Health: Meals with VCO could weaken COVID-19 symptoms

 ByL Henrylito Tacio

Officially, it has been confirmed.

 Virgin coconut oil (VCO) – which has been found to be rich in lauric acid, a powerful biochemical that helps boost the immune system – could diminish symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

 Results of the joint study headed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have shown that VCO could be used as a supplement to probable and suspect cases of COVID-19.

 As an adjunct supplement, “VCO could prevent probable and suspect COVID-19 cases from becoming severe,” said Science Secretary Fortunato dela Pena during the presentation of the findings of the study that was disclosed to the media in a virtual conference.

 The study team evaluated the effects of VCO given to suspect and probable cases of COVID-19 quarantined at the Santa Rosa Community Quarantine Facility and at the Santa Rosa Community Hospital, both in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.

 Investigators randomly assigned the volunteers into either the Intervention or VCO Group or the Control Group.  The intervention lasted for 28 days and involved 57 suspect and probable COVID-19 patients.  There were 29 cases who were in the VCO Group and 28 in the Control Group. 

 Among the criteria used for the exclusion of patients in the study were: considered suspect or probable COVID-19 case, 20 years and older, has been admitted in the quarantine facility three days or less at the time of baseline data collection, willing to participate, with controlled hypertension and maintenance drugs and with normal liver enzyme tests.

 Excluded from the study were those patients with history of heart ailment, taking statins or medications for heart disease, has history of hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol levels, asymptomatic, and pregnant.

 Participants in the Intervention or VCO Group were given standardized meals mixed with VCO developed by DOST-FNRI.  The Control Group also received the usual standardized meals but without VCO.

 Meals were cooked by a contracted catering service in the area, while the precise amount of VCO was mixed on-site by registered nutritionist-dietitians hired specifically for the study.

 Meals were served free of charge and delivered in the quarantine facilities during the participants’ confinement, and later at their respective homes after being already discharged.

 An initial dose of 0.6 milliliters of VCO per kilogram of body weight was mixed with the standard breakfast meals of the VCO Group on the first three days of the trial.  The dose was increased to 1.2 milliliters of VCO per kilogram of body weight mixed with the standard breakfast and lunch of the VCO Group from Day 4 to 28.

 Study participants in the VCO Group with reported VCO intolerance were given computed amounts of VCO per kilogram of body weight in their standard breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.

 COVID-19 symptoms like cough, colds, body aches, headache, loss of taste and smell, and fever were monitored daily during the whole course of the study.

 Here are some of the findings of the study:

 ·         Immediate effects of the VCO intervention were observed among five of the 29 patients in the VCO Group who experienced decreasing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 as early as Day 2, while only one patient from the Control Group showed similar improvement.  

·         The VCO Group experienced no more symptoms at Day 18, while the Control Group exhibited no symptoms only at Day 23.

 

·         The diminishing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in the VCO Group was supported by the decreasing levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) of the participants. A CRP – a quantitative marker used in monitoring inflammation or infections – equal or less than 5 milligrams per liter signifies recovery from inflammation or infection.

 

·         Mean CRP levels of the VCO Group normalized to 5 milligrams per liter or less as early as Day 14 and continuously decreased until Day 18,

 

·         Normalization of CRP levels in the Control Group was also evident from Day 1 to Day 14, but this remained at the borderline of 5 milligrams per liter from Day 14 until the end of the intervention.

 With these findings, “VCO could be used as an adjunct supplement to probable and suspect COVID-19 cases,” said Dela Pena.  Although he admitted that more studies are still needed “to determine the effectiveness of VCO as adjunct therapy for COVID-19 patients and with other co-morbidities.”

 Among the people involved in the study were Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Mario V. Capanzana, Jacus S. Nacis, Carl Vincent D. Cabanilla, Fabian Antonio M. Dayrit, and Jaime Montoya.

