Coronavirus Lockdown: Power Ranger PPE's, A Mobile Cirumcision Operating Room, and More!

More wild and crazy news from the Philippine lockdown.

One fashion designer with plenty of spare time on her hands designed PPE for nurses inspired by the Philippine flag.

https://www.facebook.com/guela.ampong/posts/1763470030461961

The customized hazmat design I decided to create symbolizes us, Filipinos!  

* Blue- for Peace, harmony, and unity. As we are now on each other’s back, helping one another to survive. 

* Red- for WAR! War against these unseen enemy - COVID19, Many of us, have succumbed to death, due to this fight. 

* Yellow- for Resiliency, and hope. Hoping for these crisis to end (God Willing!) 

* White- for Purity. As each Filipino has the pure heart to offer there service and compassion towards their fellowmen and country, the Philippines

Blue, red, yellow, white...it never occurred to me until right this instant as I am typing this that the Philippine flag is only a few colors shy of the Power Rangers scheme. Thankfully for Power Rangers fans who are also nurses the gap has been filled.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/20/Designer-PPEs-Teletubbies-Power-Rangers-COVID-19.html

An Iloilo-based nurse and designer says his improvised hazmat suits out of characters from '90s shows aim to help his fellow frontliners live out their childhood and spread positivity to others amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Adrian Pe, a nurse from The Medical City Iloilo, used his passion to come up with improvised personal protective equipment (PPE) inspired by cartoon characters of Teletubbies and Power Rangers. 

Using fabric in red, green, yellow, purple, and other colors, Pe's fellow frontliners get to "live out their childhood" by channeling their favorite characters. 

"I chose the Teletubbies because it gives frontliners not only the protection but the positive vibe, and Power Rangers to inspire workers to live out their childhood superheroes," Pe said.

With nurses around the world being hailed as heroes why not give them a chance to dress up as their favorite superhero Power Ranger? While the Power Rangers PPE suits have belts the Teletubbies suits are missing their unique identifying antennae shapes.

Anyone wishing to buy Iloilo-based nurse Adrian Pe a beer for designing those PPE's will be sorely disappointed. Although on April 21st Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas rescinded the city's liquor ban. However the next day he reinstated it!

https://www.facebook.com/JerryTrenasOfficial/posts/2939069782845439

In view of the various incidents due to intoxicated persons, in view of the many other important activities undertaken by our security personnel and upon the advice coming from various sectors, I am reimposing the ban on the selling of alcoholic drinks effective immediately until further notice. 

The PNP and PSTMO are hereby authorized to immediately make sure that this ban is effectively complied with. 

This is for immediate compliance as soon as the executive order is issued.

The nationwide liquor ban is driving some people to desperation ending in death.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/733806/2-dead-1-critical-after-mixing-thinner-into-homemade-alcohol-drink/story/

Two men died while another is in critical condition after drinking a homemade alcohol mix that included thinner in Tondo, Manila. 

According to a 24 Oras report by Chino Gaston on Monday, Baseco residents Rene, Boboy, and Dandy made their own alcohol at home using coffee, vinegar, and soft drinks as a liquor ban prevailed in Manila City amid the Luzon-wide quarantine. 

They had been drinking the mixture for several days until one of them brought a paint thinner on Sunday and suggested adding it into the drink.

Coffee, vinegar, and soda? That won't get you drunk but it will probably make you puke just like too many beers.

If the government does not like what you are posting about the coronavirus lockdown in the Philippines then watch out!  You could be arrested.

https://www.bulatlat.com/2020/04/19/cebu-based-artist-jailed-for-satirical-post/

Before the arrest, the mayor threatened Beltran in his official Facebook Page (@EdgarCLabella): “FAKE NEWS ni and this is a criminal act. Hulat lang Ms Beltran hapit na ka madapan sa PNP Cybercrime Unit. Magtingkagol gyud ka sa prisohan. (This is FAKE NEWS and this is a criminal act. Just wait Ms Beltran the PNP Cybercrime Unit is now about to arrest you. You will surely rot in prison.” 

