“I feel safe in Phillipines” during the pandemic, says Greek student in Manilla

Stavros Skarmaliorakis was born in Greece, but has since travelled and studied in Australia, New Zealand and now the Philippines. He has been there since the end of 2018, almost a year an a half, for PhD studies in Philosophy and Human Resource Management. He remains in Philippines during the pandemic and while he is experiencing loneliness, he feels safe.

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We are constantly informed how the deadly pandemic is affecting Australia and those parts of the world that are recording the biggest human losses. But what about countries like the Philippines? Stavros Skarmaliorakis has been in Manila since the end of 2018 for doctoral studies in  human resources, specialising in how a company can help vulnerable groups through various programs. Suddenly the deadly coronavirus pandemic breaks out.

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I'm here, under the pandemic, stuck, blocked. I cannot go anywhere. The feeling of course is loneliness but I'm feeling safe and I have people around me that really can help me. This people are people from a great community, the Filipino community.

"When you are a foreigner in any country you are expecting probably help from your embassy, but unfortunately here they do not have this kind of application or anything to apply for help. But a lot of Filipinos, friends of mine from academia really helping me. By having a lot of understanding that I am alone with no budget. No way of working and earning, so they support me as individual". Stavros Skarmaliorakis shared with SBS radio Greek.

Friends of mine gathered boxes of food and they sent to me, so that I have to eat. This was a very nice human touch. They asked for nothing (in return).

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At the same time, Stavros Skarmaliorakis offers voluntary help to vulnerable groups. "I'm cooking and I'm sharing some food around. And I am in a team with other academics, we are getting out and we gather information, to help the community further, as the statistics will give the proper answers", he points and concludes:

It's a very selfish virus. Everybody must protect themselves and stay home, but sometimes we can give and we can all together as humans help humanity to get over this pandemic and we will succeed. Just follow the rules and don't panic"

Philippines has just passed the 10.000 COVID -19 cases and records more than 650 deaths.