Lived Experiences of Covid 19 Frontliners in Cebu

LIVED-EXPERIENCES OF COVID-19 FRONTLINERS IN CEBU
A Thesis
Presented to the faculty
of the Senior High School Department
University of Cebu - Main Campus
Cebu City
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Grade 11 Senior High School Students
Of Second Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
In Practical Research 1
BRAVO, JACHEL
CABALLES, JOEDELL DERRICK
CALUMARDE, TRISHIA KARYL
CAPERARE, MARIGOLD PRINCESS
LEGASPI, WENGEL
LEHREN, PETER
LIM, SHEARDY
QUIBOL, KENT JAMES
TATOY, KENSHIN
TEJANO, MARGRETH
11 ABM 1P
May 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title Page i
Table of Contents ii
Chapter I: THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
Rationale 1
Theoretical Background 3
Related Literature 7
History of COVID-19 8
COVID-19 8
Positive Experiences 9
Negative Experience 9
Coping Mechanisms 11
Related Studies 11
Theoretical Framework 14
THE PROBLEM
Statement of the Problem 15
Significance of the Study 15
Scope and Delimitation 17
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design 18
Research Locale 18
Research Informants 18
Research Instrument 19
Research Procedure 20
Data Gathering 20
Date Analysis 21
Definition of Terms 22
Chapter II: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Outline 23
Presentation of Themes 27
Positive Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners 27
Negative Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners 37
Coping Mechanisms of COVID-19 Frontliners 53
Chapter III: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of Findings 70
Conclusion 71
Recommendations 71
REFERENCES 73
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Transmittal Letter 94

Appendix B: Informed Consent 96
Appendix C: Research Locale 98
Appendix D: Research Instrument – Interview Guide 99
Appendix E: Transcriptions 101
Appendix F: Coding Table 114
Appendix G: Documentation 126
CURRICULUM VITAE 127

CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially characterized the Coronavirus
Disease 2019 or COVID-19 as a global pandemic, emphasizing the crucial global spread of an infectious
disease (WHO, 2020). Troublingly, this pandemic took the world by storm by being the largest outbreak
of atypical pneumonia by far since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS outbreak in 2003.
Within weeks of the initial outbreak, the total number of cases and deaths exceeded those of SARS
(Hawryluck et al., 2004). And with the burgeoning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the psychological issues
which accompany this pandemic have rapidly exacerbated its public health burden, especially to millions
of medical frontline workers worldwide (Torales et al., 2020). However, even before the COVID-19
outbreak, working in the medical field was already stressful. Research on mental distress in healthcare
workers had previously shown that healthcare workers were more likely to suffer from psychiatric
disorders compared to workers in other professions. About half of all physicians were getting burnt out
and doctors had higher suicide rates than the general population. Similar researches assessing the mental
health implications of COVID-19 had also identified a heightened prevalence of moderate-to-severe self-
reported depressive and anxious symptomatology among the general public (Wang et al., 2020).
Supposedly, this study was to be conducted at the University of Cebu-Main Campus Senior High
School Department; however, to maintain social distancing and avoid unexpected circumstances that will
affect both the welfare of the informants and researchers, the study will be conducted virtually. The
researchers made use of social media websites and accounts to reach the research informants which are
medical frontline workers such as doctors, nurses, and health aides from the province of Cebu,
Philippines. The researchers chose this area to conduct their research because during late April of the
previous year, there had been a surge of confirmed cases in Cebu – especially in high population density
urban poor areas. Therefore, resulting in a massive lockdown for the residents, and the medical
professionals feeling overwhelmed with the aggressive rise of cases while risking their lives working in
the frontlines (De Vera 2020).
Coronavirus is a family of related viruses (WHO, 2020). Many of them cause respiratory
illnesses. Coronaviruses cause COVID-19, SARS, MERS, and some strains of influenza, or flu. The
coronavirus that causes COVID-19 or Coronavirus Disease 2019 is officially called SARS-CoV-2, which
stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Quarantine is sometimes called "isolation."
Self-isolation is also called self-quarantine, where you separate yourself when you’re sick from healthy
individuals to prevent spreading illness. A Confirmed case refers to someone tested and confirmed to
have COVID-19. A Pandemic curve refers to the projected number of new cases over a period of time.
The idea of Flattening the Curve is to stagger the number of new cases over a longer period so that people
have better access to care. An Outbreak is the sudden increase of a specific illness in a small area. An
Epidemic is a disease that affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region. A
Pandemic is an epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries or continents.
The researchers believe that the number of COVID-19 cases arising in the province of Cebu is
worth closely watching – especially Metro Cebu: the second busiest metropolitan area in the Philippines.
In fact, according to statistics, on May 10, 2020, Cebu City briefly became the Philippine city with the
highest number of COVID-19 cases with 1,571 cases, surpassing Quezon City, which had 1,558 cases at
the time (Erram, 2020). Although surprisingly, the city quickly flattened the curved and kept it that way
for months until the number of cases started ballooning again in early 2021; hence the researchers decided
to look into the subject after becoming cognizant of its intensity and magnitude.
The general objective of this study is to ascertain the lived-experiences of COVID-19 medical
frontline workers who are assigned within the province of Cebu, Philippines. Specifically, this study
seeks to identify the following questions about the medical frontline workers: (1) positive experiences, (2)
negative experiences; and (3) coping mechanisms. Through this research study, beneficiaries of the
research can be aware of the impact and psychological toll the pandemic has on our brave heroes in the
medical field – and this may even motivate them to take further action and contribute to alleviating the
misery. Moreover, not only will this reveal the hidden impact of the pandemic on our medical frontline
workers but the conducted research may also be a beneficial basis for future researchers who may want to
conduct a study similar to this study.
Indeed, this horrific pandemic threatens the mental wellbeing of the medical frontline workers
who make up the backbone of our country’s medical field – and this caught the attention of the
researchers, who have been struck by their passion, bravery, and courage to serve the Filipino people
despite the challenging circumstances. Therefore, the researchers purposely conducted this study to
identify the struggles experienced by the modern-day heroes: medical frontline workers from the Queen
City of the South – Cebu, as they endeavor to serve their call of duty.
Theoretical Background
This study is dependent on one main theory and two supporting theories: Protection Motivation
Theory (PMT) by Rogers (1975), Theory of Comfort by Kolcaba (1994), and Expectancy Value Theory
by Vroom (1964).
Protection Motivation Theory. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was proposed by Rogers
(1975) that was used as a foundation that aims to understand the effect of fear appeals. This theory is used
to delineate the motivation of individuals to react in a protective way against a potential threat, and is
created for the health promotion and disease prevention sector (Rogers, 1975). PMT was also broadened
in order to provide better general description of the impact of persuasive communications, emphasizing
the behavioral change relating on the cognitive processes (Rogers, 1983). This theory is composed of four
key elements: “threat appraisal”, then “coping appraisal”, which consists “response efficacy” – the belief
that certain processes will alleviate the threat – and “self-efficacy”, the idea of an individual to carry out
with their own ability the required actions to alleviate the threat. Protection Motivation Theory may
pertains to “any threat for which there is an effective recommended response that can be carried out by
the individual” (Floyd, Prentice-Dunn, & Rogers, 2006). Maddux and Rogers (1983) discovered self-
efficacy to be “the most powerful predictor of behavioral intentions” that encompasses actual behavior
(Beatson & McLennan, 2011). PMT’s objective is to discern and evaluate the threat, and to be able to use
efficacious and helpful mitigation options, thus making PMT suitable to numerous social problems.
The Protection Motivation Theory is very useful in this study since it aims to describe the threat
which is the COVID-19 pandemic and identify how the medical frontline workers will react to the threat
including their positive and negative experiences. The theory also aid in determining and providing the
mitigating measures and coping mechanisms of the healthcare workers. The four key elements of the
Protection Motivation Theory will be utilized in classifying the aforementioned goals of the study. First is
the “threat appraisal” which aims to distinguish the magnitude and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to
the medical frontliners specifically their negative and positive experiences. The next element will be
“coping appraisal” which is composed of “response efficacy” and “self-efficacy”. Response efficacy is
used to ascertain the behaviors of the informants and how they respond to the threat. Finally, self-efficacy
is used to discover how the medical frontline workers cope up with the threats of the COVID-19
pandemic. To support the researchers’ claims, this theory has been used to studies regarding natural
hazards, such as climate change adaptations (Koerth, Vafeidis, Hinkel, & Sterr, 2013), earthquake in the
United States (Mulilis & Lippa, 1990), and flood in France and Germany (Poussin, Botzen & Aerts,
2014).
In a special article by Lateef (2020) entitled, Face to Face with Coronavirus Disease 19:
Maintaining Motivation, Psychological Safety, and Wellness, the theory was applied to aid in describing
the elements in maintaining the healthcare workers encouraged and sustaining to work amidst a crisis.
Lateef (2020) also asserted that PMT will give much help to the government and management in better
understanding the current state of these workers’ experiences and challenges in order for them to
formulate plans and strategies in dealing with these cases. Bashirian et al. (2020) states in their study,
Factors associated with preventive behaviours of COVID-19 among hospital staff in Iran in 2020: an
application of the Protection Motivation Theory, that PMT is used as the basis in analyzing and
describing the behaviors of healthcare workers towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, a variable
of Protection Motivation Theory which is self-efficacy has an influence on behavioral intention which is
proven by the thought that when the informants assess and think that they have the capability in taking
preventing measures, they are showing mental readiness to partake in coping behaviors (Yazdanpanah et
al., 2020).
Theory of Comfort. Theory of Comfort was developed by Kolcaba (1994) with the foundation
of care that was observed or given. The Theory of Comfort is used to identify and explain the
fundamental needs of the people for relief, ease, or transcendence that are caused by stressful health care
situations. It focuses on studying the ways on identifying and providing the comfort needs of both the
patient and the healthcare workers. This theory is based upon 3 concepts: (a) relief, (b) ease, and (c)
transcendence; and also have 4 domains: (a) physical, (b) psychospiritual, (c) sociocultural, and (d)
environmental. Orlando (1961) defined relief as the experience of attaining a comfort need. While
Henderson (1966) describes ease as having experienced care that nurtures contentment and calmness.
Also, Paterson and Zderad (1975) defined transcendence as the experience of care that empowers a
person to conquer their struggles and pain. The bodily sensations and functions are classified as the
physical domain. The self-esteem, self-concept, sexuality, life meaning, and relationship to a higher being
are pyschospiritual. Social relationships such as with friends and families are classified as sociocultural.
Then the external world such as nature is environmental (Vo, 2020).

Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort can be applied to this study because it is used to further understand
the needs and experiences of the medical frontline workers that are caused by stressful health care
situations specifically the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this theory, the researchers would be able to
identify the comfort needs of the healthcare workers and gather more data to further analyze their
experiences and coping mechanisms. Furthermore, the three concepts of the comfort theory can be used a
basis on supporting this study. The concept of “relief” will determine the experiences of the medical
frontliners in getting their comfort need. The concept of “ease” will describe their positive experiences
from the care that they received. Lastly, the concept of “transcendence” will define the coping
mechanisms of the healthcare workers through their experiences that enabled them to inspire and
empower other people.
An article of Vo (2020) entitled, A Practical Guide for Frontline Workers During COVID-19:
Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory, discusses the aim of her study which is to apply the Theory of Comfort by
Kolcaba (1994), as a basis to help alleviate the mental effect of the frontline workers during the COVID-
19 pandemic. The article concluded that applying Kolcaba’s (1994) Theory of Comfort in the medical
frontliners’ daily lives can serve as their protective wall against the Corona Virus’s mental health impact
(Vo, 2020). Through the study, she was able to identify the experiences of the medical workers as well as
a mitigating solution in reducing burnout and suicide due to the negative experiences of the virus.
Additionally, an article titled Nurse comfort…more than helpful hands, studied the issue of burnout
specifically on nurses and examined how the Theory of Comfort can fight against it (Heard, Hartman,
Beal & Bushardt, 2014). Based on the studies aforementioned above, the researchers conclude that the
Theory of Comfort can be a reliable theory to be applied in this study as a supporting theory because it
specifically delve on the comfort and experiences of healthcare workers.
Expectancy Value Theory. Expectancy Value Theory was first proposed by Vroom (1964)
which is directly applied to work settings. The Expectancy Theory gives a process of cognitive variables
on how an individual’s reference reflects in work motivation (Vroom, 1964). According to Vroom
(1964), expectancy value theory has three key elements: expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. A
person is inspired to the degree that he or she believes that (a) expectancy – the work will result to
satisfactory performance, (b) instrumentality – the performance will be remunerated, and (c) valence - the
worth of the reward is greatly positive. Based on the theory, expectancy refers to the expectation of
individuals that he or she can succeed at the challenging task. It is the person’s discernment of his/her
own capabilities. While the value referred on the theory is the belief of an individual about the importance
of their work, and why they should do these certain tasks. Additionally, the Expectancy Value Theory
describes that the persons’ motivation is based on their understanding and experiences of positive
expectancies and values.
The researchers presumed that the Expectancy Value Theory can be related to this study since it
is associated in studying and answering the specific problem on this study, mainly in identifying the
coping mechanisms of medical frontline workers. Moreover, this theory is used to identify the behavior of
healthcare workers on their experiences in predicting their coping strategies and mechanisms. A study
conducted by Simone (2015) titled Expectancy Value Theory: Motivating Healthcare Workers, presents a
study involving employees in government-funded hospitals which aims to discover ways in motivating
employees through the use of Expectancy Value Theory. The study focuses on the variables affecting the
degree of motivation of medical and nursing workers, such as expectancy, instrumentality, valence, and
as well as their satisfaction. To top it all off, the Expectancy Value Theory has an important influence in
motivating workers in healthcare setting (Simone, 2015).
The above-mentioned theories have a significant role in this study as they provide the backbone
and support that help conduct this study. The theories provided are connected with each other as they all
provide support to the research study in providing a more accurate and valid information in identifying
the result of the analysis. Moreover, these theories will serve as a guide in interpreting the survey with
precision and accuracy.

Related Literature
The study is centered on the lived experiences of the frontline healthcare workers during the
COVID-19 pandemic. This related literature specifically delve on the definition of COVID-19 as well as
its impact on the positive experiences, negative experiences and coping mechanisms of the medical
frontline workers.
History of COVID-19
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public
Health Emergency, posing a serious threat to countries with weak health system. According to Sohrabi et
al. (2020), at the time of writing this report, more than 4,405,680 cases and 302,115 deaths had been
reported due to the disease, including across the world’s six continents (European Center for Disease
Prevention & Control, 2020). Since most countries only test people with severe symptoms, the WHO
report likely represents only fraction of the actual number if infections. COVID-19 has no known
treatment at this time (World Health Organization, 2020). This has the potential to make healthcare staff
anxious and depressed. COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China, in December of 2019. While health
officials are still trying to figure out where this latest coronavirus came from, early speculation pointed to
a seafood market in Wuhan, China. The latest coronavirus induced viral pneumonia in some people who
visited the market. According to a study published on January 25, 2020, the first recorded case began on
December 1, 2019 and had no connection to the seafood industry. The origin and distribution of this virus
are still being investigated.
COVID-19
According to Sauer (2020), the Coronavirus is a type of virus. There are several types, some of
which cause disease. SARS-COV-2, a newly discovered coronavirus, has caused COVID-19, a
worldwide pandemic of respiratory illness. Cough, fever, or chills, shortness of breath or trouble
breathing, muscle or body aches, sore throat, loss of smell, diarrhea, headache, new exhaustion, nausea or
vomiting, and congestion or runny nose are among the COVID-19 symptoms. COVID-19 is a serious
virus that has resulted in death in some cases. Researchers currently believe that the latest coronavirus is
transmitted by droplets released into the air when an individual infected coughs or sneezes. Up to March
19, 2021, there have been 2,693,289 deaths reported caused by the said disease. Despite this, 69,052,542
people have survived.
Positive Experiences
Amidst the occurring predicament, the medical frontline workers shared some of their positive
experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. A narrative from Mayo medical professionals shared how
they supported and comforted each other in times of the crisis. Despite the pandemic, they felt closer like
a family and found more comfort in the company of their fellow healthcare workers (Stolle, 2020). Also,
an article from Rappler (2020) quoted the personal experiences of an ER nurse named Rhey Ecobiza.
Ecobiza said that he felt privileged serving the public in spite of the danger that the healthcare workers
encountered. He felt fulfilled in achieving his dream of becoming a superhero, who played a very
important role on the frontlines defending and helping humanity. In addition, Leomila Alcalde, also an
ER nurse, realized that her job feels very rewarding and gratifying.
In this time of devastation, the Filipinos continued showing acts of humanity especially on the
medical frontline workers. Programs like “Oplan Hatid”, “Lend-A-Bike”, and “Life Cycles” helped the
healthcare workers in taking them safely to their work from their homes. Nurses, doctors and other
medical frontline workers are being supported with sponsored food, temporary shelter, face masks,
alcohol, sanitizers and other resources that they needed in order to continue serving the people with their
heroic deeds (Greenpeace Philippines, 2020).
Negative Experiences
Health workers comprise the most influenced gathering of individuals in the battle against the
Coronavirus infection. Among the basic mental impacts during this pandemic are anxiety, panic,
depression, anger, confusion, ambivalence and financial stress. Medical services laborers were seen to
encounter comparative issues during past pandemics (Black Dog Institute, 2020). Exposure to
Coronavirus patients raises uneasiness and fear of infection disease. Therefore, levels of pressure, anxiety
and uneasiness increased in medical frontline workers and they may get traumatized (McAlonan et al.,
2007). As indicated by Cullen et al. (2020), especially those working in general wellbeing, primary care,
emergency service and intensive care are at the danger of obtaining mental indications.
According to the findings of Anderson (2020), the Coronavirus Disease 2019 has put a huge stain
on US health care and providers. Nurses went to work while the rest of the country hunkered down. Many
lacked proper personal protective equipment (PPE), putting them at risk of contracting the disease or
spreading it to others. Some health-care providers were not available with their nurses, and many nurses
were discouraged from speaking out about working conditions. Amy Spitzner, a critical care nurse,
recalled her experience for the past weeks working in an intensive care unit for COVID patients. It was
the worst experience she ever had, describing the disheartening situation of some critical patients she
cared for (Stolle, 2020). In addition to this, healthcare workers are facing both impacts of the pandemic.
First, they spend the day stressfully treating COVID patients, and then they return to their homes with
their own lives where they also experienced the lives of normal people affected by the virus (The Chicago
School, 2020).
In delicate and strife influenced nations, demonstrations of defiance during the Coronavirus
pandemic have denied hundreds of medical services and seriously hindered the response (WHO, 2020). In
different nations where assaults on medical services have been seen, the Coronavirus pandemic has some
of the time established unfriendly conditions for medical care suppliers who have announced occurrences
of viciousness, separation and badgering. Condemned as carriers of infection in numerous nations, some
have been attacked, others were denied transport while driving to work, and whole families were expelled
from their homes. Moreover, reports of assaults on clinical vehicles conveying Coronavirus tests, working
Coronavirus drivers just as patients are gathering and raising concerns around the world (WHO, 2020).
Coping Mechanisms
An article from Word Health Organization (2020), “It didn’t kill me, but I came out stronger”,
talk about an experience of a nurse who contracted the COVID-19 virus from one of his patients. When
the Austrian health services tested him positive, he immediately isolated his self from his family. During
his quarantine, he made it as an opportunity to learn more in managing the disease, safety precautions on
how not to infect other people, news about the studies and vaccines for COVID-19, and motivating stories
of recovery. When he was finally free of the virus, he stated that the virus didn’t kill him, but rather made
him stronger and more compassionate.
Rhey Ecobiza, the nurse mentioned before, also stated his coping mechanisms while in this
pandemic. He recounted that he got his strength to carry on from the little moments such as the simple
gratitude from the families of the patients and the patients he saved. Because of those moments, he felt
more resolute and determined to give his all in rendering services to the people. He also added that the
support from fellow Filipinos encouraged and motivated him (Rappler, 2020). Additionally, Leomila
Alcalde, also an ER nurse shared that her coping strategy is by being optimistic and positive thinking. As
a COVID survivor herself, she overcame all those struggles through the support and care from her family,
friends, and most especially God. Furthermore, another COVID-19 survivor, Dr. John Albert Montoya, a
Pediatric Cardiologist, also coped up with the help of the people around him.
Related Studies
On this study, the researchers focus on the related studies about the Lived-Experiences of
COVID-19 Frontliners in Cebu. The researchers also aim to identify how the front liners thrive to survive
in this time of crisis; how they choose to stay and serve the people; and share their struggles.
Nicomedes, Avila, and Arpia (2020), conducted a research study that titled, “ The Lived Experiences
of Filipino Front Liners During COVID-19 Outbreak”. The research setting was done on a one-on-one
interview through phone with the consent of the said participants. This paper investigates the lived
experiences of seven (7) Filipino workers who continued to report to work after the announcement of an
Enhanced Community Quarantine across Luzon. Medical professionals, the media, business process
outsourcing, and military personnel are among the front-line workers. Due to the compulsory physical
distancing scheme and Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) there have been restrictions on physical
contact.
This study shows the perspective from the front liners who serve their duty to the people. Most of
them share their concern on today’s crisis, how it affects their everyday lives. They are trying to adjust
and accept the situation in their work place and in their surroundings. The study conducted by
Nicomedes, Avila, and Arpia, (2020) is related to the current study. It tackles the struggles they
experience in this time of crisis, how they are surviving on from their day-to-day work. How they accept
the changes in their everyday lives that they used to live in. They also mentioned being positively
accepting the changes because they will continue to serve the people and to provide their family.
The researchers also found a related study to this research by Karimi, Fereidouni,
Behnammoghadam, Alimohammadi, Mousavizadeh, Salehi, Mirzaee, and Mirzaee (2020), titled “The
Lived Experience of Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19 in Iran: A Phenomenological Study”.
The aim of this study was to know more about the nurses' experiences caring for COVID-19 patients in
Iran. The findings of this study show that nurses working in COVID-19 wards and care centers are
experiencing mental and emotional distress and working under inadequate professional conditions.
The findings show how nurses working for COVID-19 wards are experiencing mental and
emotional distress. Working in this time of crisis, many front liners are experiencing mental and
emotional stress which can affect their performance on their job. Aside, they also show their concern
toward their patient which leads them to have anxiety, fear, and experience negative impact which leads
to their mental and emotional stress. Despite experiences, they still choose to render utmost service to the
people and be there with the people who needed them the most.
Another study conducted by Myers and Mulder (2020), titled “ Frontline Workers in the
Backrooms of COVID-19: Caring for the Living and the Dead” also related to this research study. Faculty
and staff were asked to volunteer and share their stories, data, and photographs describing their activities.
The information was then assembled into a narrative summary. Increased deaths tested capacity limits in
a hospital morgue and a large urban medical examiner's office (MEO), which were successfully managed
and monitored by forensic teams. Both facilities conducted autopsies on suspected and confirmed
COVID-19 cases. In a MEO serving a large urban area, decedents were tested for the severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Investigators on the scene worked closely with
families to satisfy the special needs of a pandemic. In order to successfully navigate emerging diseases
like the COVID-19 pandemic, forensic pathology is essential. In forensic pathology, direct conversations
with relatives are widespread and serve as a model for patient-and family-centered care.
In this study, Myers and Mulder (2020) described how the front liners share their stories working
as the backroom for COVID – 19. This study arrived at the following findings: (1) forensic pathology is
an important to public health service for detecting new diseases; (2) for navigating a pandemic, it's critical
to invest in a cross-functional, interdisciplinary forensics center that includes an academic medical center
and a regional medical examiner's office; (3) Forensic pathology is a model for patient-and family-
centered care because it provides interdisciplinary support to families, including direct communication
with pathologists and laboratory scientists.

