Prominent Filipino names or celebrities took ‘a leap of faith’ to receive vaccines to encourage more Filipinos and rebuild trust toward vaccination.
But, why did Comedienne-actress Ai-ai delas Alas refuse the offer to get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine even amid the government continues to face growing pressure to speed up the vaccination over the archipelago?
Myths about vaccines circulated as well, and it instilled paranoia in some of the countrymen’s minds. Many refused to get vaccinated for they fear what will be its aftermath. The trust for vaccines is long gone after the unwanted deaths from being inoculated with Dengvaxia.
These are the names of personalities who received vaccination jabs.
Celebrity couple Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid received their first dose of vaccine on April 16.
Willie Revillame announced his vaccine jab on his show Wowowin on April 13. He said that even if he is already 60 years old, he did not feel any effect after being inoculated.
Ogie Diaz wrote on his facebook page about him getting vaccine shots on April 07.
Bam Aquino encouraged everyone to get inoculated as an awareness of the sacrifice and dedication of frontliners. He got his vaccine jab on April 12.
Tim Yap got his vaccine jab because he fell under the A3 category. Via Instagram, he also encouraged the Filipinos to do the same.
Gretchen Barretto, the 51-year-old star was seen receiving her first shot of vaccine too.
Delas Alas refused to get vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine and stood firm in her belief that the senior citizens and those under the marginalized sector must be inoculated first.
She stood firm with her belief that the senior citizens and those under the marginalized sector must be inoculated first.
Vaccines alone cannot guarantee an individual the ‘full protection’ against COVID-19. Health experts still suggest observing the given safety protocols to lessen the spread of the virus.
“Ayokong mauna. Marami ang mas nangangailangan sa atin na mabakunahan. Maraming matatanda diyan, maraming mahihirap na kailangan ng bakuna, sasama pa ba ako?” Aiai Delas Alas’s usual response whenever she gets offer to get vaccine.
Like any other Filipino who suffers due to the pandemic–it has affected her life, too.
She experienced emotional distress upon reading COVID-19 news. It did not only sadden her, but she also experienced hair loss in 2020.
Despite that, her faith in God sparked even more.
“Tatanggapin mo na lang nang maluwag sa puso mo na ito yung nangyari sa buhay natin, and I think more prayers. Dasal lang nang dasal.
“Dapat ngayon, mas i-encourage natin na let’s pray. Sama-sama tayong magdasal,” she said.
She even prayed for the entire world to devote even a short time for praying, “Sana yung buong mundo, may isang araw na magdarasal lang tayo, kahit one minute lang.”
According to her, it is only God who knows when the pandemic will end. With the Omnipotent power of God, He alone can put this pandemic to an end.
On April 15, she uploaded her first cooking vlog ‘Episode 1: C.I.H.N. (Cooking in the House ng Ina Niyo)’.
Cooking became one of the activities that she does during her leisure time when the National Capital Region re-implemented Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) followed by Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).
She became the talk of the town after uploading the said vlog. Netizens are not pleased with her choice of attire, a two-piece bikini, as she was cooking a two-piece buttermilk chicken. However, the criticisms did not bother the Comedy Queen for she believes she will gain sponsorship from Hobe Pancit.
“Gusto ng Hobe na magluto ako ng pansit at dalhin sa community pantry para marami ang makinabang,” she justified.
She also prefers to donate the Hobe Pancit to her priest friend, “Pero ang gagawin ko, ibibigay ko ang pansit sa pari na kaibigan ko at bahala na ang simbahan na mamigay dahil nakakatakot ang sitwasyon ngayon.
“Alam naman natin na kapag magkakadikit, bawal ‘yon, baka magkahawahan. Dapat hindi masyadong marami ang mga tao.”
As community pantries grow all over the country, she stated that some of the community pantries are not observing proper social distancing.
“Isa rin ‘yan sa problema kaya dumami ang kaso ng COVID, yung iba hindi talaga gumagamit ng mask at face shield. Kailangan talaga natin ng self-discipline,” she added.
