Wari'y madudurog ang puso ni Zyrene Boco sa pagpanaw ng kanyang ama ng walang kalaban-laban.
Si Zyrene Boco ay first-year college student na nag-aaral ng kursong Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering sa Universidad ng Pilipinas.
Ang kanyang amang si Arnel Boco ay pumanaw sa edad na 56 taong gulang.
Magkahalong lungkot at galit ang nararamdaman ni Zyrene.
Sa tingin niya, ang pumatay sa kanyang ama ay ang baluktot na health emergency system ng bansa ngayong kasagsagan ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Sa kanyang salita, "He was killed by the system that prioritizes only the rich and powerful."
REJECTION AFTER REJECTION FROM HOSPITALS
Idinetalye ni Zyrene sa kanyang Facebook post noong March 27 na inatake sa puso ang ama at dinala sa ospital.
Walang anumang test o kumpirmasyong dinapuan ng COVID-19 ang ama nang mga panahong iyon.
Ngunit hindi pa rin daw ito binigyan ng medical attention dahil walang koneksyon ang kanilang pamilya para gawing prayoridad ng ospital.
Malungkot na kuwento ni Zyrene: "I never thought that I’d have to see my own dad die right before my eyes. I hated that I couldn’t do anything about it because he didn’t die, he was killed by the system that prioritizes only the rich and powerful.
"On the morning after his birthday, he complained of having difficulty breathing.
"I woke up to my mom screaming for help because he was having a heart attack.
"It broke my heart to help heave his body out of the house, scared that he would be fighting for his life.
"He told us: 'Malakas ako. Kaya ko ‘to.'
"He was then rushed to the nearest hospital but it could not provide the care he needed."
Na-confine ang ama ni Zyrene sa isang tent na itinayo sa kalsadang katabi ng ospital.
Ito raw ang nagsilbing makeshift emergency room (ER) ng hindi niya pinangalanang ospital.
Puno ng takot para sa malubhang kalagayan ng ama, sinubukan ng pamilya ni Zyrene na maghanap ng ibang ospital na reresponde.
"All day and night we were calling hospitals because he needed intensive care but NO ONE WANTED TO ACCEPT HIM," mariing sumbong ni Zyrene.
"They feared he suffered the infection of the virus but he did not show any symptoms prior to the day he was admitted.
"Many hospitals gave us false hope by saying an icu was available, and upon learning about the situation, would turn my dad down."
Lumalabas na hindi pa man sumasailalim sa test, base pa lang sa sintomas ng pasyente, may stigma na ang sinumang pinaghihinalaang may COVID-19.
At ang masakit pa ay hindi lang nga isa, kundi maraming ospital daw, ang ganito.
Seen in the back row are Arnel Boco and his daughter Zyrene during a family trip. Standing in the front row are sisters Janelle and Jana and mom Claire.
COVID-19 TESTING ONLY AFTER DEATH
Hanggang sa pumanaw ang ama ni Zyrene ay hindi raw ito nabigyan ng sapat na medical care.
At noon na lamang namatay na si Arnel ay saka raw ito ginawaran ng COVID-19 test.
Naghihinagpis na pahayag ni Zyrene: "They left my dad there to die.
"He died in a tent by the street with primary level care and we couldn’t do anything about it.
"He was cremated a few hours later with no one by his side. He didn’t even get a proper funeral.
"It’s so unfair because he didn’t deserve it."
Masakit sa loob ni Zyrene dahil sigurado raw siyang nais pang mabuhay ng amang 56-taong gulang.
"It really hurts me to say this but he died struggling.
"I was looking him in the eye and it really really broke my heart because I knew he wanted to live.
"He wasn’t ready to leave all of us here."
Bago namatay ang ama, nasaksihan pa raw ni Zyrene ang likas na pagiging matulungin nito, mapa sa kapamilya man o sa ibang tao.
Nanguna pa raw si Arnel sa pamimigay ng quarantine pass sa kanilang lugar.
Ang quarantine pass ang ginagamit na I.D. ng isang representative ng bawat household na siyang lalabas para sa essential needs tulad ng groceries.
Patuloy ni Zyrene: "He was a good man and he was helping so many people. He’s the type of guy who takes care of everyone around him.
"He passes quarantine IDs from house to house, he would give rice to the guards that overtime in our subdivision, he would give groceries to our relatives no matter how far, he made a house for my lola in the province, and not just that, I probably don’t know all the good things he’s done because he’s never showy about it.
