I'm wearing a mask for you

Wearing a mask, for most of us, is novel. But we need to wear masks in these days of COVID-19 to protect ourselves and the community.

At lunchtime Saturday in the neighborhood, people were out and most were not wearing masks.

I can’t say I was surprised. Even though Bohol has only 29 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease, a lot of people have begun acting as if the pandemic is over. 

Wearing a mask, for most of us, is novel. So others are in "rebellion." 

But, yes, I'm wearing a mask in these days of COVID-19, to protect myself and the community. Wearing a mask is a true sign of respect for others; it's not an impingement on one’s freedom.

"I wear a face mask for protection from the spread of the dreaded Covid-19 virus, " says Maria Fe Evasco, manager of the National Food Authority (NFA)- Bohol. 

For multi-awarded youth leader Clement Paulinel Ingking, coronavirus is real. 

"Wearing a mask isn’t only about protecting you or your family, but also it’s about protect others that may die if they get the virus," says Clement who is also a village councilman in Booy. 

"This isn’t a flu, it is real. Until you have actually taken care of those patients in the ICU, you don’t even come close to imagining what they are going through! The two main reasons I wear masks. There's some evidence of protection for the wearer, but the stronger evidence is that masks protect others from catching an infection from the person wearing the mask. And infected people can spread the virus just by talking. So I highly encourage everyone to wear a mask and please wear it properly, " adds Clement. 

Bohol's Baking Mama Leah Tirol-Magno says masks help stop the spread of coronavirus. 

"I wear mask because it is the right thing to do. I care for myself and I care for others," says Leah, an educator- agri-entrepreneur. 

Experts say a key transmission route of COVID-19 is via droplets that fly out of our mouths—that includes when we speak, not just when we cough or sneeze. A portion of these droplets quickly evaporate, becoming tiny particles whose inhalation by those nearby is hard to prevent. 

I also know that homemade masks aren't as effective as surgical-grade PPE, but let's leave the PPE for medical people.

If you have extra money, you can buy a face shiled to protect you more when in public places. 

I am using face shield to protect myself when I'm in public places. I think face shield provides better facial protection than masks, as well as being reusable, breathable and more comfortable. It prevents me from touching my face and makes it easier for me to communicate with others. 

Meanwhile, here' s a very short essay I've read on Facebook why wearing mask is important. I don't know the original author is, but I think it's worth to ponder. 

I wear a mask 😷 in public,stand two meters apart from you and I wash my hands.

I want you to know that I respect you and that I could be asymptomatic and give you the virus.

No, I don't "live in fear" of the virus, I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.

I don't feel like the "government controls me", I feel like I'm a responsible adult contributing to society.

The world doesn't revolve around me.

 

This virus does not know my race, color, age or any status.

Wearing a mask and standing two meters apart doesn't make me paranoid, weak, scared, stupid or even "controlled", it makes me caring and respectful. 

I wear my mask to protect you.

You wear your mask to protect me.

We should all wear masks.

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Taking risks to deliver the news

Just like the rest of frontliners, Rey Tutas of dyRD and Dave Charles Responte of dyTR are some members of Bohol media who risk life and limb to deliver the news for you. 

At times like this, media is crucial in bringing life-saving information.

Like the other frontliners (medical workers, policemen, security guards, barangay officials, et al), members of the Bohol media also take risks oftentimes at the expense of their loved ones.

They are being challenged like never before to cover an all-encompassing, relentlessly complex and fast-moving story.

Their task is to deliver the stories, especially updates on the raging virus, right into your home. 

In telling the stories of frontline workers and keeping government officials’ feet held to the fire, they’ve become frontline workers themselves.

Among them are Rey Tutas of dyRD and Dave Charles Responte of dyTR. They do it the normal way, still very visible in the field gathering facts for news. 

They wake up early to come to the stations. Rey comes from Lila town, at least 28 km from the capital city, while Dave lives in nearby Dauis town. 

While inside their respective studios, they have to wear face masks while on air. They also practise physical distancing and use alcohol and hand sanitizers nearby. 

Lately, Rey and Dave have purchased face shields to protect them while in the field. 

