70-year-old Mangyan uses coconut shell as face mask in Oriental Mindoro

A 70-year-old Mangyan man in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, had no choice but to use a coconut shell as his face mask since he couldn’t afford one.

In an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Bapa Lido shared that he wore a coconut shell mask after he learned that wearing face masks is now mandatory.

His house was surrounded by coconut trees, so he decided to make a face mask and an eye shield using materials that he had.

First, Lido said he cleaned the shell and measured it against his face. Using a knife, he made sure that the shell didn’t have any sharp edges that could hit him.

After putting holes on both ends of the shell, he inserted a string made of rubber from a broken tire.

Lido used the other half of the shell to make the eye shield.

Lido said he tried wearing a cloth face mask but he found it difficult.

“Hindi ko kaya baga ang amoy kasi ang sarili ko hindi naman sanay sa pabango. Ang hininga ko dito sa bao parang kinayuran din ng niyog (I can’t take the smell because I’m not used to the smell of perfume. My breath with this shell mask smells like coconut too).”

Lido said every time he would go out, he makes sure to wear his makeshift face mask and eye shield.

Fortunately, no coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case has been reported in his area.

“Mas maganda ako’y nakauna para nakahanda agad (It’s better to be ahead so I could prepare),” he said. “Mahirap na kasi baka nga dumating din ang COVID.  (It would be hard for us if COVID would spread here).”

According to Lido, he wears his face gear for 10 hours every day, but it doesn’t leave a mark on his face and doesn’t hurt him because of its perfect fit.

Lido wants to make sure he is safe from the virus because having a disease in his community is extremely difficult and costly.

He recalled that when his wife was diagnosed with goiter in the past, the family drowned in debt to have her treated.

Unfortunately, Lido’s wife passed away this year.

Even before the pandemic struck, Lido shared that life was already hard for him and his family.

He said if they didn’t work hard, they wouldn’t have anything to eat.

Since his grandchildren had not finished their education yet, he wanted to help them as much as he could.

His Php100 daily earning, however, wasn’t enough.

“Pambili-bili namin ng mga asin, kape, asukal. Kulang pa rin kaya kung minsan ang sabi ko dun sa aking mga apo imbes na ipambili ko ng mask ’yung pera ko. Ipapambili ko na lang ng pagkain (We’d use it to buy salt, coffee, sugar. It’s not enough. Sometimes, I tell my grandchildren that instead of buying a mask, I’d rather use the money for food).”

The coconut mask shell may be helpful, but a doctor advised that a face mask was still recommended.

To help Lido and his family, the KMJS team brought him to a doctor for a checkup. The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Bulalacao also gave his family groceries. The president of Paradigm Colleges of Science and Technology, Inc. also granted his grandchildren a scholarship.

The team also distributed face masks to the family and residents in Bulalacao. They were also taught how to properly use the face masks and face shields.

For those who want to help Lido and his family, please deposit to:

Bank: BPI
Name: Norbeth Barbacion
Account number: 896-918-2174
Contact number: (0909) 547 5796 / (0955) 038 3520
Address: Sitio Bante, Brgy. San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Email: norbethbarbacion@gmail.com

– Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News