"AND HE COULD BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW IF HE JUST GOT THE CARE HE NEEDED."
ONLY the VIP WINS IN BATTLE WITH COVID-19
Masakit sa loob ni Zyrene ang tinatawag niyang kawalan ng hustisya sa pagkamatay ng ama.
Ani Zyrene, "What kind of healthcare system turns away those who need care?
"He was fighting for his life and he didn’t even get the chance to properly do so."
Ang hindi raw pagresponde ng ospital sa emergency situation ng ama ay taliwas sa VIP treatment ng mga taong may matataas na posisyon sa gobyerno at maiimpluwensiya ang pamilya.
Galit na patutsada ni Zyrene: "To the system, FUCK YOU. You all have blood on your hands.
"You VIPs don’t deserve your treatment. Kayo may results after one day?
"My dad got tested when he was dead and we probably won’t know until a week later.
"I hope one day you feel how me and thousands of other Filipinos are feeling right now."
Hindi man tuwirang binanggit ni Zyrene, hindi kaila sa publiko ang kontrobersiyal na VIP testing sa ilang governmentent officials na ni wala pang nararamdamang sintomas.
Isa na rito ang pamilya ni dating Senator Bongbong Marcos, na mismong ang misis niyang si Atty. Lisa Araneta Marcos ang nagsabing silang mag-asawa, mga anak, at pati kasambahay ay nagpa-testing lahat sa COVID-19.
At nakuha raw nila ang resulta matapos ng 24 oras. Negatibo raw silang lahat.
Nauna rito, lumikha ng ingay ang insidente sa Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), ang ospital sa Alabang, Muntinlupa, na may kakayahang sumuri at maglabas ng resulta ng COVID-19 test.
Umalma ang ilang hospital staff ng RITM dahil nagdi-demand umano ang mga VIPs (Very Important Persons) na unahin ang paglabas ng resulta ng kanilang tests sa kabila ng overload ng napakaraming pasyenteng higit na malubha.
ON LOSING A BELOVED FATHER
Sa pagpapatuloy ng Facebook post ni Zyrene, lubos siyang nagdadalamhati sa mga nanakaw na sandaling kapiling sana ng kanilang pamilya ang ama.
"To my dad, I’m so so sorry we couldn’t transfer you to a better hospital. I know I was telling you that you’ll feel better soon and I know I failed you on that.
"I’m sorry you won’t see us all graduate. Sorry we can’t go to the Japan together this Christmas.
"The system failed you when you needed it most."
Sadyang malalapit daw ang mga miyembro ng pamilya ni Zyrene sa isa't isa, at napakalaking kawalan ang pagpanaw ng ama.
Naulila ng yumaong si Arnel Boco ang maybahay nitong si Claire at tatlong anak na sina Zyrene, Jana, at Janelle.
"Yet, I thank you so much for being the best role model that I have in my life. You left us with the best memories.
"I can’t believe I won’t be seeing you sit by the tv, eat food at the head of the table, walk the dog in the afternoon or garden the plants.
"I won’t ever hear you tell me to 'go study' or 'go home because it’s too late'.
"We won’t ever be able to drive to subic or manila for lunch as a family."
Nalulungkot din si Zyrene dahil hindi man lang nila nabigyan ng maayos na burol ang ama dala ng social distancing measure na ipinapatupad ngayon ng gobyerno.
"I LOVE YOU, DAD"
Ipinagbabawal ang mass gathering tulad ng lamay para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.
"Sorry dad, you were robbed of seeing us grow. We can’t even give you a proper funeral yet because of the timing.
"You should be alive right now. You should be playing basketball with Janelle, you should be singing on the karaoke with us, but you can’t anymore.
"I’d do anything to turn back time and hear you laugh, smile, or just hear your voice one more time."
Sa kabila ng lahat, pipilitin daw ni Zyrene na magsilbing-inspirasyon ang masasayang alaala ng ama.
Nawa'y matahimik daw ito kung saan man ito naroroon.
Dagdag ni Zyrene: "Tell us to squeeze in for a picture one more time.
"It’s hard to imagine a life without you, dad, but for you, I’ll be strong.
"I love you dad and I hope that wherever you are right now, you’ll be watching over us because we will make you proud."
MULA SA PATNUGOT: Ang artikulong ito ay base sa Facebook post ni Zyrene Boco. Ipinagpaalam ng Philippine Entertainment Portal ang paglathala ng kuwento ng pagpanaw ng kanyang amang si Arnel Boco, at pinayagan ito ni Zyrene.