We have also seen how journalists use their own social media accounts for real-time news updates.  Rey has a “Facebook show” called "Kumbati Sa Serbisyo" to keep his viewers and followers updated. 

Othern frontliners are dyRD's Jun Gutierrez, Allen Doydora and Willie Maestrado and dyTR's Joshua Fullido, Ern Pahayahay and Lordina Vergara. 

Bob Galero is regularly anchoring his programs at both stations. 

Veteran journalist Ric Obedencio is busy doing the round in Bohol for big news breaks. So does Helen Castano. 

The senior anchors have been enjoined to stay home most of the time. They opted to do remote broadcasting on selected dates (including dyRD's veteran broadcasters Chito Visarra and Fred Araneta and dyTR's veteran broadcasters Pedi Bolanio and Ardy Araneta). 

Rey is pinch-hitting for Fred Araneta, the senior host of the "Inyong Alagad" with Tibbs Bullecer every Monday and Tuesday. 

Dave is also pinch-hitting for Lito Responte, anchor of dyTR's "Tomorrow's News Tonight". 

As frontliners, they carry on and do the work they think Boholano people deserve.

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TinTin Ng is giving back during the Coronavirus pandemic

Boholana actressTintin Ng is doing her part to help other people as the coronavirus spreads in the province.

Amid the pandemic, celebrities and artists have been using their platforms to spread awareness, whether it's by sharing videos of themselves washing their hands or advising fans to stay home and practice social distancing. 

As the coronavirus spreads in the country, actress and performer Christine “Tintin” Ng 

is doing her part to help.

Tintin is feeding children at Sunshine Home and at the Tagbilaran old dumpsite area. 

She also joined her friends distributing food packs, face masks and vitamins courtesy of actress and entrepreneur Kate Brios to frontliners in Getafe and other parts of Bohol. 

"In times like this, it is very important to be united and support however we can to help our fellow kababayans," Tintin said. 

The Boholana actress was able to go home before the lockdown on March 16 to be with her family. 

She will stay here until it will be safe to travel back to Manila for her pending projects and appearances on TV. 

But helping other people in her own small ways is keeping her busy. 

"We need to stand together and care for one another," she added.

Tintin was discovered by the late Boholano renowned director Maryo delos Reyes. 

She appears in Nandito Ako Nagmamahal Sa ‘Yo (2008), I’ll Be There (2010) and in some indie films like Biktima (2010), Pendong (2010) and Mainit (2011).

Her breakthrough role, however, was on GMA 7’s Dwarfina and Munting Heredera which showcased Tintin’s natural acting. 

On and off the camera, Tintin makes you laugh with her wits. 

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FaceApp reveals what Bohol leaders would look like as members of the opposite sex

Can you recognise these Boholanos? Some well-known faces are almost unrecognisable as they change sex or become younger or older using FaceApp. 

If your social media feeds are suddenly full of gender-swapped photos of friends, families and celebrities, it's because of the 

facial morphing app FaceApp which is making the rounds again.

FaceApp is a photo editing application that allows users to transform their appearance entirely. It allows people to see what they would look like when they are older and change the gender of the person in the photo. 

From our congressmen to mayor, many quickly joined in on the fun. 

Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell "Baba" Yap II took to Facebook on Thursday to try the gender swap trend. 

In a post that has left many amused, he transformed himself into a beautiful woman. 

"Ga lisod ang faceapp sa baba yap hairstyle. Ga tindog gihapon.." Yap said referring to his signature hairstyle. 

His post has collected over 5,800 'likes' and more than 1,600 shares. 

The photos of Reps. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Alexie Besas-Tutor also garnered a ton of amused comments from netizens. 

Aumentado shared a picture of himself as he transformed into a woman. It only proved that Aumentado is undeniably beautiful. 

On the other hand, Tutor showed a photo of a handsome man with a sexy facial hair. Netizens were loving the shot. 

Board members Aldner Damalerio and Jade Bautista also charmed netizens who reacted to their transformations of a seductive woman and sexy man. 

