BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Rep. Niel “Jun-jun” Tupas Jr. of Iloilo’s 5th District joined the growing list of individuals taking the ice bucket challenge to raise funds for scientific research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a nervous system disease that causes muscle weakness and impacts physical function.
Tupas did the challenge at the South Wing Annex of the House of Representatives yesterday. He had himself drenched with two pails of ice water while sitting on a chair.
He was nominated by Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima who joined the popular social media challenge on Tuesday.
Tupas told Panay News he gamely did the challenge “for a worthy cause.”
“I want to help raise awareness and raise funds for the research and treatment of ALS,” said the Ilonggo legislator in a telephone interview.
He said he will also donate US$100 to help find cure for the disease.
According to website www.alsa.org, ALS is a “progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.”
It also said, “the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death.”
When these neurons die, those who have ALS will be paralyzed, said the website.
The Ilonggo legislator nominated Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and fellow Ilonggos, Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza and Senate President Franklin Drilon to also take on the challenge.
“Challenge accepted, Rep. Niel Tupas!” said Drilon on Twitter later.
He would do the ice bucket challenge at 11 a.m. on Sept. 1 at his office.
Jardeleza, meanwhile, has yet to respond to Tupas’ challenge.
The ice bucket challenge went viral on social media beginning last month. In the US, people participate for the ALS Association, and in the United Kingdom, people participate for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and challenging others to do the same.
A common stipulation is that nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation./PN
