Edited Transcription of Jessica M.
Bisnar
Question Response
What are the stressors
that you experienced in Kasi when there was no Covid pa medyo okay pa ang work namin,
your workplace now hindi pa ganoon ka hago kumbaga pero nung dumating itong
that there is Covid-19? pandemic na ito, medyo hago na siya sa part namin lalo na may
dagdag work na siya sa amin. Kasi before ang workload lang namin
Follow up is mag focus lang kami sa aming areas, ngayon hindi na siya
Aside from workload, do ganoon eh lalo na sa lab namin na understaffed pa kami so hindi
you think may iba pa po lang kami naga work in our assigned areas. We are also assigned as
na naga pa dagdag a swabber at the same time. Pero hindi kami naga run ng RT-PCR
stress? test, kasi ang ginagawa namin is naga swab lang kami and gina
padala namin ang amin swab either sa One World or sa SPMC. So,
medyo stressful lang siya sa part namin kasi halos everyday may
gina swab kami. Siguro yun ang masasabi kong stressor sa part
namin kasi dagdag workload na kasi siya sa amin.
So aside sa workload, actually makatakot din sa part namin
syempre we are handling patients na hindi namin alam if may
Covid siya pero before kasi yan siya maka pasok sa hospital, gina
evaluate yan siya through the emergency room. So ang doctor
doon ang mag ask sa patient before siya papasukin sa hospital.
So sa amin na part, nakakatakot siya actually kasi hindi namin alam
kung ang mga symptoms ng Covid ay nasa kanya lalo na kung may
symptoms talaga siya. Makatakot siya sa part namin kasi let’s say
sa result ng kanyang swab is positive. Let’s say na ako nag swab sa
patient, nakakatakot siya kasi I was exposed to that patient and
hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat gawin. So ako sa part ko din, for
example, pag uwi ko sa bahay may possibility na ma expose din
aking family. Medyo stress din siya sa amin na part kasi may ibang
tao din ang madadamay. So yun lang naman so far.
Translation (English)
When there was no Covid, our work was
somewhat okay; it was not that tiring. But
when this pandemic came, it is exhausting,
especially since there is an additional
workload for us. Before, our workload was to
focus only on our areas. Presently, it is no
longer like that, especially in our lab where
we are understaffed, so we don't only work in
our assigned areas. We are also assigned as a
swabber at the same time. However, we do
not run the RT-PCR test because what we do
is just swab, and we send our swab either to
One World or to SPMC. Hence, it is pretty
stressful because we have to do swab tests
almost every day. Maybe that is the stressor
on our part because it adds workload to us.
So aside from the workload, it is scary on our
part since we are handling patients whom we
do not know if he/she has Covid. But before a
patient can go to the hospital, he/she is
evaluated through the emergency room. The
doctor there will ask the patient before he is
admitted to the hospital.
It is actually scary on our part because we
don’t know if the patient manifested the
symptoms of Covid, especially if he/she has
the symptoms. Let’s say that I did the swab
test on the patient and it came out positive, it
is scary because I was exposed to that patient
and I am not sure what to do. In my part for

During the duration of
Covid-19, do you Nung time na nag start ang Covid-19, so far wala pang
experience any discrimination. But now, one of our workmates is positive for
discrimination against Covid so kami we are undergoing swab test especially our loved
you as a healthcare ones. So, sa part namin there is discrimination kasi sa hospital
worker? What are those syempre may ibang employees na may alam na na expose kami
po ba Ma’am? doon sa Covid-19 positive patient which is our coworker. So
actually hindi pa naman siguro alam ng mga kapitbahay namin, so
Follow up example na lang sa mga employees sa hospital. Sa mga nurses, sa
Aside sa chismis, is other departments alam na nila na exposed kami so there is
there anything else like discrimination because gina chismis na nila but we do not know
severe or physical yet if positive kami kasi we will undergo pa swab tests. So sa amoa
discrimination? there is discrimination na kasi syempre gina chismis na kami eh
kasi porket exposed na kami sa positive na patient possible
In that chismis po sa positive din kami, so hindi lang siya discrimination sa Covid-19
other workmate mo positive na patient kasi sa amin din.
ma’am, how did that
affect you po? Wala pa naman napunta sa point na ganyan, so far yung chismis pa
lang naman
Kung chismis siya sa other departments, sa part ko naman maka
affect siya pero hindi naman totally may konting effect lang siya sa
akin kasi syempre lain pud kung ichismis ka regarding sa wrong
information na example ito siya porket na expose siya sa positive
na patient positive na din. Lain lang sa part ko kasi na chismis ka
tapos wrong information pa talaga, yun pa lang naman na part ang
kinda naka affect sa amin p]ero other than that wala pa naman so
example, when I come home, there is a
possibility that my family will also be
exposed. It is stressful for us because other
people will also be affected. So that’s it so
far.
When Covid-19 started, discrimination was
non-existent. But now that one of our
coworkers has tested positive for Covid, the
rest of us, including our loved ones, are
undergoing swab tests. As a result,
discrimination began to emerge within our
workplace because employees and
healthcare workers from other departments
were aware that we had been exposed with
our coworker who tested positive for Covid.
They started spreading rumors about us,
claiming that we are covid-19 positive,
despite the fact that our swab test has yet to
be taken and the results are unknown.
Jumping to conclusions and spreading such
rumors is an act of discrimination, not only
against us, but also against the covid-19
positive patient.
Nothing to that extent has occurred thus far;
the only thing that has occurred is the spread
of rumors.
If the rumors came from other departments, I
wouldn't be affected as much, but it bothers
me that they are spreading false information
about me. Being exposed to a covid-19
 positive patient does not imply that we are
far. positive as well. This issue had a minor
impact on me, but there was nothing else.

