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Philippines

'Gulay for milk tea': Bay, Laguna café offers free drinks in exchange for community pantry donations

Philippines

'Gulay for milk tea': Bay, Laguna café offers free drinks in exchange for community pantry donations

By Carla Bauto Deña

BAY, Laguna â€” A cafÃ© in Barangay Masaya here has come up with an ingenious idea to help the needy amid the pandemic.

Photo courtesy of Diane S. Rebenito/ MANILA BULLETIN

On April 22, Barrio CafÃ© offered free milk tea to customers who would bringÂ vegetable donations for its community pantry.

Barrio Cafe partner and barista Kevin Aquino told the Manila Bulletin how touched they were by the support given by their patrons.

"'Yung iba tumatanggi nang i-avail yung freebies nila (Some already refused to avail of the freebies)," Aquino said.

"It's overwhelming to see that amid this pandemic, maraming matataba yung puso na willing tumulong at mag-participate (many have big hearts who are willing to help and participate)."

Photo courtesy of Barrio Cafe/ MANILA BULLETIN

According to Aquino, they deliberately asked for vegetable donations to help boost the beneficiaries' health amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We live in a small community wherein kahit talbos lang o kahit anong gulay na isahog ay ulam na (even young shoots or any vegetable can be served as a dish)," the barista explained.

"Looking at the smiles from our locals and some are saying, 'may pang-ulam na kahit papano, makakaraos na (We have a viand now, we'll survive today)' is so much more for us."

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