LIGHTER APPROACH. Calinog town in Iloilo opens on Tuesday (March 17, 2020) a "TikTok Challenge" as a lighter way to encourage locals to stay at home and prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. Initiated by the Calinog Tourism Office, residents are to upload 15-30 seconder TikTok video taken at home and to use the hashtag #CovidFreeCalinog. (Photo courtesy of Calinog LGU)
ILOILO CITY – Calinog town in Iloilo province has utilized the popular TikTok, a video-sharing social networking service, to encourage its locals to stay at home while the province is observing a general community quarantine.
Through its tourism office, the Calinog local government has opened on Tuesday a “TikTok challenge” where Calinognons can upload indoor videos.
“Since there are no classes already, this is what we see as a venue for the entertainment of the youth for them to avoid going out of their houses in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19),” Maria Angela Forro, executive assistant for tourism affairs said in a phone interview.
The challenge is open to Calinog residents of any age who can upload a 15 to 30 seconder Tiktok video at the Municipality of Calinog Tourism Site Facebook page.
“They will be using the hashtag #CovidFreeCalinog for us to monitor,” she said.
The TikTok videos will revolve around a single theme that will be identified by the local government every three days.
“For the kick-off, we have the “Labada” challenge. That will be the theme for three days and the top 20 persons who will get the most number of likes will win a PHP50 load,” she said.
The challenge can be participated individually or by group, provided that participants observe social distancing measures.
Forro also urged other local government units to come up with creative steps in responding to the pandemic.
It is one way, she said, to somehow lighten up the mood and avoid panic behaviors while the country is fighting against Covid-19.
The challenge funded by the local government will end on April 14. (PNA)