Theoretical Framework
Protection Motivation Expectancy Value Theory

Theory of Comfort
Theory
(Kolcaba, 1994) (Vroom, 1964)
(Rogers, 1975)
Lived-Experiences of COVID-
19 Frontliners
 Positive Experiences
 Negative Experiences
 Coping Mechanisms
Figure 1.0 the Schematic Diagram of the Theoretical and Conceptual Framework of the Study
THE PROBLEM
Statement of the Problem
The general objective of the study is to ascertain the lived- experiences of COVID-19 Medical
Front liners specifically in Cebu.
Specifically, the study seeks answer to the following questions:
1. What are the positive experiences of the medical frontline workers during the COVID-19
pandemic?
2. What are the negative experiences of the medical frontline workers experienced during the
COVID-19 pandemic?
3. What are the coping mechanisms of the medical frontline workers during the COVID-19
pandemic?
Significance of the Study
The researchers believe that the result would benefit the following people and agencies in the
findings, conclusion, and recommendations of this research study.

Medical Frontline Workers. This study will help our medical frontliners reduce if not eradicate
the increasing cases of COVID 19 in Cebu City. It will help them in formulating a conceptual model on
the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 between the frontliners and the general public. It will also give
them enough information on how to flatten the epidemic curve on the increasing cases of COVID 19.
Families of Medical Frontline Workers. The study will help them in understanding how risky
and dangerous a work of a medical frontliners in facing the everyday life of physical contact with person
positive of COVID 19. This will remind them the importance of community effort in controlling the
transmission of the disease. It will also provide them the unusual and selfless support to the member of
the family who is a frontliners in fully understanding the work of a frontliner.
Department of Health. This study will give them enough information on minimizing the
increasing number of COVID 19 cases if not eliminated through conducting seminars and extra-curricular
activities on how to fight COVID 19. It will also help them in the formulation of laws and ordinances
regarding COVID 19. This study will show that both the frontliners and the general public should be
protected against the disease.
Local Government Unit (LGU). The result of this study may give them the idea in
strengthening the campaign in preventing the spread of COVID 19 to the people of Cebu City. By
formulating laws and ordinances about how to minimize the increasing cases of COVID 19. It will help
them establishing several control measures that should be done to minimize the spread of this contagious
disease.
General Public. This will help them to be aware of the extent of COVID 19. This will provide
knowledge on preventing and minimizing COVID 19 in the community. It will also help them on how to
avoid and lessen the increasing number of COVID 19 cases by practicing social distancing, home
quarantine and isolating infected individuals.
Researchers. This will help us in the strict implementation and dissemination of information.
They should be aware and the society to be knowledgeable about the effects of COVID 19. This will also
help them in better understanding the needs and experiences of the infected individuals. The researchers
will be more knowledgeable about the lived experiences of COVID-19 frontliners and how they face their
risky job of minimizing the spread of COVID 19.
Future Researchers. The results of this study may be used as reference for further researches
and studies regarding COVID 19 cases. It will help them in formulating the right and proper vaccine that
will totally cure the infected individuals. And that they will had the knowledge and strength to pursue
their job of formulating the right vaccine that will cure every one of us in the future
Scope and Delimitation
This study focuses on the Lived-Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners in Cebu. The informants
are specifically the frontline healthcare workers in Cebu. These medical frontliners are those directly
providing services where they are most needed, especially remote and rural areas. The Informants are
purposively selected based on the following criteria: should be a frontline healthcare worker such as
community health workers and midwives, pre-hospital emergency services (EMS), physicians, nurses,
doctors, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, hospital managers and managers in the ministry of health who
serve in community clinics and hospitals near people in need and who work directly or indirectly with
COVID-19 cases; should be living or working under the premises of the province of Cebu; should be
presently working on any hospitals or medical facilities; and should willingly participate in conducting
the study. The study is limited only within the province of Cebu which is located in Central Visayas and
is the center of the Philippine archipelago. The area under Cebu consists of three substantial cities
namely, Cebu city, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu city, a dozen other towns, and nearby islands such as
Camotes and Bantayan Island.
Furthermore, the researchers will conduct the study virtually as we are currently under a pandemic
and to avoid unexpected circumstances that will both affect the welfare of the informants and the
researchers. The interview will take place online using any digital communication applications that will
enable the researchers to communicate with the informants. The researchers also make an exemption to
conduct the study physically with the informants under the condition that they are living under the same
house or are related with the researchers, following proper safety measures.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This part of the study presents the research design, locale of the study, the informants of the
study, instruments used for the data collection, research procedure such as data gathering, and data
analysis procedure are discussed explicitly.
Research Design
This study employs the qualitative research, specifically phenomenological design, which is to
collect descriptive data from people's own words and behavior (Taylor, Bogda, & DeVault, 2015). The
phenomenological design was to explore the frontline medical workers’ situation towards the COVID-19
pandemic. A descriptive phenomenology was presented which was originated from the writings of
Husserl in the twentieth century. Given this research design, this was to captivate and focus on the lived-
experiences of the frontline healthcare workers in the province of Cebu.
Research Locale
Due to the recent phenomenon, which is the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers conducted the
study virtually to avoid unexpected circumstances that will both affect the welfare of the respondents and
the researchers. The research was held at the researchers’ respective homes as they are presently taking
their online classes.
Research Informants
The informants of the study are the medical frontline workers that are currently living or working
in the province of Cebu. In this study, the researchers used a purposive sampling method in identifying
the informants. Purposive sampling is the intentional selection of informants based on their ability to
interpret a specific theme, concept, or phenomenon (Robinson, 2014). In this sampling method informants
are identified and selected based on their knowledge and experience about a certain phenomenon and how
they are qualified on the topic (Cresswell & Plano Clark, 2011).
The purposive sampling method enables the researchers to choose credible informants for the
study. The researchers are required to select 15 participants according to this method. But due to some
circumstances involving redundancy and repetition of responses from the informants, the researchers
decided to use data saturation and reduced the number of informants to seven (7). The researchers
purposively selected the informants based on the following inclusion criteria: should be a frontline
healthcare worker such as community health workers and midwives, pre-hospital emergency services
(EMS), physicians, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, hospital managers and managers in
the ministry of health who serve in community clinics and hospitals near people in need and who work
directly or indirectly with COVID-19 cases; should be living or working under the premises of the
province of Cebu; should be presently working on any hospitals or medical facilities; and should willingly
participate in conducting the study.
Research Instrument
The instrument used for the collection of data in the study is a Validated Interview Guide. The
researchers used a semi-structure type of interview that has specific questions but can also have additional
follow-up questions during the interview in order to gather additional data that may contribute to the
findings. The researchers used as guide an interview questionnaire with an open-ended question
(Creswell, 2009). Creswell (2009) argued the use of open-ended questions should be utilized in a
qualitative research saying that it “is intended to elicit views and opinions from the participants”.
Furthermore, an interview guide is a list of questions prepared by the researchers ahead of time that the
informants covered during the interview (Blummer & Kenton, 2014).
There are two sections presented in this study’s interview guide. The first section is the profile of
the respondents. The researchers specifically selected the following on their profile wherein it stated their
name (optional), age, gender, education, profession, occupation, and marital status. The second section is
composed of questions with three guide items taken from the statement of the problem. These questions
talk about the (1) positive experiences, (2) negative experiences, and (3) coping mechanisms of the
healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the interview the researchers will use an
audio recorder, pen and paper in gathering the response of the informants.
Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers constructed a guide survey questionnaire to analyze and interpret the data
gathered. Before the data gathering, researchers utilized and secured a copy of transmittal letter addresses
to the Principal of Senior High School Department. Upon approval, the researchers started their interview
to their chosen respondents. The data would be collected through an interview questionnaire and with the
used of an audio recorder and the pen and paper while doing an interview. Before conducting the
interview, the researchers would let the informants read the transmittal letter and asked for their
permission to record the interview. The researchers assured the selected informants that the results would
be confidential and unidentified to expand their utmost collaboration, and if the informants sense the need
to reject the offer of the researcher to be one of the subjects, they may do so. After having an interview
and having also written evidence and an audio recorder, the researchers will transcribe the data collected
then interpret and analyzed the data by looking at the implied meaning of their answers in order to come
up with a theme.
Data Analysis Procedure
The researchers used a Thematic Analysis in analyzing the gathered data. Thematic analysis is a
method used in qualitative research. It is the process of classifying patterns or themes found within
qualitative data. Thematic analysis is encouraged to be learned by researchers as “ it provides core skills
that will be useful for conducting many other kinds of analysis” (Braun & Clarke, 2006, p.78). This
method aims to identify themes, such as patterns in the data that are significant, then it utilizes these
themes in addressing the research. In analyzing a thematic analysis, the researcher meticulously examines
the data in order to determine common themes found on the research such as the topics, ideas and patterns
of meaning that are frequently repeated (Maguire & Delahunt, 2017).
There are different ways in using thematic analysis (Alhojailan, 2012; Boyatzis,1998; Javadi &
Zarea, 2016). But in this study, the researchers specifically used the 6-step framework of Braun and
Clarke (2006). The first step is becoming familiar with the data. Familiarize all the data such as
interviews you use in order to get an overview of the data collected in the study before proceeding to the
next step. Second is creating codes. The researcher organized the data in a significant and structured way.
One way of coding is highlighting a portion of the text and creating a designation or code in defining the
specific content. Third is searching for themes. It is determined by its importance. Review the codes
created and combine them to make a significant theme. Fourth step is reviewing the themes. Analyze,
edit, revise and organize the themes created in step three. Fifth is defining the themes. This step is the
final revision of the themes that aims to “identify the ‘essence’ of what each theme is about” (Braun &
Clarke, 2006, p.92). The final or the sixth step is writing-up. The researchers take down all the analysis of
the gathered data.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
The following terms below were defined both operationally and conceptually to provide a better
and clear understanding of the study.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic of respiratory illness. Cough, fever, or chills,
shortness of breath or trouble breathing, muscle or body aches, sore throat, new loss or smell, diarrhea,
headache, new exhaustion, nausea or vomiting, and congestion or runny nose are among the COVID-19
symptoms (Sauer, 2020). This Virus can cause severe illness and even death. (WHO, 2021)
Medical Frontline Workers are the Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Pathologists and Hospital Support
who are continuously providing services for the public amidst the pandemic. They are the ones that put
their life most at risk. The one who provides supports to all hospital healthcare workers on the frontlines
during the COVID-19 Pandemic (WHO, 2021).
Lived-Experiences refer to a demonstration of the people's experiences, choices, options and how these
factors affect one's perception of understanding (Given, 2008).

CHAPTER II
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
This chapter presents, analyzes, and interprets the data gathered from the informants that
are currently living in Cebu.
Positive Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners
I. Reflection
A. Realized Significance of Time
B. Knowing True Friends
C. Reflected to Never Give Up
II. Capability To Offer Services
A. Being able to Help Others
B. Power to Prevent the Virus from Spreading
C. Heart to Serve Others
D. Privilege and Honor to Take Care of COVID Patients

III. Compassion Satisfaction
A. People’s Gratitude
B. Fulfillment of Accomplishing One’s Job
IV. Recognized Health Services’ Importance
A. Paid More Attention to the Health Services
B. Public Awareness of Health Services’ Importance
V. Benefits and Assistance
A. The Government Assisted Help
B. Provided Privileges and Benefits
Negative Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners
VI. External Constraints
A. Restrictions
B. Hard-headed People Violate the Quarantine Protocol
C. Sluggish Transportation
VII. Social Stigma
A. Discrimination
B. Physical Violence
VIII. Demoralized Morale
A. Dispirited by the Increasing Rate of COVID Patients
B. Self-Doubt
C. Fear of the Situation Worsening
IX. Fear of Contagion
A. Fear of the Virus Spreading
B. Confusion and Fear of Infection
C. Risk of Contracting and Spreading the Virus

X. Burnout
A. Feeling of Exhaustion
B. Loneliness and Depression
C. Feeling Fatigue and Fear
D. Mentally, Emotionally and Physically Worn Out
E. Stress in the Workplace
XI. Scarcity of Medical Necessities
A. Lack of Supplies
B. Shortage of Staff
XII. Restricted Movement
A. Separation due to Isolation
B. Limited Interaction with Family Members
Coping Mechanisms of COVID-19 Frontliners
XIII. Leisure Activities
A. Doing Personal Hobbies
B. Eating
C. Watch Movies
D. Sleeping
E. Relaxing Activities
XIV. Understanding and Reflecting
A. Understand the Situation
B. Embracing the Profession
C. Find Meaning in the Situation
D. Be Well Informed
XV. Staying Positive

A. Adjusting to New Circumstances
B. Finding Distraction
C. Motivate Oneself to Stop the Spreading of the Virus
D. Motivated to Protect Loved Ones
E. Ignoring Negativity
XVI. Motivation from Others
A. To Serve and Help the People
B. Enjoyment and Contentment to Help People
C. Concern For Family
D. Support from Co-workers, Families and Friends
E. Praying Constantly
F. Motivated and Inspired by the People Around
XVII. Healthy Lifestyle
A. Observe Proper Hand Hygiene
B. Apply and Bring Alcohol Always
C. Eating Healthy Foods and Drinking Vitamins

The researchers were able to extract seventeen (17) themes from the data gathered. Five themes
are gathered from the positive experiences of medical frontline workers – (1) Reflection, (2) Capability to
Offer Services, (3) Compassion satisfaction, (4) Recognized Health Services’ Importance, and (5)
Benefits and Assistance. Meanwhile, seven themes are from their negative experiences – (6) External
Constraints, (7) Social Stigma, (8) Demoralized Morale, (9) Fear of Contagion, (10) Burnout, (11)
Scarcity of Medical Necessities, and (12) Restricted Movement. Finally, the remaining five themes are
from their coping mechanisms – (13) Leisure Activities, (14) Understanding and Reflecting, (15) Staying
positive, (16) Motivation from Others, and (17) Healthy Lifestyle. Each theme is supported by two to five
(2-5) statements and is evident by the seven (7) informants of the study.
Presentation of Themes
Positive Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners
I. Reflection
Realization is the act of being aware and learning something new. Reflection is the contemplation
of past events and constructs an in-depth realization to it. The medical frontline workers have sparked a
lot of realization and reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflection is the process in giving
meaning to all the good and bad experiences of a person (Yocco, 2018). It also enables everyone to gain
something in any way if he/she engages in personal reflection.
A. Realized Significance of Time
The medical frontline workers realized the significance of time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Time plays a significant role in their lives. They understand better the value of time that helped them gain
experience and develop skills over time. They have been able to do different things and more due to
realizing the importance and significance of time (IRW, 2020).
As one of the informants said:
“What used to be routine was realize to be ahmm only unnecessary

ahm became unnecessary during the COVID-19 pandemic… You
have to shorten your to be time with the patient and asking them a
questions wherein it has to be already a significant to what they are
complaining.” (Informant 1, Line 22-26)
According to Informant 1, he shortened his time with his patients and asked significant questions
to what they are complaining in order to lessen their time of interaction. Time is of the essence in the
situation because he as a consultant must deliver a quick but precise decision on his consultations to
maintain the safety of his patients. Operating in a time-limited mode necessitates substantially different
actions and behaviors than operating in a goods-limited mode (Gilman, 1983).
B. Knowing True Friends
True friends are someone who has their back whatever happens even during the hard times.
Medical frontliners all know that having a true friend is a blessing of their lives. A narrative from Mayo
medical professionals shared how they supported and comforted each other in times of the crisis. Despite
the pandemic, they felt closer like a family and found more comfort in the company of their fellow
healthcare workers (Stolle, 2020).

“True friends never leave you in the pandemic.” (Informant
1, Line 41)
True friends stay forever, beyond words, beyond distance, beyond time. Good friendship
definitely looks different in unexpected times like right now. But today, as they are all required to stay in
their homes and not come into contact with other people, the question of being a good friend is more
important than ever (McDermott, 2020).
C. Reflected to Never Give Up
The pandemic has caused a lot of troubles to the medical frontline workers, but during this
predicament, they have reflected to never give up. Never give up attitude can be used to abolish doubts
and negative thinking to make them stronger in facing everything. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the
healthcare workers had lived their value of perseverance and never gave up on serving the people (Full
Life, 2020).
“Ang positive thing that I have discovered during this pandemic is to

never give up, because even though how hard it is that you see the
patients – or the patients mismo nga makadungog ka nila they never
give up. So ikaw mismo nga naghelp nila, never sad gyud ka mo give
up kay naningkamot man sila.” (Informant 6, Line 729-732)
During the pandemic, she discovered to never give up even if she experienced difficult situations.
In the informants perspective, her patients did not give up despite the difficulty they still remained
resistant, that is why she herself also became resilient and decided to never give up. One million people
have now been lost to COVID-19 and many more are suffering because of the pandemic. This milestone
is a difficult moment for the world but there are glimmers of hope that encourage us now and in the near
future (Ghebreyesus, 2020).
II. Capability To Offer Services

The capability to offer services are things such as preventing the Corona virus from spreading,
treating positive patients, and providing awareness and safety precautions to the public against the virus.
For frontline workers, being able to serve the people is a positive experience that gave them a sense of
honor. The Frontline Health Workers Coalition stated that healthcare workers are those offering services
in their community. They have an important role of providing health services to the people that linked the
community to the health system. They are the front line that is qualified in giving life-saving interventions
(FHWC, 2021).
A. Being able to Help Others
Helping others is to do something that makes it easier for someone to do a job, to deal with a
problem, to aid or assist someone and to make something less severe. Giving also connects them to
others, creating stronger communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone. During this
unprecedented crisis, West Houston Assistant Ministries is continuing to serve those in need. They are
offering their program services remotely and by drive-thru to protect their clients, volunteers and staff
(WHAM, 2020).
“Positive experiences, siguro kay kanang makatabang, makatabang

sa mga pasyente so nuon lisod man, lisod man ang trabaho kay
siyempre ah it’s a first time mani na virus so lisod ang kontra pero at
least makatabang sa community.” (Informant 2, Line 123-125)
Helping of the people who have COVID cases is stressful because it is difficult to fight since it is
a dangerous disease that can be transmitted from one person to another. But the most important is being
able to help people especially in the community. They are responding with the resources they have, but
there are in need of certain items for their food distribution and financial donations to help them cover the
increased demand (WHAM, 2020).
B. Power to Prevent the Virus from Spreading

