While play is suspended in the PBA Season 45 Philippine Cup and Metro Manila undergoes enhanced community quarantine, hoop stars led by six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo are doing their share in helping the government's efforts against the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Fajardo as well as the entire Alaska Aces team posted separate public service announcements on Instagram, urging Filipinos to follow the preventive measures set by health authorities like staying at home, frequent handwashing, observing social distancing, and keeping one's self fit while on quarantine.
Barangay Ginebra's Japeth Aguilar, together with his wife Cassy, initiated a face mask donation drive in response to health workers' call for help with surgical masks running short.
"Alam ko sobrang apektado tayo sa mundo sa kumakalat na virus, laking pinsala ang naidulot nito sa buhay natin lalo na sa trabaho natin at sa business kaya naka lockdown tayo ngayon. Kailangan natin sundin ang lockdown, isang way ito na makaiwas tayo sa sakit, na hindi tayo magka-hawaan," he said.
"Kung wala rin naman tayong importanteng gagawin sa labas, manatili na lang tayo sa bahay, sa kapakanan din natin yan. Iwas tayo sa crowded places, sa social gathering ma-eexpose tayo dito," he appealed.
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The Cebuano giant also asked everyone not to panic buy or hoard items as this will likely deprive others of essential things. He likewise advised netizens to follow and share news from reliable sources only so as not to spread "fake news."
More importantly, Fajardo called on his countrymen to pray in this time of crisis.
"Pray tayo kay God para bigyan Niya tayo ng guidance at protection...Siguro ito ang tamang time para kausapin siya at humingi ng guidance at protection and at the same time magpasalamat sa blessings na biigay Niya," he said.
He gave a special shoutout to medical frontliners, who are risking much in this fight against COVID-19.
"We thank you and appreciate you and all your hard work," Fajardo said in his message to doctors and nurses.
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Aguilar wants to show his appreciation to the health workers by helping them get surgical masks.
"Cassy and I are crowdfunding for more donations to purchase face masks for our health workers. We pledge to donate 2,000 pieces," Aguilar posted on Instagram, urging others to join the cause. "Any amount would go a long way."
Members of the Alaska team, led by Abu Tratter, JVee Casio, Jeron Teng, Vic Manuel and Sonny Thoss, appeared in a two-minute, forty-second video enumerating tips to combat the virus - washing hands with soap, keeping a 1-meter distance socially, drinking lots of fluids and taking vitamins, disinfecting surroundings, and keeping one's self fit while in quarantine.
"Be prepared, be alert, be safe, be healthy, be aware, be calm, fight COVID-19," the team's tagline said. (OL)
