Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Coronoavrius Lockdown: Miss Gay COVID-19, Coco the Parrot, and More!

More news and stories from the lockdown.


People are bored and sad being cooped up in there homes so one man decided to bring them a little bit of laughter.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/308195/meet-the-winner-of-the-first-online-miss-gay-covid-19-from-tipolo-mandaue
Lyccah, a freelance makeup artist from Barangay Tipolo in Mandaue City, bested nine other candidates in the online pageant, the first in Cebu and probably the rest of the country. 
Lyccah, 28, received P10, 000 cash after he emerged victorious after the two-hour competition. 
“I was very nervous during the announcement because the other contestants did their best too, I cried when I knew I won and winning will be a great help for me and my family,” Lyccah said. 
Jay-R Yosores, the pageant organizer, told CDN Digital that Monday was a night of laughter and wits as the contestants battle their way to get the coveted crown. 
Yosoresto said he organized the online pageant to spread laughter and help some of the members of the  LGBTQIA+ who rely on doing events and pageants for their livelihood. 
Lyccah, who has been joining pageants since he was still 13 years old, said that the competition made him nervous but he was determined to give it his all. 
He was especially after the P10, 000 cash prize that will surely address the needs of his family, who like him, were unable to work while they remain under home quarantine. 
“I was honestly running out of funds and my savings were running low due to the lockdown and so I saw this as a way to earn while having fun and safe here in our home,” said Lyccah.
There are better names to pick for your pageant.  How about Miss Quarantine?  Who wants to be Miss COVID 19?

Have you been using this quarantine time to learn any new skills? You can watch Youtube and learn how to do anything. The department of Agriculture wants Filipinos to learn agricultural skills.
Evangelista said anyone who has Internet connection could avail of the courses being offered such as crops, livestock, sustainable agriculture, social technology, marine, and fisheries.

“There is no age limit or educational requirement,” he said, adding that those who complete the courses will get certificates.

Aside from the certificate, Evangelista said the skills and knowledge that online students would acquire are “very useful” in starting their own backyard or urban gardening or farming.
Backyard gardening and farming? Who in this country has a backyard? Everyone is cramped together with no yard to speak of. Unless you live out in the country. Maybe that's a little too general but I am speaking from experience.

The Philippine embassy in Libya has a new addition to their "embazoo."

https://twitter.com/elmer_cato/status/1258200670055870469

His name is Coco which is short for conflict and coronavirus. He must be a real conversationalist!

Many people are still waiting for their SAP money. Last week a man died walking home for lunch after waiting all morning for his money.  This week a man who waited for his money late into the night was arrested for violating the curfew.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/737316/man-who-received-cash-aid-at-midnight-nabbed-amid-addition-hills-lockdown/story/
A construction worker was on his way home at midnight after hours of waiting to claim his cash subsidy from the government when he was nabbed for violating the hard lockdown imposed over his barangay. 
According to Emil Sumangil's report on "24 Oras", the man waited all night to claim the financial assistance in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. 
“Ang inaasahan lang namin, ‘yung ayuda. Tapos pagbigay ng ayuda, alanganin na. Alas dose po ng madaling araw, ano pong mabibili namin no’n? Walang wala po kami,” the resident said. 
(“All we can hope for is the relief. After giving the help, beware. At twelve o'clock in the morning, what can we buy? We have nothing, ”the resident said.)
Damned if you, damned if you don't! Especially if you are a senior citizen.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/737459/94-year-old-caloocan-woman-denied-cash-aid-over-application-failure/story/
Despite queuing since dawn for her social amelioration aid at a Bagong Silang, Caloocan City payout center, a 94-year-old woman still ended up with nothing as she had failed to fill out a SAP form. 
"I have no family, my children, those who have died. I am left alone," said Magna Aparece in Mark Salazar's Friday report on 24 Hours. 
Aparece was not given a SAP form previously, and she fell in line to get one. 
Fernando could do nothing but list Aparece's case for the next distribution. However, she could not promise that Aparece would receive her SAP any time soon. 
Many in the payout center also fell in line as early as dawn. 
Denver, a construction worker who fell in line as early as 3 a.m., was exhausted and was suffering badly in the heat. 
"Hirap na po eh, kailangan na po eh, wala na pong pambili pangkonsumo eh. No choice po eh, ganoon talaga eh, hindi nakapagtrabaho eh," said Denver. 
The city social welfare department arrived with the cash before 11 a.m. 
Construction worker Albert was among the first who was given P8,000 in aid, after falling in line three times previously. 
"Pagkain po sa bahay, bigas tsaka mga kailangan tsaka gatas po ng anak ko," Albert said.
These kinds of stories make the government look incompetent. Such a mess. Hopefully she has received her money by now.

