Solon to celebrities: Use your reach to unite PH amid COVID-19 crisis

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Thursday called on celebrities and influencers to use their reach to foster unity instead of waiting for the government to take missteps amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Nananawagan tayo sa mga kababayan nating celebrities, influencers, at iba pang kilalang mga personalidad na gamitin ang impluwensya nila upang hikayatin ang lahat na magkaisa sa gitna na COVID-19 situation natin,” ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Go Yap, who chairs the House appropriations committee, said in a statement.

(We are appealing to our Filipino celebrities, influencers, and other popular personalities to use their influence to urge the public to unite amid our COVID-19 situation.)

The lawmaker said that if celebrities cannot show their support for the government, they can instead use their platform for “more meaningful” topics such as educating the public on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“Marami tayong panahon ngayon para sa social media, bakit hindi natin ito gamitin sa mas makabuluhang mga bagay? Gaya ng mga dapat gawin upang makaiwas sa virus o di kaya kung paano palakasin ang immune system?” Yap said.

(We spend a lot of time on social media so why not use it for more meaningful things like educating the public on what to do to avoid contracting the virus or how to strengthen our immune system?)

“Kung hindi niyo kayang hayagan na magbigay ng suporta sa pamahalaan, mas mabuti siguro yun ang gawin ninyo kaysa abangan natin na magkamali ang pamahalaan o di kaya ay batikusin ang bawat salitang lumalabas mula sa ating Pangulo at palakihin ito,” he added.

(If we cannot express our support for the government, maybe it’s better for you to do that instead of waiting for the government to make mistakes or criticizing the President for every word he says and making it a bigger issue.)

Yap underscored that the government “may not be perfect but definitely it is trying its best” as he called on the public to unite to address the disease.

“Nakakadismaya, there is so much hatred amongst us at mas nananaig pa din ang hindi pagkakasundo sa halip na tayo ay nagkakaisa,” Yap said.

(It is disappointing, there is so much hatred amongst us and the lack of unity still prevails.)

“Walang mali pumuna kung ito ay constructive pero kung hanggang sa pinakamaliit na balita ay pinapalaki pa natin na dapat ay non-issue naman, destructive na yan,” he added.

(There is nothing wrong with criticisms if they are constructive but if even the smallest of issues are being made bigger than they are, that’s destructive.)

Yap, who sponsored the Bayanihan We Heal as One Act in the lower chamber, said the pandemic is not the time for politics.

“Hindi lahat tayo ay bumoto sa Pangulong Duterte pero lahat tayo ay Pilipino. Halos apat na taon ang nakaraan, siya ang pinili ng karamihan ng ating taong bayan,” Yap said.

(Not all of us voted for President Duterte but we are all Filipinos. It has been nearly four years, he was chosen by majority of our countrymen.)

“Hindi madali ang kalagayan ng mga nasa pamahalaan at ngayon higit kailanman ay kailangan natin magsama-samang magtiwala sa ating pamunuan. Walang pinipiling tao o katayuan ang COVID-19, apektado kahit ikaw o ako, lahat tayo,” the lawmaker added.

(The government is put in a difficult situation and now more than ever we need to trust the leadership. COVID-19 does not choose who to infect. We are all infected, you and I and all of us.)

He also assured the public that the government is doing “everything” to combat the disease.

“Malayo pa ang eleksyon at may mas mabigat na kalaban TAYO ngayon. Mas pipiliin nyo ba na ang kandidato nyo mula sa inyong partido ang bumango at makaupo? O mas pipiliin nyo na sama sama natin masugpo itong sakit na ito?” Yap said.

(The election season is still far and we have a bigger fight right now. Are you going to choose your candidate from your own parties or are you going to choose to be united for us to be able to fight this disease?)

As of Wednesday, April 1, there are 2,311 COVID-19 cases in the country, with the death toll reaching 96.

/MUF