As closely alike as they sound, Celine Pialago's "Malasakit Movement" has nothing to do with the more familiar "Malasakit Centers" that are associated with Senator Bong Go.
(Asec Celine Pialago's Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Hindi po connected (They're not connected)," she said with a little laugh when asked by the Manila Bulletin on the possible link between the two.
"Miss Kara David's Project Malasakit inspired me when I was still a reporter. Her Project Malasakit is a non-stock, non-profit foundation that sends poor Filipino children to school," said the 28-year-old Pialago, who founded the non-government organization (NGO) known as Malasakit Movement.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson acknowledged that a lot of other organizations and personalities use the word malasakit--the Filipino word for "concern for others"--for their projects. But she insists there's nothing wrong with it.
"Iba-iba 'yung purpose and objective ng iba’t ibang 'malasakit' programs (The different 'malasakit' programs have different purposes and objectives). When I went to Pampanga, I even saw a Malasakit Foundation (that built a) classroom.
"Then Senator Bong Go’s Malasakit Center naman is more on medical assistance. So I believe that these programs have different themes, but their guiding principle--malasakit--is the same," explained Pialago.
"Instead po na ma-confuse ang ating mga kababayan, mas mainam po siguro na sabay sabay kaming mag-malasakit (Instead of getting confused over it, it would be better for our countrymen to just show concern for each other)," added the MMDA official.
Last Saturday, the Malasakit Movement launched its "Meat on Wheels" program at San Roque Elementary School in Marikina City.
The program is designed to give families in Metro Manila access to affordable meat, including pork. For instance, adobo/menudo cut pork can be bought for as low as P280 a kilo, while sinigang cut is priced at P170 a kilo.
"Iikot pa po kami sa ibang LGU (We will make rounds in other local government units)," Pialago said on her Facebook.