Couple from Bontoc, Mt. Province celebrated wedding anniversary by donating food to the frontliners

Photo Courtesy || Jen Basco & MDRRM Office

Cordillera-  A couple from Bontoc celebrated their wedding anniversary by making a difference and sharing their blessings to others.

While the whole town is on Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), celebrating especial occasions doesn't necessarily have to be the usual norm. 

The couple Mr. Raymundo Basco and Mrs. Jen Basco decided to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary with practicality and so much consideration of other people.

Their celebration was complemented with generosity and kindness by providing snacks to the front liners through the Bontoc Operations Center (OpCen). 

They donated a box of pineapple and peanut bread, 12 bottles of local organic honey and three packs of organic muscovado sugar.

For most married couples, celebrating a marriage milestone is something exclusive and considered a very significant occasion.  

It is more than celebrating a win, survival, or achievement that made this occasion extra especial. So, don't wonder why other couples celebrate wedding anniversaries grander than their wedding.

Meanwhile, the kindhearted Mr. and Mrs. Basco,  owner of Rio Chico Marketing, could have just saved their  money or postponed their celebration until this pandemic is over. Then, plan for a  grander celebration with family and friends. 

However, they chose generosity and kindness and made a difference by celebrating their life and union together as a couple by becoming a channel of blessing to other people. 

Our best wishes and greetings for the couple. May you receive more blessings as you both grow old together! 

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People of Mountain Province are industrious and contented with simple living - Former DA Sec. Manny Piñol

Photo Courtesy || Mayor Ganggangan & Manny Pinol

Cordillera - Former Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol has admired the people of Mountain Province following the good deeds of the Mayor of Sadanga, refusing the food packs offered by the government. 

He said that the people of Mountain Province are industrious and contented with simple living, although they are poor. 

"I have been to the Mountain Province several times as Secretary of Agriculture. It is a poor province which was selected to be given additional funding under the Special Area of Agricultural Development (SAAD) program of the Department of Agriculture," Piñol said.

"They are poor but the people of Mountain Province are industrious and contended with simple living," he added.

He compared the attitude of the people of Mountain province to a man he saw on social media who threw a bag of rice in front of his home in a subdivision saying that it was not enough.

Piñol's comment came after reading the story of Sadanga Mayor Ganggangan who waived his municipality's relief packs to be given to other areas who are more needy of food assistance.

Mayor Ganggangan explained that waiving of food packs does not mean that that there are no poor and needy families in their municipality. However, its "built in" and homegrown or indigenous  social structure, values, and practice of taking care of their respective relatives, kins, neighbors, or kailyan in distress will work to sustain the need of the people during crisis.

The former DA Sec. wished the Philippines had more Mayors like Ganggangan and people like the iSadangga who are "poor but proud and self-respecting".

"Imagine this, If all the well-to-do families would just refuse the food aid, then President Rody Duterte and the national government do not need to crack their heads finding funds to sustain the relief efforts," Piñol said.

source || Manny Piñol FB

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Baguio resident refuses P5,500 SAP from DSWD because his wife was a beneficiary already

Photo Courtesy || Lary Pascua & DSWD

Cordillera - A man from Baguio city who refused to receive money from the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Social Amelioration Program has been commended of social media for his honesty. 

Mr. Lary Pascua, a resident of Barangay San Vicente in Baguio, was praised on social media after his act of honesty was posted by the Baguio City Public Information Office. 

Pascua wrote on his FB account that he will not receive the cash assistance from the DSWD because his wife was already a beneficiary. 

Pascua said that he refused the money because he believed that there are people out there who badly needed the cash more than him. 

He also commented out that he doesn't want to violate the law because he might face the consequence if he accepted the money

"Thank you po nakapasok ako pero hindi ko na kukunin dahil nakapasok na din ang misis ko at alam kong daming nangangailangan at ayaw ko din lumabag sa batas kaya antay lang po tayo stay safe and God bless us all," Pascua said.

Many netizens praised Pascua for his action.

"Salute to you sir. I wish others who have sources of income will waive the money because other people need it more," one netizen said.

Another netizen said, "Honesty is what we need if there are names that were listed twice so that the money will be given to others."

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera reported that the total funds downloaded to the Local Government Units for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) amounts to P1,307,412,500.00, according to the Philippine Information Agency.

As of 8PM of April 19, 2020, a total of P488,555,850.00 was already disbursed to 103,563 beneficiaries who have received the SAP-AICS Assistance.

