Chosen Filipino frontliners received a "K-Healing" package, with the individuals nominated by their countrymen. From October 5 to 31, 2020, the KCC received 156 nominations for more than 900 frontliners across the Philippine archipelago. Some of them are coming from as far as Puerto Princesa in the west and Davao in the south.
Nominations for these frontliners also covered a diverse range of professions, including medical personnel, police and military men, firefighters, drivers, security guards, and janitors - with the KCC recognized and appreciated the stories behind each nomination. The "Overcome Together" campaign provided Filipinos an opportunity to come together and honor their local heroes.
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After carefully going over each nomination, the Korean Cultural Center has narrowed down the nominees to 15 nominees for its Individual Category and about 314 individuals from 15 different Group Categories groups. Meet some of the everyday Filipinos who rose to the unprecedented challenges of the coronavirus pandemic:
Duty Above All: The Story of Nurse Mae Joy Cruspero
Divine Cruspero, a Filipina based in New Zealand, nominated her sister Mae Joy Cruspero - a nurse from Davao. While already set to follow her sister for greener pastures in New Zealand, the coronavirus pandemic made Mae Joy decide to put her dreams on hold and serve her community as a nurse.
"There were many times throughout the pandemic that I had asked my sister to quit her job because of the danger and the risk," Divine shared. "But she simply said, 'This is my passion, this is the job that I've chosen for myself. I'm here to serve the people, give back to the community, and serve my parents.''
Hope, Not Despair: Romeo Subio Fights For His Family
A public utility jeepney (PUJ) driver from Butuan City, in the country's southern island of Mindanao, Romeo Subio was nominated by his daughter Romelynn. In the middle of the lockdown and when the transport sector was at a standstill, Rome Subio did vehicle repairs and carpentry for others in order to keep providing for his family.
"When we would talk, he was worried about the loss of income and how to sustain our family's needs. But as a daughter, I know why he felt that way," Romelynn explained. "He has always been a good provider for the family. Despite that, I encouraged him that everything he felt then was normal and that he was doing well in everything that he does for our family. Laban lang (fighting)!"
Protecting The Next Generation: Schoolteacher Evelyn Setias Leaves No Student Behind
Evelyn Setias is a schoolteacher from West Fairview Elementary School in the country's Quezon City. Aside from taking care of her three children - with her husband working overseas - Setias also devotes herself to making sure her students keep on learning despite the cancellation of face-to-face classes.
"My mom spends a lot of time preparing for school. She chooses to work for hours, even losing sleep, to accomplish her tasks for class. Often, she has also had to skip meals in order to help out her students," Setias' eldest son wrote. "My mom is a hero because she shares her knowledge and is helping nurture future nurses, police, local government officer doctors and more."
Moreover, as part of the Korean Embassy's partnership with the Department of Education for the Special Program for Languages, KCC also recognized the teachers at the frontlines of their partner schools like Kalayaan National High School in Pasay and Makati High School also in the Philippines.
The campaign to recognize exceptional Filipino service in the middle of the pandemic will culminate in a mini-concert available on the KCC Official YouTube Channel on December 12, 3 PM PST. Additional updates about the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines are available on their official social media accounts: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
