PHOTO by MARC CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. on Thursday took a “triple” ice bucket challenge and vowed to donate $100 for victims of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
“Titingnan natin sa Pilipinas kung saan pa kami pwedeng makatulong. It’s a very, very rare disease. Ginagawa natin ito dahil sa isang worthy cause (We are looking in Philippines where we can help. It’s a very, very rare disease. We are doing this for a worthy cause),” a dry Tupas said before he doused himself in icy water.
“I’m doing a triple ice bucket,” he added.
Triple because he had three buckets of ice and ice-cold water dumped onto him.
He dared Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, newly appointed Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza and Senate President Franklin Drilon to take the challenge.
“They are all well-respected and their acceptance will help in the cause… I hope they accept the challenge,” Tupas said.
Tupas, however, did not dare Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to undergo the challenge. “Baka magkasakit (He might get sick),” he said of the 77-year-old lawmaker.
The ice bucket challenge is the latest craze on social media where a number of celebrities, athletes, business moguls, and other high-profile personalities have buckets of ice and ice-cold water dumped on them while tagging others to do the same.
The challenge aims to spread awareness on ALS.
According to the ALS Association in America, ALS “is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to (the patient’s) death.”
Among the public officials who have taken up the challenge were Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.
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Originally posted: 11:53 am | Thursday, August 28th, 2014