawawala..
I2: Okay po.. (Dog barking) Para po sa last question (dog barking) po para sa part 2. Did the
changes on your workplace have an impact on you as a professional? (shuffling noise) How so po?
P1: There is a lot, noh.. There is .. oo.. Ahh.. ang na (stuttered) napakalaking impact d’yan is —
‘yung ahhh.. ‘Yung how are you going to maximize.. Ahh.. your option in a very restricted
atmosphere.. ‘Yun ‘yun e.. Ang .. ang pinaka ano d’yan impact sa amin is a .. (paused) the
professionalism that ah.. The frontliners of James L. Gordon has a.. (paused) has a.. What do you
call that? — has show.. ‘Yung ang number 1 d’yan. (inaudible)... there’s also the processes that
ah… ahh .. we.. have made just to a… adapt with the pandemic.. ‘Yun ang pinaka malaking factor.
I2: Ahh.. Uhmm Okay po.. Let’s move on to part 3 po.. May I call on Richelle (dog barking) to
continue the interview (dog barking).
 76

I1: Ahhh hello po.. Ahh Am I clear po?

P1: Hindi masyadong clear e..
I1: Ahh hello po.. Is it okay na po?
P1: Hindi talaga..
I1: (dead air) uhmm.. Hello poo..
P1: Ahh medyo ano.. Ah okay sige..
I1: Okay na po? Ahh.. uhmm.. Ahhh.. Base po sa nasabi n’yo pong answer n’yo sa changes in the
workplace (background noise) is malaking pagsubok na agad (lagging) sa buhay ng mga healthcare
workers ‘yun (air).. ‘Yung takot pinalitan nila ng tapang. Mas naging kahanga-hanga sila sa
pinakita nilang ito.. Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na kinaharap nila ay mas pinili (air) pa rin nilang
manatili sa trabaho nila at hindi lumisan. Sabi n’yo nga po na kahanga-hanga ung mga natirang
472 workforce.. Kung kasama po mga doctors is 600 (background noise).. Talagang kahanga-
hanga po ‘yung ganun noh? So mas palallimin pa po natin ung pag-uusapan natin.. Dumako po
tayo sa difficulties and challenges na hinarap nyo po as a (air) healthcare worker. Uhmm.. Are
there instances where you encountered difficulties while working (air) during the outbreak po?
P1: Ahh oo.. Oo.. number 1 jan ‘yung ano — ‘yung ah.. Logistics. Oo.. ahh during that time ah..
(paused) a lot of patients were not … ahh — given the right treatment because of ah.. Logistics.
Ano ‘yon?.. May mga medicines kasi na .. ahh .. because of (dead air) because of certain systems
or processes in the government doon na nagkaroon ng restrictions especially sa supply ng
medicines.. ‘Yung ang number 1.. Number 2.. Ahh.. Hindi naman initially naging matapang lahat
‘yan e.. Ang mga empleyado natin lahat sa James L. Gordon e natakot din ‘yan. Tao din ‘yan..
Kahit sino naman were afraid of the unknown.. That’s the.. The human nature.. ‘Yun ang ano..
Hindi naman agad tumapang yang mga ‘yan eh — ang ginawa lang natin d’yan is (inaudible) lead
the leadership by example.. They really need to see me.. Performing my duty.. So… from there
naniwala sila.. Hindi lang naman sakin — kundi pati ‘yung katatagan ni Mayor LenJ.. Ni Atty.
Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr… ‘yun.. Kung paano mo sila paniniwalaan na walang … walang
mangyayaring masama sa kanila.. Then when they saw that… doon na – doon na lahat. The
logistics arrived.. Naging smooth sailing na – pero ung initial … ‘yun ang number 1. ‘Yun ang
ahh.. (paused) to.. To make them strong – kasi may family din yang mga yan e.. Namamatay ‘yung
nakikita nila. Pasyente nila namamatay eh ang lakas lakas oh.. Ahh nakita nila ang lakas lakas –
the following day ang hina hina, kinahapunan patay na. So talagang matatakot ‘yung mga ‘yun. Sa
totoo nga ano e.. Anoo.. ang maganda lang dito.. Marami nag-isip na mag-resign pero walang nag-
resign.. ‘Yun ang maganda.. ‘Yun lang.. Talagang takot those are how will you .. ahhh .. make
them strong.. Make them believe in you — that nothing will going to happen in performing their
duties and assure ahh.. Them always.. That ahh.. We are being protected by Him or by God. Ahh..
‘yun.
I1: Uhmm.. Sa PPE naman po ba Doc? Nakaranas po ba ‘yung mga James ahh.. (background noise)
nakaranas po ba ‘yung James hospital na nagkulang po sa PPE.. na nagreused po sila?
P1: Ay hindi.. Hindi… Ayun ang maganda. Hindi namin.. ‘Yung mga nababalitaan sa ano.. Sa
mga news? Hindi nangyari sa James Gordon yan.. You know why? Because ahh.. Mayor LenJ at
 77

that time has ahh.. Ordered a lot and he promised (lagging) if there will be no PPE.. There will be
ah.. (stuttered) like for example there will be shortage of PPE.. a particular person has to reuse a
PPE.. a particular frontliner.. If it is not available? Hindi sya magtatrabaho.. ‘Yan ang usapan
namin..So prinovide talaga.. Prinovide ng ating city government, prinovide ng DOH… and nakita
mo ‘yung ano? – ‘yung bayanihan at that time? Ang dami nag-ano .. nagbigay na mga private
individuals, private corporations – not only food, face mask ahhh.. Ano pa ba ‘yun.. Maraming
binigay.. Mga tangibles.. Lahat binigay mga tangibles talaga at that time.. Ahhh.. ano nga luckily
and praise to HIM praise to GOD.. that we haven't experienced… we did not experience any
shortage of PPEs at that time.
I1: Ayun nga po no nakakatuwa po na (air) pinrioritize po ni Mayor Lenj nga po yung kapakanan
ng mga healthcare workers, and nakakatuwa (air) rin po yung mga... uh... indibidwal na nag donate
po sa... na nag donate po... (air) na nag donate nga po (laughs) ayun.
I1: So dumako po tayo sa low wages and unfair benefits. Nakaranas po ba (air) st... ang mga
workers po natin sa James nang mababang pasahod or u-unfair na benepisyo kagaya ng
napapabalita sa news (air) yung risk hazard pay po nila napakababa po talaga compared sa mga
tinatrabaho nila (air)
P1: It is not...uh...remote...uh... at James L. Gordon. It is not... uh... parang ano, identified as only
at James L. Gordon. Lahat naman dito sa Pilipinas underpaid (laughs) diba? Oh... so... uh
(pauses)... talagang ano... we really need to. Kasi ano kapag naging kawani ka ng ano... ng
gobyerno, iha, ang number one... na yung panunumpa ng isnag kawani ng gobyerno... ang number
one doon: ako ay magtatra...ay papasok ng maaga sa aking tanggapan at magtatrabaho ng lampas
(voice grew louder) sa oras kung kinakailangan. Yun ang number one sa isang... uh...panunumpa
ng isang kawani ng gobyerno. So talagang... uh... hindi na... hindi na-aa alien sa amin ito... uh...
we-we're... uh...doing extra hours to performing our duties. I-it is not alien to us, anymore, it is just
an ordinary, but the thing is the circumstance is different... ha...nakakatakot. Yo-yo-you're... uh...
doing your job, you're spending alot of hours, extra hours just to perform it in a very risky...
uh...atmosphere. Yun lang naman ang... ang...ang kakaiba non pero yung pagtatrabaho nang
lampas sa oras, lagi na ginagawa ng mga frontliners sa James L. Gordon... na walang dagdag
sweldo ha.
I1: Ganun naman po talaga satin na kahit pandemic is underpaid talaga yung mga medical workers
natin dito (air) sa Pilipinas (pauses) and... uh.... for the last question po... uhm... sa instances na
nakaranas (air) po kayo ng difficulties... uhm...tanong ko lang po is (dogs barking) naramdaman
niyo po ba na hindi (dogs barking) pinapakinggan yung hinaing ng mga medical health workers
during (air) the outbreak (air) po?
P1: (Inaduible sound) Uh... luckily, in the city of Olongapo (pauses) hindi namin na ano... na-
naramdaman na ano kami... na hindi kami mahal, hindi kami inasikaso ng ating mayor... oo. N-n-
not even an instance, not even... uh minute or a second... that we felt, that we we're being neglected
by our city mayor. Not even once. Oo, lagi nga siya nandoon, to tell you...uh... honestly,
pumupunta siya doon, bumibisita. Hindi lang siya bumibisita pati yung ating former mayor, now
who's the now chairman of SBMA, yung daddy niya si Chairman Rolen Paulino Sr.
 78

P1:Talagang pinapakita nila sa amin kung gaano nila kami kamahal ha. Pangalawa...
uh....uh....wala eh, wala talagang...wala wa-wa-wa-ala kaming naramdaman na-na (voice grew
louder) meron mga instances na... alam mo kasi... the system's perfect... huh...but the...those who
are implementing the system are humans. So, humans are bound to error, diba? May mga issues
din kami sa James L. Gordon - we are not perfect. But the thing is, those are minor (pauses) things
that we considered minor things only. At the end of the day, when we investigated it, fal- fake
news, fake news ang accusations no. Meron ding mga ganon, meron din samin yun pero ano
yun...uh...uh...hindi ganon karami, konting konti lang pero yung uh... we were abandoned, we were
abandoned from, we were neglected by ugh... our city mayor... no never, never we
have...uh...experienced that.
I1:Uhm...bilang mamamayan (air) ng Olongapo, nakakatuwa pong isipin na pinrioritize po talaga
ng mayor natin yung sel... yung (air) safety ng mga medical (air) workers. Hindi sila nakaranas ng
kakulangan sa ppes...uh...pinakinggan talaga nila...uh... dahil po doon (air)...uhm...dumako na po
tayo sa next question.
I1: What can you say about the hours (air) you spent in the (air) workplace?
P1: (inaudible)
I1: As well as your workload?
P1: (dead air) Sabi ko nga, yu-yung hours that we spent in the workplace during that time is very
very tremendous. (Pauses) uh...before we- we're working 12 hours; today, ng dahil sa dami
ng...uh... pinaghati hati namin yan...uh... syempre, pag pag gumawa ka kasi ng isang ward... it is
only, also, always have to be complimented with (pauses) with ano...with a ward force, right?
(Pauses) So, hinati hati mo, yun nag... yung kunwari, sa isang ward ganon karaming pasyente,
sampo ang nagtatrabaho; hahatiin mo yon, gagawin mo dalawa sila. So (pauses) ganon pa rin yung
capacity na pag (stutters) na i-treat mo na pasyente pero lima lima na lang kayo (pauses) ganon
ang nangyari. Ganon ang nangyari sa amin. So, uh... talagang nag-adjust sila...uh...long hours. Oo,
uh...oh a-a-ang ang (stutters) ang ano pa nito (pauses) kasi a-ang taong gobyerno kasi, specially in
the hospital, we are only obliged to work 40 hours a week. 40 hours a week...ha... pero nung nagka
pandemic (long pause) wala na yung 40 hours. Th-they work 70 hours a minimum. So yung mga
off nila, nawala na yung mga off nila, oo. So tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho, tuloy ang trabaho.
P1: Pangalawa pa, not only the hours. Kasi pag nagtatrabaho ka sa hospital, you are restricted to
go home (emphasizes the words) (long pause) ha... specially, if you are working in isolation areas.
Kasi baka mamaya mahawa mo pa yung pamilya mo doon eh. Look at those sacrifices that the-
they... they gave. Ha... pagod na pagod sila, hindi nila makikita family nila, uuwi sila... dinorm
namin sila sa Gordon College eh and not only Gordon College...uh...dinor- oh yeah yeah Gordon
College and some of them dito rin sa hospital. But most of them, naging dormitory nila yung
Gordon College. Kita mo yung adjustments and sacrifces (inaudible) that the-they really need to
do? Diba? Hindi mo makikita yung pamilya mo, for such a long time...oo. Nagkaroon din kami ng
issues, mind if I tell you. Meron yung kinausap ko sila (pause) naintindihan nila yung trabaho,
naintindihan nila. And from then on, nag-iba ng sight. Talagang ano na...uh... very determined na,
wala na yung mga pinag-iisipan nila. Kita mo yung sakripisyo na ginawa nila? Yung workload-na
 79

doble, na doble. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, before (pause) same same capacity, like for example they're
treating (pause) 30 patients during the time at the ward and then there were 10 of them; ang
mangyayari, hahatiin natin. Magiging capacity in each ward, magiging kwarenta pero ang
workforce nahati, lima lima na lang sila. See, kita mo yung talagang pagod ang inabot - pagod.
Maraming nagkasakit, marami rin nagka COVID sa amin... sa James L. Gordon, marami...marami.
The sa- sa-s-same (stutters) experiences tha- that the (stutters) we-were felt (pause) ng...uh...mga
ibang tiga hospital no (inaudible) hi-hin- hindi remote yun... hindi hi-hindi (stutters) hindi alien, it
is just- it just became an ordinary thing during the pandemic (long pause)
I1: Sobrang naging kahanga-hanga po talaga yung dedikasyon ng mga medical workers no (air)
like imagine mo yun... 70 hours a week and na doble pa yung workload, hindi mo pa makakasama
yung pamilya mo, (lag) hindi ka (lag) makakapagpahinga, iisipin mo lagi (air) yung pasyente mo.
Like, pa-parang...uhm...(pause) i...i-isantabi mo muna (air) yung sarili mo, uunahin mo palagi yung
iba. And dahil po don, dumako naman po tayo sa... Have you experienced workplace (air)
discrimination during (air) the start of pandemic? (long pause)
P1: Ako, personally hin-hindi hindi pero the-there were a lot (emphasizes a lot) that...uh...came to
my office...to...uh...tell me those things. Meron talagang discrimination, at that time. Uh... yung
napabalita dito na (pause) na pinaalis (pause) uh....may isang nurse...uh..she was staying in a...in
a...she's renting, parang board and lodging (pause) yung nalaman na nagtatrabaho siya sa James at
nagkaroon na ng positive doon sa James (pause) pinalaaaya- (lag) pinaalis siya (pause) oo...
pinaalis siya sa dorm. Pangalawa, (pause) yung...uh....nalaman nila na marami na nag positive sa
James (pause) yung mga alam mo na Marites, diba (laughs) yung mga ganon - mga kapitbahay,
makikita mo iba reaksyon pag naki-... pag nalaman nila na nagtatrabaho ka sa James L. Gordon -
maraming ganon, marami...uh... na experience ng...uh... ano... pero (pause) wala wala, walang
ano... medyo na demoralized ng onti (inaudible). Pag kinausap mo (pause) nagtataka lang sila
(pause) sa-sa-sa sa lahat na ng sacrifices they have done, bak- pa-parang ganto pa yung kapalit.
Pero at the end of the day, kibit-balikat na lang, diba? Ano gagawin natin, we need to move on.
We really don't have to dwell with those...uh...scenarios. So move on lang, ganon. Pero it is not
new, hindi lang dito sa Olongapo nangyari yan no...marami. Not only sa amin sa James kundi sa
mga...uh...frontliners din from city health office. Lalo na yung mga nag positive samin na pinauwi
muna namin...nako kawawa. Kawawa talaga (pause) kung yung des- hindi na nga maganda yung
mga protocol eh, ang pinak-... you know what, one of the strictest protocols are the protocols in
the hospital (long pause) yung pinauwi namin yun, syempre satisfied na. Na-satisfy niya na lahat
ng protocol namin, pagdating dun sa baranggay nila oh...sa probinsiya nila eh (pause) hindi
tinanggap ng (laughs) so tinanggap na namin ulit. Diba, hindi makauwi eh (laughs) dahil parang
ano, parang magdadala ng...uh... delubyo sa kanila. We cannot naman fault them...ha...di ko naman
sinisisi yung mga yon kasi nga this is a new one, an open one (pause) takot dahil sa balita na
namamatay, diba? So hindi mo sila masisisi.
I1:Hindi lang po pala...uh... (air) workload yung pinagdaanan ng mga frontliners (air) natin no,
kundi discrimination din po sa (interrupted)
P1: Yeah
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I1: Sar-... kung minsan pa po (air) nanggagaling pa po sa kamag-anak natin. Iba po talaga yung
sakit na dinanas (air) ng mga frontliners natin and...uh...pero (pause) nanatili po sila at nanindigan
sa trabaho nila. Yung discrimination na dinanas nila (air) ginawa nilang...uhm...(pause) suporta.
Ginawa nila na para maging matatag...uhm...po sa trabaho nila. And (pause) tooo the next question
po, How did the pandemic affect your physical health po? (air)
P1: A lot. A lot ha. Physically, (pause)...uh... syempre binago natin lahat...uh...we modified all.
Specially, the (inaudible) mas nag adhere ako sa exercise, diet...uh...eating the right foods...uh...
modifying my diet.
P1: Mentally, syempre may mental anguish tayo that time. Specially, the start, ha. Dahil hindi nga
natin alam kung ano ito. Nakakatakot, kita mo naman lahat ng pinakita, sobrang nakakatakot, no.
P1: Uh... socially (pause) iba iba yung ano natin, sabi ko nga dati malalapit tapos bigla hindi kayo
nagkita kita, diba? (pause) bago, dati pag nagkita kayo, hindi mo mahawakan. Hindi kayo
makapag-usap nang (pause) matagal, pare pareho kayong takot.
P1: Emotionally, there were times na I'm down, no (inaudible). I'm the father of my family (pause)
had to be strong (pause) I-I-I'm the head of my agency, I have to be strong. Alam mo itong, it-
itong to-tong lahat ng 'to, ang sumalba lang dito - prayers (pause) prayers. You really need to ask
help to Him (pause) ask for protection, ha. Everything will be fine, no.
I1: Sa mga aspect nga po nito, like sa physical health (air) (inaudible) like mas natuto po tayong
pahalagahan yung sarili natin, maraming nag workout, mga nag (inaudible) pa nga po diyan diba?
(smiles)
I1: Tapos sa mental health natin...uh...nagkaroon tayo ng support system na (air) kahit malalayo
mga kaibigan natin...nandiyan yung technology na pwede nating gamitin.
I1: Sa social...uh... ganon din po, kahit malayo kamag-anak natin ay merong video call para (air)
makausap natin sila. And sa emotional (air) lagi nating iisipin na laging nandiyan yung pamilya
natin at yung sinabi niyo nga po na...na number one po talaga ang prayers lalo na hindi natin alam
kung sino yung kalaban natin. Kaya...uhm...(air) nakatutuwang isipin na yun po ay... mas lalo
tayong tumibay (air) ngayong...uh...pandemic na 'to. And moving on to the last question po
sa...uh... sa difficulties. Uhm...what has been the most challenging (air) aspect of working as a
frontliner (pause) or while handling a COVID-19 patient po? (air)
P1: Th-the most challenging aspect of (pause) working as a frontliner, specially, during COVID-
19 is how you comfort up (pause) yung... act, yun ang number one, oo. Uh... we are humans (pause)
w-we (pause) we need to be alive not only just for ourselves but also for our (pause) family, diba?
Yun ang challenging aspect diyan eh. Diba na... na yung takot mo, may takot ka pero you still need
to perform it because you are mandated with that, ha. Iyon eh, iyon yung challenging (stutters)
and... uh...ang masakit pa nito, makikita mo na (pause) yung mga pasyente mo na isa isang
namamatay, oo. Challenging yun, very challenging. Yung atmosphere pa ng pinagtatrabahuhan
mo diba ay nag-iba.
P1: Before, very relaxed ka pero ngayon, pagpasok mo pa lang natatakot ka na. Diba? Meron din
namang prize, diba? (smiles) Meron din naman, hindi naman lahat namatay sa amin. Meron din
namang mga nabuhay. That's the one that gave us the will (pause) to continuously...ha...work, even
 81

though during that times of...uh... very stressful...uh....environment. Yun ang premyo namin eh,
yu-yung ma-may lalabas na na nabuhay (pause) diba me-meron pa kaming ano, isa kami sa
nag...uh...nagpa...uh...graduation party...oo, sa mga na discharge.
P1: Pangalawa, ang mga nagpapatibay pa samin ay yung mga compliments that we-we received
from...uh...to those people that we don't know (pause). Th-the support that they have given us, yun
yun ang mga nagpatibay sa amin. Pero ang challenging diyan...eh...(pause) you will continuously
work...ha... even though you don't want to work (laughs). Yun ang ano-oo non, yun ang..uh...
pinakamalupit doon, yun talaga. Natatakot kang gawin, natatakot kang pumasok baka mamaya
magka-covid ka pero hindi ka makaayaw kasi nga sinumpaan mo yung trabahong yun. Yun ang
pinaka challenging during that time- times. Kahit saan...uh... frontliner. Kahit sinong frontliner,
yan ang iniisip that time.
I1: Ayun nga po no, nagkaroon (air) talaga tayo ng takot dahil tao lang nga po tayo, may hangganan
yung katatagan natin (air) at sabi niyo nga po kanina (air) na bago naging matatag yang taong yan,
may mga takot at pagsubok na pinagdaanan yan. At...uh...hindi lang po yung takot naramdaman
natin para sa sarili natin kundi para sa mga mahal natin sa buhay (air) dahil hindi naman natin alam
kung hanggang kailan natin sila makakasama. Knowing na ang lalayo pa natin sa isa't isa pa-
...through..uh...to follow up the question po. Is there a moment when you had a difficult time (air)
doing your job and considered quitting because of the pandemic's exhaustion?
P1: Yeah, as…as… as a human, yes. I-I-I do agree with that, no. There were times na natakot din
ako...ha. Lalo na yung walamg vaccine (smiles) yan yung mga nakakatakot. You know for some
(inaudible) na angioplasty na ko. So I have (inaudible) in my heart. So may comorbidity ako eh,
ha. Despite na meron akong comorbidity, I went there, Monday to Sunday. I went there everyday
(long pause) may takot ako, may takot ako. Kaya lang, I really need to do that. Pag hindi ko
gagawin yun, sinong gagawa nun? Diba? (smiles) Kailangan makita nila ako doon. Kailangan
makita nila akong matatag. Makita nila ako doon, yun lang at naging matatag na lahat yun...oo.
Pero may takot talaga. Sino ba namang hindi matatakot? May comorbidity ako eh noh? Pero
talagang ganon, pinanghawakan na lang natin prayers. At saka, strict adhesion. I-I-I strict
adherence to the protocol, yun lang naman habang walang bakuna.
P1: Did you know...uh...trivia. I am the first frontliner who was vaccinated in Central Luzon, oo.
Ginrab ko agad yun kahit Sinovac yun. Diba ang dami daming kwento tungkol sa Sinovac, ganyan
ganyan na we really need to wait for Pfizer or the Moderna at that time. Uh... wala pang, wala
pang... uh...th-the protocol then was that Sinovac cannot be given for... for patients who
have..uh...commorbidities. Pero ako, sinulong ko yon, no. Para at least meron na akong protection.
Yun, yun takot talaga. Takot kasi, kita mo naman (pause) tatlo yung anak kong babae, diba. Yun
ang iniisip natin. Yung asawa ko pa, pano na sila? Diba. Ganon.
I1: Grabe po talaga yung pandemic na...nangyari satin no. Like pinush tayo sa limit. Uhm...kahit
yung mga matatag na tao na kilal anatin (air) po ay...uhm... naisip din pala pati ang pagsuko. Pero
kahit ganon man, nakatutuwa pong isipin na nanatili po kayo sa sinumpaan niyo pong trabaho. At
kahanga hanga at hindi ito matatawaran at walang hanggang (air) pasasalamat po sa pagpapatuloy
ng...uhm...pagsubaybay sa mga frontliners natin (air) na nagbigay ng lakas ng loob sa kanila at sa
 82

patuloy na pagseserbisyo sa mga pasyente po na nagkaroon ng COVID-19 patients. (Air) at dahil

po doon, malapit na po tayo matapos...uh...there are 5 more (air) questions (air) I will give it to
Alexa na po. Thank you po doc.
P1: Ok (smiles)
I2: Ok tulad nga po ng sinabi ni Richelle, malapit na po (smiles) tayo matapos. So...uh... for the
last part po, we would like to know, how did you adapt during the start of the pandemic. So for
our first question po (pause) what are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic?
P1: (inaudible) basically every living thing, needs to adapt no. A-a-ang adaptation lang naman is
to modify, diba. Pati yung virus, diba. Th-th-they have to live, diba, even them. Living things yan
eh. So pano sila makakapag...adapt - they need to modify. Parang tayo rin tao. What I-I've did just
to modify things that...uh...that I do...uh... dati, ganto lang gagawin ko para hindi ma contract yan
(explain things using hands) gagawa ako ng ganito, tulad ng sinasabi ko sa inyo. Uh... pupunta ako
ng hospital before walang protection. Ngayon, lagi ako naka mask and face shield. It is only two
weeks ago that...I...uh...removed the mandatory wearing of face shields in the hospital.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: Kasi nakita na natin yung ano (inaudible) during that time. Yun yung mga adaptive mechanism
natin eh. Survival kasi yan ha.
I2: Yes po, yes po.
P1: Oo, oo. A-ang adaptation is modification only. Lagi niyong tatandaan yan. Pag hindi ka nag
modify, wala kang pupuntahan. Oo, oo. Ang modification is moving on (smiles)
I2: Mhmm (laughs)
P1: You want to move on, you have to modify. Parang sa pag-ibig lang yan. Pag nasawi ka eh,
diba.
I2: Hahaha (laughs)
P1: I-modify mo. Anong i-momodify mo, edi yung feelings mo. Dapat hindi ka masyadong bibigay
para hindi ka masaktan (smiles)
I2: Mhm… (smiles)
P1: ‘Diba? (laughs)
I2: Nakapag-ano na po tayo (laughs)
P1: May hugot ba sa inyo, may hugot? (laughs)
I2: Opo (laughs)
P1: Hahaha (loud laughs)
I2: For relationship ano na po tayo dito (laughs)
P1: Hahaha (laughs) ganon yon, ganon lang yon. We really need to modify, in order to survive.
Even those times are constantly modifying in order for them to survive.
I2: So change is constant nga po talaga. So kailangan din natin matuto mag adapt and modify nga
po. Pero doc tamang tama kami sa move on mo ha (laughs)
P1: Hahahaha (loud laughs)
I2: Ok po, joke lang po (laughs)...uh... for our second question po. Uhm... among the trials you
faced at work, how did you overcome them?
 83

P1: Just just believe that we will... that all of this will come to pass
I2: Mhmm…
P1: Oo, ganon may hangganan lahat. May hangganan lahat. Uh...(stutters) if there are problems,
there are solutions diba. Laging ganon lang. Always believe on that one, no. Wag kang mai-stuck
diyan, no. And...uh...ang lagi kong sinasabi (background noise) even to my children; pag merong
trials at may nangyari sayo, don'- don't...uh...even...don't even think that it is a failure (emphasizes
every word)
I2: Mhmm…
P1: That you failed. It is just a setback.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: It is just a setback. So lahat ng nangyari sa...uh...hospital na experience namin, those are all
setbacks, ha. And from our setbacks, you will have to use them as an impetus or a force for you
to progressively change and modify for (background noice) the better, ganon lang yun. Basta ang
inisip lang namin (pause) allll of this will come to pass. Tignan mo naman ngayon diba
I2: Yes po.
P1: We...iba na rin, iba na rin mga solutions diyan; vaccine, adherence to the protocol diba, ganon
yan eh. Oo, all of them...ano yan matatapos din. Wala naman, wala namang forever diba?
I2: Opo (laughs)
P1: May forever ba?
I2: Hahaha (laughs)
P1: Meron bang forever hahaha (loud laughs)
I2: Hahaha (laughs)
P1: Pero (smiles) meron kaya lang itong virus na ito walang forever (laughs)
I2: Wala, opo (smiles)
P1: Hahahaha (loud laughs)
I2: Hahaha (laughs) grabe, doc. Ang galing niyo pong mag konekta ha (laughs)
P1: Hahahaha (laughs) syempre matanda na ko, marami na ko experience hahahaha (laughs)
I2: Hahaha (laughs) opo. So, ano po...tulad po ng sinabi niyo, konting sakripisyo lang po
talaga...uh...stepping stone lang po ito para sa pag ano natin sa...tagumpay, ayun po. So for the
third question po: In the challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important lesson
you've learned personally or even in your profession?
P1: The most important lesson is (pause) especially... ha...it is normal for us to be afraid, ha. It is
normal, it is normal. Especially, if you are thinking about death... if you are thinking about the
load. It is just normal. But the thing is, you really need to...uh...find (pause) a way to adapt in order
for you to succeed, diba. Yun...yun lang, yun lang ano... it is... ang nagbago lang naman dito is the
situation itself na. Pero yung principle...yung (inaudible) life is just a seed, it's just a seed ha.
Na...na...ang inisip ko lang dito is...uh... pasalamat nga tayo eh diba... na every 100 years lang
itong pandemic na ito. Before, there was a Spanish Flu (pause) yung Spanish flu ang daming
pinatay niyan, kasi walang vaccine. You know what kung ano na lang yung Spanish flu ngayon?
Ha? Yung ordinary colds.
 84

I2: Mhmm…
P1: Hindi naman tayo pinapatay na niyan
I2: Opo.
P1: Itong COVID ganyan din yan, ganyan din yan. So the most important lesson is...you really
need to be positive, no. Uh...isipin mo na hindi lang ito ang wakas. It's just a challenge. So...ang
problem (pause) may kaakibat na solution, lagi.
I2: Lagi.
P1: And all you have to do is just to be strong and don't...uh...uh...even just be a bit as help to one
another. Yun lang naman yon. And enjoy life.
I2: Yes po (laughs)
P1: You don't need to have a lot of (inaudible) to yourself, ha.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: Kailangan sa inyo mga...uh... happy hormones, ha. Happy hormones.
I2: Opo (smiles)
P1: Yun lang.
I2: Ayun nga po, sobrang daming problema na dala ng pandemya. Pero sobrang dami nga rin pong
dalang lesson na binigay nito sa atin. Ok, so...moving on po for our fourth question. Is adapting to
change in times of pandemic necessary? Why or why not?
P1: Yeah it is stil necessary. (laughs) if you will not adapt, you will die.
I2: Hahaha (laughs) as simple as that po, no.
P1: Oo, oo. Talagang... life is all about adapting.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: Life… is all about adapting. Even though (stutters) it is means in pandemic or not even in the
means of pandemic. We really need to adapt because change is inevitable. Change is permanent.
Change is constant. So, in order to...uh...to..uh...accept change, we need to adapt, oh. Yun lang
naman ang gagawin natin, oh. Adapt in a positive way. In order for you to...even...not only humans
do that, even the smallest living thing... this virus or bacteria, they are adapting constantly in order
for them to breathe. Ganon lang yun. Meron pa nga tayong ano diyan eh...meron pa nga
tayong...uh...advantage sa kaniya eh. Kasi nga mataas na ang ating mental ability, diba. Sila nga,
baka mamaya nga wala silang Diyos eh. Tayo nga eh naniniwala sa Diyos which is one of the most
important factor in survival. We really need to believe to our God and we really need to appreciate
even the simplest things and we really need to love... especially your family, no.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: Your loved ones. Yun lang (inaudible).
I2: Ok po, for our last question na po. What recommendations do you have for public health
preparation to end this pandemic?
P1: One is plan. There has to be plan, yun ang number one diyan. Uh...na-nakita na natin 'to, it has
been a...uh...learning experience to all of us. We really need to have a plan. A plan that is very
suitable in solving all...ha. Especially, if not solving all then in solving and...uh...and...uh...uh...ano
bang tawag non...not only in solving but in...uh...taking care of those...uh...major problems, yun
 85

ang number one na plan. Then, secondly, you really need to have (pause) number one is plan,
number two is...is contingency plan.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: A contingency plan, ha. Para pag nag fail yung initial plan mo, you have a plan B, oo ganon
lagi. Ganon lagi ang recommendation diyan. And all those plans that you are going to formulate
must be scientifically...uh... backed up by science.
I2: Yes po. (smiles)
P1: Dapat, ganon. Hindi yung sinabi ni mang Kepweng, sinabi ni ganito, sinabi ni (inaudible)
sinabi na pulitiko na ganyan. It has to be backed up by...uh...science, no. Oo, para
mas...uh...concrete ang magiging...uh...solutions, mas madali ang implementations diba.
Uh...mas...uh...basic ang gagawin mo, much better. Ganon, you really need to have a plan, yun
para hindi...na you really need to adhere on those step-by-step and along the way, you really need
to reevaluate them. It need to be verified, it need to...uh...reevaluate whether it is still relevant or
not. If it is still relevant, the plan has to be implemented strictly. Pag there will be
some...uh...uh...products that are not...uh... that satisfied, then modify it. If...if your plan is not
relevant anymore, you can discard it. Ganon lang. Pag... number one, you really need to have a
plan.
[End of Interview with P1]
 86

Transcript of Interview with Participant 2

Location: Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 7, 2022, 2:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Translator: Carlo Jose G. Gaza and Joanne Thea G. Ragadio
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

EXPERIENCES
M1: So firstly po, may we know your name and the current medical profession that you are doing
ma’am
P2: Yes, I'm ******* **** ******, presently employed at James L. Gordon as a staff nurse from
OB Ward
(murmurs in the background)
I3: So ayun po uhmm before we proceed po sa mismong interview, ako po si Carlo yung mag
iinterview sainyo atsaka si Thea po magsasalit-salit lang po kami. Uhmm yun po uhmm before we
start po (phone rings) ano po yung pwede naming itawag sainyo?
P2: ate nalang (laughs)
I3: (laughs) okay lang po bang ate or ma’am?
P2: ok lang
I3: ma’am nalang po? Ah sige po ate (laughs) sige po uhm ready na po ba kayo magstart sa
interview?
P2: sige kung kaya ko sagutin ha
I3: Sige po, basta kahit experiences lang naman po ito wala naman pong matinding mga tanong
P2: ah sige
I3:okay po uhm let’s start na po
I3: uhmm first question po is, what was your initial reaction when you heard about the COVID-19
outbreak in the Philippines?
P2: tagalog nalang ha? (laughs)
I3: yes po, okay lang po
P2: so my initial reaction is syempre natakot and unang una syempre ang mga affected is kami and
then mga kasama sa bahay, mga old ages, eh may kasama ako sa bahay dalawa, so ayun
I3: are there factors po ba bukod dun sa may kasama po kayo sa bahay and ayun pong pwede kayo
makahawa, ano pa po ba yung ibang dahilan kung bakit po kayo natakot?
P2: uhmm, naalala ko tuloy (laughs) experience ko, syempre sa mga health workers kami talaga
yung unang naapektuhan kasi kami yung nakaka encounter (rooster crows) ng mga patients sa
covid ayun
I3: so yun pong initial na takot dahil rin po sa iyong trabaho, dahil rin po sa inyong ginagawa
P2: pwede rin
I3: okay po uhmm, proceed po tayo sa next question (rooster crows)
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I3:Have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?

P2: ah so far sa area ko, hindi siya ganun ka ano ang covid-19 sa amin, may talagang area na yun
talaga ang handle nila kasi sa amin uhmm most cases wala naman, mga pregnant kasi sa amin mga
deliveries, cesarean, so hindi siya ganun ka ano yung COVID-19 doon sa area ko. May mga area
talaga na doon talaga napupunta yung mga COVID-19, iba yung mga naka handle doon.
I3: uhmm so ayun po, uhm dahil nga po sinabi ninyo nakahiwalay po ang mga may covid, mayroon
po ba kayong nakasalamuha na katrabaho nyo na may COVID-19? Alam nyo po na may covid
sila?
P2: meron din, ahh actually sa mga symptoms meron, pero once na may symptoms kami kasi,
everyday kasi kami nagkakaroon ng health declaration bago kami magstart magwork, meron
kaming fini fill up dyan. So pag may mga symptoms, automatic yan triage ka then iaassist ka ng
doctor kung kelan ka icconfine ganyan
I3: uhmm so yun po, dahil nga po may nakakaramdam ng symptoms, ano po yung mga
nararamdaman niyo pag may nalalaman kayong mga nagkakasymptoms or meron pong
nagpapakita ng ano nga po symptoms ng COVID-19?
P2: further, further?
I3: uhm ano po yung nararamdaman ninyo pag may nalalaman kayo sa kasamahan niyo may
symptoms ng COVID-19?
P2: siyempre unang-una natatakot na kasi baka mahawa ka at maihawa mo rin sa mga kasama
mong iba
I3: Okay po, proceed po tayo sa next questions, uhm how did you manage to protect your physical
safety while providing care for COVID-19 patients?
P2: siyempre unang una yung pag handwash, halimbawa yung paghawak sa pasyente, uhm
handwashing kasi lagi, mask, face shield pero sa area kasi namin di na kami gumagamit ng PPEs
may mga area lang so yun lang, face mask, face shield, handwashing yung mga usually sa amin,
sa area ko lang ha.
I3: uhmm ano po yung pinakamatinding proteksyon na ginawa niyo po noon? Nagdoble po ba
kayo ng facemask, ng face shields (rooster crows) uhm minu-minuto pong naghuhugas ng kamay?
Ano po ba yung pinaka peak po ng ano ng ginawa niyo para lang maprotektahan po yung sarili
niyo.
P2: handwashing yan and always wear mask at face shield lalo na nung kasagsagan ng Covid so
siguro sa pagchange namin ng mask three times kaya minsan di namin maiiwasan lalo na pag
maraming trabaho, di mo na minsan namaintain yung safety, nakakalimutan din actually lalo pag
busy busy
I3: yun rin po nakakatakot doon no?
P2: oo
I3: opo nga, dahil nga po nabusy tayo nalilimutan na rin po yung ano pero mahalaga pa rin pong
sundin iyon dahil yun nga po yung makakapag protect sa atin.
P2: oo, yung sa handwashing, face mask, face shield, yun lang ang hirap talaga pag nakaganun ka
lalo na yung mga nasa area na naka PPE tapos yung iba nakapampers, totoo yan
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I3: opo
P2: kasi ilang hours ang pagstay nila sa loob, di pa pwede magpalit-palit anytime ng PPE, pag
pumasok ka sa room, diretso yan 12 hours actually sa amin noon nagkaroon ng problema kaya
ginawang 6 hours lang, 6 hours sa loob tapos 6 hours sa labas. Mahirap talaga
I3: mahirap nga po, ayun po next question po tayo. Uhm did you experience having COVID-19
symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P2: Yes po, I was diagnosed COVID-19 last August with the symptoms of sore throat pagkatapos
ng sore throat after 2-3 days nilagnat then tested positive then succeeding days (inaudbile) so tuloy
na yan, nahirapan na. I survived (laughs)
I3: buti po, opo
P2: 21 days ako sa hospital
I3: uhm ilan po ulit?
P2: 21 days
I3: 21 ang haba rin po
P2: COVID-19 critical
I3: ooh umabot po kayo sa critical level ng COVID-19?
P2: oo kung naririnig niyo yung mahal na gamot, naitusok sa akin yun, around 26,000 one shot.
Yun, ganun kalala
I3: uhmm doon po sa pagkakaCOVID-19 niyo po, gaano po katagal bago po kayo nakabalik sa
trabaho niyo po?
P2: aaahh naka leave ako ng for 2 months, september, october, november na ako pumasok
I3: okay rin po yun na naka leave kayo para rin po nakapahinga rin po yung katawan ninyo
P2: oo saka nagkaroon ng kunting anxiety parang natakot ka na. Pagbalik ko natakot na ko sa
hospital (laughs)
I3: ayun nga po
P2: di ko alam kung makakalabas ako ng buhay noon kasi lahat ng covid lumalabas patay. Kaya
pasalamat kay Lord at nabuhay (laughs)
I3: ayun po, proceed po tayo sa last question para sa part 1. Overall, how can you describe your
experience as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P2: siguro yung experience ko na di malilimutan sa buhay (laughs) parang nung una laging
nandoon pa rin sa isipan bago mawala, atleast unti-unting nawawala, may time na parang ‘ting’ sa
isipan nandun nanaman. Iniisip mo yung nandoon ka lang sa isang kwarto mag isa, walang nag-
aasikasong malapit sa buhay, kahit sa video call di ako nakakatagal kasi hirap sa paghinga kaya
sign language lang, makita ko lang sila.
I3: so nakakatakot nga po yung nangyari ano? So ano, noong nagtatrabaho naman po kayo, wala
naman pong matinding nangyari dahil sa pandemic or (rooster crows) malaking pagbabago ganun
po?
P2: ah yung after ng attack ng COVID-19 sakin, yun nga hindi malilimutan agad iyon lalo na yung
naka mask, jusko pag umakyat ka na sa 2nd floor, hingal hingal ka na, pero atleast naka adjust
naman.
 89

I3: ayun po uhm proceed po tayo sa next part, si Thea naman po ang magiinterview sainyo. Thank
you po!
P2: Thank you~
I4: and for the 2nd part po, hi po ako po si Joanne Thea Ragadio
P2: hello thea!
I4: hello po, uhm for the 1st question po, What are the changes or pagbabago na nangyari sa
workplace sa time ng pandemic?
P2: changes sa workplace?
I4: yes po, like yung parang before po kayo nagka covid, ano po yung mga changes
P2: Ano na, di na yung ganun ka, kumbaga ganun pa rin yung trabaho yun lang may time na
labanan mo kailangan mo talaga labanan at wag ka papa-apekto. Kasi noong bumalik ng hospital
naalala mo yung nangyari sayo sa past pero kailangan labanan mo as profession na mag serve
I4: sa hospital system niyo po, may mga nagbago po ba?
P2: anong ibig mo sabihin Thea?
I4: like sa hospital yung mga patakaran or yung mga gawain po sa hospital?
P2: aahh sa hospital naman, protocol lang namin na always wear your mask. Actually ngayon wala
na sa amin yung face shield pero tuloy pa rin yung handwashing at social distancing sa amin. Dati
lapit lapit kumain before pandemic, ngayon medyo layo layo na pero minsan di pa rin maiiwasan
kasi yung workplace is maliit lang yung area, kagaya ngayon nakiki-area lang kami sa isang
department surgery kasi ongoing construction yung OB ward so di mo talaga ma-maintain yung
social distancing
I4: sa mga employees naman po na nakasama niyo, may nagbago po ba sa bilang, umonti po ba or
dumami dahil sa covid?
P2: same lang din naman, wala naman nawala sa amin
I4: buti naman po pala. Sa mga patients po, mas dumami po ba or umonti yung bilang ng patients
kada month or kada week ganun po?
P2: Marami pa rin kasi nasa government hospital kaya di natin maiiwasan yan, marami pa rin lalo
na ngayon back to normal na kasi kami ngayon sa James pero marami pa rin pasyente (laughs)
I4: second question naman na po, How does the workforce change during the times of pandemic?
P2: uhmm how did the workforce change
I4: like kung gaano po ba kabigat yung mga workloads niyo
P2: aahh, actually talagang noong pandemic pagod pagod ang mga nurse noon kasi andyan na
yung dagsaan ng pasyente. May mga patients rin kami galing ibang places, dinadala din diyan so
hina-handle sila ng mga nasa COVID area kasi ang hospital ng James ay isa sa mga pwede
matransfer ng mga patients.
I4: uhmm, yung sabi niyo nga po maraming nalilipit dyan o bagong pasyente, di po ba nagkukulang
yung mga workers dahil sa madaming pasyente?
P2: Actually nag hire sila ng mga ano from DOH aside sa mga workers sa hospital, naghire sila at
nagbigay sa amin ng additional workers, nurses, helpers, aids so naging maganda naman ang
naging takbo ng trabaho. Nagbigay kasi sila ng mga alloted na magduty sa amin so nadagdagan.
 90

I4: ah okay po, for the 3rd question naman po, How was your experience while wearing PPEs in
performing your job? Yung sinabi niyo nga po kanina na di po kayo nag wear ng PPEs, kung may
kakilala nalang po kayo or yung mga sinusuot niyo na protective gears noon.
P2: Actually sa amin naman, halimbawa may ambulance coduction kinukuha sa area namin so nag
PPE rin kami kaya mahirap. Mahirap magsuot ng PPE, mainit pag humiga kasi kulong talaga at
talagang balot na balot mas lalo na noong kasagsagan.
I4: Next question naman po, How did you change the way you interact with your patients now that
there are restrictions on communication?Like yung sabi niyo kanina na mahirap huminga dahil sa
mga suot niyong PPE at mga face masks, ano po yung mga naiba sa way niyo sa pag communicate?
P2: Minsan nahirapan maka interact dahil di nagkakaintindihan, syempre sa face masks may time
na sign language lang para magkaintindihan. Kaya lang sa amin mga post delivery lang naman
yung mga pasyente namin so hindi naman yung mga (inaudible) so madali lang mag communicate
sa kanila.
I4: so yung mga changes po na nasabi niyo sa workplace ninyo, ano po yung mga impact sainyo
as a healthcare professional?
P2: impact uhm what do you mean, Thea?
I4: uhm paano po nakaapekto sainyo as a healthcare professional yung mga nangyaring changes
sa workplace po?
P2: changes? Uhm wait lang ha
I4: Sige lang po, or kung ano po yung mga talagang nakaapekto sainyo at tumatatak sainyo as a
healthcare professional.
P2: Changes sa akin yung mga ano (murmurs in the background) yung laging pag-iingat sa sarili.
Sorry ha
I4: Sige lang po, okay lang po
O1: uhm doon nga po sa changes no, ask ko lang po kung malaki ba yung naging epekto nito
sainyong buhay like as a healthcare worker yung mga changes pag naka PPE, naiisip niyo po ba
na like “ay di ko na kayang ginagampanan itong trabaho” to the point na naisipan mo po na mag
leave sa trabaho?
P2: ahh wala pa naman sa isip ko. Andun pa rin yung pagka dedicated sa work, ganun pa rin kahit
sabihin nila “oh location, punta doon” syempre minsan umaangal din kayo pero kakayanin. Alam
niyo naman ang trabaho ng nurse diba.
I4: yes po, grabe talaga yung mga changes sa mga nurse dahil kayo mismo yung nakaranas ng mga
paghandle ng pasyente. For the next part, si Carlo nanaman po ulit yung mag-iinterview sainyo.
I3: Hello po ulit! Ako naman po yung magtutuloy dito, uhm so okay pa po ba kayo?
P2: okay lang (phone rings) pasensya na ah medyo ano si ate (laughs)
I3: okay lang po yun, wala po problema doon.
(murmurs in the backgrond)
I3: uhm okay na po?
P2: oo okay na uhm bare with me ah
P2: okay lang (phone rings) pasensya na ah medyo ano si ate (laughs)
 91

I3: okay lang po, uhm proceed po tayo sa part 3 1st question po tayo, Are there instances where
you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak? Uhm meron yung mga
pagkakataon na nakaharap ng paghihirap sa trabaho niyo simula noong pandemya?
P2: Actually meron din minsan kaya lang madalang lang naman. Alam mo ang nakaka ano lang
sa trabaho namin is bantay ng pasyente, mas marunong pa sila (laughs)
I3: yung pong mga paminsan minsan po na iyon, ano po yung nagpahirap po doon?
P2: lalo na pag alam mo yung mga pasyente, alam mo yung may mga kakilala, mahirap yung
ipaintindi sa kanila lalo na (inaudible) kaya minsan toxic eh (laughs)
I3: uhm in terms po sa pandemic, ano po yung nadalang hirap nitong pandemya sa trabaho niyo?
P2: Actually di naman ganun kahirap, kaya lang kasi during the pandemic nasa private area ako.
Yung area namin nandun malapit yung mga COVID-19 suspect na mga empleyado namin. So
kinalat kami sa ibang area, nilagay kami kasi nawala yung area namin ginamit pang admission sa
mga empleyado, yung iba napunta sa emergency. Ayun kinalat yung mga tao namin sa ibang area.
I3: ayun po. Meron po ba kayong naranasan na kakulangan sa PPE o facemasks, faceshield at mga
gloves po, may naranasan po ba kayong ganoon?
P2: Actually wala naman, kasi may nagbigay naman at yung iba kami na gumastos dahil sa sobrang
dami namin, actually meron naman sila binibigay pero kung gusto meron kang sarili so ayun kami
nalang bumibili. Lalo na yung kasagsagan talaga.
P2: ahh kasi sa amin, iba yung rate ng mga nasa COVID area talaga. Yung naririnig niyo yung sa
SRA, sila yung mas matataas kasi sila yung mga naghandle ng mga may COVID cases not like sa
amin na mild cases lang kaya iba yung bigayan (laughs) Sila talaga yung hirap kumpara sa amin
sa area.
I3: meron po ba mga pagkakataon na meron po kayo gustong sabihin sa mga boss niyo o mga
nakakataas pero hindi po kayo pinakinggan sa mga hinanaing niyo?
P2: ahh,(inaudible) di actually naman yung iba ni raise naman nila, kaya lang syempre di naman
agad-agad nabibigay ganun, kaya konting unawa, konting paghihintay sa mga dapat na matanggap
(laughs)
(dog barks)
P2: ahh,(inaudible) di actually naman yung iba ni raise naman nila, kaya lang syempre di naman
agad-agad nabibigay ganun, kaya konting unawa, konting paghihintay sa mga dapat na matanggap
(laughs)
(dog barks)
I3: Pero iyun po, (stutters) kung natatagalang man po yung pagdating nung– ah hinihiling nung
iba or sinasabi ng iba–
P2: (inaudible)
I3: Natutupad naman po ba?
P2: Nabibigay rin pero ‘di yung on-time, kagaya ngayon, sabi nila meron daw (background noise)
pero (laughs) pasa lang, hindi joke lang (laughs) hindi, actually meron naman kaya lang hindi yung
on-time naibibigay. Mga benifits na ano– (background noise) sinasabi nila. Nabibigay naman, pero
konting ano lang, pagaantay lang.
 92

I3: Uhm iyun po, proceed po tayo sa next questions. What can you say about the hours you spent
in the workplace? As well as your workload? Ano po yung masasabi nyo sa oras na– sa
pagtratarbaho nyo po dun sa– ah sa ospital nga po tsaka yung workload, yung pong bigat ng trabaho
nyo?
P2: (background noise) Actually samin talaga, sobra-sobra yung oras minsan. ‘Di natin maiiwas
yun na (background noise) on-time makakauwi ka, hindi mo naman pwede ipasa yung, naibigay
na sayo. Halimbawa, may mga procedure pa na sayo na-order, ‘di mo naman pwede ipasa. Tsaka
yung mga ibang, mga– (dog barks) (stutters) ‘yun yung mga order na sayo pa, di mo pwede ipasa,
so kailangan gawin mo– ipapasa mo rin sa kanya pero, at least you started.
(dog barks)
I3: Uhm iyun po, uhm masasabi nyo na po ba na– ah nagiba po yung oras nyo po sa ospital dahil
po sa ah pandemic? Humaba po ba or umikli? Ano po ba naging sitwasyon nyo?
P2: Kasi saamin kasi, medyo– nung nagpandemic, diba nawalan tayo nung mga transpo, so mabilis
saamin kasi, kailangan naming on-time matapos kasi service– kailangan naming habulin yun. Kasi
kapag wala yung service hindi kami makakauwi for the next duty for tomorrow. So medyo mabilis
ngayon, ‘di kagaya noon na may sasakyan na okay lang kapag late ka umuwi (dog barks) eh
binigyan kasi kami ng service mula nung nag pandemic. Kaya laking pasalamat pa rin hanggang
ngayon, may service pa rin kami.
I3: Iyun nga po, buti po nakatulong iyun sa inyo
P2: Oo
I3: ‘Di nyo na po kailangan na sarili kayong pupunta dun sa ospital. Ayun po, proceed po tayo sa
next question.
(background noise)
I3: Have you experienced workplace discrimination during the start of pandemic? How did this
affect you as a professional? (background noise) Uhm simula po nung pandemya meron po ba
kayong na-experience na discrimination dahil sinasabi po na ah– nagtratrabaho sa ospital baka–
P2: (inaudible)
I3: May COVID yan, yung mga ganun po ba.
(background noise)
P2: Meron din, minsan halimbawa, konting ubo mo lang may (moves body to the side) gumaganun
na sila, napapatingin. Alam mo iyan yung di mo talaga maiiwasan (dog barks) na kapag nakita ka
nilang health workers, “ah baka eto meron” (dog barks) ganun (background noise)
I3: Uhm (stutters)
P2: Pero (inaudible) wag mo nang pansinin (laughs)
(background noise)
I3: Iyun nga po, uhm iyun po, pano po iyun nakaaapekto sa inyo sa– kunware po sa pagtratrabaho
nyo? Pano po ito nakaapekto na nalalaman nyo na may nagdidiscriminate nga po sa inyo na kapag
umubo lang ano na po yung inisip? Ganun po.
(background noise)
 93

P2: Wag mo nalang ano– just ignore nalang. Oo kasi makakaaffect lang yun sa– sa work mo yun
kung iisipin natin na (dog barks) may gumaganun sayo, wag nalang. Para yung work ng flow mo
sa maghapon, hanggang sa matapos yung duty (dog barks) maayos. (dog barks)
I3: Iyun nga po ah– minsan (stutters) isinasangtabi nalang po natin.
P2: Kaya lang– (background noise)
I3: Opo
P2: (dog barks) Kaya lang ‘di rin natin minsan naiiwasan, syempre parang nakakaano rin sa
damdamin na kahit mag (inaudible) nakikita mo yung tao, yung expression nila, ganun yung tingin
sayo.
(dog barks)
I3: Ayun nga po nakakalungkot rin po ano? Ganun man po, proceed po tayo sa next question. Ayun
po, how did the pandemic affect your physical aspect uhm pano po na– dito muna po tayo sa
physical ah? Uhm pano po nakaapekto yung pandemic sa inyo physically?
P2: Yung affected ako or?...
I3: Opo, opo kayo po mismo yung physical na katawan nyo po, pano po naapektuhan ng
pandemya– bilang isang healthcare worker po?
P2: As a COVID-19 positive?
I3: Uhm hindi naman po naka ano dun– naka focus lang, as– basta nung pong panahong
nagtratrabaho po kayo na may’ COVID. Ah iyun nga po dahil nga po may’ sinasabing na yung iba
po bumigat yung trabaho– iyun po. Pa’no nakaapekto po ‘yun sa– sa ano nyo po, sa physical na
katawan.
(bird chirps)
P2: Ah wait (inaudible) sa physical (murmurs in the background)... actually naman kasi sa area…
iyun lang hindi ka ‘yung… walang permanent ba? Yung…yung ay…(murmurs). Sa physical…(cat
meows)
(background noise)
P2: Wait ah?
I3: Sige lang po, sige lang po (background noise)
I3: (bird chirps) Uhm dito po sa physical aspect, katulad po ‘to ng uhm– nagexercise po ba kayo
para lumakas yung resistensya n’yo? May mga kinain po ba kayo mga– diet po, inayos nyo po ba
diet or mga suppliments?
P2: Ay wala, walang diet-diet (laughs)
I3: (laughs)
P2: Walang diet-diet saamin noon, kasi kailangan lumakas.
I3: Iyun po
P2: (inaudible) Ano– actually marami kaming mga bigay-bigay na pagkain nung time na y’un.
Wala naman physical– wala, walang exercise
I3: Wala na pong–
P2: Basta papasok lang– ‘yan ang (inaudible) kailangan lang palakasin ang loob. (bird chirps)
P2: Basta papasok lang– ‘yan ang (inaudible) kailangan lang palakasin ang loob. (bird chirps)
 94

I3: Iyun po (bird chirps) uhm sa– pagdating naman po sa mental aspect po, pa’no po na bago nung
pandemic yung mental aspect nyo po?
P2: Minsan nagkaroon ng ano ko yung (bird chirps), ah tawag dito (bird chirps) anxiety, iyun lalo
na ‘pag– (bird chirps) depression, lalo na kapag nakakarinig ka ng– (background noise) kakilala
mo, halimbawa na gano’n– hindi mo man lang sya matulungan, or ma– nawala, yung rest in peace
‘di mo man lang mapuntahan (backgroun noise) ‘yun bang nakakalungkot dun
(cat meows)
P2: Sa social life– (cat meows)
I3: Iyun po sa social po–
P2: (inaudible)
I3: Uhm in terms naman po ‘to sa pag- pakikipaginteract nyo sa family, sa mga kaibigan po, sa–
pati po sa mga katrabaho nyo, pano po nabago ng pandemic po iyun.
P2: (inaudible) Na lessen, na lessen ang social interaction, kasi diba– iyun nga binabawasan natin
ang exposure, para di tayo mahawa, eh nahawa pa rin. Naging COVID family kasi kami eh.
(laughs) Anak ko ang COVID-19 din, positive, sister ko, iyan. Pamangkain ‘yan, pero ako yung
grabe sa lahat. (background noise)
P2: (inaudible) Na lessen, na lessen ang social interaction, kasi diba– iyun nga binabawasan natin
ang exposure, para di tayo mahawa, eh nahawa pa rin. Naging COVID family kasi kami eh.
(laughs) Anak ko ang COVID-19 din, positive, sister ko, iyan. Pamangkain ‘yan, pero ako yung
grabe sa lahat. (background noise)
I3: Uhm iyun po, uhm sa trabaho nyo po– sa pakikipaginteract nyo po sa mga (rooster crows)
katrabaho n’yo, may nabago po ba dun?
(bird chirps)
P2: Parang medyo naging (stutters) ah– (inaudible) ako sa kanila, mamaya sabihin nila “naging
positive ‘to” lalo na nung bumalik ako, iyun yung parang, naiilang ako sa kanila dahil baka sabihin
nila “meron pa rin” kahit na may mga protective gear sila– parang, syempre tinitimbang ko muna
yung, pakikiano muna sa kanila eh. Kasi lalo na galing ako ng COVID-19 positive, iyun.
I3: Iyun po uhm, in terms naman po sa emotional aspect? (bird chirps)
P2: Ay nako d’yan tayo, maano– mababaw (laughs). Kaya parang, ayoko ng balikan. Actually
siguro pang ilan na kayong naginterview sa akin. Pangalawa na, kaya (bird chirps) (stutters) very
emotional si ate, sa pangyayaring ‘yun.
I3: Uhm kung ok lang po sa inyo (rooster crows) uhm pwede n’yo po bang ishare kung ano po
yung, ah nakapag– (bird chirps) naging (rooster crows) emotional po kayo? Bakit po– ano po ba
yung mga naging experince nyo po sa pandemic? (bird chirps)
P2: Lalo na nung ako yung naconfine, (bird chirps) wala– nagiisa ka sa loob. Kahit na gustuhin
mo na may mga kamaganak mong dumalaw, di sila nakakadalaw. Saka nung kasi time na, nasa
ano na ako, bingit ng (hand gesture) ano… hirap, hirap talaga. Eh actually noon, kararating lang
ng asawa ko nakaquarantine din s’ya, nakaquarantine din ako. Iyun, video call pero nagiiyakan
lang.
I3: Iyun nga po (rooster crows)
 95

P2: Kasi hirap ako magsalita, hingal, hihingalin ako (bird chirps) kaya ano lang, video-video lang,
walang ano. Hirap sa loob talaga, hindi ko– siguro two days hindi ako kumain, kasi ‘di man ako
makakilos ng maayos so, kailangan kong kumuha, kinuhanan ako ng private nurse sa loob.
Magbihis–
I3: Kaya nga po. (rooster crows)
P2: ‘Di mag ano sa sarili ko, di ko kaya.
I3: Hirap nga po nung nangyari.
P2: Mhm, Lahat (bird chirps) kaya, pasalamat kay Lord at binigyan Nya pa ako ng isang masayang
buhay pa. (inaudible) Mapaglingkuran ko ang mga taong dapat pa paglingkuran.
I3: Iyun nga po (rooster crows) uhm mabuti at wala na tayo sa ganung sitwasyon at okay na po
tayo ngayon diba?
P2: Nakakaadjust naman na
I3: Opo
P2: Pero actually nun talaga, ‘di nakaka– pagkadischarge ko di talaga ako nakakatulog, kasi maya-
maya ‘pag umano sa isip, naiisip mo yung nangyari sayo sa loob, yung hirap ba na naranasan mo
dun. Akala mo ‘di ka na makakalabas ng buhay.
P2: Pero actually nun talaga, ‘di nakaka– pagkadischarge ko di talaga ako nakakatulog, kasi maya-
maya ‘pag umano sa isip, naiisip mo yung nangyari sayo sa loob, yung hirap ba na naranasan mo
dun. Akala mo ‘di ka na makakalabas ng buhay.
I3: (rooster crows) Iyun nga po, napakahirap pero malaikng pasasalamat at andito pa rin po tayo
at lumalaban pa rin tayo. Iyun po uhm, proceed po tayo sa last question para sa part three. What
has been the most challenging aspect of (rooster crows) working as a frontliner or while handling
a COVID-19 patient? Ano po yung pinaka naging challenging sa inyo as a frontliner?
P2: Challenging, kailangan ano yung– tawag dito, gawin namin lahat para sa ikabubuti ng
pasyente. Kahit na anong hirap, kahit na anong pagalit, kahit na anong naririnig mo sa mga
superior, sige lang, kakayanin. Wala, iyun yung sinumpaang, propesyon.
I3: Uhm iyun po, uhm dahil po ba sa paghihirap na iyun naisip nyo po bang, uhm umalis po sa
trabaho nyo or magquit sa– sa trabaho nyo nga po?
P2: ‘Di naman, ‘di ko naman insisp na ‘di na ako babalik. Pero, lakas-loob lang talaga na, iniisip
mo na kapag gumaling, tuloy pa rin ang paglilingkod. Iba sa amin nagquit, pero bumalik rin.
(laughs)
I3: Iyun po, uhm dun sa nasabi nyo nga po may mga umalis, ilan po kaya? Madami po ba or?
P2: Konti lang naman, medyo– nagano lang, kasi nagkaroon sila ng depression eh. Pero, months
lang naman bumalik naman na, parang nagadjust kasi both– both kasi silang nurse, nagcritical din
sila– nagcritical yung husband kaya medyo, si wife– medyo umano ang kalooban, kaya ‘di sya
agad bumalik ng work– yung iba, pero madalang lang naman, di naman lahat.
P2: Konti lang naman, medyo– nagano lang, kasi nagkaroon sila ng depression eh. Pero, months
lang naman bumalik naman na, parang nagadjust kasi both– both kasi silang nurse, nagcritical din
sila– nagcritical yung husband kaya medyo, si wife– medyo umano ang kalooban, kaya ‘di sya
agad bumalik ng work– yung iba, pero madalang lang naman, di naman lahat.
 96

