Team DailyPedia
We’re only halfway through 2015, but we are already being bombarded with posters, banners, billboards, and TV ads of politicians constantly reminding us who to vote for the 2016 presidential election.
In the midst of these political campaigns and their ‘EPAL’ efforts to promote themselves—like giving aid to the needy with their huge faces plastered on their giveaway materials, one person became a trending topic today not because of his political strategies but because of his desire to help people in silence and anonymity.
According to a Facebook post from Carlos Celdran, while he was walking home from Luneta, he saw a group of people who were all lining up in the dark.
“It was hard for me to figure out was going on and it was even harder for me to get a picture but from what I gathered, they were lining up to get FREE rice porridge from a cart.”
It seems that every weeknight, a cart of lugaw is always there to feed a couple hundred people, from street children, vagrants, security guards, tricycle drivers, to students, without any charge. “Anyone can partake,” Celdran said.
He added in amazement that despite the idea of the free food, people were all DISCIPLINED, not reaching out or creating a commotion just to get their container filled first.
Wanting to know who the benefactor was, he asked the woman who were serving out the porridge. But she plainly answered, “Hindi ko alam.” (I don’t know). Then she added that good samaritan wanted to remain unknown and is only known by his pseudonym, “Leon.”
With full respect and admiration, Celdran pointed out how cool it was to know that there are still some Pinoys who give without flashy ceremonies just like we have been used to seeing in our country.
“Leon just gives quietly,” Celdran said about the man he referred to as “The Mystery Lugaw Godfather.”
But with this action comes top-of-the-mind questions like will this continue the culture of dependency and mendicancy among the Manila urban poor and is it the answer to lessening poverty in our society in the long run. You can read his full post here.
Within 23 hours, the account gained almost 15.9K likes with 3.1K shares and positive comments from netizens.
“Kind souls still abound,” a user named Annie said.
Another person also shared that giving does not produce mendicancy, adding that she has experienced the same kind of generosity when their town was hit by typhoon Haiyan. Instead of teaching her to be dependent on other people, it encouraged her to rise up and follow the example of the giver.
Anna May also thinks that Leon simply wanted to share his blessings.
And Menchu believes we need more Leon in every corner of our country.
We agree with all of you. We hope more and more people like him will arise. God bless you Mr. ‘Leon’! Our faith in humanity is indeed restored!
Featured image credits to Carlos Celdran Facebook page