 Aside from FNRI and the local government unit of the City of Santa Rosa, other government agencies involved with the study were Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the DOST of CALABARZON, and the Ateneo de Manila University.

 To ensure product quality and compliance to Philippine National Standards, the VCO used in the study were strictly analyzed by the Laboratory Services Division of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

 VCO – the purest form of coconut oil, essentially water-clear or colorless – can be prepared at home. It can be produced with or without the use of heat, without undergoing chemical refining, bleaching or deodorizing, and which does not lead to the alteration of the nature of the soil.

 According to PCA, there are two ways of preparing VCO: fresh-dry or fresh-wet.  It is considered fresh-dry when VCO is obtained directly from fresh coconut meat.  Drying of fresh comminuted kernels (ground, grated or milled) is required before extracting the VCO.

 Fresh-wet is used when VCO is obtained from fresh coconut milk.  Coconut milk is extracted either mechanically or manually, with or without addition of water.

 The late National Scientist Dr. Conrado S. Dayrit was touted to be the Father of VCO.  His book, The Truth About Coconut Oil, published in 2005, became a bestseller and elevated coconut oil from folk medicine to a scientific therapy.  He was a cardiologist and professor of pharmacology at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.

 “Today, people are returning to natural diets in order to live healthier and happier lives – the hallmarks of ‘wellness’ – and science has been validating the benefits,” Dayrit wrote in the prologue of Coconut Oil: From Diet to Therapy which he co-authored with his son, Fabian. 

 “One of the natural foods being rediscovered is coconut.  Although vilified as a cause of heart disease, coconut oil has always shown itself to be a healthy and curative oil.  Numerous studies using the tools of modern science are finally revealing – and validating – the beneficial effects of coconut oil.” 

 Several studies show VCO is rich in lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) that is converted to monolaurin by the human body.  “Fifty percent of coconut oil is lauric acid, a compound found in human breast milk, which makes it one of the best food sources for this nutrient available,” Ty Bollinger, a best-selling author, medical researcher, and health freedom advocate. 

 The Philippines is the second largest coconut producing country in the world, after Indonesia.   Of the 12 million hectares total agricultural land, 3.5 million hectares are dedicated to coconut production, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports.

 The Philippines introduced VCO to the world in 2000-2001 and remains to be the world's number one VCO exporter.  In 2015, VCO was exported to 46 countries, the United Coconut Association of the Philippines said.  The top importers were the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, and Japan.  Other destinations were Belgium, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Australia.  Smaller volumes went to Malaysia, Brazil, Taiwan, South Africa, France, China, Singapore and Czechoslovakia.

 

Tourists who faked COVID-19 test results arrested in Boracay

 

Carla Suner

Six tourists were arrested in Boracay on Monday for fake COVID-19 test results.

Of the six results submitted by the group from Luzon, only one was found to be authentic. The accredited testing center where the swab test took place also verified that only one of them was swabbed. They entered Boracay Island on Saturday, Dec. 5. In a press conference Tuesday, Aklan Police Provincial Director PCol Esmeraldo Osia Jr. said the suspects holed up in their hotel room when they found out police were after them. They surrendered Monday evening. Osia said the incident should serve as a warning to others who planned on doing the same. "Makakapasok man sila, mahuhuli pa din," he stressed. [Translation: They will be caught even if they manage to slip through.] The suspects are now housed in a quarantine facility in Kalibo where they will undergo swab testing and 14-day quarantine. Boracay reopened to tourists from areas under general community quarantine on October 1, but with strict measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visitors must have a negative result on a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction test, 48 to 72 hours prior to their travel to the famous tourist destination, and they must have pre-arranged reservations. Tourists are required to wear face masks unless during swimming sessions. There's no liquor ban on the island but discos and bars remain closed.

10 persons charged for violating environmental laws in Boracay

 TEN persons were charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for violating at least three environmental laws in Boracay Island, an official said Wednesday, November 25, 2020.