I3: Uhm buti naman po kayo ay naging matatag at malakas ang loob nyo at kinaya nyo po na
labanan COVID, at (rooster crows) magpatuloy na magtrabaho bilang isang nurse. Iyun po,
nalalapit na po tayo sa end nitong interview natin, last part nalang po at si Thea po ulit ang
magiinterview sa inyo. Thank you po.
I4: Hi po ulit, so for the last part, part five, adaptation. Uhm (stutters) ay! Part four po pala. Pwede
po namin malaman kung papaano kayo nakaadapt sa mga nagyari, mga naikwento nyo po sa amin.
So yung first question, What are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic? Yung
mga way po or uhm, mechanism na ginawa nyo para makaadapt sa mga changes na naranasan nyo
or difficulties and challenges.
P2: Alam mo– ah mga changes naadapt? Wala, ano lang yung lakas lang ng loob ba? Na– kailangan
‘wag papaapekto parang ganun, para tuloy-tuloy lang pagsisilbi natin.
(background noise)
I4: Yes po, parang ang ginawa nyo lang po sa pagadapt is parang tuloy lang at parang normal pa
rin po yung walang nagbago para matuloy (inaudible)
P2: Kasi kung iisipin natin araw-araw yun, wala– walang mangyayarai sa–.
I4: Yes po
P2:buhay. Aapekto rin yun sa pagtratrbaho mo ganun. So lakas lang ng loob talaga.
I4: Okay po, sa next question na po tayo. Among the trials you have faced at work, how did you
overcome them? Yung mga challenges po, mas lalo na po nung nagkacovid po kayo? Paano nyo
po naovercome yung lahat ng iyun?
P2: Ano (background noise) ganun din, lakas ng loob, tapos yung mga ano ng family na– sila yung
nagpapalakas ng loob. Sila yung tumulong, di nila ako pinabyaan, parang inuuplift nila yung
emotion ko na wag ganito, wag mo isipin ganun.
I4: Yung uhm support po nila sa inyo–
P2: Oo iyun, support.
I4: Yun po yung naka– nakahelp po talaga.
P2: Family support.
I4: Yes po, mabuti naman po at madaming nagaalaga sa inyo noon at maraming nakasuporta para
patuloy po kayo– at lumaban nuon. So sa third part naman na po, ay sa third question naman na
po, In the challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have learned
personally or even in your profession?
(background noise)
P2: Uhm important lesson personally?
(dog barks)
P2: Uhm, ano bale, maging matatag, ah tuloy lang ang pagseserve… hanggat kaya. Tuloy lang ang
laban. (background noise)
I4: Okay po, yung ano nyo po talaga, important lesson is tuloy lang kayo or wag susuko kahit
anong nangyari dahil sa mga napagdaanan nyo, tuloy lang at laban pa din. Thank you po for the–
ah para patuloy pa rin po kayong lumalaban at nagbibigay ng serbisyo na kailangan din ng tao
ngayon. Mas lalo na at patuloy pa rin po and pandemic at ang COVID-19. Salamat po dahil patuloy
 97

pa rin po kayong lumalaban kasi kayo po talaga ang mga kailangan sa mga panahon na ito, mga
healthcare workers po talaga. So sa next question naman po (inaudible)
O1: Uhm ask ko lang po ano? Isa rin po ba sa important lesson, diba since COVID crtitical po
kayo and as well as naging healthcare worker pa rin po kayo despite na nagyari po sa inyo noh?
Uhm isa rin po ba sa important lesson nyo yung natutunan nyo like maikli lang talaga yung buhay
kaya kailangan ibuhus mo na to sa taong nagmamahal sa iyo, like isa rin po ba yun sa ah, naging
lesson nyo rin po? Ah sa profession nyo naman na– naisip nyo rin po ba na, eto na talaga yung–
eto na talaga yung ah, gusto kong (stutters) eto na talaga yung gusto kong magyari ano man yung–
buhay ko man yung kapalit ganun po? Naisip nyo rin po ba yung sa point na yun?
P2: Opo
(background noise)
P2: Hello?
O1: Iyun po, nakatutuwa pong isipin na despite na nagyari po talaga sa inyo na nagpatuloy pa rin
po kayo sa, ah pagiging healthcare worker kahit na nandun ang takot. So let’s proceed na po sa
next question, Thea?
I4: Is adapting to change in times of pandemic necessary? Why and why not? What– iyun muna
po.
P2: Adapting to change in times of pandemic, necessary? Why and why not? What are the
importance? (background noise)
I4: Para– para sa inyo po ba, ah necessary or need po talaga yung pagadapt sa mga change na
nagyari sa panahon ng pandemic?
(background noise)
P2: Yung pagbabago during the pandemic… importante rin yun, kasi dun mo makikita kung pano
mo talaga mapapakita ang pagsebisyo– pagseserve wholeheartedly without complaining. Pero,
actually ‘di rin natin minsan (stutters) naiiwasan, minsan nakakapag complain naman, ‘di talaga
naiiwasan.
(background noise)
I4: Uhm para sa sinabi nyo nga po na kailangan po talaga. Ano po yung importance nun para sa
lahat or sa ating mga nakakaranas pa rin ngayon?
P2: Anong nakaka–
I4: Yung importansya po nung pagadapt po sa mga nangyari sa– nuong pandemic?
(background noise)
P2: Sinaksak mo ***? Hello Thea!
I4: Hello po, iyun nga po sa importansya– ah sa tingin nyo po ano po yung importansya ng
pagadapt natin sa mga nagbago nuong pandemya?
P2: During the pandemic?
(background noise)
P2: Wait lang Thea ah?
 98

I4: Kahit kayo po, nung naranasan nyo po yung nagka– ah karami nyo pong naransang pagsubok
like nung COVID– nagka COVID po kayo? Ano po yung impotance sa inyo nung pagadapt nyo
sa mga nangyari lahat ng yun? Nangyaring pagsubok sa inyo po.
(rooster crows)
P2: Yung mga pagsubok naman na yun, malalapasan din natin. Na– syempre di rin natin maiiwasan
na (rooster crows) minsan dibdibin so, kailangan mong labanan talaga na ‘di ka maaapektuhan.
(rooster crows)

P2: Kasi mahirap magtrabaho na, yung mind mo hindi sya, fixed o hindi sya nakaready,
nakakaapekto sa trabaho yun. (background noise) So kailangan, always prepared and (rooster
crows) free from sa mga outside na iniisip, kailangan tuon mo lang isip mo sa trabaho. Set aside
yung mga problems o whatever.
(rooster crows)
I4: Yes tama nga po yung, kahit maraming pagsubok kailangan natin talaga yung pagadapt, pag
ano– para makapagpatuloy pa rin po tayo sa ating trabaho parin, makapag serbisyo pa rin sa mga
tao na kailangan nanaman po ng tulong dahil sa pandemyang ito. So for the last question na po,
What recommendations do you have for public health to end this pandemic?
P2: Basta tuloy-tuloy pa rin natin yung mga protocols, na– (rooster crows) wearing ng mask, ah
handwashing, para ‘di na tayo magkaroon ulit ng increase ng cases. Tsaka– (inaudible) iwas-iwas
muna para matapos na tayo, ng ganitong sitwasyon natin, magnenew normal na.
I4: Yes tama nga po na patuloy pa rin po yung mga–
P2: Pagiingat, talagang–
I4: Social distancing.
P2: Oo, socialization.
I4: Yes po, patuloy pa rin po, para ma– makatapos na tayo sa pandemyang ito at bumalik na ang
normal sa lahat like sa mga– sa mga schools po at saka yung (stutters) dumami na rin po yung
pwede makapag aral, ‘di nalang po yung limited na lang din ganun, at ‘di na po gaano mahigpit sa
mga public places na rin po.
P2: Mhm

[End of Interview with P2]

 99

Transcript of Interview with Participant 3

Location: Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 7, 2022, 6:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Transcriber: Kristavin Danielle V. Fabunan and Ferie Joseph D. Manalad Jr.
Number of Tapes: 2 Video recording

M: Uhmm… ayon po, uhmm we are very sorry for the inconvenience pero ganun man po ahh,
tuloy lang po natin tong interview, uhh before we proceed po sa mismong interview (background
noise), uhhh may we first know your full name and the current medical profession that you are in
po?
(Silence)
P3: Ahh, I’m *** **** **** ******* uhh I’m working as a Radiologic Technologist… sa
Baypointe Hospital.
M: Ayun po, Thank you and at this juncture let us now proceed to the interview proper…Uhhhmm
Ferie?
I6: Okay po. Are you ready na po… to start? (chuckles) … the interview.
P3: Yes po, Ready na po.
I6: Okay po, so for our first question…(silence)... Louise the slide… ayan thank you
What was your initial reaction when you heard about the COVID 19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P3: Uhhh, nung una… parang wala lang eh kasi wala pa dito sa ano.. Sa atin.. Sa Zambales, sa
Olongapo. Pero nung time na naglockdown na tapos ano di na kami makauwi… ayon. Na ano na
una na… parang napanghinaan ng loob ganun parang syempre di di ako makauwi tapos parang
may virus na di mo alam kung pano lalabanan ganun. Kaya ayon, naa, yung parang na nanlumo
parang ganun lumo. Yung una kong reaction.
I6: Opo kaya nga po eh, parang for the first three months of twenty-twenty… parang wala lang
satin balewala lang dahil nung March pa lang talaga natin naramdaman yung ano… COVID. So,
for the next question po, Have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 po?
P3: Ohh, ahhh, Actually isa kami sa talagang naghandle ng mga ano… ng mga COVID patients
kasi minoomonitor yung lungs nila kaya lagi silang may chest x-rays… Lagi silang merong CT
scan…Lung CT scan, chest CT scan kaya ayun lagi namin silang kaharap, araw araw namin
(chuckles) silang ano minomonitor.
I6: Ahh okay po, uhm so how did you feel while handling the patients po with COVID-19?
P3: Hmmm, syempre una ano ahhh, ahhh tawag dito, ahh takot syempre baka mahawa ganun,
tapos yung iba kasi hindi lang ano eh hindi lang sila yung parang naghahandle din kami ng ano…
ng mga.. mga walang covid kaya hindi mo alam kasi yung iba may symptoms yung iba wala. Hindi
mo alam kung sino may ano talaga maaay. Uhh may virus. Kaya talagang yung takot.
 100

I6: Opo, kaya nga po nakakatakot dahil hindi natin sure nung una kung sino yung may covid dahil
merong asymptomatic merong symptomatic po. So, for our third question po… How did you
manage to protect your physical safety while providing care for your COVID-19 patients po?
P3: Ayon, ano maganda naman sa hospital namin may ano provided talaga na merong ano, merong
proper protective equipments bago maghandle ng mga pasyente. Yon so kumpleto naman. Merong
Haz… hazmat, merong ahh tawag (cricket noise) nun yung ahh goggles merong.. Ahh. N95
merong gloves merong ano basta kumpleto kami sa ano sa… sa ano naman sa mga protective
equipments para safe naman yung mga healthcare workers.
(Silence)
O: ayun nga po
M: uhmm
O: nag..karoon ng…
M: hello po
O: ayon
M: uhh I think si Ferie po naglag pero andyan na siya? Uhmm Ferie?
(Cricket Noise then Silence then dog barking)
M1: Uhmm nawawala pa rin po sya pero… yun nga po uhmmm tuloy po tayo dun sa ahh sagot
nyo kanina ahh. Yun po sa mga sinabi nyo kung kumpleto yung mga ahhh protective gear nyo,
sino po yung nagprovide nun… kayo po ba or yung hospital?
P3: Ahh ano… yung hospital yung hospital yung nagprovide nun tsaka meron ding mga
pumupunta dun na nagdodonate… maraming nagdonate ng mga uhh protective equipments nung
time naaa ano.. Na kasagsagan nung virus.
(Silence)
I6: Ahhh ok po uhmm so did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive po
for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P3: Ahh nung time na ano… ahhh delta delta variant ayun, nag nag positive kami… siguro.. Ilan
ba kami… lima?.. Anim mga ganun kami. Oh tama anim… anim kami.. Anim kami sa department
namin. Sa department lang namin kasi halos lahat eh halos lahat pero hindi naman hala halos pero
halos lahat yung sa hospital namin nagpositive pero iba ibang time. Nung time na sa department
namin anim kami, tapos ahhh ayon maging family rin namin family ko din nag kaya nag positive
rin. Ayun ahh nung unang symptom sakin sakin kasi iba iba kami depende sa ano sa reaksyon nung
katawan ng tao... Yung sa akin.. uhh nung unang gabi, sumakit yung buong katawan ko tas parang
nanghihina ako yun yung una. Tapos, pangalaw…ahh sumunod na mga araw nawalan ako ng
pang-amoy, yun nawalan ako ng pang-amoy tas sinisipon ako tapos yun lang… yun lang yung
nangyari sakin. Di ako nilagnat di ako umubo, di ako nahirapan huminga pero nawalan ako ng
pang amoy siguro mga three weeks…na walang naaamoy.
(Silence)
I6: Ahh so okay po, so Three weeks po yung tinagal po ng mga symptoms nyo po or yung pang
amoy lang po?
P3: yung pang amoy lang.
 101

I6: ahh
P3: Yung pang amoy yung ano. Yung ano yung sa sakit ng katawan siguro mga isang gabi lang
Naman yun.
I6: ahh okay po, so ang hirap po pala (lagging) no ng mga syptoms po na naranasan ang hirap nun
nung mawalan ng pang amoy… di mo alam rin yung lasa ng kinakain mo. So let’s proceed to the
next question. So, overall po, how can you describe your experience as a frontliner during the
surge of the pandemic?
P3: Ano… challenging kasi… anu eh nagkaroon ng mga iba’t-ibang protocol sa hospital tas
maging sa ano sa pag-uwi ano nahirapan umuwi, dun na kami natutulog kasi sa hospital buti na
lang binigyan kami ng ano.. ng rooms kaya… uhhh para di na kami bumabyahe kasi wala ring ano
wala ring transportation mahirap naman kung ano lagi kaming hinahatid nung ambulance… kaya
dun kami natulog… tsaka yun mahirap kasi nandyan na rin eh nag- nag positive din tapos nung sa
family nahawa din sila eh tas ano yun din namatay din si lola ko dahil dun ayon dun, nawalan ng
ano ng family member kaya medyo mahirap.
I6: Kaya nga po. So sorry to hear that po. Yun din po talaga yung ano nung pandemic, andami
pong nawalan ng mga mahal sa buhay tapos being a frontliner po sobrang hirap dahil kayo yung
nandoon sa mismong frontline para labanan yung virus knowing na hindi pa .. nung sa emergence
of the COVID hindi pa natin sure kung pano talaga lalabanan dahil halos wala pang vaccine non
or ganun. So may dorm po kayo dun or rooms yung binibigay… ng hospital?
P3: Nung una ano merong room… sa, ahh pinaka ahh fourth floor, meron kaming parang isang
malaking room don tas kanya-kanya namin ng bedspace. Kaso nung dumami na yung patients,
kailangan na yung ibang mga room, ahhh yung SBM ahh yung si Chairwoman si chairwoman
Eisma, nagprovide sya ng ano… ng parang hotel para sa mga frontliners ng baypointe sa Leciel
Hotel ng ano walking distance lang sa baypointe. Nung time kasi na yun parang… sa buong SBMA
yung.. tsaka Olongapo, isa yung baypointe sa talagang COVID facility. Tas nagtayo dun ng mga
tent ganun. Talagang para ano sinuportahan din naman kami ni ng government para sa mga
kailangan namin.
I6: Okay po uhmm mabuti naman po at nasuportahan po kayo ng government and natugunan po
yung mga pangangailangan. So at this point po, the next part, Kristavin, Please take over. Thank
you.
I5: So before we proceed sa next part natin gusto ko lang tanungin Kuya *** kung natutuwa ka po
ba samin. (silence) Joke lang.
P3: Ano naman (chuckles) ahhh gagaling nyo nga eh (chuckles)
I5: Okay next part. (chuckles), Next part, first question is, What are the changes that have happened
in the workplace?
P3: Ayon ah ang nangyari, nagkaroon, nahati nagkaroon ng mga division eh halimbawa sa
emergency room mayroon na doong isolation talagang naglagay ng mga harang. Tapos nagkaroon
kami ng triage area. Yung screening dun nag bi- dun iniiscreen yung mga papasok at la - papasok
sa ospital na sisiguruduhin na walang symptom, symptoms yung mga papasok. Tapos yung mga
magkakaroon naman ng mga symptoms, automatic pupunta sila sa isolation ganon. Tapos
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nagkaroon ng swabbing area… dun dun swinaswab yung mga mga ahhh mga kailangan mag pa
swab tapos yun din sa mga ano… sa lahat talagang nahati yung mga department, meron may tawag
kasi kami clean tsaka dirty. Pag clean, dun yung mga walang symptoms tas pag dirty, yun yung
mga PUI tsaka mga Positive ayan nahati pati yung mga nursing station meron nang isolation.
Talagang kaya merong mga area na designated para sa mga PUI tsaka positive tsaka sa mga wala
namang symptoms tsaka yung nagkaroon din ng area para kung saan kami magpapalit tsaka
mag…magsusuot ng PPE kasi kailangan pag hinubad na namin yung PPE tatapon na namin yun
para hindi mainfect ayon. Meron din tamang daanan para makapasok dun sa isolation para di lahat
makakadaan dun. Ayun may mga protocols na nangyari, dun na kailangan sundin para iwas din sa
pagkalat ng virus.
I5: Okay, since madami yung parang nalimit yung nabawasan yung ibang area, naging sapat po ba
yung kunwari sa non-COVID patients madami sila, naging sapat po ba yung area na yun for them
or nagkaroon din ng kakulangan?
P3: Ahh dun sa mga non-COVID patiens ano eh umunti sila kasi…natakot din silang pumunta ng
hospital (cricket noise). Natakot din sila pumunta ng hospital kaya mas umunti. Talagang yung
mga nung time na yun. Talagang pumupunta lang sa hospital yung talagang kailangang kailangan
na ng ano ng ahhh medical action yung mga yun. Yung tapos kasi yung iba lalong na … strict
talaga yung ano eh kasi yung COVID ang symptoms nya flu-like so sinipon ka lang, itatype ka na
na PUI diba?. Nilagnat ka lang hanggat hindi ka napapatunayan na negative, nandun ka sa
isolation.
I5: Okay, how about po sa number of employees, nagkaroon ba ng parang nagquit sila kahit hindi
sila healthcare workers, yung sa admin, janitorials, or kahit healthcare workers that they have to
fill in to their work po?
P3: Oo, maraming ano… marami ring nagresign syempre natakot din. Tapos yun mangangailangan
din talaga ng ano ng… maraming healthcare workers kasi andaming pasyente nung ano yung
talagang mga COVID, ang dami…kaya (High frequency sound) ahhh nagkulang din. Yung may
time na araw-araw twelve hours yung duty… dahil kulang kasi yung iba naaadmit din, nacoconfine
din dahil nagpositive kaya nagkukulang.
I5: Okay so… true na hindi.. we cannot deny na yung personal lives natin naapektuhan pati yung
sa ahh sa loob ng hospital especially hindi natin nakikita personally and but you like mga
healthcare workers nararanasan nila personally since this is a disease had to battle with their best
strength. And, with all those said, may I ask po how does the workforce change during the times
of pandemic? Yung mga personnel yung mga katrabaho nyo po pano po nagchange?
P3: Panong change ba?
I5: Siguro yung sa workloads, nag- mas marami pa po ba yung ahh workload nyo kesa dati?
P3: ahh workload oo
I5: sa isang-
P3:oo workload talagang dumoble (High-frequency sound) kasi ano yun nga talagang
nakadesignated na kami kunwari sa time na to, ako yung lahat ng hahawak ng COVID patients tas
yung iba yung isa sa CT scan yung isa sa X-ray na may COVID, yung isa sa ultrasound, yung isa
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sa reception mga ganun na hati hati talaga kami nandun lang na kami para kasi pag nagsama sama
kami baka yung isa infected… magkahawahawaan ganun. Talagang nagkaroon ng designated
areas na kailangan naming dun lang muna kami.
I5: Mahirap po bang magkahiwa-hiwalay na mag work or mas madali during the times ng
pandemic na mag-isa lang kasi…
P3: ahhh…
I5: kasi yUng baka mahawaan
P3: (stuttered) ahhh challenging din kasi yung mas maganda yung ano yung pwede kang humanap
ka ng kasama mo na kunwari bubuhatin mo yung pasyente. Yung mag isa mo lang talagang
kailangan mong ano kailangan mong ano na lang pilitin na mabuhat yung pasyente na or
maalalayan yung pasyente kung kaya naman. Mas maganda sana kung pwede kang pumunta dun
sa ibang area na wala syang ginagawa uhmm pa- patulong muna magbuhat ganon(chuckles).
Uhmm pero ano eh hindi pwede eh kailangan ikaw muna mag-isa dun (chuckles)
I5: Ang hirap pong mag-isa especially isolated and wala kang kausap. So, we know that PPE’s has
brought a lot of struggles sabi nyo nga mahirap mag PPE’ kasi maraming susuutin makapal sya
tas mahirap huminga and uhmm although meron naman na neto before but during the pandemic
naging necessity sya sa lahat ng healthcare workers and can we know your personal -personal
experience while wearing PPE’s habang nagpeperform ng job.
P3: ayun, ang hirap kasi ahh yun nga yun yung isang nagpapatagal para mag makarender kami ng
service sa mga patients yung nagsusuot kami ng diba naka uniform ka ay yung scrub suit ganyan
tapos yung susuot ka ng surgical cap, ng masks, susuot ka ng goggles magsusuot ka ng gloves
double gloves pa yun tas magsusuot ka ng booties, hazmat basta patong patong sya sobrang init
talaga lalo na pag ano pag andami mong patient tapos ilang oras kang naka hazmat. Yung full PPE
talagang walang hangin na pumapasok doon kaya talagang nababasa ng pawis talaga yung scrub
suit tapos ako pa naka glasses ano parang may parang ano fog yung salamin tapos pati yung yung
face shield nagkakafog na din ganyan tas di ko na makita yung pasyente ganun talagang mahirap
hirap ano grabe yon tapos pag hinubad mo yung P- yung mga PPE yun lahat bakat yung mga
surgical cap dito bumabakat dumikit na sa balat nagkasugat nga yung taas ng tenga ko dahil sa
kakasuot ng ano ng ng mask tapos dito bakat dito sa mukha yung mask para hindi syempre
kailangan tight eh tapos yun talagang pag piniga yung damit talagang andaming pawis na tutulo
parang naglaba ganun (chuckles). Ganun yung itsura nung pagkakasuot mo ng PPE.
I5: Okay, since sabi nyo po kanina, twelve hours po kayong nagwowork, so ganun din po ba yung
oras nung suot ng PPE or parang hati din yung nakanormal scrub or tapos hati din yung oras nang
naka PPE?
P3: Samin naman, ano sa department namin kapag may patient lang na COVID, then ilan yun,
kung gano mo katagal i-xray o i-ct scan yung lahat nung patient na yun, dun ka lang magsusuot ng
PPE tapos pwede mo na siyang tanggalin pag wala ka ng patient. Tas pag may dumating na naman
ayon susuot ka nanaman. (chuckles) ganon
I5: so..
P3: talagang magastos siya sa PPE
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I5: ahh de naging sapat naman po ba yung supply ng PPE sa hospital nyo?
P3: yung samin naman…
I5: or Di po ba nagkulang?
P3: di naman nagkulang.
I5: ah okay, di nyo din di nyo din po ba naranasan yung marestrict na kumain, umihi or magsuot
ng pampers (chuckles) or… PPE
P3: ahh hindi naman, siguro yung mga ganon sa nurses. Kasi sila yung ano eh yung kumbaga
pagpasok nila ng isolation, lalabas na sila don after duty na nila
I5: ah okay po
P3: kami kasi..
I5: so..
P3: pag kailangan lang ng procedure ng mga pasyente papasok kami tas lalabas din kami
pagkatapos ng procedure.
I5: Okay po for the next question, uhmm how did you change the way you interact with your
patients now that there are restrictions on communication
P3: Uhhh, (silence) hirap eh kasi dun sa reception may mga harang may mga plastic na makakapal
parang… tapos nakamask tapos naka face shield. Uhhh mahirap talagang lalaksan mo dun
lalakasan mo yung boses mo ganun tapos uhhh, na ano ka na dun eh parang syempre nagpositive
ka parang natatakot ka na din na masyadong lumapit eh kaya talagang nilalakasan ko na lang yung
boses pero distance pa din. Yun.
I5: Umabot po ba sa point na nag sign language nalang kayo or sinulat.
P3: ahh hindi naman, di naman, pero minsan kasi yung mga patient namin kunwari naka naka
intubate ganon may tubo na hindi na nagsasalita (I2: ahhh) wala, hindi na nila alam kung ano yung
nangyayari sa kanila, kaya minsan ahh talagang kunwari nurse papatulong ako sa nurse,
ipoposition yung patient ganun. Di na nila alam yung nangyayari sa kanila kaya parang yun less
communication din yun di na namin kailangan instruct yung pasente kasi di naman na nila alam
yung nangyayari sa kanila.
I5: Ahhh oki po especially since there are a lot of changes and modifications ahh how do you ahh
wait lang Do the changes in your workplace have an impact on you as a healthcare professional?
How so?
P3: Yung ano talagang ang pinakachange eh yung pag-iingat eh yung yung yung hindi ka dati kasi
kahit minsan yung parang tutulungan mo yung pasyente na bumangon, dati wala namang virus,
hahayaan mo sila na parang na yayakap sayo parang ganun, hahawakan ka nila, ngayon parang
ilang ka na eh na. Talagang poprotektahan mo na yung sarili mo talagang ieensure mo na meron
kang gloves lagi, nakasuot yung mask mo meron kang face shield. Ayon eensure mo na after ahh
before and after ng pasyente magaalcohol ka. Naranasan nga namin dati yung dati yung talagang
kasagsagan ng virus. Every after patient naliligo ka so nakakailang kang ligo sa isang araw walo
ganon. (chuckles)
I5: grabe
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P3: grabe yun. Oo. ilang ligo ka pagkatapos talagang after mo mag ano ng COVID patient ligo
agad.
I5: So changes in living and impact kaya we’re bounded to adapt the change at hanggang ngayon
naman nagmamask pa rin tayo nagaalcohol but siguro lessen na lang ngayon since na… nag lie
low na din yung COVID-19 so that’s the last question for this part. Moving on to the next part
Ferie?
I6: Okay po, Okay pa po ba kayo kuya? (chuckles)
P3: okay naman.
I6: Pwede po muna kayong uminom ng water. For this part, this will cover the difficulties and
challenges that you might have experienced. So for our first question, Are there instances where
you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak?
P3: Yun, yung ano, yung ahh process yung procedure ng paghandle ng patient. Yun yung mahirap
kasi dati papasukan mo yung pasyente tas gawin mo na kung ano yung dapat gawin sa kanya,
ngayon kasi talagang screening eh, screening mo talaga ahhh tapos pag okay na, mag mag susuot
ka na ng PPE then antagal antagal ng ano kaya ang humahaba yung yung time na nandun yung
pasyente kasi andami maghihintay pa sila para magbihis ka ganun tapos maghihintay pa sila na
mascreen sila pipila sila doon sa labas hmm na imbis na kung wala namang ganun ambilis lang
talaga ng procedure sana ambilis lang ng gagawin sa kanila kaso tumatagal kasi nga may mga
protocol na kailangang sundin para sa safety ng lahat.
I6: Opo, kaya nga po mas matagal yung mga procedure ngayon for both patient and the healthcare
worker po so, uhmm in terms of personal protective equipment po sapat po ba yung binibigay?
Although may nagbibigay po sa private sector. Sapat lang po ba ang mga PPE’s
P3: Samin ahh doon nag ano kami dun sa parang facebook page na ano na we need ng more pro-
yun nga ng PPE pero nung time naman namin hindi naman namin naranasan na wala na talagang
maisuot na PPE. Na meron namang lagi na provided.
I6: Opo, mabuti naman po at ganun po. Uhmm in terms naman po sa wages and unfair benefits,
sapat din po ba yung pasahod po, hindi po ba mababa?
P3: Hmmm, ahh meron kaming ano eh parang COVID allowance nagka pa- sa ano namin sa
department namin, kapag naghandle ka ng… uhhh COVID patient sa araw sa isang araw, merong
additional na ibibigay tapos meron din namang binigay ang government sa mga healthcare workers
yung mga SRA yun uhh natanggap naman namin yun pati yung ano yung nag ano kami nung nag
positive kami, lahat ng nagpositive na healthcare workers, may binigay dun yung government.
Kaya uhh pati SSS meron ding binigay. Mga ano naman, meron namang mga binigay yung
government tsaka yung hospital din mismo meron ding COVID allowance na binibigay.
I6: Okay po, yun na po ba yung hazard pay po na tinatawag?
P3: ahh
I6: Or iba po yun?
P3: iba pa yung hazard pay.
(Both speaking simultaneously)
I6: Ay sige po continue po
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P3: Yung hazard pay ano naman na yon uhhh tawag don, automatic saming mga radtech kasi we’re
dealing sa ano radiation so… bago pa kami, pagkahire namin meron na yung hazard pay, maging
sa mga medtech, meron na ring silang hazard pay agad nung para kahit wala pa yung pandemic
kasi nag aano naman sila ng mga body fluids mga syringe tsaka needles ganon. Meron nang mga
hazard pay. Depende sa profession mo kasi kung magkakahazard pay.
I6:Okay po. It’s good to hear na natugunan naman po ang mga pangangailangan ng ating healthcare
workers. Uhmm how about po naman sa ano, not being heard to the grievances of medical workers.
Naranasan nyo po ba yun?
P3: Uhhh, di ko na kasi maalala pero alam ko sa yung sa ano lang siguro yung panawagan namin
na uhh wag na lumabas yung mga tao dahil yung time na yon kasi… sobrang dami talaga tas yun
grabe tapos yung makikita mo yung mga pasyente na… uhhh ang lakas lakas pa nung una tapos
mga ilang araw may intubated na may tubo na para makatulong yun tapos yung mga ilang araw
wala na sya. Ganun ambilis parang mga four days lang nagstay sa hospital tapos wala na. Yun
yung parang yung mga ganyan na frontliners na wag ng lumabas ng bahay, yung uhmm uhhh mag
pa vaccine ganon tas, yung iba kasi talagang parag ganun di sila naniniwala sa vaccine tas yung
iba pasaway na lumalabas pa din. Yun din nakakalungkot kasi parang… di nila nakikit- di nila
nakikita yung ano yung… nangyayari sa hospital tapos lumalabas pa rin sila. Ganun. Parang inaano
namin tama na (chuckles) … tama na muna. Break na muna ganun.
(Silence)
I6: Oh okay po. So lahat, so sa lahat po ng nasabi nyo po, How did it affect you po as a healthcare
worker?
P3: Yun uhhhh, talagang ano eh, yung uhhh presence of mind eh yung… uhhh parang nag-
nadevelop kasi titignan mo talaga kung , checheck mo kung ready ka na sa gagawin mo, checheck
mo kung… checheck mo yung patient kung uhhh kung yung risk na mangyari kung high risk, kung
low risk yung pasyente checheck mo kung maproprotektahan mo ba yung sarili mo. Checheck mo
kung uhh magagawa mo ba nang maayos yung procedure na gagawin sa pasyente base dun sa
kalagayan nya. Ayon. checheck mo talaga yung… yung mga kaila- mga kailangang icheck para
magawa mo yung work mo.
I6: Sige po, talagang ang dami pong challenges ngayong pandemic lalong lalo na sa emergence
po. Uhmm so …before mag next question meron na naman po ata tayong (chuckles) difficulties
and…
M1: nagloloko po…
I6: sige po continue Louise
M: nagloloko yung account
M: I think…kailangan nating lumipat
I6:Should we lipat?(chuckles) we’re very sorry po for the inconvenience.
P3: Okay lang okay lang
Z: Record- (inaudible sound)
M1: Ayan.
I6: (echoing sound) ‘Yan. So, o-okay pa po ba? Sorry po again for the inconvenience-
 107

P3: Okay lang.

I6: So to continue po, or our question po, what can you say about the hours spent in the work-
workplace, as well as your workload po?
P3: Ayun, nung- nung time na ‘yun, ‘e wala ng (background noise) magagawa talaga (chuckles)
wala ‘e, nandun na kami ‘e. Tsaka, hindi rin ako p’wede umuwi. Kaya, ahh- though nadagdagan,
okay lang din. (laughs), para sa akin ah? Okay lang din, gan’on talaga. (chuckles), ah- tho- ahh-
tap- mabilis lang naman, mabilis- kasi d’on mo rin marara- ma- mm- pagod ka, pero hindi mo
mara- mamalayan ‘yung oras sa sobrang dami mong ginawa, na natapos na pala ‘yung duty mo,
gan’un.
I6: Opo, sa isang week po ba, gano- ilang oras po ‘yung hours n’yo po, ‘yung duty n’yo po? ‘yung
minimum po?
P3: Minimum, 48 yata? Sa isang araw, ay sa isang week, oo. Minimum ‘yun. (background noise)
Tama ba ‘yun? Minimum ‘yung 48.
I6: At the time of the pandemic na po ‘yun? Or before pa po?
P3: Before pa ‘yun. Nadagdagan nung pandemic.
I6: Ah ilang-
P3: Mga-
I6: oras po ba nung pandemic?
P3: Siguro nadag- nadagdagan ng… mga… minsan, 16 hours..per week. Nadagdagan ng gan’on.
Depende kasi ‘e, ‘pag marami kayo, mas ko- mas konti ‘yung ano, yung time. Pero pag yung iba,
yun nga, may maaadmit, tas yung iba nag-resign, ‘yun, madagdagan.
I6: Opo, ang da- ang laki rin po pala ng tinaas ng pandemic, 16 hours. So, halos isang araw na rin
po. So, okay po, for our next question po. Eto po naging controversial pwe- narinig natin sa mga
balita. So, have you experience workplace discrimination po during the start of pandemic?
(Notification and vibration sound) And how did this affect you as a professional?
P3: ‘Yung sa’kin lang, ano yung- ano lang e, pag umuuwi lang e, dati. Nung time na pwede nang-
umuwi kasi ako ‘nung time…na ‘yun, once a week. Pag umuuwi akong ano… pag nakita nila
akong naka-ano…pang-hospital na uniform. S’yempre, iiwas sila gan’on. Ta- Nakakalungkot, na
parang pinandidirihan ka gan’on. Pero, (breathe sound) hanggang d’on lang naman yung sa’kin.
Kasi ‘yung sa mga ibang ka-work ko, sila talaga. Nag- parang nag-announce ‘yung mayor nila na
ano, na…wag na silang umuwe, g’anon (chuckles) tapos ‘yun, ‘di sila pinapauwi. Pinapabalik d’on
sa bayan nila, gan’on. ‘Yun yung mas nakaka ano, nakaka…lungkot. ‘Yung sa naexperience nila.
‘Yung sa’kin, ano lang, mild lang ‘e.
I6: Opo, grabe po pala ‘yung discrimination. So, pag nakakexperience po kayo ng discrimination,
ano nalang po ‘yung ginagawa n’yo po?
P3: Wa- ano…’yung time na kasi na ‘yun, ‘yung time na may mga discriminations na…ahh..pi-
e- sinabihan na kami na pag-uuwi kami, ‘wag na kami mag uniform, mag-civilian nalang kami,
para hindi na kami madiscriminate. ‘Yun yung ginawa namin, para ano (background noise) para
‘di nila alam na- na galing kaming hospital, though, gud- bago naman kami lumabas ng hospital
sinigurado naming na- nadisinfect namin yung mga sarili namin.
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I6: Okay po, umm- sige po let’s proceed to the next question po. So, how did the pandemic affect
your physical aspect po muna?
P3: Ahhh…(background noise) parang ano..’yung pagod, pagod, mas pagod. Kesa nung before
pandemic, mas napagod, mas uhmm, though, di naman…di naman ako.., wala naming pagbabago
sa katawa-, sa bigat ko ganun, ‘yun yung pagod lang talaga, ‘yung after mo mag-duty, gusto mo
nalang matulog. Ayun…
I6: Opo, opo. Talaga pong nakaka- hapong-hapo po kayo ‘no? After duty. So, may fina-follow po
ba kayong diet po? And nageexercise pa rin po ba?
P3: Nung time kasi na ‘yun, ano ‘e, nagbabawas din ako ng timbang n’on e. Pero ano lang ‘yun,
dahil gusto ko lang. Ahhh- merong- nakaano ako n’un, ahh- intermittent fasting. Pero…wala, wala
naming kinalaman yung sa ano (laughs) sa, para sa, sa height. (dog squeaks)
I6: Okay po. May tinetake po kayong supplement? Para pang protect na rin po? Additional
protection or wala-
P3: Ah-
16: -naman po?
P3: Ah (dog squeaks) binigyan kami ng ano, vitamins…galing ng hospital. Ah, vitamin c, plus
zinc gan’on.
I6: Okay po. Umm. So, let’s proceed naman po sa mental aspect po, how did the pandemic affect
you po?
P3: ‘Yun, ano, ahh- ciempre ano, tawag ‘dun, nakakapraning din…kasi umubo lang ‘yung
pasyente, gan’on, feeling mo (chuckles) may virus na gan’on (inhales) o kaya mag-ano lang,
sinipon lang, gan’on. Tsaka, ‘yung ano ‘din, ‘yung, kapag may naramdaman ka lang konte.
Kunwari, sumakit katawan mo, parang…o kaya, tumaas lang konti temperature mo, parang
matatakot ka na, hala baka positive na’ko, ganyan. Nag- mga nag-aalala ka na sa mga konting
bagay, gan’un. Nakakapraning din. (chuckles) T’as yung gan’un.
I6: Opo, talagang tumataas ang anxiety levels natin ngayong pandemic (chuckles) uhmm, how
about naman po sa so-social aspect naman po?
P3: Sa social naman, yun kasi, ‘diba nga ano, nagpostive kami. Na-quarantine. So, talagang
isolated (chuckles), talagang di makalabas ng ano. Ano, mhmm…’yu- ‘yun. D’un lang sa ano ‘e,
ilang weeks kami d’un sa ano, talagang hinintay kasi na ano ‘e, mawala ‘yung symptoms namin
tsaka mag-negative kami. ‘Dun kami sa ospital, sa room lang. D’un lang kami tas, wala lang,
walang ginagawa d’on. (chuckles) naka-isolate e. ah- wala, di kami lumalabas. Pati- kahit nung
ano, nung time na, nagdu-duty kami, talagang pa- from room to… sa department namin, pupunta
kami tas babalik lang din kami sa room. Di kami gumagala, di kami hangga’t- dun lang, work,
work saka-
I6: Nung nacontract-
P3: room lang.
I1: - n’yo po ba yung-… ‘Yan sige po, nung nacontract n’yo po ba yung virus, may means of
communication po kayo sa family n’yo and sa mga loved ones n’yo po?
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P3: Oo, meron naman. Buti nga may social media (chuckles), naco-contact naman sila. Kahit
nandon kami sa, kahit nakaisolate kami.
I1: Opo, yun po ‘yung kagandahan talaga ng social media. Kaya kahit malayo and ano, may means
of communication po tayo. Lastly po, sa emotional aspect naman po.
P3: Yun sa emotion, ‘yun nga, na-share ko kanina yung, na…nawala nga si Lola. ‘e kasi ano e,
nung time na ‘yon, hindi, ah- hindi pa nilala- hindi pa sinasabihan na pwede na ‘yung mga
senior...citizen na mag-vaccine. So, na- nainfect sila nung virus na wala pa silang vaccine. Kaya
‘yun, kaya, ano four days lang yung tinagal ni Lola ko d’on sa hospital tas nawala na s’ya yun,
medyo ano rin. Kasi una ahh- nakita mo nalang s’ya sa video e na…na… ayun, bianbalot na ganon,
hindi na humihinga tapos makita mo video p- sinend lang sakin kasi naka-quarantine kami lahat.
May- yung ti- yung isang tito ko lang ‘yung nagprocess. T’as nakita mo s’ya na criminate, tas nasa
ano lang s’ya, nasa urn, gan’on. Tapos wala la- hindi ko na s’ya nakita e, ang last nakita ko na nga
sa kanya nung naghiwa-hiwalay kami kasi inisolate kami gan’on. Tapos ‘yun yung parang ano
mahirap na, nawala s’ya nang di mo nakita, na di di di mo man lang-, di ka man lang
nakapagpaalam gan’on kasi nung time na ‘yon, meron na s’yang… intubated na s’ya, gan’on.
Talagang di mo alam yung mararamdaman mo ‘e. Kasi naka-isolate ka, tapos namatayan ka, tapos
di ka pa makalabas, gan’on. Parang nagpatong-patong yung, yung emo- emotion na di mo alam
kung paano mo id-deal.
I1: Opo, sobrang grabe po talaga ‘yung pinagdaanan n’yo. And, I’m sorry po to tackle this sensitive
ano-
P3: de, okay lang naman.
I1: -topic po. Umm, so let’s proceed po sa ating, sa ating final question for this part po. So, what
has been the most challenging aspect of working as a frontliner or while handling a COVID-19
patient?
P3: ‘yung ano, kasi, kapag ano, ‘yung para sa akin ah? ‘yung sa…sa part naming mga RadTech,
di mo kasi alam…kung…kung anong status nung pasyente lalo na ‘yung mga high risk. Kasi, mga
ano na ‘yun e, yun nga, mga naka-intubated yun ‘e. So, minsan, pinoposition mo sila ganyan, tas
biglang…biglang bababa yung oxygen level nila, tapos ‘yun na. nagpi-50/50 na sila, gan’on.
Parang di mo alam kung…mabubuhay pa ba ‘yung pasyente mo. Di moa lam kung an- di mo alam
biglang mamatay habang- habang- habang ah- ginagawa mo yung procedure sa kanya,
gan’on.’Yun yung pinaka-challenging kasi kaya ang gina- talagang- kapag ako, personally, kapag
naghahandle ako ng patient, ginagawa ko, ginagawa ko yung best ko para kahit papano mabilisan
yung- yung procedure na ginagawa para kahit papaano yung comfort din ng pasyente, tsaka ‘yun
din baka, ayoko kasi na ako yung last touch e (laughs). Ayoko yung last touch. Parang gan’on. So,
di mo ah- di mo ah- alam kung anong mangyayari sa pasyente after mong gawin yung procedure
sa kanya.
I1: Opo, ang hirap po talaga, punong puno ng uncert- uncertainty lalo na ngayong pandemic. So
due to this po, meron po bang moment na- nagkaron po kayo ng difficult time doing your job and
con-cinonsider n’yo na po bang magquit because of the pandemic exhaustion po?
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P3: Oo. Nung- natry ko ‘yun na parang nag-iisip ako kung…kung…syempre work ko ano, na,
kaharap ko yung mga ano, mga infected ng virus tapos na, namatayan kami dahil doon gan’on,
tapos parang gusto ko na lumipat nalang ng ibang profession gan’on, pero nung s’yempre, nung
time na ‘yon, mahirap naman humanap din ng work…kasi pandemic. ‘Yun parang nilakasan ko
nalang talaga yung loob ko though gusto ko na magquit din, nung time na ‘yun, kasi andaming
namamatay, (static sound) andaming na nagpopostive sa mga kawork mo. Pa- andami- andami
ring nagqquit. Parang gusto mo na ring magquit gan’un, pero wala ka ring- wala ka talagang
magagawa e. Kasi pandemic, mahirap maghanap ng work, tapos ahh kailangan din talaga ‘e, naki-
nakikita mo rin yung need ng ano ‘e, ng maraming healthcare workers ‘e, kasi kung walang gagawa
n’on, pa- pano tayo- pano natin malalagpasan, ma- mairaraos ‘tong pandemic na’to kung walang
tatao gan’on sa hospital gan’on. Gan’on nalang din inisip ko.
I1: Opo, umm, kaya po kami po’y humahanga’t sumasaludo po dahil sa kabila ng maraming pong
pagsubok na inyong kinaharap, ‘yan- nanatili po kayo sa dedikasyon na magsilbi po sa bayan at
tulungan po ang ating mga kababayan lalo na sa pandemya po ngayon, in terms sa kanilang medical
needs po. Umm, so that would be the last question for this part po. Next part po, Kristavin will
interview again po. Thank you po.
P3: Thank you.
I2: Okay, we’re down to the last part na po ng interview. And, proceed na tayo agad for the first
question, what are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic?
P3: Ahh…panong adaptive mechani- sa work ba? Sa..
I2: Ahh… ah-
P3: Paghandle ng patients?
I2: Sa work din po ah- yung parang coping mechanism n’yo pano po kayo nakakamove-on,
kunware, kapag nakikita n’yo yung patient na nagsstruggle, gan’on
P3: Hmm
I2: or sa sarili mo din po.
P3: sa ano kase, parang nasanay ka na din e, yung talaga na…parang araw araw kang may
nakikitang may namamatay araw araw kang may nakikitang may parang may ano, parang
(breathes in) nawala (chuckles) na- nam- na- namanhid ka na parang ganon. Parang kumbaga
malungkot ka kase yung patient mo na…nawala Pero…ahh…alam mo na may panibago nanamang
dumadating na mga pasyente, d’on ka nalang magfo-focus, sa sobrang dami kasi ng pasyente, kung
ano yung…kung ano yung current na nangyayari sa ginagawa mo, d’on ka lang magfofocus. Kung
ano ‘yung nangyari, in the past, ‘yung namatay yung pasyente, o kaya ahh mas grumabe, o kaya
gumaling, hindi mo na- makakalimutan mo na ‘yun e, focus ka na naman sa panibagong pasyente
mo. Magfofocus ka nanaman sa ahh…sa mga susunod kaya su- yon dahil dahil pre-occupied ka,
parang talagang kailangan mo talagang ano, mag-focus, sa kung ano ‘yung ginagawa mo. Hindi
m- hindi- nakakalimutan mo na yung mga nangyari sa, in the past gan’on.
I2: How about naman po personal kapag when you’re outside the hospital? Ano po ‘yung mga
coping mechanisms na ginagawa n’yo?
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P3: Ahh…’yon buti naman na-ano, na-involve tayo sa church, sa ministry, ‘yon. Kase, isa talaga
‘yon sa ano ‘e, sa cope mo, sa pinanghahawakan mo na magiging okay din ang lahat kasi…kasi
andyan si Lord, ayan, ‘yon, siyempre ano, alam mo naman yun *** (chuckles)
I2: (chuckles)
P3: Magkasama tayo sa ministry, sa music, sa music team, sa pagiging…pagiging servant sa
church, na ano…’yun, yun din ‘yung pinanghahawakan mo talaga na ano ‘e na magiging okay din
ang lahat kasi God is always in control. ‘Yung faith, ‘yung ahh… ‘yung ahh tiwala mo ‘yun, kay
Lord, ayun.
I2: okay-
P3: -‘yung pinanghahawakan talaga.
I2: Yah, that’s really great po na lahat naman po siguro tayo when- nung nagkaron ng pandemic,
ang tanging nagawa nalang natin, when the things are hectic na, ang dami ng struggle, mag-pray.
‘Yan, and, Filipinos are truly great pushing aw- the struggles away kahit andami nangyayari.
Andami ding ginawa ng mga Filipino para maging creative and lifting up their spirit. So, next
question, umm, among the trials you faced at work, how did you overcome them?
P3: Hmm… anong.. ahh… ano naman kasi parang umm laging nagbababa kasi ng protocol, ng
mga rules, ng mga kailangang gawin sa amin, saka kailangan namin sundin para rin sa safety
naming, ayun para…para ano talagang ano ‘e. Di kasi talaga maiiwasan minsan kaya may mga
ano, nakakapasok na…sa loob ng ospital na…na may symptoms na nakalusot sa triage. Syempre,
gagawan naman kaagad ‘yun ng action, ng mga plan, tas merong mga procedure tas protocol na
kaya gagawin namin para…para maensure yung safety ng lahat. Ayun ‘yun lagi ‘yung nasa isip
ko, yung safety ng mga ka-work mo, yung safety rin ng mga pasyente. ‘Yun yung pinapriority.
I2: Hm, are there times po ba na kunware nag- ahh.. nakalusot nga po ‘yung isang patient mer-
parang nag-fail po kayo na mag-gawa ng action? Meron po bang ganong time?
P3: Hmm, ahh, feeling ko wala naman kasi kunwari, nakalusot sa triage, bawat department, screen
ulit ‘yun e. Ieensure na talagang ano, parang kumbaga, ahh- ma- ahh- naiirita na minsan yung
ibang mga pasyente kase interview nang interview, gan’on. Interview lahat, talagang iniiscreen.
“Na- natanong na sa akin kanina ‘yan ah?” gumagan’on (chuckles). Pero kino-confirm namin para
sure. Para talagang hindi…hindi mainfect ‘yung mga kasama natin.
I2: Okay, umm hanggang ngayon naman po we’re still overcoming ‘yung problem na dala ng
COVID-19. We’re still the pro- we’re still in the process of overcoming it. Umm, for the next
question, in the challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have
learned personally, or even in your profession?
P3: Yung ano, ahh… ‘yung personally natutunan ko na…ahhh…talagang, tawag d’un?
Ahh…hindi permanent ‘yung mga, yung mga bagay dito sa mundo. Minsan, kung ano ‘yung
meron sa’yo, pwedeng mawala agad lahat ‘yon. Halimbawa, yung buhay natin na free tayo
gan’yan, diba? Parang masaya tayong namumuhay okay ang lahat tas biglang nagka-pandemic,
gan’yan, may virus tas nawala lahat nung…nung mga…mga meron tayo. ‘Di na tayo pwede
lumabas, ‘di na tayo pwedeng magkita-kita, ‘yung ganon parang kung ano ‘yung meron sa atin
ngayon, i-ano natin, i-cherish natin. Kung ano ‘yung nararanasan natin ngayon, ahh- m- mabuhay
 112

tayo ‘yu- wi- ano- umm- mabuhay tayo ng parang ineenjoy ‘yung mga bagay-bagay hangga’t
meron- hangga’t nararanasan natin kasi hindi natin alam isang araw, mawawala na rin lahat ng
‘yon. ‘Yon yung natutunan ko.
I2: Sa profession n’yo po ba, have-
P3: About-
I2: Did you love more ‘yung trabaho n’yo during the pandemic or nagkar’on kayo ng time na
‘ayoko na’ (chuckles) gan’on.
P3: Ayon, yung sa profession ko, ahh…na-ano, na…dalawa ‘e, kasi ‘yung ano, nakita ko kung
gaano kahalaga ‘yung healthcare. Ahh- healthcare na field. Pero nakita ko rin kung gaano ahh…
Hindi pinahalagahan ‘yung healthcare (chuckles) kasi though hindi naman masyado sa ano namin,
sa hospital, pero sa iba, kung nakikita mo mga balita, yung makita mo, yung mga ibang healthcare
professionals na plastic nalang ‘yung PPE nila, gan’on, naaawa ka na- buti nalang di naming ‘yun
naranasan yung gan’on. Parang bakit napabayaan ‘yun- tas makikita mo, nababalitaan mo merong
corruption na nangyari sa DOH, ‘yung mga gan’on, yung mga…na…mga…naiinis ka gan’on.
Mga parang sobrang halaga ng field mo tapos hindi pinapahalagahan nung ibang tao, gan’on.
I2: True po, ka- we can’t see your struggle na kami bilang normal palang na tao, hindi kami
healthcare workers, hindi naming nakikita ‘yung totoong nangyayari sa loob ng hospital. Hindi
natin nakikita ‘yung ahh… struggle ng isang healthcare worker or frontliner during the pandemic,
but the COVID-19 has taught us a lot and trut- true nga na we never stop learning and this is the
last question na po like as in last, is adapting to change in times of pandemic necessary? Why and
why not?
P3: ‘Yung change kasi ano e, constant yan-, kumbaga, ang change is constant sa buhay ng tao e.
Talagang habang tumatanda tayo, habang nabubuhay tayo sa mundo, maraming changes na
mangyayari. Kaya talagang kailangan nating mag-adapt, at good thing naman sa human body
talagang ano e, may kakayahan naming mag-adapt ‘yung human body. Para ma-maintain ‘yung
balance ng buhay. Meron talagang gan’on. Ga- gan’on yung kagagandahan. Kaya nga nakaka-
amaze ‘yung human body kasi ang galling ng pagkakagawa kasi marunong mag-adapt sa
environment, marunong mag-adapt sa pangyayari at ang tanong lang ‘don is gaano tayo kabilis
mag-adapt, ‘yun yon e. ‘yun yong tamang tanong kung…depende kasi sa tao ‘yun e, kung…kung
gaano kabilis s’ya mag-adapt, at kung gaano s’ya ka-advance mag-isip. Gan’on din. Kaya nga
I2: (chuckles)
P3: Hindi, totoo ‘yun. Kailangan nating ano, kailngan natin maging advance mag-isip na alam mo
‘yun, ‘yung parang hindi pa nangyayari isang bagay, kailangan isipin mo na paano pag nangyari
‘to? Dapat may gagawin na tayong hakbang para kapag nangyari ‘yung isang bagay na ‘to, alam
natin kung papaano natin masosolusyunan kaya. Naalala ko ‘yung ano ‘e, yung, yung bill na
prinopose ni Mi- Senator ano, Mirriam Defensor Santiago, ‘yung about sa pandemic, na kapag
nagkaron ng pandemic, ito ‘yung mga gagawin gan’yan, tas ito ‘yung hindi naisabatas. ‘Yun
nakakalungkot ‘yon. ‘Yu-yung ganong klaseng advance mag-isip na pag- pag bago pa mangyari
‘yung isang bagay, meron ka ng solusyon d’on na gagawin. Yun- gan- ganun dapat tayong mga
tao para kung nangyari ‘yung isang bagay na ‘yon, ready tayo.
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I2: Ah- kayo po ba, gaano kabilis po kayo mag-isip? (laughs)

P3: (chuckles) Ahh-
I2: Or gaano kayo kabilis nag-adapt during the pandemic po?
P3: Ah- siguro, personally ano meron kasing mga protocol na ano pa- ‘yung sa’kin, kasi depende
sa employee ‘yun e kung paano n’ya gagawin ‘yung pro- kung papaano n’ya papatupad ‘yung
protocol na binaba sa amin. ‘Yung sa akin kasi kapag may, may sinabi sa amin na, gan’to yung
procedure, ganito ‘yung gagawin, kailangan sundin ‘to. Humahanap ako ng mas, mas easier na
para- paraan na para magawa ‘yung…’yung bagay na pinapagawa sa‘min. Humanap- eh- gum-
gumagawa rin ako ng sarili kong protocol (laughs) na di nila alam.
I2: (laughs)
P3: para ano, para hindi mahirapan ‘yung pasyente, para hindi rin ako mahirapan, g’anon. Kaya
minsan, nagtatakha sila, “ba’t ang bilis mo?” (laughs) “ba’t ang ano” “kasi ganito ‘yung ginawa
ko, pwede namang kasing ganito, pwede namang gan’yan para, para ano mh- mh-, pero h- na
ineensure pa rin natin ‘yung ano, ‘yung safety ng lahat. Kahit ginagawa natin ‘yun. Gagawa rin-
parang nagmomo- nghh- nagmomodify tayo ng mga…ng mga bagay. Para magawa mo ng mas
maayos ‘yung dapat mong gawin tsaka mas mabilis. Kasi gan’un yung sa principle namin e. Kasi
pag tumatagal ‘yung- s’yempre pag tumatagal yung exposure ng patient sa radiation, diba ‘yun,
masama din. Gumagawa ka ng paraan, nimomodify mo yung mga…yung mga bagay na…na
kailangan mong gawin para mas mabilis saka, tsaka mas madali ‘yung gagawin mo. Pero hindi,
hindi nababawasan ‘yung quality ng ginagawa mo. gan’un ‘yung ginagawa ko.
I2: Okay. Last question pa po pala, what are your recommendations t- ahh for the public health
preparation to end this pandemic?
P3: Vaccine. ‘Yun talaga. Vaccine. Protection. Proteksyunan natin ‘yung mga sarili natin para may
panlaban tayo, magpa-vaccine tayo. Pilitin natin na, na…i..educate ‘yung mga hindi naniniwala sa
vaccine gan’on. Tsaka, ih- ano, parang malaman nila ‘yung kahalagahan ng ano, ng vaccine. Kasi
talagang ‘yun yung protection natin. Kahit anong brand pa ‘yan, mas maganda ng merong
proteksyon kesa wala. Talagang mahalaga ‘yung vaccine. Tsaka, ayon ah- hindi naman na natin
maiwasan ‘yung ano ngayon ‘e yung mga social gatherings e. Kaya yung vaccine talaga. At least
meron lahat para maproteksyunan kase ‘yung virus naman na kinakaharap natin ngayon, kapag
may… kapag may masasa- ma- mapupuntahan s’yang host, mabubuhay s’ya, e kung ‘yung host
na pupuntahan n’ya e malakas ‘yung immune system, may proteksyon, mamamatay s’ya ganon,
sa host na ‘yon. Hindi na s’ya kakalat, gan’on. Kaya napakahalaga n’on vaccine.
I2: True, ‘yun yong una nating kinailangan before but sobrang liit ng supply, sobrang te- ahh- ano-
parang madaling maubos and mahirap magdeliver nga po dito sa Pilipinas. Umm, it’s really a lot
to take this pandemic, but we hope all those recommendations will be heard by many. Lalong lalo
na sa mga uneducated people sa vaccine. And, because we can’t end this alone, kailangan sama-
sama tayo. Ahh, that’s the last part of this interview. Prap- ahh- end of this interview and…may I
call on Louise end this interview…
[End of Interview with P3]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 4

Location : Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 9, 2022, 8:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Transcriber/s: Louise Alyssa Eunice Chan
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

M: Before we proceed po sa.. ayun po, before we proceed sa interview proper, may we first know
your full name and the current medical profession that you are in?
P4: I am Dr. **** ******* *******… uhm an internal – internist internal medicine, subspecialty
adult cardio, and subspecialty critical care medicine
M1: Uhm okay po, at this juncture let us now proceed to the interview proper
(murmurs in the background)
I5: Uhm again, good evening po, uhm are you ready na po (audio lags) answer
P4: Yes, I am ready na
I5: Okay po, so let’s proceed to the first question… What was your initial reaction when you heard
about the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P4: Actually uhm, during the time that, uhm, the first cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, I am
on my uhm 3rd year uhm fellowship as adult cardio, going 3rd year.. Uhm actually at that time,
uhm it should be uhm actually dapat uhm, uhmm toxic year samin ‘yon, as 3rd year kasi more on
admin work na kami and more on the management of the patient. However, because of COVID-
19 outbreak nagkaroon ng major major changes in our training, on our duties, and the way we
managed din sa patients namin. Uhm, if you will remember, if you could remember uhm halos
wala pang maayos na uhm protocols at that time (notification sound) i think uhm pumutok yung
first case around, sa atin ah, sa Philippines, uhm between late Feb to March, pero at that time wala
pang malinaw na protocols on testing, sinong dapat mascreen, who to isolate.. Uhm magulo… oo
siguro yun yung reaction, medyo confused kami kung ano yung gagawin and how we will manage
our patients uhm cardiac patients plus yung management pa nung mga COVID uhm positive
patients and problematic din kami on how our training will continue with this uhm pandemic
I5: Okay po, may I ask po ba, how did you manage po yung changes and was it difficult for you
po ba to uhh to take care of your patients during the- those times?
P4: Uhmm regaarding sa changes (wind blowing) , madaming adjustments (mic sound)… uhm
cardio –adult cardiology, cardio itself its uh medyo toxic siya, maraming patients sa– lalo na doon
sa samin (wind blowing) dahil referral center kami sa Philippines, sobrang daming patients plus
nung nagkaroon ng COVID-19 outbreak (mic sound) halos lahat ng procedures namin noon
natigil… uhm ibig sabihin, no elective bypass, no elective coronary angiogram, no elective uhm
cardiac procedures… ang uunahin lang talaga namin is emergency.. So, mahirap– unang una
mahirap na nga yung cardiac cases, dadagdagan mo pa ng uhm COVID… sobrang hirap mag-
PPE, magsuot ng PPE… what more kung (mic sound) magtatagal ka pa sa patient, when you are
 115

wearing those napakainit na PPE (wind blowing), and hind– syempre halos lahat (mic sound)
naman may scare at that time kase unang una sabi nga nila (wind blowing) hindi natin alam kung
ano yung COVID at that time, nung (wind blowing) walang clear protocol on how to diagnose,
(wind blowing) how to manage (inaudible background noise) kasi nasa ano pa noon eh, parang
even yung management during those time, or on based on experiences lang, wala pa talagang
studies kung mag- tawag dito?– mag-eeffect ba yung management, so mahirap kasi even our
duties (wind blowing) uhm mapuputol, tapos may mga times na syempre ikaw (background noise)
medyo magdadalawang isip ka kung papasok ka pa ng ospital, much more kung papasok ka pa sa
COVID units…
I5: Okay po.. so , aside from managing your cardio patients, moving on to the next question…
Have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?
P4: Yes (wind blowing), I am uhm one of those cardio fellows na pumasok talaga sa COVID
uhmm units (background noise) if you can remember, yung kauna-unahang doctor na namatay
during COVID, Doctor ****** ******, uhm he is my closest friends during fellowship and I am
the one who managed him during his ICU stay and until we (wind blowing) pronounced his death..
So ‘yun, di– nagvolunteer naman talaga akong pumasok (background noise) sa COVID ICU noon
para mahandle siya… Kasi walang gusto din.. Walang ding gustong pumasok from us pero
syempre kaibigan ko yun eh, kailangan pumasok (background noise) …
I5: Oh so .. (inaudible)
P4: And even.. And even after naman sakanya uhm we need uhm no, decking na din kasi kami
noon sa COVID uhm COVID units (background noise) mas lalo nung nag subspecialty ako nung
Crit Care, so ano every month, talagang papasok kami ng COVID ICU, handled madaming toxic
COVID, and espec- ano even those COVID patients na if you are familiar with uhm ECMO, kami
kasi yung para siyang, para siyang artificial lung, parang (background noise) artificial heart lung
machine na kinakabit dun sa patient so kami ang naghandle dun.. Yes, many many times..
I4: Uhm may I ask po ba, despite of the scare that we are- that you are feeling how did you find
courage to take care of the patients, when those times hindi pa po natin alam how to handle it,
kagaya nga po ng sabi niyo…
P4: Uhm siguro, at that time… yung di ko alam kasi kung courage or something (wind blows), but
for me it’s my call of duty kasi na pumasok as a doctor kahit na man (background noise) kahit na
saang outbreak, kahit na saang pandemic man na lumabas even if hindi mo pa uhm kumabaga alam
kung ano mang magiging management, it is your duty parin na uhm (notification sound) pumasok
or magduty sa mga ganung cases (wind blowing) siguro ang drive nalang din for me na pumasok
for uhm don during the earlier times dahil nga kaibigan ko ano yung isa sa mga nakakuha nung
ganoong patients ay nung ganoong sakit, and as we go along with managing patients with COVID-
19, eventually kasi nagkaroon naman na ng mas malinaw na protocols, mas maayos na
management, so relatively naging ano, manageable na din siya.. Kumbaga ano eh, eventually we
need to face din COVID-19, we need to accept it and wala andiyan na yan so wala pasok lang,
pasok lang ng pasok (background noise)
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I5: *chuckles* okay po, for the next question po in battling with COVID-19, How did you manage
to protect your physical safety while providing care for COVID-19 patients?
P4: Uhm… syempre uhm… we were provided with (background noise) protec– PPEs (background
noise) yung mga uhm protective equipments, actually uhm I’m not sure dito sa Olongapo, pero sa
amin naman, sa Manila never (wind blowing) naman naming naranasan na magkulang kami ng
PPE.. actually, if diba yung sinasabi nila na kulang daw yung PPEs, kulang ng mask, kulang ng
ganito ganyan, hindi ko siya naramdaman noon… kasi maraming tumutulong.. (wind blowing)
maraming tumutulong sa mga healthcare workers, many institutions, many non-government
organization, non-profit organizations who are, who were, who are, and still willing to uhm uhm
to help and provide PPEs sa mga uhm health care workers. So uhm s- yung batch namin, isa din
ako sa ano, sa parang tsk pano ba… yung I am uhm assigned kasi sa external affairs ng batch
namin, so yung mga sa medreps and all… so i-uhhm at that time andami kong nakukuhang
tawag… para lang mag-ano (background noise) donations ganon, PPEs and all… so protecting it,
PPEs talaga ay pinaka-importante, handwashing, everytime na lalabas ka ng patient’s uhm before
you enter patient’s room, after na uhm lumabas ka, after mo magtanggal ng PPE, after mong
lumabas doon sa unit na yun, handwashing importanteng importante and then pag yung sinasabi
nila na before yung uhm umuwi ng bahay maligo and all , kailangan talaga eh … tapos ano tsk
health diet, the usual uhm healthy lifestyle, tapos vitamins syempre, and most specially ano
prayers… yan ang pinakaimportanteng protection
I5: Uhm yes po uhm … we are very glad po that hindi naman po kayo nagkulang sa PPEs uhh
hindi po kagaya ng naririnig natin na (wind blows), restricted to eat, or pee because uhm sobrang
kulang po ng PPE dahil nga po kapag tinanggal mo daw po ‘yon, itatapon na din po agad.. Uhm
for the next question po, (audio lags) Did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested
positive for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P4: *chuckles* Ito siguro isa sa mga pinagpapasalamat ko (background noise) because uhm I never
tested positive for COVID
I5: Ohhh
P4: yes uhm noong una ano parang pinipili nila yung ano diba… yung– yung sinaswab, I never
had symptoms naman pero once you were exposed kasi sa COVID-19 na (background noise) uhm
coworker mo tapos, yung basta meron talagang minimum na uhm le- uhm distance na ganon..
Pinagpapa-ano na kami agad… uhm for example, nagkataon na nagsabay sabay kumain sa isang
workplace tapos walang ano parang hindi niyo nasunod yung protocols ng distance tapos yung
kasama mo nagpositive, kahit wala kang symptoms you need to be uhm quarantined tapos and
then you will be observed, medyo strict pa noon, talagang 14, 14 days until– before you will resume
work itetest ka (notification sound) kapag negative you can ano, you can go back to work tapos
until later part ng 2021 na medyo marami na tayong testing uhm 2020 na medyo marami na tayong
testing kits, dun narin nagkaroon kami ng routine na swabbing (wind blows) uhm kasama
(background noise) ang healthcare workers doon so never has pos- ano COVID positive test, lalo
na nung crit care ako kasi yun nga, every month kami pumapasok so halos every month or every
2 months yung testing uhm wal- never had… Regarding sa COVID-19 symptoms, medyo non
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specific kasi siya.. So magkaroon ka lang ng cold, cough, or any flu like symptoms para ka nang
may COVID-19 ano, in… may mga times na magkakaroon ng mga ganon, mild lang, pero di kasi
siya ano hindi siya nagtutuloy-tuloy and then kapag tinetest naman ako negative paren… so
grateful for that..
I5: Uhm have you ever felt anxious po whenever you’re uhh experiencing these symptoms po?
P4: Uhm yes (background noise) syempre.. Uhm lalo nasiguro nung mga unang part na nakita ko
kasi, first hand experience namatay yung uhm colleague mo tapos at that time hindi pa natin alam
kung (wind blowing) ano, nakakaano talaga maexpose ka lang talaga sa (wind blowing ) ano yon,
sa mga- sa taong positive for COVID, anjan na yung anxiety, much more kapag meron ka pa nung
symptoms.. (wind blows) ye- uhh a little anxiety diba, (background noise) still manageable naman
I5: Yes po, uhm last question po for this part, Overall, how can you describe your (audio lags)
experience as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P4: describe? Umhm, nung… siguro ano, challenging but able to adapt… yun yung sigurong
masasabi kong experience kasi… uhm mahirap siya noong una but we managed to survive, and
as of now, kahit naman papaano, na mas madami nang patients tayo na na napapagaling, more than
patients na namamatay, so … (wind blows) these are, I think ano uhmmm masasabi ko na we can
uhm survive and able to adapt to this ano pandemic..
I5: So, our body din naman po, our human body is uhm is made to adapt sa mga certain changes
na mararanasan natin… so that is the last question for the first part, may I call on Louise to continue
the interview…
I7: Uhm good evening po, can you hear me po?
P4: Yes, loud and clear
I7: Okay uhm without fiur– further a do po uh let’s go to the uh second part po… the first question
is, What are the changes that have happened in the workplace po?
P4: Uhm during the start ng pandemic, changes uhm yun nga, in terms of patients cases, andaming
bumaba na admissions, yung the usual na cardio cases namin, bumaba.. Then, in terms of duties,
hindi na siya yung, may times kasi na hindi na din kami parang araw araw pumapasok, so uh
naging ano siya parang (wind blowing) per batch, per ano para mapreserve yung ano yung
workforce in such a way na hindi kami lahat (mic sound) exposed, so parang nagkaroon kasi kami
ng ano, nagkaroon ng- ng plan na kunwari itong batch lang muna na ‘to yung papasok, magduduty,
and then quarantine or pahinga kayo for 14, then another batch naman… uhm (wind blows) ano
pa ba, syempre mas naging mahigpit sa health protocols, uhm in implementing, lalo na yung mga
uhm infectious protocols, tsaka handwashing, yung mga hygiene ganun, wearing PPEs, tapos mas
mahigpit na kailangan mo nang magreport palagi ng mga symptoms mo, yun pala mer- palaging
meron sa heart center mero– palaging kang, nirerequire nila kami to update our – parang individual
health uhm checklist (mic sound) para na-uupdate din sila kung ilan na din samin yung
nagkakaroon ng COVID-19 symptoms and nagpopositive sa COVID, and marami, sobrang
daming changes sa workplace..
I7: Uhm, how about po sa number of employees, uhm dumami po ba or umonti dahil dun sa
pandemic?
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P4: Uhm, dumami yung COVID positive employees, or dumami yung –

