Once again we see how incompetence and arrogance make for a deadly combination.
It has not even been a week since a young woman from Quezon City acted on her idea to help her neighbors suffering the economic effects of the pandemic. Ana Patricia Non put up a three-level bamboo shelf that served as a repository for all the goods to be donated by anyone in the community to anyone who needed food and other supplies.
The idea quickly took a life of its own as people lined up to get items that their family needed for the next meal. Soon, other pantries in other areas across the country were established. People gave what they could, people took as they needed. Donations poured and lines grew long. Despite our woes, we were consoled by the thought of looking out for each other in these difficult times.
Difficulties soon arose. Specifically, there was increased police presence in some pantries and other cops went to the extent of asking about the organizers’ background and taking down their signs.
Worse, social media posts accused the pantry organizers of being fronts for the communist movement.
We are astounded at how some quarters can still manage to act in bad faith during a time when people are suffering and when all we should be doing is propping each other up. Is the insecurity so crippling that they have to bring down everybody else who is doing good and making a difference?
Because of the media attention on the red tagging and the implicit threats, various local executives and law enforcement officials have released assurances that it is not their policy to intimidate the organizers of the pantry. We hope that this clarification paves the way for a sustained effort to help those severely affected by the pandemic.
Bayanihan desires the good of all and does not harbor envy or ill will. Let’s all imagine how we could help fill the gaps in our system and help one family, one meal and one day at a time.
