Amid the pandemic, Filipinos found a way to help each other by putting up community pantries.
Started by furniture designer Patricia Non through her Maginhawa Community Pantry, several Filipinos followed her lead and created community pantries in their respective areas.
Over twitter, several celebrities and Netizens lauded those who started their community pantries to help their neighborhood.
Musician Jim Paredes commended those who followed Non’s initiative.
https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1383703641421336585
Former VP Jejomar Binay also commended the Community Pantry initiative.
He said that it is a way for Filipinos to help one another when the Government is absent. But Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque disagreed with Binay as he defended the Government against the criticism.
According to Roque, the Community Pantry symbolizes the Bayanihan of Filipinos rather than an absent leader.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Monday responded to Former Vice President Jejomar Binay's tweet over the weekend and said the community pantry that sprouted in different areas in the country shows the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos. pic.twitter.com/fFu4gs8Y3e
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) April 19, 2021
And with the emergence of community pantries in the country impacting the Duterte administration is still failing to address the COVID-19 situation, several DDS propagandists began their move to destroy what these good Samaritans are building.
Twitter personality Panlasang Pinay shared snippets of DDS propagandists trying to destroy the community pantries initiated by Filipinos. In the said tweet, several DDS red-tagged the community pantries as recruitment sites to oppose the Government. A DDS even called the initiative mere ‘propaganda’— only for the show to ridicule the Government.
In another tweet, the Netizen shared another DDS, who said the initiative. According to the propagandist, the pantries around the country were mere recruitment to insinuate a revolution against the Government.
Told you it's now a DDS script. This time it's the suspended lawyer. Watak watak ang mga punto nya pero she argues bakit daw ngayon lang nangyari to na may krisis.
GIRL, TANUNGIN MO SA PWET NG KABAYO PARA MASIPA KA. BOBA. https://t.co/izh5Xd1SSr pic.twitter.com/juPoUGcIHs
— thysz (@thysz) April 19, 2021
Actor Chuckie Dreyfus defended the community pantry movement as he struck back on the DDS for having a toxic mind.
Wow. Walang kasing TOXIC ang utak ng DDS. https://t.co/sUNexovcnT
— Chuckie Dreyfus (@chuckiedreyfus) April 19, 2021
A Netizen claimed that one of the red-tagger was a lawyer. With that, the Netizen criticized the attorney for interpreting the community pantries in a ‘bad’ way.
He even used the quote from Clyde: “The worst types of DDS are the learned ones but still chose to turn a blind eye to the grim realities of our times.”
This DDS red-tagger is a lawyer. Sabi nga ni Clyde, “the worst types of DDS are the learned ones but still chose to turn a blind eye to the grim realities of our times.” Yung kabutihan ng mga tao binibigyan ng masamang interpretation. Gaano kayo kademonyo para maisip ito? pic.twitter.com/uhg1jyW9RE
— ricci (@ricci_richy) April 18, 2021
Former Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also criticized those who were against the Community Pantry. Lacierda said that those red-taggers only see the community pantry as an act of communism, a way to defy the Government. He then explained that the Community Pantry is a way for people to share resources and not provoke the Government.
The Red taggers in government only see communism at work with the Community Pantry;
The people share resources in the Community Pantry because it is Christ in action;
Talaga naman ano. Siguro kung buhay si Kristo, na red tagged na.
Everything looks red to those with sore eyes.
— Edwin Lacierda (@dawende) April 19, 2021
Actor Gabe Mercado even shared the community pantry that he founded in Baguio City and clapped back at DDS propagandists via a hashtag #minyourownpantry.
Our community pantry at 1 Yangco Hub, Baguio City. #MaginhawaCommunityPantry #CommunityPantryPH #mindyourownpantry pic.twitter.com/eWZOjgFJmZ
— Gabe Mercado (@gabemercado) April 19, 2021
YouTuber Carlo Ople called out those DDS who are trying to end community pantries. Ople told these propagandists to have some self-respect and dignity for being a troll.
Kung sino man naninira nung community pantry movement, mahiya nga kayo sa sarili ninyo. Kung nagpapabayad kayo para tumira (aka troll, ac-dc, black ops, etc), I hope you can still look at yourself in the mirror and be genuinely happy with yourself.
— Carlo Ople (@carloople) April 19, 2021
Satirically, journalist Jeck Batallones shared how these DDS think. Those Pro-Duterte were always looking for the opposition’s contribution to the country. But when the community pantry becomes a way to help Filipinos, the DDS then calls it ‘politicking.’
https://twitter.com/jeck_batallones/status/1384024240240824327
Last Sunday, April 18, a woman complained about the Maginhawa Community Pantry’s long queue, according to her–it increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
And in response, twitter personality Ryan got back on the woman for not blaming the Government. He proceeded to throw some shade (obviously to Duterte) as he said that someone chose to play golf and ride a motorcycle in the middle of an alarming situation rather than address it.
Ale, ireklamo mo yung pamahalaan na pinamumunuan ng laging absent at napili pang mag-enjoy ng hobbies tulad ng pag golf at pagsakay sa motorsiklo sa gitna ng lumalalang pandemya at pagkawala ng kabuhayan ng nakararami hindi yung umeepal ka para gambalain yung tumutulong sa kapwa. https://t.co/rpjXbMjMcF
— Ryan (@rryyyaaaannnn) April 18, 2021
TV host Lyn Ching also commended the locals for initiating the Community Pantry.
She threw some shade at someone who uses private information for a political campaign and grabs the idea and takes the credit for it.
https://twitter.com/Lynching7/status/1383716823196061702
Not just red-taggers, the police force also took an exception as it started to conduct surveillance in the emerging Community Pantries in the country. The Philippine National Police (PNP) is trying to add more fire, former PBB housemate Justin Dizon criticized the police for trying to make things even more complicated.
“Ang ayos-ayos tapos bigla nakikisawsaw. Kapag talaga dumarating ang mga yan, gumugulo lang,” he wrote.
Ayan na nanggugulo na ang mga pulis.
Ang ayos-ayos tapos bigla nakikisawsaw. Kapag talaga dumarating ang mga yan, gumugulo lang. https://t.co/7dXFtomDG8
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) April 19, 2021
Writer-Actor Juan Miguel Severo also defended the Community Pantry as he took a jab at the PNP. He was furious as to how a state force is trying to make the lives of people difficult for those who were only trying to help.
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1384075830318440451
Journalist Barnaby Lo also chided and criticized the PNP form.
He was baffled by how community pantries became a peace and order concern when it is only trying to extend help to fellow Filipinos.
The form’s heading says “joint industrial peace concerns office”. Are these cops implying community pantries are a peace and order concern? https://t.co/JXUMdikU7j
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) April 19, 2021
Meanwhile, former PTV-4 host Jules Guiang agrees that the Community Pantry is a form of protest.
Though the Duterte administration commends the people for such an idea, Guiang emphasized the reality in which these pantries have emerged—the Government’s non-action.
I agree too that #CommunityPantry is a protest. The regime can applaud the people & even dare say that this shows our resilience, but in reality, it is sprouting to address the lack of ayuda. Communities are taking action because of the inaction of those in-charge.
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) April 18, 2021