I7: Uhm yung number of employees in general po
P4: I think hindi naman siya- na uhh samin ah, parang hindi ko naman naramdaman na nabawasan
kami hmm syempre yung mga ano pala uhm Senior Cardio Consultants, halos di na sila gaano
nag-rounds, kasi syempre mas mahina na yung immune system nila, but overall I think hindi
gaanong naramdaman na nabawasan yung workforce, sa amin ha.. Kasi relatively, parang may
mga nakakapasok din naman mhm, tapos the mere fact na nabawasan yung (wind blowing) ano..
Yung mga elective cases namin, so maraming nag- nawalang or nagsarang mga units, pero gina-
pinapalit sila sa ano … For example, dahil walang cardi– ano walang mga open na heart surgeries
at that time… (background noise) nagsara yung mga surgerical ICUs, but then, yung mga nurses
doon, uhhm nililipat sila sa mga ibang units, for example, COVID ICUs ganoon… so di naman
gaano, di nabawasan… except nalang doon sa mga namatay, yun..
I7: Yes po.. Uhm, namention niyo po kanina yung about sa preservance po yung sa employees,
tsaka nagbago po yung workforce, uhm which leads us to the second question, what are the changes
that have happened in the workf– ay sorry, next question please.. How does the workforce change
during the times of the pandemic po?
P4: Uhm.. quantity, hindi nagbago, I think the quality of work still the same, pero yung rotation
(wind blowing) nung mga workforce, yun yung nagkaroon ng major changes.. For example, dahil
walang out-patient department, so yung mga tao sa out-patient they were shifted to telemedicine,
so yung dati noon na nasa elective cases na uhhh nagshut down, uhm napunta temporarily sa mga
COVID units, but then still the work uhm yung ano padin but then yung work padin is halos ganun
padin naman.. Ano lang, kumbaga, we need to adapt lang din doon sa kung ano yung hinihingi ng
pagkakataon, at that time. But then, nung bumababa na yung level ng yung (groans) yung parang
uhm yung alert level yung ganon natin, onti-onti na din naman kasing nagbabalikan yung mga
elective cases, so onti-onti na rin silang bumabalik doon sa ano nila, sa mga usual post, ganoon
din sa amin, (mic sound) na mga ano… so from minsan telemedicine (mic sound) right now,
nagkakaroon naman na ng mga face-to-face clinics, so relatively, we’re shifting back to, to the old
times, pero yun nga normal..
I7: Uhm, it’s good to hear po na bumabalik na po lahat sa dati no, uhm next question po tayo,
uhm.. How was your experience po while wearing PPEs in performing your job, since namention
niyo po kanina na bawat po pupuntahan niyo, and bawat lalabas, magpapalit po ng mga PPEs
ganoon po..
P4: Mhm.. uncomfortable talaga magwear ng PPEs, lalo na yung ano, sobrang init niyan, tapos
yung respirator pa, pero kailangan eh (background noise) kailangan, and pero ano.. Pero just like
what I’ve said earlier, medyo ano (background noise) pasalamat parin kami sa heart center, na
kahit papaano uhm (coughs) good quality PPEs naman yung nakukuha namin, uhm unlike dun sa
mga ibang naririnig natin na halos parang nirerecycle nila yung PPEs nila, so ano mahirap, mainit
sa loob ng PPE, uncomfortable yung ano, anong tawag neto.. Respirator! And mas mahirap pa
pala, is wearing those PPEs while du– performing procedures, so isipin niyo nalang, ako hirap na
hirap na kapag nag iinsert ng IJ, yung ano, if you are familiar with yung catheter sa mga
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nagdadialysis, ayon, lalo na sa mga ICU patients, uhm kapag toxic sila, in shock ganon (mic
sound), you need to insert IJ sa mga ganoon, so nakaPPE ka, nakagloves, nakarespirator, tapos
nakaface shield, eih- buti nalang hindi pa’ko nagsasalamin at that time, kasi ano mahirap talaga,
we wou- tapos nakagoggles ka pa, sobrang mahirap (inaudible) (mic sound) so paano pa yung mga
ano diba, yung mga surgeons na halos dapat nakaPPEs din.. (mic sound) mahirap…
I7: Yes po, uhm namention niyo po na mahirap magperform po ng mga procedures habang
nakaPPE, so uhm paano po niya naape– na-affect kung paano po kayo nakipag-interact with your
patients po?
P4: During… ayan pala, major ano, major dilemma during the pandemic is yung way of
communication and even uhm, performing physical examinations sa mga patients, syempre at that
time, we need to protect ourselves din lalo na sa mga COVID positive patients.. Hindi na yung
uhm… tawag dito? Tulad ng dati na pwedeng pasok lang ng pasok sa loob ng – ng room ng
patients.. And as much as possible, kung kaya mong gawin lahat ‘yon (mic sound) sa mabilisang
paraan, gagawin mo kasi ayaw mo din na magtagal sa loob ng patient. So, ‘yon yung duration sa
ano, with your interaction with your (notification sound) patients medyo mas uhm mas
(notification sound) mabilis as compared nung pre-pandemic. Yung in terms of physical
examination, hindi mo siya mamaximize or maoptimize kasi nga andaming naka-ano sayo, andami
ding nakaharang sayo, ang hirap magpasok ng stethoscope ng nakaPPE ka tapos nakaface shield
ka. Tapos, sa sobrang ano pa noon, (wind blowing) minsan mahirap din talaga silang i-auscultate,
much more kung nasa ICU yung pasyente na intubated (mic sound) hindi mo sila gaanong ma-
PPE.. In terms of restrictions, talagang nirestrict din kami na pumasok o makipag- uhmm interact
sa mga patients, kung kaya mo nga silang tingnan mula sa malayo, kung kaya mo silang i-examine
mula sa malayo, uhm siguro yun yung pipiliin mo.. Hindi naman everytime papasok ka sa loob ng
unit ng mga patients, lalo na kung benign naman sila… Tapos, yung frequency din ng dalaw,
frequency ng vital signs sakanila hindi but uhm pina-ano naman sinasabihan naman namin sila to
uhm report immediately kung ano man yung nararamdaman nila so (mic sound) parang papasok
pa din naman.. Ayun..
I7: Ayun nga po, uhm medyo marami nga rin pong changes sa pag interact with your patients, sa
pagtugon niyo po sa mga kailangan nila, sa workforce, and sa workplace niyo po in general. Uhm,
yung mga changes na yun po, uhm ho- does it have an impact on you po as a healthcare
professional? And paano po?
P4: Yes, uhm (clears throat) uhm those changes really had (background noise) significant impact
sa amin. Unang una, ang unang tatanongin mo kasi jan eh, how will you deliver uhm the quality
uhhh management , healthcare management sa patient mo kung di mo sila (wind blowing) masyado
nakikita or di mo sila masyado ma-examine, that’s one. Uhm second, lalo na during the times na
hindi pa natin alam or hindi pa malinaw yung protocols for COVID magtatanong ka rin, are you
giving uhm quality management sa pasyente mo or …. Pano ba to? Magagawa mo parin ba yung
dati na nagagawa mo sakanila? Third, yung pagdating sa ano yung impact din niyan sa’yo na dahil
takot ka din na magkaroon ng COVID, but as tinatawag nga nung duty mo na pumasok parin,
syempre relatively parang kahit papaano magiging half-hearted din diba? Pag ano– lalo na kung
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andiyan yung anxiety, yung takot but then (wind blowing) yun nga we need to face the reality na
kailangan natin pumasok sa COVID (mic sound) and we need to render services sa mga pasyente
natin (background noise)
I7: Yes, uhm ayun nga po uh that was the last question for this part po, so I will now pass the floor
to Kristavin to continue, uh thank you po for answering the questions for that part po..
P4: (inaudible)
I5: Hello po, am I clearly heard po?
P4: Yes… yeah
I5: Okay, thank you po! Going further to this interview, uhm are there instances where (audio lags)
you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak?
P4: (wind blowing) sorry pa-ulit mo ulit.. Are there..?
I5: Are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak po?
P4: Uhmmm, marami.. Uhm unang una yung major changes sa – sa workplace , then syempre
yung mga nakakasama mo mas mahirap na yung communication, mas mahirap yung uhm yung
delivery of management itself tapos (mic sound) ang isa din kasi na winoworry namin at that time
is paano na yung training namin during the time of pandemic. Syempre bumaba yung mga… mas
madami na yung COVID-19 patients kesa sa mga cardiac patients eh diba… so how will we (mic
sound) continue din sa training namin… so yun, siguro yung major difficulties.. (wind blows)
I5: Okay po.. Ta– so paano po nag… paano po nagcontinue yung training niyo po during the–
those times? Or did you focus more nalang po ba sa mga COVID patients?
P4: During the uhm initial na uhh nag (background noise) during the start na kasi dahil DOH uhmm
hospital kami we need to cater talaga (wind blowing) COVID-19 uhm patients… initially, ang
initial mandate pala sa amin is uhm we need to accept those COVID positive patients pero dapat
merong cardiac problem… pero dahil nga mas mada– dumami yung patients noon na COVID, na
dis– kahit wala silang uhm cardiac problems so relatively, tinatanggap na rin namin sila… so, at
that time, nabawasan talaga yung cardiac cases namin.. In terms of training, we device ways na
mapacontinue parin yung conferences namin thru zoom… tapos (background noise) yung ano
nalang imamaximize nalang namin kung sino yung mga cardiac patients na dumadating samin…
yun (wind blowing)
I5: Ah okay po.. Uhm sa sabi niyo po kanina you’re in your uhh graduating year na po… was it
delayed po ba ? or uhh naggraduate na po kayo during those times din po?
P4: Ah yan.. Yan din pala yung isang dilemma at that time, dahil nga bumaba yung kaso namin sa
cardio, ang isang nap– ang isang proposal noon is to extend kami… pero (background noise) hindi
pwede kasi uhm kunwari samin ah, ang first year– ang first year cardio (wind blowing) sila yung
mostly na nasa COVID… second year, pumapasok parin naman sila sa COVID (inaudible child
talking) pero more on the diagnostics part ECHO to the ECHO ganon, coronary angiogram, kami
third years.. More on the uhm supervisory level… papasok kami but not that sobrang uhmm
matagal.. Maraming umangal kasi kapag naextend kami, so kami extended na 3rd year, sila
extended 2nd year.. So kawawa yung extended first year kasi sila yung mas magtatagal na uhm na
COVID… lahat naman ng— lahat naman ng year level naapektuhan yung training noon
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(background noise) pero mas kawawa kasi sila dahil pagpasok nila hindi cardiac cases ang
hinawakan nila… COVID cases… unlike us na kahit papaano (mic sound) pre-pandemic relatively
naka– andami na naming nahawakang cardiac patient actually in terms of cases kasi 2nd year
palang pwede na kaming pas– ano papasa na kami to graduate, kawawa lang yung mga 2nd year
so we need to adapt in such a way na hindi pwe- ano uhm the management naman was able to
device ways and programs para (wind blowing) kahit papaano uhmm magawan ng paraan yung
mga pagkukulang (wind blowing) sa mga cases thru online meetings, zoom, and uhm case-based
discussion para kahit papaano (wind blowing) hindi maiwanan yung training namin… And yun
nga as we go along nung later part (inaudible noise) this – later part nung pandemic nagkakaroon
naman na din kasi ng mga cardio patients kaya na– ano ulit kami (wind blowing) naexpose ulit
kami, kaya ayon mas maraming exams lang noon (wind blowing) pero ayon we were able to
graduate on time naman (mic sound)
I5: Okay po… Uhm sa next question po, have you experienced po ng low wages or unfair benefits
during those times po ba?
P4: Uhm hindi… the usual padin naman yung ano, yung sweldo.. Actually meron nga mas marami
ngayon eh… uhm hindi naman like delayed yung sweldo ganon, tapos diba meron kasing mga
tinatawag na tsk ano yon.. Parang COVID assisstance benefits (wind blowing) yon… lalo na nung
mga first– first years nung pandemic… ano nabibigay naman saamin yung COVID assisstance
namin… tapos neto nga lang na yung mga Bayanihan Act 1 and 2 (tech glitch sound) kasi kasama
din naman – kasama doon kasama yung uhm additional wages noon ng mga uhm healthcare
workers (notification sound) so natanggap naman namin… pero neto lang nung start ng 2021, ano
medyo nadelay na yun.. Pero in terms of nabawasan yung sweldo, hindi naman.. Uhm same
sweldo, same benefits na nakuha namin nung pre-pandemic… may nadagdag pa…mm medyo
delayed lang nung later parts
I5: Okay how… okay po.. How about po when you have something to say or your grievances po,
have you always been heard? Or there are times that you were not heard po by the uhhh upper
positions like your uhmm what do you call this…. your seniors… ganun po
P4: Ah in terms of grievances sa work?
I5: Opo..
P4: Ah okay.. During the earlier times of pandemic sobrang daming reklamo regarding in terms of
ilang oras kang dapat nasa loob ng COVID units (inaudible background noise) tapos syempre…
uhm ayun katulad nga ng mga napagusapan natin, sobrang dami ng changes sa ano diba (mic
sound) sa uhm workplace, in terms of duties, maraming changes… but then marami ding reklamo..
Uhm in terms of… syempre at that time kasi we need.. Kailangan din nating intindihin na nag
aadapt din yung management.. Una, na kahit sila is uhm tsk sobrang nag-oovertime din to device
ways and make protocols para sa ikabubuti ng lahat.. Ang pinakasiguro naging challenge namin is
yung time na kelan ba kami masswab, kakalabas lang namin ng covid.. Syempre kung ikaw
umuuwi ka sa bahay mo na meron kang kasama, merong uhm may pamilya kang uuwian, gusto
mo din na safe ka uuwi… yun yung isa sa mga uhh medyo nag– nagkaroon kami ng dilemma
nun… dahil alam– although alam naman namin na ano kulang yung mga testing kits nun eh, pero
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somehow we uhm dinedemand na rin namin na kahit papaano magkaroon kami ng relatively uhm
kahit hindi man routine at that time, pero sana mapasama na kami sa mga mandatory testing lalo
na kung kalalabas mo ng mga COVID units… umm pero mahirap ipaglaban yun kasi kung wala
din namang maibibigay na testing kit sayo yung management anong gagawin dun diba… ayun…
but other than that…
I5: (inaudible)
P4: wala naman na..
I5: Okay.. glad to hear po.. Uhm sa next question po, since you have mentioned po the changes in
your workplace and the hours, What can you say about the hours you spent in the workplace? As
well as your (audio lags) workload po?
P4: Yung number of hours… during the surge nabawasan siya kasi katulad nga nun i- uhm before
papasok ka Monday to Friday, magdu- pag kunwari nagduty ka or kung ikaw yung duty 24 ho-
uhm 24 hours until the next day duty ka padin… nung nagkaroon ng pandemic, dahil nga hinahati
hati na kami syempre nabawasan yung workplace ay yung number of hours that we spent sa
hospital (background noise) para uhm just like what I’ve said earlier ma- ano masave yung per
batch mag– at yung masave din yung mga tao na pwede pang magduty.. Pero malas mo kung
kunwari magkaroon ng outbreak sa department ninyo… which nagkaroon sa amin… like nung…
nasa– nung mga nagkakaroon ng surges sa COVID kahit sa amin na mga doctors, marami ring
nagpopositive… so kapag ganoon… kunwari sa isang batch, 20 kayo, 10 yung nagkaroo–
nagpositive… so yung 10 na yun magkakaroon ng…mai-isolate sila diba? Tapos aside dun sa mga
nagpositive, lahat pa nung mga naexpose sakanila matatanggal so minsan dun sa 20 persons sa
batch, ang matitira nalang is 5, yung 5 na yun yung kawawang magduduty for the duration na wala
sila… (inaudible noise) okay, pero kapag naman bumalik sila… ikaw naman yung mapapahinga…
yun…
I5: Okay po.. So, have you experience po na kunwari po matira po sa uhmm sa mga naiwan?
P4: Oo, kasi diba di pa… di ako nagpositive
I5: (laughs)
P4: (laughs) minsan nga naisip ko na nga lang na magkaroon ng ano — symptoms eh (laughs) pero
ye- yes, naranasan ko mag… every other duty noon kasi walang magduduty… lalo na nung time
na madami yung yun (background noise)
I5: Okay po… uhm next question po… Have you experienced workplace discrimination during
the start of pandemic? How did this affect you as a professional?
P4: (giggles) actually nakakatawa yang discrimination na yan… pero wala lang (mic sound)
dinediscriminate sila ‘di walang magmamanage sakanila… yun lang… uhm pero nakakatanggap
ng tsk hmm ewan ko di ko rin pala gaanong naramdaman … hhh uhm kasi during the start nung
parang pinandidirihan ka kapag kunwari pupunta ka sa groceries ganoon.. Eehh kiber… eh diba
ang frontliner nga merong sariling… may special lane so walang… bahala sila sa buhay nila kung
magdiscriminate sila… uhm ano lang, pero ako kasi siguro uhm isa sa mga pinagpapasalamat ko
din kahit papaano is hindi naman naging mahigpit sakin yung ano landlord namin doon sa unit na
tinitirahan na– ko… kasi pinapalabas parin naman nila ako at hindi pa din naman nila ako
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binawalang umuwi sa bahay namin.. Kasi umuuwi ako ng bahay namin kapag from duty, ayoko
magstay sa hospital eh… uhm (notification sound) walang major discrimination and wala akong
pake kung idiscriminate nila kami, bahala sila sa buhay nila…
I5: Ookay po.. Uhm for the next question naman po… uhhh How did the pandemic affect your
physical aspect po muna…
P4: Physical… ayon , kasi ang isang… eto ah eto totoo… ang isang uhm major risk factor sa
COVID lalo na COVID complication is obesity… kung mapapansin niyo halos lahat nung mga
uhmm diabetic patients, obese patients sila yung magkakaroon ng mas malalang COVID
symptoms… so dahil nakikita namin yun… isa yun sa driving force namin to (mic sound) have a
healthy lifestyle.. Mas nakapagdiet ka, tapos kapag wala kang duty, talagang mag eexercise ka,
actually nagloose ako ng weight during the pandemic… hindi ako nag… dahil kunwari nasa bahay
lang, hindi ako tumaba or anything… wala mas maayos yung physical well-being ko nun… kasi
alam ko nga na kailangan kong maging physically fit dahil pumapasok ako ng COVID…
(background noise)
I5: So di niyo po naranasan na parang nanghina po kayo, since you are exercising regularly naman
po…?
P4: Yyes.. hmm hindi naman nanghing— hindi na– hindi nanghina..
I5: Okay po … uhm how about naman po sa mental aspect?
P4: Okay, eto yung isa sa pinakamahirap diba andaming cases of depressions during the time of
pandemic… (inhales aggressively) pero hindi p– uhmmm mental… siguro inisip ko nalang kasi
noon na… my training should go on and kung nabawasan man yung cases namin… yung cardiac
cases namin during the pandemic, ako yung kailangan gumawa ng paraan para uhm para kahit
papaano is hindi parin ako mawala on my training… At dahil nga 3rd year nako noon… and I am
expecting na magboboard exam ako the next year, so mas nagkaroon pa ako ng maraming times
na mag-aral for my board exam and syempre hindi ka naman puro aral diba… you need to ano
lang (background noise) tsaka kung marami kang support from your batch, from your family
ganon… hindi ka madedepress…
I5: We are glad po that you were… you didn’t feel alone that time po.. And uhh sa how about sa
social aspect naman po… did you continue communicating with your family and friends or
because of the uhh protocol po (mic sound) naapektuhan yung social aspect?
P4: Oo, sobrang laki ng… changes in terms of uhm our social practices at that time.. At tsaka
(chuckles) nakakalungkot lang, nung kasagsagan nung COVID… ayon hindi ka nakakauwi diba
(wind blowing) so mag isa lang ako din noon sa unit noon eh… pero ano swerte natin, buti nalang
during the pandemic, we have eto yung ganito… zoom meetings, tapos may mga chats… so halos
nandoon lahat ng social events parang puro online lahat, online platforms lahat (background noise)
ng meetings uhm (audio lags) roundtable discussions, group discussions… puro zoom…
nakakabore na nga minsan, diba ang dami … mhm..
I5: Uhm have you been…
P4:Pero ….
I5: away po with your family?
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P4: Hmmm?
I5: Uhhh are you away po during those times, with your family? Or uhhh malapit lang din po kayo
sakanila?
P4:(background noise) Ah nung time na yon uhh malayo talaga.. Nasa Olongapo yung family ko,
tapos yung kapatid ko na palagi— siya talaga yung kasama ko sa Manila… teacher naman siya
which is online na kayo at that time… pinauwi ko na din siya ng Olongapo kasi nga (mic noise)
ano diba sa hospital ako nagwowork… so ako lang talaga mag-isa noon sa unit first time… so
malayo talaga… tapos ang tagal na hindi nakauwi… parang pumutok yung COVID nang March
diba, March 2020
I5: Opo
P4: Nakauwi ako December na ata… ayun
I5: Ang tagal…. But regularly po ba, anong uhh every what month po kayo umuuwi?
P4: Uhm pre-pandemic…? (mic noise)
I5: Opo
P4: Hindi naman ako yung umuuwi regularly but then (mic noise) parents ko kasi regularly na
pumupunta every month
I5: Ahh
P4: Sa amin, sa Manila… kapag merong… kapag merong long weekends ganun… nakakauwi..
Mabilis lang namang umuwi satin diba… so yun
I5: Opo
P4: noong pandemic wala.. tagal talaga…
I5: Okay po… moving on … uh lastly po, how about uhh your emotional aspect po… how did it
affect it?
P4: Siguro nung mga ano lang… nung mga unang times lang nung first few months lang nung
pandemic na medyo lahat tayo is takot… and uncertain sa lahat ng mga ginagawa namin… yun
siguro yung pinakamahirap… tsaka syempre… uh uhm emotionally lalo nung namatay yung ano
yung… (background noise) yung friend ko… and ang masaklap, ayon (background noise) ako pa
yung last touch sakanya nung namatay siya… kasi I was the one na nasa (inaudible) duty
(inaudible) siya… but ayon kailangan natin magmove on…
I5: Okay… we’re sorry about that po uhm… so let’s proceed po to the last question for this part…
What has been the most (audio lags) challenging aspect of working as a frontliner or while handling
a COVID-19 patient?
P4: Siguro when… most challenging is kapag close mo na yung nakikita mo na nagpositive…
uhhhm yon… so pinakamahirap is yung dati mong kasa-kasama tapos makikita mo na nakatube
ganoon… and i also had my ano (background noise) my family na nagpositive sila… uhmm both
my parents tested… halos lahat pala sila nagpositive… so… yung una muna is yung sister ko na
asthmatic uhmmm nung inadmit ko siya, pero hindi naman ako yung naghandle sakanya… but
then nung sumunod (background noise) na yung parents ko na din yung nagpositive… uhm I was
one of the na nagmanage na sakanila… actually mas gusto ko kasi para mas nakikita ko sila…
uhm good thing nalang na medyo mild to moderate lang naman yung symptoms niya… siguro
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yun… yun yung pinakamahirap, kapag kamaganak mo na yung minamanage mo and kapag
sobrang close na sayo yung ano yung minamanage mo… In terms of yung pagmamanage kasi ng
COVID itself yung yung ano… makakaano mo na yan eh parang eventually masasanay na kayo
kasi halos paulit ulit (mic noise) nalang din yung management but iba parin kapag meron kang
emotional attachment doon sa pasyente… (background noise)
I5: Uhm with all those experiences po that you had, was there a moment when you had a really
difficult time doing your job and you considered quitting nalang po because of the pandemic's
exhaustion?
P4: Uhm… mahirap… (quiet background noise) tsk mahirap siya pero ano I didn’t thought of
quitting naman kahit pa nung time na… wala ewan ko wala… walang– hindi pumasok na magquit
ako… ang kailangan ko lang gawin noon is… parang ang mantra ko kasi noon… nanjan na yung
COVID eh, it’s either uhm maovercome natin, praying nalang nun for herd immunity para
relatively mabawasan nalang yung cases… per– ano siguro medyo maaga nalang din yung
acceptance ko na we need to live with COVID eventually… yun (background noise)
I5: Okay po… uhm thank you po for answering this part… uhm we’re going to the last part na
and Louise will take over for the interview…
I7: (background noise) Yes po… uhm here na po tayo sa last part… it will be tackling the
adaptation niyo po dun sa pandemic na naganap… first question po… Since namention niyo po
kanina from the 1st part hanggang sa 3rd part na nakap– nakapagmanage naman po kayo during
the pandemic, what are the adaptive mechanisms po you had na to adapt po yun po…
P4: Okay… uhm (background noise) adaptive mechanism in terms of workplace or overall? Kahit
sa…
I7: Overall po… overall
P4: Overall… okay… siguro uhm… kahit hindi siguro COVID or kahit hindi pandemic… parang
I think everyone of us has our own mechanisms naman to cope diba… Ang isa sigurong importante
is to always… uhm know kung ano yung battle na kakaharapin mo… hindi natin alam kung ano
yung COVID before… hindi natin alam kung paano imamanage yung COVID before but kung
aaralin mo siya… if you will study it, and you will devote your time na alamin siya and how you
will (wind blowing) uhm eventually manage or survive with it… yun siguro yung
pinakaimportanteng adaptive mechanism kasi diba kapag… minsan kapag kunwari… alam mo na
yung laro, medyo mas advantage na yun sayo kasi alam mo na yung next na gagawin… yun…
I7: Yes po… (background noise) next question po is.. Among the trials you faced at work, how
did you overcome them? (background noise)
P4: Hmmm… siguro proper communication with your supervisors… and proper channeling your
grievances… tapos support group from your colleagues…yun yung pinakaimportante… madami
akong kasama na nadepress because of this pandemic… madaming pasyente, madami rin akong
kaibigan na nadepress dito… pero yon, kailangan mo lang makipagtulungan atsaka open lang din
palagi yung sarili mo kasi kapag… kumbaga kapag tumutulong ka din kasi sa iba, eventually pati
yung problema mo matutulungan ka din…
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I7: Yes po… uhm for the next question naman po uhm… In the cha– in the challenges posed by
the pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have learned personally (notification sound)
or even po in your profession? (notification sound)
P4: Uhm…. most important lesson…? Family is… family support yung pinakavaluable sa lahat
ng mga challenges na gagawin mo sa buhay mo… pre-pandemic for sure marami satin yung parang
(wind blowing) naneneglect (mic noise) ako personally na medyo toxic yung pinili kong work…
halos yun nga pre-pandemic parents ko pa yung mas pumupunta sakin and all… so mas ano mo
siya… mas malalaman mo na importante sila kapag yung mahaharap ka na sa uncertainty… kasi
kahit ako inisip ko din naman eh what if magkaroon ako ng COVID and matulad ako dun sa ano
sa friend ko diba… tapos tapos hindi mo pa namamaximize yung family time, family experiences
or family time mo… so yun habang may time, wag niyo i-neglect yan… wag niyo i-disregard
yan… yung tapos diba katulad nga nung sabi ko sainyo kanina nung nagkaroon ng parang uhm
naapektuhan yung training namin so at that time di ko din sure kung gagraduate ba ako and all…
pero kung eventually naman is makakaadapt ka, kung ibibigay sayo parin ni God, ibibigay niya
parin sayo… ayon, nakagraduate parin naman ako… so, yun lang… family importante (wind
blowing)
I7: Yes po… uh we do agree po na our family is very important… and sa next question po… you
have mentioned how you adapted po to this pandemic so… is adapting po to change in times of
pandemic necessary? Why and Why not? And what are its importance?
P4: Yes, uhm it is necessary to adapt kahit hindi pandemic, kahit sa ano everyday life natin
kailangan nating mag-adapt sa lahat ng changes… hindi naman ibig sabihin that yung kapag nag-
aadapt ka is meron nang major change na mangyayari sa uhm sa trabaho mo or sa attitude mo…
minsan kasi ano eh parang yung changes na yun pipiliin mo din kung ano yung ichachange mo for
the better, na mas makakacope ka doon sa situation na yon… so adapting changes, uhm importance
ng adapting changes kasi kung hindi ka nakaadapt paano ka makakasurvive diba? Uhmmm
masasabi ko lang na we are not (mic noise) back to normal… parang we need to adapt and we need
to accept that we are in the new normal na right now… Hindi na mawawala ang COVID…
I7: Uhm yes po… uhm we have to accept that po na ito na to, wala na tayong magagawa andito na
po siya and (vibration sound) ayon po uhm… time flies by so fast po uhm, nasa last question na
po tayo… uhm What recommendations do you have po for public health preparation to end this
pandemic?
P4: Sana ano… macontinue parin yung minimum health protocols sa lahat… if eventually mag
mag parang mas nagiging (background noise) magaan na on some areas… kanina sa balita diba sa
Cebu pwede na daw tanggalin yung mask… so (background noise) so uhmm sana lang maging
mas responsible na ngayon yung tao in wearing mask or in wearing your protective gears not only
to protect yourself but to protect others… tapos vaccination, sana mas mapa– macontinue yung
vaccination and mas maraming kumbaga mas maraming population yung maeducate regarding
importance of uhm vaccination para maend itong pandemic… if diba halos for example polio, we
almost get rid of polio by vaccination… so sana itong COVID-19 eventually maend din thru
vaccinations din… and eventually sana uhm maging ano ba… routinely na ibigay na yung
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vaccination… for example, masama siya sa annual flu vaccine, ayun.. And importance parin is to
educate lahat… uhm on what is COVID, kasi madami padin na hindi naman nakakaintindi neto
diba, lalo na sa mga far flung areas… marami parin na hindi… dahil hindi daw nila na–
naexperience is kumbaga hindi pa din nila uhmmm hindi sila pumapayag for vaccinations and
all… so ayon, I think ang pinakaimportante parin sa lahat ng any health problems, any health na
surg– uhm infectious disease surges is uhm proper education (notification sound) proper
information dissemination… proper ah, not fake information…
I7: Yes po uhm like gaya nga po ng sabi niyo kanina dapat po alamin natin yung kinakalaban natin
na ifaface natin na challenges and being responsible po sa ating sarili can also make an impact po
sa people around us din po… ayun po uh, thank you very much po for answering uhm this int– uh
our questions po uhm (inaudible) marami po kaming natutunan sa mga nasabi niyo po and hangang
hanga po kami sa dedication niyo po sa inyong trabaho… for this part po uhm we wi– I will pass
the floor to Richelle po, our research leader, for the closing remarks.. Thank you so much po…
P4: Thank you…
[End of Interview with P4]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 5

Location: Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 12, 2022, 7:10 PM
Number of Attendees: 7 attendees (3 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Transcriber: Carlo Jose G. Gaza, Kristavin Danielle V. Fabunan, and Ferie Joseph D.
Manalad Jr.
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

I3: So before we start po, uhm may we know your full name and your current medical profe–
profession that you are in po?
P5: ‘Kay I am doctor ***** * **** ******, if you want to know my age, wag na (laughs). Ah I
am of course I’m– ah I’m a physician by– by profession. I graduated last ah– two thousand four,
iyan ang aking batch, ng medicine. So you can just compute kung gano katanda na ako (laughs).
And I’m ah currently ah on my residency training in general surgery. I’m now ah currently the ah
chief resident of James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital’s residency program in general surgery.
I3: Ok po ah, iyun nga po at– ah ready na po ba kayo sa interview proper?
P5: Yes, I actually have ah, read through the questions–
I3: Mhm
P5: So I hope (laughs) I can ah help you out–
I3: Okay po
P5: Ah with your goals.
I3: Iyun po ah, start po tayo. Ako po si Carlo ang magiinterview sa inyo at si Ferie po yung isa,
magsasalit-salit po kami between the parts, and start na po tayo.
I3: So–
P5: Okay
I3: For question number 1, What was your initial reaction when you heard about the COVID-19
outbreak in the Philippines?
P5: ‘Kay well our first reaction as with any other ah– ah doctors, of course, nag panic kami lahat,
noh panic. There’s also fear, of course, this is a new one dahil ah novel coronavirus nga ito, so
we– we have encountered so many coronaviruses in the past but not this one, and ah of course,
anxiety cause we don’t know what’s coming. So, yun halo-halo na reaction but mostly it’s ah,
panic and fear.
I3: Iyun nga po ah, dahil nga po sa bago po ito ah, nagkaroon po tayo ng ah– pagbabago nga po at
nagkaroon po tayo ng panic and fear, and most of us po nagkaroon ng anxiety. Uhm–
P5: Yes.
I3: Bukod po ba dun ah, tingin nyo po, ano pa po yung ah tumatak po sa inyo na reaction nung una
nyo pong nalaman?
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P5: Well mostly ah, kahit sino naman, even ah our patients so (inaudible) actually ang tumatak
talaga sa atin ah, fear. Lahat tayo takot.
I3: Iyun nga po uhm, until now madami pa rin pong natatakot.
P5: Yes.
I3: Dahil po dun, proceed po tayo sa next question.
P5: ‘Kay
I3: Have you treated– ah have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?
P5: Ah I oh– I not only tried (laughs) and, but ah we actually treat patients left and right, day-in-
day-out na diagnosed COVID, proven COVID cases. Kasi lalo na samin, well we’re– we’re
actually not the– the– the– the main ones to handle yung condition, syempre ano yun, internal
medicine, infectious medicine. Pero may mga pasyente kami din na surgical ah, patients need to
be operated on na may COVID din at the same time.
I3: Uhm as you said po, nag– nakapag try na po kayo and you actually treat ah, patients with
COVID-19. So, dahil po dun, ano po yun nafefeel nyo habang nagtrtreat po kayo ng mga patients
with COVID-19?
P5: Uhm well ah, when– when we treat patients with ah, COVID-19 it’s– it's not so different with–
with any other cases naman. So ah, of course, we are apprehensive noh at first, kasi syempre,
marami pa ring ah, paraan ah– matransmit sa amin yung kanilang sakit noh, but we mitigate it by
ah, of course, having protection.
I3: Uhm dahil nga po ah, na– kahit ganon man po na may COVID sila, nagtrteat– tinitreat nyo pa
rin po sila. Ano po kaya yung–
P5: Yes.
I3: Nararamdaman nyo? Uhm na– may takot po ba sa inyo kapag nagtrtreat sa– ah kayo ng patient
with COVID-19 or parehas lang rin po kapag wala naman pong COVID yung patient nyo?
P5: Well of course ah, matatakot ka kung hindi mo alam yung mechanism by which ah, a person
gets infected by the virus. Syempre ah, pinagaralan naman nati yan, alam naman natin kung paano
yung mode of ah transmittion nya. So, if you can ah, arrest yung ah, way by which the virus is
transferred, syempre protected ka pa rin naman. So knowing that, ‘di ka naman na masyadong
matatakot. Pero syempre yun pa rin, meron pa ring fear somehow, at the back of your mind.
Syempre, naghahandle ka ng COVID ah, cases na proven or documented talaga, positive ah tests,
matatakot ka pa rin. Pero syempre nau– nauuna pa rin yung ano natin yung– yung ah duty natin to
serve the people syempre. So you set that aside, yung takot.
I3: Yes po, uhm proceed po tayo sa next question. How did you manage to protect your physical
safety while providing care for COVID-19 patients? (background noise)
P5: ‘Kay ah, I mentioned ah, using ah personal protection, at yun yung naririnig natin madalas
noh? PPE noh, personal protective equipment. Ah, we actually have ah, different levels of
protection for ah, different ah, areas in the hospital. So yung– that’s level one to four for your
information ah, it’s– it’s a standardized ah, leveling ng– ng or classification ng protection. So level
one, ano lang, yung N95 plus face shield so, and ah, gloves pag mageeximine ng patient na– na–
na hindi naman, kung baga suspect, yun yung level one. Level two mag ah dadagdag ka lang ng
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gown noh, para to cover your body, parang mahabang ano yun, may long sleeves na gown. Then
level three, madadagdagan na yan ng ah, face shield na half-faced noh, yung facemask na half-
faced or full-faced, and then meron na ring boots na impenetrable noh yung parang mga bota, yan
and yung boot covers, and yung pinakamatindi na protection yung level four. So meron ka ng
respirator, meron ka ng bunny suit yung parang astronaut noh? Meron ka ng ganon, may boots ka,
may cover pa yung boots noh? Tapos may ah, ano pa head cover noh? Talagang balot na balot. So
you can see noh, pretty much nuong kasagsagan ng ah, COVID-19, marami lalong-lalo na yung
mga frontliners natin na nagduduty talaga dun sa triage, dun sa ah, sila talaga yung humaharap sa
pasyente, lalong-lalo na yung mga nurses natin. They wear that protection, yung parang astronaut
suit for eight hours at least, so you can just imagine noh? (inaudible) Mahirap kasi mainit, nung
una, ‘di komportable, ‘di mo pwedeng tanggalin kasi pagnatanggal mo that’s a breach of protection
you’ll have to go through the ah, ano na ulit, donning and doffing procedure.
I3: Yes po, mahirap nga po magsuot ng uhm, PPE’s pero–
P5: mhm
I3: Matanong lang po namin, anong level po ng PPE yung sinusuot nyo? Sinabi nyo nga po na
may level one to four–
P5: mhm
I3: Ano pong level yung usually nyong sinusuot dun?
P5: Well I– I– I actually wear all those levels noh? Ang level four, that’s what we use when we do
operations noh? Ah specifically yung ah, respirator, meron yung full face respirator na may filter
or meron yung para talaga syang ah may, ah air generating system. So, para syang may hose tapos
nakakabit sa likod mo yung battery, tsaka yung ah, ah air generator ng hangin para hihinga ka dun.
Ah that’s what I usually use noh? Pero this ah, month lang noh, na lift na yung ano, yung ah
pagiging ah, level ng COVID from pandemic to endemic so hindi na namin ginagamit yung
astronaut suit kapag nagoopera kami. So it’s just the full face shield ang ah the usual scrub suit
nalang. Then ah, the rest pag mageexamine kami ng patient, pag magrorounds kami so, bababa ng
konti yung leveling ng PPE. Pero while you are in the hospital noh? You will have to at least wear
a level one ah PPE, which is the mask and face shield. Yung face shield naman ngayon ‘di na
gaanong ginagamit, lalo na sa labas. So, may certain areas nalang na kailangan mo mag wear ng
ah– namin ng face shield, lalo na kung merong spalsh ah, risk. (inaudible)
I3: Dahil nga po ah nasabi nyo na nagsuot po kayo ng level four ng protection ng PPE nun, ano po
yung masasabi nyong experience nyo po sa pagsuot ng ganung klaseng level ng PPE?
P5: Syempre uncomfortable, mainit, yun suffocating, kung meron kang ah, claustrophobia baka
mahirapan ka ganyan. Kasi medyo talagang ah, balot na balot ka. Pero the main problem nga is
yung heat, medyo mainit talaga, kasi parang yung mga ma– material nun parang plastic, so you
could just imagine wearing a plastic for at least eight hours or for the duration of the operation.
I3: Yes po ang hirap nga po, pero ganun pa man po proceed po tayo sa next question.
P5: Mhm
I3: Did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 while
working as a frontliner?
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P5: Yes, I contracted COVID last ah, September ah twenty-twenty one. I’ve had it.
I3: Uhm what are the symptoms po that you experienced while you had COVID-19?
P5: Well ang naramdaman ko lang nuon, I had ah, fever ah generelized body pains ah poor appetite,
‘di pa naman ako nawalan ng panlasa nuon ang pangamoy. Yun lang poor appetite, and ah dry
cough.
I3: Mga gano katagal po yung mga symptoms na yun na naranasan nyo? (background noise)
P5: The symptoms came just ah, siguro two days. So we have a protocol kasi sa hospital so if you
have ah any of those symptoms, symptoms we call flu-like symptoms, you’ll have to get tested.
So I was tested, and turned out positive. So I had to be confined in the hospital for two weeks.
I3: After po nung two weeks na naconfine kayo, gano po katagal bago kayo nakabalik sa
pagtratrabaho?
P5: I was actually still working then, (laughs) ganun ang buhay ng doctor, lalo na kung ikaw ay
senior na– na resident. Napapanood nyo naman siguro sa, Good Doctor, sa Grey’s Anatomy, even
if you are sick, if you have the responsibility, so you will never go ah, on a sick leave, so I still do
ah, administrative job, and I still have to ah, look ah, sa mga ginagawa ng mga juniors ko. Ah but
ah I– immediately after two weeks ng ah, isolation I went back to work immediately.
I3: Iyun po, nakakabilib po yung ginagawa nyo na kahit may sakit nagtratrabaho pa rin po. Ah–
P5: Yes.
I3: Proceed po tayo sa next question. Overall, how can you describe your experience as a frontliner
during the surge of the pandemic? (background noise)
P5: Well, the– the experience was ah, I can say ah– siguro ang pang describe ko dun na word ay
nerve-wracking. (laughs) Ah kasi it’s both ah, tiring physically, primarily, pero it’s also tiring
emotionally. Kasi you get to see ah, many sick people noh, many many sick people all at the same
time noh? But (inaudible) you are helpless, kasi once they go to a– the critical stage ah, wala na
tayo– wala na kaming masayado magagawa. (stutters) In the early stages pa nga, syempre
resources are limited, so mas lalong– mas pinahirap trabaho namin. So, so much more to the
surgical patient. So yung medical patient, they– will– will just have to– to address the medical
condition noh? Like halimbawa may hypertension sya, may diabetes noh? Tapos nag contract sya
ng COVID noh? So ginagamot lang yun, so pano yung kailangan operaha noh, na mayroon ding
hypertension at diabetes tapos nagCOVID pa. So it’s much worse for those patients, lalo na yung
surgical patient.
I3: Ang hirap nga po nung mga ganung pasyente. (dog barks)
P5: Mhm
I3: Proceed po tayo sa next part naman po and si Ferie po yung magtutuloy nun. Ferie?
I6: Hello po, good evening po doc and thank you, Carlo. Uhm for this part po this will cover all
the changes in the work– workplace po.
P5: Okay.
I6: So for the first question po for this part, What are the changes that have happened in the
workplace?
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P5: Oh there are many changes that have happened in the workplace. So, it’s actually a three
hundred sixty-degree turn noh? Kung paguusapan yung ah, what we used to normally do,
compared to the new changes that happened. So, we had to rearrange the whole hospital noh?
Yung dating emergency room, naging ano sya isolation ng mga COVID positive. We had to create
another ah, makeshift facility sa labas ng ospital para duon titignan lahat ng pasyenteng papasok
na may symptoms, or we can se– (thud) or how can we segregate them noh? Yung may symptoms
at wala, duon din sa labas ng hospital, tapos may bagong emergency room para sa mga clean cases
or walang COVID. Ah nagiba rin yung how we do things noh? Operations noh yun nga, lagi
kaming may ah astronaut suit. Tapos ah, bago kami magoopera, lahat ng pasyente may COVID
test, dapat negative sila. Ah ano pa? Ah yung aming work schedule was ah, made more difficult,
kasi we had to du– go on duty ah, for (background noise) ah nung una we had one week straight
duties, and then naging three days straight duties. And then after that, naging every two days na
magduty ka, rest ka for two days, then another two days ka na naman. So iyun ang mga naging
changes, yung scheduling, structure ng hospital ah, yung how we see patients, yung volume ng
mga patients has ah gradually gone down, hanggang sa wala na kaming masyadong inooperahan,
kasi syempre lahat ng tao ayaw magpunta ng hospital.
I6: Opo, so dun po sa mga hospital areas na changes po, nag– nagkulang po ba yung mga facility
po to cater all COVID and non-COVID patients po or sapat naman po?
P5: Ah I could say sa– sa ibang lugar noh? Nagkulang sila pero– nakulangan sila, pero nagaadapt
naman kami. So, we had to increase yung COVID ah, capability ganyan. So inincrease yung bed
capacity nung COVID ah patient , COVID wards ganyan. So naka cope naman kami.
I6: Okay po, so how about naman po sa number of employees po, meron po bang mga nag quit
and you have to fill in their work po?
P5: Yes, of course, so that’s the main problem kasi pag ang ah, employee nagkaroon ng COVID,
di lang naman sya ang kailangan magisolate, lahat nung nakasalamuha nya. Kaya we have ah, the
thing we call ah, contact tracing. So, hindi lang sa mga pasyenteng nagpopositive, pati sa mga
health workers. So lahat ng katrbaho nung pa– pasy– nung health workers na nagCOVID will have
to be isolated noh? So at least twelve weeks nung una ah, so syempre lahat ng ah, employees that
will be out of work due to isolation, so their job has to be ah, of course ah, be manned by other
crew, so iyun ang dahilan bakit kaila– kaya nagkakaroon kami ng duties na halos minsan
dirediretso isang linggo, just to keep with the manpower.
I6:Ok po, How about the surge of patients naman po, is it more hectic to handle patients during
the pandemic po kasi you have to separate COVID patients from non-COVID patients po?
P5:yes of course, mas ahhh mahirap perooo yung surge ahhh per se is uhh particularly not directed
naman sa department namin so syempre yan ay sa Department of Medicine… sa Internal medicine,
specifically sa infectious uhhh disease.uhh Sa amin tinutulungan din namin sila pag nagkukulang
sa ano sa manpower.Uhh Affected kami pag yung patient naooperahan is uhh of course positive,
pero yung influx ng pasyente hindi nga dumami, yung surgical patients actually yung census namin
has gone down considerably so we had uhh accreditation last uhh 2019 so naging evident na there
has been a considerable decline in our census ng mga naopera, simply because lahat naman ng tao
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nakalockdown hindi sila makapunta sa hospital unless it’s uhh an urgent surgical condition or
emergency.
I6: Opo, since bumab- nasabi nyo po na bumaba po yung mga surgical patients…Pano po yung
naging…
P5:yes
I6:ano nyo po sa residency po, puro COVID na lang po ba yung hinahandle nyo po or hindi naman
po ganun?
P5:Hindi naman, naapektuhan yung residency in a way na uhh bumaba yung cases ng bawat
residents, each resident kasi has to do a number of operations bago sya mag mag step up and be
promoted to the next lev- year level, so pag kunti yug uhh number of operations na magagawa mo
edi maapektuhan yung training mo ganyan.
I6: Opo totoo po talaga na hindi lang personal na buhay po natin yung naapektuhan ng COVID
P5: Yes
I6: Pati rin po kayo especially nagtratrabaho po sa hospital and this is a disease and we’re really
pouring our best strength to battle po, So with
P5:Yes
I6: all those said po, may I ask for the second question, How does the workforce change during
the times of pandemic?
P5:What do you mean uhh what change, what particular change?
I6:uhmm sa workforce…
P5:sa workforce…
I6:kung pano po pano po yung mga nagbabago sa uhh pag opera nyo po and yung mismong force
po ng mga employees po.
P5:sa workforce marami ang nagquit, marami ang umalis ganyan, marami nung nagkasakit sila di
na sila bumalik so yunn uhh pero there’s still uh sevral who stayed, dedicated pa rin naman sa
trabah uhh lalo na yung mga nurses natin.
I6:Yes po and kahanga hanga po yung dedication sa trabaho…
P5:mhmm
I6:especially sa nurses po
P5:mmhm
I6:uhmm so we know that PPe’s has brought a lot of sturggles, although meron na po neto before
pandemic, parang mas dumoble, mas trumiple po, nadagdagan ang mga kailangan suutin
P5:mhmm
I6:uhm we know that it has not been easy for you po, so may we ask po how is your personal
experience po while wearing PPE’s
P5:Well personally, wala naman akong masyadong naging problema wearing PPE’s kasi we
acknowledge , appreciate na kailangan naman talaga ng personal protection, or your protection
and you family’s protection din syempre pero wal- uhh, sa amin particularly dito sa hospital, di
naman namin naramdaman o naranasan na nagkaroon ng shortage talaga uhh ng PPE, unlike sa
other uhh hospital or areas.
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I6:Yes po, mabuti naman po at naging sapat po yung PPE’s natin para naman po and uhh tanong
ko na lang po na have you been restricted to eat po, or to pee, kasi may mga ibang pong cases po
ata na ganun, yung bawal po silang umihi lalo po pag duty po nila?
P5: Yes, yung mga restrictions, nabanggit ko na rin kanina, once you wear that PPE, syempre
kailangan mong tipirin yung PPE hindi ka naman pwedeng every hour magpapalit ka. So once na
sinuot mo na yun uhh yung kailangan umihi ka na noh, tapos uhh yung susunod na tatanggalin mo
yun, yun na yung only time na makakain ka, ganyan, and then bawal din syempre ang gathering
so bawal yung kumain kayo ng saby sabay yan.
I6: Opo sobrang hirap po talaga
P5:mhmm
I6:Sa mga PPE’s lalo na’t sobrang haba rin po ata ng duty nyo po, uhmm so for- let’s proceed po
sa next question. How did you change the way you interact with your patients now that there are
restrictions on communication po?
P5: Dyan pumapasok yung mga, dyan talaga nagamit ng ating uhh tinatawag na online medicine
oh yung telemedicine, so yan ang malaking naging pagbabago on how we interact with patients
noh so yung mga patients na hindi kailangang maoperahan o hindi urgent, or hindi emergency,
yung usual na dati na kailangan face t face na naeexamine namin sila na nakakausap, now we can
we we we do na alost the time na online na ano telemedicine so marami namang apps na ginagamit
marami na yan meron pa yun onln net marami din yung ibang apps pa or yung simple viber and
messenger, google duo, marami so or yung simple na ano na uhh kahit yung sms nga minsan
ginagamit madalas ng mga pasyenta pati yung calls lalo
I6:Yes po ang laking help po ng mga
P5:mhm
I6:social media po for communication lalo na ngayong pandemic po, sa mismong hospital po
naranasan nyo po ba na hindi po kayo magkarinigan ng pasyente nyo po and natry nyo nalang po
bang isulat sa papel yung gusto nyo pong sabihin or hindi naman po nangyari?
P5:Not particularly, hindi naman masyado, yung PPE mo naman yun lang when when you wear
uhh full face mask uhh minsan may uhhh limitation yung ano yung uhh communication pero yung
voice meron na rin naman kasing mga mask ngayon na eron na silang microphone, meron na rin
silang kumbaga, One-way valve na pwedeng marinig naman yung boses mo na malakas pero yung
dati na mga naunang Full faced mask medyo muffled talaga yung boses. Nung doktor kaya minsan
di sila maintindihan, di kami maintindihan.
I6:Okay po,so for the last question po for this part, since personally there were a lot of changes
and modifications but Do the changes in your workplace have an impact on you as a healthcare
professional? How so po?
P5:Of course uhh, yung nga changes dun sa structure ng hospital of course you don't have to put
in some more hours tapos uhh minsan uhh nafrufrustrate ka na ganyan, so minsan uhhh uhhh hindi
mo magawa nang maayos yung ano, yung trabaho mo dahil sa mga limitations doon sa workplace,
so yan yung mga impact.
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I6: SIge po mhmm Thank you po that is the last question for this part po, The next part po Carlo
will interview again, Thank you po
P5: ‘Kay, difficulties and challenges.

I3: Hello po ulit, okay pa po ba kayo or gusto nyo po muna mag water break po muna?
P5:It’s Okay
I3:Okay lang po so proceed po tayo sa part three, Difficulties and challenges so for the first
question
P5:Part Four
I3: Are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak?
P5:Everyday, everyday naman may difficulties. difficult patients, difficult situations diba, so
marami.
I3:naranasan nyo rin po ba yung uhh low wages or mga unfair benefits dahil may naririnig rin po
tayong-
P5: chuckles
I3: ganto sa balita na uhmm sobra na pong magtrabaho pero mababa pa po yung sahod na
nabibigay?
P5:Ano sa tingin mo? (laughs) Ano lang sa tingin mo, ibabalik ko lang din yung tanong
I3:uhh feel ko po…
P5:pati yung sa what do you usually see kung may experience ka ba you can share it to me din
I3: (Chuckles nervously)
P5:or confirm din..
I3: Usually po kasi na naririnig sa balita na iyun nga po na meron nga pong cases na mababa po
yung mga pasahod, yun po yung sa tingin ko na nangyayari.
P5: Tama ka. Tama yung observation mo noh, so eto rin naman yung time din na tatanungin ko
kayo na despite low wages ng pagiging health workers sa Pilipinas, do you still want to be a health
worker particularly a doctor so that will test you later on, totoo na yung wages noh lalo na kung
meron kang family, it will never be enough, kung may family ka na, kung single ka that's okay,
soo mhmmm talagang ano yung uhhh hours spent in the workplace is not commensurately paid
(chuckles) by your salary kung magiging health worker ka sa Pilipinas That’s the truth.
I3:Paano naman po yung mga times na may gusto po kayong sabihin sa mga boss nyo or sa mga
mas seniors po sa inyo, nakatatas po sa inyo pero di po kayo napapakinggan, may mga ganung
times po ba?
P5:Always (laughs) nakikita nyo naman sa mga balita so it’s as if you are, it’s always falling on
their fears, di mo naman maikakaila diba, maraming reklamo ang mga health workers, yung mga
military dinoble ang suweldo, yung teachers dinoble na rin yung sweldo or tinaasan na rin,
nabalitaan nyo ba mga health workers? Na nagtaas ng suweldo diba hindi, so it’s it’s unfair, quite
unfair, it’s always ano, it’s always our complain. syempre pero uhh we’ll see, we’re still hoping.
I3: Dahil naman po sa lahat ng difficulties na naharap nyo nga po, pano po neto naapektuhan kayo
bilang isang healthcare worker?
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P5: Well (Chuckles) maraming times na kung halimbawa lalong lalo na sa situation ng isang
resident physician, alam mo naman siguro yung residency, So once you finished your med
schooling meron ka nang license pumasa ka ng board, so that’s after ten years, you will go on
residency noh. Kung gusto mo pang mag residency pero I suggest kung magresidnecy ka kasi yun
naman talaga ang ano, ang essence ng pageespecialized, diba uhh there will come a time na you
will question bakit nagtiyatiyaga ka dyan diba, maraming beses iisipin mo mag quit na lang
maraming nagquiquit na residents. Just recently may kakilala ako (Laughs) nagquit at senior na
sya ibig sabihin third year fourth year na sya. So-
I3:Opo opo
P5:Yun ang magiging effect sa iyo… Kung gusto mo nang magquit, there are many reasons na
gusto mo nang magquit.
I3:Pero buti po kayo uhhh matatag pa rin yung loob at andyan pa rin po kayo
P5: Uhh well (Laughs)
I3:ayun po sige uhhproceed-
P5:siguro it’s it’s it’s also ano it’s it’s uhh kung gusto mo talaga de mangyayari pero kung there
are other factors syempre magquiquit ka rin.
I3:Yes po, proceed po tayo sa next question… What can you say about the hours you spent in the
workplace? As well as your workload?
P5:Too long (laughs) nakwekwento naman siguro, kakalase nyo ba dati si Ysa, si Naomi? Section
nyo ba sya dati, so kung nagkwekwneto sya sa inyo, I rarely uhhh see her uhh at home kasi uhh I
uhmm not around most of the time sa bahay pero , ang time lang na nandon ako gabi, pero ngayong
pag ano na, pag senior ka naman na fourth year or fifth year, pag fifth year ka naman na medyo
may ano na uhh may time ka na to do things uhh Outside the hospital pero pag yung first year to
third year, medyo mahirap pa.
I3: How about naman po sa workload pano po naapektuhan ng pandemic yung bigat ng gawain
nyo? (backround chatter)
P5:It’s too heavy (laughs) too much.
I3:Uhmm ano po yung nabigay na dagdag trabaho po nung pandemic sa inyo?
P5:Uhhhm mas maraming tests na gagawin, mas maraming times spent with the patient and mas
maraming uhh uhhh mhhmm yan mas maraming time na kailangang gugulin sa pasyente.
I3:Ang hirap nga po noh, uhmm ganun pa man po, proceed po tayo sa next question. Have you
experienced workplace discrimination during the start of the pandemic? How did this affect you
as a professional?
P5: Excuse me, Yes uhhh majority of uhh health workers experienced this kaya nga meron nang
uhh mga ordinances or meron nang mga laws na pinasa na kapag diniscriminate ang isang health
worker, you can immediately report sa NBI and those who discriminate you will uhhh effectively
apprehended, di pwedeng pagkaitan ka ng pagkakataon na pumila o pumunta sa isang lugar
ganyan, isisingle out ka dahil naka scrub suit ka ganyan, minsan hindi ka nila papayagang pumasok
noh hindi pupwede yon. Karamihan lalo na nung nalaman nila na frontliner ka or health worker ka
medyo didistansya sila sa iyo, Yan. so maraming forms yung discrimination pero, pinaka mas
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malala yung uhh hindi ka nila papayagang pumasok sa isang establishment ganyan. Uhh or uhh
yan mga kumbaga hindi ka papalabasin nung bahay mo ganyan. So of course uhh ang effect nun
to us as professionals syempre nakakalungkot.
I3: Iyun po, dun po sa mga nasabi nyog examples ng form of discrimination, naexperience nyo po
ba yung isa sa ganon or ano po ba yung naging certain experience nyo po sa discrimination?
P5:Uhhh yes nung nagkaCOVID ako, nilagyan ng barikada yung palibot ng Bahay ko and lahat
ng household members ko ay hindi nakakalabas. Nung nagreklamo lang ako sa municipal health
uhh officer, uhh na i lift tinaggal nila yung mga barikada sa bahay,kasi ako lang naman yung nagka
COVID negative naman lahat ng household ko so that’s ahh the worst form of discrimination ng
health worker.
I3: Grabe nga po yung nangyari no, Kayo nga lang po yung nagkaCOVID pero lahat kayo affected
nung discrimination.
P5:Yes and to think ako nasa Hospital ako naka Isolate.
I3:Ahh so hiwalay pa po kayo sa family nyo?
P5:Yes
I3:Mmmm
P5:Everytime na kami ay uhh naexpose sa isang COVID positive so we'll have uhh to do our ano
uhh isolation and we'll have to be away from our families, isa pa pala yan sa nadagdag sa changes
na nangyayari sa changes sa amin, So iba yung routine namin sa bahay sa pag-uwi dati dederetso
pa sa pagkagaling diba meron kang sasakyan may ggarahe ka, pagkagaling mo sa bahay, pagkapark
ng sasakyan mo sa garahe pasok ka na sa main door, and then ayan pupuntahan ka na ng anak mo
yayakapin ka nya , magmamano ganyan, and then those were your daily routine pero nung panahon
ng COVID, bago ako makapasok sa bahay doon sa backdoor meron akong separate uhh disposal
ng mga damit ko and then I will go through the backdoor go to the shower and then bago ko sila
kakausapin or lalapitan. So yun ang naging routine nadagdag.
I3: Nung nagka-COVID po kayo, nung naka-isolate kayo sa hospital, paano po kayo
nagccommunicate sa family n’yo po dahil s’yempre alam po natin na napaka-important po ng
family sa atin.
P5: Aheh, thru ano, social media, ‘yan. Messenger, ahh…viber
I3: Yes po, laking tulong rin po ng mga ganung apps na na
P5: Hmm
I3: Kahit magkalayo nga po, napagcconnect pa rin tayo.
P5: (mutters agreeing sound)
I3: Ayun po, proceed po tayo sa next question. How did the pandemic affect your physical, mental,
social and emotional aspect? Pero, start muna po tayo sa physical aspect po.
P5: Ah, ‘yon, nagkasakit ako. Ahhh..bumagsak ‘yong- ‘yong kalusugan ko. (chatters on the
background) Nanghina ako, ’yan. I was ahh sick for a while. 2 weeks, ahh.. and then nung nagka-
COVID ako hindi lang naman ‘yung time na nagka-sakit ako e. So…kung nasa hospital ka, for
sure you’re always exposed sa mga kung anong virus. Minsan nagkaroon rin ako- mas naging ahh
kumbaga ahh frequent na meron kang respiratory symptoms…na hindi katulad nung dati. O kahit
 138

