Zambo mayor tested for Covid again

ZAMBOANGA MAYOR Beng Climaco was tested anew for the deadly coronavirus after waking up from sleep coughing and feeling sick.

Mayor Beng Climaco

“After the security walk through, I started to cough and later felt weak and had difficulty breathing - ta hipa. I woke up with body pain. I started being extra cautious since Mama Lu just turned 76. Safety measures were strictly observed within the house,” Climaco said as she narrated her ordeal in her Zamboanga Post newspaper column “Sunday Reflection.” 

She said three other household members were also swabbed and all of them turned out negative for Covid-19 and it was the fourth time that Climaco had been tested after being exposed to the virus due to her work. 

Unknown to the public, Climaco is a workaholic public servant and even weekends are just another work for her. 

“Triste and unsure, because of my exposure to a Covid positive patient, y maka-miedo to infect our dear senior citizens in our household. After five days and nights, we were tested and Thank God y La Virgen Pilar y San Jose, negative results came out,” Climaco said.

But despite another scary chapter in her life, Climaco said she leaves everything to God and even quoted the Holy Bible verses in Mark 13:33-37, saying: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come...What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!”

“Hinde pa librao na Covid. We are in a pandemic and we must give way to the signs of the times. We sacrifice social interaction, eating and drinking in public. We go home safely to our family and that is where we need to be. We do not hold our future no matter how our plans are perfectly prepared. God Our Father directs the paths that will transpire! Be vigilant and watchful,” she added.

In her previous Covid-19 tests, Climaco wrote this in her Sunday Reflection in October: “I had to undergo my third swab test per advice of doctors. I marched on being tested and woke up anxious the next day as the results were not yet out. I called up Red Cross and was told the doctor has to analyse the result and Jan told me not to worry! It was the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and I surrendered to God the anxiety and uncertainty of every swab test.”

“We are called to be stewards of God’s vineyard to be responsible for ourselves and our families. As I make this, I am aware of the loss of lives and struggle of friends with Covid. May we take God’s call to care for each other and value life,” she added.

And while nervously waiting for the results, Climaco appealed to residents to follow health protocols.

“Tiene cuidao firmi, maskin donde y maskin cuando, compli maga reglamento de quarantina, protocol de salud y maga leyes para el bien de todo. Let us live out our duty to make sure we abide by Covid protocols and security measures to keep our loved ones and Zamboanga safe,” she said.

Climaco’s other Covid tests came after being exposed to the visiting members of the Philippine Red Cross and to a City Hall employee in July. (Zamboanga Post)

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