Who is ‘Lysol Girl’? The story behind the photo of a woman disinfecting a bridge railing that went viral amidst COVID-19 Outbreak
On the morning of March 12, 2020, before the whole Metro Manila went ballistic over the announcement of a region-wide community quarantine, a photo of a public official using Lysol Disinfectant Spray on the railings of a footbridge has made rounds on social media—gathering hilarious remarks, criticisms, and even harsh insults from various netizens.
Though she was called out by some informing her about the proper way of disinfecting during a pandemic, most of the banters went out of hand and below the line, to say the least. Had they known, that singled out snap is only a part of the bigger picture this so-called “Lysol Girl” has been doing for her community.
The woman in the photo is Barangay Alabang Chairman Christine May Abas, or more endearingly known as “Kap. Tin-Tin” by her constituents. Upon hearing news of increasing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, she called for an emergency meeting with her co-officials and decided to create an Anti-COV19 Task Force as an immediate response to the need of securing public safety in her barangay, knowing that Alabang is one of the busiest areas in the city when it comes to public transportation.
The following day, the newly established team started getting its purpose going: disinfecting various areas in their community and handing out alcohols and hand sanitizers. It was after this activity that the heavily criticized photo was taken, as Abas actively led and joined her team in the initial launch of their fight against the outbreak.
Although using the Lysol Disinfectant Spray on the footbridge railing is undoubtedly humorous and questionable to many as a waste of resources, it was only a very minor detail compared to the whole initiative. One could argue that it was done in good faith as Abas did not want to be left doing nothing while her whole team was on the go. The misguided use was also ceased accordingly on the following days as Abas and her team continued their mission in the remaining areas of their barangay. As of today, March 13, 2020, the Barangay Alabang Anti-COV19 Task Force has already disinfected 14 areas in the span of 3 days.
At a time of public health crisis and panic, it is important to take note how we could use the power of social media in helping and protecting each other: choose to be compassionate and informative, instead of being discriminative and destructive. As such, in calling out, it is better to educate rather shame; and for those being called out, learn to listen and take criticisms constructively to improve yourself and whatever you are doing. Yet shown in a bad light, this whole craze should at least encourage us Filipino nation and our local government units (LGUs) to work together against the COVID-19 outbreak.