naman mag-negative test ka, so ‘yun pa rin. T’as meron ‘yung tinatawag na long haul ahh… effect
ang COVID. ‘Yung iba, it takes them a really really long time to recover. ‘Yung iba meron silang
kine-claim na permanent uhh- uhh weakness,or cognitive uhh disfunction ganyan after nila mag-
COVID. Thankfully sa akin, wala naman.
I3: Ayun po, nung nagkasakit po kayo and nanghina po ‘yung katawan n’yo, after po n’un, may
ginawa po ba kayo para ahh- mas lumakas po ulit ‘yung resistensya n’yo and yung katawan n’yo?
P5: Ahh, wala naman, just just ano, eat right, rest well, you can rest, sleep right, you can sleep,
diba? Eat well, if you have the time, and appetite.
I3: Ayun po, proceed po tayo sa mental aspect naman po.
P5: Hmm. Mental of course, ahh- marami ‘yung ano nababaliw (chuckles). Ahh, well well ahh
personally, ahh wala naman masyado pero ‘yun lang. Ahh meron yung ahh stress talaga na
nadudulot. Mentally, wala naman masyado sa akin.
I3: Mabuti naman po na- wala naman po gaano.
P5: Hmm
I3: Ayun po, proceed po tayo sa social aspect, paano po ito naapektuhan?
P5: Of course, hindi ka na nakaka-attend ng the usual ahh happenings, yung mga birthdays na
iniinvite ka ganyan, gatherings, diba? Wala na ‘yun.
I3: Opo nga, nakakalungot rin po n’oh? Uhmm, kaya naman po, sa emotional aspect naman po?
P5: Ahh… I don’t know (laughs) wala masyado. Uhh basically syempre, ‘yung sa emotional uhh
aspect, uhh malaking bagay ‘yung- pati na don sa ano sa mental, siguro, uhh malaking bagay na
you have a family to- to to rely on, you have a family to- to- to go to, diba? So eto ‘yung support
system mo kung meron. So, that helps a lot. (background chatter) Para mamaintain yung iyong
emotional stability kumbaga.
I3: Yes po, napakahalaga po talaga ng family sa atin. Iyun po, proceed po tayo sa last question for
part 3. What has been the most challenging aspect of working as a frontliner or while handling a
COVID-19 patient?
P5: (Tapping of mic sound) Ahh.. most challenging.. (background chatter) Uhm.. Siguro sa akin,
‘yung ahh dealing with uhh patients na terminally ill? Patients, ‘yung cancer patients natin, or
‘yung mga patients na alam natin na malapit nang mamatay gan’yan, or dying. When you have
uhh COVID, at ikaw ay inabutan na mamatay sa ospital, pinaka-challenging talaga doon so far is-
is for the family to- to accept na hindi na nila pwedeng mahawakan ‘yung relative nila, noh? Hindi
na rin nila makikita ‘yung relative nila. Kasi dapat didiretso nang iccremate ‘yung pasyente nila,
diba? Kung imagine-in mo ‘yon, ‘yung relative mo, ‘yung close friend mo, or kung sino man loved
one, kung kelan mo s’ya huling nakita, iyon na ‘yung huling kita mo sa kanya bago s’ya ma-
ospital. Kung may COVID s’ya, ahh then then the ahh nagperish sya due to COVID noh? Di mo
na s’ya makikita. That’s actually, sa akin, napakahirap yun na ano, ipaliwanag sa relatives, diba?
So ‘yun talaga ang challenging, paano mo tatangapin, paano mo ipapaliwanag sa pasyente.
I3: Napakachallenging nga po n’on noh? Parang ang hirap pong sabihin na ganun yung-
P5: YES
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I3: ganun ‘yung balita n’yo sa family. Uhmm, dahil po d’on, ahh meron po bang moment na na
nahirapan po talaga kayo and naisip n’yo po na mag-quit nalang and dahil rin po sa pagod naisip
n’yo pong ‘tama na, ayoko na’ po parang ganon po ba?
P5: Well, many times. Many times.
I3: Iyun po. Ano po ‘yung nagpa…stay po sa inyo na, dahil nga po sabi n’yo madami na pong
beses na naisip n’yo na magquit. Ano po ‘yung nagpapastay po sa inyo diyaan as- bilang healthcare
worker?
P5: Well, to tell you frankly, ahh noong unang, I was here n’ung ano na, ilang taon na ‘yon? 2007
to 2009. Nandito na ako sa hospital. I was ahh first year and second year. Umalis ako nung second
year ako dahil sa mga frustration ko sa government, ‘yan. So, ‘wag n’yo ng tanungin kung sino
‘yung mga ahh mga mayor n’un at tsaka mga congressman nung mga taong na ‘yon, pwede n’yong
balikan. Ahh na ano disillusioned ako masyado, nag-quit ako noon. And I worked ahh overseas as
a doctor. Ahh for 8 years, before I came back. Uh and ahh the reason why I came back, nakita ko
talaga ‘yung situation ng mga pasyente natin dito. So, if- if you can ano, if you can ahh- ask around,
tanong mo sa bandang Zambales, do you- do you know any ahh surgeon, na fully trained, kung
ilang sila, from Subic to Sta. Cruz, lahat ng ng m-magagaling natin na surgeons, syempre nandito
sa Olongapo. Pero you can still ahh name ah- name a few names, kaya kulang na kulang yung mga
specialists natin. That’s the reason why, bumalik ako. And then, I had to do ahh the whole ahh
thing again from first year nanaman. So, ako, kung magqquit pa ako, edi sinayang ko lang ‘yung
(laughs) maraming taon na nag-train ako and of course, what keeps me going is my family.
I3: Ayun po. Saludo po-
P5: (Sila naman talaga)
I3: (Saludo po) talaga kami sa inyo. Hngg, ang dami rin po talaga ng paghihirap na hinarap n’yo
pero-
P5: (Oo)
I3: (pero) ganun pa man po, patuloy pa rin tayo-
P5: At tsaka in a- in a- in a couple of years, magco-college na ‘yung panganay ko so kailangan ko
na talagang matapos (laughs).
I3: Yes po.
P5: No time for quitting.
I3: (dog barking) Hmm, opo nga. Iyun po, thank you po for answering this part. Proceed po tayo
sa next part which is si Ferie po ulit ang mag-iinterview. Thank you po.
P5: Ok
I6: So, ‘yun po, last part na po tayo, okay pa po ba kayo doc?
P5: Okay na okay!
I6: Okay po. Opo. Sa lahat po ng mga-
P5: Kung di mo naitatanong, zoom is my breakfast.
I6: (chuckles) Opo, same po.
P5: Araw- araw halos may zoom kami, araw-araw.
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I6: Opo, so sa lahat po ng mga difficulties and challenges, our only next step is to move forward
po. Ika nga po, we need to adapt in order to survive. So for our adaptation part po, the first question
is, what are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic po?
P5: Hm, ano ba yung mga adaptive mechanisms na ano, (laughs) na mayron? Hmm… well, siguro
you just have to be ano, resilient and ahh be ahh optimistic, dapat positive thinker ka, ‘noh? Dapat
hindi ka ano madaling ahh panghinaan ng loob.
I6: Yes po.
P5: and (I6:talaga pong-) you have to have a goal, set, ‘yan.
I6: Opo, talaga pong totoong Filipinos are resilient po talaga.
P5: Hmm-mm.
I6: So for the next question po, among the trials you faced at work, how did you overcome them?
At tsaka sino po ‘yung mga inspiration n’yo po para manatili po sa trabaho?
P5: ahh, well, yun- yun nga, ahh by having optimistic and having a positive outlook in life, ‘yan.
Mga inspiration ko, ‘yung mga anak ko. Hm, family ko, syempre, ang aking wife, lahat naman.
I6: Opo, opo. Thank you po. So sige po, for the next question po (sound of turning a paper) in the
challenges posed by pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have learned personally or
even in your profession?
P5: Ahh, perosnally, hindi lang naman sa panahon ng pandemya, noh? Hindi lang naman during
COVID-19. When you see ahh- these things happening all around the world, ahh nakikita mo
‘noh? Na kapag ahh- health ang involved, or if we are faced with ahh this great adversity, kung
meron pandemic or any major health ahh catastrophe or health uhh sabihin na nating na na
emergency all around the world, ahh masasabi mo na lahat tayo ay ahh pantay-pantay. No matter
how rich you are, kung tinamaan ka ng COVID, kung hindi mo inalagaan ang sarili mo, it will not
save you kahit na gaano karami mong pera, diba? So, the- the- the realization is so you’ll have to
take care of yourself, ‘noh? And ahh- always (messenger notification sound) ahh also be a tawag
dito, concerned with others. Ito rin ‘yung time na kinailangan mo ng ibang tao na tutulong sa’yo.
So, it’s not always the case na you think you uh you have everything that you need. You’ll always
need someone, someday. So, ayan ang mga realizations, you’ll have to always ahh think of others.
Not maybe before yourself, pero you’ll have to be mindful of the needs of others (background
noise)
I6: Yes-
P5: Kasi sometimes, later on, you’ll also need help.
I6: Opo, andami po (background noise) talaga nating realizations ngayong- (yes)
P5: Yes-
I6: (ngayong-) pandemic (background noise) ahh dami rin pong lesson na tinuro
P5: Hmm.
I6: Tsaka ngayon po talaga natin- talagang pumasok sa kokote na, ‘yung health is wealth po talaga
kasi kahit-
P5: Yes.
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I6: Gaya po ng sabi n’yo, kahit anong dami ng pera mo, pag tinamaan ka po ng COVID,
(background noise) at walang parang nag-ano po, nag-alaga, e hindi n- hind- nung unang- nung
emerg- at the emergence of COVID-19 po, wala pa atang mga vaccine po and
P5: Yes.
I6: hindi pa po sure kung paano po gagaling. So. ‘yun po parang walang saysay din po ‘yung
kayamanan, kung nahihirap naman po yung kalusugan natin.
P5: Yes.
I6: So, next po, for our next question, is adapting to change in times of pandemic necessary, why
and why not? And what are its importance?
P5: Of course, (laughs) I think it’s a no-brainer, you’ll have to adapt. And uhh, the importance of
adapting, of course you’ll have to- to- uhh, to be dynamic, you have to be ever-changing, how we
uhh- usually, uhh- address uhh- yung mga ganitong viral uhh uhh infections noon, iba na ngayon,
diba? Dati, pag nagkaroon ka ng flu, o may flu-like symptoms, o magpahinga ka lang, mag-soup
ka lang, mag-rest ka lang, diba? But you still go outside, you still uhh socialize, diba? Pero ngayon,
ang naging ahh, pa- sandata natin para malimit ‘yung transmission is- is- isolation diba? Stay out
of the public. Don’t mingle with the others, ganun. You have to adapt also and and and change
yourself. You have to strengthen yourself, you have to exercise, you have to eat right, rest, sleep
well, gan’yan, diba? And not abuse yourself. So I hope e- wala namang umiinom sa inyo ng alak,
gan’yan. Nagsisigarilyo di’ba? So, those are the adaptations that you have to do, as they are
(inaudible sound).
I6: Thank you po, and ayan po, last question na po tayo. So, what recommendations do you have
for public health preparation to end this pandemic?
P5: Ahh.. marami namang tayong recommendations na ahh… ginagawa na rin naman nila ahh
continue lang ‘yung ahh vaccinations, yung program natin to get vaccinated. So, if you’re not yet
vaccinated, I suggest you- you- you’d be vaccinated as soon as you can. Uhh… (scratching sound)
continue ‘yung mga health programs na meron tayo. Uhh…and ahh ang aking isang
recommendation din is to improve the uhh quality of uhh healthcare services and facilities dito sa,
not only in Olongapo and Zambales pero sa loob- sa buong Pilipinas. So there’s still many many
out there na hindi nasserve ng ng ng ng tamang health services. Uhh…of course kasama doon sa
pag-iimprove ng public health, uhh ay uhh pag ahh- increase ng quality rin salary ng mga ano, mga
health workers, uhh, ano pa? Hm. Ahh of course, with the new ahh- ahh- president, of course ah,
the- the- and the new congress, the- they’ll have to be more ahh uhh laws na mapasa noh? Favoring
‘yung mga public health sector, diba? Ahh, ‘yung ahh, pag-aaral ng kalusugan noh? Sa Pilipinas
noh? ‘Yung medisina, ‘yan. Of course, they’ll have to- to- to help uhh ‘yung mga less fortunate
uhh students na gusto naman ding mag-aaral. Dapat uhh suportahan din sila. Uhh, sa pag-end ng
pandemic, ahh, I don’t know, nobody knows kung mag-eend talaga s’ya, pero we- we c- I- I think
uhh we are seeing ahhh some ahh light at the end of the tunnel, sabi nga nila. Pero I don’t know,
if it’s really gonna end, or ahh the next uhh new mutation is just around the corner. Uhh, I don’t
know (laughs) being uhh a health worker myself, the uncertainty of- of these ahh COVID-19 ahh
section is still there, at ahh ‘yun nga, ahh it’s good na wala na tayong nababalitaan o wala na tayong
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ahh nakikitang mga bagong surges, and and and it’s evidence, and ahh it’s evident, sa- sa mga
census din namin, sa mga results, sa mga tests, because w- I have updates ahh daily ng mga tests,
ng mga pasyente natin sa hospital. And ah it’s really really going down so… mangilan-ngilan
nalang ang mga nag popositive. (inaudible music playing on the background) So, that’s a good
sign na, maybe it’s it’s it’s ending.
I6: So ayun po, we hope the recommendations will be heard by many and not just the government,
pati po ‘yung mga normal na tao para kahit papaano po ma- kung hindi man po talaga mag-end
yung pandemic, mapigilan man lang po yung mga positive cases, ‘yung sugres po, ganon po. And
talagang makinig po sa mga experts, dahil sila po yung may kakayanan at tsaka capable po sila
kung ano po yung kaya nating gawin. So, hindi- tsaka hindi rin po natin kakayaning mag-end yung
pandemic kung parang nagiging- nagiging- tawag po tayo d’un? Parang nagiging mapride and
hindi susunod sa mga patakaran ng gobyerno saka mga healthcare workers. So, ayun po maraming
maraming salamat po sa pag- (chuckes) sa pag-papaunlak po sa aming interview.
[End of Interview with P5]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 6

Location : Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 12, 2022, 2:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 6 attendees (2 observer, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Transcriber: Richelle Alwina R. Caseja, Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan and Joanne Thea G.
Ragadio
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

M: Before we formally start may we know your full name and the current medical profession that
you are doing ma’am?
P6: Ahhh (wind noises) can we.. not say the name but I am a (lagging) registered medical
technologist working (wind noises) in James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital so.. (wind noises) I’m
under the laboratory department.
M: Ah thank you po. At this juncture, let us now proceed to the interview proper. Richelle…
I1: Okay Ma’am. For the first question, what was your initial reaction when you heard about the
COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P6: (wind noises) Okay… The first reaction is fear… I fear for my safety (lagging) and as well for
the safety of my family (wind noises) since I work at the hospital.. Ahh. I am more prone of having
the disease and being.. ahh able to transfer it. to.. My family.. So ahh (wind noises) fear and ahh…
(pauses) I also feel sad because.. You can see how pandemic is changing everyone and the society..
Okay..
I1: Okay.. Because of that fear, have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?
P6: We handle patients with a.. (wind noises) accordinance to the DOH ahh.. (pauses) order. At
first when it hits the.. When it hits the olong— ah philippines we are not so prepared. So ahh along
the way ahh.. Changes happened where we find ways how to.. (pauses) how to give better service
to (inaudible) patients.. Such as we made barriers.. We hade ahh.. Physical barriers so that we put
plastic barriers in the hospital ah.. In some.. Some hospital places to prevent ahh.. direct contact
with the patients and relatives. We also wear PPE’s, mask.. Ahh.. face shields for us to protect ah..
Medical workers safety. We also limit the relatives (messenger notification) and patients coming
the hospital area (wind noises) we also ah.. Screened patients who are with fever and those who
are not showing ahh.. Or manifesting fevers, colds… we separate the.. (stutters) properly.. We set-
up ah.. Covid area for patients who are suffering fever or colds (wind noises) and we also have a
cleaned area who does not have that symptoms.
I1: Okay, since you said earlier that you tried handling a COVID-19 patient based on.. Based on
ah.. DOH order may I know if how did you manage to protect your physical safety while providing
care for COVID-19 patients?
P6: (lagging) (wind noises) We have to protect.. Ahh.. healthcare workers,, especially like me..
We protect ourself by wearing the right PPE’s and we also ahh, just like I said.. We also ahh..
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place ahh… plastic barriers so that there will be no direct contact.. As in making it ahh.. A social
distancing (wind noises) between the patients or relatives who are ahh.. Not yet screened so that
we would be able to protect myself and ah.. Other healthcare workers.
I1: ahh (pauses)
P6: We also do
I1: when (pauses)
P6: Excuse me?
I1: You may continue Ma’am. I’m sorry for interrupting
P6: We also do.. Ahh.. oftentimes disinfection. Inside the laboratory — the working area and also
ahh .. the hospital area… (wind noises) we also disinfect outside the hospital area during those..
Ahh.. peak of pandemic… If you have heard before, the city have helped a lot by disinfecting the..
Outside hospital area by spraying disinfectant so that patient was not yet screened or not yet ahh..
Manifesting symptoms will be able to.. Who are coming to the hospital.. Leaving outside the
hospital areas.. Uhmm.. make also give uhmm.. They may also be the source of COVID infection
so the city also disinfect the (background noise) outside hospital areas that time.
I1: Ah okay. Even though you obey all the protocols, we’re not 100% sure if uhmm if we are 100%
safe.. So, my next question is – did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive
for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P6: Yes po.. I also become one of the COVID positive patient. Lately, ahh.. I have contacted one
of the positive.. Donors who have come to the hospital.. To the blood bank area and they she has
not ah.. Reveal or.. Said the right information that she has a manifestation of uhmm.. Colds or
fever.. That’s why when I interact with her.. Even though I’m wearing face shield and face mask
— it enable me to catch the.. To have the disease and find the.. (pauses) after the swabbing.. I am
also positive with the COVID-19.
I1: Ah okay Ma’am.. May I know what symptoms have you experienced and how long is the
duration of this symptoms?
P6: I catch the omicron virus so.. Even though I have vaccines and boosters.. Still I suffered from
ah.. Lost of taste and sore throats.. I have a.. (pauses) my ahh (lagging) ….. Even though I didn’t
have a fever, I lost my sense of taste.. I have occasional cough, occasional fever.. I also.. (pauses)
my .. I have a.. What is this? swollen .. I have swollen throat and I really need to be isolated and
since hospital is fully.. Ahh.. they don’t have a room for patients.. It is really full pack at that time.
We are advised (wind noises) to stay at home and isolate ourselves from our family.
I1: Uhmm.. Okay.. Good to hear that you survived the omicron virus and now you are working as
a medical worker. Moving on to the last question for the experiences, uhmm.. Overall, how can
you describe your experience as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P6: Really hard (wind noises) because (lagging) we have a lot of patients who is not really saying
–– (pauses) telling the.. Telling the truth about the symptoms.. They were ashamed if they have a
branded.. Or they have been ahh.. (lagging) (inaudible) to put in a covid area even though they
don’t have it. Policy. Hospital policy as long as patients who have experiencing fever, cold or ahh..
diarrhea (wind noises) will be tagged as a PUI’s. So, even though you are not yet positive or not
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yet tested as positive covid patient (lagging) you will be staying at the covid areas.. ahh. .. rooms.
They don’t want to ha— ahh.. They don’t want that. I understand patients that they’re not telling
the truth because COVID rooms are in such a way.. So scary. If you will just be able to enter the
COVID.. Ahh (pauses) facility area in the hospital (background noise) it will be so scary because
you will only see nurses, med techs who will come to you only wearing (wind noises) PPE’s. You
cannot see them.. Or you can only see their eyes.. You cannot see them – ahh.. There will be
difficulties in ah.. Talking with them since we are wearing ahh.. N95 mask so we also wear goggles
and face shield. It’s really scary for them to see us like that. So, I understand that COVID-19 is so
very hard and for — not only for us but also for the patients who is suffering or tagged as PUI’s.
I1: (dead air) I think being a healthcare worker during the pandemic is really hard and we're scared
at the same time because we have families, right? Uhmm.. with that, let’s proceed to the next
interview proper. I wanna give this floor to Alexa to continue this interview.
I2: Good afternoon po (background noises) so I am alexa. Moving on to the part 2 of our questions
po. For the first question (lagging) what are the changes that have happened in the workplace?
P6: What part are we? (wind noises)
I2: Part 2 po. Part 2 na po.
P6: (dead air) Can you.. please repeat?
I2: Ahh.. for the first question po, what are the changes that have happened in your workplace?
P6: Changes is that.. (background noises) are.. Usual ahh.. Our due is ahh.. Were Lengthen. From
8 hours it was forced to be 12 hours. So, since a lot of co-workers (stutters) co-workers have been
ah.. Under (background noises) ahh quarantine.. We are required to.. Oversee their sections..
Workloads is increased becoming it for us to be more fatigue and be (lagging) becoming more
aggr – more ahh .. having negative ahh.. Negative emotional stress because of it.
I2: Ahh. ahh. Bilang isa nga rin po yan sa bigat na dala ng pandemya noh? So, moving on po ah..
To the second question po, how does the workforce change during the times of pandemic?
P6: (dead air) wait lang ah.. Nawawala ung connection ko.
I2: Okay po
P6: Okay.. Hello? Naririnig nyo po ako?
I2: Opo.. ahh.. I will repeat the question po para.. ma.. maintindihan po. So for the second question
po, how does the workforce change during the times of pandemic?
P6: Increasing (lagging) job.. There.. (lagging) There is an increasing job (inaudible) among the
healthcare workers.. Because of the fear that they might.. Ahh.. spread the virus in their families.
I2: Okay.. May I ask lang din po noh? Ahh.. mas marami po bang healthcare workers ang umalis
kesa po sa panahon na wala pang virus?
P6: Sa james.. (wind noises) hindi ko kasi sure kung gaano kadami pero may isa kasi akong
kakilala from dietary department. She quit her job because she has a little kid and she fear na baka
nga… baka mainfect niya yung kanyang anak. So ahh.. Isa yon. But the total number of healthcare
workers sa james na nagresign? Hindi naman ganun kadami.
I2: Ah.. for the third question po, how was your experience while wearing PPEs in performing
your job?
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P6: Hirap.. (wind noises) ang hirap. First PPEs pag sinuot mo, mainit. Mainit. Hindi ka makapag
salita. Yung goggles? Ahh.. nag smoke sya — I mean kapag humihinga ka nagb-blurred s’ya so
ang ginagawa namin nilalagyan namin siya ng soap.. Yung liquid soap. Pinupunasan namin before
used ng liquid soap then pinupunasan namin s’ya ng tissue. So when we breath kahit papaano hindi
siya nag.. Nagb-blurred. Then it leaves red marks sa face namin.. (wind noises) sa constant use ng
PPEs kapag may isang for extraction ng patient.. We wear PPEs.. Lalabas ka, you will have to
remove your PPEs. You will go to another department, you have to wear another PPEs and you..
It should be sealed.. Dapat walang area na naka-exposed. So, area exposed should be hide with
ah.. It should be sealed with a (lagging) (inaudible) so wala talagang hangin. As in a minute ka
lang naka PPEs, paglabas mo para ka nang naliligo sa pawis and you will not have to do it once.
You will have to do it thrice, four times. Depende sa dami ng pasyente na nagrerequired na
kuhanan ng swab at (lagging) (inaudible). Another thing is you have to wear a multiple layer of
gloves kasi kapag hindi? And you will wear gloves kapag nag-swab ka… Napakahirap. Mas
matagal. So, napakahirap mag-swab wearing multiple gloves and you have to take it after you use
it sa pasyente. Baka mag – (stutters) mahawa mo yung PUI na hindi naman pala positive. So,
napakahirap na.. Nakasuot ng PPEs.
I2: Ah.. Ah.. there were news nga rin po noh? Na there are some healthcare workers need to restrict
themselves like hindi sila pwedeng umihi, uminom ng tubig o kaya kumain before and during their
duties dahil nga po sa PPEs. Uhmm are there instances na naranasan nyo rin po ito?
P6: Ahh.. Yes.. Pero kasi sa amin we deal with patient sa swabbing and extraction lang naman siya
hindi siya (inaudible) like sa nurse which is talagang — mas mahirap sa nurse e. Kasi sa nurse
direct contact sila sa patients. Kami kasi we.. (stutters) we have the chance na maka anong mga
patients kapag kukuhanan mo lang siya ng dugo or (lagging) isaswab mo sila. So bago ka mag-
wear ng PPEs dapat kumain kana. Dapat umihi kana. You do everything. Kasi you can’t go there
na naiihi ka and you will have to remove everything tapos susuotin mo siya uli. Kasi magiging
ano.. Ahh una waste of time. Magiging matagal. Shempre yung consume sa PPEs that .. (lagging)
konti lang ang meron tayo. Ang PPEs natin hindi ganun kadami. So limited ung PPEs namin.
Imagine mo yung PPEs ginamit mo kahapon, i-rerewash nila susuotin mo ulit. Then may mga
sirang PPEs kang susuotin (wind noises) so you have to cover it with micro four all over. Kasi
hindi ka dapat ma-expose eh. That’s what the scenario before. Kasi yung maraming PPEs lately
nalang dumating e pero nung peak? Wala e. Wala. Even damage PPEs kailangan mong suotin e.
Maybe, that’s one reason kung bakit maraming nahawang mga healthcare worker din sa james..
Before – before nung mga peak time natin. Because dahil nga ‘yung ating mga PPEs limited din.
‘Yung ating ahh.. mask. Yung ating mgaa...yung overall...uh...ppe na (background noise) sinusuot
natin (air). Sa nurses kasi, sa part nila...sa mga friends kong nurses...sila...four hours kasi sila eh,
four hours yung...uh...hahatiin nila yung...uh...duty nila eh. Four hours sa loob, which mean na
expose talaga sila ng causative agent and mga pui's, then four hours sila lalabas. Sa four hours na
yun, hindi ka pwede maghubad. So dapat... nakainom ka na, nakakain ka na, nakaihi ka na at
everything kasi hindi ka na pwedeng lumabas uli. Once na lumabas ka, di ka na papasok eh
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(background noise) that's for the safety also (lag) ng healthcare workers, kaya in fairness mas
nahirapan talaga yung buhay...ng nurses that time.
I2: A-ayun nga po no, sobra nga po yung pinagdaanan ng mga healthcare workers natin nung peak
ng pandemic kasi bago pa po lahat. So for our fourth question po, how did you change the way
you interact with your patients now that there are restrictions on communication?
P6: Syempre nung time na yun (air) limited yung communication (air) cause may mga barriers
tayong nilagay eh. And kapag (lag) communication is naka mask ka. Ang hirap magsalita kapag
naka mask ka, usually hindi naman siya...uh...maintindihan ng ibang pasyente kung anong sinasabi
mo dahil yung mask mo nakaharang kasi sa bibig mo and sa nose mo dahil hindi naman siya pwede
naka expose. So...napakahirap talaga nung time na iyon dahil kapag (air) makikipagusap ka, mas
matagal mo silang kakausapin, hindi mo naman sila pwedeng...uh...kausapin nang malapitan dahil
nga meron tayong social distancing (air) otherwise, pwede tayong mahawa.
I2: Mhmm...uhmm...ano po kaya yung ginawa niyo during those times na... hindi po
nagkakaintindihan dahil nga po sa face mask, face shield and sa PPEs po?
P6: We used...uh...lapel. Na purchase ng...may pinahiram na... lapel sa amin yung aming... chief
medtech. Ever since, (air) yun ang ginagamit namin pang...uh...pang in...(inaudible) doon sa loob
ng laboratory. In terms ng mga outpatient natin, ginagamit (air)natin yun para mas marinig nila
tayo. Di na tayo (background noise) kailangan pang lumapit sa kanila masyado at i expose yung
ating...uh...sarili sa kanila. Sa in patient, when we extract, we let them read kung sila ay conscious.
Pinapakita namin sa kanila yung (lag) request. We let them read...th-the names na nakasulat doon
para ma identify namin sila ng mas maayos. Sa mga unconscious, we ask help for assistance from
the nurses na...hindi kami magkakamali ng makukunan ng...uh...samples...ng positive COVID
patient kasi inaassist namin nila kami. Isa yun sa way na need naming gawin para mas mapabilis
at mas ma lessen yung exposure namin sa mga pasyente.
I2: Ok po. So, move on na po tayo sa last part two po. So, for our last question: do the changes in
your workplace have an impact on you as a healthcare professional? How so?
P6: Ay yes meron po, marami. Kasi syempre (air) magkakaroon ng anxiety. Nagkaroon din naman
ako ng anxiety that time. Due to fear nga na baka pagkada-uuwi ako ng bahay (air) may dala na
kong..uh...virus. So (background noise) what we do that time, bago kami pumasok...ako bago ako
pumasok sa loob ng bahay, meron kaming bathroom sa labas. Naliligo muna kami, so kahit gano
ka kapagod kailangan yung mga dmait na sinuot mo coming from the hospital will be seperated
dun sa mga lalabhan na ibang damit. Dapat yun lalabhan sa labas, ididisinfect, then you have to
take (air) a bath first bago ka papasok sa loob ng bahay. There also (air) come a time nung peak
yung...uh...pandemic na nagsusuot kami ng mask ng mga household members ko, even me -
especially me. Kasi yun nga yung (air) anxiety fear mo na...na baka ako yung makahawa sa mga
elderly...uh parents ko na kasama ko at dun sa anak ko. So yun yung mga naranasan ko at that
time.
I2: Ok po. So...uh...tapos na po tayo sa part two, punta na po tayo sa part three. Si Richelle na po
ulit yung mag-iinterview sa inyo.
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I1: Uhm ok ma'am, moving on to the difficulties and challenges that you faced as a healthcare
worker. For the first question, are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working
during the outbreak?
P6: Ah yes ma'am. Uh...one is yung...travel (air) going to work. During the peak of the pandemic,
wala pong...uh...pumapasadang sasakyan. So, if you don't (air) have private car or hindi ka
marunong mag drive (air) hindi ka makakapasok ng work. Pag hindi ka nakapasok ng work
ibigsabihin kulang ang manpower. Ibigsabihin mas mahirap sa mga kasamahan mo. So kailangan
(air) mong pumasok. So ang ginagawa namin that time is usually nakiki...hitch kami kapag may
dumating na private car. Imagine mo yung hiya, makiki hitch ka para lang makapasok ka.
Uh...nakiki...hanggang nagkaroon ng...uh...help yung barangays, (air) kung saan nag provide sila
ng mga...uh...saksakyan (background noise) para sa mga health workers. Ang isang problema doon
is busy rin yung mga baranggays. So minsan, pauwi ka na...wala pa sila para ihatid (air) ka sa
bahay mo. So you have to wait, kahit na pagod pagod ka na - you have to wait dun sa service para
ihatid ka nila. Then papasok, susunduin ka nila sa work mo dapat (air) naka ready ka na kasi
minsan (air) kung ano yung available nilang time...dapat nandoon ka na. So isa yun sa
mga...uh....naging hardship nung time na (air) yun, especially, nung peak ng pandemic. And
syempre yung mga...suot nating PPEs, yung workload namin mas dumami, yung...uh...limited
manpower dahil mas maraming naka quarantine that time dahil mas maraming (air) nahahawa sa
work. Not like ngayon na hindi naman masyado and yung...uh...yung mga pasyente(air) na minsan
napakahirap...uh...explainan kung bakit kailangan nilang ibigay yung histroy nila sa amin, kung
sila (air) ba ay nag travel, kung sila ba ay mga mga...uh...fever...yun yung isa sa mga...uh....na
faced naming problema nung pandemic.
I1: Aside from transportation po, did you experienced the lack of personal protective equipment
to the point that yo-you reused your...uh...ppe po?
P6: Meron din namang, meron din namang ganong ano pero kasi...uh...na figure out din naman
na...na...na work out naman yon. Kasi nung (air) kulang yung mga PPE's natin...uh...mayroong ka
agad namang nagbigay...maraming nagbigay kasi syempre na...na...na i bring out. Ang social
media ngayon is so powerful. Kaya nga minsan...may mga healthcare worker na na discriminate
(air) kasi nga dahil so powerful, nakikita nila mga health worker na naeexpose sa mga patient -
natatakot ang society natin. Sinanay na ni media (air) eh na lalabas sa Facebook, mga tiktok. So
akala (air) nila, mahahawa namin sila. So pati sa pagsakay ng jeep before, ayaw nila kaming...ayaw
nila kaming pasakayin - ayaw nila kaming kasama. So nagbabaon kami ng personal clothings
namin bago pumasok and bago umuwi nagpapalit kami kasi nga natatakot sila pag nakikita nila
kaming naka scrub suit o naka puti. Feeling nila mahahawa namin sila ka agad. Yun yung isa sa
mga instances pa.
I1: So even before the pandemic po no...uhm...marami na talagang heatlhcare workers na
nakakaranas ng low wages and unfair benefits and since nabanggit niyo nga po yung media, based
po dun sa news na yung mga healthcare worker natin during the pandemic is nakakaranas po ng
mga risk allowance na sobrang baba po talaga kumpara sa tinatrabaho nila. Uh...nakaranas po ba
kayo ng mga ganon po?
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P6: In fairness naman...they are trying to do their best naman na maibigay yung...uh...support in
terms of financial sa mga health worker. Uh... may mga naibigay naman sa amin.. na benefits...in
terms of financial na ok naman, though hindi naibigay lahat - hindi nila naibigay lahat. Kasi they
are trying to keep also the private...uh...hospital which is hindi rin naman kaya ng mga magbibigay.
Like ng government natin. They were trying to give us the help...pero napakarami kasi...
napakarami ng government hospital, may mga private hospital pa na need nilang...uh...bigyan
ng...uh...benefits na yon. So, nagkukulang...so kahit naman, so naintindihan ko naman na kahit
naman mag demand kami, hindi nila maibigay...though naibigay yung iba pero hindi lahat totally,
hanggang ngayon may mga hindi pa rin.
I1: Aside po doon, did you ever felt na hindi kayo pinakinggan?
P6: Hindi pinakinggan...siguro nung peak time, nung peak time. Hindi nila makita yung
kakulangan ng necessity things like ppes. Gaya nga ng sabi ko, e ar forced to wear yung ppes na
may damage na which is dapat hindi na. Ang ppes dapat one use lang eh, hindi naman siya
washable pero dahil yun nga yung peak time na even yung sa mga karatig countries natin is
talagang kulang sila ng ppes, wala naman tayong magagawa kundi umunawa at gumawa ng paraan,
diba. So, siguro... I just things... in a positive ways... always hindi yung laging nagrereklamo kasi
pag ginawa mo yung palaging pagrereklamo, wala tayong kauuwian; lalo tayong mahihirapan. So,
yung mga ppes na damaged, wala tayong magagawa. So anong gagawin natin, ayusin na lang
natin. Lagyan na lang natin ng (inaudible) kaysa wala diba. Mas mabuti na yung kaysa lalo tayong
ma expose, yung mga ganong...uh...scenario , ganon siguro kami sa James. Sa amin is ganon kami.
Magrereklamo pero gagawin pa rin yung trabaho kasi need ng pasyente na mapagserbisyohan
natin. Kasi kung hindi naman yun gagawin dahil sira lang ang aming ppes...kawawa naman sila.
Sila yung unang kawawa kaya we have to be at least...kind hearted that time. Mas kailangan namin
silang...isipin so over sa amin, tutal alam naman namin na protected naman kami, especially, nung
meron na kaming vaccine.
I1: Uhm so from the difficulties in transportation, damage of protective personal equipment and
not being heard...uhmm... to the grievances as a medical worker during the pre pandemic era, how
did it affect you po as a healthcare worker?
P6: Sad kami noon. Malungkot kami eh. Malungkot ako na hindi kami naririnig before
ng...uh...government natin...na may mga ppes tayong...uh...kulang kulang tayo sa ppes...and... fear,
yun naman lagi yung mga ating mararamdaman eh. Takot na mahawa, takot na may maiuwi ko
yung virus...sa tahanan namin. As a health worker, as a hospital worker tapos sa amin
manggagaling yung virus...uh papunta sa pamilya namin...napakahirap.
I1: Nakakalungkot lang po isipin na kahit kulang tayo sa mga personal protective equipment,
kailangan pa rin natin magpatulog sa trabaho natin no and with that...uhm...let's move on to the
second question: what can you say about the hours your spent in workplace? As well as your
workload?
P6: Well hours was changed that time, from eight hours before, we were forced to lengthen our
duties. So syempre mas pagod ka, mas...uh...mahihirapan ka kasi mas marami yung workload mo
dahil nga that time mas marami yung mga kasamahan namin ang...uh....nag quarantine. Parang
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one exposure lang (air) na hindi niya sinabing may fever siya, the next time yung kasama mo, apat
na sila agad na expose- apat na agad silang naka quarantine and quarantine time before is hindi
naman ganon kaikli, it's 7-14 days. So imagine mo you spent 14 days na naka quarantine. Though,
wala kang ginagawa sa bahay, iniisip mo na; paano na yung mga kasamahan ko sa hospital, paano
na yung mga kasamahan ko sa laboratory, konti na lang sila, pano nila gagawin sa napakaraming
pasyente? Though we are so thankful sa laboratory sa amin kasi very...uh...upportive ang aming
chief medtech. Because sa pandemic na yun to...uh...naglabas siya ng sarili niyang pera at ng funds
namin sa laboratory kung saan...uh...bumili kami ng sarili naming...uh...food. Kasi that time
walang mabilhan ng pandemic. That time na peak yung pandemic, wala kang mabilhan ng pagkain
kasi lahat sila sarado. So kawawa naman yung mga (air) nagtatrabaho sa hospital kasi pagod,
gutom. So naglabas kami ng sariling fund kung saan nagluluto kami ng sariling sa laboratory
namin, may naka task don na magluluto para sa amin at para may kainin din kami pag nagugutom
na kami. Ang dami, imagine mo uuwi kami ng 8pm ng gabi, minsan (air) past 8 pa dahil you need
to...uh...make sure na natapos mo lahat ng gawain mo.
I1: So ayun nga po no, from 8 hours to 12 hours na duty. Sa workplace natin hindi rin natin sure
kung...uh...ok ba yun environment. So, for the third question: have you experienced workplace
discrimination during the start of pandemic? How did this affect you as a professional?
P6: Wala naman sa workplace, wala naman. Wala naman nangyari doon sa amin sa hospital, wala
naman ganon. Sa society lang. Gaya ng sabi ko, paglabas namin yung mga..uh... na encounter
namin kapag naka uniform kami, natatakot sila. Then they are telling us na...kami yung nag
cacause...kung bakit nahahawa yung ibang tao. So yun yung isang na encounter ko. Sa jeep, kapag
sumakay ka...ayaw ka nilang pasakayin dahil healthcare worker ka. So (air) vinoice out din namin
yun sa...mga needed...uh...bosses naman namin. So winorkout namin yun kaya nagkaroon kami
ng...uh...service. Nag provide sila ng service kasi nga hindi kami...ayaw kami pasakayin that time
dito sa Olongapo. Isang way na ginawa namin is yun nga nagbabaon na kami ng damit para
paglabas namin, hindi na sila matatakot.
I1: Uhm...good to hear po na nabigyang aksyon po agad yung difficulties po sa transportation...and
with that let's move on to the fourth question: how did the pandemic your physical po muna
P6: Come again. How did the pandemic?
I1: How did the pandemic affect your physical health?
P6: Sa health...nagsipagtabaan naman kami (laughs) nagsipagtabaan kami kasi nagstress eating
kami. Nag stress eating kami kasi bawal mag diet, kasi pandemic. Nag provide yung chief medtech
namin ng vitamin C everyday, three times a day, sa laboratory, kada papasok kami and with food
supply na galing sa mga budget namin na nag chip in kami plus yung mga donation ng chief
medtech namin. So, nagkaroon kami ng pagkain. So dahil pagod ka, kain kami ng kain kaya
nagsipagtabaan kami. Kasi sinasbai namin sa isa't isa na: you need to eat because hindi ka pwedeng
magkasakit, bawal may magkasakit sa atin. Pag nagkasakit tayo, wala na tatao sa laboratory at mas
kawawa ang hospital. So you have to eat. Nag stress eating...everyone...tumaba.
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I1: So during the pandemic po talaga is very important yung physical health natin. Like you need
to drink vitamins everyday and you need to eat vegetables para masiguro natin yung safety
natin...and for the mental health aspect naman po. How did the pandemic affect you po?
P6: Mental health...everybody in the laboratory is… giving mental support to each other like if
one is feeling down ahh somebody’s not feeling well, we try to ask kung kamusta na siya, ano na
ba yung nangyari sa kanya. We give support to each other kasi we know that is yung mas kailangan
namin eh, yung ah – mental support kasi yung pandemic ay bigla na lang nangyari and ganun
kabilis so since nakakatakot yung scenario na naka PPEs ka then you will go to wards na kung
saan may maraming plastic barriers then walang kang makitang tao maliban sa pasyente lang
unlike before na may bantay, hindi po kasi allowed ang bantay mas lalo sa PUI wards so nakaka
depress so isang way is mental support to each other dun sa mga kapwa mo health workers… sa
mga kasama mo mismo yun yung ginagawa namin that time
I1: Ngayong pandemic po talaga it is important to have a support system po noh like we can have
support systems sa friends, family lalong lalo na sa inyo mga ka workplace niyo po (dog barks)
sino pa po magtutulungan kung hindi tayo tayo lang po diba?
P6: yes
I1: And the mental aspect naman po,
P6: Mental aspect, we are being prepared by ahh… by undergoing ahh.. zoom ahh updates,
binibigyan nila kami ng trainings kahit pa zoom trainings lang yun atleast we are trained we are
updated we are being ahh… knowledgeable in aspect na inuupdate nila kung anong gagawin then
yung mga kasama namin especially yung aming chief medtech.. sinasabihan niya kami na mag
attend ng mga trainings kahit online para rin naman sa amin and I think everyone did it eh kahit
yung mga nurses namin para mas maging prepared sila sa pagharap ahh… pagtreat sa aming mga
pasyente
I1: On your first interview po, nabanggit nga po na sa James L. Gordon is nagsagawa nga po ng
mga zoom meetings para i update yung status ng isa’t isa. And.. uhh moving on the last aspect po
your emotional aspect po, how did the pandemic affect it po?
P6: Yun… nagkaroon ng anxiety pero slight lang naman yung anxiety and just like I said uhh
meron man akong nakukuhang emotional ahh support from my family and my friends and galing
doon sa religious uhh chapter namin. So isa rin siguro yung way para ma overcome yun is that
time kahit na di kami nagkikita kita ng mga kasisters ko yung religous uhh ano namin organization
namin is inuupdate nila kami, nag uupdate, nagtatanong sila kung how is everybody and making
emotional support by praying together online uhh attending mass online uhh yun yung mga isang
mga naging way ko para ma overcome yung anxiety that time.
I1: Iba po talaga if you have someone uhh if you have someone to talk to noh mas lalo na kapag
may mga problems na dinadala tayo, like kailangan talaga natin ng mapagsasabihan para lang
mailabas yung mga nararamdaman natin.
P6: yes!
I1: and moving one to the last question po, What has been the most challenging aspect of working
as a frontliner or while handling a COVID-19 patient?
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P6: Most difficult is yung mag positive ka mismo, maging isa ka sa mga COVID-19 patients, yun
yung pinaka worst kasi yung feelings na… parati kasi kaming tinetest for uhh COVID-19 so every
now and then pag mayroon kang exposure magpapa swab ka kaagad so tinetest ka agad for how
many times nagiging negative ako then one time naging positive ako for COVID-19. So isa yun
sa pinakamahirap kasi yung fear mo yung anxiety mo yung mental psychology mo nandun na rin
kasi bakit ikaw? Bakit ikaw pa nahawa, nag-iingat ka naman, lahat naman ng prevention ginawa
mo pero bakit, bakit ka nahawa? Yun yun then paano kung nahawa kung kasamahan ko sa bahay,
paano kung nahawaan ko yung nanay at tatay ko dahil medyo senior na sila, yung anak ko paano
kung mahawa rin siya; so yun yung time na mahirap na pinagdaanan ko… yung yung
pinakamahirap.
I1: So ayun nga po ano, kung mas mahirap magtrabaho sa panahon ng pandemic, mas mahirap po
pala na nagtatrabaho ka tapos bigla kang nagka COVID-19 and with that I just want to follow a
question po, Is there a moment when you had a really difficult time doing your job and considered
quitting because of the pandemic?
P6: Oh yes ma’am, noong nagsswab ako, nung aahh papasok ako sa postive ward ng mga covid
positive patient, nagsswab palang sila parang gusto ko nalang sana magleave or mag file ng leave
for atleast a month kasi ang hirap ng PPE is halos di ka makahinga, mainit, then ang hirap pa
kuhanan o iswab nung iban pasyente kasi hindi sila cooperative na “oh buka ang bibig, buka lang,
sa ilong” minsan nakikipaglaban sila sayo, ayaw nilang magpaswab so ang hirap.. Mas nadodoble
yung hirap sakin kaya iniisip ko that time na, kung pwede lang na wag na pumasok, kung pwede
lang na magfile ng leave para di pumasok kasi noong time na yan may mga naka leave kami yung
mga high risk na co worker namin like yung hndi sila pwedeng ma expose so di sila pumasom
kasi naka leave sila so ibig sabihin less na yung manpower mo kasi considered na naka leave sila
that time eh kasi buntis sila, yung mga senior citizen naming kasamahan na hindi talaga pwedeng
maexpose so sila naka leave na rin sila so yung mga pumapasok nalang is kami na mga pwede. So
yun yung time na gusto kong magfile na rin kaya ako ng leave kasi ang hirap… ang hirap mag
PPE habang kinukuhanan mo sila tapos ayaw nila, halos masira yung PPE ko dahil nga
nakikipaglaban sila sayo eh. Kaya masira pa yung PPE tapos maexpose ako so yun yung mga fear
ko that time.
I1:Ah ayun nga po noh, despite the challenges you’ve faced at work during the pandemic still
nanatili pa rin kayo sa trabaho ninyo. So we are glad na kasama niyo pa rin po kami na lumalaban
sa pandemyang ito. So we are near to the last part, I want to give it to Alexa po to continue this
interview.
I2: So ako po ulit, so malapit na po tayo matapos. So after knowing the difficulties and challenges
that medical healthcare workers faced po, for the last part we would want to know how you adapt
during the pandemic. So for our first question, what are the adaptive mechanisms you had during
the pandemic?
P6: uhhh… of course I need to have a positive attitude para ma lessen yung stress na meron tayo
that time and I need to be more cooperative sa aking mga kasamahan like kung kayang pumasok,
pumasok ako kasi kailangan ng manpower especially noong pandemic we should work together
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kailangan talaga na magkaisa kami na sundin namin yung protocols kailangan na gawin lahat ng
mga protocols like everyone (inaudbile) kahit na napakahirap, napakaraming workload we should
wear gloves, we should uhh always wear the mask and the face shield, kahit nahihirapan kami
kailangan naka lab coat kahit mainit, kahit na sira minsan yung aircon sa laboratory kailangan full
PPEs pa rin tayo sa laboratory so yun yung mga need kong gawin that time para makatulong kami
sa isa't isa i mean mas maging uhm productive kami sa isa’t isa, at least yung adaptability namin
sa mga nangyayari is magiging mas uhh productive.
I2: So ayun nga po ano, so kailangan talaga natin magsakripisyo during the start of pandemic kasi
di po tayo makaka usad kung hindi tayo mag sacrifice, kailangan talaga ng positive outlook sa
buhay para mag continue na lumaban po. So for the 2nd question po, Among the trials you faced
at work, how did you overcome them?
P6: Family support and of course yung friend support niyo like yung kagaya ng sinabi ninyo kanina
we need to talk to someone if you feel stressed para at least malessen.. Yung burden mo ma lessen
atleast magkakaroon ka ng postive na outlook na titignan mo sa mga nangyayari sa atin.
I2: Opo, kailangan po talaga natin na makakausap sa mga ganitong panahon kung hindi baka ma
ano talaga tayo.
P6: tama
I2: So for the 3rd question po, In the challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important
lesson you have learned personally or even in your profession?
P6:I learned na (inaudible) work is essential, especially that time na uhh kailangan na mas
cooperative ka sa mga kasamahan mo, kailangan uhh may presence of mind ka kung ano yung
mga gagawin mo.na dapat mas uhh sumusunod tayo sa mga protocols. Pag sinabi na sagutan yung
ahh, meron kasi kaming sinasagutan na everyday tapos sina submit that time, bago kami pumasok
kailangan sagutan mo iyon, talagang may pinuntahan lumabas ka ng Zambales, you have to
kailangan sabihin ang totoo na lumabas ka ng Zambales to know yung mga history mo para kung
may exposure ka atleast mabilis nilang malaman kung ikaw ba ay macoconsider as PUI o hindi.
I2: Ayun nga po, sobrang daming problema na dinala ng pandemya pero super daming lesson din
naman po ang biigay nito. So for the 4th question po, Is adapting to change in times of pandemic
necessary? Why and why not? What are its importance?
P6: Yes we need to adapt, kasi ahh sa hospital pag hindi ka mag adapt, hindi kayo mag move on
as a team, kailangan kung ano yung uhh update training ano yung mga protocols dapat iadapt mo
iyon. Pag sinabing naka face shield, naka mask, everyday you have to do it, for your safety and
para rin sa safety ng pamilya mo uuwi ka na pag sinabi sainyo na hindi ka uuwi kasi kailangan mo
mag quarantine sa hospital, dun ka sa hospital kasi that time may ganun na di kami umuuwi kasi
dahil nga sa fear na mahawa family namin so sinabi sa amin na doon kami sa hospital mag stay so
meron sinabi na doon kayo, you have to adapt na doon kayo you have to bring your own clothings
tapos doon ka after matapos mo yung quarantine mo. So yun yung mga adaptation na kailangan
mo kunin na kahit na may anak ka may baby ka pa sa bahay, you have to consider yung safety
nila.
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I2: uhmm tulad po sabi niyo, kailangan po talaga natin mas maging masunurin ngayon pandemya,
lalo na hindi natin alam kung sino yung kalaban natin during that time kasi kauumpisa pa lang po.
So for our last question na po, What recommendations do you have for public health preparation
to end this pandemic?
P6: uhmm, first siguro yung investing in healthcare system kasi yung healthcare system natin na
shock siya eh like na “uy may ganito pala na sakit” so hindi tayo prepared that time, hindi tayo
prepared so antagal pa, medyo natagalan tayo kung paano natin controlin so dumami. Noong
dumami mas maraming pera ang nilabas ng gobyerno kasi hindi natin alam kung paano controlin
so yung facility naten hindi naman tayo handa kasi yung facility nati hindi siya updated, yung mga
machine natin, yung mga wards hindi siya ganun kaganda. So yun siguro ang kailangan i ano
healthcare system natin and siguro mas maraming trainings pa, kailangan siguro natin mag upgrade
sa training sa mga healthcare worker, actually hindi lang naman sa mga nurses, medtech included
din dyan yung mga janitorials kasi yung mga yan kahit sila yung nasa pinakamababa sila kasi yung
nagkeep ng sanitations sa hospital sa dapat ma upgrade sila and ma train sila na ganito yung pag
proper way of cleaning, kasi kung hindi pag nahawa sila possibility na mag spread yung virus sa
iba pa nating healthcare workers. So yun yung isa pang kailangan natin mairecommend sa public
health natin and kailangan din siguro natin irecommed ang budget. Yung budget kasi ang liit kaya
noong time na iyon mas marami ang gusto mag abroad na nurses, healthcare workers kasi mas
malaki na yung offer doon. Kasi may COVID-19 rin naman sa kanila that time eh so need nila ng
healthcare workers kaya yung mga healthcare workers that time ay gustong iwanan itong hospital
natin para pumunta doon kaya nagkaroon ng panic at nag ban lahat ng healthcare workers that time
kasi nga lalabas sila walang maiiwan satin. Walang maiiwan na nurses, doctors and med techs
papaano na yung Pilipinas, paano na tayo kung mawawala sila dito. Alam naman natin doctors,
nurses, at healthcare workers natin is maliit ang sahod so isa yun sa kailangan nila ng focus.
I2: Ayun po, kailangan talaga mag invest sa healthcare system pati na rin po sa medical healthcare
workers dito sa bansa natin para magkaroon ng mas maganda future para sa lahat. So ayun po,
thank you po for making time for us to interview you po, very na appreciate po namin kayo
[End of Interview with P6]
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Translation of the Interview

Transcript of Interview with Participant 1
Location : Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 6, 2022, 8:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Translator: Richelle Alwina R. Caseja and Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

M1: Firstly, may we know your name and your current medical profession that you are doing,
Doc?
P1: Okay.. I am a.. *************.... I am an orthopedic surgeon and currently the chief of
hospital of James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City.
M1: Okay.. Thank you sir. At this juncture let us know proceed to the interview proper…
I1: Uhmm aa.. (background noise) okay so let’s start the interview proper. Are you ready, Doc?
P1: (Pauses) Yah
I1: Ok. aaa.. First question.. (background noise) What was your initial reaction when you heard
about the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P1: Uhmmm.. During that time.. *pauses* we all know that this new.. Ahhh… that’s why they..
They aahh called it a novel disease… And the presentation was a very (inaudible) at that time.. It
took a lot of (pauses) the lives of many persons especially during the initial.. Initial outbreak.. So
aaahh.. My initial reaction then was a frightened? I am frightened.... with what I’m seeing,
especially the hospital. Secondly,.. (pauses) what is the most appropriate word there? … I am a
shocked . It was the last time that I saw a lot of people with that kind of scenario was during a…
thousand a… (paused) 2013. When there was a leptospirosis sa hospital at that time. It was a —
the leptospirosis outbreak was manageable… for the main reason that (background noise) we were
not hard on the frontliners.. or we are not restricted to give treatment to those patients but right
now because of that COVID-19… It was a very infectious virus so I am shocked and frightened at
that time.
I1: Based on what you said (background noise) if people are scared, the doctors are twice as scared
as they are because ah — that's novel" You don't know how to treat it (background noise) and
You haven't know what solutions you can undertake to cure our patients infected with Covid 19.
Soo, (background noise) for the next question-have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with
COVID-19 please?
P1: Personally.. I.. I haven’t (stuttered) . I didn't have any direct handling or experience of handling
patients with COVID-19.. Because my specialty is a.. I’m an orthopedic surgeon.. I need to do
operations.. At that time we had deferred or canceled most of the surgeries there… because the
presentation was — most of the statistics at that time especially during the initial outbreak.. There
were a lot of surgeons and anesthesiologists who died, especially in Manila.. So because of that
personally,,, me. I have restricted myself from doing surgeries. There are stories.. You know as
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the head of the agency.. I’m involved in the operations especially at that time very very involved
with the operations…. in a formulating the protocols, making on the frontliners especially in the
hospital to a —- strictly complied with that…. But personally handling patients with COVID-19
… no… I haven’t experienced that.
I1: So.. If you haven’t experienced.... Have you encountered or interacted with a colleague who
handles COVID-19 patients? How did you feel about it?
P1: Ah you know… (paused) Being the head of agency I really need to master on… I really need
to give them or provide them those logistics that will make them comfortable.. Make at least —
lessen their sense of a…. Like they were scared… They need to lessen those… So, uhm what we
are doing is constant communications with them especially those — that a really handling …
personally handling a COVID-19 patients, especially those doctors and nurses at the ER triage..
those patients, those frontliners that are.. doing their work to the isolation area… I — personally I
am one of those who had a lot of zoom meetings with them. Just to uplift their spirits, make them
feel comfortable, at least lessen their — mental anguish.. you know they were scared. But being
a frontliner we are pushed to show to perform well — the duties.. So what I did before was
(stuttered) to remind them that I am there although I am not directly handling but I am really on
top of the operations.
I1: So, even if you did not handle COVID-19 patients (background noise) there are instances …
that you need to protect your physical safety… So our question is — how did you manage to
protect your physical safety while working during the outbreak?
P1: Okay.. Ah.. what I did, number 1.. You know we need to modify all things especially those
that you usually do with pandemically. We changed that. Number 1 - I need to exercise. Number
2 - I took a lot of supplements, especially vitamins. Ah 3 - I became more cautious, especially with
interacting with people. 4 – I did comply with the initial protocols that the DOH has given to us..
I1: Isn't that right .. Sometimes it is reported that no matter how careful we are we don't know
where the virus that we are fighting really is. So, did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms
(background noise) or tested positive for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P1: Yah! Yah.. I do.. I became positive also. I contracted COVID-19 during the late — that was I
think last quarter of 2021. I contracted that disease. So just beautiful there is... it was the time of
omicron na less… less.. what effect it has… So I’m really thankful to God even though I contracted
the symptoms were very minimal and I was vaccinated at that time.. It's not that scary anymore...
I1: May we know what symptoms did you experienced? And how long is the duration?
P1: I think.. It’s like..Body malaise.. I was a bit weak on the first day but we flooded with vitamin
c, prayers then the next day it’s gone. I just completed the protocol then after that I returned to
work.
I1: Oh okay...Based on what you said earlier, you have uplifted the spirits of your co -workers and
you have always felt fear because of this pandemic. Overall, how can you describe your experience
as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P1: It was really an eye-opening. Rude awakening right? Sometimes we – we take for granted the
simple things. Kasi pag — what happened during the pandemic is I’ve lost a lot of friends. That's
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where you can get it. They're near your heart. When there is someone close to you, you know
before he died because of COVID-19 so that really-life is too short. We really need to appreciate
all things, especially the simplest ones. We usually take it for granted. Secondly, the family. You
will think of it— your family… Mostly my experience here is — valuing life.. mostly, that's what
our experience. We really need to appreciate all. We need to distress.. don't be stress because we
are at that time we are all stress… because of the pandemic…
We don't know what the solution we may undertake, right?
I1: (nods in agreement)
P1: What we did there was pure shotgun. Shotgun treatment is what we did there —until such time
that we really saw what it was… but really… It was really an eye-opener, rude awakening to really
appreciate life.
I1: So just like that... You said that maybe this pandemic is a historical experience for us. We woke
up to appreciate (background noise) the people around us and maybe as a healthcare worker the
pain for our part we see our colleagues struggling…who lost their lives but we admire your
dedication to your work.. and with that I wanna give the floor to Alexa to continue this interview..
I2: Good evening! Can you hear me well?
P1: Yes, clearly.
I2: Moving on to the part 2 of our questions. You may grab some water encased you are thirsty.
P1: No.. I’m used to that(laughs)
I2: Ah.. Okay.. (smiles) So for our first question. What are the changes that have happened in the
workplace?
P1: Most.. striking part or most important change that we had or we implemented in hospital
protocols.. We had —- change the workflow… because we have dedicated a lot of partners there
in the treatment of the COVID-19 patients so we divided it. Before, the flow was everywhere.
Now, it has to be unidirectional. Secondly, we also separate the hospital... Have you – have you
been in the James?
I2: Ahhh.. (stuttered) Uhmm.. before the pandemic.
P1: Okay… When you see James Gordon, there's a main building there, right? Then the two
buildings at the (inaudible) What we did is a we… we designated those two buildings to the main
building to be (background noises) at the COVID-19 wards.. So we change the workflow… Uni
(stuttered) Unidirectional. We designate the..… the wards for COVID-19 — then in the inside….
Uhmm.. ahh.. like for example the.. (inaudible) laboratories, aahh pharmacy, the radiology
department — we change the workflow there.. that they will no longer go but we have all left.
That's the number 1. We really designated a lot of wards for a …. the treatment of COVID-19..
Supposedly, we changed the workplace because of COVID-19.
I2: Soo, — what has really changed? ‘The hospital system is because of the pandemic
P1: Mhmm (nods in agreement) Changed?
I2: Yes. Moving on to our second question po, how does the workforce change during the times
of pandemic?
P1: You know... We really need to adapt also, right?
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I2: Mhmmm.. — yes.

P1: You will see how dedicated they are. How professional the frontliners of James L. Gordon at
that time… you will see. ahh.. Even though they are really afraid of that disease (pauses) they still
uhmm muster themselves to provide.. That.. the utmost treatment that ahh any COVID-19 patients
must have. Second, they really need to adhere to the protocols like for example wearing of PPE’s
we really saw that. I already.. I also experienced that. Ahh.. you used to see you didn't.... aahh
(pauses) wear protective equipments but now we are obliged.
I2: Yes..
P1: Secondly, you can go anywhere… there in the hospital — but now you can't because there are
many restricted areas .. So aahh the workforce really .. The workforce is even braver. I saw the
fear but it was replaced by courage… Because we really need to do that. Nobody will do that .. If
we (stutter) surrendered to that one. Being aaahh… frontliner… aaahh who had ahh .. Promise. To
uphold those ahh .. And to perform those duties despite the situation… there I saw .. That James'
frontliners were brave and became very very professional.
I2: mMHHM okay. May I just ask too? Uhmm, we know that after graduation you will work for a
while here in the Philippines then also leave to work abroad… Did more healthcare workers leave
during the outbreak than during the time when there was no virus?
P1: Ahhh.. in James L. Gordon… I’m having a.. 472 strong —
I2: WOW (smiles)
P1: Workforce…(smiles) 400 — plus. When there’s a doctor… I think we will reach 600..
I2: Wow — that’s a lot.
P1: Ayon… Kasi ang .. Ang hospital .. I’m handling the largest workforce in the city. (inaudible)
Soo .. really what… ahhh .. It's different .. Ha .. It's really different ahhh .. It's scary but… ahh can't
be .. We have to face it ..
I2: Uhmm .. You mentioned earlier .. You wear PPE’s don’t you? In our third question .. We ..
How were your experiences while wearing PPE’s in performing your job?
P1: (laughs) (background noise) (inaudible) Have you seen a.. (stuttered) protective equipment?
I2: In.. news but not.. Not personally....
P1: Ah ohh that’s really hot. You’ll be covered from head.. Literally from head to toe ahh (noise)
(distracted)
I2: So very …
P1: You know.. .. Aircon .. Aircon.. But it was not air conditioned there. You can really see ah ..
It’s hard .. I’m really experienced .. I’ve already worn PPE twice. I really went in to wear ah ..
What do you call that? … (Paused) you will see the scenario… So they will have.. ahh .. Have also
the… the leadership example… (interrupted)
I2: Yes..
P1: I am with them… So ahh .. I did ‘that .. It’s so hot. It's hot. Very… Ahhh .. It was very cruel
.. Ahh. those .. - Me I wore it for a moment... It was just a moment .. I took the .. Ahh .. the PPe 2
hours to 3 hours… but our frontliners especially from duty they wore that continuously for 12
hours… and they were forbidden? .. Forbidden to eat … And they are also forbidden to pee… to
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urinate. Take a look at what .. That's why it's happening .. (inaudible) that's true. Literally. ‘The
rest of us or mostly… pampered… pampered .. (interrupted)
I2: It is on the news .. It was on the news, right doc? That… before or during they are not allowed
to eat or drink water or they are not allowed to urinate.
P1: Ahh – no …You know why? …
I2: Why?(laughs)
P1: Because at that time…PPE is very expensive..and we did not have a lot of supply.. (paused)
I2: Ow ahh…
P1: PPE .. Not like when ahh .. Surgery .. I’m a surgeon .. Soo, uhmm I’m wearing it .. It’s just so
thin. Not like this one .. From head .. Literally from head to toe. It's really all closed ahh-the ahhh-
there's nothing to see because you're wearing goggles .. It's N-95 .. Then it's like that .. You're in a
suit eh… Before wearing gloves. Then ah… Ah .. (pause) what do you call that ?? Uhmm the food
.. Ahh… protector? Literally you are ah .. Sealed .. Sealed .. The others are still being taped .. For
..
I2: For you to be protected doc
P1: Yahh.. because at that time what they saw was….. Uhm (cuts)
I2: So it is very uncomfortable doc?
P1: Very .. Very much… If you are .. (stutter) experienced wearing PPE ha… Ahh .. you won't ..
Ahh .. you will not think that there's a second time .. You don't want it (laughs)
I2: Ahh Doc how many layers of PPE’s do you need to wear?
P1: The .. the .. (paused) Because PPE should .. You are dressed .. Secondly, you will wear that.
Only one layer .. But ahhh very very .. Thick .. If you know the raincoat? ‘The usual raincoat?
I2: Yes..
P1: It's so thick .. So ah .. Just look at the heat .. Especially here in the Philippines. Especially
James Gordon .. We’re not a centralized aircon .. So look at the suffering of the .. Frontliners ..
How they endure that just to perform their duties ..
I2: It's so uncomfortable.. Moving on .. To the .. For our next question .. How did you change the
way you interact with your patients now that there are restrictions on communication?
P1: (pause) Number 1 is a… ahh face to face .. The face to face were postponed at that time because
ahh… they concluded that ah… you can contracted…. If you’re not protected. For example, you
don’t have a mask .. the distance .... How you interact with people. I used to .. what am I .. I'm..
I'm tender .. Any person I talk to .. I hold on .. I kiss… But when the pandemic broke out it was all
removed… because of the .. The (pause) the situation that .. Ahh also that you are free of
contracting that .. You can die, because of that right? So .. the change.. is the face to face… you
touch anyone. you hold anyone .. Mostly I even hug the poor who go to the hospital… (interrupted)
I2: (inaudible) For assurance doc, right?
P1: So that’s what we’ve changed.
I2: Mhmm.. Yes .. So when uhmm .. What do you do when you don’t really understand each other
anymore because of restrictions?
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P1: Ah no .. How can we not understand each other?? .. because what we did is .. We were
mandated to - To strictly adhere with the protocols .. What are the protocols ?? - Ah wearing face
masks, PPE’s, social distancing… Yes ‘that’s what’s gone. We still need ahh .. Do our job .. So
we resolved .. The… several processes .. What is that? We had a teleconsult-no more face-to-
face… you just call then there's a medical worker who will contact you (paused) by phone.
Secondly, .. ahh .. I perform and do a lot of meetings in the hospital .. That's how I am .. Haa .. I
ah .. - I usually talked with them like what .. Town Hall meeting .. Today zoom meeting na .. With
what we are doing right now .. Now I really don't know .. (background noise) Now we're still doing
it… Even though we're in the post-pandemic era .. But the .. Ahhh protocols still need to be obeyed
.. It is not different from pre-pandemic (stuttered) So we really need to ah… (inaudible) so the
interaction continues before… face to face… now those are the missing ..
I2: Okay .. (Dog barking) For the last question (dog barking) for part 2. Did the changes on your
workplace have an impact on you as a professional? (shuffling noise) How so?