The informants gained a positive experienced out of this pandemic by having the power to
prevent the virus from spreading. They followed preventive measures such as physical or social
distancing, quarantining, ventilating of indoor spaces, covering coughs and sneezes, hand washing, and
keeping unwashed hands away from the face. The use of face masks or coverings has been recommended
in public settings to minimize the risk of transmissions. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being
exposed to this virus (CDC, 2020).
“hmm para sa ako na positive na experience, cguru during the

pandemic usa kami sa nag stop gayud na mo spread ang COVID-
19.” (Informant 3, Line 326-327)
During the pandemic she was one of the medical workers who prevented the virus from
spreading. The healthcare workers keep people safe and informed during the coronavirus public health
crisis. They are also working to address the long-term impacts by supporting industries in need and
making it easier for people to find and offer help in their communities (Kang-Xing, 2020).
C. Heart to Serve Others
Heart to serve others means having a desire to support, give, help, and do something for others.
Many aspects of the people’s lives were disrupted by COVID-19, but not all. The needs of friends and
neighbors, as well as the desire to be a part of a society and to assist one another, can never be satisfied.
Since the needs are still there - and the frontliners want to fulfill them safely – they will have to think
about new ways to help other people during the pandemic (Dunn, 2020).
“Ah sa mga staff namo, makita gyud nimo na ahm nay mga nurses
na kanang you can say na naay heart to serve gyud, ba na dili siya
ganahan na.. they are not just about money but it’s about service,
unsaon ang paghatag sa serbisyo gyud, na kinasing kasing.”
(Informant 4, Line 491-493)
Informant 4 said that he can really see in his co-workers who are also nurses that they have the
heart to serve. They are not just into money but it is also about their service and how to provide it with all
their hearts. An article by Brown (2020) reported how USF College of Nursing recounted their
experiences in working in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the article, two of the
students shared their experiences and how they got through the virus by having a passionate heart to serve
others.
D. Privilege and Honor to Take Care of COVID Patients
Honor may refer to anything that is held in high regard. This means that having the opportunity to
serve COVID patients is a huge sign of respect and good fortune. A particular advantage or value is
referred to as a privilege. It has something to do with something won or something for which the
individual has worked. Dr. Maya Kotas, a UCSF clinical instructor shared that it is and privilege to be
able to do something. She can keep working, reflect on those patients, and train her staff to care for
people they have never cared for before. With these experiences, she felt fulfilled and honored to be able
to care for those patients (Feldberg, 2020).
“We are able to take good care of patients who are infected of
COVID-19. So as a nurse, we are privilege enough to be able to
handle patients who are infected so maybe that’s the positive side of
being a medical frontliner.” (Informant 5, Line 616-618)
Informant 5 said that she is privileged to provide treatment to COVID-19 infected patients. So as
a nurse, she is fortunate enough to be able to care for infected patients. She considered this as a positive
experience as a medical frontliner. A doctor and physician, David T. Feinberg MD, MBA said “It is a
blessing for us to work in an environment where we have the opportunity every day to touch someone’s
life so deeply. We must never lose sight of that. It is our responsibility to not just treat our patients, but
also to embrace them. Understanding that this experience is knitted into each patient’s story, we recognize
that we are called to do whatever we can to uplift their day and to make it better. Today, we are honored
and proud to say to our patients, ‘It is our privilege to treat you’.” (Feinberg, 2014).
III. Compassion Satisfaction
Compassion satisfaction is a feeling gained from fulfillment of the things that a person has done
and is the positive aspects of helping. The gratitude of the people and the fulfillment of accomplishing
their job as medical frontliners have given them a feeling of satisfaction. The joy and happiness that
comes from assisting others is known as compassion satisfaction (Faillace, 2020). Additionally, coming
home from work feeling positive about the work they did and sharing the positivity and motivation of
continuing work life is what compassion satisfaction is all about.
A. People’s Gratitude
Gratitude is a warm feeling of thankfulness for something or someone in particular. A grateful
individual is content with what they have and does not actively want more. Gratitude is a mechanism
medical frontliners can use in this situation. When the people around them expressed gratitude for the
things they did, it gives them happiness and positivity. According to studies, receiving gratitude increase
happiness and teach people to see the good in the midst of all the bad (Simon-Thomas & Smith, 2020).
“At least lahi rajud ang feeling na magpasalamat sila after so mao
nana makakuhaan na siyag positive na vibe sa amoa.” (Informant 2,
Line 158-159)
Informant 2 said that regardless of the struggles they face or how tired they are of their jobs,
when people express gratitude to them, they will feel and gain positive energy. “With gratitude, people
accept the goodness in their lives,” writes the author of a Harvard Medical School post. Taking time to
appreciate the good things in life is important during times of crisis because it helps an individual to
change their focus, relax their fear and anxiety, and retain a positive attitude in a difficult situation (Welch
& Lemme, 2020).
B. Fulfillment of Accomplishing One’s Job
The feeling of fulfillment is a feeling of pleasure and contentment. It may also refer to the
accomplishment of a task, such as the fulfillment of accomplishing one’s job. Kinns quoted, "One of the
keys to feeling fulfilled in a career is maintaining a growth attitude." “Know exactly what you want to do
and why you want to do it,” he said. Break them down into manageable measures after that” (HRD,
2020).
“So far, the fulfillment of serving despite being stressed, you still
continue to go on duty to serve other people even though you’re
mentally drained but the fulfillment of to be able to serve other
people and to see patients being discharge in the hospital is a
fulfillment for a nurse.” (Informant 7, Line 917-920)
Informant 7 said that the satisfaction of helping others has come from being able to help others
and seeing patients discharged from the hospital and gives them a sense of fulfillment. The quality of
relationships, mental and physical wellbeing, and the execution of important, passionate, power- and
growth-oriented tasks are the three primary driving forces of a fulfilled life. For most people, the latter
determining factor is primarily linked to their work. As a result, their job should be a calling rather than a
burden, a position where they enjoy their selves (Speier-Werner, 2019).
IV. Recognized Health Services’ Importance
When the COVID-19 pandemic affected the whole world, the health services are given more
recognition of their importance. With the ongoing pandemic, the government has paid more attention to
the medical needs of the frontliners and the public has become more aware of its significance. To improve
the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the world leaders made difficult decisions and seize this critical
opportunity to reshape the very foundations of health systems. From governance to financing, improving
access to medicines, vaccines and health services, expanding the health workforce, and bolstering all
countries' capacities to prevent and respond to health emergencies (WHO, 2020).
A. Paid More Attention to the Health Services
The people and the government paid more attention to the health services during COVID-19.
World leaders make decisions and exploit opportunities to reshape the very foundation of health systems,
from governance to funding, improving access to medicine, vaccinations, and health care, expanding the
health workforce and bolstering all country's ability to prevent and respond to health emergencies.
Investment in the stronger health system is critical in reacting to COVID-19, shielding citizens from
potential health threats and making health for everyone (WHO, 2020).
As one of informants said:
“as I remember, here in our country, health care service is not the
priority but after COVID-19 pandemic many people and the
government ahm focus on the health service like for example
medical equipment, compensation, and all those necessary so that
health service will be in full function.” (Informant 4, Line 474-475)
Informant 4 recalls that before, health care is not a priority in the country, but after the COVID-
19 pandemic, many citizens and government officials are focusing on it. For example, the medical
equipment, increased compensation, and all the necessities that they need was provided. According to
(Palisoc, 2020), this is also a vulnerable period for onset of health issues. They should need to help each
other as a society, particularly the young people.
B. Public Awareness of Health Services’ Importance
The public awareness of health services improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the global
threat of COVID-19 grows, it is vital to raise awareness and preparedness among the targeted community
members, especially the less informed. Interventions in education are urgently required to meet the
targeted residents outside national boundaries, and additional steps are required (Tripathi et al., 2020).
“aside from that the public also notice the important of health
services.” (Informant 4, Line 480-481)
Informant 4 is pleased to hear that the general population recognizes the value of health care.
People’s knowledge can be improved through successful awareness campaigns that provide relevant
information from credible sources, and they must be effective in promoting positive attitudes among the
public about taking preventive measures (Alanezi et al., 2020).
V. Benefits and Assistance
Benefits and assistance have been provided to the medical frontline workers. The government
assisted help and a lot of individuals have helped in their own ways to provide the needs and necessities
of the medical frontliners. On National Heroes' Day, the Department of Health (DOH) pledged to
continue working to ensure that medical frontline workers are "protected and sufficiently provided for,"
while also praising the critical role they play in containing the latest coronavirus outbreak (Yee et al.,
2020).
A. The Government Assisted Help
The government has been a big help to medical workers, providing them assistance in
accomplishing their job. During COVID-19 the entire government is working to put in place “cohesive
and harmonious” measures to tackle the region’s coronavirus pandemic. In the fight against the
coronavirus pandemic, President Duterte has ordered concerned heads of government agencies to
introduce “temporary emergency step,” ranging from shielding health workers to hastening the
accreditation of testing kits to providing financial assistance to poor families (Kabiling, 2020).
“Though the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center has a very

limited staff, the national government took an effort to give us
manpower so they pull out many local or LGU nurses and the
barangay rural health center nurses, they pulled out then they put
them in our institution to augment the short of man power.”
Informants 4 works at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Center and have very few personnel but the
government made an effort to provide them with manpower by pulling out many local or LGU nurses and
Barangay rural health center nurses to put them to work at their institution to supplement the shortfall in
manpower. According to Kabiling (2020) the entire government must work together to achieve the
following goals: protect and help front-line health workers; ensure that community quarantines are
enforced effectively.
B. Provided Privileges and Benefits
The frontline workers were very glad because they were given privileges and benefits amidst the
challenge of battling the Coronavirus. Front line workers are enhancing their own lives for the benefit of
the country. People hold nurses in such high regard that they cannot express their gratitude adequately for
their selfless efforts and sacrifices. The people fervently hope that they will continue to collaborate and
help the healthcare workers in order to provide the best possible health services to the public (Lumpur,
2020).
“As a medical frontliner ahm positive side in pandemic is that ahm

we are given privileges as well as benefits. To be specific we are ah
offered free swab testing and also ah free PPE’s (Personal Protective
Equipment).” (Informant 5, Line 612-614)
The positive side of the COVID-19 pandemic is the privileges and benefits that were given to the
medical frontline workers. Informant 5 specified that they were provided free swab testing and also free
Personal Protective Equipment to protect them from the virus. The government signed the proposed
“Bayanihan to Recover as One” Act or the “Bayanihan 2” to provide more assistance to the healthcare
workers in the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic (CNN, 2020).
Negative Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners
VI. External Constraints
External Constraints are situations and circumstances that are outside the control of the medical
frontline workers. These include restrictions due to COVID-19, sluggish transportation, and hard-headed
people. According to Brown (2016), external constraints are those that are enforced on people by their
surroundings and circumstances. It's something that affects and causes them to make a decision that is not
entirely their own.
A. Restrictions
Restrictions are regulations that restricts or restrain. The citizens were not the only one affected
by the restriction brought by COVID-19, but also the medical workers on the front line. At least 186
countries have imposed varying degrees of restrictions on population movement in order to slow the
spread of the COVID-19 and avoid overburdening health systems (Han et al., 2020).
As one of the informant said:
“Others are not following uhm are not giving uhm leeway for
medical frontliners.” (Informant 1, Line 49-50)
Informant 1, an ENT consultant working in cebu, expressed that some people does not give
leeway to move some medical frontliners. This means that there are restrictions that prevented these
workers in doing their job completely and freely. The COVID-19 pandemic has already taken a toll on the
economy and on people's health. Frontline workers' stories, especially those of people of color and those
who have been paid poorly, are among the most heartbreaking. Many of these employees have lost their
employment, been infected with the virus, or continue to complain unsafe working conditions (Tomer &
Kane, 2020).
B. Hard-headed People Violate the Quarantine Protocol
Violation is the disobedience to the rules or laws. Hard-headed people violate the quarantine
protocol means some people failed to follow some protocols. It might put people's life in danger if they
keep being hard-headed people. Frontline workers experienced a tough time dealing with these hard-
headed people. They did not wear masks, did not keep their distance from others, and did not seem to be
aware of the ongoing battle against a virus that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people
around the country and left many others, including the doctor, critically ill (Saag, 2020).
“Kanang naai mga tao gyud na gahi og ulo, so…mao na. naa jud tao
na mangita og lusot ba, bisag na quarantine sila.” (Informant 3, Line
372-373)
Informant 3 expressed that there are people out there that is hard-headed people. There are people
that always think of another way to avoid the health protocols even though they are on quarantine.
Dealing with people who did not follow the protocols elicited a range of emotions in the
frontline workers, from anger to demoralization to bewilderment to frustration (Saag, 2020).
C. Sluggish Transportation
Sluggish transportation is the slow flow of transportation as well as the limited transportation
vehicles that are available for service. It may affect people’s work especially the frontliners and will be
delayed on their work. As a result, many health care staff and other important employees faced arduous
two-hour round-trip commutes on foot (Hyland, 2020).

“The next problem is ang transportation ug naa koy kailangan og
gusto og ingon ani dili dayun mahatag.” (Informant 4, Line 544-545)
Informant 2 expressed that transportation is one of the problem because if he want or need
something he cannot attain it immediately due to slow transportation especially when it comes to his
work. This means that, while important trips such as those for healthcare and food are permitted, no
trains, buses, jeepneys, utility vehicles, or tricycles are permitted, and those designated as shuttle services
for frontline workers and the ordinary citizen (Arrojado, 2020).
VII. Social Stigma
Social stigma is the people’s misconception against the medical frontline workers that resulted to
harsh judgment, discrimination, and physical violence. Erving Goffman, a Canadian sociologist, proposed
that social stigma is an attitude or behavior that socially discredits a person due to society's classification
of them as the "undesirable other" that breeds discrimination and prejudices (Durkheim, 1982).
A. Discrimination
A lot of the informants interviewed shared that they experienced discrimination from the people
around theme. As the number of cases increases, the number of healthcare providers involved in
managing COVID-19 crisis is increasing accordingly. Considering the key players for fighting this crisis,
the frontline healthcare providers are facing challenges including stigma and discrimination at workplace
and surroundings (Singh & Subedi, 2020).
‘‘Discrimination, di lang sa akong self but also sa akong family kay

naa jud ang discrimination di jud siya mawala but nasabtan rasad
because there’s always this fair unknown fair like a ma paranoid or
anxiety because its pandemic time di jud masabtan ang situation.”
Informant 4 revealed experiencing discrimination because of his job as a nurse. He and his family
were discriminated, especially when he was diagnosed positive of COVID. But he also said that he
understand those people who criticized him because they were just afraid of the virus. According to
studies, frontline healthcare workers have been identified as victims of stigma and discrimination. For
example, stories of FHWs being assaulted in the Philippines became news and a trending subject on
social media, with many reporting eviction, ridicule, and abuse even at their workplaces and boarding
houses (Corpuz, 2021).
B. Physical Violence
Some medical frontline workers admitted that they experienced or personally know some
frontliners who were physically discriminated. Ensuring access to health services is the cornerstone of a
successful health response. Any verbal or physical act of violence, obstruction or threat that interferes
with the availability, access and delivery of such services is defined as attack on health care (WHO,
2020).
‘‘physical, nay uban na madunog nimo sa news na gi yab-an og

zonrox sa nawng og giligoan og zonrox, naay uban sa akong mga ka-
trabaho. And then sa negative sa akong side is there is always this
question “asa ko dapit nagkulang in terms of protection? Asa nako
pwede nakuha na wala ko kabantay or asa ko na fail sa pag practice
sa health care protocol?” para ma protectionan nako akong self and
hinuon dili man sad makita ghud ang kontra.’’(Informant 4, Line
512-517)
Informant 4 shared that he has a co-worker who experienced physical violence because of their
job as frontliners. Acts of abuse, regardless of their background, must be opposed. What makes the latest
attacks so terrifying is that they are being carried out in response to a crisis that is affecting all societies
(McKay et al., 2020).
VIII. Demoralized Morale
Demoralized morale is discouragement that weakens the spirit and courage of a person.
Healthcare workers experienced demoralization of morale such as being dispirited by the increasing rate
of COVID patients and fear of the situation worsening that leads to having self-doubt. An article
published by Renault (2020) stated that doctors and nurses around the country are tired and demoralized
as they try to cope with a record-breaking influx of COVID-19 patients, which is crippling hospitals and
urging the government to contain the virus.
A. Dispirited by the Increasing Rate of COVID Patients
Dispirited is an emotion especially when a person is feeling discourage. Dispirited by the
increasing rate of COVID-19 means feeling discourage by the risk of getting infected. This can affect
people's mental health specifically the healthcare workers. The novel corona virus outbreak has the
potential to worsen work-related stress and exacerbate psychological suffering among some healthcare
staff (Cooch, 2020).
"so siyempre makaguol kay nay positive sa community. Makaguol

na mahibawan na nay nag positive sa akong barangay na mapun-an
pud sa lungsod." (Informant 2, Line 213-219)
Informant 2 expressed that she feel sad due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the community.
She feels dispirited especially when there are positive on their barangay and the case will also increase in
the community. Pandemics like COVID-19 placed the mental health of healthcare workers in jeopardy for
a variety of reasons. Data from previous pandemics will help understand why and how COVID-19 can
harm mental health, as well as how to better mitigate these negative effects (Cooch, 2020).
B. Self-Doubt
Self-Doubt is an emotion especially when a person is lack of confidence. Self-Doubt also means
unbelieving oneself capability to accomplish something especially at work. It can affect people’s
performance at work. In a review of the literature, it was found that socio-demographic factors like age,
gender, occupation, and workplace, as well as psychological factors like weak social support and self-
efficacy, have an effect on the stress level faced by health care workers. COVID-19 was also discovered
to be an independent stress risk factor (Spoorthy, 2020).
“There is always this question “asa ko dapit nagkulang in terms of

protection? Asa nako pwede nakuha na wala ko kabantay or asa ko
na fail sa pagpractice sa healthcare protocol?” para ma protectionan
nako akong self.” (Informant 4, Line 513-516)
As a COVID-19 survivor, informant 4 expressed his doubt on his self. He questioned the things
that he has done and where he can possibly get the COVID-19. He doubted on what part of healthcare
protocol he failed to do in protecting himself from the virus. Patients with confirmed or suspected
COVID-19 may feel fear, whereas those in quarantine may feel bored, lonely, or angry (Xiang et al.,
2020).
C. Fear of the Situation Worsening
Fear is the emotion that most people show if they feel threatened. Fear of the situation worsening
means feeling anxious by the situation that the case may increase or more people will die due to COVID-
19. People's mental health can be affected by fear. Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 may
feel fearful, whereas those in quarantine may feel bored, lonely, or angry (Xiang et al., 2020).
“Is ang fear nga mo worst ang situation...” (Informant 6, Line 804-
805)
Informant 6, a healthcare worker in Cebu, expressed that she is afraid that the scenario might get
worse. She feared that any time, worst case scenario may happen due to risk of the rising COVID-19
patients. The novel coronavirus is invading the globe that has plenty of unknowns surrounding the
outbreak, which has the potential to be deadly. Distress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia have all been
recorded in general populations (Wang et al., 2020).

IX. Fear of Contagion
Fear of contagion is the fear of the effects of COVID-19. Fear of the virus spreading, confusion
and fear of infection, risk of contracting the virus, and the worry about getting the virus are the
formulated sub themes for this major theme. Fear of transmission, fear of failing to provide proper
treatment for patients due to insufficient resources, fear of taking the virus home and infecting family and
friends, fear of stigmatization, and many other reasonable reasons for fear exist in this pandemic (Cawcutt
et al., 2020).
A. Fear of the Virus Spreading
Fear is commonplace with the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care workers are not immune to
anxiety and fear, and in fact, may suffer higher rates of fear than others. The psychological impact of
facing COVID-19 must be addressed in order to further mitigate the spread of infection. Fear is a
reaction, and resilience is the decision to put faith in established infection prevention practices to provide
the best quality treatment in the safest possible environment (Cawcutt et al., 2020).
“pag first jud ato na nahibaw an na naay case sa ako barangay, ah

siyempre nahadlok ko, dili lang sa ako kaugalingon pero pud sa mga
tao, sa mga komunidad, sa barangay na ako gi handle so basin ba
kanang mo spread niya mudaghan pa ang matakdan sa COVID. So
naguol ko ug nahadlok.” (Informant 2, Line 227-231)
Informant 2 admitted that she felt afraid especially the first time they had a COVID patient in their
community. She is afraid that the virus may spread and a lot of people may get infected. Healthcare
workers (HCWs), who are at the epicenter of COVID-19's unprecedented crisis, face many challenges in
treating COVID-19 patients, including preventing the spread of infection, implementing appropriate
short-term strategies, and formulating long-term plans (Shreffler et al., 2020).
B. Confusion and Fear of Infection

There has been series of confusion and fear in contracting the virus among the frontline medical
workers. The COVID virus is the most recent addition to the list of infectious pandemics. Despite the fact
that mental health issues related to patients, particularly those related to quarantine/isolation or social
distancing, are becoming more widely recognized and attempts are being made to minimize their
psychological effect, literature on the psychological impact of pandemics (including COVID-19) on front-
line HCWs remains scarce (Gupta & Sahoo, 2020).
‘‘makulbaan ka, then makahunahuna ka nga di na niya ka kaginhawa

niya simbako-simbako mamatay ka diha’s sud hahaha – matakdan
ka. Oo, matakdan ka ug COVID. Mao na imong mahunahuna nga
negative. Nga mahadlok ka matakdan, ing-ana. Mao na sometimes
makahunahuna ka ug negative things when you encounter- or uh..
uhh as a frontliner. Fear nga matakdan uhh..” (Informant 6, Line
742-746)
Informant 6 shared that she felt confuse and has a growing fear that she might dies especially
when she experienced the virus herself. Sometimes, she will think negative thoughts whenever she
encountered thins especially at work that might put her at risk and exposing her to the virus. The
confusion, panic, and lack of PPE products had a negative effect on these frontline workers' psychological
and mental health (WHO, 2020).
C. Risk of Contracting and Spreading the Virus
Healthcare workers faced a huge risk of contracting the virus and as well as spreading it
especially to their loved ones. Being on the front line makes them more exposed to the virus and poses a
huge risk and danger for them. Healthcare workers who are exposed to patients infected with the existing
coronavirus are expected to account for 10-20% of all COVID-19 diagnoses (Health Management, 2020).
‘‘So the negative side of this problem is that it is very risky

especially of us who are going home and who has families to mao ni
ang naka negative kay pwede mi ma infected anytime although bisag
mag wear pamig PPE risky gihapon ang amoang job. (Informant 5,
line 628-630)’’
The negative side of the pandemic is the huge risk for frontline healthcare workers to contract the
virus. Informant 5 stated that it is especially risky for them and for the safety of their family. Even though
they wear PPEs, they still faced a huge probability of getting the virus because of their job. Health-care
workers are constantly on the front lines around the world, putting themselves at the high risk of being
infected and infecting those in their immediate surroundings—in the hospital, at home, or anywhere they
go (Dy & Rabajante, 2020).
X. Burnout
Burnout is an emotional exhaustion caused by stress in the workplace. People on the front lines
are most probable in experiencing burnout due to the global effect of COVID-19. It involves physical,
emotional, and mental exhaustion, loneliness, fatigue, and fear. Working during the COVID-19 pandemic
has placed frontline staff under enormous and overwhelming stress, endangering their physical,
emotional, and social well-being. Excessive stress over extended periods of time can have a number of
negative effects on frontline workers' emotional and mental health that can lead to burnout (WHO, 2020).
A. Feeling of Exhaustion
Exhaustion is when someone feels extremely tired and doesn’t have the energy to accomplish
tasks. When people experience exhaustion, it can make them feel mentally and physically drained,
overwhelmed, and fatigued. In researching the book, The Happiness Track, we found that 50% of people
— across professions, from the nonprofit sector to the medical field — are burned out. This isn’t just a
problem for busy, overworked executives (though the high rates of loneliness and burnout among this
group are well known). The work suggests that the problem is pervasive across professions and up and
down corporate hierarchies (Seppala & King, 2018).

