Community Responses and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic 25 Figure 2 The women gatekeepers of ASAMBA during an afternoon break from guarding their gate Photo by ASAMBA spread of COVID-19, ASAMBA leaders convened an emergency meeting to discuss the urgent actions in response to the public health crisis. Mindful of the debilitating images of COVID-19 patients yet absorbing courage from one another to fulfill their responsibilities, the entire ASAMBA leadership was mobilized to be the first community responders during this exceptional situation. A group of women leaders proceeded to their village’s portals to strictly monitor the mobility of every resident (bantay sa gate). They made sure that people are staying home, no one is loitering (walang tambay sa labas), and physical distancing is practiced. Some officers who have the necessary skill volunteered to retrofit the ironworks of their second gate in order to make it sturdier. These gatekeepers constantly reminded residents to wear face masks and carry their identification cards (IDs) when entering or leaving the community, otherwise they are not allowed entry or re-entry. They also strictly screened non-residents entering the community. For important public announcements, they maximized the use of a public address system with seven speakers (trompa) surrounding their whole community. “Biglaan ang ECQ, maraming nagutom kaya nag-food rationing kami” (The ECQ was sudden. We immediately distributed food rations because many went hungry), said ASAMBA President Edwardo “Eddie” Roldan.