Image: Instagram/@jennicauytingco
Jennica Garcia called on the public, specifically the well-to-do, to refrain from panic buying and hoarding as consumers flock to groceries to stock up on basic necessities amid a community quarantine due to the threat of COVID-19.
“Ako po ay nana-nawagan sa lahat ng mga Filipino na nakaangat sa buhay. Wag po natin ubusin ang laman ng mga tindahan. Maliit man o malaking bilihan. NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD BUYING A LOT,” Garcia said via Instagram on March 16. “Isiping mabuti bago bilin: Ilan ba kami sa bahay? Kailangan ba ang grocery ko ay sapat pang isang buwan o maari namang pang isang linggo lang muna?”
(I am calling on all the well-to-do Filipinos. Let us not hoard all the products from the stores, whether small or big. Not everyone can afford buying a lot. Consider before buying: how many are we at home? Should the groceries I buy be enough for one month or perhaps enough for just one week for the meantime?)
She also reminded the public that getting more than what one’s family needs shows how little their faith is in Christ.
“Ang hirap po kasi ay kung sino pa ang siyang may pambili, siya pang nagiging gahaman,” she said.
(The hard thing is that those who have the means to buy are the ones who are selfish).
Garcia, however, was quick to say she was not generalizing everybody and only asked that people consider the situation of others, especially those who are forced to worK so they can sustain their families and pay their bills and debts.
“Hindi lahat ay may savings o emergency funds. Wag natin abusuhin ang pagkakaroon ng pera upang maging mapanlamang sa iba,” she said. “If the virus worsens in the country, the poor will not survive this. Pukawin po sana ng Panginoon ang inyong mga puso.”
(Not everyone has savings or emergency funds. Let’s not abuse our being moneyed to get ahead of others. If the virus worsens in the country, the poor will not survive this. May the Lord touch your hearts).
“By simply NOT hoarding basic necessities, you are already being of help not just to one person but a FAMILY,” she added. “Simple lang po. Bibilhin lang kung ilan lang talaga ang kailangan (It’s that simple. Buy just what you need).”
At the end of her post, Garcia also issued a prayer for President Duterte to be surrounded by officials who have hearts for the poor and expressed her gratefulness for aid funds from countries like Canada and Singapore.
“We are looking forward to the day when our President will declare, ‘Congratulations and all praises to our Lord because the Philippines is now free from [coronavirus]!’” said Garcia. /ra
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