Rizaldy Rivera, team leader of the NBI Central Office of Environmental Crime Division, said nabbed through warrantless arrests were six Filipinos, two British nationals, a Belgian national and an Australian-Filipino citizen.

Eight of the suspects were arrested at Mt. Luho in Boracay while two in Diniwid.

"The national government, through the Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group (BIARMG), has been sending notices to these suspects to vacate their area and self-demolish, but they are not compliant. We had no choice but to arrest them and charge them at the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor's Office," Rivera said.

The NBI filed charges for alleged violations of the Forestry Code, Water Code and the 25+5 easement ordinance of the local government against the suspects.

Earlier in November, a resort owner who owned two resorts in Boracay was also arrested in a similar crackdown campaign to rehabilitate the island from further environmental degradation.

"There are other environmental violators in Boracay, especially on the front beach. We continuously appeal to them to heed the warning they received from the BIARMG. If they continuously refused to do so, they should expect that we will be coming to them anytime soon," Rivera said

Malay LGU proposed to IATF-EID to allow incoming visitors to enter without the (RT-PCR) Test

 

By Carla Suner

 The Local Government of Malay, barangay officials, and the stakeholders proposed to Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) have made a risky proposal to allow incoming visitors to enter Boracay ahead of their arrival without negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test through a consultation meeting inititated by the |Aklan Provincial Executive Governor Florencio Miraflores, and 2nd District Representative Teodorico Haresco Jr. on Saturday morning at Hennan Garden Resort in Boracay, Island. 

From October 1 to October 29, Boracay received only 2,337 tourists, way below the traditional figures yearly. Whereas, travelers need to present a negative test not earlier than 72 hours prior to arrival; however, visitors number went low, for the reason that the proposal was initiated.

A joint resolution will be forwarded to the governor's office wherein, the Barangay Captains of the 3 Barangays of Boracay, Barangay Captain of mainland of Caticlan, and stakestakeholders will appeal to the policy-making IATF-EID saying, "they are prepared for the revival Boracay’s Travel and Tourism, and eager do their part in controlling the Spread of COVID-19 in the Province".

Meanwhile, Malay Mayor FLoribar Bautista said, "We have to live with COVID. Let's just be brave. We will take the risk to open but with strict implementation of safety protocols. Pasensyahan nalang sa di susunod. May kinasuhan na tayo kung maalala nyo”, he stressed.

The tourism industry of Boracay, Island has been severely hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted to temporary and permanent closures of the resorts and establishments in the Island which has caused the number of employment to decline dramatically since mid-March 2020.

19 Engineering Students in Cebu received aid- DSWD

Nineteen engineering students from different schools in Cebu have received aid of P5, 000 each.

According to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) the students received P5,000 each.

DSWD Regional Director for Western Visayas Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said the students came from the different towns in the province.

"The students were given financial aid at the request of Aklan's second district congressman Teodorico Haresco,"said Macapobre.

Haresco said the students has asked for financial assistance as they were locked down in Cebu due to COVID 19 pandemic.

"Some of those students who received financial help came from the first district of Aklan," he added.

Some 300 South Koreans opted to stay in Boracay

( A ferris wheel is stalled at the D’mall because of non-operation of the tourism industry. The D’mall, a shopping complex is one of the favorite destinations of South Korean tourists in this resort island.

BORACAY ISLAND – Some 300 South Korean businessmen and migrants and their children opt to stay in this resort island for good despite the COVID 19 pandemic.

Soojin Kim, coordinator of the Boracay Korean Community, said they decided to become a resident of this resort island.

“They all wanted to stay here,”  she said.

Last May 1, some 169 South Koreans boarded a repatriation flight at the Caticlan airport. The Cebu Pacific flight includes ten other foreigners.

Kim said the flight was in coordination of the Consul of the South Korean Embassy based in Cebu.

“I do not know when will be the next repatriation flight,” she added.

