Fred D' Germ defeated in virtual rap battle, millions of Pinoys join #SafeWash Movement

After trading fiery rhymes, rhythms and bars, Safeguard rappers emerged victorious against viral performer Fred D’ Germ in the recently concluded Raprapan sa Global Handwashing Day, a virtual rap battle that pitted proper handwashing advocates against emcees backing dirty habits.

Raprapan sa Global Handwashing Day

Last October 15 at exactly 7 p.m., the biggest names in the Filipino rap community gathered for Raprapan sa Global Handwashing Day. Representing Team Safeguard was the trio of Loonie, Ron Henley and Shehyee, three of the most prolific wordsmiths in mainstream and underground rapping circuits, now marching under the banner of Safeguard rappers. Facing off against them is Team Fred led by self-proclaimed rapper influenzah (influencer) Fred D’ Germ himself and his ally Shanti Dope, a young rising star in the world of hip hop.

Their clash was hosted by actor Luis Manzano, comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto and vlogger/content creator Mimiyuuuh, while top Pinoy rapper, singer and songwriter Gloc-9 served as moderator. 

Victory for health and hygiene

The tense stand-off started when Shanti Dope let loose a barrage of lines and steaming bars in Round 1 to intimidate his opponents. On Round 2 Loonie, Ron, and Shehyee came back strong with their own piping hot beats, more than enough to turn the tide in Team Safeguard’s favor. Shanti attempted to retake the lead in Round 3 but was shot down with quick rebuttals and intensive counters from the Safeguard trio. In Round 4, Shanti tried to snatch the win with a final push to convince viewers to adopt improper handwashing habits. In response, Team Safeguard finished the game by emphasizing the importance of practicing Safe Wash, the proper hand hygiene habit.

After four intense rounds, moderator Gloc-9 announced the winning team. “Mga linya man ni Shanti at Fred ay matalim, isa lang ang dapat nating pagtuunan ng pansin. Tamang paghugas ng kamay ang syang dapat na gawin. Para sakin ang panalo ay ang Safeguard Team,” Gloc-9 proclaimed. He also hailed Loonie as MVP of the rap battle. 

After the announcement, Shanti Dope was ultimately convinced to change his wrong ways about handwashing. He realized that having the right knowledge about proper hand hygiene is an essential first step in establishing our first line of defense against many diseases.

More Pinoys embrace Safe Handwashing Habits During the Facebook live event, the comments section overflowed with support for Team Safeguard and proper handwashing. Dozens of viewers even made their own rap video against Fred D’ Germ and uploaded their own songs using the hashtag #SafeWash. 

Days after the online rap battle, social media threads remained rife with people talking about the proper way of washing hands. Many viewers committed to join the #SafeWash Movement, pledging to keep their loved ones safe from germs and viruses by rejecting Fred D’ Germ’s improper handwashing habits.

The Safeguard way 

Safeguard, the #1 trusted brand that effectively kills 99.9% of germs and viruses, encourages Pinoys to follow these simple handwashing steps: Wet hands with clean, running water and apply soap. Lather the hands and rub them together with soap by cleaning thoroughly from the back of the hands, the palm, between the fingers, under the nails. Scrub the hands for at least 20 seconds then rinse under clean and running water; and finally, dry the hands using a clean towel.

The Safe Wash Movement goes beyond observing the Global Handwashing Day and strengthening the rallying call against hand hygiene misinformation. The advocacy equips Filipinos with the right knowledge so that proper handwashing becomes a cornerstone of public health. Through these efforts, it is hoped that the life-changing Safe Wash habits that starts young and begins at home, is practiced by Pinoys all throughout the day, whenever and wherever they are.

As a major partner during the recent Global Handwashing Day Symposium of the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) last Oct. 16, Safeguard also worked tirelessly with various institutions making there is ample access to hand washing facilities so that more people can constantly practice proper handwashing techniques and encourage others to do the same. 

Safeguard is leading millions of Filipinos in the Safe Wash Movement by empowering them with Safe Wash — at home, at work and in school even beyond the Global Handwashing Day. Only by putting an end to “Pwede Na” and “Bahala Na” mentality in handwashing that we can ensure a safe and healthy future for ourselves and loved ones.