University of the Philippines (UP) doctors singing the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Hymn is in a new video released to inspire their fellow frontliners in the fight against COVID-19.
UP doctors recorded the song from their respective workplaces and homes. The inspirational video is especially fitting at a time when 15 UP doctors and medical workers were reported by the UP administration to have succumbed to the disease after serving in the frontlines.
“They died alone, with no relatives around to hold their hands as they breathed their last. Some still have to be buried, and others were cremated with no ceremony and no one to bid them goodbye.
“This has become the common tale of grief, sorrow, and helplessness for the thousands all over the world who have fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the story becomes even more poignant when it strikes closer to home or when the virus takes down somebody you love, somebody you know, or somebody you went to school with,” says the UP report “IN MEMORIAM: Remembering those we have lost” released on April 6, 2020.
The UP-PGH has since been named as a center of efforts in the battle against the coronavirus disease after being made a COVID-19 patient referral center.
The video was uploaded on UP Medicine Choir’s YouTube channel on March 31, 2020, and Facebook on April 1 with the following caption:
“To the People Giving Hope:
“As you answer the call of the nation, we want you to know: you do not stand alone.
“We may have gone far away, but our hearts remember. The scholars and idealists you once cradled are now people giving hope in our own little way everywhere in the world. From wherever we are, we stand with you now. We raise our voices with yours to answer the call. Across the world, we send our song to reach out to you as you face this daunting night. And we will sing with you until the dawn comes again.
“Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan!”
The video includes these onscreen messages:
“Malayong lupain amin mang marating. Di rin magbabago ang damdamin. Kahit tayo’y nasa magkakaibang dako, magkakasama tayo sa labang ito. #IisangBangkaTayo” – a reference to the UP Hymn, UP Naming Mahal.
Netizens thanked the doctors for their service.
“Thank you heroes! ❤️❤️❤️,” Stella Ramos commented.
“Thank you PGH for serving the Filipino in this difficult time! God bless!” Teresa Dychioco commented.
The PGH song is composed by Dr. Armando Crisostomo and Ryan Cayabyab, arranged by Caloy Ongchangco, with audio mixing by Hans Bondoc and Aldwin Baronda, and video editing by Mikee Ann Chan.
The University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital has opened its Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH COVID-19 Operations Center Hotline 155-200 for patients, donors, and volunteers.
Songs have also been offered by the Philippines’ artists, with OPM stars Ryan Cayabyab, Lea Salonga, Reuben Laurente and many more joining the Bayanihan Musikahan fundraising drive for the urban poor affected by the health crisis.
More Filipino OPM artists sang “We Heal as One” singing all new lyrics to the tune of “We Win as One” originally sung by Broadway Royalty Lea Salonga for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games hosted by the Philippines.
Gary Valenciano, Marcelito Pomoy, Jamie Rivera, Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez have also posted videos of their songs offered to inspire Filipinos.
With reports from Blesilda Dela Cruz
WATCH the UP doctors sing to inspire medical workers in the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 and SEND HEALTH WORKERS CHEERS in the comments below!
Want to know how to be a Proud Pinoy? Like, Follow, Subscribe to GoodNewsPilipinas.com and our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Good News Pilipinas! TV on YouTube, for new good story notifications and e-mail newsletters for updates on more Filipino Pride stories