Lots of Pinoys overseas are having to deal with COVID-19. These Pinoys in Ethiopia constructed a disinfection cabin.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102388
In the continuing battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), a team of Filipino expatriate engineers and teachers in Amhara Region in north-central Ethiopia innovated a disinfection cabin for exposed clothing and skin that may be Covid-contaminated.

Installed at the main entrance of Wollo University-Kombolcha Institute of Technology (WU-KIOT), the cabin uses four misting devices that aim for whole-body coverage, and a disinfectant mist combined with liquid disinfectant and pressurized air.

To use, a person enters the cabin, turns around for a few seconds to ensure complete body disinfection and exits the other side of the disinfection cabin.

WU-KIOT endeavors to get the disinfection cabin accredited by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health.

Other Pinoys are working abroad as nurses on the frontline.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/familyandrelationships/737541/family-of-pinoy-nurse-in-uk-watches-him-flatline-in-video-call-as-he-succumbs-to-covid-1/story/
Kenneth, who worked as a cardiac research nurse in the hospital, was deployed in the frontlines in the first week of April. Later, he started to have colds and a fever. 
When Kenneth's symptoms worsened, he was intubated in the hospital's ICU. 
Late April, Via was told that, "Kenneth is dying. It would be in his best interest na we'll let him go." 
And his family made the difficult decision of turning off his life support. Through a video call, they watched Kenneth's final hour until he passed away. 
Their final goodbyes were caught on video, and the mother could be heard weeping and saying her final thanks . 
"You are such a blessing to me and to our family, 'Nak," she said as she wept. "Thank you for everything 'Nak, thank you." 
When he finally flatlined and the video call ended, Ezel said the whole family just cried.
Watching your loved one die over a video call must be heart wrenching. It also might be the new normal.

The liquor ban continues to be violated by would-be bootleggers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102361
A police officer assigned at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) Intelligence Division was caught transporting boxes of liquor at a quarantine checkpoint in Cabugao village, Santa Barbara town, Iloilo on Friday night. 
A police report said Staff Sgt. Paul Pingoy, 39, along with a certain Adolfo Patiam, 30, both of San Sebastian village, Sarbara, carried 30 boxes of Tanduay Rhum in a grey Innova car. 
Each box contains a dozen of 750-milliliter liquor which was allegedly from Muelle Loney, the report said.
That is 360 bottles of Tanduay Rhum. It's great that the lockdown has created new crimes like violating curfew and violating the liquor ban.

One common complaint about Philippine cities is the distinct lack of pedestrian infrastructure, namely sidewalks. But with the new normal due to the pandemic people will have to walk and so one city says they will be building more sidewalks.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102420
The local government of Pasig is now working on the additional pop-up bike lanes and sidewalk extensions within the city. 
In a Facebook post, the Pasig City Transportation Department said local residents could expect road works starting Sunday (May 10). 
"We are introducing bike lanes and extending sidewalks starting in the following areas: Market Avenue (Pasig Mega Market Area), Caruncho Avenue (around the City Hall Complex), and Amang Rodriguez Avenue (East Bank to Marcos Highway)," the post reads. 
Earlier, the local transport department declared "biking" as an essential mode of transportation in the city during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), under Executive Order PCG-18, series of 2020, and Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 59, series of 2020, which was signed on March 25. 
"The city department has also been directed to evaluate areas of major pedestrian traffic and public transportation interchange to ensure that walking is a viable means of transportation in the city," the statement added.
It's sad that it takes a pandemic to get the city to invest in bike lanes and sidewalks. The rest of the modern world has already done this.

Hanging out at the beach and drinking a few beers is a nice way to relax. Or it was. Now it's a crime!


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/309249/maria-gigante-spanish-bf-face-disobedience-ecq-violation-charges
They did not only defy the prohibition against swimming on the beach while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) remains in effect. 
Maria Gigante and her boyfriend, Javier Filosa Castro, were also found by Moalboal police drinking beer while enjoying the beach in Barangay Basdiot in Moalboal town late on Sunday afternoon, May 10, 2020. 
Gigante, a Cebuana model and beauty queen, and Castro were arrested by the police at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 10, 2020.
The two were immediately placed in an isolation cell at the Moalboal Police Station after police found out that they came from Cebu City where more than a thousand cases of the coronavirus disease were already recorded. 
Awe said that the two arrived in their town on board a private vehicle.  They were made to pass through the quarantine checkpoint after they told policemen who were manning the checkpoint that they came from Dalaguete town and were headed for Alegria town for relief goods distribution. 
Tourist police, who were patrolling the coastal area of Barangay Basdiot, found the Gigante and Castro.
Good thing they arrested this beauty queen and her Spanish boyfriend for having some fun. That's the new normal. They will also face charges for falsifying documents.

