We feature the video message spoken in Tagalog and English which Maginhawa Community Pantry founder, Ana Patricia “Patreng” Non, posted on the official page of the Community Pantry PH Group last March 27, 2026, regarding their “Driver, Rider, Tsuper” initiative in the wake of soaring gas prices caused by the Middle East conflict. Here is a faithful English translation of the video. We kept the tone community‑based, humble, and collective—just as in the original.
Recognizing the community organizers
I am Patreng, one of the many community pantry organizers. We are grateful to everyone who has helped with the community pantry from 2021 until today. Actually, the community pantry from 2021–2022 up to now never stopped our activities. We were just quiet. But we engaged in relief operations, emergency responses for fire victims, and even rescue buys until 2023. The community pantry has continued as a support system for each one of us.
I’m mentioning this to empower and recognize the many community organizers. Honestly, I’m not the only community pantry organizer. I also don’t consider myself a leader because this has always been a collective effort.
Some people wonder why we still do community pantries. Life is already hard. We’re affected too. I myself am still middle class and I’m also affected when prices go up—especially other people. Even my co-workers tell me they find gas too expensive now.
Community kitchens in Bicol
When it comes to community pantry operations, we’re very familiar and very experienced. We’re used to extending help while asking for accountability. As I mentioned earlier, one of the things we regularly do is relief operations. Every “ber” month, during the rainy season, we conduct relief ops. Hundreds of community kitchens in different places. In fact, it was only last year that we established the Bicol Region community kitchens. Whenever there’s a typhoon.
Suddenly the flood control issue came out. We pantry organizers are always helping. Then the issue of massive corruption surfaced. You know, it’s sad. It feels like you were fooled. But for us, our pantry work, our community kitchens, or whatever we do—none of it is wrong. In fact, it’s for the people. The very people who cook, volunteer, and run the pantry are sometimes the same ones who get flooded. So, for us, helping and asking for accountability can go together.
The concept of the community pantry
What is the concept of the community pantry? Maybe it’s been a while since it went viral, and then it went viral again. We never planned for it to go viral. But the concept of the community pantry is always: “Take according to your need. Give according to your ability.” The idea is that we give only what we can—no pressure. It’s a collective effort. It’s not named after a person. It’s not named after a politician or celebrity. It’s open to everyone. We don’t care about political beliefs, age, and so on. That’s still the community pantry.
Benefitting the driver, rider and tsuper
Now, its focus is driver, rider and tsuper. Why? Because when gas prices rise, they are the first to be affected. Actually, everyone is affected. We thought gas prices are rising, but fares are not. But we also don’t want fares to increase because workers’ wages aren’t increasing. Our drivers are the ones most affected. Sometimes you think, “I wish gas were government‑owned.” But then you also wonder, “Would they even manage it well? Or would it end up in corruption again?” So, when we brainstormed what we could do for the community and for drivers, we returned to the most basic approach—the community pantry. Because it feels good when there’s a community pantry.
But for me, my first feeling was, “Wow, sadly after five years, nothing has changed. Doing community pantry is still hard work. We still need to rely on each other.” But what’s reassuring is that I’m never alone. There are so many community pantries. Not just in Manila—across the Philippines.
So yes, it’s a community effort. That’s also why we made this video—to address the questions. Now here’s the exciting part.
First question: How do you donate to the community pantry?
Specifically for Maginhawa Community Pantry, we do not ask for financial support, and we do not give out QR codes. Our only request—if you can—is to bring goods. Goods can be vegetables, sandwiches, rice, viands, or anything you have extra. For vegetables, the best are main ingredients—like sayote, ampalaya, eggplant, kangkong—things that can be used for meals. Seasonings people can usually buy. Our goal is to provide something they can actually eat as a meal.
What is the concept of the pantry?
Some people ask how to place items. It’s like putting away your groceries at home. You lay them down here, you let them go, and then you tell a few people to share. “Let’s take only what we need. Let’s think of others.” That’s still the concept of the community pantry.
How do you help if you’re far away?
Bring your goods to the nearest terminal. The goal is for commuters to stand in solidarity with drivers. For the drivers we ride with, we can give rice, canned goods, or whatever we have. Helping doesn’t have to be just one form.
That’s it. We thank you. Thank you for supporting the community pantry. I’m happy we’re able to do this again. I feel safe now. Thank you very much.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PANTRIES
Metro Manila
Community pantries in Metro Manila, pioneered by the Maginhawa Community Pantry, operate as mutual aid centers where residents “give what they can, take what they need” to support those struggling with economic hardship. These volunteer-run setups offer food items like vegetables and rice to residents, including drivers affected by fuel price hikes.