Time-stamped at 2:14 PM on April 18, 2020, Saturday, it referred to an April 17 post of Beltran, wherein she said, “9,000+ new cases (All from Zapatera) of COVID-19 in Cebu City in one day. We are now the epicenter in the whole Solar System.” 

Known for her satirical posts, “#DearDigong… Sincerely, Maria,” Beltran’s post satirized reports from the City Health Officer which claims that the whole Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz, Cebu City was considered to be infected and thus massive swab testing was to be stopped. 

Sitio Zapatera has a population of around 9,000. 

A statement issued by her counsel before her arrest and posted in Beltran’s Facebook account reiterated that Beltran’s post is satirical, “designed to show wit instead of spreading chaos, anarchy, fear, or confusion,” as such does not fall on the category of the crime she is accused of, which is defined as “clearly geared to promote chaos, anarchy, fear, or confusion.” 

Atty. Josalee Deinla, spokesperson of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said that the post of Beltran is not fake news or false information. 

“It merely restates the city health office’s official declaration that Sitio Zapatera is ‘presumed contaminated,’” she clarified.

The DOH declared a neighborhood with 9,000 residents as being infected as a precautionary measure. Maria seizes on this to make a joke that there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases by 9,000 making the Philippines the epicenter of the virus. The Mayor cries fake news and Maria was arrested at 12:30 am! Why so early? Was she that much of a threat that she had to be taken in just after midnight?   

US President Donald Trump gave Duterte a late night call to talk about the coronavirus.

“The call came in at 10:10 in the evening. It was initiated by the US government. It lasted for about 18 minutes. It was cordial and it was about bilateral collaboration on Covid-19 but beyond that I have no authority to divulge any further details,” he said.

Actually 10 in the evening Manila time is 10 in the morning Washington DC time. Surprisingly Trump did not tweet about his early morning call to Duterte but he did send more aid to the Philippines.

The United States has approved an additional P269 million (or $5.3 million) in health and humanitarian assistance for the Philippines' fight against COVID-19, after the chief executives of both countries engaged in a phone meeting to discuss coronavirus response. 

The funding will also aid Filipino and international technical experts in risk communication, infection prevention and control efforts, hand washing and hygiene promotion, and community-level preparedness response, it added. 

During their phone conversation, Trump expressed solidarity and offered additional assistance, as the Philippines continues to address the health and economic damages brought by the deadly virus. He also shared his condolences over the death of 11 Filipino soldiers recently killed in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group. 

Trump and Duterte also talked about how they can strengthen their countries' economic, cultural, and security ties. 

The two leaders agreed to continue working together as long-time allies to "defeat the [coronavirus] pandemic, save lives, and restore global economic strength." 

The U.S. previously donated ₱203 million (or $4 million) and 1,300 cots for the country's medical frontliners and COVID-19 patients. 

Over the past 20 years, it has already invested more than $4.5 billion to the Philippines, including $582 million for the local public health system.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/22/US-donates-to-PH-after-Duterte-Trump-phone-call.html

The US has invested $582 million over the past 20 years into the Philippines public health system? What did all that money get used for?

Duterte has offered a P50 million reward to any Filipino who can find a vaccine for COVID-19.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/735406/duterte-ups-reward-for-covid-19-vaccine-discovery-to-p50m-offers-research-funding/story/

One broke young Pinoy posted a funny picture of himself "working on the cure" which went viral.

https://www.facebook.com/janssen.h.yap/posts/10220109532801539

Going viral. How has there not been a petition from the easily offended snowflakes to change that phrase?

SAF armored vehicles have been called out to enforce social distancing at the public market!

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/734866/saf-members-deployed-at-blumentritt-market-to-help-maintain-social-distancing/story/

How does that work exactly?

The coronavirus lockdown is bring out the best in people. Many are learning new skills.  Things they have never tired before.  Like cooking for themselves!!

https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/361460/how-i-learned-to-feed-myself-during-solo-lockdown/

Aside from forcing people to stay indoors since mid-March, the pandemic has also forced me to really fend for myself. 

