Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) – Call it cliché but in the fight against COVID-19, some heroes do not wear capes.
Others wear personal protective equipment and serve in various medical facilities. Some are uniformed security or rescue personnel trying to save lives and protect the peace.
For every ₱60 donation, one bacsilog cup would be made. The goal was to deliver a meal to each of the 1,547 students living on campus and in the dormitories near the area.
A few, however, choose to don aprons and wield cooking utensils to prepare food for others.
Young entrepreneurs Dexter Marin, Carlos Enesio, and Wilkin Ong are co-franchisees of Ate Rica’s Bacsilog, a food kiosk popular amongst students and young professionals for its signature dish: fried bacon, freshly cooked rice, and a fried egg – topped with a special cheese sauce and seasoning.
Their nearly one-year-old bacsilog stall was located near the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus in Laguna.
The trio decided to close their store last March 25, in keeping with the advice of local authorities. The next day, they decided to do something to help the students stranded in the town.
Marin is no stranger to donation drives. He was involved in a lot of them during his time as a member of the student council at San Beda College, Alabang. He also organized a drive to help 50 families affected by the Taal Volcano eruption last January.
“Nabasa lang namin yung post ng UP Los Baños nung March 26 na they are in need of help, kailangan talaga raw nila ng food para sa bawat estudyante,” Marin told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: We saw the post last March 26 that said UP Los Baños was in need of help. They needed food for the students.]
Days later, he and his team put that experience to action by organizing a donation drive to help feed students sheltered in place at the UPLB campus.
Dexter said he was surprised at how word about the drive went fast. “Sa first day pa lang namin, halos naka-30k (₱30,000) na kami na donations,” he added.
[Translation: On our first day alone, we were able to get Php30,000 worth of donations.]
He also contacted celebrities to shed light on their donation drive by sharing information on their social media accounts.
By April 11, their team was able to collect close to ₱90,000 worth of donations, which is equivalent to 1,486 meals.
The next day, Easter Sunday, Marin and his team prepared to deliver the first 500 meals to students stranded inside the UPLB campus. He said this did not come without challenges.
“Coming from the heart, nararamdaman nila na totoo yung pagkain na ibinibigay namin sa kanila and it’s being really well-prepared,” she added.
[Translation: We started cooking around 5:30 a.m. We finished cooking at 6:30 p.m. I’m having problems with manpower right now because barangay officials have become more strict. I got my friends and family members to help.]
He added that due to the volume of meals they were preparing, they had cook them in his garage.
Through it all, Dexter felt satisfied that they were able to pull their plan off.
[Translation: I feel that it’s the best way to give them a meal that would help satisfy them.]
“Hindi lang naman kasilaging profit yung kailangan mong isipin sa isang business,” he added.
[Translation: In doing business, it’s not always profit that counts.]
He said he hopes that other businesses within the community will send in additional help for those living under quarantine in Los Baños.
Dexter and his team said they plan to give out the next batch of 300 to 400 meals within the week to students living in dormitories around the UPLB campus.
“Sila Saab Magalona, eventually, they responded kaagad na, sure, we’ll share it. Tapos eventually, nag-chat and e-mail din ako kina Sam YG, Ebe (Dancel), and Moira dela Torre,” Marin recounted.
“We started cooking around 5:30 a.m. We ended up [finishing] cooking [at] 6:30 p.m. Actually, medyo kulang din ako sa manpower right now kasi unang-una, sobrang higpit ng mga barangay [officials] dito, so hirap akong kumuha ng volunteers. I got my friends na rin and family members [to help.],” Marin said.
“Feeling ko, ito yung best way na para mabigyan sila ng isang meal na kahit papaano, masa-satisfy naman sila,” he said.
For those students who wish to be reached by Marin’s team, feel free to contact them through the business’ Facebook page.
They said that they also aim to give out meals to frontline personnel working in the UPLB campus soon.
Nourishing frontliners, one vegan meal at a time
For Chef B Camposano, the coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity to both satisfy the hunger and nutritional needs of frontliners working in hospitals or police checkpoints.
Camposano owns The Sexy Kitchen by B, a 100 percent plant-based kitchen that sells a variety of vegan meals.
But last March 29, Chef B decided to temporarily stop commercial operations, dedicating their facility to provide meals for frontline personnel.
“Importante sa isang business na hindi ka lang kumukuha ng profit out of your customers. Kailangan, ‘pag nagtayo ka ng negosyo, meron kang kinukuha, meron ka ding ibabalik,” Camposano told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: It’s important for businesses to not simply take profit from customers. When you establish a business, you get some, and you also give back.]
Some of the dishes Chef B and her team prepared for them: tofu-mushroom omelette with green rice in oolong and green tea, apple and vegetable curry with cranberry and seeds granola served with naan bread, and vegetable, ginger and herbs pasta pomodoro.
“Para sa akin, importante na tulungan sila to boost their immune system through providing them quality food that’s also prepared in a good way,” Camposano said, noting how they ship the meals to frontliners straight after cooking.
[Translation: It’s important for me to help them boost their immune system through providing them quality food that’s also prepared in a good way.]
So far, they have been able to donate food to three hospitals in Las Piñas, Makati, and Manila.
When asked about how the frontliners responded to their efforts, Chef B said they were surprised and happy.
[Translation: They’re surprised and happy! They feel the food is genuinely coming from the heart, and that it’s being prepared really well.]
The restaurant also started an online donation drive to help fund their efforts. Those interested in making a donation may visit their Facebook page.