In 2019, South Koreans make up for the second highest number of foreign tourists in Boracay Island next to the Chinese nationals

Aklan records 1st 2 Covid-19 survivors

THE Aklan Provincial Health Office (PHO) has registered the first two coronavirus disease (Covid-19) survivors in the province of Aklan.

Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, of PHO, said the survivors include a doctor from Boracay and a senior citizen from the hinterland town of Libacao.

Aklan has six confirmed cases of Covid-19 with no mortality. All of the patients have travel history from Metro Manila.

"The Libacao resident will be discharged tomorrow from the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH). The Boracay doctor still needs to be quarantined for 14 days currently at the Aklan Training Center facility," Cuachon said.

"The Libacao patient will undergo 14 days quarantine at their home," he added.

Dr. Joanne Abril, head of the infectious diseases department of the DRSTMH, said doctors used "investigation drugs" to treat the Libacao patient, but added: "We could not yet consider if the investigation drug is effective. We need more results coming from the other patients.

DSWD eyes giving food packs to stranded workers in Boracay

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is eyeing to provide relief to stranded workers in Boracay Island affected by the enhance community quarantine (ECQ).

In a Facebook message, Rhea Penaflor, DSWD assistant secretary for specialized programs, said they have yet to identify the workers.

At least 155 stranded workers submitted their names to the DSWD-Western Visayas for assistance. Many of them wish to go home.

“We need to determine if some of them already received assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment. If not, we could consider giving them food packs,” she said.

Around 34 in the list are students from Nueva Ecija having their on-the-job training.

The workers were stranded because they thought the ECQ would only last until April 15. The Aklan Provincial Government, however, decided to extend it until April 30 thus operation of all public transportation including airplanes and ships is still temporarily suspended.

Doctors and Infections

By: Kalibo Vice Mayor Cynthia Dela Cruz

There are 60,000 types of germs that people come in contact with on daily basis; only 1-2 percent are potentially dangerous to normal people with normal immunity.

For doctors and other healthcare providers like me, the exposure to germs and infections are, to say the least, a daily, common experience — or as they say, “it’s part of the job.” We meet these agents of infection in our clinics, in our hospital wards and rooms, and in our community. They are found suspended on air, on the floor or on the top of contaminated objects we hold. Sometimes, they are brought by vectors like mosquitoes.

As healthcare frontliners, we are at high risk of getting infected by any of these germs, virus, or bacteria. We get flu virus many times a year but usually, we easily recover from them even without any treatment. Apart from contracting not life-threatening flu virus, there also are flu vaccines available to treat its many strains.

Due to the “hazards of the job,” we are constantly at risk of getting our patients’ common illnesses — TB, chicken pox, measles, scabies and many others, because mostly we have it already before we realize that there is an epidemic of such disease. Thanks be to God, we survive them because most of them are non life-threatening — except probably for severe types of dengue.

What further exposes as to these risks is our old practice and probably, “sense of invincibility”. As medical students and residents many years ago, we were not required then to wear masks, caps and gloves in our ordinary rounds except when we are in operating room, delivery room, isolation room and reverse isolation room. We were young then and would easily overcome them with our good immune system. We also believe that viral infection like flu is self limiting and we can recover after 3-5 days without complications. We also do not like our patients to feel insulted by wearing mask and gloves on our consultations. But this was the period before this pandemic. Things changed with the coming of the SARS virus. Whether inside a medical setting or not, everyone is wearing these protective masks especially when in public areas — a necessity including the use of sanitizer and frequent handwashing which should become new norms today and moving forward.

This new strain of corona virus which is very virulent, infectious and potentially fatal — SARS2-Covid 19 — has been changing norms, and probably, the way we run our governments, finances and personal lives. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers , being in the forefront of the battle, are among the first to contract the virus . I stopped counting after the 12th doctor fell on the ground. It hurts me so much! As a doctor myself, my heart bleeds for them and their respective families. These are our topnotch, selfless, passionate, idealistic, heroic doctors. They are someone’s parent, or brother, sister, husband, wife and friend. They lost their precious lives — isolated, alone and probably lonely — while helping save somebody else’s lives. We lost them due to Covid-19. They could have done more for our community and country!