P1: There is a lot... .. There is .. .. Ahh .. what we (stuttered) the significant impact there is - the
ahhh ..' how are you going to maximize .. Ahh .. your optiofn in a very restricted atmosphere ..
'Yun' yun e .. That's.. the significant impact on us .. (paused) the professionalism that ah .. The
frontliners of James L. Gordon has a .. (paused) has a .. What do you call that? - has show .. That's
the number 1 (inaudible) ... there’s also the processes that ah… ahh .. we .. have made just to a…
adapt with the pandemic .. ‘That’s the biggest factor.
I2: Ahh .. Uhmm Okay .. Let’s move on to part 3 po .. May I call on Richelle (dog barking) to
continue the interview (dog barking).
I1: Ahhh hello.. Ahh Am I clear?
P1: It’s not that clear..
I1: Ahh hello.. Is it okay now?
P1:No. It’s not..
I1: (dead air) uhmm.. Hello poo..
P1: Ah I can hear you now.. Okayyy ..
I1: Is it okay? Ahh .. uhmm .. Ahhh .. Based on what you said, your answer to changes in the
workplace (background noise) is a big test that is immediately (always) in the lives of healthcare
workers (air). . 'They replaced the fear with courage. They became even more impressive when
they showed it. Despite the trials they faced, they still chose (air) to stay in their job and not leave.
You said that the remaining 472 workforce is amazing .. If you include doctors it is already 600
(background noise) .. Is that really amazing? So let's go deeper into what we're going to talk about
.. Let's go over the difficulties and challenges that you faced as an (air) healthcare worker. Uhmm
.. Are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working (air) during the outbreak?
P1: Ahh yes .. Yes .. the number 1 is uhmm.. ahh .. thee .. Logistics. Yes .. ahh during that time ah
.. (paused) a lot of patients were not… ahh - given the right treatment because of ah .. Logistics.
What's that? .. There are medicines because .. ahh .. because of (dead air) because of certain
systems or processes in the government there that had restrictions especially on the supply of
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medicines .. That's the number 1 .. Number 2 .. Ahh .. It wasn't all that brave initially e .. All our
employees at James L. Gordon were also scared of that. Any person too .. Anyone were afraid of
the unknown .. That's the .. The human nature .. That's what .. Those people didn't dare right away
- the only thing we did was ( inaudible) lead the leadership by example .. They really need to see
me .. Performing my duty .. So… from there they believed .. Not only me - but also the resilience
of Mayor LenJ .. By Atty. Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr… .. How can you make them believe that
nothing… nothing bad will happen to them .. Then when they saw that… there it is - there it is all.
The logistics arrived .. It was smooth sailing - but the initial… was number 1. That's ahh .. (paused)
to .. To make them strong - because those people also have a family .. A lot of people were dying..
Their patient is dying .. the strength.. strength oh .. Ahh they saw their patient is strong - then the
following day the patient is weak, in the afternoon now dead. So those people are really scared.
Actually what is it .. What .. the only good thing about it .. Many people thought of resigning but
no one resigned .. 'That's the good thing ..' That's all .. I'm really afraid those are how will you.
.ahhh .. make them strong .. Make them believe in you - that nothing will going to happen in
performing their duties and assure ahh .. Them always .. That ahh .. We are being protected by
HIM or by GOD. Ahh .. that's it.
I1: Uhmm .. In the PPE Doc? Did the hospital ahh .. (background noise) experience the lack of
PPE .. to the point that they reuse it?
P1: No. It's not .. It's not… That's nice. We don’t .. ‘Those who hear about what .. In the news?
That didn't happen to James Gordon .. You know why? Because ahh .. Mayor LenJ at that time
has ahh .. Ordered a lot and he promised (lagging) if there will be no PPE .. There will be ah
..(stuttered) like for example there will be shortage of PPE .. a particular person has to reuse a PPE
.. a particular frontliner .. If it is not available? He won’t work .. ‘That’s what we talked about..So
they really provide .. It was provided by our city government, provided by DOH… and did you
see‘ what? —- the bayanihan at that time? There are a lot of .. private individuals, private
corporations gave— not only food, face masks ahhh .. What else is that .. Many gave .. Tangibles
.. All were given tangibles really at that time .. Ahhh .. what luckily and praise to HIM praise to
GOD…that we haven't experienced… we did not experience any shortage of PPEs at that time.
I1: That's right, it is gladdening that (air) one of the priorities of Mayor Lenj is the welfare of the
healthcare workers, and it is also gladdening...uh...that there are individuals who donated in
the...that donated... that donated (laughs)
I1: So let's move on to the low wages and unfair benefits. Have (air) st ... our workers in James
experienced low wages or unfair benefits as reported in the news (air) their risk hazard pay is really
very low compared to the hours they work for (air)
IP: It is not...uh...remote...ugh... at James L. Gordon. It is not... uh... identified as only at James L.
Gordon. Everyone here in the Philippines are underpaid, aren't we? Oh... so... uh (pauses)... really
what... we really need to. Because what if you become an employee of something ... of the
government, iha, the number one...that is the oath of a government employee... the number one
there: I will wor- ... will go to myworkplace early and will work beyond (voice grew louder) on
time as needed. That's number one in a ... uh ... oath by a government employee. So really...uh...not
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anymore... it's no longer an alien to us...uh...we-we're...uh... doing extra hours to perform our
duties. I-it is not alien to us, anymore, it is just an ordinary, but the thing is the circumstance is
different...ha...it's scary. Yo-yo-you're ... uh...doing your job, you're spending alot of hours, extra
hours just to perform it in a veeery risky...uh... atmosphere. That's the only...the... the difference
but working overtime, the frontliners always do that in James L. Gordon...with no extra salary ha.
I1: That's how it really is for us that even in the midst of the pandemic underpaid still is our
medical workers here (air) in the Philippines (pauses) and...uh....for the last question...uhm...in the
instances that you experienced (air) difficulties...uhm...my only question is (dogs barking) did you
feel that (dogs barking) the complaints of the medical health workers were not heard during (air)
the outbreak (air)?
P1: (Inaudible sound) Uh ... luckily, in the city of Olongapo (pauses) we did not felt...that we are
not loved our mayor does not take care of us...oo. N-n-not even an instance, not even...uh minute
or a second... that we felt, that we we're being neglected by our city mayor. Not even once. Yeah,
he’s always been there, to tell you...uh...honestly, he goes there, visits. Not only him alose our
former mayor, now who's the now chairman of SBMA, his daddy is Chairman Rolen Paulino Sr.
P1: They really show us how much they love us. Secondly...uh...uh...nothing, hothing really... no-
no-nothing we did not felt (voice grew louder) there are instances that...you know...the system's
perfect...huh... but the...those who are implementing the system are humans. So, humans are bound
to error, right? We also have issues with James L. Gordon - we are not perfect. But the thing is,
those are minor (pauses) things that we considered minor things only. At the end of the day, when
we investigated it, fal- fake news, fake news the accusations no. There are also those, we also have
that but what is that...uh...uh...not that much, just a little bit but uh...we were abandoned, we were
abandoned from, we were neglected by uh...our city mayor... no never, never we have...uh...
experienced that.
I1: Uhm ... as a citizen (air) of Olongapo, it's gladdening to think that our mayor really prioritized
the sel...the (air) safety of medical (air) workers. They didn't experience a lack of ppes...uh...they
really listened... uh... because of that (air)...uhm...let's move on to the next question.
I1: What can you say about the hours (air) you spent in the (air) workplace?
P1: (inaudible)
I1: As well as your workload?
P1: (dead air) I said, th-the hours that we spent in the workplace during that time is veery very
tremendous. (Pauses) uh...before we- we're working 12 hours; today, because of the amount
of...uh...we divided that...uh...of course, when you make a ward...it is only, also, always have to
be complimented with (pauses) with what... with a ward force, right? (Pauses) So, you split it up,
that's what ... for example, in a ward with so many patients, ten is working; you divide it, you make
them two. So (pauses) it is stil the same capacity to (stutters) to treat a patient is still the same but
there are only five of you (pauses) that's what happened. That’s what happened to us. So, uh ...
they really adjusted ... uh ... long hours. Yes, uh ... oh t-t-the the (stutters) what's more is (pauses)
because an employee of the, specially in the hospital, we are only obliged to work 40 hours a week.
40 hours a week...ha...but when there was a pandemic (long pause) the 40 hours were gone. Th-
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they work 70 hours a minimum. So their offs, their offs are gone, yes. So the work goes on, the
work goes on.
P1: Secondly, not only the hours. Because when you work in the hospital, you are restricted to go
home (emphasizes the words) (long pause) ha...specially, if you are working in isolation areas.
Because maybe later you can infect your family there. Look at those sacrifices that the-they...they
gave. Ha...they're so tired, they can't see their family, they're going home...we dorm them at
Gordon College eh and not only Gordon College ... uh ... dinor- oh yeah yeah Gordon College and
some of them also here at the hospital. But most of them, Gordon College became their dormitory.
Do you see the adjustments and sacrifices (inaudible) that they really need to do? Right? You won't
see your family, for such a long time ... yes. We also had issues, mind if I tell you. There was when
I talked to them (pause) they understood the work, they understood. And from then on, the sight
changed. Really what...uh...very determined, they don't have what they're thinking about anymore.
Do you see the sacrifice they made? The workload is double, double. I told you, before (pause)
same same capacity, like for example they're treating (pause) 30 patients during the time at the
ward and then there were 10 of them; what happens, we will divide. The will be capacity in each
ward, there will be forty but the workforce is divided, they are only five. See, they are really tired-
tired. Many got sick, many also got COVID in us...in James L. Gordon, many...many. The sa- sa-
s-same (stutters) experiences tha- that the (stutters) we-were felt (pause) of...uh...the other
hospitals (inaudible) it is not remote... it is no- not (stutters) not alien, it is just- it just became an
ordinary thing during the pandemic (long pause)
I1: It was really amazing, the dedication of the medical workers (air) The dedication of the medical
workers was really amazing no (air) like you can imagine that...70 hours a week and the workload
is double, you can't be with your family yet, (lag) you can't (lag) ) can't rest, you will always have
to think (air) your patient. Like, li-like...uhm...(pause) you...put aside (air) yourself first, you
should always put the others first. And because of that, let's go to...Have you experienced
workplace (air) discrimination during (air) the start of pandemic? (long pause)
P1: Me, personally did- didn't didn't but the-there were alot (emphasizes a lot) that...uh...came to
my office... to... uh...tell me those things. There was really discrimination, at that time. Uh...the
one who was reported here (pause) was fired (pause) uh...there was a nurse... uh..she was staying
in a...in a...she's renting, like board and lodging (pause) then when they found out that she was
working for James and there was already a positive there in James (pause) she was evicted- (lag)
evicted her (pause) yes... fired her from the dorm.
Secondly, (pause) theeee...uh....they found out that alot of workers have been tested positive in
James, many of the people you know who are Marites, right (laughs) those people - neighbors,
you'll see different reactions when naki -... when they find out you work for James L. Gordon - a
lot of that, a lot of ... uh ... experience of ... uh ... what ... but (pause) nothing nothing, nothing ...
somewhat demoralized a little bit (inaudible). When you talk to them (pause) they just wonder
(pause) about all the sacrifices they have done, wh-why is the reward like this. But at the end of
the day, just shrug it off, right?
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P1: What do we do, we need to move on. We really don't have to dwell with those ... uh ...
scenarios. So just move on, like that. But it's not new, it's not just here in Olongapo that it happened
... a lot. Not only to us at James but to the ... uh ... frontliners from the city health office as well.
Especially those who were positive in us that we sent home first...it's a pity. It's a pity (pause) if
the des- the protocols aren't really good anymore, the best ... you know what, one of the strictest
protocols are the protocols in the hospital (long pause) we sent them home, of course satisfied. He
satisfied with all our protocols, when he arrived in their barangay oh...in their province (pause) he
was not accepted (laughs) so we took him again. Right, he can't go home (laughs) because it looks
like he will bring ... uh...chaos to them. We can't fault them...ha...I don't blame those people
because this is a new one, an open one (pause) scared because of the news that there a alot dying,
right? So you can't blame them.
I1: Not only the...uh... (air) workload was faced by our frontlines, but discrimination as well in
(interrupted)
P1: Yeah
I1: I1: Sar -...sometimes (air) comes from our relatives. The pain suffered (air) by our frontliners
was really different and...uh...but (pause) they stayed and stood up for their work. The
discrimination they suffered (air) they made it as...uhm... (pause) a support. They did it to be
stable...uhm...in their work. And (pause) tooo the next question po, How did the pandemic affect
your physical health po? (air)
P1: A lot. A lot ha. Physically, (pause)...uh...of course we modified alllll...uh...we modified all.
Specially, the (inaudible) more I adhere to exercise, diet...uh...eating the right
foods...uh...modifying my diet.
P1: Mentally, of course we had mental anguish at that time. Specially, the start, ha. Because we
don't even know what it is. It's scary, you see everything shown, it's so scary, no.
P1: Uh ... socially (pause) what we are is different, as I said before we were close then suddenly
we were not allowed to see each other, right? (pause) before, before when you meet with someone,
you couldn't touch them. You can't talk for long (pause), you're both scared.
P1: P1: Emotionally, there were times that I'm down, no (inaudible). I'm the father of my family
(pause) had to be strong (pause) I-I-I'm the head of my agency, I have to be strong. You know this,
thi- this all of this, the one who saves this -prayers (pause) prayers. You really need to ask help to
Him (pause) ask for protection, ha. Everything will be fine, no.
I1: In its aspects, like physical health (air) (inaudible) like we have learned to value ourselves
more, there are a lot of workouts, those who were (inaudible) even there, right? (smiles)
I1: Then with our mental health...uh...we had a support system (air) even if our friends are far
away...there is the technology that we can use.
I1: On social...uh...it's the same, even if our relatives are far away, they have a video call so we
can (air) talk to them. And emotionally (air) we will always think that our family is always there
and what you said...that prayers are really number one especially since we don't know who our
opponent is. So...uhm... (air) it's fun to think that that's ...we get even stronger (air) now ... uh ...
this pandemic. And moving on to the last question in... uh...in difficulties. Uhm ... what has been
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the most challenging (air) aspect of working as a frontliner (pause) or while handling a COVID-
19 patient? (air)
P1: Th-the most challenging aspect of (pause) working as a frontliner, specially, during COVID-
19 is how you comfort up (pause) the...act, that's number one, yes. Uh...we are humans (pause) w-
we (pause) we need to be alive not only just for ourselves but also for our (pause) family, right?
That's the challenging aspect there. Right that ... that your fear, you are scared but you still need
to perform it because you are mandated with that, ha. That eh, that's the challenging (stutters)
and...uh...the more painful is, you can see (pause) your patients one by one dying, yes. That's
challenging, very challenging. The atmosphere of where you work must have changed.
P1: Before, you were very relaxed but now, when you enter, you are scared. Right? There is also
a prize, right? (smiles) There are also, not everyone died in our hospital. There are also survivors.
That's the one that gave us the will (pause) to continuously...ha...work, even though during that
times of...uh...very stressful...uh.... environment. That's our prize, th-the me- someone will come
out alive (pause) we still have something, we're one of those who...uh...did...uh...graduation
party...yes, to those who were discharged.
P1: Secondly, the ones that still strengthen us are the compliments that we-we received
from...uh...to those people that we don't know (pause). Th-the support that they have given us,
those are the ones who strengthened us. But the challenging there is...uh ... (pause) you will
continuously work...ha...even though you don't want to work (laughs). That's what-yes, that's
the..uh...the cruelest there, that's really. You're afraid to do it, you're afraid to come in, maybe later
you'll got COVID but you can't because you swore that job. That was the most challenging during
that time- times. Anywhere...uh...frontliner. Any frontliner, that’s what their thought that time.
I1: That's right, we really had (air) fear because we are only human, our stability (air) has a limit
and you said earlier (air) that before that person became stable, there were fears and test.
And...uh...not only the fear we felt for ourselves but for our loved ones (air) because we don't know
how long we will be with them. Knowing that we will get further away from each other -...
through..uh ... to follow up the question please. Is there a moment when you had a difficult time
(air) doing your job and considered quitting because of the pandemic's exhaustion?
P1: Yeah, as… as… as a human, yes. I-I-I do agree with that, no. There were times that I was also
scared...ha. Especially the ones without the vaccine (smiles) are the ones that are scary. You know
for some (inaudible) that I have angioplasty. So I have (inaudible) in my heart. So I have
commorbidity, ha. Despite having commorbidity, I went there, Monday to Sunday. I went there
everyday (long pause) I'm scared, I'm scared. But it's just that, I really need to do that. If I don't do
that, who will? Right? They need to see me there. They need to see me firmly. They'll see me there,
that's all and all will be stable... yes. But there is fear indeed. Who is not afraid? I have
commorbidity, no. But really, we just hold on to prayers. In addition, strict adhesion. I-I-I strict
adherence to the protocol, that's all while there was still no vaccine.
P1: Did you know ... uh ... trivia. I am the first frontliner who was vaccinated in Central Luzon,
yes. I grabbed it right away even though it was Sinovac. There are many stories about Sinovac,
that we really need to wait for Pfizer or the Moderna at that time. Uh...there was nothing,
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nothing...uh...th-the protocol then was that Sinovac cannot be given for...for patients who
have...uh...commorbidities. But I, I grabbed that. So that at least I have protection. That, that's
really scary. I'm scared, you see (pause) I have three daughters, right. That's what we think. My
wife, how are they? Like that.
I1: The pandemic is really serious...that happened to us. Like we pushed ourselves to the limit.
Uhm...even the strong people who we know (air) are...uhm...they also thought of surrendering. But
even so, it's nice to think that you stayed in your sworn job. And it's amazing and will never be
forgotten and unending gratitude (air) thank you for continuing...uhm...guiding our frontliners (air)
that gave them courage and for continuing to serve the patients who had COVID-19 patients. (Air)
and because of that, we are close to finishing...uh...there are 5 more (air) questions (air) I will give
it to Alexa. Thank you po doc.
P1: Ok (smiles)
I2: Ok just like what Richelle said, we are nearing (smiles) to the end. So...uh... for the last part,
we would like to know, how did you adapt during the start of the pandemic. So for our first question
(pause) what are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic?
P1: (inaudible) basically every living thing, needs to adapt no. Th-th-the only adaptation is to
modify, right. Even the virus, right. Th-th-they have to live, right, even them. They are living
things as well. So how can they ... adapt - they need to modify. Just like us humans. What I-I've
did just to modify things that...uh...that I do...uh... before, that's all I'll do so I can't contract that
(explain things using hands) I'll do this, as I tell you. Uh...I'm going to the hospital before with no
protection. Now, I always wear a mask and face shield. It is only two weeks ago that...I...uh...
removed the mandatory wearing of face shields in the hospital.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: Because we already saw that (inaudible) during that time. Those are our adaptive mechanism.
This is survival, ha.
I2: Yes, yes.
P1: Yeah, yeah. Th-the adaptation is modification only. Always remember that. If you didn't
modify, you have nowhere else to go. Yeah, yeah. The modification is moving. (smiles)
I2: Mhmm (laughs)
P1: You want to move on, you have to modify. It's just like love. If you got heartbroken, right.
I2: Hahaha (laughs)
P1: You modify. What will you modify, your feelings. You shouldn't give too much so you don't
get hurt (smiles)
I2: Mhmmm (smiles)
P1: Right (laughs)
I2: We already have (laughs)
P1: Is there a hugot to you, a hugot? (laughs)
I2: Yes (laughs)
P1: Hahaha (loud laughs)
I2: We already have relationship advices here (laughs)
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P1: Hahaha (laughs) That's it, that's it. We really need to modify, in order to survive. Even those
times are constantly modifying in order for them to survive.
I2: So change is really constant. So we also need to learn to adapt and modify. But doc, we relate
when you said about moving on (laughs)
P1: Hahahaha (loud laughs)
I2: Ok, just a joke (laughs)...uh...for our second question. Uhm...among the trials you faced at
work, how did you overcome them?
P1: Just just believe that we will...that all of this will come to pass
I2: Mhmm
P1: Yes, everything has a limit. Everything has a limit. Uh...(stutters) if there are problems, there
are solutions right. It's always like that. Always believe on that one, no. Don’t get stuck there, no.
And...uh...what I always say (background noise) even to my children; if there are trials and
something happens to you, don'- don't... uh... even...don't even think that it is a failure (emphasizes
every word)
I2: Mhmm…
P1: That you failed. It is just a setback.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: It is just a setback. So everything that happened in... uh...our hospital experience, those are all
setbacks, ha. And from our setbacks, you will have to use them as an impetus or a force for you to
progressively change and modify for (background noice) the better, just like that. Just what we
thought (pause) allll of this will come to pass. Take a look now
I2: Yes.
P1: We...it's different, there are different solutions; vaccine, adherence to the protocol diba, like
that. Yes, all of them... will end as well. Nothing, nothing's forever
I2: Yes
P1: Is there forever hahaha (loud laughs)
I2: Hahaha (laughs)
P1: But (smiles) there is, it's just that this virus doesn't have forever (laughs)
I2: None, yes (smiles)
P1: Hahahaha (loud laughs)
I2: Hahaha (laughs) serious, doc. You're good at connecting (laughs)
P1: Hahahaha (laughs) of course I'm old, I have a lot of experience hahahaha (laughs)
I2: Hahaha (laughs) yes. So, what...like you said, it's really just a little sacrifice...uh... it's just a
stepping stone for what we can do to...success, that's it. So for the third question po: In the
challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have learned personally
or even in your profession?
P1: The most important lesson is (pause) specially... ha... it is normal for us to be afraid, ha. It is
normal, it is normal. Specially, if you are thinking about death...if you are thinking about the load.
It is just normal. But the thing is, you really need to...uh... find (pause) a way to adapt in order for
you to succeed, right. That's...that's all, that's just what...it is...the only thing that has changed here
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is the situation itself. But the principle... the (inaudible) life is just a seed, it's just a seed ha.
That...that...the only thing I thought about here is...uh ... let's be thankful, right...that this pandemic
is only every 100 years. Before, there was a Spanish Flu (pause) the Spanish flu killed a lot of
people, because there was no vaccine. You know what the Spanish flu is now? Huh? The ordinary
colds.
I2: Mhmm
P1: That doesn't kill us anymore
I2: Yes.
P1: This COVID is just like that, just like that. So the most important lesson is...you really need to
be positive, no. Uh...think it's not just the end. It's just a challenge. So...the problem (pause) has an
associated solution, always.
I2: Always.
P1: And all you have to do is just to be strong and don't...uh...uh... even just be a bit as help to one
another. That's just it. And enjoy life.
I2: Yes (laughs)
P1: You don't need to have a lot of (inaudible) to yourself, ha.
I2: Mhmm
P1: You need...uh... happy hormones, ha. Happy hormones.
I2: Yes (smiles)
P1: That's all.
I2: That's right, there are so many problems caused by the pandemic. But it also gave us too many
lessons. Ok, so...moving on po for our fourth question. Is adapting to change in times of pandemic
necessary? Why or why not?
P1: Yeah it is still necessary. (laughs) if you will not adapt, you will die.
I2: Hahaha (laughs) as simple as that.
P1: Yes, yes. Really ... life is all about adapting.
I2: Mhmm
P1: Life is all about adapting. Even though (stutters) it is means in pandemic or not even in the
means of pandemic. We really need to adapt because change is inevitable. Change is permanent.
Change is constant. So, in order to...uh...to...uh... accept change, we need to adapt, oh. That's all
we're going to do, oh. Adapt in a positive way. In order for you to... even...not only humans do
that, even the smallest living thing...this virus or bacteria, they are adapting constantly in order for
them to breathe. That's just it. We still have something there...we still have...uh...an advantage over
them. Because our mental ability is already high, right. They are, maybe later they don't have God.
We believe in God which is one of the most important factor in survival. We really need to believe
to our God and we really need to appreciate even the simplest things and we really need to love ...
especially your family.
I2: Mhmm…
P1: Your loved ones. That's it (inaudible).
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I2: Ok, for our last question. What recommendations do you have for public health preparation to
end this pandemic?
P1: One is plan. There has to be a plan, that's number one there. Uh...we've seen it, it has been
a...uh... learning experience for all of us. We really need to have a plan. A plan that is very suitable
in solving all...ha. Especially, if not solving all then in solving and...uh...and...uh...uh... ano bang
tawag non...not only in solving but in...uh... taking care of those...uh...major problems, that's the
number one plan. Then, secondly, you really need to have (pause) number one is plan, number two
is ... is contingency plan.
I2: Mhmm
P1: A contingency plan, ha. For when your initial plan fails, you have a plan B, yes, always. That’s
always the recommendation there. And all those plans that you are going to formulate must be
scientifically...uh...backed up by science.
I2: Yes. (smiles)
P1: It should be like that. Not what mang Kepweng said, he said like this, he said (inaudible)
politician said like that. It has to be backed up by...uh... science. Yes, for
more...uh...concrete...uh...solutions, implementations will be easier, right? Uh...more...uh...basic
you do, much better. Like that, you really need to have a plan... you really need to adhere on those
step-by-step and along the way, you really need to reevaluate them. It needs to be verified, it need
to...uh... reevaluate whether it is still relevant or not. If it is still relevant, the plan has to be
implemented strictly. If there will be some...uh...uh... products that are not...uh...that satisfied, then
modify it. If... if your plan is not relevant anymore, you can discard it. Just like that. If ... number
one, you really need to have a plan.
[End of Interview with P1]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 2

Location: Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 7, 2022, 2:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Translator: Carlo Jose G. Gaza and Joanne Thea G. Ragadio
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

EXPERIENCES
M: So firstly, may we know your name and the current medical profession that you’re doing
ma’am?
P2: Yes, I'm ******* **** ******, presently employed at James L. Gordon as a staff nurse from
OB Ward.
(murmurs in the background)
I3: So uhmm before we proceed in the exact interview , I’m Carlo the one who will interview you
and Thea then we will just alternate. Uhmm before we start (phone rings) what should we call
you?
P2: just ate (laughs)
I3: (laughs) is it just okay if ate or ma’am?
P2: it’s ok
I3: ma’am? Oh okay ate (laughs) uhm are you ready to start the interview?
P2: All right, if I can answer ha
I3: All right, it is just experiences, there are no serious questions
P2: all right
I3: okay, uhm let’s start
I3: uhmm first question is, what was your initial reaction when you heard about the COVID-19
outbreak in the Philippines?
P2: I’ll answer in Tagalog ha(laughs)
I3: yes, it’s okay
P2: so my initial reaction is of course scared and at first the affected are us and then my housemates,
some are old and I have 2 housemates here, so that’s it.
I3: are there factors besides that you have housemates and you think you can share the virus to the,
what else are the reasons why you are so scared?
P2: uhmm, I remember constantly (laughs) my experiences, of course, we're really the first ones
affected because we're the ones who can encounter (rooster crows) some of the patients that have
covid.
I3: so that is the initial fear because of your work, and because of what you do
P2: also possible
I3: okay uhmm, let’s proceed to the next question (rooster crows)
I3:Have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?
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P2: ah so far in my area, it is not like what covid-19 is with us, there is really an area where they
handle that because in our are uhmm most cases don't have covid, mostly it's pregnant patients
because we handle deliveries, cesarean, so COVID-19 is not like that in my area. There are really
areas where the covid-19 really goes there, the other handles there.
I3: uhmm so yes, uhm because you said the COVID-19 cases are separated, do you have a co-
worker that was infected by COVID-19? Do you know that they have a covid?
P2: There are also, ahh actually in the symptoms, but once we have symptoms, everyday we have
a health declaration before we work, we have a fill up there. So if you have symptoms, you are
automatically triaged then the doctor will ask you if you will be confined.
I3: uhmm so yes, because of the symptoms, how do you feel when you know that someone has the
symptoms or someone is showing symptoms of COVID-19?
P2: further, further?
I3: uhm how do you feel when you know your colleague has COVID-19 symptoms?
P2: Of course at first I'm afraid that they might be infected and you will be infected with your
companions
I3: Okay, let’s proceed yo the next questions, uhm how did you manage to protect your physical
safety while providing care for COVID-19 patients?
P2:.of course the first is hand wash, for example holding the patient, uhm handwashing is always
a must, mask, face shield but in the area because we don't use PPEs there are just areas so that's
just it, face mask, face shield, handwashing are the ways we usually do, that's just in my area ha
I3: uhmm, What is the greatest protection you have done before? Do you double the facemask,
face shields (rooster crows) uhm-minute hand washing? What is the peak of what you did to protect
yourself?
P2: Handwashing and always wear masks and face shields especially during the covid so maybe
we change masks three times so sometimes we can't avoid much of the work, sometimes you don't
even think about the safety, we also forget it actually especially when busy
I3: That is scary too, right?
P2: yes
I3:Yes, because we are so sorry that we forget what but it is still important to obey the protocols
because it can protect us.
P2: Yes, the handwashing, face mask, face shield, but there is only difficulty when you are wearing
it especially the ones in the area, that's true
I3: yes
P2: Because they had a few hours inside, they could not change anytime, when you entered the
room, it was 12 hours actually then when we had a problem so it was only 6 hours, 6 hours inside
and 6 hours outside. Really hard
I3: That’s really hard, so next question. Uhm did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or
tested positive for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
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P2: Yes, I was diagnosed COVID-19 last August with the symptoms of sore throat then after that,
about after 2-3 days, I had a fever then tested positive then succeeding days (inaudbile) so that is,
it has been difficult. I survived (laughs)
I3: that’s good, yes
P2: I spent 21 days in the hospital
I3: uhm how many again?
P2: 21 days
I3: 21 that’s so long
P2: COVID-19 critical
I3: ooh you reached the critical level of COVID-19?
P2: yes, if you have heard the expensive medicine, they injected that to me, around 26,000 one
shot. Yes, that's it
I3: uhmm there you go when you had COVID-19, how long did it take before you got back to your
job?
P2: aaahh I was on leave for 2 months, September, October, I came back to work when it was
November already
I3: It's okay for you to have that leave so that your body can rest
P2: yes there was a little anxiety as if you were scared. When I got back I was scared of the hospital
(laughs)
I3: that’s it
P2: I didn't know if I could go out alive because almost all the patients that had COVID-19 came
out dead. So thank you to the Lord and lived (laughs)
I3: yes that’s it, let’s proceed in the last question for part 1. Overall, how can you describe your
experience as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P2: I guess that experience will be unforgettable in life (laughs) like at first there was a thought in
my mind before, but atleast it slowly went away, there was a time that there was like a "ting" in
my mind. You think that you were just in a room alone, no one was there for you, even in the video
call I couldn't stay for long because I had a hard time breathing so I could only see them.
I3: So it's so scary that it happened to you? So what, when you were working, nothing happened
because of a pandemic or (rooster crows) there's a big change?
P2: Ah, after the COVID-19 affected me, it will never be forgotten immediately, especially the
mask, when you go up to the 2nd floor, you are gasping for granted, but atleast I'm adjusting now.
I3: that’s it uhm proceed to the next part, Thea will interview you this time. Thank you!
P2: Thank you~
I4: and for the 2nd part, hi! I’m Joanne Thea Ragadio
P2: hello thea!
I4: hello, uhm for the 1st question, What are the changes that happened in the workplace during
the time of pandemic?
P2: changes at workplace?
I4: Yes, like before you had COVID-19, what are the changes?
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P2: What is it, it's not like that, the job is still the same but there's a time when you need to fight
and you shouldn't be affected. Because when you returned to the hospital you remembered what
happened to you in the past but you had to fight as a professional to serve
I4: In your hospital system, are there changes?
P2: What do you mean, Thea?
I4: like in hospital, the protocols or works that you need to do in the hospital?
P2: aahh in the hospital, we just have to wear masks. Now we don't have the face shield but we're
still doing the handwashing and social distancing. It used to be close to eating before the pandemic,
now it's a little bit away but sometimes it's still inevitable because it's a small area, like now we're
just having a department surgery because you can't really maintain social distance.
P2: aahh in the hospital, we just have to wear masks. Now we don't have the face shield but we're
still doing the handwashing and social distancing. It used to be close to eating before the pandemic,
now it's a little bit away but sometimes it's still inevitable because it's a small area, like now we're
just having a department surgery because you can't really maintain social distance.
I4:To the employees who have been with you, has something changed, is it possible to increase or
multiply because of the COVID-19?
P2: It’s just the same, no one left in our area
I4: oh that's good. To these patients, are there more to the number of patients per month or a week?
P2: There are still many in government hospital so we can't avoid it, there's still a lot especially
now that we're back to normal in James so the patients are still a lot (laughs)
I4: second question, How does the workforce change during the times of pandemic?
P2: uhmm how did the workforce change
I4: like how hard is your workloads
P2: aahh, Actually, the nurses were really tired because there were so many patients. We also have
patients from other places, also carrying it so they are handled by those in the COVID-19 area
because the James hospital is one of those who can transfer the patients.
I4: uhmm, If you say that there are many who have been around there or new patients, do the
workers not lack because of the many patients?
P2: They actually hired what from DOH aside to the hospital workers, they bought and gave us
additional workers, nurses, helpers, aids so the job was good. They have allotted more workers for
us so our workforce has increased.
P2: They actually hired what from DOH aside to the hospital workers, they bought and gave us
additional workers, nurses, helpers, aids so the job was good. They gave alloted to us so increased.
I4: ah okay, for the 3rd question, How was your experience while wearing PPEs in performing
your job? You said earlier that you did not wear PPEs, if you know anyone or those you wear
protective gears then.
P2: Actually to us, for example there is an ambulance conduction taken in our area so we also wear
PPE so it's difficult. It is difficult to wear PPE, it is hot to lie down because it is really enclosed
and really wrapped especially in the time of pandemic’s surge.
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I4: Next question again, how did you change the way you interact with your patients now that there
are restrictions on communication?
P2: Sometimes it is difficult to interact because they do not understand, of course in face masks
there is only a sign language time to understand. So our patients are just post delivery so they are
not (inaudible) so it's easy to communicate with them.
I4: So the changes you said in your workplace, what are the impacts of you as a healthcare
professional?
P2: impact uhm what do you mean, Thea?
I4: uhm How did the changes in the workplace affect you as a healthcare professional?
P2: changes? Uhm wait
I4: All right, or what are the ones that really affected you and made an impact on you as a healthcare
professional.
P2: Changes to me (murmurs in the background) are always self-preservation. Sorry
I4: All right, It’s okay
O1: There are changes, I just want to ask if it had a huge impact on your life as a healthcare worker
when the changes are in PPE, do you think that "I can't do this job" to the point that you thought
about leaving work?
P2: ahh not in my mind yet. I'm still dedicated to work, but they still say "oh location, go there" of
course sometimes it is hard but it is possible. You know the work of the nurse right?
I4: yes, The changes of the nurses are really bad because you have experienced the patient's own.
For the next part, Carlo is going to interview you again.
I3: Hello again! I’ll continue this, uhm so are you still okay?
P2: i’m okay (phone rings) sorry if it’s a little bit noisy here (laughs)
I3: it’s okay, no problema about that.
(murmurs in the backgrond)
I3: uhm okay
P2: yes okay, uhm bare with me ah
I3: it’s okay, uhm proceed to part 3, 1st question, Are there instances where you encountered
difficulties while working during the outbreak? Uhm are there any opportunities that have been
facing hardships at your work since the pandemic?
P2: Actually there is also a moment so it's just rare. You know what’s frustrating at work is that
patient's guardian… they think they are smarter than you (laughs)
I3: Those sometimes, what made it hard?
P2: Especially when you know the patients, you know those who have acquaintances, it's hard to
understand them especially (inaudible) so sometimes toxic (laughs)
I3: uhm in terms of the pandemic, what are the things that brought hard in this time of pandemic?
DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES
P2: Actually it's not that difficult, so just because I was in the pandemic in the private area. Our
area is near the COVID-19 suspects who are our employees. So we were scattered to the other
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area, we were placed because we lost the area we used to admission to the employees, others went
to the emergency. We were spreading our people in another area.
I3: That’s it, Have you ever experienced a lack of PPE or Facemasks, Faceshield and Gloves, have
you ever experienced that?
P2: Actually no, because someone and others gave us a lot of money because we were too much
to use the materials, actually they gave some but if you wanted to have our own you would buy it.
Especially the in the pandemic abundance.
I3: ah okay, did you experienced the low wage and unfair benefits?
P2: Ahh because in our area, those in the COVID-19 area are different. When you hear that in
SRA, they are the ones who are higher because they are the ones who have COVID-19 cases not
like us mild cases so they laugh differently (laughs) that they really have a hard time in the area.
I3:Do you have any opportunities that you want to tell your bosses or those you asked but they did
not listen to you? It is immediately given, so a little understanding, a little wait for those who
should be received (laughs) (dog barks)
P2: ahh, (inaudible) no actually some others were raised, but ofcourse it won’t be given
immediately, so a little understanding, a little patience to wait for what’s there to be given
I3: but yes, (stutters) if it takes time to reach – ah concern of others–
P2: (inaudible)
I3: Is it fulfilled?
P2:.It also gives but it's not on-time, as it is now, they say there is (background noise) but (laughs)
just pass, joke (laughs) no, actually there is just not the on-time given. Benefits what- (background
noise) they say. It does, but just a little bit, just wait for it
I3: Uhm that’s it, proceed to the next questions. What can you say about the hours you spent in the
workplace? As well as your workload? What can you say about the time– in your work in the – ah
hospital and the workload, the hardness of your work?
P2: It also gives but it's not on-time, as it is now, they say there is (background noise) but (laughs)
just pass, joke (laughs) no, actually there is just not the on-time given. Benefits what- (background
noise) they say. It does, but just a little bit, just wait for it
I3: Uhm that’s it, proceed to the next questions. What can you say about the hours you spent in the
workplace? As well as your workload? What can you say about the time– in your work in the – ah
hospital and the workload, the hardness of your work?
P2: (background noise) Actually, we really do, at times. We can't avoid that (background noise)
on-time you can go home, you can't pass it on, given it to you. For example, there are still
procedures that you have ordered, you can't pass. Those are the other (dog barks) (stutters) orders
that are early on, you can't pass, so you have to do it - you pass it on to him but at least you started.
(dog barks)
I3: Uhm, can you say– ah did you have a time in the hospital because of ah pandemic? Is it long
or short? What was your situation?
P2:Because in our area, it was a bit of hard, so we lost the transportation, so we got it fast, we had
to be on-time after service-we had to chase after it. Because without the service we can't go home
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for the next duty for tomorrow. So it is pretty fast now, unlike before with a car that is okay when
you come home late (dog barks) because we have been given service since the pandemic. So
thankfully still until now, we still have service.
I3: That’s it, that’s good that it helped you
P2: Yes
I3: You don’t need to go to the hospital personally. That’s it, let’s proceed to the next question.
(background noise)
I3: Have you experienced workplace discrimination during the start of pandemic? How did this
affect you as a professional? (background noise) Uhm since the start of the pandemic did you
experience discrimination because people say that ah– you are working in the hospital, maybe–
P2: (inaudible)
I3: You have COVID, like that.
(background noise)
P2: There are times, sometimes for example, you just cough a little and (moves body to the side)
they already move, they look at you. You know that's what you can't really avoid (dog barks) that
when they see you as health workers, "ah maybe she has it" (dog barks) like that
(background noise)
I3: Uhm (stutters)
P2:But (inaudible) just don't pay attention (laughs)
(background noise)
I3: That's it, uhm that's it, how does that affect you - like in your work? How does it affect that you
know that someone is discriminating against you, so when you just cough, they think something
of you, what do you think? Like that.
(background noise)
P2: Just don’t do– just ignore it. Yes, because it will only affect you in– in your work if you’ll
think about (dog barks) that someone is doing that, just don’t. So that your workflow for the whole
day, until your duty ends (dog barks) is good. (dog barks)
I3: That’s it ah– sometimes (stutters) we just set it aside.
P2: But– (background noise)
I3: Yes
P2: (dog barks) But sometimes we can not avoid it, of course, it seems like it also affects the feeling
that even if (inaudible) you see people, their expression, that's how they look at you.
(dog barks)
I3:That's it, it's sad right? Anyway, let's proceed to the next question. That’s it, how did the
pandemic affect your physical aspect uhm how did the– let’s first start here in the physical ah?
Uhm how did the pandemic affect you physically?
P2: I was affected or?...
I3: Yes, yes you are your own physical body, how was it affected by the pandemic– as a healthcare
worker?
P2: As a COVID-19 positive?
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I3: Uhm not necessarily– focused in, as– as long as at that time you were working with COVID.
Ah that's because some people say that the work is heavier– that's it. How does that affect– your
physical body.
(bird chirps)
P2: Ah wait (inaudible) in physical (murmurs in the background)... actually in the area…That’s it,
you can’t… like no permanent? The…the oh…(murmurs). In physical…(cat meows)
(background noise)
P2: Wait ah?
I3: Sure, sure(background noise)
I3: (bird chirps) Uhm here in the physical aspect, it is like the uhm–do you exercise so that you
have a stronger immune system? Are there foods that you eat– diet, did you fix your diet or did
you take supplements?
P2: Oh no, no diets (laughs)
I3: (laughs)
P2: We didn't diet then, because we had to get stronger.
I3: That’s it
P2: (inaudible) What– actually we had a lot of food given to us at that time. Nothing physical–
nothing, no exercise
I3: No more–
P2: Just go to work– that’s (inaudible) you just need to strengthen yourself. (bird chirps)
I3: That’s it (bird chirps) uhm in– in terms of mental aspect, how did the pandemic change your
mental aspect?
P2: Sometimes I had that (bird chirps), ah what do you call this(bird chirps) anxiety, especially
when– (bird chirps) depression, especially when you hear about– (background noise) someone you
know, for example– you can’t even help them, or go– gone, those resting in peace you can’t even
visit them (background noise) that’s sad about it.
P2: Sometimes I had that (bird chirps), ah what do you call this(bird chirps) anxiety, especially
when– (bird chirps) depression, especially when you hear about– (background noise) someone you
know, for example– you can’t even help them, or go– gone, those resting in peace you can’t even
visit them (background noise) that’s sad about it.
(cat meows)
P2: In social life– (cat meows)
I3: That’s it in terms of social–
P2: (inaudible)
I3: Uhm this is in terms of interaction between the family, your friends, in– and with you
colleagues, how did the pandemic change that?
P2: (inaudible) It lessened, lessened social interaction, because– we are minimizing exposure, so
that we don’t get infected, but I still got infected. We turned into a COVID family. (laughs) Even
my child got COVID-19, positive, my sister, them. My nephew, them, but I am the severe case
among them.. (background noise)
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P2: It seems that (stutters) ah– (inaudible) I between them, they might say “she tested positive”
especially when I came back, that is when, I feel uncomfortable with them because they might say
“she is still positive” even though they have protective gear– seems, of course, I am still thinking
whether or not I’ll interact with them. Especially since I just became COVID-19 positive.
I3: Uhm that’s it, uhm in your work– in interacting (rooster crows) with your coworkers, did
something change there??
(bird chirps)
P2: It seems that (stutters) ah– (inaudible) I between them, they might say “she tested positive”
especially when I came back, that is when, I feel uncomfortable with them because they might say
“she is still positive” even though they have protective gear– seems, of course, I am still thinking
whether or not I’ll interact with them. Especially since I just became COVID-19 positive.
I3: That’s it uhm, in terms of emotional aspect? (bird chirps)
P2: That is where we’ll be– shallow (laughs). That is why I don’t want to remember it. Actually,
you are not the first to interview me. You’re already the second one, that is why (bird chirps)
(stutters) ate is very emotional, that’s why.
I3: Uhm is it okay to you (rooster crows) uhm if you could share, ah what– (bird chirps) made
(rooster crows) you emotional? Why–what was your experience with the pandemic? (bird chirps)
P2: Especially when I got confined, (bird chirps) no one– I am just alone inside. Even though my
relatives want to visit, they can not go. And by that time, I was in, the edge of (hand gesture)… it
was hard, really hard. Actually that time, my husband just arrived so he was also quarantined, and
I was in quarantine too. We were in a video call but just crying.
I3: That’s it (rooster crows)
P2: Because it was hard for me to speak, breathless, it was hard for me to breathe (bird chirps) that
is why, we just video called, no talking. It was so hard inside, I don’t– I didn't eat for maybe two
days, because I can’t move well, I need to get, they gave me a private nurse inside. Get dressed–
I3: That’s it. (rooster crows)
P2: I can’t do anything by myself, I cant do it.
I3: It was difficult when it happened.
P2: Mhm, All the things (bird chirps) that’s why, that is why I thank the Lord and He gave me
another chance to live. (inaudible)So that I could serve the people that need it.
I3: That’s it (rooster crows) uhm it is good that we are out of that situation and we are now okay
right?
P2: I have been adjusting
I3: Yes
P2: But actually back then, I can’t– when I was discharged I can’t sleep, because every now and
then when I think about it, I think of what happened to me when I was inside, the hardship I
experienced. I thought I wouldn't get out alive.
I3: (rooster crows)That’s it, it is very difficult but we are thankful that we are still here and we are
still fighting. Uhm, let's proceed to the last question for part three. What has been the most
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challenging aspect of (rooster crows) working as a frontliner or while handling a COVID-19

patient? What is the most challenging for you as a frontliner?
P2: Challenging, we need to– what do you call this, we need to do everything for the betterment
of the patient. No matter how hard, no matter how hostile, no matter what you hear from superiors,
just continue, you can handle it. That is the profession you swore to.
I3: Uhm that’s it, uhmbecause of the challenges that you faced did you ever think of quitting, uhm
leave your work or just quit in– in your job?
P2: No, I didn’t think that I’m not coming back. But, it's really just courage, I’m just thinking that
when I get better, the service will continue. Some of us quit, but came back as well.
I3: That’s it, uhm when you said that there were people who left, how many? Is it a lot or?
P2:Only a few, it seems– they, they had depression. But, after a few months they came back, and
it seems that they both adjusted– they are both nurses, they were in a critical stage–the husband
was in a critical stage, so the wife– her feeling were a bit bothered, that is why they didn’t come
back to work immediately– the others, it rarely happened, but not all.
I3: Uhm, it's good that you became strong and courageous and were able to fight COVID, and
(rooster crows) continue to work as a nurse. That is, we are nearing the end of this interview, only
the last part, and Thea will interview you again. Thank you.
I4: Hi again, so for the last part, part five, adaptation. Uhm (stutters) oh, part four. Can we find out
how you adapted to what happened, just like in the answers you told us. So the first question, what
are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic? The ways or uhm, the mechanism you
created to adapt to the changes you have experienced or difficulties and challenges.
P2: You know– ah the changes that I adapt? No, it is just like you need to strengthen yourself?
That–we need to be not affected so that our service will be continuous.
(background noise)
I4: Yes, what you did to adapt is to just continue like it is normal, and nothing has changed in your
work. (inaudible)
P2: Because if we think of that every day, none– nothing will happen in–.
I4: Yes
P2: life.Your work will also be affected. So just courage really.
I4: Okay, for the next question. Among the trials you have faced at work, how did you overcome
them? In the challenges, you faced, especially when you had COVID? How did you overcome all
of them?
P2: What– (background noise) just like that, courage, and your family that– they are the ones who
encourage you. They helped, they didn't abandon me, they seemed to uplift my emotions to don't
think like this, and don't think like that.
I4: The uhm support they give–
P2: Yes that’s it, support.
I4: That really helps.
P2: Family support.
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I4: Yes, It was good and many people took care of you then and many supported you so that you
could continue - and fight back then. So for the third part, I mean the third question, In the
challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have learned personally
or even in your profession?
(background noise)
P2: Uhm important lesson personally?
(dog barks)
P2: Uhm, to be strong and to continue to serve… as long as we can. The fight goes on.
(background noise)
I4: Okay, that’s it, the important lesson is continue or don’t quit whatever challenges we face, the
fight goes on. Thank you for the– ah continuing to fight and give service to the people who need
it. Especially since pandemic and COVID-19 are still continuing. Thank you for continuing to
fight because you are really needed in these times, healthcare workers. So for the next question.
(inaudible)
O1: Uhm I just ask what? Is it also an important lesson, since you are COVID critical and as well
as being a healthcare worker despite what happened to you? Uhm, did you learned also that one of
the important lessons you learned is that life is really short so you have to pour it on the person
who loves you, like is that also one of the ah, it was also your lesson? Ah, in your profession, have
you also thought, this is really the– this is really the ah, I want (stutters) this is really what I want
to happen no matter what– even if it takes my life? Did you also think about that point?
P2: Yes
(background noise)
P2: Hello?
O1: That's it, it's nice to think that despite what really happened to you, you still continued to be a
healthcare worker even though there was fear. So let’s proceed to the next question, Thea?
I4: Is adapting to change in times of pandemic necessary? Why and why not? What–that first.
P2: Adapting to change in times of pandemic, necessary? Why and why not? What are the
importance? (background noise)
P2: The changes during the pandemic… are important, because you can see there how you can
provide service– serving wholeheartedly without complaining. But, actually, we can not (stutters)
avoid it, sometimes we complain, we can not avoid it.
(background noise)
I4: For– for you, ah is it necessary, or do we need to adapt to the changes that happened in the
pandemic?
(background noise)
P2: The changes during the pandemic… are important, because you can see there how you can
provide service– serving wholeheartedly without complaining. But, actually, we can not (stutters)
avoid it, sometimes we complain, we can not avoid it.
(background noise)
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I4: Uhm for saying that it is really necessary. What is the importance of that, for everyone or for
those of us who are still experiencing it today?
P2: What experiencing–
I4: The importance of adaptation to what happened in– during the pandemic?
(background noise)
P2: Did you plug it ***? Hello Thea!
I4: Hello, the importance– ah what do you think is the importance of adapting to the changes that
happened in the pandemic?
P2: During the pandemic?
(background noise)
P2: Just wait Thea ah?
I4: Even you, when you experience having– you had a lot of challenges like COVID– the time you
had COVID? What is the importance for you to adapt to all that happened? The challenges you
faced.
(rooster crows)
P2:Those challenges, we can surpass them. That– of course, we can not avoid (rooster crows) that
sometimes we take it to heart, we really need to fight it so that we will not be affected.
(rooster crows)
P2: Because it is hard to work, when your mind is not fixed or not ready, that affects your work.
(background noise) So we need to be always prepared and (rooster crows) free from any outside
thoughts, you just have to focus on the job. Set aside your problems or whatever.
I4: Yes, that's right, even though there are many challenges, we really need to adapt, so what– so
that we can still continue our work, and be able to serve the people who need help because of this
pandemic. So for the last question, What recommendations do you have for public health to end
this pandemic?
P2:As long as we continue the protocols, The– (rooster crows) wearing of mask, ah handwashing,
so that we do not have another increase in cases. And– (inaudible) we still need to avoid each other
so that we can end the situation that we are in, we are nearing the new normal.
I4: Yes you are correct that we need to continue–
P2: Caution is really–
I4: Social distancing.
P2: Yes, socialization.
I4: Yes, we need to continue, so that– we can end this pandemic and we can go back to normal
like– for the schools and (stutters) the number of students who can go to school also increase, and
not limited like now, and it's not so strict in public places anymore.
P2: Mhm
[End of Interview with P2]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 3

Location: Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 7, 2022, 6:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Translator: Kristavin Danielle V. Fabunan and Ferie Joseph D. Manalad Jr.
Number of Tapes: 2 Video recording

M: Uhmm…that’s it, uhmm we are very sorry for the inconvenience but anyway ahh, let us
continue with the interview, uhh before we proceed to the interview itself (background noise),
uhhh may we first know your full name and the current medical profession that you are in ?
(Silence)
P3: Ahh, I’m *** **** **** ******* uhh I’m working as a Radiologic Technologist… at
Baypointe Hospital.
M:Thank you and at this juncture let us now proceed to the interview proper…Uhhhmm Ferie?
I6: Okay . Are you ready now… to start? (chuckles) … the interview.
P3: Yes, I’m ready.
I6: Okay, so for our first question…(silence)... Louise the slide… That.. thank you
What was your initial reaction when you heard about the COVID 19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P3: Uhhh, at first… it was like nothing since it hasn’t affected . us here.. In Zambales, in Olongapo.
But when the lockdown happened we could not return to our homes…That. It was like…I feel like
I'm discouraged like that, of course I can't go home and then I feel like there's a virus that you don't
know how to fight like that. So yes, the one who seems to be depressed seems… to be depressed.
My first reaction.
I6: That’s true, it was like for the first three months of twenty-twenty… It was like nothing and we
disregarded it since we did not experience that not only until March… the COVID. So, for the next
question , Have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 po?
P3: Ohh, ahhh, Actually we are ones who really handle COVID patients because we monitor their
lungs so they always have chest x-rays… They always have CT scans… Lung CT scans, chest CT
scans so that's how we always face them, every day we (chuckles) always monitor them.
I6: Ahh okay , uhm so how did you feel while handling the patients with COVID-19?
P3: Hmmm, of course first what ahhh, ahhh what do you call it, ahh fear of course it might get
infected like that, then the others because it's not just what eh they're not the only ones we seem to
be handling what… of those .. those without covid so you don't know because some have
symptoms while others do not. You don't know who really has the virus. Uhh there's a virus. So
really the fear.
I6: I agree, that's why it's scary because we weren't sure at first who had covid because there was
asymptomatic there was symptomatic. So, for our third question … How did you manage to protect
your physical safety while providing care for your COVID-19 patients?
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P3: That, what is good about our hospital is that there is something provided, there is proper
protective equipment before handling patients. One is so complete. There's Haz… hazmat, there's
ahh (cricket noise) then the ahh goggles are there .. Ahh. N95 and has gloves as long as we are
complete with what to… with the protective equipment for the safety of the healthcare workers.
(Silence)
O: That’s it
M: uhmm
O: there is something…
M: hello
O: That
M: uhh I think Ferie Lagged but he’s here now? Uhmm Ferie?
(Cricket Noise then Silence then dog barking)
M: Uhmm he's still not here but… that's it uhmmm let's continue there ahh you answered earlier
ahh. That's what you said if your ahhh protective gear is complete, who provided it… did you or
the hospital?
P3: Ahh what… the hospital the hospital provided then there are also people who come there who
donate… many donated uhh protective equipment at the time that .. the virus was in full swing.
(Silence)
I6: Ahhh ok uhmm so did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive for
COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P3: Ahh the time when… ahhh delta delta variant that, We turned positive… maybe .. How many
are we?… Five? .. Roughly we were six. Oh right, there are six of us. There are six of us in our
department. Only in our department, because almost everyone, eh, almost everyone, but not before,
almost but almost everyone in our hospital tested positive, but at different times. When it was time
for our department, there were six of us, then ahhh, according to our family, my family was also
positive. So ahh the first symptom for me because we are different depending on what the reaction
of the human body is ... The one for me .. uhh the first night, my whole body ached and I feel like
I'm weak, that's the first one. Then, second… ahh the next few days I lost my sense of smell, I lost
my sense of smell then I had colds then that's all… that's all that happened to me. I didn't have a
fever, I didn't cough, I didn't have trouble breathing but I lost my sense of smell for maybe three
weeks… with no smell.
(Silence)
I6: Ahh so okay, so did your symptoms last for three weeks or just the smell?
P3: just the smell.
I6: ahh
P3: The other smell is what. The one with the body ache, maybe it was only for one night.
I6: ahh okay, so it's difficult (lagging) especially the symptoms that you experienced when you
lost your sense of smell… you also don't know the taste of what you're eating. So let’s proceed to
the next question. So, overall, how can you describe your experience as a frontliner during the
surge of the pandemic?
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P3: challenging since… there were various protocols in the hospital and even in our home, it was
difficult to go home, we were sleeping on the hospital It’s great that we were given rooms… uhhh
so we don't have to travel anymore because there's nothing, there's also no transportation, it's hard
that were always serviced by the ambulance… that's why we slept there… besides, it's hard
because they're already there eh they were also positive then when the family got infected too and
that, my grandmother also died because of that, I lost a family member so it's a bit difficult.
I6: That’s true. So sorry to hear that. That's really what the pandemic was about, many of them lost
their loved ones and then being a frontliner was very difficult because you were the ones on the
frontline to fight the virus knowing that it wasn't .. When the COVID we weren't sure on how we
really should fight this since there was no vaccine then. So do you have a dorm there or rooms
provided by the hospital?
P3:At first there was a room… on, ahh most ahh fourth floor, we had like a big room don tas we
each have bedspace. Then when the number of patients increased, other rooms were needed, ahhh
the SBM ahh the Chairwoman is chairwoman Eisma, she provided something like a hotel for the
frontliners of the baypointe at the Leciel Hotel just a walking distance from the baypointe. At that
time, it was like… in the whole SBMA ... besides Olongapo, the baypoint was one of the really
COVID facilities. They built tents like that. Really, the government also supported us for what we
needed.
I6: Okay uhmm It's good and the government has supported you and met your needs. So at this
point, the next part, Kristavin, Please take over. Thank you.
I5: So before we proceed to the next part I just want to ask Kuya *** if you're happy with us.
(silence) Just Kidding.
P3: (chuckles) You are really good, really (chuckles)
I5: Okay next part. (chuckles), Next part, first question is, What are the changes that have happened
in the workplace?
P3: That, ah what happened, there was, split there were divisions eh for example in the emergency
room there was already there isolation really put barriers. Then we had a triage area. The screening
there screens those who enter and those who enter the hospital to make sure that there are no
symptoms, symptoms of those who enter. Then those who will have symptoms, they will
automatically go into isolation like that. Then there was a swabbing area… there was a swabbing
area for the ahhh people who needed to swab more then that was also about what… the departments
were really divided, there was a call because we were clean and dirty. When cleaned, there are
those who have no symptoms when they are dirty, those are the PUIs and the Positives are divided
and the nursing stations have isolation. That's really why there are areas designated for PUIs and
positives and for those without symptoms and there was also an area for us to change and wear
PPE because when we take off the PPE we need to throw it away so we don't infect others. There
is also a proper path to enter the isolation so that not everyone can pass through. There are protocols
that have taken place that need to be followed to prevent the spread of the virus.
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I5: Okay, since there are many that seem to have been reduced in other areas, was it enough
to…pretend that there are many non-COVID patients, was that area enough for them or was there
also a shortage?
P3: Ahh, for the non-COVID patients, they have decreased because… they were also afraid to go
to the hospital (cricket noise). They were also afraid to go to the hospital so less. It was really those
at that time. Those who really need ahhh medical action only go to the hospital. The ones that are
finished because the others are even more strict… it's really because the COVID has flu-like
symptoms so you just collected them, you're going to type PUI right ?. You just have a fever until
you are proven negative, you are there in isolation.
I5: Okay, how about the number of employees, Did they seem to quit even though they were not
healthcare workers, those of the admin, janitorials, or even healthcare workers that they have to
fill in to their work?
P3: Yes, many things… many also resigned and of course also scared. Then that will also really
need what… many healthcare workers because there are so many patients when they are really
COVIDs, the number… so (High frequency sound) ahhh also lacking. Those who have time every
day are on duty for twelve hours… because they are lacking because the others are also admitted,
they are also confined because they are positive so they are lacking.
I5: Okay so… true that.. we can't deny that our personal lives have been affected as well as those
of ahh inside the hospital especially we don't see personally and but you like healthcare workers
they experience personally since this is a disease they had to battle with their best strength. And,
with all that said, may I ask how does the workforce change during the times of pandemic? How
did the personnel and your co -workers change?
P3: What do you mean by change?
I5: Maybe the workloads, do you have more ahh workloads than before?
P3: ahh workload, yes
I5: in one-
P3:yes workload really doubled (High-frequency sound) because what is it that we are really
destined to… like at this time, I am the one who will handle all the COVID patients and the others
are the one with the CT scan and the one with the X-ray with COVID, the one at the ultrasound,
the one at the reception are like that, we're really divided, we're just there because when we get
together, maybe the other one is infected… they'll get infected like that. There were definitely
designated areas that we needed to be there first.
I5: Is it difficult to work separately or is it easier during the times of pandemic to be alone
because…
P3: ahhh…
I5: because you might get infected…
P3: (stuttered) ahhh it's also challenging because it would be better if you can find someone to for
instance you're going to lift the patient, you are the only one who really needs, just force the patient
to be lifted or help the patient if you can. It would have been better if you could go to another area
 186

