Love despite Covid-19 as Baguio biz reels / ASF affects Benguet pigs

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(Liza Agoot of the Philippine News Agency writes this week’s piece) 

BAGUIO CITY -- Showing affection to loved ones during the onslaught of a dreaded disease inspired a floral designer to think outside the box in selling items popular on Valentine's Day.

Anthoniuz Paulite, owner of Anthoniuz Floral Designs at the Ililikha Complex on Assumption Road here, thought of including sanitary and health care products in flower bouquets he sells.

Calling it the "care bouquet", Paulite said the continuous threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) inspired him to innovate.

"Our health officials continuously tell us to sanitize our hands if we are not able to use water for regular washing. Placing alcohol and hand sanitizer will remind us of the doctor's advice so that we are protected from illnesses," Paulite said.

The care bouquet includes alcohol, hand sanitizer, face mask, cotton, tissue, and sanitary pad embedded alongside flowers.

Its price ranges from P1,500 to PHP3,500 depending on the items included, while ordinary floral bouquets range from P250-P1,500.

Paulite's other designs include the "momma" (betel nut) bouquet, the "gin-C2" bouquet, the vegetable bouquet, the fruit bouquet, and the chocolate bouquet, among others.

He also customizes bouquets according to his customer’s preference or request.

Judy, a registered nurse, said she is hoping to get a care bouquet as Valentine's Day present from her husband.

“I like the care bouquet the most because it shows he cares and it serves as a reminder for us to take better care of our health," she said.

***

This, as the city's hospitality industry is feeling the brunt of the cancellation of major events and gatherings due to the continuous threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Andrew Pinero, spokesperson of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio and manager for client and customer relations of the Baguio Country Club, said on Tuesday that establishments have been doing their best to fill in the gaps from the losses incurred due to the cancelations.

Pinero said some have asked to move the event schedules to a later date.

To cope with the losses, some hotels have come up with promo rates and Valentine specials to encourage people to book reservations.

“At this point, we count them as losses until such a time that we come to an agreement on a date that we both will agree on," Pinero said.

On January 31, the local government announced the cancellation of all crowd-drawing events of the city for the next three weeks. This was followed by the cancellation of the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) annual alumni homecoming this weekend.

The annual PMA homecoming brings in graduates of the country’s premier military institution and their families to the city. They book their hotel reservations immediately after the homecoming to be ready for the following year.

Even with the cancelation of events, Pinero said local tourists still travel to Baguio because of the cool temperature.

"There’s still a lot of people who consider Baguio as a destination and they still would want to enjoy the cool weather of Baguio, considering that the news always informs them about the dropping temperatures that we have right here," Pinero said.

He assured tourists that accommodation establishments in the city are prepared and ready to respond to emergencies.

“We are doing our best to help each other, and to assure people that the hotels and the restaurants here in Baguio are properly informed of what’s going on and that contingencies are ready in close coordination with the DOH (Department of Health),” Pinero said. 

***

In nearby Tuba town of Benguet, a total of 224 pigs have been depopulated over the weekend in Barangay Beckel here and Camp 1 in Tuba town after samples were taken from piggeries tested positive for African swine fever (ASF).

Dr. Meriam Tiongan, the provincial veterinarian, said the “1-7-10” protocol was implemented to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

Tiongan said 189 pigs were culled within the one-kilometer radius of the ASF "ground zero" at Sitio Obulan in Barangay Beckel after blood samples of pigs in a backyard piggery tested positive of the virus last week.

The 35 others were culled at a commercial piggery in Camp 1 days prior to the discovery of the case in Barangay Beckel.

At least eight sitio (hamlets) in Barangay Beckel -- Sapsing, Bakung, Marlboro Country, Gungel, Pagal, Central, Ulnai, and Busi -- were affected from the depopulation of the 189 pigs, which was the livelihood of 31 families in the area.

She said hog raisers initially refused to depopulate the pigs but eventually gave in after explaining that culling was necessary to ensure the ASF would not spread to nearby piggeries.

"It was difficult considering that ordinary residents owned them, saving them for the tuition of their children, or were raised to be butchered for the observance of a traditional practice of offering to the gods," Tiongan said.

Following the ASF outbreak in Luzon last year, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte approved a PHP1-billion fund to compensate hog raisers whose pigs were culled.

Under the "1-7-10" protocol, those found within the seven kilometers are subject to regular blood testing. Those pigs cannot be sold or brought out of the area.

Animals within the 10-kilometer radius but beyond the seven kilometers are subject to monitoring and owners must report the condition of the animals and inform authorities if any of the pigs get sick. --  (With reports from Zedrick John Macario/PNA)