“So kato pud na time na nagsunod sunod pud ang nag positive sa
amo barangay, nakaingon pud ko na kakapoy pud.” (Informant 2,
Line 232-233)
Informant 2 expresses the lingering tiredness he/she feels because of the constant rise of positive
cases within their barangay. Informant 2, along with other essential frontline workers face long hours,
heavy workloads and potential stigma and discrimination due to COVID-19. Unchecked, this can lead to
fatigue, mental distress and burnout (ILO, 2020).
B. Loneliness and Depression
This pandemic has made it harder to be with others. Contact with family and friends continues to
be limited and most social activities are strictly prohibited. Therefore, most people may feel lonely.
Loneliness and lack of connection with loved ones can also be a cause for depression. Research on
loneliness has been hampered by its strong association with depression. The two states frequently co-
occur, and measures of the two states are substantially correlated. Inability to manipulate experimentally
loneliness or depression makes it difficult to untangle the causal influence of one on the other (Weeks et
al., 1980).
“Pero again usa sa akong mga pinaka kuan noh kay maisolate ka
because mosolo jud ba early man to na times so ang possible is naay
taas na percentage ang depression.” (Informant 4, Line 538-539)
Informant 4 talks about the mental toll this pandemic had towards him. He says that it is possible
to have a higher percentage of people experiencing depression because of the loneliness a person feels
once they undergo quarantine or self-isolation. With too much going on, people can become ruminative,
hopeless and powerless, and, as a result, depressed. Depression, according to the National Institute
for Mental Health, is a common yet severe mood condition that affects how you feel, think, and manage
everyday activities like sleeping, eating, and working (Leahy, 2020).
C. Feeling Fatigue and Fear

Frontline and other essential workers may experience extreme fear and fatigue due to their work.
Heightened fears and the stress of social distancing and isolation may also create a negative impact
towards the health of our frontline workers who are already feeling burdened by the effects of this new
pandemic. The anxiety is helping them cope, bond together from a physical distance, and slow the spread
of the virus. So anxiety - while uncomfortable - is a good thing right now, especially if they manage it
well (UCSF, 2021).
“Hmm mga negative is kanang kapoy.. hahaha kapoy. Especially na

kanang magsuot ka sa PPE: singot, niya maglisod ka’g ginhawa sa
ilawm, niya makulbaan ka, then makahunahuna ka nga di na niya ka
kaginhawa niya simbako-simbako mamatay ka diha’s sud hahaha –
matakdan ka.” (Informant 6, Line 741-744)
Informant 6 talks about how hard her job is. Wearing PPE not only requires effort but it also
gives the person a hard time to breathe therefore, instilling fear in their system. Some of them were also
assigned in areas where the coronavirus infection rates were worse so it frightens them whenever they
think of the possibility that they may contract the virus. “We are facing a national trauma, whether it’s the
fear of being infected or infecting someone else, or the economic downturn, and many people are
isolated” (Leahy, 2020).
D. Mentally, Emotionally and Physically Worn Out
A person feels drained or worn out mentally, emotionally as well as physically because of
accumulated stress – in this case, it occurred because he/she felt overwhelmed and unable to meet the
constant demands that comes with working in the frontlines. Burnout can be very exhausting to
experience. It affects how people function and how they interact with other people. Anyone can be at risk
of experiencing burnout but it is most common amongst people with demanding jobs, care-givers,
medical frontline workers, and people going through a major life change such as a loss of a loved one,
living with a chronic illness and financial stress (Mutiwasekwa, 2019).

“It’s just that the negative is that you will also be mentally drained,
physical, emotional naa jud na siya kana akong na experience.”
Informant 7 experiences feeling worn out, and therefore leaving her feeling increasingly helpless,
hopeless, and resentful. Burnouts like these not only affect her relationship towards her patients, family
and friends but this can also cause long-term changes to her body that make her vulnerable to illnesses
like colds and flu. It is recommended to deal with burnout right away. It may also help establish a sense
of meaning and purpose if you consider ways you can reach out to others to offer support. Connection is
important. Checking in with someone every day can make a huge difference in their wellness and your
own (Thatcher, 2020).
E. Stress in the Workplace
No one can control everything in the work environment. Today’s medical workers face added
pressures due to the COVID pandemic, but just because they are stuck in a difficult situation does not
mean they are powerless. Workplace stress has been shown to have a detrimental effect on the health and
wellbeing of employees, as well as a negative impact on workplace productivity and profits. There are
steps that individuals can take to lessen the negative impact of stress, or to stop it from arising in the first
place but they first need to learn to recognize the signs that indicate they are feeling stressed out, and
employers need to be aware of the effects that stress has on their employees’ health as well as on
company profits (Bickford, 2005).
“Psychologically maybe, it would touch the negative kuan. It’s really

draining because COVID-19 is new, so the policies of each hospitals
is not that formed, and then community are not well informed about
it, and there are resistance between people and patients to accept the
new normal. So basically, stress jud sya ang COVID.” (Informant 7,
Line 942-945)
Informant 7 explains how stressful working as a frontliner is. She has to deal with tight deadlines,
ever-increasing demands and new policies from hospitals that the community isn’t well aware of, and the
unwillingness of civilians to accept the new normal. All of these leave him/her feeling psychologically
drained and overwhelmed. And when stress exceeds one’s ability to cope, it stops being helpful and starts
causing damage to the body and mind. Job stress is not an unfamiliar phenomenon to any of us,
historically, workload has been a key contributor to workplace anxiety. Yet COVID-19 has caused other
factors to suddenly take the center stage in influencing people’s levels of job stress (Shiu, 2020).
XI. Scarcity of Medical Necessities
Scarcity of Medical Necessities is one of the problems that arise during the COVID-19 pandemic
that has affected the medical frontliners. This includes lack of supplies and shortage of staff. Hospitals
reported that extreme shortages of testing materials and long delays for test results hampered their ability
to keep track of their patients' and employees' health. Staff and patients were also placed at risk due to
widespread shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Staff exposure to the virus can worsen
staff shortages and overwork, due to a shortage of professional providers required to meet the anticipated
patient surge. Hospitals revealed that they require things such as IV poles, medical gas, linens, toilet
paper, and food to sustain a patient room. Others stated that no-touch infrared thermometers,
disinfectants, and cleaning supplies were also in short supply (Grimm, 2020).
A. Lack of Supplies
Adding to the already grim situation the frontliners currently experience, COVID-19 related
shortages of PPE and drugs continue to plague the country’s healthcare system. Hospitals reported that
severe shortages of testing supplies and extended waits for test results limited their ability to monitor the
health of their patients and staff. “Without secure supply chains, the risk to healthcare workers around the
world is real. Industry and governments must act quickly to boost supply, ease export restrictions and put
measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding. We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health
workers first,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO, 2020).
“Also.. kanang naay mga times nga negative sad noh kay kanang
magkaubusan ang mga supplies.” (Informant 4, Line 518-519)
Informant 4 shares about how this pandemic has caused a dramatic shortage in the medical
supplies needed to treat the virus due to a massive surge in demand as the disease circled the globe during
the first half of 2020. This uncertainty and lack of supplies is a significant hurdle, hindering day-to-day
laboratory operations and the ability to increase testing capacity. To resolve this, governments should
develop incentives for industry to ramp up production. This includes easing restrictions on the export and
distribution of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies (Chaib 2020).
B. Shortage of Staff
Healthcare staffing shortages have been a serious concern for some time, but the recent pandemic
has added to the concern. Hospitals all over the country reported a shortage of frontline workers or
medical volunteers needed to meet the anticipated patient surge and raised concerns that staff exposure to
COVID-19 may exacerbate staffing shortages and overwork. “Care is about more than a room with a
hospital bed. It’s about medical professionals taking care of patients,” said John Henderson, chief
executive of the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH). “If you don’t have the
staff to do that, people are going to die.” So, even if some hospitals have stockpiles of medical equipment
and protective, those supplies are of little use without adequate staffing (Goldhill, 2020).
“Then naay times na because sa grabe sa kadaghan sa niabot na mga

positive patients, ma shortage jud sa staff.” (Informant 4, Line 519-
520)
Informant 4 talks about the times when the patient load is unusually larger than normal.
Whenever this happens, more manpower is needed – however, most times the demands are not met
because of inadequate staff so it most likely results to increased workload. Health is an important
employment sector, but that countries’ capacities to recruit and retain health workers vary significantly
across regions. This unequal distribution exacerbates inequities in access to health services (ILO, 2020).
XII. Restricted Movement
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of restrictions that hindered the day to day life of the
healthcare workers. They have restricted movement such as limiting the interaction with their loved ones
and even separation to prevent the spread of the virus. Staying at home to reduce interaction with other
people means restricting their movements. Self-isolation (staying in your room) entails remaining indoors
and avoiding all social contact. This includes the people with whom they share their home (Citizens
Information, 2021).
A. Separation due to Isolation
A lot of medical frontline workers suffer separation from their loved ones especially when they
are at risk of contracting the virus. Two informants of this research are COVID-19 survivors who
experienced being isolated to prevent the virus from spreading. Changes in their daily lives, feeling of
loneliness, job losses, financial difficulty, and grief over the death of loved ones have the potential to
affect the mental health of many (Pietrabissa, 2020).
“Naa ang boredom pinaka usa sa akong experience usa sa medyo

lisod kay ang separation kay maisolate man gud ka so to be alone sa
kwarto wala kay kaistorya, ang wall imong kaatubang ang tv murag
usa ray channel.” (Informant 4, Line 534-536)
The process of isolation is difficult for him because to need to be separated in order to avoid
transmitting the virus to other people. He felt lonely and alone during those times. In this contribution, an
urgent call is provided for a rapid response to the mental health impacts of COVID-19. Moreover,
suggestions for individuals to regulate their emotions effectively and appropriately are provided
(Pietrabissa, 2020).
B. Limited Interaction with Family Members
Due to the higher risk of medical frontliners in contracting the COVID-19, their interactions with
family members are limited. In order to protect their family and maintain their safety, they tried their best
to avoid contacts and interaction especially when they went home from work. Many healthcare workers
may be expected to endure strict medical isolation and be separated from their families when in an
outbreak or pandemic involving a novel disease such as COVID-19. In most isolation facilities, physical
visits, stays, or treatment by family members is forbidden, discouraged, or restricted to unusual
circumstance. For isolated patients, virtual presence is often recommended and used to facilitate contact
(Voo et al., 2020).
“Then the negative side also is that unlike before you can go near
your family without hesitations, but now you need to check first
yourself before going near to your family member” (Informant 7,
Line 925-927)
One of informant 7’s tough experiences is being separated from her family. She recalls being able
to go near her family without hesitation in the past, but now she must check herself before approaching a
family member. Many doctors and nurses are unsure what disinfection is required before returning home,
or whether they should stay in a separate room or at home throughout this unprecedented period. Some of
them have also have taken to social media to express their daily routines, such as just seeing their loved
ones through the window or video calling, while others fully strip down and shower before greeting them
(Berg, 2020).
Coping Mechanisms of COVID-19 Frontliners

XIII. Leisure Activities
Leisure Activities are activities such as cooking, watching movies or any recreational activities
that people do to enjoy and relax. Medical frontline workers are doing leisure activities to cope up with
their negative experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is evidence that leisure activities can
help with stress reactivity reduction (Mücke et al., 2018). In terms of mental health, there is also evidence
of a connection between leisure activity and the reduction of symptoms of anxiety and depression
(Sharma et al., 2006).
A. Doing Personal Hobbies
Doing personal hobbies is a way of removing stress from work so that they can rest their mind for
a while doing things that they used to do without hesitations and it is also their way of keeping theirselves
in a good shape. Hobbies take them out of their everyday experience and give them a chance to do
something they love and are passionate about. A hobby can provide a mental break, assist in the
development of ability, or simply provide an opportunity to socialize with others. Hobbies are a perfect
way to unwind after a long day at work and break up the monotony of everyday routines (Scott, 2018).
As one of the informant said is:
“Hmm coping strategies, like uhm like cooking or my hobbies, my

personal hobbies.” (Informant 4, Line 64-65)
Informant 4 said that in order for him to cope up with those things that happened to him lately
and remove his stress, is by doing his personal hobbies which he enjoys doing things specifically cooking.
Hobbies are important for living a balanced life. Saving time to pursue a hobby will offer physical,
mental, emotional, and artistic benefits that can make life more interesting, satisfying, and enjoyable
(Scott, 2018).
B. Eating
Eating is a way to help people maintain a healthy and balance diet that can improve a person’s
quality of life. There is comfort in food that takes away the negative experiences of the frontliners. The
first prerequisite of living a healthy life is to eat well. It is also possible to have both a healthy body and a
healthy mind in this manner (Elite world, 2021).
“eat.. eat.. eat.. eat.... coke.. coke.. coke. Coke adds life. Food is life
hahaha.” (Informant 1, Line 69-71)
Informant 4 said that in order for him to maintain his body he is just eating and drinking as his
way of coping up with the negative experiences. A lot of diseases can be avoided by adopting healthy
eating habits. For example, a sudden drop in blood sugar can result in dizziness, exhaustion, and
irritability. As a result, healthier people can improve their work efficiency, concentration, and stamina
quickly (Elite world, 2021).
C. Watch Movies
Watching movies is also a way of making their selves feel relaxed in order to remove their stress
from work which can also bring them happiness whenever they are having a bad day. Watching movies
allows them to let go of emotions. And those who have difficulty expressing their feelings can find
themselves laughing or crying while watching a movie (Singer, 2018).
“So mukaon, ikaon nalang para mawala ang stress dili na mahuna
hunaan. Tan aw pud movies, diri rapud sa balay kay di paman pud
kalaag.” (Informant 2, Line 262-263)
So the informant said that he will just eat and watch movies at home in order to clear his mind
and remove his stress from work since he cannot go out because of the ongoing situation. Films have a
feeling of relaxation. When they watch anything exciting, the brain releases cortisol (the stress hormone),
which is accompanied by dopamine (the pleasure hormone) (Singer, 2018).

D. Sleeping
Sleeping is done by resting the body and mind in order to be prepared on the next day. It is also a
way of making oneself comfortable and rest well. Sleeping well has a strong impact on one's mental and
physical well-being. Not getting enough sleep can affect ones daytime energy, efficiency, emotional
balance, and even weight (Smith et al., 2020).
“Coping hmm, sleeping (*smile) trying to sleep.” (Informant 7, Line

948)
The informant said that for him to forget about his problems and carry on is by sleeping and
forget about what happened that day in order for him to cope up and prepare for the next day. The World
Health Organization (2020) gives advice on how frontline workers cope up with stress during COVID-19.
One of the advices is that frontliners must get enough rest and sleep during downtime and between shifts.
E. Relaxing Activities
Relaxing activities are any activities that help a person relax. These helped the medical frontline
workers to unwind and be relaxed away from the stressful activities of their job. By doing this they can
greatly improve their focus on things and cope up with the negative things that they experience.
Relaxation techniques are an excellent way to relieve tension. Relaxation is not just all about having a
good time or doing something fun. Relaxation is a technique for reducing the negative effects of stress on
the mind and body (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021).
As what the informant said:
“ahm… dili lang jud ka dapat magpadaug sa imong mental (well-

being) and also listen to your heart, and your body… Try to do
something na your most comfortable and that can make you relax
even you’re mental status.” (Informant 7, Line 954-958).
Keeping a strong mental health is important. The informant said to listen to one’s heart and body.
She also stated that she do things that make her comfortable and relaxed as a coping mechanism to
prevent and mitigate the negative experiences. Relaxation techniques can help a person deal with daily
stress as well as stress related to medical conditions like heart disease and pain (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021).
XIV. Understanding and Reflecting
Understanding is the ability to comprehend something. Reflecting is to think thoroughly about the
situation. Based on the informant’s answers, understanding and reflecting on the situation helps them get
through their negative experiences at the time of pandemic. Understanding and Reflecting is the method
of bringing meaning to a person's positive and negative experiences (Yocco, 2018). It also allows
everyone to benefit in some way by engaging in personal reflection and realization.
A. Understand the Situation
Reading the situations makes it easier to understand and know what step to do in order to react
and make some decisions quickly. One way for healthcare workers in coping the negativities is by
understanding and grasping the situation. It is necessary to consider the various ways in which
circumstances change. Some cases, for example, may change quickly and abruptly, while others may take
longer and change more gradually. Different behavioral mechanisms would certainly be involved in such
situations (Ickes et al., 1997; Rauthmann et al., 2015).
“Ahm ako ra ingnon ako kaugalingon na siguro na siguro nadala ra

sila ani na pandemic, na siguro lisud man ghud malayo sa family…
As a professional man pud, as a nurse is sabton nalang pud nimo ang
mga tao kung unsa ila nasinati.” (Informant 2, Line 250-254)
Informant 2 will comfort herself by saying that the negative experiences that others caused her to
experience was because of the unfortunate effects of the pandemic and those people did not really intend
to do it. As a coping mechanism, she tries to understand the situation and understand the people that cause
her those negative experiences. Understanding complex personality processes is important, but situation
change has long been a difficult subject in personality and social psychology (Ickes et al., 1997;
Rauthmann et al., 2015).
B. Embracing the Profession
Embracing the profession is accepting that they are already suited for their job and they already
know what to do and be professional to the work that they chose and love. Accepting their profession as
the people on the front lines is a part of understanding and reflecting from their past experiences. The
pandemic has been a bridge for the frontliners to realize and embrace their job fully. According to
sources, nurses in many parts of the world are facing supply shortages, including personal protective
equipment, masks, gloves, and gowns, but they are strongly embracing the challenges brought by
COVID-19 (Bradbury-Jones et al., 2020).
“para sa ako kay ako nlng siya gi embrace na mao jud ni akong
trabaho, so whether I like it or not, so I need to face it jud, bahala na
unsa panang negative na experience nako.” (Informant 3, Line 408 –
412)
He said that he will just accept and embrace his profession because this is his job and whether he
loves it or not, he still needs to face and accept the negative and positive experiences that he had. In
considering the consequences of this rapidly spreading global pandemic, it is clear that the need for
medical healthcare workers has never been higher. As frontliners, they are doing what they have been
trained and prepared to do in the face of this dire and unparalleled health crisis (Bradbury-Jones et al.,
2020).
C. Find Meaning in the Situation
Find meaning in the situation is to know what the message or what it wants to convey and the
impacts of that situation that it brings. It is important to find the meaning for them to know what that
situation is all about. Experts have suggested that emotions during this situation are very similar to grief,
and people experience emptiness and sadness about the loss of their normal lives, which can even lead to
a loss of meaning in life. Finding meaning in the situation can be a useful tool for assisting people in
coping with their circumstances and renewing their sense of meaning (de Jong et al., 2020).
“and mangita ug meaning.. look for the meaning nga nangong I have
to undergo or underwent to this kind of situation… niya nganong
gihatag sa Ginoo kining situation ug unsay mensahe sa akoa so
somehow daghan kayg mga reflection, daghan kaayog message na
unsa una lisod sabton but with the help of my kato na times during
the pandemic during pud sa napositive nako daghan ang na answer,
daghan siyag natubag not just sa akoa, but to my friends.” (Informant
4, Line 575-581)
Informant 4 said that he finds meaning in this situation and undergo or underwent this kind of
situation and think why God gave him a situation like this. He pondered what plan God has stored for him
and what message that He wants to give to him during the times of pandemic. Health professionals found
that the most common coping mechanisms were consistent directiveness and guidance from managers,
proper supervision, precautionary steps, social, religious, and familiar support (Chan & Huak, 2004).
D. Be Well Informed
Being informed is having extensive knowledge especially of current situation and events. Medical
frontliners need to be knowledgeable so that they know what will happen and be prepared especially in
this pandemic. Health professionals should be well informed about the state of an infectious disease
pandemic in order to achieve early diagnosis, timely isolation, and prompt care for themselves. Medical
personnel should take appropriate precautions to avoid being infected (Meih et al., 2020).
“Hmm kuan lang ahh despite nga nahadlok ka be kuan lang jud be
knowledgeable, do research kanang dili ka maminaw sa uban nga
kanang e sulti do your own research jud kanang dapat ahh kabalo ka
unsa ang imong kahadlokan ahh to be specific sa corona virus.
Understanding the factors that impact and influence people to take
precautionary measures can also aid decision-makers in taking the
necessary steps to improve person or community health. To
effectively communicate and frame key messages in response to the
emerging epidemic, it is critical to understand people's risk
perceptions and recognize their trusted sources of knowledge.”
Informant 5 was knowledgeable and also did her own research despite of what people said. Also,
she still manages to make her research especially during the times of COVID-19 and manage it to work
and balanced. Despite the lack of high-quality evidence, there is a lot of demand on healthcare
practitioners to stay up to date on current studies and to recommend novel therapies for their patients
(González-Padilla & Tortolero-Blanco, 2020). Tripathi et al. (2020) also added that medical frontliners
were primarily influenced by their understanding of COVID-19 and their readiness for it.
XV. Staying Positive
Thinking positively is focusing on the good things in any situation you are in. Despite the stress
and exhaustion caused by work, the informants are still giving their best to serve the people and embrace
their profession as frontliners. According to the American Heart Association, people who are happier
have stronger heart health. They are great at dealing with anxiety. Furthermore, being staying positive can
help you live longer (Kootenai Health, 2020).
A. Adjusting to New Circumstances
It is important to adjust to the new normal so that we can create something new and adjust to the
new situation and so that we can adopt a new one. The frontliners are needed to change the wrong
conditions so that thay can correct them and to be able to adjust the bad economic situation and to adapt
to a new one. Adjustment refers to psychological processes that include a person or a social world
changing how they manage, learn, and adapt to a variety of situations over time (Brennan, 2001). As a
medical frontliner, to adjust the new normal was also a way in coping and learning to adapt the
environment that they are in. Moreover, when an individual learns to adapt to the new environment, they
will feel relaxed and would not mind the difficult situation that they are facing.
“So mao to, continue to live life. Dili mana imo kanang dal on
hantod sa hantod, naa man jud na (negative experiences) pero i cope
up ah mag adjust nalang. So just enjoy life to the fullest.” (Informant
2, Line 260-262)
Informant 2 continued to live and think positive and adjust to the situations that she encountered.
She also added to enjoy life to the fullest. Physically and mentally stable and well-equipped workforce,
according to Sim (2020), was critical to a country's capacity to successfully handle COVID-19 events.
With the cooperation of every health professionals, even if they had encountered negative experiences,
they will be able to adjust the new circumstances that they are directly involved.
B. Finding Distraction
Finding Distractions is to amuse oneself and forget things that you they do not want to imagine.
Sometimes medical workers need to distract their selves so that we can no longer think negative
experiences brought by the pandemic. During infectious disease outbreaks, healthcare staffs are exposed
to a higher degree of work-related stress (Cao et al., 2020). They also added that, although higher levels
of occupational stress are to be expected in healthcare settings during a public health emergency, the
added dynamic of quarantining and physical separation can make it more difficult for healthcare staff to
cope. To the medical frontliner, one of their coping strategies was not to think that they are in this
pandemic. They found different distractions and/or mechanisms in order for them continue on what they
are doing and to also keep them sane.
“So mao nalang na, i distract nalang nimo imo kaugalingon para dili
nato nimo mahuna hunaan pa.” (Informant 2, Line 263-264)
Informant 2 stated that she distract herself to forget things she do not want to think about. To
understand the relationship between emotional attachment and adaptive behavior in the face of adversity,
finding distraction through social reinforcement and interaction with others have repeatedly been
identified as a key coping factor to help handle difficult working environments in studies on resilience
and well-being among medical staff (Vorell & Carmack, 2015).
C. Motivate Oneself to Stop the Spreading of the Virus
To motivate oneself to stop the spreading of the virus is to be encouraged and have the strength
to continue the job of being a frontliner in battling against the COVID-19 virus. The frontliners are
motivated to stop the spread of the virus. Even if it is a difficult situation, they tried their best to prevent
the virus from spreading and multiplying in our country. Work motivation is the desire that causes the
person to act (Wolor et al., 2020) to achieve the goal of meeting the needs or achieving balance
(Wiradendi et al., 2019). In this pandemic, medical frontliners are one of the examples that will keep the
people to be motivated in this difficult situation. Showing what they can do to stop spreading the virus,
people will also take initiatives in preventing the infection of the virus by also listening and following
minimum health protocols.
“umm… cguro ang negative experiences… bisag unsa pana ka lisud