where he doesn't do anything, uhmm, let's help him do that first (chuckles). Uhmm but what can't
you do, you have to be alone there first (chuckles)
I5:It's hard to be alone, especially isolated and you don't talk. So, we know that PPE's have brought
a lot of struggles although these have already been used even before the pandemic but it became a
necessity.. May we know your personal -personal experience while wearing PPE's while
performing a job.
P3: That, it’s difficult because ahh that's the one that takes so long for us to render service to
patients because of the one we wear… you're in uniform which is the scrub suit that's it. then you
wear a surgical cap, masks, you wear goggles, you wear gloves, double gloves then you will wear
booties, hazmat as long as you put it on, it's really very hot, especially when you have a lot of
patients and then you'll be in the hazmat for hours. The full PPE really doesn't have air coming in
there, so the scrub suit is really wet with sweat, so I'm still wearing glasses. It's hard, what's so
bad, then when you take off the P- those PPEs are all scratches, the surgical caps are sticking to
the skin, my ear is injured because of wearing a mask, then here are the scratches on my face. mask
so that of course it needs to be tight eh then that's really when the clothes are squeezed it's really
ready for sweat to drip like washing like that (chuckles). That's what it looks like when you wear
PPE.
I5: Okay, since you said earlier, You worked for twelve hours, so is that also the time when wearing
PPE or does the normal scrub also seem to split or is the time also divided when wearing PPE?
P3: As for us, In our department when there is only a patient with COVID, then how many of
them, for as long as you take to xray or ct scan for all that patient, then you just wear PPE and
then you can remove it if you have no patient. When someone comes again, you will wear it again.
(chuckles) That's it
I5: so..
P3: It's really.. PPE are really needed
I5: ahh so Has the supply of PPE in your hospital been enough?
P3: in our case…
I5: or Isn't it lacking?
P3: not lacking.
I5: ah okay, Did you also experience the restriction of eating, urinating or wearing pampers
(chuckles) or… PPE
P3: ahh not really, maybe those nurses. Because they are what they seem to be when they enter
isolation, they will come out after their duty
I5: ah okay
P3: for us..
I5: so..
P3: if the patients only need the procedure, we will enter and we will also leave after the procedure.
I5: Okay for the next question, uhmm how did you change the way you interact with your patients
now that there are restrictions on communication
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P3: Uhhh, (silence) it’s hard since at the reception, there were barriers made of plastic which are
thick… then you wear a mask and a face shield. Uhhh, it's really hard for you to raise your voice
like that, then uhhh, what are you doing there, eh, of course you're positive, it's like you're afraid
of getting too close, eh, so I'm really just raising my voice, but it's still a distance. That.
I5: Did you get to the point where you only used sign language or wrote.
P3: ahh not really, not really, but sometimes our patients for instance to be intubated so there's a
tube that doesn't speak anymore (I2: ahhh) no, they don't know what's happening to them anymore,
so sometimes ahh really for example the nurse is going to help I'm the nurse, I'll position the patient
like that. They don't know what's happening to them anymore so it seems like it's less
communication, we don't need to instruct the patient because they don't know what's happening to
them anymore.
I5: Ahhh okay especially since there are a lot of changes and modifications ahh how do you ahh
wait… Do the changes in your workplace have an impact on you as a healthcare professional?
How so?
P3: What really changed the most is the care, the ones you weren't before because even once you
seem to help the patient get up, before there was no virus, you let them hug you like that, they will
hold you, now It looks like you're uncomfortable. You will really protect yourself, you will really
ensure that you always have gloves, you are wearing a mask, you have a face shield. Then, make
sure that after ahh before and after the patient you will use alcohol. We have experienced the real
abundance of the virus before. Every after patient you take a bath, so you take a bath eight times a
day like that. (chuckles)
I5: Wow
P3: Yes really. True. You will shower a lot every time that you are finished with a patient.
I5: So changes in living and impact that is why we’re bounded to adapt to the change and up until
now we’re still using masks and alcohol but maybe it's less now since COVID-19 is also lying low
so that’s the last question for this part. Moving on to the next part Ferie?
I6: Okay, Are you still fine Kuya? (chuckles)
P3: I'm still fine.
I6: You can drink water first. For this part, this will cover the difficulties and challenges that you
might have experienced. So for our first question, Are there instances where you encountered
difficulties while working during the outbreak?
P3: That, that, the ahh process is the procedure of handling the patient. That's the hard part because
you used to let the patient in and do what you have to do to him, now it's really screening eh, you're
really screening ahhh then when it's okay, you're going to wear PPE then maybe what can you do?
the time that the patient is there is getting longer because they will wait for you to dress like that
and then they will wait for them to be screened, they will be… some of them out there, hmm,
instead of if there is no such thing, the procedure is really time taking,if the procedure is not like
that, the procedure really is fast for the things to do with them. It takes time because there are
protocols that need to be followed for everyone's safety.
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I6: That’s right, That's why the procedures are longer now for both the patient and the healthcare
worker, so, uhmm in terms of personal protective equipment, is what provided enough? Although
some are provided by the private sector, are the PPE’s enough?
P3: For us, we posted on our facebook page that we need more pro- that… the PPE However, in
our time, We did not experience the scarcity of PPE’s there are always provided.
I6: Yes, it's good and that's it. Uhmm in terms of wages and unfair benefits, is the salary enough,
isn't it low?
P3: Hmmm, ahh we have something like a COVID allowance that we have in our department,
when you handle a… uhhh COVID patient on a day to day basis, there is an additional that will be
given and then the government will also give it to the healthcare workers. those SRAs uhh we
received that as well as what we did when we were positive, all the healthcare workers who were
positive, the government gave them something. So uhh, SSS is also provided. Anyway, there are
some that are given by the government and the hospital itself also has a COVID allowance that is
given.
I6: Okay, is that what is called hazard pay?
P3: ahh
I6: Or that’s different?
P3: hazard pay is different.
(Both speaking simultaneously)
I6: ow please continue
P3: the hazard pay.. That is uhmm what do you call this, automatic for us radtech since we’re
dealing with radiation so… even before we were hired, there is a hazard pay already, even for the
medtechs, they also have hazard pay even when the pandemic is still not happening since they are
dealing with bodily fluids and syringe and needles like that. There is a hazard pay already. It
depends on your profession if you will have hazard pay or not.
I6:Okay. It’s good to hear that the needs of our healthcare workers have been met. Uhmm how
about what, not being heard to the grievances of medical workers. Did you experience that?
P3: Uhhh,I don't remember but I know about what maybe our call is uhh don't let the people come
out because it's that time because… it's really too much and it's serious then you'll see the
patients… uhhh the strength he was still strong at first, then for a few days he was intubated with
a tube to help, then for a few days he was gone. It was like staying in the hospital for about four
days and then nothing. It's like those frontliners who don't go out of the house, uhmm uhhh still
get vaccinated like that, the others really look like they don't believe in the vaccine because the
others still reprimand them. It's also sad because they don't seem to see- they don't see what's going
on in the hospital and then they still come out. Like that. We seem to think it's okay (chuckles)…
it's okay first. Time out like that.
(Silence)
I6: Oh okay. So everyone, so with everything you said, How did it affect you as a healthcare
worker?
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P3: That uhhhh, really what eh, the uhhh presence of mind eh the… uhhh seems to be developing
because you really look if, check if you are ready for what you are going to do, check if… check
the patient if uhhh if the risk is happen if the risk is high, if the patient is low risk, check if you can
protect yourself. Check if uhh can you do the procedure properly for the patient based on his
condition. that. you really check the… the ones you need to check so you can do your work.
I6: Yes, there are really many challenges in this pandemic, especially in emergencies. Uhmm so…
before the next question we have (chuckles) difficulties again and…
M1:we have technical difficulty
I6: okay continue Louise
M: the account is not working well
M: I think…we need to transfer
I6:Should we transfer?(chuckles) we’re very sorry for the inconvenience.
P3: It’s okay
Z: Record- (inaudible sound)
M1: There.
I1: (echoing sound) There. So, are we still okay? Sorry again for the inconvenience-
P3: It’s okay.
I1: So to continue, for our question, what can you say about the hours spent in the work-workplace,
as well as your workload?
P3: Th- That time, there’s nothing (background noise) we can do. (chuckles) We’re already there.
And I was restricted to go home as well. That’s why ahh- even though the work hours increased,
it’s okay. (laughs), For me ah? It’s okay, it has been always like that. (chuckles), ah- tho- ahh- and-
the time’s moving fa- fast- ‘coz, by then you- you’ll f-feel you’re tired but you won’t n-notice the
time because of your workloads- that you’re already done with your duty.
I1: Yes, in a week, how long- how many hours does your hours- your duty takes? The minimum?
P3: Minimum, 48, I think? In one day, ay in one week, yes. That’s the minimum. (background
noise) Is that right? 48’s the minimum.
I1: Is that at the time of the pandemic? Or before?
P3: That was before. It has increased during the pandemic.
I1: Ah how-
P3: It...-
I1: many hours do you work during the pandemic?
P3: I think it has in- increased… sometimes, 16 hours..per week. It has increased by that. It
depends. If you work with many, it takes a few hours to- to- work. But if the others, like what I
said, there are admitted workers, and the others were resigning. So, our work hours increased.
I1: Yes, a lot- the pandemic caused a high increase, 16 hours. So, it’s almost a day. So, okay, for
our next question. This one became controversial- pwe- we’ve heard it on the news. So, have you
experienced workplace discrimination po during the start of pandemic? (Notification and vibration
sound) And how did this affect you as a professional?
P3: As for me, ah just the- ah, when I go home before. When we were already allowed to go- I
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went home that time…that time, once a week. When I go home…when they see me wearing
the….when they see me in a…hospital uniform. Of course, they will try to avoid me. An- it saddens
me, that, it’s like they disgust me, like that. But (breathe sound) it was just that. My other
colleagues, they were the ones who experienced extreme discrimination. The- their Mayor were
like- he announced that…that…they should not go home, like that (chuckles) so, they weren’t
allowed to go home, they weren’t allowed to go back to their towns, like that. That’s
more…more…saddening. Their experience. What I experienced was only mild.
I1: Yes, the discrimination was extreme. So, when you experience discrimination, what do you
do?
P3: No- not…during that time, that time where discriminations were extreme…ahh pi- e- we were
told that if we’ll go home, we should just not wear our uniform, to just wear civilian clothes, so
we won’t be discriminated. That’s what we did to (background noise), so they won’t know we
came from the hospital. Though, gud- before we go out from the hospital, we make sure we- we
disinfected ourselves.
I1: Okay, umm- alright, let’s proceed to the next question. So, how did the pandemic affect your
physical aspect first?
P3: Ahhh…(background noise) it’s like..the exhaustion, exhausted, more exhausted. Than before
the pandemic, more restless, more uhmm, though I was not…I was not…There were no changes
in my bod- in my weight, like that. The exhaustion really, that after your duty, you just want to
sleep, like that…
I1: Yes, yes. So you were really exhausted? After duty. So, do you follow any diet? And do you
still exercise?
P3: During those times, I was losing weight. But that was like, I only wanted to. Ahhh- there was-
I was in a, ahh- intermittent fasting. But…it has no, it wasn’t related to any (laughs) for, for the
height. (dog squeaks)
I5: Okay. Do you take any supplement? For protection? Additional protection or you don’t-
P3: Ah-
I5: -take any?
P3: Ah (dog squeaks) we were given like, vitamins…from the hospital. Ah, vitamin c, plus zinc
like that.
I1: Okay. Umm. So, let’s proceed to the mental aspect, how did the pandemic affect you?
P3: Like, ahh- of course, like what do you call that? It making you paranoid…because once the
patient coughs, you’ll feel like (chuckles) he has a virus, like that (inhales) or like, he will like, he
has colds, like that. And, the, the, when he feels something, like he’s experience body pain, it’s
like…or when your temperature slightly increased, you’ll feel afraid, like what if I’m COVID
positive? Like that. You- you worry on the little things, like that. It making you paranoid (chuckles)
And yeah, like that.
I1: Yes, our anxiety level during the pandemic has really increased (chuckles) uhmm, how about
naman in your so-social aspect?
P3: In terms of social, I have said, we tested positive. We were quarantined. So we were isolated
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(chuckles), we weren’t allowed to go out in a… in a… umm.. a- a. We were just in a, We spent

weeks in a, we really waited until, there are no signs of symptoms and until we’re already negative.
We were in the hospital, in the hospital room. We were stuck there, nothing- nothing to do.
(chuckles) we were isolated. Ah- no, we were not allowed to go out. Even when, during the time,
that we were on duty, it’s really- like from room to… to our department, from going there, and
we’ll go back only to the room. We were not allowed to stroll. We were not- only there, work,
work and
I1: When you were contracted-
P3: room.
I1: - (contracted) -… There, okay, when you contracted the virus, are there still means of
communication to your family or loved ones?
P3: Yes, we have. It’s good that there is social media. (chuckles), I can contact them. Even when
we were isolated.
I1: Yes, that was one of the advantages of social media. That despite being far and what, you have
means of communication with them. Lastly, in your emotional aspect.
P3: In terms of my emotion, as what I have shared earlier, my grandmother passed away, because
during that time, they have- they haven’t- they haven’t declared that senior…citizen should be
vaccinated. So, when they were infected with the virus, they weren’t vaccinated. That’ why, that’s
why, she only lasted four days in the hospital and then she passed away just like that. And it’s
slightly ahh- the last time you’ll see her was only thru video and…and…she was already being
covered, breathless, and then you’ll see the video- it was sent to me when we were all quarantined.
There- there was- my uncle was the only one who processed it. Then you’ll see her cremated,
you’ll see her in an urn, like that. And then, I never saw her again, the last time I saw her was that
time when we were separated because we had to be isolated. And that was the difficult part that
you can’t even say goodbye like that, because during that time, she has… she has… she was
already intubated, like that. You really won’t know what to feel that time. You’re isolated,
someone passed away, you can’t go out, like that. It’s like the emotion have been tacked that you
don’t know how to deal with them
I1: Yes, that was a difficult experience. And, I’m sorry to tackle this sensitive-
P3: No, it’s okay.
I1: -topic. Umm, so let’s proceed to our final question for this part. So, what has been the most
challenging aspect of working as a frontliner or while handling a COVID-19 patient?
P3: The… because…if, for me ah? The…for our part being RadTech, you won’t know…you won’t
know…the.. the status of the patient especially those who are high risk. Because, they were the
ones intubated. So, sometimes, you’re like positioning them, and then suddenly… suddenly their
oxygen level will go down, and then just like that, their life will be 50/50, like that. It’s like you
already don’t know if your patient will live. You won’t know- you won’t know, the patient might
die while you’re doing the procedure upon him. That was- that was the most challenging
because…that’s why wha- really- whenever I, personally, whenever I handle a patient, what I do,
I do my best so that somehow the procedure will be quick, so that somehow, the comfort of the
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patient, and that what if, ah I don’t like that I am the last touch (laughs). I don’t like the last touch.
Like that. So, you won’t ah- you won’t ah you won’t know what will happen to the patient after
you do the procedure upon the patient.
I1: Yes, that was very hard to do, full of uncert- uncertainty especially during this time of
pandemic. So due to this, was there a moment that you had a difficult time doing you and job and
you considered quitting because of the pandemic exhaustion?
P3: Yes. When- I tried like, it was like I was thinking if… if…of course my work is, I, I’m
interacting with the like, those who are infected with the virus, and all my grandmother passed
away and because of that, I wanted to change my profession, but of course, that time, it was hard
finding work…because of the pandemic. That’s why I just tried to muster my courage though I
wanted to quit. Also, during that time, many are dying (static sound), a lot of my colleagues were
testing positive. Pa- my other colleagues were just- just quitting. It’s like you also wanted to quit
but you can’t- you can’t do anything because of the pandemic, it’s hard to find a work and it’s
necessary, you see- you see the needs of like, many healthcare workers, because if no one will take
action, ho-how will we overcome, this pandemic if no one will be there in the hospital. That’s what
I’ve been keeping in my mind.
I1: Yes, umm, that’s why we admire you because after all these challenges that you’ve faced, you-
you’re still here with your dedication to serve the people at help our fellow Filipinos especially in
this time of pandemic in terms of their medical needs. Umm, so that would be the last question for
this part. Next part, Kristavin will interview again. Thank you.
P3: Thank you.
I2: Okay, we’re down to the last part of the interview. And, we’ll proceed for the first question,
what are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic?
P3: Ahh…what kind of adaptive mechani- at work? Or..
I2: Ahh… ah-
P3: in handling patients?
I2: At your workplace, it’s like you coping mechanism. How did you move on? For example, when
you see your patient struggling, like that.
P3: Hmm
I2: Or even for yourself.
P3: At- it’s like you’ll get used to it. It’s really…like everyday you’ll see someone dying, it’s like
(breathes in) it’s like, it will pass by. (chuckles) it’s like you’ll no longer feel anything. You’ll feel
sad about your…your..dying patient. But…ahh…you know that there’ll be new patients coming
in so you’ll divert your focus to those patients. There are a lot of patients, that why
whatever…whatever is happening to whatever you’re currently doing, you’ll just focus on that.
Whatever happened in the past, if someone died, or something critical happened, or someone
recovered, you won’t- you’ll just forget that, you’ll focus on your new patients. You’ll focus again
on ahh…the next that’s why- because – because you’re pre-occupied, it’s really like you need like,
to focus, on what you are doing. You won’t- you- you will forget what happened in the past, like
that.
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I2: How about personally when you’re outside the hospital? What are the coping mechanisms you
have?
P3: Ahh…I am glad that, we were involved inside the church, in the ministry. Because that’s one
of the, your cope, you hold on to that, that everything will be alright because….because the Lord’s
there, and of course, that, you know that *** (chuckles)
I2: (chuckles)
P3: You’re with me in the ministry, in music, in the music team, in being…being a servant inside
the church, that… like you hold on to that, that everything will be alright because God is always
in control. The faith…the ahh… the trust you have in the Lord.
I2: okay-
P3: that’s what I hold on to.
I2: Yah, that’s really great. Each of us, when the pandemic broke out, the only thing we can do,
when the things are hectic na, there were a lot of struggles, is to pray. ‘Yan, and, Filipinos are truly
great pushing aw- the struggles away even when there are a lot of things happening. There are also
a lot of things Filipinos are doing to be creative in lifting up their spirit. So, next question, umm,
among the trials you faced at work, how did you overcome them?
P3: Hmm… what.. ahh… that time, it’s like umm they declare protocols, rules that we are obliged
to do and we need to obey since it’s for our safety. And, it’s really like. We cannot avoid,
sometimes, there were like, people who enter inside the hospital…who has symptoms but escaped
the triaged. Of course, the hospital will do an action, the plans, we have a lot of procedures and
protocols that we’ll do to… to ensure the safety of everyone. And, the only thing in my mind is
the safety of my colleagues, safety of the patients. That’s the priority.
I2: Hm, are there times that someone escaped the triage and you failed to do an action? Was there
a time like that?
P3: Hmm, ahh, I don't think like there's anyone, who’ve slipped through the triage, every
department, screen again. They ensure that really what, it seems, ahh- ma- ahh- the other patients
get irritated sometimes because of interview after interview, like that. Everyone is interviewed,
really screened. "I've been asked that before?" working (chuckles). But we confirm for sure. For
those of us who are with us are really not… not infected ’.
I2: Okay, umm until now we’re still overcoming the problem brought by COVID-19. We’re still
the pro- we’re still in the process of overcoming it. Umm, for the next question, in the challenges
posed by the pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have learned personally, or even in
your profession?
P3: The ahh… personally I have learned that…ahhh…it’s really what do you call that? Ahh… it’s
not permanent, the things that are in this world. Sometimes, whatever you have right now, might
not be there suddenly. For example, our lives that we were free before, right? We were living
happy, all is well and then suddenly, the pandemic broke out, like that. There’s a virus and
everything changed…everything that…we have suddenly, they weren’t there. We were prohibited
to go out, prohibited to see each other, like that, it’s like, whatever we are have right now, we have
to cherish them. Whatever we are experiencing right now, we should ahh- live- yu- w- umm we
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should live like enjoying the things as long as they’re- as long as we’re experiencing it because we
don’t know one day, they might be gone. That’s what I have learned.
I2: In your profession, have-
P3: About-
I2: Did you love more your job during the pandemic or you had a time, thinking ‘I want to quit.
(chuckles) like that?
P3: That, about my profession ahh, I was ahh, there’s two. Because it’s like I saw the importance
of healthcare. Ahh- the field of healthcare. But I also saw how ahh… other people don’t make
importance of it. (chuckles) Although, in our hospital, it’s not like that but in the other hospital, if
you’ll see in the news, you see, the other healthcare professionals wearing only plastic PPES, like
that. You’ll be, you’ll pity them that, thankfully, we didn’t experience that. But why are they
neglecting this- then you’ll see, you’ll hear the corruption happening in DOH, like that,
those…those will frustrate you. Your field’s so important but the others don’t see it the way you
do.
I2: True po, ka- we can’t see your struggle as normal people, we’re not healthcare workers, we
don’t see what’s really happening inside the hospital. We don’t see the ahh, the struggle of a
healthcare worker or frontliner during the pandemic, but the COVID-19 has taught us a lot and it’s
tr- true that we never stop learning and this is the last question, like as in last, is adapting to change
in times of pandemic necessary? Why and why not?
P3: Change is..ahh, it’s constant, it’s
like change is constant in a man’s life. As we get older, as long as we live in this world, there are
many changes that will occur. That’s why we need to adapt and it’s a good thing to the human
body, it’s really, it has the ability to adapt, the human body. TO maintain the balance of life. There
are cases like that. It’s like the beauty. That’s why the human body is amazing because of the way
it was made. It does know how to adapt to the environment, we know how to adapt to the events
and the only question is how quick do you adapt? That’s really the question. It depends
if…if…he’s quick in adapting and how advance is he to think. It’s like that. That’s why..
I2: (chuckles)
P3: No, it’s true. We need to, we need to think in advance, na you know when, it’s like something’s
not yet happening but we need to think what if this happens. We need to have something to do so
that when that happens, we know how to put a solution onto it. I remember the the bill proposed
by Mi- Senator what… Mirriam Defensor Santiago, about the pandemic, if we had to experience
a pandemic, this is what we should do, like that. That was not passed, unfortunately. That’s the sad
part. Li-like that, she was so advance to think that even before it happens, there’s already a solution
to do. We- we should be like that so when something happens, we’re ready for it.
I2: Ah- how about you, how quick are you to think? (laughs)
P3: (chuckles) Ahh-
I2: Or how fast did you adapt during this pandemic po?
P3: Ah- maybe, personally, like we have protocols that like- fo- for me, it really depends on the
employee, based on how he does the pro- how he will he implement the protocols. For me, when
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the…the instructions are given, how procedures will be done, that you need to do this. I find ways
to make- to make it easier in a- in a way, to do it, to do what we need to do. I find- eh- a way- I
make my own protocols (laughs) that they don’t know.
I2: (laughs)
P3: to make it, for the patients to be at ease, and for me to do my job easier, like that. That’s why
there are times, they ask me, “how are you this quick?” (laughs) “why do you” “because I did it
like this, you can try this, you can do that to- mh- mh- but still ensuring the safety of everyone
although we do that. We also do- like we modi- nghh- modify things. To do it right and to make it
fast. Because that’s our principle because the longer the patient is exposed to radiation, the more
dangerous it is. You make way, you modify the….the things that you will do to make it fast and
to make it easier to do. But the quality of what you’re doing is still the same. That’s what I do.
I2: Okay. Last question, really, what are your recommendations t- ahh for the public health
preparation to end this pandemic?
P3: Vaccine. That’s really it. Vaccine. Protection. Protect ourselves so we can battle with it. We
should be vaccinated. We should try all we can to, to…to educate those people who don’t believe
in vaccine, like that. And, ih- what, like, like they will be knowledgeable of the importance of
vaccine. Because vaccine’s really our protection. Whatever brand it is, it is better that you’ll be
protected than being defenseless. And that- ah- we can no longer avoid social gatherings. That’s
why we really need the vaccine. At least, everyone’s been vaccinated to protect themselves because
the virus we’re battling with right now, when it… when it has something to reside to- a host, it
will live. But if the host has a strong immune system, there’s a defense, it will die, like that. It
won’t spread. That’s why that’s important, vaccine.
I2: True, that’s the first thing we needed before but the supply was little and it was really- ahh-
what- like it’s not enough and it’s hard to import it in the Philippines. ‘. Umm, it’s really a lot to
take this pandemic, but we hope all those recommendations will be heard by many. Especially
those uneducated people about the vaccine. And, because we can’t end this alone, we need to be
in this together. Ahh, that’s the last part of this interview. Prap- ahh- end of this interview
and…may I call on Louise end this interview…
[End of Interview with P3]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 4

Location : Respective Houses

Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 9, 2022, 8:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 8 attendees (4 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Transcriber/s: Louise Alyssa Eunice Chan
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

M: Before we proceed to the…. yes uhm, before we proceed to the interview proper, may we first
know your full name and the current medical profession that you are in?
P4: I am Dr. **** ******* *******… uhm an internal – internist internal medicine, subspecialty
adult cardio, and subspecialty critical care medicine
M1: Uhm okay, at this juncture let us now proceed to the interview proper
(murmurs in the background)
I5: Uhm again, good evening, uhm are you ready to(audio lags) answer?
P4: Yes, I am ready
I5: Okay, so let’s proceed to the first question… What was your initial reaction when you heard
about the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P4: Actually uhm, during the time that, uhm, the first cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, I am
on my uhm 3rd year uhm fellowship as adult cardio, going 3rd year.. Uhm actually at that time,
uhm it should be uhm actually it should be uhm, uhmm toxic year for us, as 3rd year because we
are focused more on admin work and more on the management of the patient. However, because
of COVID-19 outbreak we had major major changes in our training, on our duties, and the way
we managed our patients. Uhm, if you will remember, if you could remember uhm there were
almost no proper protocols at that time (notification sound) i think uhm first case blew up around,
here in the Philippines, uhm between late Feb to March, but at that time there were still no clear
protocols on testing, who to screen, who to isolate… Uhm it was chaotic… yes, I guess that was
the reaction, we were quite confused on what to do and how we will manage our patients uhm
cardiac patients plus management of the COVID uhm positive patients and we were also
problematic on how our training will continue with this uhm pandemic
I5: Okay po, may I ask, how did you manage the changes and was it difficult for you to uhh to take
care of your patients during the- those times?
P4: Uhmm regaarding sa changes (wind blowing) , there’s alot of adjustments (mic sound)… uhm
cardio –adult cardiology, cardio itself its uh it’s quite toxic, there are alot of patients in– especially
in our workplace (wind blowing) since we are the referral center here in the Philippines, there were
alot of patients plus when the COVID-19 outbreak happened (mic sound) almost all procedures
were halted… uhm that means, no elective bypass, no elective coronary angiogram, no elective
uhm cardiac procedures… we will only prioritize emergencies.. So, it was hard- first of all, cardiac
cases are already hard, then you will add uhm COVID… its so hard to use PPEs, wear PPEs…
what more if… (mic sound) you will stay in a patient’s ward for a long time, when you are wearing
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those extremely hot PPEs (wind blowing), and n– ofcourse almost everyone (mic sound) was
scared at that time because first of all, like they said (wind blowing) we did not know what COVID
was at that time, when (wind blowing) there was not clear protocol on how to diagnose (wind
blowing) how to manage (inaudible background noise)because we were still in … I think even the
management, during those time, or on based on experiences, there are still no studies on how to—
what do you call this?-- if it the management will effect, so it was hard since even our duties (wind
blowing) will be halted, then there will be times that, ofcourse you will (background noise) have
second thoughts whether you will still go to the hospital, much more if you will enter COVID
units…
I5: Okay.. so , aside from managing your cardio patients, moving on to the next question… Have
you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?
P4: Yes (wind blowing), I am uhm one of those cardio fellows who really entered COVID uhmm
units (background noise) if you can remember, the first doctor who died during COVID, Doctor
****** ******, uhm he is my closest friends during fellowship and I am the one who managed
him during his ICU stay and until we (wind blowing) pronounced his death.. So yea, n– I actually
volunteered to enter (background noise) the COVID ICU to handle him… since noone was willing
to… no one was willing to enter from us, but ofcourse since he is my friend, I had to enter
(background noise) …
I5: Oh so .. (inaudible)
P4: And even.. And even after him uhm we need uhm no, we were already decking with COVID
uhm COVID units (background noise) especially when I did a subspecialty on Crit Care, so every
monty, we really had to enter COVID ICUs, handled many toxic COVID, and espec- even those
COVID patients that.. if you are familiar with uhm ECMO, we were— they were like, like artificial
lung, like (background noise) artificial heart lung machine that is attached to the patient so were
the ones who handled that… Yes, many many times..
I4: Uhm may I ask, despite of the scare that we are- that you are feeling how did you find courage
to take care of the patients, when those times we still didn’t know how to handle it, like you said…
P4: Uhm maybe, at that time… the… I don’t know if that was courage or something (wind blows),
but for me it’s my call of duty to go to work as a doctor even if (background noise) in any outbreak,
any pandemic that will arise, even if you don’t uhm like, even if you don’t know how the
management will be, it is you duty to uhm (notification sound) go to work or on duty on those
cases (wind blowing) i guess the drive for me to go to work uhm there during the earlier times is
because of my friend, uhm he was one of those who contracted those patients, i mean that sickness,
and as we go along with managing patients with COVID-19, eventually there were already clear
protocols, more organized management, so relatively it because uhm, manageable… Like,
eventually we need to face COVID-19, we need to accept it and yeah it’s already here so just keep
going (background noise)
I5: *chuckles* okay, for the next question, in battling with COVID-19, How did you manage to
protect your physical safety while providing care for COVID-19 patients?
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P4: Uhm… ofcourse uhm… we were provided with (background noise) protec– PPEs (background
noise) and uhm protective equipments, actually uhm I’m not sure here in Olongapo, but in our
place, in Manila, we never (wind blowing) experienced the lack of PPEs.. actually, when they talk
about the shortage of PPEs, masks, and lack of this and that, I did not experience that before…
because alot of people helped (wind blowing) alot of people helped health care workers, many
institutions, many non-government organization, non-profit organizations who are, who were, who
are, and still willing to uhm uhm to help and provide PPEs to uhm health care workers. So uhm s-
in our batch, I was also one of the uhm, one of the… uh how do I explain this… I am uhm assigned
to the external affairs of our batch, so the medreps and all… so I-uhhm at that time, I got a lot of
calls… just to (background noise) give donations, PPEs and all… so protecting it, PPEs really are
the most important, handwashing, everytime that you go out of the patient’s uhm… uhm before
you enter patient’s room, after you uhm go out, after you remove the PPE, after you go out of that
unit, handwashing is very very important and then when they said before that you uhm have to
take a bath when you get home and all, it is really necessary… then uhm tsk healthy diet, the usual
uhm healthy lifestyle, then ofcourse vitamins, and most specially uhhh prayers… that’s the most
important protection
I5: Uhm yes uhm … we are very glad that you didn’t experience the shortage of PPEs uhh unlike
what we heard that they were (wind blows) restricted to eat, or pee because uhm there was really
a shortage of PPE since when you remove them, you have to dispose them immediately.. Uhm for
the next question, (audio lags) Did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive
for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P4: *chuckles* I guess this is something I’m most thankful for (background noise) because uhm I
never tested positive for COVID
I5: Ohhh
P4: yes uhm before we were selective on who to… to uh.. who to swab, I never had symptoms
but once you were exposed to COVID-19 positive (background noise) uhm coworker then, uhm
just uh there is really a minimum uhm le- uhm distance … we’re immediately asked to… uhm for
example, you coincidentally ate with a coworker and then there wasn’t, uhmm.. like you didn't
follow the social distancing protocals, then you find out that they tested postive, even if you don't
have symptoms you need to be uhm quarantined then… and then you will be observed, it was a
bit strict then, really 14 , 14 days until… then before you will resume work you will get tested,
(notification sound) if the result is negative you can uhm, you can go back to work.. then until later
part of 2021 when we already had quite alot of testing uhmm… 2020 when we already had quite
alot of testing kits, it was only then that they implemented routine swabbing for us (wind blows)
uhm healthcare workers were (background noise) included there so never has po— uhm COVID
positive test, especially when I was in crit care because like I said, we go in COVID units every
month, so we test almost every month or every 2 months uhm n— never had… Regarding COVID-
19 symptoms, it was a bit non specific… So even if you only contract colds, cough, or any flu like
symptoms you are already a suspect for COVID-19, in… there are times that I contract those
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symptoms mildly, but they don’t continue, and then when I get tested it is still negative… so
grateful for that..
I5: Uhm have you ever felt anxious whenever you’re uhh experiencing these symptoms?
P4: Uhm yes (background noise) ofcourse.. Uhm especially on the first parts of the pandemic,
since I had a first hand experience… my colleague died and at that time we still didn’t know(wind
blowing) what COVID was…. it was really uhhh, just being exposed to it… (wind blowing)to
the— to people who are positive for COVID, the anxiety is already present, much more if you
contract symptoms.. (wind blows) ye- uhh a little anxiety, (background noise) but still
manageable…
I5: Yes, uhm last question for this part, Overall, how can you describe your (audio lags) experience
as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P4: describe? Umhm, when… i guess, challenging but able to adapt… i think that is what I can
say as my experience… uhm it was hard at first but we managed to survive, and as of now,
somehow, we have more patients who are being cured, more than patients who are dying, so …
(wind blows) these are, I think what uhmmm… I can say that we can uhm survive and able to
adapt to this pandemic..
I5: So, our body also uhm, our human body is uhm is made to adapt to certain changes that we will
experience… so that is the last question for the first part, may I call on Louise to continue the
interview…
I7: Uhm good evening, can you hear me?
P4: Yes, loud and clear
I7: Okay uhm without fur– further ado uh let’s go to the uh second part… the first question is,
What are the changes that have happened in the workplace?
P4: Uhm during the start of the pandemic, changes uhm, in terms of patients cases, there alot of
admissions that went down, the usual amount of cardio cases went down… Then, in terms of
duties, it wasn’t the uhh… Actually, there were times that we didn’t neeed to fo to work everyday,
so uhh it became like (wind blowing) uhm per batch, per uhhh , to preserve the workforce in such
a way that not all of us (mic sound) will be exposed, yun pala mer- palaging meron sa heart center
mero– palaging kang, nirerequire nila kami to update our – parang individual health uhm checklist
(mic sound) para na-uupdate din sila kung ilan na din samin yung nagkakaroon ng COVID-19
symptoms and nagpopositive sa COVID, and marami, sobrang daming changes sa workplace.. oh
right, the— in the heart center ther is always— you always, they require us to update our-individual
health uhm checklist (mic sound) so that they’re also updated on how many of us are already
having COVID-19 symptoms and are positive for COVID, and yeah there are many, many many
changes in the workplace ..
I7: Uhm, how about in the number of employees, uhm did it increase or decrease durig the
pandemic?
P4: Uhm, did the COVID positive employees increase, or did the employees increase –
I7: Uhm the number of employees in general
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P4: I don't think it- that's uhh here in our workplace ah, I don't seem to feel that we've been reduced
hmm of course our uhm Senior Cardio Consultants, they hardly do rounds anymore, because of
course their immune system is weaker, but overall I think it didn't feel like much that the workforce
was reduced.. Because relatively, it seems like there are people who can also enter our work mhm,
then the mere fact that the (wind blowing) has been reduced .. Our elective cases, so many - units
are lost or closed, but they are being replaced with uhhh… For example, because there is no cardi–
uhh there are no open heart surgeries at that time… (background noise) the surgerical ICUs closed,
but then, the nurses there , uhhm they are transferred to other units, for example, COVID ICUs
like that… so not much, not reduced… except for those who died, that is ..
I7: Yes.. Uhm, awhile ago you mentioned about the preservance of the employees, also the changes
in the workforce, uhm which leads us to the second question, what are the changes that have
happened in the workf– oh sorry, next question please.. How does the workforce change during
the times of the pandemic?
P4: Uhm .. the quantity, hasn't changed, I think the quality of work is still the same, but the rotation
(wind blowing) of the workforce, that's what had major changes .. For example, because there is
no out-patient department, the people in the out-patient they were shifted to telemedicine, so the
former ones who were stationed in elective cases which uhhh shut down, went temporarily to the
COVID units, but then still the work uhm the the work is still almost the same .. It’s just that,
uhmm I guess, we need to adapt on what the opportunity gives us, at that time. But then, when the
level of the (groans) uhh alert level was going down, little by little the elective cases were coming
back, so little by little they were coming back to their usual posts, the same goes for us, (mic sound)
what… so from sometimes telemedicine (mic sound) right now, there are already face-to-face
clinics, so relatively, we're shifting back to, to the old times, but yeah the normal ..
I7: Uhm, it's good to hear that everything is going back to what it was before, uhm moving on to
the next question, uhm .. How was your experience while wearing PPEs in performing your job,
since you mentioned earlier that every time you go in and out of units you have to change the PPEs
..
P4: Mhm .. it's really uncomfortable to wear PPEs, especially uhm, it's too hot, plus the respirator,
but it's necessary eh (background noise) we need it, and but uhh .. But just like what I've said
earlier, it's a bit (background noise) uhmm we are still thankful to the heart center, that somehow
uhm (coughs) we get good quality PPEs, uhm unlike the others we hear that they almost have to
recycle their PPEs, so yeah it’s hard, hot inside PPEs, uncomfortable, what do you call it ..
Respirator! And what’s even harder, is wearing those PPEs while performing procedures, so just
imagine, I already have a hard time inserting an IJ on a patient, what more if…. you are familiar
with the catheter in dialysis, yes, especially to ICU patients, uhm when they're toxic, in shock like
that (mic sound), you need to insert IJ in those, so you're wearing PPE, gloves, respirator, then
face shield, eih- it's a good thing I didn’t need my prescription glasses yet at that time, because it
was actually really hard, we wou- plus you have to wear goggles, super hard (inaudible) (mic
sound) so what it is much harder for the uhh , the surgeons who also need to wear PPEs .. (mic
sound) really hard…
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I7: Yes, uhm you mentioned that it is difficult to perform procedures while on PPE, so uhm how
did it affect how you interacted with your patients?
P4: During… oh there it is (referring to the slide), major uhhh, major dilemma during the pandemic
is the way of communication and even uhm, performing physical examinations on patients, at that
time, we need to protect ourselves too, especially from COVID positive patients.. Unlike uhmm…
what do you call this? Unlike before that you can always enter the patient’s room… And as much
as possible, if you can do all that (mic sound) in a fast manner, you will because you also don’t
want to stay with the patient for a long time.
So, yeah the duration of the uhh, your interaction with your (notification sound) patients was uhhm
(notification sound) shorter and faster as compared to pre-pandemic. In terms of physical
examination, you won’t be able to maximize or optimize it since there are many hindrances, there
are alot of some type of barriers, it’s hard to use a stethoscope while in the PPE, plus you are
wearing a face shield too ..
Then, in the past, (wind blowing) sometimes it's really hard to auscultate them, much more if the
intubated patient is in the ICU (mic sound) you can't PPE them much .. In terms of restrictions, we
were really restricted to enter or interact with patients, if you can look at them from a distance, if
you can examine them from a distance, uhm maybe that's what you’ll choose .. It's not every time
you go inside unit of patients, especially if they are benign… Then, also the frequency of visits,
frequency of vital signs for them no— but uhm they were instructed to report whatever they were
feeling so (mic sound) but we would still enter the units at times… yeah…
I7: That's right, uhm, there have been quite a lot of changes in interacting with your patients, in
meeting their needs, in the workforce, and in your workplace in general. Uhm, those changes, uhm
ho- does it have an impact on you as a healthcare professional? how so?
P4: Yes, uhm (clears throat) uhm those changes really had (background noise) significant impact
to us. First of all, the first thing you will is, how will you deliver uhm the quality uhhh management
, healthcare management to your patient if you can’t (wind blowing) really see them or you can’t
examine them, that’s one. Uhm second, especially those times that we still didn’t know or we
didn’t have clear protocols for COVID, you would ask, are you giving uhm quality management
to your patient or …. How do I say this? Would you still be able to do the things you do to them
before? Third, when it comes to uhh … it’s impact on you since you are also scared to have
COVID, but as your call of duty to go to work, ofcourse relatively you are somehow half-hearted
too, right? If you uhh— especially if anxiety is present, the scare but then (wind blowing) we need
to face the reality that we need to enter COVID (referring to units) (mic sound) and we need to
render services to our patients (background noise)
I7: Yes, uhm yeah, that was the last question for this part, so I will now pass the floor to Kristavin
to continue, uh thank you for answering the questions for that part..
P4: (inaudible)
I5: Hello, am I clearly heard?
P4: Yes… yeah
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I5: Okay, thank you! Going further to this interview, uhm are there instances where (audio lags)
you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak?
P4: (wind blowing) sorry could you please repeat the question.. Are there..?
I5: Are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak ?
P4: Uhmmm, a lot.. Uhm first of all the major changes in – in the workplace , then ofcourse
communication with the people you work with is much harder, it’s harder uhm the delivery of the
management itself then (mic sound) one more thing that we worry about at that time is what will
happen to our training during the time of pandemic. Ofcouse, cases went down …. the amount of
COVID-19 patients were quite a lot comapred to cardiac patients… so how will we (mic sound)
continue our training… so yea, I guess those were the major difficulties.. (wind blows)
I5: Okay po.. The– so how did your… how did your training continue during the– those times? Or
did you focus more on COVID patients?
P4: During the uhm initial uhh we- (background noise) during the start since we are a DOH uhmm
hospital we really needed to cater (wind blowing) COVID-19 uhm patients… initially, the initial
mandate to us is uhm we need to accept those COVID positive patients but they have to have
cardiac problems… but since there wer— since the number of COVID-19 increased, we we-- even
if the patient didn’t have cardiac problems so relatively, we still accepted them…. so, at that time,
our cardiac cases really decreased.. In terms of training, we deviced ways to continue… we had
conferences thru zoom… then (background noise) uhm yeah, we just maximized the cardiac
patients that came to us… yeah (wind blowing)
I5: Oh okay.. Uhm you mentioned awhile ago that you’re in your uhh graduating year … was your
graduation delayed? or uhh did you graduate during those times too?
P4: Oh that.. That was also one of our dilemmas at that time, since the cardio cases went down,
one p— one proposal at that time was to extend us… but (background noise) it was not permitted,
because uhm for example, first year — first year cardio (wind blowing) they are the ones who
mostly handle COVID… second years, the still enter COVID units (inaudible child talking) but
they focus more on the diagnostics part ECHO to the ECHO like that, coronary angiogram, for us,
third years… more on the uhm supervisory level… we still go in COVID units but only for a short
period of time… many people complained on the context of our extension, so we’re extended 3rd
years, they’re extended 2nd years, and the most pitiful are the first years, since they are the one
who will be stuck handling uhm COVID … all of— all of the training in each year level was
affected at that time (background noise) but they are the most pitiful since when they got in, they
didn’t get to handle cardiac cases, instead the handled COVID cases … unlike us that somehow
(mic sound) pre-pandemic relatively we had– we already handled alot of cardiac patients…
actually in terms of cases, we could already pass— we could already patt to graduate during the
2nd year, so the 2nd years now are pitiful… so we need to adapt in such a way that we can’t-
uhmmm the management was able to device ways and programs to (wind blowing) uhh somehow
fill in the gaps of the lack (wind blowing) of cases thru online meetings, zoom, and uhm case-
based discussion… so that in a way (wind blowing) our training wouldn’t be left out…. and yeah
as we go along the later part (inaudible noise) this – later part of the pandemic, we already had
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more cardio patients so — we uh (wind blowing) we were exposed to them again, so yeah there
were more exams at that time but we were able to graduate on time (mic sound)
I5: Okay… Uhm next question, have you experienced low wages or unfair benefits during those
times?
P4: Uhm no… still the usual uhh , usual wages.. Actually, some others they have more nowadays…
uhm no it the salary wasn’t really late, then we have thing called the uhm tsk, what do you call
that… it’s like COVID assistance benefits (wind blowing) yeah… especially during the first- first
years of the pandemic… yeah they were able to give us our COVID assisstance fee… then just
recently we had the Bayanihan Act 1 and 2 (tech glitch sound) since the uhm— since the uhmm
— the additional wages of the uhm healthcare workers are included there (notification sound) so
we did receive those… but recently, during the start of 2021, uhm it was quite delayed… But in
terms of decrease in salary, we didn’t really experience it… uhm same salary, same benefits that
we get during pre-pandemic… plus additional fees… mm which was quite delayed during the later
parts
I5: Okay how… okay.. How about when you have something to say or your grievances, have you
always been heard? Or there are times that you were not heard by the uhhh upper positions like
your uhmm what do you call this…. your seniors… like that…
P4: Ah in terms of grievances in work?
I5: Yes..
P4: Oh okay.. During the earlier times of pandemic we had so many complaints regaring in terms
of how many hours we should be inside COVID units (inaudible background noise) then of
course… uhm like what we’ve tackled, there were so many changes in the (mic sound) the uhm
workplace, in terms of duties, a lot of changes… but then there were alot of complaints too… Uhm
in terms of… of course at that time we needed to uh… we needed to understant that the
management was adapting too.. First, that even them, they are uhmm were tsk really working
overtime to device ways and make protocols for the betterment of everyone.. I guess the most
challenging part for us was the time we kept on asking when were going to be swabbed / tested
after going out of COVID units.. ofcourse if you go home, and you have companions there, you
have uhm a family that you go home to, you want to make sure that you go home safe… that was
one of the uhh.. we slightly had a — uhh a dilemma… because we knew that there was a shortage
of testing kits at that time, but somehow we still demanded that somehow we had relatively uhm
even though it wasn’t a routine at that time, we wished that we would be included in the mandatory
testing, especially if you just got out of COVID units… but that complaint was hard to fight for,
because if the management wouldn’t be able to provide the testing kits, what would you do about
it, right? so yeah… but other than that…
I5: (inaudible)
P4: there’s nothing else..
I5: Okay.. glad to hear that.. Uhm next question, since you have mentioned the changes in your
workplace and the hours, What can you say about the hours you spent in the workplace? As well
as your (audio lags) workload?
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P4: The number of hours… during the surge, it decreased… like I said uhm — pre-pandemic we
go to work from Monday to Friday, you wi— for example you work for 24 ho— uhm 24 hours
until the next day you are still on duty… when the pandemic started, since our team was separated,
the workplace was shortened, I mean the umber of hours that we spent in the hospital (background
noise) to uhm just like what I’ve said earlier to- uhm save each batch and uhm to save the people
who can still go on duty… It would be unfortunate for you if for example there is an outbreak in
your department, which we did have in ours… like when… whe— when we had surges on COVID,
even us doctors, a lot tested positive too… so in times like that… for example in one batch, there
are 20 people, 10 contr— tested positive… so those 10 people would be isolated, right? Then,
aside from those who tested positive, all those who were exposed to them would have to be isolated
too… so sometimes in 20 persons in a batch, 5 will be left… and those 5 people would be the only
ones working and filling up the work for those who were isolated… (inaudible noise) okay, but
when they come back… you would be the one to rest… yeah…
I5: Okay.. So, have you experience to for example uhm to be left to be the one on duty?
P4: Yes, because I haven’t… haven’t tested positive…
I5: (laughs)
P4: (laughs) sometimes I think like I wish i had the uhmm symptoms (laughs) but ye-yes, I already
experieced to uhm… every other duty before because almost no one was going to work…
especially the time when we have many uhmm yeah that… (background noise)
I5: Okay po… uhm next question… Have you experienced workplace discrimination during the
start of pandemic? How did this affect you as a professional?
P4: (giggles) actually I find that discrimination thing funny… but yeah (mic sound) they
disciminate them, then no one will manage them… that’s it… uhm but do we receive the tsk hmm
I don’t know, I haven’t really experienced it… hhh uhm during the start of the pandemic, like they
were grossed out when we uh for example we go to the groceries like that… Eehh kiber … as you
know frontliners they have their own… own special lane so… let them be if they will
discriminate…. so uhm yeah, butfor me, I think uhm I’m very thankful that our landlord on the
unit I live in wasn’t strict at all… because they still let me out / in and they still haven’t prohibited
me from going home… because I go home from duty, I didn’t like staying in the hospital… uhm
(notification sound) no major discrimination and I don’t care if they discriminate us, let them live
their own lives…
I5: Ookay.. Uhm for the next question… uhhh How did the pandemic affect your physical aspect
first…
P4: Physical… that , one of the… this is the truth… one of the major risk factors in COVID,
especially COVID complication is obesity… so if you will notice, almost all uhm diabetic patients,
obese patients they are the ones who experience more extreme COVID symptoms… so because
we see that… it became our driving force to (mic sound) have a healthy lifestyle.. I was able to
diet, then when I had no duty, I really exercised, actually I lost weight during the pandemic… I
didn’t… because for example I stayed at home, I didn’t gain weight or anything… yeah my
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physical well-being was better at that time… since I knew that I needed to be physically fit because
I enter COVID…
(background noise)
I5: So you didn’t experience feeling weak, since you were exercising regularly… ?
P4: Yyes.. hmm I didn’t — not — I didn’t feel weak..
I5: Okay … uhm how about the mental aspect?
P4: Okay, this is the most difficult, as you know there were a lot of cases of depressions during
the time of pandemic… (inhales aggressively) but not uh— uhmm mental… I guess at that time i
just thought that... my training should go on and if our cases decreased… our cardiac cases during
the pandemic, I’m the one who need to find a way to somehow continue my training… and I was
expecting to take the board exam the following year, at that time, so I had more time to review for
my board exam and ofcourse It’s not always about studying, right… you need to uhmm
(background noise) and if you have support from your batch, from your family like that… you
won’t feel depressed…
I5: We are glad po that you were… you didn’t feel alone that time.. And uhh how about the social
aspect… did you continue communicating with your family and friends or because of the uhh
protocols (mic sound) did that affect your social aspect?
P4: Yes, drastic uhh.. big changes in terms of uhm our social practices at that time… And
(chuckles) it’s saddening that, during the surge of COVID… uhh you can’t go home right… (wind
blowing) so I was the only one in our unit that time… but yeah luckily, luckily during the
pandemic, we have the uh like this, we have zoom meetings, then we have chats, so almost all
social events are held online, online platforms and all (background noise) of the meetings uhm
(audio lags) roundtable discussions, group discussions… all held in zoom… to be honest, it’s
boring at times, because there’s alot.. mhm…
I5: Uhm have you been…
P4:But ….
I5: away with your family?
P4: Hmmm?
I5: Uhhh were you away during those times, with your family? Or uhhh were you close to them?
P4:(background noise) Ah that time I was away from them… They were in Olongapo, then my
sibling that I am always — uhm they’re the one I lived with here in Manila… they’re a teacher
which is you already had online class at that time so I told them to go home in Olongapo because
(mic noise) I work in the hospital… so i was alone that time at the unit for the first time… so yeah
very far… then it took a long time before I got to go home to them… like the first COVID case
came out during March right, March 2020
I5: Yes
P4: I got to go home around December… yeah
I5: That’s a long time…. But regularly, during what month do you go home?
P4: Uhm pre-pandemic…? (mic noise)
I5: Yeah
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P4: I’m not the type to go home regularly but then (mic noise) my parents, they’re the ones who
regularly go here… like every month
I5: Oh
P4: Here in Manila… when there’s… when there are long weekends… like that… I can go home..
Besides, we can easily go home from Manila to Olongapo…
I5: Yes…
P4: but during the pandemic, I wasn’t able to.. yeah for a very long time…
I5: Okay… moving on … uh lastly, how about uhh your emotional aspect… how did it affect it?
P4: I guess only during the uhh… only during the first few months of the pandemic that almost all
of us are scared… and uncertant on all our actions… I guess that was the hardeest… also… uh
uhm emotionally, especially when the uhhm the… (background noise) my friend died… and even
though it is unfortunate, yeah (background noise) I was the last person to touch him when he
died… because I was the one on (inaudible) duty (inaudible) him… but we need to move on…
I5: Okay… we’re sorry about that uhm… so let’s proceed to the last question for this part… What
has been the most (audio lags) challenging aspect of working as a frontliner or while handling a
COVID-19 patient?
P4: I guess when… uh most challenging is when you are close with the one who tested positive…
uhm that… so hardest is that the one you hang with before, you will see them next intubated
already… and I also had my uhh (background noise) my family tested positive… uhm both my
parents tested… oh almost all of them tested positive… so.. first was my sister that was asthmatic
uhmmm when I admitted her, but I wasn’t the one who handled her.. but then (background noise)
when my parents were the ones who tested positive… uhm I was one of the people who manages
them… actually I liked that better so that I could see them more often… the good thing is that their
symptoms were only mild to moderate… I guess that… that was the harders, when you manage
your family members and if the one you are managing are very close to you… In terms of
managing COVID itself the uhhh the… like eventually you will get used to it because the
management will always be the same (mic noise) but it is still different if you have an emotional
attachment to the patient… (background noise)
I5: Uhm with all those experiences that you had, was there a moment when you had a really
difficult time doing your job and you considered quitting because of the pandemic's exhaustion?
P4: Uhm… hard… (quiet background noise) tsk it is hard but i didn't think of quitting even when
it was time… i didn't have any… no - no i didn't go in to do it… all i had to do was… My mantra
because it was ... covid uh, it's either uhm I’ll overcome, just praying for herd immunity to
relatively reduce the cases… but what maybe my acceptance is too early we need to live with covid
eventually … (background noise)
I5: Okay po… uhm thank you for answering this part… uhm we’re going to the last part na and
Louise will take over for the interview…
I7: (background noise) Yes po… uhm we’re here in the last part… it will be tackling your
adaptation in the pandemic that happened… first question… Since you’ve mention earlier from
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the 1st part up to the 3rd part that you’ve managed during the pandemic, what are the adaptive
mechanisms you had to adapt…
P4: Okay… uhm (background noise) adaptive mechanism in terms of workplace or overall? Even
in…
I7: Overall po… overall
P4: Overall… okay… Maybe uhm… even if not a covid or even if not pandemic… it seems like I
think everyone of us has our own mechanisms to cope right… the one that is important is to
always… uhm know what battle you face… we don't know what the covid before… we don't know
how to manage the covid before but if you study it… if you will study it, and you will devote your
time to study it and how you will (wind blowing) uhm eventually manage or survive with it…
maybe that’s the most important adaptive mechanism because… when sometimes… you already
know the game, that can be your advantage to you because you already know what to do next…
I7: Yes… (background noise) next question is.. Among the trials you faced at work, how did you
overcome them? (background noise)
P4: Hmmm… maybe proper communication with your supervisors… and proper channeling your
grievances… then support group from your colleagues… that’s the most important… A lot of us
experienced depression this pandemic… but, you just need to help and always open yourself
because when… like if you help others, eventually they can help you with your problems too…
I7: Yes… uhm for the next question uhm… In the cha– in the challenges posed by the pandemic,
what is the most important lesson you have learned personally (notification sound) or even in your
profession? (notification sound)
P4: Uhm…. most important lesson…? Family is… family support is the most valuable in all
challenges that you will face in life… pre-pandemic for sure a lot of us is like(wind blowing)
neglecting (mic noise) me personally that chose the slightly toxic work… It's almost, when it’s
pre-Pandemic my parents who always come to me and all ... so what are you ... you know that they
are important when you face uncertainty ... because even I wonder what if I have a covid And I'm
just like what is my friend ... Then you haven't finished your family time, family experiences or
family time ... So while you have time, don't neglect it ... don't disregard that ... it's just like I told
you earlier when there was a It seems like our training is affected so that time I am also not sure if
I am a graduate and all… But if you eventually get it, if God still gives you, He will still give it to
you ... then that’s it, I still graduated… So, that's just ... family is important (wind blowing)
I7: Yes… uh we do agree that our family is very important… and to the next question… you have
mentioned how you adapted to this pandemic so… is adapting to change in times of pandemic
necessary? Why and Why not? And what are its importance?
P4: Yes, uhm it is necessary to adapt even though it’s not pandemic, no matter what in our everyday
life we need to adapt to all changes… that doesn't mean that when you adapt it there is a major
change that will happen to uhm at your work or your attitude… sometimes because it seems like
that sounds like changes that you will also choose what you have for the better, that you will be
more likely to be in that situation…So adapting changes, uhm importance of adapting changes is
because if you are not able to afford to adapt how can you be? Uhmmm I can just say that we are
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not (mic noise) back to normal… it seems like we need to adapt and we need to accept that we are
in the new normal right now… Covid will not be lost…
I7: Uhm yes… uhm we have to accept that this is it, There is nothing we can do here and (vibration
sound) according to uhm… time flies by so fast uhm, we are in the last question… uhm what
recommendations do you have for public health preparation to end this pandemic?
P4: i hope… the health protocols will continue to all… if eventually it will be more (background
noise) light on some areas… earlier in the news in Cebu they can remove the mask… so
(background noise) so uhmm may the person now be more responsible in wearing mask or in
wearing your protective gears not only to protect yourself but to protect others… then vaccination,
hopefully the vaccination will continue and the more population will be educated regarding
importance of uhm vaccination to end it pandemic… If it's almost for example polio, we almost
get rid of polio by vaccination… so hopefully this covid-19 eventually can also thru vaccinations
too… and eventually uhm will be what ... routinely give the vaccination… for example, it’s bad
for the annual flu vaccine, well .. and importance is still to educate everyone… uhm on what is
covid, because many people do not understand this, especially in far flung areas… many still do
not…Because they do not - experienced it, not yet uhmmm they do not agree for vaccinations and
all… so, I think the most important of all health problems, any health surg - uhm infectious disease
surges is uhm proper education (notification sound) Proper information dissemination… proper
ah, not fake information…
I7: Yes uhm like you said a while ago, we should be aware of the challenges that we will be facing
and just by being responsible can also make an impact to the people around us … yes uh, thank
you very much for answering uhm this int– uh our questions uhm (inaudible) we definitely learned
a lot from all your answers and we are surely in awe for your dedication to your work… for this
part uhm we wi– I will pass the floor to Richelle, our research leader, for the closing remarks..
Thank you so much…
P4: Thank you…
[End of Interview with P4]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 5

Location: Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 12, 2022, 7:10 PM
Number of Attendees: 7 attendees (3 observers, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Translator: Carlo Jose G. Gaza, Kristavin Danielle V. Fabunan, and Ferie Joseph D.
Manalad Jr.
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

I3: So before we start, uhm may we know your full name and your current medical profe–
profession that you are in?
P5: ‘Kay I am doctor ***** * **** ******, if you want to know my age, don’t ask (laughs). Ah I
am of course I’m– ah I’m a physician by– by profession. I graduated last ah– two thousand four,
that is my batch, of medicine. So you can just compute how old I am. (laughs). And I’m ah
currently ah on my residency training in general surgery. I’m now ah currently the ah chief resident
of James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital’s residency program in general surgery.
I3: Ok ah, that’s it, and– ah are you ready for the interview proper?
P5: Yes, I actually have ah, read through the questions–
I3: Mhm
P5: So I hope (laughs) I can ah help you out–
I3: Okay.
P5: Ah with your goals.
I3: That’s it, let's start. I am Carlo who will interview you and Ferie will be the other, we will
alternate between the parts, and let’s start.
I3: So–
P5: Okay
I3: For question number 1, What was your initial reaction when you heard about the COVID-19
outbreak in the Philippines?
P5: ‘Kay well our first reaction as with any other ah– ah doctors, of course,all of us panicked, noh
panic. There’s also fear, of course, this is a new one because ah it is a novel coronavirus, so we–
we have encountered so many coronaviruses in the past but not this one, and ah of course, anxiety
cause we don’t know what’s coming. So, it is a mix of reactions but mostly it's ah, panic and fear.
I3: That’s it because it is new ah, we had ah– changes and we had panic and fear, and most of us
po had anxiety. Uhm–
P5: Yes.
I3: Apart from that ah, for you, what other reactions stuck with you when you first found out?
P5: Well mostly ah, anyone, even ah our patients so (inaudible) actually what really made an
impression is, fear. All of us are scared.
I3: That’s it uhm, until now a lot of people are still scared.
P5: Yes.
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I3: Because of that, let us proceed to the next question.

