Someone to Watch Over You
While under quarantine, Vincent Villarino realizes that when you have family and caring co-workers, being isolated does not mean that you are alone
Words by MARGA CONSTANTINO
Vincent Villarino, 35, reads the 23rd Psalm once again: Ang Ginoo mao ang akong magbalantay, ug walay nakulang kanako. He savors the sound of his mother tongue and clutches the blanket more tightly around his shivering shoulders. He wipes the sweat from his fevered brow and checks the clock on his phone—one more hour before the office nurse calls to remind him to take his medicine again.
Comfort and companionship. For Vincent, there are two connections that even self quarantine can’t sever: a loyal dog, and a faithful God.
It’s been about a week since he came down with the flu, and his office has been calling regularly to check on him. Vincent’s head throbs as he lays down on his pillow. His eyelids are heavy, but he opens his mobile phone again: the CCTV video is a little grainy on his screen, but he could watch his little girl sleep in her crib forever. A feeling of intense longing washes over him. Please Lord, he prays, let me be well. Let me go home to my baby girl again.
A new father’s pain
Vincent had not seen his family in four months. As Head of Instrumentation & Control in South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp., he lives in Batangas and would usually drive three hours on a motorcycle to see his family in Bataan on the weekends. When the lockdown was declared in March, Vincent was not prepared to be suddenly torn away from his baby daughter, the one and only child that he and his wife waited so long to have.
For Vincent, this unforeseen separation was the hardest part of the pandemic. Though he was used to living alone, having been an Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia for four years, this time apart was painful for the new father who missed many of the milestones of his growing child. The last time he saw Zyriel Maryent, she was barely nine months old. He had to content himself by watching his child through the CCTV that was installed in his family’s home.
Trying to distract himself from his loneliness, Vincent threw himself into work. He and his team found ways to get their plant to run at only 50% manpower, and pulled their own weight to keep the power going. But on the fourth week of March, he suddenly came down with the flu.
AyalaCitizen Diary: A skeleton AC Energy crew had to remain at the plant to continue inspections and other critical operations, but they wear masks and follow strict safety protocols.
Caring from afar
Vincent was quarantined in his rented home for almost two weeks. Daily life was hard during the lockdown, and only became harder for Vincent, who lived alone. It was during this time in isolation that he felt the care from his colleagues and bosses, who, like the company nurse, would call frequently to see how he was doing.
Team spirit. Colleagues from South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp (including those in this team picture taken before the pandemic) called and texted him frequently to help buoy his spirits.
“Parang blessing na rin. At that time, nafe-feel ko rin yung care ng family ko, care ng mga colleagues about dun sa nangyari sa akin,” he says. At first Vincent was afraid that he might have COVID-19, and he researched like mad to assure himself that he would be okay; he was young, he did not have any other conditions, and he had not been exposed to anyone that was COVID-positive. This helped him stay calm, but what brought him the most relief were the more frequent calls with his family.
“At these difficult times, yung family lang talaga yung pinaka [comfort sa akin]… Magaan yung loob ko na makipag-usap sa kanila. Any time puwede ko silang tawagin.”
Thankfully, Vincent only had a normal flu. He made a full recovery and went back to work after 12 days in isolation.
“Though he was used to living alone, this time apart was painful for the new father who missed many of the milestones of his growing child. He had to content himself by watching his child through the CCTV that was installed in his family’s home.”
Finally going home
In June 2020, after four grueling months of separation, Vincent was finally able to go home to see his family. Excited to be with baby Zyriel Maryent on her very first birthday, Vincent filed a week-long leave and traveled more than 200 km on his motorcycle just in time to see her blow the candles on her cake.
Homecoming. This little girl’s birthday wish came true. Vincent was able to join his family just in time for her first party.
This visit was just what Vincent needed to restore his spirit. These days, though he is still unable to go home as frequently as he would like, he is thankful that he gets to see his wife and child once in a month. This is not ideal for Vincent, who continues to sacrifice his time with his family, but he is determined to keep his family safer from the virus and better provide for their future.
“My ambition is to fulfill my role as a father to my daughter, which is to provide better education… So my daughter [can] succeed also in her career of choice. So that’s my ultimate ambition in my life.” #
POSTED AUGUST 20, 2020
