Saint William’s opens community pantry

Tabuk City, Kalinga─ Joining the trend, Saint William’s Cathedral (SWC) also opens its own Community Pantry and plans to expand its services to reach more people residing in far-flung sitios in this city.

Fr. Guerzon Ace Blaquera, Mission Rector of SWC, said that apart from being inspired by the Maginhawa Community Pantry, he was motivated to organize the pantry inspired with Biblical passages implying the miracle of sharing.

“We know naman the pandemic has a serious effect on our health, our jobs and we sensed that karamihan sa atin especially among the poorest of the poor, nag-struggle sila to feed their families that’s why I was really inspired by the biblical narrative ni Jesus noon na pwede palang i-encourage sa mga tao ang miracle of sharing through community pantry,” he said.

In addition, he related the concept of community pantry to the traditional ykalinga way of sharing called ‘kalakag or Salasag’, where people display foods on their table and offer them for free.

“Through ‘kalakag’ we display everything available on our table nu adda lumabas ayabam nga umay agkape ken mangan whether familiar diyay tao wenno am-ammom or stranger, agpukkaw ka nga umay kayo agkape, umay kayo mangan and it’s for free,” he said.

Morever, he said that the accumulated simple and practical generosity of an individual could bring hope to people struggling to provide the basic needs for their family, adding that it is the practical way of externalizing the battle cry, ‘We heal as one’, in this time of pandemic.

“Ang dami palang pwedeng makinabang through our simple and practical generosity para matulungan yung mga tao na hirap makuha ang daily basic needs nila. I am very confident na generous yung mga tao kasi they have their Christian way of thinking na mag share sila kung anong meron sila, kung anong kaya nilang ibigay,” he said.

The opening of the Cathedral Community Pantry on April 27 has benefited more than 250 yKalingas, he said. The pantry is now closed since the supply had been exhausted, but they planned to open every Tuesday of the week to give time for the raising and collection of donations.

Fr. Blaquera is also encouraging those who could donate in kind or any amount to help out.

“Yung mga donations na tinatanggap namin is anything basta nanggaling sa puso. Isabuhay yung as a Filipino Christian na tayong mga Pilipino nagtutulungan kung anong mayroon tayo at share natin sa ibang tao kasi thousand folds of blessings yung maibabalik,” he said.

For donations, you may drop them off anytime at the SWC-Parish Convent. For further inquiries, you may reach through 09552068647.

Meanwhile, a plan to extend further the assistance to identified far-flung sitios in the city is also being considered.

“Next time sa aming community pantry, ililipat namin hindi lang sa St. William’s Cathedral, we would be bringing our community pantry in a far flung sitio wherein mararamdaman nila na nasa malalayong lugar na may mga taong gustong tumulong sa atin from the Centro,” he said.

He narrated that every time he officiates a mass in the remote areas, he has witnessed the situation of the families having difficulty in availing food supplies.

“Doon din kasi ako nagmimisa sa mga barrio and nakita ko yung situation ng mga tao sa mga far flung areas kung saan hirap yung mga tao na mag-avail ng kanilang makain,” he said.

Meantime, they have already identified a sitio as their first beneficiary and it is under coordination.

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