MANILA, Philippines — Actor Jason Abalos mourned the death of his doctor friend who died due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Abalos took to Instagram to reminisce moments with Dr. Leandro L Resurreccion III, a pediatric transplant surgeon at Philippine Children’s Medical Center, who passed away Tuesday.
He said he became friends with Resurreccion because of their shared interest and passion about motorcycles.
“Masaya siya na naka motor lagi papunta sa mga hospital na pinapasukan nya kasi sabi nya nag eenjoy daw siya, tipid na sa gas, walang traffic hindi pa mahirap sa parking,” Abalos recalled.
(He’s happy riding his motorcycle to work. He said he enjoys it because it is fuel-efficient, is a traffic-buster and parking is hardly a problem.)
The actor also recounted that Resurreccion always talked about his children and how proud he is of them.
“Mabait na tatay si Doc Jun, pag nag kwentuhan kami sa buhay, malalaman mo sa mga kwento niya kung gaano siya ka proud sa mga anak niya,” he said.
(Dr. Jun is a good father. When we talk about life, you will know how proud he is of his children.)
With the passing of another frontliner, Abalos appealed to the public to stay at home to contain the spread of the virus.
“Ang hiling lang ng mga frontliners eh mag stay sa bahay para hindi na kumalat ang virus yan lang ang maitutulong natin sa kanila, buhay ang binubiwis nila para sa atin tulungan natin sila,” he said.
(The frontliners’ appeal is for the public to stay at home so that the virus will not spread further. This is the only thing we could do to help them. They are risking their lives for us, let’s help them.)
Abalos also called out government officials to step up their efforts in protecting the frontliners.
“Ngayon naman po sa ating gobyerno na parang mas naasahan pa ang mga pribadong sektor, kayo po na nakaupo, mas may kakayanan po kayo na tumulong bukod po sa yan ang trabaho nyo ang protektahan ang ating mamayanan. Nawawalan po tayo ng pamilya na kagaya ni Doc Jun,” he said.
The Philippines has 2,084 conformed cases of COVID-19 with a death toll of 88.