Amid pandemic, Tamayo finds shelter in forest farm

MANILA, Philippines — This sports official armed with a background in the military has given the term “self-quarantine” an entirely different meaning.

For the past two months, Col. Jeff Tamayo, his wife, Shai, and an aide have observed quarantine at the highest level.

“We’re in a forest farm here in Sierra Madre since the lockdown. No electricity, no neighbors, no refrigerator, no aircon,” said Tamayo, second vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The retired Air Force officer has been “off the grid” since the last week of February at the Vaikunthan Forest Farm.

It is located deep in the rainforests of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Tanay, abundant in organic fruits, herbs and vegetables.

“All farm to plate. We only buy fresh milk and butter. And we need a laptop that runs on solar power,” said Tamayo, silver medalist in the 1982 Asian Taekwondo Championships and current head of the Philippine Soft Tennis Association.

Tamayo has no plans leaving their wonderful nest until the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled.

“We’ve been here for two months. We put up this place as our emergency home,” he said.

Tamayo, who served as commander of the presidential escorts/convoy for former president Joseph Estrada, put up the farm as a place to “unwind, detox, meditate and get well.”

He said the COVID-19 pandemic must be taken seriously.

“Stay ready and safe because this challenge is like no other,” he told The STAR via text message yesterday.

They can’t find a better place to stay safe.