noh, sa sitwasyon, so maning kamot gihapon ko nga mag padayun
gihapon ko na dili ma spread ang virus, noh.” (Informant 3, Line 386
-388)
Despite the negative experiences, he continued to work hard in order to stop the spread of the
virus. To cope up with the bad experiences, Informant three’s coping mechanism is to motivate his self to
prevent the virus from spreading. A study found that when the message is centered on helping others,
people were marginally more likely to take precautions, with the combined message being no more
successful than the prosocial message alone. This means that when people are concerned about the spread
of the virus, they are more likely to stop it. (Suttie, 2020)
D. Motivated to Protect Loved Ones
Motivated to protect love ones means keeping their loved one safe from outside dangers, inside
dangers, specifically COVID-19. Medical frontline workers made this as a motivation and driving force
to continue doing their job and cope up with their negative experiences. Moreover, for the medical
frontliners, there are psychological interventions, including activities to release stress (Chen et al., 2020).
In this public health emergency, medical frontlines did a mechanism where motivating themselves to not
directly involve a physical contact with their loved ones, to avoid spreading the virus and to protect them
from the spread of the virus.
“Mao na, akong motivation pud kay dili ma apil akong family na dili
ma apil ani na virus.” (Informant 3, Line 388 – 389)
Informant 3 is motivating his self in order to protect his family from the dangers of the virus.
Take responsibility on behalf of an “at risk” loved one by helping to limit their exposure. Wear a mask,
social distance, get a vaccine – all for the sake of keeping them safe (Fawcett, 2020). In the face of
pandemic outbreaks, medical frontliners are known for their resiliency and serve as the first line of
protection. They perform their life-saving duties at great personal expense, which may include isolating
themselves from family members to avoid transmitting a disease.
E. Ignoring Negativity
Ignoring negativity is to disregard the criticisms, discrimination and judgment of the people
towards medical frontline workers. They do not pay any attention to the bad things instead, they stay
positive and believe in their self. The abrupt transition of anger, helplessness, adjustment issues, stigma,
and fear of discrimination among medical personnel in this pandemic situation has been rampant (Rana et
al., 2020). For the medical frontliners, the stigma of involving themselves in curing patients was always
with them. They are being discriminated, cast aside because people thought that they will bring the virus
within their community. Thus, the coping mechanism being done was that they ignored what other people
says to them because what's important was that amidst this pandemic, people like them were willing to
sacrifice themselves in order to create a safe and peace environment for people to live in.
“uhmm.. ignore., ignore lang jud cause they don’t know the situation
and what you are experiencing.” (Informant 6, line number 785-786).
Informant 6 advised to ignore the negative and do not mind of what other people say because they
don not know the situation that they are experiencing. According to Xiao et al. (2020), social assistance
helps medical workers feel more self-assured and reduces fear.
XVI. Motivation from Others
Motivation from others comes from the support of your family and friends, which is something
that you will receive from them and who will make them your inspiration to move forward. Medical
frontliners need support for their families, especially those close to them, so that they can be positive that
they can deal with the spread of the virus. An ER nurse and a Pediatric Cardiologist shared that the
motivation and support of the people around them helped them cope up with the negative experiences
brought by the COVID-19 pandemic (Rappler, 2020).
A. To Serve and Help the People
To serve and to help is a service of action to someone. They (medical frontliners) choose their
profession (align to medical service) to serve and help people. Prosocial behavior – the intent to benefit
others, like human behavior in general, is a dynamic phenomenon influenced by a number of causes and
considerations (Stukas, 2012).

“Mao na, bahala nag lisud, pero kaya raman pud nako kay para man
ni sa tanan. Para makatabang sa tanan pud” (Informant 3, Line 389 -
390)
Infomant 3 stated that no matter how difficult the profession is, he will handle things and serve
everyone. Evidence has emerged that people are willing to support each other in a variety of
circumstances in several different places, leading to a generally optimistic perception of human nature
(Stukas & Clary, 2012).
B. Enjoyment and Contentment to Help People
Enjoyment is the process of feeling pleased about doing something you like; contentment is a
state of being satisfied. They enjoyed and are content with their service to helping people. Behavioral
affectivity, job satisfaction, affective commitment, and typical mood at work are some of the happiness-
related constructs that are typically described and evaluated at the individual level (Fisher, 2010).
“my happiness and fulfillment to able to serve other people and to

survive as one in this pandemic, to heal as one” (Informant 7, Line
961-962)
Informant 7 stated that happiness and fulfillment can be found when serving other people and to
survive as one in this pandemic. Many work-related happiness constructs (e.g. job satisfaction, affective
commitment, the experience of good feelings while working) focus strongly on hedonic enjoyment and
liking, as well as positive beliefs about an object (Fisher, 2010)
C. Concern For Family
Feeling anxious makes someone concerned. The health workers feel anxious for their families'
health and safety. Being sensitive to nonverbal cues, caring about the feelings of others, and being truthful
but not at the expense of hurting others' feelings are all part of socialization (Pe-Pua & Protacio-
Marcelino, 2002).
“Then siyempre my family, kung dili ko mukuan sa community

siyempre maapektuhan pud ako family.” (Informant 2, Line 273 –
274)
Informant 2 shared that one of its coping mechanisms is concern for her family. She will be
concerned about her family, and if she does not serve the community, her family may be infected with the
virus as well. The mutual trust that is maintained between the children and parents reflects the closeness
of the Filipino family's kinship relations (Morillo et al., 2013).
D. Support from Co-workers, Families and Friends
Support can be material assistance or moral. The informants find their comfortable support from
their families and friends. The kinship structure that is translated outside the family reinforces the
individual's basic relational functions, where societal norms can also be perceived as being rooted in the
family (Morillo & Capuno, 2013).
“Ahm mas nindot na naa kay ka storya, friend or family para dili
kaayo ma stress. Maka share ka na mao ni imo naagian karong
adlaw. So murag mao na ang best coping mechanism, to talk to your
friends, families, and loved ones about sa imong mga naagian para
ma relieve ang imong stress.” (Informant 2, Line 279 – 283)
Informant 2 said that it is better to share ones thoughts with family and friends in order to avoid
being stress out. To share your day with someone is one of the best coping mechanisms because it helps
you to relieve your stress. Filipino spirituality is the foundation of their desire to persevere of hardships
(Austria, 2008).
E. Praying Constantly
Praying is an earnest request to the God/gods or deity; constantly is something that is done on a
regular basis. The informants stated that they constantly pray for guidance. In Filipino religion, there is a
hint of supernaturalism. Far more prominent are the earlier-mentioned beliefs that people create their own
fate and that life is meaningful when one puts meaning into it (Abad, 2001).
“Second, ang prayer. Actually, during my isolation everyday sigeg

pray, wala man koy laing buhaton so everyday prayer and then look
for meaning kung nganong nahitabo ni siya so unsay meaning behind
my experience” (Informant 4, Line 565-568)
Informant 4 said praying during the informant's isolation; every time she always prays. Since she
did not have anything else to do, she prayed and asked what the meaning behind her experience. Filipinos
are known for having a strong sense of faith, a sense of being linked to a loving God, and good personal
relationships (Yabut, 2018).
F. Motivated and Inspired by the People Around
Motivation is defined as the desire or willingness to do something; inspired is being encouraged
to do things. Being inspired and motivated by those around you makes you want to work harder in your
profession. Persistence is identified as an individual's ability to manage motivation despite the presence of
obstacles (Robbins & Judge, 2013).
“Ahm I’m kuan motivated ko mag paayo, motivated ko mo survive

and mo recover because of my family, sa work because I need to go
back sa work para kuan para.. kay balik ka sa work para maka help
ka sa uban… so motivated and inspired ko to everyone and of course
inspired sad ko sa mga taw nga naka survive miskin unsa ka lisod
ang ilahang situation hmm” (Informant 6, Line 820-826)
The informant 6 is more motivated than ever. The informant is motivated to survive and recover
because of the family and in order to go back to work and to help others. She is motivated and inspired by
other people that survive in difficult situations. Higher optimism, extraversion, openness to experience,
conscientiousness, and control coping, have all been linked to resilience (Riolli et al., 2002).
XVII. Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced diet, eating healthy foods, taking vitamins and following
safety protocols in this pandemic so that we can manage our daily activities. Medical frontliners maintain
a healthy lifestyle and observe health protocols in order to prevent the spread of the virus and lessen its
impact. Having a healthy lifestyle benefits both your mind and body, preparing you to face the challenges
posed by the coronavirus pandemic (Circle Health, 2020).
A. Observe Proper Hand Hygiene
Proper hygiene is good personal hygiene practice. Observing proper hygiene is very important at
this time. Personal hygiene is important for managing and protecting one's health and addressing health
issues, as well as for preventing many diseases, especially contagious diseases (Hossain, 2012).
“So, to be able to cope up or para dili ka ma infected sad sa person

who are infected of COVID-19 so dapat focus ka always ahh wash
your hands” (Informant 5, Line 651-652)
Informant 5 said that to be able to cope with the person who is infected by the virus one must be
focused and should also take care of their own personal hygiene, like washing their hands. Hygiene is a
term that refers to programs that enhance good health and cleanliness. Personal hygiene awareness and
practice are important in all of our daily activities (Hossain, 2012).
B. Apply and Bring Alcohol Always
Apply and bring alcohol whenever, whatever, and wherever you go. To prevent the spread of
virus like COVID-19, the CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water as much as possible.
This reduces the amount of many types of germs and chemicals on hands. If soap and water are not
available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help a person avoid getting sick and spreading
the virus to others (CDC, 2020).

“ahm if dili ka maka wash sa imong hands kay mag alcohol permi
magda ko permi ug alcohol sa akong bag.” (Informant 5, Line 652-
653)
Informant 5 said that she always being alcohol in her bag anywhere she goes in order to protect
herself from the virus. Hand hygiene is considered the foundation of infection prevention, and it is critical
to prevent infection colonization and spread among public and healthcare workers (Mehtar et al., 2018).
C. Eating Healthy Foods and Drinking Vitamins
Eating a healthy variety of foods give the medical frontliners the nutrients they need to maintain
their health, feel good, and have energy. These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water,
vitamins, and minerals. Nutrition is important for everyone. Currently Covid-19 pandemic is a leading
challenge across the globe. It is mandatory to attain and maintain good nutritional status to fight against
the virus (Park J med Sci, 2020).
“nag eat ko of course nag eat ko healthy, nag drink kog vitamins d,
vitamins c.” (Informant 4, Line 813-814)
Informant 5 eats nutritious food and drink vitamins. Nutritional status of individuals has been
used as resilience towards destabilization during this COVID-19 pandemic. Optimal nutrition and dietary
nutrient intake impact the immune system, therefore the only sustainable way to survive in current
context is to strengthen the immune system (Park J med Sci, 2020).

CHAPTER III
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This section encapsulates the overall outcomes of the analyzed qualitative data after a series of
semi-structured interviews and analysis. This is a presentation of the informants’ answers in response to
the specific problems with corresponding conclusion and recommendations based on the salient findings
of the study.
Summary of Findings
Based on the presented and gathered data, the researchers found out the varied experiences of
numerous medical frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with their coping
mechanisms.
For every low, there is a high and our informants shared the silver linings or the positive
experiences they had in this pandemic. Some examples stated were being able to extend help to serve
others or aid in lessening their burdens, knowing who your true friends are, receiving the warmth
gratitude from people and many more.

Although unfortunately, times were not always delightful. In fact, in most cases it was the
complete juxtaposition of that. One would think that working in the front lines meant that their main
worry would be putting their lives at stake, however, the informants actually had other concerns and other
negative experiences which makes their job the more vexing. Some examples were receiving harsh
judgement from people or discrimination, getting dispirited by the increasing rate of patients, limited staff
and supplies, separation due to isolation and of course, fear of contagion.
Lastly, the global spread of COVID-19 has affected healthcare systems worldwide and has forced
the medical frontline workers to face challenges they were unprepared for. However, the informants
shared their methods on how they cope with this horrible situation. They said it is important to understand
the situation and then find distractions to keep their mind off the negativity. Some try their best to stay
positive and motivated while others do fun leisure activities.
Conclusion
Based on the findings, the study revealed that being a COVID-19 Frontliner has a lot of positive
and negative experiences. They were filled with mixed emotions while battling in this pandemic. The
positive experiences proved that they are blessed and honored for the things that they have done for the
people. It is also unfortunate that the medical frontline workers suffered a lot of negative experiences in
this pandemic. But despite the negativity, they were optimistic and did their best to cope up with this
unprecedented crisis.
Recommendations
Based on the findings and conclusions presented, the following recommendations are suggested:
1. Medical Frontliners COVID-19 Information Campaign. Medical Frontliners may have a
campaign to encourage others base on their coping mechanisms to protect from being sick so
that they can keep and predict those who acquire cases and reduce the number of cases. They
can also provide information about how to maintain it from spreading and to avoid the
disease in an increasing number of cases.
2. Medical Frontline Workers Family Day. The researchers recommended to have a family
day for medical frontline workers where the frontliners spend time with their family and
loved ones. Families of Medical Frontliners may further support and comfort relatives who
are medical frontliners in order to ease their burden and motivate them. Another way, giving
them strength or rather inspiration so that they can go through what they have done. Only
family can give courage to a frontliners to continue to help even if their situation is dangerous
but despite everything they still choose to help their neighbor.
3. Department of Health COVID-19 Information Campaign. Department of Health may
provide information to people on what to do to prevent disease or infection with the virus. It
is their duty to provide help through what should be avoided to sustain their health. Managing
our health is towards our good life.
4. Dissemination of the Research Paper. Researchers are the ones who make it more precise
in preparation for implementation, as well as the ones who disseminate knowledge. They also
assist us in gaining a thorough understanding of our culture and its consequences. The
researchers recommended that this research paper will be further disseminated to the public in
order to inform others about the purpose of this study and hopefully inspire and motivate
someone.
5. Quantitative Research about the Impact of COVID-19 to Medical Frontliners. Future
Researchers may conduct a quantitative research which develop approaches and carry out a
full cost–benefit analysis of the lived-experiences of COVID-19 frontliners. The researchers
recommended to further conduct a perception on the impact of COVID-19 to medical
frontliners.
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APPENDICES
Appendix A
Transmittal Letter
University of Cebu – Pri

Senior High school Department
J. Alcantara St., Cebu City
DR. ABELARDO T. TEJO JR.

Senior High School Principal
J. Alcantara St. Cebu City
MS. MARY JOY HERNANDO, MST, LPT

Research Adviser
J. Alcantara St. Cebu City
Sir/Madam:
Good day!
The undersigned, a Grade 11 senior high school student from Accountancy, Business and Management
(ABM) strand who is acting as the group representative is currently working on their research study
entitled “Lived Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners in Cebu”. The study’s objective is to ascertain the
lived-experiences of COVID-19 medical frontline workers who are assigned within the province of Cebu,
Philippines. In addition to that, the researchers also aim to identify the informants’ (1) positive
experiences, (2) negative experiences, and (3) coping mechanisms. When finished, this research study can
be a very beneficial contribution to the general public because it gives information and awareness of what
it’s like being a medical frontline worker amidst the COVID-19 pandemic – and hopefully, this may
touch their hearts and even propel them to take further moves that contribute in easing the hardships.
Furthermore, not only will this reveal the hidden impact of the pandemic towards our brave frontliners but
the conducted research may also be a beneficial basis for future researchers who wish to conduct a study
similar to ours. Lastly, once finished, said study will serve as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the subject Practical Research 2.
In line with this, I humbly ask your permission to administer the survey tools needed for this qualitative
study. This study is apropos to our country's current situation as the informants of this research would be
medical frontline workers from the province of Cebu. If successful, the results would substantially suffice
contributory knowledge exposure and experience in achieving competencies in research, particularly
those related to COVID-19.
I’m looking forward to your favourable response with regard to this matter. Thank you very much for
your support.
Sincerely yours,
Sheardy D. Lim
Research Group Representative
Noted:
MARY JOY HERNANDO, MST, LPT DR. ABELARDO T. TEJO JR.

Research Adviser Senior High School Principal
Appendix B
Informed Consent
Title of the Study: Lived-Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners in
Cebu
Purpose of the Research
This study aims to investigate the lived experiences of medical frontline workers
in Cebu, Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic, regarding on matters about their
experience and how they cope up with the situation
Risks and Discomforts
There are no foreseen risks but a little discomfort because of the topic’s sensitivity.
Benefits of the Research and Benefits to You
The present study will provide us a clearer understanding of the medical frontline
workers’ experiences; positive experiences, negative experiences, and coping
mechanisms.
Voluntary Participation
Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may choose to stop
participating at any time. Your decision not to volunteer will not influence the nature of
your relationship to the researchers and the University.
Withdrawal from the Study
You can stop participating in the study at any time, for any reason, if you so decide.
Your decision to stop participating will not affect your relationship with the researcher,
University of Cebu, or other groups associated with this project. If you withdraw from
the study, all associated data collected will be immediately destroyed whenever
possible.
Permission to Record Interview
As neophyte researchers, it will be best if we could get all the responses in verbatim for
thorough analysis and interpretation of the qualitative data. Thus, it will also make a
smooth flow of the interview and have lesser interruptions while the interview is
ongoing.
Confidentiality
Audio recorder will be used to ensure accuracy and fidelity of the responses given. Any
information obtained from you will remain highly confidential and will be used for
research related purposes.
Contact Information
Researcher (Representative): Sheardy D. Lim

Email: sheardylim18@gmail.com
Contact Number: +639633315716
Signature
By signing below, you are granting your voluntary assent to participate in the above-
described research study.
Please be aware that signing this assent form is not sufficient to participate in this
research study. You must ALSO have a parent/guardian sign the parental consent form
and return to the researcher.
Full Name: ________________________

Signature: _________________________
Date: ________________________
Appendix C
Research Locale (Cebu)

Appendix D
Research Instrument
Interview Guide
Title of the Study: Lived Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners in Cebu
Name of Participant:
___________________________________________________
Gender: _____________ Age: _____ Contact Info.: ____________________
I. Inclusion Criteria
1. Should be a Medical Frontline Worker.
2. Should be currently living under the premises of Cebu.
3. Should be presently working on any hospitals or medical facilities.
4. Should willingly participate as an informant of the study.
II. Research Questions
A. Positive experiences of being a Medical Frontline Worker
a. What are your positive experiences as a COVID-19 medical frontline worker?

(Unsa ang imong mga positibo na kasinatian sa imo pagka COVID-19 medical
frontline worker?)
b. Are there any other positive experiences that you can think of?
(Naa pa ba kay laing mga positibo na kasinatian nga imong mahuna-hunaan?)
B. Negative experiences of being a Medical Frontline Worker
a. What are your negative experiences as a COVID-19 medical frontline

worker?
(Unsa ang imong mga negatibo na kasinatian sa imo pagka COVID-19
medical frontline worker?)
b. Are there any other negative experiences that you can think of?
(Naa pa ba kay laing mga negatibo na kasinatian nga imong mahuna-
hunaan?
C. Coping Strategies
a. How did you cope with your negative experiences as a Medical Frontline
Worker?
(Giunsa nimo pagsagubang o pagsulbad sa imong mga negatibo nga

kasinatian isip pagka- medical frontline worker?)
b. Are there any other coping mechanisms that you can think of?
(Naa pa bay laing coping mechanisms nga imong mahuna-hunaan?