P5: ‘Kay
I3: Have you treated– ah have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?
P5: Ah I oh– I not only tried (laughs) and, but ah we actually treat patients left and right, day-in-
day-out that are diagnosed COVID, proven COVID cases. Because especially us, well we’re–
we’re actually not the– the– the– the main ones to handle the condition, of course, that’s, internal
medicine, infectious medicine. But we have surgical patients ah, patients who need to be operated
on that also have COVID at the same time.
I3: Uhm as you said, that– that you have tried and you actually treat ah, patients with COVID-19.
So, because of that, what did you feel when treating patients with COVID-19?
P5: Uhm well ah, when– when we treat patients with ah, COVID-19 it’s– it's not so different with–
with any other cases. So ah, of course, we are apprehensive noh at first, because of course, there
are a lot of ah, ways ah– to transmit their disease, but we mitigate it by ah, of course, having
protection.
I3: Uhm because of that, that– even though they COVID, you treat– you still treat them. What do
you–
P5: Yes.
I3:Feel? Uhm that– you have fear when you treat– ah when you treat patients with COVID-19 or
is it just the same when your patient does not have COVID?
P5: Well of course ah, you will get scared if you don’t know the mechanism by which ah, a person
gets infected by the virus. Of course, we studied that, we know how the mode of transmission is.
So, if you can ah, arrest the ah, way by which the virus is transferred, of course, you are still
protected. So knowing that, you won't be too scared anymore. But of course, there's still fear
somehow, at the back of your mind. Of course, you handle COVID ah, cases that are proven or it
is really documented, positive ah tests, you will still be scared. But of course– we still prioritize–
the ah of course our duty to serve the people. So you set that aside, the fear.
I3: Yes, uhm let us proceed to the next question. How did you manage to protect your physical
safety while providing care for COVID-19 patients? (background noise)
P5: ‘Kay ah, I mentioned ah, using ah personal protection,and that is what we always hear right?
PPE noh, personal protective equipment. Ah, we actually have ah, different levels of protection
for ah, different ah, areas in the hospital. So the– that’s level one to four for your information ah,
it’s– it’s a standardized ah, leveling of– or classification of protection. So level one, just the N95
plus face shield so, and ah, gloves when examining patients that– that–that are not, somehow
suspect, that is level one. Level two you will only add a gown, to cover your body, that’s like a
long, there are gowns with long sleeves. Then level three, that will add ah, face shield that is half-
faced noh, the facemask that are half-faced or full-faced, and then we have boots that are
impenetrable noh like a boot, and the boot covers, and the highest protection is level four. So you
have a respirator, and you have a bunny suit like astronaut noh? You have that, you have boots,
and your boots have cover noh? And then ah, head cover noh? Really wrapped up. So you can see
noh, pretty much at the height of ah, COVID-19, there are many, especially our frontliners, who
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duties at the triage, there ah, they are really the ones facing the patient, especially our nurses. They
wear that protection, like the astronaut suit for eight hours at least, so you can just imagine noh?
(inaudible) It’s hard because it’s hot, at first, it’s uncomfortable, you can’t remove it because when
you remove it that’s a breach of protection you’ll have to go through the ah, what do you call this,
donning and doffing procedure.
I3: Yes,it’s really hard to wear uhm, PPE’s but–
P5: mhm
I3:May we just ask, what level of PPE do you wear? Like you said there is level one to four–
P5: mhm
I3:What level do you usually wear?
P5: Well I– I– I actually wear all those levels noh? The level four, that’s what we use when we do
operations noh? Ah specifically the ah, respirator, we have a full face respirator that has a filter or
that has really like ah, ah air generating system. So, it has a hose then the battery is connected at
your back, and the ah, ah air generator of air so you can breathe there. Ah, that’s what I usually
use noh? Pero this ah, month noh, it is lifted, the ah category ah, level of COVID from pandemic
to endemic so we don’t use the astronaut suit when we operate. So it’s just the full face shield and
just the usual scrub suit. Then ah, the rest if we examine patients, when we do rounds so, the
leveling of PPE is slightly lower. But while you are in the hospital noh? You will have to at least
wear a level one ah PPE, which is the mask and face shield. Now the face shield is not usually
used, especially outside. So, there are certain areas that you need to wear ah– we need to wear face
shield, especially when there is spalsh ah, risk. (inaudible)
I3: Because you said that you wore level four of PPE protection then, what can you say about your
experience in wearing that kind of level of PPE?
P5: Of course, uncomfortable, hot, suffocating, if you have ah, claustrophobia you might have a
hard time. Because it’s really ah, you are so wrapped up. But the main problem is the heat, it’s
really hot, because the ma– material of it is like plastic, so you could just imagine wearing a plastic
for at least eight hours or for the duration of the operation.
I3: Yes, it is difficult, but we will still proceed to the next question.
P5: Mhm
I3: Dis you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 while
working as a frontliner?
P5: Yes, I contracted COVID last ah, September ah twenty-twenty one. I’ve had it.
I3: Uhm what are the symptoms po that you experienced while you had COVID-19?
P5: Well what I felt that time is, I had ah, fever a generalized body pains ah poor appetite, I haven’t
lost my sense of taste and smell at that time. It's just poor appetite, and ah dry cough.
I3: How long would you say you experienced those symptoms? (background noise)
P5: The symptoms came just ah, maybe two days. So we have a protocol, because in the hospital
so if you have ah any of those symptoms, symptoms we call flu-like symptoms, you’ll have to get
tested. So I was tested, and turned out positive. So I had to be confined in the hospital for two
weeks.
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I3: After the two weeks that you were confined, how long before you got back to work?
P5: I was actually still working then, (laughs) that's the life of a doctor, especially if you are a
senior– resident. Maybe you have watched in the, Good Doctor, Grey’s Anatomy, even if you are
sick, if you have the responsibility, so you will never go ah, on a sick leave, so I still do ah,
administrative job, and I still have to ah, look ah, on what my juniors are doing. Ah but ah I–
immediately after two weeks of, isolation I went back to work immediately.
I3: That's it, it's amazing what you're doing that even though you're sick, you're still working. Ah–
P5: Yes.
I3: Let’s proceed to the next question. Overall, how can you describe your experience as a
frontliner during the surge of the pandemic? (background noise)
P5: Well, the– the experience was ah, I can say ah– maybe I can describe with the word nerve-
wracking. (laughs) Ah because it’s both ah, tiring physically, primarily, but it’s also tiring
emotionally. Because you get to see ah, many sick people noh, many many sick people all at the
same time noh? But (inaudible) you are helpless, because once they go to a– the critical stage ah,
we can’t do– we can’t do much. (stutters) In the early stages, of course resources are limited, so it
made our jobs harder. So, so much more to the surgical patient. So the medical patient, they– will–
will just have to– to address the medical condition noh? Like for example they have hypertension,
and diabetes noh? Then they contracted COVID noh? Sothey are just treated with medicine, so
what about the patient that needs to be operated on, that also have hypertension and diabetes and
had COVID. So it's much worse for those patients, especially the surgical patient.
I3It must be hard for those patients. (dog barks)
P5: Mhm
I3: Lut’s proceed to the next part and Ferie will continue the interview. Ferie?
I6: Hello, good evening doc and thank you, Carlo. Uhm for this part this will cover all the changes
in the work– workplace.
P5: Okay.
I6: So for the first question for this part, What are the changes that have happened in the workplace?
P5: Oh there are many changes that have happened in the workplace. So, it’s actually a three
hundred sixty-degree turn noh? If we talk about ah, what we used to normally do, compared to the
new changes that happened. So, we had to rearrange the whole hospital noh? The old emergency
room, became the isolation of the COVID positive. We had to create another ah, makeshift facility
outside the hospital so we can take a look at all the incoming patients with symptoms, or we can
se– (thud) or how can we segregate them noh? Those with symptoms and no, are also outside the
hospital, then there is a new emergency room for clean cases or no COVID. Ah there is also a
change in how we do things noh? Operations noh like I said, we always wear the astronaut suit.
Then ah, before we operate, all of the patients must have a COVID test, they should be negative.
Ah what else? Ah our work schedule was ah, made more difficult, because we had to du– go on
duty ah, for (background noise) ah at first we had one week straight duties, and then it became
three days straight duties. And then after that, our duties became every two days, you rest for two
days, then another two days where you work again. So those are the changes, the scheduling,
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structure of the hospital ah, how we see patients, the volume of patients has ah gradually gone
down, until we don't have many operations anymore, because, of course, everyone doesn't want to
go to the hospital.
I6: Yes, so in terms of the changes in the hospital areas, is– is there a lack of facilities to cater all
COVID and non-COVID patients or was it enough?
P5: Ah I could say in– in some areas? They lacked but–they are lacking, but we adapted. So, we
had to increase the COVID ah, capability. So we increased the bed capacity of COVID ah patients
and COVID wards. So we coped.
I6: Okay, so how about the number of employees, are there any people who quit and you have to
fill in their work?
P5: Yes, of course, so that’s the main problem because when ah, an employee has COVID, he is
not the only one that needs to isolate, everyone that he interacted with. That is why we have ah,
the thing we call ah, contact tracing. So, the patients are not the only ones who test positive, but
also the health workers. So all the coworkers of the pa– patie– of the health workers that have
COVID will have to be isolated noh? So at least twelve weeks at first, so of course all of the ah,
employees that will be out of work due to isolation, so their job has to be ah, of course ah, be
manned by other crew, so that’s the reason why– we have duties that last a whole week, just to
keep with the manpower.
I6: Okay, how about the surge of patients, is it more hectic to handle patients during the pandemic
since you have to separate COVID patients from non-COVID patients?
P5: Yes of course. It’s… ahhh, difficult but the surge…ahhh, per se is..uhhh… particularly not
directed in our department, so of course that if for the Department of Medicine… in the Internal
Medicine, specifically in the infectious… uhhh… disease. We also help them if there is not enough
manpower. Uhhh.. we are affected if the patient who would undergo surgery is…uhh… of course
positive, but the influx of patients did not increase, the surgical patients actually, our census, has
gone down considerably so we had… uhhh … accreditation last…uhh… 2019, so it has been
evident that there has been a considerable decline in our census of those we operated on, simply
because all people are under lockdown - they could not go to the hospital unless it’s…uhhh… an
urgent surgical condition or emergency.
I6: Yes, since there has been a - you have said that the number of surgical patients decreased…
How about those who became…
P5: Yes…
I6: In your residency, are the cases you’re handling all COVID or not?
P5: No it’s not, the residency was affected in a way that…uhh… the cases decreased for each
residents, each resident has to do a number of operations before he/she steps up and be promoted
to the next lev- year level, so if the number of operations done are only little, it would definitely
affect your training, like that.
P6: Yes, it is true that COVID did not only affect our personal lives.
P5: Yes
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I6: And you as well, especially since you work at a hospital, and this is a disease and we’re really
pouring our best strength to battle po, so with…
P5:Yes
I6: …all those said, may I ask for the second question: How does the workforce change during the
times of pandemic?
P5: What do you mean…uhh… what change, what particular change?
I6: Uhmm… in the workforce…
P5: …in the workforce…
I6: How are the changes in the…uhhh… in the way you operate and the actual force of the
employees?
P5: In the workforce, many have quitted, many have left… like that, many who have become sick
weren’t able to come back so…uhh… but there’s still several people who stayed, they are still
dedicated to their work… uhh… especially our nurses.
I6: Yes and their dedication to their work truly is to be admired.
P5: Mhmm…
I6: …especially to the nurses…
P5: Mmhm…
I6: Uhmm… so we know that PPE’s have brought a lot of struggles, although we already had it
before the pandemic, it was doubled, tripled rather, those needed to be worn increased.
P5: Mhmm…
I6: Uhm… we know that it has not been easy for you, so may we ask how is your personal
experience while wearing the PPE’s?
P5: Well personally, I didn’t have a lot of issues wearing PPE’s, because we acknowledge,
appreciate that these are truly needed for personal protection, or your protection and your family’s
protection as well of course but there are- uhh, in us, here particularly in the hospital, we did not
feel and experience to have a shortage…uhhh… of PPE, unlike in other…uhhh… hospital or areas.
I6: Yes, it’s good that you had enough PPE’s here so that…and… uhhh… can i ask if you had
been restricted to eat, or to pee? Because we think there are a few cases like that, wherein they are
not prohibited to pee especially if it’s their duty?
P5: Yes, the restrictions, I also have said earlier, once you wear that PPE, of course you also need
to be thrifty when it comes to PPEs, it’s not possible to replace it every hour or so. So once you
have worn it… uhhh… you should have already peed beforehand, then… uhhh… the next time
you’d take it off, that’s the only time you could eat, like that, and then gatherings are prohibited as
well of course, so you could not eat together at the same time, like that.
I6: Yes, it truly is quite difficult.
P5: Mhmm…
I6: For the PPE’s especially since you have long duty hours, uhhmm… So for- let’s proceed with
the next question. How did you change the way you interact with your patients now that there are
restrictions on communication?
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P5: That’s where it comes in, for that it is utilized… the…uhh… what is called the online
medicine…oh… the telemedicine, so that is the greatest change on how we interact with patients,
so those patients who doesn’t need to be operated on or those whose cases are not urgent, or not a
emergency, the usual face-to-face where we examine or talk to them, now we
can…we…we…we… a lot of the time we do online… telemedicine. So there are a lot of other
apps or the simpler ones like the viber and messenger, Google Duo, there are a lot so, or the
simple…uhh… even SMS are also frequently used by the patients, as well as calls especially.
I6: Yes, it was a big help… the…
P5: Mhm…
I6: …social media for communication, especially now in pandemic. In the hospital, have you
experienced… wherein neither you nor your patient could hear each other, and have you tried just
writing on the paper the things you want to say, or it didn't happen?
P5: Not particularly, not a bit like that, your PPEs… when you wear… uhhh… full face
mask…uhh… sometimes there is… limitation in the…uhhh…communication but the voice, there
are masks now that contains microphones, there are also, that is, One-way valve wherein you could
hear the voice loudly but those masks from before, the first full-face masks truly produces muffled
voices. Even the doctor, sometimes we could not understand, nor could they understand us.
I6: Okay, so for the last question for this part, since personally there were a lot of changes and
modifications but, Do the changes in your workplace have an impact on you as a healthcare
professional? How so?
P5: Of course uhh, about the changes, the structure of the hospital of course, you don’t have to put
in some more hours, then…uhhh… you would be frustrated like that, so
sometimes…uhhh…uhhh… you could not properly do the, your work because of the limitations
imposed within the workplace, so those were the impact.
I6: Okay… mhmm Thank you, that is the last question for this part. The next part, Carlo will
interview again, Thank you.
P5: Kay, difficulties and challenges.
I3: Hello again, are you still okay or do you want to have a water break first?
P5: It’s Okay
I3: It’s okay, so let us proceed to part three, Difficulties and challenges so for the first question.
P5: Part Four
I3: Are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working during the outbreak?
P5:Everyday, there are difficulties everyday, difficult patients, difficult situations right? So there
is a lot.
I3: Have you experienced the…uhhh… low wages or the unfair benefits? Since we have heard
that…
P5: (chuckles)
I3: in the news… there is excessive work done but the wages given to the employees are not
enough?
P5: What do you think? (laughs) What do you think? I’m just going to return the question.
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I3: Uhh… I feel…

P5: As well as what do you usually see, or if you have experience that you can share with me as
well…
I3: (Chuckles nervously)
P5: or to confirm as well…
I3: Usually we hear in the news that… like that, that there are some cases of low salaries, that’s
what I think is happening.
P5: You are right. Your observations are correct, so this is also the time that I will ask you all that
despite the low wages of being health workers in the Philippines, do you still want to be a health
worker, particularly a doctor?... so that will test you later on. It is true that the wages, especially if
you have your own family, will never be enough, if you already have your own family. If you are
single, that is okay, so…mhmmm it is true that… uhhh… the hours spent in the workplace is not
commensurately paid (chuckles) by your salary if you would be a healthcare worker in the
Philippines. That’s the truth.
I3: How about the times wherein you want to say something to your boss or to your seniors, those
far more superior than you but they do not hear you out, have there been such times?
P5: Always (laughs), you see it in the news, so it’s as if you are, it’s always falling on their fears,
you could not deny it right? Healthcare workers have a lot of complaints - the salary was doubled
for those in the military, teacher’s salaries also doubled and increased, have you heard about health
workers? That their salaries increased? You have not, right? So it’s…it’s quite unfair, it’s always…
It's always our complaint. Of course, but…uhh…we’ll see, we’re still hoping.
I3: Because of the difficulties that you have faced, how did it affect you as a healthcare worker?
P5: Well (Chuckles), there are a lot of times, especially in the situation of a resident physician, you
probably already know what a residency is. So once you have finished your med schooling, you
already have a license after passing the board, so that’s after ten years, you will go on a residency.
If you want to do a residency; but I suggest that… when you enter residency, that is the… the
essence of having specialization, right…uhhh… There will come a time that you will question why
you are persevering doing this, right, a lot of the times you would think to just quit. There are a lot
of residents who have quitted already. Just recently, I know someone (Laughs) who quitted, and
he/she is already a senior, meaning that he/she is in her third/fourth year already. So…
I3: Yes, yes…
P5: …that will be the effect on you… If you want to quit, there are many reasons why you would
like to quit.
I3: But, it's good that…uhhh… you have a firm will and you are still there…
P5: Uhh well (Laughs)
I3: …that is all, okay proceed-
P5: Perhaps, it’s…it’s also the…it’s…it’s, uhhh… if you really want it to happen, but if there are
other factors, of course you would also quit.
I3: Yes, let us proceed to the next question… What can you say about the hours you spent in the
workplace? As well as your workload?
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P5: Too long (laughs) it probably is already shared to you, did Ysa become your classmate before?
Naomi? Have they been in your section before, so if she has told you stories, I rarely…uhhh… see
her…uhhh… at home because…uhhh … I… uhmm … not around most of the time in the house
but, the only time I am there is at night, but now that, if you are a senior already in the fourth or
fifth year, if you are already in fifth year you have…uhh… have time to do things…uhh.. Outside
the hospital, but if you are in your first year or third year, it would still be difficult.
I3: How about your workload, how did it affect the weight of your work?
P5: It’s too heavy (laughs) too much.
I3: Uhmm, what were the things that have been added to your workload during the pandemic?
P5: Uhhhm there are more tests to be done, there are more times spent with the patient and there
is more, uhhh…uhhh…mhmm… a lot of time needs to be spent on patients.
I3: It truly is difficult, uhmm… nevertheless, let us proceed to the next question. Have you
experienced workplace discrimination during the start of the pandemic? How did this affect you
as a professional?
P5: Excuse me, Yes..uhhh majority of…uhh…health workers experienced this which is why there
were ordinances, or there were laws that have been passed wherein if a health worker is
discriminated, you can immediately report it in the NBI, and those who discriminate you
will…uhhh… effectively be apprehended. You are not to be denied to wait in line or to go to a
certain place like that, they would single you out because you are wearing a scrub suit, sometimes
they won’t even let you in, that is not possible. Most people, especially if they know that you are
a frontliner or health worker, would distance themselves from you, like that. So there are different
forms of discrimination but, the worse is when…uhhh… they won’t let you enter an establishment.
Uhh or uhh, those are, that is, they won’t let you out of your house. So of course, uhh… the effect
of that to us professionals is saddening.
I3: That, regarding what you said about the forms of discrimination, have you experienced
something like that, or what did you experience, a certain experience about discrimination?
P5: Uhhh yes, when I had COVID, they put up a barricade around my house, and all household
members were not permitted to go outside. When I complained about it in the municipal
health…uhhh… officer, uhh… the barricades in my house had been lifted, since I was the only
one who had COVID, and all other household members were tested negative, so that’s…ahhh…
the worst form of discrimination for a health worker.
I3: What happened was extreme, you are the only one who had COVID, but all of you were
affected by the discrimination.
P5: Yes, and to think that I was isolated in the hospital.
I3: Ahh, so you were separated from your family?
P5: Yes.
I3: Mmmm…
P5: Everytime that we are…uhhh… exposed to a COVID positive, so we’ll have…uhhh… to do
our…uhhh… isolation and we'll have to be away from our families, that is also one of the
additional changes that is happening, coinciding with our changes as health workers. So we have
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a different routine in our house before. Before, after coming home, you go straight right… you
have a car right, you have a garage, after coming home, after you have parked your car in your
garage, you’d enter through the main door, and then your child will go to you and embrace you,
and show his/her act of respect to you (pagmamano), and then those were your daily routine, but
during the time of COVID, before I enter the house, in the backdoor, I have a separate…uhhh…
disposal of my clothes, and then I will go through the backdoor, go to the shower before I talk or
get close to them. So those were the added routines.
I3: When you experienced COVID, when you were isolated in the hospital, how did you
communicate with your family, because of course, communication is very important especially to
the family.
P5: Aheh, thru, social media, ‘yan. Messenger, ahh…viber
I3: Yes, those apps really brought a big advantage that even-
P5: Hmm
I3: though we’re distance apart, we can still communicate.
P5: (mutters agreeing sound)
I3: Let’s proceed to the next question. How did the pandemic affect your physical, mental, social
and emotional aspect? But, let’s start first with the physical aspect
P5: Ah, about that, I was sick. Ahhh..my health really went bad. (chatters on the background) I
became weak, like that. I was ahh sick for a while. 2 weeks, ahh.. and then, when I contracted
COVID, that’s not the only time I was sick. So…if you’re in the hospital for sure you’re always
exposed to all kinds of viruses. Sometimes, I had- I became more- ahh like ahh it was more frequent
to have respiratory symptoms…unlike before. Even if you tested negative, so like that. Then,
there’s this one that they call long hole ahh… effect of COVID. The others, it takes them a really
really long time to recover. On the other hand, other people they claim ‘permanent uhh- uhh
weakness,or cognitive uhh disfunction after contracting COVID. Thankfully for me, I did not
experience those.
I3: When you got sick and your body became weak, after that, did you do something to ahh- to
make yourself resistance strong again as well as your body?
P5: Ahh, nothing really, just just, eat right, rest well, you can rest, sleep right, you can sleep, diba?
Eat well, if you have the time, and appetite.
I3: Okay, let’s proceed to your sa mental aspect.
P5: Hmm. Mental of course, ahh- many went paranoid (chuckles). Ahh, well well ahh personally,
ahh nothing really. Ahh there’s only ahh stress brought by it. Mentally, I barely experience
anything.
I3: That’s good that- that’s barely anything. Na-
P5: Hmm
I3: There, let’s proceed to social aspect, how did it affect you?
P5: Of course, you can no longer a-attend the usual ahh happenings, the birthdays you were invited
to go, right? Those are gone.
I3: Right, that’s really saddening? Uhmm, how about emotional aspect?
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P5: Ahh… I don’t know (laughs) nothingreally. Uhh basically, of course, the emotional uhh aspect,
uhh it’s a big deal even in the mental, maybe, uhh, it’s a big thing that you have a family to- to to
rely on, you have a family to- to- to go to, right? So, this is your support system if you have. So,
that helps a lot. (background chatter) To mamaintain your emotional stability, something like that.
I3: Yes po, our family is really important to us. So, let’s proceed to the last question for part 3.
What has been the most challenging aspect of working as a frontliner or while handling a COVID-
19 patient?
P5: (Tapping of mic sound) Ahh.. most challenging. (background chatter) Uhmm.. Probably, for
me, the ahh dealing with uhh patients who are terminally ill? Patients, our cancer patients, or the
patients that we now are dying. When you have uhh COVID, and you died in the hospital, the
challenging part so far is- is for the family to- to accept that they can no longer be in touch with
the relative right? They won’t have the chance to see their relative. Because the patient should be
immediately cremated. Imagine that, your relative, your close friend, or whoever loved one, the
last time you saw that person, that’s the last time you’ll see him. If he has COVID, ahh then then
the ahh he perished due to COVID? You can no longer see him. That’s actually, for me, it was
really hard to, to explain it to the relatives, right? So, that’s really challenging, how will you accept,
how will you explain to the patients.
I3: That was really challenging. You don’t know how will you tell-
P5: YES
I3: the news to the family. Uhmm, because of this, was there a moment that it was hard ah it was
hard for you and you thought of just quitting and also because of your exhaustion, have you ever
thought, ‘I want to quit,’ like that?
P5: Well, many times. Many times.
I3: What did…make you stay? Because as what you have said, you have thought of it many times.
What makes you stay there as a healthcare worker?
P5: Well, to tell you frankly, ahh the first time, I was here already here, how many years was that?
2007 to 2009. I was already in the hospital. I was ahh first year and second year. I backed out when
I was in second year because of my frustrations to the government. So, don’t ask who was ahh the
mayors that time and the congressmen during those years. And I worked ahh overseas as a doctor.
Ahh for 8 years, before I came back. Uh and ahh the reason why I came back, I saw the situation
of the patients here. So, if- if you can, if you can ahh- ask around, ask here in some part of
Zambales, ahh surgeon, fully trained, if how many are they from Subic to Sta. Cruz, all
commendable surgeons are of course, here in Olongapo. But you can still ahh name ah- name a
few names, that’s why the number of our specialists are really lacking. That’s the reason why, I
came back. And then, I had to do ahh the whole ahh thing again from first year nanaman. So, me,
if I quit, I just wasted (laughs) the many years I spent training, and of course, what keeps me going
is my family.
I3: We salute-
P5: (They were really the one)
I3: (We salute-) you. Hngg, you really faced a lot of challenges but
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P5: (Oo)
I3: (pero) despite all of that, you’re still here-
P5: And, in a- in a- in a couple of years, my first born will enter college so I really have to finish
this (laughs).
I3: Yes po.
P5: No time for quitting.
I3: (dog barking) Hmm, right. There, thank you po for answering this part. Let’s proceed to the
next part which is *** will be doing the interview. Thank you po.
P5: Ok
I6: So, there, we’re already on the last part, are we still okay doc?
P5: Absolutely okay!
I6: Okay po. With all those-
P5: You don’t ask but, zoom is my breakfast.
I6: (chuckles) Right, same.
P5: Almost everyday, we’re doing zoom meetings, everyday.
I6: Right, with all those difficulties and challenges, our only next step is to move forward. Like
what many says, we need to adapt in order to survive. So for our adaptation part, the first question
is, what are the adaptive mechanisms you had during the pandemic po?
P5: Hm, what adaptive mechanisms that…(laughs) are there? Hmm… well, siguro you just have
to be what, resilient and ahh be ahh optimistic, you should be a positive thinker, right? You should
not be easily dismayed.
I6: Yes.
P5: and (I6: really-) you have to have a goal, set.
I6: Yes, it is true that Filipinos are really resilient.
P5: Hmm-mm.
I6: So for the next question po, among the trials you faced at work, how did you overcome them?
And who was your inspiration to stay with your job?
P5: ahh, well, as I have said, ahh by having optimistic and having a positive outlook in life, ‘yan.
My inspirations were, my children. Hm, my family, of course, my wife, just like everyone.
I6: Yes, yes. Thank you. So, for the next question po (sound of turning a paper) in the challenges
posed by pandemic, what is the most important lesson you have learned personally or even in your
profession?
P5: Ahh, personally, not only during the times of pandemic, right? Not only during COVID-19.
When you see ahh- these things happening all around the world, ahh you see right? That if ahh- if
your health is involved, or if we are faced with ahh this great adversity, if there is a pandemic or
any major health ahh catastrophe or health uhh let’s say emergency all around the world, ahh you
can say that we are all the same. No matter how rich you are, if you’ve been strike with COVID,
if you don’t take care of yourself, it will not save you even if you are wealthy. So, the- the- the
realization is so you’ll have to take care of yourself, ‘riggt? And ahh- always (messenger
notification sound) ahh also be a what do you call this? concerned with others. This is also the time
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you need someone to help you. So, it’s not always the case na you think you uh you have everything
that you need. You’ll always need someone, someday. So, that’s my realizations, you’ll have to
always ahh think of others. Not maybe before yourself, pero you’ll have to be mindful of the needs
of others (background noise)
I6: Yes-
P5: Because sometimes, later on, you’ll also need help.
I6: Yes, there are really a lot (background noise) a lot of realizations this- (yes)
P5: Yes-
I6: (this-) pandemic (background noise) and there are a lot lessons it taught us
P5: Hmm.
I6: And during this time, we have really realized that health is wealth
P5: Yes.
I6: Just like what you have said, even if you are wealthy, when you contract (background noise)
at no one like ahh, no one took care of you, e you won’t- you won’t like that time- at the emergence
of COVID-19 po, there’s no vaccine and
P5: Yes.
I6: We’re not sure how we will recover. So there, your wealth won’t do anything if your suffering
with your health.
P5: Yes.
I6: So, next, for our next question, is adapting to change in times of pandemic necessary, why and
why not? And what are its importance?
P5: Of course, (laughs) I think it’s a no-brainer, you’ll have to adapt. And uhh, the importance of
adapting, of course you’ll have to- to- uhh, to be dynamic, you have to be ever-changing, how we
uhh- usually, uhh- address uhh- this kind of uhh viral uhh uhh infections before, it’s different from
right now, right? Before, if you have a flu, or you may flu-like symptoms, you can just rest, have
soup, you’ll just rest right? But you still go outside, you still uhh socialize, right? But right now, it
became like a defense to limit the transmission is- is- isolation diba? Stay out of the public. Don’t
mingle with the others, like that. You have to adapt also and- and- and change yourself. You have
to strengthen yourself, you have to exercise, you have to eat right, rest, sleep well, like that right,
diba? And not abuse yourself. So I hope, not one of you drinks alcohol, or smoke. So, those are
the adaptations that you have to do, as they are (inaudible sound).
I6: Thank you, and there, we’re on to the last question. So, what recommendations do you have
for public health preparation to end this pandemic?
P5: Ahh.. we already have a lot of recommendations that ahh…we’re already implementing ahh
continue the ahh vaccinations, the programs we have to get vaccinated. So, if you’re not yet
vaccinated, I suggest you- you- you’d be vaccinated as soon as you can. Uhh… (scratching sound)
continue the health programs that we have. Uhh…and ahh I have this one ang aking isang
recommendation to improve the uhh quality of uhh healthcare services and facilities here, not only
in Olongapo and Zambales but inside- the whole country. Pilipinas. So there’s still many many out
there na who aren’t served with enough health services. Uhh…of course, it comes with improving
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the public uhh ay uhh pag ahh- and increase ng quality of salary of the health care workers, uhh,
what more? Hm. Ahh of course, with the new ahh- ahh- president, of course ah, the- the- and the
new congress, the- they’ll have to be more ahh uhh laws to pass? Favoring all the public health
sector, right? Ahh, ‘yung ahh, the study of medicine? In the Philippines, right? Medicine, that. Of
course, they’ll have to- to- to help uhh those who are less fortunate uhh students who really wants
to study. They should support them. Uhh, in ending the pandemic, ahh, I don’t know, nobody
knows kung we- we c- I- I think uhh we are seeing ahhh some ahh light at the end of the tunnel,
like what they say. But, I don’t know, if it’s really gonna end, or ahh the next uhh new mutation is
just around the corner. Uhh, I don’t know (laughs) being uhh a health worker myself, the
uncertainty of- of these ahh COVID-19 ahh section is still there, at ahh as what I’ve said, ahh it’s
good that we no longer hear or we no longer see new surges and surges, and and and it’s evidence,
and ahh it’s evident, ev- even on our census, on the results, based on the tests, because w- I have
updates ahh daily of the tests of the patients in the hospital. And ah it’s really really going down
so… there are only few who are testing positive. (inaudible music playing on the background) So,
that’s a good sign, maybe it’s- it’s it’s ending.
I6: Alright, we hope the recommendations will be heard by many and not just the government, but
also the normal people so that some- somehow, if the pandemic won’t end, we can prevent the
positive cases, the surges, like that. And we really have to listen to all experts because they are the
ones who has the ability and they are capable of doing what we have to do. So, we’re not- we can’t
end the pandemic if we’re- we’re- what do you call that? If we’re prideful and we don’t obey the
protocols of the government and the healthcare workers. So, thank you very much for (chuckles)
making time for this interview.
[End of Interview with P5]
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Transcript of Interview with Participant 6

Location : Respective Houses
Platform used: Zoom Meeting
Date and Time: June 12, 2022, 2:00 PM
Number of Attendees: 6 attendees (2 observer, 2 interviewers, 1 interviewee, 1 moderator)
Name of Translator: Richelle Alwina R. Caseja, Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan and Joanne Thea G.
Ragadio
Number of Tapes: 1 Video recording

M: Before we formally start may we know your full name and the current medical profession that
you are doing ma’am?
P6: Ahhh (wind noises) can we.. not say the name but I am a (lagging) registered medical
technologist working (wind noises) in James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital so.. (wind noises) I’m
under the laboratory department.
M: Ah, thank you. At this juncture, let us now proceed to the interview proper. Richelle…
I1: Okay Ma’am. For the first question, what was your initial reaction when you heard about the
COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines?
P6: (wind noises) Okay… The first reaction is fear… I fear for my safety (lagging) and as well for
the safety of my family (wind noises) since I work at the hospital.. Ahh. I am more prone of having
the disease and being.. ahh able to transfer it. to.. My family.. So ahh (wind noises) fear and ahh…
(pauses) I also feel sad because.. You can see how pandemic is changing everyone and the society..
Okay..
I1: Okay.. Because of that fear, have you tried handling a patient diagnosed with COVID-19?
P6: We handle patients with a.. (wind noises) accordinance to the DOH ahh.. (pauses) order. At
first when it hits the.. When it hits the olong— ah philippines we are not so prepared. So ahh along
the way ahh.. Changes happened where we find ways how to.. (pauses) how to give better service
to (inaudible) patients.. Such as we made barriers.. We hade ahh.. Physical barriers so that we put
plastic barriers in the hospital ah.. In some.. Some hospital places to prevent ahh.. direct contact
with the patients and relatives. We also wear PPE’s, mask.. Ahh.. face shields for us to protect ah..
Medical workers safety. We also limit the relatives (messenger notification) and patients coming
the hospital area (wind noises) we also ah.. Screened patients who are with fever and those who
are not showing ahh.. Or manifesting fevers, colds… we separate the.. (stutters) properly.. We set-
up ah.. Covid area for patients who are suffering fever or colds (wind noises) and we also have a
cleaned area who does not have that symptoms.
I1: Okay, since you said earlier that you tried handling a COVID-19 patient based on.. Based on
ah.. DOH order may I know if how did you manage to protect your physical safety while providing
care for COVID-19 patients?
P6: (lagging) (wind noises) We have to protect.. Ahh.. healthcare workers,, especially like me..
We protect ourself by wearing the right PPE’s and we also ahh, just like I said.. We also ahh..
place ahh… plastic barriers so that there will be no direct contact.. As in making it ahh.. A social
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distancing (wind noises) between the patients or relatives who are ahh.. Not yet screened so that
we would be able to protect myself and ah.. Other healthcare workers.
I1: ahh (pauses)
P6: We also do
I1: when (pauses)
P6: Excuse me?
I1: You may continue Ma’am. I’m sorry for interrupting
P6: We also do.. Ahh.. oftentimes disinfection. Inside the laboratory — the working area and also
ahh .. the hospital area… (wind noises) we also disinfect outside the hospital area during those..
Ahh.. peak of pandemic… If you have heard before, the city have helped a lot by disinfecting the..
Outside hospital area by spraying disinfectant so that patient was not yet screened or not yet ahh..
Manifesting symptoms will be able to.. Who are coming to the hospital.. Leaving outside the
hospital areas.. Uhmm.. make also give uhmm.. They may also be the source of COVID infection
so the city also disinfect the (background noise) outside hospital areas that time.
I1: Ah okay. Even though you obey all the protocols, we’re not 100% sure if uhmm.. if we are
100% safe.. So, my next question is – did you experience having COVID-19 symptoms or tested
positive for COVID-19 while working as a frontliner?
P6: Yes po.. I also become one of the COVID positive patient. Lately, ahh.. I have contacted one
of the positive.. Donors who have come to the hospital.. To the blood bank area and they she has
not ah.. Reveal or.. Said the right information that she has a manifestation of uhmm.. Colds or
fever.. That’s why when I interact with her.. Even though I’m wearing face shield and face mask
— it enable me to catch the.. To have the disease and find the.. (pauses) after the swabbing.. I am
also positive with the COVID-19.
I1: Ah okay Ma’am.. May I know what symptoms have you experienced and how long is the
duration of these symptoms?
P6: I caught the omicron virus so.. Even though I have vaccines and boosters.. Still I suffered from
ah.. Lost of taste and sore throats.. I have a.. (pauses) my ahh (lagging) ….. Even though I didn’t
have a fever, I lost my sense of taste.. I have occasional cough, occasional fever.. I also.. (pauses)
my .. I have a.. What is this? swollen .. I have swollen throat and I really need to be isolated and
since hospital is fully.. Ahh.. they don’t have a room for patients.. It is really full pack at that time.
We are advised (wind noises) to stay at home and isolate ourselves from our family.
I1: Uhmm.. Okay.. Good to hear that you survived the omicron virus and now you are working as
a medical worker. Moving on to the last question for the experiences, uhmm.. Overall, how can
you describe your experience as a frontliner during the surge of the pandemic?
P6: Really hard (wind noises) because (lagging) we have a lot of patients who is not really saying
–– (pauses) telling the.. Telling the truth about the symptoms.. They were ashamed if they have a
branded.. Or they have been ahh.. (lagging) (inaudible) to put in a covid area even though they
don’t have it. Policy. Hospital policy as long as patients who have experiencing fever, cold or ahh..
diarrhea (wind noises) will be tagged as a PUI’s. So, even though you are
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not yet positive or not yet tested as positive covid patient (lagging) you will be staying at the covid
areas.. ahh. .. rooms. They don’t want to ha— ahh.. They don’t want that. I understand patients
that they’re not telling the truth because COVID rooms are in such a way.. So scary. If you will
just be able to enter the COVID.. Ahh (pauses) facility area in the hospital (background noise) it
will be so scary because you will only see nurses, med techs who will come to you only wearing
(wind noises) PPE’s. You cannot see them.. Or you can only see their eyes.. You cannot see them
– ahh.. There will be difficulties in ah.. Talking with them since we are wearing ahh.. N95 mask
so we also wear goggles and face shield. It’s really scary for them to see us like that. So, I
understand that COVID-19 is so very hard and for — not only for us but also for the patients who
is suffering or tagged as PUI’s.
I1: (dead air) I think being a healthcare worker during the pandemic is really hard and we're scared
at the same time because we have families, right? Uhmm.. with that, let’s proceed to the next
interview proper. I wanna give this floor to Alexa to continue this interview.
I2: Good afternoon (background noises) so I am alexa. Moving on to the part 2 of our questions.
For the first question (lagging) what are the changes that have happened in the workplace?
P6: What part are we? (wind noises)
I2: Part 2. Part 2...
P6: (dead air) Can you.. please repeat?
I2: Ahh.. for the first question, what are the changes that have happened in your workplace?
P6: Changes is that.. (background noises) are.. Usual ahh.. Our due is ahh.. Were Lengthen. From
8 hours it was forced to be 12 hours. So, since a lot of co-workers (stutters) co-workers have been
ah.. Under (background noises) ahh quarantine.. We are required to.. Oversee their sections..
Workloads is increased becoming it for us to be more fatigue and be (lagging) becoming more
aggr – more ahh .. having negative ahh.. Negative emotional stress because of it.
I2: Ahh. ahh. As a healthcare worker, that is also one of the burdens of the pandemic, isn't it? So,
moving on po ah.. To the second question po, how does the workforce change during the times of
pandemic?
P6: (dead air) wait.... I'm losing internet connection..
I2: Okay..
P6: Okay.. Hello? Can you hear me?
I2: Yes.. ahh.. I will repeat the question.. for you to understand... So for the second question, how
does the workforce change during the times of pandemic?
P6: Increasing (lagging) job.. There.. (lagging) There is an increasing job (inaudible) among the
healthcare workers.. Because of the fear that they might.. Ahh.. spread the virus in their families.
I2: Okay.. May I ask? Ahh.. Are there more healthcare workers leaving their jobs than before the
virus?
P6: At james.. (wind noises)I'm not sure how many but I know someone from the dietary
department. She quit her job because she has a little kid and she fears that her child may contract
the virus. So ahh.. That’s one. But the total number of healthcare workers at James who resigned?
Not that many.
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I2: Ah.. for the third question, how was your experience while wearing PPEs in performing your
job?
P6:Hard.. (wind noises) It was really hard.First PPEs when you wear, it's very hot. Hot. You can't
speak. The goggles? Ahh.. it’s smoking —I mean when you’re breathing it's blurring so what we
do is we put soap on it.. The liquid soap.We wipe before using liquid soap then we wipe it with
tissue. So when we breathe somehow it doesn't .. Blurred... Then it leaves red marks on our face...
(wind noises) With constant use of PPEs when there is one for patient extraction... We wear PPEs..
When you go out, you will have to remove your PPEs. You will go to another department, you
have to wear another PPEs and you.. It should be sealed..There should be no exposed area. So,
area exposed should be hide with ah.. It should be sealed with a (lagging) (inaudible) so there is
really no air.If you only have PPEs in a minute, when you come out, you will be bathed in sweat
and you will not have to do it once.. You will have to do it thrice, four times. Depending on the
number of patients who are required to take a swab and (lagging) (inaudible). Another thing is you
have to wear a multiple layer of gloves because when not? And you will wear gloves when you
swab… Very hard.It takes longer. So, it is very difficult to swab wearing multiple gloves and you
have to take it after you use it on the patient. Maybe–– (stutters)you might infect the PUI which is
not positive. So, it's very difficult .. Wearing PPEs.
I2: Ah.. Ah.. there was lots of news that there are some healthcare workers who need to restrict
themselves like they can't urinate, drink water or eat before and during their duties because of
PPEs. Uhmm are there instances that you have also experienced this?
P6: Ahh.. Yes..But because we deal with the patient in swabbing and extraction, it is not (inaudible)
like the nurse which is really — it is more difficult than the nurse. Because the nurse has direct
contact with the patients... On our part we.. (stutters) We have the chance to interact with the
patients if we just take their blood(lagging) or do the swabbing. So before you wear PPEs you
should eat. You should pee. You do everything. Because you can’t go there to pee and you will
have to remove everything and then you will wear it again. Because it will be.. Ahh first waste of
time.It will take longer. You will consume PPEs that .. (lagging) we have a very limited supply.
Our PPEs are not that many. So our PPEs are very limited. Imagine the PPEs you used yesterday,
they will rewash and you will wear them again. There are also damaged PPEs and you need to
wear them (wind noises) so you have to cover it with micro four all over. Because you shouldn't
be exposed.. Because you can’t be exposed... That’s what the scenario before.Because a lot of
PPEs have only arrived lately, but at the peak? Nothing. Very limited supply. Even damage PPEs
you need to wear..Maybe, that’s one reason why many healthcare workers are also infected at
James.. Before –- before our peak times. Because our PPEs are also limited. ‘Our ahh .. mask…Our
..the overall...uh... ppe (background noise) we wear (air). For our nurses, on their part...my friends
who are nurses...they...they wear ppes for four hours, four hours is...uh...they will divide the...uh...
their duty. Four hours in, which means they are actually exposed to the causative agent and pui's,
after four hours they can come out. In those four hours, you can't undress. So you must ... you've
drunk, you've eaten, you've urinated and everything because you can't go out again. Once you go
 227

out, you are not allowed to come in (background noise) that's for the safety also (lag) of the
healthcare workers, so in fairness the life ... of the nurses at that time was really harder.
I2: A-that's right, our healthcare workers went through a lot during the peak of the pandemic
because it's all new. So for our fourth question po, how did you change the way you interact with
your patients now that there are restrictions on communication?
P6: Of course at that time (air) communication (air) was limited because we put up barriers. And
when (lag) communication is masked. It's hard to speak when you're wearing a mask, usually they
doesn't...uh...other patients can't understand what you're saying because your mask is blocking
your mouth and your nose because it can't be exposed. So...it was really hard at that time because
when (air) you talk, you talk to them longer, you can't...uh...talk to them closely because we have
social distancing (air) otherwise, we can be infected.
I2: Mhmm...uhm...what did you do during those times... wherein you don't understand each other
because of the face mask, face shield and PPEs?
P6: We used...uh...lapel. Purchased by...someone lend a...our...chief medtech lend us lapel. Ever
since, (air) that's what we use for...uh...for in... (inaudible) inside the laboratory. In terms of our
outpatients, we use that (air) so that they can hear us better. We don't (background noise) need to
get too close to them and expose our... uh...ourselves to them. In the patient, when we extract, we
let them read if they are conscious. We show them the (lag) request. We let them read...th-the
names written there so we can identify them better. To the unconscious, we ask for help for
assistance from the nurses...we can't afford mistakes with taking...uh...samples...of a positive
COVID patient so they assist us. That's one of the ways we need to do to speed up and reduce our
exposure to patients.
I2: Ok. So, let's move on to the last part two. So, for our last question: do the changes in your
workplace have an impact on you as a healthcare professional? How so?
P6: Yes, there are many. Because of course (air) there will be anxiety. I also had anxiety that time.
Due to fear that maybe when I get home (air) I already have...uh... virus. So (background noise)
what we do that time, before we enter...especially me, before I enter inside the house, we have a
bathroom outside. We take a bath first, so no matter how tired you are, the clothes you wear coming
from the hospital will be separated from the other clothes you wash. It must be washed outside,
disinfected, then you have to take (air) a bath first before you enter the house. There also (air)
come a time when the peak of the...uh... pandemic we wear masks of my household members, even
me -especially me. Because that's your (air) anxiety fear...that I might infect the elderly...uh my
parents are with me and my child is there. So those are the experiences I had at that time.
I2: Ok. So...uh...we're done with part two, let's go to part three. Richelle will be interviewing you
again.
I1: Uhm ok ma'am, moving on to the difficulties and challenges that you faced as a healthcare
worker. For the first question, are there instances where you encountered difficulties while working
during the outbreak?
P6: Ah yes ma'am. Uh...one is the...travel (air) going to work. During the peak of the pandemic,
there were no... uh...passing vehicles. So, if you don't (air) have private car or you don't know how
 228

to drive (air) you can't get to work. If you can't go to your work, it means there will not be enough
manpower. It means the job of your colleagues will be harder. So you need to (air) go to work. So
what we do that time is usually...we hitch when a private car arrives. Imagine the shame, you will
hitch just so you can work. Uh...until there was...uh...help in the barangay, (air) wherein they
provided...uh...vehicles (background noice) for health workers. One problem there is that the
baranggays are also busy. So once, your work is finished...they are stillnot there to take you (air)
to your house yet. So you have to wait, even if you are tired - you have to wait for the service to
take you home. Then when you will go to work, they will pick you up so you should be (air) ready
because you (air) should already be there at their available time...you should be there. So that was
one of the...uh...it became hardship at that time (air), especially, at the peak of the pandemic. And
of course the...we wear PPEs, our workload has increased, the...uh... limited manpower because
there were more quarantined that time because there was more (air) contaminated at work. Not
like now that it's not so much and the...uh...there are some patients (air) who are sometimes very
difficult...uh... to explain as to why they have to give us their history, if they (air) traveled, if they
were...uh...have fever... that's one of the...uh...problems we faced during the pandemic.
I1: Aside from transportation, did you experienced the lack of personal protective equipment to
the point that yo-you reused your...uh...ppe?
P6: There is also, there is also something like that but because...uh...that was also figured
out...that...that was worked out. Because when (air) our PPE's were short... uh...there were
someone who gave something right away...a lot of people gave because of course...it was brought
out. Social media today is so powerful. So sometimes...there are healthcare workers who are
discriminated (air) because...because it is so powerful, they see health workers being exposed to
patients -our society is afraid. The media (air) has already trained them to appear on Facebook,
tiktok. So they thought (air), we can infect them. So even when riding in the jeep before, they don't
want us ... they don't want us to ride - they don't want us to be with them. So we bring our personal
clothings before entering and before going home, we change because they are scared when they
see us in a scrub suit or in white. They feel we can infect them right away. That's one of the
instances.
I1: So even before the pandemic...uhm...there are really many healthcare workers who experience
low wages and unfair benefits and since you mentioned it in the media, based on the news that our
healthcare workers during the pandemic is experiencing risk allowances that are really low
compared to what they work for. Uh ... have you experienced anything like that?
P6: In fairness.. they are trying to do their best to provide the...uh... financial support to the health
workers. Uh...some were given to us...benefits...in terms of financial which is ok, though not
everything was given - they didn't give everything. Because they are trying to keep also the
private...uh...hospital which is the donations are not enough. Like our government, they were
trying to give us the help...but there are so many ... there are so many government hospitals, there
are even private hospitals that they need...uh...give...uh...those benefits. So, it's lacking ... so at
least, so I understand that even if we demand, they can't give ... though the others were given but
not all totally, until now there are still those who haven't.
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I1: Aside from that, did you ever feel that you were not listened to?
P6: Not listened to...maybe at peak time, at peak time. They don't see the lack of neccessity things
like ppes. As I said, we are forced to wear the ppes with damage which should not be the case. The
ppes should only be used once, it's not washable. But because that's the peak time, even in our
neighboring countries, they really lack ppes, we can't do anything but understand and make a way,
right? So, maybe...I just see things...in a positive ways...do not complain always... because when
you always complain, we can't go anywhere; which will be even more difficult. So, the damaged
ppes, we can't do anything. So what are we going to do, let's just fix it. Let's just put (inaudible)
instead of nothing. It's better for us to that rather than to be more exposed, those...uh...scenarios,
maybe that's how we are with James. To us we are like that. We will complain but we will still do
the work because the patient needs us to be able to service them. Because if we don't do that
because our ppes are just broken...they are miserable. They are the first who will suffer, so we
have to be at least...kind hearted that time. We have to think about them... over us, after all we
know that we are protected, especially, when we already have the vaccine.
I1: Uhm so from the difficulties in transportation, damaged of protective personal equipment and
not being heard...uhmm...to the grievances as a medical worker during the pre pandemic era, how
did it affect you as a healthcare worker?
P6: We were sad then. We are sad. I'm sad that our voices weren't heard before...uh...our
government...that we have ppes...uh...we lack ppes...and... fear, that's always what we can feel eh.
Fear of getting infected, fear that I will bring the virus home...to our home. As a health worker, as
a hospital worker then the virus will come from me...uh to my family...very difficult.
I1: It's sad to think that even though we lack personal protective equipment, we still need to
continue our work and with that...uhm...let's move on to the second question: what can you say
about the hours your spent in workplace? As well as your workload?
P6: Well hours was changed that time, from eight hours before, we were forced to lengthen our
duties. So of course you're more tired, more...uh... you'll have a hard time because you have more
workload because at that time more of our colleagues were...uh....quarantined. It's like just one
exposure (air) that they didn't say they had a fever, the next time four of them will be immediately
exposed- four of them will be immediately quarantined and quarantime time before is not that
short, it's 7-14 days. So imagine you spent 14 days in quarantine. Though, you do nothing at home,
you think: what about my colleagues in the hospital, what about my colleagues in the laboratory,
they are just a few, what will they do to so many patients? Though we are so thankful for the
laboratory because our chief medtech is very...uh... supportive. Because of the pandemic...uh...he
took out his own money and our funds to the laboratory where...uh...we bought our own...uh...food.
Because at that time there was nothing to buy because of the pandemic. That time the pandemic
peaked, you couldn't buy food because they were all closed. So unfortunate for those (air) working
in the hospital because they are tired, hungry. So we raised our own fund where we cook our own
in our laboratory, there is someone tasked to cook for us and for us to have something to eat when
we are hungry. The amount of hours, imagine we go home at 8pm in the evening, sometimes (air)
past 8 more because you need to...uh...make sure you finish all your work.
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I1: So that's it, from 8 hours to 12 hours of duty. In our workplace, we are also not sure if...uh...is
that environment ok. So, for the third question: have you experienced workplace discrimination
during the start of pandemic? How did this affect you as a professional?
P6: Not in the workplace, not at all. Nothing happened to us at the hospital, nothing like that. In
society only. As I said, when we go out, the...uh...we encounter when we're in uniform, they're
scared. Then they are telling us that...we are the ones who cause...why other people are infected.
So that's the one I encountered. In a jeep, when you ride...they don't want to let you ride the vehicle
because you are a healthcare worker. So (air) we also voiced that out to...those needed...uh...our
bosses. So we had it worked out as well, so we had...uh... service. They provided service because
we weren't... they didn't want to take us that time here in Olongapo. One way we did it was that
we were already bringing clothes so that we could go out, they would not be afraid.
I1: Uhm...good to hear that the difficulties in transportation were taken action immediately...and
with that let's move on to the fourth question: how did the pandemic affect your physical first
P6: Come again. How did the pandemic?
I1: How did the pandemic affect your physical health?
P6: In health...we gained weight (laughs) we gained weight because we were stress eating. We
were stress eating because we are not allowed to diet, because there is a pandemic. Our chief
medtech provided vitamin C everyday, three times a day. In the laboratory, every time we entered
and with food supply from our budgets that we chipped in plus the donations of our chief medtech.
So, we had food. So because you're tired, we ate food alot so we really gained weight. Because we
tell each other: you need to eat because you can't get sick, it's forbidden for anyone to get sick with
us. When we get sick, there are no people in the laboratory and the hospital is more miserable. So
you have to eat. Stress eating...everyone...gaining weight.
I1: So during the pandemic, our physical health is really very important. Like you need to drink
vitamins everyday and you need to eat vegetables to ensure our safety...and for the mental health
aspect. How did the pandemic affect you?
P6: Mental Health ... Everybody in the laboratory is… giving mental support to each other like if
one is feeling down ahh somebody's not feeling well, we try to ask how he is, what happened to
him. We give support to each other because we know that is what we need more, yung ah – Mental
support because the pandemic has suddenly happened and it is so fast that since the scary scenario
you have PPES then you will go to wards where there are many plastic barriers then you can find
no one except the patient unlike before that we have our companions, companions or relatives are
not allowed especially in PUI wards so it is depressing so a way is mental support to each other to
your fellow health workers… to those who are with you what we do that time
I1: This pandemic is really important to have a support system like we can have support systems
with friends, family especially with your workplace (dog barks) who else can help if we are not
going to help each other?
P6: yes
I1: And the mental aspect,
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P6: Mental aspect, we are being prepared by ahh… by undergoing ahh.. zoom ahh updates, They
give us trainings even though it's just zoom trainings atleast we are trained, we are updated, we are
being ahh… knowledgeable in aspect that they are updating what to do then those with us
especially our chief medtech .. he tells us to attend trainings even online for us and I think everyone
did it even though our nurses are more prepared to deal with ahh… treating our patients
I1: In your first interview, it is mentioned that in James L. Gordon, you have conducted zoom
meetings to update each other's status. And .. uhh moving on to the last aspect, your emotional
aspect, how did the pandemic affect it?

P6: Well ... there was anxiety but the anxiety was just a little and just like I said uhh I got emotional
ahh support from my family and my friends and from our religious uhh chapter. So maybe the only
way to overcome that is that time even though we don't meet my co -religous sisters uhh what our
organization did is that they update us, update, they ask how everybody and making emotional
support by praying together online uhh attending mass online uhh those are my ways to overcome
the anxiety that time.
I1: It's really different if you have someone uhh if you have someone to talk to no especially when
there are problems we bring, like we really need to be told just to express our feelings.
P6: yes!
I1: and moving one to the last question, What has been the most challenging aspect of working as
a frontliner or while handling a COVID-19 patient?
P6: Most difficult is that you are positive, you are one of the COVID-19 patients, that is the worst
of those feelings... We are always tested for uhh COVID-19 so every now and then if you have
exposure you can swab you immediately So you are right away for how many times I become
negative then one time I became positive for COVID-19. So that's one of the hardest ones because
you fear your anxiety your mental psychology is there because why are you? Why are you still
infected, you are careful, all the prevention you have made but why, why are you infected? Then
what if I was infected when I was home, what if I infected my mom and dad because they were a
senior, my daughter what if she was infected too; So that was the time I was going through ... the
hardest.
I1: So that's it, if it's harder to work in pandemic times, it's even harder to work when you suddenly
covid-19 and with that I just want to follow a question, is there a moment when you had a really
Different time doing your job and considered quitting because of the pandemic?
P6: Oh yes ma'am, when I was in a hurry, when I was entering the Positive Ward of the Positive
Patients, they just wore it as if I wanted to save or file a leave for at least a month because PPE's
hard work is almost not You can breathe, it is hot, then the hardships of the other patients because
they are not cooperative "oh open mouth, just open, in the nose" sometimes they fight you, they
don't want to swab so hard .. It was more difficult for me so I was thinking that time, if I could just
not come in, if only I could file a leave so that it would not come in because at that time we had
our high risk co workers Like they can't be exposed so they don't come in because they leave so it
means that your manpower is because they are considered leave that time eh because they are
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pregnant, our senior citizens colleagues who can't really be exposed so they are on leave so those
who just come in is us. So that was the time I wanted to file so I could leave because the
hardships… the hard work as you caught them and they didn't want to, I almost ruined my PPE
because they were fighting you. So the PPE will break down and I can be exposed so those are my
fears that time.
I1: Ah that's right, despite the challenges you've faced at work during the pandemic still you still
stay at work. So we are glad that we are still fighting this fate. So we are near to the last part, I
want to give it to Alexa to continue this interview.
P6: uhhh… of course I need to have a positive attitude to lessen the stress that we have that time
and I need to be more cooperative with my colleagues like if I can come in, I go in because
manpower is needed especially in pandemic we should work together really need to be that we
unite that we follow the protocols need to do all protocols like everyone (inaudibile) Although it
is very difficult, so much workload we should wear gloves, we should uhh always wear the mask
and the face shield, even though we have difficulty we need to lab coat even hot, even though the
aircon in the laboratory we still need full PPEs in the laboratory so those are the things I need to
do that time so we can help each other I mean we will be more uhmm productive to each other,
and at least our adaptability to what is happening will be more uhh productive.
I2: So that's it, so we really need to sacrifice during the start of pandemic because we can't move
on if we don't sacrifice, a positive outlook in life is what we really need to continue to fight. So for
the 2nd question po, among the trials you face at work, how did you overcome them?
P6: Family support and of course your friend support is like you said earlier we need to talk to
someone if you feel stressed out for at least it will lessen .. your burden will be at least you will
have a positive outlook that you will look at what is happening to us.
I2:.Yes, we really need to talk to these times if we don't really know what we really are
P6: right
I2: So for the 3rd question, In the challenges posed by the pandemic, what is the most important
lesson you have learned personally or even in your profession?
P6: I learned that (inaudible) work is essential, especially that time uhh you need to be more
cooperative than your colleagues, you need to have a presence of mind what you do. When it
comes to answering ahh, we have to answer that everyday and submit that time, before we enter
you need to answer that, you really went out of Zambales, you have to tell the truth that you came
out of Zambales to know that Your history for if you have exposure atleast they can quickly find
out if you are considered as PUI or not.
I2: Well, there is a lot of problems brought by the pandemic but it also gave us a lot of lessons. So
for the 4th question, Is adapting to change in times of pandemic necessary? Why and why not?
What are its importance?
P6: Yes we need to adapt, because in the hospital if you do not adapt, you will not move on as a
team, you need what uhh update training what the protocols should be. When you say a face shield,
mask, everyday you have to do it, for your safety and for your family's safety you will come home
when you are told that you will not go home because you need to quarantine at the hospital, You
 233

were in the hospital because that time we were not coming home because of the fear that our family
could be infected so we were told that we were in the hospital stay so you said you were there, you
have to adapt that you have to have to Bring your own clothings then you're there after you finish
your quarantine. So those are the adaptations you need to take that even if you have a baby you
have a baby at home, you have to consider their safety.
I2: uhmm, as you say, we really need to be more obedient now, especially since we don't know
who our opponents are during that time because you just started it. So for our last question, what
recommendations do you have for public health preparation to end this pandemic?
P6: uhmm, First maybe we should invest in the healthcare system because our healthcare system
is shocked that he is like "hey there is such a virus" so we are not prepared at that time, we are not
prepared so long, we have been a little late for how we can control so much. With more money the
government has released more money because we do not know how to control it so that our facility
is not ready because our facility is not updated, yung mga machine natin, yung mga wards hindi
siya ganun kaganda. So that's probably what our healthcare system needs and maybe more training,
we need to upgrade to training with healthcare workers, actually not just nurses, medtech included
with the janitorials because they are even though they are... They are at the very least because they
are hospitalized in the hospital when they are supposed to be upgraded and they can train this
proper way of cleaning, Because if they are not then they are infected, they will spread the virus
to our other healthcare workers. So that's another one we need to recommend to our public health
and we also need to recommend the budget. The budget was so small that at that time many wanted
to go abroad to be nurses, healthcare workers because the offer was bigger. Because there are also
COVID-19 with them that time so they need healthcare workers so the healthcare workers that
time want to leave our hospital to go there so there is a panic and all healthcare workers have been
banned that time because it will come out They have no satin left. No nurses, doctors and med
techs are left in the Philippines, what if we lose them. We know that our doctors, nurses, and
healthcare workers have small wages so that's one of the problems that need more focus.
I2: Well, we really need to invest in the healthcare system as well as the medical healthcare workers
here in our country to have a better future for everyone. So, thank you for making time for us to
interview you, we are very appreciative of you.
[End of Interview with P6]
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Appendix F

Group of Codes, Categories, and Themes

RQ 1

Participant Verbatim Significant Statements Codes

Number

1. “My initial reaction then was “My initial reaction then Frightened
uhh frightened? I am was frightened? I am
frightened…” frightened…”

“I am uhh shocked.” “ I am shocked.” Shocked

“I am shocked and frightened "I was shocked and Shocked and

at that time.” frightened at that time.” Frightened

“Personally... I... I haven’t “Personally I haven’t. I Experience with

(stuttered). I didn't have any didn't have any direct Covid Patients
direct handling or experience handling or experience of
of handling patients with handling patients with
COVID-19.” COVID-19.”

“I am one of those who had a “I am one of those who Encouraging co-

lot of zoom meetings with had a lot of zoom workers
them. Just to uplift their meetings with them. Just
spirits, make them feel to uplift their spirits,
comfortable, at least lessen make them feel
their — mental anguish…” comfortable, at least
lessen their mental
anguish…”

“Yah!.... Yah... I do... I “...I became positive also. Contracted Covid

became positive also. I I contracted COVID-
contracted COVID-19…” 19…”

“So I’m really thankful to “So I’m really thankful to Thankful amidst the
God even though I contracted God even though the threat
that ang symptoms ko lang symptoms that I
ay very minimal and contracted were very
vaccinated na kasi ako at that minimal and I was
time…” vaccinated at that
time…”

“...Life is too short…” “ …Life is too short…” Realization

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“Mostly ang experience dito “Mostly my experience Appreciation of life

is a — valuing life yun ang here is valuing life
ano natin experience natin. mostly, that's what our
We really need to appreciate experience. We really
all.” need to appreciate it all.”

“...It was really an eye- “...It was really an eye- Realization

opener, rude awakening to opener, rude awakening
really appreciate life. “ to really appreciate life.”

“Naiba... Ha... Naiba talaga “It's really different, It's Facing fears
uhhh... Nakakatakot pero… scary but… Can't be…
ahh cannot be… Kailangang We have to face it.”
harapin natin.”

“Ah ohh mainit ‘yon.” “It’s really hot.” Difficulty in

wearing PPE

“Napakainit. Ang init.” “It’s so hot.” Difficulty in

wearing PPE

“...Pero ‘yung ating mga “...But our frontliners, Difficulty in

frontliners especially from especially from duty, wearing PPE
duty they wearing that wore that continuously
continuously for 12 hours… for 12 hours… Forbidden
And they were forbidden to eat… And to urinate.”
noh?... Forbidden to eat …
And they are also forbidden
to pee… To urinate.”

“...Pagpasok mo pa lang “...When you enter, you Working with fear

natatakot ka na.” are scared.”

“...Even though during that “...Even though during Performing duties

times of...uh... very that times of very under stress
stressful...uh…Environment. stressful...Environment.”
”

“Yung work– workforce “...The workforce is even Healthcare

lalong tumapang. Nakita ko braver. I saw the fear but Worker’s resiliency
‘yung takot pero napalitan ng it was replaced by
tapang…” courage”

“Even though they are really “Even though they are Providing despite of
afraid of that disease (pauses) really afraid of that fear
they still uhmm muster disease they still muster
themselves to provide.” themselves to provide.”
 236

“Syempre kailangan pa rin “We still need to do our Duty to do the Job
natin ahh... Gampanan yung job…”
trabaho natin”

“...Ang pinaka ano d’yan “That's the significant Professionalism is a

impact sa amin is a ... impact on us… the significant impact
(paused) the professionalism…”
professionalism”

2. “natakot and unang una “scared and at first the Scared because of
syempre ang mga affected is affected are us and then the virus
kami and then mga kasama my housemates”
sa bahay”

“unang-una natatakot na kasi “at first I'm afraid that Scared of infecting
baka mahawa ka at maihawa they might be infected others
mo rin sa mga kasama mong and you will be infected
with your companions”
iba”

“handwashing yan and “Handwashing and Handwashing,

always wear mask at face always wear masks and wearing mask and
shield lalo na nung face shields especially face shields are
kasagsagan ng Covid so during the covid so necessary
siguro sa pagchange namin maybe we change masks
ng mask three times kaya three times so sometimes
minsan di namin maiiwasan we can't avoid much of
lalo na pag maraming the work, sometimes you
trabaho, di mo na minsan don't even think about the
namaintain yung safety, safety, we also forget it
nakakalimutan din actually actually especially when
lalo pag busy busy” busy”

“21 days ako sa hospital… “I spent 21 days in the Experience of

COVID-19 critical… naka hospital… COVID-19 getting infected by
leave ako ng for 2 months, critical… I was on leave COVID
september, october, for 2 months, September,
november na ako pumasok” October, I came back to
work when it was
November already”

“ lalo na yung naka mask, “ especially the mask, Difficulty in

jusko pag umakyat ka na sa when you go up to the breathing because of
2nd floor, hingal hingal ka 2nd floor, you are masks
na, pero atleast naka adjust gasping for granted, but
naman.” atleast I'm adjusting
now.”
 237

“actually talagang noong “Actually, the nurses Healthcare workers

pandemic pagod pagod ang were really tired because became tired
mga nurse noon kasi andyan there were so many because of surge of
na yung dagsaan ng patients” patients
pasyente”

“Naging COVID family kasi “ We turned into a Experience of

kami eh. Anak ko ang COVID family. (laughs) getting infected by
COVID-19 din, positive, Even my child got COVID
COVID-19, positive, my
sister ko, iyan. Pamangkain
sister, them. My nephew,
‘yan, pero ako yung grabe sa them, but I am the severe
lahat” case among them..”

3. “.. parang na nanlumo parang “Depressed, seems to be Initial reaction

ganun lumo” depressed.” during the outbreak

“isa kami sa talagang “We are the ones who Handled patients
naghandle ng mga ano… ng really handle COVID with COVID-19.
mga COVID patients” patients.”

“...Hindi mo alam kung sino “You don't know who Feelings while
may ano talaga may—-. Uhh really has the virus. Uhh handling patients
may virus. Kaya talagang there's a virus. So really with COVID-19.
yung takot.” the fear.”

“merong proper protective “There is proper Protocols were

equipments bago maghandle protective equipment implemented.
ng mga pasyente” before handling patients.”

“delta variant ayun, nag nag “Delta variant that, We Catched the virus.
positive kami” turned positive.”

“nung unang gabi, sumakit “The first night, my The symptoms felt
yung buong katawan ko tas whole body ached and I by the healthcare
parang nanghihina ako yun felt like I'm weak, that's worker.
yung una..nawalan “ako ng the first one.
pang amoy siguro mga three I lost my sense of smell
weeks” for maybe three weeks…
with no smell.”

“sinuportahan din naman “The government also Government showed

kami ni ng government para supported us for what we support to the
sa mga kailangan namin.” needed.” healthcare workers.
 238

4. “wala pang malinaw na “There were still no clear No clear

protocols on testing, sinong protocols on testing, who management
dapat mascreen, who to to screen, who to protocols
isolate.. magulo…” isolate… it was
chaotic…”

“medyo confused kami kung “We were quite confused confusion

ano yung gagawin and how on what to do and how
we will manage our patients” we will manage our
patients.”

“problematic din kami on “We were also Talking about

how our training will problematic on how our training
continue with this uhm training will continue
pandemic” with this uhm pandemic.”

“sobrang hirap mag- PPE, “So hard to use PPEs, Difficulty in

magsuot ng PPE…” wear PPE.” wearing PPEs

“I am uhm one of those “I am one of those cardio Handled COVID

cardio fellows na pumasok fellows who really patients
talaga sa COVID uhmm entered COVID uhmm
units” units.”

“we were provided with “We were provided with No shortage of PPE
protec– PPEs yung mga uhm PPEs uhm protective
protective equipments, equipments, actually,
actually, if diba yung when they talk about the
sinasabi nila na kulang daw shortage of PPEs, masks,
yung PPEs, kulang ng mask, and lack of this and that, I
kulang ng ganito ganyan, did not experience that
hindi ko siya naramdaman before… because a lot of
noon… kasi maraming people helped.”
tumutulong..”

“after mo magtanggal ng “After you remove the Difficulty in

PPE, after mong lumabas PPE, after you leave that wearing PPEs
doon sa unit na yun, unit, handwashing is very
handwashing importanteng very important and then
importante and then pag when they said before
yung sinasabi nila na before that you have to take a
yung uhm umuwi ng bahay bath when you get home
maligo and all , kailangan and all, it is really
talaga eh …” necessary.”

“I never tested positive for “I never tested positive No experience of

COVID” for COVID.” getting infected by
 239

COVID-19

“kahit wala kang symptoms “Even if you don't have Quarantine

you need to be uhm symptoms you need to be experience
quarantined tapos and then quarantined then… and
you will be observed, medyo then you will be
strict pa noon, talagang 14, observed, it was a bit
14 days until– before you strict then, 14 days
will resume work itetest ka” until… before you
resume work you will get
tested.”

“lalo na nung crit care ako “When I was in crit care Handled COVID
kasi yun nga, every month because like I said, we go patients
kami pumapasok so halos in COVID units every
every month or every 2 month, so we test almost
months yung testing” every month or every 2
months.”

“In terms of training, we “In terms of training, we Talking about

devise ways na mapacontinue devised ways to training
parin yung conferences continue…we had
namin thru zoom… tapos conferences through
yung ano nalang zoom… then, we just
imamaximize nalang namin maximized the cardiac
kung sino yung mga cardiac patients that came to us.”
patients na dumadating
samin…”

“More on the uhm “More on the supervisory Talking about

supervisory level… papasok level… we still go in training
kami but not that sobrang COVID units but only for
uhmm matagal..” a short period of time…”

5. “Nag panic kami lahat, noh “All of us panicked… Fear and Panic
panic. There’s also fear.” There’s also fear.”

“...Anxiety cause we don’t “...Anxiety cause we Mixed emotions

know what’s coming. So, don’t know what’s
yun halo-halo na reaction but coming. So, it is a mix of
mostly it’s ah, panic and reactions but mostly it's,
fear.” panic and fear.”

“...Tumatak talaga sa atin ah, “...What really made an Struck with fear
fear.” impression is, fear.”
 240

“...We actually treat patients “...We actually treat Critical patients

left and right” patients left and right”

“...Patients need to be “...Patients who need to Critical Patients

operated on na may COVID be operated on also have
din at the same time” COVID at the same
time.”

“We are apprehensive… but “We are apprehensive… Mitigation

we mitigate it by, of course, but we mitigate it by, of
having protection.” course, having
protection.”

“Matatakot ka kung hindi mo “You will get scared if Scared of the

alam yung mechanism…” you don’t know the unknown
mechanism…”

“...Meron pa ring fear “...There's still fear Scared of the

somehow, at the back of your somehow, at the back of unknown
mind” your mind.”

“Naghahandle ka ng COVID “You handle COVID, Handling Covid

ah, cases na proven or cases that are proven or it Patients Bring Fear
documented talaga, positive is really documented,
ah tests, matatakot ka pa rin.” positive tests, you will
still be scared. “

“Nauuna pa rin yung ano “We still prioritize, of Duty to serve

natin yung– yung ah duty course, our duty to serve
natin to serve the people “ the people.”

“Mahirap kasi mainit, nung “It’s hard because it’s Unpleasantness of

una, ‘di komportable, ‘di mo hot, at first, it’s wearing PPE
pwedeng tanggalin…” uncomfortable, you can’t
remove it”

“Syempre uncomfortable, “Of course, Beating the heat

mainit, yun suffocating…” uncomfortable, hot, while wearing PPE
suffocating…”

“...The main problem nga is “the main problem is the Beating the heat
yung heat, medyo mainit heat, it’s really hot” while wearing PPE
talaga…”

“Yes, I contracted “Yes, I contracted Contracted COVID

COVID…” COVID…”
 241

“ …Ganun ang buhay ng “...That's the life of a Fulfilling duties

doctor, lalo na kung ikaw ay doctor, especially if you regardless of being
senior na– na resident” are a senior– resident” sick

“...Even if you are sick, if “Even if you are sick, if Fulfilling duties
you have the responsibility, you have the regardless of being
you will never go ah, on a responsibility, so you will sick
sick leave, so I still do ah, never go, on a sick leave,
administrative job, and I still so I still do,
have to ah, look ah, sa mga administrative job, and I
ginagawa ng mga juniors…” still have to look on what
my juniors are doing”

“Pang describe ko dun na “I can describe it with the Nerve-wracking

word ay nerve-wracking.” word nerve-wracking.”

