Furniture designer Ana Patricia Non, who trended for planting the seed of community pantries.
In a facebook post, Non defended Tina Panganiban-Perez from Netizens who keep on bashing the Kapuso reporter.
AP Non asked people to stop attacking Tina since she was just doing her job when she asked that controversial question, “Please wag nyo po iattack si Ms. Tina Panganiban-Perez!
“Isa po sya sa mga unang journalist na nakausap ko. Pinuntahan din po nila ako sa bahay. Napakabait po nya at maintindihin.
“Unang punta pa lang nya sa pantry ay may donations na. Ganyan lang po ang nature ng work nya, kailangan nya lang po tanungin at nagkataon lang po na kailangan ko din sagutin.”
Please wag nyo po iattack si Ms. Tina Panganiban-Perez ! Isa po sya sa mga unang journalist na nakausap ko. Pinuntahan…
Posted by AP Non on Monday, April 19, 2021
The Kapuso reporter trended on Twitter, Tuesday, April 20 following her interview with Non during an online press conferemce.
Tina asked Non if it’s true that she’s linked with a communist group.
“Meron ka nga bang link sa communist groups?”
Non meanwhile responded with disgust saying she’s should not be explaining herself to people because her intention from the very start was clear and that is to help people directly affected by the pandemic.
“Sa totoo lang po, wala akong link sa Communist Party. And napaka… pasensiya na po, napakadumi po ng question na ‘yan.
“Kasi po, last thing na kailangan ko i-explain sa mga tao ay kung ano ako, sino ba ako, ganyan, kasi malinaw yung intensiyon ko.
“Gusto ko lang po may mai-set up na community pantry and makakain ang mga tao, na may kayang, ano po, pantawid-gutom.
“So, between me and other people po na nagkulang ng response, tingin ko hindi po ako ang dapat nag-e-explain. Ano ba ako, sino ba ako?
“Kasi malinaw ang intensiyon ko una pa lang.”
Community pantries have sprung in different parts of the country taking the inspiration from Non’s Maginhawa Community Pantry.
However, it is also marred by controversy as the government and the NTF-ELCAC started to red-tag organizers of these community pantries saying they are being used by communist groups to forward anti-Government agenda.
DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño even said that they will start implementing permits to pantry organizers. However, he retracted it later when another DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said permits are not needed.
Several Metro Manila Mayors also threw support for community pantries saying they will allow it for as long as it is organized and following health protocols.
“Community Pantries have sprung up in Pasig. We commend the individuals who are helping as they can afford.
“Government has limited resources, so any effort to help others is very welcome… Para sa mga nagtatanong, hindi kailangan ng permit. Wala po tayong ‘Permit to Help’,” said Mayor Vico Sotto.
Community Pantries have sprung up in Pasig. We commend the individuals who are helping as they can afford. Government has limited resources, so any effort to help others is very welcome.
Para sa mga nagtatanong, hindi kailangan ng permit. Wala po tayong "Permit to Help". pic.twitter.com/xz4XnOtWIk
— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) April 20, 2021
“We won’t require permits. Good deeds need no permit. Directive to MPD: walang huhulihin at pagbabawalan na community pantry sa Manila. We encourage Manilans to show compassion, care, and Love to One another,” said Mayor Isko Moreno
We won’t require permits. Good deeds need no permit.
Directive to MPD: walang huhulihin at pagbabawalan na community pantry sa manila. We encourage Manilans to show compassion, care and Love to One another. https://t.co/dCxMHbrYTp
— Isko Moreno Domagoso (@IskoMoreno) April 20, 2021
