Pinay in Spain finally becomes nurse after 9 years of waiting, only to test positive for COVID-19 after

Because the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) demanded a larger medical force, a Pinay who migrated to Spain finally became a nurse after nine long years of waiting. 

Never mind the risks: Cathelyn dela Cruz enthusiastically worked in a COVID-19 ward of a hospital in Spain.

But after only a month, she was found positive with the disease.

In a "Frontlners" episode on Tuesday, Cathelyn shared that she received her license as a registered nurse in the Philippines in 2006. She migrated to Spain in 2011 hoping to work as a nurse abroad and be with her husband.

However, when she arrived in Spain, she soon found out her dreams had to be put on hold since she had to acquire a certificate of recognition just to be able work.

"Sinubukan ko ring pumunta sa Ministerio de Educacion. Nagtanong kung anong mga kailangan. Kailangan mong mag-aral dito, kailangan mong ipa-translate lahat," she said.

Aside from paying 6,000 euros, she also had to study for a year in a university just for her documents, also known as homologacion, to be validated.

"So para sa amin na nagsisimula na may bata, mahirap kasi malaking halaga po iyon. Noong 2011 dumating ako dito umaabot siyang 500,000 pesos," Cathelyn shared.

Jobless, she had to work as a domestic helper. With the help of her husband, who was a restaurant employee, they were able to save enough to open their own beauty salon and restaurant.

Despite all that, Cathelyn felt something was still missing.

She shared, "Sa kabila ng narating namin na ganoon parang hindi ako masaya. Bilang nasa puso mo 'yung pagiging nurse siyempre 'yun 'yung inaral mo noon, naging passion na 'yun sa buhay mo so nasa isip ko pa rin na sana balang araw, maging nurse pa rin ako."

The peak of a crisis

By the end of March, Spain became among the hardest hit countries of COVID-19. Their healthcare system was in desperate need of more nurses.

Cathelyn jumped at the opportunity to serve the people of Spain, even if it was temporary.

With the help of another Pinay nurse, Edzel, Cathelyn became a nurse at one of the hospitals.

"Tumawag naman po agad 'yung HR nila tapos sinabi niya kung pwede ako magsimula kinabukasan. Sabi ko, 'Opo!'" Cathelyn said.

She added, "Maligayang-maligaya puso ko sabi ko, 'Ay sa wakas! Makakapagsuot na ulit akong puting damit.'"

Her family was excited for her, albeit a little worried that she might get the disease.

March 25 was Cathelyn's first day at the hospital. She couldn't help but feel nervous since it's been years since she worked as a nurse.

"Mahirap siya kasi...una language barrier natin. Siyempre maraming pangalan ng gamot na iba sa English. 'Yung kanilang way ng pag-render ng care, may mga iba silang pamamaraan na hindi siya gaya sa atin," she said.

With the guidance of Edzel, Cathelyn worked through the challenges and served her patients the best she could. What she wasn't prepared for was witnessing so many deaths in a day.

"Nandoon 'yung shock ko kasi maraming namamatay. Parang sa isang duty ko, minsan lima sa ward namin," the nurse said. "So parang sunod-sunod sila so naawa din ako."

Despite the hesitation and the fear, Cathelyn shared that she still felt proud that she was able to help other people and offer them a helping hand amid the most trying of times.

"Kasi syempre isipin ninyo po na bawal bumisita sa kanila so kami lang andoon. Iniisip ko nalang na pamilya ko sila," she saod. "Nandoon 'yung kaligayahan sa puso ko na makapagtrabaho bilang nurse...proud na proud ako na bilang Pilipino."

Nearing the end

With the help of Edzel, 20 other unrecognized Filipino nurses were able to work again amid the pandemic. Most of the applicants were Filipino nurses who worked as a babysitter, caregiver, or even waitresses. Eleven of them decided to backout of working in the hospital, while ten continued to serve the patients.

Before April ended, three Filipino nurses in their hospital tested positive with COVID-19, including Cathelyn. She was quickly separated from her children and her husband.

"Umiyak lang ako, tapos sabi ko, 'Panginoon huwag mo ko pabayaan. Maliliit pa mga anak ko. Gusto ko pa sila makita, gusto ko pa silang makasama,'" she said.

Her hospital gave her 21 days of sick leave and since her symptoms weren't critical, she was brought to a hotel where she quarantined for two weeks.

Despite the fact that she suffered from the disease and was isolated from her family, Cathelyn had no regrets.

"Wala naman akong pagsisisi sa sarili ko kasi sabi ko at least kung mamamatay man ako, nagawa ko 'yung best sa buhay ko," she said. "'Yung nagawa kong tumulong, nakagawa ako ng mabuti sa kapwa ko."

When she tested negative of COVID-19, Cathelyn immediately went back to work and continued looking after her patients.

Although she and her coworkers knew that they would be stripped of being nurses once the pandemic is over, Cathelyn said that she was still proud of everyone for all the things they shared together.

Edzel said, "Kahit sinasabi na, 'Ay mga nurse na hindi 'yan na recognize pero nakapasok lang dahil sa pandemya.' Pero hindi nila inisip 'yun. Ang inisip nila na kotento sila at saka maligaya sila na nagtatrabaho sila as nurse."

Meanwhile, working for her patients has made it more clear to Cathelyn that this was the path she wanted to take.

"So kapag okay na po lahat, kapag open na, iayos ko po 'yung mga papeles ko sa homologacion para sa ganoon makapagtuloy tuloy ang trabaho," she said. — Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News