Controversial party in Baguio had LGU’S approval–sources
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched an investigation into the party hosted by a so-called social-media influencer in a Baguio City hotel, following reports and videos of the flamboyant unsocially-distanced mass gathering on the Internet.
“The Dot-cordillera Administrative Region is currently investigating the reported party at a Dot-accredited accommodation establishment in Baguio City. A Notice to Explain has already been issued to the establishment,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat in a Viber message to the Businessmirror.
Netizens have been having a field day over photos and videos shared by celebrity socialite Tim Yap, showing him garbed in an Ifugao headdress and sablay riding on a white horse, escorted by Ifugao natives in traditional wear. The birthday party on January 18 was held at The Manor at Camp John Hay, and included KC Concepion, daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and 1980s-era matinee idol Gabby Concepcion.
Organized by former DOT exec?
MEANWHILE, this paper’s various sources said the birthday party was organized by a former DOT official, although they declined to disclose the person’s identity. Also, sources said, “there were smaller parties every evening” starting January 16, “with invited friends/inhouse guests [limited guests only based on IATF guidelines]” leading up to the grand birthday party on January 18.
The same sources disclosed “there was an approval letter from the city for all events” of Yap’s group. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has yet to make a statement on the controversy.
Baguio City, which was the first destination to open for tourism, has 4,585 confirmed Covid-19 cases, and 13,195 suspected cases undergoing a 14-day quarantine. However, the Cordillera Administrative Region, to which Baguio belongs, now has 10,491 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including a new variant similar to that of the United Kingdom’s.
Unequal treatment of VIPS hit
NETIZENS were furious that the party was held without proper social distancing, with many guests not wearing any masks. Yap’s posts on Facebook, however, stressed that all the guests took RT-PCR tests. He did not say if the test results were all negative.
A neonatologist and pediatrician in Baguio who goes by @simply_clinton, posted on Twitter: “Rewatching that party video of Tim Yap and again Im shaking in anger. Daming hindi naka-mask 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!”
Katrina Stuart Santiago who tweets with the handle @radikalchick also called out the apparent insensitivity of Yap’s group: “That was a bubble created precisely to sell tourism and Baguio. The question is not whether they should be partying or traveling. The question: should rich influencers even be doing this at all, at a time when people are DYING? The answer is NO. #Timyap”
On January 22, the Taguig local government closed down a restaurant, La Picara, after videos circulated of celebrity host Raymond Gutierrez’s birthday party, where guests were not socially-distanced and did not wear masks.