"Shout out sa mga Ate's ug mga Tita's," posted Damalerio who showed his female persona. 

"Always mi mupahinumdom ninyo nga mag sul-ob ug face mask, social distancing, frequent handwashing, stay healthy by keeping fit and exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, Ok? From your Tita A :) Maki-uso lang ta pang pa good vibes :)," he added. 

Boholano singer-actress-comedienne Scarlet Geulen-Boiser also shared her photos of a young and old lady of herself. Because of her transformation, she captivated the hearts of her fans. 

Fashion designer Rommel Auza also shared a photo of a seductive woman. 

The photo of US-based socialite Mikey Gatal's younger but thin appearance still charmed many netizens who reacted on his post that showed his being a woman. He also appeared to add a lick of makeup to finish off the virtual makeover.

Ariel Fullido of CenterStage Band also transformed himself into a woman. His caption amused many netizens, too. 

While the world was taken by storm by FaceApp, it also faced criticism for reinforcing gender stereotypes and sparked heated debates about gender norms.

A few tech analysts from across the world have accused FaceApp as a blatant breach of data privacy.

Panglao, still beautiful

 

In Panglao, without all the boats and people in the sea, the water is as clear as it's been in a long, long time. Photo by Leo Udtohan

I terribly missed the beach.  Swimming and snorkeling is one of the pleasures of pre-quarantine life.

When veteran journalist Ric Obedencio asked us if we could join him for an excursion in Panglao town, Helen Castano and I didn’t waste time.

We visited Alona first. The place is almost empty where it is used to be packed with tourists. Without all the boats and people in the sea, the water is as clear as it's been in a long, long time.

In an interview with Panglao Mayor Leonila Paredes-Montero she told us that Panglao tourism will be back to business this week if they will be allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force, Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to re-open.

 

And if allowed to open, Maam Nila said the target would be domestic tourists.

Maam Nila said at least 5,000 tourism-related business establishments in Panglao were affected since February.

The tourism industry in Bohol has been tested by times. The 1990 typhoon Ruping (international name: Mike), the 2000 Y2K bug and the 2013 7.2 magnitude earthquake crippled the tourism industry particularly in Panglao. But slowly, the tourism was able to bounce back.

"The tourism stopped and it took us years to recover. Since this is pandemic it will take time to recover because the world economy is really affected," said Maam Nila.

But even if tourism is back, some resort owners chose to suspend operations for fear of the virus.

 

When I met Anthony Ceniza, supervisor of Marilou Resort in Barangay Bolod, he said they will remain close indefinitely.

"So far, we can't open until there is a vaccine. It will be difficult since there's no assurance of what will happen to us. Let's us leave it this way, we will wait and follow the government," he said.

Anthony said one seemingly positive impact of the majority of Bohol remaining inside during the coronavirus outbreak is being seen off of our shores.

He said the beaches become clearer with less garbage in the absence of human activity due to the government’s efforts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

 

Anthony said visitors can see a refreshing Panglao during their next trip in Bohol.

 

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How TAN models are coping

Nick Gumanit, Erika Ahern and Mark Brandon Philipps are busy during these unprecedented times.

As the lockdown forces many sectors to work from home, what are models up to these days? VRS asked some of the models of The Art Noueveau (TAN) how they’re keeping busy during these unprecedented times.

How does their day start and how does it end?

"If I'm not lazy enough I work out and study," said Nick Gumanit, 19, 2nd runner-up in Sandugo Festival King 2019, who is stranded in Cebu City.

" I have a healthy breakfast. I end my day watching a movie or an episode of one of my favorite series," said 17-year-old model and Vlogger Mark Brandon Philipps.

"I walk outside with my dog and I work out," said fellow model and Vlogger Erika Ahern, 16, who hails from Ubay town.

They shared that social media has saved the days by offering sources of inspiration, creativity and a much-needed break from the monotony of lockdown.

Aside from your barber (wink), what do you miss most about the “outside” world?
Nick: Playing basketball and having a good time with friends.
Mark: Hanging out with my friends and going to the beach.
Erika: What I miss is going out with my frnds and going to the beach.

