We would like to pay tribute to the Filipino healthcare workers who died while working on the frontlines during the Covid-19 pandemic. They are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, friends and colleagues who were taken away too soon under the most difficult circumstances. We hope to feature all of them in this section – here is our first installment. With thanks to Jonathan Jusayan (Nurse Nathan) for giving us permission to use his sketches for this piece.
Elvira Bucu
Elvira Bucu, 50, passed away on the 3rd April whilst self-isolating at home. She had worked at Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot as an NHS Healthcare Assistant. Her colleagues described her as a ‘ray of sunshine’ who was always smiling and never had a bad word to say about anyone.
Frimley Health Foundation Trust, who runs the hospital, said she was dedicated, highly valued and respected.
A fundraising page was set up in memory of Elvira and to help fund the costs of her funeral. They reached their fundraising goal of £8,000 in less than a week and it now stands at £9,773. Her family were able to hold a funeral on 23rd April, according to an update on the fundraising page. However due to lockdown, only immediate family members were able to attend. Her family said that after lockdown they will hold a memorial service for everyone here in the UK, before bringing her back to the Philippines.
John Alagos
John Alagos, 23, was a nursing assistant at Watford General Hospital. He died on the 3rd April, becoming the third and the youngest UK nurse to die during this pandemic. He collapsed during a 12-hour shift while treating Covid-19 patients. John’s colleagues had told his mother, Gina Gustilo, that he had not been wearing adequate protective clothing despite working on the frontline.
A spokesperson for Watford General Hospital said that John was very popular and would be greatly missed.
A Go Fund Me page was set up in memory of John and has raised £14, 639. On his page set up by a colleague, it says, “He was a good son. He continually supported his Mum, Dad and two other siblings. At 23, he had dreams to pursue Uni, unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to do this now.”
Leilani Medel
Leilani Medel, 41, worked as an agency nurse in South Wales. She had lived in Bridgend for more than ten years. Leilani was the third nurse in Wales to die after contracting Covid-19. She passed away on the 10th April.
Leilani was only 23 when she left the Philippines to come to the UK. She had been the first in her family to receive higher education. She studied nursing knowing that it would allow for opportunities to work abroad. In 2002, she moved to the UK. Her brother said that Leilani would send her family money every month.
The director of Hoop Recruitment, Rhian Eccleshare, said the nursing profession has lost a warm natured and beautiful nurse.
“We would like to offer our deepest sympathies to her family and our thoughts and prayers are with you at this tragic time.“
Kenneth Lambatan
Kenneth Lambatan, a cardiac research nurse at St. George’s Hospital in London, died on the 27th April. He was then asked to help in the Covid-19 ward of the hospital. The 34-year-old passed away at St Thomas’s Hospital whilst holding the hand of his best friend of 20 years, Via Salinasal. His family could not be there as they all live in the Philippines.
Ken was described by the Chief Executive of his hospital, Jacqueline Totterdell, as being very popular with staff and a ‘true gem’ by those who had known him.
Ms Salinasal told ITV, “We talked a lot, he said he wanted to get married, he said he wanted a family, he said that if I can bring your son here that he’d help me.
“He’s always been that friend that’s so full of dreams but he wants your dreams to come true as well and he becomes really happy if he sees you becoming successful and that’s how I will remember him.“
