‘Sadly, no acknowledgment from Dut’: Celebs thank health workers, scientists, reporters for braving coronavirus

(Left) DOH personnel checking passengers’ temperature at the airport; (Right) City Health Office Environmental Sanitation Office Disinfection Team disinfects classrooms and premises in Pasig. Image: Jigger J. Jerusalem/INQUIRER Mindanao; Grig C. Montegrande/INQUIRER

Celebrities are expressing their gratitude toward the people who are putting themselves in the line of danger to protect and inform the public amid the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

Some noted President Duterte’s “missed opportunity” to thank the health workers and scientists who are working hard to battle the virus, during his nationally televised address on the evening of Thursday, March 12.

Actor Luis Manzano lauded the country’s hardworking professionals for keeping the country safe via Twitter yesterday, March 12.

“Thank you to all the health workers, scientists, reporters, and cleaners for trying to keep the country safe and healthy,” he said.

Thank you to all the health workers, scientists, reporters, and cleaners for trying to keep the country safe and healthy 👍🏻

— Luis Manzano (@luckymanzano) March 12, 2020

TV host Bianca Gonzales retweeted Manzano’s post, calling them “our [modern-day] HEROES.”

Thank you to our modern day HEROES 🇵🇭 https://t.co/SYx5U5eIEz

— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) March 12, 2020

Musician Jim Paredes expressed his disappointment about the President’s failure to acknowledge the people who have been in the frontlines of the battle against the virus.

“Sadly, Dut did not acknowledge nor thank the frontliners (docs, nurses, lab technicians, etc.) last night,” Paredes said. “He put more emphasis on trusting the military and [C]hina.”

During his address, Duterte thanked the Chinese government, especially President Xi Jinping, for their “consoling words.” Duterte also mentioned that he would call on China for help if the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines gets worse.

https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1238260475823116289

Paredes also retweeted Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ Twitter post critical of a portion of the Presidential address.

“Instead of thanking China, [I’d] like to thank our health workers who have been at the frontlines against COVID-19,” Hontiveros wrote on her Twitter page yesterday.

“You have been working tirelessly in the name of public health [and] safety,” the senator added. “You are the real heroes, [and] I am thankful for your service to our people. Marami pong salamat (Thank you very much)!”

The former Apo Hiking Society member echoed Hontiveros’ sentiment, stating: “Korek[.] He missed this opportunity.”

https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1238117502174892032

Actress Agot Isidro also said healthcare professionals and the employees of the Department of Health have her “utmost respect and gratitude” during these testy times, as seen on her Twitter account today, March 13.

Isidro retweeted a screen capture of a message uploaded by a certain @diellealura, whose mother works for the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

“Protocol ‘pag umuuwi si mama mula RITM,” the Twitter user said.

The message was an extensive instruction on how her family should keep their distance from their mom before she can disinfect.

“[Please] open all doors from gate to CR para wala akong hahawakan (so I won’t touch anything), keep more than 1 meter distance from me until makaligo ako (I can take a bath),” the mom said.

Utmost respect and gratitude to the hardworking frontliners, the health care professionals, hospital staff and crew, @DOHgovph employees…

Kayo ang dapat pasalamatan. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/RqDjRGt9i2

— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) March 13, 2020

Actress Neri Naig also expressed on Instagram her gratitude to everyone who works in the hospital, including the security guards, maintenance staff, clerks, receptionists, secretaries and canteen workers, who need to continue their service.

“Hindi ko alam kung paano po ang pang araw araw [niyo] pong routine,” Naig addressed the hospital staff. “Hindi ko rin po alam kung papaano rin po ang pamilya [niyo] kung nakakasama [niyo] pa rin ba?”

(I don’t know what your daily routine is. I don’t know if you still see your family.)

“Mula sa puso po naming lahat, sobrang naa-appreciate po namin ang kabayanihan ninyo,” she added. “God bless you all po. Malalagpasan natin po ‘to lahat. Ingat po tayo. Isang mahigpit na yakap po para sa inyo.”

(From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate your bravery very much. God bless you all. We will get through this. Take care. [I’m sending] one tight hug for you all.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9p5hT6g40Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Meanwhile, volleyball athlete and TV host Gretchen Ho dedicated a prayer to her fellow journalists on her Twitter account today.

Isang taimtim na dasal para sa lahat ng mediamen na patuloy na sinusuong ang mga kalsada, makapaghatid lamang ng tamang balita. Kaligtasan 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/uzSwIWpRAP

— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) March 12, 2020

“Isang taimtim na dasal para sa lahat ng mediamen na patuloy na sinusuong ang mga kalsada, makapaghatid lamang ng tamang balita (A fervent prayer for the mediamen who continue to venture down the roads just so they can deliver the right  news),” she said. “Kaligtasan (safety).”  /ra

RELATED STORIES:

Vice Ganda, Bela Padilla apologize for avoiding selfies with fans to practice ‘social distancing’

LOOK: Heart Evangelista creates ‘fashionably safe’ face mask