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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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

Rich Asuncion and Benj Mudie's baby Bela gets baptized

Kapuso actress Rich Asuncion and Benj Mudie  marked another family milestone on Sunday, August 25, with the baptism of their daughter,  Bela Brie.

Rich Asuncion and Benj Mudie

 with their daughter,  Bela Brie. P

from IG: benjmudie

On Instagram and Facebook on Thursday night, August 29, Rich shared photos of the baptism, with the caption: “Bela Brie Baptism!”

The photos show Bela Brie smiling with Rich and Benj.

The baptismal gown, according to Rich, was the same garment worn by husband Benj and his siblings. This was kept by Benj's mother over the years so that the next generation may also wear the same, like Rich's baby.

Some of the celebrities who were present at the event were Sunshine Dizon, Yasmein Kurdi, Mike Tan and Sheena Halili.

The baptism was held at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Taguig.

Welcome to the Christian world Baby Bela Brie! Congratulations to the parents!

***

Two big people are marking milestones last week: National Food Authority Manager (NFA)-Bohol manager Maria Fe "Peng" Evasco for her birthday (no need to reveal how old she is since she doesn’t look it) and Dave Sibbaluca Maulas for a triple birthday celebrations, a house blessing and a thanksgiving (you know for passing the bar).

Surrounded by family and friends, 

Birthday Girl Maria Fe "Peng" Evasco 

 flashes a big smile on her birthday. 

Friday last week (August 30), Peng hosted a buffet for her friends and NFA employees and Dave on Saturday (August 31), with a dinner buffet at  his new home at Barangay Mansasa.

NFA Manager Maria Fe 

"Peng" Evasco on her 'ty-nine year.'

When it was time to blow the candle, everybody gathered around Peng. As a collective "Happy Birthday" reverberated around NFA, the Birthday Girl flashed a sweet smile.

Perhaps not many people know that Peng was a radio dj and a writer before she joined the government. 

Dave, a popular student leader in his college days, is a lawyer and a certified public accountant (CPA).

NFA information officer Jhoel Lim kept busy entertaining Peng’s guests, making sure that food was replenished on the buffet table. The waiters of Saya's were very polite, asking the guests, always with a smile, if they needed more drinks or whatever.

Atty. David Maulas with his wife

Jennisa and  daughter Danielle Quinn.  

Photo: FB account of Atty. David Maulas 

"I am so very thankful, incredibly grateful and wonderfully blessed! Thank you everyone for your loving wishes and birthday greetings and for being part of my journey," said Peng.

Dave and his wife Jennisa recently moved their family into their new dream  home in Barangay Mansasa where they wanted a place to watch their kids play and grow up.

The long buffet table was loaded with food, with fresh fruits during Sunday's celebration.

Lawyers David Maulas, REA

and Ralp Ryan Lagura, CPA of Maulas and Lagura Law Offices.

In high school, Dave thought  of becoming a lawyer. Believing it was the best route, he took up Accountancy but ended up with a Management Accounting degree.

To pursue his other passion, that is teaching, he finished Masters in Business Administration and  taught in a University.

He also obtained a Real Estate Appraiser and Broker license.

In 2014, he entered law school. Midway, he got married to Jennisa and fathered a lovely daughter Danielle Quinn.

He passed the bar examination and he is on his way to become one the province’s best young lawyers.

Last week, Dave with his friend lawyer-accountant Ralp Ryan Lagura  opened the
MAULAS & LAGURA Law Offices at the Ground Floor of Castelcelo Building, at the back of Robinsons Bank near Garden Cafe/Save 'n Earn and old City Hall.

"Blessings come in different sizes. Some are so small that we sometimes take them for granted. Others are too big that we are sometimes consumed by them,"  Dave said.

"I thank the Almighty for this yet another milestone, without discounting those several others which came before this. I thank Him for all the people I met, who helped mold me to be what I am today. Most of all, I thank the Lord for the blessing of a family," he added.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

300 Bohol moms celebrating August with simultaneous breastfeeding

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Consumers in Tagbilaran lined up last Friday to buy cheap rice from National Food Authority (NFA) as sales and distribution resumed in the province.  According to NFA-Bohol manager Maria Fe Evasco, 40,000 sacks of rice arrived in Bohol last Tuesday from Cebu after four months of non-availability of NFA rice in the market.  The NFA rice is sold at P27 per kilo half a price of the commercial rice.  Evasco explained that they had to limit 5 kilos being sold to an

Ilocos Norte. Gov. Imee Marcos

individual a day so many consumers could avail of the cheaper rice.  “We have to limit it in the sense that we have plenty of consumers in the locality for them to avail/buy of the low price NFA rice, we have to institute the measure of limiting it to 5 kilos per customer per day,” she said. 