As a frontliner po in this Sacrifices...example is kasi syempre understaffed kami sa aming

time of the pandemic, workplace so siguro ang sacrifice ko is, lalo na ang mga kasama ko
have you ever made is mga baguhan pa, so ako..mag overtime ako sa work isacrifice ko
sacrifices po ba in order siya kay para makatulong din ako sa mga co-workers ko. And may
to continue providing times din na pag off ko, dalawang staff lang ang mag duty then
services to your may isang area sila na hindi alam so.. Ako kanina nag inform na
patients? If yes po, what ako sa head namin na para may isang area sila na may less worries
are these sacrifices po? sila so sa part ko I need to sacrifice and help them na himuon nako
tung area na to para dili na sila mag worry pa. Kung sacrifice
Follow up naman sa patients, syempre kanang mag atubang ka sa patient
and you are assigned sa swab tests. Kay dili man gud lalim mag
So sa mga sacrifices mo swab actually, so kung ikaw ang assigned as a swabber sa imong
ma’am, do you feel duty feeling nako kay mahulog siyag sacrifice sa patient kay naa
exhausted din po ba man gud uban na kung pwede dili sila ma assign as a swabber kay
because of that? mahadlok lagi sila. So kung pwede akong mindset kay dili ana kay
akong worries kay ang patient jud. So sacrifice siya, na ako na lang
So when you become mag swab para niya kay akong concern is para man pud sa mga
exhausted po ma’am, patients.
how are your work
performances affected Honestly, oo exhausted din siya at the same time pero for me gina
po? isip ko na lang siya na para man pud ni sa among mga pasyente so
tabang nalang pud ni sa ilaha. At dili pud nako maiwasan mawala
Can you give examples sa akong isip na ang akong health, at the same time, kay worried
po ma’am, sa kung ano pud ko sa akong sarili syempre kung ma expose ako diba?
yung mga nagawa mong
mali if ever you feel Actually, there are times kung feel nako exhausted ko sa work, na
exhausted po? magkamali ako sa workplace ko pero hindi ko naman
pinapabayaan ang pagkakamali ko. So kung malaman ko na may
when you become mali ako, bawiin ko agad siya so kailangan ko muna malaman yung
exhausted po ma’am pagkakamali ko and then iimprove ko siya. It’s not necessarily na
how does this affect you kung exhausted ako kay lahat na lang ng aking ginagawa is mali.
personally? Kahit exhausted ako gina paningkamutan gihapon nako na tama
akong ginabuhat kasi para sa patient man din yun. So ang mindset
When you rest po ko na lang kahit exhausted ako is laban parin.
ma’am when you’re
exhausted, ano po yung Sa processing of samples. Kasi let’s say na assign ako sa uri-
ginagawa niyo? para..urinalysis. So lets say magbasa ako ng urine, there are times
na mali mali yung readings ko. Pero pag nagkamali din ako sa
reading ko, I’m going to check at the same time na lang yung
previous if mali din ang reading ko pero hindi naman umabot sa
point na na release ko na ang mali na results. Kasi ma realize ko
kasi siya agad, yung mali ko. So kung mali ang reading ko, it’s
either gina check ko yung previous ng result ng patient or pag
hindi ko pa natapon yung kanyan urine, gina try ko ulit siya
basahin para hindi ko ma release yung mali na result na nabasa
ko..

