A "COVID warrior” who appeared in a hard-hitting TV documentary about the pandemic has been honoured by the Philippines ambassador to Britain.

Arlene Elano, the long serving deputy manager of Pendine Park’s Bodlondeb Care Home in Summerhill, Wrexham, is originally from the Philippines.

She was astounded to find herself having lunch with the top Philippines diplomat in Britain, Antonio M Lagdameo after a London VIP screening of the documentary in which she featured.

The in-depth two-hour film, Kontra Corona, focuses on huge challenges faced by expatriate Filipino frontliners in Europe and their families during the peak of the first wave of the pandemic.

Arlene, 49, was interviewed by the documentary makers who filmed her outside Bodlondeb centre of excellence for dementia and mental health care. They showed how she and fellow staff, including numerous colleagues from the Philippines, worked tirelessly to protect residents.

Pendine Park Bodlondeb Arlene Elano received a Semmelweis hygeine award,

Pendine Park Bodlondeb Arlene Elano received a Semmelweis hygeine award,

The red carpet screening of the film by Juan Eu Konek for the award-winning television company, ABS-CBN, was held in the Brunei Gallery at the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies at London university.

Arlene was among Filipino health sector workers from across Wales and England invited to attend the exclusive screening headed by Rose Eclarinal, who executive produced and presented the film.

A mum-of-three, Arlene, took with her to the event her eldest son, Arleejun, 23, who is completing his master’s degree in clinical health psychology in London.

She was introduced to the Filipino ambassador who congratulated her for doing the Filipino community in the UK proud. She was also presented with a commemorative certificate.

Arlene said: “I had not realised we would be meeting such top dignitaries. I thought we were just going to watch the film so I was completely unprepared for anything else. It was such a surprise to discover we would be having lunch with the ambassador. I felt so honoured.”

The celebratory occasion coincided with a second achievement for Arlene who has also been jointly awarded a 2021 Semmelweis accolade by Pendine Park care organisation in recognition of her exceptionally high standards of hygiene.

She left her home in the Philippines 19 years ago to come to the UK and has worked at Bodlondeb for more than a decade. Her husband Armingol is a care practitioner at Pendine Park and among a number of Filipinos employed by the care organisation which has eight homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon.

Arlene’s mum, Cleopatra, and other family members still live in the Mindanao area of the Philippines where Arlene grew up.

She said being presented to the ambassador was an unforgettable highlight of her career but it is also an achievement of which her mum is hugely proud.