Ana Patricia Non of Maginhawa pantry receives award from US Embassy

Ana Patricia Non, whose Maginhawa Community Pantry sparked similar initiatives all over the country, received the Ambassador's Woman of Courage Award from the United States Embassy in Manila on Wednesday, May 18.

Presented by Chargé d'Affaires Heather Variava, the award recognized Non for her initiative that “inspired Filipinos to combine resources and help one another during the pandemic.”

“Empowered and courageous women can change the world for the better,” Variava said in a tweet.

In a Facebook post, Non thanked the embassy for its recognition.

“Maraming salamat po sa U.S. Embassy in the Philippines sa pag-recognize ng Community Pantry at sa mga matatapang na kababaihan na nagtataguyod nito. Malaking bagay po ito sa aming mga organizers. Yakap po,” she said.

(Many thanks to the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines for recognizing the Community Pantry and the brave women who support it. This is a big boost for our organizers. Hugs.)

Non, a 26-year-old University of the Philippines alumna, first set up a bamboo cart filled with food items along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City in April 2021 to address hunger in her community amid lockdowns due to the pandemic.

Non earlier said she really had only one goal, which is to help.

Her slogan, “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan” instantly went viral on social media leading to the influx of donations and hordes of people lining up to get much needed commodities.

The Maginhawa Community Pantry then paved the way for more community pantries to open nationwide. —Mel Matthew Doctor/KG, GMA News