Spotted around Quezon City are these various community pantries within the UP Diliman Campus: Community Pantry at the College of Fine Arts Waiting Shed for the Ikot Jeep of UP Diliman, sponsored by UP Artists’ Circle Fraternity, April 6; at Pio Valenzuela Street for PUV drivers at riders sponsored by Tinig Plaridel, April 6; UP Pantry Aid for Relief & Assistance of Transport Workers sponsored by Padayon UP Public Service Office, near Fonacier Hall, April 6; Guard Walkway Area Community Party sponsored by the College of Social Work and Community Development in Magsaysay Ave., March 29.
Also seen was the Community Pantry para sa mga Driver, Tsuper at Rider sponsored by Good Food Community & Friends at Barangay Holy Spirit along Commonwealth Ave, April 6. In La Salle Greenhills, Animo Tsuper: Biyahe ng Bayanihan Community Pantry at Magdiwang Gate (Gate 3), sponsored by the Lasallian Mission Office – Basic Education Division in coordination with DLSU-D High School Student Council, April 8.
In Balara-Katipunan, representatives from UP Ikot, and Tumana–Balara Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations have received rice packs donated by Tanging Yaman Foundation in partnership with the Ateneo Disaster Response and Management (DReAM) Team. In Bicutan, a community pantry for the jeepney and tricycle drivers has been organized by Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish and Bicutan Parochial School also with the help of Tanging Yaman Foundation. TYF is an NGO established by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ, which serves as a bridge for those willing to give with those in need.
How to Participate:
- Donate: Drop off in-kind donations (fresh vegetables, rice, canned goods) directly at the, or contribute to organizers to support logistics.
- Volunteer: Support organizing, repacking, and restocking the tables.
- Start One: Individuals are encouraged to set up similar tables in their local barangays.
These pantries are commonly found along residential streets and rely on the honor system to support the community without fanfare, focusing on providing essential items to the most vulnerable.
Bicol Region
Community pantries in the Bicol region frequently appear as grassroots initiatives to support residents during economic hardships, including climate disasters. Key initiatives include community pantries and kitchens offering free food, often coordinated through local efforts. Community Pantry PH, which is part of the Angat Bayanihan Volunteer Network, distributed hot meals on October 2024, in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur. As community pantries are volunteer-driven, this section will be updated as Bicol organizations ramp up their initiatives.
ABOUT RESCUE BUYS
Rescue buys for community pantries involve purchasing surplus or “rescued” agricultural produce from local farmers—often organized by groups like Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi)—and donating it to community pantries to combat waste and hunger simultaneously. These initiatives, frequently serving areas like Maginhawa, Cubao, and Antipolo, allow supporters to buy, for instance, kilos of cabbage or corn to feed vulnerable families.
RURI CLUB of Rural Rising Inc. Philippines is a thriving community connecting the consumer direct to the heart of Filipino farming. Their RESCUE BUY campaigns aim to rescue surplus produce directly from distressed farmers, ensuring fair pay, affordable prices, and making a positive impact on food sustainability. They source from various provinces; therefore, dispatch dates vary. Currently, their rescue buys include strawberries from La Trinidad in Benguet, bintong kamote from Aglipay in Quirino, cabbage from Sto. Nino in Cagayan, tomatoes from Nueva Vizcaya, sinait mango from Ilocos Sur, and green ice lettuce from La Trinidad in Benguet.
Also active in rescue buys from its farmer partners is Tanging Yaman Foundation. Early this month of April, Tanging Yaman Foundation purchased 5.3 tons of cabbage, tomatoes, sayote, and upo from Nueva Vizcaya and these were distributed to hundreds of families in the communities of St. Clare of Assisi Parish (Malabon) and San Jose Ang Tagapagtanggol Parish (Navotas). In late March, some 6 tons of tomatoes, cabbage, and sayote were rescued from the Nueva Vizcaya farmers and donated to supplement the food allocations for inmates at the National Bilibid Prison (Minimum Security Compound) and the Correctional Institution for Women.
How to Support Rescue Buys for Community Pantries:
- Support Rural Rising PH Initiatives: Purchase “Rescue Samplers” or directly fund vegetable rescues (cabbages, corn, tomatoes) through RuRi via their social media pages and website. They often transport produce directly to designated community pantries, such as those for PUV drivers.
- Donate Directly to Organizers: Support initiatives like “Vegetables for Drivers” by sending funds via GCash or bank transfer, allowing organizers to procure and distribute rescued produce.
- Participate in “[Get Some, Give Some]” Schemes: Purchase fresh produce for your home while simultaneously donating a portion to a “grateful family” via organized community pantries.
- Support Localized “Rescue” Efforts: Follow community pantry organizers on social media (e.g., in Quezon City) for “Sibuyas for a Cause” or similar local crop rescue campaigns that buy directly from struggling farmers.
The header features scenes from various community pantries in Quezon City, from left to right, Maginhawa Street, Kadamay CP at Holy Spirit in Commonwealth, Padayon CP in UP. Written by Jojo De Jesus for Dateline Ibalon based on primary references: Community Pantry PH and Rural Rising PH.