Actually pag ma exhaust ako, hindi naman umabot sa point na

musabog ko. Pag feeling nako na kapoy na jud kaayo ko ang
ginagawa ko is pahinga lang and then kung hindi pahinga, kain
lang. So ganun, rest and eat lang doon ako bumabawi. Kasi the
next day mawala lang din naman ang aking pagka exhausted eh..

For example kung exhausted ako, mag eat lang and then after mag
eat magpahinga. Kung hindi magpahinga, lingawin ang sarili..Like
mag tingin ng Youtube videos or sa Facebook..para atleast mawala
naman yung pagka exhausted ko

how do you respond po Actually before nung napasok na talaga sa amin yang swabbing na
ma’am when you think workload, at first, kay makatakot siya. Ako..nag duha duha ko ma
na when you swab assign as a swabber kasi dili jud siya lalim kay para sa akoa
patients na suspected to mahadlok jud ko kay hindi baya basta basta ang Covid.. pero
be Covid-19 positive ngayon na naga swab na kami and na expose na kami sa mga
such as those PUIs po? positive na patients so para sa amin hindi na siya bago parang
normal na lang. But there are times na mahadlok pud mi, pero
Follow up kung sunod sunod na kasi siya para sa amin kay parang wala na
lang..normal na lang siya
Parang na sanay na din
ma’am? : Oo nasanay na kasi kami pero di parin mawala sa isipan namin,
lalo na pag uwi sa bahay, na masali din expose ang aming family.
what do you do po to So, kung ma expose man kami, ang ginagawa namin pag uwi sa
make sure na when you bahay is maligo agad at maglayo muna sa mahal namin sa buhay
swab dili nimo makuha para hindi din sila mahawa
yung virus po?
Before kami mag swab, we wear proper PPEs, face mask and face
shield. We also practice donning and doffing. So sa donning, we
are working as a pair and my pair will tell me kung unsa ang mga
proper na suoton. Sa doffing naman, after ko mag swab, my
partner hindi yan siya mag alis kapag hindi pa ako matapos mag
swab so pag after ko mag swab nandiyan parin siya para iassist ako
on the proper way on how to remove the PPEs.. At the same time,
after din namin mag tanggal sa aming PPEs we do proper
handwashing also..para to make sure lang

With the stressors that Ang akoa lang is para hindi ko yun maisip is naga think positive
you have mentioned po lang ako always na I can get through this day and also prayers,
earlier ma’am, how do syempre importante kaayo na siya karon. and ang magpalakas
you deal those po? pud sa akoang loob is akong family pud.
Follow up Mindset din..mag isip lang ako na after nitong swab matapos na
din to..
When you said po na
think positive po how do Actually for formality sake, dili jud siya kanang kailangan mag adto
you think of it po ba? jud ko sa simbahan..so akong ginabuhat is kahit sa workplace lang
like may times na dili ko busy..naga pray lang ko sa akong mind..or
Sa prayers din po before pud ko mag sleep naga pray pud ko and pagka gising din sa
ma’am, how many times umaga to start your day right..
a day din po ba?

Gina pag pray nila ako na sana okay lang ako sa work ko. Especially
Sa support of family din sa mom ko, hindi niya pinapabayaan ang health ko like she always
po ma’am, ano yung reminds me to eat my breakfast, take my vitamins, eat
ways na ginagawa din fruits..ganun mga simple things lang pero malaking tulong na din..
nila para ma support ka
nila? Actually depende sa ihain din..pero actually para mawala din ang
stress ko is nagabili lang ako ng chips kasi kapag sige ako kain ng
diba na mention niyo po chips mawala din ang stress ko together with watching Netflix para
na one way of atleast ma relax din ang mind ko..
destressing is eating..so
okay lang po ba na mag
ask ako about the foods
that you eat po? They pray for me, hoping that I'm doing well and that I'm safe at
work. My mother, in particular, is always concerned with my
health and constantly reminds me to eat properly, take my
vitamins, and eat fruits... simple things, but they help me boost
my morale.
 It also depends on what is served. But I also deal with stress by
eating chips while watching Netflix so that I can at least relax my
mind.

