In these times, the demand for the use of social media is extremely noticeable. Many were into the use of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and many more were they find interesting posts and/or uploads which they either turn into inspiration or controversy. During these times of crisis, due to the lack of interaction amongst other individuals, as a result of the lockdowns implemented by the government to eradicate the growing number of covid cases, many gather news or information through the use of the said platforms. For that, one of the issues raised during the lockdown became extremely popular thus resulted in its mushrooming.
Filipinos were known to be hospitable and kind despite their problems in life. Amidst the pandemic, many Filipinos were on the verge of not having anything in their pockets. Job opportunities were lost, thus, poverty increases. As the livelihood of many depleted, a lot of our kababayans went extreme starvation. But then, a light of hope highlighted and created smiles of tons and tons of our countrymen as advocacy arose and aided the problems of the many.
On April 14, a resident from Maginhawa street in Quezon City named Ana Paticia Non, established a small bamboo cart filled with canned goods, fresh vegetables, and other necessities needed for daily living in this pandemic for anyone but with one appeal and that is to take only what you need and give what you can. The sole purpose of this small act of her is to help people that were in need especially those that lack the capability of having goods to survive in this crisis as well as to raise awareness to other people that many of our countrymen were experiencing poverty and hardships and for that the needs of support and/or cooperation is extremely needed.
With this one simple act, the noble deed spread like mushrooms growing on rainy days. Numbers of community pantries across the country emerged. Some of which is in one of the barangays in the city of Candon, province of Ilocos Sur where they assembled tents and/or stalls of goods in front of a school just beside a church and disseminated goods such as coffee and bread to energize the morning of people as well as the usual groceries such as vegetables, noodles, canned goods, etc.
As this activity continued to grow and expand in different places, controversies rose from it most especially with the inclusion of some government agencies. Due to their charge of red-tagging, reactions of some known groups emerged. According to Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, De La Salle Brothers, Philippines, the government agencies who defies this community pantry activity should be supported, applauded, and replicated. He also said that the NTF-ELCAC budget of P19 billion should instead be used to feed the hungry during this time of the pandemic. Moreover, he also included that the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act calls on everyone to facilitate distribution and minimize disruption of food and other essential goods and the government agencies should support and not hinder services to the people, especially during this time of crisis.
