IT’S A NOPE | Public anger grows over Tim Yap’s party in Baguio amid rising cases of COVID-19

January 26, 2021 , 03:13 PM

(January 26, 2021) – Filipinos criticized celebrities and social media influencers for attending a party hosted by Tim Yap in Baguio City last week amid rising COVID-19 cases in the northern area of the Philippines, further urging officials to sanction them for violating protocols.

Netizens took their disappointment to Twitter in what they said was another example of how rich and influential people could easily get away with non-compliance while the poor are reprimanded harshly.

Yap, a media personality, held his birthday celebration in Baguio City last January 20 with his friends, including celebrity KC Concepcion. The group posted photos and videos of the event through Instagram, which drew flak after netizens noted that they failed to observe social distancing and not everyone wore face masks.

In trying to justify their party, Yap and his friends said they all took RT-PCR tests before the celebration.

This defense, however, was not enough for many, who said having a negative result does not serve as a free pass to disregard health protocols.

Doesn’t mean if you do a COVID-19 test and turn out negative, you can just party like this and disregard health protocols. You can safely gather but not like this which reeks of privilege and carelessness. Tim Yap and influencer friends are clearly another *breed* https://t.co/CK4K1jErBP

— Joey Hernandez (@joefranc) January 25, 2021

A Twitter user posted a compilation of some videos and photos from the merrymaking.

“And please don’t worry! We all took tests.” pic.twitter.com/lEUI8Zf0WI

— GaysOverCovidPH (@gaysovercovidph) January 25, 2021

Another netizen pointed out that social media influencers with a huge amount of privilege should do away with such an irresponsible action while many people continue to die from the virus.

That was a bubble created precisely to sell tourism and Baguio. The question is not whether they should be partying or traveling. The question is: should rich influencers even be doing this at all, at a time when people are DYING? The answer is NO. #TimYap

— katrinastuartsantiago (@radikalchick) January 26, 2021

COVID-19 cases in Baguio City have already breached the 4,500 mark, including almost 500 active cases. While this may seem manageable compared with other areas like Metro Manila, authorities in Cordillera are on high alert now that the new and more transmissible variant of the virus has already reached the region. A total of 12 cases have already been tallied in Bontoc, Mountain Province, while one was recorded in La Trinidad, Benguet.

The recent turn of events fueled the anger of the public given the lingering dangers of COVID-19.

Rewatching that party video of Tim Yap and again Im shaking in anger.
Daming hindi nakamask sa mga guests.
Meron kasi dito sa Baguio, ordinaryong civilian, nagbaba lang ng mask para uminom, hinuli! Pero etong mga VIPs, lantarang hindi nagsuot ng masks, Pero scot-free!

— simply_clinton (@Simply_Clinton) January 26, 2021

My cousin just tested positive for covid. He lives with his senior citizen parents and a 4yo nephew. He got it from work. Because us middle class has to go to work for the “economy”.

But i’m glad Tim Yap and Mond Gutz can still throw a party. In a pandemic.

Fuck all of you.

— nico quejano (@nicoquejano) January 25, 2021

Others, meanwhile, pressed Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who also serves as the country’s contact tracing czar, to take action and hold Yap’s group accountable for violating protocols.

Mayor Magalong sir, ano po ito? Was the gathering allowed just because they all had “tests”? Is this event following protocols? Nakakagalit ito. Mamamatay ba kayo kung hindi kayo makapag party? ? https://t.co/IxlgnIgaOc

— Tom (@Tom_MD_) January 25, 2021

How about we fine people for violating social distancing restrictions & make it proportional to their income ?

Don’t penalise the poor who are trying to make ends meet during the pandemic, but charge reckless rich people like Mond Gutierrez & Tim Yap MILLIONS for what they did

— Pat (@apart_ici) January 25, 2021

Before the controversy involving Yap, another media personality in Raymond Gutierrez also hosted a birthday party in Taguig, which also drew flak for violating protocols. It led to the shutdown of the establishment where the event was held.

In his weekly public address on Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte also reminded the public to continue observing health protocols.

“Ang problema nito is how you obey the protocols of maghugas then mask. Ang mask, makakatulong ‘yan,” Duterte said. “I hope that you would be religious in obeying the injunctions na sinasabi ng mga ating medical persons simply because we are trying to save our country. For the sake of humanity, ‘yung kapwa mo tao, bayan mo, kindly obey the protocols.”

(Beatrice Puente/PM)

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