IMUS CITY, Cavite — A beneficiary of a community pantry touched the hearts of organizers by staying true to the concept of taking only what he needed.
Community pantry co-organizer Gerald Paredes Carsucho posted on Facebook a heart-warming anecdote about Mang Hector, a retired pedicab driver, who frequently passes by the stall but does not get anything despite their insistence.
"Isang araw ay nakita niyang may asukal at tumigil siya upang kumuha ng dalawa nito, (One day, he saw that there was sugar on the table and he stopped to take two packs)," Carsucho wrote in a now-viral Facebook post.
"Inalok namin siya ng iba pang mga nakalatag sa lamesa ngunit ang sagot ni tatay ay: 'May mga sardinas at bigas na ako sa bahay, asukal lang ang wala ako para sa pagka-kape ko, kaya ito lang ang kukunin ko' (We offered him other goods on the table but he said: 'I still have sardines and rice at home but I have no sugar for my coffee, so I'll only take this')," Carsucho said.
In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Carsucho expressed how Mang Hector's words and actions inspired him and his nieces and nephews who co-organized the stall.
"Sobrang natutuwa at naantig ang puso naming lahat sa team. Talaga pong pinag-uusapan namin sya. Marami po kasi talagang tao na alam naming may kakayahan naman sa buhay, kumukuha pa rin ng marami (Everyone in our team was elated and touched. We talk about him a lot. There are many people who can actually afford it but still get more than what they need)," he said.
"Si tatay na talagang needy po talaga ay kumukuha lang ng totoong kulang lang po sa bahay nya (Mange Hector who is really needy only took what he didn't have at home)," he added.