
For the first couple of weeks since President Duterte imposed the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, celebrities posting their donations online have been a discussion of a much-heated debate among netizens.
To weigh in on the issue, GMANetwork.com spoke with beauty queens and celebrities Winwyn Marquez, Thia Thomalla, and Michelle Dee to weigh in on the issue.
The three collectively agree that it's the celebrity's judgment to whether posti his or her relief efforts on social media or not.
Thia exclaims, “ I think, everyone has their own opinions and if they want to express it then go ahead.
“But, I mean, sa lahat ng nag-donate, maraming salamat talaga for helping the Philippines and the Filipino people.
“Whether if you post it or you don't post it, that's up to you actually if you really want to. Minsan kasi, if they post it, it's about raising awareness that we should help para sa mga may kaya or people who have food in their fridge right now. So, it's raising awareness also.
“For those na ayaw mag-post, they have their own reasons for it. So, I don't think people should judge any person who's giving or not giving because we all have our own reasons for that."
“I really agree with Thia kasi everybody has their own opinion. Kahit ano man ang gawin mo, may masasabi lagi ang mga tao,” Michelle expressed.
“Kaya for me, if I were to request something, sana naman 'yung bashers they try to assess what they are doing na lang in their own way instead of looking at what other people are doing.
“Para tama na 'yung negativity because we have enough of that right now. Let's just make love not war.”
Winwyn then chimed in, “Yeah, Thia and Michelle answered na the question kasi 'yun talaga din 'yung sasabihin ko. It doesn't matter if i-post mo o hindi. Kung gusto i-post ng celebrity then good. If ayaw, good. Basta alam niya sa sarili niya na nakatulong siya.
“And those bashers, I think wala lang talaga silang magawa sa bahay nila. Na 'yun 'yung ginagawa nila para ma-aliw sarili nila.
“Kaya sa mga celebrities, dedma na lang kasi if they know they helped or extended help to other people then that's what truly matters.”
Update for our GoGetFunding donors: delivered pack meals to 6 different health centers in Muntinlupa. Thank you ByahengBusong for helping us deliver food to our health workers. 🙏💜 if you want to donate please do..any amount will go a long way. 🙏🇵🇭 https://t.co/pLb9nBKKcH pic.twitter.com/UZOeCJsuuF
-- Teresita Ssen Marquez (@wynmarquez) April 7, 2020
Moving forward
The three beauty queens and Glow Up hosts also shared what they've learned about the coronavirus pandemic and what they wish Filipinos could learn as we move towards a new era.
For Winwyn, it's taking into consideration everything we've learned and not being complacent when it comes to hygiene.
She explained, “Ako, don't go back to the normal. Kasi we learned a lot of things na, e.
“Kung babalik lang tayo sa old ways natin, it's just gonna repeat itself. So, ngayon matutunan nila 'yung proper hygiene, proper handwashing, and the simplest things like: love Mother Earth, take care of what you really need to take care of, 'yung mga importanteng bagay, 'yung time.
“We shouldn't go back to what we were doing before. Dapat hindi tayo maging complacent.”
Meanwhile, Michelle says it's all about making improvements for a better future.
“I think we should take this as a lesson and try to improve on it.
“If there's one thing I noticed it's really the lack of discipline that a lot of people were showing. They didn't realize how serious the issue was and I think that's one of the biggest lessons that we're also learning not to take anyone's life for granted, to really watch the news, and just care not for your own selfish reasons but for the people around you,” she tells GMANetwork.com.
Additionally, Thia advises using this time to actively listen to the news and cherish the time with your loved ones.
“If I can add din that people should really learn to follow the government. For example, 'di naman lahat ng sinasabi ng president, ng senators, ng mayors, or barangay captains we agree on because we all have our own opinions with what's happening. So I think we just need to follow rules given sa municipality natin o sa barangay natin to help one another.
“And one thing that I also learned, that really hits me, is that don't take for granted the time with your family and friends,” she concluded.
To catch these three beauty and brains, watch Glow Up every Sundays, 7:40 pm, on GMA News TV.
More on coronavirus in the Philippines:
Swab Test on Wheels makes COVID-19 testing more accessible for Pasay City residents
COVID-19: THE UNSEEN (A Reporter's Notebook special presentation)