“Pobre ya daan, ay keda pa gayod mas pobre [Life before the quarantine has already been difficult; now even more so],” said Mr. Joel Lagrimas, a father of eight and a tricycle driver in Barangay Bolong, Zamboanga City. 

Like all of us today, Mr. Joel is grappling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as a daily wage earner the struggle is far harsher. The enhanced community quarantine in Zamboanga City included a ban on public vehicles, therefore cutting off his only means of livelihood.

So many of our kababayans in the country face the same crippling reality. Amidst all this, a light continues to shine through for the residents of Barangay Bolong. A group of colleagues initiated Ayuda Salva Dia (Chavacano for “help”, “save”, and “day”) – a relief effort for daily wage earners of Barangay Bolong. Part of this initiative are teachers at the Ateneo de Manila High School.

The group continues their relief efforts as they get in touch with more and more struggling Zamboangueños. Posted on their Facebook page last April 11, volunteers came across a kid on a wheelchair, wheeling himself to the next barangay to ask for rice. They offered him a ride but the child refused. So instead, one of the volunteers wheeled the kid uphill and luckily, the group had an extra food pack with them that they gave to the kid.

Ayuda Salva Dia commenced their relief operations last April 10. As of April 21, the group has since distributed 228 food packs to various families in the barangay. The group continues to call on generous hearts to help their kababayans in Zamboanga through cash or in-kind donations. Below are the details for monetary donations:

Paymongo: donation.ph/ayudasalvadia (for debit/credit transactions both LOCAL and INTERNATIONAL)
BPI – 3089219611 (Larraine Fernando)
BDO: 003570166079 (Steve Kevin Solis)
Security Bank: 0000016874712 (Joseph Anthony Riparip)
GCash: 09773438074 (Mary Dana Louise Torio)
PayMaya: 09178245185 (Matthew Romero)
Paymongo: donation.ph/ayudasalvadia

For in-kind donations of fellow Zamboangueños, you may contact Ayuda Salva Dia through ayudasalvadia@gmail.com; Kevin Solis – 09086535615; or Dana Torio – 09773438074

So long as the lockdowns and enhanced community quarantines are extended, the struggles of our kababayans are further prolonged too. More than ever amidst this pandemic, we are called to be men and women for others.

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Author
Alec Templonuevo
Managing Editor for Online Media