The School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) version of community pantry, called “SESAMBag” (SESAM Ambag) was set up for all the School’s Staff last August 24, 2021. SESAM’s Instruction Division, headed by Dr. Loucel E. Cui, Assistant Professor, organized this first-ever SESAM Community Pantry.
The goods are sourced from all the ‘ambag’ (contributions) of the faculty, REPS, and admin staff of The School. From all these contributions, the pantry consisted of rice, vegetables, fruits, and eggs among other goods and was formally opened at 10 AM until 5:00PM at the SESAM Lecture Hall. Each staff visited the pantry by schedule to avoid crowding and maintain physical distancing while availing the various goods of the pantry. Alternatively, goods were also delivered to the doorsteps of other SESAM staff who were not able to drop by the Pantry, since the announcement of ECQ and MECQ within the Province of Laguna.
The Community Pantry was initiated by Ana Patricia Non along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City, which is rooted towards the Filipino ‘Bayanihan’ spirit, wherein people help others within their capability, anchored on the idea of “give what you can, take what you need”. This was considered by media as one of the first community pantry ever established during this pandemic. From this initiative in Maginhawa, community pantries have started sprouting all over the country and even overseas, to extend help and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside from helping those in need, the SESAM Community Pantry also intends to inspire hope and uplift the spirits of its faculty, admin, and researchers, by also serving as an award of appreciation for all the hard work of each and every one from SESAM despite of the challenges and difficulties of these trying times. (RM Areglado and JM Lit)
