'Encantadia' -inspired face shields grab attention in Bohol

Some residents wear the normal design and 'Encantadia' -inspired face shields locally produced in Tagbilaran City, Bohol to protect them from the virus. Photos: Leo Udtohan

After losing his food business due to the health crisis, Diego Salvador is now overwhelmed with the exponential increase in the number of orders he gets for producing customized face shields. 

Different kinds of face shields are sprouting everywhere as local governments declared them mandatory to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Diego's face shields started when he thought of a business that it is in line with the current COVID-19 needs for protection. 

Diego, 34, came out with a unique handmade design.

He explained that face shields require flexible materials to hold the plastic cover around the head.

He said the face shields production not only help protect people, but also support people so that they could survive through the economic crisis while providing readily available and locally made face shields. 

"A D-I-Y (do it yourself) face shield comes from an affordable materials with 100 percent quality,with variety of designs you can choose from," said Diego, also a musician. 

For normal design face shields, the cost is P40 each. 

Some people asked him to make face shields inspired by the headpieces worn by Sang'gres on GMA-7 teleserye "Encantadia."

He sold the bedazzled face shields at only P190 each.

A small group of young "Encantadia" fans were even seen sporting the product and emulating the Sang'gres-Amihan (keeper of gem of wind/air), Elena (keeper of gem of water), Danaya (keeper of gem of earth) and Pirena (keeper of gem of fire). 

Diego Salvador makes locally produced face shields. Photo: Leo Udtohan

For inquiries about the face shields, you can contact Diego through mobile phone number  09952069573. You can also order online through "Kinamot Ta Bai" on Facebook. 

Avisala Eshma! Ashte Mashte Lesnum Bohol! (Thank you! May peace be kept throughout Bohol!). 

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Here’s an interesting article written by Dr. Mark Romero, MD he posted on Facebook.  I can't resist sharing his article. 

I write tonight as an individual citizen and as a doctor. Neither do I claim to speak for the institution I work in, nor for the organizations I belong to.

There is talk of the business sector lobbying local government to further ease restrictions and to fully open the economy.

Whether these rumors are unfounded or not is another topic altogether, but I hope to convey to local leaders of industry that their concerns are not without basis.

This conviction, however, reveals gaps in what many -- leaders, businessmen, citizens -- know about the local situation, as seen by someone on the front lines:

(1) #Bohol's healthcare system is inadequately prepared for any (present or future) surge. While we thank our leaders for the two PCR labs we have, one fact remains:

The province only has one (1) Covid hospital (GCGMH). The district hospitals administered by the province are not designated as such.

This fact alone should give us pause.

(2) Prematurely reopening the economy will further add losses to businesses in the long run.

That everyone is suffering is a fact. And so the question becomes: Short of eliminating the economic loss, how do we minimize it?

The internet is rife with analyses by economists both foreign and local, and the aforementioned consensus is clear:

Rushing things through with little regard for data, science, evidence, and global best practices will hurt everyone in the long term. (The public has a sense of this, as per research done by Mr Michael Canares.)

(3) It is incumbent upon leaders -- legislators, the executive, and the business community -- to proactively and willingly learn how evidence is generated, and how contemporary science works.

Gone are the days when any science textbook (or website, or page) is as good as any. The only thing better than good science is better science (one that is founded on emerging evidence, not on any preconceived belief or convenience).

(4) Communication and transparency is key, more so in crises. It is not enough that the public is informed of decisions made -- Equally important too is communicating how these decisions were made. -- And this principle should cut across all levels: national, provincial, city/municipal, and down to the institutions and hospitals we work in. 

I pray we move forward stronger.

#Amping.

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