Dingdong, Marian, Janine, and more celebs pay tribute to health workers in COVID-19 fight

Dozens of actors from different networks have prepared a special tribute to the country’s brave health workers who risk their lives to save others amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a video posted by the League of Filipino Actors (AKTOR), Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Iza Calzado and more appeared in a series of individual clips that conveyed a single message for frontliners going through hardships brought by the health crisis.

Piolo Pascual, Angel Locsin, Anne Curtis, Agot Isidro, Angel Aquino, Angelica Panganiban, Janine Gutierrez, Sunshine Dizon, Chynna Ortaleza, Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos were also among artists who made an appearance.

Together, the actors thanked medical workers for their dedication and sought their forgiveness on behalf of those who fail to recognize and appreciate their hard work and sacrifice.

The actors also encouraged their "bayanis" to hang on, and reminded them that they would be the ones to thank for a better tomorrow.

"Sorry kung hindi mo ramdam. Patawad kung nakakakalimot kami minsan. Higit sa mga salita, higit sa titulo, nararapat ka para sa pagpupugay at pag-aalaga, at ipaglalaban namin ang nararapat sayo. At ituturing ka naming bayani, pero hindi martir. Ang ibig kong sabihin, kailangan ka namin ng buhay, dahil babawi pa kami sayo pagkatapos, hindi ba?" The actors said.

"Pero, sa ngayon, sana kumapit ka pa. May isisilang tayong bagong mundo gusto ko makita ka ro'n. Gusto ko maging bahagi ka no'n. Makakasama ka roon, at kung hindi namin sa'yo nasasabi nang madalas, pasensya na," they added.

"Pero ngayon, bago ka umalis sa trabaho sanay alam mo: Abot langit ang pasasalamat namin sayo. Maraming salamat."

AKTOR also saluted medical frontliners who fell victim to the coronavirus disease 2019, including more than 40 doctors who lost their lives and thousands of other health workers who fell sick during the fight.

The video ended with a text that read: “Pinapalakpakan ng AKTOR ang buhay at paglilingkod ng ating mga frontliners at health workers."

"Lagi kaming kayakap sa inyong paglaban para sa kalusugan ng bayan," it added.

AKTOR released the video as the tally of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines leapt to 115,980 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 3,462 more infections on Wednesday, August 5.

The Philippines still has the second-highest COVID-19 tally and highest number of active cases across Southeast Asia at 47,587, followed by Indonesia with 37,618.

The video also came a few days after President Rodrigo Duterte went on a televised tirade against health care workers for calling for stricter quarantine protocols.

Health workers groups expressed their frustration after the President’s remarks, lamenting that health workers should be treated as soldiers, not enemies, as the country faces a health crisis. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News