A death and a new beginning.
Emotional highs and lows marked the week that was for Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac.
(Facebook / FILE PHOTO)
Cacdac took to Facebook last Friday, March 26, to share what had been the “rollercoaster fix” that had him dealing with the painful toll of a raging pandemic, and welcoming a new life as the agency facilitated the birth of a baby girl, the 82nd infant born to a returning overseas Filipina worker (OFW) since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis began.
Cacdac recounted it had been “quite a week”.
“The usual rollercoaster fix with a twist: 28 of 71 OWWA personnel turned out COVID-positive. That's the highest positivity rate for any batch of these random, routinary PCR (polymerase chain reaction) swab tests," he wrote.
Then he had more tragic news.
"We lost a young employee, Gerald Ballogan from Baguio City, due to COVID-19. We humbly seek prayers for the eternal repose of Gerald's soul," he asked.
With the latest OWWA casualty, Cacdac warned his social media followers that the coronavirus was “rising and is right by our doorstep”.
The labor official also took the opportunity to disclose his sources of strength and inspiration during these trying times.
At the top of his list is his father Napoleon, a former media man who had worked with several networks, and who was, himself, an OFW.
"I remember my Dad, who fought in a World War and was an OFW during the Vietnam War and the bloodiest coups in West Africa,” said Cacdac, who, at 48, is the youngest to head OWWA in its 40-year history.
It was from the elderly Cacdac that he may have gotten his passion for helping OFWs.
There, too, is American President Abraham Lincoln, a portrait of whom is displayed in his office.
“I stare at a portrait of Lincoln in my office. He who endured the ravages of Civil War and slavery," he said.
And last, but definitely not the least, Cacdac said he draws energy and inspiration from “our Lord on the Cross, whose grace and suffering pave the path to salvation".
But not everything that has happened during the pandemic came like a punch in the gut for Cacdac.
At the tail end of his FB post, he disclosed the birth of the 82nd baby born while the OFW mother was under quarantine after arrival from overseas.
"My final ray of hope? We had our 82nd OFW baby born during quarantine. OFW Mom from Dubai and her baby girl are fine in Fabella Hospital. Thank you, OWWA Midwife Geralden and Nurse Renelyn (smiley) We shall overcome," he said.