Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Using his violin, a college student stranded in Clark dedicated a song to everyone afflicted by the coronavirus disease.
In a video uploaded on Facebook, 19-year-old Orlando Ladia Jr. is seen standing in front of The Mansion Hotel in Clark, while playing the song “People Need the Lord” with his violin.
“Dedicated iyon sa lahat ng tao. Siyempre sa panahon ngayon, people need the Lord kasi maraming namamatay, maraming sorrowful dahil nawalan ng mahal sa buhay at may sakit,” said Ladia, a scholar at the St. Scholastica’s College of Music in Manila
[Translation: I dedicate it to everyone. In times like these, people need the Lord because many die and many are grieving the loss of their loved ones who have been infected by the disease.]
Ladia said he intended to go home to General Santos City but ended up stranded at the Clark International Airport following the cancellation of flights due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Along with some 200 other stranded passengers, he has been staying for free at The Mansion Hotel for the past week.
“Pauwi po ako ng GenSan para makaiwas sa lockdown…Pero God is great po. Hindi ko alam may reason siya na nag-stay kami at hindi nakasakay sa plane kasi may better plan siya,” he said.
[Translation: I was on my way home to Gen San to avoid the lockdown… But God is great. I ended up staying here and unable to board the flight home because God has better plans.]
“Blessing po para sa akin na nakasama sa mga stranded dito sa The Mansion kasi may libre food tsaka libreng hotel, aircon pa. Compared po sa buhay sa Manila na dorm, malayo pa sa palengke at pahirapan sa pagbili ng ulam,” he adds.
[Translation: For me, it’s a blessing to be among those stranded here in The Mansion, because we are given free food, as well as accommodation with aircon. It’s better compared to living in a Manila dormitory, which is far from the market and where it’s difficult to purchase food.]
