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Volunteers helping cruise ship Pinoys give meaning to ‘Magkaisa’ on People Power anniversary
Angela Tolentino and Chareloa Marcial weren't even born yet when the People Power Revolution took place, but on the 34th anniversary of the phenomenon that restored the country's democracy, these young diplomats are giving new meaning to the revolution's popular song, "Magkaisa."
Gel and Chare, as family and friends fondly call them, are two of the Filipinos who have volunteered to help in the repatriation of the more than 400 Filipino crew members of the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship, currently docked and quarantined in Japan.
They left for Japan on a Philippine Airlines flight at noon on Tuesday.
Filipino diplomats Atty. Gel Tolentino and Atty. Chare Marcial now on board an airplane bound for Haneda, Japan where they will help in the repatriation of Pinoy crew members of MV Diamond Princess.They volunteered for this mission in spite of the risks involved @gmanews pic.twitter.com/9T5BCoKN6X
— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) February 25, 2020
Gel, 28, said she wanted to volunteer when the Department of Foreign Affairs Department said it needed volunteers to assist in the repatriation of Filipinos from virus epicenter Wuhan, China.
She missed the chance as she was busy with other things at the time, but immediately offered her services as soon as she heard of the mission to repatriate the OFWs on the cruise ship. "It's a privilege to serve," she said.
WATCH: Love of country outweighs COVID-19 fear – gov’t repatriation team
The young diplomat recalled one of the lectures during her cadetship, when DFA Undersecretary For Migrant Workers' Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola told them about the intricacies of the service. "Sabi n'ya, 'We go where we are called. We go where we are needed,'" Gel said.
Perhaps public service is second nature to Gel as she comes from a family of public servants. Both her parents work in government service. After taking up European Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University, she worked briefly at the Department of National Defense before transferring to the Foreign Affairs Department after she passed the foreign service officers' exam in 2017.
Chare, 26, studied law at San Beda College of Law and passed the Bar Exam in 2019. Currently, she is taking the foreign service officers' exam. She studied Consular and Diplomatic Affairs at De La Salle University's College of Saint Benilde and now works at the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA), which may explain her natural tendency to assist OFWs.
"Last night I was thinking it about it: 'Bakit nga ba ako nag volunteer?' Well, I think mostly it's duty to your job and I guess it's also to help other people. They want to come home so let's bring them home and we want to do our part," she said.
Another diplomat, 37-year-old Ismael Alcano, also volunteered for the mission and was first to fly out to Japan on Tuesday.
Filipino diplomats brave the mission of helping in the repatriation of pinoy crew members of MV Diamond Princess in Japan. They volunteered to assist OFWs as they return home.@gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/NA96ttLnS2
— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) February 25, 2020
COVID-19 currently has a death toll of more than 2,600, with close to 80,000 cases of infection in China and about 30 other countries. On the Diamond Princess alone, there have been 691 infections, including 80 Filipinos.
These young diplomats are well aware the dangers of the disease.
However, asked if they are afraid or anxious to carry out the mission, Gel replied, "Meron pong [takot] pero mas nangingibabaw po ang pagmamahal sa bayan. Mas nangingibabaw po 'yung tapang, mas nangingibabaw po 'yung pagmamahal sa bayan kaysa sa takot po."
Chare said that she fears the unknown, especially with limited information on the virus, but she trusts that her strong faith in God will help her carry on. "There is always that fear na what if you catch it, or what if something happens or what if we have that so-called healthy carrier, diba? Fearful, pero for me I'm a faithful person kasi I just believe that God can protect me from anything naman."
Chare and Gel are set to arrive at the Clark International Airport around 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday, together with a batch of Filipinos from the ship.
They will be quarantined at the Athlete's Village in New Clark City in Tarlac.
Alcano will arrive two hours earlier, bringing with him the first batch of repatriated Filipinos from the cruise ship.
To prepare for the mission, Chare started sleeping early and taking vitamins. Gel prepared for the 14-day quarantine by packing lots of books to occupy her time while in the facility. "We are young and I believe we are healthy so kaya naman," she said.
With the two young women handing their diplomatic passports to security, their mission has begun. Their courage and desire to serve show there is so much promise in the youth—and that there is so much love waiting for the distressed OFWs when they get back home.
"The fact that we are going there and we are boarding the plane, na susunduin namin sila, I think it says a lot na we are not afraid of you, we are one with you in this journey," Chare said.
"More than being symbolic, I think it's a way to show the Filipino people that we welcome them back home. It's a good gesture na we welcome you, we will assist you, we are here for you. We are in this together," Gel said.
As the chorus of the 1986 Revolution song goes, "Magkaisa (may pag-asa kang matatanaw), at magsama (bagong umaga, bagong araw)." Through the selflessness of their compatriots, the hundreds of OFWs to be repatriated from the ship are sure to feel the promise of a new day as Filipinos unite for the country. — BM, GMA News
