Ana Patricia Non refills the Maginhawa Community Pantry on Thursday, April 15, 2021, which she set up to help people who are badly affected by the pandemic and have difficulty finding food to serve on their tables. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Maginhawa community pantry founder Ana Patricia Non bared on Tuesday alleged rape and death threats, on top of numerous fake food delivery bookings maliciously made under her name.
In a Facebook post, Non said she has decided to take a break from granting interviews and photo opportunities this week so she could rest and focus on her pioneering community pantry to serve more marginalized and indigent residents in her community.
“For my well-being, papahinga muna ako sa interviews at photo ops this week. Mag-focus muna po ako sa pantry, pahinga at sa 1st monthsary ng community pantry. Yun din naman po kasi talaga (ang) dahilan bakit ko to sinimulan, ‘di for publicity,” she said.
(I will just take a rest from interviews and photo opportunities this week. I will just focus on the pantry, to prepare for the first monthsary of the community pantry. Anyway, this had been my reason why I started this, not for publicity.)
“Wag po kayo mag-alala, kailangan ko lang po ng pahinga — kumpletong tulog, kain, privacy at security. Kitakits po tayo sa 1st monthsary check-in ng Community Pantry PH sa Friday, May 14! Yakap sa lahat!” she further said.
(Don’t worry I just need to rest, get complete sleep, eat, privacy, and security. See you on the 1st Monthsary Check In of the Community Pantry PH on Friday, May 14! Hugs to everyone!)
Non admitted that she felt overwhelmed by her struggles, as well as the stress she was getting from being red-tagged by government officials, and its attendant threats. However, what had put her at the end of her wits were the threats to her security.
“Kahapon naka-missed ako ng 3 interviews, isang appointment sa donor (na nag-cancel na din ako last week dahil sa red tagging) at isang meeting with city councilor for resolution. Di ako nakapunta sa pantry at di ko talaga sila naharap,” she lamented.
(Yesterday I missed three interviews, one appointment to a donor [who I also canceled a week ago because of red tagging], and a meeting with a city councilor resolution. I cannot go to the pantry and I really can’t face them.)
“Truth is, umiyak ako kahapon sa pagod, overwhelmed ako… Kasabay nito iniisip ko yung death threat at rape threats sa akin kaninang umaga. Iniisip ko din paano ba finally kontakin si Food Panda kasi gabi-gabi may umoorder pa din under my number. Di ako makalabas kahapon kasi wala naman akong sasakyan ay lalo na wala naman akong security. Hindi ko alam kung worth it ba lumabas para sa photo ops pero kapalit yung safety ko.
(The truth is that I broke down due to exhaustion, I am overwhelmed… I’m also thinking about the death threat and rape threats to me this morning. I was wondering how to contact Food Panda because I’ve been receiving fake food orders under my number. I couldn’t go out since I don’t have a car and especially, I don’t have a security guard. I don’t know if it’s still worth it to go out for a photo opportunity if it meant my safety,” she said.
According to Non, she was not expecting the project to become such a hit, and her family and friends who helped the project have grown tired as more people asked for support.
She urged the public to bring their inquiries to the community pantry’s official Facebook page and told them to be nice as the volunteer team handling it was also exhausted.
“Reminder lang din na simpleng mamamayan lang po ako. Minsan jologs minsan jejemon. Di politician. At lalong di artista. Focus na lang po tayo sa mga pumipila sa pantry sila naman po ang mahalaga dito,” she said.
(Reminder that I am an ordinary citizen too. Sometimes jologs, sometimes jejemon. I am not a politician, nor a celebrity. Let’s focus on those lining up for the pantry since they are important here.)
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