We may have lost many of our assets in the medical field, but they must not leave us in vain. They left us many significant lessons, not just about this viral infection, but about living life with purpose...down to our last heartbeat. They are our heroes...our inspiration to continue fighting and beating this virus, and live even more meaningfully, beautifully, and hopefully, godly. Only then can we truly honor their sacrifices.

Yes, our doctors and health workers deserve much respect and appreciation ,not only because of their long study and difficult training , not because they are working at night while others are asleep ,but because they are risking their lives that others may live.

Opinion: My Thoughts

Kalibo Vice Mayor Cynthia Dela Cruz

On Our Covid-19 Journey

This is not an easy journey for us citizens and goverment leaders. This situation puts into test our resolve, our courage, our creativity and resourcefulness.

For the first time in our generation, we have this one common enemy — a small unseen virus yet very virulent, infectious and has brought havoc to our economy, our lives and livelihoods! We need to protect our humanity. We should put our acts together to survive this pandemic . We should put our many differences (including political) behind. We need to survive! We should have effective and well-thought plans made by our good leaders and medical expert, known and understood by all, and most importantly, fully implemented and supported by everyone.

This journey must involve two phases:
A. First phase: the Response Phase. This phase should focus at lessening the transmission, target zero or less fatality, early recovery, protection of our frontliners and our people, and timely assistance to our residents most affected by this crisis.

In a document ‘Call to Action’ written by Drs Esperanza and son Brian Cabral and Michael Sy, they shared the following four imperatives to combat Covid19 during this first phase:

1. Know your enemy. How do we act under this first imperative? We should know if our enemy is near or within us first and foremost. So “focused mass testing” is advised so we can separate the infected from not, but due to limited resources we only test those who have symptoms and were in close contact with COVID-19 patients. We should do our best to access these test kits for mass screening. Without these many tests for now, our next best option is to know the virus transmision, its incubation period and its behavior. What are we doing related to this? We aim to stop its transmission through quarantine, physical distancing, wearing of face masks ALL the time especially when in a public place, frequent use of sanitizer and correct hand washing, use of foot bath, regular disinfection and use of PPEs. These we are doing now, and are strongly advocating that we do all these or we worsen the situation.

2. Protect our frontliners: our health workers, DRRMOs, responders, the PNP and the military, our force multipliers in the barangays, and many others. Our govt is doing its best by providing them protective gears and other valuable support. Many organizations are rallying behind them donating PPEs, food and related materials — and I commend all of them! Thank you very much!

3. Protect our Covid patients. Our government is following guidelines set forth by the DOH on managing these cases. The govt is doing its best to provide the best care to them. Covid wards/ hospitals are set for them. PUIs and PUMs are managed accordingly and are being monitored by our BHERTS and Brgy officials.

4. Protect our people. Lockdowns and quarantine and curfews are being done. Massive advocacies on use of masks, proper handwashing, social distancing etc. are also stressed for their protection.

The government with its many departments is doing its best to provide support through provision of food packs and other social amelioration programs.
Institutions, companies are giving discounts, allowing delayed payments (Bayanihan Act) and other relief efforts to ease the financial burden of everyone.

Being in the middle of this Covid journey,let us look back at those four imperatives . Let us assess ourselves . What have we done personally to help in this fight against this virus? How can we help our government ? Did all our people know,understand these measures and practice them by heart?

B . The second phase of this journey is RECOVERY phase. The government will then start with stimulus programs to perk up our economy. More jobs and livelihoods will be in place. Support to mSMEs will be intensified to help earlier and faster recovery of our fellowmen. More health and welfare programs will also be in implemented. LGUs will strengthen its disasters and resiliency programs especially related to pandemics and natural disasters, learning from this experience.