Though I’ve lived on my own for over a decade now, I saw no need to learn how to cook. Just around the corner from my old apartment near Timog Avenue, Quezon City, was a carinderia selling delicious home-cooked meals like pinangat na bangus and pork binagoongan. I’d order a viand, some rice, and eat at home. 

If I had a craving for something more substantial, I could always walk the two blocks to Tomas Morato Avenue, the original restaurant row. 

Before I moved into my own condo four years ago, I told my interior designer that I saw no need to have a kitchen installed. Why waste space that could otherwise be devoted to storage? Breakfast was often either oatmeal, or fruit and coffee. I had a rice cooker and a microwave oven, and I thought that would be enough. 

Just imagine being a grown adult and not knowing how to cook.  How are people so helpless?

The coronavirus pandemic has put a strain on hospitals but never fear if your son needs to be circumcised. Does anyone need to be circumcised?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1263909/outbreak-cant-stop-towns-manhood-on-wheels

Not even an outbreak could stop the traditional “circumcision season” in a town in Cavite province. 

But this time, health workers in Carmona have gone to the communities not only to perform the procedure on young boys but also to check them and their immediate family members for symptoms of the coronavirus. 

Homer Aguinaldo, the municipal health officer, said up to 40 doctors and 40 nurses had been recruited for the program called “Manhood on Wheels.” 

Under normal circumstances, the local government would offer the free surgery to hundreds of preteen boys, either at the community hospital or the municipal auditorium. 

“We actually thought of canceling it this year,” Aguinaldo said. “But we realized that we don’t know how it will be next year. We could still be in the same situation—the ‘new normal,’ they say—so we might as well go ahead with it.” 

“Besides, we don’t want our [health] programs hampered [by the pandemic] as much as possible,” he added.

Since the Luzon lockdown has made mass circumcisions impossible, the medical team has decided to go village to village, rolling out a “health bus” or a mobile operating room where a fully reclined dental chair serves as an operating table. 

Manhood on Wheels has so far circumcised about 200 boys in Carmona over the past two weeks out of this year’s target of 600. 

Parents can schedule an appointment by calling the local health office or registering online. 

For this year’s service, the health workers are taking extra measures in view of the coronavirus contagion. In effect, the program is doubling as the local government’s way of closely monitoring the residents’ overall health condition amid the pandemic. 

The program again comes with an educational campaign advising young boys and their parents against the unhygienic, so-called “pukpok” method performed by nonmedical professionals who use a razor or any sharp blade to remove the foreskin. 

Since a newly circumsized boy usually takes seven to 10 days to heal, Aguinaldo said, “it gives (these youngsters) another reason to stay home” while the lockdown remains in effect.

I don't know whats worse.  Having a mohel circumcise your baby pee-pee and suck the blood giving you herpes and killing you or having some dude with no medical training circumcise you with a piece of wood while you chew on a leaf to alleviate the pain. 

Hard times can foster the creation of great art.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/735253/nurse-creates-painting-with-syringes-as-tribute-to-covid-19-frontliners-and-victims/story/

As a tribute to her fellow COVID-19 frontliners as well as to the victims of the disease, a nurse in Negros Occidental created a beautiful painting using nothing but syringes. 

According to Kimberly Joy Mallo Magbanua, she used about 15 syringes "and a lot of brand new needles with different gauges" to finish her painting in just two days. She calls it "Inang Bayan."  

The painting is the second of a series on COVID-19. She says she's reworking the first, which features surgeons operating on the Philippine flag. When asked how many paintings she plans to paint for her series, Kimberly said it depends on the country's situation.

That is really interesting. She made a painting without a single brush stroke. It's very colorful and looks dynamic and alive. What a cool technique.

If you want to hand out relief goods to those locked in during the quarantine be sure you have permission from the government.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/04/26/2009941/unauthorized-relief-volunteers-face-fines-arrest

Both the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police stressed Sunday that penalties could be imposed on relief volunteers found without the necessary certification from the local government units they intend to help. 