what are the sources of Since start ng pandemic, wala juy support na gi hatag ang among
support po ba are workplace kay medyo gipit din kasi that time..so ang sources lang
available to you as a na gina bigay sa amin is through the government or kung hindi
healthcare worker po? man government ang other companies naman. They’re giving us
free groceries lalo na last year kasi ang aming hospital is applying
Maski mga incentives po para mahatagan mi ug kwarta sa DOLE so we were given that
ma’am..wala din po ba? also..and other than groceries..mga free drinks din or foods like sa
Mcdo..pero other than that like sa hospital namin wala masyado
actually ginabigay sa amin kasi gina compute din kasi nila yan base
sa mga tao din na naga trabaho sa hospital..
Since nag pandemic,
wala ding salary Medyo wala din sa aming workplace..pero sa incentives..example
increase ma’am? kung hindi namin magagamit yung leave namin pwede namin siya
iconvert into cash..siguro ganoon lang ang benefit namin. Other
than that wala na..
how about sa mga Actually, may salary increase pero hindi din ganoon kalaki
psychological support din..tama lang..So kami kahit gaano pa namin ka gusto mag salary
po ma’am like sa mental increase, wala din kami magawa kasi depende man din yan sa
health po? Ano yung hospital, pero sa katagal ko na din diyan natanggap ko naman din.
gina offer po ng hospital Kahit papaano makabuhi man gihapon siya ug pamilya..maka kain
to enlighten the mental parin 3 times a day..
health po ng workers?
So far, wala kasing mga psychological support..wala din kaming
so ano po yan ma’am guidance counsellor sa amin kasi more on sa patient ang aming
parang kanya-kanya na concern..
lang..? Oo parang actually sa aming part sariling sikap na lang siya..So sa
amin paningkamutan na lang namo ang amoang mental health
In your opinion ma’am, issues if ever..
ano po yung mga
kailangan ninyo na Sa akin sana, kasi may other hospitals na may hazard pay eh, so
support as a medical sana may hazard pay din kami at philhealth share din kami. And
technologist to at least sana salary increase din kung pwede pa nila ma increase ang
help din po in your salary. Pero gina paningkamutan gihapon namo na ipush ang
mental health? salary increase sa admin para atleast malaman din nila yung side
namin..
So diba may ginagawa
man kayo para ma push Actually, ang ginagawa kasi namin is our head is making a letter
po yun sa admin ma’am, and gina pasa namin sa admin. Kapag mabasa na nila, they are
so ano po yung going to have a meeting about it and then hindi sila basta basta
response nila doon? mag decide agad kasi naka depende parin sa kanila at sa
shareholders ng hospital..
So with that response
ma’am, how did you Actually, maka luya siya. If we are pushing it, then no
feel po ba as an response..maka luya talaga siya..makaluya mag work.. Kasi doon
employee nila? na lang din kami naga kuha ng lakas ng loob para magawa namin
ang aming mga trabaho. Pero gina try parin namin gawin ang best
, do you think po ba namin for our work.
ma’am sa salary na ma
accept nimo ma’am, Honestly, hindi siya worth it pero I still don’t have a choice..I still
diba sabi mo hindi siya need to do my part kasi diyan ako nagtatrabaho eh. But if I were
enough..is that worth it given a chance, for a more greater future plans pa..there is a
sa aming gina trabaho? possibility na hindi ako magtatagal diyan sa workplace ko. But for
now, mahirap pa kasi sa situation ngayon so I need to do my part
kasi mahirap din mag hanap ng trabaho ngayon eh..
Re-iterate

For the first question ma’am, nung may pandemic na mas mabigat yung workload so nag padagdag stress yun sa inyo. Next, yung sa
discrimination is yung napagchismisan sa other departments like nagpakalat ng wrong information. Third, nasabi niyo po na big word po ang
sacrifice so more on sacrifice sa mga co-workers like overtime para makatulong sa ibang areas. Sa patients naman is may ibang workmates
naman na mahadlok mag swab so ikaw na lang naga swab para sa mga patients. Sa question number four ma’am, when you become exhauted
gina isipgihapon nimo ang service and welfare of the patients and may times na magkamali sa processing pero hindi aabot sa point na ma
release and mali na results. And you have this mindset na laban lang gihapon, stay positive, eat and rest. Sa fifth question ma’am is, may fear
kayo of being exposed pero nasanay lang din kayo kasi everyday na ninyo ginagawa but you prevent this by wearing the proper PPEs. Then next,
in dealing with stress naga stay positive lang din po kayo, support from friends and loved ones and by eating junkfoods and watching movies. Sa
sources and support, wala masyado sa hospital pero galing sa government and other institution lang po. Also, if you have message po to the
hospital is you want to have a hazard pay and philhealth share and salary increase din po.