APPENDIX E
Transcriptions
Informant # 2
100. Interviewer: Hi, good afternoon! I am Sheardy D. Lim from Grade 11 ABM 1P of University of
101. Cebu and I have here with me my classmate, Kent James Quibol. We are currently conducting
102. our research entitled, “Lived-Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners in Cebu”. So good afternoon
103. once again ma’am!
104. Interviewer 2: Good afternoon ma’am!
105. Informant 2: Good afternoon!
106. Interviewer: So first of all ma’am, can we ask if you are willing to participate as an informant
107. of our study? Okay ra ba i interview ka namo ma’am?
108. Informant 2: Oh okay ra.
109. Interviewer: Thank you maam. So start nata maam. Maam can you tell us your full name, your
110. age, your profession and where you are currently working right now?
111. Informant 2: So good afternoon, I am Rona Mae Lamberte, registered nurse, and working at
112. Bantayan RHU (Rural Health Unit) ah pero under ko sa Department of Health so I’m a ah under
113. the NDP program or the Nurse Deployment Program then working as a nurse here in Bantayan \
114. *smiles
115. Interviewer: Okay ma’am thank you. We have identified na ahm you are qualified to be our
116. informant in our research study. So before ko mag ask na sa interview questions ma’am, can we
117. ask if what language would you prefer during the interview, ahm english, tagalog or bisaya? Or
118. mix lang?
119. Informant 2: Cebuano lang.
120. Interviewer: Ah sige okay ma’am. First question ma’am, unsa ang imo mga positibo na
121. kasinatian sa imo pagka-COVID-19 medical frontline worker? What are your positive
122. experiences man ma’am?
123. Informant 2: So positive experiences, siguro kay kanang makatabang, makatabang sa mga
124. pasyente so nuon lisod man, lisod man ang trabaho kay siyempre ah it’s a first time mani na
125. virus so lisod ang kontra pero at least makatabang sa community. So ang among gibuhat is ang
126. positive lang na makuha ani kay ahm unsa ni, makatabang sa community kay kami man ghud
127. community nurse so lahi man ghud ang experience sa hospital nurse ug sa community nurse. So
128. if community nurse so more on sa ah sa mga tao sa komunidad so ah ang pag identify. So maka
129. ila ila ka ug lain na tao so ah unsa ni, ah makatabang sa ila kung unsa ang ilang kinahanglanon
130. sa panglawas.
131. Interviewer: Unsa imo na feel sa kana na positibo na experience ma’am?
132. Informant 2: So siyempre ah malipayon kay nakatabang ko sa ako isig-katao, nagamit ko ang
133. akong profession. So as a nurse, so nahatag nako kung unsa ang ako ikahatag o ikaalagad nila as
134. a community nurse. So mao to.
135. Interviewer: So maka cite ka ug usa ka example maam? Murag naa kay, specific example or
136. story about ana?
137. Informant 2: Makatabang? So sa unsa ni sa COVID na nga time or pre-COVID pa?
138. Interviewer: During the COVID-19 pandemic na ma’am.
139. Informant 2: So unsa ako natabang? Siguro ahm so as a community nurse man ghud naa mi gi
140. assign sa each barangay so sa akong barangay na naassign ko naa man ghud nga uban man ghud
141. labi na katong during sa ECQ is ah lisod ang pag-adto sa mga tao or limited ra ghud ang
142. kasakyan if muadto sa rural health unit. So ang uban tao adto ra mudangop sa health center sa
143. barangay so ang akong nakuan ato is nay mukonsulta so at least didto palang sa barangay ma
144. identify na namo unsa ilang mga simtomas, ubo sip on, ingon ani hilanat so ma identify na
145. namo. So dili na sila need pa na muadto sa RHU. So naa pa lang sa barangay level, ma check-up
146. na sila ug ma refer na namo sila sa amo doctor. At least dili na kaayo lisud sa ila nga muadto pa
147. sa lungsod, muplite pa, kay during man ghud sa pandemic is mahal ang plitehan, so maglisud
148. silag pangitag pamlite. So mao to ang ginahimo namo is ahm adto mi sa barangay health center,
149. naay muadto mga pasyente, so if naa silay gipamati sa panglawas naa mi, naa koy serbisyo na
150. ikahatag nila so unsay mga kinahanglanon nila sa ilang problema sa panglawas.
151. Interviewer: Ahm naa pa ba kay lain na positibo na experience na imong mahuna hunaan
152. ma’am?
153. Informant 2: Positive experiences hmm ahm… so far siguro ah ano mao raman to. During man
154. ghud sa pandemic lisod i adto sa mga tao (sa lungsod) so sa ako is mao rana ako positive
155. experiences na nakatabang ko sa mga tao didto kay mo conduct man mi ug home visit so amo
156. kadtuon katong mga katong dili maka adto sa center. Kung dili nila makaya so amo bisitahon, so
157. at least ang kuan na namo is kung ah makapasalamat ang pamilya or ang pasyente is nindot nana
158. na feeling sa amo, as a nurse na makatabang kami sa ilaha na mao na. At least lahi rajud ang
159. feeling na magpasalamat sila after so mao nana makakuhaan na siyag positive na vibe sa amoa.
160. Interviewer: Thank you for sharing that ma’am. Sige mo proceed na ta ron sa sunod ma’am. So
161. unsa man imong mga negatibo na kasinatian sa imo pagka COVID-19 medical frontline worker
162. ma’am?
163. Informant 2: Ah sa akoa kay naa jud time nga naay masuko na namo kay nganong strikto daw
164. kuno kaayo mi. So naa man ghud before katong during quarantine pa is ah before kung naay
165. muoli nga for example, na stranded sila sa city so muoli sila diri. So masuko sila nganong strikto
166. daw kuno kaayo then ang ilang i compare sa laing municipality nga luag daw. So mao to i
167. explain rapud namo na siyempre mao mana ang protocol diri sa lungsod so mao rapud sundon
168. nato. So dili jud malikayan nga naay makontra, naay masuko, naay makaaway, pero kami kay
169. amo ra i control amo kaugalingon. So amo ra sila explikaran nga mao na siyay protocol so mao
170. rapud na ilang sundon kay naa jud mga gahi ulo maski ingon na oh sige mag mask, naa gihapon
171. uban maglakaw lakaw dili napud mag mask. Mag social distancing, so naa ra gihapon
172. magpundok. So mao na nga during the time sa pandemic is bisan karon na naa ra gihapon
173. makaaway ka. Ah naa pud koy example na sa akong barangay nga naay nag positive sa COVID
174. so if naay nag positive, so mo conduct man mi ug contact tracing. So naa toy one time na naa
175. koy gi contact trace na primary contact na family sa katong nag positive na gilambahan jud ko
176. ug labador kay nasuko siya na nganong giapil daw siya. As in kanang naglamba jud siya, isog
177. kaayo human maskin naa raghud mi kuyog sa BHW (Barangay Health Worker). So mao to
178. senior naman to so nasuko siya nganong giapil daw siya so mao to wala daw siyay kuan sa
179. katong patient na nag positive. So mao to maskin ah lagot na kaayo siya, so nag control ra
180. gihapon ko sa akon kaugalingon so ako rag i explain na kung unsay reason nganong niadto mi sa
181. ilang balay, nganong gi contact trace sila niya naghatag pud kog instructions. Pero so far kato ra
182. na higayon nga gilambahan jud mi ug labador *laughs. Pag adto namo didto nasuko ngano daw
183. amo siya giapil. So amo mana i contract trace basta naay mag positive gikan sa na contact sa
184. patient, primary, secondary amo na i apil para ma instructan na dili sa mag suroy-suroy para dili
185. pud mukatap ang virus kay basig simbako diay nga natakdan pud siya so possible na mudaghan
186. ang mga mag positive. So mao rato sa ako paghuna huna, ah sige ah i control lang sa nako,
187. musabot lang sa ko siyempre senior citizen pud. So mao to usa to sa negative experience.
188. Interviewer: Ahh okay ma’am.
189. Informant 2: Ah naa pud ah isa, ay daghan daghan napud diay *laughs.
190. Interviewer: Sige ma’am, i share lang na tanan ma’am. Ipagawas na tanan *laughs
191. Informant 2: Hahaha so naa pud toy isa nga na stranded so LSI so Locally Stranded Individual.
192. Ni uli siya, so gi quarantine siya namo sa among isolation facility. So nasuko siya nganong
193. dugay daw kaayo. Kay naa man to siyay symptoms so gi swab test siya, niya nasuko siya ngano
194. daw dugay kaayo ang result, nganong unsa ni ah nagawas na diay to ang result niya negative
195. man pero sa among protocol is dapat humanon ang 14-days quarantine. So gi explikaran siya
196. nako niya mao to na ako gisulti na dapat humanon niya. Sige pakog tabi, pero iya ko gisirad an
197. ug bintana. So mao to pero siyempre musabot rapud gihapon bahalag masuko na. So dili jud
198. kalikayan na during sa pandemic naa jud mi maagian na naay masuko namo, na naay maglagot
199. or unsa ba. Pero sa amo part, nisunod rapud mi unsas protocol sa lungsod so para man pud na sa
200. kaayuhan nila. So mao to amo gibuhat na gi explainan ra sila na katong example sa katong na
201. quarantine na gisirad an kog bintana, giingnan nako na, “miuli man ka mao man ka moa mana
202. imong kuan na gusto muoli so musunod raka sa quarantine protocol”. So daghan daghan nama
203. *smiles, so mao na kasagaran masuko sila, kami ang kontrahon hahaha. Pero so far, musunod
204. ramo sa quarantine protocol para rapud sa kaayuhan sa katawhan para dili mo spread pa ang
205. virus kay lisod na if magkadaghan. So at least diha palang, na stop na. So bahalag nasuko na sila
206. kay amo ra gihapon ipadayun kung unsa among duties and responsibilities sa community. So
207. mao to akong duha ka example sa akong mga negative experiences nako during sa pandemic.
208. Interviewer: Salamat sa pag share ana ma’am. So naay i follow up question ang naabot nakong
209. kauban na si Marigold. Ahm Marigold?
210. Interviewer 3: Naa lang jud koy follow up question ma’am, katong diba ni ana man ka ganina
211. ma’am noh na kanang naa jud mga positive na ma pun an na cases, unsa man imo na feel ma’am
212. na naa nasad napuno na positive case sa COVID-19 sa inyong lungsod?
213. Informant 2: Ahm siyempre maguol. For example, sa ako barangay nag gi handle is naa man
214. koy mga positive so nagsunod-sunod pud to nga karon naay positive, pagkahapon nana pud, niya
215. sunod adlaw nana pud or pagka next week ba ato naa napud positive so siyempre makaguol kay
216. naay positive sa community bisag unsa na amo gibuhat pero naa man jud mga gahig ulo na dili
217. sa minimum health standard, sa unsay protocol sa lungsod or sa unsay protocol sa barangay so
218. makaguol. Makaguol na mahibaw an na naay nag positive sa akong barangay na mapun an pud
219. sa lungsod. Mao to makaguol pero at least after ato na mga case sa akong barangay is wala
220. naman to napun an. Pero sa lungsod na part ubay-ubay pud, so mao ro permi i encourage sa
221. Rural Health Unit i kuan jud gihapon ang minimum health standard sa pag wear ug face mask,
222. sanitize your hands, and social distancing. So mao lang makaguol na naay mag positive bag o
223. but at least, let’s see the positive side not the positive sa COVID. Mag kuan lang ta na mawala ra
224. gihapon ni so mao ra to.
225. Interviewer: Para sa imo self ma’am, unsa imo na feel katong nahibaw an nimo na naay nag
226. positive?
227. Informant 2: So katong ako na feel, pag first jud ato na nahibaw an na naay case sa ako
228. barangay,
229. ah siyempre nahadlok ko, dili lang sa ako kaugalingon pero pud sa mga tao, sa mga komunidad,
230. sa barangay na ako gi handle so basin ba kanang mo spread niya mudaghan pa ang matakdan sa
231. COVID. So naguol ko ug nahadlok. So mao sad to dili lang pud ako ang nanginkamot, ang
232. barangay pud na dili pa mudaghan ang kaso didto sa amo barangay. So kato pud na time na
233. nagsunod sunod pud ang nag positive sa amo barangay, nakaingon pud ko na kakapoy pud. Pero
234. amo manang duty, maskin unsa pa kakapoy is amo ra gihapon buhaton kung ang mga duties and
235. responsibilities as a nurse sa community. Maskin pa weekends kay mo render gihapon mi ug
236. service sa community para lang mahatag kung unsa ang makuan para sa community para
237. malikaayan, so mao ra to.
238. Interviewer: Katong mga experiences nimo ma’am, gi unsa man niya pag affect sa imo life and
239. lifestyle negatively?
240. Informant 2: Siguro kay hmm on the negative side, though dili kaayo siya ingon negative kay
241. siyempre dili maka lihok lihok kay ahm limited. Limited ang paglihok lihok, pero na overcome
242. raman. Buhaton jud ang tanan para ma stop nani ang virus kay kalisud jud, lisud jud dili lang sa
243. ako part kung dili para pud sa mga tao.
244. Interviewer: Naa pa ba kay laing mga negatibo na kasinatian nga imong mahuna-hunaan
245. ma’am?
246. Informant 2: Ah so far kato raman.
247. Interviewer: Sige ma’am, thank you. Proceed nata sa last question ma’am. Giunsa nimo
248. pagsagubang o pagsulbad sa imong mga negatibo nga kasinatian isip pagka- medical frontline
249. worker? How did you cope up with your negative experiences man ma’am?
250. Informant 2: Ahm ako ra ingnon ako kaugalingon na siguro na siguro nadala ra sila ani na
251. pandemic, na siguro lisud man ghud malayo sa family. So siguro example kay katong na
252. quarantine kay ganahan lang siya muoli. Ako lang ingnon ako kaugalingon na sabton nalang kay
253. basin siyempre dala pud sa kamingaw. As a professional man pud, as a nurse is sabton nalang
254. pud nimo ang mga tao kung unsa ila nasinati. So ikaw nalang mao musabot, ako nalay nisabot,
255. ako nalay ni adjust. So ni adjust nalang ko kung unsa ila gibati para dili na mag lalis.
256. Interviewer: So unsa man imo coping strategy, or imo gibuhat ma’am para ma cope up to nimo
257. katong mga negative experiences?
258. Informant 2: Ikaon nalang hahahaha. Stress eating hahahaha.
259. Interviewer: *laughs
260. Informant 2: *laughs. So mao to, continue to live life. Dili mana imo kanang dal on hantod sa
261. hantod, naa man jud na (negative experiences) pero i cope up ah mag adjust nalang. So just
262. enjoy life to the fullest. So mukaon, ikaon nalang para mawala ang stress dili na mahuna hunaan.
263. Tan aw pud movies, diri rapud sa balay kay di paman pud kalaag. So mao nalang na, i distract
264. nalang nimo imo kaugalingon para dili nato nimo mahuna hunaan pa. So naa man pud koy mga
265. kauban, kauban nako na mga nurses, we share each other’s experiences, mga negative or
266. positive man. So atleast naay kahungawan kung unsa amo gibati. At least ana na mga pamaagi,
267. maka cope up mi sa amo mga negative experiences.
268. Interviewer: Yes jud ma’am. Naay i follow up question si Marigold ma’am.
269. Interviewer 3: Unsa man imo mga motivation or inspiration para magpadayun sa imo trabaho
270. pagka frontliner ma’am?
271. Informant 2: Ahm motivation.. siguro as a nurse, ang una man jud huna hunaon is ang mga tao,
272. so na makatabang ka. As a healthcare worker, mao jud na set up sa amo head na makatabang mi
273. sa mga tao , labi n karong pandemic na lisud kaayo. Then siyempre my family, kung dili ko
274. mukuan sa community siyempre maapektuhan pud ako family. Ako ra gihuna huna na buhaton
275. nako ako best, ug unsa ako matabang sa mga tao para ma stop naming virus. So as a healthcare
276. worker, motivation na is makatabang ko sa akong isig katao.
277. Interviewer: Thank you maam. Naa pa bay laing coping mechanisms nga imong mahuna-
278. hunaan?
279. Informant 2: ahm.. so far wala naman, mao ra to. Ahm mas nindot na naa kay ka storya, friend
280. or family para dili kaayo ma stress. Maka share ka na mao ni imo naagian karong adlaw. At least
281. dili nimo i keep sa imo self lang about sa mga negative na nahitabo. So murag mao na ang best
282. coping mechanism, to talk to your friends, families, and loved ones about sa imong mga naagian
283. para ma relieve ang imong stress.
284. Interviewer: Maam Rona, unsa imong ma advise sa mga tao karon about sa COVID-19
285. pandemic na ato naagian ron?
286. Informant 2: Ako giawhag ang mga tao na mupadayon lang gihapon na i maintain ang
287. minimum health standard, wear face mask, sanitize your hands, and observe social distancing.
288. Musunod lang ta sa protocol na gikuan sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging
289. Infectious Diseases). Niya giawhag pud nako ang mga katawhan, kay nagsugod naman ta ug
290. pamakuna ron, bisan sa frontliners palang then sila naman ang musunod sa community, giawhag
291. namo na magpabakuna na sa COVID-19 vaccine kay para pud ma stop nani ang virus and ma
292. end nani ang pandemic. Unta dili sila mahadlok na magpabakuna. So nagpa una mi ug bakuna
293. kay para pud ang mga tao maawhag na musunod sa amo, ug ma encourage sila na magpabakuna.
294. Interviewer: So thank you kaayo maam! Thank you for that message. So naay i ingon ako mga
295. ka group.
296. Interviewer 3: Hi maam! Naa lang koy message ninyo isip usa ka frontliners, kanang laban lang
297. jud ta ninyo bisag nagkalisud, laban lang. Kamo ang mga savior sa mga nagpositive sa COVID,
298. kamo jud ang pag-asa para makabalik nata sa normal. Stay safe maam, thank you!
299. Interviewer 2: Hello maam, thank you diay kaayo kay tungod ninyo maam, macontrol ang pag
300. spread sa COVID ug salamat sa inyo pagtabang na dili magrade ang pagkatag sa virus. Salamat
301. kaayo maam!
302. Interviewer: So maam Rona thank you kaayo sa paghatag sa imo time karon kabaw ko busy
303. kaayo mo ron so thank you kaayo. We just want to say na bilib kay mi niyo as a frontliner so
304. laban lang jud, fighting!
305. Informant 2: Sige thank you.
Informant # 4
450. Interviewer: Hi, good afternoon! I am Sheardy D. Lim from Grade 11 ABM 1P of University of
451. Cebu and I are currently conducting our research entitled, “Lived-Experiences of COVID-19
452. Frontliners in Cebu”. So good afternoon once again sir!
453. Informant 4: Good afternoon.
454. Interviewer: So first of all, before ta mag start sir, can I ask if you are willing to participate as
455. an informant of our study? Okay ra ba i interview ka namo sir?
456. Informant 4: yeah okay ra, sige go ahead.
457. Interviewer: Thank you sir so ahm, before diay ta mag start sir what language would you
458. prefer?
459. Informant 4: Mix lang.
460. Interviewer: Okay sir. Can I ask your name.. full name, your age, profession?
461. Informant 4: Okay. I’m Salvador Valensa III, age.. haha 36, and I’m currently working at
462. Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for about 5 to 6 years already.
463. Interviewer: Ok, So you’re currently working as what sir?
464. Informant 4: Right now I’m an assistant nurse manager. I handle ahm areas who handled with
465. COVID positive patient and I handle One hundred nurses as ahm under my super vision.
466. Interviewer: So I identified you as ahm this is just for formality lang sir haha ako gi identify
467. para sa amo inclusion criteria. So let’s start with the research questions, ready na sir?
468. Informant 4: Yes, you can proceed
469. Interviewer: So first question, what are your positive experiences as a COVID-19 medical
470. frontliner worker? Unsa ang imong mga positibo na kasinatian sa imong pagka COVID- 19
471. frontline worker?
472. Informant 4: Hmm positive. Well, okay mag list lang ko ha. So positive #1 as I remember, here
473. in our country, health care service is not the priority but after COVID-19 pandemic many people
474. and the government ahm focus on the health service like for example, medical equipment,
475. compensation, and all those necessary so that health service will be in full function. The
476. government give time and all the effort to give what we need especially like equipment and man
477. power. Thoug the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center has a very limited staff, the national
478. government took an effort to give us man power so they pull out many local or LGU nurses and
479. the barangay rural health center nurses, they pulled out then they put them in our institution to
480. augment the short of man power. And.. aside from that the public also notice the importance of
481. health services. Dati medyo kuan kaayo ang sotto murag the way I understand as far as I could
482. remember there is some dilemma if you go to sotto tiwasan, niya naa naman jud ng ingon ana
483. kay di kasabot sa ilang patient but during the pandemic many people nan i tan aw sa unsay naa
484. sa sotto nakita na kung unsa ang kapasidad sa sotto to giveahm quality service… 2 nd, ang local
485. government sad nagging involve sad sa amoa not just the national but also the local government
486. ,some of my co-staff gitagaan ug accommodation para at least dili kaayo grabi ang kalisud
487. because during the pandemic lisud kayo ang transport lagyo man ang uban namo nurses so ang
488. local and national government ni provide.. the foods and need of their personal needs. Ahm I
489. think that’s all.
490. Interviewer: So are there any other positive experiences that you can think of sir?
491. Informant 4: Ah sa mga staff namo, makita gyud nimo na ahm nay mga nurses na kanang you
492. can say na naay heart to serve gyud, ba na dili siya ganahan na.. they are not just about money
493. but it’s about service, unsaon ang paghatag sa serbisyo gyud, na kinasing kasing. I mean kanang
494. muatiman ka ug positive patient, usa ka tiil naa sa lubnganan, because there is always a
495. possibility nga masakit gyud sila ahm matakdan sila. But some of the nurses.. most of the nurses
496. mukuan pud kanang mudawat sa reality na this is their call of service, call of duty na kung unsay
497. mahitabo since this is our job, this our oath nakita ko na may mga nurses gyud na courageous
498. kayo muatubang sa challenge and also sa mga doctors, and mga health care personal not just the
499. nursing division like medical na doctors, the janitors, the transportation and kanang mga naa sa
500. hospital daghan kayo ang makita nimo na isog sad kaayo muatubang sa sakit.
501. Interviewer: Thank you sir. So proceed ta sa next.
502. Informant 4: okay.
503. Interviewer: What is your negative experiences sir as a COVID-19 medical frontline worker?
504. Informant 4: Personal or base on observation?
505. Interviewer: Personal sir as a whole.
506. Informant 4: Hmm personal.. I, myself is a survivor sa COVID-19, I got infected way back in
507. 2020. So number 1, discrimination, di lang sa akong self but also sa akong family kay naa jud
508. ang discrimination di jud siya mawala. But nuon nasabtan rasad because there’s always this fear,
509. unknown fear ba like a ma paranoid or anxiety because its pandemic time di jud masabtan ang
510. situation so naa jud person nga ingon ana ba sadly lang kay nay tao because of fear they will
511. become violent. Some of my co-workers have experienced na violent na mga kanang like
512. discriminating like mga physical, nay uban na madunog nimo sa news na gi yab-an og zonrox sa
513. nawng og giligoan og zonrox, naay uban sa akong mga ka-trabaho. And then sa negative sa
514. akong side is there is always this question “asa ko dapit nagkulang in terms of protection? Asa
515. nako pwede nakuha na wala ko kabantay or asa ko na fail sa pag practice sa health care
516. protocol?” para ma protectionan nako akong self and hinuon dili man sad makita ghud ang
517. kontra because it’s a microorganism so ang virus are never the same so bisan kinsa gyud ang
518. matakdan. Ahm also.. kanang naay mga times nga negative sad noh kay kanang magkaubusan
519. ang mga supplies. Then naay times na because sa grabe sa kadaghan sa niabot na mga positive
520. patients, ma shortage jud sa staff, ma confuse nga onsaon because mutungaw or mugawas ang
521. fear kung onsaon pag atiman sa pasyente nga di kaayo ka protektado. But again, the
522. administration nangita jud paagi ba na ang mga health care workers kay ma proteksiyonan jud.
523. Luckily, naa mi maayo na management na bisag lisud pero naka provide jud og protection para
524. sa mga healthcare workers. And then unsa pa ba..
525. Interviewer: Ahm follow up question lang ko sir. Nag-ingon ka ganiha sir that you are a
526. COVID-19 survivor, so during those times sir ahm did you suffer any symptoms?
527. Informant 4: Hmm.. The first day, fever, body malaise, ahhm chills, then after five days, LBM,
528. kuan at least 9 times a day for at least I think 3 to 4 days. Luckily, admitted naman ko so I
529. already know then isolated man ko so though I am isolated, thanks god na I am a trained and
530. professional nurse, kabaw pud ko unsaon pag manage pud kung maka encounter ko ug LBM
531. pero so maskin naa nay doctor kay usahay mag buot-buot ko hahaha pasaway minsan magbuot
532. buot sa doctor (laughs), and mao rana siya.
533. Interviewer: So far sir how was the experience?
534. Informant 4: Well, naa ang boredom pinaka usa sa akong experience usa sa medyo lisod kay
535. ang separation kay maisolate man gud ka so to be alone sa kwarto wala kay kaistorya, ang wall
536. imong kaatubang ang tv murag usa ray channel, so and understandable man kay pandemic baya
537. so ang mga resources kay ichannel jud sa mga pinaka importante dili kanang mga laing butang,
538. pero again usa sa akong mga pinaka kuan noh kay maisolate ka because mosolo jud ba early
539. man to na times so ang possible is naay taas na percentage ang depression. Well sa akoa lang
540. garing, the good thing is I have lots of support system which is my family, community, mga
541. brothers nako, mga friends na motawag so even though isolated ko halos adlaw-adlaw gatawag
542. kada oras sig storya kay ang importante man gud ang communication sa family kay kung ma
543. isolate as in I think unsa pa uhmm so far mao pajud siguro. And pag naa kay mga kailangan
544. limitado kay nag positive man ko so ang isolation, communication mao na sya pero the next
545. problem is ang transportation ug naa koy kailangan og gusto og ingon ani dili dayun mahatag, I
546. have to be patient and magpaabot jud ka na tawagon nimo karong buntag moabot na siya mga
547. hapon na dili dayun maabot sa imoha usa ka oras moabot kay hapon pajud na siya kay ang
548. transportation nga aside from that naa juy mohangyo jud ka sa mga tao na mokat-on jud ka to
549. humble yourself na mohangyo sa mga tao na pwede ba ing-ani mas madisturbed man sad sila,
550. masamok sad sila moatubang sad sila sa fear na mogawas ang possibility na matakdan sad sila,
551. so mao na siya.
552. Interviewer: As a whole nimo na negative experiences sir, unsa man imong nafeel during those
553. times?
554. Informant 4: Well.. enlightenment. Enlightenment, in the sense na maskin unsaon nimo
555. pagpaningkamot, you look for money, you look for job, anything na gusto nimo sa kalibutan
556. imong gustong maacquire at the end when you’re facing death, it’s your time. So ing-ana, during
557. the pandemic, money does nothing. I don’t know if halos tanan nakafeel na kung naa kay kwarta
558. pero ang kwarta nimo way gamit because wala kay mapalit. So again mao na siya no, katong
559. mga sintomas nanggawas na nagkalibanga ko murag hapit na siguro akong oras ana it’s not just
560. a simple case that is easy to solve pero pag di masulbad pwede sad mamatay.
561. Interviewer: Are there any other negative experiences sir?
562. Informant 4: So far wala man, okay naman supportive raman kaau among management.
563. Interviewer: In relation sa katong negative experiences nimo sir, how did you cope up with
564. those sir? Giunsa nimo pagsulbad , giunsa nimo pagsagubang?
565. Informant 4: Uhmm, again ang usa is ang support system, family and friend. Second, ang
566. prayer. Actually during my isolation everyday sigeg pray, wala man koy laing buhaton so
567. everyday prayer and then look for meaning kung nganong nahitabo ni siya so unsay meaning
568. behind my experience. Somehow usa to sa akong na realize bisan unsa nimo paningkamot na
569. you have everything but if your time will come all those things are useless, what’s left is your
570. relationship with God. Ready naba ka moatubang sa Ginoo? Asa ko, langit bako sa akong
571. gipangbuhat o impyerno ba ko sa akong gipangbuhat? So mao na siya. So usa pud ang aside sa
572. prayer, ahm so far ang mga communities part na siya sa support system ang community I think
573. mao na siya.
574. Interviewer: Sa imong self sir unsa man imong coping strategies na gipangbuhat?
575. Informant 4: Kuan, prayer and mangita ug meaning.. look for the meaning nga nangong I have
576. to undergo or underwent to this kind of situation. I have to klarohon not just to mura bag
577. theoretical o hunahunaon unsa, but to reflect, mo reflect siya ba na the history na akong o history
578. sa akoang pagka ako niya nganong gihatag sa Ginoo kining situation ug unsay mensahe sa akoa
579. so somehow daghan kayg mga reflection, daghan kaayog message na unsa una lisod sabton but
580. with the help of my kato na times during the pandemic during pud sa napositive nako daghan
581. ang na answer, daghan siyag natubag not just sa akoa, but to my friends. Daghan pud naay
582. witness pud na daghang family nagkauli because of the pandemic, sauna chaotic family but
583. during the pandemic kay nagkahiusa.
584. Interviewer: So are there any other coping mechanisms that you can think of?
585. Informant 4: Mao ra to, dali ra man sad ko malipay (laughs), dali sad maguol (laughs).
586. Interviewer: (laughs) That’s all sir thank you sir. Salamat jud sa pagpa interview!
587. Informant 4: Okay, thank you.
Informant # 6
692. Interviewer: So.. good morning, hi! I am Sheardy D. Lim from Grade 11 ABM 1P of
693. University of Cebu and I am currently conducting our research entitled, “Lived-Experiences of
694. COVID-19 Frontliners in Cebu”. So good morning once again ma’am!
695. Informant 6: Good morning! *smiles
696. Interviewer: Uhm first and foremost ma’am, can I ask if what language would you prefer
697. during the interview ma’am: English, Tagalog, Bisaya, mixed?
698. Informant 6: Mixed, I’m okay with mixed – or English or Bisaya.
699. Interviewer: Ah okay ma’am, sige ma’am. What is – uhh, can you tell us your full name
700. ma’am?
701. Informant 6: Elline Isabela Bustamante.
702. Interviewer: Hi ma’am Elline, how old are you ma’am?
703. Informant 6: I am 28 years old.
704. Interviewer: Okay ma’am, what is your profession?
705. Informant 6: I’m a physical therapist.
706. Interviewer: Physical therapist.. uhm where are you currently working right now ma’am?
707. Informant 6: I’m currently working at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
708. Interviewer: Okay ma’am. Uhm I will also ask again ma’am if willing raba ka i-interview namo
709. ma’am. Is it okay ma’am?
710. Informant 6: Of course.
711. Interviewer: First question ma’am, what are your positive experiences as a COVID-19 medical
712. frontline worker? Unsa imong mga positibo na kasinatian ma’am?
713. Informant 6: Uhhmm positive kasinatian..? Unsa ng kasinatian in English? *laughs
714. Interviewer: Mga nindot nga na experience nimo during the pandemic.
715. Informant 6: Ahh na experience, ahh okay. Ang nindot nga experience first and foremost is
716. uhm we are there to help them especially in their situation, especially sa ilahang state – it could
717. be uhh.. within sa ilahang current situation nga COVID sila or COVID patient sila or recovery
718. patient na sila. So as physical therapists, we are more on sa after na sa recovery stage nila, kato
719. nang stable na sila nga COVID-19 patients. So ang positive experience namo is ang makahelp
720. especially na nga maka-fully recover na sila.
721. Interviewer: Unsa may na feel nimo during those times ma’am katong mga positive experiences
722. nimo?
723. Informant 6: Uhm kuan.. actually di kayo siya positive akong na feel ato. Luoy kayo sila to be
724. honest. Especially those kato mo ingon sila nga dili sila motuo sa COVID, but then when they
725. are there uhm it’s never – I mean, you don’t see it as nindot tan-awn or kanang.. maglisod ka ug
726. look at sa positive side because kanang luoy sila and naglisod sila.. uhm mao na.
727. Interviewer: Uhm sa imong part ma’am, do you have any positive experiences that you have
728. discovered or realized within yourself maam?
729. Informant 6: Ahmm oo, naa ko’y nadiscover actually. Ang positive thing that I have discovered
730. during this pandemic is to never give up, because even though how hard it is that you see the
731. patients – or the patients mismo nga makadungog ka nila they never give up. So ikaw mismo
732. nga naghelp nila, never sad gyud ka mo give up kay naningkamot man sila. So mao na, mao na
733. akong positive nga nalearn karon nga COVID pandemic as a.. uh frontliner.
734. Interviewer: So thank you for that ma’am. So are there any other positive experiences that you
735. can think of ma’am?
736. Informant 6: Uhh it’s more makahelp – makaextend sa help, mao ra. Determined and motivated
737. ka mohelp nila.
738. Interviewer: Proceed nata sa next ma’am. Kung nay positive experiences ma’am, so what are
739. your negative experiences as a COVID-19 medical frontline worker? Imong mga negatibo na
740. kasinatian ma’am?
741. Informant 6: Hmm mga negative is kanang kapoy.. hahaha kapoy. Especially na kanang
742. magsuot ka sa PPE: singot, niya maglisod ka’g ginhawa sa ilawm, niya makulbaan ka, then
743. makahunahuna ka nga di na niya ka kaginhawa niya simbako-simbako mamatay ka diha’s sud
744. hahaha – matakdan ka. Oo, matakdan ka ug COVID. Mao na imong mahunahuna nga negative.
745. Nga mahadlok ka matakdan, ing-ana. Mao na sometimes makahunahuna ka ug negative things
746. when you encounter- or uh.. uhh as a frontliner. Fear nga matakdan uhh..
747. Interviewer: Ah- can you elaborate more on that ma’am? Katong fear - can you cite a specific
748. experience nganong na feel na siya nimo ma’am?
749. Informant 6: Kuan, uhmm on that day, kato nang magduty nami sa COVID zone so..
750. makahunahuna jud ka nga “Ayay, padung nako musulod, mahadlok ko matakdan.” ana.
751. Mahadlok ko matakdan ug COVID, labi na nga ang mga patients kay grabe mo ubo, grabe mo
752. kuan.. uhm mao ra mana siya. Di man jud siya ingon ana ka negative ang kuan lang mura’g
753. mahadlok ka matakdan. Hahaha, negative ba na? Are you sure? Hahaha.
754. Interviewer: Okay ra ma’am hahaha. Is there a specific negative impact sa imong self ma’am
755. tungod sa pandemic ma’am?
756. Informant 6: Negative impact?
757. Interviewer: Oo ma’am.
758. Informant 6: To be honest, wala man siguro. Wala man ko’y negative impact towards the
759. pandemic kay for me kaning pandemic – dili ko ganahan i-treat siya gud ug negative or unsa pa
760. na siya diha kay it’s a lesson man for everyone and uhmm mao na siya, for me wala siya’y
761. negative impact ang pandemic gyud.
762. Interviewer: Are there any negative experiences you can think of ma’am?
763. Informant 6: Ay oh, naa diay! Pero when it comes to katong patient or anyone nga nakakuan ug
764. COVID-19 ang ako lang na remember is ang people around nga nakahibaw ng ana positive ka.
765. So there are some people for example nga like.. silingan nimo. Lisod kaayo. For example, naa
766. ko’y nakaila nga positive niya pagkuman kay ang silingan nagpataka’g sturya. The more bitaw
767. nga supposed to be ma-unite sila, mo help, but the more na nuon nga nagpalayo sila, mura sila’g
768. nagpakaselfish bitaw just because mahadlok sila matakdan sa COVID. Isa na sa mga lessons nga
769. akong nalearn, nga ... you really know kung kinsay buotan nga mga taw kay mohelp man nimo
770. in terms of crisis. And makaila sad ka kung kinsay mga true friends nimo guyd. Daghan ko’g
771. patients, daghan ko’g kaila nga napositive then naguba sad ilang relationships sa ilang friends
772. because ang katong uban nila friends nga nakahibaw nga napostive is wala siya tagda.
773. Nagpalayo man nuon! Ngano magpalayo man oy?? So never ka mag ingon ana ‘cause they
774. themselves they did not choose nga matakdan sila. So mao rana ako nabantay nga isa sa mga bati
775. nga nahibato. Kuan kay sila, uncivil, inhumane, when it comes to ingon ana kay i-chika-chika
776. dayon, ipanabi nila didto sa mga other silingan: “Hoy! Hala hala, ngano wala mana sila kuhaa?
777. Supposedly kuhaon na sila diri kay makatakod na sila diri.” Ingon ana ba. So, isa nas mga
778. negative jud nga akoa na experience ana nga.. sa kuan sa pandemic which is bati btaw kay
779. supposed to be uhm... mo unite ta kay mo help nag kalisod na gali sila wala ta kabaw sila nag
780. kalisod galisod na gae ug ginhawa dipa noun ka mo tabang so louy kaayu hmmm...
781. Interviewer: hmm.. that’s so sad to hear maam.
782. Informant 6: uhm.. mao na siya akoang negative na kuan na experience hmm...
783. Interviewer: So based sa katong negative na experience maam how did you cope up with that
784. maam? What are your coping mechanisms?
785. Informant 6: uhmm.. ignore., ignore lang jud cause they don’t know the situation and what you
786. are experiencing cause me too na COVID man ko...
787. Interviewer: ahhh really maam
788. Informant 6: Oo..ahh.. but then, but then oo me too na covid ko but then I never... kanang mind
789. them, I never mind kanang mga silingan diko mo mind sa ilahang mga chika chika didto nga na
790. positive, na positive ni in ana... in ana so never mind them cause they don’t know and then you
791. will not grow, not recover if ever you will mind them.. you will not go through all this if ever
792. kuan ka.. ignore lang cause kanang.. ignore lang ka cause dili man sad sila maka help…
793. Interviewer: ahmm pwedi ko mo balik sa akong previous question maam as a.. COVID-19
794. survivor man ka maam noh
795. Informant 6: oo.. uhm
796. Interviewer: ahmm unsay mga positive experience nimo during ato na time.
797. Informant 6: kuan ahhhmm positive experience as a COVID surivor is uhmm.. sa kuan ra kato
798. ra never give up.. never give up to be healthy, never give up to kanang dili ka mag pa kaluya dili
799. ka mag padala cause kuan raman siya sakit raman siya nga kuan maayo rapod so never ka mo
800. give up sa imohang na.. imohang situation.. imohang na feel nga nakuha nimo ang COVID-19
801. kay kabaw man ko nga maayu raka and pray raka always so mao na, haha.
802. Interviewer: haha.. So on the negative side maam naa bakay ma add nga na negative experience
803. nimo?
804. Informant 6: kuan.. ang negative experience nako sa kuan katong as a COVID-19 survivor is
805. ang fear nga mo worst ang situation..
806. Interviewer: Did you suffer ah the symptoms of COVID maam?
807. Informant 6: uhmm oo i suffered anosmia and ageusia, loss of smell & loss of taste so ahm fear
808. lang.. kuan lang ang negative side lang didto is mo fear ka nga mo worst ang situation ana... but
809. then wala man cause most of it kay kuan ra.. never lang ka mo mind kay kabalo ka man ka nga
810. maayo raka..
811. Interviewer: uhm.. What are your coping strategy man during ato na time?
812. Informant 6: Ahm ato na time is gilingaw ra nako akoang self ahh daghan rakog e do kay kuan
813. raman to home isolation raman to akoa so nag kuan rako nag sge rakog.. nag eat ko of course
814. nag eat ko healthy, nag drink kog vitamins d, vitamins c unsa pana diha unya nag lingaw lingaw
815. sa akoang self, nag basa basa ug libro nag sge lang kog netflix, anything nga maka lingaw sa
816. imohang self para ma cope up lng nimo ang isolation.. kay more on isolation raman jud siya ana
817. kay wala kay buhaton ba kay naa rakas kwarto hmm..
818. Interviewer: So what are your motivation man maam and inspiration to cope up with those
819. negative experiences?
820. Informant 6: hehe.. motivation nako kay kuan akoang family. Ahm I’m kuan motivated ko mag
821. paayo, motivated ko mo survive and mo recover because of my family, sa work because I need
822. to go back sa work para kuan para.. kay balik ka sa work para maka help ka sa uban ana biskan
823. nga biskan nga nakakuha ka ana dili mana siya ingon anha raka kutob so mo.. mo balik ka sa
824. imohang normal nga life ug normal nga situation para maka help ka so motivated and inspired
825. ko to everyone and of course inspired sad ko sa mga taw nga naka survive miskin unsa ka lisod
826. ang ilahang situation hmm
827. Interviewer: is there other coping mechanism that you can think of maam?
828. Informant 6: hmmm... mao rana siya mga kuan ra kana rang nga hobbies nimo sa balay mao
829. ramay mga coping mechanism nga atong COVID-19 then eat healthy and eat ay drink your
830. vitamins mao ra.. sakto bako? hehehe
831. Interviewer: hahaha ah last najud maam unsa man imohang advice or maingon sa mga taw
832. karon maam?
833. Informant 6: Ang sa mga taw karon kay kuan believe it’s (COVID) true hahahaha they don’t
834. believe man gud nga it’s true… it it it’s true ah labi na ikaw mismo naka experience ka, what
835. they have gone through inside the COVID zone especially nga to those patients who are, who
836. have symptoms like difficulty in breathing nga mag kuan biskan mo tindog lang biskan mo
837. lingkod lang wana wana ga lisod nag ginhawa and to those patients nga incubated gitubohan
838. para lang maka ginhawa uhm it is true jud it is never a joke dili lang kay normal flu like uhm
839. ubo is normal flu like sip on. It is a it is a pandemic the COVID-19 is true but some of them they
840. didn’t believe it man but I don’t I don’t uhmm argue with them to those people who didn’t
841. believe in but if I have a chance to to explain to them my experiences I will and I would so that
842. they will know that they should be careful and this time uhm labi na karon nga ni taas ang cases
843. sa whole Philippines ambot mura na kuan murag na amaw ang cases rn ni samot ug ka taas
844. uhmm I think 11,000 man guro to last night or yesterday..
845. Interviewer: nisaka na..
846. Informant 6: Oo ni saka napd so uhm we should be vigilant and uhm we should follow like
847. uhm protocols like mask, face shield even though kapoy na kaayu sgeg mask, kapoy na kaayu
848. sigeg face shield, kapoy na kaayu sigeg dala dalag alcohol but it’s for your own good and for
849. your own health. Cause COVID-19 is hard but even ug ma ig an ka it’s never end of the world
850. ug ma ig an ka dependi rmn gd na sya cause its naa man gae uban kanang mga symptoms nga
851. dili raman gae mag saba saba diba dira mag saba saba but if ever man gali ikaw mismo nga you
852. are feeling those symptoms you have those symptoms e put nalang sad sa imohang self even
853. though ma hadlok ka mag pa swab or anything but mas maayu jud mag pa swab nalang jud para
854. dili ka maka spread. If ever ug dili gyud gani dili gyud kaya then follow lang ka, isolate yourself
855. for how many days at least 10 days to isolate yourself then if ever man gani dili jud kaya
856. ganahan jd ka mo gawas sige pag mask hahaha mao nay importante is pag mask and face shield
857. cause dijud ka diha ma takdan jud like me myself kuan lang ko sakong friends nga nag kuyog
858. nakog kaon but then wala sila na takdan cause we follow the protocol mag mask, mag face
859. shield and then as long as kung dili man gali mag mask kundi limit lang to 10 mins below nga
860. dili lang mo mag ka storya ug doul mag storya man gali mo dapat layo more than kanang 2
861. meters at least kuan ba so kana mao lang mao na so follow the protocols because it’s not easy,
862. it’s not kuan cause what if ako then, ako ang nag da and wala koy gibati everything and that but
863. then ako na dyto naka takod sakong mother sakong sakong mga older ones so kuyaw na. Follow
864. the protocols then kuan believe that its true mao lang siya.
865. Interviewer: So that would be all maam. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us today
866. maam salamat jud kaayu maam thank you, you really great help sa amoa research maam and sa
867. mga taw nga maka know ani thank you, thank you maam Elline! Thank you jud kaayu maam.
868. Informant 6: Thank you Sheardy no problem goodbye.
869. Interviewer: Thank you Godbless ba-bye
870. Informant 6: Thank you Godbless!
Appendix F
Coding Table
POSITIVE EXPERIENCES OF COVID-19 FRONTLINERS
Informant Significant Statement Formulated Meaning / Formulated Theme /

