IFI COMMUNITY PANTRIES
INSPIRING AND SHARING AMID PANDEMIC
By: The Rev. Fr. Dionito M. Cabillas
On April 20, 2021, Tuesday, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) National Cathedral announced to set up a community pantry in front of the National Cathedral. It was inspired by the Maginhawa Street Community Pantry conceptualized and organized by Anna Patricia Non, a businesswoman from Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City. Today, many community pantries are sprouting not only in Quezon City but all over the country, including the other IFI parishes. The strong community spirit has also reached even the Filipino residents in Timor Leste.
The IFI-NC Committee on Social Concerns, through Dunhill Angelo Maraya, Leorie Fetil Marquez, and Ludy Comeling, with the guidance of the clergy of the National Cathedral, are managing the said pantry. Volunteers from Tulong Kabataan Metro Manila and UP Manila, in partnership with the IFI-NC clergy and congregation, set up the food stands along Taft Avenue in front of the National Cathedral.
The IFI-NC community pantry was opened on April 22, 2021, Thursday, with overwhelming support from the public donors and volunteers who facilitate the operations. The pantry, free to the public, is based on the Filipino bayanihan principle of giving and sharing, "Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan." (Give according to capability, get/receive based on need/necessity.) The array of food includes canned goods/groceries and fresh produce like fruits and vegetables donated by the public and especially supported by the IFI-NC community. The pantry also serves cooked food.
The Very Rev. Marciano Carabio, in his fb account, posted that the IFI-NC Community Pantry is an expression of solidarity with the poor. He said, “Ito po ay pagpapakita ng ating malasakit, pagmamahal at tulong sa ating mga kababayan na higit na nangangailangan sa panahon ngayon.” (This is a demonstration of our concern, love and help to our countrymen who are in greater need today).
On the second day after its opening, generous individuals dropped off food packs, bananas and vegetables. The willingness to help and share with the people was noted by the IFI-NC organizers: "Gusto lang naming tumulong dahil marami ang nangangailangan sa panahon ngayon." (We just want to help because a lot of people are in dire need at this time.)
Dr. Menchu Chua-Millamena, WOPIC national president and active church-goer at the National Cathedral, celebrated her birthday on April 23, 2021, Friday, by sharing food packs at the IFI-NC community pantry. She thanked her family, friends, officemates, churchmates, batchmates, and neighbors who extended their wonderful birthday wishes to her.
Amid the red-tagging threats from the military, the IFI-NC community pantry is undaunted in the spirit of the community pantry initiatives in Metro Manila. Other IFI parishes from other areas joined in the setting up of community pantries in their neighborhoods based on the same principle of Christian giving and sharing, such as the following:
Links & photos grabbed from IFI Page Gallery