Considering the rate we are going now on this journey, where increase in Philippines (Manila ) plateau at 300+ per day, (the highest was 500+ per day) without massive community transmission, we are hoping that after this plateau the curve or cases will go down.

One model at Cambridge University said that we need to be very vigilant up to May 15 if we aim to be covid-free in the shortest time possible.

Please do not let our
guards down. Stay at home.
Keep the physical distance
— for now.
Wear your masks to stop transmission.
Wash your hands as frequent as possible to kill the virus. Be positive.
Follow our government directives.

Let’s fight together
and heal together!!!
God bless us all.

—Vice Doc Cynthia DelaCruz
LGU -Kalibo 4/3/20

Doctor in Aklan tests positive for Covid-19

A 37-YEAR-OLD doctor is one of the three Covid-19 positive cases in the Province of Aklan.

Dr. Cornelio Cuachon of the Provincial Health Office said Friday afternoon, March 27, that all of the three patients were in stable condition. The two others are senior citizens coming from the hinterland towns of Libacao and Kalibo.

“Contact tracing is now being done to those persons who have been keeping in touch with the patients in the last two weeks,” Cuachon said.

“The frontliner (doctor) is now being treated at the Aklan Provincial Hospital. One of the senior citizens was at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo. Another senior citizen is staying at home in Libacao alone,” Cuachon added.

Earlier, the local government unit of Malay, Aklan has temporarily closed the Boracay District Hospital (also known as the Ciriaco Tirol District Hospital) after one of its employees undergoes quarantine.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores suspended all of public transportation in the province until April 14.

Kalibo mayor Emerson Lachica also restricted the entry to Kalibo except for the frontliners and employees with work in Kalibo

Boracay task force cancels LoveBoracay

THE Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force has decided to cancel all the LoveBoracay events.

Undersecretary Benny Antiporda of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the cancellation was made due to the threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

LoveBoracay, which was scheduled April 26 to May 2, features several events such as environment-friendly parties, hammock festival, and beach clean-up among others. The event started last year.

"There are only few tourists coming to Boracay now. We decided to cancel all the related events because of the Covid-19. We ask everyone not to panic," Antiporda said.

The DENR chairs the task force.

The Philippines has a total of 49 confirmed cases of Covid-19 as of Thursday morning, March 12. Two of the confirmed cases have died. The first fatality was a 44-year-old Chinese man who died due to severe pneumonia in February, while the second was a 61-year-old Filipino woman who died at the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila City Wednesday, March 11.

The World Health Organization declared Thursday, March 12, the new coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, as it has infected more than 120,000 people around the world and killed more than 4,300. (

Boracay task force awaits DU30’s decision to continue island rehab

The Boracay Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte will soon make a decision to whether the group will continue the rehabilitation of the world-famous island.

Al Orolfo, vice chair of the Boracay Inter Agency Rehabilitation Group, which is the management arm of the BIATF, said that they are hoping that Duterte would make his pronouncement soon. The president is expected to visit the famed-island on March 12.

“We will follow the orders of President Duterte,” Orolfo said.

Two years ago, President Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 53 to “reverse the degradation of Boracay” Island,’ to strictly enforce national laws and local ordinances and to implement and oversee policies as the duties of the BIATF.

Under the EO, the task force will be dissolved after two years from May 8, 2018, unless it will be extended by President Duterte upon the recommendation of his cabinet. It is also up to him to transfer to the local government units of Malay, Aklan the full autonomy to manage Boracay Island if the task force will no longer be needed. 

The BIATF is composed of different government agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Department of Tourism, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor, Bureau of Immigration, among others./

Carriers to cut Kalibo ops as COVID-19 threat persists

As the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) persists, more airline companies have announced further reduction of their operation at the Kalibo International Airport (KIA), according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

CAAP-Kalibo chief Engr. Eusebio Monserate Jr. said KIA will have no more international flights beginning March 8 this year.

