“Tatay Digong has given his all.”
Moved by the widespread people’s suffering and hunger, a Quezon City resident volunteered to set up a stall on the sidewalk where people in need can get free food and other items.
What came to be known as “community pantry” has benefitted a few hundred residents in the area since 26-year old Ana Patricia Non started it one week ago.
The bamboo rack carried rice, vegetables, sweet potatoes, milk, coffee, canned goods, soup, spaghetti noodles, face masks, vitamins.
The wonderful thing happened in the following days when people began to donate more food instead of taking anything, so there are more food available for those in dire need of sustenance.
The community pantry idea has rekindled the bayanihan spirit such that it inspired kind-hearted Filipinos to set up their own community pantries in Marikina, Intramuros, Sampaloc, and Iligan City.
How I wish the so-called Opposition, particularly the rabid critics of President Duterte, would just display the bayanihan spirit we see in these community pantries.
Instead of hounding the President, nitpicking, and finding fault in the government’s efforts to address the continuing health crisis in the country, they should just take steps to spur bayanihan activities.
They have complained about the “longest lockdown” in the world, then they might as well take the initiative to install more community pantries instead of harping on strict community quarantine.
After taking time off the public eye for a few days to celebrate his 76th birthday and observing Holy Week with his family, the President has to dedicate hours just to answer the issues raised by ill-wishers about his “questionable health” condition.
The President also has to defend members of his Cabinet and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for what the Opposition describe as a “dismal failure” in the government response to the COVID-19 crisis since last year.
I myself may have criticized the inefficiency and incompetence of some Malacańang officials, particularly in the beginning of the crisis when health officials downplayed the pandemic threat.
I also vehemently denounced the chaotic and anomalous distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP) cash assistance to millions of poor displaced workers especially in Metro Manila.
But, as far as the President is concerned, I can attest to the fact that the Chief Executive has never reneged on performing his duties or delivering on his leadership’s promises.
I agree with Senate President Tito Sotto, who said in a television interview that he could not imagine any other President who could have handled the COVID-19 situation better than Digong has.
It would have been such a disaster if we had a weak President to lead us through the most difficult times.
Tatay Digong has given his all in service of the Filipino amid the worst pandemic in human history and in the face of Chinese buildup in the West Philippine Sea, a legacy of the past administration.
It is obvious that those politicians have no other tactics to desperately resort to but mudslinging with just over 12 months until the 2022 national elections.