J M
A facebook user shared her frustration as she saw people on twitter asking why there is a community pantry in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
Jinx Brazal wrote that she can’t take people’s sarcasm and said that BGC isn’t just made up of those who are in a higher class. There are also workers in the area such as those who work in construction, security personnel, housekeepers, building maintenance workers, delivery riders, and helpers, among many others.
Some needed to pass along BGC to get to their destination.
“Daanan din ang BGC kasi pwede ka mag exit ng Makati, Mandaluyong, Pateros, Taguig, Pasig, lahat yan pwede mo puntahan through BGC.”
She added that the area is not a gated community and not everyone that lives in a condo still has a job.
“Kahit saan pa ilagay ang community pantry, may matutulungan yan na nangangailangan sa panahong ito ng pandemya. Medyo lawakan natin ang ating mga isip. Tama na yung isang makitid na lider sa bansa, wag na natin dagdagan, pls lang.”
The subject went viral after a tweet saying that there’s Delimondo at the BGC community pantry went viral, gaining thousands of responses. Many people were amazed by the fact that such a brand is being given away for free, while others questioned the existence of the pantry in the area.
https://twitter.com/nitsujnamzug/status/1383734838344044551
“Taray may community pantry ang BGC?” a Netizen wrote.
Taray may community pantry ang bgc? HAHAHAH https://t.co/iO6CwjSk7O
— ( ◜‿◝ )♡ (@itsurburjeer) April 18, 2021
Others asked if the tweet is for real.
https://twitter.com/xommfexxi/status/1383690159204364290
While many were in disbelief that an initiative that aims to aid those financially struggling exists in BGC, other people explained that there are also frontliners there, and having an expensive brand should not be a big deal.
Someone even called others “out-of-touch” for criticizing the act.
https://twitter.com/janrendon/status/1384709676110008325
Another asked why people are so shocked about the community pantry.
https://twitter.com/kyla__guinevere/status/1384720030764466177
While one was glad to have something like that set-up in BGC.
I’m glad that there’s a community pantry set up in BGC! Our construction workers and other workers who got stuck there, will be able to get the food they need! I hope that they will set up pawntry for stray cats and dogs near the area too! Good job to those people! https://t.co/27B3Z05Hqd
— Karen Meets World (@karenmworld07) April 20, 2021
“This is what happens when you’re so eager to project something on the online world that isn’t there, to begin with,” a Twitter user wrote.
"bakit may community pantry sa BGC?"
this is what happens when you're so eager to project something on the online world that isn't there to begin with; maybe to look edgy? for the clout? or for the sake of "bunot" but being out of touch is definitely not a cute look, bestie.
— Sef (@sefloseo) April 21, 2021
The idea of community pantries started when Ana Patricia Non put out a small bamboo cart along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. It was filled up with canned goods, vegetables, vitamins, face masks, and other necessities.
On the top of the cart, they wrote: “Maginhawa Community Pantry. Take what you need. Give what you can.”
The initiative then exploded and it serves an estimated 2,000 families daily. Community pantries also started popping up all over the country.
But on April 18, the police started investigating the pantries and questioning the nature of the project. The following day, the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ECLAC) accused the entire movement of being funded by communists and were made to spread propaganda.
The Palace then advised the task force not to impede the initiative of community pantries.
“Unless their concern is about health protocols not being observed, they should let these community pantries alone,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
However, when asked if they would stop the NTF-ECLAC with their claims, Roque said that the task force would decide what to do.
The Maginhawa Community Pantry resumed its operations after temporarily closing down due to the claims against it and its organizers.
