Dubai resident researcher, writer joins COVID-19 nurses

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

It may be taken as easy to utter yet hard to digest. But, as circumstances seem to be mind-boggling, remain hopeful for doors may be opening up for very good reasons.

“One thing we tend to forget when we go job searching is our sense of purpose,” commented Equiti Group-HR Global Projects associate CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)/business partner Mayne Tamondong.

She added: “We must not forget that. That which is positive and which could make a difference in the world.”

Also a career coach, Tamondong was awed by the career shift of Dubai resident Christopher “Chris” Daymon whom she virtually met at the recent “Finding Jobs During COVID19” webinar of the “Illustrado Talks.”

“Illustrado Talks” is among the online platforms of the “Illustrado Magazine” which has been tackling with well-selected panellists issues, such as the Manila 2019 Universal Health Law, affecting Filipinos wherever they are.

From Iloilo City, Iloilo Province in Western Visayas, Daymon arrived in the UAE in 2015 to work as a sales/customer service staff of a popular toy store, when his family hit rock bottom due to a severe health condition of his dad.

Amiable, the former “English as  Second Language” teacher in Metro Manila met fellow Visayan top haute couture designer Michael Cinco.

That meeting led Daymon to pursue his passion for writing; occassionally fashion feature writing for international and Philippine publications which included being a contributing writer for the “Usapang Illustrado.”

As life is coloured with vicissitudes, it had not been a walk in the park since job losses haunted him in the commercial sector.

Until Daymon thought he already found the permanent employment as researcher-writer. Then entered COVID-19.

Daymon told Gulf Today: “I became jobless again. Back were the anguish and the pain. Where would I again get my means of regular income. But God never left me.”

He owes much to a friend, Floyd Refugio, “who knew that I got depressed being laid off.”

Daymon was an AB Political Science student when his mom requested him to consider the Nursing degree instead so he could also go overseas.

In Saudi Arabia, prior to the need for him to return home and succour his sick father, Daymon was an IELTS/TOEFL instructor.

“I never practised my Nursing degree though I have met some healthcare professionals who have inspired me and for which I found myself hoping that one day equal their skill, diligence,” he said.

On hindsight, Daymon volunteered: “I believe that taking up Nursing in order to go abroad is the lamest excuse. But I had no choice; I obeyed my parents.”

The docile unico hijo (only child) is now among the COVID19 nurses who may either be deployed in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, by the hospital and healthcare company into diagnostics, which Refugio had offered him to check out.

Daymon admitted to be scared as he also needed the job: “I am thankful for what God had put me through. He never left me. Those times are helping me now connect with patients, whom nurses and other health professionsls have sworn to care for and look after no matter what. Nursing is an oath which must not be shelved.”

Recently, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai (PCGDXB) resumed the repatriation of visit visa holders in connection with the COVID19 pandemic-related program of the Duterte Administration.

This time, the 45 visit visa holders were women who had been sheltered at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Al Qusais, Dubai (POLODXB), having ran away from their respective employment as household service workers (HSWs) either in Dubai or in the other Northern Emirates. They were among the many Filipinas who either on their own or were lured to work as HSWs but entered the country on visit visa. Thus, since they were on visit visas and undocumented with no trace of manpower agency to shoulder their repatriation expenses, it was the Philippine government through the Php1.5 billion (Dhs109,719,205.05) annual budget allocated to the Department of Foreign Affairs-Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Section which paid for their return tickets.