“It’s both ah, tiring “It's both ah, tiring Exhaustion in all
physically, primarily, pero physically, primarily, but aspects
it’s also tiring emotionally.” it’s also tiring
emotionally.”

“...You are helpless, kasi “...You are helpless, Being Helpless

once they go to a– the critical because once they go to
stage ah, wala na tayo– wala the critical stage, we
na kaming masayado can’t do much.”
magagawa.”

“...Resources are “...Resources are limited, No PPE Issues

limited…Mas pinahirap so it made our jobs
trabaho namin” harder”

“Wala naman akong “I didn’t have a lot of No PPE Issues

masyadong naging problema issues wearing PPE’s…”
wearing PPE’s…”

“...Di naman namin “...we did not feel and No PPE Issues
naramdaman o naranasan na experience to have a
nagkaroon ng shortage talaga shortage of PPE, unlike
uhh ng PPE, unlike sa other in other hospitals or
uhh hospital or areas.” areas.”

“...I uhmm not around most “...I’m not around most Always away from
of the time sa bahay…” of the time in the house” the house

“...Isolation and we'll have to “...Isolation and we'll The dilemma of

be away from our families” have to be away from our being isolated
families”
 242

6. “I fear for my safety and as “I fear for my safety as Initial reaction

well for the safety of my well as the safety of my during the outbreak.
family” family.”

“We also wear PPE’s, “We also wear PPE’s, Safety was
masks.. Ahh.. face shields for masks, and face shields guaranteed by the
us to protect ah.. Medical for us to protect Medical usage of protective
workers safety” workers’ safety.” equipment.

“we also disinfect outside the “We also disinfected Hospital underwent
hospital area during those.. outside the hospital area disinfection
Ahh.. peak of pandemic” during the peak of
pandemic.”

“I also become one of the “I also became one of the Despite vaccination
COVID positive patient..I COVID positive patients. and boosters, the
catch the omicron virus even I caught the omicron virus was still
though I have vaccines and virus even though I have caught.
boosters” vaccines and boosters.”

“Really hard. We have a lot “Really hard. We have a Patients are lying
of patients who is not really.. lot of patients who are about their
telling the truth about the not really telling the truth symptoms, making
symptoms” about their symptoms.” it hard for
healthcare workers
to do their duties.

“Yung goggles? Pinupunasan “The goggles? We wipe Experiences of

namin before used ng liquid before using liquid soap healthcare workers
soap then pinupunasan namin then we wipe it with in wearing goggles
s’ya ng tissue. So when we tissue. So when we
breath kahit papaano hindi breathe somehow it
siya nag.. Nagb-blurred.” doesn't…blurred.”

“A minute ka lang naka “If you only have PPEs in PPEs have restricted
PPEs, paglabas mo para ka a minute, when you come healthcare workers'
nang naliligo sa pawis and out, you will be bathed in actions..
you will not have to do it sweat and you will not
once. You will have to do it have to do it once. You
thrice, four times. Depende will have to do it thrice,
sa dami ng pasyente na four times. Depending on
nagrerequired na kuhanan ng the number of patients
swab” who are required to take a
swab.”
 243

“nagsipagtabaan naman kami “We gained weight The healthcare

(laughs) nagsipag tabaan because we were stressed workers gained
kami kasi nag stress eating eating.” weight because of
kami” the stress brought by
the pandemic.

“Mental health...everybody “Mental Health ... The healthcare

in the laboratory is… giving everybody in the workers cheers one
mental support to each laboratory is… giving of their own.
other…one is feeling down mental support to each
ahh somebody’s not feeling other like if one is feeling
well, we try to ask kung down ahh somebody's not
kamusta na siya, ano na ba feeling well, we try to ask
yung nangyari sa kanya how he is, what happened
to him.”

“Social aspect, we are being “Social aspect, we are Technology made it

prepared by ahh… by being prepared by ahh… easier for healthcare
undergoing ahh.. zoom ahh by undergoing ahh.. workers to socialize.
updates, binibigyan nila kami zoom ahh updates, They
ng trainings kahit pa zoom give us trainings even
trainings lang yun” though it's just zoom
trainings at least we are
trained”

Grouping Codes Categories Grouping Themes

Categories

Frightened Initial Reaction to the Initial Reaction to the Withstanding

Shocked Outbreak Outbreak COVID-19
Shocked and
Frightened Work Experiences
Scared because of the
virus Ways to Combat
Scared of infecting COVID-19
others
Facing fears Call of Duty
Scared because of the
virus
Feelings while
handling patients with
COVID-19.
confusion
Fear and Panic
Mixed emotions
 244

Struck with fear

Nerve-wracking
Scared of the
unknown
Handling Covid
Patients Bring Fear
Being Helpless

Experience with Work Experiences

Covid Patients
Working with fear
Performing duties
under stress
Handled patients with
COVID-19.
Healthcare workers
became tired because
of surge of patients
Patients are lying
about their symptoms,
making it hard for
healthcare workers to
do their duties.
Handled COVID
patients
Always away from
the house
Long work Hours
Exhaustion in all
aspects
Critical Patients
The healthcare
workers gained
weight because of the
stress brought by the
pandemic.
The dilemma of being
isolated
Difficulty in wearing
PPE
PPEs have restricted
healthcare workers'
actions..
Difficulty in
breathing because of
masks
 245

Experiences of
healthcare workers in
wearing goggles
Difficulty in wearing
PPEs
Beating the heat
while wearing PPE
No shortage of PPE
No experience of
getting infected by
COVID-19
No PPE Issues
Contracted Covid
Scared of infecting
others
Experience of getting
infected by COVID
Quarantine
experience
Catched the virus.
Despite vaccination
and boosters, the
virus was still caught.
The symptoms felt by
the healthcare worker.
Employees
contracting COVID
Encouraging co-
workers
The healthcare
workers cheers one of
their own.
Technology made it
easier for healthcare
workers to socialize.
Government showed
support to the
healthcare workers.

Handwashing, Ways to Combat

wearing mask and COVID-19
face shields are
necessary
Protocols were
implemented.
No clear management
 246

protocols
Safety was
guaranteed by the
usage of protective
equipment.
Talking about
training
Mitigation

Fulfilling duties Call of Duty

regardless of being
sick
Duty to serve
Healthcare Worker’s
resiliency
Providing despite of
fear
Duty to do the Job
Professionalism is a
significant impact
Appreciation of life
Thankful amidst the
threat
Realization

RQ 2

Participant Verbatim Significant Statements Codes

Number

1. “...We need to modify all “...We need to modify all Modification

things…” things…”

“I became more cautious “I became more cautious, Cautious with

especially with interacting especially with interactions
with people.” interacting with people.”

“We had — change the “We had change the Changing

workflow…” workflow” Workflow

“...So iniba natin ‘yung “...So we change the Changing

workflow…” workflow…” Workflow

“Kumbaga yung workplace “...We changed the Changing

binago namin because of workplace because of Workplace
 247

COVID-19.” COVID-19.”

“...Di ka naman nag aahh “...You didn't wear Obliged to Wear

(pauses) nagsusuot ng protective equipments but PPE
protective equipments now now we are obliged.”
we are obliged”

“...Yung face to face were “The face to face were Face to face
postponed…” postponed…” interactions were
prohibited

“Kahit sinong taong kausap “Any person I talk to… Being Open to your
ko… Pero nung nag- But when the pandemic patients
pandemic natanggal lahat broke out it was all
‘yun…” removed…”

2. “Dati lapit lapit kumain “It used to be close to Social distancing

before pandemic, ngayon eating before the while eating
medyo layo layo na pero pandemic, now it's a little
minsan di pa rin maiiwasan bit away but sometimes
kasi yung workplace is it's still inevitable
maliit lang yung area” because it's a small area”

“May mga patients rin kami “We also have patients New patients from
galing ibang places, dinadala from other places, also other places
din diyan so hina-handle sila carrying it so they are
ng mga nasa COVID area” handled by those in the
COVID-19 area”

“ di actually naman yung iba “actually some others Raise in salary

ni raise naman nila, kaya were raised, but of course
lang syempre di naman it won’t be given
agad-agad nabibigay ganun, immediately, so a little
kaya konting unawa, konting understanding, a little
paghihintay sa mga dapat na patience to wait for
matanggap” what’s there to be given”

“Na lessen, na lessen ang “It lessened, lessened Lessened social

social interaction, kasi diba– social interaction, interaction
iyun nga binabawasan natin because– we are
ang exposure, para di tayo
minimizing exposure, so
mahawa”
that we don’t get
infected”
 248

3. “nahati nagkaroon ng mga “There was a split, there Changes in the

division” were divisions.” workplace.

“non-COVID patients ano “For the non-COVID People are afraid to

eh umonti sila kasi…natakot patients, they have go to the hospital
din silang pumunta ng decreased because… they due to COVID-19.
hospital.. pumupunta lang sa
were also afraid to go to
hospital yung talagang
kailangang kailangan ng the hospital.”
medical action”

“marami ring nagresign “Many also resigned and Many co-workers

syempre natakot din.. yung of course as they were resigned, resulting
may time na araw-araw also scared…there were in a change in the
twelve hours yung duty… workforce.
times where every day
dahil kulang kasi yung iba
naaadmit din, nacoconfine they are on duty for
din dahil nag positive kaya twelve hours… because
nagkukulang.” they are lacking as the
others are admitted as
well, they are also
confined because they are
positive that’s why they
are lacking.”

“oo workload talagang “Yes, the workload really Heavy workload.

dumoble” doubled.”

“ natatakot ka na din na “It's like you're afraid of Communication

masyadong lumapit eh kaya getting too close, so I'm barriers lead to
talagang nilalakasan ko na really just raising my changes in how
lang yung boses” patients are
voice.”
interacted with.

“pinaka change eh yung pag- “What really changed the Biggest change
iingat.. talagang most is the caution…you happened is to learn
poprotektahan mo na yung will really protect to protect oneself.
sarili mo”
yourself.”

4. “COVID-19 outbreak “COVID-19 outbreak, we Major changes

nagkaroon ng major major had major major changes
changes in our training, on in our training, on our
our duties, and the way we
duties, and the way we
managed din sa patients
namin.” managed our patients.”
 249

“halos lahat ng procedures “almost all procedures Halted procedures

namin noon natigil…” were halted…”

“2020 na medyo marami na “2020 when we already Implementation of

tayong testing kits, dun narin had quite alot of testing routine swabbing
nagkaroon kami ng routine kits, it was only then that
na swabbing”
they implemented routine
swabbing for us”

“in terms of patients cases, “in terms of patients Admission of non-

andaming bumaba na cases, the usual amount COVID cases went
admissions, yung the usual of cardio cases went down
na cardio cases namin,
down…”
bumaba..”

“in terms of duties, hindi na “in terms of duties… Duties became per
siya yung, may times kasi na Actually, there were batch
hindi na din kami parang times that we didn’t need
araw araw pumapasok, so uh
to go to work everyday,
naging ano siya parang per
batch, per ano para so it became per batch, to
mapreserve yung ano yung preserve the workforce in
workforce in such a way na such a way that not all of
hindi kami lahat exposed” us will be exposed”

“Senior Cardio Consultants, “Senior Cardio Senior consultants

halos di na sila gaano nag- Consultants, they hardly worked less
rounds, kasi syempre mas do rounds anymore,
mahina na yung immune
because of course their
system nila, but overall I
think hindi gaanong immune system is
naramdaman na nabawasan weaker, but overall I
yung workforce” think it didn't feel like
much that the workforce
was decreased..”

“Uhm.. quantity, hindi “the quantity, hasn't Changes of

nagbago, I think the quality changed, I think the rotations in
of work still the same, pero quality of work is still the workforce
yung rotation nung mga
same, but the rotation of
workforce, yun yung
nagkaroon ng major the workforce, that's what
changes..” had major changes”
 250

“...with your interaction with “...your interaction with Interaction with

your patients medyo mas your patients was shorter patients became
uhm mas mabilis as and faster as compared to difficult
compared nung pre-
pre-pandemic. In terms of
pandemic. Yung in terms of
physical examination, hindi physical examination,
mo siya mamaximize or you won’t be able to
maoptimize kasi nga maximize or optimize it
andaming naka-ano sayo, since there are many
andami ding nakaharang hindrances, there are alot
sayo” of some type of barriers”

“In terms of restrictions, “we were really restricted Interaction with

talagang nirestrict din kami to enter or interact with patients became
na pumasok o makipag- patients, if you can look difficult
uhmm interact sa mga
at them from a distance,
patients, kung kaya mo nga
silang tingnan mula sa if you can examine them
malayo, kung kaya mo from a distance, that's
silang i-examine mula sa what you’ll choose ..”
malayo, uhm siguro yun
yung pipiliin mo..”

“mas madami na yung “the amount of COVID- Comparison of the

COVID-19 patients kesa sa 19 patients were quite a numbers of cardiac
mga cardiac patients” lot compared to cardiac patients to COVID-
19 patients
patients”

“Uhm same sweldo, same “same salary, same Increase of salary

benefits na nakuha namin benefits that we get due to additional
nung pre-pandemic… may during pre-pandemic… fees
nadagdag pa…mm medyo
plus additional fee which
delayed lang nung later
parts” was quite delayed during
the later parts”

“nung nagkaroon ng “when the pandemic Increased number

pandemic, dahil nga hinahati started, since our team of hours in the
hati na kami syempre was separated, the workplace
nabawasan yung workplace
number of hours that we
ay yung number of hours
that we spent sa hospital spent in the hospital
para uhm just like what I’ve shortened, just like what
said earlier ma- ano masave I’ve said earlier to save
yung per batch mag– at yung each batch and to save the
 251

masave din yung mga tao na people who can still go

pwede pang magduty..” on duty…”

5. “It’s actually a three hundred “It’s actually a three A 360 degree turn
sixty-degree turn noh” hundred sixty-degree
turn”

“Too long…” “Too long…” Long work Hours

“We had to rearrange the “We had to rearrange the Rearranging the
whole hospital” whole hospital” Hospital

“We had to create another “We had to create another Modified

ah, makeshift facility sa ah, makeshift facility Procedures
labas ng ospital…” outside the hospital…”

“Nagiba rin yung how we do “There is also a change in Changes inside the
things” how we do things” Hospital

“Ah yung aming work “Our work schedule was Changes inside the
schedule was ah, made more made more difficult” Hospital
difficult…”

“Iyun ang mga naging “Those are the changes, Changes inside the
changes, yung scheduling, the scheduling, structure Hospital
structure ng hospital ah, of the hospital how we
yung how we see patients, see patients, the volume
yung volume ng mga of patients…”
patients…”

“...The main problem kasi “...The main problem Employees

pag ang ah, employee because is when an contracting COVID
nagkaroon ng COVID…” employee has COVID…”

“...Syempre lahat ng ah, “...Of course all of the Lack of manpower

employees that will be out of employees that will be due to increasing
work due to isolation, so out of work due to employees
their job has to be ah, of isolation, so their job has
course ah, be manned by to be of course be
other crew.” manned by other crew”

“...Nagkakaroon kami ng “...We have duties that Lack of manpower

duties na halos minsan last a whole week, just to due to increasing
dirediretso isang linggo, just keep with the manpower” employees
to keep with the manpower.”
 252

“...Bumaba yung cases ng “...The cases decreased Residency cases

bawat residents…’ for each residents…” went down

“Sa workforce marami ang “In the workforce, many Several employees
nagquit…marami nung have quitted… many who quitted their job
nagkasakit sila di na sila have become sick weren’t
bumalik” able to come back”

“There’s still uh several who “There’s still several Dedicated

stayed, dedicated pa rin people who stayed, they healthcare workers
naman sa trabaho uhh lalo are still dedicated to their
na yung mga nurses natin…” work, especially our
nurses.”

“...Telemedicine, so yan ang “...Telemedicine, so that Telemedicine, a

malaking naging pagbabago is the greatest change on new way of
on how we interact with how we interact with communication
patients…” patients”

“...Mas maraming time na “...A lot of time needs to Doctor-Patient

kailangang gugulin sa be spent on patients” interaction
pasyente.” increased

“Iba yung routine namin sa “So we have a different Changed after-work

bahay sa pag-uwi dati” routine in our house routine
before”

“...Pupuntahan ka na ng “...Your child will go to Less physical

anak mo yayakapin ka nya , you and embrace you, Interaction with the
magmamano ganyan, and and show his/her act of family
then those were your daily respect to you
routine. Pero nung panahon (pagmamano), and then
ng COVID…I will go those were your daily
through the backdoor go to routine, but during the
the shower and then bago ko time of COVID…I will
sila kakausapin or lalapitan” go through the backdoor
go to the shower and
before I talk or get close
to them”

6. “Lengthen. From 8 hours it “Lengthen. From 8 hours Changes in the

was forced to be 12 hours. it was forced to be 12 work hours lead to
Workloads is increased hours. Workloads are heavy workload.
becoming it for us to be increased, making us
more fatigue” more fatigue.”
 253

“the total number of “The total number of There were few

healthcare workers sa james healthcare workers at healthcare workers
na nagresign? Hindi naman James who resigned were who left James.
ganun kadami.” not that many.”

“usually hindi naman “Patients can't understand Communication

siya...uh...maintindihan ng what you're saying barriers made it
ibang pasyente kung anong because your mask is difficult for
sinasabi mo dahil yung mask blocking your mouth and healthcare workers
mo nakaharang kasi sa bibig your nose because it can't to interact with
mo and sa nose mo dahil be exposed.” patients.
hindi naman siya pwede
naka expose”

“We used...uh...lapel. Na “We used...uh...lapel. The chief medtech

purchase ng...may pinahiram Purchased by...someone purchased a lapel.
na... lapel sa amin yung lend a...our...chief
aming... chief medtech” medtech lend us lapel.”

“Naliligo muna kami, so “We take a bath first, no Precautionary

kahit gaano ka kapagod. matter how tired you are. measures were
There also (air) come a time There also (air) comes a taken to protect
nung peak time when the peak of everyone's safety.
yung...uh...pandemic na the...uh... pandemic we
nagsusuot kami ng mask ng wear masks of my
mga household members ko, household members, even
even me -especially me” me -especially me.”

Grouping Codes Categories Grouping Themes

Categories

Obliged to Wear PPE Protocol Protocol A Sense of Upheaval

Precautionary Implementation Implementation
measures were taken
to protect everyone's Modification In
safety. Workplace
Social distancing
while eating Patient Cases
Implementation of
routine swabbing Overburden

Changing Workplace Modification In

Changes in the Workplace
workplace.
Changes of rotations
 254

in workforce
A 360 degree turn
Rearranging the
Hospital
Changed after-work
routine
Major changes
Changed after-work
routine
Changes inside the
Hospital
Modified Procedures
Modification
Biggest change
happened is to learn
to protect oneself.
Duties became per
batch
Senior consultants
worked less
Increase of salary due
to additional fees
Raise in salary
Adjustments done

Admission of non- Patient Cases

COVID cases went
down
Comparison of the
numbers of cardiac
patients to COVID-19
patients
Residency cases went
down
People are afraid to
go to the hospital due
to COVID-19.
New patients from
other places
Cautious with
interactions
Face to face
interactions were
prohibited
Being Open to your
patients
 255

Communication
barriers made it
difficult for
healthcare workers to
interact with patients.
The chief medtech
purchased a lapel.
Lessened social
interaction
Less physical
Interaction with the
family
Telemedicine, a new
way of
communication
Interaction with
patients became
difficult
Doctor-Patient
interaction increased

Halted procedures Overburden

Heavy workload.
Lack of manpower
due to increasing
employees testing
positive with
COVID-19
Increased number of
hours in the
workplace
Changes in the work
hours lead to heavy
workload.

RQ 3

Participant Verbatim Significant Statements Codes

Number

1. “Talagang makikita mo ah… “You can really see, it’s Hardships

Mahirap” hard…”

“...ang PPE mahal... at konti “...PPE is very Lack of PPE

lang.” expensive...and we did
 256

not have a lot of supply”

“Literally you are ah... “Literally you are Experiences of

sealed... sealed.” sealed…” healthcare workers
in wearing PPE’s

“Logistics. Oo... ahh during “Logistics. Yes during Patients were not
that time ah... (paused) a lot that time a lot of patients treated properly
of patients were not … ahh were not given the right
— given the right treatment treatment because of…
because of ah... Logistics” Logistics.”

“Ang mga empleyado natin “All our employees at Human nature -

lahat sa James L. Gordon e James L. Gordon were Fear
natakot din ‘yan. Tao din also scared of that. Any
‘yan... Kahit sino naman person too, anyone were
were afraid of the afraid of the unknown,
unknown... That’s the... The that's the human nature”
human nature…”

“Marami nag-isip na mag- “Many people thought of Having Second

resign pero walang nag- resigning but no one thoughts
resign…” resigned…”

“...doing your job, you're “doing your job, you're Working while
spending alot of hours, extra spending alot of hours, exceeding
hours just to perform it in a extra hours just to expectations
very risky... uh...atmosphere. perform it in a very risky
Yun lang naman ang... atmosphere. That's the
ang...ang kakaiba non pero only difference, but
yung pagtatrabaho nang working overtime, the
lampas sa oras, lagi na frontliners always do that
ginagawa ng mga frontliners in James L. Gordon…
sa James L. Gordon... na with no extra salary”
walang dagdag sweldo ha.”

“Sabi ko nga, yu-yung hours “I said, the hours that we Tremendous

that we spent in the spent in the workplace workplace hours
workplace during that time during that time is very
is very very tremendous.” tremendous.”

“So tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho, “So the work goes on, the Routine of
tuloy ang trabaho.” work goes on.” Workloads

“...you are restricted to go “...you are restricted to go Restrictions

home (emphasizes the home specially, if you are
words) (long pause) ha... working in isolation
 257

especially if you are working areas.”

in isolation areas.”

“Look at those sacrifices “Look at those sacrifices Sacrifices

that the-they... they gave. that they gave. They're so
Ha... pagod na pagod sila, tired, they can't see their
hindi nila makikita family family”
nila…”

“Yung workload-na doble, “The workload is Doubled Workloads

na doble.” doubled…”

“Maraming nagkasakit, “Many got sick, many Contracted COVID

marami rin nagka COVID sa also got COVID in us…”
amin…”

“Meron talagang “There was really Evident

discrimination, at that time.” discrimination, at that Discrimination
time…”

“...Pag nalaman nila na “When they find out you Demoralization

nagtatrabaho ka sa James L. work for James L. effect of
Gordon - maraming ganon, Gordon a lot Discrimination
marami...uh... Na experience experience… But
ng...uh... Ano... Pero (pause) nothing… Somewhat
wala wala, walang ano... demoralized a little bit…”
Medyo na demoralized ng
onti…”

“Kawawa talaga…” “It's a pity…” A pity

“...May mental anguish tayo “...Mental anguish at that Mental Anguish

that time…” time…”

“Nakakatakot” “It's so scary” Fear

“...Pare pareho kayong “...You're both scared.” Fear

takot.”

“Emotionally, there were “Emotionally, there were Emotionally

times na I'm down…” times that I'm down…” draining

“...Yung takot mo, may takot “...You are scared but you Doing your Job
ka pero you still need to still need to perform it while being scared
perform it because you are because you are
mandated with that, ha.” mandated with that”
 258

“...You will continuously “...You will continuously Required to work,

work...ha... Even though you work even though you No choice
don't want to work…” don't want to work…”

“...Natatakot kang pumasok “You're afraid to do it, Fear while working

baka mamaya magka-covid you're afraid to come in,
ka pero hindi ka makaayaw maybe later you'll got
kasi nga sinumpaan mo yung COVID but you can't
trabahong yun.” because you swore that
job.”

“Yeah, as…as… As a “Yeah, as a human, yes.I Human nature -

human, yes. I-I-I do agree do agree with that. There Fear
with that, no. There were were times that I was also
times na natakot din ako…” scared…”

“Despite na meron akong “Despite having Working despite

comorbidity, I went there…” commorbidity, I went the risk
there…”

2. “kasi ilang hours ang “Because they had to stay Difficulties when
pagstay nila sa loob, di pa a few hours inside, they using PPE
pwede magpalit-palit could not change PPE
anytime ng PPE” anytime, when you
entered the room”

“I was diagnosed COVID-19 “I was diagnosed Experience of

last August with the COVID-19 last August getting infected by
symptoms of sore throat with the symptoms of COVID-19
pagkatapos ng sore throat sore throat then after that,
after 2-3 days nilagnat then about after 2-3 days, I
tested positive then had a fever, then tested
succeeding days so tuloy na positive, then succeeding
yan, nahirapan na. I days, it has been
survived” difficult”

“saka nagkaroon ng kunting “there was a little anxiety, Presence of anxiety

anxiety parang natakot ka when I got back I was
na. Pagbalik ko natakot na scared of the hospital… ”
ko sa hospital… ”

“Iniisip mo yung nandoon ka “You think that you were Difficulties while
lang sa isang kwarto mag just in a room alone, no being infected by
isa, walang nag-aasikasong one was there for you, COVID
malapit sa buhay, kahit sa even in the video call I
video call di ako nakakatagal couldn't stay for long
kasi hirap sa paghinga kaya because I had a hard time
 259

sign language lang, makita breathing so I could only

ko lang sila. ” see them”

“Mahirap magsuot ng PPE, “It is difficult to wear Difficulty in

mainit pag humiga kasi PPE, it is hot to lie down wearing PPEs
kulong talaga at talagang because it is really
balot na balot mas lalo na enclosed and really
noong kasagsagan.” wrapped especially in the
time of pandemic’s
surge.”

“Minsan nahirapan maka “Sometimes it is difficult Difficulty in

interact dahil di to interact because they interacting with
nagkakaintindihan, syempre do not understand, of patients
sa face masks may time na course in face masks
sign language lang para there is only a sign
magkaintindihan. ” language time to
understand.”

“lalo na pag alam mo yung “Especially when you Difficulty in

mga pasyente, alam mo know those who have dealing with the
yung may mga kakilala, acquaintances, it's hard to acquaintances
mahirap yung ipaintindi sa understand them
kanila lalo na kaya minsan especially so sometimes
toxic eh” toxic”

“naiilang ako sa kanila dahil “I feel uncomfortable Feeling

baka sabihin nila “meron pa with them because they uncomfortable
rin” kahit na may mga might say “she is still
protective gear sila– parang, positive” even though
syempre tinitimbang ko they have protective
muna yung, pakikiano muna gear... I am still thinking
sa kanila eh. Kasi lalo na whether or not I’ll
galing ako ng COVID-19 interact with them.
positive, iyun.” Especially since I just
became COVID-19
positive.”

3. “process yung procedure ng “The process is the Handling patients

paghandle ng patient. Yun procedure of handling the
yung mahirap” patient. That's the hard
part.”

“Minimum, 48 yata? Sa “Minimum, 48, I think? Lengthen work

isang araw, ay sa isang In one day, in one week, hours.
week, oo. Minimum ‘yun.” yes. That’s the
minimum.”
 260

“Pag umuuwi akong ano… “When I go home…when Discrimination

pag nakita nila akong naka- they see me wearing faced by a
ano…pang-hospital na the….when they see me healthcare worker.
uniform. Nakakalungkot, na in a…hospital uniform.
parang pinandidirihan ka An- it saddens me, that,
gan’on.” it’s like they are
disgusted.”

“ parang ano..’yung pagod, “It’s like..the exhaustion, Physical

pagod, mas pagod” exhausted, more exhaustion.
exhausted.”

“social naman, yun kasi, “We tested positive.” Contracted the

‘diba nga ano, nagpostive COVID-19 virus.
kami.”

“nawala nga si Lola…naka- “My grandmother passed Losing a family

isolate ka, tapos namatayan away. And that was the member
ka, tapos di ka pa difficult part that you
makalabas, gan’on. Parang can’t even say goodbye.
nagpatong-patong yung, You’re isolated, someone
yung emo- emotion na di mo passed away, you can’t
alam kung paano mo id- go out, like that. It’s like
deal.” the emotion has been
tacked on that you don’t
know how to deal with
them.”

“Parang di mo alam “It’s like you already The uncertainty of

kung…mabubuhay pa ba don’t know if your life
‘yung pasyente mo..Yun patient will live. That was
yung pinaka-challenging” the most challenging.”

“nung time na ‘yun, kasi ang “During that time, many Considered quitting
daming namamatay, ang were dying, a lot of my job because of the
daming na nagpopostive sa colleagues were testing pandemic's burden.
mga kawork mo. Ang dami- positive. Pa- my other
dami ring nag quit. Parang colleagues were just- just
gusto mo na ring mag quit quitting. It’s like you also
gan’un” wanted to quit.”

4. “magdadalawang isip ka “you will have second Second thoughts

kung papasok ka pa ng thoughts whether you will whether to go to
ospital, much more kung still go to the hospital, work or not
papasok ka pa sa COVID much more if you will
units…” enter COVID units…”
 261

“decking na din kasi kami “we were already decking Too much COVID
noon sa COVID uhm with COVID uhm patients
COVID units” COVID units”

“anjan na yung anxiety, “the anxiety is already Presence of anxiety

much more kapag meron ka present, much more if
pa nung symptoms.. ye- uhh you contract symptoms..
a little anxiety diba, still a little anxiety, but still
manageable naman” manageable…”

“uncomfortable talaga “it's really uncomfortable Difficulty in

magwear ng PPEs” to wear PPEs” wearing PPEs

“so ano mahirap, mainit sa “it’s hard, hot inside Difficulty in

loob ng PPE, uncomfortable PPEs, uncomfortable… wearing PPEs
yung ano, anong tawag And what’s even harder, during procedures
neto.. Respirator! And mas is wearing those PPEs
mahirap pa pala, is wearing while performing
those PPEs while du– procedures”
performing procedures”

“so nakaPPE ka, nakagloves, “you're wearing PPE, Difficulty in

nakarespirator, tapos gloves, respirator, then wearing protective
nakaface shield, eih- buti face shield, eih- it's a PPEs
nalang hindi pa’ko good thing I didn’t need
nagsasalamin at that time, my prescription glasses
kasi ano mahirap talaga” yet at that time, because it
was actually really hard”

“major dilemma during the “major dilemma during Interaction with

pandemic is yung way of the pandemic is the way patients became
communication” of communication” difficult

“ang hirap magpasok ng “it’s hard to use a Difficulty in using

stethoscope ng nakaPPE ka stethoscope while in the stethoscope while
tapos nakaface shield ka” PPE, plus you are wearing PPE
wearing a face shield too
..”

“kahit sa amin na mga “when we had surges on A lot of healthcare

doctors, marami ring COVID, even us doctors, workers testing
nagpopositive…” a lot tested positive positive
too…”

“naranasan ko mag… every “I already experienced Working every

other duty noon kasi walang working every other duty other duty
before because almost no
 262

magduduty… lalo na nung one was going to

time na madami yung yun” work…”

“parang pinandidirihan ka “they were grossed out Discrimination

kapag kunwari pupunta ka sa when we, for example,
groceries ganoon..” went to the groceries…”

“mag-isa noon sa unit first “I was alone that time at Being away from
time… so malayo talaga… the unit for the first family
tapos ang tagal na hindi time… then it took a long
nakauwi…” time before I got to go
home to them…”

“most challenging is kapag “most challenging is People you know

close mo na yung nakikita when you are close with testing positive
mo na nagpositive…” the one who tested
positive… uhm that…”

5. “Affected kami pag yung “We are affected if the Operating COVID-
patient na ooperahan is uhh patient who would 19 patients
of course positive.” undergo surgery is of
course positive”

“...Yung surgical patients “...The surgical patients Census gone down

actually yung census namin actually, our census, has
has gone down…” gone down”

“...Once you wear that PPE, “...Once you wear that Health workers
syempre kailangan mong PPE, of course you also skimp on PPE’s
tipirin yung PPE…” need to be thrifty when it
comes to PPEs”

“...Medyo muffled talaga “...The first full-face Struggles with

yung boses nung doktor masks truly produce wearing face mask
kaya minsan di sila muffled voices. Even the
maintindihan, di kami doctor, sometimes we
maintindihan.” could not understand, nor
could they understand
us”.

“Of course uhh, yung nga “Of course, about the Frustrations during
changes dun sa structure ng changes, the structure of work hours
hospital of course you don't the hospital of course,
have to put in some more you don’t have to put in
hours tapos uhh minsan uhh some more hours, then
nafrufrustrate ka na you would be frustrated”
ganyan…”
 263

“Everyday naman may “There are difficulties Facing difficulties

difficulties. difficult patients, everyday, difficult everyday
difficult situations diba, so patients, difficult
marami.” situations right? So there
is a lot.”

“...Totoo na yung wages noh “...It is true that the Incommensurately

lalo na kung meron kang wages, especially if you paid
family, it will never be have your own family,
enough, kung may family ka will never be enough, if
na” you already have your
own family.”

“Talagang ano yung uhhh “It is true that the hours Incommensurately
hours spent in the workplace spent in the workplace paid
is not commensurately are not commensurately
paid…” paid…”

“...Maraming reklamo ang “...Healthcare workers Complaints of the

mga health workers…” have a lot of healthcare workers
complaints…”

“...So it’s it’s unfair, quite “...So it’s quite unfair…” Complaints of the
unfair…” healthcare workers

“...Maraming beses iisipin “...A lot of the times you Thoughts of

mo mag quit na lang…” would think to just quitting
quit…”

“It’s too heavy… Too much, “It’s too heavy… Too Heavy burden of
Yes uhhh majority of uhh much, Yes majority of healthcare workers
health workers experienced health workers
this…” experienced this…”

“...Isisingle out ka dahil “...They would single you Being singled out
naka scrub suit ka ganyan, out because you are because of scrub
minsan hindi ka nila wearing a scrub suit, suit
papayagang pumasok noh sometimes they won’t
hindi pupwede yon.” even let you in, that is not
right.”

“...Hindi ka nila papayagang “...They won’t let you Not letting health
pumasok sa isang enter an establishment, workers enter a
establishment ganyan. Uhh they won’t let you out of establishment
or uhh yan mga kumbaga your house.”
hindi ka papalabasin nung
bahay mo ganyan.”
 264

“...Nilagyan ng barikada “...They put up a Barricade around

yung palibot ng bahay ko barricade around my the house
and lahat ng household house, and all household
members ko ay hindi members were not
nakakalabas” permitted to go outside.”

“Nagkasakit ako. “I was sick. Ahhh..my Becoming sick and

Ahhh..bumagsak ‘yong- health really went bad.” having bad health
‘yong kalusugan ko”

“Nanghina ako, ’yan. I was “I became weak, like that. Becoming sick and
ahh sick for a while.” I was sick for a while.” having bad health

“Mental of course, ahh- “Mental of course, many Many were

marami ‘yung ano went paranoid.” paranoid
nababaliw”

“‘...Yung sa emotional uhh “...The emotional aspect, Emotional health is

aspect, uhh malaking it’s a big deal.” important
bagay.”

“Most challenging.. “Most challenging. Dealing with

(background chatter) Uhm.. probably, for me, dealing challenging patients
Siguro sa akin, ‘yung ahh with patients who are
dealing with uhh patients na terminally ill?”
terminally ill?”

“Well, many times. Many “Well, many times. Many Recurring thoughts
times.” times.” of quitting

6. “One is yung...travel (air) “one is the...travel (air) The healthcare

going to work. Ang going to work. What we worker’s difficulty
ginagawa namin that time is do at that time is in going to the
usually nakiki...hitch kami usually...we hitch when a hospital during the
kapag may dumating na private car arrives.” peak of pandemic.
private car”

“So pati sa pagsakay ng jeep “So even when riding in Discrimination

before, ayaw nila the jeep before, they don't towards healthcare
kaming...ayaw nila kaming want us ... they don't want workers in public
pasakayin - ayaw nila us to ride - they don't transportation.
kaming kasama” want us to be with them.”

“In terms of financial na ok “In terms of financial Benefits were

naman, though hindi which is ok, though not provided at the
naibigay lahat..So, everything was time, but they were
nagkukulang” given…So, it's lacking” insufficient to
 265

support the needs of

the healthcare
workers.

“Hindi pinakinggan...siguro “Not listened to...maybe The healthcare

nung peak time, nung peak at peak time, at peak workers felt that
time. Hindi nila makita yung time. They don't see the their grievances
kakulangan ng necessity lack of necessity in things were not being
things like ppes..we are like ppes..we are forced heard. They
forced to wear yung ppes na to wear the PPEs with neglected to supply
may damage na which is damage which should not necessary
dapat hindi na.” be the case.” equipment, such as
PPEs, forcing
healthcare workers
to use damaged
PPEs.

“Malungkot ako na hindi “I'm sad that our voices The government
kami naririnig before weren't heard fails to listen to the
ng...uh...government natin” before...uh…by our voices of the
government” medical workers.

“Mas pagod ka, “So of course you're more Due to a

mas...uh...mahihirapan ka tired, more...uh... you'll tremendous
kasi mas marami yung have a hard time because workload, the
workload” you have more healthcare worker
workload.” had difficulty
performing her
duties.

“That time na peak yung “That time when the There was no food
pandemic, wala kang pandemic peaked, you as all the stores
mabilhan ng pagkain kasi couldn't buy food because were closed.
lahat sila sarado..kawawa they were all closed…so
naman yung mga (air) unfortunate for those (air)
nagtatrabaho sa hospital working in the hospital
kasi pagod, gutom” because they were tired,
hungry.”

“Sa society lang.. they are “In society..they are Discrimination

telling us na...kami yung nag telling us that...we are the towards healthcare
cacause...kung bakit ones who cause...why workers in the
nahahawa yung ibang tao.” other people are society
infected.”
 266

“Nagkaroon ng anxiety pero “There was anxiety but Anxiety was felt by
slight lang naman yung the anxiety was just a the healthcare
anxiety” little” worker.

“Most difficult is yung mag “Most difficult is that you Tested positive.
positive ka mismo, maging are positive, you are one
isa ka sa mga COVID-19 of the COVID-19
patients, yun yung pinaka patients, that is the worst.
worst. Paano kung nahawaan What if I infected my
ko yung nanay at tatay ko mom and dad because
dahil medyo senior na sila, they were seniors, my
yung anak ko paano kung daughter, what if she was
mahawa rin siya; so yun infected too; So that was
yung time na mahirap na the time I was going
pinagdaanan ko… yung through ... the hardest.”
yung pinakamahirap.”

“Nagsswab palang sila “When they were doing Because of

parang gusto ko nalang sana the swabbing I already problems with
magleave or mag file ng wanted to file a leave for protective
leave for at least a month. at least a month because equipment, the
Ang hirap ng PPE is halos di PPE's are so hard to work healthcare worker
ka makahinga, mainit, then with, it’s almost you can’t pondered taking a
ang hirap pa kuhanan o breathe, it is hot, then it’s month leave.
iswab nung ibang pasyente also hard because of the
kasi hindi sila cooperative” other patients who are not
cooperative.”

Grouping Codes Categories Grouping Themes

Categories

Required to work, No Challenges in the Challenges in the The Unbearable

choice workplace workplace Weight of Being a
Working despite the Hero
risk
Working while Contraction of
exceeding COVID-19
expectations
Working every other
duty Unjust Treatment
Facing difficulties
everyday Grievances
Heavy burden of
healthcare workers Job Burnout
Due to a tremendous
 267

workload, the
healthcare worker had
difficulty performing
her duties.
Difficulty in duties
Difficulty in going to
the hospital
Lack of food
Lengthen work hours.
Census gone down
Tremendous
workplace hours
Doubled Workloads
Routine of Workloads
Incommensurately
paid
Restrictions
Hardships
Physical exhaustion.
Too much COVID
patients
Patients were not
treated properly
Difficulty in dealing
with the
acquaintances
Operating COVID-19
patients
Dealing with
challenging patients
Interaction with
patients became
difficult
Difficulty in
interacting with
patients
Handling patients
Lack of PPE
Experiences of
healthcare workers in
wearing PPE’s
Because of problems
with protective
equipment, the
healthcare worker
pondered taking a
 268

month leave.
Difficulty in wearing
PPEs
Difficulty in wearing
PPEs during
procedures
Difficulty in using
stethoscope while
wearing PPE
Struggles with
wearing face mask
Being singled out
because of scrub suit
Health workers skimp
on PPE’s

Tested positive Contraction of

Contracted COVID COVID-19
Experience of getting
infected by COVID-
19
Difficulties while
being infected by
COVID
Contracted the
COVID-19 virus.
People you know
testing positive
A lot of healthcare
workers testing
positive
Becoming sick and
having bad health

Evident Unjust Treatment

Discrimination
Demoralization effect
of Discrimination
Discrimination
towards healthcare
workers in the society
Discrimination faced
by a healthcare
worker.
Discrimination
Discrimination
 269

towards healthcare
workers in public
transportation.
Not letting health
workers enter a
establishment
Barricade around the
house

Insufficient benefits Grievances

Complaints of the
healthcare workers
Losing a family
member
Being away from
family
Sacrifices
Fear
A pity
Emotionally draining
Fear while working
Presence of anxiety
Anxiety was felt by
the healthcare worker.
Human nature - Fear
Feeling
uncomfortable
Many were paranoid
The uncertainty of
life
Presence of anxiety
Frustrations during
work hours
Emotional health is
important
Feeling of being
neglected
Doing your Job while
being scared

Having Second Job Burout

thoughts
Mental Anguish
Second thoughts
whether to go to work
or not
 270

Thoughts of quiting
Considered quitting
job because of the
pandemic's burden.
Recurring thoughts of
quitting
There were few
healthcare workers
who left James.
Several employees
quitted their job
Many co-workers
resigned, resulting in
a change in the
workforce.

RQ 4

Participant Verbatim Significant Statements Codes

Number

1. “We really don't have to “We really don't have to Do not dwell on the
dwell with dwell with those past instead, move
those...uh...Scenarios. So scenarios. So just move on
move on lang, ganon.” on…”

“...Syempre binago natin “Of course we modified Modification

lahat...uh...We modified all.” all…”

“...Every living thing, needs “...Every living thing Biological Concept

to adapt.” needs to adapt” of adaptation

“Ang adaptation lang naman “...The only adaptation is Adaptation is

is to modify.” to modify…” Modification

“What I-I've did just to “What I've did just to Modification

modify things that...uh… modify things that I do
That I do...uh... Dati, ganto before, that's all I'll do so
lang gagawin ko para hindi I can't contract that…”
ma contract yan…”

“...Adaptation is “...Adaptation is Adaptation is

modification only. Lagi modification only. Modification
niyong tatandaan yan. Pag Always remember that. If
hindi ka nag modify, wala you didn't modify, you
 271

kang pupuntahan.” have nowhere else to

go.”

“Ang modification is moving “The modification is Modification is

on.” moving on” Moving on

“You want to move on, you “You want to move on, Moving on is
have to modify.” you have to modify” Modification

“...Just believe that we will... “Just just believe that all Optimism
that all of this will come to of this will come to pass”
pass”

“...If there are problems, “...If there are problems, Problem means
there are solutions…” there are solutions…” Solution

“So lahat ng nangyari “So everything that Setbacks in

sa...uh...Hospital na happened in our hospital Hospital
experience namin, those are experience, those are all
all setbacks, ha.” setbacks.”

“But the thing is, you really “But the thing is, you We find ways
need to...uh...find (pause) a really need to find a way
way to adapt in order for you to adapt in order for you
to succeed…” to succeed”

“So the most important “So the most important Being Positive is
lesson is...you really need to lesson is you really need the most Important
be positive…” to be positive.” lesson

“...Isipin mo na hindi lang ito “Imagine it's not just the Problems are
ang wakas. It's just a end. It's just a challenge. temporary
challenge. So...Ang problem So...The problem (pause)
(pause) may kaakibat na has an associated
solution, lagi.” solution, always.”

“Life… is all about “Life is all about Adaptation is Part

adapting.” adapting.” of Life

“Adapt in a positive way.” “Adapt in a positive Adapt Positively

way”

“We really need to believe to “We really need to Faith and

our God and we really need believe to our God and appreciation of life
to appreciate even the we really need to
simplest things and we really appreciate even the
need to love... Especially simplest things and we
your family, no.” really need to love,
 272

especially your family.”

“We really need to have a “We really need to have Plan is necessary
plan. A plan that is very a plan. A plan that is very
suitable in solving all.” suitable in solving all”

“...Concrete ang “...Concrete solutions, Concrete Solutions

magiging...uh...Solutions, implementations will be make
mas madali ang easier.” implementations
implementations.” easier

“...Number one, you really “...Number one, you One is Plan

need to have a plan.” really need to have a
plan.”

“...There’s also the processes “...There’s also the Adaptive processes

that ah… ahh ... We... Have processes that we have
made just to a… Adapt with made just to adapt with
the pandemic... ‘Yun ang the pandemic. That’s the
pinaka malaking factor.” biggest factor.”

“Kita mo yung adjustments “Do you see the Adjustments done

and sacrifces (inaudible) that adjustments and
the-they really need to do?” sacrifices that they really
need to do?”

“...Pagdating dun sa “...When he arrived in Accepting the

baranggay nila oh...Sa their province he was not Rejected
probinsiya nila eh (pause) accepted… So we took
hindi tinanggap ng (laughs) him again.”
so tinanggap na namin ulit.”

2. “wag mo nang pansinin… “Just ignore it. ” Just ignore

Wag mo nalang ano– just discrimination
ignore nalang.”

“Walang diet-diet saamin “We didn't diet then, Had to get stronger
noon, kasi kailangan because we had to get
lumakas.” stronger.”

“lakas-loob lang talaga na, “It's really just courage, Thinking positive
iniisip mo na kapag I’m just thinking that
gumaling, tuloy pa rin ang when I get better, the
paglilingkod” service will continue.”
 273

“ganun din, lakas ng loob, “just like that, courage, Courage and family
tapos yung mga ano ng and your family, they are support
family na– sila yung the ones who encourage
nagpapalakas ng loob. Sila you. They helped, they
yung tumulong, di nila ako didn't abandon me, they
pinabyaan, parang inuuplift seemed to uplift my
nila yung emotion ko na wag emotions to not think like
ganito, wag mo isipin this and that.”
ganun.”

“...Family support…” “...Family support…” Support from

familykeep

“...kailangan mong labanan “...we really need to fight Fight to prevent

talaga na ‘di ka it so that we will not be
maaapektuhan” affected.”

“...So kailangan, always “we need to be always Set problems aside

prepared and free from sa prepared and free from and focus on your
mga outside na iniisip, any outside thoughts, you job
just have to focus on the
kailangan tuon mo lang isip
job. Set aside your
mo sa trabaho. Set aside problems or whatever.”
yung mga problems o
whatever”

“ Kahit na anong hirap, kahit “No matter how hard, no Keep going even if
na anong pagalit, kahit na matter how hostile, no it is hard
anong naririnig mo sa mga matter what you hear
superior, sige lang, from superiors, just
kakayanin. Wala, iyun yung continue, you can handle
sinumpaang, propesyon” it. That is the profession
you swore to.”

3. “na-involve tayo sa church, “I am glad that we were Coping mechanism

sa ministry, ‘yon. Kase, isa involved inside the
talaga ‘yon sa ano ‘e, sa cope church, in the ministry.
mo” Because that’s one of the,
your cope.”

“yun din ‘yung “Like you hold on to that, All will be alright
pinanghahawakan mo talaga that everything will be in time, with God’s
na ano ‘e na magiging okay alright because God is grace.
din ang lahat kasi God is always in control.”
always in control.”
 274

“yung safety ng mga ka- “And, the only thing in Safety of everyone
work mo, yung safety rin ng my mind is the safety of should always be
mga pasyente. ‘Yun yung my colleagues, safety of the first priority.
pinapriority.” the patients. That’s the
priority.”

“hindi permanent ‘yung mga, “It’s not permanent, the Everything is

yung mga bagay dito sa things that are in this uncertain.
mundo” world.”

“ang change is constant sa “It's like change is Change is

buhay ng tao e.” constant in a man’s life.” inevitable.

“Proteksyunan natin ‘yung “Protect ourselves so we Importance of

mga sarili natin para may can battle with it. We Vaccination.
panlaban tayo, magpa- should be vaccinated.”
vaccine tayo.”

4. “ang drive nalang din for me “the drive for me to go to Friends being the
na pumasok for uhm don work there during the drive to work
during the earlier times dahil earlier times is because
nga kaibigan” of my friend (who died)”

“we need to adapt lang din “we need to adapt on Adjust to what the
doon sa kung ano yung what the opportunity opportunity
hinihingi ng pagkakataon, at gives us, at that time” provides
that tim.e”

“we need to face the reality “we need to face the Call of duty
na kailangan natin pumasok reality that we need to
sa COVID (mic sound) and enter COVID units and
we need to render services sa we need to render
mga pasyente natin” services to our patients”

“wala akong pake kung “I don’t care if they Didn’t care about
idiscriminate nila kami, discriminate against us, discrimination
bahala sila sa buhay nila…” let them live their own
lives…”

“siguro inisip ko nalang kasi “at that time i just Finding the light
noon na… my training thought that... my out of a situation
should go on and kung training should go on and
nabawasan man yung cases if our cases decreased…
namin… yung cardiac cases our cardiac cases during
namin during the pandemic, the pandemic, I’m the
ako yung kailangan gumawa one who needs to find a
ng paraan para uhm para
 275

kahit papaano is hindi parin way to continue my

ako mawala on my training…”
training…”

“you need to ano lang “ if you have support Support from loved
(background noise) tsaka from your batch, from ones to prevent
kung marami kang support your family… you won’t being depressed
from your batch, from your feel depressed…”
family ganon… hindi ka
madedepress…”

“Ang isa sigurong “the one that is important Know the battles
importante is to always… is to always know what you will face
uhm know kung ano yung battle you face… if you
battle na kakaharapin mo… will study it, and you will
if you will study it, and you devote your time to study
will devote your time na it and how you will
alamin siya and how you will eventually manage or
uhm eventually manage or survive with it…”
survive with it…”

“proper communication with “proper communication Proper

your supervisors… and with your supervisors… communications
proper channeling your and proper channeling with colleagues ans
grievances… tapos support your grievances… then supervisors
group from your support groups from your
colleagues…yun yung colleagues… that’s the
pinakaimportante…” most important… ”

“family support yung “family support is the Support from

pinakavaluable sa lahat ng most valuable of all family to get
mga challenges na gagawin challenges that you will through challenges
mo sa buhay mo…” face in life…”

“we need to adapt and we “we need to adapt and we Adapting is a must
need to accept that we are in need to accept that we
the new normal na right are in the new normal
now… Hindi na mawawala right now… Covid will
ang COVID…” not be lost…”

5. “Nagkulang sila pero– “They are lacking, but Adapting despite

nakulangan sila, pero we adapted. “ lack of resources
nagaadapt naman kami.”

“So naka cope naman kami”. “So we coped.” Coping on the

situation
 276

“Eat right, rest well, you can “Eat right, rest well, you Treating yourself
rest, sleep right, you can can rest, sleep right, you well
sleep, diba? Eat well, if you can sleep, diba? Eat well,
have the time, and appetite.” if you have the time, and
appetite.”

“...Of course, what keeps me “...Of course, what keeps My family keeps
going is my family.” me going is my family.” me going

“You just have to be ano, “You just have to be Be resilient and a

resilient and ahh be ahh what, resilient and be positive thinker
optimistic, dapat positive optimistic, you should be
thinker ka.” a positive thinker”

“Dapat hindi ka ano “You should not be Do not be easily

madaling ahh panghinaan ng easily dismayed” dismayed
loob.”

“Having optimistic and “Being optimistic and Being optimistic

having a positive outlook in having a positive outlook
life, ‘yan. Mga inspiration in life, ‘yan. My
ko, ‘yung mga anak ko. Hm, inspirations were, my
family ko, syempre, ang children, my family, of
aking wife, lahat naman.” course, my wife, just like
everyone.”

“...Ahh masasabi mo na “...You can say that we Everyone's the

lahat tayo ay ahh pantay- are all the same” same
pantay.”

“...You’ll have to take care “...You’ll have to take Taking care of

of yourself” care of yourself” yourself

“ Ito rin ‘yung time na “This is also the time you Needing someone
kinailangan mo ng ibang tao need someone to help to help
na tutulong sa’yo.” you.”

“You’ll always need “You’ll always need The need of having

someone, someday”. someone, someday.” someone else

“You’ll have to always ahh “You’ll always need Being mindful of

think of others. Not maybe someone, someday. So, the needs of others
before yourself, pero you’ll that’s my realizations,
have to be mindful of the you’ll have to always
needs of others.” think of others.”
 277

“Kasi sometimes, later on, “Because sometimes, Needing someone

you’ll also need help.” later on, you’ll also need to help
help. “

“you’ll have to adapt…the “you’ll have to Becoming dynamic

importance of adapting, of adapt…the importance of in order to adapt
course you’ll have to- to- adapting, of course you’ll
uhh, to be dynamic…” have to be dynamic…”

“You have to adapt also and “You have to adapt and Change and don’t
change yourself. You have to also change yourself. abuse yourself
strengthen yourself, you have You have to strengthen
to exercise, you have to eat yourself, you have to
right, rest, sleep well, exercise, you have to eat
gan’yan, diba? And not right, rest, sleep well,
abuse yourself.” like that right, diba? And
not abuse yourself.”

“...Continue lang ‘yung ahh “Continue the Continuing

vaccinations” vaccinations” vaccination

“Improve the uhh quality of “Improve the quality of Improving the

uhh healthcare services and healthcare services and quality of
facilities dito sa, not only in facilities here, not only in healthcare services
Olongapo and Zambales pero Olongapo and Zambales
sa loob- sa buong Pilipinas.” but inside- the whole
country. Philippines”

“...I think uhh we are seeing “...I think we are seeing Seeking hope in the
ahhh some ahh light at the some light at the end of dark
end of the tunnel” the tunnel”

“Sa ano sa mental, siguro, “Even in the mental, Family is a support

uhh malaking bagay na you maybe, it’s a big thing system
have a family to- to to rely that you have a family to
on, you have a family… eto rely on, this is your
‘yung support system mo support system if you
kung meron.” have.”

6. “I need to have a positive “I need to have a positive Coping mechanism

attitude para ma lessen yung attitude to lessen the to deal with the
stress” stress” stress brought by
the pandemic

“We should work together “We should really work Unity plays an
kailangan talaga na magkaisa together, need to unite important role in
 278

kami na sundin namin yung that we will follow the following the
protocols” protocols” protocols.

“Family support and of “Family support and of The significance of

course yung friend course your friend having a support
support.Yung burden mo ma support.your burden will system in
lessen at least magkakaroon be lessened, you will challenging times.
ka ng positive na outlook” have a positive outlook”

“Work is essential. “Work is essential. You Presence of mind

Kailangan ahh may presence need to have a presence when performing
of mind ka kung ano yung of mind about what you their duties.
mga gagawin mo” do.”

“Yes we need to adapt, kasi “Yes we need to adapt, We must adapt in

ahh sa hospital pag hindi ka because in the hospital if order to progress.
mag adapt, hindi kayo mag you do not adapt, you
move on as a team” will not move on as a
team”

“Siguro yung investing in “Maybe we should invest Invest in the

healthcare system kasi yung in the healthcare system healthcare system
healthcare system natin na because our healthcare
shock siya eh like na “uy system is shocked that he
may ganito pala na sakit” so is like "hey there is such
hindi tayo prepared that a virus" so we are not
time” prepared at that time”

“..siguro mas maraming “… maybe more Trainings for the

trainings pa, kailangan siguro trainings, we need to healthcare
natin mag upgrade sa upgrade the trainings of
training sa mga healthcare the healthcare workers”
worker”

“Kailangan din siguro natin “We also need to The system must
irecommed ang budget. recommend the budget. focus on the budget
Yung budget kasi ang liit The budget was so small to prevent more
kaya noong time na iyon mas at that time which is why healthcare workers
marami ang gusto mag many wanted to go from working
abroad na nurses, healthcare abroad to be nurses, abroad.
workers kasi mas malaki na healthcare workers
yung offer doon” because the offer is
bigger.”
 279

Grouping Codes Categories Grouping Themes

Categories

Support from loved Support System Support System Surviving Through

ones to prevent being Adaptation
depressed Adapting to Change
Courage and family
support Investment in
Support from family Healthcare System
Support from family
to get through
challenges
My family keeps me
going
Friends being the
drive to work
The significance of
having a support
system in challenging
times.
Needing someone to
help
The need of having
someone else
Family is a support
system
Being mindful of the
needs of others
Unity plays an
important role in
following the
protocols.
Accepting the
Rejected
Faith and
appreciation of life
All will be alright in
time, with God’s
grace.
Seeking hope in the
dark
Finding the light out
of a situation

Change is inevitable. Adapting to Change

 280

We must adapt in
order to progress.
Adaptation is Part of
Life
Adapt Positively
Adaptation is
Modification
Coping mechanism
Coping mechanism is
important
Coping on the
situation
Adjust to what the
opportunity provides
Modification
Modification is
Moving on
Adapting is a must
Adapting despite lack
of resources
Becoming dynamic in
order to adapt
Biological Concept of
adaptation
Adjustments done
Being Positive is the
most Important lesson
Do not dwell on the
past instead, move on
Optimism
Thinking positive
Problems are
temporary
Problem means
Solution
Just ignore
discrimination
Be resilient and a
positive thinker
Do not be easily
dismayed
Taking care of
yourself
Didn’t care about
discrimination
Change and don’t
 281

abuse yourself
Being optimistic
We find ways
Unity plays an
important role in
following the
protocols.
Fight to prevent
Everyone's the same
Keep going even if it
is hard

The system must Investment in

focus on the budget to Healthcare System
prevent more
healthcare workers
from working abroad.
Invest in the
healthcare system
Improving the quality
of healthcare services
Trainings for the
healthcare
Safety of everyone
should always be the
first priority.
Continuing
vaccination
Importance of
Vaccination.
Plan is necessary
One is Plan
Concrete Solutions
make
implementations
easier
Proper
communications with
colleagues and
supervisors
Presence of mind
when performing
their duties.
 282

Appendix G

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Richelle Alwina R. Caseja

Address: 1305 Cristobal St. Sta. Rita Olongapo City

Email: 107129100058@r3-2.deped.gov.ph

Academic Achievements:

Grade 7 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- 1st place Career Occupation Bio-Poem

- Interpretatibong Pagbasa Division Level - Participant

Grade 8 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

Grade 9 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- 2nd Place Essay Writing Contest - Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa

- 3rd Place Slogan Making Contest - Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa

- Best Actress in BKSHM

- Participated in Limitless

Grade 10 - Academic Excellence Award (With High Honors)

Grade 11 - Academic Excellence Award 1st Semester (With High Honors)

- Ang Sanghaya Editorial Board - Patnugot sa Lathalain

______________________________

Student’s Signature
 283

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Louise Alyssa Eunice V. Chan

Address: #19 22nd Place, West Bajac-Bajac, Olongapo City

Email: 107140140006@r3-2.deped.gov.ph

Academic Achievements:

Grade 7 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

Grade 8 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Division YMCA Hip-hop Dance (Champion)

- Regional YMCA Hip-hop Dance (1st Runner Up)

- Thailand International Mathematical Olympiad (Merit Award)

- Grade 8 Representative of Performing Arts Club

Grade 9 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Division YMCA Hip-hop Dance (Champion)

- Regional YMCA Hip-hop Dance (Champion)

- Science-Math Brain Power Philippines Jingle (Silver)

- Best Portrayal of Eponine

- Grade 9 Representative of HIRAYA Club

- Participated in Limitless: National Youth Summit on Statistics

Grade 10 - Junior High School Completer

- Academic Excellence Award (With High Honors)

- Public Information Officer of Values Club

Grade 11 - Vice President of Lipunang Gagabay sa Yapak ng Buhay (LiGaYa Club)

 284

- With High Honors (1st Sem)

- Participant in De La Salle University Senior High School Research Congress

- SSG Students’ Welfare Committee

______________________________

Student’s Signature
 285

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Kristavin Danielle V. Fabunan

Address: 191 F. Magsaysay Street, Santiago, San Antonio

Email: 106923100037@r3-2.deped.gov.ph

Academic Achievements:

Grade 7 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

Grade 8 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

Grade 9 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Pangkabataang Timpalak Para sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay KWF Gawad Jacinto 2019

Representative

- Poster Making FilVal Month School Level (1st Place)

- Poster Making Nutrition Month (1st Place)

- Participated in Limitless: National Youth Summit on Statistics

Grade 10 - Junior High School Completer

- Academic Excellence Award (With High Honors)

Grade 11 - Academic Excellence Award 1st Semester (With High Honors)

- SSG Multimedia Committee

- Ang Sanghaya Editorial Board - Patnugot sa Lathalain

- The Eagle Newspaper Layout Artist

______________________________

Student’s Signature
 286

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Carlo Jose G. Gaza

Address: #24 Purok 1 Pita Dinalupihan, Bataan

Email: 104575100123@r3-2.deped.gov.ph

Academic Achievements:

Grade 7 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Batch Representative for Mathematics Achivers’ and

Scholars’ Club (MASC)

Grade 8 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

Grade 9 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Batch Representative for Mathematics Achivers’ and Scholars’ Club (MASC)

- Service Award for Mathematics Achivers’ and Scholars’ Club (MASC)

Grade 10 - Junior High School Completer

- Academic Excellence Award (With High Honors)

- Batch Representative for Mathematics Achivers’ and Scholars’ Club (MASC)

Grade 11 - Academic Excellence Award 1st Semester (With High Honors)

- Batch Representative for Mathematics Achivers’ and Scholars’ Club (MASC)

______________________________

Student’s Signature
 287

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Ferie Joseph D. Manalad Jr.

Address: Purok 2 Cemetery Road, Brgy. Magsaysay, Castillejos

Email: 420549150043@r3-2.deped.gov.ph

Academic Achievements:

Grade 7 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Perfect Attendance Award

Grade 8 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- YMCA Bible Quiz Bee Division Champion

- YMCA Bible Quiz Bee Regional 4th Place

Grade 9 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Conduct Award Only Recipient

- YMCA Bible Quiz Bee Division Champion

- YMCA Bible Quiz Bee Regional 4th Place

- Conduct Award Only Recipient

- BKHSM Mood Booster Award

- Slogan Making FilVal Month School Level 1st Place and Division RSHS

Representative

Grade 10 - Junior High School Completer Top 1

- Academic Excellence Award (With Highest Honors)

- RSHS III ACE Awardee

- Vice President of Values Club

 288

Grade 11 - Academic Excellence Award 1st Semester (With High Honors)

- Chartered President of Lipunang Gagabay sa Yapak ng Buhay (LiGaYa Club)

- Programs and Special Events Committee of the Supreme Student Government of

RSHS III

- Participant in the De La Salle University Senior High School Research Congress

______________________________

Student’s Signature
 289

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Joanne Thea G. Ragadio

Address: Purok 2, Consuelo Norte, San Marcelino

Email: 420539150085@r3-2.deped.gov.ph

Academic Achievements:

Grade 7 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- KALIS History Month quiz bee (2nd place)

Grade 8 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

Grade 9 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Wear What You Dream Career Guidance Month (2nd place)

- Class Officer (president)

Grade 10 - Junior High School Completer

- Academic Excellence Award (With High Honors)

Grade 11 - Academic Excellence Award 1st Semester (With High Honors)

- Participant in De La Salle University Senior High School Research Congress

______________________________

Student’s Signature
 290

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Alexa Zoie F. Pagalilauan

Address: Blk 10 Lot 2 Mapagmahal St., Fiesta Communities Inc.,

Brgy. Del Pilar, Castillejos

Email: 401374150103@r3-2.deped.gov.ph

Academic Achievements:

Grade 7 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- City Meet Taekwondo (Gold)

- CLRAA Qualifier

- Martial Arts Festival XII Poomsae (Silver)

- Martial Arts Festival XII Kyorugi (Gold)

- Batang Pinoy Luzon Leg Taekwondo (4th placer)

- Qualifier in National Batang Pinoy

- Nueva Ecija Taekwondo Championships (Bronze)

Grade 8 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Spoken Poetry Competition (Champion)

- Batang Pinoy Luzon Leg Taekwondo (Bronze)

Grade 9 - Academic Excellence Award (With Honors)

- Qualifier in National Batang Pinoy

- Yes-O Essay Writing (4th place)

- Participated in Limitless: National Youth Summit on Statistics

- Best Director in BKHSM

 291

- Best Director in Les Miserables

Grade 10 - Junior High School Completer

- Academic Excellence Award (With High Honors)

Grade 11 - Academic Excellence Award 1st Semester (With High Honors)

- Treasurer of Supreme Student Government

- Participant in De La Salle University Senior High School Research Congress

______________________________

Student’s Signature