“Dasal”

Lilia Duque's family was left with no income when the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine was implemented. The 49-year-old mother is a laundrywoman in Baseco, while her husband is an all-around errand boy in Divisoria. 

With six children to feed––the youngest with a disability––Lilia was as anxious as everyone else in the compound, most of whom are day laborers who lost their jobs.

“It’s my first time to receive a gift check, and it’s a blessing,” said Lilia. She used the gift check to buy milk and diapers for her children as well as canned goods and noodles for the entire family. The supplies should last for several days. 

Lilia's home is far from the supermarket, but the distance was not an issue for a mother who was determined to feed her family. "I was able to choose what we needed," she said. Being able to choose is a luxury for most Baseco residents.

A majority of Baseco residents are informal workers—on a ‘no work, no pay’ scheme. With the lockdown, they have to rely on relief goods, which usually include rice and a few cans of sardines. So, when they received the P1000 gift check from Project Ugnayan, they finally had the chance to change the day's menu. It is a simple act that means a lot when one’s only choice is starvation or catching the virus. 

Despite being impoverished, Lilia has been volunteering at Caritas Manila for five years now. It is this selfless act that gives her a sense of purpose and hope during these strange, difficult times.

“I feel like they are questioning their faith and asking where is God?”

said Fr. Reynante.

Standing in the middle of the shanty is a dimly-lit and crudely-built church. In front of its small altar are religious figures and a few broken plastic chairs. It was the Holy Week, and Fr. Reynante and some members of the parish were holding a procession. 

"I felt scared when I learned about the virus. The fear of being alone when you get it is in my heart. When we get sick, we want people to take care of us, but with the virus, we will be isolated, and that is lonely," said Fr. Reynante.

The government strictly implements social distancing and the wearing of face masks. But according to Fr. Reynante, the scarcity and the cost of masks prevent people, especially those who cannot even afford to eat three times a day, to observe such rules. 

"The church was affected by the pandemic. No one came in during Mass even before the lockdown,” the priest said.

The quarantine banned all forms of "unnecessary" public gathering, including religious rites. The activities lined up for the Holy Week were canceled, but the Sto. Niño de Baseco Parish decided to proceed with the procession at night to continue their yearly tradition and to reawaken people's faith. 

Escorted by the police, Fr. Reynante and other priests went on with the procession as people watched from their homes. As the procession passed, some closed their eyes and prayed.

The gift checks were distributed after the procession to prevent people from crowding. For some, the P1,000 gift check was an answered prayer.

"The diocese of Manila is big. If we give out pre-packed relief goods, it will be difficult for volunteers, and we might not be able to get enough volunteers. The gift checks made giving simpler," said Fr. Reynante.

"As a mother of eight, I was scared not only because of the virus but also about what I would feed my children," said Lilibeth Amman, 42 years old.

Lilibeth used to earn a daily wage as a garlic peeler. She lost her job when the community quarantine was announced.

 "We don't have any savings, and so when I heard that the church was giving P1,000 pesos [of gift check], I was delighted because I could buy rice, milk, and diapers for my children,"

Lilibeth said.

Volunteers, like Lilibeth, were the first to receive gift checks. It was a small act of gratitude for their continued service to the community. 

Lilibeth believes that her faith will protect her and other volunteers from the drastic effects of the pandemic. "I'm grateful that God used the donors to send us help," said Lilibeth, who was happy to be part of Project Ugnayan's mission.

 It was volunteers like Lilibeth, according to Fr. Reynante, who enabled them to reach every member of the community.

 "The church cannot do this alone," he quipped

"This project is significant, and I'm grateful to the donors because they made people feel that despite the pandemic, they have someone who cares," said Fr. Reynante, who stood calmly while watching the procession.

The gift checks were distributed to people of all faiths, a stark reminder that in these trying times, everyone gets his fair share of kindness.