Thread by @thoughtspresso

This was the story of my mom and dad, Rita Hans-Maclang and Reynaldo Laurente Maclang.

My dad passed away a few days later, in the morning after I told him he had done his duties as a father, and he told me he was proud of me.

https://twitter.com/OhMyImai/status/1297144746989596673

I will forever be grateful for the hardworking (read: overworked!) people of PGH, for foregoing the fear of this deadly virus and flocking to aid the sick. This pandemic is not a blessing to anyone. But our medical frontliners definitely are gifts from God.

My parents may not have survived in their battle against COVID. But the doctors and nurses and everyone else bought them just enough time to say goodbye.

But my parents were activists. So my mom would like to remind you all that we were extremely privileged and still had little chance. We had access to an ambulance, a swab test, and connections with doctors. We have a big enough house to self-isolate in.

If we, an upper middle class family, had a devastating battle against this disease with all the private resources at our disposal, then think of the common Filipino.

The mishandling of this pandemic is a SOCIAL INJUSTICE, and politicians refuse to address it with urgency

Because they have access to all the resources to keep them safe.

What if they didnt have a personal car? And no ambulance?

They couldnt get their way into the hospital by way of friends and connections?

What if they lived in a small home of one room with a kitchen?

Will you forever subject them to "drink hot ginger tea, inhale steaming water, gargle with salt, and walk in the sun for 15 minutes"?

Then wipe your hands clean when they die?

Every family exposing themselves to danger because of economic need

Every breadwinner who couldnt get employment because a swab test is required and it costs 4-7k

Every person who still walks two hours to get home at night

And every person without access to health resources

And every family that grieves their loss in isolation

Is the responsibility of this administration.

PAHABOL: On August 21, 2020 the day that we struggled to get our parents into PGH, we had a problem with getting ambulances. We were instructed to call One Hospital Command Center hotline, and they only got back to us by August 28, 2020 to ask "Kamusta na po si Tatay Rey?"

On that same night, my sister-in-law tried calling DOH Las Pinas for help, and DOH Las Pinas called ME asking ME, "mam wala po kaming ambulance, may ambulance po ba kayo?"

Ringing our Barangay office was not successful and family reminded me that Aug 21 was a holiday. On Aug 22, I had a fever and had to be rushed to ER to get immediately swabbed and assessed. My Auntie called our Barangay Health Services.

"Monday pa po nagbubukas health center"

THE ONLY WAY we were able to get my parents an ambulance was THROUGH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.

HAVE COMPASSION on the common Filipino!!! This incompetence is CRUEL. This incompetence is INHUMANE.

I've gone viral once before, and my activist mom said, "Now that you're internet famous, tell people to #OUSTDUTERTE"

Okay, mom. If you say so!

#OUSTDUTERTENOW

My generation will carry on the torch for you. Thank you for your service to the country, Mom & Dad.