Death, huge crowd shut down Angel Locsin’s birthday community pantry

At Angel Locsin’s birthday community pantry, the crowd swells by the minute to such an extent that the actress herself appeals to the people to observe social distancing. PHOTO/Grig Montegrande

MANILA, Philippines — A huge crowd—visibly not observing social distancing—turned up Friday at the birthday community pantry organized by actress Angel Locsin in Quezon City.

The big day was overshadowed by grief after a senior citizen collapsed while waiting in line at the community pantry and later died.

Rolando Dela Cruz, 67, collapsed as he waited for his turn at a community pantry hosted by Locsin at Barangay Holy Spirit.

He was rushed to East Avenue Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly after 9 a.m.

Huge crowd, sorrow at Angel Locsin’s birthday community pantry.

The actress later apologized on social media for the death of the senior citizen.

“I ask for forgiveness from the family,” Locsin said on Facebook in Filipino.

“A while ago, I went to them and talked personally with the children in the hospital,” she said

“And for the rest of my life, I will ask for forgiveness from them,” the actress added.

“As of now, I will prioritize helping the family, and I will make it my responsibility to help them get through this,” Locsin said. “I am very, very sorry,” she said.

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Influx of people

Locsin announced on Thursday (April 22) that she would open a community pantry on Friday – her birthday – to honor Filipinos who have organized community pantries throughout the country to provide free food to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic effects.

The crowd swelled by the minute to such an extent that Locsin herself had to appeal to the people to observe social distancing.

One of Locsin’s staffers, Rosalito Pagpag, said they gave stubs to people who waited in line for the free food assistance and other essentials—some of whom showed up as early as 4 a.m.

Pagpag admitted that the crowds made it hard for him to impose social distancing measures, even to the point of asking everyone at the pantry to go home.

“Humihingi na po ako ng pahumanhin bilang management na hindi talaga namin inaasahan [na ganito karami ang darating] kaya humihingi ako ng pasensya sa inyo. Alam kong nahirapan kayo, napagod sa pagpunta dito,” Pagpag said.

(We apologize for not expecting so many people to come here, so I apologize for that. It must have been hard for you to come here.)

“Parang regalo nyo na po kay Ma’am Angel ngayon. Magsi-uwi na po tayo. May COVID pa po tayo ngayon. Nawawala na ang social distancing. Nakakuha nga po kayo ng goods ay nagkasakit naman kayo dahil wala na po talaga,” he added.

(Take this as your gift to Ma’am Angel today. Let’s go home. We still have COVID today. Social distancing has not been observed. You got the goods but got sick…)

/MUF/abc