Sub-Theme Major Theme
What used to be routine was realize
to be ahmm only unnecessary ahm
became unnecessary during the
COVID-19 pandemic… You have to
1 shorten your to be time with the Realized Significance of Reflection
patient and asking them a questions Time
wherein it has to be already a
significant to what they are
complaining (line number 22-26).
True friends never leave you in the Knowing True Friends Reflection
pandemic (line number 41).
Positive experiences, siguro kay
kanang makatabang, makatabang sa
mga pasyente so nuon lisod man,
lisod man ang trabaho kay siyempre Being able to Help Capability To Offer
ah it’s a first time mani na virus so Others Services
lisod ang kontra pero at least
2 makatabang sa community (line
number 123-125).
At least lahi rajud ang feeling na
magpasalamat sila after so mao nana
makakuhaan na siyag positive na People’s Gratitude Compassion Satisfaction
vibe sa amoa (line number 158-159).
hmm para sa ako na positive na
experience, cguru during the Power to Prevent the Capability To Offer
pandemic usa kami sa nag stop Virus from Spreading Services
gayud na mo spread ang COVID-19
(line number 326-327).
3 usa pud cguro... sa positive
experience kay kanang mo labi mi
sakaylangon sa tao sa barangay like,
unsa pana nga equipment nga need Aid Others in Lessening Capability To Offer
namo jud during the pandemic, so their Burdens Services
like mo request mi like, tambal, na
nga ready na available sa barangay
kay para sa tao na dili na mo adto sa
kuan sa health center (line number
337-340)
So positive #1 as I remember, here in
our country, health care service is not
the priority but after COVID-19
pandemic many people and the Paid More Attention to Recognized Health
government ahm focus on the health the Health Services Services’ Importance
service like for example, medical
equipment, compensation, and all
those necessary so that health service
4 will be in full function (line number
472- 475).
Though the Vicente Sotto Memorial
Medical Center has a very limited
staff, the national government took
an effort to give us man power so The Government Benefits and Assistance
they pull out many local or LGU Assisted Help
nurses and the barangay rural health
center nurses, they pulled out then
they put them in our institution to
augment the short of man power
aside from that the public also notice Public Awareness of Recognized Health
the importance of health services Health Services’ Services’ Importance
(line number 480-481). Importance
2nd, ang local government sad
naging involve sad sa amoa not just
the national but also the local
government ,some of my co-staff
gitagaan ug accommodation para at Government Provides Offered Benefits and
least dili kaayo grabi ang kalisud their Needs and Assistance
because during the pandemic lisud Necessities
kayo ang transport lagyo man ang
uban namo nurses so ang local and
national government ni provide.. the
foods and need of their personal
needs (line number 484-488).
Ah sa mga staff namo, makita gyud
nimo na ahm nay mga nurses na
kanang you can say na naay heart to
serve gyud, ba na dili siya ganahan Heart to Serve Others Capability To Offer
na.. they are not just about money Services
but it’s about service, unsaon ang
paghatag sa serbisyo gyud, na
kinasing kasing (line number 491-
493).
As a medical frontliner ahm positive

side in pandemic is that ahm we are
given privileges as well as benefits. Provided Privileges and Offered Benefits and
To be specific we are ah offered free Benefits Assistance
swab testing and also ah free PPEs
(Personal Protective Equipment)
5 (line number 612-614).
We are able to take good care of
patients who are infected of COVID-
19. So as a nurse, we are privilege Privilege and Honor to Capability To Offer
enough to be able to handle patients Take Care of COVID Services
who are infected so maybe that’s the Patients
positive side of being a medical
frontliner (line number 616-618).
uhm we are there to help them
especially in their situation,
especially sa ilahang state – it could
be uhh.. within sa ilahang current
situation nga COVID sila or COVID Capable to Help Out Capability To Offer
patient sila or recovery patient na COVID Patients Services
sila… So ang positive experience
namo is ang makahelp especially na
6 nga maka-fully recover na sila (line
number 716-720).
Ang positive thing that I have
discovered during this pandemic is to
never give up, because even though
how hard it is that you see the
patients – or the patients mismo nga Reflected to Never Give Reflection
makadungog ka nila they never give Up
up. So ikaw mismo nga naghelp nila,
never sad gyud ka mo give up kay
naningkamot man sila (line number
729-732).
You really know kung kinsay buotan
nga mga taw kay mohelp man nimo
in terms of crisis. And makaila sad Identifying True Friends Reflection
ka kung kinsay mga true friends
nimo gyud (line number 769-770).
For the positive, it’s an honor, it’s
not common experience to have
pandemic but for the positive thought
at least if you are able to survive and
surpassed this, at least it’s an honor Honor to Serve The Capability To Offer
7 that we were able to serve the people People Services
and to survive the mental, physical
stress and most especially jud is to
serve the people (line number 902-
905).
For me hmm... the positive thing is I
was able to do things, or I was able
to extend my scope as a nurse like to Extend Help to Serve Capability To Offer
serve other people in terms of this Others Services
and like during this pandemic (line
number 910-911).
So far, the fulfillment of serving
despite being stressed, you still
continue to go on duty to serve other
people even though you’re mentally Fulfillment of Compassion Satisfaction
drained but the fulfillment of to be Accomplishing One’s
able to serve other people and to see Job
patients being discharge in the
hospital is a fulfillment for a nurse
NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES OF COVID-19 FRONTLINERS

