Salute

"These are the real heroes of our time."

It is often said that crisis and disasters bring out the best in people. This truism is being confirmed every day in the middle of the pandemic, with countless reports of compassion and selflessness all over the world.

For every moment of darkness, there are countless moments of light — small gestures of compassion and connection that allow people to show who they are, how they want to live, and what matters to them.

First on our list is Minnie Klepacz, a nurse and the matron for ophthalmology at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset, England. She has been awarded a British Empire Medal as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honors for her tireless and compassionate work in supporting her colleagues and community during the pandemic.

Klepacz, who leads the hospital’s Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic Network (BAME), was recognized for “exceptional and outstanding service” for directing the hospital’s response to provide risk assessment for all BAME staff while at the same time establishing a well-being and wellness hub for the staff. “I am truly humbled and honored” was all she could say after she learned of her award.

Having been an overseas staff and a minority at that when she arrived at the hospital 18 years ago, Klepacz, now 35, knows first hand the difficulties of being alone adjusting to the rigors of work in a foreign land. “I felt quite lonely to begin with, it was a culture shock,” she recalled with a smile as hospital officials showered her with praises. She remembers that her fellow nurses and other overseas hospital staff already had family in the UK or had already worked in a hospital before.

“This was my first job,” Klepacz noted, “and on top of that I was adapting to a new country and language. I was having to make decisions by myself, without my family to help. There were some hard times, but then you also have funny experiences that stay with you for life.” That time, she thought she would just spend six months in the hospital and probably go back home to the Philippines. But she persevered.

Fortunately, she had some kind of family as the BAME staff helped her adjust to her new life as an overseas minority worker. That experience served her in good stead as she worked her way up the ladder to become, after 17 years, the matron of the ophthalmology department. The hospital acknowledged that she had become an integral and indispensable part of the hospital, with the critical role of supporting black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and overseas nurses to feel welcome and included in the hospital.

As the hospital director emphasized: “They (BAME and overseas staff) make an incredible contribution to patient care and we’re privileged to have them.” She noted with sadness that she lost 11 friends to COVID-19 and most of those affected by it came from BAME background.

So exceptional was Klepacz that even as she was busy doing all the work attendant to her matron duties, she also provided much needed support to the Filipino community in Dorset. She gave her time to be with the sick and the needy, cooking meals for colleagues who were recovering after being in intensive care, helping others move house, and organizing virtual community events to offer comfort and reassurance.

Even as she had been assimilated in her adopted country, Klepacz remains a true-blue Filipino at heart. “I will send my medal to my family in the Philippines,” she said.

She recalled that while she was growing up, her mother used to display all the children’s awards prominently in the lounge as she was so proud of all of them. “As I can’t visit my family right now, it’s only right that they have my medal,” she said.

Married to a half-Filipino (Filipino mother, Polish father) member of the party which welcomed them to the hospital has been a blessing for Klepacz as well. She said that her husband had proven to be very understanding and supportive of her endeavors. “He thinks I work very hard, but it’s because I care and want to do well. But I am glad he understands as all Filipinos do that I also support my family financially where I can.” She revealed she still sends money to her mother—her husband understands that very well.

What a journey it has been for this nurse whose family was against her going to the UK because of her young age. Now, she has reached lofty heights and more. To be honored by no less than the Queen for her tireless and exceptional work at this time of pandemic is, Klepacz herself acknowledged, “something I never dreamed of at all.”

* * *

Klepacz is not alone in bringing honor to herself and to the country. Eleven other Filipinos were also honored and recognized as belonging to the “Top 100 Asian Scientists For the Year 2020.” Recognized for their excellence in their fields of work for “having made a significant scientific discovery or provided leadership in academe or industry,” these scientists deserve our congratulations.

They are National Scientist and former DOST Secretary Emil Javier, Dr. Raul Destura of UP Manila’s National Institute of Health, DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Executive Director Carlos Arcilla, UST Professor Alicia Aguinaldo, Professor Emma Sales of the University of Southern Mindanao, Professor Cleotilde Hidalgo-Haw of UP Manila, Professor Lorenzo Gabriel of UP Diliman and Professors Raymond Tan and Susan Gallardo of De La Salle University.

Salute!