Bela Padilla. Image: Instagram/@bela
With the Metro Manila community quarantine in force, actress Bela Padilla wondered how informal workers on the streets are making a living.
She asked how she could extend aid to them, via Twitter yesterday, March 15,
“How do the taho, sampaguita, chips and basahan vendors we see on EDSA who probably sold close to nothing today eat tonight[?] And tomorrow? And the whole month? Is there anyone I can go to, to talk about this and hopefully help out?”
How do the taho, sampaguita, chips and basahan vendors we see on EDSA who probably sold close to nothing today eat tonight. And tomorrow? And the whole month? Is there anyone I can go to, to talk about this and hopefully help out? :)
— Bela Padilla (@padillabela) March 15, 2020
As suggestions came in, Padilla announced today that she is crowdfunding for donations and will send funds to all cities in Metro Manila.
“The best solution I came up with is for us to donate. I set up an account, and whatever money we do raise, let’s [split] 16 ways for the 16 cities of [M]etro Manila affected by this community quarantine,” she said. “I will personally see to it that the money we raise will go to the right people.”
The best solution I came up with is for us to donate. I set up an account, and whatever money we do raise, let’s spilt 16 ways for the 16 cities of metro Manila affected by this community quarantine. I will personally see to it that the money we raise will go to the right people.
— Bela Padilla (@padillabela) March 15, 2020
She titled the effort on crowdfunding platform GoGetFunding “pagkain para sa pinoy” (Food for the Filipinos) and set the target at P1 million. Padilla has raised over P154,000 as of writing.
The description on the page appeals for donations given that “our favorite taho, dirty ice cream and bananacue vendors [won’t] be able to secure enough money to guarantee food for their families at the end of the day for one month until our community quarantine is over.”
The “Vodka, Beers and Regrets” star did not mention if she would be working with a specific agency or organization.
The imposed community quarantine bans mass gatherings, while social distancing is being observed in public transportation such as trains and jeepneys. Some private companies have also resorted to work-from-home schemes to comply with the quarantine. JB
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