SAMAL, Bataan — The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) here on Saturday said that government knows that community pantries are in answer to calls for assistance to the needy in this time of the pandemic.
“Alam ng gobyerno kung sino ang tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga tao tulad ng mga organizers na nakakakita ng kakulangan at tinutugunan sa pamamagitan ng community pantries,” IFI parish priest Fr. Roderick Miranda said.
The priest asked that community pantry organizers be not considered as enemies of government but as partners in serving the less-fortunate.
Miranda made the comment during the opening of the Apo Ina community pantry in front of the IFI or Aglipayan Church in Samal.
Apo Ina is how the faithful affectionately call Saint Catherine of Siena, the patron saint of Samal, whose feast day is celebrated every 30th of April.
Volunteers handed out assorted items like soap, diaper, biscuits, noodles, canned goods, eggs, rice, vitamins, among some others to a long line of people who were advised to observe social distancing and the wearing of facemasks and face shields.
Miranda said that he was happy for the outpouring support from IFI members who donated the items in a short notice.
“Malinaw naman sa Gawa ng Apostol, sinabi doon, ‘Pinagkaisa ang mga damdamin ng mga apostol, mga nananampalataya na pinagbili ang kanilang mga ari-arian at ipinamigay sa mga nangangailangan’. Alam naman natin ngayon sa panahon ng pandemic napakahalaga ng pagtugon kahit sa simpleng paraan at iyon ang nakita ng konseho ng Parokya ng Sta. Catalina,” he said.
The priest said they do not discriminate in helping whoever comes to the community pantry. “Hindi kami partikular na member ng IFI o hindi kundi ito ay para sa lahat. Kung sino ang dumating, pumila at kung ano ang abutan ng mga ito ay iyon ang ibibigay sa kanila at wala kaming pinipili,” Miranda said.
