Angel Locsin, Anne Curtis raising funds for COVID-19 test kits

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 20) – Celebrities are going beyond acting to help increase the country’s testing capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Angel Locsin and Anne Curtis announced Monday the relaunch of their “Shop and Share” project to raise funds for COVID-19 test kits.

Other celebrities like actress Dimples Romana, Sarah Lahbati, and Maxene Magalona have expressed support for the initiative.

The two actresses again called on friends and fellow artists to support the initiative, which aims to help Filipinos most in need during the global health crisis.

The announcement was made on the same day that Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the government still has no plans to carry out mass testing to detect COVID-19 infections in the country, adding that authorities will leave such efforts in the hands of private businesses.

“With the funds we raise, we would like to purchase test kits and allow testing opportunities for the poorer sectors, in the hopes of helping out in the efforts to provide mass testing in the country,” Locsin said in a social media post. “Because in this way we can make a higher impact, by pushing the TEST-TRACE-ISOLATE/TREAT formula that is the only proven way to defeat the virus.”

According to Locsin, the project was first launched in 2009 to provide aid to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. At that time, actors, singers, and athletes donated personal items, such as designer bags, clothes, jerseys, and jewelry, which was auctioned off on e-commerce platform eBay. The proceeds were donated to the Philippine Red Cross.

“And, now, we humbly reach out again,” Locsin said. “These are hard times, truly frightening times for the Filipino people, especially with coronavirus cases still on the rise. Many have been doing their part in trying to give hope or just to make each day easier for those who are in need. And the hard truth is they will remain in need as Covid-19 remains the invisible enemy amongst us changing our lives and sadly disrupting livelihoods.”

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To our friends and fellow artists, Hi. It’s been a while since we’ve done this — way back in 2009 in fact when we first put up Shop and Share to help those who were affected by Typhoon Ondoy. We had actors, singers and even basketball players donate personal items from designer bags, clothes, jerseys, jewelry, etc., and we auctioned them off on ebay, with all the proceeds going to the Philippine Red Cross. And, now, we humbly reach out again. These are hard times, truly frightening times for the Filipino people, especially with corona virus cases still on the rise. Many have been doing their part in trying to give hope or just to make each day easier for those who are in need. And the hard truth is they will remain in need as Covid-19 remains the invisible enemy amongst us changing our lives and sadly disrupting livelihoods. We would like to revisit the idea of artists coming together and helping those who need it the most. This time, with the funds we raise, we would like to purchase test kits and allow testing opportunities for the poorer sectors in the hopes of helping out in the efforts to provide mass testing in the country. Yes, in support of mass testing. Because in this way we can make a higher impact, by pushing the TEST-TRACE-ISOLATE/TREAT formula that is the only proven way to defeat the virus. If you are keen please do let us know. We do hope you can join us as we all work together to help flatten the curve in the Philippines in our little way. God Bless You, Team Shop & Share.

A post shared by Angel Locsin (@therealangellocsin) on May 18, 2020 at 2:44am PDT

Roque later clarified to CNN Philippines that the government aims to test 1.5 to 2 percent of its almost 110 million population for COVID-19 infection, as it would be “physically impossible” to test millions of residents.