How do you protect yourself from COVID-19?
Nick: I follow the law or rules of our government like staying at home.
Mark: I wash my hands and I avoid touching my face.
Erika: I use alcohol to disinfect myself and I wear mask every time I go out.

How do you envision post-COVID life?
Nick: The pandemic creates a big impact to me. I have learned to value everything that I have. I've realized that I'm blessed enough, and I'm grateful for the gift of life. And I'm so thankful for the people who never fail to support me. It's more than a billion peso reward.
Mark: I think most of the people are at home.

Erika: For me, a lot of people are still scared to go out. 

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Karla Tirol Magno does free eyebrow microblading for cancer survivors

Karla Tirol Magno, known as “Bohol's Kilay Doctor”, is doing free eyebrow microblading for cancer survivors in Bohol province as part of her advocacy "Brow Clinic's Brave Women".

When CM learned she had lymphoma, things came crashing down. She was in her 20s with a promising career when the terrible news of her health came. 

 

Then, her doctor told her to undergo chemotherapy. She conducted herself with maturity and displayed an immense amount of strength. 

 

CM beat the cancer, but she was left feeling incomplete. After chemotherapy, her eyebrows became thin. 

 

Wanting to do something for herself, CM heard of Karla Tirol Magno, known as Bohol’s “Kilay Doctor", doing free eyebrow microblading for cancer survivors who have lost their hair because of cancer or never had hair due to Alopecia, or spot baldness. 

 

It is part of Karla's "Brow Clinic's Brave Women" project. 

 

"I am focused on my advocacy to bring back the confidence and joy of beautiful eyebrows that look natural, like real hair. I have been so blessed with this skill, and I want to share it to those who need it the most," said Karla. 

 

"They've lost their hair, they've lost their eyebrows and eyelashes and you can give them a little piece of that to make them feel beautiful," she added.

 

Karla, a registered nurse, is the founder and CEO of Brow Clinic and Beauty Lounge (Contact Numbers: 038-502-1496, 09979406536) located at The Alley along J.A. Clarin Street in Tagbilaran City.

 

Trained abroad, Karla is an international certified permanent makeup artist who specializes in microblading tattoos to bring dignity back to people. 

 

The candidates should be healthy enough for the procedure upon their doctor's approval. 

 

Last week, CM availed the free service, and hopes this option becomes more known for cancer survivors in Bohol. 

 

CM was satisfied with the result. She is happier and more confident now.

Karla said, "I gave her the glam back, it makes me so happy because it’s giving her confidence again."

 

On lockdown like everybody else, Karla is trying her best to cope with COVID-19, a great equalizer. It has put most of the world’s population behind closed doors regardless of social or economic standing, whether young or old.

 

How are you doing during this extended lockdown; how does your day start and how does it end? It's still the same, I have coffee in the morning and “manghaplas” before I sleep.

 

What are your usual daily activities and how do you spend your spare time (if you have any)?

I used to be so busy everyday at the clinic and now that I have spare time, I have been trying to learn more about farming and aquaculture. I have been visiting towns in Bohol looking for other ventures to do. I also help moderate #BBCo - Bohol Barter Community. I visit and call loved ones to check on them. I try to stay busy to stay sane. 

 

Aside from your brush, what do you miss most about the “outside” world?

The simple joys of hanging out with friends, having coffee, eating out, chilling at the beach, the gym, and even traveling for work or vacation. Being normal. 

 

How do you protect yourself from COVID-19?

I have been following all protocols with masks and always washing my hands & keeping alcohol in my bag and car. I try to boost my immune system with supplements and vitamins too!

 

Has this crisis changed in any way the way you look at life and the future?

In so many ways. This pandemic brings out the good and bad in people. I try to focus on the good, and it has magnified with all this time we all have to reflect on life and what we all have been doing because whatever I thought was really important, is humbled down to basics. I see the world differently now knowing it can all change so fast.

 

How would the Karla “new normal” be like? 

When this pandemic ends, and I hope soon, I hope to instill what I learned to focus more on the positive and being more resilient to problems that you never saw coming and I may have developed a new germophobe habit. 

 

 

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