Cosplayers adore heroes and serve as their inspiration, and, in some special cases, they become real heroes themselves. Amid the pandemic, there are some in our community who risk everything for duty and country, and one cosplayer in particular, Gino, has been taking on the challenge since the menace began.
Beyond his duties as an ICU nurse at the COVID ward at a hospital in San Juan, Gino Bernard De Lumen, known in the community as Dranzer Dice, has been an earnest and consummate cosplayer, very active at events, winning several cosplay competitions like Cosplay Craze, as well as being hired to promote gaming and tech brands.
As the COVID pandemic ground events and many aspects of everyday life to a standstill, Gino found himself in the front lines of what was nothing short of an unprecedented disaster. At his personal risk and of those around him, he has made his decision and steeled his nerves and prepared to perform his duty.
Performing his duties has been far from simple or easy. Working as an ICU nurse at the COVID ward at a hospital exposes him to constant risk of contraction. PPEs give him some measure of protection though its constant use and maintenance adds to the fatigue of working strenuous hours on end. Gino also admits that the hardest part of his duty is not being able to go home to see his family for fear of infecting them with the disease, and has had to stay in a dorm prepared for them.
Being in the ICU has made him witness to sad and disheartening scenes brought about by the pandemic. He finds the most unfortunate to be the elderly who have contracted the virus and have been confined at their hospital. These patients are prohibited contact with their families. Gino feels their loneliness of having to struggle breathing without their loved ones beside them.
But as much as he has seen the suffering brought about by the pandemic, Gino has also been witness to the kindness in people. He is as grateful as he as amazed at the non-stop outpouring of support for front liners like them, with individuals and organizations sending them food every day, which is a blessing when its hard to buy your own food during a quarantine. He has seen companies donate PPEs for them to use, as well as many other necessities they need day after day.
Amid the bleak and strenuous times, Gino says being a cosplayer helps him cope with the sadness and stress. He says whenever he gets his days off, he gets to have fun doing cosplay trials. More than keeping his cosplay skills sharp, he says cosplaying gives him the will and the hope that, someday, everyone in the world will be able to overcome COVID and we can return to our normal lives again. And of course, returning to the cosplay community and events that he has come to love and cherish.
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