Sit right back and I'll tell you the tale, the tale of a Pinay living a life of which Gilligan would be jealous.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/737663/this-pinay-is-living-the-quarantine-island-life-in-siargao/story/
We all have a different enhanced community quarantine experience. People living in posh subdivisions have it different from those living solo in their condos, from those living with an extended family as an urban settler. 
And then there is Ara Neyra, who hails from NCR, but chose to live on the beautiful island of Siargao, following the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon last March. 
On the island, Ara has been able to do fun things most people would only get to do on vacation. 
She spent her quarantine time freediving, surfing, spear-fishing, picnicking by the bay, and watching movies on a hammock under the palm trees. 
A friend, whom she met while traveling, offered to let her stay for free. But ever the gracious guest, Ara helps around the house.
One day she will be rescued but for now it's surely better than being locked down in Manila.

Another man died while waiting for his SAP money.


https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/737759/man-dies-of-heart-attack-while-queuing-for-cash-aid-wife-pleads-to-duterte-for-help/story/
A 53-year-old carpenter passed away after suffering a heart attack while in line to claim his cash subsidy in Taytay, Rizal. 
According to a 24 Oras report by Emil Sumangil on Monday, Teodoro Omandam died of myocardial infarction due to the heat while queuing for cash aid for the third time. 
Omandam’s wife Estrella Lilia appealed for help from President Rodrigo Duterte following the death of her husband. 
"It really hurts," she said. “The hard part of life is this, lockdown. There is no job, it's been a few months, and we haven't received any help yet. ” 
Myrna, the victim's niece, also called on authorities to give Omandam's cash aid to his family. 
“My uncle died. 'They'll never evaluate it again. Maybe they could just give it to my uncle because he died, ”she urged. 
However, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula said Omandam’s name was not on the list of beneficiaries.
This man waited in line 3 times for his money and ended up dying while waiting but it turned out his name was not even on the list of beneficiaries!

The nationwide lockdowns have left hundreds if not thousands of people stranded far from home. What do yo do when public transportation has stopped and you have to get home? Walk!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102561
After walking for four days and quarantined for seven weeks due to movement restrictions, a jobless man finally arrived in this town’s upland village. 
Elwin Aralar, 25, said it felt good to be home with his family again despite financial uncertainties after he lost his job as a construction worker that earned him PHP4,500 a week for the past two years. 
Aralar and four co-workers from Leyte left their workplace in Binondo, Manila on March 14. 
Carrying 20 kg. of rice and a cooking pot, the group initially planned to walk back to their hometowns. 
Despite movement restrictions that have taken buses off the road, the desperate men began their way home, willing to risk sealed borders and checkpoints. 
“Our fear of suffering starvation and catching the deadly virus was our strongest motivator. We realized that no one (would) help us out in Manila the way they do in our village. We had no money since we did not get our pay that week,” he told reporters in an interview late Monday. 
They walked 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day and rested at night in waiting sheds and outside convenience stores. Since they only had rice with them, some policemen and strangers shared some viand with them. 
After four days of walking more than 300 km., the group arrived in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur on March 18 where they were denied entry. 
The local government placed them in an isolation facility, providing them with food and other basic needs. 
The quarantine was only intended for two weeks but lasted nearly two months as the local government had to wait for their test results and coordinate with local officials in Leyte for their smooth travel home. 
On Saturday, these men finally arrived in Leyte after the Philippine Army provided transport services for stranded workers. 
Aralar’s four companions are from the towns of Sta. Fe and Alangalang. 
“It’s better to stay here because I will never go hungry even if I don’t have money, but I doubt that I will be able to find a high-paying job here,” said Aralar, who just completed Grade 5.
These men walked 300 km in 4 days from Manila to Camarines Sur. That is 75 km per day! They were then placed under quarantine for 7 weeks.  Eventually the AFP provided transportation for them to reach home. Thankfully the made it safe. When the economy starts up again hopefully they can reclaim their jobs.

Are you tired of these cops and nurses dancing on Tik-Tok?  Yes you say? You are just jealous you don't have the moves!!


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/309422/minglanilla-cops-enforcers-join-tiktok-craze-to-thank-law-abiding-citizens
How can law enforcers manning border checkpoints and implementing the enhanced community quarantine thank the public for heeding the order to stay at home? The answer: Make a Tiktok video about it. 
This is what the policemen and traffic enforcers in Minglanilla, a southern Cebu town, where they grooved and participated in the Tiktok craze as their way of celebrating and thanking the public for staying home on Sunday, May 10, 2020. 
The video uploaded on that day, showed  the policemen and traffic enforcers dancing along the streets and other areas where they were assigned to celebrate the public’s heeding the stay at home order. 
He said that they were happy to observe last Sunday that most of the public were not out and they ended up dancing on the empty streets out of joy. 
“We also wanted to entertain the public and send a message that their obedience to the rules are very much appreciated,” said Cesa.
Obedience to the rules are very much appreciated? What if the public started making dance videos thanking the PNP for not extorting them or selling drugs or committing other crimes? You can watch the dancing cops on their Facebook page.

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