ASINGAN, Pangasinan – Aside from having former President Fidel V. Ramos as its most revered son, this town is also famous for being home to hundreds of Filipinos, who are working in the frontlines of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the United Kingdom.

And as a piece of good news for their families back home, many of the Asinganian health workers in UK have shared that they have already received vaccines for the dreaded disease amid the alarming report of another surge in COVID-19 because of a new variant.

“Masaya naman na nabakunahan na at least may protection sa bagong variant ng COVID-19 (We’re happy that we have been vaccinated. At least we will have protection against the new variant of COVID-19),” said Edwin Agpaoa, who has been working as nurse in UK for more than 20 years.

Municipal Information Officer Romel Aguilar told The Manila Bulletin that there were more than 100 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Asingan who are currently frontliners in the UK.

And many have reportedly called home to say that they feel more safe now that they have been administered their vaccines.

But while this piece of good news may have drawn a sigh of relief back home, the Asinganian frontliners in UK are not letting their guard down.

"Suppose to be magpa-party ang mga Asinganian last December, hindi natuloy kasi naging careful kami and ngayon lockdown na naman kami for the third time kasi dumadami uli yung cases ng COVID at saka marami pa rin ang namamatay mostly above 60 ," Aguilar said, quoting Asinganian nurse Edwin Agpaoa, who works at the Medway Maritime Hospital.

(We were supposed to have a party for Asinganians last December. This did not push through because we were careful. And now, there is a lockdown for a third time because the number of COVID-19 cases is still increasing, and many are dying, most those above 60 years old)

“At madalas twice a week ang aming COVID-19 test para masiguro walang positive at kung mayroon man ay agad naisolate. Sa ngayon walang OFW sa Asingan na nagkaroon ng COVID dahil sobrang pag iingat naming,” Agpaoa added.

(We are tested for COVID-19 twice a week to make sure that no one among us is positive, and if there ever is one, he or she will be immediately isolated. Up to now, there is no OFW from Asingan who has been infected with COVID-19 because we have been very careful)