According to DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, department spokesperson, relief volunteers will be subjected to the same rules and treatment as Unauthorized Persons Outside of Residence (UPOR) and charged with Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person.  

Malaya said that the DILG does not foresee any disputes between LGUs and volunteer groups arising from the new requirement.  

"It's a measure to ensure that only authorized people are outside of residence. The PNP has reported to us that so many people are claiming in checkpoints that they're doing relief but the truth is they just want to go out and about. Our police sought guidance from [Interior] Secretary Eduardo Año and he gave that directive," Malaya said. 

"If we don't put order to this situation we are undoing all our hard work for the past month. We need to be stricter in implementing the ECQ...because our very lives are at stake." 

In a statement issued later Sunday, fishers federation Pamalakaya slammed the new requirement, calling it a violation of the people's right to food.  

Former lawmaker and Pamalakaya chairperson Fernando Hicap also said that such a requirement would be vulnerable to politicking in a time when target beneficiaries grow critical of local officials.  

"There are so many people asking for help even on social media because they were not given aid from the government's social amelioration program, and now, they'll restrict what should be the help that citizens give freely to those in need," Hicap said in a mix of English and Filipino.  

The fishers leader also pointed out that such an order violated the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which the Philippines is a signatory of. 

"Never can you subject to complicated bureaucratic processes the people's right to food, especially when it is the intention of many to help. The people are showing each other "bayanihan", yet the government keeps obstructing this," he said.

People want to help out and make sure everyone has food but the government wants to stop the virus from spreading. It's a tricky situation.

One town has found a novel way to distribute food to the people. Give live hogs to every purok and let the neighborhood leaders slaughter and distribute the meat!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101071

The city government here distributed over the weekend at least 1,000 live hogs to augment the food supplies of residents affected by the ongoing enhanced community quarantine. 

“We directly turned over the animals to our purok leaders and we tasked them to facilitate the slaughter and distribution of the meat to households within their areas,” he told reporters.

The mayor said the hogs, which weighed around 200 kilos each, were purchased by the city government from local swine producers that were affected by the border closures in neighboring regions due to the heightened quarantine. 

Aside from the live hogs, Rivera said they distributed starting last Friday assorted fish and live chickens to the non-pork eaters. 

He said they opted for the perishable products due to the dwindling supplies in the markets of canned goods, which were included in the previous relief packs.

Fresh meat for the people straight from the government. Fresh animals anyway. The government was also kind enough to distribute chickens and fish to those who do not eat pork.


Two towns in Samar are having people trade plastic trash for food.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101088

In Arteche, a third-class town in Eastern Samar, the local government unit has been implementing 3Ts or tirok (collect), timbang (weigh), tabang (help).

Residents are encouraged to collect and clean single-use plastics such as junk food packs, plastic bags, and empty sachets and keep it in a clean bag or sack.

Residents must clean the single-use plastic before they have it weighed by the designated collector -- a rolling store that roams around the town every Thursday. 

The number of food packs depends on the volume of plastic waste collected. Each kilogram of clean and dry single-use plastic is worth PHP10.

In the second-class town of Paranas, Samar, Mayor Eunice Babalcon has been urging residents to collect plastic and turn them into eco-bricks.

An eco-brick is a Pet bottle packed solid with clean and dry used plastic made to a set density to create reusable building blocks and can be used to make modular units, furniture, and earthen gardens and structures.

The local government exchanges the eco-bricks with food packs.

Babalcon said it is part of their health crisis intervention and at the same time an effort of the town to continue its campaign to curb malnutrition.

A kilogram of eco-bricks is equivalent to the same weight of rice and assorted vegetables.

That's one way to promote recycling.

Cops are dancing. Firefighters are dancing.  Everyone is dancing!

Police officers, firefighters and members of the public safety department in Calapan City dance to Rachel Platten's "Fight Song" in a moving tribute to frontliners.

Why aren't YOU dancing!??