“Give what you can, take what you need,” Ana Patricia Non not only inspired a nationwide movement of kindness but fully reignited the spirit of bayanihan in the country.
Related: The Good Virus: Community Pantries Unmasked The Good In Filipinos
With its creation in 2005, #TheNewPH continues yearly to recognize Filipinos and amplify voices that bring pride and honor to our country. But this year’s list are not only deserving names written on a page but it’s also a reminder that there’s still hope for a better Philippines. With the ongoing pandemic and social unrest that the country faces, these are the Filipinos who took action for the Filipinos. We start with Patricia Non. Discover her story below:
During the second height of the pandemic, Non started the Maginhawa Community Pantry with a single bamboo cart that carried goods and a sign with one goal in mind: to unite community members and sustain a table that provides food for those in need.
“Walang hinihiling na kapalit, kahit picture or acknowledgment,” she says and highlights that the success is all because of the mutual aid given by everyday Filipinos such as the farmers from Paniqui, Tarlac who freely donated their crops to help. Today, 600 similar donation-driven efforts across the Philippines carry the same vision–to give dignity even to the smallest efforts.
This wasn’t the first time that the 26-year-old founded a community initiative, she organized a “Bigas Drive” for the jeepney drivers during the suspension of public transport, a community kitchen for the nursing mothers and children in urban poor communities, and a social enterprise that employed construction workers who lost their jobs. But throughout all this, her face nor name became the center of attention. “Nasanay tayo na may superhero na magliligtas sa atin, pero sa community pantry tayong nagpapalaya sa atin. Ang bida ay ang Filipino,” she explains.
Even when she was a victim to unwarranted red-tagging and harassment by uniformed men during her service, she stayed true to the core of her work. “Ninanakawan nila ako ng boses,” she recalls. “But I realized I don’t owe anyone an explanation at itutuloy ko lang ang ginagawa ko. Hindi ako nagpatinag sa kanila.” As young and strong Ana Patricia Non is, she reminds us that every Filipino has the power to make a change, and sometimes all it needs is a proper avenue. “Minsan ayaw na ng Filipino maging Filipino, kasi pagod na sila sa ngyayari sa bansa pero kapag tiningnan mo ang masa, lalakas ang loob mo kasi ang mga tao na ito ay mayroon pa rin pagmamahal sa isa’t-isa at willing magtulungan.”
Discover the rest of our #TheNewPH local heroes by checking our website and YouTube channel to hear about their stores.