Monserate added the global scare of the COVID-19 has prompted various carriers operating at the KIA to halt their services. Some of the airlines that will expand their suspension of flights include AirAsia and Pan Pacific.

Monserate, however, clarified that the suspension is indefinite.

“The CAAP central office has no advisories against any travel ban for now. The cancellation of flights was the decision of the airline companies themselves,” Monserate explained.

The last international flights to bring passengers to the KIA will be coming from Incheon and Busan – both cities from South Korea on March 7.

“There are also chartered flights scheduled on March 23 and 25. From then, we will await for advisories if when the international flights would resume,” he added.

On March 1, a flight was expected to arrive to KIA from Taiwan but was cancelled.

Monserate noted that the KIA will continue to operate their three domestic flights from and to Manila, Cebu and Clark.

Tawag sa Tangalan 2

11 South Koreans in Boracay under monitoring

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has asked the local government of Malay, Aklan to monitor at least 11 South Koreans who came from the novel coronavirus-hit city of Daegu.

Dr. Cornelio Cuachon of the PHO said the South Koreans admitted that they recently traveled to Daegu, South Korea, which has an alarming number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.

The Associated Press reported Thursday, February 27, that South Korea now has a total of 1,766 confirmed Covid-19 cases. Of the total, 505 cases were reported just Thursday. Most of the new cases were in Daegu, where the outbreak has hit hardest.

"The 11 South Koreans arrived here February 25 since there is not yet restrictions on their coming. They go directly to Boracay for their vacation. If any of them manifests signs of cough nor fever, they will be admitted to our quarantine facility at the Aklan Training Center in Kalibo for two weeks," Cuachon said.

He added that some of the 11 Koreans were scheduled to depart Boracay on February 28, while others will leave on February 29.

The Kalibo International Airport has direct flights to at least three cities in South Korea.

Taal ashfall eyed as soap ingredient

The Boracay Women Producers Cooperative (BWPC) plans to ask the Department of Science and Technology in helping them gather the ashfall produced by the Taal Volcano last month.

A cooperative in the world-famous Island, BWPC claimed that that the ash fall could serve as an ingredient to the soap they are projecting to produce.

The Taal volcano recently produced tons of ashfalls in the provinces of Cavite, Batangas and in Mindoro.

“Right now, we are using the powdered drift wood as main ingredients for our soap. We sell the soap to several resorts here,"according to Maria Ninfa Desiree Segovia, chairman of the BWPC.

So far, the cooperative uses debris from fallen trees and branches brought by Typhoon Ursula in December last year as ingredients. Rain water is also utilized as part of the process.

According to the website volcanicearth.com, ashfall benefits the skin. Among those cited were blood disenfection; bile secretion; aid oxidation reactions in the body; protection of protoplasm cells and synthesis of collagen (one of the main proteins needed for the structural integrity of the skin)./

Loveanog: The love potion of Boracay

The Boracay Women Producers Cooperative (BIPC) has produced a love potion a person can use "to make someone fall in love" with him or her.

Desiree Segovia, BIPC president, said they call the product Loveanog, a fermented wine made from coconut and juice of tropical flowers such as hibiscus and blue ternate.

The BIPC has hundreds of female members who are mostly residents of Boracay.

"The Loveanog has been fermented and made through the help of a chemist coming from the University of the Philippines," Segovia said.

It is considered a love potion because whenever someone drinks it, he or she would have an appetite to eat. A person will not also feel a hangover after drinking it.

"At first, we try to make it for tuba, however, after our exploration of the product, we decided to use lambanog," Segovia said.

The ingredients used in the production of Loveanog came from the cooperative's organic farm.

The BWPC started to produce the Loveanog as their means of livelihood when Boracay was closed for six months for rehabilitation in 2018.

A bottle of Loveanog, which is 350 ml, costs P150. It has three flavors, namely: Blue Ternate Infuse, Gumamela Infuse, and Blue Ternate.

Last year, the BIPC received support from the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, and Philippine Gaming Corporations, among others.