Canadian officials led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the efforts of Filipino frontliners in the country’s battles against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In fact, three Filipino-Canadian frontliners were among the first people in Ontario to receive the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech – the world’s first approved and fully-tested vaccine – during Canada’s roll out of its vaccination program on Monday.
One of them is Anita Quindangen, a long time a personal support worker at a hospital in Ontario. She was congratulated by Trudeau himself after her vaccination at the Michener Institute, part of the University Health Network Safety Services in Ontario, Toronto.
Anita has been working at the Rekai Centres on Sherbourne Street since 1988.
OMNI television reported that apart from Anita, Cecile Lasco, also a PSW, and Lucky Aguila, a registered practical nurse also received the COVID-19 vaccine.
“This is a big step forward in our fight against the virus, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” Trudeau said in a tweet.
“Anita has spent years rolling up her sleeves to protect our province, and today, she didn’t hesitate to find a new way to do so. She represents the best of the Ontario spirit,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford noted in a statement.