Negative experience is that the hassle

of many establishments will close
early in which uhmm some uhmm Time Conflict with External Constraints
offices is not in jibe with their Establishments and
schedule (line number 48-49). Offices
1 Others are not following uhm are not

giving uhm leeway for medical Environmental External Constraints
frontliners (line number 49-50). Restrictions
Yes, because they think the doctor is
dirty… Because we are expose to
the.. to the.. COVID-19 patients,
then they treat us or they also Harsh Judgment Social Stigma
consider us as infected.. which is
partly right (line number 53-56).
Ah sa akoa kay naa jud time nga
naay masuko na namo kay nganong People get Displeased Social Stigma
2 strikto daw kuno kaayo mi…So dili with Them
jud malikayan nga naay makontra,
naay masuko, naay makaaway, pero
kami kay amo ra i control amo
kaugalingon (line number 163-169).
Sa ako barangay nag gi handle is naa
man koy mga positive so nagsunod-
sunod pud to nga karon naay
positive, pagkahapon nana pud, niya
sunod adlaw nana pud or pagka next Dispirited by the
week ba ato naa napud positive so Increasing Rate of Demoralized Morale
siyempre makaguol kay naay COVID Patients
positive sa community. Makaguol na
mahibaw an na naay nag positive sa
akong barangay na mapun-an pud sa
lungsod (line number 213-219).
pag first jud ato na nahibaw an na
naay case sa ako barangay, ah
siyempre nahadlok ko, dili lang sa
ako kaugalingon pero pud sa mga Fear of the Virus Fear of Contagion
tao, sa mga komunidad, sa barangay Spreading
na ako gi handle so basin ba kanang
mo spread niya mudaghan pa ang
matakdan sa COVID. So naguol ko
ug nahadlok (line number 227-231).
So kato pud na time na nagsunod
sunod pud ang nag positive sa amo
barangay, nakaingon pud ko na Feeling of Exhaustion Burnout
kakapoy pud (line number 232-233).
Siguro mga bati na mga kasanatian,
cguro kanang naai mga tao gyud na
gahi og ulo, so… mao na. naa jud tao Hard-headed People
na mangita og lusot ba, bisag na Violate the Quarantine External Constraints
quarantine sila (line number 372- Protocol
373).
3 Mao na nahadlok ko kay syempre
kato na time kay, nangyu ko og
tabang sa among health station sa
barangay, so tungod, ato, daghan ko Worrying about the Social Stigma
na mga na conflict na mga tao. So, People’s Criticism
mao to, nahadlok ko, kay kami rapud
baya kay gi distribute rapud baya
namo (line number 379-380).
Hmm personal… I, myself is a

survivor sa COVID-19, I got infected
way back in 2020. So number 1,
discrimination, di lang sa akong self Discrimination Social Stigma
4 but also sa akong family kay naa jud
ang discrimination di jud siya
mawala (line number 506-508).
Some of my co-workers have
experienced na violent na mga
kanang like discriminating like mga
physical, nay uban na madunog nimo Physical Violence Social Stigma
sa news na gi yab-an og zonrox sa
nawng og giligoan og zonrox, naay
uban sa akong mga ka-trabaho (line
number 511-513).
And then sa negative sa akong side is
there is always this question “asa ko
dapit nagkulang in terms of
protection? Asa nako pwede nakuha Self-Doubt Demoralized Morale
na wala ko kabantay or asa ko na
fail sa pag practice sa health care
protocol?” para ma protectionan
nako akong self (line number 513-
516).
Also.. kanang naay mga times nga
negative sad noh kay kanang
magkaubusan ang mga supplies (line Lack of Supplies Scarcity of Medical
number 518-519). Necessities
Then naay times na because sa grabe

sa kadaghan sa niabot na mga
positive patients, ma shortage jud sa Shortage of Staff Scarcity of Medical
staff (line number 519-520). Necessities
Ma confuse nga onsaon because
mutungaw or mugawas ang fear
kung onsaon pag atiman sa pasyente Confusion and Fear of Fear of Contagion
nga di kaayo ka protektado (line Infection
number 520-521).
Naa ang boredom pinaka usa sa

akong experience usa sa medyo lisod
kay ang separation kay maisolate
man gud ka so to be alone sa kwarto Separation due to Restricted Movement
wala kay kaistorya, ang wall imong Isolation
kaatubang ang tv murag usa ray
channel (line number 534-536).
Pero again usa sa akong mga pinaka

kuan noh kay maisolate ka because
mosolo jud ba early man to na times Loneliness and
so ang possible is naay taas na Depression Burnout
percentage ang depression (line
number 538-539).
The next problem is ang
transportation ug naa koy kailangan Sluggish Transportation
og gusto og ingon ani dili dayun External Constraints
mahatag (line number 544-545).
So the negative side of this problem
is that it is very risky especially of us
who are going home and who has
families to mao ni ang naka negative Risk of Contracting and
kay pwede mi ma infected anytime Spreading the Virus Fear of Contagion
although bisag mag wear pamig PPE
5 risky gihapon ang amoang job (line
number 628-630).
After ana nga procedure is amo nang
tantangon among PPE so kato nga
time is naa man mi mga ahm co-
workers so wala mi kaibaw nga
kanang infected pud diay to siya so
mao to ang first infected person nga Fear of the Virus Fear of Contagion
staff… I felt ahh hadlok kay Spreading
specially me nga naa koy bata sa
balay mag uli an ko taga adlaw so
nahadlok ko basin ma infected ko
pero antos lang jud ta (line number
636-645).
Hmm mga negative is kanang
kapoy.. hahaha kapoy. Especially na
kanang magsuot ka sa PPE: singot,
niya maglisod ka’g ginhawa sa
ilawm, niya makulbaan ka, then Feeling Fatigue and Fear Burnout
makahunahuna ka nga di na niya ka
kaginhawa niya simbako-simbako
mamatay ka diha’s sud hahaha –
6 matakdan ka (line number 741-744).
Nga mahadlok ka matakdan, ing-ana.
Mao na sometimes makahunahuna
ka ug negative things when you
encounter- or uh.. uhh as a frontliner.
Fear nga matakdan uhh… Mahadlok Worry about Getting the
ko matakdan ug COVID, labi na nga Virus Fear of Contagion
ang mga patients kay grabe mo ubo,
grabe mo kuan.. uhm mao ra mana
siya (line number 745-752).
The more bitaw nga supposed to be
ma-unite sila, mo help, but the more
na nuon nga nagpalayo sila, mura People’s Selfishness Social Stigma
sila’g nagpakaselfish bitaw just
because mahadlok sila matakdan sa
COVID (line number 766-768).
ang negative experience nako sa
kuan katong as a COVID-19 survivor Fear of the Situation
is ang fear nga mo worst ang Worsening Demoralized Morale
situation... (line number 804-805).
For the negative is the discrimination
between other people, ahm me as
myself I didn’t experienced it, but for
other staff that I have encountered in Discrimination Against Social Stigma
our hospital, once they like ride on a Them
7 public vehicular, people don’t like to
go near them (line number 925-927).
Then the negative side also is that
unlike before you can go near your
family without hesitations, but now Limited Interaction with Restricted Movement
you need to check first yourself Family Members
before going near to your family
member (line number 929-931).
It’s just that the negative is that you

will also be mentally drained,
physical, emotional naa jud na siya Mentally, Emotionally Burnout
(*smile) kana akong na experience and Physically Worn
(line number 933-934). Out
Ahm different, there are times I am

sad, angry, ahm but I could nag…
kotub ra siya sa nag… sleepless
nights in ana siya, so you’re afraid to Feeling Sad and Angry Burnout
sleep maybe in the next day you will
get busy ing-ana sya ka draining sa
ako part, sa ako position (line
number 937-940).
Psychologically maybe, it would
touch the negative kuan. It’s really
draining because COVID-19 is new,
so the policies of each hospitals is
not that formed, and then community Stress in the Workplace
are not well informed about it, and Burnout
there are resistance between people
and patients to accept the new
normal. So basically, stress jud sya
ang COVID *smile (line number
942-945).
COPING MECHANISMS OF COVID-19 FRONTLINERS

Hmm coping strategies, like uhm

like cooking or my hobbies, my Doing Personal Hobbies Leisure Activities
personal hobbies (line number 64-
65).
1 You rather do something that is not

medically related. You need to.. you Loosen Up From Work Leisure Activities
need to unwind (line number 65).
eat.. eat.. eat.. eat.... coke.. coke..
coke. Coke adds life. Food is life Eating and Drinking Leisure Activities
hahaha (line number 69-71).
Ahm ako ra ingnon ako kaugalingon
na siguro na siguro nadala ra sila ani
na pandemic, na siguro lisud man Understand the Situation
ghud malayo sa family… As a Understanding and
professional man pud, as a nurse is Reflecting
sabton nalang pud nimo ang mga tao
kung unsa ila nasinati (line number
250-254).
2 So mao to, continue to live life. Dili
mana imo kanang dal on hantod sa
hantod, naa man jud na (negative Adjusting to New Staying Positive
experiences) pero i cope up ah mag Circumstances
adjust nalang. So just enjoy life to
the fullest (line number 260-262).
So mukaon, ikaon nalang para
mawala ang stress dili na mahuna Eat and Watch Movies Leisure Activities
hunaan. Tan aw pud movies, diri
rapud sa balay kay di paman pud
kalaag (line number 262-263).
So mao nalang na, i distract nalang
nimo imo kaugalingon para dili nato
nimo mahuna hunaan pa (line Finding Distraction Staying Positive
number 263-264).
siguro as a nurse, ang una man jud
huna hunaon is ang mga tao, so na Mindset of Helping Motivation from Others
makatabang ka (line number 271 - Others
272).
Then siyempre my family, kung dili
ko mukuan sa community siyempre Concern For Family Motivation from Others
maapektuhan pud ako family (line
number 273 – 274).
Ahm mas nindot na naa kay ka
storya, friend or family para dili
kaayo ma stress. Maka share ka na
mao ni imo naagian karong adlaw. Finding Comfort from Motivation from Others
So murag mao na ang best coping Co-Workers, Family,
mechanism, to talk to your friends, and Friends
families, and loved ones about sa
imong mga naagian para ma relieve
ang imong stress (line number 279 –
283).
umm… cguro ang negative
experiences… bisag unsa pana ka Motivate Oneself to
lisud noh, sa sitwasyon, so maning Stop the Spreading of Staying Positive
kamot gihapon ko nga mag padayun the Virus
gihapon ko na dili ma spread ang
virus, noh (line number 386 -388).
Mao na, akong motivation pud kay
dili ma apil akong family na dili ma Motivated to Protect Staying Positive
3 apil ani na virus (line number 388 – Loved Ones
389).
Mao na, bahala nag lisud, pero kaya
raman pud nako kay para man ni sa
tanan. Para makatabang sa tanan pud To Serve People Motivation from Others
(line number 389 - 390).
Cguro… ako naman, dili man siya
ingun na maka cope-up jud noh, para
sa ako kay ako nlng siya gi embrace Embracing the Understanding and
na mao jud ni akong trabaho, so Profession Reflecting
whether I like it or not, so I need to
face it jud, bahala na unsa panang
negative na experience nako (line
number 408 – 412).
Cgru… umm… part pud sa
relationship nimo sa family…bisag
unsa pana ka hard sa trabaho… ma
share nimo imong experiences sa Sharing Your Thoughts Motivation from Others
imong family, and cgru mawa rapud to Your Family
imong ka istress. So, part pud sa pag
cope-up kay ako family pud cguro na
makatabang (line number 417 –
419).
Uhmm, again ang usa is ang support
system, family and friend (line Support from Family Motivation from Others
number 565). and Friends
Second, ang prayer. Actually during

my isolation everyday sigeg pray,
wala man koy laing buhaton so
everyday prayer and then look for
4 meaning kung nganong nahitabo ni Praying Constantly Motivation from Others
siya so unsay meaning behind my
experience (line number 565-568).
and mangita ug meaning.. look for
the meaning nga nangong I have to
undergo or underwent to this kind of
situation… niya nganong gihatag sa
Ginoo kining situation ug unsay
mensahe sa akoa so somehow
daghan kayg mga reflection, daghan Find Meaning in the Understanding and
kaayog message na unsa una lisod Situation Reflecting
sabton but with the help of my kato
na times during the pandemic during
pud sa napositive nako daghan ang
na answer, daghan siyag natubag not
just sa akoa, but to my friends (line
number 575-581).
So to be able to cope up or para dili
ka ma infected sad sa person who are Observe Proper Hand Healthy Lifestyle
5 infected of COVID-19 so dapat focus Hygiene
ka always ahh wash your hands (line
number 651-652).
ahm if dili ka maka wash sa imong
hands kay mag alcohol permi magda Apply and Bring Healthy Lifestyle
ko permi ug alcohol sa akong bag Alcohol Always
Hmm kuan lang ahh despite nga
nahadlok ka be kuan lang jud be
knowledgeable, do research kanang
dili ka maminaw sa uban nga kanang Understanding and
e sulti do your own research jud Be Well Informed Reflecting
kanang dapat ahh kabalo ka unsa ang
imong kahadlokan ahh to be specific
sa corona virus (line number 659-
661).
kuan kanang imo nalang e think that
nagbuhat ka ana nga job kay tungod
kay ganahan ka mo tabang ug imo
sad shang huna huna on nga kung
imoha nang family na sha kay mura
ra pud kag maka ingon ka nga dapat Encouragement of Motivation from Others
motabang jud ka ani kay what if ing Helping those in Need
ani imong family so mao nay kanang
maka motivate namo nga mo tabang
jud ba ug magpadayon as a medical
frontliners (line number 667-671).
uhmm.. ignore., ignore lang jud
cause they don’t know the situation Ignoring Negativity
and what you are experiencing (line Staying Positive
number 785-786).
nag eat ko of course nag eat ko

healthy, nag drink kog vitamins d, Eating Healthy Foods Healthy Lifestyle
vitamins c (line number 813-814). and Drinking Vitamins
6
unya nag lingaw lingaw sa akoang
self, nag basa basa ug libro nag sge
lang kog netflix, anything nga maka Doing Things that Enjoy Leisure Activities
lingaw sa imohang self para ma cope Oneself
up lng nimo ang isolation (line
number 814-816).
Ahm I’m kuan motivated ko mag Motivated and Inspired
paayo, motivated ko mo survive and by the People Around Motivation from Others
mo recover because of my family, sa
work because I need to go back sa
work para kuan para.. kay balik ka sa
work para maka help ka sa uban… so
motivated and inspired ko to
everyone and of course inspired sad
ko sa mga taw nga naka survive
miskin unsa ka lisod ang ilahang
situation hmm (line number 820-
826).
Coping hmm, sleeping (*smile)
trying to sleep (line number 948). Sleeping Leisure Activities
binge-eating (line number 948). Eating Frequently Leisure Activities

watching movies or series (line
7 number 948-949). Watching Films Leisure Activities
going out even though dili siya

pwedi (jokes) (*smile) (line number Going Out Leisure Activities
949).
then coping sad nako ron na
psychologically, is drinking coffee
instead of one cup a day usahay Drinking Coffee Leisure Activities
mahimu sya ug two to three cups a
day ing.ana (line number 949-951).
ahm… dili lang jud ka dapat
magpadaug sa imong mental (well-
being) and also listen to your heart,
and your body… Try to do Relaxing Activities Leisure Activities
something na your most comfortable
and that can make you relax even
you’re mental status (line number
954-958).
my happiness and fulfillment to able
to serve other people and to survive Enjoyment and
as one in this pandemic, to heal as Contentment to Help Motivation from Others
one (line number 961-962). People
Appendix G
Documentation
CURRICULUM VITAE
Jachel L. Bravo
70-A Cabantan St., Barrio Luz Cebu City
Bravojachel@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Senior High School: University of Cebu-Main Campus
Sanciangko St., Cebu City
(2020-present)
Junior High School: University of Cebu-Main Campus
(2016-2020)
Elementary School: Barrio Luz Elementary School
(2010-2016)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Joedell Derrick R. Caballes
2-34 Juana Osmena Ext. Gochan Hills, Cebu City
cabs.derrick20@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: University of the Visayas Pardo Campus (Grade 9-10)
(2018-2020)
University of the Visayas Main Campus (Grade 7-8)
(2016-2018)
Elementary School: Academia De San Pedro Calungsod (Grade 6)
(2015-2016)
Sto. Nino Smart Child Learning Center
(2010-2015)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Trishia Karyl L. Calumarde
1427 Cabantan St. Mabolo Cebu City

trishiakaryl@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: Colegio De La Immaculada Concepcion-Cebu
45 Gorordo Ave, Cebu City, Cebu
(2010-2016)
Elementary School: Mabolo Elementary School
CURRICULUM VITAE
Marigold Princess Caperare

Toong Cebu City
Marigoldprincess12345@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: Toong Integrated School
(2016-2020)
Elementary School: Toong Integrated School
(2010-2016)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Wengel P. Legaspi
280-D Tupas Street. Cebu City
wengellegaspi7@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial High School
248 Candido Padilla Street. Cebu City
(2016-2020)
Elementary School: Sawang Calero Elementary School
(2010-2016)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Peter P. Lehren
Quiot Bogo, Cebu City
lehrenpeter8@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: Quiot National High school
Quiot, Cebu City
(2015-2019)
Elementary School: Quiot Elementary School
Quiot, Cebu City
(2007-2013)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Sheardy D. Lim
22-A J.M Basa st., Brgy. Sawang Calero, Cebu City
Sheardylim18@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: St. Mary’s Academy of San Nicolas
T.Abella St., Cebu City
(2016-2020)
Elementary School: St. Mary’s Academy of San Nicolas
T.Abella St., Cebu City
(2012-2016)
Bantayan Southern Institute
(2010-2012)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Kent James Q. Quibol
Cres Compound, Tagunol St., Cebu City
quibolkentjames@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School
Macopa St., Basak Pardo, Cebu City
(2016-2020)
Elementary School: Don Vicente Rama Memorial National
Elementary School
(2015-2016)
Basak Community School
(2010-2015)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Kenshin Tatoy
Juana Osmeña Extension St., Kamputhaw Purok 8
Cebu City
Kenshintatoy910@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School
V.rama Avenue Guadalupe Cebu City
(2016-2020)
Elementary School: Camputhaw Elementary School
(2010-2016)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Margreth Tejano
3354 Remedios, Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe,
Cebu City, Cebu
margreth.tjn@gmail.com
EDUCATION
(2020-present)
Junior High School: Evangelical Theological College of the Philippines
R. Duterte Street, Banawa, Cebu City
(2016-2020)
Elementary School: Evangelical Theological College of the Philippines
R. Duterte street, Banawa, Cebu City
(2010-2016)

Lived Experiences of Covid 19 Frontliners in Cebu

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LIVED-EXPERIENCES OF COVID-19 FRONTLINERS IN CEBU

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

Chapter I: THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Statement of the Problem 15

Significance of the Study 15

Scope and Delimitation 17

Chapter II: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Positive Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners 27

Negative Experiences of COVID-19 Frontliners 37

Coping Mechanisms of COVID-19 Frontliners 53

Chapter III: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Appendix A: Transmittal Letter 94

Appendix C: Research Locale 98

Appendix D: Research Instrument – Interview Guide 99

Appendix E: Transcriptions 101

Appendix F: Coding Table 114

Appendix G: Documentation 126

CURRICULUM VITAE 127

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

the frontlines (De Vera 2020).

Pandemic is an epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries or continents.

conduct a study similar to this study.

Then the external world such as nature is environmental (Vo, 2020).

empower other people.

specifically delve on the comfort and experiences of healthcare workers.

expectancies and values.

motivating workers in healthcare setting (Simone, 2015).

precision and accuracy.

are still being investigated.

people have survived.

heroic deeds (Greenpeace Philippines, 2020).

him stronger and more compassionate.

with pathologists and laboratory scientists.

Protection Motivation Expectancy Value Theory

Statement of the Problem

Front liners specifically in Cebu.

Specifically, the study seeks answer to the following questions:

Significance of the Study

findings, conclusion, and recommendations of this research study.

the family who is a frontliners in fully understanding the work of a frontliner.

protected against the disease.

quarantine and isolating infected individuals.

risky job of minimizing the spread of COVID 19.

Scope and Delimitation

Camotes and Bantayan Island.

analysis procedure are discussed explicitly.

experiences of the frontline healthcare workers in the province of Cebu.

their online classes.

participate in conducting the study.

informants covered during the interview (Blummer & Kenton, 2014).

Data Gathering Procedure

Data Analysis Procedure

of meaning that are frequently repeated (Maguire & Delahunt, 2017).

the gathered data.

and clear understanding of the study.

during the COVID-19 Pandemic (WHO, 2021).

factors affect one's perception of understanding (Given, 2008).

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA