ARE we in a state of anxiety, apprehension and anguish, brought about by threats of insecurity, uncertainty, and with the ugly finger of fear and helplessness poking us in the face?
Yes! Yes to all. Covid-19 is here! Addressing this, the Zonta Club of Cebu 2 partnered with the UP Medical Alumni Society (Upmas)-Cebu Chapter and the Cebu City Government to help in the Covid-19 information drive.
The “recorida” was the answer. This is a time-tested, fast and highly effective means of reaching out to hundreds of people in an hour. This is a van equipped with a sound system, which played an eight-minute message in Cebuano, as an audio loop, on Covid-19 precautions. Cebu band Wonggoys rewrote its hit “W’ay ‘Blema” to have an “ECQ version” (enhanced community quarantine). Soundbites from movie stars Ellen Adarna and John Lloyd Cruz were also played.
Upon Cebu City Councilor Hon. Joel Garganera’s direction, the van chose the city’s congested hotspot barangays for three days (July 8, 10, 13), stopping at certain areas to distribute face masks to the residents, courtesy of Upmas-Cebu’s brave doctoras: Camille Espina and Maria Theresa Cañete.
In full support of the city government’s efforts to achieve the flattening of the curve, Zonta Club of Cebu 2 president Elena Young never tires of reminding everyone: (1) Use the face mask wherever, and whenever you go out; (2) Observe social distancing when you are in a public place and (3) Wash your hands properly (20 seconds of total scrubbing), as often as possible.
With these basic health routines in place (more, if any), Cebu will no longer live in fear of insecurity, anxiety and attacks from the unseen enemy!
Remember, there is never any excuse, during these times of uncertainty, for the lack of concern for oneself, for the home and for the community.
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Incidentally, we would like to remind our readers that Zonta Club of Cebu 2 is a multi-awarded organization, being the recipient of several accolades from Zonta International.
During the Zonta Convention in Bangkok in 2015, then club president Marietta Malinao, brought home these “bacons.” These were trophies for “Outstanding Club Service Award,” ”Hall of Fame award for Upliftment and Empowerment thru Sustainable Income,” “Z Club of Childlink Learning Center for Z Club participation,” “Club Outstanding Advocacy award” (third place), “Outstanding Club Achievement and Leadership Award” (third place), “Hall of Fame for Women’s and Children’s Service and Advocacy Center,” and finally, “Gold Award: Certificate of Recognition to Childlink High School-Cebu” for winning third place worldwide in the 2015 Emma Conlon Service Award.
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Warm (quarantine) birthday kisses (oops, social distancing here!) to dear Zontian sisters Daisy Kokseng (July 24), Margot Larrañaga (July 20) and past president Myrna Cruz Tan (July 27)! Here’s a flying kiss instead! Mwah!