Filipino nurse gets British Empire Medal for service during pandemic

A Filipina nurse was awarded the British Empire Medal for her outstanding service during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's really overwhelming nakakataba ng puso na yung ginagawa pala natin napapansin din ng iba," said Louie Horne during an interview with Oscar Oida on "24 Oras."

Horne was among the individuals recognized as the Medalist of the Order of the British Empire, an award given as part of the birthday celebration of King Charles III.

She was also invited to the British Asian Evening at the Buckingham Palace.

"Marami tayong namatay during the pandemic na mga Filipino and for some reason sa akin sila lumalapit and then I end up repatriating the body, supporting the family, pinaglalaban ko talaga kung magkano makukha nila," Horne said.

Horne, who flew to the UK in 2000 from her hometown in Albay to work as a nurse, is now the Deputy Associate Director of Nursing and Clinical Research Fellow at the National Health Service England.

She was also awarded the Florence Nightingale Foundation Scholarship and Chief Nursing Officer Silver Award for her service during the pandemic.

Like any other overseas Filipino worker, she also experienced challenges, such as discrimination.

"So many different kinds of discrimination, yes, I went through it pero ang ano doon kasi, you can't let it bring you down, you know. Iiyak ka 'pag sinabing bumalik ka na sa country mo may mga ganon. Pero you have to choose your battle wherever you go in this world there will be battles, and you have to survive, and people will see that you are not just anyone that they can take down," she said.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News