Marvin Agustin’s sister narrates sorry plight of health workers abroad amid COVID-19

Marvin Agustin (Image: Instagram/@marvinagustin)

Amid the ongoing health crisis, actor Marvin Agustin urged his followers to check on their loved ones, especially if they work in the medical field.

The actor’s appeal came after his conversation with his sister Cheng, who works as a nurse in Canada. Agustin’s sister revealed that health workers there were experiencing low morale in their workplace, as seen on his Twitter post yesterday, April 9.

Cheng narrated the difficulty she has been experiencing at work via a personal message to Agustin. Agustin then uploaded the portion of their conversation on social media, to remind people to cheer for those who are in the frontline of the the fight against the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.

“Hirap na hirap sila, 1st world pa yun,” he said. “Lalo na mga kababayan natin dito… Mahalin at kamustahin nyo mga kamag-anak nyo lalo na kung nasa health/medical industry sila. Palakasin nyo loob nila.”

(They are having a hard time, and that is a First World [country.] Even more so our fellow Filipinos here. Let us love our family and check on how they are doing, especially if they are in the health or medical industry. Let us boost their morale.)

Agustin’s sister also recalled that for the past two days, she had been crying before going to work. The news about a Filipino health worker who died from COVID-19 also took a toll on Cheng. She said the fallen health worker, who was in his 40s, had a wife and a 4-year-old child. The family has only been residing in Canada for three years, according to Cheng.

“This pandemic is making me really think hard,” Agustin’s sister said. “I won’t quit work now. I don’t know if I will [but] I would definitely make changes when the right time comes.”

I checked on my sister, shes a nurse in Canada. Yan ang text back nya…

Hirap na hirap sila, 1st world pa yun. Lalo na mga kababayan natin dito… Mahalin at kamustahin nyo mga kamag-anak nyo lalo na kung nasa health/medical industry sila. Palakasin nyo loob nila… pic.twitter.com/LfhCosFnRR

— IG: @MarvinAgustin (@marvin_agustin) April 9, 2020

In a follow-up tweet, Agustin emphasized the importance of staying at home to help these health workers.

“Grabe dusa at sakripisyo nila,” Agustin said. “Grabe panganib sa buhay nila. Gusto na nila sumuko pero di nila gagawin para sa atin.”

(They are experiencing so much hardship and sacrifice. They also face grave danger in their lives. They want to give up, but they won’t do it for our sake.)

Grabe dusa at sakripisyo nila. Grabe panganib sa buhay nila. Gusto na nila sumuko pero di nila gagawin para sa atin. Sa mga kayang manatili sa bahay, PLEASE STAY HOME. Wag na natin dagdagan ang bigat na nararamdaman nila🙏🏻 #frontlineworkers

— IG: @MarvinAgustin (@marvin_agustin) April 9, 2020

“Sa mga kayang manatili sa bahay, PLEASE STAY HOME,” he added. “Wag na natin dagdagan ang bigat na nararamdaman nila.”

(To those of us who can stay at home, PLEASE STAY AT HOME. Let us not add to the burden they are already going through.)  /ra

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