DOT probes celebrity party; Magalong sorry

BAGUIO CITY — The Dept. of Tourism Cordillera Administrative Region said it was investigating a party of celebrities here at Camp John Hay which Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and his wife attended recently.
    Social media users criticized the event with some saying application of Covid-19  protocols were in favor of the rich while poor and ordinary Baguio folks were subjected to stringent rules.
    Following this, Magalong tendered his resignation as contact tracing czar but Malacanang denied this.  
     “Tao lang po tayo, sometimes we are just so engaged in one particular activity... minsan nakakalimutan din po natin,” Magalong told a radio interview.
    Her apologized for what happened.
    He said he and his wife attended the event to thank celebrator Tim Yap, and his group for helping local artists and promoting their tourism.
    A video showing Yap and his guests dancing and not wearing face masks and face shields went viral.
    Magalong’s wife was seen not wearing a face mask as she posed for a photo with actress KC Concepcion.
    Netizens chided Magalong for his “double standard” in implementing quarantine protocols.
    In a statement, the DOT-CAR said it was investigating the party. “A notice to explain has already been issued to the establishment,” the govnerment agency said Wednesday.
    The Public Information Office of Baguio also said the city government  gave the “hotel 72 hours to explain why it should not be sanctioned over celebrity party protocol breach.”
    Magalong, who also sits as the country’s contact tracing czar, on Wednesday admitted there were lapses in the observance of health protocols in a party organized by Yap, an eventologist and social media personality.
    The party at The Manor, was attended by several guests who appeared to have disobeyed health protocols like physical distancing and wearing masks, as seen on videos shared in social media.
    While many guests were compliant, Magalong said some violated minimum health protocols.
    “Meron pa rin. Even my wife violated it kasi nagtanggal yan because may picture-taking,” Magalong said in an interview over Teleradyo. “May picture-taking, may umiikot na picture-taking, syempre siguro sa excitement, yung iba na-excite, nagtatanggal ng masks pampicture picture. Pero ako po, lagi akong nakamask.”
(There is. Even my wife violated it because she removed her mask due to the picture-taking. There were picture-taking, a photographer was roaming to take photos, but maybe because of excitement, some removed their masks for pictures. But I always wore mine.)
    This was his answer when he was asked: “In your observation, would you categorically say na wala pong naging paglabag sa minimum health standards?”
    Despite this, Magalong said there are moments where people forget to comply with health protocols, especially when there are events as such.
    “Nagkataon lang po na tao lang po tayo na sometimes when we’re so engaged in a particular po na activity na masayahin, minsan nakakalimutan po natin,” he said.
     “Meron po kaming ordinansa na ipinapatupad na pag hindi ka nagwear ng mask while in a public place, you have to be fined… This is something na iniimbestigahan ng aming legal officer,” Magalong said.
(We have an ordinance that if you don’t wear a mask while in a public place, you have to be fined. This is something already being investigated by our legal officer.)
    Magalong said Yap and his group went to our art exhibit and they bought a lot of art, paintings from local artists who have been struggling.
    “And then tinawagan po ako if I could attend the party so pumunta po kami doon ng wife ko to thank them,” he said.
(And then they called us if I could attend the party so I went there with my wife to thank them.)
    In a televised interview on Tuesday night, Yap confirmed that he organized the reported “party” at a 5,000-square meter outdoor area of The Manor.
    Yap said that he and the guests followed health and safety protocols of Baguio and of the establishment.
    He also claimed that videos circulating were edited, saying guests took off their masks since they were about to eat dinner.
    However, he claimed this was followed by an unexpected cultural community dance that was captured in an Instagram story that has gone viral.
    “Everything looks like it was a party but it was edited to be that way but if you will see the other days that we were together,” Yap told CNN Philippines.
    “What actually happened behind this video. They are on their way to have their dinner. All of a sudden, a cultural dance happened and so the cultural dancer pulled everybody... we got carried away and we invited everybody to do the cultural community dance,” he said.