While they are affected by the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country, teachers did not hesitate to come together and put up an initiative that will help alleviate the hunger and desperation of some people in their respective communities.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Quezon City Public School Teachers Association (QCPSTA) replicated the “Maginhawa Community Pantry” through the “Tulong-Guro Community Pantries.”

Notwithstanding the challenges that they, too, experience, QCPSTA President Kris Navales that teachers decided to help the people in their community.

"Bagamat apektado din po kaming mga guro ng pandemya,may mga nagkakasakit at namamatay sa amin ay pinili din namin na tumulong sa abot ng makakaya namin kahit delayed mga benefits at mababa sweldo namin (Although we, teachers, are also affected by the pandemic, with some of us getting sick and some have died, we chose to help as much as we could despite delayed benefits and low salaries),” Navales told the Manila Bulletin.

Navales, a Grade 4 Science teacher at Gen. Roxas Elementary School, said that the groups put up the “Tulong-Guro Community Pantries” to highlight the need for a better pandemic response from the national government.

“Pagpapakita po sa ating gobyerno na sana paglaan nila ng budget ang para sa social services ng mga tao (To show our government that they hope to allocate a budget for the social services of the people),” Navales said.

The “Tulong-Guro Community Pantries” started its operations on April 20. On the first day, Navales said that at least 350 individuals benefited from the initiative.

Challenges

Navales said there are at least 11 volunteers - composed of teachers and their families.

One of the volunteers shared that among the challenges, so far, is logistics - especially picking up donations. Another challenge is that in some areas, there are staff coming from the barangay who is asking them to secure permits first.

For another volunteer, persuading other colleagues to donate or to run their own community pantries is a challenge. “I told all my relatives and friends that they can donate to QCPSTA in kind or cash donations rest assured that their donations will really go to our fellow who is really in need of help,” the volunteer explained.

Meanwhile, one of the volunteers also shared that sustaining the initiative is also another challenge.

“The challenge that I am facing right now is how to sustain the community pantry that we started - as much as I want, I really wanted to continue this little effort that I started because I want my community to live well the life they deserved even if the government cannot provide for them,” the volunteer added.

Message to government, students

As they push through with their initiative to help their communities, the teachers and other volunteers urged the government to give them support.

“My message for the govt and LGU is for them to not be too strict but rather, they should assist in maintaining the order and safety protocols as of now, we are helping on giving the basic needs of every family,” one volunteer said.

Another volunteer also challenged those in government - with large salaries and net worth - to take money out of their pockets “so that more of our countrymen can be saved from hunger.”

As teachers, they also want their students to learn lessons from what they are doing. “Hopefully our students will learn to learn to help others even in small things because that little thing is a huge thing for our fellow who is in great need of help,” one volunteer said.

Other volunteers also expressed hope that their fellow teachers will follow suit. “We encourage the teachers and students to support in line with the trending program ‘magbigay ayon sa kakayahan’ by spreading the humanitarian services initiated in sharing with others and looking for donors for the success of the community pantry while experiencing pandemic,” the volunteer added.

The ACT-QCPSTA “Tulong-Guro Community Pantries” are put up in six locations: in District 1 (in front of San Francisco ES, 117 San Pedro Bautista St., Del Monte); in District 2 (96 B Kaunlaran St. IBP Road, Commonwealth ); District 3 (423 P. Tuazon Blvd. Brgy Marilag, Project 4); District 4 (27 Hilltop ROTC Hunters corner Galilan, Brgy. Tatalon); District 5 (Jordan Plains Gate Phase 4, Commonwealth Ave.) and in front of the llang-ilang Residence Hall in UP Diliman.