Pinoy ER nurse in New York honored after losing life to COVID-19

A Filipino nurse based in New York City was given what counts as "military honors" by his colleagues after he succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

At the crack of dawn in early May, 21 ambulances sounded off their sirens in honor of Erwin Lambrento, who worked as an ER nurse in the Elmhurst Hospital in Queens.

Before moving to the United States, Erwin had worked as a doctor at the Philippine General Hospital.

In an episode of GMA Public Affairs' "Frontliners," his nephew Ernesto Jon Ebuen said he used to give free medical advice to his neighbors in Marikina City.

He gave up his job as a doctor to be with his family in America, and settled down as nurse because he needed a stable job.

But Ernesto said he wasn't just there for financial reasons.

"He was there because he was committed. He is willing to serve and willing to put his life on the line when it's necessary," he said.

And put his life on the line he did. Ernesto said that when the pandemic hit their state, Erwin did not "shy away from the challenge."

"He did not shy away from the profession. He went to war, and he served, and he did it in a very good fashion and I salute him for doing that," Erwin said.

New York is considered the epicenter of the coronavirus in the US. Over 20,000 people have died of COVID-19, with 90 of them being Filipinos.

At the time, the hospital Erwin worked at was taking the brunt of the patients. His nephew recalled that he described the situation as "chaotic."

"It's just crazy during those times. People dying left and right," he said.

Which must have been why they did not immediately realize that Erwin already caught the virus.

Ernesto said that Erwin actually tried to self-medicate for almost a week, before deciding to bring himself to a hospital — a different one from where he worked, due to overcapacity.

But even at a different hospital, he was not able to immediately get a bed. He had to stay in a tent at the beginning.

Erwin spent over a month battling COVID-19.

"Nahirapan siya makapag-breathe, 'yung lungs niya I think was extremely damaged by the virus, so constantly nag-re-require siya ng help from a machine or ventilator na mag-provide ng hangin sa kanya," Ernesto said.

It was a painful time for Ernesto because it was his uncle to inspired and help him with his dream to be a table tennis player.

He said his Tito Erwin was like a father to him, and that he was the one to "open the door" for him.

He now runs a charity group called Philippine Table Tennis Academy, which has helped at least a hundred kids to get full scholarships in schools through table tennis.

"So I think I still owe that part of me, or my success to my uncle, to my Tito Erwin," he said.

So when the day they were dreading came, and Erwin succumbed to the virus, he was sure to be there at his side, along with Erwin's wife and two children.

"Against medical advice, because the virus is very contagious, I was willing to take the chance just to see him one more time," Ernesto said.

Erwin passed away on May 9. Ernesto recalled that "everybody was really down, everybody was crying."

The same day, he decided to rename the Philippine Table Tennis Academy to Erwin Lambrento Table Tennis Academy.

He said, "Tito if you can hear me right now, I want to say thank you so much for the love, the support, and for the care that you have extended to me. I hope you're in a good place. I will continue to honor what you have taught me and I will continue to serve people and live my life the way you did."

—JCB, GMA News