People all over the world are facing a new reality. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people must still find ways to adapt to this new normal. While the days become even more challenging, there are some dusty corners in the universe where hope illuminates. Some group of millennials rally behind our country’s frontline health workers by giving support through PPE donations, fundraising campaigns and feeding programs among others.
Bringing Filipinos closer through #TulongPinoy
Claudia Altavas is a New York-based Filipina who started the initiative called #TulongPinoy. According to Altavas, she started #TulongPinoy right when the Luzon-wide quarantine happened. “I started the fundraiser through Gofundme. With this one, I started it alone while working from home. I've involved a few suppliers to start with the production of PPEs,” Altavas said. Since she is currently miles away from her home in the Philippines, she is closely working with her sisters to do the coordinating in the Philippines.
The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on Altavas’ mental health. She said that the reality of the health crisis awakened her consciousness and urged her to do something to help the frontline health workers, especially in her home country Philippines. “I wanted to channel my anxiety to something useful and more substantial. I know a lot of my friends and family outside of the Philippines were looking for ways to donate. So I consolidated donations from where I am, send them to the Philippines in one go, and connect with other donation drives and suppliers to fund PPEs for frontliners,” Altavas said.
To date, #TulongPinoy has raised $8,000 or P400,000. Through the initiative, cloth masks, aerosol boxes and face shields have already been distributed to several hospitals and health centers. “We started with provincial hospitals in Western Visayas, Roxas City. We've also already donated to two hospitals in Metro Manila, particularly Philippine General Hospital and National Center for Mental Health,” Altavas said.
Altavas salutes the bravery and sacrifice of every frontline health workers to fight the pandemic while risking their lives for others. “Our frontline heroes deserve all the protection that they can get. We're trying our best to help by staying home and raising funds for all of them. Our frontline health workers are the real MVPs here,” she said.
Filipino sneakerheads stand united for medical frontliners
A group of sneaker experts in the metro stepped up and joined forces to create a fundraising initiative for our country’s medical frontliners. The sneaker auction is initiated by Carlo Ople along with fellow sneakerheads including Thirdy Ravena, Julius Babao, Bigboy Cheng and Randy Galang among others.
Shoe enthusiasts who eagerly supported the cause were able to cop some premium sneaker items, including a brand new Off White Blazer for around P30,000; a signed Jordan 1 from Julius Babao; basketball superstar Thirdy Ravena’s Jordan 12; and a limited-edition Adidas Profere Dragon Ball Z.
PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and Smart President and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Al Panlilio also auctioned off some of their prized possessions to help raise more funds through the initiative. This includes Pangilinan’s Kenzo Flying Phoenix Zipped Jacket and Panlilio’s SEA Games Team Philippines jacket.
The sneaker auction ended last April 10 with an overwhelming amount raised to over P700,000. This aims to benefit two organizations, including Feed Philippines to provide meals to 1,000 frontliners every day and the Tulong Kapatid and PLDT-Smart Foundation to help in the production of PPEs and other medical supplies for the frontline health workers.
In this time of crisis, Ople says that all efforts must be directed in ensuring that our country’s healthcare sector have the best possible resources and support they need. “Our frontline health workers are out there risking their lives to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ople said. “No matter how little or simple the things we do for our frontliners, collectively, all the help we can give them will surely go a long way.”
Art as a fundraising platform
Angelica Regala started her initiative Portraits for a Cause last April 3, 2020. The mechanics are simple: donate to your charity of choice and have your own portrait be drawn. “The Portraits for a Cause is part of the #ArtforMedPH movement on Instagram. Many wonderful local artists have joined together to provide art commissions, in exchange for funds to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Regala said.
To date, the Portraits for a Cause has already raised P50,000. Regala said that the initiative is meant for Filipino communities that are most affected during this health crisis. “I’ve personally picked the Kaya Natin! Movement to aid our frontline healthcare workers as a good starting point for where we can provide support,” Regala said. Aside from the Kaya Natin! Movement, donors have also given to several other organizations such as UNICEF PH, World Vision PH, Lockdown Cinema Club and other Philippine-based hospitals.
Life cycles for everyday heroes
With limited public transport due to the enhanced community quarantine, frontliners face a daily struggle to get to their workplace. The Xyrene ICA Batch 2013 partnered with Life Cycles PH to raise funds to provide bicycles as means of transportation for our frontline heroes. Called “Life Xycles”, the campaign has raised P350,000 which can give 120 bikes to frontline health workers.
According to Leandra Yu, one of the core members spearheading the initiative, more than 400 frontliners endure the hardship of walking to work. “We want to help them carry out their jobs well and lessen the burden they are already carrying. Although we are not doctors and nurses ourselves, we want to be able to support our heroes in fighting this health crisis,” Yu said.
With a growing demand for a much-needed transportation support, there are still 300 more frontliners who are in need of bicycles to go to hospitals to fight the pandemic. Without any means of transportation, these frontliners walk for miles every day to continue saving lives, while ultimately risking theirs.
To support this campaign, you may donate any of the bank accounts that are listed below.
Choosing better things
Servant-leaders from Don Bosco Makati also provided support to the country’s frontline workers. Don Bosco alumnus Miguel Nieva and Junior High School student Royce De Guzman joined together to raise funds for frontline health workers. Initially, De Guzman said that their student council spearheaded the #PROJECTJAMBOSCON1AN: Juan Act Musikahan ng Bosconian. “We transformed the event into a fundraising campaign which aims to provide PPEs for the frontline health workers at the Philippine General Hospital,” De Guzman said.
On the other hand, Nieva, along with his batchmates from Don Bosco Makati Batch 2011, was also starting their own campaign to raise funds to support frontline workers. According to Nieva, their project was called “Meliora Eligo” which is their alma mater’s motto that means ‘I choose the better things’.
“As alumni of Don Bosco Makati, we continuously choose the path to do more and to give more, especially during this time of need,” Nieva said.
The Meliora Eligo became the joined fundraising campaign of the servant-leaders from Don Bosco Makati. The fundraising ended last April 11 where the campaign reached a total donation of P164,040. The team will be distributing a total of 291 PPEs, 991 masks, 500 shoe covers and 500 medical caps to the frontline health workers of the Philippine General Hospital.
A Pledge to benefit frontline health workers and employees
Eries Chan is a budding entrepreneur who owns a store called Hunger Buster, which mainly sells burgers. Recently, he started a #PledgeABurger campaign which aims to support our modern-day heroes — our frontline workers. Aside from supporting the frontliners, Chan said that his fundraising initiative is also a way for him to help his employees. “My employees heavily rely on my business to provide for their own families. With the extended enhanced community quarantine, we had to close our stalls in schools, leaving no opportunity for our employees to work,” Chan said.
#PledgeABurger aims to raise 1,000 burgers for our country’s frontliners. One burger is equivalent to P100 and all of the profit that the campaign raises will be given to the families of the Hunger Buster employees. “To date, we were able to surpass our goal of 1,000 burger pledges. We currently have over 1,400 burgers pledged. With the overwhelming support of our customers, family and friends, we have extended our campaign to provide 2,000 burgers for our frontliners,” Chan said.
UPDATE: #PledgeABurger has reached its 2,000 burgers for the frontliners.