Scene:  Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos was in Bohol last week to attend the Acquaintance Party of the BIT-International College and meet the members of the Marcos Loyalists Movement.  She was met by Vice Governor Dionisio Balite, Agriculture Central Visayas director Salvador Diputado, Donald Sevilla of Alyansang Bol-anon para sa Kausaban (Abaka)  and Balilihan Vice Mayor Roy Adonis Olalo. Marcos also met Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr at the event. Marcos said she was thankful to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for including her in the list of senatorial candidates that will be endorsed by regional political party Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP) in the May 2019 elections. She said she was in Bicol when she heard the endorsement during the Bohol launching of Abaka which Duterte was the guest speaker. Marcos said she has yet to decide if she would run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections. “Napag-usapan sa pamilya na iba na tatakbo baka hindi na si BongBong because he doesn’t want to abandon the protest. (It was discussed in the family that another one should run, maybe not BongBong) Maybe, I will be the one to run,” she said.

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Marking the start of the National Breastfeeding Month, more than 300 lactating mothers from Bohol province simultaneously breastfed their babies for one minute yesterday, August 4 at the Island City Mall.

More than 300 lactating mothers simultaneously breastfed their 

babies for one minute during Saturday’s “The Big Latch”

 to mark the celebration of the National Breastfeeding 

\Awareness Month. Photo by Leo Udtohan

The event dubbed “The Big Latch” was the first ever breastsfeeding advocacy in Bohol, according to

Dr. Suzette Quiwag-Redillas, chair of the breastfeeding committee at Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital.

Dianne Pozon, 38, a resident of Tagbilaran City, brought her three month-old son Joseph Niño to the event.

“This is an event for all mothers and families,” said Pozon, a mother of five. 

Pozon believed that there are many benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers.

“I believe it is still the best source of nutrition and growth of infants,” she said.  “Breastfeeding is still best for babies.”

After the simultaneous latch-on, lactation experts, peer counselors, and breastfeeding advocacy supporters shared the benefits and importance of breastfeeding to the mothers.

There were parlor games to enliven the event.

***

Sen. Bam Aquino validates sufferings of

ordinary Boholanos due to TRAIN Law

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said he would be the voice of the ordinary citizens who were directly affected under the tax reform program.

The Senator made the remark last Thursday afternoon as he had a consultation meeting with market vendors, fishermen, and other members of the sectoral groups at the Dao Public Market in this city.

Sen. Bam Aquino

Aquino listened to the residents who shared their plight on the high prices of goods under the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Magiging madali lang ito sa akin kasi kasama ko kayo. Naghahanap po ako ng tapang mula po sa inyo. Hindi ako mawawalan ng lakas ng loob na ipaglalaban ito kahit mag-isa lang ako.  Pero sa totoo lang po kahit mag-isa lang ako dun, hindi ako nag-iisa kasi kasama ko po kayo,” he told at least 60 attendees. 

Aquino said he has been pushing for the immediate suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products to lessen the burden on the public.

 And if Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson would like to talk at the senate as invited by Senator Nancy Binay as one of the resource persons in the next hearings to amend the charter, Aquino said Uson is welcomed at the senate.

“Well, lagi tayo  nag-attend dun sa mga hearing sa federalismo at sa  pagpapalit ng constitution.  I think si Senator Binay ang nag-invite sa kanya.  Maganda nga pumunta siya para mapag-usapan dun,” said Aquino.

Tapping Uson in raising awareness about federalism, Aquino found it awkward since Uson was known for posting fake news in the social media.

“Pero ako, simple lang, yung Constitutional Commission na kunin ang isang tao na  madalas o  may track record ng  pagbabanggit ng fake news bilang spokesman nila parang hindi seryoso dun  sa gusto nilang marating sa pagtuturo ng constitution sa ating mga kababayan,” Aquino added.

He said a constitutional expert would help to raise awareness of the proposed shift to a federal government.

“Sana po ang kinuha nila talagang constitutional expert.  Marami sa kanila ganun yung pagkakilala.  Sana hindi po tayo kumuha ng isang Asec na alam natin na makontroberysa dahil sa paglalabas ng fake news in the past,” he said.

NFA-Bohol Manager Maria Fe Evasco and NFA Information
Officer Jhoel Lim inspected rice retail stores in Barangay Cogon
 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, during the resumption of sales/
distribution of NFA rice. Photo by Leo Udtohan

Uson has been  criticized by netizens in the social media for posting misleading information and inaccurate photos.

Benjie Oliva, a former youth leader and administrator of the Cooperative Development Authority, said that Aquino’s visit was able to validate the sufferings of the ordinary Filipino. 

“Sen. Bam Aquino was able to validate the sufferings of ordinary Filipinos brought by the high inflation rate and the implementation of Train law particularly on the excise tax on fuel during the Konsultahang Bayan held at Dao Public Market,” said Oliva.

Oliva added that Aquino’s ‘Bawas Presyo Bill’ filed at the Senate is a measure that would suspend the implementation on the excise tax on fuel thereby lessening the burden of our poor Filipino people.

“Sen. Aquino’s consumer protection advocacy is a testament of his deep concern to the poor and vulnerable sectors of society,” he added.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.