Viral ice-bucket challenge takes over senate

Sen. Sonny Angara’s SECOND attempt at the ice bucket challenge — this time with MORE ice. (Screengrab from Angara’s footage)

MANILA — After the craze it brought in various social media sites, the famous ice bucket challenge takes over the senate after Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara doused himself a bucket of ice at the Senate helipad this Thursday afternoon.

Senator Angara, who was nominated by Cebu Rep. Luigi Quisumbing, nominated Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes and Senator Pia Cayetano.

Aside from accepting the challenge and donating to the Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders (PSOD), the senator also filed a bill on rare diseases that aims to provide patients with rare diseases and their families better access to government’s health services.

Senate President Franklin Drilon will also take the challenge on September 1 after the nomination of Rep. Neil Tupaz.

“Challenge accepted, Rep. Neil Tupaz!” said in a tweet by Drilon.

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino also took the challenge Wednesday at the garden of his office in the senate.

The craze about the challenge aims to bring awareness on and gain funds for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other rare diseases.

According to the PSOD, prevalence of rare diseases in the country is 1:20,000, with 227 patient familes in the PSOD registry representing 48 rare disorders as of 2014.