Vice Ganda (L), Jennylyn Mercado and Jhong Hilario. Images: Facebook/Vice Ganda, Jennylyn Mercado, Jhong Hilario
Celebrities showed their support for frontliners after the country’s medical community proposed a “timeout” for the health sector amid increasing COVID-19 cases.
“More love. More appreciation. More respect. Yan ang deserve ng mga FRONTLINERS ngayon,” TV host Vice Ganda said on Twitter last Saturday, Aug. 1. “Bukod sa mas mataas na kompensasyon at benipisyo.”
(This is what FRONTLINERS deserve now. Aside from higher compensation and benefits.)
More love. More appreciation. More respect. Yan ang deserve ng mga FRONTLINERS ngayon. Bukod sa mas mataas na kompensasyon at benipisyo.
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) August 1, 2020
He then thanked the healthcare workers for braving the ongoing pandemic.
“[‘Di] ko man matanggal ang mga pagod at hirap ninyo mapasalamatan ko man lang kayo,” Vice Ganda stated. “Iba ang sakripisyo ninyo. Mula sa puso ko gusto kong sabihing God Bless You at MABUHAY kayo!”
(Though I cannot alleviate your exhaustion and hardship, I will at least thank you. Your sacrifices are something else. From my heart I want to say God bless you and long live!)
Maraming salamat sa mga Frontliners na nasa Medical field !!! Di ko man matanggal ang mga pagod at hirap ninyo mapasalamatan ko man lang kayo. Iba ang sakripisyo ninyo. Mula sa puso ko gusto kong sabihing God Bless You at MABUHAY kayo!
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) August 1, 2020
Jhong Hilario echoed Vice Ganda’s sentiments, saying: “Sa lahat po ng health frontliners God bless po sa inyo… [Mag-iingat] po kayo palagi at [ipagdadasal] po namin ang inyong kaligtasan… Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo…”
(To all the health frontliners, God bless you. Take care always and we will pray for your safety. Many many thanks to all of you.)
Sa lahat po ng health frontliners God bless po sa inyo… Mag iingat po kayo palagi at ipag dadasal po namin ang inyong kaligtasan… Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo… ❤🙏
— Jhong hilario (@jhongsample) August 1, 2020
Meanwhile, Jennylyn Mercado expressed her gratitude to the healthcare workers after Sen. Cynthia Villar dismissed the medical community’s plea to reimpose strict lockdown measures. Villar has since explained that it is the government that should work harder during this crisis.
“Thank you to our medical frontliners,” Mercado said. “Without you matagal na tayong talo sa laban (we would have long lost the battle) against this virus.”
“You deserve so much more than this,” she added. “We are so sorry…”
Leah Navarro highlighted the importance of the health workers by stating that President Rodrigo Duterte himself “cannot do without medical attention and care.”
“He, above all, should be championing the welfare and protection of our health workers,” she said.
She then thanked the “exhausted but committed frontline workers” for their “selfless service” alongside a graphic by the opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas.
Duterte himself cannot do without medical attention and care. He, above all, should be championing the welfare and protection of our health workers.
To our exhausted but committed frontline workers, gratitude for your selfless service. 🙏👏💪 pic.twitter.com/taAuigsdYu
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) August 1, 2020
Following the urging of over 60 medical societies to reimpose stricter quarantine measures, Duterte last night approved the return of the Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from Aug. 4 to 18.
After Duterte’s decision, interior secretary Eduardo Año reminded the public earlier today that quarantine passes will be required again and mass transport will be banned in areas under MECQ.
The Department of Health reported 5,032 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the country’s total to 103,185. It is considered the highest single-day jump on record in the country.
More than half or 55,808 of the total infections nationwide are in Metro Manila. The country’s death toll climbed to 2,059 while the recoveries reached 65,557. NVG
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