The Manila city government held a drone show as tribute to frontline health workers at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Rizal Park Saturday night.
Several drones lit up the Manila sky with messages of gratefulness and hope for frontliners, who have been fighting the deadly disease in the country for over six months now.
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said the activity was to show their appreciation to the medical frontliners, crediting them for the "overwhelming" number of recoveries in the city.
Manila has 10,013 recoveries of 11,272 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 18. The city also has 821 active cases and 438 mortalities.
"Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo. Kung kami, delikado ang trabaho namin, mas delikado ang trabaho ninyo. Kayo talaga ang humaharap sa mga positibo, mga nanganganib ang buhay na na-impeksyon ng COVID-19 (Thank you very much to you. If our job is dangerous, yours is more dangerous. You face those whose lives are in danger after they test positive for COVID-19)," he told reporters.
"At least, kahit papaano, nakapagbigay tayo ng kasiyahan sa frontliners (At least we were able to give joy to our frontliners)," he added.
The Manila mayor assured that the city government will continue to provide personal protective equipment (PPEs), hazard pay, medical equipment, and anything else that health workers will need in their fight against COVID-19.
Domagoso said the drone show aimed to show public attractions that are at par with those seen in other countries.
"Para maiparamdam namin sa mga Batang Maynila na 'yung napapanood sa ibang bansa, mapapanood din sa Maynila. Eto 'yung patikim, inuna muna namin para sa frontliners (So we can make Manileños feel that the things they see in other countries is also in Manila. This is just for starters and we wanted our frontliners to be the first to see this)," he said.
As the Christmas season nears, the city mayor urged the public not to give up hope even if the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continue to rise with no vaccine or cure in sight.
He also appealed to the public to observe the government-issued health and safety guidelines to curb the further spread of the disease.