This is Patient No. 8

She was a survivor of the so-called World War C and bravely came into the open, disclosing to the whole wide world her identity.

Occidental Mindoro’s Patient No. 8 is Minerva Angel Tadeo, 42, a frontliner assigned at San Sebastian District Hospital (SSDH) in Sablayan as Admitting Clerk and under the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) stationed in said town. She was formerly assigned at the Parola (Presing) Park as zipline crew before she was transferred to the aforementioned public health facility.

Despite her age, she is a working student presently taking up BS Cooperative at PUP-Sablayan Campus and now on her second year. That is how she gives value to education. She is a member of the Board of Directors of SAGUTT Multi-Purpose Cooperative at present.

After tested positive of the disease May 20, 2020 by the Philippine National Red Cross, she underwent the necessary health protocols. Minerva’s swab specimen was taken May 14 during the two-day Expanded Targeted COVID-19 Testing of healthcare workers in Sablayan. She was asymptomatic. No colds, cough or whatever symptoms.

After days of anxiety and extreme trial, finally yesterday, May 27, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) declared her in the pink of health after she was tested negative in her second and third repeat swabs. The laboratory results were released by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

While Patient No. 8 was in her isolation room at the SSDH, she experienced pain, more of the emotional kind, solitude and fear. She also cried discrimination and public shame from the judging eyes of some people. Almost every day she said, she sensed death stalking her hospital room. Fear of dying alone constantly accompany her even in the deepest moment of the night.

In her Facebook post yesterday, she described the ordeal like a bomb exploding right in their very faces of her immediate family members.

She stressed in her same post, “Alam ko sa sarili ko kaya ko labanan lalo na at [ako ay may] may pananalig sa Diyos.” Minerva extended her heartfelt gratitude to her family, friends and supporters, the medical personnel at SSDH who took care of her and her fellow frontliners who prayed for her. Meantime, she can now be with her family at home for the required another 14-day isolation period.

While under the affliction, an FB friend named Febbie Tadeo posted this very inspiring verse from the bible: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

—Psalm 46:1-3, NIV. She kept the faith in her hospital bed.

Like Minerva, the mythical Roman goddess of defensive warfare and wisdom, she figuratively came out of Jupiter’s head in full battle armor, and in due time, ready again to continue to fight at the frontlines.

She overcame the torment as likely because she has God’s angel on her shoulder, to paraphrase a hit song of The Cascades before.

Well, welcome to the outside world yet still in quarantine.

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(Photo from FB page of Minerva Angel Tadeo)