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La Trinidad residents show discipline during community quarantine; follow government regulations

Photo Courtesy || La Trinidad Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office

Cordillera - Not only Baguio City residents are showing discipline during community quarantine. 

Residents of La Trinidad, Benguet are also strictly following the quarantine laws and regulations set forth by the local government. 

Knowing how serious the impact of Covid-19, residents of La Trinidad religiously follow the ECQ guidelines. 

As shown by the La Trinidad Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Sunday (Apri19, 2020) on its Facebook page, major thoroughfares in the town were completely free of people.

Business establishments along KM 4 that were known to be very crowded suddenly became empty after La Trinidad LGU had implemented the enhanced community quarantine.

READ ALSO:  Landlord in La Trinidad waives rental fee of his tenants affected by community quarantine

Empty streets during quarantine show the cooperation and discipline of the people of La Trinidad. 

They are united as one and work together with the government to halt the spread of the deadly virus.

The government has been calling all citizens in Luzon to stay home and limit going outside without important purposes.

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Igorota Muaythai fighter donates 1 month allowance to purchase relief goods

Photo Courtesy || Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP)

Cordillera - An Igorota Muaythai fighter from Baguio City has donated her one month allowance to augment the funds needed in purchasing relief goods to be given to the needy.

The Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP) has announced in its Facebook page that Muaythai National Athlete Islay Erika Bomogao had donated her one month allowance from the Philippine Sports Commission to augment the funds needed for the purchase of relief goods being facilitated by her father, Councilor Benny O. Bomogao. 

Likewise, Councilor Bomogao donated his one month salary for the same purpose, according to MAP. 

Recipients of the said relief goods were single parents of Dontogan, Green Valley where Erika's mother and grant parents are from. 

Erika and his father were added to the number of generous Filipinos who have big hearts in helping their fellowmen amid crisis brought by this global pandemic. 

Bomogao won Gold Medal in the 42-kg female division during the 2018 International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) Youth World Championship held last August 7 at the National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

She also represented the Philippines in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippines last December. 

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Generous woman in Baguio offered lunch to police front liners manning checkpoint near her house

Photo Courtesy || Jojo Larson

Cordillera - A woman in Baguio City showed concern and generosity to a group of police front liners who are manning a checkpoint near her house. 

A photo shared by netizen Jojo Larson on Facebook showed a woman  offering food to police officers during lunch time. 

The woman's deep concern to the brave front liners who were standing there all day under the heat of the sun made her decide to invite them for a lunch.

"So may 3 pulis na nakadestino dito sa Badihoy, Guisad, Lungsod ng Baguio. Lahat ng mga lumalabas mapa sasakyan man o individual, ay chine-check nila. Kakaunto lang ung mga lumalabas kaya most of the time nakatayo lang sila, nakababad sa araw!," Larson said.

According to Larson, she noticed his neighbor calling the front liners to take a rest and offering lunch.

At first the police officers were hesitant however, the woman insisted her offer and the officers accepted the generous invitation. 

"Then lunch time came, napansin ko itong isang ale na sumisigaw. Tinignan ko, tinatawag pala nya ung mga frontliners na ito para kumain. Nung una ay umiling sila pa sila pero pinilit nung babae sila na magrest muna, sumilong at kumain. Napapayag naman nya sila ta un nga kumain sila at inobserve pa ang social distancing," Larson added.

The woman deserves commendation for her good deeds towards people who served as front liners against COVID-19. 

Larson said that people in Baguio are blessed because they have neighbors who are very helpful and have a good heart.

"At napaka-blessed din po natin na may mga kapitbahay tayo o ibang tao na handa rin tayong tulungan at may magandang puso. Hindi madali ang maging isang frontliner kaya sa kaunting pagkain man na maibahagi sa kanila ay masaya na sila dun. Ngunit ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat ay ang ating pakikiisa sa ating gobyerno at ang pagsunod sa kung anuman ang dapat nating gawin," Larson wrote.

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Stranded tourists in Banaue turn Community Quarantine into an unforgettable farm experience

Photo Courtesy || Sherwin Lee

Cordillera - Instead of worrying about what will happen to them in Cordillera due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine, these tourists decided to experience farming by helping locals in a farm. 

In a Facebook post by Sherwin Lee, two young tourists were seen transplanting rice seedling somewhere in Banaue, Ifugao. 

These tourists see the positive side of the ECQ and took the chance to learn how Cordillerans live and provide food to their families.

Netizens were delighted to notice the tourist and commended them for turning the ECQ into a unforgettable farm experience. 

"It's ok to be stranded in the province rather than Manila. There are lots of adventure and experience that will never be forgotten... Your experience will teach you how to survive in any crisis," a netizen wrote.

