The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust marked International Nurses Day by recognising nurses from the Philippines who joined its workforce more than 20 years ago.

Rommel Tiongson and Marissa Tiongson work in the Theatres Department at the Ulster Hospital. Rommel serves as a senior staff nurse in theatres. Marissa works as an anaesthetic nurse. Their son is employed as a radiographer in the Trust.

Aileen Ursolino is a staff nurse in the Renal Unit at the Ulster Hospital. Chris Ganacias is deputy charge nurse in the same unit.

Rommel arrived in Northern Ireland in 2004 after working as a nurse in the Philippines. He started in Ward 9, a respiratory ward, then moved to another unit for almost seven years before joining theatres more than nine years ago.

Marissa began as an auxiliary nurse and advanced to anaesthetic nurse through training. The couple works opposite shifts in theatres.

Aileen joined the Trust in 2004 and worked in plastics for three years before transferring to the Renal Unit. Chris also arrived in 2004 after nine years of nursing in the Philippines. He spent two and a half years in another department before joining the Renal Unit, where he has worked for 22 years.

The nurses arrived as part of groups that supported each other in adapting to Northern Ireland's healthcare system. Rommel, Chris and Aileen maintain lifelong friendships from that time.