The current situation due to COVID-19 has affected our countrymen and many have stepped up to help those in need. Chiyuu, an incoming 2nd year BS EnE (Environmental Engineering) student from Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, was inspired by MNL48’s Emz Macabutas’ birthday charity drive. In a special interview with PAKSA MNL, she discussed her small way of lending a hand to others, her realizations and words of advice to everybody during these times.
NC: How did you discover and fell in love with MNL48?
C: Nadiscover ko ang MNL48 sa Showtime pero di pa ako fan. Di ko nasubaybayan ang Aitakatta era.
Tapos may group page sa fb na nagshare ng PFC MV don ko nalaman na may music video na pala ang MNL48 (pero di pa ako naimpress that time). After ilang months narelease na ang Palusot Ko’y Maybe mv, sobrang naimpress talaga ako kay Coleen at sa members kaya don ko narealize na Im starting to like this group. Then nag order na ako ng merch. Before 365 era ako naging fan ng MNL48
(I discovered MNL48 on Showtime but I wasn’t a fan. I didn’t follow their Aitakatta era. Then there was a group page on Facebook that shared the Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie MV (but I wasn’t impressed that time). After some months the Palusot Ko’y Maybe was released, I was really impressed with Coleen and the members so it was there I realized that I’m starting to like this group. Then I ordered merchandise.I became an MNL48 fan before the 365 era)
NC: Belated Happy Birthday to you! How did the idea of a charity drive on your special day cross your mind?
C: Thank you po... Usually pag birthday ko nagcecelebrate kami with family at friends pero dahil sa sitwasyon ngayon walang makakaattend, instead of maghanda-handa etc. I suggested na tumulong na lng muna sa iba(Nakita ko yung post ni Emz sa FB at nakakuha ako ng idea). Marami rin kasing narhavest na palay that time. Although April 15 pa yung birthday ko nagdistribute kami April 13.
(Thank you…usually on my birthday we celebrate with family and friends but because of the current situation, nobody can attend. Instead of preparing a birthday feast, I suggested helping others instead(I saw Emz’s post on FB and I got an idea. We also harvested many palay(rice at any stage prior to husking —used especially in the Philippines)
On March 31, Emz conducted a charity drive for her birthday and posted the following on her official Facebook page:
(Last post for this day sorry. So this is the very highlight of my birthday, no party, help first even if it’s small thing to those in need because of what we’re all going through right now)
I am also extending my hands to all, I really wish for all of us to be safe and okay)
Chiyuu’s Twitter post on May 3:
NC: how is the process from buying materials for the relief packs to the time they’re handed out?
C: Yung sa pagbili ng laman ng packs nagorder yung mama ko ng boxes ng pancit canton, sardines, maggi karri at misua (Php 5500 yung nagastos including na yung sack of rice). Yung sa pagbigay is yung mga kilala namin dito sa barangay na walang source of income yung kailangan talaga nila ng tulong. Nakapagbigay kami ng around 25 relief packs on selected families dito saming barangay.
(On the purchase of the packs’ contents, my mother ordered boxes of pancit canton, sardines, Maggi Kari and misua. PHP 5,500 was spent including the sack of rice. On the giving, we gave them to those we know here in the barangay (sometimes referred to as barrio, is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward), they have no other source of income so they really need help.
We gave around 25 relief packs on selected families here in our barangay.)
The contents of one relief pack. Photo courtesy of Chiyuu.
NC: Did you have any challenges while doing this drive?
C: Challenges I think wala naman po. With the help of some people tumulong po sila nagdistribute. Natapos po within a day.
(I think there were no challenges. With the help of some people, they helped distribute. We finished the drive in a day.)
NC: If any, did you have realizations after doing this drive?
C: May nakikita kasi akong recent posts sa socmed like "if you want to help, you don’t need to show off etc" but for me, letting others know of the good things you did, no matter how big or small, may inspire them to do the same. Example yung ginawa po ni MNL48 Emz, nakakuha ako ng idea to do the same thing. My dad is also a frontliner, di pa sya nakakauwi and he is proud of what we did.
(I see recent posts on social media like ‘’if you want to help, you don’t need to show off etc." but for me, letting others know of the good things you did, no matter how big or small, may inspire them to do the same. Example, from what MNL48 Emz did, I got the idea to do the same thing. My dad is also a frontliner(a soldier), he hasn’t come home yet and he is proud of what we did)
To close this special interview Chiyuu leaves the PAKSA MNL team with these words:
C: My advice is to always follow the rules of social distancing (What MNL48 girls said). It is also important to conserve resources and energy (save water, electricity etc.). I suggest po if you have the place and resources you should start planting vegetables (it will be very useful)
Thank you to all frontliners for doing their best in preventing the spread of the virus. GODBLESS YOU ALL PO.
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