READ ALSO: Cordilleran farmers choose generosity over profit; Sell veggies for less to help government in relief operation

Netizen Christopher Calyaen said, "That's the good thing these virus send because tourist can learn from us on how we live and do our sources in life. We have to see the positive side of these ECQ. In other Cordillera places they enjoyed farming and do the usual things as they plant in the farm. While in urban they are fighting cock and full of covid mouth. Kudos to the tourist it's praticum time to plant rice and learn more."

Another netizen is inviting to the two tourists to come back after 4 months to experience harvesting the rice they had planted.

READ ALSO: Sadanga, Mountain Province refuses food packs, donates it to less fortunate instead

"Memories to tell in your home country. Come back after 4 months for the harvest time to complete the fun," Fely Pangwi said.

In Ifugao, There is a tradition called "Urpi", the planting season in Banaue where in only women are assigned to sow the rice seedlings for reason of fertility and good harvest, according to netizen Corazon Nacionales.

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LOOK: Team Lakay lends a helping hand to the needy in Benguet thru 'Mobile Tulong'

Cordillera - Philippine's top Mixed Martial Arts stable Team Lakay has joined the hundreds of good Samaritan in the country who stepped up to extend help to many of their kailyans who are in need of assistance amid the global pandemic.

On Wednesday, the team headed by multi-awarded coach Mark Sangiao and joined by former ONE Championship Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang and ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio unloaded relief packs and distributed them to the residents of Tuba, Benguet.

Parts of the relief packs that were distributed are sacks of rice and fresh Benguet vegetables. 

After Tuba, the team is going to Itogon, Benguet to provide the same assistance to the residents there.

Team Lakay's  'Mobile Tulong' is  being implemented in partnership with ACT-CIS Partylist Congressman Eric Go Yap and the Charen family. 

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SLU Mechatronics engineering students develop Covid-19 face shield using 3D printer

Cordillera - With their desire to lend a hand in protecting our front liners who are constantly being exposed to the deadly Coronavirus day and night, Mechatronics students from Saint Luis University-Baguio designed and printed face shield frames and mask straps using 3D printer.

Face shield frames help in the prevention of infectious droplets from entering the eyes, nose and mouth while mask straps help alleviate the pain caused by the constant use of face masks. 

Initial numbers of 3D printed face shields and mask straps by Mechatronics SLU were distributed to the brave front liners from different establishment in Baguio City.

"During this quarantine period we decided to put into good use our knowledge, skills, and equipment to help our brave front liners save many lives, including theirs too. We believe that these efforts, whether great or small, can make a huge impact amidst this pandemic," Mechatronics SLU said in it is Facebook post.

The group said it had printed over 500 face shields and still making more. They also started printing ear savers to help users feel more comfortable.

Recipients of the said 3D printed face shields are SLU hospital and Security, BGMC and Pharmacy, Philippine National Police and the Philippine Air Force.

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Cordilleran Landlords are giving food packs to their tenants during community quarantine

Photo Courtesy || Food Packs: Mayor's Office - La Trinidad

Cordillera - Knowing the impact of the current pandemic crisis, Landlords in Cordillera are providing food packs to their tenants to sustain their food supplies during the implementation of the community quarantine. 

Landlords didn't wait for the government to provide relief packs to their tenants  but out from their own pockets, they bought basic needs and gave them to their tenants who were affected by the ECQ.

A landlord from La Trinidad, Mr. Denver Kis-ing has distributed relief packs containing kilos of rice, canned goods and instant noodles to all his boarders according to the office of the Mayor. 

Another tenants from the said town said they also received food packs from their landlord.

According to Kean Abat-Marzo, they always received vegetables from their landlady in Puguis even before the start of the pandemic. 

Also, Ms. Florelyn Sabadi, commented that their landlady Ms. Eileen Ayban Yabes distributed whole chicken to her boarders. 

Another landlord from Pinespark was also very generous to his tenants including their neighbors by cooking food for them since the start of the lockdown. 

Many of the landlords showed concern to their tenants in time of crisis by giving whatever they can provide such as waiving their rental fee, giving relief packs and cooking them food. 

Last month, President Duterte asked landlords to allow their renters and tenants to stay in their properties and promised to shoulder the rental fee if they could no longer pay.

"They are already on quarantine, they have nothing to eat and they are worrying about this [rent]. Now do not force them to pay. Let them stay in the place, I will pay. I swear to you upon my oath of office, I will pay if they can't pay," Duterte said.

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