Image: Facebook/Lovely Sotto
“Walang babayaran kahit piso.” (No need to pay, not even a peso.)
This line did not only capture the attention of residents in Pamplona Tres, Las Piñas City, it also earned praises from the public, for the gesture behind it which aims to extend help amid times of crisis.
Lovely Sotto, a volunteer from a religious organization called Members of the Church of God International (MCGI), pioneered the project to give free groceries to those in need. She spoke up about the touching experience she had while she was in the “free store.”
“Nakakatuwa ‘yung iba na pumunta kanina kasi sinasabi nila ‘Bibilisan ko lang po kumuha para po makakuha rin yung iba.’ Kahit hirap na sa buhay, iniisip pa rin nila yung kapwa,” she said on Facebook last Saturday, April 10.
(It’s a joy to see others coming in earlier, because they say, “I will hurry up in picking items so that others may also get some.”)
As of writing, her post has garnered over 30,000 reactions and 29,000 shares.
Get everything here for free! Walang babayaran kahit piso. 🤍
Nakakatuwa yung iba na pumunta kanina kasi sinasabi nila…
Posted by Lovely Sotto on Friday, April 9, 2021
Sotto said that initially, the store was only open to members of the organization. Later on, it was decided to be opened to the public to help the community.
“Ang mayaman pag tumulong sa kapwa, mabuti yun,” she noted. “Pero pag ang mahirap, tumulong sa kapwa mahirap, extraordinary yun.”
(When the rich help others, that’s good. When the poor help others who are also poor, that’s extraordinary.) JB
RELATED STORIES:
77-year-old teacher living in car receives $27,000 from former student
Robredo calls for letters for frontliners, inspiring stories amid COVID-19 pandemic